As it turned out, Sam was a dream in comparison to the young stud she got. The whole way he complained about his unhappy marriage and finally asked if she was married. When she replied affirmatively to avoid a hassle, he asked if she was happy in the marriage. Eventually Amy refused to answer any more questions, and he shut up. She didn’t bother to ask him to wait. She’d rather have Sam on the way home, she thought, as she fingered his company card in her jeans pocket.
Today there were people on the sidewalk and traffic moved along the street. She had more confidence in her mission than on the previous occasion. The inside of the building was quiet; she wondered whether anyone was at home. Amy rapped gently on the second floor apartment’s door. Michael opened the door.
“The librarian is back.”
“Assistant. Is Jennie here?”
Since Michael was fully dressed in a dark blue sweat suit instead of in his underwear, she decided it was safe to enter the apartment after being invited. Once the door was closed, she noticed how forbiddingly quiet the place was. Odd, she thought, as she recalled the shuffling noises and cries the children had made during her former visit.
“Been meaning to stop by the library and pay you a visit.”
“No need. I only work part-time, and my hours vary from week to week.”
He moved closer and she backed further into the living room.
“Jennie,” she called out.
“I guess this is one of your days off.”
“Actually, I was on my way to work, when I decided to drop in. I guess Jennie’s not here.”
“Nope. She took the kids down to the story hour at the library.”
Amy’s throat tightened.
“I guess I forgot,” she managed to say. “I’d better get down there now.”
Michael blocked her way to the apartment door.
“Like a beer, or are you classier than that? I don’t have any Chivas, but I do have some rot-gut sour mash.”
Amy stood tall and demanded that she be allowed to leave. Relieved when he stepped aside, she made for the door. His hand reached out and pulled her backward by the hair. Amy fell against his chest and felt his free hand trying to nudge up her sweater. Her scream brought the same hand up to cover her mouth.
“Hell, woman, no one’s going to pay any attention to that. People yell and scream all the time around here. So lie back and enjoy yourself,” he said, releasing her hair in order to spread his hand across her belly, yanking her back against his penis.
Amy tried to squirm out of his hold.
“Matter of fact, I like it when women yell.”
He uncovered her mouth and brought her down on the floor with him.
“You bastard,” she shouted, spitting up into his face.
Michael straddled her, while untying the cord to his sweat pants. Amy pushed at his thick thighs. Knowing that she would be unable to budge him that way, she attempted to reach up with her nails to scratch at his face, but he kept out of reach, smiling the whole time.
“Michael!”
Jennie had just walked in the door. Two young toddlers clung to her denim skirt while she held an infant in her arms. One young child buried his face in his mother’s skirt.
Michael roared with laughter and released his hold on Amy. She immediately stood.
“My God, I’m so sorry.” Jennifer reached a hand out to Amy, who was about to flee when she remembered why she had come.
“I need to talk to you,” Amy said to the young mother.
Michael had managed to quiet down and wiped some tears from his eyes.
“I wasn’t going to do anything, Jen, just kind of teasing a bit.”
“Take the children into the kitchen and give them something to eat.”
“Sure,” he said, rising to his feet. “I’ll leave you both to your girl talk.”
The boy hesitated to let go of his mother’s skirt until she squatted down and kissed him on the forehead.
“Be a good boy. There’s some ice cream in the freezer. Your Dad will give you a double scoop.”
After Michael and the children left the room, the women spoke in whispers.
Jennifer began to apologize again, but Amy stopped her.
“It’s not your fault. I just don’t understand how you can live with him.”
“The children...”
“Especially because of the children. Jennie...” Amy could see the pain on the woman’s face and halted her criticism. “I came because I thought Todd might be staying here.”
“He’d never do that.”
“Why not? He’s your brother.”
“A year ago, Michael was dealing drugs. He’s not now. But at that time he believed it was easier to sell heroin and coke than to work a nine-to-five job. Todd found out about it and wanted to report him to the authorities. I talked him out of it by promising that I could make Michael stop. And he did stop, more out of fear of Todd’s threat than for me and the children. But Michael has never forgiven my brother.”
“He probably saved your husband’s life.”
“I know. Still, Michael resents Todd’s intrusion into our lives.”
“Do you have any idea where Todd would go?”
Jennifer shook her head.
“Todd is very closed-mouthed about his life. Joey was different; he used to tell me a lot of things he probably wasn’t supposed to. If Joey were the one missing, I’d have a pretty good idea where to find him.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere in the Tenderloin District. It’s a rough part of town, with some grungy bars and strip joints, but Joey enjoyed drinking there. Alcohol was a big problem for him. He and Todd argued on many occasions about booze. Sometimes I wonder how Todd could have entrusted his life to such a drunk.”
“Sounds like a family trait,” Amy bit out, wondering how Jennie could entrust her children to such a violent father.
“Oh, no, Joey wasn’t like Michael. He was a good guy. Just didn’t know when to cap the bottle.”
“Do you need some company on your way down to the library?” Michael asked from the doorway to the squared-off hall.
“I guess I’d better be going,” Amy said. She didn’t like the fact that her voice seemed to quiver. She had almost forgotten that he was nearby. “Good-bye, Jennie.”
“If you wait a minute, I’ll slip on my shoes and come with you.” Michael persisted.
Amy stood and faced him.
“Don’t ever lay a hand on me again, nor ever come near me.”
“Hey, lady, you came here looking for trouble, not the other way around.”
“I’ll see you to the door.” Jennifer had risen and moved between Michael and Amy. Michael turned away and headed back into the kitchen to answer one of the children’s calls.
“Do you think you’ll hear from my brother again?”
“I hope so.”
“If not, will you look for him?”
“Either way, I’m going to look for him. He needs help and can’t keep pushing people away.”
“Then I’d like to stay in contact with you, if you don’t mind?”
“But I can’t come here again.”
“You’re right. Gosh, we’ve been doing so much talk about the library that it seems like the logical place to meet.”
“What about Michael showing up there?”
“The only thing Michael reads is the sports pages. He’d never show up there. He’s just a loud-mouth, Amy; please don’t take him seriously.”
Amy’s head and back still hurt from his brutal behavior. It was awfully hard for her not to take him seriously. But Jennie’s eyes, the same color as Todd’s, pleaded with her.
“What time is the story hour next Saturday, Jennie?”
***
In a cheap hotel room in the Tenderloin, Todd lay fully clothed on a faded coverlet. He hadn’t dared to undress in this place, nor had he the stomach to check out the sheets under the stained coverlet. Sunbeams slanted through the window, emphasizing the dus
t particles floating in the air of the fusty room. He knew there was traffic in the hallway all night, but he didn’t mind because that was when he was out. During the day he could hear an occasional door slam or the steady beat of a headboard against an adjoining rooms’ wall, but he figured it was pimps trying out their own merchandise. The real transient clients came after dark.
Todd felt agitated. He sensed something was wrong. He kept thinking of Amy, but would immediately discard the idea that she could be in danger. His leaving her apartment would keep her safe. Whoever wanted to destroy him had no reason to bother a simple law office manager. His lips spread into a smile. Amy had called herself and her life simple. Nothing about the woman was simple: it was all spectacular, he thought.
Trying to get his mind off Amy, Todd sat up and pulled the top drawer of the night stand open. He figured a little bible reading might do him some good at this point in his life.
He found the Gideon Bible pristine in its book jacket; however, it was underneath a plethora of girly magazines whose pages were ragged and torn. What else could he expect in this hovel? he thought. He glanced through two until he recognized a familiar face. Yup, he confirmed, that certainly was her hair, and the make-up was the same. He even remembered the shoes, although there was no clothing to recall, since she didn’t have a shred on. Edwina was spread across some lacy frill bedspread, and the caption underneath indicated that the picture had been submitted by a novice photographer, who was also her roommate. Todd threw himself back across the mattress in a fit of laughter.
Chapter 13
The Tenderloin District
“You’ve been in a really rotten mood all week,” Trudy said, laying her cafeteria tray on the rectangular table next to the floor-to-ceiling glass window.
Amy was already seated, staring out at the business-suited lunch crowd. It had been a week since she had heard from Todd.
“Haven’t even asked me about my dentist,” Trudy primly said, placing her paper napkin in her lap. “Are you going to eat all those worms, or would you like to share some with me?”
Amy mechanically slid her plate of spaghetti toward Trudy. Trudy slid it back.
“I’ve got enough here with my avocado salad,” she said. “Amy, what is wrong? You’re so quiet. Why, even you and Pickles are getting along, instead of fighting tooth and nail as usual.”
“That’s because we hardly talk to each other,” Amy muttered. “He hardly ever asks for my assistance now.”
“That’s odd.”
“We had a misunderstanding.”
“What happened?”
Amy looked back at Trudy and sighed.
“Oh, you wouldn’t believe it.”
“I’d believe anything about Pickens. Tell me.”
“He thinks I’m interested in him.”
“Interested. Like romantically interested?”
“Yes.”
Trudy laughed.
“How did he get that idea?”
Amy shrugged.
“You must have done something?”
“I asked him his address.”
“Why?”
“To find out where he lives.”
“You were interested!”
“No, no, no. I felt guilty because I had slowed him down, and I wanted to help speed up the job.”
“Is that why you’ve been so glum?”
“Gosh, no. I guess I’ve been tired lately. Been having a difficult time getting to sleep.” Amy remembered spending several nights hugging the telephone.
“Maybe you should get a check-up. I have a doctor you could see.”
“No. Thank you, Trudy. A doctor isn’t going to make me feel better.” Only Todd could do that, she knew. “What about that dentist you’ve been seeing?”
“He’s doing one filling a week.” Trudy gave a broad smile.
“Don’t tell me you spend your dates getting your teeth filled?”
Trudy nodded. “It’s worth it.”
Back at the office, Amy literally bumped into Stu in the hallway.
“Sorry, Amy, my mind is elsewhere.”
“That makes two of us.”
“I’m going on vacation, and—”
Alarmed, Amy interrupted.
“I didn’t know that. It wasn’t on the schedule.”
“No. I discussed it this morning with the partners, and we’ve all agreed it’s best until a few things can get straightened out.”
Had he been caught? Amy wondered. If so, this might be the break that could help clear Todd’s name. Of course, Stu might not readily admit to murder or even to being associated with Joey’s death, but perhaps it would crack the whole case apart and reveal the name of the person who killed Joey.
“You’ll have to stay in the city, right?”
“Not necessarily. One of the partners has agreed to take on my work load. I was thinking about heading back to Texas to look up some of my old buddies.”
“When?”
“What’s wrong, Amy?”
“In case I need to reach you, I’ll need to know where you’ll be staying.”
“You won’t need me. The partners don’t want me working on anything for the time being.”
“But... You’re not going to leave town tonight, certainly.”
“Probably take me a few days to settle some personal matters before I go.” Stu put out his hand and Amy accepted it. “I’ve enjoyed working with you, Amy.” There was a nervous chuckle, and he squeezed Amy’s hand tighter. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to know each other better.” Stu leaned forward and gave her a peck on the forehead, then he freed her hand and walked back to his office.
Stupefied, Amy watched him walk away. Oh, my God, she suddenly thought, I have to tell Todd as soon as possible. She was certain that if Stu left town, Todd might never be able to prove he didn’t do away with his partner. Amy tried to think of where Todd might be. She knew he was looking for leads on Joey’s death, so he probably would be contacting friends of Joey and... those sleazy hangouts Jennie had mentioned. Of course, she realized, that was where he would be. Amy resolved to pay a visit to the Tenderloin district if Todd didn’t call her that night.
He didn’t call, and when Amy met Jennie at the library on Saturday, she flooded the nervous young mother with questions, writing down any name and location that Joey might have mentioned. He seemed to have a penchant for any bar rowdy enough to hold the potential for a brawl. And Jennie believed he had been involved in quite a few fights, given the number of black eyes she had seen on him.
“Todd and Joey argued all the time about the kind of people he hung around.”
“How come they were such good friends, then?”
“Our parents began asking Todd that question when Todd brought Joey home for the holidays one Christmas when both were in college. Opposites attract, I guess. Look at me and Michael. I think Todd felt sorry for him, too. Joey was brought up in foster care after his father tried scalding him with boiling water. Todd would never harm Joey.”
“I believe you.”
“Are you in love with my brother?”
Amy was shocked by the question. She had lusted after him and had enjoyed the playful banter they had so briefly engaged in, but love?
“Maybe,” she whispered.
That night Amy chose her clothes carefully. She didn’t want to be mistaken for the kind of woman who frequented any of the places she was going to visit; on the other hand, she didn’t want to stand out as a naïve target.
She chose black jeans, a black fuzzy turtleneck sweater and a pair of flat boots, along with a blazer to hold her cash and credit card. No pocketbook to entice young hoodlums. Amy checked herself in the mirror. Instead, of blending into the night as she had hoped to do, she was afraid she might look like a professional dominatrix in all that black. But the outfit would have to do. She didn’t have time to spend another hour rummaging through the closet. Again she stuffed Sam’s card in her pocket and left to hit the streets.
U
pon arriving at her destination, Amy was surprised to see a few obvious tourists wandering around. She wasn’t sure whether they were lost or simply trying out the seedy side of life. They didn’t approach her for directions out of the neighborhood, nor did they rush for her departing taxi. Everyone has his own dream vacation, she thought.
The first several bars she stopped in were more depressing than seedy. Most of the patrons were older guys, brooding over flat beers. The laughter from the televisions seemed to cast a pall over the dimly lit rooms. There were no women, and the men didn’t seem to mind, because no one paid much attention to her entrances or exits, which was fine by Amy.
The final bar was livelier; music was blasting, and a few middle-aged women were flirting with brawny working-class men. The television was off, and the bartender was younger and busier than most of the ones she had seen earlier in the evening. Actually, this place had a good-sized crowd, she noticed as she sidled up onto a barstool. She searched the view in the mirror in front of her for any sign of Todd’s good looks. He certainly had no competition here, she thought. A scruffy bum sat at the end of the bar, looking dirty and smelly. She noticed that he had an empty stool next to him, which would probably stay that way until he left. Then the bartender would no doubt bring out the Lysol, she figured. At the opposite end, a man and a woman were becoming uncomfortably intimate. Amy squirmed in her seat, wondering whether she should leave now.
“Want something?”
Amy looked at the bartender. She hadn’t ordered anything in any of the other bars and no one had bothered her, but then she hadn’t stayed longer than five minutes in each place. They probably had thought she had wandered into the wrong joint, she surmised. This place was different; she hadn’t seen the faces of everyone here yet, and that might take a while.
“A white wine. Over ice,” she added.
The bartender mugged as if dropping the ice in the glass and pouring the wine would be hard work, but proceeded to do so with efficiency.
The stool on her right was abandoned by a young man who declared that he had to get home to his wife. Without looking at the man, the bartender waved a hand at him while setting the wine glass in front of Amy.
The Taxman Killeth Page 9
