“Caleb, calm down.” Anton said a little too harshly.
“I can’t. He was after Kyle, and now he’s after me.”
“Who, Caleb? Did you see the guy who tried to kill Kyle?” I asked gently.
“N-no.” Caleb’s voice shook.
“But you know something, don’t you?”
“Not about who beat Kyle. No. It’s—” The telephone rang again, and Caleb froze for a moment. Then he turned to me, the fear so clear on his face, it was painful. “He knows we’re here. He knows.”
After only two rings, the phone went silent.
“Who knows we’re here? Who is it, Caleb?” I said. “If you know, tell us. We can do something if we know.” I sat him down on the couch and sat next to him. The house was in semi-darkness. The only lamp I’d left on didn’t provide much light. Caleb’s eyes were big as wagon wheels and dilated to catch every bit of light. Placing a hand on his shoulder, I turned him toward me. “Who’s out there, Caleb?”
“M-my father. I… I t-think. It’s gotta be my father. He said he’d g-get me. Or maybe my brother.” Caleb’s voice grew smaller with each word.
“Why’re you so sure it’s them? What do they want?”
“Me. They want me. They think I’ll go home with them. Back to Lancaster.”
“Did they threaten you?”
“And Kyle. Because I was staying with him.”
“How long have they been bothering you?” I asked.
“A few weeks. Ever since they found out I was in Philly. Somebody saw me in the city and told them. So my family tracked me down. They’re crazy people.”
“How’d they find out where you live?”
“I don’t know how. I don’t. Maybe it was somebody in the bar. I don’t know. I just want them to stop. I don’t wanna go back.” Caleb seemed on the edge of panic. I motioned Anton over to help. I knew he trusted Anton.
I went to phone the police.
Before I could even tap in the numbers, the door buzzer sounded. And didn’t stop. It was as if somebody pressed the button and wouldn’t let go. At the same time, someone pounded on the tall wooden gate leading to my front yard. The gate wasn’t meant to hold out a determined maniac. Moments later, wood splintered. I heard footsteps and someone began pounding on the front door. Unlike the gate, the metal door would hold.
But we had to think fast. I called the police, slammed down the phone, and pulled my gun.
“What do we do?” Anton said as he and Caleb came to stand with me.
Before I could answer, a heavy planter crashed through the big front window. Glass went everywhere. The metal frame of the window twisted inward.
A large men barreled through the wreckage of the window, followed by a second, just as large but older man, who got caught on the twisted metal and jagged remnants of glass.
Caleb screamed and clutched my arm.
Anton crouched into a fighting stance, ready to protect Caleb.
I centered my feet and pointed my gun at the intruders. “Hold it!”
“Caleb! You son of a bitch!” The larger of the two men, tall, blond, and puffy-fat from too much beer, looked around as if trying to decide who to kill first. Letting out a guttural cry, he lunged at Caleb, glass shards dropping like confetti from his clothes.
To reach Caleb he barreled through me, knocking my gun out of my hand.
Caleb leaped to my left, tripped and went down. Instantly the tall man jumped on the kid, slapping and punching at him. The boy’s body shook with each blow, but he struggled fiercely against the much stronger man.
I turned on the guy and tried pulling him off Caleb. He rose up to slam Caleb’s head into the floor and I connected with his jaw. I swung my foot up and struck a blow to his chest. The young blond reeled back, falling flat on his ass, dazed.
The older man, just as big and no less wild, had extricated himself from the window and turned his attention on us. Ignoring his bleeding arm and leg, he charged. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Anton raise one of my teakwood dining room chairs.
Before the guy knew what hit him, Anton smashed the chair down onto his head. That took care of him and my chair. He didn’t look as if he’d get up any time soon.
The younger guy groaned and jumped up before we could stop him. He shook his head, ducked like he was playing touch football and rushed me.
This time I was ready. With a small maneuver, I managed to flip him onto his face, twisting his arm behind him. Helpless, he resisted but never cried out in pain.
“This your brother, Caleb?” I huffed as I held the struggling man.
“Y-yeah. Seth.”
“I’ll kill you, you little faggot. You’ll end up like the other fag.” He struggled against the pressure I exerted on his arm, then hissed in pain. “You hurt Mom and Dad, even Sis. You nearly killed them, turnin’ out the way you did.”
“You tried to kill my friend? You hurt Kyle?” Caleb shouted.
“I wanted to. Because of what he did to you. Teachin’ you all that stuff. Makin’ you a fag. You’re a disgrace. Takin’ your clothes off for other men! I wanted to kill him.”
“You’re sayin’ you didn’t kill Kyle?” I twisted his arm again forcing him to answer.
“Ow! I didn’t kill nobody. He was already dead,” he said, his voice gruff, filled with pain. “I would’a though. He—”
“What’re you saying?”
“I’m sayin’ the fag was already dead when I got there. I wanted to kill him, but somebody beat me to it. It wasn’t me, but I wish it was,” he growled. “I left and closed the door behind me.”
“Didn’t even bother to call the police?” I couldn’t help myself, I had to twist that arm again.
“Why should I? He was dead. If he wasn’t I would’a finished him.” He hissed from the pain.
“Bastard,” I said and tugged on his arm.
“Then it was you?” Caleb asked. “You left that note in the dressing room?”
Seth was quiet, other than the groans of pain, every time I got a better grip on his arm.
“Answer the man,” I ordered.
“I w-wrote the note, yeah.” He twisted in my grip. “Oww!”
“How’d you get it up to the dressing room?”’
“I p-paid some fag kid to take it up. I wasn’t gonna go up there.”
“The police are gonna be real interested in your story.” I was more interested in who’d actually beaten Kyle.
Squad car sirens wailed, brakes screeched, and I heard car doors thump shut outside. Anton had already opened the door and was waiting for them.
I looked around at the wreckage which had once been my house. For good measure, and a little revenge, I twisted Seth’s arm once more. He screamed, but that wouldn’t pay for all the repairs I’d have do.
***
The second time out to Gladwyne seemed quick, but then I had a lot to do and my mind raced as I drove. The mansion still impressed when it came into view and my car was still the only one spoiling the beige pebbles. This time a pert maid in a dowdy outfit opened the door and let me in.
Detwiler said he’d assemble his family as I’d asked when I called. I was ushered into a room off the grand foyer. It was lavishly furnished with sedate Federal style pieces. The cream-colored walls and blue fabric on the furniture gave the room a peaceful air. I felt anything but peace as I waited for them to arrive.
Detwiler entered shortly after I did.
“Mr. Fontana. You have some information for me?” He extended a hand. His eyes were a brilliant blue and spoke of a highly intelligent man.
“I have information. You may or may not like it.”
“The others will be here in a moment. Can you tell—”
“I’d rather wait, if it’s all the same to you.”
“We’ll do it your way, Mr. Fontana. Ah, here’s Hayes.”
Hayes walked into the room, and when he saw me his eyes spoke volumes.
“Mr. Fontana.” Hayes nodded. “You know something a
bout Kyle’s attacker?”
“I do, but where’s—”
Trent and Emily entered the room before I could finish asking.
“We’re all here, Mr. Fontana,” Detwiler said. “What have you found?”
“It took a little digging and a lot of legwork but I’ve got a name for you,” I said holding out a folder. “James Korn is the man who harassed Kyle at his place of work.”
I told them about Korn’s meetings with Anton, without saying exactly how Anton had gotten the information. They only needed what they needed. Korn was as good as his word and had given Anton the name of the thug who’d hired him.
“My associate said the name was Paul Rand.” I looked around at them to see if this elicited a reaction, and I was satisfied when I saw how one of them took the news.
“This Rand is the person who hurt Kyle?” Detwiler asked.
“Did you find him?” Hayes asked.
“Didn’t take long. I found Rand and the police have him.”
“Then it’s finished,” Emily said. Her voice steady, her face drawn into a mask of seriousness. She stared at me, then looked toward her husband. “Trent, you should call your friends in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office.”
Trent said nothing.
“It’s finished as far as Rand is concerned,” I continued. “But he wasn’t the big fish, if you catch my drift.”
“There was someone else?” Detwiler asked, his eyes a hard steely color now.
“Rand didn’t know Kyle,” I said. “Didn’t have a motive to hurt him. Except for the cash he was paid to do the job.”
“Someone paid this guy to hurt Kyle?” Hayes asked. His whole body tensed and, skinny as he was, I saw him clench one hand into a fist ready to strike. I casually moved toward him, to fend off any reaction to what I would say next.
“Rand was pretty quick to give up the name of the person who paid him. Said he met this person in downtown Philly at some dive bar.” I stood next to Hayes, placed a hand on his shoulder. “You happen to remember the name of that bar, Emily? It was you he met there, am I right?”
“You’re insane. That man lied because you pressured him. You probably told him what to say.”
“Do I look like a ventriloquist? Rand speaks pretty well for himself and he’s probably doing plenty of talking right now at police headquarters.”
“Emily?” Trent spoke for the first time and I couldn’t help but hear Kyle’s voice in his. “Emily did you do this?”
Emily was stone silent.
“She did it, Trent. And then some. She paid Rand to harass Kyle. He had no desire to go into a gay bar so he hired Korn to do that. When Korn failed to have the desired effect, Rand was told to step it up a notch. Right Emily? That is what you told Rand.”
Emily refused to meet my stare. She looked at the floor as if something very important were written there.
“We know what happened next. And Rand isn’t willing to take the fall all by his lonesome,” I said. “I think when the police check bank records they’ll have an even more clear connection between Emily and Rand.”
“How could you?” Detwiler said. His eyes were trained on Trent’s wife. “I gave you and Trent everything you could ask for. You’d be inheriting a trust the size of which will last you both a long time. A very long time. But you wanted more? Is that it? You’d like everything, I suppose. Is that what you want?”
Emily’s head snapped up and she stared at Detwiler with a hateful, vicious look on her face. But she said nothing. She’d be spending whatever money she and Trent had to defend herself in court. She must’ve been pondering that and wondering how all her schemes had gone so wrong.
“Grandfather, this is outrageous!” Trent shouted.
“For once you’re right, Trent. Your behavior—”
“But you can’t think I…” Trent stood, mouth open and working, but his voice was less than a whisper.
“It’s all very clear to me, Trent.”
“But I didn’t… I wouldn’t…” Trent found his voice again but it was weak and he sounded defeated. “I had no idea, grandfather. None.”
“She’s your wife, Trent. How could you have no idea?”
“We haven’t been husband and wife for some time. No one notices those details around here as long as nothing appears different on the surface. You don’t even notice me. None of you. I’m gone for weeks at a time, and when I get back it’s as if I’m still gone. I might as well be a portrait on the wall.”
“I should have guessed it was you, Emily,” Hayes spoke, his voice controlled. “You hated Kyle. You hated all of us. But hurting Kyle, how could you?” Hayes made a move toward Emily but I still had my hand on his shoulder. I pressed against his forward motion keeping him in place.
“She’s not worth it, Hayes. You and Kyle. Just think about that. That’s all that matters for you. She’ll get what’s coming to her.”
His body was taut but he looked at me and nodded. I felt him begin to relax.
“I’ll call the police.” I flipped out my cell phone.
“No.” Detwiler said. “I’ll handle that.” He strode over an picked up the phone. “I should have handled much more. This is my responsibility.”
***
“I’m glad playing footsie with James got results. Catching Emily made it all worth it. That and the money he gave me.” Anton sipped his iced tea.
“You got results. That’s what counts.”
“When James told me he’d given Kyle’s g-string to that thug Rand, I almost slugged him.”
“So that’s how the g-string made it to Kyle’s bedroom when he was beaten. One more piece of the puzzle. Rand is a hard person. Not a human emotion in the guy.”
“At least James wasn’t that bad.” Anton drank more of his tea.
I’d never been to Anton’s apartment before and I was surprised he’d invited me up. Not that I had any expectations. He had his rules. But just being here was progress. His kitchen was spotless and the window looked down onto a courtyard filled with flowers beginning to bloom and trees greening up. It almost made the past few weeks seem like a bad dream instead of grim reality.
I watched Anton as he sat at his kitchen table drinking iced tea. His masculine demeanor and deep voice made him appear tough and untouchable but there was a vulnerability underneath. We’d known each other almost two years and there was still a lot I didn’t know about him. Like what made him so vulnerable at times. I knew he was masking something, keeping some part of his past from clouding his present. Maybe we’d get to sharing that some time.
“You made a difference in the case, Anton. I’m glad you did what you did. I mean, I’m not glad you had to play up to James Korn, but it helped. I wouldn’t have connected Emily to this without you.”
“Thank you. Nothing I couldn’t handle, though, and I kinda had fun.” He stared at me with those crystal blue eyes and I saw tiny cracks in his tough façade. “Weren’t you the least bit jealous while I tangled with that guy? Or was I just another tool in your detective kit?”
“Jealous?” I squeezed the lemon wedge so hard, it snapped and splashed into my iced tea. I knew what Anton was getting at and he’d nicely backed me into a corner. If I said yes, he’d take it as more meaningful than it was. If I said no, it would hurt him more than I cared to think about. I took a swallow of tea buying myself some time. “I was jealous. Maybe. A little,” I said. Then quickly added, “But I was really concerned for your safety. That’s what I was thinking about more than anything. Even the case.”
“You’re bullshitting me again, Marco.” Anton touched my hand.
“No. I was worried.” That was no lie, I was concerned. “But I knew you could handle yourself. And you did.”
“I did. Didn’t I?” He perked up and drained his glass in one long swallow. “How’s Kyle? Last time I was there he was still half out of it.”
“Saw him this morning. He’s up and talking. He’s still not strong. But the doctor said he was thr
ough the worst of it.” I sipped some tea. “The real surprise came as I was leaving.”
“What was that?”
“Detwiler walked into the room.”
“Bet Kyle didn’t expect him.”
“Trent and Hayes were with him. I think that’s gonna help Kyle a lot. They were even nice to Caleb which gave Kyle more of a boost.”
“You think Kyle’s gonna want to come back to work at Bubbles?”
“My guess is yes. When he’s ready.”
“I’ll have to tell him I’m keeping an eye on Caleb until he gets back into things.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed an improvement in Caleb’s routine. Your doing?”
“I think it’s just because Caleb’s happier now. He feels safer with his father and brother behind bars.”
“Bars!” I said, remembering an appointment. “Bars on my front window. I’ve got to get to my place. I promised to meet the repairmen.”
“Gonna cost a lot?”
“I’ve got insurance. But I’ve decided to move. I’ll get the place in shape and find a condo closer to my office and Bubbles.”
Anton nodded.
“I owe you, Anton. So does Kyle. I haven’t forgotten.”
I moved to his side, and he turned to face me. His eyes searched my face. They were deep and blue, and I felt as if I were falling into them. I leaned over, took his face in my hands, and kissed him on the mouth. It felt good, he felt good. The closeness and the warmth. I found myself feeling that I could get used to this.
Too Many Boyfriends
There was no one at the Dilworth’s front desk which meant anyone could have access to the building. Not a good thing. Sassy, head of security and chief desk attendant, must’ve been on break without anyone on back-up duty. Since Sammy had asked me to meet him as soon as I could, I decided it was more important to get up to his place than to wait for Sassy.
The Dilworth Arms was a great spot to call home if you didn’t mind the holes in security. Right in the middle of downtown Philly and the gayborhood, the Dilworth had rental fees that were almost a steal. Lots of people I knew who lived there said lax security was their only complaint.
Crimes on Latimer: From the Early Cases of Marco Fontana Page 18
