“I don’t participate,” Amy said. “I only do clerical work in the back room.”
“Maybe I could help you work out in the back room.”
“My husband used to be a fitness instructor,” Jenny said, obviously embarrassed by his brashness.
Amy opened the apartment door and Jenny rushed to her side. “Tell him I don’t believe he did it,” she whispered.
Amy shut the door behind her and was relieved to see that the two lovers were gone from the hallway. However, in the vestibule, she was forced to step over a huddled form that looked very much like Leo. Amy wondered whether the next stop would be as colorful as this one.
Chapter 8
A Visit to Roger
Once on the street, Amy remembered that she needed to call a cab, but going back upstairs was out of the question. Besides, it would probably appear odd that she needed to call a cab to get to the local library. She looked up and down the street, trying to locate a shop or restaurant that might have a telephone. There has to be a grocery store somewhere around here, she figured as she walked. Eventually she came to a major street, where she was able to find public transportation to take her to her next stop, which turned out to be as drab as the last had been colorful.
She entered an old, plain office building and took an elevator to the fifth floor. A piece of paper taped to the wall indicated the direction in which she could find the office she was seeking. The hallway was painted a dark benign beige, which was intermittently interrupted by identical brown doors. The one she wanted had lost its numbers long ago, and someone had recently chalked the number on the door at average eye level. Inside, a double line of desks were drearily functioning as individual offices for mannequin-like people, who managed to ignore her completely.
“Mr. Roger Davidson,” she called from the front of the room.
A bald head popped up from a pile of folders. A hand waved her forward and the man with the bald head stood. His head swiveled about seeking an unused chair. He found one at a desk that looked as if whoever had worked there had quit months ago and no one had bothered to pick up his workload. He wheeled the tired, drab olive office chair across to his desk. Once they were both seated the man slipped off his glasses and tried to focus on her face. A small smile showed his approval.
“Todd Coleman sent me.”
The smile sagged.
“I don’t know him.”
Amy whispered the inner sanctum code word and the man blanched.
“I don’t know anything.”
“He needs help.”
“I’m not the one to see.”
“Who then?”
He shrugged.
Curiosity got the better of her.
“What do you do here?”
“Insurance.”
“Then you don’t work directly for the government either?”
“Shhhh!”
“Guess not. However, Todd wants to know whether you can give him any lead on what’s going on.”
“I only know what I saw in the newspaper.”
“Can you help to straighten things out?’
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t know anything.”
Frustrated, Amy raised her voice.
“Listen, he can’t stay—” Roger put his index finger to his lips and Amy looked around. No one had even glanced at them. “What should he do?”
“I don’t know.”
“Will you find out?”
“Can’t. My people don’t want to be involved.”
“You mean they’re going to cut him off without any assistance? What if he talks?”
“He won’t.”
“How can you be sure of that?”
“He’s well-trained. Joey, on the other hand...”
“You have nothing for me to take back to him or even to tell him?”
He shook his head.
Amy stood, as did Roger, who then rolled her chair back to the desk that was overburdened with paperwork. She thought about thanking him, but for what? Politeness didn’t seem to suit this situation. Even though Roger had returned to his work before she headed for the exit, she had the feeling he was watching her all the way to the door. She turned quickly to glimpse the sight of his bald head suddenly dropping toward his work.
The trip to the grocery store was less challenging than her other errands, and by the time she got home she was beginning to feel sorry for Todd. He took the groceries from her at the door.
“I don’t know how you ever got any information out of Roger Davidson,” she said, slipping off her shoes. “He is the most uncommunicative person I’ve ever dealt with. And, believe me, working at a law firm can bring one into contact with a lot of closed mouthed individuals.”
“That’s why they use him. He didn’t know anything, did he?”
“You expected as much?”
“Yeah.”
“Then why did you send me?”
“It was necessary to make sure. And my sister?”
“I gave her the money. How did she meet that oaf, anyway?”
“At college. Don’t be surprised. Neither of them graduated. She was pregnant, and I tried to tell her that I’d take care of her and the baby. She didn’t need him, but she loved him, or thought she did.”
“Now you support three children.”
“No. I only help out.”
Todd went into the bathroom and started running the faucet over the tub. He sprinkled some of her bubble bath crystals into the water.
“You frequently take bubble baths?” she asked.
“No. It’s for you. Unless you’d like me to join you? I thought not,” he said, seeing her jaw tighten. “Perhaps you’d like to relax while I cook? I put out fresh towels for you. By the way, did you pick up the wine I asked for?”
“Yes. I also got some pastries in case the zabaglione doesn’t live up to what’s promised.”
“No faith. How am I going to win you over, Amy?” he asked, sweeping his fingers through her hair. “Take off your clothes and hop in. I’ll call you for dinner.”
“My robe?”
“Behind the door.” Todd smiled and pulled the door a bit forward so that she could see her light cotton robe hanging on the hook.
“You found it.”
“On the floor behind the futon. You really need a housekeeper.”
“That’s why I’m letting you stay.”
Todd laughed.
“I must get into my apron and prepare Mademoiselle’s dinner.”
“Dismissed,” she airily said.
Five minutes later, Amy was settled into the warm soothing comfort of her bathwater. She rolled her head around feeling the tension ease. This man could become a necessity in her life if he continued to pamper her. He was intelligent, handsome, built, a gentleman...
Todd barged into the bathroom, holding a tray on which rested two glasses of wine.
“I’ve got to get a lock for that door.” Amy’s body sunk lower in the tub and she tried to sweep the bubbles up around her neck. “I could have been naked.”
“You are naked, but unfortunately I can’t see anything.”
Amy saw his eyes squint as if trying to see through the thin layer of bubbles.
“Get out.”
“I brought this for you,” he said, handing her one of the glasses.
“Thank you.” She grabbed the glass. “Now get out.”
Todd lowered the lid on the commode and sat down.
“What did you think of my sister?”
“What does it matter? Get out.”
“I don’t know. For some reason your opinion is important to me. She used to look a lot better than she does now. Matter of fact, when she was a teenager, Mom and Dad had a hard time keeping the boys away from the house. At that time I was in the service, and she would write me long letters of complaint about how over-protective they were. I guess I didn’t do as good a job as they did.”
“Aren’t your pare
nts still around?”
“No. They died within six months of each other. Both had cancer.”
“Sorry.” Amy sat a little higher in the tub. She wanted to see his face better. “How old was she when they passed away?”
“Seventeen. Believe it or not, I talked her into continuing school. She was ready to take her high school diploma and start working. I told her she would do a lot better if she went to college. I even helped her select the right school. Without my help, maybe she’d be living in a place like this, with the potential for a better life than she has now.”
“Then again, she might have ended up in the same mess. Besides, what’s so good about my life? I’m sitting naked in a bathtub talking to a murderer.” Amy was sorry she had said that. Todd’s eyes shut briefly, then he got up and went to the doorway.
“Dinner should be ready in fifteen minutes.”
He closed the door before she could apologize.
Todd didn’t know why it hurt so much. The whole day he had worried about Amy and wondered whether he should have run the chance of being caught instead of sending her. Hell, this wasn’t the self-preservation instinct that had brought him through a number of mishaps. The woman was too attractive and he was too needy.
By the time Todd had set out the food, Amy came walking in, wearing the pastel green robe that emphasized the color of her hair and the richness of her eyes. Her skin was flushed from the warm water, and she smelled of jasmine. His body responded; he fought for control. He turned back to the counter, sorry now that he had turned down the lights and lit two candles. He had to gain some space away from his feelings for this woman.
“Can’t see a damn thing,” he said, moving toward the light switch.
“No, please. I like it.”
Her voice was soft, caressing his longing, feeding the rising desire within him.
“I prefer to see what I’m eating,” he said, flipping the switch. He then blew out the candles.
“I’m sorry, Todd, for what I said about you being a murderer. I don’t believe that and neither does your sister.”
“My sister?”
“Yes, she’s read about you.”
“Damn, it must be killing her.”
“We’re both more concerned about you.”
“Let’s eat.”
Throughout dinner Todd kept trying to turn the conversation to what Amy’s life was like. All he could learn was that she had a widowed mother who tried to be quite active in her two daughters’ lives. Amy considered herself lucky to live on the opposite coast. Her sister still lived within a mile of their mother and often called to ask about nursing jobs in San Francisco.
“I thought your sister was into antique jewelry?”
“She has a small store and she’s able to make a decent living, but she’s trained as a nurse. Mom is always trying to get her back into working for a hospital. She thinks my sister would stand a better chance of getting married, especially to a doctor. Stella, my sister, doesn’t like being told what work hours to keep. That’s why she’s never bothered to follow-up on job ads I’ve sent her. Stella’s also quite content being single.”
“And you?” Todd surprised himself with the question.
Amy shrugged.
“Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a man around the house. Look at the service I could get.” She spread her arms wide across the counter setting.
Todd laughed, feeling uncomfortable with her remark.
“I’m told I’m not always a prize.”
“Maybe you haven’t had the right inspiration.”
Todd stood and started piling the dishes.
“What about desert?”
“You make the coffee, and I’ll set the desert on the cocktail table. I’d like to see the late news.”
By the time the coffee was done, Todd had filled the dishwasher and laid out the desert. Amy heard the television announcer give a short preview of the upcoming news. It was international and had nothing to do with her guest. However, a while later, while drinking coffee, they learned that the police now believed that Coleman and Landis were running an illegal operation in the import/export business.
“Is that true?”
Todd shook his head.
“What would give them that idea?”
“We had a small business that we used as a cover. We... rather, I export scuba gear to Central America. I suppose they’ve figured out that we both had a lot more money than that business would have brought in.”
“Money paid to you by the government?”
Todd nodded.
“You’d better get to bed,” Todd said after the news went off. He used the remote to shut off the set.
Amy began to clean off the table.
“Don’t,” he said harshly. “I’m sorry. Let me clean up; it will help to clear my head.”
“I’ll stay late tomorrow at work and see what I can find out.”
“I don’t know whether I want you involved in this.”
“I believe you didn’t kill your partner and I’m volunteering to help.” He was about to speak when she interrupted him. “And I’ll stay late whether you want me to or not.”
Without thinking, she leaned forward and brushed her lips lightly across his, then quickly stood and retreated to the bathroom to get ready for bed.
Todd watched her exit the room. He knew he had to get out onto the streets and gather more information. He couldn’t let her risk her neck for him.
Chapter 9
A Late Night
The following morning, Amy found Todd sitting on the livingroom couch, dressed in a black tee shirt and jeans. His feet were bare and rested upon her glass coffee table. He was intently watching a news program on television. At first she wasn’t going to interrupt his concentration, but she noticed that the announcer was discussing the European economy.
“Todd, was there any news about the killing?”
He seemed to have to pull himself out of a deep trance.
“There’s some coffee and toast on the counter. I didn’t make a big breakfast this morning. I wasn’t hungry.”
“That’s okay. I told you I don’t usually bother to eat anything before I leave for work. Is something wrong?”
“Wrong? Nah, I’m only a hunted killer.”
“I mean, you seem moodier than you’ve been. Did you learn anything new this morning?”
“No. But I’ve been thinking that maybe I should move on. Get back on the streets.”
“You can’t do that. Your picture has been in the newspapers and on T.V.”
“I can’t stay here forever.”
Amy was affronted by his comment. Had he tired of her company so much that he would run the risk of being caught? Perhaps she was a bit too aggressive in kissing him last night; on the other hand, earlier he had been the one with the sensual innuendos.
“Wait at least until I search through some of the records at work. It might give us some leads.”
“Not us, Amy, me. In a couple of days I’ll have more than just this stubble,” he said rubbing his chin. “And my hair will be longer.”
“For Pete’s sake, Todd, do you really believe a scruffy beard and straggly hair is going to make you invisible to the police?”
Not invisible, he silently acknowledged, only harder to recognize.
“Well, I take it by what you said that you’ll be here tonight when I come home. If we’re lucky I will have gained some knowledge of the office hoodlum.”
Without bothering to drink the coffee, Amy quickly got ready for work. Todd stood by the apartment door as she gathered up her keys.
“Listen,” he said, before allowing her to turn the knob on the door. “I don’t want you to take any chances. If anyone sticks around late, then forget your snooping. Understand?”
She nodded, because Todd had not explicitly defined late. Did he mean midnight, one in the morning, or two or three? She didn’t bother to ask because she intended to stay as late as necessary.
&n
bsp; “Thank God you’re here,” Trudy said as Amy let the glass office door close behind her. “Pickle was hysterical. He kept wanting to call you all day. Luckily Teddy was back. He was able to quiet him for brief periods.”
“Teddy’s back from vacation?”
“Yeah, and he’s in with Pickle right now.”
“You know, you really should be careful using that nickname that we have for Pickens. Someday he’s going to overhear one of your conversations, and we might both be out of our jobs.”
“The sour old coot is in his own world most of the time.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
The paralegal, Teddy, interrupted the women to inform Amy that Pickens was asking for her. Immediately she went to the conference room.
“Finally. You don’t look sick.”
“I’m not; that’s why I’m back at work.”
Pickens grumbled and sent Amy to fetch additional information for him. Later she thanked Teddy for covering the day before while she was out. She asked the paralegal about his vacation, but he was vague, saying that he spent most of his time at home. He hardly ever discussed his time out of the office with any of the staff. For a while, he and Trudy had been an item, but both seemed to lose interest in each other after a month’s time. He had grown up locally but never mentioned family or friends in the area. That always disturbed Trudy, but Amy felt that he had a right to his privacy.
At the end of the day, Trudy popped into Amy’s office to let her know she was leaving.
“Want to walk me to the cable car again?”
“Another date with Schwartz?”
“Yep. He doesn’t have the looks of Todd Coleman, but he has one advantage. He didn’t kill his partner.”
Amy flinched at the comment and was ready to defend Todd but realized doing so would only spike Trudy’s curiosity.
“Matter of fact, he doesn’t even have a partner. He’s a dentist with his own private practice, and he said he’d like to work inside me for free.”
“That’s a direct approach.”
“No, no, no. He wants to take out all my mercury fillings and fill them with that new white stuff they use so that it looks like you don’t have any fillings. Only I’m a bit timid when it comes to sitting in dental chairs. It took me ages to find a dentist I could trust, and now I’m not sure I want to change.”
The Taxman Killeth Page 6
