Sure youre up for this? Tal asked.
I have to be, dont I? She drew circles on the table. I dont want Adam to be dead, Tal. At my angriest, I never wanted that. Im not sureor, well, maybe I am. We shouldnt have gotten married. But we did. Things happened, and we split. I figure better our mistake than my parents.
Something flickered in Tals eyes. Understanding? Empathy? Desire?
He studied her, half-lidded. Do you remember your father?
This wasnt exactly how shed envisioned their conversation going. But then, life was all about twists and turns and faded lines. He left when I was three. In the summer, I think. I only have a vague memory of his face. My mother tossed all his pictures. Actually, she burned them, but thats the Latin temperament for you. Exorcise the mad any way you can. She selected a peach muffin from the basket the counterman had placed on their table, and spooned fresh marmalade on top. I didnt really know him, so it wasnt as sad as it could have been.
Youve never heard from him?
She shook her head. Maybe hes dead. Maybe he isnt. I dont imagine Ill ever know.
Tal drank his coffee, continued to unsettle her with his cool gray stare. Life tends to surprise, Maya. He could show up at that charity volleyball game youre playing on Sunday.
Heard about that, huh? Why wasnt she surprised? Eden Bay vs. General. Jamies our coach, but the smart moneys on General. Do you know Jamie?
Tall woman, buzz-cut hair, has a wild kid going through a rebellious biker phase. Ive seen them at the station.
Renitas a handful.
Unlike you at that age.
Maya laughed and felt better. I was two handfuls, because I happened to be crazy about the high school bad boy.
You liked the bad boy, and yet you married Adam. Not sure what that says about you, Maya.
I think it says Ive changed. Kids grow up. In fact, my bad boys a loan officer now. Drives a Volvo. And Adam Her eyes locked on his. Tal, why is Adam dead?
She knew he was weighing his answer. Adam made a deal, with one of Perines men, he finally said.
What kind of deal?
For information, facts and figures, incriminating evidence.
Pertaining to?
Real estate fraud, investment fraud, development fraud, counterfeiting.
Okay, I get the fraud part, thats why Adam was after him. But you must have known or at least suspected he might also be a murderer.
Homicide and fraud were cooperating on the investigation.
Big fish, small pond, Maya recalled. At Tals arched brow, she opened her mind to the full horrible memory. Adam said that just before he died. I forgot about it, or maybe I buried it.
Reverse the adjectives and youve got McGraw. Tal stroked her inner wrist. I know this is hard for you, Maya, but youll have to go through it when you give your statement anyway.
I know. He said I shouldnt trust anyone, anywhere. A smile stole across her lips. Considering the deputy chief connection, he was probably right. He didnt say much else, really, just told me to tell you to seal the deal. Guess that means youre the only person I can trust, huh?
Guess so.
She wanted him to touch her again. When he didnt, she asked, What was McGraws status relative to Adams?
Adam was in charge.
And now?
Its a homicide. Pushes McGraw even farther down the authority ladder.
I cant see that sitting well. Whos heading the investigation now?
Drakes still pulling files, juggling.
Do you have any idea who Perines triggerman is?
He glanced at the surrounding tables, all occupied by diners.
It can wait, Maya said when Tal brought his gaze back. Going back to the father thing, I know you have some issues there yourself. Her eyes danced. I love that word, dont you? No one has problems anymore. Its all about issues. She fingered her long pendant. Its about memories, too, isnt it? Not the best for either of us, it seems.
Makes us simpatico, he said, with an odd tone in his voice. Sarcasm? Bitterness? Regret? Could be thats what triggered Adams jealousy.
Oh, good. Guilt. Maya smiled. Rewind to Orlando Perine. Cognizant of the people beside them, she lowered her voice. I talked to the M.E. last night, during a lull. He extracted two bullets from Adams body. Will those bullets tell you anything about the killer?
Tal ran a finger along her arm, from her wrist to her elbow, and drew a shiver. They already have.
Okay. She should withdraw. Now. Ignore the shiver in her belly and send him a message. Instead, she arched a brow. Youre doing this on purpose, arent you?
Could be.
Why?
Because I dont like being the bearer of bad news.
And that is?
The gun used to murder Adam was also used to murder two other people. One of them was an investment broker named Gund.
Despite the chill that feathered down her spine, Maya managed a calm, And the other?
Was the person who found him. Apparently, Gund wasnt quite dead when the finder got there.
Im not going to like this, am I?
Its why I came back to the hospital, Maya. Now he trapped her fingers in his hands. Fraud wasnt as cooperative about the Perine investigation as we were led to believe. We werent given the connection.
Nice of them to finally share. Ah, about this person who found Gund not quite dead?
Her name was Ellen Latimer. Shed been driving taxis for twenty years. No work-related assaults, only a handful of minor accidents, no injuries. According to the file Captain Drake managed to access last night, she was killed in her taxi less than three hours after Gund was pronounced dead. Someone shot her in the back of the head.
A FULL TWELVE HOURS AFTER driving Maya to her South Miami home, Tal continued to curse himself.
He should have waited in the hospital lounge, but the autopsy report had been rushed through and the results e-mailed to his captain. Drake had insisted he return to the station to examine the report and go over the file hed strong-armed away from fraud. One look inside, and Tal had floored it back to Eden Bay.
Hed tried to call Maya en route, but with the E.R. in an uproar, getting through had been impossible.
Hed missed her by five minutes. Five. And in those minutes, one of Perines men, possibly the one whod killed Adam, had jumped her. Good thing for her, she knew how to knee a man.
Now Tal was in his captains office, filling him in on the file.
Did McGraw know about the taxi driver? he asked.
Dont know how much anyone other than Adam was really in the loop.
Though he was rereading the report, Tals mind remained on Maya. Youve got guys on her, right?
Drake jabbed his computer keyboard. Shes safe. I didnt send rookies to guard her. Im sorry, but I cant spare you for protection detail. Besides, youre the one who told me she wouldnt want a cop camping out in her living room.
She wouldnt want to stop living her life, either, and that, Tal reflected, was where the real problem resided.
She wouldnt want to stop living her life, either, and that, Tal reflected, was where the real problem resided.
She a good doctor? Drake asked.
Tal half smiled. Top of her class.
Florida State?
With a premed at Yale.
Impressive. Drake leaned back in his chair. Is she as pretty as Ive heard?
Depends what youve heard.
The word stunning has come up. Knockout. Killer body. At Tals slanted look, he let out a heavy breath. I know, weve got an unholy mess on our hands with the deputy chief, with Tyler, with Perine.
Weve also got two victims we didnt know about until last night.
Those homicides occurred outside our jurisdiction. Outside frauds as well, but well assume they had some kind of deal going there.
Tal drained the coffee hed poured earlier. For the moment, he had no choice. He had to trust the men Drake had put on Maya. She lived in a secure condominium complex. Good alarm, decent neighbors, solid cops. Shed be safe. He hoped.
His cell phone beeped as he was going through the report for a third time. He regarded the screen, smiled faintly at the name.
Hey, Nate. Whats up?
The older cops voice sounded more gravelly than usual. Heard you boys have a problem.
You could say that.
You back in Miami for good?
Until the investigations done.
In the background, Drake made a rough sound. Tell Hammond to haul his ass down to central and see what he can shake loose from his old comrades. My gut says theyre still withholding.
Heard that, Nate remarked. My advice would be to lean on McGraw. Let him think hes got a shot at moving up to homicide.
Way ahead of you there. Tal started for the door. McGraws on his way over. Means Im out of here. Anything useful for us in terms of Perine?
For the moment, only a keen ear and a full thermos. Come on over when you get a chance. Well compare notes. Off the record, of course.
Another beep on Tals cell phone indicated a second incoming call. This one from Maya.
Hang on, Nate. He switched lines. Thought youd be sleeping, Doc.
I was. It came to me at the end of a dream.
What did?
The guys face.
Tal angled away from the surrounding noise. The one who jumped you?
No. He was wearing a balaclava. The man Im talking about was with Adam. I think. He disappeared so fast, I almost didnt notice him. Look, can you come over? Id come to you, except I seem to have left my car in the hospital parking lot.
The wall clock read 6:30 p.m. Give me twenty minutes, he said. Ill use the siren.
Boys with toys. Ill do a sketch while I wait. Uh, Tal, should I feed the dynamic duo in the bushes outside?
Theyre fine. Keep your doors locked, Maya.
Yes, Mommy.
He switched back to Nate as he shouldered the fire door open. Gotta go, Nate. Well unload that thermos another time when Im off duty.
Youre too pure, Lieutenant.
Only when it counts.
Hang on, Tal. I didnt call to find myself a drinking partner. I was around that department for a lot of years. I saw stuff thatd make Drakes fringe of hair knot up. Perines got people inside. Thats how he does it. Forget the deputy chief connection for now. Im talking long-term, longtime snitches, on Perines payroll as well as the citys.
The suggestion didnt surprise Tal so much as the whip of contempt in Nates voice.
I take it you never found any specific evidence.
Got within an inch some days, but no, I never could pin the greaseball turncoats down. Like Perine, they always managed to ooze through the cracks at the last second. Look for those cracks, Tal. Get to them before the ooze does. Do that, and youll have your blue line to Perine. Wont be a straight one, but crookeds no problem for you.
Tal shoved through the outer door and put on his sunglasses to cut the low glare. He tossed his jacket inside his truck. How many do you figure and what divisions?
No idea. Fraud for sure, probably homicide. Vice? Hard to say. Internal affairs? Unlikely, but you never know. Id count on a handful of uniforms, maybe more.
Tal revved the engine, switched on the flashing lights. Im using the siren, Nate. Its gonna get loud. Have you talked to Drake about this?
Talked to Tyler a couple times, and his captain once, but Drake, no.
Why?
Nate made a rusty sound. Dont get me wrong. I like the guy. We squared off a time or two as captains, but thats how it is. I trusted him when it mattered, and he came through.
With a look in both directions and the siren blaring, Tal maneuvered through an intersection. You might want to get to the point here.
Captains make decent money, but yours has five kids, and one of ems autistic.
Nate
Sneak a peek in his garage, Tal. Drive out to his place and take a good long look at Don Drakes brand-new, fully loaded flatbed truck.
Chapter Four
The sky over the ocean was on fire. Maya wanted to soak up the last of the summer rays, but there was little chance of that, with Jamie badgering her at full volume.
After five nonstop minutes, she simply reached out and set a hand across her friends mouth. Enough, okay? I appreciate the gesture, Jamie, but Tals on his way over. Thatll make three cops in the immediate area.
Jamie yanked Mayas hand away. Were sitting on your balcony, facing a courtyard so much like the one in that movie about the photographer with the broken leg that it gives me the heebie-jeebies. How can you be flip?
Im not being flip. And it was Rear Window.
Do I care about titles? Jamie spread her fingers. I see a flock of weirdos down there and a window directly across from yours, with the shades drawn.
Thats Mr. Ruizs place. Hes
Busy hacking up his wifes body? Phoning his female coconspirator? Polishing up his escape plan?
Maya shot her an exasperated look. Have you been stealing medication from the hospital? Mr. Ruiz is a night watchman at a large office complex. He sleeps during the day. See that big orange ball over there? She pointed with her pencil. Thats the sun. Work all night, sleep all day.
Maya, you were attacked early this morning in a public parking lot.
I know. I was there. Do you want a glass of lemonade?
Id rather have rum.
Are you driving?
Knock-knock. I brought your car back. Ill cab it home.
Maya sat back. If there was a mental picture she didnt need to draw right then, it involved taxis and their drivers. In this case, a female driver, murdered because shed stopped to help a not-quite-dead man whod pissed off his boss in a big and apparently fatal way.
Setting her sketchbook aside, she went to stand at the balcony rail.
There were no palm trees in Rear Window, she said over her shoulder. It was also set in New York.
Jamie huffed out a breath. I get your point. This isnt a movie. Its real life. I still think you could give me a hint about whats going on.