Jonathan Kellerman - Flesh And Blood

I said, “That’s when she complained about Jane wanting to control her.”

“Yes, exactly. She said Jane was a coward and a liar and totally full of shit to think she – Lauren – would just sit there and let someone else make up the rules. She was also mad that Jane had tried to bribe her to keep quiet – said it was sleazy.”

“Bribe her how?”

“After Jane got divorced, she was real poor for a while. So she wrote to Tony Duke and he started sending her money. For her and for Lauren. Even though Lauren wasn’t in the picture – she and Jane had lost contact for years. Jane claimed she spent only her part, put Lauren’s share aside. When she and Lo connected, she started giving Lo a regular allowance, but she never told Lo where it really came from.”

Milo and I exchanged glances. Both of us remembering the deposits in Lauren’s portfolio. A hundred thousand payment four years ago, then fifty a year since.

“Big money?” said Milo.

“Lauren didn’t specify, but it must’ve been, right?” said Salander. “All those zeros. And the way she dressed. But the point was, Jane wasn’t up front about it. Lied to Lauren about where Lauren’s allowance was coming from.”

“What did she tell her?”

“That her second husband was giving it to her – to Jane – and that Jane was sharing with Lauren, out of the goodness of her heart.”

“Lauren believed that?”

“He’s a rich TV producer, Mr. Abbot. Real generous with Jane. Jane was living like a rich woman now. But then, when Jane was trying to pressure Lauren not to blow the lid off the Duke thing, she told Lauren where the money had really come from, tried to make herself a saint – like ‘I put myself on a limb for you, all those years you never talked to me, I still put your money aside.’ And then she offered to give Lauren even more money if she’d stay away from Tony Duke.”

“Why was she worried about that?”

“She told Lauren it would create a big mess, there was nothing to gain from it. Lauren suspected what she was really worried about was ticking off Tony Duke and jeopardizing her own allowance. Protecting her butt. In Lo’s mind, Jane was just trying to buy her off, and she was tired of being bought.”

Salander turned silent. “I guess I know, now, what she meant.”

“Ding,” said LeMoyne, miming a bell ring.

Milo said, “So Jane wrote a letter to Duke, and he just started sending her money.”

“Jane wouldn’t give Lo the details – that was part of the frustration. Jane got drunk and spilled out the whole story, then she just curled up and wouldn’t tell Lauren any more.”

“Can you blame her?” said LeMoyne. “The girl was a hooker. The mother had a golden goose farting into her hand and knew that if Duke found out he had a hooker kid, that would screw the deal. He’s Mr. Wholesome Tits and Ass, a daughter who earned her living on her knees would be bad PR.” Smiling at Milo: “Right?”

“Good story line.”

“It’s my job.” Chuckling, LeMoyne returned to the script.

“So Jane tried to hold Lauren back,” I said. “But Lauren wouldn’t be held back. Made contact with the Dukes and went to see them in Malibu.”

Salander said, “She never gave me the details, but she did say thank God for her computer – she used it to research the Dukes, didn’t need her mother or anyone else ’cause she had technology on her side. She even showed it to me – had this cute little family tree thingie in there – this actual little tree full of apples with people’s names on them.”

Milo said, “Did you notice any of the names?”

“No, she didn’t let me get that close – just wanted me to see the tree, and then brought it back into her room. Like she was proud of it. She said it was a genealogy program; she’d bought it and downloaded it herself.” Salander flinched. “And then when you called and asked about the computer and I realized it was gone… That’s when I started to worry.”

“That maybe someone wanted to get hold of the family data.”

“That and the fact someone had gotten into our place. Then, when I heard about Jane.” Salander bit his lip. “I started thinking: Maybe Lauren had misjudged her mother. Maybe Jane didn’t want Lauren to get too close not because she was worried about getting cut off but because it was dangerous. What if Jane really cared and Lauren was never able to see that?”

Milo stood, paced the space between the bed and the window. “Did Lauren indicate that she’d ever actually made contact with Tony Duke?”

“No,” said Salander. “All I know about is that tree thingie. But he does live in Malibu, right? That humongous place, with all the parties.”

“What else did she tell you that could help me, Andy?”

“That’s it, I promise. After that one time she spilled her guts, she pulled back – just like Jane did with her. Mostly she stayed in her room, in front of that computer.”

“Did she ever talk about other family members? Besides Tony Duke?”

Salander shook his head.

“What about girls she’d worked with?”

“Not that I recall.”

“Michelle Salazar?”

“No.”

“Shawna Yeager?”

“Uh-uh. She never talked about the past. And like I told you the first time, she didn’t have any friends. A real loner.”

“A girl and her computer,” said Milo.

Salander said, “So sad.” Then: “Now what?”

“Have you told anyone besides Mr. LeMoyne about any of this?”

“No.” A glance at LeMoyne. “And all Justin wanted was to write up a treatment and register it-” He stopped. “That could be dangerous, huh? If someone at the Guild saw it and-”

“Oh, please,” said LeMoyne. “No one in the Industry reads .”

“Still,” said Milo.

“Fine, fine,” snapped LeMoyne. “Fine.”

Milo turned to Salander. “Andy, I’ll be needing you to repeat everything you’ve told me for a formal statement.”

Salander blanched. “Why?”

“It’s the rules. We’ll do it in a couple of days. Either down at the station or somewhere more private, if you’re straight with me about sticking around. This time.”

“More private,” said Salander. “Definitely more private. Do you think we can move back to Justin’s place? I mean, if Lauren and Jane died because Lauren was Tony Duke’s daughter and I know about it-”

“That’s the point, son,” said Milo. “No one knows you know. If you’re discreet, I don’t see any imminent danger. If you’re not, I can’t promise you anything.”

Salander laughed hollowly.

“Something funny, Andy?”

“I was just thinking. About those times you came into The Cloisters and I served you. It’s really a great job, tending bar. You have the power to make people happy – their moods just kind of fall into your hands. Not just the booze, it’s everything – the listening. I knew you were a cop, someone told me. At first it bothered me. What an ugly world you must live in – I hoped you wouldn’t start talking, didn’t want to soak up all those negative vibes. But you never did. You just sat there and drank – you and that handsome doctor. Neither of you talked, you just drank in silence, then left. I started feeling sorry for you – no offense. Soaking up those vibes yourself. But I also felt good about helping you – not that you had a problem, but you know what I mean. I was in charge, got those beers and shots delivered right on the money and everyone was happy. And now…”

Another laugh. “I’ll be discreet, all right,” said Salander. “I’m the soul of discretion.”

Outside, I said, “No imminent danger?”

“Not if he keeps his mouth shut.”

“No grounds for protective custody?”