by Alex Barclay
Her mother was sobbing. ‘Oh, Ren…’
‘What? What is it?’ Ren stood up and ran to the conference room.
‘They came back and searched again,’ her mother said between sobs. ‘The police. And they found something. They found a T-shirt belonging to Louis Parry.’
‘Whoa,’ said Ren ‘What?’ She sat down at the table.
‘Yes!’
‘Where?’
‘In Beau’s room!’
‘What?’ said Ren. ‘When?’
‘They came back this morning. After I had just tidied everything back up from the last time.’
‘But I don’t get it,’ said Ren. ‘Where did they find it?’
‘In some hole he had cut into the headboard of his bed. It was under the covering of the headboard.’ Her mother cried harder. She was gasping for breath and when she finally caught it, she said. ‘What if…what if…?’
‘Mom, listen to me. I don’t know what the hell is going on there, but I am going to find out. You stay put, don’t do anything. Leave this with me. Where’s Dad?’
‘At tennis.’
‘Are you serious?’
‘There’s no need for him to be here, Ren. I’m fine. I can handle these things. Your father is not as strong. Tennis helps him unwind.’
‘For God’s sake, Mom, there is nothing wrong with needing emotional support. Why don’t you get Matt or Lauren to drive up there?’
‘I can’t ask Lauren to…with the pregnancy…and…’
‘Mom, she’s not ill,’ said Ren. ‘You know she’ll be wonderful. Just call her. She’ll be happy to drive up if Matt can’t.’
‘OK, OK.’
‘But don’t do anything else.’
‘I feel like marching right over there to the Parrys. If Rita Parry wasn’t so sick—’
‘Mom, stay where you are,’ said Ren. ‘When will Dad be back?’
‘In about an hour. I’m glad he wasn’t here to see all this…’
‘It’s not like it would hit him any harder than you.’
‘Can’t you come to Catskill or…or…something?’ ‘I can’t right now,’ said Ren. ‘But I will try and get to you as soon as I can. I promise.’
‘Thank you, Ren. This is…I thought losing Beau was the worst thing that could happen to us.’
‘No, having me was the worst thing that happened to us.’
Her mom laughed. ‘Thank you. Oh, Ren. My heart…’
‘Mine too. Look after yourself. Sit tight.’
18
Ren dialed Daryl Stroud’s direct line at Catskill PD. It took a while for someone to pick up.
‘Daryl?’
‘This is Detective Reed. Lieutenant Stroud is not in his office right now.’
When Caller ID attacks…‘My name is Ren Bryce. I believe some of your detectives searched my parents’ home this morning? I just got off the phone to my devastated mother and she told me that you had found a T-shirt belonging to Louis Parry in my brother’s room.’
‘That’s correct, ma’am.’
‘And were you one of the detectives there at the time?’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘Well, you have made a huge mistake.’
‘I’m afraid not, ma’am,’ said Reed. ‘The T-shirt was where we were told it would be.’
‘By whom?’ Ren’s volume shot up.
‘A person who called in the tip.’
‘So this T-shirt,’ said Ren. ‘Would that be the one Louis Parry was wearing the day he went missing…’
Silence.
‘Yeah, I thought not.’
‘It was not that exact T-shirt,’ said Reed, ‘but it did belong to Louis Parry. We have photos of him wearing it. His family also identified it.’
‘Think about that for a second,’ said Ren. ‘What’s the scenario? My brother gives Louis a piano lesson, takes off his T-shirt and sends him home bare-chested? Or he asks Louis to ask his mom could he bring an extra T-shirt to piano class? Or, let me see, he jumps over seven garden fences and takes it from Louis Parry’s washing line…’
Silence.
‘What do you think, Detective?’ said Ren. ‘Seriously. Let me help you out, here: someone is setting my brother up. That cold-case deck hit Rikers with major publicity. So I’m guessing you have a sheriff, a mayor, up for re-election? You have a new cold-case department that needs a collar? Or someone somewhere has a personal vendetta against my family. Or maybe some sick fuck in your department did it—’
‘Or maybe your brother was a—’
‘Don’t you fucking dare,’ said Ren. ‘You are either ignorant enough not to notice that you are being played by one of your colleagues. Or you are ignorant enough to think you have the right man for this crime. Either way, you are a fool.’
She hung up. She stretched out her arms and laid her head down on the cool glass of the table. The door opened behind her.
‘Ren, I got that tape in from Billy Waites…’ said Robbie. ‘Do you want to watch it? It’s all set up.’
Ren’s voice echoed off the glass. ‘I like the way you just ignore that I’m splayed out on the table here.’
He paused. ‘Yes. Is everything OK?’
She pulled herself up. ‘Look at that—’ She pointed to a smear on the table. ‘That is my makeup. Gross.’ She wiped her sleeve across it.
‘Your makeup isn’t greasy.’
‘Hmm,’ said Ren. ‘Maybe only when its mixed with the venom seeping out of my pores.’ She stood up. ‘Give me a hug.’
‘Sure.’ Robbie put his arms limply around her and gave a quick squeeze.
‘Just what I needed,’ said Ren. An antiseptic embrace to counter the venom.
She went into the AV room with Robbie and sat down in front of the video player. Ren took the remote control and pressed Play. There were a lot of shots of Billy Waites from behind. And out of the crowd, eventually, came the handsome face of Gavino Val Pando. The bar was busy, people pushed in front of him, he was not very tall, so it was difficult for him to get served. When he did, he held the drinks above his head and retreated to the booths opposite the bar.
‘There,’ said Robbie, sitting forward. He pointed to two booths further down and a table with the two teenage girls.
Ren and Robbie watched as more time elapsed, people came and went. And before long, one of the girls was sitting next to Gavino.
‘Well, they look like they’re having a good time,’ said Ren. She pointed to other parts of the room. ‘Look at these little tramps. Gavino and his girl look quite sweet.’
Ren hit Pause. ‘I presume this is one of those “and the cock crowed three times” things…’
Robbie glanced at her. ‘If you’re asking me is she one of the ones who denied his existence, yes, ma’am. Her name is Jessica Ellerbee.’
Ren leaned closer to the screen. She pressed Play. Jessica Ellerbee stood up. ‘Well, she looks totally wasted,’ said Ren. ‘Maybe she really didn’t remember him. But…I doubt it. I don’t think a teenage girl is going to forget a cute guy like that. A night in the sheriff’s office is a different matter. But, all I will say is: tough. I’ll go talk to her.’
‘OK.’
‘And look,’ said Ren. ‘Here she is, back from the ladies’ room. And who’s helping her on with her jacket? Gavino. And they’re walking to the door holding hands. What a little gentleman.’
‘Do you think this Jessica would have any information that’s going to help us?’
‘I think there’s a possibility the two may have dated,’ said Ren. ‘Even for a little while. So she could know where he is. What we just saw didn’t look like a sleazy encounter that was going to end up in a one-night stand. Or am I being naïve?’
‘Actually, that encounter ended with them both being taken into the sheriff’s office.’
‘Oh yes. I forgot that part.’ Because watching Billy Waites on screen completely threw me.
‘If we show Ms Jessica that tape, she’ll talk.’ Ren pushed back her chair
and stood. ‘And we can find out if she’s had any contact with Gavino Val Pando any time recently.’
‘Great,’ said Robbie. He got up and left.
Ren rewound the tape and paused it at the clearest shot of Billy Waites: the broad shoulders, the toned arms, the Diesel ass.
I miss Billy Waites. Even the back view. Or…especially the back view.
Ren popped the tape out and stood, holding it, her mind drifting.
Who am I kidding? She turned off the light and walked into the hallway. I miss Billy Waites: the inside view.
19
Cliff called to Ren when she walked in. ‘Hey, your brother Matt on two.’
Ren got to her desk and picked up.
‘Hey,’ said Matt. ‘I heard about the T-shirt. What the hell’s going on?’
‘That’s what I’m trying to find out, Matt. I can’t understand all this. It’s insane. Did you call Jay?’
‘Yes.’
‘What did he say?’
‘He’s just like us – devastated.’
‘In his little emotional HazMat suit.’ Emotions: hazardous materials Jay Bryce.
‘I’m staying out of it,’ said Matt. ‘Do you have any idea how that T-shirt wound up in the headboard?’
‘Not a clue. Did you know that the hole was even there?’
‘No.’
‘Who goes into Beau’s room?’ said Ren.
‘Just Mom.’
‘Do people ever stay over?’
‘Riiight. Look, let’s face it, Ren – this is all bullshit. It’s not like one of Mom and Dad’s friends is randomly going to wander into Beau’s room, discover a hole in a headboard and put a T-shirt belonging to Louis Parry inside.’
‘I know, I know.’
‘We’re kind of talking a whole lot of nothing here.’
‘That about covers it,’ said Ren. ‘How are you doing?’
‘Crap.’
‘Is there anything we’re not factoring in? Like, has someone got it in for us?’
‘What?’ said Matt. ‘Are you serious?’
‘Well, Beau didn’t have anything to do with Louis going missing, so someone is obviously trying to frame him.’
‘No, I get that. But I don’t think that means they want to hurt us, like, deliberately.’
‘Oh, please Like this would have no impact on the rest of us?’
‘Maybe whoever it is just does not care,’ said Matt. ‘Do you think it could be the person who took Louis?’
‘No,’ said Ren. ‘That would be way too risky. You’d sit it out. Especially if you’d gotten away with it for this long.’
‘True.’
‘Imagine if no one took Louis,’ said Ren. ‘Like he had an accident, wandered off somewhere, fell down a hole or something.’
There was silence at the other end.
‘OK,’ said Ren. ‘I know.’
‘And just one small thing – I do know where you were coming from, because my angel wife has that healing presence, but she is not the one to be helping Mom right now. Basically she is having a “How can we bring a child into this horrible world?” moment and the closer she is to anything like a child going missing or a dead brother or a traumatized mother, the more freaked out she’ll get…’
‘Oh my God, I am so sorry,’ said Ren. ‘I didn’t think of it that way at all. How didn’t I, more to the point? I just thought, Who always knows the right thing to do in times like this? And then I thought of you guys. And I figured you would be working.’
‘Hey, don’t worry about it…but if you so much as suggest that again? Bitch, I will cut you…’
Ren laughed. ‘I feel really dumb. I just…Mom adores Lauren. She’s the daughter she never had…’
Matt laughed. ‘Anyway, don’t worry about it. It’s not a big deal.’
‘Please tell Lauren I’m sorry.’
‘Oh, Lauren has no idea I’m calling you. I’m her emotional spokesperson at the moment. She didn’t say a thing. She was almost on her way to Mom’s. I just knew that, when she came back, she’d be haunted in the eye.’
‘Nice save, then.’
‘I’m sure I won’t give a crap about her for the second child.’
‘Thanks for making me laugh.’
‘Hey, how are you doing…about Helen?’
‘Awful. The irony is that she spent almost two years trying to squeeze an emotion out of me. She finally achieves that. Then she’s gone.’
‘That kind of progress can’t be reversed that quickly,’ said Matt. ‘You’ll find another therapist. It will be like the movie Always. Helen will be watching over you while you find someone to take her place.’
‘Oh, God, that movie…’ said Ren.
‘Step away from the video store.’
Glenn Buddy knocked on the open office door and stuck his head in as Ren was hanging up.
‘Hello, there,’ she said.
‘Hey,’ said Glenn. ‘I spoke with Colin Grabien.’
Am I supposed to know why?
‘And he was right about the transaction database.’
What?
‘So, yes,’ said Glenn, ‘the security guy hadn’t looked at it.’
The security guy at the warehouse! ‘OK,’ said Ren. ‘That’s great.’
‘Someone did hack the system – that’s how your name showed up as having accessed the premises.’
‘OK…so…someone was deliberately trying to place me at a crime scene?’
Glenn shrugged. ‘Do you know why anyone would do that?’
‘I have absolutely no idea.’
‘Whoever it was, they did a very good job. Colin was able to see that they had been there, but after that, they left not a trace.’
‘That’s all very odd,’ said Ren.
‘Anyway, I’m sorry for having to ask you about all that.’
‘No problem, Glenn. What else could you do?’
‘Thank you.’
‘So,’ said Ren. ‘How’s it all going?’
‘Well one development,’ said Glenn. ‘When we looked at Wheeler’s office the day the body was found, there were notes on her desk. They looked like they were notes for a book.’
‘What?’
Glenn nodded. ‘It had “Untitled” on the top, but it was obviously a collection of case studies from her practice.’
‘On what subject?’
‘The notes were rough. Patient A this, that…’ He looked at Ren. ‘You didn’t know anything about it?’
‘No. She didn’t mention anything.’
‘Well, it’s good news for us, because it means we can access the patient files.’
Whoa. ‘I can’t imagine it will be that easy. Even if the notes were in plain view. You’d have a hard time convincing the DA…’
‘It’s done and dusted,’ said Glenn. ‘It’s a very real possibility that Helen was killed by a patient.’
‘But is there anything that made you think there was a killer in those notes?’ She gestured for him to sit down.
Glenn shrugged. ‘Who knows?’ He sat down.
‘Well, what did they say?’
‘Patient A: male, thirty-one—’
‘Loner, gun fanatic?’
‘I wish,’ said Glenn. ‘No – male, thirty-one, married, electronic engineer, schizophrenic, aural delusions, substance abuse problems, failed rehab times three…Patient B: female, thirty-seven, single, psychotic episodes—’
‘There’s our killer,’ said Ren. ‘Crazy woman.’
Glenn shrugged. ‘Psychotic episodes, bipolar, leo, Rx Zyprexa…’ He scanned down the page. ‘Patient C: male, forty-two, married, undertaker, history of depression, alcoholic, physically/verbally abusive to spouse—’
Ren pointed to the page he had in front of him. ‘What’s that leo thing in patient B? I doubt Helen was doing star signs…’
‘I said LEO. Law Enforcement Officer.’
Thirty-seven, single, psychotic episodes, bipolar, law-enforcement officer, Rx Zyprexa…
> Ren’s stomach turned.
Glenn was still smiling at her, but Ren could barely respond.
‘So,’ said Glenn. ‘There you have it.’
‘How will it work from here?’
‘A taint team will access the files—’
‘A what?’
‘A taint team – there’s a lot of crap in those files no one needs to see. I might need to know that Patient A’s giant white rabbit friend was telling him to kill all medical professionals, but I don’t need to know he wore his great aunt’s yellow drawers to his sixteenth birthday party.’
‘Right.’
‘So this taint team goes in, reads the psych files, tries to match them to these Patients A, B and C, and hands only what they see as the relevant parts of these files over to the judge.’
Ren paused. ‘And this is so that a defendant – if you find one – can’t file a motion to suppress all the information in the files on the grounds that it could taint the investigators and prosecutors?’
Glenn paused. ‘I believe that is correct.’
‘And these are the only three files you can access? Just because they were in plain view?’
‘That’s the law.’ Glenn shrugged.
‘Do you know who’s on this taint team?’
‘Three prosecutors from the DA’s office that aren’t involved in the case.’
‘For objectivity.’
‘Yes.’
‘And who’s the judge?’
‘Douglas Hammond.’
‘And…how will it all work?’ said Ren. ‘I mean, the fact that a patient is a patient is privileged information in itself.’
Glenn nodded. ‘I guess they feel that the taint team addresses that. It goes no further than those three people.’
‘That doesn’t sound strong enough to hold up.’
‘Douglas Hammond seems to think so.’
‘What did Helen Wheeler’s assistant say about the book?’
‘She said she didn’t know anything about it.’
‘And you don’t find that strange?’ said Ren. ‘Her own assistant doesn’t know?’
‘Not really. Wheeler could have just wanted to keep it on the down low before she told anyone what she was doing. The assistant didn’t seem very helpful,’ said Glenn. ‘Wouldn’t you think she would want us to find her boss’s killer?’
