“You’re right. Something’s come up that’s a quasi-emergency—well, it’s not the Twin Towers blowing up, or anything like that. But I need some input about a medical problem I have here at the precinct this minute.…” Her voice trailed off.
Jason heard some noise in the background. He knew this call was about the Honiger-Stanton sisters. April wouldn’t bother him about anything else. The karma must be bad for his getting away from those women tonight.
He had been committed to clearing his mind and getting into a quiet place where he could refresh himself. Now a wave of nausea swept over him at the thought of having to gear up again so late in the day. The smell of burning pizza drifted out of the kitchen. Shit.
“Hold on for a second, will you.” Jason put down the phone and charged across the hall.
In the kitchen, black smoke spewed out of the toaster oven. Shit. Inadvertently he thought of the burning house where Emma had been held in Queens. Thick clouds of reeking smoke jetting up into the sky. Rubble everywhere. Talking to April Woo must have triggered the association. Shit.
He burned himself yanking the small metal tray out of the oven. Tonight wasn’t turning out to be so great. He raced back into the living room.
“You still there?” he said breathlessly.
“You okay?”
“Sure.” Just depressed and anxious and starving. It was clear he was going to lose sleep over this and feel rotten through all ten patients scheduled for the next day. He studied the burn on his left index finger.
“You were telling me the Twin Towers are not the reason for this call.”
“Yeah. This is the thing. I have your patient’s sister here as kind of a suspect in a homicide investigation. You with me?”
“Of course.”
“And this woman does fit the description we have of the murderer.”
“Really?” Jason was appalled.
“Yeah, well, but there’s something odd.… She’s—ah, bizarre, to put it mildly. We need a psychiatric evaluation of her to determine what to do with her. At the moment we’re getting a warrant to search the house where she lives and there’s a BOLO out on her boyfriend.”
“You lost me.” Jason shifted the phone to his other ear. “What’s the connection between this woman and the murder—murders—and what’s a BOLO?”
“She has a dog. Similar-colored dog hairs were found on the first murder victim. She has red hair. Several red human hairs were found on the dress the victim was wearing. Bruises on the neck and shoulders of the first victim show the woman we have here is the right height to have caused them. She lives across the street from where the second victim died. We don’t have anything yet on the second homicide. You still with me?”
“Sort of. What’s a BOLO?” he repeated.
“Be on the lookout. Guy drives a Mercedes. We’re trying to locate him.”
Jason swallowed, frowning. He tried to remember what was in the paper about the murders. Not a lot. “They were hung?”
“Strangled, garotted, then hung.”
“Not exactly a woman’s crime,” Jason murmured.
“Look, I have this feeling—”
“What’s your feeling?”
“It’s like this woman makes me feel weird when I talk to her, but I don’t feel frightened. Does that make sense?”
“What does weird mean?”
“Ah, like stepping off the curb and there’s no street there. I don’t feel any human connection with her. She, like, bites herself, growls.”
“What about her eyes? Does she stare? Are her eyes very wide open? Does she seem super vigilant, afraid of having anything behind her?”
“I don’t think so—she’s creepy.”
“Do you get the feeling she’s a cat, that she could strike like a panther?”
“No. I’m not an expert, Jason. It’s only my intuition. But I get the feeling she’s a very disturbed, brittle person. She’s frightening, but only because of the way she acts. It’s kind of like you’re trying to soothe somebody and they vomit on you. You’re horrified, but not frightened for your safety. You see what I mean?”
“Yes, I know what you mean. She’s creepy, but you don’t think she’s dangerous. What do you need?”
“Well, this is the thing. We not getting very far in our questioning of her. We brought this woman in. Now we’re liable for her, responsible for her safety. We can’t let her loose and we can’t hold her. We need a psychiatric interview, and it would be great if we could also get some further information about the murder.”
“What’s your normal procedure in a case like this?”
“That’s the thing. Usually I’d take her to the emergency room at Bellevue and they’d bring in a psych team. At this hour they’d be residents. It’s a very inhuman thing. I don’t like to say this, ’cause they mean well. But it’s very unlikely such an interview would lead to any important information for our investigation. And I hate to go there.”
Jason could understand that. He was quiet, trying to control his nausea at the prospect of doing such an interview at this hour. He asked himself if there was anything illegal or unethical about it. He was being called in as a consultant. He decided there was not. Milicia was his patient, and she had already asked him to see her sister. And now it was a murder investigation. That changed things.
“How do you like Chinese food?”
“I love it.” He also liked her. “You want me to come down to the precinct now, is that it? And talk to her there?”
“I’ll, uh, cook you a Chinese dinner, buy you a bottle of gin, a book on Freud. Or all three if you do this huge favor for me.”
April Woo didn’t say that he owed her for saving Emma’s life. Or that he was responsible for the woman’s being there in the first place. She was a clever girl. She didn’t have to say anything like that. He sighed softly.
“I’m on my way,” he told her.
53
April met Jason at the downstairs desk. The psychiatrist looked tired but in better spirits than she had seen him last. She felt a little guilty dragging him in so late, but Sergeant Joyce remembered him from his work on the Chapman case and had liked the idea. Especially since he knew the sister. After she suggested it, April could see Joyce giving her points for it. Getting Jason to do the evaluation meant her supervisor didn’t have to lose April to the bowels of Bellevue, where April would have to escort Camille and wait with her half the night until a bunch of residents saw her and made a recommendation about what should be done with her. And what they recommended might not be the right thing. This way April could return to the building on the East Side with Sanchez and participate in the search of the place where Camille lived.
“Hi.” She noticed right away that Jason had lost some weight and his hair was a little longer. She had forgotten that he was a handsome man, was surprised to find she was glad to see him.
“Thanks for coming.”
He smiled. “You’d do the same for me.”
“Of course.” It was her job though. She shrugged and turned away to hide the flush that crept up her neck. Suddenly she felt awkward in the change of clothes from her locker.
It had been a long day since Rachel Stark was found hanging in the bathroom at European Imports that morning. And even though she had showered and washed her hair twice, April couldn’t help wondering if she still smelled of death.
“She’s in here.” April led the way to the questioning room where she had left Camille with several guards, a cup of tea, and some of the devil’s food cookies Sergeant Joyce hid in her locker for special occasions when she was absolutely desperate.
After finding her gnawing on her arm, April knew better than to leave Camille alone. April had left her with Goldie. The female uniform was big and experienced enough to handle anything. April thought Camille would feel better with a woman. A male uniform stood outside the door just in case. As she made the introduction, April was keenly aware of Sanchez in Sergeant Joyce’s office. The door was
closed. Didn’t want to leave the two of them together too long.
April nodded at the uniform, then opened the door. Camille was sitting in the same position April had left her. The dog was laid out, boneless across her lap, its head hanging over her knee. A thick curtain of long red hair covered Camille’s face.
The mug of tea on the table was half empty; the cookies didn’t appear to have been touched. In the corner, Goldie shook her head. Nothing had happened since April and Sergeant Joyce left.
Puppy heard the door open and sat up, barking excitedly. Camille whispered to it. “Shhh.”
April approached the table with Jason beside her. “Miss Stanton, I’ve asked Dr. Frank to come and speak with you.”
“Who’s speaking?”
“It’s Detective Woo,” April said, feeling weird.
Camille moved her hair to one side. “Woo, I’ve been waiting for you. Where’ve you been?”
“I went to get Dr. Frank. He’s a psychiatrist. It would be very helpful if you’d talk to him, you know, openly. Tell him whatever you want. He’s a good listener.”
Camille let her hair fall back over her face.
“Miss Stanton, is it okay if I leave Dr. Frank with you?”
“Fine.” The response came through the curtain of hair.
April looked at Jason uncertainly.
“Would you prefer if Detective Woo stays?” Jason spoke for the first time. “She’s very busy and has a lot of things to take care of.”
Camille turned her head away and didn’t respond.
“I think it would be better if I leave,” April said finally.
Camille didn’t object.
April turned to Jason, indicating the uniform in the corner with a jerk of her head. He nodded. Yes, she could go and yes he would deal with the uniform.
Relieved, she ran upstairs to the squad room. Maybe Mike hadn’t left without her.
54
Mike waved a piece of paper at her. “Got it. Did she say anything?” He picked up a paper bag from the desk that was his because they were now on duty until midnight.
“Who?” The suspect or Sergeant Joyce?
“The suspect.”
“Oh, not a lot. She was too busy eating her arm.”
“Whaa?”
“The woman is an alien. I’m not certain she can add two and two. Dr. Frank is in with her now.” April eyed the bag, hoping it contained food.
“I heard. How did you manage that?” They headed downstairs.
“I asked him. Didn’t want to spend the night at Bellevue and miss the fun. What’s in the bag?”
“What do you want it to be?”
April waved at the Desk Sergeant, and they stepped out into the night. It was about sixty degrees, bright and clear.
“I want it to be something really spicy and hard to eat, with lots of sauce. But I’d settle for a tuna sandwich.”
“Done.” He handed her the bag. “Tuna salad with lettuce on white toast.”
“Thanks. What did you get for yourself?”
“Something really spicy and hard to eat, with lots of sauce.”
She laughed, punched his arm as he headed for the driver’s side of the car. “That’s twice in one day. It’s my turn to drive.”
“Yeah, maybe. But wouldn’t you rather eat? I had mine after I met with the ADA.”
“Who’d you get?”
“Penelope Dunham, no problem at all. Know her?”
April shook her head. She’d never met this assistant district attorney. “Why are you such a nice guy?” she asked, settling in the passenger seat. Then she opened the bag. Shit. It was two chicken enchiladas with mole sauce.
Mike grinned. “Don’t ever say I don’t take care of you. And there’s no cheese on it anywhere. I know you don’t like cheese.”
“Thanks,” she said. “Really thanks. It’s great.”
She wrinkled her nose and dug into the enchiladas with the plastic fork thoughtfully provided, knowing the food would be all over her and the car by the time they got across town. Mike was trying to get her used to Mexican cooking. She had to admit she liked the green sauce made of tomatillos, but the mixture of chocolate and chilis in the mole tasted to her kind of like dirt.
“How is it?” Mike jerked to a stop at the red light on Central Park West.
A blob of mole splattered off her fork and hit the front of her white shirt.
“Great. Just great. How much do I owe you?”
“More than you’ll ever know.”
Yeah yeah. He accelerated through the park while she worked on the enchiladas.
Six minutes later, as Mike pulled into an empty spot on Second Avenue near Fifty-fifth Street, she crumpled everything back into the bag. The black sedan with Lieutenant Braun and Sergeant Roberts in it was parked in front of 1055 Second.
Mike killed the motor and the lights, tossed the keys to April. “You can drive home.”
Her attention had been on the brown spot on her blouse. She caught the keys, but only just. Nice.
Braun and Roberts were out of the car, heading toward them before they could move. “Got it?” Braun demanded.
Mike handed the search warrant over. “Any sign of him?”
“Man at the garage says the car’s in there and he hasn’t taken it out since Sunday.”
Braun stuffed the warrant in his pocket without looking at it. “Okay, let’s go in.”
All four headed toward the door with the crudely paneled top half. April prayed Braun wouldn’t make them stay outside as backup. Before the thought was complete, she saw he’d already thought of that. She saw him nod at his two other people, one at each corner, by the litter baskets. Oh, and there was somebody across the street leaning against the skinny tree in front of European Imports. The Lieutenant wasn’t taking any chances.
Roberts opened the downstairs door with no trouble. They trooped up the stairs with Braun in the lead. He had to move aside on the tiny landing at the top so Roberts could get at the door. There were four locks on it. Roberts worked on them for about thirty seconds. He got all four unlocked, and went inside.
For a second Mike and April stood outside on the landing while Braun and Roberts, stuck in the doorway, fumbled around for a light. A single pale bulb shone over their heads.
“Weird,” April murmured softly.
“Yeah what?”
“The whole setup. Guy owns a chandelier shop and look at what he’s got hanging here.” She pointed at the bare bulb. It flickered, as if in response.
“That’s not the only weird thing. Maggie Wheeler was hung on a chandelier,” Mike reminded her.
From inside the apartment came the sound of a crash as something was knocked over.
“Shit.” Braun’s voice sounded pained.
A light came on, the logjam was broken, and April quickly followed Mike through the door.
“Wow.” Mike whistled.
The four detectives huddled together for a confused instant, frozen with surprise. The place was not exactly what they had expected. It looked like some kind of warehouse. All kinds of furniture, a huge mirror, lamps, tables, settees, chairs, and sideboards were jumbled together, apparently at random, in the room fronting Second Avenue. There was so much of it, they could hardly get through it to the kitchen and the stairs. It almost seemed as if the furniture had been assembled that way to form a barricade to block entry to the living quarters.
The place smelled dusty and stale. Braun and Roberts began picking their way through it, turning on more lights as they went.
“This is going to take a while,” Braun muttered. “You could hide anything in here.”
April took another route, behind a sideboard, a desk, the mirror, and three chairs to the kitchen. Positioned behind the stairs between the front room and back rooms, it was a pretty sad affair. The walls hadn’t been painted in decades. The plaster of the ceiling was crumbling to a fine powder in several places. The refrigerator, sink, and stove were from another era. Dirty dishe
s filled the sink and covered every counter surface. April studied the dishes with interest. All fine china, several patterns. The glasses looked like crystal.
She pulled on a pair of gloves and opened the refrigerator. Inside was a loaf of moldy bread, a pizza box, two six-packs of Amstel light beer, five packages of film, and a little girl’s jewelry box of pale blue leather with faded gold tooling around the top. Carefully, she removed the jewelry box from the second shelf of the fridge, reminding herself where to return it later.
“What’s that?” Mike was peering over her shoulder.
She could feel him breathing on her neck again. She shivered.
The little box wasn’t locked. It swung open.
“What is it?”
There were only a few things inside. A broken necklace of American Indian beading, some crudely made enamel earrings with screwbacks. A cheap gold filigree bracelet with a cameo in the middle, and a gold pin of some sort with Greek letters on it. She picked up the gold pin and held it to the light.
“What is it?”
Mike shook his head.
“It’s a sorority pin,” Roberts said scornfully. He had pushed in behind Mike. “You two know what a sorority is?”
“Sure,” Mike said pleasantly. April could see the word Dickhead hanging there behind his smile. Sanchez moved out of the kitchen.
April put the jewelry box back in the fridge, then joined him in the back room. It was empty, looked as if it had been cleared for a renovation that never happened.
Braun looked around and had nothing to say. He cocked his head toward the stairs. Once again the four of them trooped up a flight of stairs in a line.
This time Braun had something to say. “Jesus H. Christ. Get a load of this.”
“Isn’t this fun.” Mike let April go in first.
She stopped suddenly, stunned. Nothing downstairs prepared them for what was up there. Unlike the mess on the floor below, this level had been very carefully decorated. The floor in the bedroom was pickled white, stenciled in a colorful pattern around the edges. An Oriental rug filled in the center. The walls were covered with fabric. April could tell it was high-quality silk, had a pattern of stripes and tiny flowers in pink and gold and green. The fabric was gathered at the ceiling and pulled up to a point at the top to look like a tent. From the center point hung an ornate chandelier with cherubs of painted porcelain.
Hanging Time Page 26
