by Dan Glover
"Do you like what you see?"
"Very much... I wasn’t sure if I should show it to you or not... I'm curious, though. Does your husband
2
"Know about those pictures?"
"Of course he doesn’t."
"Are you and Allen having an affair?"
"No... not yet, anyway."
"So why does he have naked pictures of you in his desk, Sally?"
"I put them there to make what you might call a sort of statement."
"I'm not sure I understand."
"I recently discovered how Paula and my husband have been carrying on an affair for years. Maybe I thought we could pay them back, me and Allen. I don’t know what I was thinking, to be honest with you."
"It'd be a shame if Hank discovered your little ploy, wouldn’t it."
"What're you saying, Reilly? Are you threatening me?"
"Oh no... nothing of the sort. I prefer to think of it as making a deal."
"A deal?"
"Sure, Sally. I give you this picture and you give me three thousand dollars."
She'd invited him inside for coffee. Sure, why not. He'd noticed right off that the woman wasn’t wearing any garments under her sweat pants and top and though older she seemed firm in all the right places. Maybe she had work done. He caught himself thinking how much fun it'd be to find out as she bent over offering her cleavage along with fresh coffee.
"That's an awful lot of money, Reilly. What if I don’t have it?"
"Oh, I bet you do, Sally. If not, you can get it."
"Excuse me... I really need to check on the dogs."
3
So far, so good. No screaming fits, no overt threats. Did she really have to check on the dogs? Maybe. That's what she claimed she was doing here. Still, it might be wise to check. As he rose from his chair Sally walked back into the kitchen carrying a plate of fudge brownies.
"Here, sit... I baked these for Paula and the twins, but you look hungry. I can hear your stomach rumbling way over here."
She was right. He'd skipped breakfast again. Nothing in the apartment but half a box of past the expiration date cereal and lumpy milk.
"Thank you... they smell great."
"Now... as to your request... can we make it a little less? I can come up with two grand. Will that buy my picture back?"
"Make it twenty five hundred and we got us a deal, Sally."
"And you won't say anything to Hank?"
"Not a peep."
"Okay, Reilly. I'll have to go by the bank. I don’t keep that kind of cash on me. Here, have another brownie while I fix myself up to go out in public."
"By the way, who took the pictures, Sally?"
"I did. Would you like to watch me take more?"
"I'm not sure that's a good idea."
"Oh... you're worried about the Picany's coming home unexpectedly, aren’t you. I would be too. Except they're not the ones you have to watch out for...
4
"I am."
"I'm not sure I follow you, Sally."
"Give it time, Reilly. The poison is slow but insidious."
"Poison?"
"You're probably putting it off to that heavy workout earlier today... you know... that leaden feeling in your legs. Oh... I know all about you and your weight training regimen. See... you're not the only one keeping tabs on other people, Reilly. Sometimes it's best to simply mind your own business."
A cold sweat broke out on his brow. She was right. Not only did his legs feel heavy, he couldn’t move them to stand up. Being the health nut he was, he also noted the slowing of his heartbeat along with palpitations indicative of oncoming arrhythmia. He was dying.
"You poisoned me? Why? Over a few thousand dollars?"
"Come on, Reilly. You come here threatening me? Why? What did I ever do to you? Honestly, I originally meant the brownies for Paula... for when she returned home. But then you show up all big and bad. See what it gets you?
"Now... who else did you show that picture to? Tell me and I'll give you the antidote. Do it quickly though... once the conium maculatum seeps into your bloodstream it's too late."
"I showed Allen."
"Is he the only person?"
"Yes... now give me the antidote, Sally."
"I lied, Reilly. There is no antidote for hemlock poisoning. But just think... you're in good company. Socrates experienced the same death as you."
"Look... I'm sorry. Please call an ambulance before it's too late."
"Oh, go ahead, Reilly. You have your phone on you... right? The same phone you use to track people down without their consent... call the paramedics. Tell them to hurry, though."
"I can't move my arms. Sally, I'm having trouble breathing. Please help me."
"Why did you come over here, Reilly? What on earth made you want to show me that picture?"
"Money... I thought you might pay me to get them back."
"Them? So you found more than one?"
"I only kept the one. Sally, I'm having trouble breathing."
"Well, yes, Reilly. That's to be expected."
"Why are you doing this to me?"
"I don't know... because I can, I suppose. Now... how about another one of these marvelous brownies?"
Chapter 67—Found
(And Lost)
1
"Reilly's phone keeps going straight to voicemail, Liza."
"Maybe he's avoiding you, doll. You're quite a sexy beast. He might be having second thoughts about dumping you."
"I did the dumping, Liza. You know that. Seriously... try calling him yourself. Something's up."
"You're right... but so what? The man's busy."
"Have you ever known Reilly Cooper not to answer his phone when we call, Liza? He knows we only contact him we're in need of his services. As broke as he is he isn’t going to ignore us. Even if he's talking to someone else, he'll switch over. I have a weird feeling that he's in trouble."
"Let me try calling Allan Picany again. I bet Reilly's over there."
"Even if he is at Picany's he'd pick up, Liza. There's some bad vibes happening."
It wasn’t that much of a surprise to him that the DNA swabs they took from the twins' cheeks matched the samples provided by the Picany's. When they tried to relay the news to Allen, however, he didn’t pick up. So Liza had called Paula.
"I have you on speaker, Ms. Picany... Danners Forthright is here with me. We've been trying to get in contact with your husband. Do you know where he's at?"
"No, I'm sorry, Ms. McNairy... I don’t. He does this sometimes. Just takes off."
"We have something to tell you both, Ms. Picany... we've found your daughters."
"Oh my God... are they alive?"
2
"Yes they are... how soon can you be in Oklahoma City? We'll wait for you and take you to where they're staying."
"I'll book a flight immediately. Thank you, Ms. McNairy... and Mr. Forthright. I'm so sorry I doubted you."
They were having a late breakfast at a greasy spoon diner across from the motel where they were staying. The other patrons eyed them suspiciously when they walked in... a family place... obviously not used to unfamiliar figures. He'd rather purchase food and eat in their room but they couldn’t find any kitchenettes to rent. With luck they'd be leaving tomorrow.
"Did you tell Picany that we were going to Oklahoma, Danners?"
"I thought we agreed not to say anything until we knew for certain whether we'd locate the twins."
"We did. I wanted to be sure, that's all. Doesn’t it seem odd that the man would mysteriously vanish right when we've found his daughters?"
"It does, Liza... but the man's an alcoholic. That's what they do. They let people down. Especially when they're most needed, it seems. Anyway, maybe we're better off with Paula coming alone. I'm not sure how much help to the girls Allen would be in his condition."
"Jesus, I'll be glad to get home again, DanMan. How can people live in a place like this?"
"You can get used to anything, darling girl. You know that as well as I do. I'll be happy to be back in LA too, though. Believe me."
He missed the city of angels... the traffic, the smog, the warm winter days. Christ, he'd forgotten what being cold felt like. And they had snow here of all things. Piled up on the filthy street corners like so much trash waiting for the sanitation trucks to haul away... dirty and sooty, exactly like he remembered the snow from his childhood in Detroit.
3
It'd take two days to get home. Not that Liza said anything about the long drive but he got the impression she was put out with him at times, and this was one of them, judging from the look of aggravation blossoming on her face. He felt lost in the oceans of prairie surrounding what passed for a city here in Oklahoma and he imagined she must be feeling it too, that notion that they didn’t belong here and everyone they met knew it as well.
"Picany's phone is going straight to voicemail too. It's the middle of the afternoon though. He might be sleeping off his morning drunk. "
"Use the locator app we downloaded from Reilly, Liza. Find out where they are."
"Did anyone ever tell you that you're a genius, Danners?"
"Just you, honey child... just you."
"It looks like Reilly is at the Picany's... let me plug Allen's number in now... hey, he's there too. Do you think some hanky panky is going on over there, Danners?"
"Do you have Sally Lupo's number, Liza?"
"No... why?"
"Just a thought... I've been getting some strange tells about her... I understand she's the one who gave Missy Benji bear. I wonder if she did that to create a rift between the girls."
"Why would she do that, Danners?"
"I'm not sure... she may well have had a motive but I don't see it yet."
"Let's just try Reilly again later, Danners."
"Call Hank Lupo, Liza. Have him go by and do a well-being check on Picany and Reilly."
"You're serious."
"What can it hurt, Liza? Just call the man."
"All right, Danners... keep your kotex on... I'm calling him."
The waitress must have overheard Liza's retort. She gave the girl a dirty look while refilling their coffee cups. Danners wanted to explain to her how they were really best of friends and her crack about keep his kotex on was a joke but something told him the woman wouldn’t understand. Nor should she. Besides, what did he care? They'd never see the waitress again anyway. Still, it bothered him that she might think ill of Liza.
"Hank tells me someone has just called emergency services to the Picany residence, Danners. They're on the way there now."
"Who called it in, Liza?"
"Whoever it was used Allen Picany's phone."
"What was the emergency?"
"Someone hurt and needing assistance... could it have been Allen calling? Maybe he mixed and matched drugs."
"I don’t get it, Liza... why would Allen be ignoring us now?"
"Let me punch Paula's number into the locator app... this is actually rather addicting, Danners."
You ought to know all about that, Liza. But there were some things he'd never say to her... out of love. She knew how he felt about her hobby, as she called it. He worried that one day... well, no sense going there again.
Chapter 68—Lost Dogs
(And Mixed Blessings)
Why were the airport security personnel looking at her so strangely? She felt like a terrorist with a bomb taped to her middle about to board a plane. The three men in black suits leaned into one another speaking in furtive voices that she couldn’t quite make out but she knew by the way their eyes followed her and by the gestures they made that she was the aim of their discussion.
The twins were alive! At first, she thought McNairy was playing a cruel joke on her but the woman assured her that she'd just visited with the girls not an hour ago. Could she fly to Oklahoma City immediately? Of course she could. Allen had gone on one of his legendary drunks and she couldn’t seem to find the man.
"The hell with him."
The dogs were another matter. There was no telling how long she'd be gone and Allen? Who knew if he'd be drinking or even come back home anytime soon? He'd probably be passed out drunk. She couldn’t just leave her babies alone. She thought about taking them to the veterinarian's boarding facilities but when she called the woman told her they were full up, chiding her for not making an earlier appointment, as if Paula knew the twins would be located today. Some people were so rude she wondered how they managed to hold onto their jobs.
"Sally? I hate to be a bother but could you do me a tremendous favor?"
"Come on, Paula... you know I'll do anything for you. Just ask."
"I've got to fly to Oklahoma City right away. I think they found the twins, Sally!"
"That's fantastic! Tell me what I can do and it's done."
"The dogs... I can't leave the dogs unattended, and Allen is on a drunk again and I don't know where he is... today of all days. Would you mind?"
"I'll be right over, Paula."
"If I'm gone, the key will be under the mat around back. Just go on in."
"Let me call Hank to let him know where I'm going and I'll be on my way. Good luck if I don’t see you before you leave."
Had she forgotten the gun she'd hidden inside her carry on? It was possible. In her haste she couldn’t remember removing it. She kept it purely for protection. The city could be dangerous. Surely they'd understand, though... the security people. Once she explained why she was going to Oklahoma City and how quickly she had to leave they were bound to cut her some slack. Still, it seemed odd since she hadn’t even checked her bags yet. How would they know?
Had the twins changed much? They were grown women by now. Were they married? Did they have children of their own? Were they happy? Why hadn’t they ever tried to contact her or Allen? Were they that bad of parents that their own children had forsaken them? All she wanted to do was board the plane and fly to her babies... to see them again.
"Excuse me, ma'am... is your name Paula Picany?"
The woman surprised her from behind, touching her on the shoulder and taking hold of the overnight bag she carried, as if aware Paula had a weapon. That had to be the answer... perhaps they had scanners at the entrance to the airport and they detected the pistol. All she had to do was explain and everything would be all right. But how did they know her name?
"Yes... I'm Paula Picany. Is there a problem?"
"Please come with me, Ms. Picany. This will only take a moment."
Now the three men she'd seen watching her had approached as well, virtually surrounding her. Did they expect her to run? Had something happened to Allen? Or was it the twins? Oh my God...
"Can you tell me what this is all about, please?"
"We just need you to come with us, Ms. Picany. We'll explain everything."
"But I'm on my way to Oklahoma City... they've found my girls... I haven’t seen them in twenty years."
"Please come with us... we're aware of your situation, Ms. Picany. We won't keep you long and you'll be free to go. Just walk this way, ma'am."
Chapter 69—Working the Swamps
(Wichita)
"Liza?"
"Yes... this is she... who is this?"
"This is Marcy Jordan. Remember me?"
"Of course I remember you, Marcy. How are you?"
"Not all that well... I've decided to move back east, Liza, and I wanted to say goodbye first. I know I'm probably wrong but I got the impression we were sort of friends."
The old guilt surfaced... the way she had of using people to further her own agenda. It wasn’t something she did intentionally but she knew how it led to hurt feelings in the past. Still, she continued to do it... to insinuate herself into people's good graces and when she had what she needed she'd promptly disappear from their lives... just like she'd done with Marcy.
"We are friends, Marcy. Why are you moving back east?"
"Hank fired me... he did it in a n
ice way but I know when I'm being let go."
"Oh my God... let me talk to him... we go way back."
"No... it's for the best. I've had the feeling that I'm being followed lately too, Liza. I'm afraid. I think it's something to do with... well... I don’t really want to say. Not like this. Maybe we can meet sometime and talk."
"Where back east are you going?"
"Home... I come from Wichita. I've already been offered a job, and my folks are there. The change'll be good for me, Liza. You're the only person I'm telling. Please keep it confidential."
"You know I will. Can I still reach you at this number?"
"No... I'm ditching this phone as soon as we're done talking. I heard that people can track a person by using their cell phone. I'll call you in a few days with my new number."
"Listen... we're in Oklahoma City as we speak. Wichita isn’t that far away... maybe we could come by sometime soon and talk."
"I'd like that, Liza. You could stay over at my place... I mean if you wanted."
"Call me, Marcy... as soon as you get your new phone, call me and we'll make plans to meet again."
"Thank you, Liza... I'll call soon. Bye now."
"Goodbye, Marcy."
Jesus... she had to find another line of work.
Chapter 70—Drunk Again
(And Full of Doubt)
His hangovers were second nature by now. When Paula came into the living room last night berating him for being drunk it pissed him off. Who the hell did she think had helped to find the twins? Not her. He'd been the one to contact the psychics. And now that they'd hit pay dirt, did Paula appreciate his efforts even in the least? Hell no.
How did McNairy and Forthright track the girls to Oklahoma City? That'd be the last place he'd ever look. But according to Paula, McNairy said the DNA was a spot on match. Could he and Paula hop on a plane right away? Of course they could.
"She said they tried calling you, Allen, but you wouldn’t pick up. Damn you and your boozing."
