About thirty minutes later the intercom buzzed.
“Dr. Williamson is here.”
“Have him come in. And then please get Mrs. Williamson.”
The door opened and Williamson entered. “Well, Mr. Lowell, your reputation is well earned. That was quick work. But our deal is still the same. You’ve earned your money.”
Before Lowell could respond, Sarah led Gloria in. When she saw her ex-husband she gasped audibly.
“Gloria,” he said, “so nice to see you again. How have you been?”
There was no discernable warmth in his voice. Lowell thought he could have been talking to a stranger he’d encountered for a second time on a train, not the mother of his children.
Williamson went over to hug Gloria, but she backed away.
“As you wish. We have important business to discuss that concerns us both. As you know, Edward is very sick. Without a kidney transplant I’m afraid he won’t last more than a few more weeks.”
She nodded.
Williamson continued. “Because of a quirk of fate, the boys have inherited my unusual blood type and finding another donor has proven daunting. My left kidney was damaged in a car accident a number of years ago, and Kevin is the only possible solution at this point.”
“I understand.”
“So you agree to the operation?”
Gloria bit her lower lip. “The final decision must be Kevin’s. It’s his body, after all. And I assume he has legal rights in the matter as well.”
Williamson’s impatience was obvious. “A decision has to be made, and soon, or your other son will die. Now let’s get this thing done before it’s too late.” Lowell had a chance to see the doctor’s aggressive demeanor toward his wife.
Gloria seemed deflated. Her shoulders sagged, her eyes unfocused. Finally she looked at her estranged husband. “Like I said, the final decision must be Kevin’s.”
“Have you told him about this?”
She nodded. “He knows.”
“Well, it’s time to find out.”
“He’s at my apartment.”
“Then let’s go ask him.”
“Okay,” she sighed.
Lowell stood. “I’ll have my driver take us up there.”
Williamson stood as well. “I have my own car and prefer to drive there separately.”
“Very well. My driver will take us and you can follow.”
They all went down to the street where Andy was waiting ever patiently. Lowell helped Gloria into the limo.
“Are you sure you’re ready, Gloria?”
She looked at Lowell, tears in her eyes.
“I think so.”
Chapter Ten
The ride up was uneventful. Gloria was quiet, withdrawn. There was traffic and it took a bit longer to get there. Lowell would have preferred to turn on a more cheery scene, perhaps the Vermont snowstorm he was so fond of, but he wasn’t sure how his guest would respond, so they sat in silence gazing out the window at the overcast day.
When they reached West Hartford, Andy pulled over in front of Gloria’s building. Williamson found parking out front. Andy waited with the limo.
Gloria opened the door and they entered the apartment.
Williamson was last in. He closed the door. “Gloria, please get the boy.”
She disappeared into the back and returned a few moments later with Kevin. At fifteen he was as tall as his father and looked much older than his years. “Kevin,” she said, “this is your father.”
Williamson stood in front of him. “Kevin, let me look at you. My God, you’re grown into a man. How does the time go by so fast? It’s really quite amazing how much you look like Edward. Though much more robust, I’m afraid.” He extended his hand.
The boy eyed him cautiously for a moment. Lowell sensed disdain in his bearing. Then he finally stuck out his hand. “Yeah, whatever.”
Williamson shook the lad’s hand. “You understand what I’m asking of you?”
Kevin nodded. “You want to take one of my kidneys and give it to my brother.”
“That’s right. You know that you can live a full and uninhibited life with just one kidney, but without this transplant your brother Edward will surely die soon. You’ll be saving his life.”
“I know. I looked it all up on the Internet.”
“Wonderful. I’m glad you did. I’ll be doing the operation myself to make sure nothing goes wrong.” He smiled a crooked grin. “But this is ultimately your choice. Nobody can make the decision for you. Are you willing to do this?”
Kevin looked at his mother. “Mom, I have to. I only have one brother and he needs my help. I can’t turn away. You understand, don’t you?”
Gloria grabbed her son and held him tightly. “You’ve always been a wonderful person, Kevin. I would have been more surprised if you had refused.”
She turned to Williamson. “Alright, let’s do it.”
“Good. I’ll make the arrangements at my private hospital. I’ll contact you in a few days and let you know when to bring him out.”
He turned to his son. “Kevin, you’re doing a wonderful thing for your brother and I’m proud of you.”
The boy nodded and shrugged. “Got no choice.” He looked at his mother, a silent communication transpired between them. Then he put in earphones, turned without saying another word, and went into his room.
“Gloria, no matter what went on between us, this is the right thing to do, and you know it. Please try not to worry. I’ll see to it that nothing goes wrong. You’re saving your son’s life. How can that be a bad thing?”
She just looked him, shaking her head. “I hope you’re right.”
“Of course I am.” He looked at his watch. “I’ll leave you alone now. I’ve got to get back to New Jersey and begin to make preparations. I’ll be in touch with you early next week and let you know what day the operation will be. Where can I phone you?”
“Please call Mr. Lowell and let him know. He’ll tell me.”
“Mr. Lowell, our business has been completed. You’ve found my other son and have earned your fee. I see no reason for you to be involved in this matter any longer.”
Gloria stared at her husband defiantly. “I want him to be involved.” She turned to Lowell. “That is, if you’re willing to.”
Lowell nodded. “I’ll help in any way I can.”
Williamson shrugged. “If that’s what you want Gloria. Very well, Mr. Lowell, I’ll get in touch soon.”
He turned and headed for the door.
After he left, Gloria collapsed on the couch. “I hope I’m doing the right thing.”
Lowell tugged on his ponytail. “I’m sure you are.”
“Can you be there at the hospital?”
“Of course. I told you, I won’t leave you until you say so.”
“I have no money to pay you.”
Lowell waved a hand. “I’ve been more than fairly compensated for my time already. It would be my pleasure to help.”
She almost smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Lowell, you’re a very kind man.”
Lowell was surprised that this had all gone so smoothly. That was the first alarm. He knew it was far from over.
Chapter Eleven
It was early evening when Andy dropped Lowell off at the townhouse. Melinda was sitting on the couch when he entered. He put down his shoulder bag and walked over to her, gave her a kiss on the cheek and sat in his favorite chair. “What are you doing here?”
“I thought I’d stay over and we can leave for mom’s place from here in the morning. No reason to make Andy come downtown to get me.”
“Well, I’m glad to have you. I’m having a beer. Can I get you something?”
“Yes, that sounds like a good idea. I’ll have one too.”
Lowell got up and headed for the
kitchen. Melinda followed and sat at the square metal table in the corner. Julia had a delicious smelling dinner cooking in the oven and Lowell had to resist the temptation to peek. He took two chilled mugs from the freezer, opened two Spatan beers, and poured them into the icy glasses.
He handed one to Melinda who took a sip. “Umm, very refreshing.”
“It’s a beautiful night, why don’t we eat outside?”
“That would be nice.” Melinda opened her purse and took out her checkbook. “I want to return your retainer.”
“Don’t be silly, you don’t have to return it. You’ve earned it.”
“Earned it? I didn’t do anything.”
“You watched my back. Besides, I’m not sure your work is done.”
“Why? You found the boy. This case was pretty simple.”
Lowell retied his ponytail. “Yes, too simple.”
“What do you mean?” She knew that when he fiddled with his hair it was a sign of discomfort. Something was bothering him.
He took a sip of his beer. “Let’s just say this was the easiest million dollars I ever made.” He thought for a second. “Well, the second easiest. Buying oil futures at thirty-two dollars a barrel when Pluto was about to enter Sagittarius and holding them until they hit one-hundred-thirty was the easiest. This was the quickest.”
“Something’s bothering you about this case, isn’t it?”
He stroked his chin. “The charts helped me discover where Mrs. Williamson was living, possibly more quickly than I could have otherwise, but I believe that any competent detective could have found her and the child without the use of astrology.”
“So why did he come to you?”
Lowell shrugged. “And why offer me far more money than was necessary?”
“What do you think?”
Lowell walked over to the kitchen window and stared out at his tiny backyard estate. He saw a robin sitting on a branch of the sycamore that hung over from the yard next door. A second one landed next to it and they flew off together. “I don’t know yet. But something doesn’t add up. And I think prudence is called for.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I promised to help Mrs. Williamson get through the operation. She doesn’t trust her husband and, based on their history, has good reasons not to.”
“And you think there’s a hidden agenda here?”
Another robin landed on the tree and waited for a while, then flew off alone. Dating is a hard, lonely business, thought Lowell, even for birds.
“I think I’ll just keep you on retainer until this is completed.”
“Alright,” said Melinda, “I’m here if you need me.” She put the check back in her purse.
Lowell took a healthy slug of Spatan. “Have you had a chance yet to look into parental rights and issues of abandonment in a marriage?”
“I’ve got a legal aid working on it. He’s put together a fairly substantial folder on federal laws. I also have him looking at New Jersey’s state laws. That’s where they got married and where Williamson lives, and state laws may take jurisdiction.”
They took their beers out to the backyard and sat under the giant umbrella.
The sun was just starting to set to the west. Melinda watched as the shadows moved slowly down the side of the wooden fence. She loved the townhouse and this tiny oasis of nature in the middle of Manhattan.
“What are you going to do?” she asked.
Lowell turned to her and smiled a warm, fatherly grin. She was the one light in his life that never dulled. His love for his children had always been his greatest blessing.
“One challenge at a time. Let’s get through this weekend, and then we’ll see what next week brings.” His instincts told him that the days ahead might hold heartache for many.
Chapter Twelve
At nine sharp on Saturday morning the limo pulled up in front of Lowell’s townhouse. David was waiting out front. Andy put the overnight bags in the trunk as Lowell got into the car.
Melinda came down the street, a cardboard tray holding three coffee cups in hand. She gave one to Andy who smiled and held the door as she got into the back. She handed Lowell a Starbucks cup. “I thought you’d like to have this.”
“Bless you, girl.” He blew on the coffee. “Andy, we’re ready when you are.”
Andy locked the doors and started driving to the West Side of Manhattan. Even though Lowell lived near the FDR, Andy had found it quicker, easier, and more scenic to drive along the Hudson River. Besides, the FDR led to the dreaded Major Deegan Expressway, which led to the even-more dreaded Cross Bronx Expressway. Calling them expressways was absurd. Driving past Yankee Stadium was cool, but even when there wasn’t a home game, traffic was a nightmare. The ten minutes it took to go across town was more than recovered by taking the Henry Hudson Parkway to the Cross County to the New York State Thruway.
“When will the boys have the operation?”
Lowell sipped his coffee. “I expect to hear from Williamson early next week.”
Melinda looked closely at her father. “What is it about this case?”
He shrugged. “I’m not sure. As I told you at the beginning, this is a rather unusual case and one that defies definition, so far.”
“Give it time to roll around in your brain. You’ll figure it out.”
***
The limo was exceptionally equipped for work. Lowell often needed to travel while on a case and staying in touch with his astrology work was essential. There was a full desk with a computer and a swivel chair bolted to the floor. He started to fiddle with the controls at his desk.
“Snowstorm alright with you?”
The windows darkened and then suddenly they were driving through a raging blizzard on the back roads of Vermont. There were twenty-four mini speakers in the limo to create the sound effects associated with the scene being projected. A howling winter wind could be heard in the background.
“You do like your toys, don’t you, Dad?”
“This toy as you call it has come in handy in several cases.”
“Yes, I know.”
“And once Delaney works out the kinks and his patents come through, you’ll see these in homes, restaurants, and everywhere.”
Andy drove them up the New York State Thruway. It was a boring route, and Lowell kept the computer-generated scene in place until they got off the highway and headed down the country roads. Then he turned it off and opened the windows.
It was quiet. Lately Lowell had found the noise of New York City more difficult to bear. The stress level one feels continuously in the big city eventually took its toll. That’s why any Manhattanite who could, got out on the weekends. Everyone else headed to a park, or got lost in the Sunday paper.
Melinda leaned out the window and took in a big breath. “This is so much better than your phony movie scene.”
“Yes, but this winter when it’s snowing and the wind is howling for real you may enjoy a drive along the beach through Southern California.”
It took them a little over two and a half hours to get from the city to Woodstock. Andy drove into town down Mill Hill Road onto Route 212, which turned into Tinker Street. The small town feel was refreshing and comforting. Lowell particularly liked the unhurried pace, and when the kids were young, he would take his family there whenever his schedule would allow. He didn’t realize how much he’d missed it until now.
Andy took a right onto a small country road and followed it until the dead end. Then he pulled up in front of a pale blue shingled house with a wraparound porch.
Melinda and Lowell got out and stretched their legs. The house bordered the woods and they could hear numerous birds chattering their daily gossip. The front door opened and Catherine came from the house. She was dressed in a pink top, jeans, and sneakers with no laces, her signature casual attire since high
school.
Every time Lowell saw her he felt a sense of excitement. When he saw her dressed like that he suddenly felt at home and smiled. She was very beautiful in an earthy way. Her brown hair glistened in the sunlight. Her radiant green eyes were striking. Wherever they went men noticed them and often commented. But then, most men noticed her long before they saw her eyes. At five feet, nine inches she was a little taller than Lowell, but still quite a bit shorter than Melinda. She’d worked as a model in her twenties and kept her fabulous figure through a steady passion of yoga and running.
She went over to her daughter and they hugged. “Let me look at you.” She stepped back. “You look tired, and a little thin.”
“Oh, Mom, you sound just like Dad, you know that? I’m fine, really.”
Catherine laughed. “Yes, we’re both your parents. And love you dearly.” She turned to Lowell. “David, how are you?”
“Never better. It’s good to see you.” They hugged, distantly.
“Andy, it’s good to see you again, too.”
“Hello, Catherine.” He picked up the bags. “Where should I put these?”
“Just leave them at the top of the stairs, if you don’t mind.”
He picked them up. “My pleasure. You’ve had the house painted since I was here last. It looks great.”
“Thank you for noticing.” She glanced at her ex-husband.
They went into the house and Andy climbed the stairs with several bags in each hand. Melinda went up with him and settled into her room.
Catherine turned to Lowell. “You look a little tired too.”
He smiled. “Maybe just a bit. It gets harder each year to play Sherlock Holmes.”
“I’ll bet. But you love it, don’t you?”
He shrugged.
“How about a cup of coffee?”
“That would be nice. It was a long drive.” He followed her into the kitchen. Catherine had inherited the house from her uncle shortly after they got married and they had spent as much time there as schedules allowed. They usually had the holidays there with the kids. Thanksgiving in the woods just seemed so much more appropriate than on East Eighty-third Street. This was their family home. He wondered how many times they had sat in this room through the years. “Andy’s right. The place looks great.”
Evil in the First House: A Starlight Detective Agency (Starlight Detective Agency Mysteries Book 3) Page 6
