by Curry, Edna
Curt met them at the luggage claim area and Luke introduced the other agent to Candi.
“Curt will drive us around Chicago,” Luke said. He didn’t specify where. Candi was upset enough. Already she looked pale and tired, and the ordeal of identifying her sister’s body lay ahead of her.
“Nice to meet you,” Candi acknowledged him with a brief nod and glanced around. “I need a ladies’ room to change Jessica.”
“Right over there. We’ll wait for you here,” Luke said. Most women found his partner attractive, even though Curt was quite a bit older and more rugged looking than handsome. He always wore a nice shirt and tie and had a winning way with the ladies. A ripple of pleasure slid through Luke when Candi didn’t notice. He kicked himself for having such thoughts now. She wasn’t thinking of anything except Jolene right now.
“Thanks.” Candi moved off and the two men took seats at the window. Outside the sun shone. The rain had stopped, leaving puddles on the tarmac. Everything looked fresh and clean, in contrast to the darkness suddenly clouding their lives.
“I reserved the adjoining hotel rooms you wanted,” Curt said.
“Thanks.”
“How’s she holding up?”
“I think she’s sort of numb. In denial, hoping the girl isn’t Jolene.”
The announcer’s voice echoed around them, announcing a boarding call. Curt shrugged and waited for relative silence. “A normal reaction.”
People streamed by heading for the next gate. “What are they telling the media?”
“We’re listing it as a mugging, so they’re not interested so far. They have no idea anyone besides the local cops are involved in investigating this.”
“Good, let’s hope it stays low profile. Anything new on the Las Vegas murder?” Luke asked.
“Not much. The victim was the brother of the guy who’d rented the room. He apparently stayed with his brother and sister-in-law, but wasn’t registered. It looks like he interrupted a robbery.”
“Just in the wrong place at the wrong time?”
“Seems that way so far. The couple who rented the room was at the poker tables,” Curt said with a shrug.
“Ah. The same MO as the other robberies.”
Curt nodded. “Yeah. We think one of the perps cases a likely target and waits until they’re at the tables. One keeps them busy gambling while another guy hits their empty room for the goodies. Only this time someone was in the room.”
Luke nodded agreement. “Sounds right to me.”
Candi returned and they drove downtown through heavy traffic to the Cook County Morgue.
Curt offered to keep Jessica in the waiting room while Luke went with Candi to view the body. Because Luke had been tailing Jolene earlier, he could also ID her.
She glanced at Luke, biting her bottom lip. When he nodded his approval, she gave Curt a grateful smile and handed over the baby carrier and diaper bag. “She should sleep for a while. If she wakes up before I get back, give her the bottle in the diaper bag.”
Curt grinned. “Don’t worry. It’s been a few years since my kids needed bottles, but I think I can handle it.”
She gave him a wan smile and nod and turned to follow Luke. As they walked inside, Candi’s face grew even paler than it had been for the past hour. The cloying smell of disinfectant and other chemicals he couldn’t name probably turned her stomach as it did his.
He put a steadying arm around her waist, murmuring encouragement as a medical examiner’s assistant came to meet them. Candi swallowed hard and stared straight ahead as Luke showed his credentials and explained who they were and what they wanted. They followed the man down the hall.
At first, Candi sighed in relief when she saw the body. The woman had short, brown hair, not long blonde hair like Jolene’s. Hope surged in him. They moved around to see her face and hope died. It was Jolene.
Candi closed her eyes and swayed against him. She turned and hid her face against his shirt. Guilt assuaged him as he held her close and rubbed her back, offering comfort. Cold self-disgust ran along his veins. He’d failed. He should have saved her sister. Why hadn’t he arrested Jolene and forced her into protective custody?
“Is it Jolene?” the ME’s assistant asked. Candi nodded, shuddering.
“Enough. Let’s go.” Luke thanked the man and led Candi back outside to the hallway to be alone. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly against him as sobs wracked her body. Her fingers gripped his clothes again, entangling and pulling some chest hairs. He winced but only held her closer to him. Her tears soaked through to his skin.
At last she raised her head, her hands relaxing their tight hold. “Sorry.”
He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped her face, and handed it to her. “Don’t be sorry.”
Candi blew her nose, finally looking up at him. “She cut and dyed her hair,” she said hollowly. “It was still long and blonde when I saw her at the coffee shop. She was always so proud of her naturally blonde hair. All those years, she never let anyone cut it.”
“Fear is a powerful motive. She probably tried to disguise herself.”
“Whoever followed her found her anyway.”
“We think so, but we’re still investigating. Come on, let’s get out of here.”
She stiffened. “No. I—I can’t just leave her here. Can’t we get her out? I mean, claim her body? We need to take her home. Make arrangements for a funeral and proper burial.”
He understood her feelings, but shook his head. “I’m not sure we can until they’re finished with whatever they need to do for their investigation.”
Her face blanched. “Why do they need her body? You mean an autopsy?”
“Yes.”
“Oh God!” She wrapped her arms around him. He kissed the top of her head while she cried.
After a few moments, they walked back to the waiting room and she hugged and kissed Jessica, tears flowing. On the way out to the car she asked, “Has someone told Mom?”
“Curt will call her, now that we’re sure it’s Jolene. Come on, let’s go to our hotel. You need some rest.”
She cast him a curious glance. “Don’t you have work to do, now? Running down clues to catch her killer? I mean, you don’t have to stay with me. I’m fine.”
He brushed away a lone tear on her check. “Other agents are working on following clues, both here and back in Las Vegas. My job is to take care of you and Jessica,” he said. No way dared he leave her alone until this case was wrapped up. Obviously, these guys played rough. Had they gotten what they’d wanted by searching Candi’s house and finding Jolene? Had silencing Jolene been their goal? Or would they continue to follow them? If only he knew what they were after.
They settled into their room. He’d deliberately requested adjoining rooms, several floors up. The hotel had security, but so had the Las Vegas hotel where they suspected the jewelry gang had killed a man. Security was no guarantee they couldn’t be found.
At first Candi objected to his sharing her space. Then she asked, “Do you think they’re still following us?”
“I’m not sure, but I’m not taking any chances,” he admitted. “I suppose it depends on whether they only wanted to silence Jolene and if she was carrying what they wanted from her.”
“Oh. I didn’t think of that.”
“I’ll leave the door open between our rooms so I’ll hear if anyone tries to get in.”
“Why would they? If they wanted Jessie to make Jolene obey them, they no longer have that reason.” She sighed. “I have no idea what they want.”
He hugged her. “Neither do I. But maybe they don’t know that. They may think Jolene told you something or passed something to you.”
Candi nodded, a grim smile on her face. “If she had, I’d be happy to give it to the police if it would help put whoever killed her behind bars!”
Luke glanced at her. She wasn’t kidding. Hate for her sister’s murderer was clearly displayed on her face. He could count on
Candi to help him catch them if she could. Did she know anything that would help?
Candi settled Jessica down to sleep in her carrier in the bedroom, and called her mother. She talked to Maggie for a long time, assuring her she’d come to Florida as soon as they released Jolene’s body.
She hung up and gave him a rueful little smile. Mom sounds numb. I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. She said she’ll plan the funeral. She wants a memorial service in Florida.”
Luke nodded agreement. He ordered a light supper from room service and coaxed Candi to eat at least some of it. She sat across from him at the small table, sipping her soup and saying little at first.
Finally, she looked up from toying with her water glass. “It’s my fault she’s dead,” she said in a flat voice.
Luke swallowed. What hadn’t she told him? “How do you figure that?”
“When Jolene called and asked me to meet her in that coffee shop, I tried to talk her into trusting you and coming to stay with me, but she wouldn’t.”
He shrugged. “That was her choice. You can’t make people do what you think they should.”
She smiled wanly. “I know. But if I’d told you where Jolene was and let you pick her up then, she’d be in trouble, but at least she’d still be alive. Jessie would still have a mama.” Her voice cracked and she looked away, swiping at tears.
“I’m sorry, Candi.”
“Yeah. Me, too.” She picked up her fork and played with her food some more.
He watched for a few minutes. When none of the food actually got inside her, he said, “You must be exhausted. Come on, go to bed and try to get some sleep.”
She made no objection. Nodding, she went into her bedroom, closing the door.
Luke pushed the service cart with the remains of their meal into the hallway for the waiter to retrieve and locked the door. Standing at the window, he stared at the downtown Chicago skyline. The sun had set and lights shone in most of the buildings now. His thoughts and feelings churned in a most unprofessional manner.
He ground his teeth in frustration. He hated that Jolene was dead. Even if it hadn’t been his responsibility to find Jolene, he felt to blame. They hadn’t found her in time. Yeah, it might be a falling out among thieves, but that was too pat an answer. He couldn’t accept it.
He didn’t believe she was part of the jewelry gang, although the pawnbroker had identified her as the person who’d hocked the diamond necklace. George could have given it to her as she’d said. Suppose she assumed she had a right to hock a present and George never dreamed she’d hock his gift. That scenario made sense to him. Curt is sure she’s guilty because she ran.
Why did she run if she wasn’t guilty? Her letter revealed fear George wanted her baby. Was she a battered woman? He hadn’t seen any bruises, but men were often careful not to leave bruises where they’d show. Or it could be mental abuse, leaving only emotional scars.
Jolene had gone to great lengths to protect her baby. She knew an agent was with Candi and her phone might be bugged, yet she’d risked having her phone calls traced to check up on Jessie.
He ran frustrated fingers through his hair. Her death was one more failure of their so-called wonderful system. They’d failed to protect her and lost whatever evidence she might have given them against the jewelry robbers.
They hadn’t thought Jolene knew much about the robberies. But if her knowledge was the motive for her death, what she’d known must have been enough to get them arrested.
He paced the floor. Back and forth. Back and forth. If only Jolene had trusted them enough to give them that info and let them protect her. Once again he had failed. How he wished things had turned out differently. Too late for wishing, now.
***
At the Top Notch Casino in Las Vegas, Agent Bill Lawrence and his partner, Randy Thompson rode the elevator to George Bender’s suite. When George answered their knock, he frowned at them and blocked their entrance.
“George Bender?” Bill flashed his FBI ID, introducing them. “We need to talk to you.” George blanched and nodded, then stepped back. The agents pressed their advantage and strode into the suite.
Bill glanced around the elegantly furnished rooms. Beautiful furniture, real paintings on the walls, glass fronted bookcases, heavy drapes at the windows. Must cost a bundle to live here. He seated himself on a soft leather sofa. “Anyone else here?”
“Not right now,” George said. “What’s this all about?” He sank into an easy chair across from Bill.
Bill eyed him. A gold Rolex watch peeked from under the cuff of a well-fitted business suit. Custom made clothes, he’d bet.
Randy checked the other rooms, then came back and chose a chair with a view of both of them as well as the door.
Bill asked, “Where were you Wednesday evening?”
George frowned. “What happened Wednesday?”
“Answer the question.”
“I don’t keep a diary. Probably down at the poker tables like I’ve been a lot of nights lately.”
“Can anyone verify that?”
George stared at him. Bill could almost see his thoughts racing. Finally George said, “Ask the dealers. I won a few thousand off Joe Newman and his brother Jake. They weren’t real happy, so they’ll remember.”
“We’ll check it out.” Bill watched George, who ran a nervous finger under the collar of his white shirt. “Jolene Lewis and her baby live here?”
George frowned, relaxing a bit. “Not right now. She took the kid and went to Florida to visit her mother.”
“Oh?” Bill raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t go with her?”
“No. Why should I?” His face held confusion.
Bill’s mouth twisted. “Help her with a new baby. Didn’t you want to meet your mother-in-law?”
George snorted. “I don’t have a mother-in-law.”
“Jolene’s not your wife?”
“No, we’re not married.”
Interesting. Might be important to how they handled this. “But the kid’s yours? Jolene did live here? With you?”
“Yeah, so what? Lots of people live together without gittin’ hitched. Who said we were married? What’s this all about, anyway? Why should the FBI care who I live with?”
Bill shrugged. “We don’t, actually. We were told to notify Jolene’s husband. Guess we came to the wrong place.” He rose.
George stood, too. A large diamond ring flashed as he put out a hand. His face had gone pale. “Wait, wait. Notify her husband about what? Something happen? What’s going on?”
Bill eyed him. Good. The gambler looked shaken. Maybe now they’d get somewhere. He didn’t try to soften the blow. “Jolene was found dead in Chicago.”
The shock on George’s face assured Bill that George hadn’t known. So, he could dump the theory George had hired a hit man.
“Dead?” George rasped hoarsely. “But—but how? A car accident? What?”
“No, she was murdered.”
“Murdered! Jolene? But…who?” George’s face turned even whiter, and he sank back into his chair.
After a long moment, he swallowed and his face went totally blank. His poker face. Bill could almost smell the man’s fear. He knew something all right. But he wasn’t telling. “In Chicago, you said? She said she was going to Florida. What was she doing in Chicago?”
Bill sat back down too. “We were hoping you could tell us, George.”
George clenched his jaw. “I don’t know anything. What about the kid? Who has her? Is she all right?”
Bill eyed him. “Yeah the kid’s fine, for now.”
“That’s good. Who’ll take care of her?”
“That’ll be up to the courts. You don’t have any legal rights without marriage, you know. You’ll have to prove paternity if you want the kid. Probably by DNA tests.”
“Oh. I suppose. Cripes. What am I gonna do with a kid?” George looked bewildered.
“If you have any idea who murdered Jolene, it would sure help if you told us wh
at you know.”
George didn’t seem to hear him. “Maybe she was blackmailing somebody else, too,” he said half to himself.
“Blackmailing? What do you mean?”
George roused himself and flushed, his face going blank again. “Jolene had a way of getting what she wanted, one way or another. She knew stuff and held it over people’s heads, just like her old man. That’s how we met. Her dad and I knew each other. She came to me for help when she was alone here and broke.”
“What did she blackmail you about?”
George waved a hand dismissively. “Nothing you’d be interested in. Not important now. Just personal stuff. Anyway, it worked out okay and we stayed together. I’m just saying that was her style, her way of getting money from people. I was thinking, somebody paid her off in a different way than she expected.”
Bill and Randy exchanged looks. “We’ll check out that possibility, along with several others.”
“What happens now? I mean, where is Jolene?”
“In the Cook County morgue. The police haven’t released her body yet. If you’re not married, I guess it’s up to her mother where she wants her buried.”
“Damn. I should have married her.”
Bill rose and Randy followed suit. “Too late now. We’ll be back if we have more questions.”
“Sure.” George reluctantly followed them to the door and closed it behind them.
He walked back to his bedroom, picked up his cell phone and made a call. “Red, Come to my room. No, not later. Now.”
He punched in more numbers. “Harvey, get down here. Yes, now.”
A few minutes later, the two men sat on his sofa where the FBI agents had been earlier. Red, named after his short, red mop of curls and the red-veined nose that revealed his whiskey habit, eyed George nervously. Harvey was as tall and thin as Red was short and stout. He watched the other two with wary brown eyes.
George told them about the agents’ visit, leaving out the personal stuff about the baby and Jolene’s Florida visit. He didn’t need to tell these guys personal stuff.
