Faye Kellerman: The Mercedes Coffin

“Hmmm…sounds like a convenient time to forget things.”

“Could be Mudd’s lying, but remember also that Mudd wasn’t too focused to begin with. He admitted being stoned. He was always on one kind of drug or another.”

“That seems convenient, too.”

“Agreed.”

“Go on.”

“Mudd said he went crazy after the shooting. Rudy managed to calm him down and get him into his car, but before they left, he remembered Rudy with his hand on Leroy’s shoulder, talking to him. Goldberg couldn’t hear what he was saying. Ryan also seemed to remember that Rudy gave Leroy money. That would fit with Wenderhole’s version of Leroy carrying around a lot of cash. What I think happened was that Ryan and Rudy went home while Leroy drove Little’s car to Clearwater Park. Then he called up Wenderhole to pick him up.”

“I see. And Goldberg just let the incident go without a protest?”

“Apparently he did. Mudd must have read about it in the papers. He must have been scared. But he swore that after that night, he never talked about it again…except to tell Melinda that he didn’t kill her husband.”

“But you’re not so sure about that.”

“No, I’m not. What I am certain about is that for fifteen years, Mudd lived with the guilt.”

Genoa said, “But if Mudd lived with the guilt for fifteen years, why did he suddenly snap?”

“Again, no one knows for sure,” Decker answered. “This is my theory for what it’s worth. When I visited Mudd that one time, he said he called up his old bandmate, Liam O’Dell, to ask questions about why I was there. Liam made the mistake of telling him that I was looking for Rudy, probably in regards to Ekerling’s murder. I think my investigation unleashed something inside of him. He told his doctors that he suddenly wanted to find Rudy himself and take care of something that should have been taken care of a long time ago.”

“How’d he find Rudy?”

“Not by any brilliant deductive powers. The standoff made the news. Somehow Mudd managed to find a secret spot with a good view of the Sand Dune’s front lawn. He waited for Rudy to come out, and from there, we all know what happened. I thank God every day that Goldberg was an accurate shot.”

“How’d he do that? Wasn’t it pitch-black outside?”

“It was actually light gray. The sun hadn’t come up, but it wasn’t nighttime.”

Genoa said, “I can’t understand this. If Rudy was involved in Primo Ekerling’s death, and you think he was…”

“Definitely.”

“Then why did he dispose of Ekerling’s body in the same way that he disposed of Little’s body? Didn’t he think that someone would put two and two together?”

“We were dealing with two deaths, fifteen years apart, in different parts of L.A. The principal investigators on the Little case had retired. Banks probably thought that no one would notice.”

“I did.”

Decker smiled briefly. “Yes, you did. And maybe Banks thought that even if the cops did realize the similarities, we’d blame the murders on Ryan Goldberg. He was the one who was unbalanced.”

“But Ryan had nothing against Primo Ekerling. Primo was his friend.”

“You’re right, Ms. Greeves. I can’t answer that question well. I don’t know what went through Rudy’s head.”

“All right.” She clicked on her laptop. “That’s not a completely sufficient answer, but I suppose it’s the best you can do.” She typed away. “That’s taken care of. Now what about Cal Vitton? Why did he commit suicide? Or was it murder?”

“We’ll never know for certain. I think it was suicide.”

“Why?”

“Okay, let me see if I can make some sense. Phil Shriner had passed along Rudy’s name to Cal Vitton as a suspect in the Little murder. Shriner knew that Melinda had had an affair with Rudy and he thought that Rudy looked like a pretty good candidate for Ben Little’s murder. But Vitton never followed through. Maybe he forgot about the tip or maybe he chose to forget about it. I think Vitton didn’t want to antagonize Rudy because Banks knew that Vitton’s younger son was gay.”

“I thought you said that everyone knew that Vitton’s son was gay.”

“But Cal J hadn’t come out of the closet. Big Cal was embarrassed about it and didn’t want the information to be common knowledge. Big Cal was from the old school where homosexuality was an embarrassment.”

“Vitton was embarrassed enough to hide a murderer?”

“Maybe. Besides, Vitton didn’t know for certain that Rudy had anything to do with Little’s death. I’m betting that he probably chose not to find out one way or the other. I do know that Big Cal had been so ashamed of his son’s homosexuality that he didn’t stop Rudy and other boys from bullying his own flesh and blood.”

“That’s appalling.”

“Yes, it is.”

“So why should Vitton have sudden pangs of remorse?”

“Maybe Vitton knew it was all going to come out in my investigation. Maybe he didn’t want to be around to see his reputation crash. Or maybe he was just depressed. Then again, maybe Rudy slipped him some pills, aimed the gun at his head, and somehow had Cal pull the trigger.”

“ Cal pulled the trigger?”

“Yes, we’re certain about that. It’s the why that’s a mystery.”

There were lots of mysteries that they’d never know now that Rudy Banks was dead. Like whose blood was splashed under the baseboard of his apartment.

Win some, lose some.

“As far as Little’s death, I can’t say for sure who actually killed him, but I think we can safely narrow it down to three people. Two are dead, the other’s in custody.”

“Then I suppose I got what I came for.” Genoa stood. “Although not entirely solved, I’m satisfied. And I intend to make good on my promise, much to the delight of your captain.”

“Much to the delight of the entire police force.”

“I understand that your captain is taking me to a dinner in my honor tonight. I’m meeting the commissioner and the police chief. I assume you’ll be there as well?”

Decker’s smile was tight. “No, ma’am, I have prior arrangements.”

“And you can’t cancel them?”

“Not unless I want a divorce.”

DECKER WAS IN a suit and tie. Rina was in a black dress and black pumps and wearing pearls. Just as they pulled up to the valet, Rina said, “I’m not in the mood for this.”

Decker was silent.

“Not that I don’t want to be with you, I’m just not in the mood for a dog and pony show…nor the giant bill that will surely follow. I packed a picnic dinner. Let’s find a nice spot at the beach and eat in the car.”

If Decker never saw the ocean again, it would be too soon. “Sure. Where?”

“How about Sunset Beach?”

As long as it wasn’t Santa Monica, it was tolerable. It took about a half hour to drive and find a good spot on a paved parking lot right off Pacific Coast Highway. Decker pulled the Porsche over and killed the headlights and the motor. Looking out the window…the two of them staring out at vast nothingness. No moonlight, lots of overcast fog, and tides rolling back and forth.

“The picnic basket is in the front compartment.”

“I’ll get it.” Decker returned a moment later with the food. Rina might have still been pissed at him, but it didn’t translate in her cooking. There were smoked chicken breasts on baguettes, brisket on rye, butter lettuce salad with macadamia nuts, potato chips, strawberries dipped in chocolate and champagne.

“I’m unworthy,” Decker said.

“You’re not kidding.” Silence. “That was mean. I apologize.”

“Why don’t you just get it all out, and maybe then we can move on.”

“There’s nothing to get out.” A pause. “I can’t believe how little disregard you have for your loved ones and yourself.”