by Dan Glover
"That's too early to say, Ms. Nola. We'll be in contact."
Danners couldn’t say
2
What led him to the asylum. Liza'd been sleeping next to him when he had the notion to get off the Interstateon the Vinita exit. The pull was so strong that the car seemed to steer itself. A sign up ahead said Hospital Rd. The lettering seemed like a flashing neon sign pointing to the right, to the right, to the right.
A water tower came into view standing guard over a three story stone building painted a dull peeling white surrounded by a crumbling black wrought iron fence with no functioning gate. Pulling up to the front entrance, Danners cut the engine and sat a moment drinking in the scene. He thought he'd been there before though for the life of him he couldn’t recall when that would've been.
"Where are we, DanMan? Why'd we stop?"
"Oh... you're awake... I'm not sure, Liza. I just sort of ended up here. It looks abandoned, doesn’t it."
"Yeah... but not really. Check it out, Danners. Someone's coming outside."
The old woman must've seen them pull up. When Danners saw her face, a memory of flying over vast fields of green flashed before his eyes. The dragon had brought him here. The woman had been younger in his dream, even pretty, and the grounds well-tended. Now with the overgrown vegetation threatening to engulf the structure with benign neglect, he wondered that anyone lived here at all.
"May I help you? Are you lost?"
She had a high pitched squeal of a voice that reminded him of an over-excited opera singer and that along with her large hooked beak-like nose and almost emaciated body made the woman seem more a bird than a human being.
"Hello... I'm not sure if we're lost or not. My name is Danners Forthright. This is Liza McNairy. We're private investigators searching for two girls... twins."
"Can I see some identification, please?"
"Of course..."
"A body can't be too careful these days, Mr. Forthright."
As he handed her his State of California driver's license he realized the old woman was carrying a shotgun in the folds of her ankle-length dress. Neither had he noticed until then how isolated the building was... he couldn’t see another house for at least a mile in any direction.
"Pleased to meet you, Danners. My name is Ally Nola. I'm the caretaker here. This is the old State asylum. Hardly anyone comes here any longer so you can wonder at my surprise in having visitors. Please come inside and have some tea."
3
"Don't you want to just take them home with us, Danners?"
"You read my mind, Liza... I'd love to. What if we're wrong though?"
"Did you get anything from them? I saw you touching their shoulders."
"Muddles... their minds are in complete disarrays. If they ever had names they don’t remember them. Wait... I have an idea... stay here a minute."
He'd brought Benji bear along with for no particular reason. He told himself the bear meant nothing to him yet the ragged old thing calmed his nerves when it was nearby and besides, he kept the stuffed creature in his suitcase. No one would see it.
For half a moment he changed his mind. Even if these weren't the Picany twins they might take to the bear. What would it prove? Nothing. No... it was better to keep him safe and sound, just in case Benji might be needed later. But then he knew. The bear didn’t belong to him. He belonged to Missy. Opening the suitcase and cradling Benji bear for probably the last time, Danners walked back into the hospital. It seemed such a shabby place for the bear to end up... or those girls, for that matter.
Walking into the girls' room and not knowing what to expect, Danners set Benji bear on the bed in between where the girls sat. Jane and Jill Doe... that's who they were now. But were they really Missy and Melinda Picany? For an instant, both girls ignored the stuffed bear. But then one of them seemed to wake up as if from a long slumber, and she smiled as she reached out to touch Benji, as if assuring herself he was indeed real. And then she tenderly picked him up and hugged him.
Liza smiled at him. He wanted to claim victory... that the long lost surfer twins had finally been located. But he knew better than to raise false expectations. Danners had been down that road before. No... it was better to wait. DNA testing would either prove or disprove his conjecture and until then, those girls weren't going anywhere. And maybe that goddamned dragon might let him get some sleep for a change.
"Wanna cuddle tonight, sweetie?"
He'd been having trouble drifting off what without Benji bear and all that happened that day. When a soft knock sounded at his motel room door he knew who it was... the only person it could be. Though they'd never gone as far as having sex, often times when they were on the road—like tonight—they'd sleep together... just hold one another... sometimes she needed him and sometimes he needed her... and once in a while—like tonight—they simply needed each other.
"I'd love a cuddle, Liza... how'd you know?"
"Just something about the way you handed that teddy bear to the girl today... like you'd grown used to having him with you. That was so good of you, Danners. I thought you might be lonely. I know I am."
Chapter 64—Honest Cops
(And Dragon Dreams)
1
"I've got you pulled up on my iPhone, Hank... can you see us both?"
"Sure can, doll... you're looking good... Danners, not so much. Hey. What's going on?"
"You're going to arrest Paula Picany?"
Liza seemed as amazed at his revelation as he'd been when he was informed of the decision. He told himself it had to be done. There was too much incriminating evidence to ignore her involvement any longer. Who else might die if homicide waited?
Would it come out that they were having an ongoing affair? Probably... that sort of stuff always reared its head. Those ball licking attorneys would use any and all means at their disposal to exonerate their clients. What did they care that he'd spent years building a sterling reputation as an honest cop? They'd take him down.
"Let's just say they're talking it over with the district attorney. From what I get, they're not sure of the charges yet. What about you two? Have you come up with anything substantial in regards to the Picany case?"
"We think we might have found the Picany twins, Hank."
"What was that, Danners? I thought I heard you say you might have found the twins."
"Possibly... we're waiting on the DNA analysis to come through."
"So they're alive?"
"Do you remember Christine James? The girl who Thomas Johm was holding hostage?"
"Sure I do, Liza... that poor woman."
"We think the same thing might have happened to the Picany twins, Hank. And there's more... but we really need to wait until we're sure."
"Where are you, Liza? Are you with the twins now?"
"Yes... no... they're with us in Oklahoma... living on the grounds of an old insane asylum that was shuttered nine years ago. An old lady who once worked as a nurse there takes care of them."
"Jesus... how'd you find them in a place like that?"
"Danners and his dream dragon, and of course Benji the bear... they led us straight to them."
"I'm not even going to ask, Liza... whatever works."
"They can't arrest Paula Picany, Hank. Not yet. Wait until we're sure we've located the twins. This case is evolving into a lot more than we thought in the beginning."
"And if she kills again? Are you willing to take responsibility for that, Danners?"
"Listen... we have a former FBI agent tailing Paula Picany. We'll alert him to these new developments, Hank. If he sees anything going on out of the ordinary, we'll contact you immediately. Will that work for you?"
"I though you used fairy dust alone to solve these cases, Danners. Are you telling me that you actually use sound forensic science too?"
"We use any and all methods available to us, Hank. You know that."
"If I ever decide to join you two, am I going to be required to wear pink shirts too, Dann
ers?"
"Darling, you really couldn’t pull it off... I mean joining us. Liza would run you right into the ground. Take it from me. Just look how flaccid my wrists are. As for pink shirts... you look to be about my size, big boy. How about if I bring by a half dozen or so, just so you can try them out in the privacy of your own home? You can preen about in front of a mirror and see just how gay you look."
"Stop it, Danners. You're making him blush."
"I'm not blushing, Liza... I'm stifling laughter. When are you going to wise up and dump this limp-dicked loser otherwise known as Danners Forthright? Me and you, sweetie... we'll write our own ticket."
"And what would your wife say to that sort of liaison, Mr. Bigtime?"
"Who, Danners?"
Christ, even from a thousand miles away
2
Liza McNairy was hot. Too hot to be balling around the countryside with some queer in tights. When was the girl going to wise up and jump into bed with the one and only Hank Lupo? Hell, she'd probably give him a heart attack. But what a way to go.
There was little he could do as far as forestalling Paula's arrest. He didn’t want to admit that to Liza, though, and especially not to Danners. He'd already tried. The Captain was adamant, however. Now, he felt even worse. If Liza and Danners really had found her daughters, Paula was liable to find out about it while sitting behind bars.
Homicide had amassed substantial evidence pointing to Paula as the prime suspect in the murders of both Thomas Johm, also known as Jonathan Baker, and Oscar Olay. She'd booked time with Johm for a photo session a few days before he turned up dead, plus she'd had an appointment with Dr. Olay just before his murder. Throw in eyewitnesses that placed her at both scenes, and the case was looking pretty solid.
If he called Paula to warn her, they'd have a record of it and come after him too. Hell, maybe things were better this way. He damned sure couldn’t seem to keep away from her on his own. Now he was forced to do so, either that, or risk going to jail right alongside of her. Hey. Maybe they could share adjoining cells... keep one another company throughout all those cold creepy jailhouse nights. Oh no... no chance of that. Nope. He'd get shacked up with Danners Forthright's black twin sister.
When the hell did everything get so fucked up? Here he was, nearing retirement age, and he was still running around like a schoolboy in heat. And now his main squeeze was facing life in prison and there wasn’t a thing he could do about it.
3
So they'd found the twins. Hank didn’t have to wait for the DNA analysis to come back. He knew they'd been found as soon as Liza told him where they were. Christ. How in hell did Danners Forthright know to look for the girls in Oklahoma? Dragon dreams. Hell. Maybe the guy really could do what he claimed. He didn’t think anyone would ever hear from the Picany twins again. Maybe he should've listened to the Captain and ended things twenty years ago. But it wasn’t right, what happened, and dammit if a line didn’t have to be drawn somewhere.
Chapter 65—Sleeping Beauty
(And Oklahoma in the Morning)
When she opened her eyes she wasn’t sure where she was. Someone was in bed with her, but who? She could feel a buzz of naked skin pressing against hers. Had she gone on one of her infamous binges? She didn’t think so. Alcohol held little interest these days, and besides, the room was chilly, too cold for California.
Ah. They were still in Oklahoma and Danners had been bummed over losing Benji bear... or giving him away. That's what she loved so dearly about the man. She knew exactly how he felt about that stupid stuffed bear—he adored it, as if it was real—yet he'd given it away in a heartbeat, a well-meaning gesture to a girl who might or might not have been its rightful owner. He had done it out of love.
When they slept together, that's all it was. She kept waiting for some sign that she aroused him but if she did he hid it well. Could any man be that impervious to her charms? She hadn’t thought so but apparently Danners Forthright had no desire whatsoever... at least so far as she went. Perhaps if she'd been a strikingly handsome young man like Reilly Cooper she might stand a chance.
Pity, really. Other than the complete lack of sexual arousal, Danners was the perfect man. He treated her as an equal. She could always count on him having her back. And they enjoyed many of the same pastimes. Liza couldn’t see spending the rest of her life with a eunuch though. But then again, men in general bored her.
"Wake up, sleeping beauty... we should've been on the road by now."
He moaned but refused to open his eyes. Danners was not a morning person. He'd probably stayed up watching television after she'd fallen asleep. Didn't matter. There was no pressing hurry to get back home. She wiggled out of bed, grabbed her purse and clothes, and headed for the bathroom. Just a little nudge this morning wouldn’t hurt anything. An eye opener. Once they were on the road she'd have to get Danners to pull into a truck stop from time to time but he always acquiesced. He knew what she needed and how she hated to bump in front of him.
It was eleven o'clock though it seemed later. No sunshine, and a chilly wind found its way through the thin walls of the motel causing the window treatments to shudder involuntarily.
A thin little line... that's all she needed, and that moment after... to indulge. Sometimes the moment turned into an hour but so what. She set the shower to as hot as she could stand and stood under the cascade until someone started pounding on the door. Danners must have finally dragged himself out.
"It's open, sweetie."
Noon already. Danners always woke around this time with the driving need to defecate. She thought how funny it was that they both knew each other so well... how they shared all their private and innermost secrets with one another and yet there was always that distance that only true intimacy could absolve. The door opened allowing the cool air from the other room to invade the warmth of the bathroom
"I'm sorry but I have to take a wicked shit, Liza."
"Courtesy flush, please... and shut the goddamned door, Danners. You're letting all the warm air out."
She could feel his eyes on her. The shower door was clear though steamed but she rubbed her hand over it so she could seem him. He hadn’t dressed. Danners had an enormous slong and he was morning hard. He always seemed embarrassed by it, as if having a giant prick was an infirmity rather than a blessing. She wanted to tease him but knowing Danners and his gloomy morning moods she thought better of it. Let the man take his shit in peace.
How many couples shared a bathroom like this, she wondered. She'd had more than a few boyfriends and none of them were as nonchalant about shitting in front of her as Danners. Maybe it was his time in prison, that total lack of privacy, that made him like that. Or perhaps it was something else. Could it be that he actually loved her too?
She let the water run down her back and chest until she was sure her skin was red and thought about those girls... their complete lack of motivation... the way the one's eyes had lighted up when she saw that old teddy bear. How on earth had those girls ended up in that awful place?
The Oklahoma City police department hadn’t been much help. Anyone who worked the old case had retired and the people in charge now seemed bothered by Liza's questions about the two girls living in the old insane asylum, as if they had better ways to be spending their time. She'd nearly gotten pissed until Danners stepped in and took over. That's why they worked so well together... they sensed each other's frailties and compensated for it. Still, it made her realize how lucky she was to have a man like Hank Lupo at the ready to help her out when the need arose. Most cops resented any intrusion by amateurs, even if she'd once been one of their own.
"Save some water for me, Liza."
"Oh, get in here, Danners. I'll wash your ass—I mean your back—for you."
"Okay... but don't look!"
"Oh... you're such a queer."
Chapter 66—Death
(And Fudge Brownies)
1
He hadn’t expected Sally Lupo to be there. He'd
stopped over to see Allen but the man was out, as was his wife. Sally answered the door inviting him inside to wait for the Picany's to come home.
"I know you. We met at the Sheriff's Department Christmas party last year... Reilly, isn't it?"
"Yes, ma'am... Reilly Cooper... I'm sorry but I don’t remember your name."
"I'm Sally Lupo... wife of Detective Hank Lupo."
"What are you doing here, Mrs. Lupo?"
"Please... call me Sally. Paula had to leave town suddenly... something about the twins. She asked me to come by to check on the dogs for her. Allen should be back any time now."
"So they found the twins?"
"Apparently... or at least they have a good lead. Liza McNairy called last night and asked Paula to jump on a flight to Oklahoma City first thing this morning."
Should he go ahead and take a chance? Perpetrate a little crime of convenience? Extortion wasn’t his strong suit but then again any port in the storm, as grandpappy Pete used to say.
The mortgage company had called. Unless he managed to scrap together a double payment, the powers that be were ready to start foreclosure proceedings on mother's house. He couldn’t let that happen. Maybe Sally Lupo would be willing to help him out of the jam he found himself in by offering a little hush money. Go for it, Reilly. It's your only hope right now.
"Well... since I'm here, I should show you a secret, Sally. It's something I found last time I was here."
Everything he saw about the woman shouted prude. He expected her to be mortified at the photograph when he showed it to her, but instead she seemed almost proud of it.
"Could I ask where you got that picture, Reilly?"
"I found it in that desk right over there, Sally."
"So you stole it."
"Sort of... I prefer the term lifted... but maybe it's a matter of semantics."
