Дэвид Балдаччи - Redemption

“Why?”

“Because if they knew she was giving me information, they probably knew what it was: police files. Big deal. Why would that be a death warrant for her? I could have gotten those any number of ways. Killing her wasn’t going to stop that.”

“So you’re saying she was, what, complicit in something?”

“Or she knew something that was dangerous to other people.”

Lancaster glanced up at him. “What people?”

Decker looked around the confines of the empty room. “She worked here.”

Lancaster’s voice sank to a whisper. “Decker, do you know what you’re saying?”

“There are bad people everywhere, Mary. Cops are not immune, you know that.”

She shook her head. “Granted, but none of this makes sense.”

“It does make sense. We just haven’t figured out how yet. Any word yet on the fire at Rachel Katz’s office?”

“We got a prelim from the arson squad. They found an incendiary device attached to a timer. They must have placed it there after they searched her office. You just picked the wrong time to make your visit.”

He rose.

“Where are you going?”

“To the hospital to check on Katz and Melvin.”

“Is that all?”

“Then I’m going to see Mitzi Gardiner.”

“You want me to tag along?”

“Aren’t you deskbound after the shooting?”

“Well...”

“I’ll talk to you when I get back.”

“They think she’s going to be okay,” said Mars.

He and Decker were sitting in the visitors’ room outside the critical care unit at the hospital.

“They think? ”

“Well, she’s stable, critically stable, but at least she’s stable.”

“Okay.”

Mars rubbed his eyes.

“You look beat, Melvin. Why don’t you go get some rest?”

“No, I’m good. I napped on the couch.” He stretched his long arms. “They got cops outside her room.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Mars shook his head. “Why do I feel like it’s my fault she’s lying in that hospital bed?”

“Your fault? How do you figure?”

Mars said, “The people who shot her? They knew she was talking to me. They were afraid she might open up. So they decided to kill her. I don’t push it, she’s okay.”

“That’s pretty convoluted, Melvin. And wrong. You saved her life. She’d be on a slab but for you.”

“I saw this red dot hovering over her face. Man, it scared the crap out of me. Then I just grabbed her and down we went right as I heard the glass break. I thought she was okay. You know? Then... then I had her blood all over me.”

“What did she tell you, before she was shot?” asked Decker.

“She was really nervous. Afraid for her life.”

“Well, she turned out to be right about that. What else?”

“I think she wanted to talk. But couldn’t bring herself to do it. She said something about there being ‘shades of truth.’”

“Shades of truth? What does that mean?”

“I don’t know.”

“Maybe a guilty conscience?”

Mars looked pained by this possibility. “Maybe. And she said that sometimes people have to do things that might look wrong to other people, but just seem like the only way to go for the person. And also that the truth could trap you.”

Decker took all this in and said, “You know she might have been the one to impersonate Susan Richards. Mitzi Gardiner was the other possibility, but she has an alibi.”

“If she did, then Rachel knew about her murder. That would qualify as a guilty conscience.”

“Yes, it would. We’ll need to talk to her when she’s able.”

“Now maybe she’ll tell us the truth.”

“Well, almost getting killed should be a great motivator,” replied Decker. “And they burned her office down after searching it. So, they mean business.”

Mars stared goggle-eyed at him. “Burned her office down?”

“While I happened to be in it. I had to jump out the window.” Mars gaped. “You jumped out a window?”

“From five flights up. Point is, I don’t think Katz has an option now.”

“And if she is guilty of something?”

“We’ll work a deal. She who talks first gets the best one.” Decker stood to leave. “You need anything?”

“A little less excitement in my life would be nice.”

“Then you’re going to have to stay away from me, apparently.”

When Decker pulled up to the Gardiners’ home, the gate was open, so he pulled through. This time a man answered the door. He was in his forties, tall, broad-shouldered, and good-looking, and dressed in a suit that might have cost more than Decker’s entire wardrobe. No, there was no might about it.

“Yes?” said the man.

“I’m here to speak to Mitzi Gardiner.”

“What about?” the man asked suspiciously. “This is a no-solicitation area,” he added warningly. “How did you even get inside the gate?”

“It was open.” Decker took out his creds. “But I’m not selling anything. She’ll know about this. I’ve been by before.”

The man looked puzzled. “Here? You’ve been here?”

“Yes. Are you her husband?”

“I’m Brad Gardiner.”

“Is she in?”

“She’s not up yet. In fact, she’s not feeling well.”

“I can wait.”

“No, that doesn’t work. She... she’s ill.”

“Mr. Gardiner, I can understand that, but the fact is, this is a murder investigation. So time is of the essence.”

“Murder! What the hell are you talking about?”

“It’s okay, Brad.”

Decker looked past Gardiner to see his wife standing there in a bathrobe and slippers. She scowled at Decker. “I can handle this. Why don’t you get to work? You have that meeting.”

“But, Mitzi.”

She kissed him on the cheek. “It’s okay, sweetie, I’ve got this. Trust me.”

“If you’re sure.”

“I am very sure.”

After her husband left, Gardiner looked at Decker. “You just won’t leave it alone, will you?”

“I’m just trying to do my job.”

“Isn’t that what all cops say?”

“I don’t know. I’m just one cop.”

She led him back to the conservatory, where they sat down across from each other.

“What?” she said expectantly.

“Some recent developments I thought you might want to be made aware of.”

“Such as?”

“Someone tried to kill Rachel Katz. Took a shot at her through her condo window.”

To her credit, Gardiner didn’t visibly react to this. “Is she all right?”

“She was shot with a sniper round. She’s out of surgery and is critically stable. Another inch to the right and they’d be making funeral arrangements.”

“Well, I’m glad they’re not.”

“The man who tried to kill her was then killed by police.”

“Do they know who he is?”

“Yes.” But Decker would go no further.

“What does any of that have to do with me?”

“You have the picture I left you?”

She appeared startled by this and sat up. “Um, no, I think I threw it away. Why?”

“Good thing I took a picture of it.” Decker took out his phone and held it up.

She looked at the screen. “But that’s the wrong side. That’s the back of the picture.”

“Well, for my purposes, this is the relevant side.” He pointed at the writing. “Daddy’s little star. He was a very proud papa.”

Gardiner looked up at him from under hooded eyes. “That was a long time ago.”

“Yes, it was. Things change. People change. I have another picture to show you.” He flipped through the screens. “This is a picture of your father’s forearm taken during the autopsy.”