“Did he see you leave?”
“No. Oh, Amy, he’s got another woman. He’s with her now.”
Was this the final straw that drove Jennie from the animal with which she had lived? One would think Jennie would be grateful to the unlucky woman, but Amy saw the pain in the young mother’s eyes.
“You’re right to leave him.”
“Am I?” Jennie asked, looking down at the squalling infant in her arms. “He was good to the kids. Believe it or not, he actually spoiled them.” Her eyes stared into Amy’s, and a sad smile crept into the corners of her lips.
“You wouldn’t have wanted them to see the way he brutalized you, would you?”
Jennie shook her head. “He’s dealing drugs.”
“I thought you said...”
“He never stopped. He and this woman...”
Brakes screeched on the street. Amy closed the front door to the building and pushed Jennie further back into the entryway. There was a man yelling in the street, but she didn’t recognize the voice. Carefully, she pulled aside the flimsy sheer curtain that hung on the glass portion of the door. Two men were outside their cars, arguing about the right of way.
“We can’t stay in the hall talking, Jennie. How did you get here, anyway?”
“Flora gave us a ride.”
“Did she know why you were coming here?”
Jennie nodded. “But she wouldn’t tell Michael where I am. She’s the one who told me about the other woman. She saw them together several times when she and Leo were out drinking. Even saw the woman entering our apartment one time when the kids and I weren’t at home.” Embarrassed, Jennie looked down at the pale brown carpeting on the floor. Her cheeks were flushed.
The tired children had quieted down, making only whimpering noises. The toddler in Amy’s arms had started to cling to her rather than fighting the embrace. Amy’s throat ached as her nose took a deep whiff of the talcum-covered milky body she held. How so precious a gift could be bestowed on such a warped man was beyond her comprehension.
The drive to the crisis center was silent. The children slept through most of the trip. Amy drove with extra care, searching her rear view mirror on occasion, in case Michael had forced Jennie’s whereabouts out of Flora. Considering Flora’s distaste for men, that wasn’t likely, but Amy wasn’t taking any chances with her passengers’ safety.
Chapter 23
Dinner Invitation
Amy stayed with Jennie through the intake interview and watched as someone drove Todd’s sister and the children to a safe house, then, exhausted, she drove the car home, parking in the same space she had left earlier. She wondered how well Todd was doing at his end. Had Morgan come through with the photograph? Amy knew she’d have to call Morgan to find out, since Todd didn’t want her involved. She was determined to get a second photograph from Morgan.
Inside the apartment were two messages waiting for her, both from Trudy. Amy was beginning to feel guilty. Perhaps Trudy had a serious personal problem to discuss. After all, Trudy’s tone of voice had sounded more desperate with each ensuing message.
She checked the time. Three-fifteen in the morning. Amy decided she would give Trudy a return call at a more reasonable hour. Even if it did involve work, Amy wouldn’t mind trucking in for a few hours now that she had Jennie and the kids settled.
While slipping off the layers of clothes, Amy headed for the luxury of her futon mattress in the bedroom. She now understood why Todd was so cranky that first night when he slept on the living room floor. Never again would she banish him to that torture. Amy smiled. He, too, would be able to luxuriate on the futon, she thought, and plopped her half-naked body on the bed. Or maybe he had a fancy bed like Kay’s. The name made her wrinkle her nose for a second. Naw, too ostentatious for him. In truth, she would even be willing to sleep on the floor tonight, if it were beside him. She dozed off with memories of his arms cuddling her just beneath the curve of her breasts.
Amy had managed to sleep through two more of Trudy’s messages. The light was blinking furiously on the machine. Amy hesitated to shower and eat. If Trudy had bothered to call at five a.m. and seven a.m. something must be terribly wrong. But then, Trudy had the ability to become overwrought about slight matters that others would never notice. Maybe the dentist had broken off the relationship while she was in the midst of having a tooth bonded. That would be typical Trudy. A shower and breakfast came before Amy called the firm for which she worked. She was amazed when Teddy answered the reception phone.
“Teddy, how are you?”
“Amy. I’m fine, the greatest.”
“I suppose Stu has already moved to Texas,” she asked sullenly, recalling how she had been sidetracked by Jennie’s problem and was unable to follow up on her prime suspect.
“Yes. And I’m on my way.”
“What?”
“Well, everything’s out in the open now, so I may as well fill you in. Stu had done immigration law while he was in Texas. When he moved to this firm, he stopped. For a while, that is. He set up an outside practice and continued immigration work until the partners found out. They didn’t like the idea of his moonlighting, and, as you know, asked him to leave. But he was able to go back to Texas and pick up pretty much where he left off; actually, he says things are booming. Anyway, I’m going to join him in a few weeks, after I complete work on the Stempel case.”
“You mean you and he were...”
“I was moonlighting for Stu while he worked here. I even spent my vacation working on his legal documents.”
“Then Stu isn’t going to be arrested?”
“For what? It was all legal, except that the partners felt it was a conflict of interest.”
“Then that’s why Stu started to mail out his own letters.”
“Yeah. He got overwhelmed with his own work and was doing it at the office. I guess that especially irked the partners.”
After a brief silence, in which Amy quickly sorted the story out inside her head, Teddy asked Amy when they could expect her back.
“Since I’m leaving, they want to hire another paralegal. They want you to see to the advertising and paperwork that will be necessary. I’ll warn you, they’ve also hinted at having you double as office manager and paralegal for a while. They’re serious, I’m sure, because here I am baby-sitting the reception desk. I feel like I should be buffing my nails or something.”
“Where’s Trudy?”
“She called in ill this morning. I caught the call. She sounded very upset. I thought she was about to ask me a favor, because she stuttered around for a while before she finally hung up. Between you and me, I don’t want to become involved in Trudy’s flaky boyfriend problems.”
“How do you know it was about a boyfriend?”
“What other problems does she have? Once I had to sit through a harangue about married men.”
“She’s never dated a married man.”
“Take my word for it, she has, and she’s really hooked. Has been for a while.”
“Why would she have told you?”
“We took a long trolley ride one time. I figure she was going to meet him, because she didn’t get off in a nice neighborhood. It was the kind of place where one would have a rendezvous on the sly.”
Teddy’s imminent departure was apparently loosening his tongue.
“How long ago was this?”
“A few weeks ago. But my impression is that the affair has been going on for quite some time. You know we dated for a while.”
“Trudy mentioned it.”
“I’m sure she did. I’m surprised she kept my secret from you. But I guess it wouldn’t have fit into her scheme. You see, one night, when I had one too many, I told Trudy about the work I was doing for Stu. Damn, I’ve got another call coming in. Did you want to leave a message? Like when you’ll be coming back?”
“I’ll call in tomorrow. By then, hopefully, I’ll have an idea.”
“Okay. But remember, the big guys are getting
antsy now that I’m blowing the coop.”
“You sound relieved to be going.”
“Stu is practically doubling my salary.”
“Good luck, then. I hope I see you before you leave.”
“You’d better, or the partners will have a collective conniption.”
Amy dropped the receiver back on the cradle. Trudy dating a married man... Certainly she never mentioned it during their own conversations. Could it be that the dentist has a wife? No wonder panic was setting into Trudy’s tone. Amy telephoned Trudy several times, but the line was constantly busy. She didn’t get through until late in the afternoon.
“Amy, thank goodness you finally called. Are you at home?”
“Yes. I’m sorry I didn’t return the calls sooner, but I had an emergency.”
“Are you all right?”
“Sure. It was a... family crisis that had to be taken care of. Everything has quieted down now. What about you?” Amy hesitated to reveal what she had learned from Teddy. He could have been wrong, but in any event she didn’t want to embarrass Trudy if her friend chose not to share her secret.
“I’m fine, but I called in sick because I wasn’t up to facing the world today. I need time to mourn for my disintegrating relationship with the dentist. And he was just about to start a small root canal job, too.” She continued in a sulky, petulant voice. “Amy, I suppose you’re too busy still to have me over. Seems we haven’t sat down and had a woman-to-woman chat in a long time. Ever since you met that man Todd Coleman you’ve been avoiding me. Makes me suspect you’re harboring a criminal in the apartment.”
Amy was sure Trudy wasn’t aware how close she was to the truth. She had planned on calling Morgan around dinner time, but maybe she could spare some time for a friend.
“Why don’t you come over this evening? I’ll make us a dieter’s delight dinner followed by double chocolate ice cream.”
“I can always depend on you to lift my spirits. But would you mind if we had dinner on the late side? Say around nine-ish?”
“That’s fine. Given all that extra time, I may go for something heftier than a salad.”
“I second that.”
Amy was feeling buoyant. She could still call Morgan around dinner time, manage to spend time with her friend, and sneak out a bit later to check out the bar for Todd.
After picking up groceries, Amy returned the rental car to the agency. At six and seven o’clock she tried Morgan’s apartment, but there was no answer. He didn’t even have an answering machine.
Moments after cradling the telephone, Amy received a call from Todd. She explained that his sister and the children were in a place where Michael wouldn’t be able to touch them.
“Thank you, Amy. I wish I could have taken care of them myself.”
“Jennie understands. And she sends her love. How does it feel to have two attractive women love you at the same time?”
“That’s assuming I haven’t before.”
Amy’s hand gripped the receiver tighter.
“Todd, can’t you say anything nice to me?”
“Amy, I’m trying to remind you that our lives don’t jive. How would you feel when I’d be travelling most of the time, and you wouldn’t know what I was up to? I couldn’t even share a description of the job I was on.”
“I’m not going to be intimidated into letting you go.”
“By now, I’m certain intimidation wouldn’t work. I’m appealing to the rational part of you.”
“I love you, and that’s it.”
“I care about you, Amy, but that’s all I have to offer. I’d better go, I’m running out of change for this public phone.”
“You’ll be at the bar tonight, won’t you?”
“You know I don’t want you hanging around that place.”
“Not tonight. I have company coming over for dinner.”
“Company? Like a date, or what the hell are you talking about?”
She grinned. She almost refused to reveal her guest’s identity but couldn’t imagine being that cruel.
“Trudy’s dropping by around nine o’clock for a late dinner.”
“Oh, Trudy, the receptionist.” He sounded relieved.
“Doesn’t mean that someday I may not be tempted to prepare a late dinner for a male friend.”
“Forget trying to make me jealous.”
“You sounded upset a few seconds ago.”
“I have to hang up. Somebody’s waiting for the phone.”
Chapter 24
A Photograph
At eight thirty Todd pulled on his jacket and headed down the wooden steps leading to the makeshift lobby of his hotel. A single grey folding chair leaned against one wall of the lobby, and on the opposite side a horse racing enthusiast had parked his rear on the cold tile floor.
“I can’t believe I blew the whole wad.” The gambler was speaking to the desk clerk who simply shook his head.
“A man can’t sleep on the street, Bill.” The gambler appeared to be ready to plead for the room from which he had just been evicted.
Bill, the desk clerk, continued to shake his head.
“Business is slow. You’re not going to need all the empty rooms you got.”
“Maybe not.” Bill was non-committal.
“I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you give me back the key to my old room, and if you need the space I’ll high tail it out pronto.”
Bill shook his head.
As Todd approached the front door, he noticed several green army bags sitting out on the front steps.
“They yours?” he asked the man who was crinkling up the racing sheet.
“Yeah. Bill won’t let me keep them in here.”
“I’m not going to let you keep them out there, either,” Bill said.
“What do you expect me to do?”
“Take your ass out of here, and pick up your shit on the way.”
Todd walked over to the front desk and threw some bills down. “Give him another night. Maybe he’ll have better luck tomorrow.”
“Luck doesn’t know he exists,” said Bill, pocketing the money.
“Thanks,” said the man as he fought his way to his feet.
Bill threw him the keys. Todd was sure that Bill purposely had thrown them out of the man’s reach, but he stooped and picked them up without complaint.
Todd helped the man carry his belongings back to his old room, and then headed for the bar to look for Morgan and hopefully learn the identity of Joey’s secret woman friend.
Once inside the bar, Todd sat at his usual place and watched the front door, awaiting Morgan’s arrival. Walt robotically filled a beer mug and planted it in front of Todd, who was about to ask whether Morgan had dropped in as yet. The sound of police sirens drowned out his voice. He looked past the bartender and saw Morgan coming from the dark alcove leading to the back exit, rest rooms, and telephones. Several policemen walked through the front door and spread out. Morgan nodded his head at Todd. Walt backed away from Todd, whose gut by now was twisting into a giant knot. Fearing it might be his last opportunity for a long time, Todd swallowed down his beer. The suds tickled the edge of his nose. Suddenly he saw a quick movement from the side of his eye. One of the men seated at the large round table jumped up and brandished a knife. Taking this for the only diversion he was going to get, Todd rose to his feet and started for the door as the police circled the man with the weapon.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Two cops barred his exit. They had been waiting outside for their partners.
“Hey, we just concluded that this place doesn’t get the best clientele, and we wanted to move on,” said Morgan, while throwing his arm across Todd’s shoulders.
“They’re okay. They didn’t have anything to do with the fight. Matter of fact, the dark one just came in here. Neither of them saw what happened. The other one was taking a leak at the time,” clarified Walt.
Todd turned around and saw that the knife-brandishing man
had been easily subdued, and the police were attempting to take the story from eager bystanders.
“What the hell’s going on?” muttered Todd.
“Come on, I’ll buy you a drink at a more respectable establishment down the street,” Morgan said.
***
“This is more respectable?” Todd asked as he watched a buxom cutie drape her panties on the bald pate of a middle-aged man to the beat of a current rock hit.
“See any cops in here? Believe me, the only time they come in this place is when they’re out of uniform and off duty.”
“That makes me feel better.”
“A boiler-maker and a lager,” Morgan called out to a petite platinum blond who was definitely wearing a push-up bra. Todd wondered whether it was also inflatable, since one side seemed far more generously endowed than the other. “I drop by here once in a blue moon to catch a show. Thanks, hon.” Morgan paid for the drinks. Close up, Todd could tell the woman was well into her fifties, but he would never have guessed by the shape her body was in. “You think it’s all real?’
“What?” asked Todd.
“The boobs and the rear end?’
Todd looked over at the naked woman jouncing around on stage.
“From here I can’t see any scars, and since she’s in the buff it shouldn’t be hard to spot them.”
“No. I mean Arlene, the woman behind the bar.”
“Oh, that would be harder to determine.”
“I kind of got the hots for her. She’s...” Morgan paused, trying to think of the appropriate word. “dominant. You should see her in action. She can get this whole room under control, when she has to.”
“Considering how respectable the place is, it shouldn’t be hard to do.”
“I’m sorry, did you want to get closer to the stage?”
At this point, the dancer was shaking her breasts in the face of a white-haired man who looked as if he were about to have a heart attack.
“No. I’m fine here, Morgan. The photograph?”
“Spent the last two days at the gym working out. Do I look more solid?” he asked, trying to pull in the fatty tire around his middle. Todd remained silent. “Parts of me ache like you wouldn’t believe. Look at that.”
The Taxman Killeth Page 17
