He shrugged. “What you’re saying is nothing compared to the Captain’s comments.” He snorted, “He calls it encouragement.”
If we weren’t surrounded by fifteen other cops and assorted criminals, I would have given him a supportive hug. My words had to do. “This is a tough case and you’re working hard.”
With no expression on his face, he asked, “Is that why you’re here? To tell me that?”
“No. Actually I have information about Rose. Maybe even a photo of the guy who killed her.” I pulled out my phone and showed him. A spark came back into his eyes and I recounted the story the bartender had told me.
“Don’t take this as approval for your snooping into this case,” his voice took on the quality of a strict disciplinarian, “but I’m glad as hell you found something. It’s the best lead we’ve had.”
Forwarding the picture to him took a second, but I used that time to nonchalantly ask him if he considered the piano to be a recurring theme in the murders.
He leaned toward me, as if ready to take me into his confidence. “No.” Before I could challenge him on it, he added, “Not until now.” He placed his hand over mine. “Thank you, Claire.” He picked up his coffee cup. “Want something to drink?”
“No thanks. And you’re welcome.” I waited a second. “Aren’t you going to warn me away from this case again? Tell me it’s too dangerous?”
He rubbed his hand over his face. “If I thought it’d do any good, I would. Just too tired to go against that brick wall.”
It made things easier for me this way, but I felt as if I’d kicked an already beaten man. “I don’t want to be a brick wall. More a chain link fence. You know, some things get through.”
“Sure. Now, I’m going to get some coffee and get back on this case.”
That was my clue to vacate the station. “I’ll miss you tonight.”
His smile was weary, but warm. “Me too.”
Outside the station, I was determined to do what I could to solve this crime. Not only for Mrs. Amato and Betty, but also for Corrigan. I’ll admit, though, that $10,000 reward wasn’t exactly a deterrent.
I returned home to be greeted by my landlady, Molly. Her arms were crossed and she had a scowl. “Hear you got a dog.”
My face felt hot, as if I’d been caught in a compromising position. “Yes, just yesterday. I haven’t had time to—” Charlie chose then to whimper loud enough to be heard down the hall.
“Claire, you’ve been a good tenant, but rules are rules. You should’ve let me know immediately you were thinking of getting a dog. Now that he’s here, per your contract, you need to pay a pet deposit, plus a penalty for not reporting it. I’m sorry, but that’s a total of $200.”
The sinking feeling I had was my body falling into debt. “When do I have to pay it?”
Molly glanced around. “Let’s talk about this inside.”
Once he saw me, Charlie was so excited he wiggled and jumped and grunted happy noises. Afraid he’d wet the floor in front of my landlady, I kept him in the cage.
Molly bent down and stuck her fingers between the metal to scratch Charlie. “He’s adorable.” She stood. “I’ll give you until noon, Monday. If I don’t get it by then, it’s cause for eviction. Per your contract.”
“I understand.” Maybe my father could loan me the money. If not, maybe the local Humane Society could put Charlie and me up.
After Molly left and Charlie and I attended to his needs, I pulled out my laptop and added Rose to the list of victims. Next came what each had in common. Two out of the three had some piano connection. The police could explore that for now. Next on my strategy was to find out who ran the bingo Mrs. Amato attended. I still didn’t know if Eileen played. Maybe Betty knew if Rose did.
Unfortunately, my plan would have to wait. It was getting late and I needed to get ready for dinner with the family. As it was, my arrival was fifteen minutes after everyone else’s.
A smile for everyone at the small round table. “Sorry I’m late. Charlie takes up more of my time than I thought he would.”
I plopped down on one of the two empty chairs next to my father. Suzy was on his right side. Across from me was my aunt, whose expression reminded me of a string purse, all pinched and tightly bound.
Whoever the genius was who sat my aunt next to Suzy should have been executed. This was turning out to be akin to putting oil next to water and expecting the two to mix well. As the evening went on, perhaps the comparison should have been putting a match to kindling. It was bound to flare up.
After a round of pleasantries and the server taking my drink order, my dad looked at the empty chair where Corrigan would have sat. “Who’s Charlie? You haven’t stopping seeing Brian, have you?” He might as well have asked if I’d lost my mind.
Aunt Lena answered for me as if I wasn’t there. “Charlie’s her new dog. Brian and her are still together. She knows she’s got a decent man.” Staring at Suzy she went on, “Not too flashy, like some people.”
Suzy’s eyes turned to slits but her voice stayed even. “Compared to whom?”
My head turned from one woman to the other, sort of like being a spectator at a tennis match.
Ed, next to Aunt Lena placed his hand firmly on her forearm. “I don’t think she’s thinking of anyone in particular, are you, Lena?”
Biting her lip hard enough to turn it white, Aunt Lena agreed. “Nobody. Just making a comment.”
My dad picked up the conversation, looking like a driver trying to avoid smashing into an already existing two-car pile-up. “So what kind of dog is Charlie? Where’d you get him?”
“He’s part boxer and some other things. Brian brought him over for me.” I wasn’t going to explain the circumstances under which I first encountered the puppy. “Speaking of Brian. He really wanted to be here, but he’s working a hot case tonight.”
Aunt Lena again. “Raising a puppy takes a lot of energy. But you’re young and up to it. Other females like an old dog. One broken in by another woman.”
Suzy threw her napkin on the table and lifted slightly from her seat. “That’s it! If you think—”
Dad’s hand on her shoulder stopped her. Then he turned toward Aunt Lena, his bushy black-and-gray eyebrows lowered. As a kid I knew that was the time to make myself scarce. His voice rumbled, “Lena, Suzy has done everything she can to be accepted by you. Even gone above and beyond. I loved your sister, but she’s been gone a long time.” He turned in his chair to Suzy and took her hands. “I’m marrying a fine woman and I’m lucky to have her.”
Suzy gazed lovingly at my father and I couldn’t help but be frustrated with my aunt’s refusal to accept this. Even after she’d said she’d try.
The ensuing silence at our table was made even more pronounced by the clink of dishes and silverware. Unable to stand it anymore, I broke the hush around us. “Dad, would you like to see pictures of your new grandson?”
My father’s face registered a fleeting look of surprise until he remembered about Charlie. “Sure. Or does anyone have an objection to the dog as a new member of the family?”
My aunt, tight-lipped, sat straight in her chair. Ed asked to see the pictures too.
After giving over my phone with the photos of my new puppy, I asked my aunt to accompany me to the ladies’ room.
“Why? Do I look like I have to go?”
“Just come.”
We’d barely made it through the restroom door when she said, “I know. I’ve been terrible to that woman. I just can’t help feeling Frank’s forgotten Theresa.”
I put my arms around her. “Have you forgotten Uncle Tommy?”
She pulled back. “Of course not! I love Ed, but he’ll never be Tommy…” Though her voice trailed off, she wasn’t done. “But Ed is a good solid man. Suzy, she’s, she’s—”
“In love with my dad. And he is with her. You can see it if you let yourself. Trust me, even though she doesn’t look, act, or dress like you’d like her to, she’s a sweet, ca
ring person. And if you keep this up, you’ll lose my dad. For the sake of the family, be kind. End of lecture.”
My aunt said nothing, but I hoped the wheels in her brain were spinning in the direction they needed to keep the peace in the family.
When we returned, silence fell around the table. Aunt Lena sat down slowly, took a gulp of her wine and cleared her throat. “Suzy, Frank, I’m sorry.” She took another sip.
Dad started to say something, but Suzy stopped him. “Lena, that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.” She raised her wine glass. “To all of us here. May we grow in love and support of each other.”
“Hear, hear.” My aunt’s voice was the loudest of us all.
Dinner proceeded as well as a family slightly tattered at the edges could hope for. As we were saying our goodbyes, Suzy hugged me and whispered, “Thank you.” When we separated, she gave me a smile that helped me realize she would, indeed, be a great stepmother.
Yawning all the way home, I wasn’t looking forward to taking Charlie outside a final time. That, in turn, reminded me I needed to come up with $200 by noon Monday. Maybe Gino could advance me the money. I chortled. How long would I have to work without salary to pay him back? Aunt Lena would be a better choice to ask, though I hated to do so. She’d freely give me the money, but then bring up me working for her full time again. That $10,000 reward for Eileen’s killer was looking better and better. Too bad the killer behind these murders was appearing more and more frightening.
Chapter Eight
Sunday morning I attended mass at Sacred Heart, the Catholic Church that sponsored the bingo Mrs. Amato attended. After the service, the announcements included the next bingo night, Tuesday evening at seven thirty. I planned to be there to see who showed up. Could the piano man in Rose’s photo also be a bingo player?
After church, my next destination was Timothy’s. Even though Gino, as well as the police, had most likely pumped him for the facts about Eileen’s life, sometimes a woman’s touch is the key to unlocking more information.
Timothy took so long to answer my knock I almost left.
“Hey, it’s you.” He opened his door wide and waved me inside. His apartment looked as disheveled as he did. Papers and other trash were strewn about and an empty pizza box balanced on top of a can of beer. Needless to say, the place had a stale aroma. He did too. I doubted he’d bathed since we’d last seen each other.
“Sorry about the place.” He rubbed the stubble on his chin. “Can I get you something? A beer maybe?”
“No, nothing, thanks. I just came by to ask you some questions. Is that okay with you?”
“Yeah, sure. I can’t think of anything I haven’t told Gino and the cops. But shoot.” Shoving papers off the sofa he said, “Here. Sit down.”
I perched on the edge of the cushion. “Do you know if Eileen ever played bingo?”
He puffed out his cheeks and then blew out the air. “Couldn’t say. She didn’t mind a good poker game, but bingo? She never mentioned it.”
“Okay. Did she play a musical instrument?”
“Cops asked me about that too. I told them she played the piano when we were kids, but she quit right after high school.”
A tiny spark of excitement flickered in me. “Did she ever talk about starting up again?”
“Sometimes when she was tipsy she’d mention it. That’s as far as it got, though.”
“Did she ever say if she’d taken lessons?”
“No.” He shrugged. “I don’t get it. What do bingo and the piano have to do with Eileen’s murder?” He dropped his head in his hands.
I wanted to place my hand on his shoulder to offer some comfort. Instead I sat there like a mannequin, worried it would be misconstrued. After a moment, he looked up. “Sorry. I know you’re just trying to help find the bastard who did this.”
A knock stopped him from saying any more. It was Gino. Upon seeing me there his lips curled into a wise-to-the-world smile. “Hey Timothy, I see you already have company.”
I felt as if I’d been walking around with the back of my dress tucked into my underwear. Knowing my information gathering was at an end, I wanted to make a quick exit. “Hello, Gino. Timothy and I were just winding up our visit. I’ll see you at the office tomorrow.”
Gino’s smile didn’t fade. “Yeah. I’ll be in early.”
Once inside my car, I reassured myself Gino wasn’t angry, just surprised I’d shown so much initiative. At least now my similarities list could include the fact that all three victims either played piano, wanted to play, or was last seen by a piano. Not much of a tie-in but better than none. Wondering if the police had found the piano player from Sessions, I called Corrigan. Maybe he’d tell me in exchange for…for what? He probably already knew Eileen was a former pianist. He’d just be mad I was still on the case.
I quickly ended the call. Too late. He called me back. “Hi Claire.” He sounded more cheerful than the last time we talked.
“Hi Brian. What’s new?” I grimaced over the lameness of my question.
“We brought in a person of interest.”
My breath caught. “That’s great.” A vision of the $10,000 reward disintegrating into dust flashed before me. “Is it the piano guy from Sessions?”
“Yep. He’d been buying her drinks all night and left with her.”
A glimmer of hope danced in front of my eyes. “But you don’t have anything to tie him to Mrs. Amato’s or Eileen’s murder.”
His voice tightened. “Let’s not discuss this over the phone.”
“You brought it up.”
“Yeah, well. I shouldn’t have.” He dropped the brusqueness. “I have some hours off. I’m going to get some sleep and then you want to grab some dinner with me?”
“Sure. What time?”
“I’ll call you when I wake up.”
He may have felt better with this person of interest. Seeing too many loose ends, I was as unsettled as a mouse in a lion’s den.
The rest of my day was somewhat productive. I stopped at my dad’s to explain my situation with Charlie and my landlady. He didn’t even wait for me to ask for the money. He even offered to bring a $200 check to Molly the next morning. A rush of gratitude warmed me. It didn’t last long because then he dropped a bomb on me. He and Suzy planned to sell both their houses. Start fresh. It was understandable. Still, I hated the thought of someone else living in the house that had been my home and I didn’t want it to happen. My smile was no doubt stiff, but I assured him the idea was a good one.
Afterwards, I felt proud for not letting on how I felt while simultaneously criticizing myself for being so childish. A melancholy sigh escaped. Time stands still for no one, including me.
I was feeding Charlie when Corrigan texted me. He’d be over at seven and we’d have dinner at the West Ender.
He met me at the door as I was bringing Charlie in from his walk. The dog seemed to remember Corrigan and tried to hide behind my legs.
Corrigan laughed and in a coaxing voice said, “It’s okay. I won’t take you away, Charlie.” Eventually the dog allowed Corrigan to pet him and even to escort him to his cage.
My plan had been to be cool about the person of interest, but I couldn’t help myself. Even before we reached his car, I was asking Corrigan about the murders. “What makes you think this guy is the killer of all three women?”
He opened my car door. “He was the last one seen with Rose and he has no alibi for the times of the other murders. Plus, he has a history of assault. Charged twice but neither stuck.”
Waiting until he got inside the car, I responded, “That doesn’t mean he did it, though.”
We pulled out of the parking lot. “Unless something happens to make me think otherwise, he looks good for the murders.”
Could the police be squeezing this guy into the mold just to solve the case? Telling myself not to start an argument, I changed the subject and recounted dinner at Lucci’s.
At the restaurant, we were
getting along fine until I finished my first chocolate martini. Leaning into Corrigan, a challenge in my voice, I asked, “So tell me. How did this guy know Mrs. Amato and Eileen? There was no forced entry in either case. Or have you decided that wasn’t important?”
“I was wondering when you’d get back to that.” He carefully wiped his mouth. “Okay, Claire. We haven’t figured that one out. But we will. Now look. I’d like to have a pleasant dinner with you. Otherwise I would’ve grabbed a burger and slept until it was time to be back at work.”
Pressing my lips together, I vowed to keep my doubts to myself. “Sorry, but I think the killer is still out there.” Great. I broke my vow faster than a monk watching a striptease.
He closed his eyes and it was obvious he was trying to stay calm. “Noted. Maybe he only killed Rose. That bit about the red bows around the victims’ necks is being kept under wraps so the media doesn’t run with a serial killer angle. But maybe someone leaked the information. Who knows?”
Covering his hand with mine, I said, “I’m sorry. Let’s have a nice dinner together.” His half-smile told me he agreed, but wasn’t quite sure it was possible.
Dinner and dessert finished, we returned to my apartment. Multiple kisses later, we were horizontal and I, for one, was very glad we’d dropped the murder conversation. From the response of Corrigan’s body, I’d say he was too.
Unfortunately, a cop during an investigation is always on duty. His phone rang, dousing our mutual passion. He growled, but still answered. When he hung up, he was once again no-nonsense Police Detective Brian Corrigan. His cheeks puffed out and a breath escaped. “Rick Gutkowski, our person of interest, disappeared. Slipped right through our surveillance.” He put on his shoes and grabbed his car keys. “Still think he’s innocent?”
Running away certainly didn’t help the guy’s case any. “Okay, so maybe he’s guilty of something. Just not all three murders.”
Corrigan snorted. Then, with a quick, preoccupied kiss, he left.
Cupcakes and Corpses Page 5
