Mystery_ An Alex Delaware Novel Part 28

"Even with a discount we're talking serious money on top of the six thousand a month. Plus jewelry. There were probably additional supplements-money Leona Suss never knew about. That says Suss took the relations.h.i.+p seriously. Maybe Tiara did, too."

"Love blossomed out of the mulch of sin?"

"Poetic."

"Catholic," he said. "Transgression's always lurking in the shadows."

His index finger stabbed the address on the license.

Post office box on Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe. He was on the phone before we reached the car.

The first call was to the crime lab, where he requested a go-over of the unit on Lloyd. His next quarry was Detective Darrell Two Moons of the Santa Fe Police Department.

Two Moons said, "Hey, L.A., long time. Bet you haven't had decent Christmas chili since you were here."

"Nothing close," said Milo. "How's everything, Darrell?"

"Kids are growing," said Two Moons. "So's my belly, unfortunately. Katz's, too, we're starting to look like your typical waddling detectives on one of those true-crime shows."

"Try Pilates," said Milo. "Tones up the core, improves posture, dissolves the body fat."

"You do that stuff?"

"I'd rather drink battery acid."

Two Moons laughed. "What's up?"

"Got a New Mexico ID on a victim and a box address." He gave Two Moons the barest essentials of the case, recited the info.

Two Moons said, "Don't know her by name, so she's probably not one of our chronic troublemaking hookers. I do know the address, shopping center just south of St. Michael's. Could be the Mailbox Incorporated or the office supplies store or maybe there're still renting P.O.B.'s at the organic pharmacy. You want me to, I'll have a uniform stop by to find out."

"That would be great, Darrell."

"How'd she die?"

"Shot in the face."

"Not nice," said Two Moons. "Someone didn't like her technique, huh?"

"Something like that."

We headed back to the station.

Milo said, "Tiara Grundy," as if the name imparted wisdom. "Grundy can't be that common of a name. If I find a local relative, I'll let you know where and when the notification's gonna be."

I said, "I'm tied up tomorrow until the afternoon."

"Court?"

"Nope."

"Changed your mind about picking up new therapy cases?" I smiled.

He said, "Mona Lisa, again? What's the big deal, I'm not asking for clinical details."

"Good."

"Oh, man, if I ever had secrets worth keeping, I'd leave them with you. Okay, fine, you're gonna heal some maladjusted type and it has nothing to do with me so I need to keep my mouth shut and concentrate on doing my own d.a.m.n job."

I said, "There's a plan."

*he following morning at eleven I was pus.h.i.+ng Gretchen Stengel's call b.u.t.ton. A female voice, too upholstered around the edges to be Gretchen's, said, "One moment," and buzzed me in.

The condo door was open by the time I got there. A chubby gray-haired woman in a loose floral dress smiled then held a finger to her lips.

When I got close enough, she whispered, "Sleeping. Finally."

She motioned me to the edge of the landing, held out a hand. "I'm her sister, Bunny Rodriguez."

"Alex Delaware. Bad night?"

"It was tough. Thanks for being here for Chad."

"Is Chad here?"

"Napping also," she said. "Snuggled up against Gretchen." Her eyes watered. Blinking. "He's a sweet boy."

As if I needed to be convinced.

I said, "It's good that he's got you."

"I've always loved Chad." She breathed in and out and her body quivered like aspic beneath the thin, rayon dress. The print was hydrangeas and wisteria, green tendrils running amok. Her eyes were soft brown, bloodshot around the edges. Indentations on both sides of a thin straight nose said gla.s.ses were a regular thing. "My own kids are grown. Guess it'll be an adventure. Hopefully not for a long time."

Her smile fell well short of happiness. "Nothing like denial, right?"

"Whatever it takes."

"Yes, that's true." Bunny Rodriguez leaned in closer. "Her oncologist told me he can't believe she's still alive. I think she's running on love for Chad. He's the first..." Head shake.

"The first?"

"I was going to say the first decent thing in Gretchen's life but I'm horrible to judge."

"Gretchen's led a tough life."

"Yes, she has. If she'd-let's concentrate on Chad, that's what you're here for. He's the sweetest thing on two feet, always has been. The funny thing is my own kids weren't sweet. Good, yes. Morally sound, absolutely. But sweet and compliant? Not on your life. I was the obedient child and I produced two feisty rascals and Gretchen produces Chad."

"That's why it's called a gene pool," I said. "We dive in, never know what's going to surface."

She studied me. "I like your way with words. Words are my thing, I teach English. This is going to be a nightmare, but we'll pull through, right? One way or the other."

"We'll do our best. Is there anything you want to tell me about Chad?"

"Actually..." She thumbed her lower lip. "This time he's being a little standoffish. Almost like...I think I know the problem. Gretchen asked me to tell him she was going to die, she couldn't bear dealing with it. So I did. After reading a couple of books. At his age, they said, he'd be concerned with separation from Gretchen. I didn't have the heart to tell him he'd never see her again, so I just used the word. Death, I mean. He seemed to get it. Was that wrong?"

"How'd he react?"

"He didn't react at all. Just stared at me as if I was talking in tongues."

"You got through," I said. "He told me."

"Does he hate me? Killing the messenger?"

"Not at all."

"He seems to be shutting me out."

"Maybe he needs to concentrate on his mother."

"Yes. Of course, I'm thinking like-I'm being self-centered. I guess I'm just concerned about laying a good foundation now, so when the time comes..."

"It'll work itself out."

"I suppose it will. In the end," she said. Shuddering. "What a repulsively profound word."

A harsh "Hey!" drew our attention to the condo door.

Gretchen, hooked up to her portable oxygen tank and bracing herself against the doorpost, flipped a flamboyant bird and shot a rotten-toothed grin.

"Hey, you two! Cut the chitchat, this is all about me me!"

Bunny tried to support Gretchen but Gretchen shook her off. "I'm not a cripple, go stay with Chad, he's waking up, you know how slow he does that. If he wants milk or juice give it to him, but no f.u.c.king soda."

Bunny complied.

Gretchen laughed. "She's older but I could always push her around."

"How's Chad doing?"

"What if I want to talk about that instead of him? Manipulating Bunny. What if that's what's floating my boat today?"

"Talk about whatever you want until Chad's up."

"Ooh," she crooned. "Tough guy. So tell me, did Sturgis appreciate my ahem ahem ahem ahem anonymous tip?" A phony throat clear led to coughing, then to the real thing, then a series of nasty-sounding barks topped by a paroxysm that doubled her over. anonymous tip?" A phony throat clear led to coughing, then to the real thing, then a series of nasty-sounding barks topped by a paroxysm that doubled her over.

When she finally was able to breathe smoothly, she wagged a finger. "Poor cancer patient nearly asphyxiates and you just stand there?"

"Last I heard you weren't a cripple."

"Oh, man, you are-you must be h.e.l.l in a relations.h.i.+p. Got a wife?"

"How's Chad doing?"

"s.h.i.+ne me on? Sure, why the h.e.l.l not, I'll be dead and you'll be watching Jeopardy! Jeopardy! or whatever you brainy types like." or whatever you brainy types like."

I waited.

She said, "Chad's fine. Did you tell Sturgis the tip came from me?"

"Has Chad-"

"Blah-blah, blah-blah, blah-blah." She placed a hand on my shoulder. Pressing down, but diminished strength made it feel like a b.u.t.terfly alighting between nectar gulps. "First the website, then Stefan. So what do you think, should I give him even more?"

"Up to you."

"Like you don't give a s.h.i.+t."

"Let's talk about Chad."

The hand on my shoulder clawed. Oversized, predatory moth digging in for takeoff. "Tell Sturgis little Ms. Mystery was no mystery back when she was turning tricks. Tell him she used to be just plain Tiara from the trailer park, had no clue how to dress, how to talk, how to walk. How to give a decent b.l.o.w. .j.o.b. Tell him to feel free to call me for more and guess what? If he does, I'll say f.u.c.k off, fatso. Because I'm not dancing to that rude f.a.g's beat. He could've treated me like a human being, instead he treated me like s.h.i.+t."

The hand took flight. She stabbed air. "Lady G does not forget."

I scoured my memory for something I'd missed about the meeting between her and Milo. Nothing.

People with personality disorders bruise easily.

For all the comic flaunting, it really was was about her her her. about her her her.

Tough way to live but I couldn't help wondering if it might be a good way to die.

Defying the mortality odds because she was fueled by rage and high-octane egotism.

I said, "When you're ready, we'll talk about Chad."

Her teeth drew back in a brown, fetid snarl. "You're starting to really p.i.s.s me off."

She moved forward quickly. Kissed me hard, on the lips. Bruising me with the oxygen tube. a.s.saulting my nose with the reek of disease.

Pulling away, she took my arm and sang out, "Let's have a nice civilized chat, G.o.d knows we could both use one."

She sank into a chair with obvious pain, coughed some more, held out a protective palm when I approached her. "Leave me alone. Fine." Gasp.