Darcy swung in a slow circle. Well, this is really icky. Even on the lam, Janet Leigh wouldnt have showered in a motel room that had splotchy walls and vermin in the once green carpet.
Theres a reason he chose this place, Marlowe told her. He switched on a second lamp.
It didnt help, only made it possible for Darcy to step over the more suspect stains.
Her eyes landed on the desk behind him. Laptop.
With a gleam in his eyes, Marlowe opened it, leaving Darcy to search the bathroom.
Palms braced on either side of the computer, he scanned the screen. Theres something here.
Mr. Lugo? she called at the bathroom door. Reaching for the knob, she paused, then shrugged and went for it. Mr. Lugo?
The first thing she saw was a dirty window with just enough light trickling through to reveal yet another empty room. Still, she felt strangely deflated as she lifted the hair from her overheated neck. Whatever the mans program might be, his absence wouldnt help them uncover it.
Whats on his computer? she called back.
Looks like an unsent e-mail.
Humor speared through her when she spied the drawn shower curtain. Bet its filthy, she murmured. But she gave the thin plastic a tug anyway.
And felt her mind freeze.
The faucet wasnt running, but there was water in the tub.
Looks like Lugo was working on a report for his client, Marlowe said from the other room.
The sound of his voice fractured her temporary paralysis. With her eyes on the bathtub, she backed toward the door. Unless he brought someone with him, he wont be finishing it. The words wanted to stick, but she forced them out. Lugos dead, Marlowe. Hes got a bullet hole the size of a quarter in the middle of his forehead.
Chapter Three
Darcy had seen death before in the Amazon rain forest. And all things considered, the circumstances had been much more grisly. But she hadnt expected Lugo to be there when shed opened the curtain.
Drink this, Darcy.
She felt something cold in her hand and, looking down, saw a bottle of mineral water.
Thanks. From her perch on the bed, she regarded Marlowe, then the now-closed bathroom door. Im okay. Shocked, but not in shock. Its just The memory repeated in garish neon. Hes fully dressed, Marlowe. Shirt, pants, tie. And yet the only visible blood relates to the bathtub. So he was what? Running a bath when the killer came in? Killer forced him into the tub?
Its as good a theory as any. Youre sure you didnt recognize him?
Positive. Believe me, I got a very good look at his face.
Crouched in front of her, Marlowe trapped her chin so he could bring her gaze in line with his. I called a friend of mine, Darcy. He knows Lugo hired me to find you. His names Val Reade.
A single brow winged up. Reade, as in the detective who punched an elderly woman in a bar brawl?
Theres a story attached to it, but yeah, thats him.
Another mans face superimposed itself over Lugos. Light brown hair, a little curly, wholesome features. A faint smile appeared. I was one of the reporters who cornered your friend after his disciplinary hearing. Wrong place, right time. Elaine needed two filler pages before deadline.
Did you write the article?
I started to. I had another piece to do about a political scandal in Alabama, so Elaine filled in the missing pieces. The smile grew. Shes not as diplomatic as me when it comes to matters of dubious police behavior. A sigh rose when she looked at the bathroom door. Frankie wasnt big on murdering people.
Frankies not in control now, Darcy. Marlowe ran his thumb over her jaw. Are you okay here if I go back to the desk?
Marlowe, Im an army brat. Ive heard and seen true horror. This is she searched for a fitting word tidy by comparison. Standing with him, she sipped her water. Tell me, do all P.I.s erase rules like this? When he merely glanced at her en route to Lugos computer, she took another drink. Figured that.
As he tapped the keys, she circled the room, letting her mind return to the attack at her house. She wanted to lay the blame at Vince Macos feet, but it was possible hed hired someone to attack her so he could deal with Lugo.
She caught the distant wail of sirens and moved to the window. Youve got about ninety seconds before your ex-cronies arrive, Marlowe.
Let me know when you see the lights.
The word accomplice sprang to mind, but she blocked it and rested a shoulder against the window frame. Are you plucking out any clues as that information whizzes past?
Only the e-mail he didnt send. Recipient unknown, text incomplete.
Sounds like he was interrupted. Or he thought the tub might be full and he went to check on the water level. What does it say?
That the targets been located and the end is imminent.
Efficient, ominous, and more personal than he knew. She thought for a moment while she watched the horizon. It also shows he was doing his job, so why kill him? Vince is nasty, but as far as I know, he follows Daddys instructions.
As far as you know. Three years might change a persons attitude.
I see headlights. Three sets, and another vehicle approaching from the opposite direction.
The tapping continued. With each click, Darcy pictured Lugos face. With each click, the face came closer, grew clearer.
Pushing on her temples, she turned from the window. The rules youre ignoring are going to get you arrested in a minute.
A mans voice reached them from outside. M, its Val.
One last series of taps as gravel crunched in the unpaved lot, and suddenly he was behind her.
Val Reade strode in ahead of six uniformed officers. His eyes flicked from Darcy to Marlowe, then back again in mild suspicion. Why do I recognize you?
Disciplinary hearing, three months ago. I was one of the people firing questions at you.
His expression cleared. Thank God. I was afraid I might have hit on you.
And been rejected?
Its been known to happen on rare occasions. His almost twinkling eyes moved to the man behind her. Still in the tub?
Just as Darcy found him.
Val motioned to the uniforms. How hot was the water?
Room temperature.
Which borders on body temperature at the moment. Val ran a hand through his brown curls. Thatll hinder the medical examiner. Did you know him? he asked Darcy.
No.
Any idea who he was working for?
Possibly Frankie Maco. But thats assumption, not fact, she added at a look from Marlowe. Frankies the only person I can think of whod bear a grudge strong enough to send lawyers and P.I.s after me three years down the road.
Ill check him out.
You? Surprised amusement colored Marlowes tone. The captain put you in charge of the case?
Val scratched his neck. The word shorthanded came up during his telephone tirade. For some reason, Blydon likes you. You called me, I called him, case is mine. Now, Darcy, you and I need to have a nice long talk.
About the discovery of Umer Lugos body, or the attack outside my home?
About the discovery of Umer Lugos body, or the attack outside my home?
He stopped scratching. You were attacked?
Guy got away, Marlowe said. On a bicycle.
Has all the earmarks of a three-ring circus, doesnt it? Darcy remarked. Except for She indicated the bathroom.
Thats a big exception. Pulling out his notebook, Val cast a level look at Marlowe. And given the outcome, I hate to think who else might wind up in the same condition.
HED MISSED HER. Shed been underneath him, pinned and struggling, ripe for the taking. Then, wham, she hadnt been, because Lugos P.I. had decided to play hero. Hed ruined the perfect opportunity with a broadside tackle that had shocked, infuriated and freaking hurt.
Hed pay for the bruises hed inflicted. Hed pay like the lawyer had paid, only not so easily, not without pain. Oh, yeah, shooting off vital body parts was starting to sound real good about now.
In the end, though, it was all about Shannon. No, wait, call her Darcy. Live the charade. Until the charade ended and life became death ever after.
Gonna get you, Darcy doll, he promised.
Shaping his thumb and index finger into a gun, he aimed at the TV set in front of him. He grinned as he pulled the imaginary trigger.
Then he pulled out his iPod, popped in his earbuds and bopped to the music of The King.
NIGHT MELTED SLOWLY into day. Marlowe spent most of both sweltering in the Center City police station.
Lugos laptop had been bagged and tagged. So had his suitcase and wallet. Pictures had been snapped, the body removed, the motel room taped. Forensics would be dusting and sweeping throughout the weekend, and both Lugos paralegal and his ex-wife had been notified.
It was a police matter now. Legally, Marlowe knew he could wrap things up in Philadelphia early Saturday morning and be back in his office by mid-afternoon.
So why wasnt he blowing off what had the potential to become a complicated tangle of red tape, blurred lines and emotions he had no desire to awaken? Why wasnt he putting as much distance as possible between himself and a beautiful blue-eyed blonde who was bound to screw up the structure, the fabric and the dubious integrity of his not yet unscrewed life?
Because those questions were far too heavy to think about, let alone deal with, he spent another night at another bar with Val, a long one that ended with him collapsed on the sofa while Val snored and muttered on a cot across the room.
He let his friend sleep the next morning, made a stale pretzel and coffee work as breakfast and, ignoring a hangover the size of Texas, headed out to purge his mind of the few loose ends hed neglected to mention to the police.
On the drive back from the Declaration Inn, Darcy had told him about a man named John Hancock. Hed recently taken a room at her neighbors boardinghouse. Probably nothing to it, but the cop in him couldnt let it go without a cursory look.
Only a look, though, he promised himself as he worked his way through the vaguely seedy streets of Vals neighborhood to Darcys southwest Philly home. A look, a chat, an unimpassioned goodbye. End of case.
As he parked, Marlowe took note of a sunburned man pushing a hand mower around the front lawn of Hannah Brewsters boardinghouse.
A woman and a somewhat older man sat on the shaded front porch. The woman, in an odd flowered muumuu, used her foot to rock the hanging swing while she waved a folding fan in front of her face.
Her eyes brightened when Marlowe took the stairs two at a time. My goodness, someone has more energy than me this fine August morning. Elbowing her companion, she stood.
Marlowe kept his smile easy and leaned a hip against the railing.
Beside her, the forty-something man with the receding hairline offered a rather feral smile. Glad to know you. Im Hancock from Houston.
By way of northern England, unless Marlowe had his accents wrong. And he doubted that, since his mother came from southern Scotland.
Hannah Brewster. The woman smiled broadly. My husband Eddies inside watching a ball game. Shielding her eyes, she peered through the bushes. And thats Cristian, mowing the lawn. Hes my cousin Arden from Oklahomas middle boy. She patted her chest. Arden died, oh, it must be fifteen years ago now. I feel terrible we couldnt make it to the funeral, but Eddie was laid off at the time, and we didnt dare borrow against our properties. As it is, were down to three from four, two on this street and a much older one on Faldo Road. She used her fan to slap at a wasp. Would you like some iced tea, Mr?
Marlowe. No, thanks. This is a very nice house, Mrs. Brewster.
Nice and expensive, she agreed. And its Hannah. If youre looking to rent a room, I have one left. Second floor, faces the garden. Oh, here he is, Ardens boy. Come out of the sun, Cristian. This is Marlowe. He might be taking our last room.
Cristians mop of blond curls, his eager expression and his lanky build reminded Marlowe of Val. But then Val reminded him of pretty much every college quarterback hed played against at Michigan State.
My last names Turner. The twenty-something man cast an uncertain glance at Hancock, whose garish smile was starting to distort his mouth. Im pleased to meet you.
Hannah beamed. Cristians a painter. He came to Philadelphia because of our thriving artistic community.
Cristian rubbed at a bump on his neck. I think something bit me, Aunt Hannah.
Well, you march right inside and put some ice on it. Moving his hair, she tutted. Will you look at that ear. Today it was a mosquito. Ten years ago it was What was it again, dear? A schnauzer?
Rottweiler. Cristian tugged on his ragged left earlobe. Owner figured he was going for my earring. I think he was going for my throat.
You should have kicked him. Hancock raised a leg, but lowered it at a stern look from Hannah. Gotta show it whos boss, he finished with a nasty grin.
Yeah, right. Uh, wheres the ointment, Aunt Hannah?
In the downstairs bathroom, dear. Oh, and would you mind calling for Eddie to open up the garden room as you go past the study?
Hancock smirked at Marlowe. Dont know how long youre planning to stay, but if you get wind of any openings for a short-order cook, you let me know. My specialtys a burger Whoa there, Silver. He broke off mid-sentence to leer. Who would that pretty little darlin be?
Hannah rapped him again with her fan. You put your eyes straight back in their sockets, Mr. Hancock. Thats Darcy. Now, shes sweet as can be, but the two of you would simply not be compatible.
Both Cristian, riveted on the threshold, and Hancock, whose mouth had curled back into that Grinch-like smile, watched her bend and stretch as she extracted three bags of groceries from her trunk.
Exasperated, Hannah shooed both men along, then smiled at Marlowe. Do say the garden room will suit you. Its on the cool side of the house.
Annoyed that hed wanted to do a great deal more than move John Hancock along, Marlowe returned his attention to the woman in front of him.
Darcys a reporter, Hannah revealed with a sly expression. Sadly, she had some trouble a few days ago. Poor dear was mugged right outside her front door. I feel somewhat responsible since Id talked to her not five minutes earlier.