by Ann Simas
You’re right. I’m a bastard and I admit it. Denise didn’t deserve any of what I said to her or how I treated her those last few months, or what I planned for her.
“Let’s get back to the questionnaire. You didn’t want her to suffer. Did you think shooting her was the best way to have her killed?”
Gunshot seemed the surest way. I preferred up close, with no chance for a miss, so I chose that as number one. Secondarily, I opted for a sniper shot. When I finally communicated with The Liquidator, he assured me he wouldn’t miss, either way, and that she would be dead, with one shot, before she hit the ground. The only question that remained was the circumstance. Did he make it look like a home invasion, a sexual assault gone awry, or a random shooting.
“Which did you choose?”
I couldn’t. I told him to use his discretion.
“Did you state a preference for the actual date?”
Yes. February third. I thought it would be appropriate for her to die on my birthday. He paused. Ironic, isn’t it, that all this started because she wanted to give me a special gift for my birthday?
Ironic didn’t quite cover it. “Backing up now. You said you met with The Liquidator. How did it happen and can you give me a description of him?
You’ll find this even more ironic, considering your friendship with Father Riley.
“How do you know I’m friends with Father Riley?”
I can read your thoughts, remember. I’ve heard you thinking about him a couple of times. He made a grunting sound. The Liquidator set up a meet at St. Gemma’s, in the confessional. He was in the priestly compartment, I was in the sinner booth. No one came into the church the entire time we were there the first time. The second time, someone came in to pray and we had to suspend our conversation for half an hour.
“You met with him twice? Did you get the impression that he lives nearby?”
Hunh…I guess I did. Each time, I was instructed to wait ten minutes after he left before I exited the church, so I never saw what he was driving, if he even got into a car at all, or which direction he headed.
“Did you ever communicate via email?”
Yes, initially, but then I was told to purchase a disposable phone, and once I did, someone texted me with additional questions.
“Why do you say ‘someone’?”
I…I’m not sure. I suppose because the questions were redundant. I’d already provided him with the information. He paused again. You know, I remember thinking at the time that he might have turned the job over to someone else.
“Did you bother to ask?”
No.
Andi found that peculiar, but didn’t say so. “What kinds of questions?”
How much could I pay? Where did I live? Was the mark in the same city? What was my relationship with the mark?
Curiouser and curiouser. “What did you do with the phone?”
Nothing. I carried it with me during the day, when I was at work, but I kept it in the bureau drawer when I got home. He paused a moment. You do know that I began my death spiral at home, don’t you?
“All I know is that you had an aneurism. The medical examiner confirmed that, but he also did a toxicology screen on you and he’s awaiting results.”
No one poisoned me, although I wish to God someone had before I got a wild hair up my ass to kill my wife.
Andi made a strangled sound.
What’s that about?
“Wild hair,” she said. “The game app I’m writing is called Wild Hare, h-a-r-e, as in from the rabbit family. I was taken aback by your choice of words, that’s all.”
I like your rabbit wild hare better than my idiot wild hair.
Andi understood why, but even so, just like that, he was gone again before she had a chance to ask more questions or tell him that she would be meeting with Denise that evening.
. . .
Vaughn texted Andi at twelve-fifteen that he was waiting for her downstairs. She saved her work and logged off her computer, then used the restroom, grabbed her coat and purse and headed out.
“Where would you like to go?” Vaughn asked. “I’m so hungry, I could eat a bear.”
Andi grinned. “There’s a steak house nearby, but I don’t think they serve bear.”
He grinned back. “Walk or drive?”
“Too far to walk, especially since I didn’t wear my boots and the sidewalks may not have all been cleared yet.”
“Your carriage awaits, then.” He took her elbow and escorted her across the street, which was still icy in spots. “I don’t get this city. They’re never ready for snow.”
“Go figure,” Andi said facetiously, climbing into his Mercedes GL. “Wow, this is luxurious.”
“Sherry picked it out. She wanted something comfortable to drive while she was carting kids around.”
“She always did have good taste.”
“That she did.”
They arrived at the restaurant five minutes later. Vaughn ordered a ribeye and Andi ordered a french dip.
“I take it your meeting with Orion went well,” she said.
“What gave me away?” Vaughn asked, his eyes twinkling.
“Gee, I don’t know. Maybe your dour expression and overall depressed mood?”
He laughed. “I can’t give you any particulars yet, but suffice it to say, Orion and I hit it off and we’re both excited about what the future holds for us.”
Andi was happy to see Vaughn finally enjoying himself. He’d taken Sherry’s death hard, and being thrust into the role of single-parent to two sets of twins, was no picnic. Though life had been tough on him, he was mastering it. “I’m glad. You deserve a bit of good fortune.”
He smirked. “That’s the problem. I have a fortune and it needs to be put to good use.”
Andi knew he wasn’t exaggerating. He’d sold his software company for reported mega millions and in December, the employees at Sherry’s real estate firm, located in Bellevue, Washington, had asked if he was interested in selling the business to them. They’d offered a fair price, Vaughn said, so he accepted. “Did the closing go okay on Sherry’s company?”
He nodded. “It did and I gifted the proceeds to Eddie and Sally. They’ve got a lot of years ahead of them, and I want them to be worry-free of financial matters.”
He said it with no braggadocio and he’d done it because he loved Sherry’s parents as if they were his own. Andi got emotional just thinking about it. “That’s an amazing gesture, Vaughn. I’m sure they appreciate it.”
“They do, but it doesn’t bring back their daughter.”
“No, but Sherry would have approved and they’ll always be like your real folks.”
“That’s for sure. Ah, here comes lunch.”
While they ate, Andi said, “I’d like to take you up on your offer to discuss Clem Naylor.”
He studied her as he chewed. After he swallowed, he said, “I figured you’d do that eventually. What do you want to know?”
“Clem says he may have said something to you about his wife cheating on him.”
“What? He couldn’t remember telling me about it?”
She shook her head. “He claims he was distraught over it for the last few months of his life and wasn’t thinking clearly.”
Vaughn seemed to mull that over. “I guess if I’d been in a similar situation, I’d have been out of my head, too.”
“So, he did tell you about it?”
“We discussed it on a couple of occasions. Both times, I recommended that he confront Denise outright. He seemed reluctant to do so.” He picked up his water glass and took a healthy swallow. “His reaction kind of reminded me of my kids. You know, they hide their eyes and think you can’t see them?”
Andi nodded. “What you can’t see won’t hurt you, only Clem was wounded deeply by the perceived betrayal and nothing was going to salve that.”
“Perceived?”
“Umm. When he passed, he discovered that Denise hadn’t been cheating on him, after all.” She explained abou
t Denise’s class and the birthday portrait.
Vaughn stared at her. “Poor, dumb bastard.”
“It gets worse,” Andi said. “The poor, dumb bastard hired a hitman to kill her for straying.”
Vaughn put down his silverware and slouched in his chair. “Ah, shit. That’s what he meant when he said he was going to take care of it. I thought he was going to finally confront her. Good God, what a mess!”
“Did he mention anything at all to you that might help me track down who the hitman is?”
His eyes widened. “Jesus, Andi, you’re not taking on a hitman, are you? This is a helluva lot different than what happened to Sherry.”
“Not so much, really, but relax, I’m not going to confront a paid killer. I’d just like to figure out who he is and how to find him before he actually completes the deed. EPD will take it from there.”
Vaughn straightened and planted his elbows on the tabletop, tenting his fingers. He tapped them repeatedly against his lips, a signal that he’d gone into thinking mode. “I don’t have a memory like yours, Andi, but I will tell you this. Clem said the answer to solving his problem was ‘only a hop, skip, and a jump away.’ I thought maybe he was considering moving to another city to get Denise away from her lover, but knowing he hired a hitman puts a fresh meaning to his words. He really doesn’t know who he hired?”
“No, he connected with someone on the Internet through a hitman site he found circuitously via an article on the FBI webpage.”
“Good lord! The FBI’s helping advertise hitmen?”
“No, it was an informational article about how one hitman, in particular, operated and how he was caught.”
“And from that, he went on to find a real hitman website?”
“As real as it gets.”
“I’m going to have to think on this some more. You know, I haven’t been completely in my right mind since Sherry died, and it’s been since then that Clem told me about Denise cheating on him.”
“I know, and I’m sorry I even have to ask you these questions. You’ve been through so much already.”
“I don’t mind. It’s just that I may not be able to recollect all of what he said to me, but I promise you, I’m going to try like hell, anyway.”
“I appreciate it.”
“You give me your word you’re not going to put yourself in danger?”
“I won’t, honest. Jack will be back on Sunday and on the case on Monday. Father Riley and I met with his LT last night, and tonight, she and I are going to Denise’s to let her know what’s going on.”
“If you need me to authenticate you, give me a call. I can be at her house within minutes.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that, especially” —she gave him a wide-eyed innocent look— “since I was going to ask if you could be there.”
He lifted an eyebrow, grinning. “What time?”
She told him.
“I can do that.”
Andi finished her coffee. “I’ve never met Denise, but the LT has known her for a long time. It turns out that Denise and the LT’s sister have been BFFs since forever.”
“That’s a lucky break.”
“It is. Still, she may be resistant to believing me, so it’s good to know you’ll be there to back me up.”
“What about Father Riley?”
“He’s gone off to Salem on a fact-finding mission to talk to a guy housed at the state penitentiary who hired The Liquidator to murder his wife. The hitman succeeded and evaded capture, but the husband was sentenced to life without parole. Riley is hoping he can shed some light on The Liquidator’s identity.”
“The Liquidator? Wasn’t that a TV series some years back, or a movie?”
Andi nodded. “A movie. This killer probably took the moniker because he was in a like profession.”
“Sounds to me like he’ll go to any lengths to protect his livelihood. Keep your head down and your eyes up, Andi. Do you have a concealed-carry permit?”
“For a gun?” Andi asked, shocked that Vaughn would even ask such a question.
He nodded. “If you’re going to spend your spare time super-sleuthing murders, you’d better start packing.”
Chapter 8
Andi worked with no interruptions for the duration of the afternoon. She left Orion’s Belt a little early so she could meet Stacy on time at the Thai restaurant, then followed her further north, to the Naylor house.
Denise was a pretty natural blonde with a rounded figure and intense blue eyes. She and the LT hugged, clinging together like long-lost friends on a sinking ship. Indeed, Denise looked like a lost soul. Her red-rimmed eyes probably explained why the blue of her irises was so pronounced. Her nose was also red and she sounded stuffed up, no doubt from all the crying she’d been doing over her husband’s death.
Andi was already regretting that she was about to burst the poor woman’s bubble.
Stacy introduced her with a vague explanation of why they were there. A brief puzzled expression wrinkled Denise’s forehead, but she welcomed Andi warmly, nonetheless.
Andi accepted the widow’s outstretched hand and said, “I’m so sorry to hear about your husband’s death.”
Denise’s eyes welled. “Thank you. Let’s sit in the kitchen, shall we? I have a pot of coffee made and I baked….” She shrugged. “I baked something this afternoon. I just can’t remember at the moment what it was.” She emitted a sound that might have been a laugh, but it held no humor. “I hope I remembered to include all the ingredients.”
The LT and Andi removed their coats and followed Denise through the house. She had a lovely home, decorated simply, but with style and coziness in mind. Everything was kid-friendly, too, which reminded Andi of the Hemmer’s house, where Sherry had also kept things kid-friendly.
Someday, Andi hoped to have a home where she could do the same. The moment the thought occurred to her, she realized that she’d been having too many similar thoughts lately about love, marriage, and a baby carriage. Her internal voice shouted out, Stop!
“Where are the kids?” Stacy asked.
“Clem’s parents asked if they could have them for the weekend. I didn’t want to be without them for that long, but his folks are suffering just as badly as I am right now. How could I refuse them the company of their son’s children for a few days?” Denise went to the counter, then looked around as if she didn’t know why she’d come to the kitchen.
“You sit,” Stacy said. “Andi and I will pour some coffee and serve some of this delicious-looking dessert. Is this your famous Budapest Coffee Cake?”
Denise finally smiled. “Yes! That’s what I made.” She waved toward a cupboard and said, “Plates and cups there, silverware below. Napkins….”
Stacy put her hands on Denise’s shoulders and turned her. “We’ll find everything. I’ve been here before, remember?”
Denise moved over to the table and sat. The LT joined her, carrying a tray laden with four steaming mugs. Andi made two trips, placing the cake on the table last. It was within arm’s reach if anyone wanted a slice.
“Thanks for coming,” Denise said, her voice warbly. “I didn’t know what I was going to do with myself all night, alone.”
Andi found herself almost overcome by Denise’s grief. If only time wasn’t of the essence, they could have put off this meeting and the horrific topic they had to discuss with her. She and Stacy shared a look of regret.
Denise stared down at the fourth coffee mug, a slight frown on her face. “It was a nice service, wasn’t it?” she asked Stacy.
“It was. I especially liked hearing the anecdotal stories Clem’s friends and co-workers told, and when his cousin got up and related the time Clem ran away with his goldfish when he was ten. The way he told it…my God, every time I think about it, it makes me laugh.”
Denise smiled. “I always said to Clem, don’t go telling Christian he can’t do something, because he might run away like you did.”
Stacy fidgeted nervously with the handle of he
r coffee mug. Andi longed to say something, anything, but Stacy had to be the one to introduce the reason they’d come.
Finally, the LT blew out a breath and began. “Denise, I’m sorry to have to come at a time like this….”
“Why? I don’t want to be alone! I have the rest of my life to be alone.” Her eyes welled again but no tears fell. “Oh, God, what am I going to do without him?”
Stacy reached over and grabbed Denise’s hand, giving her time to regain her composure. After several minutes, she said, “Honey, there’s no other way to tell you this but straight out.” She scooted her chair a little closer to Denise’s without relinquishing her hold on her hand. “Clem thought you were having an affair.”
“No!”
“Yes. You were gone a couple of evenings a week and he thought you were meeting a lover.”
“But…no! I was at my painting class. I couldn’t tell him because it was a surprise. I was painting a family portrait, for his birthday next month.” Her eyes darted wildly between the LT and Andi. “I wasn’t having an affair! I would never do that! I swear to you!”
“I know that, honey, but Clem apparently didn’t.”
“Why didn’t he ask me? I wouldn’t have liked giving up the surprise, but I would have to put his mind at ease. I never would have cheated on him! I loved him. He was my soul mate!”
“I know that, too, Denise, but….”
“What? There’s something more, isn’t there? Spit it out,” she demanded, her tone suddenly bitter.
Stacy looked at Andi, then back at her sister’s BFF. “Clem hired, that is, he contracted for….” Stacy, who Andi had never seen emotional, began to cry. “Andi, please….”
Andi took a deep breath and geared herself up to deliver more bad news to a woman who didn’t seem like she could take much more. “Clem hired a hitman to kill you, Denise, because he thought you were—”
“No! You’re lying!” she screamed. She jerked her hand from Denise’s hold and pushed away from the table. Her chair went crashing into the wall, leaving a horizontal indentation where it hit.
Stacy jumped up and grabbed Denise, trying to console her. “Please listen, honey. Just hear Andi out.”
