Serpentine
- Автор: Келлерман Джонатан
- Серия: Alex Delaware #36
- Год: 2021
- Язык: английский
- Год: Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books
- ISBN: 978-0-525-61855-3
- Жанр: Криминальные детективы
Электронная книга - «Serpentine». Краткое содержание книги:
This murder warrants an immediate call. Milo’s independence has been compromised as never before, as the department pressures him to cater to the demands of a mogul: a hard-to-fathom, megarich young woman who is obsessed with reopening the coldest of cases — the decades-old death of the mother she never knew.
The facts describe a likely loser: a mysterious woman found with a bullet in her head in a torched Cadillac that has overturned on infamously treacherous Mulholland Drive. No physical evidence, no witnesses, no apparent motive. And a slew of detectives have already worked the case and failed. But as Delaware and Sturgis begin digging, the mist begins to lift. Too many coincidences. Facts turn out to be anything but. And as they soon discover, very real threats lurking in the present.
This is Delaware/Sturgis at their best: traversing the beautiful but forbidding place known as Los Angeles and exhuming the past in order to bring a vicious killer to justice.
I said, “Maybe he knows how to compartmentalize.”
“Dr. Nice at work, something else when you get his goat?”
Or, I thought, bringing up his childhood had simply been a trigger for bad memories, nothing more. But no sense getting any more analytic; at this point it led nowhere.
I nodded and left it at that.
Milo pocketed his phone. “What do you think about the brothers living near each other but not talking much? Tony’s dig about Bill thinking he’s God’s gift to women.”
I said, “Could you use Bill to learn more about Tony? At this point, I wouldn’t risk it. The same goes for giving Valerie another try. They could still be a cohesive trio, in which case everything will blow up in your face.”
He gave a resigned shrug. “I was hoping you’d contradict what I already figured. Any other ideas?”
“You could search for someone outside the family who remembers the harem days. Maybe a friend of Des Barres’s wives.”
He drummed his knees with his fingers. “Helen died of natural causes but with the pattern of accidents, concentrate on Arlette the Horsewoman, maybe one of her gal-pals had suspicions.”
He left the office, came back chomping on an apple, sat on the battered leather couch. “I was also thinking it’s time to have a sit-down with Ellie.”
“Reassuring her?”
“More like seeing if there’s more she remembers. I had it set up for ten tomorrow but you’re busy till noon. If I move it, can you make it?”
Out came the phone.
Before “Sure” had left my mouth, he punched a preset. “Ellie? Need to move it to two thirty.”
Chapter 20
At two the following day, he picked me up in the Impala, newly redolent of refried beans and hot sauce, and drove to Los Feliz. A couple of blocks into the leafy enclave where Ellie Barker had chosen to rent, he pulled to the curb.
“Here’s the place.”
We got out and looked. A man had been shot here three days ago but you’d never know it.
Nice houses, well-tended lawns, not a speck of blood on the sidewalk. Time alone didn’t explain that. No rain had fallen, neither cops nor techs do cleanup. I’d been to scenes where body fluids had lingered for weeks.
Peering closely revealed some lightening of the concrete. Scour marks, a citizen effort.
Milo said, “Like it never happened.”
I said, “Pride of ownership.”
“Leads to janitorial inequality.” He examined a screen shot Petra had sent him and continued to a ten-foot mock orange fronting a neat white colonial. No obvious entry from the street, but parting the bush’s branches revealed a cave-like space.
We stepped in. Roundish, four feet square, only a foot higher so we both needed to hunch.
Natural hollow created by the mock orange seeking sunlight. Tough posture for the long run but someone able to sit or squat comfortably would’ve been fine. And once sequestered, a stalker would be safe from view and able to sight through the shrub’s lacy growth.
Perfect hunter’s blind.
The prey, easy; giving himself away with shuffling and hard breathing.
Milo and I inspected the cavity. Not a shred of evidence left behind. Someone taking the time to clean up faultlessly.
We returned to the car and drove on.
Nothing different at Ellie’s residence until Milo pushed the bell and the door opened on a black man the size of a defensive tackle wearing a blue blazer and gray slacks. Iconic Security embroidered in gold above the breast pocket. The jacket had been left open, advertising the chunky handle of a black plastic automatic in a black mesh shoulder holster.
The guard’s eyes scanned us rapidly. Inspection over, he smiled but didn’t move or speak.
Milo said, “Lieutenant Sturgis.”
“Expecting you, sir. You don’t mind showing some I.D.”
Statement of fact, not a request.
Out came the badge.
“Nice. I got to sergeant.” He turned to me. “You’re the doctor?”
“Alex Delaware.”
“Sorry for the inconvenience but you don’t mind showing some I.D.”
Quick read of my driver’s license. “Thanks again and excuse the formality but regs are regs.”
Milo said, “Understood. Glad you’re here, friend. Name?”
“Melvin Boudreaux.”
“Louisiana?”
“Born in Baton Rouge,” said Boudreaux, “but moved to SoCal as a kid, worked El Monte PD eleven years. C’mon in, there’s a pitcher of iced tea. Had some, it’s good.”
Boudreaux held the door as we entered the house and crossed to the living room. Before closing the door, he checked out the street, then stationed himself in the entry hall.
Ellie was seated in the same chair. The coffee table was set with a pitcher of amber liquid, plastic glasses, napkins, a paper plate of cookies.
Since I’d seen her in the hospital, she’d lost skin tone and color. Maybe some weight, as well, though a baggy dress clouded that assessment. The dress was dust-colored printed with pale-pink flowers. On her feet were brown rubber bath sandals. No sign of the serpentine necklace. No adornment at all, not even a watch.
We sat on the couch. Milo said, “How’s Brannon doing?”
“Better?” she said, turning it into a question. “So far no infection, which was the main danger. I’m hoping to get him home in a couple of days. He’s miserable about not running.”
“Tough when you’re active.”
Biting her lip, she glanced at Mel Boudreaux. “I’m okay, Mr. B. Have some lunch, there’s that pasta and pizza in the fridge.”
Boudreaux said, “Yes, ma’am,” and left for the kitchen.
Milo said, “Good step, hiring him.”
Ellie said, “I had to, the first day — alone here — was terrifying. I didn’t eat or sleep. So there was no choice. He seems very competent. Do you know the company? I guess I should’ve asked you before?”
“I don’t but that doesn’t mean anything. Private security isn’t part of my world.”
“Yes, I’d imagine,” she said. “The people you deal with weren’t careful. Not that there was any reason for Brannon to be careful. Who’d imagine?” She placed her hands in her lap. Sat there, like a kid waiting for a reprimand. When none came, she said, “Have you given more thought to whether it’s related to my mother?”
Milo shook his head. “Whatever the reason, protecting yourself is a good idea.”
“I got the referral from the firm we use at our factories — the firm I used to use when I ran the company. I took your advice and told them it needed to be local and they said Iconic’s got a branch office right here in Hollywood, they do a lot of entertainment security. I also checked out references. Real ones, not online blurbs that can be faked Then I made calls to some CEOs I know. They come highly recommended... I still can’t believe it happened. It feels weirder now than right after. Is that normal, Dr. Delaware?”
“Absolutely.”
“Good... not that it matters. I suppose. Being normal. You feel what you feel and have no control. Right now I’m feeling pretty powerless. So what kind of feedback do you have for me, Lieutenant — and yes, I remember you said it was limited.” An almost-smile stretched and made the grade. “Don’t worry, my expectations are realistic.”
Despite the claim, her shoulders bunched as she scooted forward.
Milo said, “Before we get into that, is there anything else you’ve remembered since we last spoke?”
“Like what?”
“Anything, Ellie. Even if you think it’s too trivial to mention — maybe a remark your dad made before he passed? About your mom, their relationship, why she left?”