Justice

by Faye Kellerman

  "If that would be okay."

  "Come." He led her through the door marked squad room, passing through the detectives' anteroom where two dees were fielding calls. He brought her into the working area proper. For once, Decker's desktop was clear. He pulled up a chair for her, then motioned her to sit. After she did, so did he.

  "I forgot what you like to be called Terry or Teresa. Or we could go very formal and I could call you Ms. McLaughlin."

  She let out a small laugh. "Terry's fine."

  "So what can I do you for, Terry?"

  Her eyes were anywhere but on him. "I saw Chris the other day."

  "You did?"

  She nodded.

  Decker said, "How's he doing?"

  "He's ... coping."

  "Good."

  She said, "He seemed depressed."

  "I'd be depressed, too, if I were in prison."

  Neither spoke.

  Terry said, "Can I ask you an honest question?"

  "Sure, although I can't guarantee an honest answer."

  She looked at her lap, then at his eyes. "Do you think he did it, Sergeant?"

  "Are you asking me if I think Chris killed Cheryl Diggs?"

  She nodded.

  Decker said, "Yes, I think he did it."

  "Not even a little doubt in your mind?"

  Decker rolled his tongue in his cheek. "Are you here to proclaim his innocence?"

  "I know, I know," Terry said. "You think I'm dumb and naive."

  "You're not dumb."

  "I'm not naive, either. I asked Chris straight out. I asked him if he did it."

  "And?"

  "He was ... vague. Deliberately vague."

  "It's hard getting the words out," Decker said.

  "Except we both know that Chris is a great liar."

  Decker raised his brow and waited.

  Terry shrugged. "I think he's testing me ... will I still love him 273

  even if he did do it? I told him I would. It's the truth. But I don't think he believes me."

  Decker didn't speak.

  Terry said, "You're probably wondering why I'm here."

  "Yes, I am."

  "I respect you. I just wanted to know if there was ever a little, teeny ... minuscule doubt in your mind about Chris being the one."

  "Terry, there's always a little, teeny, minuscule doubt."

  She looked up. "Really?"

  Decker was about to explain, then thought better of it. But she was sharp and caught it.

  "What is it, Sergeant?"

  Decker said, "Nothing."

  She became animated. "You do have a little, teeny doubt, don't you?"

  "You forgot minuscule."

  "Do you have any doubts?"

  Decker didn't answer. He noticed her facial muscles tighten. She said, "What is it? Some sort of code of silence? You can't admit your doubts to us ordinary people?"

  "Terry, Chris Whitman is a murderer."

  She looked at him sharply. Then her eyes grew heavy with sadness. "So I guess I got what I came for. Like they say ... the truth hurts." She shrugged. "Maybe Chris is right. Maybe I am better off not knowing."

  "I would think so."

  She started to get up, then changed her mind. "You can't tell me anything to make me feel better?"

  The statement, said with such blunt innocence, tugged at Decker's heartstrings. "Did Chris send you here, Terry?"

  "No." She shook her head vigorously. "As a matter of fact, he'd be really angry if he knew I came. He wants me to let the whole thing ride. See, once he gets out of prison, he has to go back home and marry some girl he doesn't love ... or even like. Some sort of arranged thing with his uncle."

  Decker said, "Is the girl's last name Benedetto?"

  "Yes, but it's not Lorraine," Terry said. "It's her older sister who's apparently fat and ugly and stupid. His punishment for not consulting his lawyers before he confessed to the police."

  Decker said, "Chris must trust you to talk so openly about his family." 274

  "Of course he trusts me. He loves me. I love him."

  Casually, Decker asked, "What else did he tell you about his uncle?"

  Terry shrugged. "Just that Benedetto is a rival of his uncle. I guess the Mafia works like old royalty. They use marriages to keep peace. So you can see why Chris isn't anxious to be freed."

  "I don't know, Terry." Decker said, "Prison seems like a funny kind of haven."

  "Except in prison, he has me ... visiting him."

  "How many times have you gone to see him?"

  "Just once so far. But it was really intense."

  Decker focused on the girl's face. "Intense?"

  She looked down and nodded.

  "Whitman's uncle ... Donatti arranged some kind of special visit for you?"

  Again she nodded.

  "A conjugal visit?"

  She looked away, her cheeks crimson.

  "Ah," Decker said. "So this is how you're spending your summer vacation."

  "You're making fun of me."

  "Not at all." Decker waited a beat. "Well, maybe a little. I'm sorry."

  She smiled with moist eyes.

  Decker spoke gently. "Terry, the case was closed two months ago."

  "Can I look at Chris's file?"

  "First of all, it's not Chris's file, it's the Diggs murder file. Secondly, no, you can't look at it."

  "You'd let Chris's lawyers look at it, wouldn't you?"

  "You're not Chris's lawyer."

  "Suppose I can get a release from Chris that allows me to look at his files."

  "But of course he wouldn't do that," Decker said. "Because he'd be real mad if he knew you were here."

  "Yeah, you're right." She sat back in her chair. "He wouldn't permit it."

  Decker thought a moment. Perhaps the girl did come in on her own.

  Terry said, "Then I guess I'm going to have to look into the case on my own." 275

  "Be my guest."

  "Because I think there's a person out there who got away with murder."

  "Uh-huh."

  "Doesn't that bother you?"

  "Can't say that it does."

  "You think Chris killed Cheryl."

  "Yes."

  She looked pained, but she didn't stop. "Any hints on how I should start an investigation?"

  Decker sat up. "Terry, enough."

  "Do I just start asking people questions or what?"

  Decker reminded himself to be patient. "Terry, we've had this conversation before. You put your nose where it doesn't belong, you get people mad. If you're really hell-bent on retribution for your boyfriend, hire a private detective. I'll even cooperate with him, how about that?"

  "I can't afford a private detective."

  "So approach Donatti. The man has some powerful connections."

  "Chris would be furious if he found out I went behind his back. Sergeant, please help me out!"

  "Terry, I'm not Whitman's advocate. I'm his adversary."

  "But we're all on the same side, aren't we? The side of truth and justice."

  "You forgot the American Way."

  "I'm being serious!"

  Again her eyes had turned moist bright and shiny like rainslicked stones. Decker said, "Terry, I know you're hurting. And I feel bad for you. But I can't help you."

  She wiped tears away from her cheek and nodded. "I know. It's my problem."

  Decker said, "If Chris really told you to let the case ride, listen to him. It's good advice."

  She nodded, but wasn't hearing him. She said, "Every case starts from square one. So I'll start from square one. Besides, I know all the people involved ... I'll just ask around."

  Decker's expression remained flat, but inside he was steeped in frustration. "It would not be a good idea for you to poke around. If you respect my opinion, now's a great time to start showing it."

  Terry sighed. "Sergeant, did you have any other leads before you arrested Chris?"

  "No," Decker lied. 276

 
"So it was always Chris?"

  "Yes."

  "Did you interview all of his friends?"

  "Yes."

  "How about all the hotel personnel?"

  "Yes," Decker fibbed.

  "Each and every person who was at the hotel?"

  "Are you casting aspersions on my thoroughness?" Decker said, smiling.

  "Oh, no, not at all. I'm ..." She stopped, saw the look in Decker's eyes, and smiled. "I'll just start from square one."

  Decker rubbed his mustache. "You're wearing me down."

  "That's the idea."

  Decker stared at her. "Why do you care so much, Terry? He wasn't even your boyfriend in high school. What happened?"

  She looked down. "You're thinking that Chris found a real sucker in me."

  That's exactly what Decker was thinking. But there was more to it. He said, "Chris is bright. Why did he need a tutor in the first place?"

  "It was a ploy ... a way to get to me since we didn't hang out in the same groups."

  "Ah..." Decker said. "That sounds like the Chris Whitman I know."

  "But I don't think the extra push I gave him hurt. Because he missed a lot of school."

  Without thinking, Decker took out a notepad. "How so?"

  "He traveled a lot, did a lot of gigs ... playing with orchestras, ensembles ... sometimes even solo work."

  "There's a national shortage of cello players?"

  "A shortage of players of his caliber."

  Decker said, "So he missed a lot of school."

  Terry nodded. "One minute he'd be totally caught up. Then he'd miss a week or two and fall behind."

  "How often did he play gigs?"

  "I think he had... maybe two gigs during the time I was tutoring him. Why do you ask?"

  "Just trying to get some background."

  Her eyes brightened. "You're going to help me?"

  "I didn't say that," Decker backtracked. "While you tutored Chris, did you two talk about other things?"

  "Sometimes." 277

  "Did he ever talk about his family?"

  "Sometimes."

  "Did he ever mention doing work for his uncle?"

  "Just the opposite. He made a point of telling me he had nothing to do with his uncle's activities."

  "And you believed him?"

  "At that time, I had no reason to doubt him."

  "How about Cheryl?" Decker scribbled. "Did you talk about her?"

  "I brought her up once or twice. He said she was no big deal. They went together because it was easy."

  "Easy?"

  "She was promiscuous. That kind of easy."

  "And you accepted that?"

  She sighed. "Sounds crazy but yes, I did. He was engaged to someone else. He felt it was better not to even start."

  "Looks like you've both changed your minds."

  She smiled but it was a weak one.

  Decker knew he was mining old fields. Still, a pinprick nagged his brain. Something Terry had told him the first time he interviewed her. About prom night.

  We talked about running away together.

  Why would Whitman kill Cheryl when he was planning to run away with the girl he truly loved. And he did love her. Guy was scum, but he went to the hole for her.

  And then there were those African-American pubic hairs....

  But was Decker curious enough to pursue it? Whitman was a cold mother. Why should Decker care if the kid rotted in jail? Then Decker realized something. He didn't care about Whitman. But he did care a great deal about the process.

  He said, "I'm going to cut you a deal, Terry "

  "You're kidding!"

  "If for no other reason than to get you off my back. Promise me you won't do any homespun investigating, and I'll reread the Diggs files. If something pops out at me, I'll look into it quietly and discreetly."

  "And if nothing pops out?"

  "You drop the whole thing."

  "Will you let me know if you find out something?"

  "No. You'll just have to trust me on this one."

  "You won't even keep me updated?"

  "Probably not. That's what quietly and discreetly means." 278

  "So I have to sit back and wait? I don't know if I can do that."

  "Yes or no, Terry. I'm getting tired."

  "Yes."

  "Great." Decker stood. "I'll walk you out."

  "What about "

  "Gosh, it's so noisy in this room. Can't hear a blessed thing." He took her elbow and prodded her upward. Then he led her out the door into the front reception area. "Good-bye."

  "Can I call you?"

  "No."

  But Decker knew she would anyway. The teen was a very beautiful girl. And a smart one, too. But she was a pest. Like a fly, she seemed attracted to garbage. 279

  "I'm going to be working late," Decker said. "But I'll be here. So call if you need anything."

  "A new case?" Rina asked.

  "No. Just tying up loose ends. If tonight's not good, I can do it tomorrow night."

  "No, tonight's fine. Maybe I'll ask the boys to pitch in with some baby-sitting. I'd like to go over to the yeshiva and catch one of the Rebbitzin's shiurim."

  "What's the Rebbitzin lecturing about?"

  "Shyalahs and Tchuvahs questions and answers. She's a good speaker."

  "When's the lecture?"

  "She usually starts around eight."

  "You know what, Rina? I'll meet you there. If the lecture isn't over, I'll learn in the study hall. Then maybe we can go for a ride afterward... get some ice cream."

  There was silence over the line. Then Rina said, "A ride? And ice cream?"

  "I'll bring the Porsche. I'll even put the top down."

  "Just the two of us? With the top down?"

  "Yes. Can your heart handle the excitement?"

  "I don't know. This is an untested event."

  Decker laughed. It had been awhile since they'd stolen some quality time together. He didn't count the times his insomnia had 280

  brought her to the kitchen in the wee hours of the morning. "Love you, kid."

  "Are you all right, Peter?"

  "I'm great. My business shouldn't take more than an hour or so. Old stuff. So I'll see you soon."

  "You promise?" Rina quickly added, "No, don't promise me anything."

  "Why not?"

  "Don't make promises you can't keep."

  "You don't trust me, huh?"

  "Of course I trust you." Rina paused. "It's your job I don't trust. A truly seductive mistress."

  Decker was quiet. "That's an odd way of looking at my work."

  Rina said nothing. "You'll be home in an hour?"

  "Of course." Decker was peeved. "Bye."

  "Bye."

  She hung up. Tension in the air. Screw it. He'd handle it later. He was good at handling things.

  Just an hour, though the case didn't deserve even that much. He opened the folder and scanned the pages for an overview, refamiliarizing himself with the facts, the figures, and the autopsy report. All the lab tests had been completed. The semen inside Diggs hadn't matched Whitman's. As far as the fetus Cheryl had been carrying... no one had ever tested Whitman to see if he had been the father, hadn't been necessary since Whitman had confessed.

  Back-to-basics time. Decker fished out his old checklist. First name on the roster was Henry Trupp the night hotel clerk. A handwritten scrawl in the margin that Decker had called the house three times, but Trupp hadn't answered.

  He dialed the number. After two rings, he was told the line had been disconnected and there was no new listing. He hung up, asked directory assistance for a new number. But there wasn't any listing not anywhere in the Valley.