Liquid Lies

by Lois Lavrisa

  “They’ll hurt anyone who gets in their way. It’s like they’re obsessed. People don’t mean anything to them. It’s like people are dispensable pawns on their way to obtain power.” Jacob held my hand.

  The sun had just set. There was an orange glow left in the sky. Everything was bathed in the soft light. The smell of barbeque on grills wafted in the air.

  I stopped in my tracks. “Oh my God. Jacob. It all makes sense now.”

  “What?”

  “Power. Get ahead. Drowning. Swim scholarship. It was just the start.” I almost hopped up and down with excitement. “He was with McNally when I was on the speaker phone, and he heard me taking about the shortcut through the empty lot. It’s him.”

  “Slow down.” Jacob stopped and held my shoulders. “What’s going on?”

  “You and I are going fishing tonight. We’re catching the killer,” I said.

  “We are?” he asked.

  “Yes. And it’s a big fish too.” Excitement built in me like a roller coaster going over the edge.

  “Big fish?”

  “The mayor.”

  “Whoa.” Jacob put his hands up. “You think the mayor is the killer?”

  I poured it out. “Here’s what I think. His sister, Vivian, told me their family was poor. I don’t know if it bothered her or not, but it seemed status mattered to her brother, Charles or, as we all know him, the mayor. She had told me some childhood stories about his cousin. At the time I felt sorry for him. The tragedy he endured. But now, I see it differently.”

  “How so?” Jacob asked.

  “The mayor has killed before.”

  “Really?” Jacob raised an eyebrow.

  “Yes, I think so.”

  “How so?” Jacob asked.

  “He killed his cousin Don and made it look like an accident. And this all makes sense to me now.” I almost tripped over the words. They were coming out of my mouth so quickly. “You see, his cousin Don got a full college scholarship. Charles was runner up. Charles killed Don, so that he would get the scholarship. You see, that’s how a poor kid like Charles was able to attend a top college and break away from his impoverished small town life.”

  “If he killed his cousin, I just don’t understand why no one figured it out,” Jacob shook his head.

  “Oh, but I think that Vivian did. I think while she was here for Francesca’s funeral, she might have begun to piece it together. Anyone who got in his way in his quest for more power had to be eliminated. He thinks he’s untouchable. Remember that athlete who killed his ex-wife and her lover? They’re arrogant and narcissistic. They have power and money. They think rules don’t apply to them.” I kicked a stone. “But the mayor won’t get away with it anymore.”

  “That’s why we need to get the police involved. Let them sort this out. But I don’t think anyone will believe that he killed Francesca.” Jacob shook his head. “His own daughter? C’mon now.”

  “Especially his daughter. He knew McNally got her pregnant. I bet the mayor was pissed. He probably confronted McNally. But McNally had something over the mayor. Shady business dealings or something. I’m not sure. The mayor knew that if anything came out, his world would disintegrate under his feet. So he took matters into his own hands. He had to get rid of Francesca. For both his and McNally’s sake.” My heart raced. I paced back and forth while I talked.

  “It still seems a little far fetched,” Jacob said.

  “Oh no. It makes perfect sense. It all makes sense now.” I bit my lower lip. Mark knew. “It wasn’t ‘ask father.’ It was ‘axe father.’”

  “Isn’t that the same thing?” Jacob asked.

  “No. Mark knew the mayor was the killer. That’s why the mayor killed him. Mark figured it out. His last words to me were ‘axe father.’ I didn’t know until now what that meant,” I said. “I thought it was a-s-k father. But it was a-x-e father. Listen, it has to be the mayor. He had access to your locker to plant your necklace.”

  “I guess,” Jacob said.

  “Then the mayor was with McNally today when I called, so he knew about my meeting and also my short cut. A day ago, I had I left the mayor a message that got cut off after I said I knew who the murderer was. I bet he thought that I knew it was him, when at the time I suspected it was McNally.”

  “This is a lot to take in.”

  “Yes it is. But I’m right.” I squeezed his hand.

  “How are you so sure?”

  “He lured me with Skipper,” I said. “Still, it wasn’t too smart for the mayor to use Skipper as bait. I mean, Skipper would defend me if anyone attacked. And Skipper did defend me. I bet the mayor has a bite mark on his arm. I just know it.”

  The words were tumbling out of my mouth. “The mayor must be under tremendous pressure and might not be thinking clearly at this point. He is so not going to be governor.”

  “CiCi, calm down. I agree with your theory,” Jacob said. “So, let’s go to the police,”

  “To accuse the most powerful man in this city?” I paused. “They may not be too excited to confront the mayor without proof.”

  “Then we need to somehow trap him into a confession. Let’s set the bait,” Jacob said. “Blackmail him.”

  “How?” I asked.

  “Let’s tell him we have proof that he killed Francesca.”

  “Let me think.” I paused and racked my brain. “Proof, like what?”

  “Security camera footage or something?”

  “Good. But, wouldn’t the police have found that?” I said.

  “I guess so.” He ran his hand through his hair.

  “However, you’re onto something. The night he killed Francesca, I was on Ken’s boat. The mayor must have known there was a boat out there. We were the only one, and we passed by his dock. I could say I had footage from that night. It was the maiden voyage of Ken’s new boat. It would be an event that someone might record. It’s believable.” I opened my arms. “Funny thing is, Ken did want to record it, but my video camera was broke.”

  “Okay, what next?”

  “That, I haven’t figured out yet.” Rats. What now?

  “We could lure him someplace, rig up a recorder, and get him to confess,” Jacob said.

  “But my video camera doesn’t work.”

  “No worry. I’ve got everything we need at my house. Plus I never leave home without this handy tool.” He pulled a Swiss army knife out of his pocket. “Scouts are always prepared.”

  “You were a scout?”

  “All the way to Eagle,” he smiled

  “Good to have you on my team. I need someone who knows what the hell they’re doing. Because I sure don’t.” I playfully tapped him in the arm.

  “Glad to help out.”

  “So, you’ll get everything you need to set up your video camera on the mail boat. I’ll get the mayor to show up and confess.” I said. “We have a plan.”

  I felt restless. I was as keyed up as a kid on Christmas morning, knowing there were presents under the tree.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  I called the mayor’s house. Juanita said he was in the shower. I told her that it was urgent that he meet me at the mail boat because I had proof of Francesca’s murderer. Juanita was curious and wanted to know more. I assured her she would know soon, but to give the mayor the message immediately.

  Jacob had gone to his townhouse to get his digital video camera and some other equipment. Meanwhile, I went to the mail boat to wait for Jacob.

  “I got all the stuff we need,” Jacob said as he came on board. “My video camera and two memory cards.”

  “Why two?” I asked.

  “We can use this one to record the meeting. The other, you can show the mayor,” he said as he handed me a memory card.

  “Of course. I almost forgot. I have to show him the proof I claim I have. I’ll tell him this has video of the killer on the dock from when Ken and I were on the boat.” I held the memory card in the air and examined it briefly. “I’ll keep it in my pocket fo
r now.”

  “And I have everything we need to get our plan to work.” He showed me his tool belt and a bag. “I can get this rigged up in no time.”

  “Let’s set it up. My guess is that he’ll be here very soon,” I said. I told Jacob about my phone call with Juanita.

  Jacob set up the camera and turned on the night vision setting. We had it at an angle that would cover the bottom of the deck. We figured even if we couldn’t get great pictures, we could at least get audio. Jacob positioned another microphone to better catch the audio.

  We tested it out. It all worked.

  “Jacob, thank you,” I said.

  He kissed me. “You can thank me in private later.”

  “It’s a date,” I said.

  “Look,” Jacob pointed toward a figure near the dock. “Your big fish.”

  The mayor sauntered up the dock that led to the mail boat.

  “You hide back there,” I said. Jacob entered the control room. For a second, I imagined Mark in there, behind the window with his wild mop of red hair, his crooked smile. I got a little choked up. This was for him too.

  “It’s show time,” I said to myself.

  I stood on the lower deck. My hands were cold and sweaty. My heart pounded so loud in my ears, I could barely hear. What the hell was I thinking? This could go great or go horribly wrong. After all, the mayor was a killer. He could shoot me. Game over.

  But at least it would be on tape. I’d be dead, but he’d be caught. Jacob could bring the tape to the police and it would be finished. Okay. I had to think positive. It had to work.

  “Good evening, CiCi,” the mayor said as he came on board. The lamplight on the pavilion cast a shadow on half of his face. In the smattering of light I could see that he wore shorts, a polo shirt and boat shoes. His hair was wet.

  I had no idea what to say. I had to seem confident. Poised. In control. “Hi Mr. Pike.” At least it was a start. Why hadn’t I called the police? Damn.

  “So what are you doing out here tonight? Juanita told me you have some sort of proof of Francesca’s killer?” He stood about five feet from me. His left hand was bandaged.

  I moved back a few inches, to make sure the camera’s line of vision would capture his face. “First, thank you for meeting me here. You’re always so busy, and I don’t want to waste your time.”

  Jacob was right. At my core I’m nice. I’m thanking a killer.

  “You’re welcome.” He cleared his throat. “But I’m not sure why you asked me to meet you here.”

  I wondered if the microphone picked up his voice. I spoke a little louder, “Yes of course you’d like to know why I had you come out here.”

  “Okay then, are you going to tell me?”

  “Yes. Of course.” I ran my hand over the cool railing, trying to think of how to phrase my next line. My insides were tumbling. “Did you get the message I left the other day?”

  He tipped a chair back and forth. “Let me think. Was that when you said you knew who the murderer was?”

  “Yes sir.” My legs shook under my jeans. I wondered if he noticed. “You see, my fiancé, I mean my ex-fiancé Ken and I took his boat out Friday night, just after ten o’clock.”

  The mayor paused before speaking.

  Was he thinking about the time, and where he was then?

  “He has a nice new boat.” The mayor looked at the water. “Bright red. It’s hard to miss.”

  “Good name huh, I Sea You?” I said. My voice quivered. “Intensive care unit, a reference to his job.”

  The mayor let out a sigh. “Listen, not that I don’t like chatting with you. You’re like a daughter to me, and I always try to make time for you. But, I have to be at a cookout in a half hour. I’m the guest of honor. They’re raising money for my campaign.”

  “You just mentioned that I’m like your daughter right?” I felt like I would pass out. Please let this work. I made sure I talked in the direction of the microphone. “Does that mean you’re going to kill me too?”

  The mayor stood still. He stopped tipping the chair. His body stiffened. His breathing became shallow. “Kill? Whatever are you talking about?”

  “You murdered Francesca.” I tried to sound believable. I held onto a rail close to me, to steady my shaking. I felt a chill run down my body. Was it fear or the cool night air? Probably both. Behind me, I knew Jacob was keeping an eye on what was happening. It was good to have him on my side.

  He raised his arm, his hand clenched into a fist. Then, he slowly lowered it. He rolled his shoulders back. “What are you talking about? That’s preposterous.”

  “Is it?” I asked.

  “Come on now. You know me better than that. Here I thought you had proof of the killer’s identity. Instead, you’ve concocted some crazy story. CiCi you’ve been under such colossal stress. You’ve lost both your best friends. That can play with your mind.”

  “Oh no. I’m thinking perfectly clearly.” I took the memory card from my pocket and held it up. “Ken and I saw you on the dock the night you killed Francesca. It’s all here on this.” Okay. Here is where I improvised on the spot. “It shows you with the axe. It also has you rolling her body into plastic and dragging it away. It’s all here.”

  He lunged at me. I screamed and ran toward the control room.

  Jacob jumped up and ran toward the mayor. “Stay away from her.”

  The mayor grabbed a chair and hit Jacob in the head with it. Jacob fell, and then scrambled back to his feet. The mayor punched him in the mouth. Jacob took a swing and got him in the gut. The mayor doubled over, but then took a gun from his jacket and hit Jacob over the head. Jacob went down hard and lay motionless.

  Screaming, I pulled out my cell phone.

  “Stop right now or I’ll shoot.” The mayor pointed the gun at my chest. “Toss it over, now.”

  I pitched my cell phone over the rail. It splashed then sunk into the pitch black water. The wind picked up, causing the boat to rock back and forth.

  The mayor pointed the gun at my head. “Looks like we’re going on a little boat ride. Get this boat out into the middle of the lake. Right now!”

  “See, that’s not a great idea. It’s company property. Plus there are two Jet Skis in the way, and–” The gun felt like a metal pipe against my skin.

  “Stop stalling. Move out now.” He nudged the gun at my temple. “And tie one Jet Ski to the boat. It’ll come in handy later.”

  He followed me off the boat. With the mayor pointing a gun at me, I tried to untie the Jet Skis.

  “Hurry up!” the mayor yelled.

  “I can’t figure out which rope goes to which Jet Ski. You’re making me a nervous wreck,” I said.

  “Then just tie both of them to the boat. Let’s go!” He leaned over me.

  “You know, the company rules say that I can’t take the boat out at night.” I said. My hands trembling as I tried to unknot the thick wet rope.

  “Don’t be a smart ass.” He scanned the boat. “Do you carry extra fuel on board?”

  “Yes,” I answered. Finally, the Jet Ski ropes were loose from the dock, but still tangled together.

  “Secure them on this rail,” the mayor ordered. He pointed to the handrail on the mail boat.

  Tugging them along with the ropes, I pulled them alongside the boat, and fastened them to the handrail.

  “How much gas do you have?” He asked.

  “Maybe a few gallons or so. We have two cans,” I said. “Actually, I think we filled them both yesterday.”

  The light from the dock cast a glow on his face. He was grinning.

  Something didn’t feel right. I had to ask, “Why do you want to know about the gas? Do you think we’re going to run out? Are we going far?”

  He didn’t answer. Instead he nudged me forward with the barrel of his gun.

  “You know, you can put that thing away. I’m cooperating.” The temperature had dropped and I began to I shiver. The silence of the night was interspersed with the sound of waves
slapping against the boat. A dog barked in the background. If fear had an odor, I would reek. I staggered as I moved along in the dark. I stumbled into a chair. I hoped Jacob was okay. In the shadows, it was difficult to see where he was.

  “Where is it?” the mayor asked.

  “What?” I asked. My thoughts preoccupied with Jacob.

  “It’s not the time to play stupid,” he scolded. “The extra gas.”

  “Oh right, that. You never told me why you needed it.”

  He pressed the gun against my arm. “Where is it?”

  “Over there,” I pointed to a closet in the back of the boat, across from the control room.

  “Get it, now.”

  “You have forgotten all of your etiquette, you could ask nicely,” I said. He brought the gun up and slammed it into the right side of my face. It felt like I’d been hit with a metal bar. The side of my face was instantly hot and began to throb. I put my hand to it. “Jeez, did you have to do that?”

  “Get it!” he screamed.

  With one hand on the side of my face, I ran my other hand along the side rail to guide me to the back of the boat, as the mayor followed on my heels. Every few seconds, he poked me in the back with the gun. If only his constituents could see him now.

  “Why do you want the Jet Skis? I mean we already have this boat. By the way, I’m going to get in big trouble for taking this out on a non-business related trip.”

  “Quit talking.”

  “What are you going to do? I have a right to an answer,” I said. We reached the storage room. “After all, I was part of your family.” Hoping everything we said was being captured on the videotape.

  “Get the gas.”

  “You have no patience whatsoever. You’re worse than me.” Yanking open the door, I reached in and heaved out one gas can. It was heavy, so that meant it was still full.

  “Now, start pouring it around the edges.”

  “No way. That’s wasteful and it’ll ruin the deck,” I said. I held the can with both hands. “And it’s dangerous. If I did what you wanted, and then someone lit a match or something, this whole boat would go up in flames.”

  The mayor chuckled. “See, I knew you weren’t stupid. Douse the boat. Now!” He shoved me.