“But they aren’t. I found out poor Harry wasn’t a suicide, that somebody stole all his records, that Jamie belongs to another woman. Not even Lupe would’ve discovered all that. I think I’m doing splendidly, Walter.”
He laughed. “What are you going to do, open DeeDee’s Detective Agency?”
“Not a bad idea. We could be partners. You learned about the kidnapping and who Jamie really is.”
He waved that aside. “Any gumshoe can stumble on something once in awhile. While you’re detecting, you might ask what’s to keep your well-muscled Isla Vista friend from still calling up—”
“I told him he’d never sleep with Karen again if he told anyone.” She smiled. “Those aren’t the exact words I used, but that’s what I meant.”
“Probably an idle threat, given the way those two ogle each other.”
“Karen’s taking both boys to her brother’s in Fresno. She promised not to tell Marco where they are.”
“And what’s to keep him from calling up Kinkaid or whoever and telling him about your involvement? That has to be worth a few bucks.”
Her eyes widened. “I don’t think he will,” she said softly.
“Will you admit my worry has some justification?”
She rested her head on his chest. “I worry about you, too, you know.” She couldn’t bring herself to say cancer. “There’s risk for both of us in chasing after—bad guys.”
He thought about the threat from the Ninja, but said nothing.
“We agreed we didn’t want to be old stick-in-the-muds. That’s why I opened the shop and you drive the homeless around. Keeps us young.” She smiled up at him. “Isn’t playing detective sort of fun?”
“So is bungee jumping, I’m told.”
“We’ll have to try that. Darling, let’s not worry—”
“Tomorrow will take care of itself. Well said, my dear.” He kissed her. “Let me tell you my news.”
She listened. “Do you think this Henry is right about Amanda Sykes?”
“Tough call,” he said. “Ever since his skiing accident, Henry’s mind is in and out. He can remember something vividly, then a moment later not know it at all.” He stroked his chin, felt whiskers. “I’m inclined to believe him. The two are of an age. They could have gone to school together.” He stopped. “Damn, why didn’t I check Henry’s records while I was there. That would have settled it.”
“You can’t think of everything, dear. The fact Henry knew a nickname for her, especially one like Cyclone for Sykes—”
“That is sort of convincing, isn’t it?”
She sipped her brandy. “Let’s assume Jamie’s mother is Amanda Sykes.”
“Who once had a romance with then-Congressman Justin Wright.”
“Where’s Amanda Sykes now? Out at the Kinkaid castle? If she is, how do we get in there to rescue her?”
“Whoa, dobbin, you move too fast.”
“You should’ve seen me on the freeway.”
“Thank God I didn’t. I may, hopefully, soon answer at least one of your questions.”
“I’m all ears.”
“And such pretty ones.” He kissed her. “I stopped at your competition and bought a bouquet of flowers.”
“Oh?”
“I had it sent out to the castle, but I didn’t want it to look like it came from me. “
She kissed him back. “Who’s the lucky girl?”
“Her name is Maria Angelo, a cook or something out there, and a friend of Addie Kinkaid. I wrote a note giving her my cell number. Addie is rather hard to reach.”
“Sounds like a good idea.”
“We’ll hope so. I didn’t want the message intercepted by one of the Ninja, so I wrote in Spanish—and you know how good my Spanish is.”
“You should have come to DeeDee’s Flowers. Se habla Español. What did you think you were saying in your note?"
“That Addie was in trouble and needed her.”
“She probably thinks you wanted a date.”
“Then she’ll definitely call. You didn’t happen to get that number Marco was calling when you so rudely—”
“I did of course.”
He had just jotted it down when his cell phone rang. “I couldn’t be so lucky, could I?” Spanish, his understanding nil, assaulted his ear. All he got were the names Maria and Addie. “Habla mas despacio, por favor.” If that slowed her down, he couldn’t detect it.
“Let me try.” Doreen took the phone from him.
He stood there feeling helpless, listening to Doreen’s si, si’s and yo comprendo’s. She even threw in an es verdad or two.
“What do you want me to tell her?”
“That Addie Kinkaid lost her home and is living at the Salvation Army temporarily. Also—” Doreen’s streak of Spanish silenced him.
“What else do you want to know?”
“I didn’t know your Spanish was so good.”
“I’m good at lots of things.” Her grin was wicked.
“Ask her if she knows where Josh is. Addie wants to reach him.”
He realized he might understand some of it, if he made the effort. But Doreen was doing her thing, so he gave up and quickly became bored. He fixed himself a highball then remembered the call he intended to make. He used the house phone. Lupe answered on the second ring. He told her about the rumor on the street. “There’s a number to call if you see the boy. I’d like to know whose it is, but I’d have to ID myself and that’s not too hot an idea.”
“What is it?” Then, “I’ll give it a shot first thing in the morning.”
Doreen ended her call and stood there, looking smug.
“Do I get to learn anything?”
“That drink looks good. May I have one?”
“You’ve had a cognac.”
“I’m in training for lushdom. Maria is most upset about Addie. I told her she was okay and you were keeping an eye on her.”
“Thank you, I forgot to add that.”
“She says Josh, whom she calls niño, is not a bad boy. He probably has no idea his mother is on the street. It is not his fault, etc. etc.”
“Where is the rotten kid, does she know?”
“Maria suffers inordinately that she does not know. The last she heard he was in Denver at an auto show.”
“Which I already knew. It’s something anyway. I’ll get on it. You spoke an awful lot of words to learn so little.”
“You should improve your Spanish. It’s a flowery language.”
“Why, when I have you.”
“One other thing. I asked if there was a woman staying there, young, perhaps in her 20s, light brown hair.”
“And?”
“Maria works in the kitchen and has nothing to do with house guests.”
“Too bad, would’ve been nice.”
“She thought perhaps Josh would know.”
“If we only knew where Josh was.”
He warmed leftover stew in the microwave while Doreen tossed a salad. They were just starting to eat when there was a rap at the kitchen door. He answered. It was Karen, clutching a small, male hand. He looked like Oliver Twist about to ask for “more.”
“What’s happened?” Doreen asked. “Aren’t you and Jamie going to Fresno?”
Karen looked at her hands, her feet, into space, anywhere but at Doreen.
“I guess I know the answer to that,” Doreen said softly.
“I can’t…do this no more, DeeDee, it’s too much…responsibility, I’m scared.”
“But Jamie’s mother—”
“I don’t hardly know her. She had no right. I did my share. It’s time for….”
“I see.” Doreen firmed her lips.
“Me and Marco and Tommy got a life to live, too.”
Doreen went to Jamie, picked him up. “It’s quite all right, Karen. I’ll see that Jamie is cared for.”
Guilt was a scar on Karen’s face. “I’m sorry, it’s just—”
“It’s all right, Karen.”
“Take care of him myself, of course.” Now she laughed. “Don’t look so surprised. I haven’t forgotten how to be a mother. It’s like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I haven’t made one in years, but I still know how.”
“I guess you don’t want me working for you no more.”
“Don’t be absurd. I’ll expect you first thing in the morning.”
“She looked away. “No, I won’t be able to…be around you.”
“I need you, Karen.”:
“I’ll stay till you find somebody.” Karen turned toward the door, then stopped. “Almost forgot, here’s your $200.”
“Thank you. There’s one thing you can do for me, Karen. If you should hear from Jamie’s mother tell her where he is. But please don’t tell anyone else, especially—”
“Marco, I know. I won’t.”
Doreen watched her leave, then, still holding Jamie, looked at Walter. ”Should I have asked you first?”
“You know better than that, it’s just—”
“It won’t be hard to trace him here, I know. We’ll just have to be careful, won’t we?”
He took the boy from her, held him aloft. “Young man, would you like some of Grandpa Byerly’s famous stew? It’s served in the finest kitchens of Europe, not to forget Asia and Antarctica. Do you know where that is?”
“Of course he does.”
“Smart kid we got here.” He sat him on a stool. ”Or would you prefer Grandma Doreen’s unforgettable peanut butter and jelly sandwich?”
“Jelly.”
“I shouldn’t have given you the choice.”
Later he said to her softly. “While we’re not worrying about possible dangers, shall we also not worry about becoming too attached to a certain little boy and losing him?”
She looked at him soulfully. “I’ll be good, I promise.”
“And when you’re good you’re very, very good.”
14: Detective Lupe Grills
“EAT YOUR CEREAL.”
Jamie’s tower of Fruit Loops climbed past two inches. “Why?” he said. An orange loop was nestled atop a red one.
“So you’ll grow up big and strong.”
“Why?”
Byerly laughed. “Maybe you should go back to grandmother school.”
“I haven’t forgotten a thing, and I’m having so much fun.”
“With all those whys the kid will grow up to be a research scientist.”
“It’s just the age, love, have you forgotten?”
A brown loop was added to the stack, then another red one. “Look, DeeDee.”
“I am, I am, it’s an—”
“Engineering marvel,” he said. “The kid’s an architect.”
The tower grew another loop. Both the boy and Doreen clapped and squealed, then it collapsed amid groans. She scooped the fallen cereal into a bowl, poured milk and said, “Now you’ll just have to eat the naughty Fruit Loops.” At last Jamie picked up his spoon.
“You taking him to the shop?”
“Nothing else to do.”
“I’m not driving for Care Wheels today. I could—”
“I really want him. Besides, the girls at the shop think he’s adorable.”
“He takes after you. Maybe I’ll stop around later, take him off your hands for awhile.”
When they were gone he perused the bible, but no names in Denver leaped out at him. Maria Angelo said Josh Kinkaid was with an auto show in Denver. Auto. Only one person for that. He picked up the phone, then thought better of it.
A few minutes later he turned off the 101 on to Hope Avenue, and one of the neater bits of planning in Santa Barbara. Most of the auto dealers were gathered in the one area, making shopping easier and reducing sprawl. He pulled into the BMW dealership, Cutter Motors. Did the name have anything to do with price?
“When are you getting rid of this junker?” Ed Eastman asked. He was tall, blond, fortyish, not too glib or dishonest. He probably would not sell a used car to his grandmother.
“It’s hardly broken in yet.”
“Sure, sure, how’s DeeDee?”
“She’s fine, the car you sold her, too.” He was tempted to tell him about her hair-raising ride, but Eastman probably drove like that all the time. “What’s an auto show?”
He laughed. “I’ve never known anyone who knew or cared less about cars. An auto show is an exhibit of new and experimental cars, usually held in a civic center or convention hall. Big crowds show up. Not everyone is like you, Walt.”
“Is there one in Denver?”
“Could be, I don’t know. Why?”
“You sound like a certain kid I know. I’m trying to locate someone. He’s supposed to be at auto show in Denver.”
“May I know who?”
“Josh Kinkaid.”
“Oh, I know him, a real car nut, used to hang around here till we asked him to leave. He could easily be associated with a car show, let me check.”
Walter watched him go to work on his phone. “You’re texting?”
“It’s the only way nowadays.”
Byerly nodded. Just have to modernize. But what about the personal touch, something known as the human voice?
”Here we go.” He read a moment. “The auto show is no longer in Denver. It’s gone to Minneapolis. Want me to try there?”
“Sure.” He was a trifle amazed.
“Josh Kinkaid is there. He’s being paged.”
Already! “I’d like to speak to him by phone, if possible.” In a short time he had Josh Kinkaid on his cell phone. “You don’t know me, but I’m a friend of your mother’s.”
”Mums? Is she okay?”
He sounded like Alfie without the British accent. At least he was concerned about her. “Not really.” He told him.
"That’s awful! Why is she doing that?”
“Your father left all his money to you. She hasn’t a penny.”
“God! What can I do?”
The young man was either retarded or terminally naïve. Either way a cage was probably wise, for his own protection. “The solution to most of Addie’s problems is known as M-O-N-E-Y. She needs it, at least a credit card, for hotel, food, the rest.”
The Tower of Evil (Bye-Bye Mysteries) Page 10
