Split Image

by Robert B. Parker

  "My word," Jesse said.

  More silence.

  Then Mulligan said, "I'll call you back."

  64

  SUITCASE SIMPSON WAS in the squad room with his feet up on the conference table, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper, when Jesse came in.

  "Suit," Jesse said. "I want you to pick up Normie Salerno and bring him in and hold him for questioning."

  "Guy that works for Reggie Galen?" Suit said.

  "Yep."

  "Big guy," Suit said. "Weight lifter."

  "Take some guys," Jesse said. "Normie may not come peacefully."

  "Where will you be?" Suit said.

  "I'm the chief of police," Jesse said. "I try to remain above the fray."

  Suit nodded.

  "Especially when the fray is with an ape who may not come peacefully," he said.

  "Don't be disrespectful to your chief," Jesse said.

  "How long you think we can hold him?" Suit said. "Working for Reggie, he'll be lawyered up by the time we get him in here."

  "Not if Reggie doesn't know we've got him," Jesse said.

  "We follow him around until we get him alone?"

  "He'll be spending the afternoon with a woman," Jesse said.

  "How do you know that?" Suit said.

  "Years of experience," Jesse said, "fighting crime."

  "And," Suit said, "you're the chief of police."

  "And," Jesse said, "she told me."

  "Who's the woman?" Suit said.

  "Name's Natalya," Jesse said.

  "I don't know any Natalya," Suit said.

  "That's right," Jesse said.

  Jesse handed him a scrap of paper.

  "Here's her address," Jesse said.

  "We bring the woman in?"

  "No," Jesse said.

  "She know we're coming?" Suit said.

  "Yes," Jesse said. "I talked with her this morning."

  "There's stuff going on that I don't get," Suit said.

  "There is," Jesse said. "Just go get him and hold him till I get back."

  "Where you going?"

  "Gotta talk to a guy," Jesse said.

  "What guy?"

  "Guy who might tell me things," Jesse said.

  "I could go talk to the guy," Suit said. "And you could bring in the weight lifter. Be sure the job's done right."

  Jesse smiled.

  "I have every confidence in you, Suit," he said. "Just keep Normie here until I come back. No one sees him. No one knows he's here."

  "What happens if somehow someone finds out and a lawyer shows up?" Suit said.

  "Deceive him," Jesse said.

  "Or her," Suit said.

  "Or both," Jesse said.

  65

  JESSE MET BOB DAVIS sitting on a bench in a pavilion on Revere Beach. It was gray weather, overcast and spitting rain. The tide was high, and the dark waves foamed in close to the pavilion. The wind off the water was unseasonable, and the long beach was nearly empty except for a woman and a dog. The woman threw a ball. The dog chased it.

  "Thanks for seeing me," Jesse said, when he sat down.

  Davis nodded. He was wearing a tan raincoat with the collar up.

  "Whaddya need?" Davis said.

  "I want to know who killed Petrov Ognowski, and who killed Knocko."

  "You wearing a wire?" Davis said.

  "Nope."

  "Mind if I pat you down?" Davis said.

  "Nope."

  Jesse stood, took his gun off his hip, held it in his right hand, and put both hands above his head.

  "Pat," he said.

  Davis went over him carefully. When he was through, Jesse put the gun back on his hip and sat back down.

  "So, tell me about life on Paradise Neck," Jesse said.

  "What I say here stays here," Davis said.

  Jesse nodded.

  "If you tell me you killed these people, you walk away clean," he said. "And tomorrow I start looking for you. Otherwise, you'll never see me again."

  "I didn't kill them," Davis said. "And I ain't gonna help you nail Reggie. I was with him a long time; I owe him that."

  Jesse nodded.

  "Whaddya know?" Davis said.

  "I don't know much for certain," Jesse said. "But I think Normie Salerno killed both of them."

  Davis shrugged.

  "He pulled the trigger," he said.

  "And Normie killed Knocko."

  "He pulled the trigger," Davis said. "On Knocko, too."

  "Who told him to?" Jesse said.

  Davis was looking at the dog chasing the ball.

  "Nice-looking dog," he said.

  "I'll take that to mean Reggie told him to," Jesse said.

  "I like dogs," Davis said. "Never had a chance to own one."

  "Why did Reggie tell him to do it?"

  "What do you know about the twin wives," Davis said.

  "Enough," Jesse said.

  "They make a move on you?"

  "Yep."

  "They are some sick broads," Davis said.

  "Yep."

  "Well," Davis said. "Here's what I think went down. I didn't know it when it happened. I'm still not sure of all the details, but I'm in the ballpark."

  Jesse nodded.

  "They was playing their game with Petey," Davis said. "Petey was a good kid, but he was a moron. Instead of enjoying the ride, he decides he's made his fortune. He tries to blackmail the both of them."

  "With what?" Jesse said.

  "I don't know. I think he had evidence. Pictures, tape recordings, something. Easy enough to rig if he did a little planning."

  "Easy," Jesse said. "So, he went to the women?"

  "No," Davis said. "He went to Knocko and Reggie."

  Jesse waited.

  "And as I get it, Knocko was in a funk. He wants Petey dead. But he knows Petey is one of Reggie's people and he don't want to ace him without, like, clearing it."

  "So he did and Reggie said he'd take care of it," Jesse said.

  "What I figure," Davis said. "But Reggie never says nothing to me. I don't know why. He's embarrassed? He knows I kind of like Petey? Doesn't want to ask me to do one of our own, you know, somebody in the outfit?"

  "You think he knew about the twins?" Jesse said.

  "Yeah," Davis said. "He did. They was both playing house with him, same time they was playing house with Petey."

  "Kind of dangerous," Jesse said.

  "Maybe why they did it," Davis said.

  "Probably," Jesse said.

  "Stuff's too hard for me," Davis said. "So I don't know who killed Petey, and nobody else seems to know, and nobody seems much to give a shit, and . . . life goes on."

  "How about Knocko," Jesse said.

  "I guess Knocko gave a shit," Davis said. "I guess he was pretty mad about his wife doing a low-level thug like Petey."

  "He didn't know about the Bang Bang Twins?" Jesse said.

  "I don't think so," Davis said.

  "He thinks she's been faithful," Jesse said.

  Davis nodded.

  "Poor slob," he said. "He can't get over it, and I guess he got to slapping his wife around."

  "Because of her fling with Petey," Jesse said.

  "Yep."

  "And she spoke to her sister, and her sister spoke to Reggie. . . ."

  Davis nodded.

  "And Reggie says to me he wants Knocko whacked. And I say, 'Whack Knocko? You been friends forever.' And Reggie says, 'He's been beating up my wife's sister. They both want him dead.' And I say, 'What about Ray?' And Reggie says, 'Don't worry about Ray. Ray's gone.' "

  "The twins got him fired," Jesse said.

  "Anyway, I'm saying, 'This is crazy. Just have her move out,' and Reggie's saying, 'You do it or I get somebody else to do it.' And I say, 'Who,' and he says, 'Normie.' And I say, 'Normie's a blow.' And Reggie says, 'Yeah, well, he done Petey okay.' "

  "Easy enough if they think you're their friend," Jesse said.

  "Is," Davis said. "Was. Both of them. The h
ard part for Normie would be shutting up about it afterwards."

  "He didn't," Jesse said.

  "Good," Davis said. "So he can take the fall."

  "I'm going to try to take all of them down," Jesse said. "But I'll do it by flipping Normie. I won't use anything of yours."

  Davis nodded.

  "I told him," Davis said. "Those two broads are running your life, and it's gonna cause trouble. And he says, 'Bobby, I can't let you talk about my wife that way.' . . . I don't think the poor bastard knows by now which one his wife is . . . and I say, 'Reggie, you're thinking with your dick.' And he says, 'You're fired.' And I left."

  They were silent, watching the woman and the dog. The dog was playing with the waves, chasing them as they rolled out, skittering away from them as they came in.

  "So, why'd you tell me all this?" Jesse said.

  "Normie pulled the trigger," Davis said. "And Reggie probably told him to do it. But it's those goddamned nymphos that are guilty."

  "And you wanted me to know that," Jesse said.

  "I guess so."

  "What are you gonna do now?" Jesse said.

  "Maybe get a couple dogs," Davis said.

  66

  JESSE SAT in his office with Nicolas Ognowski sitting hugely on a chair in the corner. Suit and Eddie Cox brought Normie into Jesse's office. There was a bloody-looking welt on one side of his forehead.

  "Banged his head," Suit said, "when he was getting into the squad car."

  "My lawyer's gonna hear about this," Normie said.

  He eyed Ognowski, who was silent and motionless.

  "Sit," Jesse said.

  Suit steered Normie to the chair, and he sat. Suit went and leaned against the doorjamb.

  "You need me, Jesse?" Cox said.

  Jesse shook his head, and Cox disappeared.

  "Who's this guy," Normie said, and nodded at Ognowski.

  Jesse took a tape recorder out of his desk drawer and placed it on the desk in front of Normie.

  "What's that for," Normie said. "You think I'm gonna make some kind of statement?"

  Jesse pushed the play button and Natalya Ognowski's recording began to play. It took Normie a little time to realize what it was. When he did, he seemed paralyzed by it. The tape rolled on in all its remorseless banality.

  "I kill someone, two someones, right in town," he said.

  "In Paradise?"

  "Absolutely," Normie said. "You probably read about it in the papers."

  "The two men on Paradise Neck?"

  "Bingo," Normie said.

  "I do not believe that," Natalya said.

  "Ognowski," Normie said, "and Moynihan."

  In the corner, Nicolas Ognowski made a sound like a sigh. Jesse held his hand up toward him. Normie seemed to get smaller in his chair.

  "We gotcha, Normie," Jesse said.

  "That lying bitch," he said.

  "She's Petrov Ognowski's widow," Jesse said.

  "Jesus," Normie said.

  "And the large gentleman in the corner is Petrov Ognowski's father."

  "What's he doing here?" Normie said.

  "I have come," Nicolas said, "to look at the man who killed my son."

  His voice sounded like it had rumbled up from hell.

  "I see him again," Nicolas said, "I will know him."

  "I was just following orders," Normie said.

  "You can tell us about that, might help you a little," Jesse said.

  "I can't snitch," Normie said.

  "Why not?"

  "They'll kill me?"

  "Who?"

  "You know what they do to snitches in jail," Normie said.

  "You want to take the jump on this one yourself?" Jesse said.

  "I just done what I was told," Normie said.

  "Juries love that, killing two people because someone told you to. I'm guessing life, no parole."

  Normie shook his head.

  In a small voice, he said, "I want a lawyer."

  Jesse glanced at Nicolas. Then looked back at Normie. "You don't need one," Jesse said. "You're free to go."

  "Huh?"

  "You're free to go," Jesse said. "Beat it."

  "You're not arresting me?"

  "Nope," Jesse said. "Take a walk."

  Normie stood up carefully, as if he'd been ill and was just recovering. In the corner, Nicolas Ognowski stood up. Normie glanced at him.

  "What's he doing," Normie said.

  "I guess he's leaving, too."

  Normie took a step toward the door, and Nicolas moved to follow. Normie stopped. He looked at Ognowski, then at Jesse.

  "You're letting me and him go out together?"

  "Sure," Jesse said.

  "I . . . You can't do that."

  "Sure I can," Jesse said.

  "He . . . he's . . . For God's sake, man, I don't even have a piece."

  "I'm not interested in fucking around with this," Jesse said. "You roll over on Reggie and the girls, in which case I keep you here. Or you refuse and stroll off into the sunset with Mr. Ognowski."

  Ognowski was standing next to Normie now. He seemed to take up most of the room. Jesse could smell his sweat and whatever strong he'd had for lunch. Normie didn't look at him. Jesse wasn't sure, it might just have been breathing, but it sounded like a low growl might have come from deep in Ognowski's chest.

  Normie turned away and came back to Jesse's desk and sat back down in the chair.

  "Whaddya want to know," he said.

  67

  JESSE LAY against the propped pillows in Sunny's big canopied bed. Sunny lay beside him. Jesse had a scotch and soda. Sunny had a gimlet. Both of them were naked.

  "We got Reggie cold, and Normie," Jesse said. "But the ADA tells me she doesn't think she can make a case on the Bang Bang Twins."

  "Really?" Sunny said. "Accessories before or after?"

  "They deny everything. And Reggie says they weren't involved."

  "Normie?" Sunny said.

  "Everything he knows about their involvement is hearsay."

  "How about their sex lives?"

  "Adultery is rarely prosecuted these days," Jesse said.

  "You call what they do adultery?" Sunny said. "That's like calling the Second World War assault."

  "Reggie says they are innocent of all wrongdoing. He says Rebecca was a model wife, and Roberta a lovely sister-in-law."

  "The ADA offer him any incentive to roll on them?" Sunny said.

  "Yep," Jesse said. "But he won't."

  "So, the Bang Bang Twins are free to, ah, ply their wares where they will," Sunny said.

  "They are."

  "Yet they very probably caused it all," Sunny said.

  "Very probably," Jesse said.

  "And they get off free," Sunny said.

  "Well, Petrov Ognowski's father and widow know about them," Jesse said.

  Sunny sipped her gimlet and looked at him over the rim.

  "You told them," she said.

  "I did," Jesse said.

  "My God," she said.

  "There's justice and maybe there's justice," Jesse said.

  Sunny stared at him, then put the glass down and rolled over on top of him.

  "You are absolutely frightening," she said. "Sometimes."

  "And sometimes not," Jesse said.

  He put his drink on the bedside table and put his arms around her.

  Sunny kissed him.

  When she stopped, Jesse said, "Didn't we just do this?"

  "We did," Sunny said. "But I think you're man enough to do it again."

  "Why do you think so?" Jesse said.

  "I believe I have evidence," Sunny said.

  "Maybe you should tamper with it," Jesse said.

  They made love.

  When they were done they lay, with Sunny's head on his chest, as their breathing settled.

  After a while Sunny said, "That was a nice little interlude."

  "It was," Jesse said. "Though I might object to the word little."

  Sunn
y rubbed her face against his chest and giggled.

  "Did you just giggle?" Jesse said.

  "I did."

  "You never giggle," he said.

  "Now I do," Sunny said.

  Jesse got up and made them two more drinks.

  "You made any progress on what to do with Cheryl DeMarco?" he said, when he was back on the bed.

  Sunny smiled.

  "Spike says he's had sex with the dean of admissions at Hampton College," Sunny said.

  "And feels that Cheryl could gain admission there?" Jesse said.

  "He does."

  "Well, that's some sort of solution," Jesse said.

  "She'll live at the college, Spike says, and can visit on holidays or weekends or whatever."

  "Is this a done deal?" Jesse said.

  "No, but Spike has a date with this guy on Friday night, and he says he'll wrap it up then."

  "Must be an interesting experience," Jesse said. "Dating Spike."

  "Something neither you nor I will ever know," Sunny said.

  She drank from her new gimlet.

  "I have, I believe, boffed your socks off twice this evening," Sunny said. "And I want to know what you and Dix talked about."

  "In regard to the Bang Bang Twins?"

  "Yes."

  Jesse took a deep breath and let it out, and told her.

  "Wow," Sunny said, when he was through. "Aren't we a pair?"

  "You need to avoid control; I need to control."

  "Something of a mismatch," Sunny said.

  Jesse nodded.

  "Still, we seem to get along," Sunny said.

  "And maybe we can change our needs," Jesse said.

  "Maybe," Sunny said.

  "Maybe we love each other," Jesse said.

  "Maybe," Sunny said.

  "Maybe we should proceed on the assumption that we do," Jesse said, "and see what develops."

  "I agree," Sunny said.

  Jesse put his hand up. Sunny gave him a high five.

  "What's the next step?" Jesse said.

  "I think we should order in some Chinese food," Sunny said.

  "What an auspicious start," Jesse said.