“Oh.” Joanna’s face paled.
“Could I use your phone?”
“Sure.”
I dialed the number for Sergeant Sullivan from the card he’d originally given me. I tried the cell number first. He picked up on the second ring.
“Sullivan.”
“Sergeant, this is Julia Bonatti from the Meyers firm.”
There was a moment’s hesitation. “Oh, yes?”
“I know you spoke with Suzanne Simms a couple of days ago, but I’m at her apartment with her roommate and no one’s seen her since yesterday afternoon. I’ve been trying to reach her, but I’ve had no luck.”
“Really? That’s interesting.”
“I think it’s pretty alarming, don’t you?”
“Considering we advised her to stay close in case we needed to talk to her again, that’s right. Would her roommate like to come downtown and file a missing persons report? There’s no waiting period to file and we’ll see what we can do.”
“I’ll talk to her about it.” We hung up. Sullivan didn’t sound like he was going to be much help at all. Joanna listened apprehensively as I repeated my conversation with the sergeant.
“I guess I should do that. File a report.”
“What kind of car does Suzanne drive?”
“It’s a Nissan, dark blue.”
I gave Joanna my cell number in case Suzanne checked in with her. I was getting more concerned by the minute and didn’t like this one bit. I walked back to my car and managed to squeeze into the driver’s seat in spite of my stiffening back. It was almost nine o’clock and I still hadn’t accomplished anything at all. When I reached home, I trudged slowly up the stairs to my front door. Wizard came to greet me once again.
“Poor Wiz, all alone every day. What kind of life is this, huh?” In response, Wizard trilled deep in his throat and gently bit my hand. He followed me out to the kitchen. I made yum-yum noises and opened a can of tuna grill, one of his favorites, and filled his bowl. I downed two more aspirin and filled the tub with hot water, adding bubble bath and Epsom salts. I stripped off my clothes and stepped slowly into the tub. It was scalding hot, but it would help my muscles relax. After half an hour, I felt infinitely better but had to climb out before I fell asleep.
I dried off and pulled on a robe. In the kitchen I made a cup of tea and carried it into the office, where the light on the answering machine was blinking. The first call was from Adam to tell me he’d be in his office till ten tonight and I should call if I needed anything. The second call was Gale, reminding me about the Halloween event at the Mystic Eye tomorrow night, and the third was from Googie.
“Julia, have some interesting stuff for you. Give me a ring.”
I dialed Googie’s number while I sipped my tea. “Googie, it’s me. What’s up?”
“Well, you know your little friend with that article in the Bay Area Gazette?”
“Roger. Yes.”
“Apparently he attended a rather weird gathering.”
“Weird? How?”
“It was a very expensive, very private club, if you know what I mean, for people with, shall we say, eccentric tastes.”
“Googie, be more specific please.”
“You know, rubber suits, chains, hanging from rafters, and all that peculiar stuff. Me, I don’t understand it at all. Somebody went too far and a young man died. There was a lot of gossip, stories circulating, and this guy was definitely a member of that group if you know what I mean. Everyone more or less knew the people involved.”
“There must have been a police report. Do you know who was named?”
“No. No one wanted that kind of police attention, so anyone who was part of that crowd was shunned by anyone who had any sense. Your guy was terrified this would make the news or make the rounds. Didn’t want anything to jeopardize his squeaky clean rep. He may have had nothing to do with what happened but he certainly didn’t want to be named in any reckless endangerment charges or manslaughter.”
“I can see why. I’m sure the Bar Association wouldn’t approve.”
“You got it, girl. Well, apparently he has a little political pull, called a friend of his, an assistant DA, and suddenly, lo and behold, there’s no record of his name.”
“Googie, how did you find all this out?”
“Oh, I have friends. Everyone was gone by the time the police got there so a lot of people were rousted and word travels fast. That’s how I heard about it. He may not have been charged with anything, but people have long memories about this kind of thing.”
“That’s great, Googie. Thanks.”
“Toodle-oo, sweetie.” Googie hung up.
So that was it. That had to be what Jack Harding was holding over Roger’s head. Roger couldn’t afford to have it known that he was involved, even circumstantially, in a manslaughter investigation. Jack was exactly the kind of person who would use that information against him, and Jack must have threatened Nora Layton with exposure of her drug problem. I recalled Hilary’s words. Someone thought that killing Jack was the only way they could survive. Jack thought nothing of sleeping with Ira’s wife and didn’t care if Ira knew it. The Walstone marriage had probably been over years ago because of Rita’s drinking, but Jack had felt it necessary to muddy the waters further.
The only woman in his life who’d survived and prospered was his ex-wife Hilary Greene. It was hard to imagine, but it seemed Hilary was made of some very tough stuff indeed. If she really was marrying Henry Gooding, though, what possible motive would she have had to kill Jack? Just to collect on a life insurance policy? And that’s assuming she even knew he hadn’t changed the beneficiary. After all, to whom would he leave it? His alma mater? A favorite charity? Although Jack didn’t strike me as a person who would even consider a charity, much less have a favorite one. There was no one else, only a sister who hated him so much she refused to bury him.
I finished my tea and went back to the charts on the desk. I pulled out the computer printout with the list of multiple placements of everyone’s chart organized according to zodiacal degree. I looked at the correspondences between these charts again. Nothing made sense. I couldn’t find the clue I needed that I was sure was there. I wrapped my robe tighter and limped back to the bedroom. It was too late for a nap and too early for bed, but my hip and leg were throbbing and my aching muscles had the last word. Ignoring the mess, I flopped across the bed sideways and pulled the blankets over me. A little sleep would help. Wizard climbed up on the bed purring, and before I knew it, my eyes closed and I slipped away.
thirty-four
I was floating somewhere near the rafters of the empty gallery at Fort Mason, looking down at the same room that had housed the art exhibit. It was devoid of decoration now, and several large sculptures were covered in white draping. I strained to see with dreaming eyes but couldn’t discern what lay under the coverings. In that knowledge peculiar to dream states, I knew that under one of the drapes was something other than a sculpture of stone. I floated down, my feet touching the floor, and became aware that I wasn’t alone. A dark shadow passed in my peripheral vision. I turned and saw nothing, but when I turned back to the rows of sculptures, one of the white coverings had disappeared.
The stone was morphing, taking the form of a tall faceless figure in a black tuxedo. I needed to know who he was. My heart was beating faster but as I moved toward him the face remained blank, as if the sculptor had neglected to chisel features. The figure raised a champagne glass and, smiling, beckoned me to come closer. He pointed at another large covered shape in the center of the studio. I couldn’t understand why I hadn’t noticed it sooner. The dark figure reached up and grasped a small steel ball hanging from the rafters. He pulled downward and the drapery covering the sculpture became taut, finally lifting upward to reveal a dragon carved in a deep green-colored stone, the light playing on its surface as if it was
made of malachite. The dragon raised its fearful head and stared at me, its tail beginning to swish back and forth. I watched, transfixed. I was afraid but couldn’t move to escape the fearsome creature coming to life. Wisps of smoke curled from its nostrils and two long flames shot out as the beast reared its head with a great roar. Its tail swept the room, knocking sculptures from pedestals, shattering all in its path. Shards of stone and wood flew everywhere. With a powerful thrust of its haunches, it leapt off the pedestal toward me. Blackness obscured my vision. I awoke on the bed, sweating and shaking, filled with a deep sense of dread.
Wizard was making questioning noises in his throat and looking at me strangely. I reached over to pat his head but he scooted away. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. Early morning light was filtering through the curtains. I’d slept all night. I stretched and cracked my neck, trying to recover fragments of my dream. It made no sense, but dragons were stalking me, forcing themselves into my consciousness.
Stumbling to the bathroom, I splashed water on my face and drank a few sips from my cupped hand. I felt hot and dehydrated. Then I padded out to the kitchen, fed Wizard, and put the kettle on for coffee. Once the caffeine kicked in, I hopped in the shower and dressed. I straightened up the bedroom as much as possible and glanced at the clock. Nine o’clock. Perfect time to visit David as I’d promised. If I left now, I’d probably reach him just as the breakfast dishes were being cleared away. I wondered if he was enjoying the porridge a little more.
I made a pass through the apartment compiling a mental list of what needed to be done. The sofa cushions could be repaired, nothing valuable was broken or stolen, but I’d need to buy another set of sheets, pillows, and a comforter. I rarely entertained—well, maybe one client at a time—but it would be nice to have more than two dishes. Whoever had trashed my apartment had broken almost every single dish, cup, and saucer. They hadn’t had the time or inclination to destroy the wine glasses in the rack above the sink. I thanked the stars my office had been left untouched; my computer and my laptop were safe and my client files hadn’t been disturbed. That would have been horrible and expensive. I dreaded to think anyone could have harmed Wizard. I could only guess the intruder hadn’t had enough time. Or was there some logic to the fact that what was damaged was personal and intimate? The door from the laundry room had to have been the avenue of escape. Perhaps he or she was bolting down the street just as I was surveying the damage. The clothes that had been destroyed were old. They were my faves, things I wore every day, but I could live without them. Thanks to my grandmother, they could be replaced. I still couldn’t shake the feeling of being invaded. I made sure the deadbolts on the back door were in place and the window over the kitchen sink was locked. I still had to deal with my downstairs neighbors and a new garage opener but in the meantime the locks would protect me.
I hurried down the front stairs and climbed into my car. Pulling a U-turn, I drove up the hill to Geary and over to St. Joseph’s. On the way I stopped at a bakery and bought three jelly donuts. I hoped Caroline would forgive me. When I arrived at David’s room, Caroline was reading. I took a peek at her book cover. It featured a large bloodstained knife. “Good book?” I asked.
She looked up. “Hi, Julia!” Then she smiled. “Yes. I’m thinking of committing a crime right about now myself. What’s in the bag?”
“I’ll give you three guesses. I hope you don’t mind. There’s one for each of us.” I looked around. “Where is he?”
She shook her head. “In there.” She indicated the bathroom. “He’s getting dressed and wants to go home.”
“Well, that’s good.”
She made a face of disapproval. “Not if the doctor advised him to stay one more day, it isn’t.”
“I hope you’ll forgive the jelly donuts. I took pity on him.”
She smiled. “Pass that bag over, I’m starving.” I sat next to her and opened the bag, handing her a napkin. She reached in daintily and retrieved one of the donuts encrusted with sugar. She took a bite. “Oh, yummy. I can’t remember the last time I ate one of these. I make sure to never keep these in the house. David would inhale them all in one sitting.” I joined her with a donut of my own just as David exited the bathroom fully dressed.
“Oh my word,” he said. “You remembered. Thank you. I hope you two aren’t going to eat them all.” He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled the rolling tray closer.
“You get one,” Caroline said. “Just one. Julia was kind enough to bring one for each of us.”
“Couldn’t come at a better time. All I had this morning was that dreary slop in a bowl. I can’t wait to get home.”
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
“Terrific. I’ve never felt better. This was all a tempest in a teapot. I’m just sorry Caroline got so scared.” He took a large bite of the donut. “So, Julia, any news? Any new developments? I don’t know what that sergeant is up to. I called him yesterday and he hemmed and hawed and said he’d keep me in the loop. In other words, nothing!”
“Not much,” I lied. “I did discover a few things, though.”
“Tell me.”
“Well, quite by accident, I learned that Dani’s boyfriend, who I met the other night, works delivering pizzas part time, and he was the person who delivered to the building the day of Jack’s murder.”
“Really? That’s interesting. Dani didn’t say anything.”
“He might never have mentioned it to her. Maybe she didn’t know at the time. And you know my theory about the Bank of San Francisco fire …”
“Oh, what’s that about?” Caroline asked, wiping her fingertips on a napkin.
I turned to her. “Of the three people who received death threats —Jack, Ira, and Suzanne—the one thing all three have in common is that they worked on the trial that resulted from the fire. They represented the insurance company that paid a settlement to the widow of the man who died in the fire.”
“I remember all that. It was so horrible and so unnecessary.”
“But here’s the thing.” I turned to David. “There was another death connected with that event.”
David’s eyebrows rose. “I don’t remember that.”
“You wouldn’t. It happened a couple of years later. The electrical contractor took the brunt of the blame. He wasn’t charged, but he lost his license and later committed suicide.”
“How awful,” Caroline said.
David shrugged. “I agree, but I don’t really see what that has to do with our firm.”
“I read through the trial transcripts, at least the ones before the settlement was hammered out, and Jack Harding destroyed that guy in deposition and on the stand in court. He was really brutal.”
“I believe it. That was his MO. He was a pit bull in court. Juries never liked him but he was a good trial attorney nonetheless.” David sat lost in thought for a moment. “You really think that case could be connected? Couldn’t the contractor have committed suicide for other reasons?”
“I keep going back in my mind to something Hilary said to me. She said that somebody must have felt that killing Jack was the only way they could survive.”
thirty-five
I dialed Suzanne’s apartment as soon as I returned home. Joanna answered immediately. She’d made the official missing persons report and managed to talk to Sergeant Sullivan, who took an interest now that one of his suspects was AWOL. Suzanne had last been seen around four o’clock on Thursday afternoon, over a day and a half ago. I couldn’t help but wonder if she was just once again avoiding everyone and hiding out at some hotel in the city. I wished now I’d asked her where she had stayed before. If she’d gone to ground again, she might have chosen the same place. Hotels in San Francisco are prohibitively expensive, but there were plenty of less expensive spots to stay along Lombard Street. So many, in fact, it would be impossible to call each one. I really hoped that was where she was but I coul
dn’t quell the uneasy feeling that she was next on the killer’s list.
The phone rang. It was Gale. “What time are you coming down?”
“I have some errands to take care of, but I’ll be there as soon as I’ve finished. You’re starting at four o’clock?”
“Yup. And we have tons of snacks and drinks to lay out. If you’re free, it would be a big help. And I know you’ll look so cute in the cat costume I got. Can you wear black, though? Wear your black jeans and a black leotard if you have one. Oh, and a pair of black flats.”
I sighed. “Okay.”
“It’ll make sense when you get here. So many people are coming. All our readers and our regular customers. People you haven’t seen for a while. Zora’s doing readings and Jonathan is doing Tarot and Nikolai wants to do a special presentation. Should be lots of fun. See you soon. Ciao.”
By the time I arrived at the Eye, Cheryl had already done most of the work. Gale had hired a crew to decorate the main room with orange and black crepe paper streamers and spotlights on top of the tall bookcases. Cheryl’s window decorating project was stunning. She was putting the finishing touches on a long table groaning with bowls of fruit, platters of cookies and chips, and several different kinds of crackers and cheeses. There were non-alcoholic drinks and a punch bowl full of some sort of pumpkin-colored beverage. Creepy horror music played in the background and dry ice in several containers added to the atmosphere. Cheryl was sporting a witch’s costume and Gale was decked out in something exotic that suggested an escapee from a Turkish harem, face veil and all. Zora had set up in a private room and Jonathan in another. Ten minute readings were ten dollars, with the reader keeping the take.
Nikolai, dressed in street clothes, was there when I arrived. “Where are your robes?” I asked him.
“Ah, Julia, twice in one week!” He bent down and kissed the back of my hand. “I vill vear my black robes tonight. You’ll see.”
Tail of the Dragon Page 23
