Karen Rose - Die for Me

Vito pulled his notebook from his pocket. It wasn’t the question he’d planned to ask, but he’d learned long ago when to go with the flow. “What kind of drugs, Mrs. Keyes?”

“Cocaine and alcohol mostly. He… fell in with some bad kids in high school. Started using. But he got clean and since he met Sherry, he’s changed.”

“Mrs. Keyes, what did Warren do for a living?”

“He’s an actor.” She swallowed. “Was an actor.”

“A lot of actors have second jobs. Did Warren?”

“He waited tables at a bar in Center City. Sometimes he modeled. I can get you his portfolio, if that would help.”

“It might.” He gently caught her arm when she started to rise. “I have a few more questions. Where did Warren live?”

“Here. He and Sherry…” Vito sat quietly as she dropped her face into her hands and wept. “Who would do this?” she demanded brokenly, her words muffled by her hands. “Who would kill my son?”

“That’s what we’re trying to find out, ma’am,” Vito said, still gently. Nick came in from the kitchen, a box of tissues in one hand, a framed photo in the other.

“Mr. Keyes is on his way,” he murmured.

Vito pressed a tissue in the woman’s hand. “Mrs. Keyes? He and Sherry what?”

She wiped her eyes. “They were saving up to get married. She’s a nice girl.”

“Did you get the idea that Warren was worried or afraid of anyone?” Nick asked.

“He was worried about money. He hadn’t had any acting jobs in a long time.” Her lips bent into a painful smile. “His agent told him if he moved to New York, he could find lots of work, but Sherry’s family is here. She wouldn’t leave and he wouldn’t leave her.”

Nick turned the photo so that it faced Mrs. Keyes. “This is Warren with Sherry?”

New tears flooded her eyes. “Yes,” she whispered. “At their engagement party.”

Vito put his notebook back in his pocket. “We need to go through his room,” Vito said. “And we’ll bring in a fingerprinting unit.”

She nodded dully. “Of course. Anything you need to do.”

He stood, aware that he had no words that would bring her comfort. Before Andrea, he’d have asked if she was all right. But this grieving mother was not all right. She was in pain and would be for some time. When he got to the end of the hall, he looked back. Bowed forward, she clutched the photo of her son to her breast, rocking as she wept.

“Chick,” Nick said softly. “Come on.”

Vito exhaled. “I know.” He opened the door to Warren’s room. “Let’s get to work.”

They began going through Warren’s things. “Sports equipment,” Nick said from the closet. “Hockey, baseball.” There was a clunk of metal. “Lifted some serious weights.”

Vito found Warren’s portfolio. “Handsome guy.” He flipped through the pages of photographs and magazine clippings. “Looks like he mostly did magazine ads. I’ve seen this one. It’s for a local gym. Keyes was a big, strong guy. I can’t imagine he would have been easily overpowered.”

“Chick, look.” Nick had powered up Warren’s computer. “Come and look at this.”

Vito stood behind him, staring at the blank screen. “What? I don’t see anything.”

“That’s the point. There’s nothing here. When I open his ‘My Documents,’ nothing. Nothing in his e-mail. Nothing in the recycle bin.” Nick looked up over his shoulder, his brows lifted. “This computer has been wiped clean.”

Monday, January 15, 12:25

P.M.

“You sure Sophie works here?” Nick asked, frowning. He stood next to the front desk of the museum, looking around impatiently. “I don’t think anybody works here.”

Vito nodded, his attention on the photographs of the museum’s founder on the wall of the lobby. “Yes, she works here. Her bike was parked at the end of the parking lot.”

“That was Sophie’s?”

Vito was a little annoyed at the sudden interest on Nick’s face. “Yeah. So?”

“Just that it’s just a nice bike, Chick.” Nick’s lips twitched. “Easy, boy.”

Vito rolled his eyes, but the ringing of his cell saved him from having to reply.

Nick sobered. “Is that Sherry?” They’d been unsuccessful in contacting Warren Keyes’s fiancée after leaving his parents’ apartment. She wasn’t at her own apartment nor was she due to show up at the factory where she worked until seven.

Vito checked the caller ID and his pulse kicked up a notch. “No, it’s my dad.” He flipped open his phone, praying for good news. “Dad. How’s Molly?”

“Stable. She’s got some strength back in her legs and her tremors are less frequent. The doctor’s trying to figure out what triggered this attack.”

Vito frowned. “I thought he said she had a mini-stroke.”

“He’s changed his mind. They found high levels of mercury in her system.”

“Mercury?” Vito was sure he’d heard wrong. “How did she get exposed to mercury?”

“They don’t know. They’re thinking she was exposed to something in the house.”

His heart skipped a beat. “What about the kids?”

“They didn’t have any symptoms. But he wanted them all to come in for testing, so your mother and Tino brought them in. They were pretty scared, especially Pierce.”

Vito’s heart squeezed. “Poor little guy. How long before we know if they’re okay?”

“By tomorrow morning. But the doctor doesn’t want any of the boys to go home until they know for sure where Molly got exposed. Dino wanted me to ask you if-”

“For God’s sake, Dad,” Vito interrupted. “You know the kids can stay with me as long as they need to.”

“Well, I told him that, but Molly was worried they were causing you trouble.”

“Tell her they’re fine. Last night they made cake and played war in my living room.“

“Tess is coming to help you and Tino take care of them,” his father said and Vito felt a spurt of joy, despite his worry. He hadn’t seen his sister in months. “That way your mother and I can be here for Dino. Tess’s flight gets in at seven. She’s renting a car so she can get around while she’s here, so you don’t need to get her at the airport.”

“Is there anything else we can do?”

“No.” Michael Ciccotelli drew a deep breath. “Except pray, son.”

It had been a long time since he’d done so, but it would hurt his dad to know it. So Vito lied. “You know I will.” He slipped his phone back in his pocket.

“Will Molly be okay?” Nick asked quietly.

“Don’t know. My dad says to pray. In my experience that’s never good.”

“Well, if you need to go… just go, okay?”

“I will. Look.” Grateful for the diversion of work, Vito pointed to the back wall, where a tall door was opening. A woman appeared and walked toward them. She was petite, in her mid-thirties, and wore a sensible blue suit with a skirt that stopped at her knees. Her dark hair was pulled back in a neat twist, making her look professional and… boring, Vito realized. She could use some big hoop earrings and a red bandana. She moved behind the desk, obviously sizing them up.

“Can I help you two gentlemen?” she asked, her accent crisp and British.

Vito showed his badge. “I’m Detective Ciccotelli and this is my partner, Detective Lawrence. We’re here to see Dr. Johannsen.”

The woman’s eyes took on a speculative light. “Has she done something wrong?”

Nick shook his head. “No. May we see her?”

“Now?”

Vito bit his tongue. “Now would be good.” He looked at her nametag. “Miss Albright.” Up close Vito realized she was much younger than he’d thought, probably in her early twenties. Apparently his age-guesser needed a tune-up.