Spider Bones: A Novel

by Kathy Reichs

  I paused for effect.

  “But I think you know.”

  “This is ridiculous,” Epstein said.

  Still I ignored him.

  “Spider’s real name was John Charles Lowery.”

  Epstein and Schoon both looked surprised. Epstein regretted it. Forced his face blank.

  “But you claim you are John Charles Lowery. You say you killed Xander Lapasa in Long Binh forty years ago and assumed his identity.”

  Placing my forearms on the table, I leaned in.

  “But John Charles Lowery never went to Vietnam. Did he, Reggie?”

  Still Cumbo avoided my eyes.

  “You remember Spider. You were cousins. You went to school together. Played baseball together. Wasn’t it you who encouraged Spider to join the team?”

  Cumbo’s thumbnails were clicking double-time.

  “Want to know how Spider died? He tied a rock to his ankle and drowned himself. His body’s lying in a morgue in Montreal. The tag on his toe says John Doe.”

  A bit loose with the facts, but close enough.

  Epstein flapped a hand, dismissive. “We’re finished here. This woman is clearly misinformed.” He gripped the arms of his chair and began to push back.

  “You’re right and you’re wrong.” Cumbo’s eyes bore into mine.

  “Mr. Lapasa, I strongly advise—”

  Without turning, Cumbo raised a finger, a teacher demanding silence.

  Epstein frowned disapproval.

  Unhooking the elastic loops from his ears, Cumbo removed the mask.

  I forced myself still.

  Cumbo hadn’t worn protection out of fear of infection. The lower half of his face was grotesquely disfigured. His chin skewed right at an unnatural angle, and his lower jaw appeared way too small. I guessed most of his mandible had been surgically removed. His neck had a cavernous indentation, and a scar jagged diagonally across his throat.

  “That make us even? Your face is shit too.”

  I kept my eyes steady on Cumbo’s.

  “You nailed it,” he said. “I’m not Al Lapasa. And I’m not Spider.”

  “You’re Reggie Cumbo.”

  “Haven’t been Reggie Cumbo for over forty years.”

  “You reported for military service in Spider’s place.”

  “He didn’t want to go. I did.”

  “Spider went to Canada.”

  Cumbo shrugged. “He liked snow.”

  “Did you keep in touch?”

  “For a while. I forwarded his mama’s letters. Quit when I headed to Nam.” Cumbo’s mouth executed a slippery sideways maneuver. “Still got some of her crap in a box.”

  “The army wasn’t what you expected.”

  Cumbo’s eyes narrowed.

  “Combat. Hot, stinking jungle. You wanted out.”

  “That war was stupid.” Defensive.

  “So you murdered Xander Lapasa.”

  “What? Am I watching a rerun?” Cumbo tossed the mask. It did a lopsided roll across the table, then dropped to the floor.

  I switched topics.

  “You own a bar in Oakland called the Savaii.”

  “That a crime?”

  “Savaii is a town in Samoa.”

  “Now we all get an A in geography.”

  “The Savaii is a hangout for members of a street gang called Sons of Samoa.”

  Cumbo raised then dropped his hands back on the table. So?

  “How does someone from Lumberton, North Carolina, end up SOS?”

  “I got dark good looks so I fit the part. Indian, you know.” Cumbo’s mouth and chin tucked sideways in an attempt at an ironic grin. It was repellent. “Crips heard the name Lapasa, figured I was Samoan. Being a cuz worked for me, so I rolled with it.”

  Schoon cleared his throat.

  Epstein listened, quiet but vigilant.

  “Tell me about Francis Kealoha.”

  “Who the fuck’s Francis Kealoha?”

  “Perhaps you know him as Frankie Olopoto.”

  Below the scar Cumbo’s Adam’s apple rose then fell.

  “How about George Faalogo? That name ring a bell?”

  Cumbo said nothing.

  “Let’s talk about Nickie Lapasa.”

  No response.

  “Xander’s brother. Xander Lapasa. The poor chump you murdered. I’m sure you’re aware that Nickie Lapasa is a powerful man. A rich man. I’m sure you know the Lapasa family has financial interests that extend far beyond the state of Hawaii. Maybe even to California. You told us you looked Nickie up online. Was that a little fib, Reggie? Are you and Nickie acquainted through, shall we say, professional ties?”

  Schoon came to life.

  “We will not discuss Nicholas Lapasa’s personal or professional affairs at any time during this interview.”

  “Is that why you sent Frankie and Logo out here?” I pressed on.

  Cumbo’s eyes narrowed even further, but he said nothing.

  I pulled another topic switch.

  “I understand you’re under investigation for selling illegal drugs. You deal out of your bar, Reggie?”

  Now it was Epstein’s turn to object. “You’re crossing a line, miss.”

  “You looking to expand distribution?” I continued drilling Cumbo. “Is that why you sent Kealoha and Faalogo to Hawaii? They your front men for new projects?”

  “Enough!” Epstein was on his feet.

  “You screwed up, Reggie. You sent Frankie and Logo onto another man’s turf. Ever hear of L’il Bud T’eo? You sent them into T’eo’s house.”

  “This is outrageous.” A flush was spreading upward from Epstein’s collar.

  “You got them killed, Reggie.”

  “What the fuck?” Cumbo’s lips parted, revealing a tongue that looked like a shriveled eel.

  “The sharks didn’t leave much to ID.”

  Cumbo’s mouth closed, made another oily loop.

  “Your line of questioning is completely out of order.”

  For the first time I looked at Epstein. I had to credit the guy. He was tenacious as crabgrass.

  “For this interview to continue you must focus exclusively on circumstances surrounding Xander Lapasa’s death.”

  “Fine. Let’s focus on Xander. Your client says he wants to come clean about the murder. Still he lies about his real identity.” I turned to Cumbo. “Why is that, Reggie?”

  “I told you. I have regrets.”

  “You’re seeking peace? Forgiveness? Or are you just looking to save your ass?”

  Cumbo snorted in derision.

  “You know what I think, Reggie? Maybe the cops are closing in on your little operation. Maybe you’re taking heat from SOS for getting Frankie and Logo killed. Maybe you found out T’eo’s put a price on your head. Whatever. I doubt you give a rat’s ass about clearing your conscience. I think you’re looking to boogie again.”

  I was on a roll, making it up as I went along.

  “I think you see the clock ticking on Al Lapasa. I think you’re hoping John Lowery is your new get-out-of-jail-free card. That’s your MO, right? Steal someone else’s name and disappear? Reggie Cumbo becomes Spider Lowery. Spider Lowery becomes Al Lapasa. Now it’s time to go back to being Lowery. To disappear.”

  Cumbo thrust his head forward so his nose was inches from mine. I smelled his sweat, felt his rancid breath on my face.

  Locking his eyes on mine, Cumbo curled, then exploded his fingers.

  “Poof!”

  Droplets of saliva sprayed my face.

  Revolted, I drew back and reached for my purse. I was searching for a tissue when the door opened.

  I swiveled.

  Lô’s face told me something was very wrong.

  “May I help you?” Schoon asked.

  Lô pointed at me, then hooked a thumb over his shoulder.

  I rose and hurried into the hall.

  Ryan was standing outside the conference room from which we’d observed the interview. His body looked tense. The
ADA wasn’t with him.

  “Where’s Cotton?” I asked.

  “Gone.”

  Lô said nothing further until we joined Ryan. Then, “Pinky Atoa is dead.”

  “Dear God.” I was stunned.

  Ryan’s expression told me he already knew.

  “A bum found him ninety minutes ago behind a 7-Eleven on Nuuanu. He’d taken one slug to the head, three to the chest.”

  I felt sick. Atoa was sixteen years old. Yesterday he’d been worried about his dog.

  “His body was lying beside a Dumpster.” Lô swallowed. “His tongue was cut out and nailed to one side.”

  Sweet Jesus.

  “When was he killed?”

  “Perry’s putting time of death at somewhere between nine and eleven this morning.”

  “The kid had hardly hit the street.” I wasn’t believing this.

  “Yeah. Someone was waiting for him.”

  Lô’s eyes showed both pain and resolve. He knew what had happened, what lay ahead.

  Ryan and I had lived through a gang war. Seen the bloodshed, the senseless death. We knew too.

  “I don’t know if this prick Cumbo is involved, but deal or no deal, his ass stays put until I find out.”

  “He acted genuinely surprised when I said Kealoha and Faalogo are dead.”

  “Yeah, he’s innocent as Bambi.”

  Lô glanced at his watch.

  “Hung’s on her way here. She’ll deal with Cumbo. I’ve asked Fitch to see what he can scratch up on the Atoa hit. In the meantime, I’m heading to the scene.”

  Lô’s heels squeaked softly as he strode across the marble.

  Ryan and I rode the elevator and left the building in silence.

  Walking toward his car we shared the sidewalk with tourists checking maps, mothers pushing strollers, shoppers carrying brightly colored bags.

  Early-evening sun bathed the city in warm saffron tones. The air smelled of sea and warm stone, with hints of hibiscus and grilling meat.

  The day is too beautiful for death, I thought. Death at sixteen.

  Ryan was unlocking the car when tires squealed behind us.

  We both whipped around.

  Blue lights flashed from the front grille and back window of Lô’s Crown Vic.

  I looked at Ryan. His face told me he shared my apprehension.

  We hurried toward Lô.

  “I’m glad I caught you.” He spoke through his open window. “Fitch called. Word is Atoa was T’eo’s hit.”

  “He ordered one of his own killed?” I was shocked and appalled.

  “Someone must have seen Atoa entering or leaving the station, dimed T’eo. T’eo decided to make an example.”

  “Christ,” Ryan said.

  “Word is Ted Pukui got twenty thousand to take the kid out.”

  We waited.

  “Fitch heard Atoa’s only the warm-up. T’eo plans to send a message, not just here but to all the cuz on the mainland.” Lô snorted his disgust. “Grow his legend.”

  Lô’s eyes shifted from Ryan to me and back.

  “Where are your daughters?”

  “At home.” A cold fist grabbed my heart. “Why?”

  “Call them.”

  Ryan dialed the house. Got no answer. Lily’s mobile. Voice mail. He handed me the phone. I dialed Katy. Voice mail.

  “Why are you asking about Katy and Lily?” I demanded.

  “Word is T’eo’s offered another twenty thousand for you or one of your kids.”

  The cold fist expanded to fill my chest.

  “He was behind the incident at Waimanalo Bay. Cost him a case of rum to have those punks force you off the road.”

  “Why?”

  “To discourage you from helping Perry. Didn’t work, and now you’re causing serious inconvenience. This time he’s offering big money.”

  I saw fury enter Ryan’s eyes. Felt it in mine.

  “But his intel’s off on your kids. According to Fitch, T’eo’s order was to take out either white or brown sugar.”

  WHEN OVERWHELMED BY EMOTION, MY MOTHER CLOSED THE door. I do the same.

  Though rage and fear battled inside me, outwardly I remained icy calm.

  “Follow me.” Lô flicked a button. A pulsing wail split the afternoon calm.

  Pedestrians craned their heads. Or froze. Or continued with their day. Cars nosed toward the curbs.

  Ryan sprinted, yanked his door open, threw himself behind the wheel. I was right with him.

  Palm-smacking the gearshift, he slammed his foot on the gas. The car jerked forward.

  “Try again.” Ryan tossed me his cell as we zigzagged through the wormhole created by Lô’s siren.

  I braced on the dash and punched digits one-handed.

  Still no one picked up.

  “They were told to stay at the house.” Ryan kept two hands on the wheel, two eyes on the road.

  “Maybe they’re at the pool,” I said.

  It was lame. We both knew they’d have taken their phones with them.

  Traffic was heavy, but thanks to the lights and siren we made it to Kailua in twenty-three minutes.

  Over the bridge, a wend through Lanikai, then a fishtail turn up the drive.

  Ryan and I flew from the car and raced into the house.

  “Katy?”

  “Lily?”

  Our calls were answered by silence.

  I pumped up the stairs. Ryan rushed outside. Seconds later we met in the kitchen. Lô was already there. Our faces told the story.

  “Where the hell are they?” Fear added a tremor to my voice.

  Ryan laid a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sure they’re fine.”

  Lô was punching buttons on his cell when a sliding door whurped across its track.

  Six eyes flew toward the dining room.

  “Finally.” Katy managed to sound both petulant and anxious at the same time.

  “Where’s Lily?” I barked.

  “That’s what I’d like to know. She went off with some skanky-looking loser. I got worried, went out looking for her. First the mall, now tonight. One more and technically she’s on a spree.”

  “Why didn’t you call me?”

  “I have been calling you. Over and over.” Sudden realization. “Oh, crap. I’m an idiot. Your BlackBerry’s in the ocean.”

  “How long since they left?” Lô asked.

  “Maybe thirty minutes.”

  “What did the guy look like?”

  “Who are you?”

  “He’s a detective,” I snapped. “Answer his questions.”

  “Is Lily in danger?” Panic filled Katy’s eyes. “I told her not to go.”

  “What did he look like?” Lô repeated.

  “Dreads, chains, the whole banger thing.”

  Lô slanted a look at Ryan.

  “Do you know where they went?” I worked to hide the dread building inside me.

  “Up some trail. Skank-boy told her the view was primo.”

  “Kaiwa Ridge.” Lô was already moving.

  “You two stay here.” Ryan bolted after Lô.

  I spun to face Katy. “Give me your sneakers.”

  “What?”

  “Just do it.”

  She unlaced and handed them to me. I kicked off my sandals and yanked them on.

  “Jacket.”

  She tossed it.

  “Lock every door, arm the security system, then go to your room and stay there. If an alarm sounds, don’t wait. Call nine-one-one.”

  “But—”

  “Do it! We’re all in danger. Be alert.”

  Pulling the jacket over my head, I bounded out the door.

  The sun was low, throwing long ink houses and hedges across the lawn and street. Soon it would be full dark.

  I looked left, right.

  A block south Ryan was turning from Mokulua onto Kaelepulu, running with strong, steady strides. I knew Lô was somewhere ahead.

  I sprinted through fingers of sunlight and shadow. I had no
idea where Lô was going. If I lost sight of Ryan I was done.

  I rounded the corner. Several blocks up on the right was the entrance to the Mid-Pacific Country Club. Just beyond it, Ryan cut left.

  I kicked hard, reached the spot, saw a driveway joining the road. Veered onto it.

  Just ahead, Ryan was disappearing into a black hole in vegetation beside a chain-link fence.

  I raced toward the opening.

  A narrow path snaked uphill at an impossible angle.

  Lily may need you!

  Grabbing the fence with one hand and a tree branch with the other, I planted a foot and hauled myself onto the trailhead.

  Loose soil and pebbles cascaded downward.

  My sneaker lost traction.

  I fell.

  Pain exploded in my already bruised kneecap.

  I rose. Tested.

  Go!

  Advancing from tree to tree, I dragged myself upward.

  A hundred yards? Two hundred? At the time it seemed like a climb up Everest.

  Finally the trail leveled off. The trees gave way to low-lying scrub, grass, and lava rock.

  Ryan and Lô were visible far up the ridgeline, dark figures moving fast through the murky dusk.

  Dear God!

  The trail crawled the edge of a precipice. No guardrail. No tree trunks. Nothing to the left but yawning space.

  I stood panting, heart thudding in my chest.

  Far below I could see Kailua Bay to the north and Waimanalo Bay to the south. Lilliputian houses. Lanikai Beach. The two little Mokulua Islands, tiny black bumps in a pumpkin-slashed sea.

  Wind danced my jacket and whipped my hair into a banshee tangle. Loose gravel slithered below the way too smooth rubber on the soles of my sneakers.

  The height. The treacherous footing. Fear for Lily.

  Adrenaline had me wired to hell and back.

  I pushed on.

  Ten minutes scrabbling upward, then I rounded a curve.

  A black cutout rose from the ridgeline above, roughly twenty-five yards from me. Square. Concrete. A leftover from World War II.

  I could see a figure on the near side of the pillbox. Ryan, crouched, ready to spring.

  At that distance, I couldn’t tell what held his attention. Lô was nowhere to be seen.

  I took a moment to assess.

  The pillbox faced the sea. My approach would be invisible to anyone in it. The wind would mask any sounds I might make.