Injustice for All – #2 J.P. Beaumont 🇬🇧 CC ⚓ by J.A. Jance

For books in motion in spokane Washington this is your reader gene engineer with. Injustice for all. The jp beaumont mystery. By Jay agents. Chapter one. There’s nothing like a woman’s scream to bring a man bolt upright in bed.

I had been taking a late afternoon nap in my room when the sound cut through the stormy Autumn twilight like a knife. I threw open the door of my cabin. The woman screamed again. The sound keening up from the narrow patch of beach below the terrace at rosario resort.

A steep path dropped from my cabin to the beach. I scrambled down to the water’s edge. There i spotted a woman struggling to drag a man’s inert form out of the lapping sea. She wasn’t screaming now. Her face was grimly set as she wrestled the dead weight of the man’s body.

I hurried to help her. Grasping him under the arms and pulling them ashore. Dropping to his side i felt for a pulse. There was none. He was a man in his mid to late fifties wearing expensive cowboy boots and a checkered cowboy shirt. His belt buckle bore the initials l s l.

A deep gash split his forehead. The woman knelt beside me anxiously hopefully. When i looked at her and shook my head her face contorted with grief. She sank to the wet sand beside me. Can’t you do something. She sobbed. Again and shook my head.

I’ve worked homicide too many years not to know when it’s too late. Footsteps pounded down the steps behind us as people in the bar and dining room hurried to see what had happened. Binding the bartender was the first person to reach us. Dead. He asked. I nodded.

Get those people out of here every last one of them and call the sheriff. With unquestioning obedience Barney bounded up the steps and heard of the onlookers back to the terrorism twenty five feet above us. Beside me the woman’s sobs continued unabated.

It was a chilly Autumn evening to begin with and we were both soaked to the skin. Gently i took her arm lifting her away from the lifeless body. Come on. I said. You’ve got to get out of those wet clothes. She allowed me to pull her to her feet. Is this your husband.

She shook her head. No. A friend. Are you staying here at the hotel. She nodded. Where’s your room. By the tennis courts. She was shaking violently. The tennis courts and her room were a good quarter of a mile away. My cabin was just at the top of the path.

You can dry off and warm up in my room. The sheriff will need to talk to you when he gets here. Like a dazed but pliant child she followed me as i half led to have carried her up the path. By the time we reached my room her teeth chattered convulsively.

It could have been cold or shock or a little of both. I pulled her into the bathroom and turned on the water in the shower. Get out of those wet things i ordered. I’ll send someone to get you some clothes. Kneeling in front of her i fumbled with the sudden

Laces of her tennis shoes with my own numbed fingers. What’s your name i asked. Ginger. She stammered through chattering teeth. Ginger what. Who Watkins. I stood up. Her arms hung limply at her sides. Can you undress or do you need help. Clumsily she battled a button on her blouse finally and fastening it.

Leaving her on her own i let myself out of the bathroom. I’ll be outside if you need anything. Alone in the room i stripped off my own soaked clothing and tossed the soggy bundle on a chair near the bed. I pulled on a shirt

A sweater and two pair of socks before i picked up the phone and dial the desk clerk. This is beaumont in room thirteen i said that someone call the sheriff. Yes we did mr beaumont. The deputies on his way. Have someone stay down on the beach with the body until he gets here

Make sure nothing is moved or disturbed. The woman who found him is here in my room she was freezing she’s taking a hot shower her name’s Watkins. Can you send someone to a room for dry clothes. That she had a husband. There is no mr Watkins registered mister beaumont

But I’ll send someone after the clothes right away. She’ll lead the works underwear and all. I’ll take care of it as soon as i can. Good. I replied. And when the deputy comes be sure he knows she’s here with me.

Since she’s the one who found the body you’ll want to talk to her. The desk clerk himself brought the clothes handing them to me apologetically. His name tag labeled him Fred. I hope i have everything he said. I opened the bathroom door wide enough to slip them

Inside onto the floor before turning back to Fred. The deputy isn’t here yet. There’s an accident down by the ferry dock he can’t come until he finishes with that. Did the dispatcher call for a detective from Friday harbor i asked. He shrugged. I guess but i don’t know for sure.

You seem to know about this kind of things to beaumont. I ought to have worked homicide in Seattle for the better part of twenty years. Fred moved uncertainly towards the door. You’d better be getting back. Who was he i asked. Fred looked blank. The dead man i persisted. Oh. He replied.

His name was sig Larsen. If he was here with the parole board. The parole board. Cops don’t like parole boards. Cops and parole boards work opposite sides of the street. Parole boards let creeps go faster than the cops can lock them up. What’s the parole board doing here. Fred shrugged.

They came for a three day workshop. They’ll probably cancel now. I glanced toward the bathroom door where the rush of the shower had ceased. And her. I asked. She’s a member too as far as i know. Her reservation was made along with all the rest. But her husband isn’t here.

No she’s by herself. What about Larson. Asking questions is a conditioned response and a detective. I asked the question ignoring that i was more than one hundred miles outside my Seattle jurisdiction. Someone was dead. Who how and why were questioned someone needed to ask. It might as well be me.

His wife is due in on one of tonight’s ferries i dunno which one. She isn’t here yet. I went to the bathroom door and tapped lightly. I’m going to order a couple of drinks from room service would you like something. Coffee was the reply. Black. I turned back to Fred.

Did you hear that. He nodded. Send up a pot of coffee for her and to Mick Norton’s in water for me Barney knows how i like em. Will do. The clerk replied slipping from the room into the deepening darkness. The doorway opened. I almost forgot.

She supposed to call homer in Seattle it’s urgent he said she knew the number. Fred shut the door again disappearing for good this time. Still cold i turned up the thermostat in the room mulling the turn of events. The lady showering in my bathroom was a married

Member of the Washington state parole board. The dead man on the beach was married to but not to her although it was evident there was some connection. Room service was on the ball. Coffee and drinks arrived before the bathroom door opened. Ginger Watkins wearing a pale green dress stepped barefoot into my room.

A huge bath towel turban wound around her head. He was fairly tall five eight or five nine with a slender figure fine bones and a flawlessly fair complexion. Her eyes were vivid uncut emeralds. Coming up from the beach i hadn’t noticed she was beautiful. Standing across the room from me swathed in the

Gentle light of the dressing room behind her. She took my breath away. She returned my unabashed stare and i looked away embarrassed. Better. Managed. Yes. But i’m still cold. I rummaged through the closet and brought out a tweed jacket which i put over her shoulders. I handed her a cup and saucer.

Here’s your coffee. She slipped into one of the two chairs at the table. I left my wet clothes on the floor. She said. I appointed to the chair. They are mine. And poured more coffee. Her hands trembled as she raised the cup to her lips. What did you say your name was. Beaumont.

Answered. J p beaumont. My friends call me Bo. And i’m ginger Watkins. You told me. The desk clerk said the man’s name was Larsen. You knew him. She nodded somberly her eyes filling with tears. Sick. She murmured her throat working to stifle a sob. A friend of yours. She nodded again.

How did you happen to find him it wasn’t much of a day for a walk on the beach. We plan to meet down there to talk after the meeting. I was late. Daryl called. I didn’t get there until forty five minutes after i was supposed to. Whose Daryl i asked.

We have funny look as though i had asked a stupid question. My husband. She answered. Name sounded familiar but i didn’t put it together right then i let it go. Why meet him there why not in the lobby or the bar. I told you. We needed to talk.

She said her coffee cup down got up and walked away from the table. Her arms crossed her body language closed. What about. It was personal. She replied. That’s not a good answer at the beginning of an inquiry into death under unusual circumstances. Accidental drownings in October are unusual. My gut said murder

And murder is very personal. The ties between killer and victim are often of the most intimate kind. How personal. She turned on me suddenly. You don’t have any right to ask me a question like that. Someone’s going to ask it sooner or later.

She met my gaze for a long moment before she wavered. Cig had some business dealings with my family. That’s why i needed to talk to him. Privately. I asked. She nodded. Do you know his wife. Her mouth tightened. Her fingers closed tightly on her upper arms. Yes. I knew her. What she like.

Mona’s a calculating bitch. It was a simple statement spoken with a singular amount of venom. I take it you’re not friends. Hardly. She walked back over to the table and sat down opposite me. Mona thought sick and dying were having an affair. Where are you.

She looked at me her eyes clear and steady in the glow of the light. No. She said. Irate husbands and wives don’t always verify their spouse’s indiscretions before they rub out a presumed lover. Is Mona the jealous type or Daryl. She laughed. Darryl are you kidding. He could care less.

Mona called him with the story and he was afraid it would hit the papers and screw up his campaign. Suddenly the name shifted into focus. Daryl Watkins candidate for lieutenant governor. Boy wonder tackling the long time incumbent. Whistled. You mean the there are weapons.

Ginger Watkins peered at me across a cup of coffee. One in the same. She said softly. The son of a bitch. It was no wonder i forgot to give her the message that someone had called. Chapter two. Deputy Jake pomeroy arrived about seven. He made a very poor first impression.

He was a fat faced pebbled kid who looked like he had stepped out of his high school graduation picture into a rumpled deputy sheriff uniform. Until the detective arrived from Friday harbor deputy pomeroy was in charge. The deputy considered sick Larson’s death to be the crime of the century on orcas island.

He was trolling for suspects. He tossed his first hook in my direction. Yet ames beaumont is that correct. I nodded. What do you do. Homicide detective Seattle pd. I handed in my ID. He gave me a shrewd appraising look. I understand you moved the body is that also correct. Yes.

His look became a contemptuous sneer. Surely you know back nat. I wanted to slug the officious bastard but i answered evenly. We thought he might still be alive. When you say we you mean you and mrs Watkins. She found him i heard her scream. And what time was that. He asked addressing ginger.

A quarter to six she replied. I was late. Late for what. I was supposed to meet sig there at five. The deputy tapped his front teeth with the eraser of his pencil and eyed her speculatively. Why. To talk. His look narrowed. Why isn’t it called down by the water.

We wanted to talk privately. Pomeroy said nothing as he made a note. How would you describe your relationship with mister Latin. Friends. That’s all. That’s all. I want to be now mr beaumont here. We just met down on the beach. She was in my room wearing my robe

Her hair wet from my shower with my bath towel wrapped around her head. She was also a barefoot because the desk clerk had forgotten to bring her shoes. Jake Palmer i didn’t believe for one minute we were recent acquaintances. I attempted what must have sounded like a lame explanation. We were freezing.

I was afraid she’d go into shock or one room his way up the hill. Jake gave ginger and overt lear. Your share the two of you never met before this afternoon. I’m sure. Ginger snapped. A tiny flush marking her delicate cheekbone. You did say. Mrs Watkins isn’t that right. She nodded.

But your husband isn’t here with you. He recast his hook. I’m here on parole board business. So was sick. She was rapidly losing her Patience. Why is your husband also a friend of mr license. The emerald in her eyes gleamed hard and brittle. They had some business dealings that’s all.

Well check this out of course. He said. His questions have gone far enough. I resented the insinuations in his clumsy quest for an infidelity motive. Look pomeroy. I told him. If you want to ask questions about the position of the body or what time it was or

Whether we saw anyone else on the beach that’s fine. But if you’re making accusations you’d better read us our rights and let us call an attorney. If not. I’ll shove that gold star where the sun don’t shine. A stunned expression spread over his flabby countenance. He lumbered to his feet.

Now go back and wait for detective huggins. You do that. I banged the door shut behind him and returned to the table. Ginger had unwrapped her turban and was toweling her hair dry. She looked relieved. I picked up the phone and dial the desk. He didn’t bring the shoes

I growled when Fred answered. I didn’t. Sorry i can’t do anything about it right now a. Whole bunch of people just got here i have to get them settled. Nevermind. I told Fred. I’ll get them myself. Ginger gave me your key. I walked to a room through a lightly falling evening Mr.

Opening her door i expected to find the room well ordered and meet. Instead it was a shambles. The place had been ransacked. I picked up the telephone receiver. Holding it at the top and i never to disturb as few press is this possible i called the desk. Was mrs Watkins’

Room torn apart when you came after her clothes i asked. Why no mister beaumont it was fine. It isn’t now. I said grimly. When that detective gets here send him up. He’s right here want to speak to him. Put him on. No. A voice mumbled. This is detective huggins. Beaumont. J b boma.

Are you shitting me. This is how elegans. Mz news left the forest ten years ago. Area. It took me a minute to place the name and the face and the mumbling speech. Hal huggins at opted for being a big fish in a very small pond when he left Seattle’s

Homicide squad to go to work with the San Juan county sheriff’s department in Friday harbor hiring an is our chief detective. Probably the only detective. I’m fine i replied. What are you up to. I was with a woman who discovered about it’s afternoon. No shit.

Pomeroy is line and may have to go talk to her. You better come to a room first and have the desk clerk bring you up. Okay. We’ll be right there hey by the way. There’s someone else here you know i just ran into him in the lobby remember Maxwell co.

Does a captain ahab remember Moby dick. Cole is a crime columnist for the post-intelligencer. He’s been on my case ever since i beat him out of a college girlfriend packed her up and married her. As a reporter he has dogged my career for as long as I’ve been on the force.

Karen and i have been divorced for years but i’m still stuck with Max. It’s like i threw out the baby and ended up having to keep the dirty bath water. Don’t tell him i’m here i caution. What are you doing here anyway the sig Larson story. Probably although he didn’t say.

Don’t ask and don’t bring him along. Fred led huggins and pomeroy in ginger’s room. The clerk’s mouth gaped. What happened here wasn’t like this when i picked up her clothes. What time was that. Huggins asked. Fred walked around the room as if at a loss for words examining the debris. What time.

And repeated. Forty five minutes ago. Read replied no more than that. Huggins looked at me. So what’s this got to do with a sniff on the beach. I took ginger Watkins to my room to warm up after we left the beach Fred here i said indicating the desk clerk.

Came up to get her some dry clothes. Not quite an hour later i discovered this when i came to pick up a pair of shoes. Maybe she trashed it herself. No she’s still in my room. Too cold to be wandering around barefoot. Huggins glared sorrowfully around the room before turning to pomeroy.

Carla crime lab folks Jake have them come take a look. Garner’s got the body and the beach is covered with water but they better see this all the same. He turned stiffly to me. Take me to the lady. She going to answer questions barefoot.

Nobody’s taken any shoes out of this room until the labs done with it. Pomeroy lingered near the door. I told you to get Jake and i mean it. Huggins growled. Jake got with the desk clerk right behind him. And i strolled back toward my room. Little out of your territory orange bowl.

There was a comment rather than a question asked without rancor. I’m here on vacation. An innocent bystander. Pomeroy seems to think otherwise. Pomeroy has got a dirty mind. He chuckled. As you get dragged into this anyway. I heard a lady scream and went to check it out.

I never saw her before six o’clock this evening. Pomeroy says if you only met her tonight how come she’s sitting in your room barefoot with a towel around her head wearing your bathrobe. He told me she just stepped out of your shower he thinks you’re a hell of a fast worker.

She was cold god damnit i tried to tell him that. He’s not buying. Envious i think. Claims is pretty good looking. She is that. I acknowledged. What did you say your name is. Ginger Watkins sir husband’s Daryl Watkins. He stopped short and whistled. The guy was.

Running for lieutenant governor again his old man chambers. That’s right. Huggins shook his head. Why did i ever do to deserve this. He asked plaintively. I dunno. I said but whatever it was it must have been pretty bad. Ginger Rose to lead us in a worried frown on her face.

What took so long. She asked. I was afraid something had happened to you. This is detective hal huggins i said as he stepped forward hand extended. His round the sheriff’s department Friday harbor. Al needs to ask you some questions now. Ginger Watkins.

She offered him a firm handshake while hal examined her with care. Glad to meet you mrs weapons but i’m afraid i have some disturbing news. Her face darkened. What. We have just come from your room place has been ransacked. She paled. Ransacked. When. Between the time the desk clerk picked up

Your clothes and when i went to get your shoes i told her. But who would do something like that. She demanded. We were hoping you could tell us ms wagons. How settled himself on the edge of the bed. Any ideas. Ginger shook her head. None she said. No one else in Tahiti room.

Sake did. We always kept the keys to each other’s rooms on trips as a precaution in case one of us was sick or hurt. I was sick once and he had to break in. It was just a safety precaution. Huggins looked at her closely. We’d better go over the whole thing

He said leaning stiffly against the headboard. Tell me everything. From the beginning. Chapter three. Huggins ed barely asked his first question when the phone rang. I answered. The phone. Not the question. The voice on the other end of the line was one degree under root.

I’m told ginger Watkins is there let me speak to her. Man say who’s calling. No you may not if she’s there put her on. I don’t like imperious schmucks i fought fire with fire. Mrs Watkins is busy at the moment can i take a message. He fired off a verbal volley.

I held the phone away from my ear long enough for the shouting to stop. Give me a name a number i told him she’ll call back. I already left one message debit. Her on tight heart. When i heard his name i remembered the forgotten message.

I hung up the phone cutting short his tirade. It was homer i told ginger. He want you to call. Something flickered across her face but i couldn’t tell what. Anger. Fear. She turned her attention back to huggins. What were you saying. He regarded her with a sad eyed glower.

I understand you discovered mister Larsen’s body. Now someone has ransacked your room. These incidents may or may not be related we can’t afford to assume they’re not. He shifted on the bed trying to find a more comfortable position. Isn’t it unusual for co-workers to have keys to each other’s rooms.

Sick and die we’re close. Huggins waited as though expecting her to say something further. She didn’t. He sighed. Did you have any valuables in your room items of jewelry or something like that. She shook her head. No. Anything else of value cameras prescription medications. Again she shook her head he continued doggedly.

Any paperwork concerning parole board business that might be considered damaging or in some way usable maybe something you and mister Larson were working on together. There was a slight hesitation. I brought some papers from home. They have nothing to do with work. May i ask what they are.

I’m filing for divorce on Monday. She said lovely. I brought the paperwork with me. Sick and i plan to discuss it this evening. Her answer was calm but her eyes betrayed the turmoil of warring emotions. I noticed it. So did huggins. That’s why i was late to see sig. She went on.

I’ll call. Someone told him. How sat up. You didn’t tell him before he left. No. Ginger gave him a wan smile. It was a surprise. Someone told him oh. Ginger shrugged. I don’t know. Not for sure. Imagine what time. Sometime today i know that much. Can you guess who it was. Probably Mona.

Mona. Six wife. Mona Larson. The antagonism in ginger’s voice set little alarm bells ringing. Ad seg Larson died in a matrimonial crossfire between his wife and ginger’s husband. But how did mrs Larson know. I wrote sig a letter last week the day i made up my mind.

He suggested i not file until after we had a chance to discuss it. Why target over within what did he have to do with it. I told you before he was my friend. My best friend. She added defiantly. Why wouldn’t i discuss it with him.

We weren’t having an affair if that’s what you mean. Her denial of an unspoken accusation gave credence to huggins line of questioning. Sig’s having her room key made it even more plausible. House disbelief must have showed. She continued. Our families were involved in a joint venture a condominium project in Seattle.

I didn’t want to jeopardize six position. Would you have. Her smile was caustic. Evidently not. Homer and Darryl seemed to have. Covered all possible contingencies. I had sat quietly as long as i could. Who the hell is homer. I demanded. Homer Watkins. She replied or answer permeated with sarcasm. My illustrious father-in-law.

I dunno him. You haven’t missed a thing. Huggins pulled himself to a sitting position and studied his notes. How will a divorce go over with the voters he asked approaching from another direction. Ginger bit her lip. It won’t make much difference. No one will pay any attention.

It certainly won’t cost him the election. She looked at huggins closely. Does Mona know about sig. She asked. Not yet we still haven’t located her. Hug inside. Let’s talk about today from the beginning. I came over on the ferry early this morning. Ginger said. Alone. She nodded. Did you bring your car. No.

It’s in anacortes i didn’t think i’d need it. What time did you check in. Our meeting started at one. I checked in some time before that. What time did mr Larson get here. I don’t know. I didn’t see him before the meeting. During our afternoon break we arranged to meet on the beach

That’s when i gave him my key. In his room. No. Mona was coming. Her answer spoke volumes. Or as he. Huggins said. Was anyone else aware you plan to meet on the beach. Ginger shook her head. Not as far as i know. Hal huggins was meticulous.

You got out of the meeting at four what did you do then. I went back to my room i took a nap. Then Darryl called. What time. I was almost ready to go meet sig it must have been. Right at five. What did he say. He asked me to reconsider. And you said.

No. Huggins reminded me of a doctor probing and poking to find out where it hurt. Was he upset. He seemed to be. That surprised me. If i didn’t know him better i would have said he was jealous. Return was resigned.

Ginger Watkins had long since come to terms with her losses whatever those might be. Why wouldn’t he be jealous. He’s not the type. She gave a half assed grin the kind people use to cover their real feelings to hide something that hurts more than they’re willing to admit.

Huggins skirted the issue leaving me wondering what kind of husband wouldn’t be jealous of ginger Watkins. I’d never met the man but i decided i didn’t like Darryl Watkins candidate for lieutenant governor. As a matter of fact i was sure i wouldn’t vote for him. Where did he come from. He didn’t say.

It could have been anywhere in the state he’s out campaigning. You don’t keep a copy of his schedule. No. Supposing you were jealous. What he had done something to save Larson or maybe hired someone to do it. You mean put out a contract. No for two reasons.

Number one he wouldn’t have the money. Number two i don’t believe he’s that much of a hypocrite. I see. Huggins said sagely. You mean it folds around himself. Ginger’s lips trembled. She dropped her gaze and nodded. How’s questions that led circuitous later the heart of the matter. I had to give him credit.

He made another note. Wagons is an old respected name in Seattle long on reputation and money both. Supposing Daryl did want to get rid of seg Larson why wouldn’t he have the money it only cost a few grand to put out a contract. Appearances can be deceiving. She said. I’m not

Working gratis you know. Which means. How prompted. It means we need the money. Some of homer’s investments haven’t turned out so well. The parole board job was designed to help out. Connections are nice. How else do you think someone without a degree. Could walk into a forty thousand dollar a year job.

Her voice carried a defensive edge. The phone rang and i answered recognizing deputy pomeroy officious voice. Detective huggins. He demanded. I handed the phone to how. He listened for a few seconds before he said. Keep her at the desk until i get there then Jake if one of those goddamn reporters gets

Nearer before i do I’ll have your badge understand. How bolted for the door then stopped turning slowly back into the room. It would be best if you stayed here. He told ginger. I’ll let you know when you can return to your room. She nodded. Alright. The lab guys will call when i finish.

He strode into the darkness to the sound of steady rain. I closed the door behind him feeling uncomfortable not knowing what to say. Ginger Watkins was a stranger i knew far too much about. Warm enough. I asked awkwardly. I am now. She paused.

I might as well call homer and get it over with. Why call him at all you can afford to ignore your soon to be ex father-in-law. She picked up the phone. Ignoring him is the worst thing you can do to homer.

She dialed the desk to charge the call to a room number but the desk didn’t answer. Dial direct i told her and she did. You called. She said. From across the room i could hear the renewal of his verbal barrage. What do you want. She interrupted him bluntly dealing with rudeness in kind.

There was a long pause while she listened. I watched her. Her hair had dried. Honey blonde waves framed her face. She paced back and forth tugging on a phone cord that didn’t give her quite enough leash. I’m not going to change my mind homer. She said at last.

I’ve finally seen through the fog well enough to know what’s going on. Again there was a pause. When i wanted to do something about it he couldn’t be bothered. Now it’s too late. I don’t care if he’s upset i’m getting out. She waited. That’s not true and you know it.

What i do won’t make a bit of difference one way or the other. Besides why should i care who wins. His answer to that question was brief and she stiffened. I’ve found jobs before I’ll find one again. She slammed the phone down eyes blazing. That bastard. She muttered.

The phone rang again and she angrily snatched it off the hook. Canal. Sheepishly she handed me the receiver. It’s for you. She said. The desk had a message for me from Maxwell kohl. He would be in room one forty three he wanted to talk to me.

And put the phone down and turned the ginger. Are you alright. The phone call had genuinely disturbed her. I’m fine. She answered without conviction. She walked across the room and stared blindly out the darkened window like a lost lonely child in need of comforting. He threatened to pull your job.

It’s no idle threat. She returned. He can do it. I stood near her wanting to put an arm around her shoulder and tell her everything would be alright to give her some of my world famous beaumont bromides. Determined lady she wiped away a tear. I’m sorry. She apologized. I didn’t mean to cry.

You have plenty of reason. I offered. She looked up at me with a faint smile. I guess i do. I was thinking about sig. What about him. He gave me back my self respect. She answered. Nothing’s going to change that. I’ll resign if i have to.

Work as a waitress or a sales clerk. But nobody can take away what signal Larson gave me. She paused tremulously. He can’t believe he’s dead. Abandoning her attempt to stave off tears she fell helplessly into my arms sobbing uncontrollably against my chest.

I held her and let her cry hoping no one was outside my window. Ginger Watkins was after all still very much a married lady with a husband who was a well known statewide political candidate. This would provoke a terrific scandal if it ever hit the press.

I wondered briefly how i had fallen into such a mess. As her sobs subsided. I decided what the hell. Lie back and enjoy it. Chapter four. Once ginger regained her composure i suggested we order dinner from room service. It was close to nine. My three meal a day system was going into withdraw.

I ordered two steaks medium rare. Some wine. She shook her head. I don’t drink. I ordered two bottles of Perrier. When in Rome and all that. With her emotional outburst quelled we waded toward dinner through a mire of meaningless chitchat. Where are you from. I asked. Centralia.

My dad runs the union seventy six station down there. It was a long way from small town girl the big time politics. She readily followed my thoughts. Good looks help. She said with a smile. Add some stupidity and this is what you get. What do you mean.

I was pregnant when we got married. Homer offered to buy me off. Send me to Sweden for an abortion. Darryl only married me because his father was dead set against it. I was the first and last gesture of independence. Her directness was unsettling. I was relieved when room service knocked on the door.

Our waiter was a young local kid with a mouthful of braces and a winning smile. He wore a cutaway coat with a white towel draped casually over one arm. He spread the small round a table with a linen cloth and served us with the arch panache of a British Butler. That

Will go places. I said the ginger after he bowed his way out of the room. At least he seems to enjoy what he’s doing. She responded. I poured two glasses of Perrier and handed her one. You don’t. I asked. I was ready to. She began. But then after sick.

She broke off unable to continue. What about cig. He saved my life. She said. It’s that simple. What did he do pull you out of a burning car. Ginger studied me in silence for a long time. Something like that. She said quietly. He got me to quit drinking. Drinking. I’m sure i

Sounded incredulous. She picked up the empty Perrier bottle and examined it. I used to drink vodka. Wash mitts. On the rocks. I grimaced. We’re not talking one drink before dinner. I almost died mr beaumont. Bowl. I corrected. My friends call me Bo. Bo. She added.

As long as i draw rank myself into oblivion every night. It didn’t matter if Daryl had a steady girlfriend down in Olympia when the legislature was in session. Or that he was screwing around with some secretary after work. If i drank hard enough and long enough i could almost forget. Not forgive just.

Forget. Cig was like a father to me. Never laid a glove on me as far as sex is concerned. He just kept telling me i deserved better. He was right. I interjected. She smiled at me then green eyes flashing momentarily. Are you going to take up where cig left off. At your service.

I waived my Perrier glass and a gallant flourish. Her smile disappeared. I can’t understand why both homer and Darrell are trying to talk me out of the divorce. Homer never liked me and Darryl hasn’t shown any interest in me for longer than i care to remember. Come on you have to be kidding.

Do i. Her face was devoid of humor. I groped for a thread of non threatening conversation. She had said she was pregnant when they married. Yeah if a child. Had. She corrected. A girl. Her name was Katie after my mother. She was almost. Six months old when i

Found her dead in her crib. They call it. Sudden infant death syndrome now but back then it didn’t have a name. Blamed myself. The cooks came out of the woodwork. Told me god was punishing me for my sins. It was awful. She closed her eyes reliving the pain.

I wanted to say something but it was a little late to offer condolences. That’s. When i started to drink. She continued as naturally as if she were discussing the weather. I never got pregnant again. I couldn’t sleep.

I started having a drink or two in the evening to put me under to blot out the pain. Eventually i had to drink to live. It’s only been since i dried out that I’ve come to terms with Katie’s death. Accepted it. Allowed myself to grieve.

Booze is like that you know it it buries feelings keeps you from dealing with them. The last sentence hit close to home. It was what Peters told me i was doing and rail thames and the chaplin. They told me to stop hiding out in Mick Norton’s and come to grips with grief.

They said i should cry for and corley and let her go. I wasn’t ready. This inside one. Please stop your player here and without fast forwarding the tape. Please turn decide to. They said i should cry for and corley and let her go. I wasn’t ready.

I veered the conversation away from me and back to ginger. Say gulp to do that. She nodded. We were in Shelton doing a series of hearings. Board members travel in pairs like nuns. One morning i couldn’t. Get out of bed. My head the shakes too bad. That was when cig

Broke into my room. He dragged me to my first alcoholics anonymous meeting that night. We were scheduled to go home the next morning but we stayed over. Cig got us rooms in a different motel. It took three days for him to walk me through the dts.

That’s when Mona started thinking second i were having an affair. I looked at ginger’s trim figure and flawless grace. She didn’t fit any of the standard stereotypes of a recovering alcoholic. Had she not told me. I never would have suspected. I won’t go through that again ever. She continued.

Nothing can be worse than. Dts. Sig kept me in the program talk to me when i got discouraged. Kept telling me i was a worthwhile person. Long before i could see it for myself. I’d be dead now if it weren’t for him. Sounds like a hell of a nice guy. I commented.

He was. She lapsed into silence. Do you love Daryl. It was none of my business yet i asked anyway. I already knew a great deal about ginger Watkins far more than our few hours together wanted. But i wanted to know more. It had nothing to do with detective jp beaumont. It was Bo

The man. Who needed to know. I used to. She said softly. Not any more. She met my gaze then looked down at her plate. I didn’t mean to bore you. I’m not bored. What will you do. Live one day at a time. I’ll file on Monday.

Resigned from the board if i have to. Go looking for a job. What kind of job. Maybe I’ll go back to school and get a degree in alcoholism counseling. I’d like to repay said Larson. Somehow i don’t think cig expected to be repaid. No. She agreed. He didn’t.

That’s why i want to do it. Suddenly she put the brakes on my questioning. What about you. Who is Jake people mind. I gave her an evasive grin. A homicide cop in the middle of a mid-life crisis trying to decide what i want to be when i grow up. Married. Not anymore. Involved.

I sighed. It was six months later but the hurt was still there. Not bleeding but raw nonetheless. No i’m. Footloose and fancy free. You don’t sound very footloose. She observed. That’s very perceptive of you. And i said. You’re right. I couldn’t match or candor.

The kind of open self revelation that came easily to her eluded me. The telephone jangled a welcome interruption. Detective beaumont. Yes. This is medi with crime lab. Could you bring mrs Watkins up to take a look around the room. Sure if i had anything. Can’t tell. It was a standard answer.

Maybe she could tell us if anything’s missing. Okay we’ll be right there. I put down the phone and turned the ginger. Travelling time. She appeared in dismay at her stocking feet. What about shoes. Scrounging the bottom of the closet i turned up my ancient bedroom slippers. Put these on

It’ll fit like a pair of snow shoes but it’s better than going barefoot. Ginger stumbled across the room and a trial run. Not much better. She commented. The walk to ginger’s room was cold and windy. The rain had stopped. Wispy clouds scudding before a half moon. Ginger scuffed along.

Gripping my arm in case she tripped over the outside slippers. Have you ever been the victim of a break-in before. She shook her head. I wanted to warn her to ease the shock of seeing her things strewn and disheveled by unknown hands. She knew of the break in from huggins but hearing

It and seeing it are two different things or will. We made it to her room without incident. If rosario was cross fling with reporters they weren’t in evidence. Thank god huggins have managed to keep ginger’s room out of the limelight. By now members of the fourth estate would have filed their stories.

They’d be settled in the vista lounge drowning their sorrows or entertaining one another. The Seattle press corps traveling dog and pony show show. Palmer i opened the door grunting with displeasure when he saw me. I ignored him pushing my way past without any kind of acknowledgement. Is flushed angrily but he said nothing.

Ginger followed me into the room. She stopped short inside the door her face blanching her hands involuntarily covering her mouth. A man came forward and introduced himself. Dayton Smith he said. Smitty for short. This year one. Ginger nodded. We’ve dusted for prints.

Will what your prints and those of any other people don’t do abbott in the room the desk clerk. Maid’s room service. That’s the only way to discover unidentified prints. Will go down to the lobby after we finish here. Again ginger nodded incapable of speech. Look around. Can you see if anything’s missing.

Walking trance-like through the room ginger fingered the heap of clothing piled on the floor. Sifted through the contents of her makeup Kate strewn on the counter while those of us in the room watched in silence. All the officers with the possible exception of pomeroy.

Understood the deep sense of violation of break-in victim feels. Fear anger and outrage passed over her face in rapid succession. She knelt beside a scatter of papers dumped near an overturned Gucci briefcase. Awkwardly attempting to straightened. When she finished i pulled her to her feet. Is anything gone. She shook her head. I.

Don’t think so. I looked at smitty. No sign of forced entry. Nope. Whoever came in evidently had a cape. I looked down at ginger she was pale and shaking. Gather what you need. I said. You can’t stay here. Will have the desk send someone to clean up this mess.

She approached the task purposefully. Moving through the room scooping up nightgown robe and shoes from the tangled heap on the floor. She sorted through the things on the counter placing makeup airbrush and toothbrush in a small case along with a clothing. Pomeroy watched her leering lead from the door.

I wanted to kick him. At last still wearing my slippers she turned to me. Ready. Can we go. A letter from the room. She sank against me. And i supported her willingly. J p beaumont good samaritan in an hour of need. Thank you. She whispered. You’re welcome. I replied.

Guiltily conscious of savouring the slight pressure of her slender body against mine. Chapter five. Smitty’s partner from the Washington state crime lab took ginger into the hotel kitchen for fingerprinting. I went to the desk where i tackled Fred. Demanding another room. I’m sorry mr beaumont we’re full.

We were almost booked before the reporters showed up and now look i said. The crime lab still not done with a room besides can’t go back there. The lock wasn’t broken. Whoever got in at a key. As i said we don’t have any other rooms.

I turned away from the desk in disgust only to run headlong into the mustached human walrus who calls himself Maxwell coal. Oh jp. Why didn’t you return my call. Didn’t want to ask get outta my way. You’re being rude. He chided. Only need to talk to you for a minute. What about.

I was pretty sure i knew what Max was after. For once in his life he surprised me. Don Wilson. Oodles Don Wilson. When you remember. Denise Wilson’s husband the Ann’s father the late thorpe case. There isn’t a cop in Washington state he was sickened by the very name.

Philip later upsets over on death row in walla walla a slime thumbing his nose at the system. Seven years ago he followed deniers Wilson home from the laundromat. And raped her in front of her two year old daughter. Denise testified against him and later got set up. He went to prison vowing revenge.

Six years later he was placed on a work release program. Nobody remembered that the Wilsons lived less than three miles away. He came back to their house one hot July day and finished the job killing both the deniers and deanne and a bloody carnage that left hardened detectives puking at the scene.

It’ll be years before he exhausts the appeals process. It’s called a miscarriage of justice. What about Dunn Wilson. Asked. Why was the meet a mere four he never showed. So. What does that have to do with me though. I wondered if you’d seen him.

He turns up with parole board hearings demonstrations protesting that kind of thing. He’s lobbying for a statewide victim witness protection program. Look Max i wouldn’t recognize him if i saw time. Hasn’t been a protester in sight. Max blinked at me near sidedly through thick glasses. You’re sure. Yes i’m sure god. It.

I snapped. Now leave me alone. I was still worrying about ginger wondering if there might be a room available somewhere in east sound. Max backed away from me warily. The last time he and i had a confrontation. I loosened a couple of teeth for him. Just then ginger returned from the kitchen.

She walked past Cole. I’m done dumbo. She said. Did you get a room. It was an innocent question but i wondered how it would read in the morning edition. As recognition and wonder washed across Max’s fat face. I wanted to crawl into a hole. Why mrs Watkins how nice to see you again.

Ginger turned on him coolly. I don’t believe i know you. Call. He said with an affable grin. Maxwell kohl of the post-intelligencer would you care to comment on sig Larson’s death. Her manner changed from cool to frigid. I would not. He shrugged and looked at me. Doesn’t hurt to ask.

Get out of your Max. I was in no mood to put up with any of his crap. One more question mrs wakened have you seen Don Wilson today. Ginger’s reaction was totally out of proportion to the question. Is. It he here. She stammered. Color drained from her face.

She groped blindly from my arm. The change wasn’t lost on Max. He stepped toward her and she shrank against me. He was supposed to be. Max continued lightly we had an interview scheduled at four he called like this morning something was about to break i barely had time to get here.

I stepped between Max and ginger. Why did he call you why not someone else. I’ve been working on a special piece i took ginger’s arm cutting him off come on let’s get out of here but Max protested stay away from her and stay away from me Max

If you don’t give your dentist in your eye doctor a little more beer business. His walrus mouth opened and closed convulsively. They weren’t empty words and he knew it. When ginger and i left the building he made no effort to follow. I lead ginger back to my room and helped her into the

Chair before i went back to shut and lock the door. What is a ginger. I asked gently. Tell me. He did it. She said decisively. It has to be him. Who did what. Don Wilson. He killed sig i’m sure of it i had no idea he was here.

I never thought what are you talking about Don Wilson he threatened us both cig and me. Sick just laughed it off so did i Daryl no one took it seriously. Why did he threaten you i don’t understand. Weep. She swallowed hard.

Sig and i conducted the hearing that sent later to that work release program. My gut gave a wrench. I remembered the public outcry. There had been talk that the parole board should resign en masse. Had been standing next to her. Turning i moved away. Distancing myself. I couldn’t help it. Please Bo

It wasn’t our fault. We were given incomplete records. We made the decision as best we could with the information at hand. Her voice pleaded for understanding for me not to abandon her. What did Wilson say. My tone was flat and empty. That we’d pay for his wife and daughter. We didn’t know Bo.

Can you understand that. There was an administrative foul on record. The rest of thrips records weren’t found until much later. We didn’t know he had sworn to get even with Denise Wilson we had no idea where she lived. Was she doesn’t keep track of witnesses or victims not even to protect them.

When did Wilson threatened you. I could tell from her voice it was important that i believe her over marvel i don’t know several times. He’s always hanging around. In fact sig and i were surprised Wilson wasn’t here today. He stands outside every meeting carrying signs passing

Out petitions but i never thought he’d really do it. Petitions for what. For the Victor witness protection program. But he wasn’t here today. No. Sig even mentioned it. Ap and went to the phone. What are you doing. She asked. I’m calling huggins he needs this information. Fred answered around.

His detective huggins still around. No. Came the reply. He left in the police boat right after the crime lab guys took off. He’s probably in Friday harbor by now. Call him and tell him to come back i ordered it’s urgent. Fred’s response wasn’t hopeful. I doubt he’ll want to come back tonight.

Delaware got a suspect. That’ll bring him back. I hung up. Ginger followed me to the door. Where you going. She asked Cole. I’ve got to find Maxwell kohl. You stay here understand. She nodded. Locked the door behind me don’t let anyone in.

I dashed outside and headed up the path to room one forty three and. No one answered my knock. I glanced at my watch. It was after eleven. The vista lounge was still open. I hurried back toward the main building a converted mention that serves as a lobby dining room and bar.

The lounge is a long narrow room for facing rosario strait. In it’s previous life it had been a sun porch. Now it was a poach watering hole. Maxwell coles ample figure slouched on a stool at the end of the bar. He was downing handfuls of salted crackers goldfish.

And regaling the poor guy next to him with a one sided convo recession. I tapped his shoulder. Hey Max. I need to talk to you. He heaved himself around on the barstool to face me. What’s this the change of heart.

Decided you can afford to spend some time with your old fraternity buddy after all. Fuck off jp. It. He turned away and picked up his beer. I tapped his shoulder again. I want to talk to you. Barney is a good bartender.

He has a sixth sense for trouble and could spot it before it starts. He ambled down the bar to where Cole was sitting. What seems to be the problem. This guy bothering me. Max wine. I was sitting here minding my own business. Barney glanced up at me. I need to talk to him.

I said tersely over Max’s head. About what happened this afternoon. Max set down his half empty glass. Barneys swept it away and poured the contents into the sink. After you talked to this gentleman. He said. I’ll buy another beer. Why. Max objected. You better go fella before i get upset.

Barney is a beefy former green beret who looks as though he could inflict a considerable amount of bodily harm with his bare hands. Max finally scrambled down from the barstool and reluctantly followed me into the next room muttering under his breath.

Once we were out of earshot of the bar i turned on him. You have any pictures of Wilson Anya. Hell no why should i. Because you just might. Maybe one but it’ll cost you. How much of. An egg exclusive interview with ginger whakatane. Ginger Watkins is not for sale.

You say that in a rather proprietary manner jp. You’ve got something going whether. I heard what she said about getting a room with a married lady know her husband is big very big. I want the picture Max. Norway. He was wearing an ugly stripe and ties still

Nodded but hanging loose around his neck. I grasped it in my fist and lifted him to the tops of his toes. I’m not on duty maxi so don’t tempt me. Okay okay. He sputtered. It’s in my room. Go get it and bring it to me I’ll wait in a lobby. He shambled off.

I hurried to the payphone near the front desk and dialed Peters my partner at home long distance collect. I figured that would get his attention. He sounded half asleep when he answered the phone. What’s up. He asked when he recognized my voice. Where are you and why the hell are you economy collect.

Rosario i growled. Send me the bill. Allison. Remember the later case. Get down to the department and gather everything you find on. A detective from Friday harbor will be called owing for it i wanted ready when he does. Just a fuckin minute bow you know what time it is

It’s a long way from kirkland to the department. So moved to town. It’s not rush hour won’t take more than twenty minutes to get to Seattle. While you’re supposed to be on vacation for Christ’s sake what’s gotten idiot i’m asking a favorite Peters. Please. All right but i’m going to remember this.

The latest case you said. Yes. And everything you can find out about the victim’s families particularly Don Wilson the father. Anything else. I’m already awake. Don’t you want me to pick up some groceries or a newspaper while i’m at it. Maxwell kohl was lumbering toward the building.

Got the comedy Peter’s this is serious. Okay Bo okay i’m on my way. Thanks oh you’re one. Well this better count for more than one. It does. Chapter six. I knocked. Who is it. Ginger called. Me Bo. I opened the door with my key.

Ginger stood near the bed and her face drawn and wary. She glanced at the Manila envelope in my hand. What’s that. I came inside shutting and locking the door behind me. I opened the envelope and handed her the picture Maxwell Cole had given me. She looked at Don Wilson’s likeness.

Where’d you get that. Girl Max saves the day for a change. Ginger retreated to a chair in the corner of the room where she curled up with her legs folded under her and began brushing her hair with a vengeance. Huggins is on his way. I told her.

You’ll want to go to work on this picture tonight. He’ll show it to everyone he can find on or near the ferries passengers and workers alike. You’ll try to get to them while someone still remember seeing Wilson either coming over or going back. Ginger boy put the brush in her lap.

Her voice when she spoke was very small. Do you think he’s still here. I dunno. My gut instinct says yes. What can we do. First we talked to huggins after that i dunno. Can i stay here bow. With you. Anxious green eyes held mine. I felt a catch in my throat.

Remembering the feel of her body against mine as she wept for sig Larsen. I don’t know why not. I had assumed heavy here where i can keep an eye on yet. I was going to see if there were any rooms available in east sound but this makes more sense.

She picked up her brush and silently resumed brushing her hair. I called the desk. Fred and i had gone round and round over the room problem one more time after Max gave me a picture. I had pulled rank on him hoping detective beaumont would elicit more action than mister beaumont. No such luck.

His tone was somewhat guarded. Yes detective beaumont. What can i do for you down there. You have a rollaway bed down there. Yes. I want one up here on the double. Mrs Watkins will stay here with me. We have reason to believe Larsen’s killer is still in the area

We may try to reach our next. Don’t leak a word of this is that clear. Yes sir. Deliberate myself not even the maids will know. I could pick it up in the morning before i leave. And if she has any calls that continued.

Put them on hold and check with me before you put them through. I understand. When’s your shift over. I’m pulling an extra one tonight. I won’t get off until eight tomorrow morning. All right. Have the railway back out of here before he could go. I guess that’s all. Detective beaumont. Yes.

Someone said detective huggins is just pulling up at the dock. Good. See if he can locate any coffee which a. Sure thing. When huggins knocked on the door he was carrying a tray with a pot of coffee and three cups and saucers. Somebody handed me this tray

Whenever you got beaumont had better be good. It is how. I assured him. Believe me. Ginger poured coffee while i brought hal up to date and showed him the photograph of Wilson. When i finished he shook his head sadly. Here’s a pisar. The wrong goddamn people get killed.

Wilson will end up on death row would later and probably beat them to the gallows. I interrupted huggins grim soliloquy. Look how i called my partner in Seattle. He’s gathering everything Seattle pd has on later a band Wilson. It’ll be ready when you call.

You’ll bring it out himself if you ask for him. Is he one of the old timers. Al asked. Somebody i’d remember. Now he’s brand new but alive and ice guy. What’s his name. Peter’s renovators. He made a note of the name before turning to ginger.

Can you remember exactly what Wilson said when he threatened you and mister Larson. Ginger shook her head. Not the exact words. Just that he’d make us pay that it wasn’t fair for his wife and child to be dead while we were still alive. Glad you didn’t think of him this afternoon when

You discovered mister Larson’s body why not. I didn’t think Wilson was here. If he’s around he’s usually outfront picketing with all his tides and paraphernalia. I forgot about him completely until that reporter said Wilson didn’t show for a meeting. Which reporter. I answered him. Max. Maxwell Cole.

Wilson called him this morning and set up an interview here at rosario at four o’clock. Max awaited. Wilson never came. Huggins focused once more on ginger. You said you mentioned the threats to your husband he advised you to disregard them. Ginger nodded. He said the world is full of. Harmless crazies.

This one is far from harmless. Hugging side glancing in my direction. Any ideas moment. There was a quiet tap on the door. When i answered it Fred stood outside with a rollaway bed. This is the first i could get away he said. It’s all right if detective huggins knows isn’t it.

Since the bed was already there it was too late to debate secrecy. I stepped aside and help pull the bed over the threshold. He pushed the bed just inside the door then ducked back into the night. Fearless Fred. This is my brainstorm. I said turning dog and. She stays with me tonight

With out knowing whether Wilson is still on the island i’m not willing to risk leaving her alone. He nodded in agreement. Good thinking. I was going to suggest flying to Seattle but i’d prefer having her here in case there are more questions in the morning. The county budget doesn’t handle a whole lot

Of commuting back and forth to the big city. Hugin stood up. I’m going then. He held Wilson’s picture up to the light examining it manually. Copy that sucker tonight and plaster the island with the tomorrow. The island and every single ferry that stops here. I’ll send someone by Wilson’s house. It’s late.

Better hit the trail. I followed him to the door. He turned to me and said in an undertone. You got a piece on you. It’s locked up in a suitcase but. Deputising you as of right now beaumont. I don’t want there to be any jurisdictional face besides in eg.

Get it out keep it handy. He poked his head back inside the door. You’re in good hands mrs Watkins jb bowman’s best there is. You’ll give me a swelled head how. I said. I came back into the room once more carefully locking the door behind me.

I went around the room double checking the locks on the windows. Ginger watched me her eyes gravely following my every move. I took my suitcase from it’s place in the closet and removed my thirty eight. I put the gun on the bed beside me. Women usually retreat from firearms. Ginger held her ground.

Are you. She asked. Am i what. The best there is. I dunno about that. I sat looking at my revolver. A gun is a tool and instrument. Until it kills something you love. Then it takes on a life of it’s own. Alien. Evil. What are you thinking. Nothing. I answered quickly.

Just wool gathering. What happened to your wife. Karen. I shrugged. She ran off with a chicken magnate from cucamonga California. Chicken. He was an accountant scouting for a new plant site for an egg conglomerate. Karen was supposed to be selling real estate. He married her. Eventually. Kids. Two. Boy and a girl

Scottie and Kelly. Are mostly grown thriving in California. I see them during the summers. I didn’t mention and chorley. It was a deliberate oversight. Girlfriend. None at the moment. Why all the questions. Everyone’s been asking me questions all evening. Turnabout is fair play. You said earlier you were having a. Midlife crisis.

How come a. Midlife crises are very trendy these days. I responded with a congenial grin i hope to derail the question. I didn’t want to go into that to examine motives and lost illusions. Will you still be a cop. I shrugged. I couldn’t imagine being anything else.

Unless you have some other bright idea. She looked at me seriously. Squarely. You’ve been hurt too. Does it show that much. It shows. I winced at her direct hit and changed the subject. You said something earlier that’s been bothering me. That you were working because you and Daryl needed the money. How come.

We’re part of a syndicate that put together a downtown luxury high rise project just before the bottom dropped out of the real estate market. Most of our capital. Ours homers and cigs. Has been tied up keeping the project afloat. Waiting for the market to turn. Meantime. Ready cash is in short supply.

That’s why you and cig ended up on the parole board. She nodded. Sig was actually well qualified. He knew it from the inside out without ever being either a prisoner or a guard. He did volunteer work at walla walla for years. He used to live near there even started in a group inside.

He had every right to be on the board. I was the hanger on. Ginger looked at me earnestly. I tried the oboe. Especially after sig got me dried out. I read everything i could lay my hands on. I did a good job. The later case was. An administrative nightmare.

She willed me to believer. It was important to her that i not lay blame. Those things happen. I conceded. She accepted my remark as a form of absolution. Thank you. She murmured. What will you do if you resign from the board. She shrugged. Something. She replied.

Homer told me tonight he’ll see to it that i don’t get a penny. It’s just a threat he can’t get away with it. You have an attorney you’ll see that you get a fair shake. She laughed. You don’t understand. Homer Watkins name isn’t up in lights.

He doesn’t make headlines but he’s a mover and shaker in this state. Stone cold broke he can still pull enough strings to get anything he wants including electing his son lieutenant governor. I’ll be lucky to get out of the house house with the clothes on my back. I have an attorney. I offered.

Maybe he could help. I was thinking about Ralph ames who even then was preparing for a custody hearing to arrest my partner’s two kids out of a religious cult and broken Springs Oregon. Ginger smiled condescendingly. How far do you think i’d get paying for an attorney on my own.

It takes money to fight the system. I won’t have any. Ames would do it if i asked him. He’s from Arizona. Phoenix. He handles all my personal affairs. Let him take a look at your situation. It wouldn’t cost you anything. A smile flickered around the corner of her mouth. Bo. Listen to me.

These are big time lawyers with big timestamps. They chew up your little guy and spit him out. But thanks. It’s kind of you to offer. Promise me you’ll let ames look it over first. Talk about the best there is. Ames is it. Ginger laughed aloud. All right all right if you insist.

But he better not show up wearing cowboy boots and riding a horse. Chapter seven. I spent some time looking for a delicate way to suggest we get ready for bed. There was no easy way. I finally said it straight out. Ginger retreated into the bathroom change while

I grappled with the Chinese puzzle roll-away bed. Partial assembly required. The bed was unfolded and sitting in front of the outside door when ginger emerged from the bathroom. She wore a Jade colored silk robe with a hint of filming nightgown underneath.

Seeing her i realized i didn’t have a pair of pajamas to my name. I’ve been a bachelor so long my last pair of Christmas pajamas have bitten the dust. What are you staring at. She demanded one hand on her hip. Have you ever seen a woman in a robe before. Sorry.

I was thinking about something else. I retired to the bathroom to contemplate my dilemma finally opting for skivvies and no lights dilemma. That of course presented another problem with. No light in a familiar room is one thing and no light in a city apartment is another. But no light in a strange room

Where they’ve never heard of streetlights can be murder on shins toes and other. Unprotected parts of the anatomy. I my way into bed after a bruising game of blind man’s butt. Settling into the runaway i discovered the bedframe formed a rigid hump. Directly under the small of my back.

It was a long way from the king-sized comfort i had grown accustomed to. At least i concluded the bed wasn’t any worse than some of the rocks i’d slept on just for the hell of it during my hunting and camping phase. This at least at a somewhat higher purpose.

I tossed around a few minutes before dozing off. I had just entered that deep initial Alpha asleep when i heard her say. Both. Adrenalin pumping i made a dive for the thirty eight on the floor beside me. The runaway tipped up on one corner pitching me headlong

Onto the floor in a tangle sheets pillow and blankets. Ginger switched on the bedside lamp what happened. I fell out of bed got it what’s wrong did you hear something. No. I was wondering if you were awake. Am now. At grumbled. I didn’t want to get up.

The light still blazed while i sat on the floor clad in a discrete loincloth of sheet. I glared at her and she. Started to giggle. It’s not funny. I muttered. She nodded covering her mouth with her hand to contain increasing ripples of laughter. Yes it is. She gasped at last.

You ought to see yourself. I looked down and had to admit that what i could see was pretty funny. That the gun had skidded under the bed. No way was i going to crawl around on hands and knees searching for it. With as much dignity as i could muster i unraveled my legs.

At last wearing the sheet as toga. Eyes stood on my feet surveying the debris that had once been a tidy roll-away bed. This is a very large bed. Ginger said seriously stifling her mirth. It’s probably more comfortable than that thing too. That much was inarguable. I said nothing. Care to join me.

Come on ginger get serious. I am serious. All laughter was gone from her mouth and eyes. There’s plenty of room. She added. We are consenting adults. We haven’t crossed any state lines. But you are the wife of the soon to be elected lieutenant governor. The soon to be former wife.

Of the soon to be elected lieutenant governor. She corrected with a hint of a smile. I moved to the far side of the bed and a lighted cautiously on the edge of it. I waited for lightning to strike. It didn’t.

Would you like me to call the desk and see if they have any. Bundling board. I turned on her. You’re making fun of me. I can’t help it. Tentatively i slid first one leg then the other under the covers clutching the sheet firmly in one hand as a security blanket.

I settled wearily on my pillow before i turned to look at her. She sat propped up in bed observing me with undisguised interest. The deep neckline of her gown fell away revealing a firm swell of breast. Do you think i’m. Beautiful. She asked gravely.

I looked up guiltily convinced she had got me peeking. Of course you’re beautiful. Very beautiful. Cig used to tell me that. I never knew if i should believe him but. My god ginger how could you not believe him. I still see it drunk when i look in the mirror. It was a comment

Made without guile. She wasn’t fishing for a compliment. She was attempting to understand to sort out what was real and what wasn’t. Obviously we weren’t going right to sleep. I propped my pillow next to hers examining her carefully critically in the golden glow the bedside lamp behind her.

I studied the curve of her forehead. The clear green eyes under delicately arched brows. The fine straight nose. The gentle pout of her lower lip. You’re not the same person now. I think that’s what cig wanted you to realize. She drew her knees up and rested her chin on them musing aloud.

I thought. If i once quit drinking that. I’d be good enough. That Darryl would finally pay some attention to me. There are a lot of stories like that in a a you know. Marriages that bounced back from the brink of disaster. But. This is a thirty six year old body.

I can’t compete with tender blossoms from the secretarial pool. Silence lengthened between us. Never glib i could think of nothing to say. But then i had never before found myself in quite this situation. What’s the scar on your chest. Her question startled me.

I look down as though i’d forgotten that was my chest and my scar. The star quiet of an incision highlighted against the rest of my skin. Ash from a bullet. I said. When did it happen. Last spring sometime. I said carefully. The time the date the place are as indelibly

Inked on my soul as the scar is on my flesh. Did you catch him. Who. The man who shot you. It was. A woman. She’s dead. Oh. Do you mind turning out the lights. I asked. I didn’t want to talk anymore. The conversation was circling too close to my own hurt.

It was one thing to help ginger with hers. Dealing with my own was something else. The light snapped off. I could feel ginger settling on her side of the bed. I groped under the bed and located my thirty eight. Once it was within easy reach

I lowered my pillow resting on it as if it were full of thumb tacks or nails. Bro. Yes. Can i just. Light next to you. I need an arm around me someone to hold me. Tentatively i held up the covers. She slid across the bed and nestled into the crook of my arm.

I inhaled a fragrant perfume of her freshly washed hair. I felt the curve of her hip next to mine. The gentle swell of her breast under a layer of covers. For a long time we were quiet. I think i was holding my breath. Though. He asked. What are you thinking.

I’m trying to remember which of the ten commandments says thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife. Do you. Do i what. Covered me. Right then i realized the garden of Eden was a put up job. Yes. Her hand flitted across my chest. Her touch inflaming every streamed nerve in my body.

She pulled herself up until she lay on my chest her lips grazing mine. This ns tape one. Please change to. Tape too. She pulled herself up until she lay on my chest. Her lips grazing mine. I was conscious of the tantalizing feel of silk against my skin.

The musky odor of a woman’s awakening body. She kissed me cautiously as though unsure of my response. I wasn’t sure either. I waited long enough to be sure lightning still didn’t strike. Then i pulled her to me and my mouth seeking hers finding her hungry willing eager.

She guided my hand through the cleft in her gown. Her breast was taught and expected to beneath my cupped fingers. And sampled her ear and traced the slender curve of her neck with my teeth and tongue. She gasped and her body arched as goose flesh swept across her skin beneath my fingertips.

She slipped from my grasp. I heard her impatiently cast off the silken barrier of gown. My fruit of the loom hit the floor as well. Ginger came back to me naked sleek and ready. Beyond the pleasure she sought only release. She slid her body onto mine moisture finding moisture need finding need

Plunging me deep within her. I grasped her slim waist raising her lowering her. Hearing her sharp intake of breath each time i probed closer to home. Each time i led her to the brink then drew her back offering and with. The final gift. Now. She whispered. Please.

When the floods came and engulfed us both. We surfaced in a quiet pool spent and out of breath. That was wonderful. She whispered. I’ll bet you say that to all the guys. I teased. She was suddenly subdued. There’s only been one other. She said. He’s never been this good. Ever.

Flattery will get you everywhere. I drew her into my arms cradling her head on my shoulder. Are you going to shut up now and go to sleep. It’s late. The desk clerk is coming for the goddamn roll-away at eight in the morning. I’ll be quiet. She said. I promise. She snuggled against me.

We lay like that for a long time. Her breathing steadied and slowed. I listened as her heart beat next to mine a thud followed by a smaller echo. Deliberately i tried to slow my breathing. Hoping to god i wouldn’t snore. Time passed slowly. I stared sleepless at the empty space above the bed.

Wondering how long it takes to learn to sleep w in a double bed. Dakota familiar song. Probably a long time. Bow. What now. I can’t do it. Do what. Sleep like this. I don’t know how to sleep with anyone but Darryl. I pulled her to me. Holding her for a moment and a

Crushing bear hug. I kissed the top of her forehead then shoved her playfully toward the other side of the bed. Now go sleep over there then spoilsport. I’m sorry. Don’t be. I understand. And i did understand. Ginger Watkins had been caught up in the need to know she was still alive.

A normal phenomenon in the aftermath of death. An instinctive affirmation of survival. If i hadn’t been there she would have found someone else. I just got lucky. Chapter eight. The telephone jarred me awake at seven. Detective beaumont. Darryl Watkins is on the phone. He wants to speak to mrs Watkins.

Should i put him through. I felt the unaccustomed warmth of a buddy snuggled close to mine. It took time to clear my head. I turned and ginger stirred nestling comfortably against me. She had evidently moved there in the middle of the night our sleeping bodies overcoming our conscious objections. Sure that’s fine.

I said into the phone. With a noisy clatter i fumbled the phone back into place. Ginger. Wake up. You’ve got a call. Her eyes opened and focused on mine with a look of startled dismay. The phone rang again before she could say anything. I handed it to her. Hello. Ginger said

Her voice still thick with sleep. Oh. Hello Darryl. There was a long silence as she listened to what he had to say. Meanwhile i lay naked under the covers. Considering the best way to get to the bathroom while maintaining some degree of modesty. No. I haven’t changed my mind. She said firmly.

That galvanized me to action. I had no intention of eavesdropping on her domestic conversation. I groped on the floor founded the discarded roll-away sheet and wrapped it around me. With clean clothes from the closet i withdrew into the bathroom and took a bracing hot shower. The water pounded me.

Despite lack of sleep i was invigorated stimulated. Exhaustion my constant companion for months dissolved. I was incredibly happy. Except for one small cloud on my horizon. The ginger might be remorseful. I didn’t want guilt or regret to tarnish what had happened between us even if it was nothing more than a survivor’s

Time honored near death screwing syndrome. Maybe that’s all it had been for ginger. But not for me. It had reawakened j p beaumont lost libido. I was glad to have the old boy back. Humming under my breath i emerged from the bathroom.

Ginger sat on her side of the bed with her legs tucked under her. She was wearing the lush silk robe. Good morning. I said. Do you always sing in the shower. Only when i’m happy. I told her. I see. I looked at her trying to assess the effect of her husband’s phone call

Hoping for some sign to indicate if she was glad to see me or if she wanted me to drop into a wholesome place. Her face remained inscrutable. Is Daryl coming up. I asked for one of something better to say. He wanted to but i told him no.

He thinks he can talk me into changing my mind. It won’t work. I told him i’m staying here the rest of the weekend. I had planned to anyway. There’s no sense in going home just a fight. Will they cancel a workshop. She smiled mercilessly. Not even Trixie bodine has nerve enough to go

Through with it after what happened to sig. Who she. Chairman of the parole board. You know like how much do you. No. She responded. With my hair combed and a splash of aftershave on my face i surveyed the roll away with an eye to making it

Look more like someone had slept in it. And less as though a heavyweight wrestling match occurred. I gathered up the sheets and blankets and started to put it to rights. Well. Busy with the bed i didn’t look up when she spoke. What. Do you think. Badly of me. I abandoned the roll-away.

Think badly of you are you kidding. Why should i. Because of last night. I didn’t mean to. In two steps i stood beside her. Lucky lady. And said gruffly placing my hand on her shoulder and giving her a gentle shake. It’s the blind leading the blind.

I was worried about how you’d feel this morning. Afraid you’d be embarrassed. Think i’d. Taken advantage. She reached out and took my hand. She kissed the back of it then turned it over and moved it from her hairline to chin. Guiding my fingers in a slow caress along the curve of her cheek.

I’m not embarrassed. She said softly. Greedy but. Not embarrassed. She allowed my hand to stray down her neck and invade the soft folds of her robe. She was wearing nothing underneath. Her robe fell open before me. Our coupling the night before had been in pitch blackness.

Now my eyes feasted hungrily on her body. She was no lie the virgin. Hers was the gentle voluptuous nus of a grown woman. With a hint of fullness of breast and hip that follows childbearing. A pale web of stretchmarks lingered in mute testimony. My hand cupped her breast. It changed subtly but perceptibly.

The nipple drew erect. The soft flesh taught and warm beneath my fingers. She caught my chin in her hand and turned my face to hers until our lips met. Please bow. She whispered her mouth against mine. A shed my clothes on the spot while she lay naked before me.

Tempting as a pagan sacrifice offered to me alone. My fingers and tongue searched her body. Exploring her. Demanding admittance. She gave herself freely opening before me denying me nothing. She took all i had to give and the more her body arching to meet my every move.

A final frenzy left her trembling against my shoulder. My face buried in her hair. It wasn’t an accident was it. She said when she could talk. What wasn’t an accident. Last night. I don’t understand. I was mystified. While you showered i was wondering if last night was an accident. Or if it

Could have been that way. All along. I raised up on one elbow to look at her. Her face was serious contemplative. Understanding dawned slowly. No one had ever before made love to her like that. Watkins had never tapped the wellspring of woman in her. Not in eighteen years of marriage.

I kissed her tenderly. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. The bastard. She said fiercely. The first class bastard. I’ll take him to the cleaners. I had unwittingly unleashed hurricane ginger into the world. Maybe he doesn’t know any better. I inadvertently defended him and she gave me a shove

That sent me sprawling from the bed onto the floor. He’s been giving it away to everyone else. By god it’s going to cost him. Angry tears appeared on her cheeks. The phone rang on the other side of the bed. I scrambled to reach it. This is the desk. Can i

Come get that roll-away now i’m almost ready leave. I cleared my throat. Yeah sure anytime but all ready to go. I spoke casually all the while motioning frantically to ginger. She hopped out of bed and made a beeline for the bathroom. By the way i continued stalling for time.

Before you come which asked the dining room to have my usual table set for two will be down for breakfast in a few minutes i don’t want to wait in a crush of reporters. No problem. Fred replied. I rushed back into my clothes and made the room as presentable as possible.

I went so far as to beat an indentation in the pillow on the roll-away. I also did my best to straighten one side of the king-size bed. Ginger’s transformation was speedy. Dressed brushed and wearing a subtle Cologne. She emerged from the bathroom well before the clerk arrived. She may have worn some makeup

Other than a dash of pale lipstick but i couldn’t tell for sure. She looked refreshed and beautiful. Smiling she surveyed my clumsy efforts to conceal our activities. Walking to the far side of the bed she expertly straightened the bedding. Whose reputation are you trying to protect. She asked. All of the above.

I told her. Let’s see. The desk clerk knocked. We managed to fold up the roll away contraption and move it out of the room. Hungry. I asked after Fred was gone. Vanished. She replied. Let’s go do it then. I told her. We walked through a quiet rosario morning.

The only noise was an occasional squawking gel. No one else from her group seemed to be up although several of the dining room tables were occupied. The hostess led us directly to my preferred table one by the window overlooking rosario strait. Water folks. Said the same cheery waiter who

Served us the night before. What can i get you. The works i told him. Eggs over easy hash browns toast juice coffee. He looked questioning lie at ginger. I’ll have the same. She said with a smile. My water glass had a narrow sliver of lemon in it.

And speared the lemon with my fork then offered it the ginger across the table. Puzzled she sat holding it. What’s this for. She asked. To wipe that silly grin off your face. I replied. People might get suspicious. She laughed outright but soon a cloud passed over her face. I believe. She said thoughtfully.

I’m beginning to understand what segment. Outside our window the sky directly overhead was blue. As we watched a thick bank of fog marched toward us. Rolling across the water obscuring the strait beyond the resorts sheltered bay. We were well into breakfast win over ginger shoulder i saw an obese but well groomed

Woman pause at the dining room entrance surveying the room. Then make her way toward us like a frigate under full sail. She wore a heavy layer of makeup. Her fingers were laden with a full contingent of ornate rings. A thick cloud of perfume preceded her. Ginger.

Her voice had a sharp schoolmarm ish tone. Ginger started instinctively then composed herself. Good morning Trixie. The woman stopped next door at table and praised me disapprovingly. I went by your room several times last night and this morning but you weren’t there.

She paused as if waiting for ginger to offer some kind of explanation. None was forthcoming. Trixie. I’d like you to meet a friend of mine jp beaumont. Bo this is Trixie bodie chairman of the parole board. Glad to meet you. I said. Trixie ignored me. Have you gotten word that the meeting’s cancelled.

She asked coldly. Ginger countered with some ice of her own. I think that only appropriate. Trixie forged on. We’re all leaving this morning do you need a ride back to Seattle. No thanks i can manage. Alright. Trixie turned her ponderous bulk and started away. Then she stopped and returned to our table.

Under the circumstances it’s probably best if you don’t go to six funeral. All color seeped from ginger’s cheeks but she allowed herself no other visible reaction to Trixie these words. Why not. Ginger asked. Her question seemed to take Trixie back. Well. Considering. Trixie retreated under ginger’s withering gaze.

Turned and in a rustle of skirt and nylons left the room. Ginger carefully placed her fork on her plate and pushed it away. Can we go. I took one look at her face and knew i’d better get her out of there fast.

Trixie bodin had just layered on the straw that broke the camel’s back. Chapter nine. The fastest way out of the building was down the back stairs and out past the long narrow bowling alley shaped indoor pool. By the time we reached the terrace outside ginger sob burst to the surface.

She rushed to the guard rail and stood leaning over. Her shoulders heaving. While i stood helplessly to one side with my hands jammed deep in my pockets so i wouldn’t reach out to hold her. I’ve never seen fog anywhere that quite compares to orcas island fog. One moment we stood in the open.

The next we were alone in a private world. As the fog swept in. Ginger faded to a shadow. Moved toward her. Grasping her hand as the building disappeared behind us. She was still crying. The sound strangely muffled in the uncanny silence.

Pulling her to me i rocked her against my chest until she quieted. I continued to hold her but i also glanced over my shoulder to verify we were still invisible to the dining room windows. She drew a ragged breath. Are you all right now. She nodded. I am. Really.

That was an ugly thing for her to do. Trixie enjoyed passing along Mona’s message. There was a shift in ginger’s voice. A strengthening of resolve. I’ve got to resign. Without sig i can’t stand up to those people. They’re all cut from the same cloth.

Ginger broke away from me and moved along the terrace running her hand disconsolately along the guard rail. I trailed behind her at a loss for words wondering what made her think Trixie had served as Mona’s emissary. The fog feels like velvet. Ginger commented.

I wish i could hide in it forever and never come out. That’s not the answer. Isn’t it. When you’re drunk you don’t feel the hurt. What are you going to do. Her remark it sounded like a threat to start drinking.

If she was truly a recovering alcoholic a drink was the last thing she needed. It’s okay don’t worry. I’ll go to a meeting. There’s one in east sound tonight. What meeting. And a a meeting. Whenever sick and die we’re on the road we went to meetings together.

We plan to go to this one tonight i don’t remember where it is. Can i come. Ginger stopped and faced me looking deep into my eyes before she shook her head. It’s a closed meeting bow not an open one where everyone is welcome. I’ll go by myself.

If i’m not going to six funeral it’ll be my private remembrance for him. She made the statement with absolute conviction. I couldn’t help but respect her desire to have a private farewell for the man who had pulled her from the mire. We didn’t discuss it again. The subject was closed.

The fog lifted as quickly as it had come. I moved discreetly away from her. You are one hell of a woman ginger Watkins I’ll say that for you. She gave me a half hearted smile and started toward the building. Are you sure you want to go in there.

There’s probably a whole armload of reporters having breakfast by now. The murder of a public official is big news. She stopped considering my words. Reporters. In there. She nodded toward the dining room overhead. The desk clerk told me last night that some of them stayed over and over a fact Maxwell kohl did.

He was that. Funny looking fat man you were talking to in the lobby when i came back from being fingerprinted the one who was supposed to meet Don Wilson. One and the same. Who does he work for. The p i. E writes a crime column. She paused thoughtfully.

Is that all he’s interested in. Crime. I couldn’t see where the discussion was going. Why are you asking. She grinned impishly. I told you i’d get Darrell starting now. I’ll file on Monday but it’ll hit the paper Sunday morning. The only reason they want me to reconsider

Is to keep it quiet until after election day. Believe me Darrell doesn’t want me back. Now. Where do i find. What’s his name. Max. Probably under a rock somewhere. I mean at Bo. I want to talk to him. Hell hath no fury and all that jazz.

I figured Daryl Watkins deserved just about anything ginger could dish out. Go on into the moran room and wait by the fireplace I’ll see if i can find him and send him there. I’m also going to have your things moved to another room for tonight. If you’re going to stay over. Why.

Can i stay with you. I shook my head. Discretion is the better part of valor my dear. You can see sleep wherever you damn well please but you better have a separate room with your clothes in it or you’ll get us both in a hell of a lot of trouble. Oh. She said.

I guess i should have thought of that. Maxwell kohl was eating breakfast. Talking to him was tough because all i could see was the blob of egg yolk that dangled from one curl of his handlebar moustache. Ginger Watkins wants to talk to you. I said. His eyes bulged. No shit where is she.

In the moran room just off the lobby waiting. Call lurched to his feet signaling for the waiter to bring his check. Hey thanks jp i can’t thank you enough. Max persists in calling me by my initials. My real name is Jonas piedmont beaumont.

Mother named me after her father and grandfather as a conciliatory gesture after my father died in a motorcycle crash. Before he and mother had a chance to tie the knot. It didn’t work. Her family never lifted a finger to help us. She raised me totally on her own. They never forgave her

And i have never forgiven them. It’s a two way street. I shortened my name to initials in high school. In college people started calling me bull. Except for Max. He picked my initials off a registration form and he’s used them ever since mostly because he knows it bugs me.

I’ll bet if you drop the Jay peak crap maxie. That would be one way of thanking me. With a hangdog expression on his face Max followed me out of the dining room to the crackling fireplace in the moran room. Afterwards i stopped at the desk to reserve a new room for ginger.

Just as i finished someone walked up behind me and clapped me on the shoulder. It was Peters. I shook his hand. Huggins got a hold of you then. No. I came because little bird told me. Peters grinned. Then in a lower voice.

What the hell are you doing pack and hardware you’re supposed to be on vacation. It’s a long story. I said. I’m sure it is. The ferry was crawler with deputies. Are handing out copies of Wilson’s picture to everyone who gets on or off the boat what’s up.

Peeking around the corner i could see ginger and Max and deep conversation. I had noticed a small glass walled conference room just off the dining room. I asked to use it. Once inside with the door safely closed against unwanted listeners i told Peters all i knew. Maybe not quite all.

I left out a few details. He didn’t have any business messing around in my personal life. Peter shook his head when i finished. I wouldn’t be in huggins shoes for all the tea in China. If this thing gets blown out of proportion lots of political heads could roll.

On r Watkins isn’t a lightweight. Outcome you know so much about him. There’s enough in the papers that you can piece together. Your problem is you only read the crossword puzzles. Crosswords do not inform the citizens make. Leave me alone are nothing but propaganda. Let’s don’t go into that Beau.

I like current events. You like history. I like sprout sandwiches you like hamburgers. Neither of us is going to change. I reached for the file folder Peters held in his hand. Wait a minute i’m supposed to give this to a detective huggins you are not the investigating officer. For god’s sakes Peters

I protested don’t be an ass. I’m the one who called and asked for it remember. Captain Powell gave me specific orders that the report goes to huggins. You are on vacation. Paolo doesn’t want you screwing around and somebody else’s case. I’ll be a son of a bitch. I said. Peters ignored my outburst.

He had joined forces with the captain and the chaplain to corner me into a vacation. He more than the rest understood my loss. Are you doing Bo. He asked solicitous late changing topics. You’re looking better like you’re getting some rest. I smile to myself considering my total sleep from the night before.

I decided against depriving Peters of his illusions. Sleeping like a baby. I said grinning. Huggins showed up about then. He saw us through the plate glass windows and knocked to be let in. And introduced him to Peters. Within minutes the table was strewn with the grisly contents of the envelope.

Maybe Peters couldn’t give them to me but nobody told huggins not to. The pictures were there. The senseless slaughter the bloodied house. Denise Wilson had fought later. She hadn’t died easily. She had battled him through every room before it was over. The pictures sickened me as did later of smirking mug shot.

There was no picture of Donald Wilson in the file. Without Maxwell coal’s contribution we would have been up a creek. Whereas grading all the people on the ferries will be talking to employees and guests to your day. Huggins told us. Someone will have seen him.

You know just appear and disappear like that unless you’re a goddamn Houdini. He’s not at his house i asked. Hug and shook his head. Is there any other way to get here besides a ferry. I continued. There are float planes and charter boats were checking all of them but.

It doesn’t look to me as though he has that kind of money. He came over on the ferries i’m sure of it and we’ve got those babies covered. Peter smiled. You’ve heard that old joke going around about Seattle haven’t you. What’s that.

What does a San Juan county police officer use where a squad car. A Washington state ferry with blinking blue lights. Huggins glared at him. Very funny he said. We do a hell of a good job around here. Every once in a while Peters pulls a stunt that

Convinces me he’s not nearly so old as his years. Then there are times when he’s as wise as the old man of the sea. This wasn’t one of those times. Chapter ten. I called Ralph ames my attorney in Phoenix. Along with the car. I inherited aims from an corley.

In six months time he had become an invaluable friend over and above being my attorney. I called him at home. What are you doing. I asked. Cleaning the pool. He replied. I have a little Patience with people who own pools or boats. They’re both holes you pour money into.

Not only that it’s a point of honor to do all the work yourself from swabbing decks to cleaning filters. Did you ever consider hiring someone to do it. Nobo. Don’t jug. Cleaning the pool makes me feel self righteous. To each his own. What are you doing tomorrow. Lying the Portland.

Didn’t Peters tell you. Tell me what. We have a custody hearing in the dalles and two Tuesday keep your fingers crossed. Peters was at war with his ex wife. She got religion in a big way and went to live with a cult and broken Springs Oregon taking their two little girls whether.

Peters wanted them back. Ames took the case joining the fray at my request and on my nickel. What’s the point in having money if you can’t squander it. That close mouthed asshole. That’s good news. What Bo this is my day off. It is Saturday you know.

How about flying into seatac today instead of Portland tomorrow. I’m up on orcas island. Or someone here i’d like you to meet. I told her you’d take a look at her situation. Which is. Divorce. Messy. With political ramifications. Looks like collusion between her husband and her

Father-in-law to toss her out without a pot to piss in. Giving my services away again Bo. I care enough to send the very best. He laughed. Alright. I’ll see what i can do. Let me call you back. I gave him the number. As i hung up ginger appeared at my elbow.

Who was that. Aims my attorney from Phoenix remember. I told you about him. I asked him to come talk to you. Here. On orcas. Sure. But you said he was in Phoenix. He is. He was coming up tomorrow anyway. He’s trying to get a reservation for this afternoon. From Phoenix.

If you’re going to file on Monday you’ll need to talk to him tonight or tomorrow. How much is it going to cost. Nothing. You’ll put it on my bill. I correctly read the consternation on ginger’s face. How do you rate. She asked. I thought you were just a plain old ordinary homicide detective.

How come you have a high powered attorney at your Beck and call. Oh it’s a long story. I said. I came into a little money. A little. She echoed. Some. I could see that. I see. Ginger said. You done with coal. I asked changing the subject. He’s one happy reporter. Chagrin.

That story will make Daryl socks roll up and down. It should hit the paper tomorrow. What did you say. Enough. And named names. At least a few of them. A private detective had already checked those out. Darrow will come across as an ass active philanderer. Hot stuff.

We left the lobby and walked toward the new room where housekeepers at moved gingers things. What do you think barrel will do i asked. She gave a mirthless laugh. He’ll huddle with homer and the PR man. The three of them will decide how to play it. Name familiarity his name familiarity.

They may get more press if they do an active denial. They’ll take a poll and decide. That’s pretty cold blooded. But how are you going to feel with your personal life splashed all over the front page. We reached the building where her new room was.

Ginger stepped to one side waiting for me to open the door. On. The eyes she turned on me were luminous le green and deep. I just found out about personal. She said softly. None of that is going in the paper. There was a tightening in my chest and a catch in my throat.

Mr macho handles the compliment. I tripped over my own feet and stumbled into the hallway. I found her room. Unlocked the door and handed her the key. Are you coming in. The invitation was there. Written on her face but i shook my head. Ames is supposed to call my room. I’d better not.

Does that mean i can’t see you. Have i been a bad girl and you’re sending me to my room. She teased. No. Let me see what’s happening as far as ames and Peters are concerned. Maybe you and i can go on a picnic. Terrific. I’ll change into jeans.

Now wait a minute i said maybe. She looked both ways up and down the hall then gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. Please. Well. Alright. Now you put it that way. Smiling she disappeared into her room. I returned mine.

I had gotten a second key for Peter’s Andy was there waiting when i arrived. Who’s your roommate. He asked casually as i flopped onto the bed. Her makeup case is still in the bathroom. I wasn’t any better at sneaking around than ginger was. I made a stab at semi full disclosure.

Ginger Watkins stayed here last night didn’t i tell you. Peter’s eyes narrowed. I don’t think so. There weren’t any more rooms and she couldn’t go back to hers whoever got in at a key. Right. Peters nodded complacently humor ing me. We got a roll-away she’s married for Christ’s sake okay okay

He said abbott your way. What’s the program. You didn’t tell me aims as a court date in the dalles. Small oversight. Peters grin. So where even. What’s going on. I asked aims to come up here tonight i’m hoping he can help ginger with a divorce.

And you expect me to fall for that crap about a rollaway bed. He laughed. As i threw a pillow at him the phone rang. It was ames. I get into seatac at five fifty can someone meet me. We’ll flip a coin i told him. One of us will be there what airline. United.

Ok. I’ll book rooms here. Rooms. I glared at Peters. Peter snores and growled into the phone. I sure as hell don’t want him in my room and you won’t want them in yours either. Besides it just add a bunch of cancellations. I know rooms are available. Rooms. Ames agreed.

Peters and i flipped the coin. He called heads and it was tails. I figured it was my lucky day. Considering the ferry schedule he didn’t have much time to hang around. I called the desk and reserved two more rooms up at the far end of the complex. By the tennis courts. Adjoining.

I was still on the phone when someone knocked. Peters went to the door. My name is ginger Watkins is Beau here. Peters step to one side and roll his eyes at me once he was behind her. She wore a full sleeved apricot blouse and a pair of

Tight-fitting Levi’s that did justice to her figure. With a jacket slung nonchalantly over one shoulder. Ginger was a class act all the way. This is detective Ron Peters i said. My partner on the force in Seattle. And please to meet you. Her smile of genuine goodwill had it’s desired effect.

Peter is appraising glance was filled with admiration. Pleasure is all mine. He murmured. Ginger turned to me. Did i leave my calendar here. She asked. It isn’t in the room and i checked with the maids. They said they moved everything. I haven’t seen it. When did you have it last. I don’t remember.

I may have taken it with me when i went to meet sig. It’s got the address for the meeting tonight. I’m sure someone else can tell me where the meeting is but i keep all kinds of phone numbers in the calendar. It would be hard to replace.

Could you have left it in the car in anacortes. She considered that possibility. No she said. I don’t think so. I picked up the phone and called the desk to ask if anyone had turned in the missing calendar. No one had. Come on. I said when i got off the phone.

Will walk Peters to his car he was just leaving for the airport. You are. She asked. You barely got here. I did Peters agreed sullenly. But surely it just got cancelled. Peters took off in his beat up blue dots. Ginger and i diligently searched the meeting rooms

The dining room the bar and the lobby to no avail. The calendar wasn’t there. Rosario is nothing if not a full service resort. While we were busy the kitchen packed us a picnic lunch complete with basket tablecloth. Ginger’s enthusiasm was unrestrained. She practically skipped on her way to the parking lot.

A genuine Ford pinto white with splashes of rust was parked next to my bright red Porsche nine twenty eight. As i went to unlock the writer side ginger assumed i was going to the junker. She started for the writers side of that one stopping in dismay when i opened the Porsche.

She came around the pinto grinning sheepishly. Isn’t this a little high toned for a homicide cop. I placed the picnic basket in the back and helped her inside. Conspicuous consumption never hurt anybody. I said. With a switch of the key the powerful engine turned over.

When she was alive and correlate drove the car with a casual assurance. I always feel just a little out of my league. As though the car is driving me. Have you seen moran state park i asked. Ginger shook her head. Or that. This late in October it isn’t crowded.

You are changing the subject bow. She accused. I feigned innocence. What do you mean. Tell me about the car. She insisted. And so i told her about the car. About finding an corley and losing and gourley.

One by one i pulled the memories out and held them up in the diffused Autumn light so ginger and i could look at them together. We drove and walked and. Talked. We climbed the stairs in the musty obelisk without really noticing our surroundings. It was my turn to talk and gingers to listen.

By the time i finished we were seated at a picnic table in a patch of dappled sunlight with the food laid out before us. It was a long pause. You loved her very much didn’t you. Ginger said at last. I didn’t think i’d ever get over her. But you have. I’m. Starting to.

A little. Meaning me. From someone else that question might have sounded cynical. But not from ginger. I nodded. Today is the first time I’ve felt like my old self. Peters attributed it to my getting enough sleep. That shows how much he knows. He’s young what can i tell you. And. I’m the first.

Since. And corley. Yes. And i was. Good. It was a pathetic question. She was looking for the kind of reassurance most women don’t need after age eighteen or so. We were alone in the park. I came around the table and sat behind her my hands massaging her tight shoulders.

Rubbing the rigid muscles of her neck. Her body moved under the pressure of my needing fingers relaxing and stiffness succumbed to the balm of human touch. You were terrific. I whispered in her ear. She turned to me two huge teardrops welling in her eyes. This end side one.

Stop your player here and without fast forwarding the tape. Please turn to side two. She turned to me two huge teardrops welling in her eyes. That was stupid. I shouldn’t have asked. She leaned against me and i continued the rubber neck feeling her tension soften and disappear.

No one’s ever done it to me before. She said. Done what. Rubbed my neck like that boy. I kissed her forehead. All i can say sweetheart is you’ve been married to a first class bastard. Unexpectedly she burst out laughing. I don’t think anyone had ever referred to Daryl

Watkins in quite those terms in her presence. She turned her neck languidly from side to side like a cat stretching in the sun. Felt good. She murmured. We repacked the picnic basket. Could i. Stop by your room for a little while before i go. Meeting doesn’t start until eight. Sure. I said.

By the way how do you plan to get to that meeting or has. She clapped her hand over her mouth to clap your hands i forgot. I don’t have my car. I can probably catch a ride with the Van that goes to the ferry. Or don’t be silly take the Porsche i said.

I couldn’t do that. Oh yes she can. Load. It was almost our first quarrel. But finally she knuckled under to my sir superior intellect and judgment career. Besides i had the clinching argument. By taking my car she wouldn’t have to leave nearly so early. She capitulated.

Who says women can’t be swayed by logic. Hormones and hormones. And. Expensive toys. Chapter eleven. We took a meandering route back to rosario and. At one point we paused laughing at a large hand painted sign on a ninety degree curve that said. Slow duck crossing.

Does that mean the ducks are dumb or are you supposed to slow down. Ginger asked. Possibly a little of both. I observed breaking to negotiate the narrow corner don’t worry of. A flurry of yellow slips of paper awaited us at the desk. The first message from huggins was jubilant.

A ticket seller at the anacortes ferry terminal remembered Don Wilson as a mid afternoon walk on the passenger. The evidence was speculative and purely circumstantial but that gave Wilson opportunity. He already had motive already. Hugging the second note with more ominous. Results of the autopsy were in because.

Larson was cause of death was a blow to the base of the skull with a plant objective. He was dead before he hit the water. The cut on his forehead had occurred after he was dead. The news hit ginger pretty hard.

In addition her room key had not been found among sig Larsen’s personal effects. A message from Peters said he and eames were skipping dinner in order to make it back to orcas. Since the food on the ferries wasn’t fit in. He advised me to make dinner reservations for after their arrival.

Ginger passed me her own fan fold messages. Enough to form a formidable canasta hand. Daryl Watkins had called every half hour. Homer Watkins have called several times. All of the messages with increasing urgency he said for ginger to call back. She returned the calls from my room.

I think she wanted the moral support of my presence. She spoke with Darryl first. He had learned of the impending column in poi and wanted her to retract it. She was adamant. She would stand by every word of the story as written word. He threatened to come up or.

She told him not to bother. That nothing he could say would make her change her mind. The call to homer was much the same. His attempts at browbeating also came to nothing. I wondered if either of them recognize the subtle shift in her from the day before. An undercurrent of gritty determination.

J p beaumont posing as professor Henry Higgins heard the difference. And gave himself a little credit. Nonetheless the phone calls had a subduing effect on our high spirits. I think we had intended to take advantage of each other’s bodies before ginger letters to recapture the magic of co-mingled enjoyment.

The last us until she returned from her meeting. Instead we sat in my room without even holding hand was. Talking quietly as the sun went down. Remember. I can’t remember now what we talked about. We ranged over a wide variety of topics finding surprising areas of common interest and knowledge.

For someone with little formal education. Ginger was a widely read. Challenging conversationalist. I invited her to join Peters aims and meet for dinner after the meeting. She waited until the very last minute to leave for east sound. Delaying her departure so long that she finally decided to change clothes after the meeting.

She was clearly torn between wanting to go to the meeting and wanting to stay with me. I could probably have talked her out of going had i had a trial. Out of respect to say Larsen. I didn’t make the attempt. I walked her to my car. Be careful. I said.

That’s a hot little number. She smiled. I’ve driven one before. What time will you be back. Ten. At the latest. I’ll make reservations for them. I told her. Kiss me goodbye. She asked. I looked around. The parking lot was deserted.

As near as i could tell all the media types including Maxwell Cole had abandoned rosario on the heels of the rest of the parole board. But years of being a cop have made me paranoid about reporters. I gave her a quick. Surreptitious kiss. The old sig hail and farewell for me too.

I said husky. I had a lot to thank him for. I will. She whispered and was gone. I went into the bar. Barney smiled when he saw me. Fine at calendar yet. He asked bringing me a Mick Norton’s and water premium not yet.

You get what you needed from that fat slob last night. Yeah. I answered. Thanks. Allows ye whose went home this morning. He continued. They were a bunch of animals. Especially that creep with what’s his name. Doll. Cole. My corrected. And yes he is agreeable.

I dragged my drink aware of how much better i felt were. Unburdening myself the ginger had somehow lifted the pol that it. Paralyzed methods and curlies deadline. I set down my empty glass and pushed back the stool. Only one. Barney asked her surprised. Later. I told him. I got places to go

People to meet. In actual fact i went back to my room for the second shower and shave the day. I dressed carefully. I wanted ginger to see me at my best. Wearing one of the hand tailored suits aims at insisted i purchase. At nine forty five i went back to the lobby

Where you are. Oh there you are. The desk work said. I just this minute had a call for you. He handed me a slip of paper with homer Watkins name and number on it. He called for me not mrs Watkins i asked. He was very specific the clerk assured me.

I walked to the pay phone and dialed the number. He answered on the second ring. Roma. This is detective beaumont. I said curtly into the phone. It’s good if you recall he said. His voice was smooth as glass with the residence of an old fashioned radio announcer.

It was a long way from our first telephone conversation. I talked to a friend of yours today Maxwell kohl. Is under the impression that you have some influence with my daughter-in-law. That’s correct i replied. It was also something of an understatement.

I thought you should be advised that ginger has been somewhat unstable of late. Ginger Watkins mental health is none of my business i said. I couldn’t be happier to hear you say that. She has been under a great deal of stress and can’t be held responsible for her actions.

What he had driving at i demanded. That’s all i wanted to discuss he said. I have another call. Having another call on a second or third line constitutes the high tech version of the brush off. Put down the phone. I went into the moran room to wait for aims and Peter land where

The ferry was due in at nine thirty so i expected them at rosario right around ten. I waited in front of the massive marble fireplace with it’s cheerful fire. Ralph ames was laughing as he came into the lobby. He and Peters were having a good time. I met them at the door.

We left word for ginger and the three of us went on into the dining room. It was late and the room was almost empty. We saddled the candle at the table and had a drink. You breaking training. I asked the waiter handed Peters a general tonic later. He raised his glass.

Just this once. He grinned. We were so busy talking and catching up that i didn’t notice the time. At ten thirty the waiters suggested that if we wanted to eat before the kitchen closed we’d better place our order. Suddenly i wasn’t hungry.

I told Peters and aims to go ahead and order that i’d wait for gingerly. And excused myself and went to the lobby where i had the desk clerk called gingers room. No answer. When Fred shook his head i felt a sickening crunch in my stomach. Something. May have happened to her. I said.

Would you let me check her room the other way. After the roll away bed escapade he could hardly say i had no business doing so. He put her back in a minute sign on the desk and we hurried into ginger’s room. It was empty undisturbed.

Back in the mansion i checked the dining room. Ames and Peters were happily working their way through salads. Ginger was nowhere in sight. And went to the pay phone and dial the sheriff’s substation at east sound. The dispatcher answered eventually. A response to my question short to the point.

There had been no reports of any traffic accidents. I tried to fend off rising panic. Do you know any other people who go to the Saturday night a meeting in east sound. I asked. Yes but. I can’t give out those names confidential. Get one of them to call me back then it’s urgent.

See what i can do. I paced the floor in tight circles trying to hold panic and check. When the phone rang i pounced on it like a cat attacking a paralyzed mouse. My name’s James. The voice on the phone drawled. You wanted to talk to someone from a. Yes i did.

Did you go to the meeting tonight. Gore said it was one of the speakers. Is there a woman there a woman in a pale orange blouse and Levi’s. Alright mister. I can’t give their information. Whoever joins the fellowship is strictly confidential that’s why people feel safer coming get don’t understand i said desperately.

She left here at twenty to eight going to the meeting she hasn’t come back. All i want to know is whether she made it that far. There was a long pause. No. He said. No what. No you won’t tell me. I wanted to reach through the phone line at throttling. Know.

She wasn’t there. I would have remembered someone like that. It was only locals tonight no visitors. Cold fear Rose in my stomach or my throat. Thank you. I managed. Depressing the switch on the phone. I released the redial substation the. Dispatcher will annoyed.

You’d better get a hold of huggins over in Friday harbor. Tell him to call detective beaumont. We’ve got trouble. Hell called me back within minutes. What’s up. It’s ginger she’s disappeared. She went to a meeting tonight never got there I’ve checked the meeting was over at nine she’s still not bad.

It’s almost eleven. I know i responded bleakly. What kind of car he asked. A Porsche nine twenty eight red. He whistled. Know she had a Porsche. What’s the license number. I gave it to him. Ok he added. I’ll be there in half an hour he said where are you rosario. Yes.

It’ll come straight to the docks. I’ll call the dispatcher and have percent pomeroy i think he’s on duty that night. He paused. To let her go by herself bow. I winced at his implied accusation though. I had already asked myself the same question. She wanted to. He said.

It wasn’t a very convincing reason. Not now. With leaden steps i walked back to the dining room and let aims and Peters know ginger Watkins wouldn’t be joining us for dinner. Not them. Not ever. Chapter twelve. They found the poor shed seven Sunday morning upon by the slow duck crossing sign.

I stood to one side watching the tow truck drag my nine twenty eight from the muck. Ginger still wearing her apricot blouse. Laid dead inside. Huggins opened the door and water cascaded out leaving her body slumped over the steering wheel.

Pomeroy gave me a half smirk as i walked over to look inside and make positive identification. I nodded to hal and walked away as the lab grew surrounded the car. Peters was down the road pacing the blacktop.

From the looks of it she plowed into the water full throttle and never tried to stop. He was voicing my own thoughts. I said nothing. Is there a chance she passed out. No. I said quickly absolutely not. Peters i’d make questioning lie. Why not. She didn’t drink.

Huggins left the car and came over to where we were standing. Watkins is on his way he said it’ll be a madhouse when he gets here. I understand he’s got a whole press entourage. Great. I muttered. Did you see anything along the road. Against question was addressed to both Peters and meal.

Peters pointed. There’s a place there where she laid down a layer of rubber. Looks likely floor boarded it from a dead stop. The three of us walked back to the place Peters and indicated. Huggins examined the Mark then nodded in agreement. He looked at me. Suicide you think no way. A declared vehemently.

Huggins and Peters exchanged glances. We were going to have dinner. I continued. She was looking forward to it. My rationale landed with a resounding thud convincing no one. Not even me. As soon as i saw Darryl Watkins i recognized him. I had indeed seen pictures of him.

Politicians are never as tall or as good looking as their publicity shots make them seem. Daryl Watkins was no exception. We are four inches shorter than i am maybe five or ten or so. His face boasted classically handsome features topped by dark brown wavy hair

But he had a pot belly protruded over his belt. A little too much of the good life showed around the Angeles. Beside Darryl walked a taller distinguished looking man a shock of white hair. There was a definite family resemblance. Armor weapons although pushing seventy carried himself with an

Easy grace of an aging athlete. His son might have gone to seed but not homer. I looked at them with the kind of curiosity one reserves for snakes in a zoo. It didn’t look like evil incarnate but they had made ginger Watkins life hell on earth. Huggins walked forward to greet them

Waving back the crush of newsmen photographers and cameras that swirled around them. Ginger would have been offended at the aftermath of her death. Created a media event that would give her candidate widower hours of free broadcasting coverage and hundreds of newspaper column inches all over the state.

And i thought it was going to be sick. A bow you alright. I had turned my back on the may lie and was walking away. Peters followed. I gotta get outta here. I groan. I can’t stand this bullshit. I continued walking. Peters worked his way back through the crowd to redeem his car.

Was several hundred yards down the road by the time he caught up with me. He pulled alongside. Get an bow there’ll be a hard ass. I was too sick at heart to argue. The press was handling Watkins with kid gloves. Peter said apropos of nothing. I glowered at him. What did you expect.

Peter shrugged and broke off any further attempt at conversation. In the silence that followed i tried to come to terms with what had happened. How ginger Watkins be the lifeless form slept in my car. And what could i have done to prevent it. And where the hell was done Wilson.

Ralph ames waited for us in the driveway outside the mansion. I heard. He said as i dragged myself out of the car. Is there anything i can do. Not unless you can figure out a way to bring her back. I choked out the words and beat it for my cabin

Leaving Peters and aim standing there together. I didn’t want to talk to anybody or hear any mumbled words of sympathy. I didn’t have any right to assembly. That was Daryl Watkins exclusive territory. I threw myself across the bed aware of a faint trace of ginger Watkins lingering in the bedclothes.

I wanted to lock it out of my consciousness. But at the same time i wanted to hold onto it. There was a gentle tap on the door. Aims came into the room alone. He sat down on one of the chairs beside the table. For a long time he sat there without speaking. You

Can’t blame yourself. He said at last. Why not. Never should have let her go alone. It’s not your fault. I wanted to bellow at him to rant and rave and vent my anger and frustration. It is. Don’t just see that it is. Aims remained unperturbed.

It was an a a meeting is that right. Yes. I said wearily. How long had it been since you quit drinking. My anger boiled back to the service she wasn’t drunk and she didn’t commit suicide. Doesn’t anybody understand that for god’s sake. He ignored me. It’s possible both.

She had lost a good friend the day before god dammit ames i’m trying to tell you. Something happened between us she didn’t want to die. Aim studied me carefully. I see. He said slowly. He Rose to his feet. I’m sorry Bo. I didn’t know. His quiet understanding rocked me.

Hot tears Rose in my eyes. I didn’t bother to brush them away. Ames paused in the doorway. It’s still not your fault. He added. The hell it’s not. I thought savagely as the door closed behind him. Wilson was here all the time and i let her walk right into his trap.

I don’t know how long i lay on the bed. Long enough to get a grip on myself. Long enough to know that if i walked outside i wouldn’t embarrass myself and everyone around me. I’d been awake all night. Exhaustion claimed me and i slept. In a dream. Done Wilson and Philip later

Were together both locked in the same cell. Armed with a gun i tried to shoot them through iron bars. Each time i pulled the trigger nothing happened. They laughed and pointed both of them together. I woke in a sweat. Peters was sitting in the chair by the window. Ginger’s chair. Bad dream.

He asked. Not answering i heaved my feet over the edge of the bed and sat there with my face buried in my hands hoping the whole thing was a nightmare. It wasn’t. Ginger Watkins was dead. They have released your car. Peter said. I felt as if i’d been shot. What. Release the porch.

Peters repeated. Had it towed into earn his garage in east sound. That’s impossible. Murder was committed in that car. No one should go near it until a crime lab has gone over it with a fine tooth comb. They have gone over it alright. Not with a fine tooth comb.

The consensus is that she went drinking instead of tour meeting. Or treating it as a dwi calling in an accident pending the outcome of the autopsy. They found an empty vodka bottle in the car. The San Juan county sheriff’s department says it can’t afford to be responsible for a car like that.

Too valuable. I got up and went into the bathroom where i splashed my face with cold water. My square jawed reflection in the mirror was haggard drained. When i came out of the bathroom Peters had moved. It wasn’t an accident. I said. How are we going to prove it.

It took a few seconds for the meaning of his words to sink in to understand that i wasn’t alone that Peters would help and so it aims for that matter. Even though his we eased my burden. The question remained. How would we prove it. Dr mini east sound. I said.

I want to talk to the mechanic. Again says he’s tops. Jury is in a backwater like this you can just bet they got a top drawer mechanic. Is probably one step under highway robbery. We got into Peter’s knutson. He managed to drivers to east sound without having to pass the duck pond.

Are you going to tell me what happened. Peters asked. Know. My answer was abrupt. Not now. Peters deserved better than that. We’ve been partners for almost a year. He more than anyone had seen me through the Anne quarterly crisis. I had learned to respect his quiet reserved man to tolerate his health fetishes.

In the world of partners alfalfa sprouts are a small price to pay or something you can count on. He didn’t take offense. He brought our discussion back to the Porsche. Hogan says dirty can dry it out.

If he gets to work on it fast enough he might be able to prevent it from Milwaukee. So by releasing the car how he thinks he’s doing me a favor. Peters nodded. God damn him. I said. Ernie’s garage wasn’t tough to find. It’s the only one in town.

I walked into the collaborate building wondering for a moment if anyone was there. Yet that. An invisible voice called. A mechanic’s Dolly wheeled out from under an appraised pickup. On it sat a man with his left leg missing below the knee and his left arm missing below the elbow.

Where his hand should have been. A complicated metal gripper was strapped to his arm with a leather gauntlet. The gripper held a small wrench. Ernie Rogers had bright blue eyes curly red mustache and shiny bald spot back of his head. Mister. He drawled. What can i do for you.

That’s my car over there. I said pointing. The Porsche huddled in a darkened corner of the garage. She’s a pretty little thing. He clucked sympathetically. Too bad about what happened. Huggins says you can dry it out and get it working that drew. He nodded

Removing the wrench from it’s gripper and wiping his metal hand on greasy pants in the typical mechanical gesture. Yeah it’ll cost you. He said. How long you had her. About six months. Ever done any major repairs on a porch. Ernie asked. He was still sitting on the deluge squinting up at me. No

I said. Never have. I take the whole damn thing apart clean it with solve it dry it. Put it back together. Much. Six or seven granted. In the old days that’s how much i would have spent on a brand new car. Luckily these weren’t the old days. How long will it take.

Depends on how soon you want me to start. Should do it as soon as possible you want to save the interior. It’ll take time a couple of weeks maybe. Got to get the money upfront though. Know what i mean. In the old days i never would have had a checking

Account with ten thousand dollars in it but. Ames had made me open a market rate account. I pulled the checkbook out of my jacket pocket and wrote out a check for seven thousand dollars payable to Ernie’s garage. And handed it to him. He looked at it.

Folded it deftly with one hand and stuck it in his overall pocket. Thanks mr beaumont. That your phone number on the check in case i need to get a hold of you. Keep track of the expenses. The insurance company will reimburse. Peters and i started towards the door.

I’m sorry but the lady in the car. Ernie said. He wasn’t your wife or anything washy. No. I said. We were. Just friends. The lie came easily. Ginger had said the same thing about sick Larson. I wondered if. She told the truth. Chapter thirteen.

Peter stopped at the front desk and bought a paper. He showed me sick Larson’s picture on the front page. Max’s interview with ginger should be there. I told him. He flipped through the pages and double check the index in the bottom corner of the page looking for Cole’s city beat column.

Not here bow. He said. I looked. But he said it would be in today’s paper. So we lied. Peter said what else is new. Peters sorted through the paper and removed the crossword puzzles setting them aside for me to work later. Going up to my room to get some rest he said.

Ames wants to go back to Seattle on the seven forty ferry tonight you’re welcome to ride along. Let me think it over Peters. Can’t quite see the three of us crammed in that Datsun but. The old look a gift horse in the mouth he told me.

To hell of a long walk from anacortes to Seattle. I accompanied Peters as far as his room. When he went inside i knocked on eames his door. Ralph was sprawled on his bed with the contents of a briefcase strewn about him. Working on Peter’s case. I asked. He nodded.

Are we going to win. He looked at me squarely. Maybe. Maybe not. Our best bet is to work out and negotiated settlement instead of going to court. Will they settle. He shrugged. Justice is blind. Money talks. They’ll settle the price is right.

It pisses me off to think of donating money to that ranting chanting asshole. It was my money. Although i was willing to do whatever was necessary to buy Peter’s kid a chance at a normal childhood it still made me mad. Ames regarded me mildly. You want to bail out. Hell no.

I just don’t like that guru making money hand over fist. Shaking his head aims gathered up his papers and shuffled them into a neat snack. What do you what boat. To ease myself into the chair by his window aware that my back hurt. Despite the map

Fatigue railed at me from every muscle in my body. I want to offer a reward. But what. For information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who murdered zig Larson. He picked up a yellow pad and a pen and made several notes in his small cramped handwriting.

I can do that he said. From an anonymous donor i Brazil. I nodded. How much. Five. Thousand. I nodded again. Anything else. My mind started to click. Like a car that has to be jump-started but runs fine after that. What are you going to do once you finish up an article.

Go back to the Phoenix why. You told me i ought to do some investing remember. He nodded. What do you have in mind. I understand there are a couple of condo projects in trouble in Seattle. Maybe now would be a good time to look into one of those.

Would you mind sticking around and researching them. Not as long as you are footing the bill. I got up to leave. Are you coming back to town tonight. He asked. Pausing at the door i considered my options. Writing with aims and Peters would be physically uncomfortable but convenient. No.

I said making up my mind. I have some thinking to do. And better off here away from everybody. And because you think Dunn Wilson is still on orcas. He caught me red handed. So what. I flair. I’m on vacation i can do as i damn well please.

You don’t have any objectivity in this case both. Don’t lecture me Ralph. I’m your client not some half grown kid. I stormed from the room slamming the door behind me knowing he was more than half right. I headed for the mansion in the vista lounge.

I wanted the taste of Mick Norton’s in my mouth the feel of an icy glass in my hand. I almost ran over Maxwell Cole who was about to climb into the hotel Van in front of the building. I was surprised to see him. I thought he was already gone.

What happened to your column. I asked sarcastically. Miss your deadline. Deadline. He echoed. If we’re talking about the piece i wrote yesterday the one on ginger Watkins i miss the deadline. So where is it. I was looking for someone debate and Cole was a likely candidate. His handlebar moustache drooped lopsided.

Making him look more dreary than usual. They. Bike the son of a bitch. The scope of the year and they spiked it. Who did. Beats the shit out of me. One minute it was in the next minute it was out my editors and talking. The driver of the Van on.

Hey come on man it varies don’t wait for nothing. Cole scrambled into the Van and settled in an aisle seat. The Van pulled out of the gravel drive leaving me lost in thought. It takes clout. Spike a story. A hell of a lot of clout. I wonder who was flexing his muscle.

Homer or Darrell. Father or son or father and son. It didn’t matter. Whoever it was at robbed ginger of her meager revenge or sole token of defiance. I charged into the lounge. It was deserted except for two slightly tipsy elderly ladies drinking sloe gin visitors at a table by the arched windows.

Barney you folded a newspaper and shoved it under the bar as i sat down. The monotonous. Nodded. It’s too bad about mrs Watkins. He commented placing the drink in front of me. She seemed like a realised lady from what little i saw of it. She was. I agreed.

Down to the drink and ordered another. Too bad about your car two. Cars can be fixed. That’s it. He grinned. I guess all learning is in seventh heaven. Heard has got himself a real live Porsche to work on. You know him. Hell yes. We went school together kindergarten on.

Ended up in Vietnam the same time. Different outfit so. That’s where he lost his arm and leg. Barney nodded. He doesn’t let it bother him. Goes up every year usually gets an elk. He’s got a wife and two kids another on the way. Any good. Barney grinned.

I’ll have to ask his wife about that he’s not my type as a mechanic at all is he a good mechanic. He is good. Barney said seriously. You put that car of yours back together better than it was before. All. I said.

A couple came in and sat at the other end of the bar. Barney left me to serve them. And sat there alone nursing a drink wondering where to start on a case that was not my case. On a murder that might be suicide or an accident depending on your point of view.

In Seattle i knew what i’d do sit down and try to pull together all the details on pieces of paper. Set as many pieces of the puzzle on the table as possible. Then move them around trying to find the framework where they would fit. Barney came back to me. You want another look

He asked. I looked at my glass. Your. Isn’t that your paper under the bar. It is and have it. Done with it. He pulled it out and laid it in front of me. I recognized sick Larson’s face looking up at me from under a screaming headline. And i picked up the paper warily.

I don’t trust newspapers don’t like them. Usually wouldn’t be caught dead reading. But this was different. This time i was outside the efficient circle of information and i needed a starting point. I was going to do something about ginger Watkins death jurisdictions be damned. Sig Larson’s death and gingers were inextricably linked.

I intended to find out how. I read every word of the laudatory obituary. A retired eastern Washington wheat farmer. Lar siegfried Larson has been widely respected. The article mentioned his volunteer work at walla walla and his involvement with babe Ruth baseball east of the mountains. It mentioned his widow mo owner

As well as his three grown children married men scattered throughout the west. The funeral would be held in welton on the banks of the tucci river on Tuesday at two o’clock. The governor himself was expected to attend. And so would jp beaumont i decided. I read on.

The family requested that remembrances be sent to aid. Even in death. Eg Larsen didn’t duck the issue of sobriety. Article. I had finished the article and was folding the paper when Peters came in at cocky. What are you doing. What does it look like i’m doing i’m trying to fold his goddamn newspaper.

You haven’t been reading it have you. Peter’s eyes flashed with sly amusement. You feel in Iraq bow maybe a little feverish. I stood up and struggled to return the newspaper to it’s place under the counter. When i flopped back down Peter’s grin faded. Ames and i are getting ready to take off.

When i have a bite with us before we go. Signal Barney for a new drink. When he said it in front of me i raise the glass and Peter erection in a sloppy salute. Who needs food. You’re drinking too much. Cut him off but at the cleaners.

Without arguing the point is stalked from our bar. Misery does not necessarily love company. I made short work of that drink. And the next one. Detective jp beaumont disappeared with a subsequent dose of Norton’s. All that remained was me the man. Or whatever bits and pieces were left of him.

You hit it pretty hard rj. Barney asked as he delivered my next drink. So what. I returned. He handed me the glass and i stared morosely into it. I swirled the Amber liquid listening to the crushed ice Russell against the glass. Gradually my carefully constructed defenses gave way. Pain leaked from every pore.

Ginger’s touch had reawakened that part of me that had died within. Now ginger’s death released the grief i kept so carefully bottled up inside me. It washed across me like a gigantic wave. Choking me. Drowning me. The next thing i remember is Barney

Taking my last drink away and leading me sobbing from the bar. He got me as far as the door to my room before i was sick and a bordering flower bed. It was still light when i staggered out of the bathroom and crawled into bed memory.

I have a dim memory of Barney closing the curtains before he went outside and shut the door behind him. Chapter fourteen. When i woke up. Cold sober two o’clock in the morning. I felt. Painfully alive again. I still hurt. But i had some

A bridge the chasm between the past and the present and was ready to go on. I had. Ginger Watkins to thank for that. And there was only one way to repair. Ignoring my hangover i rummaged around for paper finally locating a fistful of rosario stationery.

I assigned each person a separate sheet of paper. Ginger sig. Wilson. Daryl homer. Mona. Under each name i noted everything i knew about them. Things ginger told me. Things i had heard from other sources. Maybe there’s a better way of sorting out the players than by using paper and pencil

But I’ve never found one. If i were keeping score. I’d have to say that sig Larsen dropped a few points in the process. Have an innate suspicion of perfection. Both ginger’s comments and the newspapers undiluted praise made me wonder if the paragon had feet of Clay.

Being dead is only part of the qualifications for sainthood. Over and over i recalled my off hand denial to Ernie. Just friends. And so was signal ginger. Just friends right. Like hell. A twinge of tardy jealousy caused me to turn the Mona Larsson shit. What about her. Ginger

This mister is a calculating bitch. What suspicious wife isn’t a calculating bitch. Especially if she has some reason. Especially from the other woman’s point of view. I could see Mona Larsen in my mind’s eye. A woman from sturdy farm stock someone well beyond her middle years.

Who had stood by her man through thick and thin only to see herself losing him to an attractive young woman. It would give the fruits of her labors a bitter aftertaste. This ends tape to. Please change to tape three. It would give the fruits of her labors a bitter aftertaste.

So how jealous was Mona Larson. Enough to make her anger public by sending Trixie Bo Dean with a message for ginger not to attend Singh’s funeral. Where had Mona been when she was supposedly unroot to orca us. Huggins had been unable to locate her to notify arab six death.

It was an item that merited exploration but it wasn’t a top priority. Not that many jealous spouses actually murder their spouses and their spouses friends. Friends. There was that word again. Even in private thoughts i tended to gloss over it. Lower than. Ginger and i had been lovers. Briefly.

And maybe sig and a ginger had been too. But if so. Sig was just as bad as Darryl. Ginger hadn’t faked her surprise or enjoyment. At g. No. My ego wouldn’t accept that and know a woman could be so unlucky as to have two men as insensitive and unfeeling as Darryl. No.

My thought chased themselves full circle. Ginger and cig. Could not have been lovers. What about homer and Darryl. What did i know of them. Homer and Jethro. I thought. Between them they wielded a large amount of power. With it they had imprisoned ginger. Neither had wanted to let her go.

Both had tried to get her to delay the divorce. I recalled homer’s resonant voice on the phone explaining how erratic ginger had been. Trivializing her motives warning me to disregard whatever she might say. All the while ginger had been dying. Or was already dead. Darryl. What about Darryl.

The boozing whoring scion of an old established family. A scion who had fallen on hard times whose wife had to go to work to keep the wolf from the door. I recall ginger’s response to house question about a contract on sig’s life. No money she had said. Not no reason but. No money.

And no justification ethers since Darrell himself had been screwing around for years. Daryl Watkins. One man stud service who never rubbed his wife’s neck. Who never. I couldn’t believe Darryl would have had the nerve to confront ginger an infidelity. That caliber of double standard is fast approaching extinction.

But where had Darryl Watkins been on Saturday night. Would be interesting to know. Just for the record. Ginger. Ginger laughing. Crying. Stretching her neck as my thumbs massage the muscles of his shoulders. Ginger’s face transformed by a pleasure she had never known or. Suspected. Remembering that hurt too much. So i stopped.

She had seemed totally carefree as she drove away. Waving to me through the window of the Porsche. Respect for sig had dictated that she go to the meeting and say good bye but she would have come back to me to what i alone had given her. Of that i was sure.

Who or how. It’s doctor. Not suicide. Not booze. That brought me to the last sheet of paper. Don Wilson. Bereaved husband and father. Plunged into the world of political activist parading his grief on placards and sandwich boards. Trying to get someone to listen

Attempting to change the system that had robbed him of his wife and child. He had a point. But he had gone after the wrong people. Why had he agreed to meet Max. Max said something was about to break. What. Other than sigler since head. At the phony interview been employ.

A device to guarantee press coverage. Maybe Wilson had believed that killing cig and ginger would give his cause the public airing necessary to bring it to the top of the silent mode majority is consciousness. As if they gave a damn. But it’s a long way from political activism to cold blooded murder.

And there was nothing to prove Wilson’s conversion. Nothing but. Motive and. Opportunity. Wilson had come to orcas island that much we knew. Not beyond a shadow of a doubt but with relative certainty. And as near as we could tell well he had not left it.

At least not by any of the regular routes. He could have hired a boat or a plane but that was unlikely it would be too obvious. Besides huggins said he had checked all charters and tracked down all private parties which looked moorage. Assuming Wilson was still on orcas. Where was he hiding.

Did he have an accomplice. Was this the end of it. Since cig and ginger’s decision had placed later up in the work release program. Or was the entire Washington state parole board in jeopardy. Questions. Homicide detectives always have far more questions than they do answers. I analyzed the pieces of paper.

Pondering each word pouring over each scrap of information until i could have quoted it back verbatim. Hours later. Eyes swimming with fatigue i stumbled to the bed and fell across it. Not bothering to undress or pull the covers over me. Questions continued to buzz in my head.

Who had known of the a meeting besides sig ginger and me. And how would the killer have known she would be in my Porsche. The human brain is the oldest and the best random access memory. I had almost dozed off when a single word roused me. Calendar. I sat up in bed.

The meeting had been noted in her calendar and the calendar was missing. In fact that was the only item still on account at four in the aftermath of the break-in. I groped through the darkness for the phone knocking it to the floor. What happens to your garbage. I asked a startled Fred

Who answered sleepily on the fourth ring. It took him a couple of seconds to get his brain in gear. Goes to the landfill. He mumbled. They have garbage cans dumpsters. Dumpsters one beige wing. And to hear a dimension. Fred sounded more awake now

He was gradually becoming accustomed to my middle of the night requests. When were they emptied last. Friday afternoon late. We’re on a Monday Wednesday Friday schedule. I banged down the phone and rummaged through my clothes for my most disreputable levis and the dung colored sweater Karen’s mother

Knitted for me that Christmas before we were divorced. I had sworn to wear that sucker out. This would finish the job. I stopped by the desk and begged the flashlight from Fred. It was cold and rain was falling as i started my five am assault on rosario garbage dumpsters.

Those who think being a detective is romantic. Ought to try rummaging through three day old garbage with a raging hangover flashlight in hand in a driving rainstorm. Things happen to apple cores and orange peels and banana skins that can’t be described in polite company. If i had known about garbage cans.

Maybe i would have taken my mother’s advice and become a schoolteacher. I started with the wing where ginger’s original room had been. Searching through each carefully fastened black plastic bag. And at the same to the second wing dumpster and again found nothing. In terms of garbage this was lightweight stuff.

Tissues and soda cans. Discarded hairspray cans and a couple of pornographic magazines. Clean garbage. No calendar. The last two dumpsters whereby the mansion itself they contained. Garbage. Foul smelling foodstuffs that had sat around for several days and gotten surly. I took one whiff and almost gave up

But some of my mother’s stubborn determination must have stuck. I dug in and got lucky. At the bottom of the first dumpster i founded. A leather bound gold embossed executive planner. With ginger Watkins name and printed on the front. Carefully i laid the book to one side and refilled that rancid container.

After carrying the calendar back to my room i stripped to the skin on the rainy porch leaving my erect clothes by the door. I set the calendar on the floor just inside the doorway while i attempted to shower the odor off my body and out of my nose.

I came out of the shower wrapped in a towel and picked up the phone. And dialed house number. On the third ring i realized it was only six o’clock. Homicide is always much more urgent when someone near and dear is dead. Guess what. I asked when he finally answered. I give up.

How mumbled groggily. I found ginger’s calendar the one that was lifted from a room the other night. So big fucking deal you know what time it is. It was in the trash down near the mention. You want to come out and pick it up or should

I bring it over to Friday harbor myself. Ppo gimme a break i didn’t get to bed till three sorry out but i just found it. I thought you’d want to know. I’ll pick it up later. He said grudgingly. And won’t make any difference. What do you mean. He yawned fully awake now.

Go to corridors reporters before i went to bed. Said her blood alcohol reading was point fifteen she was dead drunk probably passed out cold when she hit the water. That’s preposterous doesn’t make any sense. Of course it makes sense. But alcohol counselor lie. I’m telling you what they told me

It was an accident and as official. I was wanted to argue but he wasn’t having any. The crime lab dusted for prints enough to confirm that she was driving. You mean you’re going to drop it just like that. Look bro we already got one homicide we don’t

Need to change a dwi into homicide just for drill. But she wasn’t drinking. She had nothing before she left here. You don’t get to a point fifteen reading bio as Moses. It was too much for. The divorce sick Larson’s death. She was despondent slipped. The classic recovering alcoholic story.

She didn’t live long enough to dry out a second time. Ginger’s words rang in my ears. I won’t go through that again ever. But i was the only one who had heard her make that categorical statement the only one who knew that in twenty four hours

She had taken several giant steps beyond grief and found a reason for living. What was the time of death did they say. Well between eight thirty nine thirty give or take. I tell ya how she had nothing to drink before she left here at twenty minutes to eight.

How could you get that drunk in such a short time. He sighed. Have you been around boozers when some of them fallen off the wagons like stepping off a thirty story building. Hal huggins didn’t budge. Neither did i. Do you want this Canada nut. I demanded.

And already said had come by later this morning and pick it up but i’m not making any promises. Don’t patronize me how i got that when you haven’t analyzed or not don’t pick it up just to humor me. For Christ’s sake. I’ll have have it analyzed good by.

The receiver banged in my ear. I looked at the calendar skulking by the door it’s pungent odor invading the room. It made me wonder if i still wanted to be a cop when i grew up. I kept it in the room odor at all.

Considering the phone call it didn’t make much sense to keep it. I might just as well have pitched it outside into the drizzle but i did and. I went to bed and tried to nap without much luck. Chapter fifteen. Hal huggins was in a foul mood when he showed up an hour later.

He called me from the lobby. Bring that goddamn calendar down here and buy me breakfast beaumont. Huggins was seated at a table before a steaming coffee cup when i ventured into the dining room. Grudgingly he pushed out a chair for me. I’m not very good company when i don’t get my beauty sleep

He growled. Where the hell that calendar. I handed it to him wrapped in a rosario pillowcase. When i expect to find in there he asked nodding toward it. Prints out. Especially on last week’s pages. He leaned back in his chair and glowered at me. Let me ask you this bow.

Do you think this calendar has anything to do with sig Larson’s death. The break in occurred after he was already dead. No but. But what. The meeting was listed in there the one second ginger plan to attend together. Wake when you call me this morning. Shera was awake.

And told you then and I’ll tell you now ginger Watkins death has been ruled accidental we are not treating it as a possible homicide do i make myself clear. Very. So you won’t have the calendar analyzed. I’ll take it just for old time’s sake but that’s the only reason.

Huggins glare aired at me his face implacable. What are you so pissed about how. I’m pissed because I’ve got a homicide to work and i’m shorthanded and i didn’t get enough sleep and my neck hurt. Any other questions. None that i can think of.

The waiter brought huggins his food and took my order. Halfway through breakfast howells savage beast seemed somewhat soothed. You’re going back today. Probably. Rosario had lost its charm. I wanted to go home and lick my wounds. You need a ride. Nah i can take the shuttle bus.

The waiter brought my coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice. Find any trace of Wilson. Hug and shook his head. Not yet. Looks like he stepped off the face of the earth once again on a very. Maybe it did. I said. Still no sign of him at his house. Not a trace.

King county has round the clock surveillance on the blazer doesn’t make sense. Unless he’s dead too. I suggested. Huggins flinty eyed scrutiny honed in on my face. He might be at that. He said. I didn’t like the tone the inflection. Is that an accusation. I asked. Could be. He allowed.

If i thought vigilante mentality had caught you by the short hairs. Look hal i was only trying to help. He nodded. The day to think otherwise bow. It sounded like the end of a beautiful friendship. I tried to put the conversation on a less volatile track.

How’d she get the booze then it had to come from somewhere. It wasn’t in the porch when she left here. When she left you. He corrected. She might have gone back to her room and gotten it. She might have bought it on the way. I was shaking my head before he finished speaking.

Huggins face clouded. Your assure you never met ginger Watkins before last Friday. I’m sure. I answered. Trying to keep anger out of my voice. From one moment to the next huggins and i shifted back and forth to opposite ideas

Like two kids who can’t decide if they’re best friends or hate each other’s guts. Why is it so goddamn important together she wasn’t drunk. He demanded. How as a man answer a question like that without his ego getting in the way. If she was drunk

Then i am not the man i thought i was. A psychiatrist would have a ball with that one. I know she was coming back. She and i had a date to screw our brains out after dinner. That one had a good match show ring to it.

I had given her a reason for living. She wouldn’t have thrown it all away. And that dripped with true missionary fervor. I said. It’s important to me that’s all. My mind’s made up don’t confuse me with the facts write. Something like that. But will you have the calendar analyzed

I told you i will and you’ll let me know what you find. There was a momentary pause. I guess. He stirred his coffee uneasily looking at me over the cup. It’s probably a good thing you’re going home today. We might end up stepping on each other’s toes.

I take it that means you’re firing me as a San Juan county deputy. He nodded. Yep. He gave me a lopsided grin. If it’s possible to fire someone who’s working for free. The tension between us evaporated. Huggins Rose taking his check and the calendar. I snagged the check away from him.

John me how remember. Your beauty sleep. We shook hands. No hard violence. He asked. None. Alright then I’ll be in touch. If i were a betting man i’d say there won’t be a goddamn thing in his image. He strode out of the dining room. It’s too bad i didn’t take that bet

But hindsight is always twenty twenty. I went into the bar because i didn’t want to go back to my room. Without ginger my room seemed empty. Barney was industriously polishing the mirror. Morning. He said to my reflection. Wanted right. Just coffee i replied. I need to think.

He brought a mug and set it in front of me. On the house. He said refusing my money. Barney had a sense of when to leave people alone. He said nothing about my making an ass of myself. Instead he returned to his mirror and his windex.

The question i had asked hal was far more than rhetorical. He was right of course. Blood alcohol readings don’t lie. No matter how much i wanted to deny it. The ginger Watkins had been drunk when she plowed into the water. So where had she gotten the booze. From her room. A liquor store.

Where. Hey Barney. I said. Does orcas island have a liquor store. He grinned. Hell no we’re too small. We got old man Baxter though he’s the official agent. Lives up above east sound about half mile beyond Ernie’s. Did huggins leave one of Don Wilson’s pictures with you. Are you kidding.

He reached under the bar and pulled out a whole handful. Why he want some. One. I said. I only need one. He handed me a picture. I pulled out a pen to write on the back. Tell me again how to get there. Where. Mr Baxter’s. Now wait a minute.

You come in here and I’ll give you free coffee next thing i know you want to go see our agents so you can mix your own drinks no way i’d lose one of our best customers. I promise i won’t buy anything. I protested. I just want to show him this picture.

Well in that case. Go past Ernie’s urge the fourth mailbox on the left. Thanks. At the desk call me a cab would you. Why. So i don’t have to walk. Know i mean why do you want to go see Baxter. I want to know if either ginger Watkins or this

Man bought something from him Friday or Saturday. Make the call would you. Instead Barney reached into his pants pocket and extracted a ring of keys. He tossed him across the bar and i caught him in mid air. Watch this. Cicada an old Chevy pickup parked over by the moorage.

You’re welcome to use it if you like. It was a small town gesture one that caught me by surprise. When i thought about it though there’s no such thing as auto theft on orcas island. I pocketed the keys. Thanks Barney. Appreciate it. The pickup looked old and decrepit but

Ugliness like beauty is only skin deep. The engine ran like a top beneath a rusty hood. I drove into east sound past earnings and stopped at the fourth mailbox on i left. The house was a picturesque grey and white bungalow that might have been lifted straight off cape COD.

I knocked on the door. Mr Baxter himself opened it. He was a small man with a belly much too large for the rest of him. The living room of the house had been converted into a mini display room with a stack of handheld shopping basket sitting beside the door.

The house had the smell and look of an aging bachelor pad. Not much cooking and not enough cleaning. Help yourself. He said motioning me inside. I pulled Don Wilson’s picture out of my pocket. I didn’t come to buy anything. I said. I was wondering if you’d ever seen this man before.

He peered at the picture then looked up at me. You a cop. He asked. His face was truculent arms crossed chin jutting. Mr Baxter was a short man embattled by a tall world. Huggins had pulled the plug on my unofficial deputy status. No. I said.

The woman who died the other night was a friend of mine. I’m trying to find out what happened to her. Not for me you won’t. I’m only asking if you recognize him. You ever hear the confidentiality statute and nineteen and thirty three. Not that i remember.

Says no liquor store clerk tell nobody nothing except that of course federal agents chicken revenue stamps. We can talk to them. All i’m asking is. Did you see him. In about giving out information they stick me with a high misdemeanor no sorry i’m not talking to nobody.

I can see right off i wasn’t going to change his mind. I left. Something made me stop at Ernie’s. The doors of the porch were wide open in the insides of the car were scattered all over the garage and a seemingly hopeless jumble. Ernie glanced up as i walked in.

He was bent over the engine a grimy crutch propped under his good arm. Mr beaumont as his own call you. I figured it was time to Jack up the price now that the car was in pieces and i was a captive audience. Why. I asked.

You ever have any work done on the linkage. I shrugged. No not that i know of. He hopped away from the car to a nearby tool bench picked up something in his gripper and handed it to me. I looked down at two pieces of metal slightly smaller in diameter than a pencil.

Watch this. That’s the throttle linkage cable. Looks to me like it’s been cut. What’s at me. But that thank god mr beaumont all you have to do is put that baby in motion and you’ve got a one way ride. I looked down at the shiny crimped ends of metal. It

Couldn’t have broken in the accident. He shook his head. No wait. Mind if i use your phone. I asked keeping my voice calm. It was time for how huggins to eat a little crow. Chapter sixteen. Hell marched into Ernie’s garage looking thunderous. What do you mean the linkage was cut. He stormed.

Ernie pointed him in the direction of the tool bench where the two pieces of cable were once more lying in state. Silently hal examined them then he straightened. How the hell can those crime lab jokers miss something like this. They were investigating an accident remember. I reminded him. A dwi.

Maybe even a suicide. He glared at me. And that’s no excuse. Where do we go from here. Damned if i know. How settled on a bench near the door. Not a chance of getting fingerprints now either. He lamented. Ernie back under the hood appeared over his shoulder at how grinning.

Only half as many as there could have been. He said. Hell didn’t bother to acknowledge Ernie’s black humor. To homicide. He muttered. To goddamn homicides in as many days. You know how long we usually go up here without a homicide. Did you tell anybody on the way over. Hell no.

I tried to raise pomeroy to come down to the dock and pick me up couldn’t find that lard as anywhere. Luckily somebody gave me a ride. My mind was working. Then the only people who know are you Ernie me and the murderer. Is right on. Let’s keep it that way.

What good lead do. Al asked. It’ll give us a chance to investigate without the media breathing down our necks. Hal nodded slowly. That does have some appeal. For a time we sat in silence. How far could it have been driven like that any. Hal asked finally.

Ernie answered without looking up from his work. Couple of hundred feet front end was line and it was on a straight stretch. What gear was it in. Neutral when i got it but i’m sure the tow truck drivers shifted it so he wouldn’t tear up the transmission. Can you check with him. Sure.

And not a word of this to anyone. How admonished. It’s important. Already straightened and favorite howl with a sly grin. He had a feeling it was or you wouldn’t been here in twenty five minutes flat. Last time i seen you move that fast was a fireman’s picnic when a wasp was after you.

How laughed. Yeah i said all time world records of that sucker on my butt. The camaraderie was small town stuff. Foreign in a nice way. Don’t worry I’ll keep it quiet. Ernie resumed working on the car as though we were no longer there. What about Wilson. I asked any sign of him.

Huggins shook his head. Were looking. Still keeping his house under surveillance but so far nothing. We Rose and started toward the door. Ernie called after me. Now by the way mr beaumont. Maybe it won’t cost you the whole seven grand after all. Hao’s eyes widened. Seven grand. Maybe six and a half.

Ernie’s head disappeared dismissing us. How looked at me stunned. Six and a half thousand to fix the car. Support. I said. It seemed to me that no further explanation was necessary. How much do they pay any of these days. When i work Seattle pd i was lucky to afford a lube and oil.

Matter of fact i still am. You into graft and corruption. I happened into some money hell at all. How glowered at me. Some people have all the luck. He sniffed walking outside. I followed. Where you going. I asked. I’m looking for pomeroy he was supposed to come pick me up.

I can’t drive the goddamn police launch all over the goddamn island. Where do you want to go. The duck pond us all where else. That’s how to homicide detectives one legal and one not returned to the scene of the crime and a bartender’s borrowed pickup.

It was much but it was a whole lot better than walking. The place where the Porsche had laid down the layer of rubber made better since now. The car had leapt forward from a dead stop. Even piecing that together didn’t give us everything we needed to know. We gave up about mid afternoon.

I took hal back to his boat. What are you going to do now. He asked. Go home again. Hanging around here won’t do any good. He sat in Barney’s idling pickup one hand on the door handle. We’ll get a bow. I promise.

It was as close as hal huggins ever came to making an apology. Are you going to warn the rest of the parole board. What if he goes after the whole board one by one. How looked stricken. I’ll check it out. He agreed. He could go through them like a ddos assault.

He climbed from the pickup and headed for the dock. Back at rosario i packed and checked out of my room. I had the desk clerk call for a floatplane. I could have taken the ferry to anacortes but without a car i’d still be a long way from Seattle.

The charter pilot could drop me on lake union a mile or so from my apartment. I dragged the newspaper along in the noisy little plane. I suffer from a fear of flying. There’s nothing like reading a newspaper to make me forget that i’m scared. Newspapers always piss me off.

The editor opined that the tragic deaths of two members of the Washington state parole board over the weekend. One an apparent homicide and the other in a motor vehicle accident. Pointed out the high cost per public service. He went on to say that Daryl Watkins was showing great

Personal courage and continuing to campaign. In the face of the loss of his beloved wife. Bullshit. There was no hint that the beloved wife now deceased would have filed for a divorce and she lived a Monday morning. In the editorial ginger and darrow’s life had been a cinderella story.

Poor girl marries rich boy and lives happily ever after. As far as ginger was concerned the fairy tale had suffered in translation. Somehow i had an idea that Maxwell Cole’s interview. Would never see the light of the day. It wasn’t just spiked. It was buried. For good.

The article and ginger made no mention of drinking. The accident was described as a one car accident on a narrow road. Darryl Watkins was quoted at some length. I’m going on with the race because i believe ginger would want me to. The unmitigated ass. Ginger had been wrong.

Darryl Watkins had developed hypocrisy into an art form. The float plane dropped me at a dock on lake union. Without luggage i could have walked. With luggage. I called a cab. It was early evening when i got home. The city boy glad to be back in familiar territory

With the comforting wail of sirens and the noise of traffic. My apartment is in the royal crest. A condo at third and lenora. Condo conjures images of swinging singles. There are singles here all right. Mostly retired who do very little swinging. It’s a vertical neighborhood where people bring soup when you’re sick.

And know who comes and goes at all hours. I moved in five years ago on a temporary basis hoping Karen die would get back together. We didn’t. Five years later my escape hatch has become home. In the elevator two people welcomed me back

And on the mat in front of my door i found a stack of crossword puzzles called from various newspapers and left for me by my next door neighbor and crony i’d annual. Yes it was very good to be home. I put my suitcases in the bedroom and looked

Around the tiny apartment with satisfaction. One of my first concessions to having money was to hire a housekeeper who comes in once every two weeks whether i need it or not. House smelled a furniture Polish and toilet bowl cleaner.

It was a big improvement over the old days when it smelled like a Billy goat pen and i needed two hours notice before i could invite someone up to visit. The mail was mostly of the bill occupant variety although i noticed that some of the

Occupant stuff was a lot more upscale than occupant mail i used to receive. Somewhere there’s a mass mailing company that knows when you move from one income bracket to another. The whole idea makes me paranoid. I thumped down into my favorite leather chair a brown monstrosity that gives people with taste indigestion.

I examined the bill from rosario with it’s detail of all calls made from my room. I recognized most of them. Two of the numbers were unfamiliar. One had to be homers and the other Daryl’s. I chose one at random. Homer answered on the second ring. I didn’t identify myself.

I am a friend of gingers i was calling to find out about our services. In keeping with Daryl’s wishes the services will be private. But i would i’m sorry this is a very difficult time. Darryl wants to maintain a sense of dignity by keeping ginger’s funeral simple.

Only family members and close personal friends i’m sure you understand. He hung up without giving me an opportunity to exp plain why i thought i qualified as a close personal friend. Remembering ginger’s description of how Daryl’s campaign would handle news of the divorce. I understood all too well.

A steering committee had decreed that ginger’s funerals should be handled with classic understatement and simplicity. Not too splashy. That would attract the sympathy vote. I wanted to gag. Ginger had no news of the divorce wouldn’t cost Daryl the election but she had hoped to. Him with it.

Instead her death would provide the impetus for a come from behind victory. I wanted to protest to someone. But i didn’t know who. Restless i walked two blocks to avis and rented a car for the next morning. If i was going to make it to a funeral in welton by two

O’clock in the afternoon i’d have to get an early start. My garage door opener was still with the Porsche on orcas. Probably wrecked now that it had been wet. I parked the rented rabbit on the street and went upstairs to get some sleep. In a dream.

And chorley and ginger Watkins were together someplace. It seemed to be some kind of spa. They were both wrapped in thick white towels with their hair hanging loose and wet. I came into the room. They waved at me and. Motioned for me to join them but they were

Across a large room and between us lay a huge swimming pool. They motioned to me again and i dove in clothes and all. I tried to swim toward them but the current was too swift. It caught me and carried me away changing from a pool to a river.

The dream ended with the sound of both of them. Laughing. I awoke drenched with sweat. It was almost four o’clock in the morning. For awhile i tried going back to sleep but it didn’t work. Remembering them both together haunted me. At last i got up and made coffee.

The city was silent around me. Not as silent as orcas but. Silent for the city. As i drank my coffee i made up my mind that nothing would keep me from showing up at ginger’s funeral to offer my respect. I consulted the map. I would go east on interstate ninety

But after sig Larson’s funeral when i came back to Seattle. I would detour south to centralia and find myself a union seventy six station. Ginger’s father lived in centralia. I was sure he would give me an invitation to the funeral if i explained to him that i was one of ginger’s old friends.

I filled a thermos with the last of the coffee and headed out. I figured i’d have breakfast somewhere along the way. Chapter seventeen. The state of Washington is divided into two parts. East of the mountains and west of the mouths. They could just as well be separate countries.

West of the mountains is a fast track megalopolis that is gradually encroaching on every inch of open space. East of the mountains seems like a chunk of the midwest that has been transported and reassembled between the cascades and the rockies. It contains small towns large farms

And the kind of vast horizons that brings to mind Robert glaze old song. On a clear day you can see forever. Welton is definitely east of the mountains. It’s a tiny burg nestled in a hilly curve of the tucci river. Where to walla walla

County roads meet then a casual why that doesn’t merit so much as a yield sign. To say nothing of a blinking Amber light. Welton boasts the general store a grange hall. A deserted schoolhouse. Five or six dilapidated frame houses. And a double wide mobile home perched on cement blocks behind the store.

The lutheran church burned down six years ago and has not been replaced. A sign on the light post next to the gas pump announced the schedule for the walla walla county bookmobile. Next to it. Another handbell posted notice of sick Larson’s funeral. The gas jockey at the texaco station general store

A toothless old geezer named Gus. Informed me that Lewis and Clark’s party had once camped overnight on the river supposedly somewhere near where the grange hall now stood. As far as he knew said Larson funeral was the biggest event to hit town since then. Never a day where the kinder side moran here.

He commented as a scrub the rented rabbits windshield and check the oil. Got her shadow down and go over the hall rahul. These rigged over all saying that for sure. He lived around here. Not any more. Sold out a couple of years back on that are way over here decided

Well weren’t good enough. Talked him into one of them i floating gun the nubians over lake chalet and. Twelve damn Jane my dad gum Jamie asked me. But it’ll be buried here. Were first wife Barry dear you know. Little kids that jump below at bringing him back.

That John big wig lower down California. Age one drug it onto the tree things got downright. So Mona’s sick Larson second wife. Gus snorted in the spat a brown stream of tobacco juice over his shoulder. James already hanging around while lk. Mao or cigs first wife. Diane and our battle over spokane.

I take it you don’t like moana much. He nodded sagely. I for sure. He said. He will say that again. Gas war the lager trademark of mid-cap Levy is held up by a pair of bright red suspenders. Finished with my car he stood with both thumb stuck through his suspenders and

Surveyed the scatter of cars parked haphazardly around the grange hall. Our governor is the average common. Wonderful mono get her to have all gussied up. Or if you’re show up on at our motorcycle harm. Motorcycle. That ardley tallied with a white haired displaced homemaker

Farm wife i had imagined sig Larson’s widow to be. Someone wearing an apron who baked her own bread and candor own tomatoes. A mobile TV unit. Bearing a spokane station’s call letters and logo lumbered past us and parked under a tree near the grange hall. Note that gush beat all. Gas asked.

The television cameras no playing. That role shakes funeral. He spat again in disbelief. As we watched the helicopter dropped noisily from the sky and landed on the weedy playfield of the abandoned school house next door. Governor Reynolds stepped out. Ducking under the blades accompanied by none other than homer Watkins himself.

Seeing homer there was something of a shock. Ginger had implied that highly placed family connections had resulted in her appointment to the parole board. But seeing homer with the governor brought the reality home. I better get going. I told Gus. I hurried to the grange hall and took an unobtrusive

Seat in the next to last row of ancient folding chairs. From there i could see who came and went without being observed. I had stopped in kennewick and bought a huge bouquet of flowers which now sat prominently displayed near the foot of cigars and coffin. I had signed the card from a friend.

And let it go at that. The flowers were a remembrance from ginger to sig through me. If ginger and the sig were flapping around upstairs somewhere and then they both knew what i meant. If they weren’t. It didn’t matter anyway. Unlike Lewis and Clark’s if. You’re. Single

The funeral was immortalized by the press. The same teeming mob that had invaded orcas island. They were joined by troops from spokane and tri cities as well. Of all contingent of the fourth estate was their. Jockeying for position and and camera angle elbowing one another out of the way. This inside one.

Please stop your player here and without fast forwarding the tape. Turned to side too. A full contingent of the fourth estate was there jockeying for position and camera angle. Elbowing one another out of the way. It was simple to divide the guests into two parts.

The plainly dressed quiet folk who had probably been lifelong friends and neighbors of sig and lk Larson. And the public officials and anxious candidates whose attendance was calculated a couple of. Years. Over and above the paid political announcements. The entire front row on both sides of the aisle was marked reserved.

As the pianist attempted a frail halting prelude on an old upright piano. A group of six handsome young people. Three couples in their late twenties to early thirties. Was ushered to the front row. I surmised they were six children and their spouses.

Gus had told me there were two Larsen boys and one girl all married. They sat together on one side of the front row leaving two places open next to the aisle. The surviving members of the parole board five of them. Straggled down the aisle behind Trixie bodin like a bunch of dazed sheep.

Next came governor Reynolds and homer Watkins. There was some confusion about seating arrangements as they reached the front row. Homer and governor Reynolds held a hurried to private consultation. Before both men crossed the aisle to speak solemnly with the young couples. Then they rejoined the parole board. Daryl Watkins was notable

Only in his absence. The room filled quickly until every chair was taken and people stood too deep in the back of the room. It was then. Mona Larsson staged her grand entrance. She wore a black dress with a bold v neckline and a flared skirt over a pair of high heeled black boots.

Her hair black and glossy hung straight to her shoulders. With a fringe of bangs that made her look far younger than i had expected. Her tiny waist was encircled by a wide turquoise and silver belt. Away the squash blossom necklace with matching earrings completed the ensemble. It wasn’t exactly morning

But it made the point. It was also very striking. A murmur rustled through the room. Mona strode down the aisle well aware of the sensation she caused. At the front of the room she paused momentarily to get her bearings. Then she turned her back on sick Larson’s children. And took the empty seat

Next to governor Reynolds. Another flurry we have comment whispered through the hall. From the back of the room it looked more like a shotgun wedding between feuding clans than the funeral of a highly regarded public official. Mona Larson was behaving badly by welton standards and it was clear she didn’t give a damn.

A minister took his place behind the podium. Dearly beloved. He intoned. We are here this afternoon to say goodbye to our dear friend Lars sacred Larsen. The camera’s word and the circuit got underway. I don’t remember much about the service. As far as i was concerned i was there on official unofficial business.

I kept my eyes open in case Wilson thought welton was far enough away from orcas that he could afford to turn up and savor his handiwork. Murderers do that in a kind of. Cutthroat one upmanship. But Dunn Wilson was nowhere to be seen. At the end of the service the reverend announced

That the ladies aid would be serving a potluck lunch and all were welcome to come back to the hall after interment in the cemetery beyond the school. The pallbearers hoisted the coffin. Mona Larsson followed by the governor and six children.

Lead a slow procession out of the hall across the road and into the cemetery. A man set smoking on an idol tobacco near the fence. Waiting to perform his essential role in the process. Once six coffin was lowered into the grave Mona turned and left the cemetery alone.

Without speaking to or acknowledging anyone she climbed into one of three waiting limousines and left a welton with an air of regal contempt. Gas hobbled up next to me. Amy ci sharpton. He demanded with just a hint of all. Acting actually the damn gun queen of sheba.

The press corps descended on the food like an army of ravenous ants. I spied Maxwell cold packing around a paper plate piled high with ham and scalloped potatoes. But i managed to avoid him. The local folks clustered around the Larsen children expressing condolences. Relieved now that Mona’s abrupt departure had reduced the tension.

Homer Watkins materialized at my elbow. I understand your j p beaumont. Aren’t you the one i talked to on the phone then i ginger died. I wonder do it squealed on me but with Max in the room it was an art to figure out. Yes. I said. Tragic. Tragic he murmured.

It is isn’t it. I agreed. I was a little surprised there was no mention of the impending divorce in the paper. His eyes hardened. She told you about that. We talked. I replied noncommittal he. She wouldn’t have gone through with it. She had been under a great deal of stress.

I’m sure once things get settled down she would have been fine. Fine or quiet. I asked. One eyebrow arched. He stepped back half a pace. Daryl didn’t come. I asked. The question was more to irk him than to have an answer. However replied nonetheless. He didn’t feel up to it.

Good day mr beaumont. I won’t trouble you further. As people lined up for the second and third helpings governor Reynolds raised his hand for attention. I’d like to make an announcement. He said. The media folks abandoned their plates and hustled off in search of equipment. Reynolds moved to the front of the room.

He put on his glasses and read from a prepared text. This has been a sad occasion for the state of Washington. Said Larson was a public servant and he was murdered in the course of that service. He paid with his life.

We have reason to believe that his death was related to his being on parole board. Consequently as of today i am play acing all members of the parole board under the protection of the Washington state patrol. That at all. There was a momentary lull after he finished speaking then a rush of comment.

Reporters attempted to call questions to him from the floor but he turned away. Reynolds and homer hurried out of the building. People followed them upstairs and outside but they dashed to the waiting helicopter without speaking to anyone. With the governor gone people moved back into the basement where Trixie bodin.

Assumed the role of spokesman. Why are you aware the governor was taking this action mrs boating. Yes she said. Each of us has been assigned round the clock protection starting today. Is there any idea who the killer or killers might be. No comment.

How does your husband feel about your having a round the clock bodyguard. Fortunately he’s not the jealous type. Trixie bodine flashed what was supposed to be a charming smile. Her quip was greeted by general laughter. I didn’t laugh. Governor rentals had not specifically mentioned ginger’s death but i was sure huggins

Had notified him regarding the changed status of the investigation. In any event the protection was probably a good idea. I left the hall and was halfway across the road when Maxwell kohl called my name. Hey jp. I turned to find him huffing behind me carrying a plate of half consumed pumpkin pie.

What do you want. Any line on Wilson. I kept my expression blank. No i said nobody’s seen him. How come ginger Watkins was driving your car. None of your business. I snarled walking away. He trotted after me. I heard a blood alcohol count was point fifteen but she was mostly on the wagon

Shut up. I said savagely. He shut up but only momentarily. We didn’t know anything about the governor’s victim witness protection program. Is Reynolds going to grab that idea that’s what Wilson was after. I stopped in my tracks. What do you mean.

It looked a little reluctant as though he had said more than he intended. Wilson expected an announcement that day at rosario. From the governor’s office. Lacks what he told me on the phone. This is the first I’ve heard anything about an announcement. I said turning to walk away. But jp.

Ignoring him i walked back to the gas station where i had left the rabbit. I climbed in and drove to where two uniformed limo drivers stood smoking under a tree. I rolled down the window. Did that other drivers say where he was taking mrs Larson. I asked.

One looked at the other who shrugged. Red lion in pasco i think. He said. You know what that is. No i replied rolling up the window and putting the rabbit in gear. But I’ll bet i can find it. Chapter eighteen. I drove the forty miles into pasco thinking about ray Johnson.

Ray and i were partners on the homicide squad for eleven years before he took off to become chief of police in pasco. That’s what happens to longtime Seattle pd folks. They get tired of the rat race and go looking for some one or two horse town where they can settle down.

And not have to look at the slice of life that turns up dead or drunk or both in Seattle’s parks and alleys. Ray had abandoned ship almost ten months earlier and i had started working with Peters. It takes time to adjust to a new partner.

But in the course of that ten months so much has happened that now it seemed Peters and i had been together for years and ray Johnson was ancient history. Ten months is a long time to go without seeing an old friend

And i decided that i need a chili burger and down a whole pot of thick coffee with ray Johnson before i left town. For old times’ sake. Without having Peters lecture me on the evils of the caffeine or red meat. The sign at the red lion in pasco said. Welcome Mary Kay.

I mistakenly thought Mary Kay was a waitress or barmaid who had returned for a visit. That shows out wrong you can be. The red lion in pasco like red lions everywhere is built on the kind of grand scale that says. Convention or as welcome. All others and are at your own risk.

As i drove up a car pulled out of a parking place directly in front of the lobby. I grabbed the spot feeling smug. Getting out of the rabbit i noticed that the car next to me and two on the other side of that were all recent model pink Cadillacs.

They had matching bumper stickers which read. Ask me about Mary Kay. Still amusing about that. I entered the lobby. A huge banner solved the mystery. Stretched across the lobby and proclaimed welcome Mary Kay cosmetics. A regional sales convention was in full swing and the hotel was thronged with troops of motivated energetic ladies

All dressed in pink. Who periodically burst into disturbingly impromptu choruses of company songs. I should have recognized it as an omen. And realized i was headed for trouble. A harried desk clerk managed to find me a room. Once safely shut away i picked up the phone and asked for a mono Larson.

I’ll ring. The operator told me. Hello. The voice was low and husky. For a second i thought i was talking to a man. Mona Larson please i stammered. This is she. My name is beaumont and we are investigating a homicide i need to talk to you. How the hell did you find me.

That’s why i didn’t go home i’m sick of being hounded. I’m a detective that’s how i found you but it’s only me. Have ditched the press. Her tone mellowed a little. That’s a relief. Those bastards have been driving me crazy. Would you care to have a drink. Coffee. I could use a drink

Where are you. In my room. I can meet you in a coffee shop or the bar. Sick Larson didn’t drink maybe Mona didn’t either. It was best to offer the lady a choice. All right it’ll take me a few minutes. I’ll meet you in the bar. How will i know you.

From the looks of the lobby as i came in I’ll probably be the only man in the place. She laughed. He’ll be the onion in the Mary Kay Petunia patch. She was right. Walking into the starlight lounge unnerved me. It was cocktail hour.

All the old jokes about salesmen on convention came to mind and did a flip flop. Sales women were just as bad. They sat in groups of twos and threes giving me a clothes so stripping once over. Other than the bartender i was the only man in the room.

I had barely sat down when a woman in her mid forties sidled up to my table. Care for a drink. I looked around and consternation hoping she wasn’t talking to me. She was. Her face was a paper smooth mask. Eyes shadowed with a disconcerting blend of several different colors.

Her lips darker on the outside than on the inside made me wonder what. A two-toned tube of lipstick would look like. Sorry. I answered. I’m meeting someone. Too bad. She said with a wink. She returned to her table while the bartender appeared at my elbow. Drank fella. Mignons in water. I said.

He paused to wipe the table. This is a little weird. I commented under my breath. He laughed. You think it’s bad now wait till nine o’clock when they’re all on their lips. The bartender returned to the bar. I sat there conspicuously alone waiting for Mona Larsson.

At welton she had looked quite bizarre but now i was anxious to see her. Mona’s dramatic clothing would be a welcome contrast to the unrelenting pink. Or disdain an antidote to the uncomfortable attention i was receiving at the moment. Mona rescued me alright.

She had changed her black dress for a black zippered jumpsuit. Her hair had been pulled up to the top of her head and stuck there with an unlikely comb. A few loose tendrils of hair trailed softly down her neck. Still wearing several pounds of silk over and turquoise

She sauntered into the bar with a feline grace that disposed of the pink ladies once and for all. Mr beaumont. She asked extending her hand. I half Rose and greeting. Her handshake was from her dark brown eyes straightforward. Don’t bother getting up. She said. Sinking gratefully into a low back chair opposite me.

Thanks for saving my bacon i said. She glanced around the room disdainfully. From what. These horny broads. She turned to me and grinned. You look like you can take care of yourself. From what ginger had said about Mona Larsson and from what

I had seen at the funeral i was prepared not to like her. But her manner had a disarming forthrightness about it and very little of the grieving widow. Sorry it took so long. She apologized. I had a phone call. Are you from orcas. The bartender brought my drink and took her order for

Chivas on the rocks while i contemplated my situation. I was in no way for Marcus and as a Seattle homicide detective i had no business asking her or anything at all. I took a sip of my drink. No. I’m from Seattle. I didn’t know Seattle was involved in the case. We are now

I said. Do you have a card. There are times when i think I’ll just stick my little toe and some water. Before i know what i’m in over my head. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my leather cardholder.

I handed her one of my business cards which he examined without comment and put into a zippered pocket on the leg of her pants. Her fingers were long and slender but the nails were close cropped. So what do you want to know. How well did you know ginger weapons. Well enough.

What do you mean. We were. Short tail relatives. Homer and six first wife were brother and sister. Our families had some business dealings together. So that was the connection. I had wondered about it. Were you and ginger friends. No. I waited hoping she’d expand on the subject. She didn’t. You and Daryl them.

Darryl Watkins is an asshole. Mona said. He’s why i was late. He called from Seattle while i was at the funeral wanted to explain why he wasn’t there. As if i gave a rat’s ass. She extracted a pack of cigarettes from another zippered pocket. I hurried to offer her a light.

She leaned back inhaling. Did you know ginger was going to get a divorce. You bet. I called Darryl to tell him. Why. She regarded me coolly. Look mister beaumont i played that side of the fence once. You’re married to a jerk. Some nice guy sympathizes listens to you.

Tells you what a bad deal you’ve got. First thing you know you ditch the jerk and marry the nice guy. That’s the name of the game. Survival of the fittest. You think ginger was trying to pack cig off. She blew a languid cloud of smoke. Not on purpose.

She was so fucked up she probably didn’t know she was doing it. They were nice people. Both of them. I tried reconciling Mona’s words with the person who had forbidden ginger to attend the Singh’s funeral. It didn’t add up. Why didn’t you want ginger to come to the funeral. Who said.

That’s what i understood i replied. It came from someone. Maybe Trixie modine. That cow. While she does is make trouble. She minds everyone else’s business. Ginger could have come if she wanted to it wouldn’t bothered me. She glanced away from me angrily swiping a tear. Pain lurked behind the mana license tough exterior

Under the brittle wit. You loved him very much didn’t you. She looked at me her eyes bright with tears. That’s not how they see it in wellston. She said. I’m the gold digger who married sick Larson for his money. What a laugh. Did you. Mona’s manner encouraged the direct approach.

She didn’t deny it. There’s not much left. She countered. The money from the farm. Gone. He left me a mortgaged condo on lake shall and plus my share of the Seattle project whatever that’s worth. I own my Harley free and clear and that’s it except for my jewelry. She fell silent.

I felt sorry for her. Ginger Watkins calculating bitch wasn’t nearly as ruthless close at hand. You work on a Harley yourself. She cocked her head. What made you ask that. Your nails are a whole lot more serviceable than the rest of the nails in this room.

Like maybe they get a little grease under him on occasion. Good guess. She said. What do you know about Don Wilson. I asked. Switching topics. She looked me straight in the eye. I told him if he called again i’d file a complaint. For what. Telephone harassment.

I knew all about his wife and kid but he’d call in the middle of the night making wild threats. He finally stopped. When. She thought. A month or so ago maybe longer. He threatened sick. Constantly. What did he say. That he’d make cig pay. Did sick do anything about it.

Mostly he laughed it off. Initially he tried reasoning with the guy but you can’t talk to someone like that they won’t listen. She paused. Do you think he did it. The question was quiet. The noise of the room ebbed and flowed around us. It looks like it. At least for now.

She signaled the bartender for a drink. When he brought it she lit another cigarette. It’s funny. Sig was so glad to get the appointment to the board. He thought with his experience at walla walla he could help. That he’d make a real contribution. She stopped words giving way to reflection.

It was an awkward silence. I understand sig didn’t drink. She took a sip from achievers. He wanted me to quit too. There’s nothing like a reformed drunk. She gave me a forlorn smile. I would have eventually. There was another long pause. She needed comforting and i was at a loss. Would you.

Like to have dinner. I asked at last. She shook her head. Not now. Maybe later. I have some things i need to do first. How long will it take. An hour so. I’ll give you a call when i finish.

She jotted my room number on the back of my card and returned it to her pocket. We talked a while longer before she got up to leave. She held out her hand. It was nice meeting you detective beaumont. I’ll see you later. I watched her walk away striding purposefully out of the room.

The lady with places to go and people to see. It was only after she was out of sight that a wave of concern washed over me. I left money on the table and hurried after her but she was nowhere in sight. I found a house phone and dialed a room.

At rang and rang but there was no answer. Stopping by the desk i asked what kind of car Mona Larsson had registered. The clerk didn’t bother to look at her card. She is the one with the Harley mister. He grinned. Doesn’t seem possible someone her size can add one of those suckers.

I roamed through acres of parking lot to no avail. Finally i went back to my room and tried calling Rey and pasco. No answer. I tried Mona’s room several times as well but there was still no answer. Giving up by turned on the movie channel. I don’t know when i fell asleep.

Chapter nineteen. A sharp rap on the door jarred me awake. Flipping off the droning TV said i opened the door to find two uniformed police officers standing in the hallway. Huh j p beaumont. The first one asked. Stepping uninvited through my open door. He wore gold rimmed glasses and a tudor

Cut of gum with unbridled enthusiasm. Yes what he on. The second officer was heavyset. Not fat but with a definite paunch. You know a lady named mountain Larson. Yes i do what’s up. When’s the last time isar. I dunno what time is it. The one in glasses looked at his watch. A thirty.

He said wrapping the gum around the tip of his tongue and giving it a small interior pop. I saw about six thirty. She said she had some things to do. Did she say what. I shook my head. Know what’s going on. I kept asking the question but they disregarded it.

The heavy set one pulled a business card out of his inside jacket pocket and turned it over examining both sides. I recognized it as one of my own. Says here you’re detective beaumont. You here in pasco an official business. A twinge of uneasiness warned me something wasn’t right. No.

I said after a pause. I was at a funeral in welton this afternoon and decided to spend the night. Sig licensed funeral. There was an unpleasant undertone to his question. Yes as a matter of fact it was. The gum chewer wandered over to the window. Might have we have look around. No. Yes.

What’s this all about. I demanded getting my backup. He asked you want a nice lie like. They’re beset one warned. Now can we look around or not. I retreated to the bed and sat down more than half angry. Obviously there was some mistake.

They had no business pushing me around like a common criminal. I wanted to get to the bottom of whatever it was. Go ahead. I said managing to control myself. Glasses searched the whole room. Under the bed in the closet in all the drawers in the bathroom.

While fatso kept an eye on me all the while fingering his nightstick. No luggage. Glasses asked when he finished. I didn’t plan to spend the night. No i suppose not. Are you going to tell me what’s going on. I felt as though i had fallen into a bad dream

Where things happen and no one tells you why. There wasn’t much i could do about it. It was two against one. They were calling the shots. You got anyone who will say where you were between six thirty and now. I already told you. I’ve been right here at the hotel mostly

Asleep now tell me what the fuck is going on. Glasses rolled his eyes. Isn’t that what they all say while he. Was asleep the whole time all by myself. With a grin. At what they say. Now wait just a goddamn minute you better tell me what’s happening. You want to tell him gel.

Will he asked. Nah you go ahead. Since he’s so anxious to hear. Well sir. Willie said savouring the words. It’s about this lady we’ve found along the road a little while ago. Victim of a hit and run. She had your card in her pocket with a room number written on the back. Mona.

I asked is she alright. Did you hear that. Joe exclaimed. She’s dead as a doornail and he wants to know if she’s alright. He better move on over to the wall. Put your hands above your head. For a second i sat there too stunned to move. Mona too.

I had just had a drink with her talked to her. We were going to have dinner. Willy took a menacing step toward me. He said move. I was in no position to argue. I did as i was told. Will he patted me down.

Removing my jacket from a chair he discovered my shoulder holster underneath. Why look ahead Joe. Willet tossed my thirty eight glasses. Rate in his right. Will he pulled a pair of handcuffs out of his pocket then held him in front of me. Turn around buster. He ordered. You’re under arrest.

What the hell do you clowns think you’re doing. Clowns Joe Jr that. This renegade big time got from Seattle thanks were a couple of clowns. You have the right to remain silent Joe began. You guys have to be shitting me ray Johnson used to be my partner.

You have the right to an attorney. And your uncle George sits on the supreme court right funnyman. Will he sneered. Anything you say may be held. I say sad turn around. Will he repeated his words taking on an ominous edge. I turned. The handcuffs snapped shut behind me.

Did you hear your rights now mr beaumont. He gave the cups a sharp yank making sure they were fastened securely. I heard them. Did you understand them. Yes. He spun me around so i faced him. We wouldn’t want any question of abrogating your rights now woodley. You asshole i began.

He grabbed me by the shoulder and shoved me towards the door. Where your car case. Find them yourself that snapped. Yeah are. Glasses called from the dresser. Bring ’em. Will check out the car on the way. They led me handcuffed through the front lobby of the red lion where several dozen

Women watched an open mouthed wonder. I’ve arrested plenty of people in my time but being arrested was an entirely new and painful experience. Handcuffed wrists in the small of the back make you feel humiliated and trapped and scared and guilty even if you’re not. I wanted to hide my face in my hands

To shoot shield myself from gaping prying eyes. I couldn’t. Nut with my hands cuffed behind me. I had parked the rabbit near the front door. Now it was nowhere to be seen. Where is it. Willie demanded. I dunno it’s gone somebody moved it. Glasses and fatso not at each other knowingly.

Sure they did. Willie said. What kind of car is it. A rabbit. A red rented rabbit. Sounds about right. Will he said. Bring the car Joe will drive round through the parking lot and see mr beaumont here can remember where he left it. Must have been driving in his sleep.

Maybe the reason cops hate reporters and vice versa is that we’re so much alike. The same kind of questioning minds ended up in both professions. The difference lies in what we do with the answers. It came as no surprise that the same thought process that had brought me to the red

Lion in search of Mona Larsson would do the same for a reporter. Faith alone dictated that the reporters should be Maxwell kohl. He arrived just as Willy shoved me into the back seat of a patrol car blue lights flashing. Cole almost walked past us but then he spied me. Jp. He yelped.

Hey what’s going on. I prayed we’d leave right then but we didn’t. Joe meandered through the well lit parking lot searching for my car. By the time we located the rabbit in the back row with a lot. A noisy cortege of people had formed behind us. That’s it i said

Nodding towards the rabbit. Joe left the patrol car idling and sauntered over to it. Through the open door i could hear a chorus of questions. Glasses ignored them. He knelt in front of the car and examined the front bumper. Then he stopped long enough to peer and all the windows.

He hurried back to the patrol car. And may the pliers Willie. With my key glasses unlocked the door on the rider’s side. He used the pliers to lift the latch and opened the door. I was grateful for that. At least he wasn’t disturbing my evidence. He leaned into the rabbit

Then straightened and came back to the patrol car. Call for backup Willie. Tell him to get someone to impound a car while we drag our friend here off to jail. Why what do you get. Remember the desk clerk told us she was wearing a bunch Indian jewelry. Yeah. Looks like it’s all there

And the front end smashed all the shit. That’s impossible i tell ya i been asleep in my room since seven o’clock. We got you dead to rights Mr. Glass’s said. I swear i didn’t do it. Save but for the judge. He said.

We waited in the car interminable minutes until a second patrol car with flashing blue lights and a wailing siren worked it’s way through the onlookers. By the time we got to the station there was a crowd of reporters milling outside with Maxwell kohl leading the pack.

Many of the out of town newsies at decided to stay over. Thus gaining admittance to the third media event of the day. When will he open the door i didn’t want to get out. My mouth was dry my knees shook. Not with fear so much as helpless rage and indignation. Get out.

Willie commanded. I didn’t couldn’t. Will he grabbed me by the shoulder and bodily pulled me from the car. Again i wanted a shield a sack. A cloak of invisibility anything to lock out the eyes and the cameras and the voices and the nightmare. Willie and Joe herded me into the station and handed

Me over to a woebegone detective named Barnes. Barnes struck me as a detectives detective. An old time cop who used common sense as opposed to some computerized procedural manual. He brought me a styrofoam cup of bitter coffee. They read you your rights. I nodded.

Over his voice in the background i could hear the demanding questions of the reporters who were laying siege to the pasco city police department. Barnes cocked his ear as if listening to the uproar outside. You want to tell me what happened. How can i tell him what happened when i didn’t know.

Mona Larson was dead but i didn’t know how or why or where. Where do you want me to start. How long did you know mrs Larson. I just met her this afternoon. At her husband’s funeral. No later when she came back to the hotel after the funeral. You followed her.

It was a leading question. Yes. You went to a room. No. A calder from my room. We met for a drink. Why. To talk. About. Sig her husband. You knew him then. The questions were getting worse. So were the answers. No. Not until after he was murdered.

Barnes eyes glittered with that now we’re getting somewhere look. I recognized it. I’ve used it myself during interrogations. After. I heard a woman screaming from my room at the rosario resort on orcas island. I checked it out and found a ginger Watkins with sig Larsen’s body.

I’ve been working unofficially with hal huggins the detective from Friday harbor. Call and ask him. It’s the San Juan county sheriff’s department. I probably will give them a call. Barnes said reasonably. And after we finish here. So you met mrs Larson for a drink in the bar.

Yes i think it’s called the starlight lounge. And you talked about. I don’t remember exactly. Her marriage welton her stepchildren. Lots of things. Then she had to leave. Did you go with her. No. Follower. No i told you i went back to my room for a nap.

Come on detective beaumont let’s get to the bottom of this. Did you and mrs Larson corral about something. His position solidified. Up until then i had answered his questions in a warily co-operative fashion. But something in his manner shifted. Warning me. Before i had believed we were on the same side.

It was now clear that we weren’t. Where’s ray Johnson. I asked. The chief. What business is that of yours. Call him. I said flatly. Ray and i used to be partners on the force in Seattle. I could tell my words made some impact.

Barnes got up and walked across the room hands deep in his pockets. Mrs Larson was deliberately run down by a man driving a red car. Witnesses saw a rabbit leaving the scene. Aren’t you driving a red rabbit. I didn’t answer. He walked back across the room and looked down at me accusingly.

So what have you got against the parole board detective beaumont. Did they let out a crook you thought should have stayed locked up i’m trying to tell you you’ve been on the scene of two recent homicides before this one. He picked up a newspaper that had been lying face down on his desk.

Not only that. Mrs Watkins died in your car read the port. How come you like read so much. Call rate Johnson for Christ’s sake he’ll vouch for me. The chief is unavailable. He and his wife are celebrating their twenty fifth wed anniversary with a second

Honeymoon in spokane i’m not calling him for anybody. What about how huggins the detective over in Friday harbor. I struggled to restrain my temper. Barnes smiled indulgently as if i were a not too bright kid who had screwed up some simple directions. If you want to call somebody i’d suggest you

Call your attorney not a character witness. You want to use the phone. No i don’t want to use the phone i want out. His smile disappeared. I don’t believe you understand mr beaumont. You’re being booked on an open charge of murder. The words filled the room sucking out the atmosphere.

It was suddenly difficult to breathe. You’re right. I said caving in. I want to use the phone. I tried Peter’s first. No dice he was in the dalles with aims for the custody hearing. I didn’t know where they were staying. It’s easy to panic in a situation like that

To decide that you’re totally isolated and there’s no way to get help. I finally dialed i had a newell’s number collect. Ita my next door neighbor is a retired schoolteacher. The proverbial little old lady in tennis shoes. She collects crossword puzzles for me and mothers me as much as all tolerate.

It was ten thirty but she stays up late to watch the news. Why why bow she said pleasantly once the operator connected us. Where are you. I didn’t entirely answer that question. I need your help either. I’ve got to get in touch with my partner and my attorney.

I won’t be able to call out after this. Could you please find them and give them a message. Was certainly. Thankfully she didn’t ask any questions. Their names are Ron Peters and Ralph ames they’re staying somewhere in the day dalles. Where. I dunno. Look here bow if you don’t know where they’re

Staying how do you expect me to find them. I wanted to bully her into action but i fought to keep impatience out of my voice. They’ll be at the best hotel or motel in town try the phone book the yellow pages. Ida sounded dubious. If i find them what do i say.

Have ames call me. I glanced at Barnes who nodded reluctantly. I read her the number off the phone. That’s all. Tell him it’s urgent. Well all right. Thanks ita. You have no idea how much i appreciate this. I put down the phone.

Twenty minutes later after fingerprints and a mugshot i was locked up in a cell. Out of deference to my being a police officer they gave me a private cell. It was small consolation. Chapter twenty. I slept. I don’t know how but i did. This ends taped three. Please change to tape four.

I slept. I dunno how but i did. Maybe when you’re up against something you can knew absolutely nothing about sleep his mother nature’s balm for the insoluble problem. I slept blissfully ignorant of what went on around me. Everyone told me about it. Later.

Through the wonders of modern telecommunications old j p beaumont hit the eleven o’clock news on every major television station in the pacific northwest spokane Seattle Portland and Boise. The lead story was all about Seattle’s rogue cop being booked into pasco city jail on an open charge of murder.

It made for very splashy journalism and pushed stig Larson’s funeral back to just before sports. As far as the press was concerned my guilt was a foregone conclusion. Not everyone had access to the kind of material Maxwell kohl did. They had to content themselves with only the immediate story.

Max sat down and composed an in-depth piece that he transferred by modem to the p i in downtown Seattle. He dredged it all out of his fertile memory. The kid in the alley when i was a rookie and gourley. Ginger dead in my Porsche.

His column would have done the national enquirer we’re proud. I slept. Peter saw the story on a Portland station in the dalles. He dialed ames number and found it busy. I had a newell had just reached aims at the poppet era in the dalles only best western motel.

Peters came to ames room while Ralph was still talking to ita. Before the news was over aims and Peters were checked out of their rooms and driving hell bent for leather to try cities. I sawed logs. It’s called. The sleep of the just. In the bridal suite of spokane’s redpath hotel.

Evie Johnson fell asleep while ray congratulated himself on his performance. Not bad for twenty five years of marriage. He could still hold his own in the bedroom department. With ibi drowsing contentedly beside him. He switched the TV on low. He’d watch the news for a couple of minutes.

He woke Evie scrambling out of bed. She sat up as he pulled on his clothes. Where are you going. She demanded. I gotta go hunt he said you stay here I’ll leave the cars you can come home tomorrow. Why what’s wrong.

Someone back home lost his marbles and arrested Beau for first degree murder. Can’t you call. I can’t knock heads over the phone. By the time ray was ready Evie had called the airport and discovered that the last plane for tri-cities left at ten fifty five. She dressed quickly throwing things into the suitcase.

I’ll go with you she told him. There’s no sense in staying here alone. And still i slept. San Juan county sheriff bill yates woke hal huggins out of a sound asleep. What the hell is going on. How should i know. I ran on a floatplane

Help but shoot down on the Colombian get over to passcode find out. So hal huggins two began a midnight track the tri cities while i slept on. Dreaming i was slicing off one of Maxwell colds gaudy ties with a huge pinking shears. No wonder i didn’t want to wake up.

Re hip town first. He came roaring into the jail waking everybody including a couple of drunks in the next cell who complained bitterly about being disturbed. Why the hell didn’t someone call me i could a target. He shouted over his shoulder as he came down the hall.

I could see Barnes have showering at a discreet distance. Come on come on. He growled as the jailer fumbled with the key open up you nitwit. I swung off my cot and slipped into the plastic slippers that had replaced my shoes. I was wearing a bright orange jail jumpsuit

That was more than slightly too short in the crotch and as a consequence more than moderately uncomfortable. Harris close. Re rumbled at Barnes. No get em. Barnes disappeared down the hall. Re hurried into the cell as the door opened. Are you all right both. Gra i’m fine it was a mistake at all.

Why the hell didn’t you call me. They said you were celebrating your twenty fifth anniversary and couldn’t be disturbed. I am disturbed all right you can bet your ass i’m disturbed. Ray hustled me down the hall and into a restroom where Barnes brought me my clothes. How did you hear about it

I asked. Amazon the news and eleven. Where in spokane. Well that’s where i saw it. But I’ll bet it was all over. You should see the mob of reporters outside right now the place is crawling. Great. I muttered. That’s just great.

He led me into his office a place not much bigger than the cubbyhole the two of us had shared in the public safety building in Seattle. Boasted a polished wooden desk not the institutional gray green metal of Seattle pd. Whereas Evie i asked but she’s pissed. Ray grinned.

She was till she found out it was you. She wrote back with me. Evangeline oh is that a soft modern heart for you bow. There is no accounting for taste. You hungry. He asked. Once he reminded me i was actually far beyond hunger. Starved i told him.

He picked up the phone and dialed a number. I heard the phone ringing somewhere outside. Go out and pick up a couple of chili burgers memories. He barked into the phone. Teller there for me with extra cheese and onions and make a new pot of coffee we’re going to be a while.

He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands across his gradually widening girth. What the hell is going on. Partway into my story there was a knock on the door. A pretty young woman entered carrying two steaming platters of chili burgers. She left us with him and went out

Returning with two freshly brewed cups of coffee. Thanks leanne. Wray murmured as she said a mug in front of him. Leanne flashed him a shy smile. See there. He grinned once the door closed behind her. Round here i get some respect. The two platters contained the burgers smothered with

Thick chili melted cheese and chunks of chopped onions. Ray took a bite followed by a sip of coffee. Reminds me of the doghouse. He said. Sometimes i really miss that old place. The doghouse is a restaurant a few blocks from my condo in Seattle. Ray and i frequented it

The whole time we were partners. I go there less often now that Peters and i work together. I was ravenous. We had barely made a dent in the two platters when we heard a commotion outside. Ray’s phone rang. What is it. He listened

Then held the phone away from his ear and covered the mouthpiece. Somebody named names. As your attorney. Ames item must have found him. You want to see i’m. Sure. A guy named Peters. Him too. Leanne opened the door. Aim strode purposely into the room talking as he came.

Look here chief Johnson i demand to see my client at once. Aim stopped abruptly when he spotted me sitting with a plate on top of raised desk scarfing down chili burger as fast as i could shovel. Peters directly behind aims almost rear ended him. What the hell. Peters exclaimed.

The looks on their faces would have been comical if they hadn’t been so serious. They had broken speed laws in two states driving through the night to rescue me from jail only to find me happily chowing down with the chief of police. I stood up wiping my mouth with a napkin.

Ralph i’d like you to meet my former partner chief ray Johnson. Ray this is Ralph ames my attorney and my new partner detective Ron Peters. You guys hungry. Ray asked indicating the half consumed chili burgers. We could order a couple more lonely take a minute.

Peter stifled a shudder of disgust and shook his head. Aim said a polite no thank you and got straight to the point. What’s going on. So i started the story again from the beginning. I had reached almost the same point where aims and Peters had made their entrance when the phone rang.

No lie. He’s here. Ray said. Sentiment. How huggins came in. Re showered him with the abusive cordiality one reserves for a late arrival at a class reunion. Once pleasantries were exchanged the story reverted to square one.

I was beginning to wish i had taped it on the first go down so i could turn on a machine and listen to it rather than repeating it again and again. When i finally finished there was a long silence. Huggins spoke first. I didn’t figure him to be that smart he said. Who.

I demanded. Obviously. Huggins knew something the rest of us didn’t. Wilson. Don Wilson. Why him. Peters asked. The calendar. Al answered. Ginger Watkins calendar. Bow found it in a garbage can up at rosario Sunday night Wilson’s prints were all over it. Where’d you get a copy of his prints i asked.

From the f b i. Wilson served in the army. Re looked dubious. Had to get an f b i report back so fast those things take months. You forget. Parole board members are political appointees. Governor Reynolds placed a call to the white house

And the f b i found his prints in short order. So. It is Wilson after all. Amused. Look that way. Huggins great. I’m getting a search warrant today. He turned on me. You’re sure he wasn’t at the funeral. I’m sure believe me i looked. Huggins was thinking aloud.

I wonder if we could request any of the TV videotape and have someone go over it looking for him. Could be. Re agreed. Some of them are pretty good about it. Al continued. He had to be there. Must have followed you to the red lion.

Is all you meet Mona Larsson decided to add one more notch to his scorecard and frame you in the process. I thought back on my drive into pasco. I could remember no cars on the road behind me but i hadn’t been looking. I shook my head. I didn’t see any. I said.

But why frame me it doesn’t make sense. Muddy the water a little. Huggins suggested. Peters nodded in agreement. Had you told anyone that you plan to stay overnight in pasco. Ray’s homicide instincts were still good even though he had kicked himself upstairs. No. How could i have told someone.

I didn’t make up my mind until i was almost here and decided to see you. Either he followed you or knew where Mona was staying. Peters put in. How did you find out. I asked one of the limo drivers over and welcome. And they told you.

They didn’t act as if it was any big secret. The phone rang again. Ray answered. Put it through. He said. He switched on the speaker phone on his desk. As there’s chief Johnson. A voice asked. Yes. This is Lee Hawkins. I am an aide to governor Reynolds.

We’re just confirming that you have a suspect in custody in the deaths of Mona and sig Larson. We do not have a suspect. But we were told. There was a pause. What about ginger Watkins we understand her death has been reclassified as a homicide. I repeat

We do not have a suspect in custody. In fact I’ll be calling a press conference at seven. Ray paused turning his chair to consult an old pendulum clock that hung on the wall behind him. In Roman numerals o’clock said the time was six eighteen. I’ll be issuing the pasco police department’s

Official apology to detective jp beaumont. But the paper said Hawkins began. The papers wrong. Re interjected. They often are you know. Detective beaumont is not a suspect in any of the cases and we have no one else in custody. But the governor is ready to announce that he

Is withdrawing protection from the parole board. He better retract that withdraw. Ray said into the phone. In fact if i were him i think i’d extend protection to all parole board family members as well. I waved a hand get raise attention. Ask him about the victim witness protection program.

Ray shot me a questioning look then shrugged. Somewhat is asking about the victim witness protection program. I mouthed my question to ray and he repeated it into the phone. Someone wants to know when it will be ready. Hawkins knew exactly what we were talking about.

Tell him not until the next legislative session convenes in January. Is that all you need to know. Ray asked me. I nodded. Re put the phone down. What’s that all about. Maxwell kohl said Wilson thought an announcement on that program was imminent. Doesn’t sound like it to me.

Ray replied getting up and opening the door. And. Let the members of the press know. That I’ll be holding a press conference at seven am and the city council chamber. He turned back inside the room grinning. You know. He said. I think i’m actually going to enjoy this one. Chapter twenty one.

We did enjoy the press conference. For once we caught the media absolutely flat footed. When i walked to the podium with Rey you could have heard a pin drop. Ray Johnson went straight to the microphones as naturally as if he’d been doing it all his life.

In ten months he had indeed become a police chief rather than a homicide detective. He was totally at ease. Before i issue my statement i want to introduce you to some guests. On my right as detective j p beaumont of Seattle pd. Next to him is Ralph ames mr beaumont personal attorney.

Next to him as detective how huggins of the San Juan county sheriff’s department. I have say short and sweet. The city of pasco and it’s police department deeply regret that detective beaumont here was mistakenly arrested as a suspect in the murder of Mona Larsson.

We wish to express our sincere apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused. We are pursuing several leads in the Larsen case and are in fact working on a major suspect. I repeat detective beaumont is not that suspect. My understanding is that after consulting his attorney. Detective beaumont has agreed not to press

False arrest charges against this jurisdiction. However some legal action may be contemplated. I believe mister ames will be speaking to that issue. His dreams. Yielded the platform to ral. Ralph ames looks unassuming. He dresses conservatively and well but he’s a real tiger in negotiations or in court.

He stepped to the bank of microphones. Thank you chief Johnson. Yes i have advised my client that false arrest proceedings would be ill advised. However in the next few days we will be reviewing all media coverage of my client’s arrest.

To determine whether we have grounds for defamation of character or libel suits in conjunction with media treatment of the incident. It is possible some of the reports were in fact libelous. Aim sat down leaving the hall and utter silence. I happened to be looking directly at Maxwell kohl when ames made his pronouncement.

Max blanched visibly. His complexion turning a pukey shaded green. Re resume the microphone. Any questions. There were none immediately. No one was eager to leap into the breach. Eventually one brave soul near the back tentatively raised his hand. Do you believe there’s a connection between motor Larson’s death and that of her husband.

I could see Ray’s smile coming a mile away. No comment. He said. I understand governor is now extended state draw protection to all family members of the parole board as well as the board members themselves is that true. You’ll have to ask governor Reynolds about that.

Can you tell us why detective huggins is here. Re turned to hell. How he said. Would you care to answer that. We were having a good time. I could see Peters in the back of the room with a broad grin plastered across his face. Not all comment. House it.

That got the message across. The reporters could see we were having fun at their expense. There were no more questions. Well then. Re announced. I guess we’re finished. We left the council chambers together. Back in Ray’s office we couldn’t help chortling. We milled around for a few minutes deciding on the next move.

Aims and Peters had been up all night they were worn out. They wanted to use my room at the red lion for a nap. My rented car had been impounded pending investigation. The crime lab agreed to release at the avis when they were done with it.

Peters left ames and me in the station lobby and walked two blocks to get his dutton. For the first time i noticed how haggard and drawn ames looked. He was weary beyond words. You look like hell i said. You wouldn’t win any prizes yourself. He return. His voice cracking with exhaustion now that

His press conference adrenaline had worn off. He flopped down in one of the brown leather waiting room chairs resting his head on the wall behind him. We lost. His voice was low. I almost didn’t hear him. It took a minute for me to realize what he was saying. At last i tumbled.

The custody hearing. He nodded. We got an old fashioned dyed in the wool conservative judge who figures only mothers are fit to raise children. No matter what. I dropped into the chair beside him chagrined that i hadn’t given the custody hearing a moment’s thought. I had never seen aims so down.

He’s usually the steady one the eye of the hurricane. I’m sorry. I murmured. How’s Peters taking it. I felt responsible. Peters had pretty much given up the idea of ever getting his kids back until i butted in. Encouraged him to fight for them. And told him we’d turn the problem over names.

I had watched Peter’s hopes rise as the custody hearing neared. Now all that hope had come to nothing. Not well. Aim said. He looked at me closely. Have you. Ever seen those two girls of his. I shook my head. He was divorced long before we started working together. They’re cute as buttons

Both of them and they were ecstatic to see him. What happens now. I dunno. I need to think about it. The new dawn attorney made a couple of broad hints but i’m not sure he’s on the level. Peters pulled up outside and honked. We went out.

Ames crawled into the back seat while i slipped into the front with Peters. While we had been involved with the reporters his face had been animated. Alive. Now a Morris mask covered his handsome features. I’m sorry about the hearing. I said. He put the car in gear. You win some lose some.

He said. Feigning nonchalance. It didn’t work. But the girls are alright. I insisted. Sure. He flared. They can’t have shots because shots show a lack of faith. They live on a diet of brown rice and fruit. Milk as a luxury and they have it once a week on sundays.

Peter’s anger played itself out. He fell silent. So what do we do now coach. I asked turning to aims in the back seat. He shook his head. I don’t know. We took our best shot. I’ll have to see what. Other avenues are open.

Ames didn’t elaborate and the silence lengthened in the little car. Thanks for coming to get me you guys. I said. Both of you. It’s okay. Peters responded. Maternal come. Peter’s name is went up to my room to get some sleep. I was wide awake. I went down to the lobby.

On one of the lobby chairs i found an abandoned poi. Curiosity got the better of me overcoming my natural aversion to newspapers. I wanted to see what had made Maxwell kohl turn green when ames mentioned the label suit. By picking up a discarded paper i could read the column

Without giving them the satisfaction of paying for it. Max used the words rogue cop over and over. He might have coined the expression himself. The story didn’t contain much that was different from the other garbage is written about me over the years except for the Mona Larson allegations.

I had a feeling this was one instance where Max’s retraction. Would receive prominent coverage. If i were in his shoes and thought Ralph ames was coming after me with a libel suit. I’d be looking for cover. I did pick up one other useful piece of information from reading the newspaper.

Ginger Watkins funeral will be held on Thursday afternoon. No time or place was given but included in the brief announcement was ginger Watkins father’s name. He was listed as a resident of centralia. Ducking that tidbit away in the memory bank i worked the crossword puzzle and ten minutes flat.

For me that was something of a record. My presence in the lobby created a continuing stir. Mary Kay ladies sporting Mary Kate name tags and Mary Kay faces wandered by staring openly. When i finished the puzzle i approached the desk and asked if i could use a house

Phone to bill some calls to my room. The clerk a sweet young thing with long blonde hair dropped her pen when i announced who i was. I’ll have to check. She stammered retreating into a back office. She returned a few minutes later. Mr Dixon says that’ll that’ll be fine. She gulped. I smiled.

If anyone asks. Tell him i was framed. She nodded wide eyed and said. Thank you. She was all flustered and she forgot to tell me to have a nice day. I gave the hotel operator my room information and asked centralia information for Tom landers number. The number is seven six three. Four four

Two seven. I hung up and dialed there was no answer. I dialled information again. I’m a long time believer in the old phone factory adage. Let your fingers do the walking. Except mind walk straight to directory assistance. This time i asked for a union seventy six station. Again i dialed. A man answered

An older man whose voice was deep and whose speech was slow. Tom seventy six. Town speaking. My name is jp beaumont. I’m a friend of gingers i wanted to let you know how sorry i am. Thanks. There was a pause. I could hear him struggling to gain control. It was.

Your car she was driving. Wasn’t it. He asked. I was surprised that he recognized my name. That’s right. I told him. I understand the funeral is tomorrow afternoon. Yes. He said. Two o’clock. I tried calling Darryl but was told the services will be private. I was sorry to hear that.

I’d very much like to attend do you think that’s possible. Far as i’m concerned. I don’t know where those characters get off making it private. Funeral should have lots of people. It shows folks care. Where is it. The paper didn’t say. Two o’clock and the congregational church down down in the chapel.

Could i come as your guest. Sure. I’ll meet you at the church about one forty five. How will i know you. I’ll be able to find you. I told him. If anybody tries to stop you. Tell em Tom landers said you could come.

The next call was to a florist in the Denny regret near my apartment. I ordered a bouquet of flowers for ginger Watkins from sig Larson. While i was at it i call the pasco florist and ordered flowers for Mona Larsson too. I told the clerk to check with the pasco police

Department to see where and when they should be sent. She took my credit card number and wanted to know what to put on the card. Sign the card. A friend. I told her and let it go at that.

I hope like hell it would be the last batch of flowers i’d be ordering for awhile. Chapter twenty two. It was pouring rain the morning of ginger Watkins funeral the kind of hard driving rain that demands umbrellas and confirms were unfortunate tourists at everything they say about Seattle’s weather is true.

I rummaged through a closet searching for my one battered umbrella. A fold-up relic with two broken ribs and a bent handle. I hardly ever use it. Seattle’s rain is usually no more than a misty drip. Dry drizzle that seldom merits use of what seattleites fondly referred to as bumbershoot. Otherwise known as umbrellas.

Ames settled into the western hotel. He had work to do and didn’t want to be disturbed. Peters went back to the department where one of our battered wife dead husband cases was about to come to trial. He spent the day locked up in a series of depositions.

Jp beaumont still on vacation was left to his own devices. I stopped by to thank i had a new one for tracking down aims and Peters. I was glad to. She assured me. Why the way they wrote you up in the paper was criminal. Are you going to sue them. They deserve it

Especially that columnist fellow. Ames is looking into it. I told her. I will if he tells me. Later i went to get a haircut. Virgil has been my barber ever since i moved to the city. I’ve followed him from his first little hole in the wall shop to gradually more prosperous surroundings.

Now he is located in an attractive brick rehab on the corner of third and vine. Busy Virgil waved me into a chair to wait. Here it’s about time he came in here. He griped. Saw on TV and i says to Betty i says wouldn’t you know

He’d go and get himself on TV when he needs a haircut pray god he doesn’t tell her cut his hair know what i mean. I knew exactly what he meant. I was long overdue. Getting haircuts was one of the things i had neglected in the previous months of malaise.

Virgil finished with a retiree from the Grosvenor house and beckoned me into the chair. Saved all those articles from the paper for you he said. Figured if he was out of town you might not get them you know. Thanks Virgil. I understand the car got wrecked too.

They are working on it up at orcas. I guess it’ll be all right eventually. He clipped away humming the country western tune under his breath. I know enough about music to know he hummed very badly. When he finished it was only eleven. I walked over to seventh and stopped at the doghouse

More for the company than the coffee. Doghouse regulars graded me as a celebrity. After all the idea of a cop gone bad is a real attention grabber. I sat in a back corner booth and did some serious thinking. About sig and ginger and dimona.

I had never met sig while he was alive but his death had profoundly affected me. Ginger and Mona i knew briefly. Only a matter of hours before they too were dead. The three deaths plagued me. Weighed me down. I kept going back to Mona and ginger. Different yes but both young and vital

And both cut down. Something about the two of them nagged at the back of my mind but i couldn’t put my finger on it. The harder i tried to capture it. The more elusive it became. The fingerprints accused Don Wilson. But where was he. How was he outmaneuvering all efforts to find him.

Was he operating alone. Or with help. These were questions without answers. Or if the answers were there. I couldn’t see them. I ambled back to my apartment made myself a peanut butter sandwich. Sometimes out of respect for Peters i occasionally add sprouts to the peanut butter

But the plastic bag of sprouts in the vegetable drawer of my refrigerator had deteriorated to a vile greenish goo. With a sandwich and a glass of milk i settled in my recliner and dialed the San Juan county sheriff’s department.

I’m more than half expected to be told that huggins was in Seattle attending a funeral. Instead he answered. How. Bo hear. You coming to Seattle for ginger Watkins funeral. I was going to ask you to go Bo. I’m up to my neck around here and think you can swing it. Sure.

Homer tried to keep me away saying senator Watkins wanted a small private ceremony. But i got my name on the guestlist anyway. How did you manage that. Her father invited me. As his guest. How clicked his tongue. Rumor won’t like that. I was sure that was true.

I take it you’ve had a couple of run ins with the old man. Like running into a brick wall. I’ve tried to talk to the husband and he stonewalled me at every turn. Armor has. Yes god dammit honor. Any word on Wilson. Yeah no. Gave me posted if you hear anything.

Is sure thing. Search warrant didn’t come through yesterday i’m hoping for this afternoon and blow. What. You do the same. If anything turns up at the funeral give me a call. I dressed and walked down fifth to university. The congregational church is located at the corner of sixth and university.

The tiny chapel at the south end of the building pinch hits as downtown catholic chapel for weekday noontime business masses. Ecumenism em is alive and well and living in Seattle. Taking up a position in the lobby of the park place building across the street.

I watched as people arrived or were dropped off at the church. The first black limo accompanied by two state patrolmen deposited homer and his illustrious son sen Darryl Watkins. The second limo also with an armed guard brought governor Reynolds. When the third unattended by official motorcycles dropped off an older

Nondescript man who paused uncertainly on the sidewalk. I left my vantage across the street and approached him. Are you Tom lander. I asked. Mr beaumont. He returned his tone doubtful. Yes. Relief passed over his face we shook hands. He looked down at his old fashioned suit and

Dusted an imaginary flick of lint from his arm. Big cities make me nervous. He said uncomfortably. Or materialized out of nowhere. Hello Tom. He said elbowing me aside. They’re ready for us now. He scowled at me trying to place me. This is a private service Mr. Beaumont. I supplied. That’s all right homer.

Dom said. Use with me. Homer Watkins gave Tom a constrained nod. Very well. He said. Walking stiffly towards the church. Tom lander and i followed. The chapel couldn’t have held more than forty people. And ushers showed the time to a front row seat while i took one near the door.

As people came in i realized Peters would have recognized the political personalities from their pictures. I was an outsider with no program or scorecard. My only hope of identifying the various guests was to lay hands on the guestbook in the vestibule. I did recognize the parole board however. Led by madam Bo Dean

They appeared far more nervous than they had been in welton. Pressure was taking it’s toll. Had i been in their shoes i would have been nervous to. Looking around however i could have assured them with re reasonable accuracy. The Don Wilson was nowhere to be seen.

A young bearded minister conducted the service in a smooth professional way. Telling us the ginger Watkins was a person who had found herself in service to others. His comments made me hope that maybe he had at least a passing acquaintance with the lady.

As the eulogy began my eyes were drawn to Daryl Watkins heaving shoulders. He sat in the front row head bowed silent sobs wracking his body. Next to him Tom lander reached over and laid a consoling hand across his grieving son-in-law his shoulders. I can stand anything but hypocrisy.

There’ll was making an obvious play for sympathy and Tom lander fell for it. Comforting the asshole who had screwed around on his daughter the whole time they were married. Who had never bothered to give her the smallest satisfaction and love making. Who had kept her locked in a confining style appling marriage

Trotting her out on command when his rising political star demanded the display of a pretty wife. It put a lump in my throat to realize i had given ginger more pleasure by accident than that whining bastard had in eighteen years of marriage. I didn’t hear the rest of the service. I seethed.

Watching Daryl’s bitter remorseful crocodile tears. Too little too late. When the pallbearers carried the white coffin out the door Darryl followed. His face contorted with anguish supported on one side by homer and on the other by Tom. That son of a bitch. I muttered to myself. I don’t think anyone heard me.

Outside people milled on the sidewalk waiting for the funeral cortege to form and lead us to woodlawn cemetery. I paused as long as i could over the guestbook mentally noting as many names as possible. Then i waited by Tom’s limo expecting to tell him goodbye. Instead he asked me to come along

The ride to the cemetery with him. I didn’t particularly want to go. But it was hard to refuse the old man. He was so isolated and alone that in the end i went. We rode in silence. I was still seething over the funeral and Tom seemed lost in thought.

I stayed in the car during the graveside ceremony refusing to be an audience to any more theatrics on Daryl’s part. I used the time to jot down as many names as i could remember from the guestbook. Once we started downtown i had myself fairly well in hand. What now. I asked initiating conversation.

Tom shrugged. Dearlove said i was welcome to come over to the house but i don’t know. I don’t feel comfortable with all those mucky mucks. Do you know most of those people. I asked. No. How about a cup of coffee before you decide. He seemed to welcome the delay. He nodded. That

Would be real nice. The limo driver raised a disapproving eyebrow when i dismissed him. Telling him to drop us at the doghouse. I knew time would be far more at home there than in the rarefied atmosphere of the four seasons olympic or the western.

He settled gratefully into a booth and smiled when the waitress calling me by name. Brought a coffee pot with the menus. I guess even big city folks can be friendly. He said. Now this is my neighborhood time i live just a few blocks from here. We both ordered coffee.

I watched Tom shovel three teaspoons of sugar into his cup. How did you know ginger. He asked stirring absently. I only met her the day before she died. I said quietly. But. She helped me more than i can say. She talked me through a problem i had been avoiding for months.

I had to go today. I owed her that. Ginger was like that. He said. He smiled sadly. Always ready to help the other guy. Always a friend in need. She was the kind of kid who dragged home broken winged birds and expected me to fix them. He paused. They mostly died. He added.

He stared disconsolately into his cup. Did you know about the drinking. He asked. His question jarred me. Yes. I thought she’d beaten it. Zig Larsen helped her. What made her start again. I dunno. I didn’t have a clue. I ached for him as he pondered ginger’s death. His child’s death.

Why had she died drunk. Someone had neglected to tell him that her death had been reclassified as a homicide. And i figured it wasn’t my place to tell him. That was up the hal huggins. There was some gossip about them you know. Tom continued. Stg and ginger.

But i never put any store in it. Ginger wasn’t like that. No. I agreed. I’m sure she wasn’t. The topic made me very uneasy. Did you know she intended to file for a divorce. She wouldn’t have. He answered with firm conviction. She might have threatened to get Darryl to shape up.

But she wouldn’t have left him. We landers hang in there. It’s a family tradition. I wanted to say the ginger head hung in there more than long enough but i didn’t. That would have been kicking him while he was down.

Besides that would have given away too much about ginger and j p beaumont. Better to let sleeping dogs lie. As far as Tom lander was concerned ginger Watkins and i had been just friends. Nothing more. Do you want to go to the house i asked. Would you come along. He countered.

He needed an ally and i was it. Why not. I said rising. Between the two of us we should be able to handle that bunch. We took a cab to the motel where Tom was staying then we drove to Darryl Watkins capitol hill mansion in a gmc pickup with Tom’s union seventy six

Emblazoned on the door. Chapter twenty three. The Watkins mansion sits atop capitol hill with a spectacular view of downtown Seattle and puget sound. At the base of the hill interstate five bisects the city. As we rounded the circular driveway and drove past a gurgling fountain.

I could imagine homer and darrow sipping cocktails and watching the freeway turn to a parking lot each evening as commuters tried to go home. Who lives here i asked. This end side one please turn decide to do not fast forward the tape. Who lives here i asked. Homer used to. Tom said.

But now he’s moved into a condominium. This is where ginger lived there. For about a year. Tom answered. The mansion itself was a spacious white colonial set in a manicured park-like setting. By the time we arrived the drive was already teeming with a variety of trendy late model vehicles.

I had described the last few years as a struggle for financial survival. That was why she had gone to work for the parole board. These surroundings gave no hint of encroaching poverty. They bought this from homer. Tom shrugged. Ginger never talked to me about their private affairs.

They used to live over there someplace. He gestured down the back of capitol hill. Nice enough place if you didn’t need to find it in the dark. We rang the bell setting off a multi note chime. A uniformed maid opened the door. Yes.

She said in a truculent manner designed to frighten off gate crashers. Tom lander. Oh. Yes mister land. She stepped back opening the door and welcome. You’re expected. We entered a foyer with an intricate parquet floor and a magnificent chandelier that hung from a vaulted ceiling far above us. Polished

Mahogany handrails lined a circular staircase. From behind a closed door to our left came a murmur of voices. This way please. The maid told us. As the door opened we heard a small burst of laughter from a group of people gathered near a fireplace at the opposite end of an enormous room.

To one side an arched doorway led into the dining room where a lavish buffet supper lay spread across a gleaming tabletop. A scatter of twenty five or thirty fashionably attired people chatted amiably over drinks and hors d’oeuvres. It would have made a wonderful cocktail party. Any relation to a funeral was purely coincidental.

Our host was nowhere in sight but homer broke away from the congenial group and came to meet us. A careful smile displayed on his face. I’m glad you decided to come Tom you to mr beaumont. Care for a drink. I’ll have a beer. Tom said. Magnets in water. I answered. Homer

To the maid and she disappeared. Gravely solicitous homer guided Tom toward the fireplace. I trailed behind. Let me introduce you to some of the folks dumb there wasn’t enough time at the church. Several of the names were preceded by representative or senator. Clearly this was more a gathering of barrels

Peers than it was one of ginger’s friends. I tried keeping track of names attempting to remember only those i hadn’t already gleaned from the guestbook. Sen George Berry and representative Dean rhodes. Ray Johnson always told me that the secret to remembering names was creating colorful word pictures using their names.

I had seen him do it for years. I made a stab at it. Roads and Barry. I imagined several roads and saw them intersecting at one giant strawberry. Representative Doris winters. I covered the strawberry with a giant load of winter snow. Berry rhodes winters. So far so good. Representative Larry look a bitch.

Shit. Look a bitch. Racecar driver okay. Look a bitch racing past the Barry. Senator to shuttle kobayashi. I gave up. The maid handed me my Mick Norton’s. I wandered away from the introductions to a chair beside a leaded glass window. I needed Peters. He’d know all those people. The room was stifling.

I belted that drink and ordered another when the maid walked past again. The door at the end of the room opened letting in a welcome rush of cool air. Daryl Watkins. Accompanied by a handsome smiling young brunette. Entered the room. Tom’s back was to the door.

Homer facing both Darryl and Tom gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head over Tom shoulder. There’ll caught the warning and spoke quietly to the woman who melted smoothly into the crowd. So this was the tender blossom. The competition ginger had talked about already marking her territory and claiming her prize.

I downed my second macnaughton and sauntered over to where the brunette had settled on a green velvet loveseat. She crossed her legs revealing a rather lengthy stretch of shapely thigh. Would you like a drink i asked. She smiled up at me. Sure. Vodka tonic. I found the maid and placed the order.

It’s for the young woman over there i forget her name. Miss Lacey. The maid supplied helpfully. I’ll have another Mick Norton’s. I said returning my glass. Casually i meandered back to the sweet young thing on the loveseat. My name’s bull. I said. You’re miss Lacey. Darlene. She replied smiling.

Glad to meet you Darlene mind if i sit down. No. She moved to make room. Demurely covering some of the visible thigh. Are you a lobbyist. She asked. No i’m a friend of gingers oh. She said a trifle too quickly. I don’t believe any of ginger’s friends had been expected.

It’s too bad about ginger. Darlene continued. I didn’t know her personally but everyone says she was a very nice person. She was i replied. The maid brought the drinks. Darlene sipped hers eyes holding mine over the top of her glass. What do you do. I asked. I’ll go to Olympia in January.

I’ll be on staff either with a lieutenant governor’s office or the senate. Doesn’t matter to me. She laughed. A job’s a job. Homer caught sight of his sitting together and hastened toward the loveseat. Mr beaumont i didn’t mean to ignore you. Would you care for a sandwich deviled eggs salad. No thanks.

I was just chatting with miss Lacey here. She was telling me about our new job. Sounds like a good deal to me. I managed a hollow grin hoping it adequately expressed my feelings on the subject. Have you met Daryl. Homer asked. No. I replied haven’t had the pleasure.

I took another belt and Mick Norton’s for luck maybe. Or maybe because the room was uncommonly hot and i was very thirsty. I set my empty glass on a polished table and followed homer to where Darryl was waxing eloquent with the lady from my memory word picture. Snow. I decided fazel lie.

That was her name. Homer caught Daryl’s attention. They’re all this is mr beaumont. It was his. They’re all turned toward me his smile turning sallow. Oh yes mr beaumont i hope your Porsche isn’t ruined. No it’ll be fine it takes time. I wanted to express my condolences. I said. Thanks. He said.

His face assuming the grieved air that had offended me at the funeral. So nice of you to stop by. I resisted the temptation to smack that phony look right of his face. Homer steered representative snow away from us leaving barrel and me together. They’re all signaled the made for two more drinks.

It says scary. He said turning back to me. First sig. Then ginger. Now Mona. I was sure he knew all about Don Wilson. Considering the family’s close ties to the governor’s office that was hardly surprising. I hope to god they catch that guy before he gets any one else. Watkins continued. Me too

I said. We usually do sooner or later. He gave me an appraising look. We. His Seattle pd involved too. He asked. No not officially. I’m here because ginger and i were friends. The maid broke into delivered drinks. My series of magnets had come in rapid enough

Succession that i was getting a little buzz. I don’t recall her mentioning your name. It did my heart good to note the subtle shift in Daryl’s manner. A wariness. I was something he didn’t expect. How a back that. May be ginger had some secret to asshole. How’d you like them apples.

The thoughts bubbled unspoken through my new guy. Norton’s. You can’t tell about women. I said jokingly. Ginger and i go back a long way. We ran into each other up orcas by accident but then life is full of little surprises right. Right. He replied lamely.

The door opened and a new trio of people entered. Daryl excused himself to greet them. The room had grown more crowded. There were far more people sipping drinks than had been at the chapel earlier. The coffee the Mick Norton’s and the water asserted themselves. Searching for a restroom i wandered into the kitchen

Slipping through the swinging door when a maid carried a new tray of deviled eggs into the dining room. The kitchen massive and polished was a combination of old and new. In ancient walk in refrigerator covered one wall while on the other side of the room. A long commercial dishwasher steamed under the

Hand of a heavyset woman renting a tray of plates. On a third wall sat a huge eight burner range while the middle of the room held a sleek stainless steel work table layer even with food. The woman looked up from the dishwasher and saw me at the doorway. Can i help you.

She asked. I am looking for a restroom. Now restaurants here. She stated flatly. Upstairs on the right. Just as they retreated the way i had come threading my way through the chatting guests to the foyer and up the stairs.

A dizzying trip up the circular stairway convinced me i had had too much to drink. The first likely looking door i found was locked. I tried the next door. Bingo. I had already flashed and was splashing my face with cool water in an effort to sober up

When i heard voices in the hall outside. I’m sure it never occurred to anyone that a guest might have ventured all the way upstairs in search of a restroom. I opened the door and stepped into the hall. I at luck’s great dara. A voice was saying from a room farther up the corridor.

And the fact that it was private makes it that much better. That’s what we pay for Sam. I recognized Darryl Watkins voice. That’s what a campaign manager is supposed to do. Name familiarity is way up at five points over last week that’s a tremendous change this late in the campaign

I’d say you have it in the bag. I’d better get back downstairs. Leave that paper up here when you go. Darryl said. We wouldn’t want time to stumble across it before he leaves. I was standing outside the door when Darryl Watkins stepped into the hall. He almost ran over me.

You son of a bitch. I muttered. What are you doing up here. Taking a leak i said. I think maybe you’d better go mr beaumont. I’ll go and i’m getting ready at though. Another man appeared behind Darrell. A young blond man in casual clothes who looked as if

He had just stepped out of a racket club advertisement. Behind both of them stood the newly hired Darlene Lacey. What was this Darryl. The other man asked. I answered. The names beaumont. Detective j p beaumont Seattle pd. I was writing a boozy wave of moral indignation. So i ran a poll didier.

I sneered. Figured the voters would like it b better if you made it look quiet dignified. That’s how ginger said you’d handle the divorce too. I don’t know what you’re talking about oh yes you do. You got the newspapers to Bury the story but ginger was filing on Monday morning. Shut up

Darryl said i won’t shut up. How much does it cost to buy by the press. You’re drunk mr beaumont you’d better leave mar piston amp drunk. Get out he snarled. He moved toward me reaching out to put a hand on my shoulder. Get your hands off me. I flung him away.

What happened next was in slow motion. I reached for him one the grab him by the shoulders and shake his teeth out. Instead i lost my balance and slipped. Shoving him backward toward the stairs. He fell catching his face on the heavy mahogany ball at the top of the handrail. When he straightened

Blood spurted from his nose. I said get out. I am going. What’s happening up there. Homer called from below. They’re all held a hanky to his nose. And nothing he replied. Mr beaumont here add one too many. I charged down the stairs shoving my way past homer in the foyer.

The air outside the house was sharp and cold with a stiff breeze blowing off the water. It cleared the smoke laden air from my lungs and cut through the haze and Mick Norton’s in my head enough so i was shocked by what i had done.

Taking a drunken swing at Daryl Watkins would add credence to the jp beaumont legend. The hot-headed killer cop myth PR remoted by Maxwell kohl in his court. I took a deep breath of the biting cold air. You’re not doing a whole hell of a lot to live it down. I told myself aloud.

A horn honked beside me startling me out of my reverie. Tom landers gmc pulled up beside me. Tom leaned over and rolled down the window. Get in. He ordered. I did. What happened back there. He asked putting the pickup in gear.

I had to get the hell out of there they were driving me crazy. Me too. He said accepting what i said at face value. Where to. I directed him to my building at third and lenora. I didn’t invite him up. I was sure he’d be reading all about it in the morning edition

And i didn’t feel like doing any explanations beforehand. Thanks for coming along. Tom said as i opened the door to get out. I’m glad at least one of ginger’s friends was there. Nodding in agreement i climbed out onto the sidewalk. Then i reached back into the truck to shake his hand.

Your daughter was a very special lady Tom. Sorry she’s gone. Thanks. He said. He drove away without further comment. Words are never enough in a situation like that. Actions were what was needed. I turned and walked into the lobby of the royal crest. By then. I was stone cold sober. Chapter twenty four.

Friday morning. My last day of vacation and i was hung over his hail. It seemed like all i had done was drink and go to funerals. A regular bus man’s holiday. I called aims to invite him to breakfast. Reluctantly he agreed. I’m very busy you know.

He said crossly as we picked up our menus. I’m working on the condominium thing and i’m still negotiating with new dawn what do you want. Well. I parried. As my attorney i thought you ought to know i was in a mild altercation with a Washington state senator last night. Bloodied his nose

Probably blacked his eyes. Accidentally. I added. Ames put down his menu. This is a joke right. Wrong no joke. Maybe you’d better tell me about it. For an answer i handed him a copy of a newspaper. Aims read silently. In a private funeral ceremony attended only by family and close friends

State senator Darryl Watkins said a tearful farewell to his wife ginger yesterday afternoon. Mrs Watkins a member of the Washington state parole board died in a one vehicle accident on orcas island Saturday October twenty fifth. Her future oral services were delayed to allow fellow board members to travel to

Weldon for the funeral of another board member said Larson who was the victim of a homicide the previous day. Initially thought to be the underdog against longtime incumbent lieutenant governor rod chambers. Senator Watkins has seen his political base increase even as he has faced personal tragedy.

Public opinion polls now show him running neck and neck with lieutenant governor chambers. And Watkins families spokesman said services for mrs Watkins were kept private to avoid a sensationalizing press from taking advantage of an unfortunate situation. Senator Watkins in a terse statement issued late last night.

Said that he is canceling all campaign appearances for the remainder of the week. Ames looked up from the paper. Don’t i remember reading that it was his wife’s wish that he continue with the campaign. When did you break his nose. Last night after the funeral.

I’ll bet he’s not a pretty sight this morning. No wonder he cancelled his public appearances. That sorry son of a bitch deliberately staged a private ceremony in order to gain the sympathy vote. I relayed to ames the conversation i had overheard. This is the first time you’ve been around politics. Aims inquired dryly.

That’s how it works. Will he bring charges. I dunno that’s why i called you. Were there any reporters there at the time. You mean when he fell. Not that i know of. I’m surprised they’re downplaying it like this. By all rights

You should be plastered all over the front page for the second time this week. Maybe i just got lucky. I suggested. Aim shook his head. I doubt it. They probably won’t go for criminal charges but my guess is we’ll be hearing from their attorneys. They’ll sue for damages. Wonderful. I mumbled.

Considering their financial situation they’d be crazy not to. What do you mean. Just then the waitress brought our food and put it in front of aims. He had taken a file folder out of his briefcase. Beside put the folder down and picked up his fork.

You know which of the condominium project are in trouble don’t you. I wasn’t asking about that. You said it wouldn’t make sense for them not to sue me. Both listen to me i’m trying to explain. The two that are in trouble are belltown terrace and waterview place. Belltown terraces there’s.

Scuttlebutt sir as the project will go on the auction block by the end of the year unless they pick up some new capital. They might go for a fat out of court settlement in order to pick up some quick cash. Slow down. You’re talking about two different things. I am talking money. Look

Ralph if they’re going to go bankrupt then i’d better not get involved. I realize they were almost a sheriff sale time. Ames looked at me sadly and shook his head. You haven’t been listening. Yes i have. Why would i want to buy a unit from someone who’s about to go belly up.

More specifically why would i want to buy in a building owned by someone who’s about to sue me. Waiting for ames answer i chased the slippery chunk of egg across my plate with a piece of whole wheat toast. Peters had convinced me to give up white bread. Nut cholesterol. A unit. Aims exploded.

Who’s talking about a unit. I’m talking about the building. You said you wanted to invest. It would be a great write off. You rent the units for five to seven years then go in do some remodeling and sell them to heck of a good deal. I put down my toast.

I put down my fork. You are supposed to be looking for a condominium for me to buy. The penthouses in belltown aren’t sold. You could live there but in order to keep our noses clean with the i rs you’d have to pay rent back to the corporation.

Aims at can’t buy a whole building. Now that by yourself. I can can get you end with a syndicate. I know of one in the market for just this kind of deal. Five of you altogether. What do you think. I didn’t know what to think. I knew my inheritance was considerable.

But i still hadn’t gotten a handle on the magnitude of it. I kept trying to get my. Arms around it. Will you do what you think is best. I said aims. You know a hell of a lot more about this stuff than i do.

But i can’t see myself doing business with homer and Darryl Watkins especially after last night. Forget last night. We’ll be dealing with the bank not homer and Darryl. The f d i c is ready to eat the bank alive if they don’t get out from under this loan.

Want to go over the financial papers. I shook my head. That’s your job. Ames patted his mouth with his napkin and returned the file folder to his briefcase. Very well. He said rising. I’ve got to run. I’m expecting a call from the dalles. How’s that going i asked. He shrugged. I’m not talking.

I don’t want to get Peters hopes up but it’s not dead issue. He left me in the restaurant. After i paid the bill i walked down second to belltown terrace. It was a twenty story building with a small grassy courtyard setting it back from the street. The sign said muddle open.

So i went inside. A real estate lady came down to meet me. She showed me through the entire project from the indoor pool and exercise room to the outdoor racquetball court and running track. A gas barbecue grills sat on a small patio near the party room.

I lost the bbq and also my only form of cooking expertise when Karen and i split up. The number of decent barbecued ribs i’d had since then could be counted on one hand. I decided that have ames could negotiate my way into the building. It might not be such a bad idea.

Taking the woman’s card i promise to call her once i made up my mind. Back on the street i dealt with the problem of my last day of vacation. The bug was on me. Jurisdictions notwithstanding i had to do something. I didn’t bother going back to avis. Considering my track record

They wouldn’t be eager to rent me another car. I tried hertz instead. I drove north on a five and took the lynwood exit. Using the phone book i located done Wilson’s address. When i got there i found that both the front and back doors were secured with police padlocks.

Huggins had made the place off limits. A quick check of the neighborhood showed no surveillance vehicles. Wilson’s house was set back by itself on a wooded lot. The nearest neighbor was a good half block away in a tiny clambered cottage. I walked to it and knocked.

After a time the door inched open the length of a security chain. Yes. A woman’s voice demanded. I held one of my cards up to the door so she could see it. I need to ask a couple questions about mr Wilson. You and everybody else. The woman grumbled.

But the door closed long enough for her and fashioned the chain. What do you want to know. The woman was more than middle aged with a white apron spread across an ample figure. With an exasperated glare she pointed her index finger at her ear and made several quick circular gestures.

What else do you want to know. Crazy enough to kill someone. Would you be if you’re with him. You know what happened to his wife and kid. When did you last see him. Look she said. I’m trying to cook dinner i don’t have all day.

I already said this once do i have to say it again. It would help. I said. She sighed. Well follow me into the kitchen then before i burn it up. Opening the door wide she motioned me inside. I followed her into a small kitchen where she was

Peeling vegetables for what looked like a stew. Last i saw him was Friday morning he was unloading signs from his car. Unloading. That’s what i said and loading. Packing them into the house. It struck me as odd.

If he was on his way to orcas to demonstrate he should have had his signs along. Why. I said more to myself than to the woman. How should i know. I spent a while longer in the steamy kitchen but other than stoutly defending Don Wilson’s right to go off the deep end.

The woman told me nothing more of consequence. I drove back into Seattle with the unsettling feeling that i knew both more and less than i had known before. By the time i got home late afternoon sun had broken through the clouds. I called Peters at the department. How’s it going. I asked.

I hate depositions the answered. What are you doing tonight. No i dunno. I thought i’d hang around here long enough to wait out the traffic. Friday afternoon rush hour traffic is worse on Seattle’s two floating Bridges than it is during the rest of the week. This weekend travelers join regular commuters trying to

Cross lake Washington to get to the suburbs and beyond. Wanted to stop by and have dinner maybe ames could join us. What kind of food. Peters asked. I hadn’t planned that far in advance. I dunno. Tell you what. Peters offered. I’ll stop by the market and pick up something.

He didn’t fool me for a minute. That way he could control the menu. Sure i said. It’ll be fine. Hal huggins called riot after i talked to Peters. Where have you been I’ve been calling all afternoon. Out. I said without explanation. What do you want. We searched Wilson’s house. Again said.

All his picketing stuff was there. Designed the brochure of the petitions nothing out of the ordinary except one thing. What’s that. He left i have chicken thawing on the counter. Like a plan to be home in time for dinner. And he didn’t leave food out for his cat.

By the time we got there the cat had helped himself to the chicken. Smart cat. I said. Get serious Bo. What does that say to you. He didn’t expect to be gone long. Yeah. Huggins agreed. We talked a few more minutes before my call waiting

Signal b usd me to say Peters was downstairs. He carried a box of marinated vegetables. A pound of cooked spinach tortellini and some fresh soul that he proceeded to bake in my oven. It’s turned us down cold so it was only Peters and i who sat down to a gourmet dinner

Overlooking Seattle’s nighttime skyline. Peters glanced at his watch as we finished eating. I’d be lucky to be home now even if i left right at five. Takes an hour on Fridays. Longer if there’s an accident on the bridge. Why don’t you move downtown i asked. A shadow crossed his face.

I keep thinking I’ll get the girls back. You can’t raise kids in the city. I told him then about what i had seen at belltown terrace the running track the pool the facilities. You could raise kids there i told him. And not have to spend half your life commuting in a car.

I don’t. Have the kids. Probably never will. He replied bitterly. Besides he added. I don’t have that kind of money. Respecting aims wishes i said nothing about continuing negotiations in the dalles. Our evening was pleasant. I told Peters about the reception at the Watkins mansion including my taking a swing at Darryl Watkins.

I tried unsuccessfully to recall the names of some of the people there. Look of it she was the only one i could remember for certain. There was a representative snow i think and. Maybe somebody named Lane. Peter shook his head. The names didn’t sound familiar.

So much for using word pictures to enhance my memory. It can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Chapter twenty five. Ernie Roger is called at six forty five Saturday morning. The car was ready. Would i like him to bring it to Seattle. Was sure but.

I thought about the Porsche and wondered how he’d handle it. Ernie heard the pause and understood it. My wife would rack. He said. Well sure sure. The you know your way around Seattle. Some. I gave him directions describing the electronic gate into the garage on lenora at the base of the building.

The genie may not work now that it’s been wet. Oh it should Ernie said. Affixed it. Will be there early afternoon. When how will you get back to orcas. We’re going to make a weekend of it. My mother-in-law is keeping the kids.

We won’t catch the bus back down the corridors until Monday afternoon. Jenny wants to do some shopping. We thought we’d turn this into a mini vacation. Do you have reservation somewhere i asked. Now we’ll check into a motel after we get to town. Do i owe you any more money. I asked

Wondering if i should be prepared to write another check. As a matter of fact the answered. You’ll be getting back some chain nj. I’ll look for you when you get here i said. My parking space is number forty eight. After you park come on up to eleven one six will go to lunch.

Sounds great. Peters called from home while i was drinking my second cup of coffee. He was reading his morning paper. Somebody blogged about the search warrant. Now bet huggins is pissed. The paper names Wilson as the major suspect in both Larson murders who’s the leak.

Peters and i had hammered away on Don Wilson’s thawing chicken over drinks after dinner. There’s the article mentioned ginger Watkins i asked. Not so far. I gotta go Peters. I hung up and dialed hal huggins number in Friday harbor. It was busy and stayed that way. And ride the sheriff’s department. I’m sorry

Detective huggins is unavailable. This is detective beaumont from Seattle all while hold he’ll talk to me. I was right. How came on the line a minute later. Sorry to keep you waiting bow this place is a zoo. We got reporters hanging from the ceiling fence. Somebody told him about the search warrant. Who.

The hell should i know. I’m Roy maybe i asked. He was my first choice. I don’t think so i asked him. He denied it six ways to Sunday and think he’s telling the truth. Must have been somebody else. A voice spoke to hal in the background and i heard his muffled reply. Hey

He said into the phone. I gotta run. The presses eating me alive I’ll let you know if anything breaks. I put down the phone and sat for a while. Eventually i called ray and pasco. He was at home. He sounded glad to hear from me. What did they find in the rabbit.

I asked him after the niceties. Not in the rabbit on it. Mount his hair and fibers from her jacket on the front bumper. No fingerprints. Years smudged. Must have worn gloves. Great terrific. Wins Mona’s funeral. Is over. Her brother brought in a bunch of hell’s angels types from Idaho cowboys on motors Michaels.

I went to the service. Except for the brother and his friends no one was there. At least i had sent flowers. I made a late lunch reservation for the space needle. It’s one of Seattle’s best known tourist attractions. The combination of food and view are unbeatable.

As i hung up the phone after making the reservation i congratulated myself. It would be the first time i had visited the space needle since that night months ago when i went with an corley. Maybe i was finally getting better. I said a small thank you to ginger Watkins. Wherever she was.

Downtown is deserted on weekends. All the business people are home in the suburbs mowing lawns and raking leaves. Farther downtown where the stores are there are still crowds of shoppers but not up in the Denny re grade where i live. The flat stretches of the re grade form a choir that village.

Actually the re grade used to be as hilly as the rest of Seattle but sometime during the early nineteen hundreds a city engineer named r h Thompson got carried away with his work. And decided to sluice Denny hill into puget sound. He wanted flat and he got it.

Only the depression stopped him before he got started on queen Anne hill. That kind of nonsense wouldn’t get past environmentalists today but it did then. Now the Denny re grade is flat as a pancake. Expansion from downtown also stopped by the depression left the re grade as it is today.

A neighborhood of condominiums and apartment buildings interspersed with offices and small businesses. New luxury high rises and flea bitten hotels coexist in relative Harmony. I opened the door to my solitary lanai and went out to soak up some quiet morning sun. I needed to think.

A couple of things were right at the top of my list. For one. Why would the killer of carefully worn gloves to drive my car. When he had blatantly left prints all over ginger’s calendar. Of course he didn’t expect the calendar to be

Found but still it was taking a hell of a chance. And the half chicken bothered me. My mother was a firm believer in waste not want not. The idea of thawing meat when you had no intention of coming home didn’t make sense. And how had he disappeared into thin air.

And why had he unpacked all his protest materials before he left for orc this. Questions. Always questions with no answers. And reporters buzzing around with their own sets of questions never having brains enough not to print everything they knew or thought they knew. Stymied i went back inside the shower shave and dress.

I was ready and waiting when Ernie and Jenny showed up at one thirty. Jenny Rogers was a smiling woman. Several years younger than Ernie. They were a matched set. Her flaming red hair and blue eyes made them look more like brother and sister than husband and wife.

She had a pregnant shelf a tummy that could easily have held a coffee cup and saucer. Any trouble with the car i asked. Jenny giggled. Some she replied. I looked anxiously at Ernie afraid something was wrong with the Porsche that he hadn’t been able to fix. He grinned. We had hard time steering.

Be explained. The baby kept getting in the way. Sports cars are not necessarily built for pregnant drivers. We decided to walk from my place to Seattle center. I guess i had never noticed all the curb cuts in sidewalks. Ernie wheeled along easily keeping pace with Jenny and me.

They found the space needle enchanting. That Jenny had never been there not even on the observation deck. She was delighted with the revolving restaurant. Exuberant about the food. Her enjoyment was contagious. We had a great time. Eventually however conversation turned to business.

Ernie reached in a pocket and pulled out an envelope which he handed to me. In it was a check for five hundred dollars made out in my name. What’s this i asked. Job didn’t take nearly as long as i thought he answered. That’s your change. I remembered Barney at rosario telling me that

Ernie was the best. I had doubted it then but now i believed it. I’d checked. And couldn’t have gotten the work done nearly that fast or cheap anywhere else. Taking a pen i endorsed the check back to Jenny Rogers and handed it to her. She was stunned. Why. She asked.

For driving the car back. Saving me a day of traveling. And. For the baby. Already he said he wanted to go shopping. She looked at him quickly questioning whether she should accept it. He shrugged and she put the check in her purse. Thank you. She said. Ernie looked uncomfortable. He changed the subject.

Did you see the paper this morning. I didn’t see it but i heard. The paper said it because the parole board let that latham guy out and he killed Wilson’s wife. I shrugged. Could be i said. Well they still shouldn’t have fired blir. Jenny said. Ernie shot a quick

Silencing glance and Jenny’s direction. Well they shouldn’t have she insisted with a defiant shake of her head. It’s not fair. What’s not fair. Blir vang was a maid working at rosario who got fired because she lost her keys. They said someone found them and use them to break into mrs Watkins’ room.

I felt as if i’d wandered into a conversation twenty minutes late. Who’s this again. Blue vang. A friend of ours. Jenny’s blue eyes smouldered with indignation. Somebody stole her keys so they fired her. When. Ernie broke in with an explanation. Blir work the day that man was murdered.

She left her keys on a cart and somebody took him. The hotel claimed he was careless and fired her. My mind raced. Six key to ginger’s room and never been found but the fact that the maids’ keys had been stolen the same day was too much of a coincidence.

My gut told me the missing keys were are somehow related to the murder. That hal huggins no. Ernie shrugged. I dunno. She was too scared to say anything. Manager didn’t find out until yesterday. Man when he did he fired her on the spot. But as hell talked to her. I doubted.

She took off on the next Perry. Jenny interjected. She would have been long gone before he knew. I felt a mounting surge of excitement. Maybe she had seen someone in the hall someone she could identify. A material witness can’t just walk away she’ll have to tell the authorities what she knows. She won’t.

Jenny said. She has to she could be charged with obstruction of justice. Jenny gave a sharp laugh. Try explaining obstruction of justice to among refugee. That’s why she ran away she scared. She almost died when they took her fingerprints. She won’t talk to a cop. Does anyone know where she went.

Jenny and Ernie exchange glances. Maybe. Jenny said reluctantly. But i tell you she won’t talk to you or how either. She’s scared. It occurred to me suddenly that Jenny and Ernie Rodgers seemed to be far more than casually involved. Wait a minute. How do you know so much about her.

Jenny looked shyly at Ernie. He answered with a mildly re proving glare. We work with refugees he explained. And mung saved my life when i was unarmed. I’m the one who got the job at rosario in the first place. I feel pretty bad about we both do.

I was like an old flop eared hound stumbling across a fresh scent. Would you help me find her i asked attempting to contain my elation. Their heads shook in silent unison. I’ll get an interpreter i argued. I’d be off duty no uniform no badge. This could be important. She may have seen someone.

Or something nobody else saw. Jenny’s manner softened when she understood i believe to be innocent of any wrongdoing. This ends tape for. Please change to tape five. Jenny’s men are softened when she understood i believe to be an innocent of any wrong doing. Ernie remained adamant. There might be a reward.

I added as a last resort. She won’t talk to you. Ernie said. Even if you find her she won’t talk. She would if you went along to translate. Jenny suggested. Ernie gave Jenny a black look but his resistance was weakening. He sat for a long time looking at me

Weighing the pros and cons. You’re sure she wouldn’t get in any trouble. The asked. I guarantee it. In that case Ernie Rogers said gruffly. Nah guess it couldn’t hurt to talk to her. Chapter twenty six. I can hardly wait to get home. Jenny had told me there was a possibility blue

Vang was staying with relatives in Seattle. I wanted to start looking for her. While Ernie waited in the cab Jenny and i retrieved luggage from the Porsche. In the elevator Jenny thanked me again for both the money and lunch. It made me uneasy. Being an anonymous benefactor is a hell of a

Lot easier than looking gratitude in the face. Buy something nice for the baby. I said patting her tummy. She smiled and stood on tiptoe leaning over her pregnant belly to give me a peck on the cheek as the elevator door opened to let her off.

She gave me the name of a motel near greenlake in case i needed to get in touch with him. Back in my apartment i called detective Henry wu. A third generation satellite of Chinese extraction. Hank came to homicide from the university of Washington with a major in police science

And a minor in far eastern studies. Hey Bo he said when i told him who was calling. When you coming back. Monday. I said but i need your help today. What do you know about among refugees here in town. A very tightly knit group he replied. They don’t trust outsiders.

With good reason mostly. Do you have any friends there. I’ve got an ear there he allowed. Not friend. Why would he need. There’s a young woman used to be a made up at rosario. Her name is blue vang. They fired her for losing a set of keys i need to talk to her.

What about. There’s this official police business. More like unofficial police business. Remember old hal huggins. Sure. He’s working a homicide died on orcas. This woman may have a lead for him. She took off before he could talk to her. Rumor has it she’s in Seattle staying with relatives.

I’ve got an interpreter someone she knows a fellow named Ernie Rodgers. I need to ask her a couple of questions. Off the record no badge no uniform nothing. There’s even a river ward if that helps.

Money isn’t going to make a hell of a lot of difference if she has to talk to a cop. Don’t tell her i’m a cop. Say a friend or Ernie Rodgers needs to talk to her. I’ll try anc agreed. But don’t hold your breath. Zettel. Well actually there’s one more thing. Shoot.

My interpreter is in town until four thirty Monday afternoon. That’s when the bus leaves ran a chorus. Jesus Christ bow this is Saturday. Call somebody. Leave a message. It’s important. Right. He said sarcastically. That among all have phones and folks to take messages. See what i can do. Thanks Hank i appreciate it.

I hung up. One of the hardest things about this business is waiting. You put an idea out into the ether and then you’ll wait to see if anything happens. TV detective is notwithstanding. A lot of times nothing does. On Saturday. Nothing happened. I finally got around to unpacking the suitcases i had

Brought home and stashed in the bedroom without opening. On the table beside my recliner i discovered the bill from rosario. Aims at impressed on me the value of saving copies of all bills as potential weapons in future battles with the i r s.

I stowed the bill away in a shoe box reserved for that purpose. Near basic low tech filing system. I tried aims. Since it was cocktail hour on a Saturday evening i thought he might be persuaded into coming over. No dice.

Claimed he was in the middle of something vital and couldn’t take a break. More than a little put out i walked across the street to the cinerama and watched the original uncut version of Oklahoma for the seventh time. Afterward i went home to bed but not asleep.

Thoughts of ginger Watkins and moana Larson haunted me. There was a common denominator but i couldn’t put my finger on it. It was after three when i fell asleep. The phone rang at six. It was ames bright cheerful energetic ames. Calling on the security phone from the lobby. Let me in bulk

Up downstairs. I staggered into the kitchen and started coffee. When i opened the door aims bounced into the apartment brimming over with excitement. I have the deal put together. The other syndicate members want to know if you’re going to buy the penthouse before

The purchase of the building or if you want to rent it back. Words tumbled out and torrent. In that case you wouldn’t be able to buy it outright for five years but considering the tax write off in the building and in worry I’ll wait a goddamn minute here aims.

You mean to tell me you woke me up at six o’clock on Sunday morning because you put a real estate package together. Advertised aims accepted a proper cup of coffee. I had to wait for one guy’s plane to land in Japan. Which building i asked. The one with a bbq. Belltown terrace

He said. Okay that’s the one with the grill. What next. Tomorrow i make them an offer. I sat down opposite aims with my own coffee cup. I have a hard time seeing myself as a real estate magnate. It’ll grow on you. He assured me smiling. What do i do with this. I asked

Indicating the small apartment that had been my first and only haven after the painful split from Karen and the kids. Sell it. Or keep it and rent it out it’s up to you. I remembered when the mortgage on the unit plus the child support i sent Karen had

Been an almost insurmountable problem every month. Things had changed. For the better. I scrambled a couple of eggs while aims fixed toast. I could summon no enthusiasm for this real life game of monopoly. Even though it was theoretically my money. I didn’t feel any sense of belonging to me.

Or my belonging to it for that matter. What’s wrong Bo he asked. Finally noticing my genuine disinterest. Mona Larson and. Ginger Watkins i told him. What about them other than the obvious. Something bothers me and i can’t get a handle on it some. Common denominator besides cig. They were both broke. Aim said.

I beg your pardon. They were both broke. He repeated. Mortgaged up the ying Yang. Belltown didn’t work out the way they expected. First the cement strike caught them when the units finally hit the market they got clobbered by high interest rates. For a long time nothing sold. They all lost a bundle.

The whole group mortgaged everything to pay the first segment of the key instruction load last year thinking they could hold out and make the money back through sales. The next segment is due the end of December there’s no way they’ll meet it. If they could even pay the interest

They might forestall a sheriff sale. But after looking at the pd sees i don’t think they can. Pt sees what are they. Public disclosure commission status it’s. Elected and appointed state officials fill out financial disclosure forms showing their earnings and holdings that sort of thing. They’re a matter of public record.

After looking them over it’s clear that the parole board income was keeping both the Larson and Watkins households afloat. What about homer. Ames laughed. He’s exempt he holds no public office. He’s always a bridesmaid but never a bride. Is involved in campaigns all over the map but he’s never a candidate himself.

I’d guess he’s as bad off as everybody else but he. Doesn’t have to fill out a form saying so. Both broke. I’m used. It have to have pretty deep pockets to be able to weather the kind of financial storm there’s been in Seattle’s real estate market the last couple of years.

My indicator say it’s starting to turn around. Are mine. Are your what. Are my pockets deep enough. Ames laughed again. They are bow believe me you’ll do fine. Now. We should take a look at that penthouse. If you’re going to buy it separately i can draw up an earnest money agreement today.

I rummaged through my wallet and found the business card of the real estate lady at belltown terrace. Caller i said. I liked the water view best. Two bedrooms with a den. Ames seemed startled as he took the card. He had asked for a decision. I don’t think he expected one quite that fast.

Just like that. He asked. I looked at it Friday. It has a grill. I’m a sucker for barbecues. Aims left a short time later setting off happily on his various missions. At least one Seattle real estate agent was in for a pleasant surprise that Sunday. Alone i mold aims information. Broke.

Both ginger and Mona had been dead broke battling for survival. Trying to stay afloat. I found it hard to imagine ginger living in that palatial estate running like hell to keep up appearances. In chillin Mona and sig it must have been caught on the same kind of treadmill. Ginger and dimona.

Both of them married above their station. Both young and attractive. And both dead within days of one another. Probably at the hands of the same killer. Mana Larson and ginger Watkins indeed had a lot in common. Peter’s phone call interrupted my reverie.

We see each other so little during the week that we have to check in on weekends. Indulging in his favorite vice current events he was determined to keep me well informed whether or not i wanted to be. I don’t suppose you’ve read the paper. Good hunch.

Your friend Max has hit an all time record low for bad taste. A death row telephone interview with Philip lathrop from walla walla. Ask kt later up what he thought about Wilson knocking off sig and motor Larson. I don’t think i want to hear this i said. Later ups comment was.

It serves him right. That’s why i don’t read papers. I told Peters. Yeah maybe you’ve got a point. Peters muttered. I had a new one dropped off my Sunday collection of crossword puzzles. I was working the second one when the phone rang. It was how huggins. They found him Bo. Who. Wilson.

Where when can i question him. In prosser. I’m on my way over there right now. How hardly sounded jubilant. But. St Peter’s the only one who will be asking too many questions. He’s dead you’re kidding who found him. A troop of boy scouts out cleaning the bank along the yakima river.

How long has he been dead. My mind did a quick geographic review. Prosser was in Benton county. The county next to pasco where Mona Larsson died. I dunno but i’m going over to find out. What’s the cause of death. Initial reports as drowning. Drowning. I repeated. I’ll find out when i get there.

I heard wariness and frustration in house voice. He had followed a trail of questions only to be robbed of both his suspect and his answers. To a homicide detective. Answers our life’s blood. Tough break hell i said. I know. He paused. I’d better go. With atty hung up.

I sat for a long time afterward holding the phone. When a recorded voice threatened me with bodily harm. I returned the receiver to it’s cradle. Don Wilson was dead. That finished it right. Supposedly. Maybe it did for how huggins. It sounded as if he was buying the whole program. But i wasn’t.

Several things demanded consideration. Done Wilson’s thawing chicken. Is hungry cat. Is unpacked protest gear. And an extraneous set of missing keys. All were perplexing loose ends that wouldn’t go away that refused to be tied up in neat little packages. Loose ends bug me.

If they didn’t i guess i’d be in another line at work. Chapter twenty seven. Anyone who’s ever been on vacation knows how hard it is to return to work that first day. In my case the vacation had been the culmination of months of being miserable and disconnected.

I felt like i was going back to work after six months rather than a mere two weeks. Peter spent the day at the courthouse on the dead wife beater case. Both Peters and i were rooting for the woman delfina sage. Delphine his husband rocky came home drunk

One Friday night and beat the crap out of her same as he did every pay day. The only difference was that the day before delfina had bought herself a twenty two caliber pistol. If she had shot him while he was beating her up it wouldn’t have been so bad.

We would have called it self defense and let it go at that. Instead Delfino waited until rocky was sound asleep. Then plugged him full of holes. From talking to the kids and the neighbors Peters and i figured rocky was a bully badly in need of plugging.

But Barbara guffey king county’s chief prosecutor has a thing about premeditation. She was after a murder conviction. Peters and i had been working another case just prior to my leaving for rosario. In two separate but we believed related incidents. Some jackass had set fire to sleeping transients downtown.

Detectives lindstrom and Davis at one case while Peters and i had the whether. Our victim had died almost immediately but the other transients still clung stubbornly to life in the burn unit at harborview hospital. Both victims remained unidentified.

I was reviewing what little we had to go on when Hank wu stopped by my desk. Any luck by asked. He shook his head. This stuff takes time Beau. The man don’t come out of the woodwork and spill our guts just because Henry wu snaps his finger.

What time did you say your interpreter leaves. To. For thirty greyhound for anacortes. I’d say chances aren’t very good. Keep after it anyway. Sure. Glad to. Hank sauntered away from my desk. Aims ed promised to call as soon as he heard anything on the real estate transactions.

The penthouse earnest money agreement called for a march closing date. That way ames had told me with a sly grin. We’ll keep the money in the family. He called just before lunch sounding perplexed. What’s the matter aims you sound upset. I don’t understand the jumped on the penthouse deal but.

They refused to consider the syndicate offer. Why. I don’t know. Must have come up with another investor who’s willing to buy in that’s all i configure. What happened. That’s what’s so strange. When i talked to the project manager this morning he was hot on the idea.

Said he had to talk to one of the principals. Five minutes later the deal was off just like that. One minute they needed the money the next minute they didn’t. The way they grabbed that penthouse deal even with a delayed closing. They don’t expect to lose belltown between now and march.

At ames insistence i had studied the project financial sheet. We were talking big money. Several million dollars. How can someone come up with that kind of cash in five minutes time. I wondered aloud. I don’t know ames told me. But i intend to find out.

Ames was in no mood to go to lunch. Craving companionship i tracked down Peters at the courthouse. The two of us walked to a salad bar at fourth and Madison. He dismissed my questions about delfina sage with an impatient shake of his head. I don’t want to talk about it.

You do any good this morning he asked. I went over everything we have on our charbroiled John Doe. This afternoon i thought i’d check to see if Manny and als guy up in the burn unit can talk. Don’t hold your breath Peter said. He couldn’t last a week.

It sounded hopeless to me and i said as much. Will never crack this one there’s nothing to go on. Besides if bums kill bums who gives a shit. Peters gave me a long critical look. We sure as hell won’t crack it with that kind of attitude. He responded.

You were supposed to come back from vacation with your enthusiasm back all pumped up and raring to go remember. Go to hell i retorted. What do you think about him finding Wilson. We’re talking burning transients remember. He reminded me. I’m not interested in burning transients. I want to talk about done Wilson.

What about him. According to the papers hal huggins as him dead to rights left a note and everything. What’s there to talk about. A note i exclaimed. Are you serious. Damnit bow. When are you going to stop being stubborn and start reading the papers yes a note.

For the first time i felt the smallest brick of annoyance toward hal huggins. My phone had worked well enough when he needed my help so why hadn’t he called me with a news and a note. God damn that organs i grumbled. What did the paper say.

That they found Wilson’s body on the banks of the yakima river just outside prosser. Said he died of exposure but that somebody found a suicide note. Exposure. Initially they said drowning. Since when is exposure suicide. I’m just telling you what it said in the paper. Where did they find the note.

The article didn’t say. I left Peters at the table and prowled the restaurant for a payphone. Locating one in a hallway between the men’s and ladies’ restrooms i placed a call to Friday harbor. Hal huggins was not in. The woman who answered had no idea when he was expected.

I left word for him to call me and went back to Peter’s. Did they say how long he’d been dead. Peter shrugged and shook his head. A couple of days i guess. At least that’s what they implied. What about the note. Just that there was one. I stared morosely into my cup.

Peters was fast losing Patience. Look this Wilson characters into our case. When are you going to the hospital. Right after lunch i guess. He watched me drain my cup. Know what your problem is bro. What. You just don’t give a shit about burnt up bumps. We’ve been partners too long. I told him.

I drove up the first hill. Pill hill as it’s called because of all the hospitals. The burn victim in harbor view was in no condition to talk at least not according to the dog faced intensive care nurse who barred my way.

He said he had been hit by an infection and wasn’t expected to make it. And went down to pioneer square. I walked around talking to people asking questions. It was tough. All of the drunks were too fuzzy to know who was sitting next to them right then

To say nothing of remembering someone who’d been missing from the park bench almost three weeks. In their world three weeks ago was ancient history. By four o’clock i was parked outside the greyhound terminal at seventh and Stewart as Jenny and Ernie arrived by taxi. Ernie held two suitcases on his lap.

Jenny struggled with a collection of shopping bags. Want some help. I asked coming up behind them. They both turned. Jenny’s face i was radiant with that peculiar glow common to pregnant women. Ernie seemed relieved to find someone to help her with the luggage. Didn’t spend it all he said grinning

But she came real close. He wheeled along beside me as i carried bags and packages into the terminal and check them onto the proper bus. He never found blir. Ernie asked. No and we’ve been looking. If you find her i’d still be wanting to talk to her.

But i hate them as a full day’s work. What about a telephone conference call i asked. We could get you blir and me all on the phone together. Ernie shook his head doubtfully. You gotta remember that for the man coming to this country is like stepping into a time machine.

She was raised one step out of the stone age. A telephone conference call is asking too much. Was just an idea. I said dismally. Promptly at four thirty the bus left her anacortes. I dropped my company car off of the department and. A free bus as far as the western.

I needed to talk. Aims was stuck with me whether he liked it or not. As it turned out Amos was glad to see me. I’ve been hitting one brick wall after another on the belltown thing he complained. I have some sources here in town one in

Particular over at the daily journal of commerce. He’s mystified to. Says nobody’s acting like there’s an outside investor. The real estate community as watching belltown terrace because of the sheriff said well. He doesn’t know who bailed him out. Well somebody did. I said settling onto ames bed. Am i buying the penthouse.

If you still wanted. Considering you’d be buying it from them rather than the syndicate. I thought about it. But i had been fantasizing about barbecued ribs for three days. My mind was made up. I wanted. My declared. Aims nodded. Alright. He changed the subject. Tomorrow i have to go back to the dhows.

They left word this afternoon. I catch an early plane to Portland. Want to ride to the airport my car’s back. He shook his head. I’ll take the hustle-bustle. We were ready to discuss our dinner when Peters called. I figured i’d find you there. I just got out of court.

What are you up to. Ames and i are plotting dinner. Care to join us. He did. Afterwards ames returned to the western and Peters dropped by my apartment chat. Around ten just as Peters was ready to head home the phone rang. It was the department.

Another tangent had been set a fire in an alley encampment between first and western off cedar. Officers were on the scene we took Peter’s knutson. The building at first then cedar is an office building with a penthouse restaurant on the fifth floor.

The narrow alley behind it separates the building from to pay parking lot. Between them set to no man’s land of BlackBerry bramble eight feet high. A small clearing had been carved beneath the thorny dense branches with pieces of cardboard for flooring and walls. And lindstrom and many Davis were at the scene.

We didn’t need to ask what was under the blanket and the BlackBerry clump. Once you’ve smelled the sweetish odor of charred human flesh you’ll never forget it. Same ammo hours before. Al told us grimly. Only it’s a woman this time one of the regret regulars. We’ve got a positive ID. Teresa Smith surname.

Looks like she was sleeping it off here and abroad when someone doused her with gasoline and lit a match. The very fact that someone knew her name gave us a big leg up over the other two cases. Who reported it i asked. He gestured toward the building above us.

Guy up there in the bar looked down and saw the fire just as it started. A bartender called nine one one but it was too late by the time they got here. Did he see anyone. I saw a car drive off only headlights and taillights no make or model.

So we’re not dealing with another transient. Peters commented. It was true. Downtown bums don’t drive. They wonder foot patrol style throughout the downtown area hanging out in loosely organized ever changing packs. How come she was by herself. One of the uniformed officers came up as i asked the question. We found her boyfriend.

The food bank up the street was open and she passed out. The group left her to sleep it off while they went to get food. A tall weaving Indian with shoulder length greasy hair broke free from a scraggly group at the end of the alley. He pushed his way toward us.

Where is she. He mumbled. Many moved to head him off but the drunk brushed him aside. Why she. He repeated. He stopped in front of me and stood glaring balefully swaying from side to side. I brought out my ID and opened it in front of him. Emotion wordlessly towards the heap a blanket.

He swung literally to look where i pointed. When his eyes focused on the blanket his knees crumpled under him. He sank to the ground his face contorted with grief. Shoulders heaving. This was an empty hulk of humanity with nothing left to lose. Yet i watched as he sustained still another loss. He stank.

His hair and clothes were filthy. Blackened toes poked through his duct tape shoes. But his anguish at the woman’s death was real and affecting. Grief is grief on any scale. One of the patrolmen knelt beside him. We’ve sent for reverend Laura. He said. In the old days reverend Laura would have gone

Searching for heathens in Africa or south america. Today the tall raw boned woman is a newly ordained lutheran minister with a pint sized church in the former pike place tavern. She ministers to downtown’s homeless. Wearing her hair in a severe bun and with no makeup adorning her ready cheeks.

She is both plain and plain spoken. But her every action brims with a milk of human kindness. She appeared within minutes and knelt beside the weeping man taking his elbow and raising him to his feet. Come on Roger. She said kindly. Let’s go to the mission.

Will you keep him there so we can reach him tomorrow. I asked. She nodded. An officer helped her load him into a car. We found out asking questions of all bystanders interviewing the patrons and governs. Including the man who had first reported the incident. We found nothing.

It took us until two am to ascertain we had found nothing. Peters dropped me off at my place. Wanted to stay here i offered. You can have the bed I’ll sleep on the couch. No thanks he replied. I’d better get home. I’m sure i was sound asleep before he reached the floating bridge.

Chapter twenty eight. I woke up Tuesday morning tired but with a renewed sense of purpose. Roger bear claws grief had catapulted burning transients out of the realm of the inconsequential. Years of discipline took over bringing focus and motivation. Ginger Mona and Wilson warehouse bailiwick. To Teresa Smith and that John Doe were mine.

By seven thirty it was at my desk. Peter stopped by on his way to the courthouse. He dropped the newspaper under my desk. Thought you’d want to read Max’s column. He said. It was there in lurid the black and white all about ginger Watkins murder.

He told the whole story including the blood alcohol count. Speculating what conversation she and Wilson might have shared over those last few drinks. Columnists speculate with impunity. They also rationalize. Cole’s conclusion was that Wilson had taken his own life after destroying those responsible for the deaths of his wife and child.

With typical tunnel vision he ignored the fact that Mona Larson had never served on the parole board. The moral of the story and with Max there is always a moral. Was couched in snide asides about inept law enforcement officers. No one was exempt.

From the Washington state patrol and the San Juan county sheriff’s department to the pasco city police. There was however one notable omission. J p beaumont name wasn’t mentioned. Not once. Evidently Ralph ames threat of libel had struck terror in Max’s black little heart. Peters was still there when i finished reading the article.

I tossed the paper back to him. Where the hell is he get his information. Huggins swears there’s no leak in his department but the stuff about the throttle linkage was known only by huggins. Rogers me and a killer. Peter shrugged. It doesn’t really matter does it. Wilson’s dead the case is closed.

Maybe now you can get your mind back on the job. I should be done with the sage case by noon. After Peters left El mani and i did a quick huddle. So who’s got a grudge against bumps. Manny asked. Every tax paying law abiding citizen. L lindstrom grunt.

Al is a typical hardworking Scandinavian square head with a natural aversion to any able bodied person who beats the system by not holding down a real job. Alan many went to the pike place mission for another talk with Roger bear claw

While i was dispatched to harborview hospital to check on the surviving John Doe. Before i had a chance to leave my desk the phone rang. It was hal huggins. I tried to check the annoyance in my voice. It’s about time he got around a call lemme.

Lay off Bo i’m up to my neck. Just as well Wilson’s dead. The county couldn’t afford to first degree murder trials. You’re sure Wilson did it all for him. Absolutely. Didn’t you hear about the note. Vaguely. But exposure. People don’t just go out in the woods and wait to die.

Besides it hasn’t been cold. Who knows. Maybe fell in some water. That’ll do it. Look Bo i’m not calling the shots the corner is. Nearby the way he added. We found his car parked on a side street and prosser. The note was there. How long it had been there.

I can tell you that. We’re trying to reconstruct Wilson’s movements from the time he left orcas. So far we’re not having much luck but there’s no doubt the notice is the prince Jack. Handwriting checks. What more do you want. What about the chicken. No for god’s sakes bowling over their chicken.

David and bland to kill him when he left home but after he did he couldn’t very well go back without getting caught not able to eat his chicken or feeders got him cat. So you’re closing the case. I asked. Not completely. As i said we’re still retracing his moments from the

Time he left orcas until he showed up in the river. How long has it been dead. Woman’s guts is two or three days the most. Not cause it like i sees him Scott. That’s right one and the same. He’s still Benton county coroner is up for reelection next week.

Only three counties in Washington. King Pierce and whatcom have medical examiners. All the rest rely on an antiquated county coroner system. Whoever runs for office is elected without any consideration of qualifications. Garfield Scott had earned both his nickname and a permit place in the bunglers hall of fame

When he declared a man dead of a heart attack. Only to turn him over and discover a knife still buried in the victim’s chest. Can’t you get another opinion. What if Wilson has been dead longer than that like since before Mona died.

Dammit Bo i already told you i’m not called on the shot. There’s an election next week remember. Scott would never hold still for a second opinion. I changed the subject. Who went to Maxwell kohl with ginger’s murder. I asked. There was a moment’s pause. I don’t have any idea. Somebody did.

I told him grimly. It’s front page stuff in this morning’s p i. Not anybody from my department i can tell you that. Huggins hackles were up and so were mine. He attempted to smooth things over. Thanks for all your help Bo. Think nothing of it. That said. Obviously he didn’t.

On my way up the harbor view i tried to shift gears from one case to another. The same intensive care nurse stopped me. He can’t talk to you. She snapped. He’s dying. Look. I said wearily. Can he communicate at all. He cannot and shake his head that’s it.

Even that may tell me something. Someone else died last night a woman she never made it as far as hospital without his help the toll could go higher. She relented a little. I could see it in a set of her mouth. Please. I wheedled. Taking advantage of her hesitation.

She glared at me then marched briskly down the hall her rubber soled shoes squeaking on the highly polished tile floor. They are waiting uncertain if she was throwing me out or taking it under advisement. She came back a few minutes later carrying a sterilized uniform booties and a facemask.

Wordlessly she helped me done compulsory i see you costume. You can see him for five minutes no more. One look convinced me that Teresa Smith was a hell of a lot better off for dying on the spot. What little was visible of the man’s puppy face was fused

In a featureless mass of flesh that bore little resemblance to a human being. Tubes went in and out of his arms and throat. His breathing was labored. He’s awake. The nurse said although i don’t know how she knew that. We call him mr Smith. I stood by the bed. Astonished by my revulsion.

I’m a homicide cop. I’m supposed to be used to the worst life can dish out. Five minutes left no time for niceties. He was dying. I think he knew it. I am a cop mr Smith. A detective. They’ll only let me talk for five minutes. Somebody else got burned up last night

Upon first ave. We think it’s the same guy who burned you. Can you help us. There was no response i couldn’t tell if he heard me. Did you see anyone. He nodded so slightly that i wasn’t sure he had moved. Someone you knew. This time there was no mistaking it.

The mass of flesh moved slightly from side to side. The answer was no. One person. A minute nod. We were playing hardball twenty questions. Every question had to count. There wouldn’t be any second chances. Not with this mr Smith. Mail. Another nod. He groaned with the effort. Young. He nodded again

Barely but his breathing changed. The nurse took me by the arm. Enough she said firmly. He’s fallen asleep you’ve worn him out. She led me outside the intensive care unit where i shed the sterile clothes. Thank you i said. She bustled away without acknowledgement.

She was a tough old bat but nobody with the least tendency to a soft heart could work there. Back in the office i had a despondent Peter’s on my hands. They convicted her he said. Not murder one but a minimum of twenty years for killing that worthless bastard.

What the hell ever happened to justice. Sometimes there’s no such thing i told him. To get to work. We did. We spent the afternoon with Manny and now. The information that it was somebody young. Probably a kid constituted the first tiny break in the case. One kid. One young punk

Who liked to burn people up. Who was he. Where was he from. Was he black white Asian. Back to questions. Always questions. The consensus was that whoever he was he wasn’t a regular inhabitant of the downtown area. This wasn’t your usual drunken brawl over a half consumed bottle a big red.

Fights over booze are generally harmless. A little gratuitous bloodshed among friends. This was the deliberately malicious and deadly. We hit the streets talking to known gang leaders and tops. The patrolmen in what the department calls the David sector of downtown Seattle know most of the street kids by name.

They guided us to the various groups pointing out kids who would talk and kids who liked to throw their weight around. All of them could have gotten gasoline. None of them had cars. To quote one. A scrawny looking kid named spike who wore a black leather vest over a hairless bare chest.

Nobody knew nothing. Although he hinted darkly that there might be a club down at Franklin high with some allegedly vicious initiation rites. Peters and i drove to Franklin high school in rainier valley. The principal a tall black former marine sounded more like a drill sergeant than an agitator.

He admitted he had some tough kids in his school. But none who would go around setting fire to sleeping drunks he’d stake his reputation on it. I was inclined to believe him. Driving back to the department. Peters asked me what i thought. He seems to know what’s going on with those kids

I told him. Bullshit. Peters replied. Nobody ever knows what’s going on with a bunch of kids. We agreed to disagree. It wasn’t the first time. And it wouldn’t be the last. I found a note from Henry wu on my desk. See me.

Hank sat with his feet propped on his desk reading a copy of the international news. What do you got. He put down the paper a wide smile spreading under his impeccable mustache. I think i found your boat in the stadium apartments at rainier valley. You know where that is

Out on Martin Luther king way. I think so. My source says she lives with her aunt and uncle and some cousins out there. Your interpreter gone. Yesterday i said. I must have sounded ungrateful. Hank bristled. Look i moved heaven and earth to get this far. Nobody rushes a grapevine. And oh. Sorry.

It’s just an Ernie had to go home. Hank appeared somewhat mollified. So what do you suggest i asked. Is there anybody on the force who speaks man. Even if there was i wouldn’t advise you’re taking them along. Not if you want her to talk. What should i do then go by myself.

That guy who left on the bus early. My source recognized the name knew who he was. He was evidently widely respected in Seattle among community. It wasn’t until i mentioned him that i started getting to first base. My suggestion is that you do whatever it takes to get him back down here.

If you call in an expert you have to be prepared to take his advice. Henry wu was the expert. Thanks i think. I’ll see what i can do. I went back to my desk. Peters looked up as i sat down. What gives. Thanks got a lion on the hotel made from arcus

I answered. I picked up the phone ready to call Ernie. Peter scowled. Look bow were already on a case. Two and a half by actual count if that guy at harbour view is still alive. I felt like he stepped on my toes. Don’t tell me what to do. I snapped.

I couldn’t very well call learning right then not with Peters peering over my shoulder. We spent the rest of the afternoon circling each other like a squabbling old married couple. By five we still weren’t ready to Bury the hatchet. You haven’t dinner with aims.

Peters asked as we waited uneasily for the public safety building snail like elevator. I hadn’t told him aims at return to the dalles. I didn’t tell him then. Nah he’s busy. I replied noncommittal he. This inside one. Please stop your player here and without fast forwarding the tape. Turned aside to.

Nah he’s busy. I replied noncommittal. If Peters was fishing for an invitation to dinner i didn’t bite. We parted company in the lobby and i walked home to the royal crest. I called Ernie right away. I think we found blir. I said once he’d answered the phone.

Could you come down tomorrow if i had a floatplane pick you up and take you back. I won’t work he said. I got a motor home to overhaul the hansons are leaving for Arizona Saturday and I’ve got that job to do and another due by Friday. Nobody else can do it i insisted.

I’m a one man shop without me nothing happens. I couldn’t very well argue the point. Call me as soon as you see your way clear i told him. Sure thing he replied. Glad to. Disappointed i hung up. Outside it was raining a steady fall drizzle.

I put on a waterproof jacket and walked to the golden arches at sixth and westlake. I picked up a big Mac and an order of fries to go. Peters would have pitched a fit if he’d glimpsed my evening menu. Back at the house i

Set the table with my good dishes and dined in solitary splendor. Bachelors are allowed their small eccentricities. After dinner i settled into my old fashioned recliner and let my mind wander. Maybe the guy who set us to Franklin had been playing some game of his own.

Creating a wild goose chase among the predominantly minority kids there. I was smart enough to recognize that the suggestion played on our own prejudices. Maybe our bum killing fanatic was to be found at the other end of the spectrum. Concealed among the well heeled kids of bellevue or the north end.

If the thought that merited further consideration. Meantime all we could do was keep looking for that rarest of all birds the eye witness. The discipline of focusing on one issue at a time pushed ginger and cig and Mona and Wilson further and further into the background.

I had to leave them alone until Ernie could return to Seattle. For the time being. Inconsequential as they might seem. Three dead transients took president’s. Harborview hospital and called the department to say that mr Smith was no more. My interview with him had been his very last opportunity to give us any help.

I fell asleep in the chair and didn’t wake up until morning. That’s something else bachelors can get away with. I am not sure the good outweighs the bad. Chapter twenty nine. My back was broken when i woke up. In my youth i could sleep all night in a

Recliner and not have it bother me the next day. Maybe i’m getting old. I was in the bathroom my face slathered with shaving cream when the phone rang. I hurried dancer at. Colgate instant shave smearing into the holes in the mouthpiece. Did you know. An unfamiliar voice asked. Know what. That ginger was.

Tom landers voice cracked. I waited while i got a hold of himself. I knew. I said grimly. Silently cursing homer and Darryl Watkins and hal huggins and the jp beaumont. For not having broken the news to Tom earlier. Why didn’t you tell me. Why did i have to read it in the paper.

I didn’t have an answer. I had known he wasn’t told but i had to shut the knowledge out of my mind. Was it Wilson. He continued doggedly. That’s what hal huggins thinks. I countered. What do you think. He demanded. I don’t know. It was an honest answer. You coulda told me.

I expected homer or Darryl would do that. They didn’t. I felt like i owed him something but not enough to lapse into idle speculation about thawing chickens and hungry cats and extra keys. Look Tom i’m following up on some leads I’ll be in touch if i find anything out okay.

Why should i believe you. No reason i answered. Because i asked. All right. He agreed reluctantly. But was he really drunk or was that just. Part of the story. Her blood alcohol count showed she had been drinking. Enough to be drunk. Oh. He said. Disappointment thick in his voice. Why Tom.

What does it matter. It’s. Personal. He replied and hung up. I went to the bathroom and finished shaving thinking about Maxwell kohl. I couldn’t help wondering how he had gotten his information. Particularly since huggins was so sure it hadn’t come through his department.

I decided to pay a call on Max for old time’s sake. I called a p i. He wasn’t in and wasn’t expected before ten. I checked the phone book. Bingo. Maxwell kohl. It gave a queen and phone number but no address. I dialed. He sounded groggy. Hello Max this is beaumont.

I want to talk to you. Comey how come. Just a couple of questions can i come over. I guess. Good. What’s the address. He gave me a number on Bigelow north an old fashioned street strewn with fallen chestnuts and mounds of moldering leaves. The house was and eighteen nineties gingerbread type

Set among aging trees and crowned with leaded glass gable windows. It surprised me. And always figured my Max for the swinging hot tub and cocktails type. This hardly fit that image. I pulled up and parked. Before i could get out of the car Max blustered out the front door and down the walk.

He heaved himself into the Porsche. What are you doing here. He demanded. You invited may remember. I was asleep. Well let’s go someplace for coffee. We drove to an upstairs coffee and croissant place on top of queen Anne hill. So what do you want. Max i asked once we settled at a table.

I want to know where you got your information on ginger Watkins. Wariness crept over his flabby face. Why do you want to know. I do that’s all. My sources are confidential. You’d be fine forced to tell under oath. There will be a trial Wilson’s net. Did Wilson tell you about ginger.

Were you in touch with him after that day on orcas. Max shook his head. Don’t try to trick me jp. Mighty wanna know. Huggins says the case is closed he satisfied Wilson did it. Who set up the meeting on orcas was it Wilson. Max nodded. What did he say.

Watch something big was going to break. Then it would be announced during the parole board retreat. He’s plotted should go in a special feature i was doing on him. Did he say what this something big was. He didn’t. I thought it would be about the victim witness protection program.

Let what he was working on but. Nobody’s mentioned that since. You must have had his wires crossed. Did you ever publish it. The feature i mean. Max looked stunned to think that i had missed a word of his deathless prose.

I used some of it in the column after Wilson died but not much. I was still pissed at him for dragging me all the way to orcas and then missing the interview. Was it pomeroy. I asked in a feint and thrust maneuver designed to throw him off guard. It didn’t work.

And i’m not talking. Max returned stubbornly. I already told you that. I was unable to get any more out of him. We finished coffee and i took him home. I turned up at the department around ten. Peters glancing up from a stack of papers glared at me. What did you do

Forget to set your alarm. I didn’t answer. I sat down at my desk hoping to reshuffle my priorities and get the two John does and Teresa Smith back on top of the desk. Done Wilson the wild card refused to go away. I talked to how

I said the Peters as i passed his desk. Old man Scott swears up and down Wilson was dead two to three days at most. If that’s true how come he floated to the surface. That usually takes five days to a week. Current. Peters offered helpfully.

The current could have washed him up on shore without him necessarily floating to the surface. I wish baker could take a look at him. Dr Howard baker is king county’s crackerjack medical examiner. Nothing gets by him. Dr baker is no coroner but then king county isn’t Benton county either.

Why the hell couldn’t Wilson have died inside king county. It would simplify my life. Wish in one hand shit in the other and see which hand gets full first. Peter’s comment was philosophical. I love it when he lectures me in parables. Justin Peters phone rang.

He listened briefly then slammed down the receiver and jumped to his feet. Come on he said we gotta go where. Manny and our down in pioneer square. They may have a lead in a transfer case. That effectively put the cap on ginger and cig and Mona and Wilson.

I followed Peter’s through the fifth floor maze and out of the building. Pioneer square is only a few blocks from the apartment down the hill off James. As the name implies it’s an old neighborhood made up of stately old buildings whose insides have been gutted and brought up to code.

Gentrification has brought new tenants law firms trendy shops and tiny Espresso bars. The only glitches that the new tenants haven’t quite convinced the old ones the bumps that they don’t live there anymore. The merchants and the bumps are constantly at war to see who controls the turf.

Peters and i walked down the hill. Manny and owl were in the Elliott bay bookstore downstairs and the buckland Espresso bar. With them was a young woman in tennis shoes and a ponytail. She might have been any well built teenager poured into a tank top and tightly fitting jeans.

Nipples protruding under the knit material. She looked like a teenager until you saw her close up. Her face was still attractive but it showed signs of excessive wear. Periodically she popped a bubble with a wad of gum but she kept a nervous watch on a flashlight dressed black man two tables away.

He sat with both arms. Across his chest. Silently observing the proceedings. So. Nothing happened. She was saying as Peters and i approached the table. At why stop. He never let the match but i told Lawrence I’ll bet it’s the same guy when i heard it on the news i told him.

She nodded toward the man i assumed to be Lawrence. He said i could tell. L motioned us into two empty chairs while many spoke earnestly to the girl. These are detectives Peters and beaumont he explained their work on the case with us. Would you be willing to do a composite drawing center.

She glanced questioning lead toward Lawrence. He nodded. Evidently anything that damned ej the merchandise was bad for business. It didn’t make sense to let someone set fire to the stable. Yes. She answered. This was three nights ago. I think she forgot she was talking to a cop.

She gave Manny a bat of her long lashes as she answered. Yes. And there were two m. Yes. Black or white. White. Blonde. Brunette. One of each. How tall. I didn’t pay much attention i mean. It’s not important you know. Maybe six feet or so. Out. Twenty. Maybe younger. And they both paid.

I charge extra for two. Lawrence shifted uneasily in his chair but i don’t think Sandra noticed. At least he didn’t tell her to shut up. Where did you go. To realm at the gas light up on Aurora. So what happened. Nothing. Nothing kinky. She added. Not even both together.

But while a second one was getting up the first. Pulled up bottle out of his coat pocket and parts at mind me. At my table i brought my eyes. Natasha one started yelling. What are you crazy and the first one said. Just having a little fun.

When i jumped up to call Lawrence but one of them knocked me down and i took off. The second guy didn’t even get a shirt and shoes on. I followed him to the door screaming like mad. They drove out before Lawrence could catch him. You sure it was gasoline poured on you. Yeah.

From one of those. Screw-top coke bottles. Lawrence said if they’d let a match at it i’d. Many nodded. It’s true. He said. Sandra swallowed hard. I wondered how old she was. Probably no more than seventeen. Although she looked half again that old. After that woman died Laurent said i could tell.

He said this was one time we’d better cooperate. Many nodded again encouragingly. Lawrence is absolutely right he agreed. What kind of car was it. White. When i was about foreign cars like maybe a Toyota Datsun i dunno which. What year. She shrugged.

But it had some of those university parking stickers in the window we watch for those. They’re usually bad news. Lawrence stood and motioned towards the door. Sandra caught the signal and Rose obediently. I gotta go. Can we call you for the composite. Many asked. She nodded.

Large knows how to get hold of me. Lawrence made a quick exit with the girl trailing behind him on an invisible leash. I’ll just bet he does son of a bitch. L lindstrom muttered under his breath. That makes me sick. Many glared at his partner.

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth while. We get paid resolving murders not for busting hookers and pimps. She’s the best thing that’s happened to us all week. Chapter thirty. I felt like a god damn rubber band. Teresa and friends bubbled to the surface swell ginger and friends receded.

The four of us went to lunch many l Peters and i. Many was high as a kite while owl was still pissed. Speculating that Lawrence made more than one all four of us put together. Well three of us anyway. I wasn’t talking. Other than comparing notes on what Sandra had said there wasn’t.

Much to do until she completed the composite. We agreed that since many had done most of the talking with Sandra he should make the next contact and set up the appointment. There was no sense in causing Lawrence to be any more squirrelly than he already was.

The idea that the car was a white Datsun or Toyota with a university sticker with some help but not much. There are literally thousands of cars registered at the u dub as locals refer to the university of Washington. We figured somebody should contact the campus police and ask for a preliminary list.

Seattle pd and the campus police get along fairly well. As law enforcement officers campus cops suffer from a severely restricted sphere of influence. They do a lot of PR work within the confines of their narrow jurisdiction. Keeping a lid on anything that might offend the tender sensibilities ease of well heeled alumni.

Peters and i were to brief them on the current situation. We figured they’d be overjoyed to be involved in a real crime that didn’t involve property theft. As soon as lunch was over we split up the act. Manny and ale headed for the medical examiner’s office to pick up the preliminary

Report on the harbor view John Doe. Dental charts were our only possible means of identification. There sure as hell wouldn’t be any fingerprints. Peters and i were supposed to go to the university. About ten to one we stopped by the department to pick up a car but Margie robles our clerk

Caught us before we got away. There you are. She exclaimed. I’ve been looking all over for you. Why what’s up. Somebody named ames. He’s called three time so far for you are detective Peters. Why would he call me Peters wondered. Did he leave a number i asked. Not the last time.

Said you should meet him at the airport at one forty five both of you here’s the flight number. She handed me a yellow slip of paper. Once she was out of earshot Peters turned on me. What’s this about more footwork for hal huggins. I guess i said. He glowered at me.

We’d better not take a company car then we can just barely make it. He angrily strode toward the door with me right on his tail. I had an idea aims wasn’t calling about ginger and friends. He had been in the dalles negotiating with new dawn.

If he had sprung the kids it would be a kindness to give Peters some advance warning but if he hadn’t. I wasn’t about to make that kind of mistake. I let Peters stay pissed. The Datsun was parked in a cheapo monthly garage at the bottom of James.

Peters grounded into gear and angrily fishtail is out of the parking stall. You’ve got more nerve than a bad tooth. We shouldn’t work an unauthorized case during regular hours you’ll get us both in trouble. I said nothing. It was pure luck that got us to sea-tac without a speeding citation.

The parking garage was crammed to the gills. We searched through three levels before we finally spotted a little old lady vacating a spot. Peters beat two other cars to it. We were inside the terminal by one thirty five. Naturally we had the hassle with the security guards over our weapons.

By the time we reached the gate. Northwest orient flight one o six from Portland was already parked in place at the jet bridge. Passengers were disembarking. I saw aims first. He was packing one kid on his hip. And dragging the other along by the hand. The girl ames was carrying spotted pie authors.

Daddy. Daddy she squall. Peters world quarter. A look of stunned amazement on his face. As he stood glued to the floor unable to move. The girl who was walking broke loose from ames grip and raced for Peter’s knees. She hit him with a full flying tackled and almost toppled him.

Meantime the kid ames was carrying set up such a howl he he had no choice but to set her on the floor and let her run too. Peters sank to the floor buried under a flurry of bawling kids. I moved to where ames looking inordinately proud was attempting to smooth wrinkles

From his usually immaculate jacket. What appeared to be the better part of a tootsie roll was stuck to his silk tie. I grabbed his hand and pumped it. How the hell did you pull it off. You’ve just funded their mother on a five year mission to Nicaragua. No children allowed of course.

Of course i said. Fully deductible. He added. Of course. With ames in charge i should have known the solution would be fully deductible. Peters gradually emerged from the maley and came over to ames and me one child in each arm. They were cute little imps five and six years old with baby teeth

Long dark hair thick lashes and. Brown eyes. Peters was more than a little choked up. I don’t know what to say. He blurted. How about introducing me. This is Heather. He said indicating the smaller one. And this is Tracey. My friend detective beaumont. Bowl. That corrected.

The smaller of the two regarded me seriously. How. Mommy says my name is joy and she’s truth. She pointed at her sister. They had evidently lived under different names and broken Springs Oregon. I like Heather better. I said. We stood there awkwardly bottling up the hallway not knowing what to say or do.

It was a moment that could have become maudlin given half a chance but ames took charge. He herded us down the hallway like a bunch of errant sheep leaving us long enough to pick up luggage. When he re he joined us he carried only his own suitcase and briefcase. What about them.

I asked indicating the girls. Knew Don’s attorney told me i could have them this morning as is take it or leave it. I took it. I decided we could get them clothes once they got here. One glance at Peters told me ames had made the right choice. You can always buy new clothes.

I doubt he would have gotten a second crack at the kids. We crowded into the dutton for the trip back to Seattle. Peters sat in the back seat with the girls. I drove while ames attempted to clean the chocolate off his tie. I guess you’re taking the rest of the afternoon off.

I asked. Peter’s grinned. Looks that way. I can’t believe you did it he said the aims. I could believe it all right. I counted on aims to smooth it over so Peters would never know exactly how it happened. It would be better for him to believe that his

Ex-wife had experienced a sudden change of heart. There was no need to tell him certain amounts of money had changed hands. I got out at the department and aims assumed the driver seat. I tracked down captain Larry Powell and told him that Peters was gone for the day

Explaining that his kids had come home unexpectedly. Powell was glad to hear it. But he didn’t press for details. I didn’t volunteer any either either. Once Peters dropped me at the department i checked out a car and drove to the university. Driving their eyes suddenly recalled an old undergraduate

Pastime that had been called a bum bashing in my day. It involved dragging home a bum on one pretext or another. And then beating the crap out of him once he was there. Of course back in the old days i couldn’t remember any one’s ever dying have it.

Obviously the current generation had elevated the sport from intramural to semi pro. By actual count we had three victims dead. My hope was that Sandra’s encounter had been with the same bunch. And that we could somehow nail them.

As i expected the officer of the day Joseph Randolph was more than happy to help me. He listened carefully as i explained the problem. Then left me in a waiting room while he went to work on it. Forty five minutes later he called me back into his office.

With a triumphant grin he handed me a huge computer print out. That must have weighed ten pounds. Here it is he said. Every single car that’s registered on campus this quarter. Making license number. I could tell he was proud of getting it for us so fast. I hated to burst his bubble.

Can you break it down by make and model i asked. His face fell. I don’t know when we could schedule that much computer time. I took the whole list back to the department. Many al and i divided it three ways and began weeding through it.

By quitting time we had found seventy three dozens and fifty one toyotas. No colors. We called it a job and went home. That’s one thing about this kind of work. When you’re looking for a needle in the haystack yet don’t have to do it all at once. Both the needle

And the haystack will stay right there and wait until the next day. I called Peters at home to find out how things were going. They had just come in from buying bedroom furniture. He said he’d decided to take the rest of the week off. It would take that long to get the girls

Registered for school and locate a babysitter. I told him not to worry since sorting through the vehicle list would probably take the better part of a week. Ames turned up wearing a clean tie and jacket. The two of us went out for a celebratory dinner co-conspirators congratulating each other behind Peter’s back.

With the kids in Peter’s custody and the major real estate deal cancelled ames planned to return to Arizona on Saturday. I was sorry to hear it. It cost me money but i enjoyed having ames around. I supposed however that he did have other clients. You making any progress on the Watkins case.

The asked as we left rosalina for ten restaurant to walk home. And i shook my head. Huggins is sure Wilson did it. Since it isn’t my case i don’t have much to say about it. Ames looked thoughtful. I can’t help but think that the murders and the project might be related. How’s that.

I’m not sure. It’s just a thought. We walked together as far as forth in lenora then split up. I went up to my apartment. Mulling aims words along with thawing chickens hungry cats and extra keys. Chapter thirty one. Once more i had a face full of shaving cream when the phone rang.

It was Peter looking for a good pediatrician. In order to register the girls for school they had to have a complete set of vaccinations. New dawn believed in prayer. Not science. As i tried to keep shaving cream out of the receipt ever i considered growing a full beard.

I returned to the bathroom and had barely put razor to chin when the phone rang again. I jumped and left a good size Nick. I’m sure i sounded exasperated when i answered. Is this detective beaumont. The voice was female sultry and dripping with one hundred accents of the deep south. Yes.

I answered tentatively. My name’s Colleen borden with arma life insurance. I steeled myself for the inevitable pitch. Various estate planners and financial advisers had crawled out of the woodwork ever since my windfall. I’d like to make an appointment with you. I’m not interested in any life insurance i’m gonna live forever.

It was the line that had given me the most luck in getting rid of pushy bastards. I’m not trying to sell you something mr beaumont. She sounded clearly affronted. I’m not a salesman. I’m a claims inspector. That caught my attention. Claims inspector. Yes. I investigate death claims. Whose claim are you investigate eating.

That’s why i want to see you. I’ll become a town tomorrow and wondered if maybe we could get together for dinner say at the western. The palm court at six. How will i know you. The reservation will be in my name. She hung up.

I spent the next few minutes taking the phone apart and prying colgate instant shave out of the holes with a toothpick. A death claim inspector. I wondered which one. There were any number of deaths in need of inspecting. I finished my shave on the third try. I was almost late by then.

I hit the elevator with a tiny piece of tissue stemming the flow of blood on my chin. Many Adele were hard at work on the list when i got to my desk. I settled down with my portion of it wishing Peters were there to lighten my load.

Many took off about eleven to overseas Sandra’s composite drawing while and i grappled with a list until our eyes burned. Manny came back about to practically walking on air. He had two drawings. Each pictured a clean cut ordinary looking kid.

It gets me when a cold blooded killer looks like the kid next door or maybe even is the kid next door. But it wasn’t the drawings that had many excited. Sandra had come up with one other tiny scrap of information. The white car had carried a bumper sticker.

She couldn’t remember the whole thing. Just that some of the letters had been funny. Maybe backwards or upside down. The only one she remembered pursuer was a k. And maybe a backwards e. A frass. From a house with kappa in it and maybe a sigma.

Sandra bless her little heart of gold had saved our eyesight. Instead of having to go through the computer printout listing every car on campus she had narrowed our investigation to the much smaller world of sororities and fraternities. A quick consultation with ma belle’s yellow pages told

Us the university boasted only ten Greek houses were. In their names. Manny al and i drove to what we call never neverland in two separate cars. If Seattle is a liberal egg then the university of Washington is the yoke. Although the kids there now are far more conservative

Than the students of say the sixties or seventies. They still do drugs. And they still live in an aura of permissiveness where some students literally got away with murder. But it’s a hell of a lot better than it used to be. We didn’t notify the campus police. It was unnecessary.

Greek row isn’t on campus proper. Parking places are at a premium. We finally parked in front of two separate fire hydrants on seventeenth ne. Many and dow took one side of the street and i took the other.

Wishing the whole time the pieters were there to back me up instead of sitting in a doctor’s office somewhere waiting to have his kids vaccinated for polio oh tetanus typhoid and god knows what else. I was the one who got lucky. If you can call it that.

Kappa sigma epsilon at forty seven forty seven seventeenth northeast was a white new england style building. I remembered it as an old line socially prominent eastern fraternity. Like fraternities in general it has add the fallen on hard times. The paint was chipped and peeling

And a couple of broken windows were patched with plywood. I knocked and waited. Finally a wide eyed kid answered the door. I pulled out the two sketches. I wondered if you could help me. Do you recognize either of these guys. He looked at the pictures then back at me. You’re a cop

He asked. I pulled out my ib. Five years ago a kid at the university wouldn’t have given me the time of day. That’s what i expected now. I was wrong. He nodded pointing. That towered rayburn. The others Vince farley how is upstairs want me to get him.

Sometimes you make a decision that you spend the rest of your life regretting. Playing it back over and over wondering if you had done something differently would disaster had been averted. At that moment in the vestibule of kappa sigma epsilon i made one of those bad decisions.

I didn’t know what i was up against and i didn’t want to go in without a backup. No thanks i said. I’ll be right back. I hurried to the grass median and waited until i saw Manny coming back down a sidewalk. I motioned for him to come. He in turn called owl.

What do you got. Many demanded. Looks like they both live there. Only once home. What made a radio from our unit. Al asked. I nodded. He loped off towards their car. I motioned money to cover the back door while i returned to the front porch. This time i didn’t bother to knock.

I met the same kid coming down the stairs. I told Howie you were here he said helpfully. It was the worst thing he could have done but i hadn’t told him not to. What room i said taking the stairs three at a time. Turn left third door on the left.

I drew my thirty eight as i dashed down the hall. The third door on the left was ajar i tapped on it but there was no answer i pushed the door open but nothing happened. Cautiously i looked inside. No one was there.

A dresser drawer sat open with half it’s contents spilled onto the floor. Someone had left the room and a hell of a hurry. I flew back down the hall to the vestibule at the bottom of the stairs. The same kid was still standing there.

When he saw my Smith and Wesson his jaw dropped. Did he come this way i demanded. Incapable of speech he shook his head. Is there another way down from up there. He nodded numbly. For Christ’s sake talk to me where is it. The fire fire escape come sat down by the kitchen.

By raced in the direction he pointed. It came to the back door and looked outside long enough to see many crouched behind a dumpster. I turned around and almost ran over the kid who had trailed behind me down the hall.

If it didn’t get out here where else could he be is there a basement. This time he pointed to a darkened stairway leading down from the kitchen. I heard wailing sirens as backup units charged through traffic. Spreading to the bottom of the stairs i paused on

A musty landing before dashing down a narrow hall. I checked rooms as i went. Laundry room boiler room bicycle room pool room. All of them were empty. If how he hadn’t made a run for it before many got to the dumpster. He was still hiding somewhere in the building. The question was where.

I had started up the stairs to begin a systematic room to room search when i remembered chapter rooms. Every fraternity had one at least they used to. A secret room hidden somewhere in the house where the whole fraternity gathered for formal meetings and initiations. I went back to the pool room.

One wall curved in a semicircle. Where’s the chapter room. I snapped. There. The boy nodded. Where’s the entrance. He opened the door to a seemingly small closet which became a black wall stucco room and aioli and cave for initiation rites. He pointed toward a small door.

I motioned him away from it and knocked. No answer. I tried the doorknob. It turned in my hand. I pushed the door open but stayed outside. Holly. I asked into the blackened room. There was no answer but i could sense another person’s presence. Maybe i could smell his terror. Hear his heart thumping.

I knew he was there. Police ally. We know you’re in there. Give yourself up. Still there was no answer. Come on out Howie. We know all about you and Vince. It’s no use. I heard a half sob. I. Didn’t do it. His voice was choked whisper. I made him leave.

The set i was an accessory after the fact. Come on out howe. We can talk about it later. I stood with one eye closed hoping to adjust my vision to the deeper darkness of the other room. It didn’t help. There is no silence quite as stark as that between hunter and hunted.

The two of us were alone in a frozen universe. The small clique of a released safety catch shattered the silence. Throw it down i commanded. Come out with your hands up. Instead. Howard rayburn age nineteen. Put the gun to his head and blew his brains out. Chapter thirty two.

I was sick as i walked through the process. How a rayburn was almost the same age as my own son Scott. The media showed up outside. Including the ubiquitous Maxwell coal. I stumbled across him when i went outside with a medical examiner’s team. He waved to me but i ignored him.

It’s a double standard. No one had been particularly interested when Teresa Smith burned to death. She wasn’t as newsworthy as someone who might have lit the match. I returned to the building without acknowledging him. Nobody could tell us where Vince farley was. We sealed off both rayburn’s and farley’s

Rooms until our came back with search warrants. By late afternoon we knew more about Vince farley than we wanted. His father owned a string of racetracks all over the southwest. Vince was flunking out of school. He kept a little scrap book. We found the clippings not only of the three incidents in Seattle

But also one from Iowa city Iowa. Same ammo. Vince farley himself was nowhere to be found. Howard rayburn’s mother. A widow showed up. She appeared to be a nice lady. Shocked. Disbelieving. Grieving. Hurt. I’ll talk to her. I didn’t. Couldn’t. The afternoon turned sunny.

The blue clarity of the sky mocking what was going on below. We worked the rest of the afternoon. It was dark before we got back downtown and started writing reports. Midnight before i came home and took a long shower. Trying to wash away the day’s filth. I fell into bed but couldn’t sleep.

I finally got up and administered a bottle of medicinal Mick Norton’s. It worked. I slept. I stumbled at my desk at eight the next morning. Sick. Hungover. Exhausted. Peters called touch bases. You guys got a line on farley yet he asked. Not yet. I sighed wearily.

We’ve got a dragnet out but it hasn’t turned up anything. We heard rumors late last night that he might have crossed into Canada. His mother’s divorced and lives in Toronto. That means extradition. Fat chance right. Right. Peters echoed. So what are you doing today.

Oh we’ll be back at the u interviewing fraternity brothers. We didn’t get all m last night. And. That’s what we did. All day long. Back downtown late in the afternoon we tried to put some international tracers on Vince farley. Still no luck. We heard through the grapevine.

His father’s attorney was raising hell with the chief about his son’s name being plastered all over the media. It was the age old story. Poor little rich kid fucks up and daddy’s attorneys ride to the rescue. I got back to my apartment about five thirty.

I sat down in the chair long enough to take off my shoes. I made the mistake of leaning back intending to arrest my eyes a minute. The next thing i knew it was six thirty and the phone jangled me awake. Hello. I mumbled into the phone. Detective beaumont.

Am i to understand you’re standing me up. An angry southern belle is anything but sultry. I’m sorry i stammered. I’ll be right there. Have already been waiting a whole half hour. No really i am only a couple of minutes away. The palm court maitre d greeted me with a knowing smile.

You must be mister beaumont right this way please. I had been far too preoccupied during the preceding thirty six hours to give ms Colleen borden from armor life insurance company any thought. Had i done so i’m sure i wouldn’t have pictured a platinum blonde in her late forties

With an hourglass figure and a crimson smile. Her hair was pulled back ballerina style and covered with a broad brimmed fedora. A well cut lavender dress softly draped showed her figure to good advantage. At the base of her throat lay a gleaming diamond pendant. Her eyes were a startling shade of Violet.

Set in a timeless face. The waiter held my chair. I slipped into it while she gave me a shrewdly appraising once over. Well now. She drawled. I don’t believe antibiotic told me he was quite this cute detective beaumont.

Seeing you in the flesh maybe i am not so mad at you for fallen asleep. This ends tape five. Please change to the sixth and final tape. Seeing you in the flesh maybe i’m not so mad at you for fallen asleep. It wasn’t how i had expected our conversation to start.

I mumbled an apology. She held up her hand. No now i don’t want to hear another word about it. We’ll just have ourselves a little drink and a little dinner. Then if you still feel like apologizing. Maybe we can work something out. She gave me a sly grin.

I would have had to be blind deaf and dumb not to have known what you meant. I put a bland smile on my face and the ordered a hair of the dog Mick Norton’s. What can i do for you. She took a long sip of southern comfort.

My daddy owns arma life insurance company. She drawled. And his daddy owned it before that. Were not very big but are solid. She paused and gave me a dazzling smile. Years ago. That he called me into his office. He doesn’t have in his son Jesse and he says. Cody.

That’s what he calls me. Cody i want you to come into the business so you’ll know how to run it when the time comes but i don’t want you out selling none this stuff. That’s too hard a life a little lady.

Would i’d like you to do is make sure that when we pay a claim it’s on the up and up. And that’s what I’ve been doing ever since. What does this have to do with me. Instead of answering my question she motioned to a waiter who hovered in the background.

You decided what you want. She asked. I do believe I’ll have the pheasant. I just love pheasant. Without looking i nodded and she ordered two of them. She turned back to me the smile once more in place. Why do you suppose homa and Darryl Watkins turned it

Down when you made them such a rat tolerable offer. Without any notion that carlene borden was a lightweight went right out the window. Aime says they found another investor. Ralph ames is your attorney the one who was handling your deal. Yes. Do you have any idea where that money is. Ames y no.

He said he’d head back to Phoenix tomorrow but i don’t know where he’s been today. I’ve hung around here all day long hoping to run into him. Left messages. He hasn’t returned a single call not one. That’s not like him. I said contractually. As though both ames and i had been remiss.

Have you tried in the last few minutes. I left word that he should join us. As if on cue the maitre d hurried to our table. Excuse me miss borden there’s a gentleman outside who says his name is mr ames. Should i show him in. Oh by all means.

Do have him come in. There was a flurry of activity around our table as a third place was set. Aims followed the maitre d uncertainly as though not sure what to expect. I stood to introduce them. It was. Comical to see.

Ames fell into those Violet eyes eyes and never knew what hit him. I’m very pleased to make your acquaintance mister ames. Cody drawled. I’ve been doing my very best to find you all day long. I’m. Sorry to be so difficult. Ames apologized. I’ve been out in kirkland helping a friend of ours.

I was actually. Aims paused and cleared his throat. Interviewing babysitters. He has to have one by Monday you know. Colleen nodded seriously as though she understood perfectly. And then. Ames continued. Collins undivided attention making him babble. Once we got the girls registered for school we had to take

Them shopping for clothes and shoes lunch pails bedding everything. I burst out laughing. The very idea of Ralph ames attorney extraordinaire interviewing nannies and dragging types through nordstrom’s in the barn on a full scale shopping marathon struck my funny bone. Especially since he was so dead serious about it.

Colleen took offense at my laughter. That moment sealed ral thames fate. Mr beaumont. I think it’s perfectly wonderful that mr ames has been helping his friend. And i don’t see any reason for you to be laughing at him. Ames turned an interesting shade of red

And took a long sip of the southern comfort that Colleen had ordered for him. By the time we were into the main course three pheasants instead of two. Colleen borden knew as much about Peter’s custody fight as confidentiality would allow.

Then just when i thought we were never going back to armor life insurance company. Colleen delicately laid down her fork turned her Violet eyed charm full on names and said softly. Suppose we get down to business. Cody barton was the consummate iron fist in a velvet glove. To begin with.

I’ve talked to hal huggins. He’s a nice man but i don’t believe he’s ever been involved in an insurance case of this magnitude. She blinked a long blink with her very long eyelashes. You see. She drawled. We’re talking about three million dollars altogether. Insurance fraud. Aims exclaimed.

A buy-sell agreement funded with life insurance why didn’t i think of that. Aims came on line without missing a beat. Colleen smiled at him. That’s right sweetie. Five hundred thousand a piece. With a five hundred thousand accidental death benefit. Aims accountant mentality took over. He whistled.

That would be plenty to get them out of the woods. When would the claim be paid. Well now. Colleen murmured. That all depends doesn’t it. Two or three weeks of everything’s in order. Much longer than that if there’s a problem. Three weeks would be in time to ward off the sheriff sale.

Calling nodded. These policies are all well beyond the contestable period. We’ll be paying the claims regardless. I just want to be sure in my own mind that we are not paying good money. To a murderer. She removed the sheaf of papers from a slender briefcase handing them to aims rather than me.

Swiftly he skimmed through them. It’s essentially a buy-sell arrangement. He explained to me a few minutes later. With all proceeds going to the surviving partners. And the surviving partners are. I asked. Why. Darryl Watkins and his daddy of course. Colleen answered sweetly. Have you talked to hal huggins about this. I demanded.

He’s got it stuck in his craw that somebody named Wilson did it. But in talking to him. I kept coming up with your name mister belmont. And then when i started looking into the belltown terrace situation. I saw your name again. She smiled.

Seemed like too much of a coincidence to me wouldn’t you say. Ames had been studying the papers throughout this exchange. He looked around as though waking from a long sleep. If both surviving beneficiaries were implicated in the deaths of the other partners. What would happen. Colleen smiled again.

Why sweetie if someone proves that. The proceeds go to the insured’s next of kin. Dinner wasn’t over. I believe we had dessert and coffee but i bowed out of the conversation. I sat there thinking about Mona Larson’s brother from Idaho. And sig Larson’s three kids and a ginger Watkins father Tom lender.

Maybe how huggins was buying the Don Wilson story but i wasn’t. Cody’s idea made perfect sense. Darryl and homer could knock off the others frame Wilson and use the three million to bail themselves out of the whole. Greed for motive rather than revenge.

I made up my mind on the spot that he have how huggins wouldn’t do something about it officially. Then i would unofficially. I left the table with ames and Colleen still huddled over a sheaf of papers. I had the distinct impression however. That they wouldn’t stick to business forever. Chapter thirty three.

Hal huggins didn’t answer either at home or at the office when i got back from the western. Why should he after all it was Friday night. As far as hal was concerned he had solved three murders that week. He was probably out celebrating.

I tried again the next morning as soon as i woke up. Woke him to. Was going on. He muttered half asleep. Did you talk to Colleen borden. That dig abroad yes i talked to her. Got ’em insurance companies are all alike do anything to avoid paying the claim

All they want to do is take your money then as soon as somebody dies how. I interrupted. Did you listen to her. I think she’s onto something. Look here Bo. Huggins bristled. I’m telling you once and for all Wilson did it we got motive opportunity witnesses

Place him near the scene fingerprints on a confession what the hell you want. I want to nail the guilty party. You know Bo. Okay wondering why you’re so involved. I heard you were up nosing around Wilson’s house the other day this is new case remember.

Are you going to investigate calling borden’s allegations are not. The case as close as whereas my office is concerned. My mind’s made up don’t confuse me with the fact. Didn’t you tell me that once. Does it have anything to do with the fact that Tuesday is election day and Daryl

Watkins is a major political candidate. Did the sheriff tell stifle go fuck yourself. Against replied hanging up. I got Ernie Roger’s home number from the directory assistance. It Saturday what time you coming over i asked once i got him on the phone. Ernie sounded surprised.

I didn’t think he still needed me i thought the case was closed that’s what the paper said. It may be close there i returned grimly. It isn’t here. How long will it take you to get to Seattle. I’ll check the ferry schedule and call you back. Screw the ferry schedule

Charter or a floatplane I’ll pay for it. Get here as soon as you can. Have him land at the lake union dock I’ll pick you up. He called back a little while later to say that the soonest he could arrive would be one o’clock. It was almost ten.

I had three hours to do what i needed to do. I had kept one of done Wilson’s pictures. I needed to assemble a few others for a rogue’s gallery. While i was at it i decided to kill two birds with one stone. Directory assistance gave me Daryl Watkins campaign headquarters.

A quavering voice the old lady answered the phone. Do you have access to mr Watkins calendar i asked. Certainly. She responded. It’s right here on the wall above my head neck way we all know what’s going on at all times. Now of course he’s cancelled everything now that his wife.

Her voice trailed off. I know. I was wondering about some appearances during the last couple of weeks. I was playing liar’s poker and doing my best to sound casual unhurried. I’m writing an article about mr Watkins my records show he was in Vancouver and long view on the eighteenth

And Chehalis centralia and Olympia on the nineteenth. Is that correct. I don’t know where you got that. She snorted. He was scheduled to be in bellingham and Everett on the eighteenth and nineteenth. There was a catch of excitement in my throat. Everett is a short hop from anacortes and the ferry to orcas.

Is that all you wanted. She demanded impatiently. Do you have any brochures with this picture. Certainly we could send you a whole packet. Now you interested in door belling. No all i need is one brochure can i pick it up. Our campaign headquarters is at this corner of Denny and first north. Good

I said. I’ll be right over. Getting a picture of homer Watkins proved somewhat more difficult. Not impossible. I finally managed to dredge one out of a newspaper file. It was several years old and dated from homer’s tenure as president of the Washington athletic club. It was good enough for my purposes.

I stopped by the department then sifted through the collection of pictures we keep on hand to build montage is for witnesses to use when they’re trying to identify a suspect. You can’t just hand them a picture and say is this the one. You have to give him a batch of pictures and say

Do you see anyone you recognize. Ernie was true to his word. The floatplane pulled up to the dock on lake union right at one. The pilot said he’d have lunch and then come back to the plane. Ernie had left his wheelchair at home.

Assisted by a steel crutch he hopped from the plane to the porch. Once inside Ernie and i took off or rainier valley. The Porsche created quite a stir among some kids playing a spirited game of soccer in the parking lot of the stadium apartments.

A low income housing complex on Martin Luther king way. From the way he had put the Porsche back together it was clear Ernie Rogers was a top drawer mechanic. But his skill with language dumbfounded me. The kids broke up their game and admiringly surrounded the car giving us a thumbs up greeting.

Within moments Ernie was speaking to them in a language i had never heard before. They responded by enthusiastically directing us to a building near the back of the complex. People with two good legs never noticed stairways. We were directed to a set of dingy stairs thick with a stale odor of boiled rice

Rancid cooking oil and old fish. Ernie turned around sat down. Handed me as crutch then made his way up the stairs on his butt without a word of complaint. We located the correct apartment number and knocked on a flimsy hollow door. It opened slowly. Revealing an old woman grey haired and tiny.

Who peered cautiously up at us. Ernie spoke to her rapidly but softly in the same musical language he had used on the children outside. Her face brightened and she favoured him with a benign smile. A slow slight inclination of her head motioned us into the room.

It was empty except for one derelict chair and a floor covering of woven mats. I had the feeling that moments before we entered the room had teamed with people. Now it contained only to. The old woman and a venerable old man with white hair and twisted driftwood walking dick.

He sat regally on the only chair. A came back to wooden one that leaned slightly to one side. He nodded to Ernie and spoke to the old woman who disappeared and returned with a folding chair for Ernie. The old man spoke again addressing Ernie who turned to me.

He wants to know a bully as in trouble. No. I answered. We’re looking for the man who stole her keys. The old man studied me closely as Ernie translated. The hotel didn’t believe her when she said somebody stolen. I do i told him. When Ernie translated the old man nodded sagely.

He wants to know what you want with blir. I reached into my coat pocket and removed the packet of pictures. I handed them directly to the old man. I want to show are these one of those men may have been the one who stole her keys maybe she’ll recognize him.

The old man examined the pictures minute lie in the dim light of the curtain window. Then he spoke quickly to the old woman who shuffled from the room. Moments later she returned leading a shy young woman with waist length jet black hair. The younger woman seemed reluctant. But the old woman predator forward.

When blir saw Ernie her face brightened. She moved forward more willingly. The woman led blir to the old man who handed her the pictures. Ask her if she saw any of those men at rosario the day she lost her keys. Insulated. The girl walked to the curtain window and studied the pictures.

I held my breath as she leafed through them one by one. It was possible she had seen nothing would recognize no one. Suddenly she stopped. She handed one of them back to Ernie who passed it to me. The face in the picture was that of homer Watkins.

I’m sure my face betrayed the impact the picture had on me. I had expected it to be Daryl Watkins wanted it to be him so badly i could taste it. There are very good reasons why neither doctors nor detective should work on cases too close to home. It warps perspective. I looked up.

Everyone in the room was staring at me. Ask her when she saw him. I said to Ernie. He translated for her then turned to me with blears long response. And she was cleaning her last room. Someone had checked in and then changed his mind.

The desk wanted the room reclaimed because they thought they could rent it again. When she came out of the room he was standing by our cart. Few minutes later she realized her keys were missing. Can she remember exactly what time it was. Late. After dark around seven o’clock.

Blir hadn’t moved from her place near the window. She watched me warily gauging my reactions to each translation. Tell her thank you i said. And to tell her there’s a reward. Someone will be in touch with her next week to arrange it. He will be authorized to pay her five thousand dollars.

But she may have to testify in court. Ernie looked at me quickly before he translated. He spoke for a long time. Blair’s face changed several times mirroring surprise joy doubt. And finally after the old man spoke sternly. Agreement. She’ll testify. Ernie said if you need it.

The old woman showed us out of the apartment. Five thousand dollars is a lot of money. Ernie said as he bumped his way down the stairs. Where it had come from. Beats me i replied. We were both quiet after that until we were in the car and halfway back downtown. Whose picture.

Ernie asked. Not the guy i expected i said. You can’t tell me who though. No butternut. He accepted my refusal good naturedly. I felt obliged to explain. If word leaks out before we’re ready on this one. Forget it he said. No big deal.

We stopped at the dog house for coffee before i took him back to the plane. Once the float plane was airborne above lake union. I went home. There was no sense of calling huggins his mind was made up. And there was no sense in calling Peters his hands were full.

I called the western and was told mr ames had changed his mind. He hadn’t checked out. After all. I left a message saying that i would need him in Seattle during the week and that he shouldn’t leave without checking with me first. I had a feeling ames virtue was no longer intact.

I settled into my recliner. I’m not one of the trendy types who sits in a half lotus position to do his thinking. My legs would stick permanently. A recliner and a steaming cup of strong coffee are all i need to get the creative juices flowing. The ball was definitely back in my court.

When i had to do more than anything was thinking through. There was far too much at stake to go off half cocked. Homer. Blio vang had fingered Hummer. He had been at rosario that Friday afternoon and no one had known it. So he had gotten the keys and then let Wilson

In the ginger’s room to get the calendar. That didn’t make sense but that was the way it looked. I tried to put myself back in that Friday afternoon to remember all the events in the exact order in which they had occurred. It can be done.

It’s a process very much like a self induced hypnotic trance or a time machine. The parole board meeting got out at four. Ginger and sig were supposed to meet at five. But Darryl called and held ginger up. Made her late. By the time she reached the rendezvous said Larson was dead.

Homer Watkins and Don Wilson. An unholy alliance. Unless. Something blue vang had said jumped out at me. Someone had rented a room at rosario and then changed his mind. Who. And what about Darryl Watkins campaign appearances in Everett and bellingham.

The thought had no more than crossed my mind when i was out of my chair emptying my cup in the sink and shrugging my way into the shoulder holster. Either homer and Darryl were in it together. Or Darryl was next on the list. Chapter thirty four.

The Porsche loves to get on the freeway and go. I headed north to Everett driving directly to the offices of the Everett herald. It’s a small town paper. The receptionist aboard the teenager was happy to have some company. I flashed my badge at her and she bustled around finding me what i needed.

All papers from the two week period prior to October eighteenth. I located the information i wanted eventually. Buried among the wedding announcements pop Warner football scores and pre holiday church bazaars was an article detailing Darryl Watkins campaign swing through bellingham and Everett.

He was to address the bellingham rotary and j cs on Friday afternoon. And a league of women voters convention at the Everett holiday inn Friday evening. Saturday morning he was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at a merchant’s fare breakfast. Thanking the receptionist for her help. I drove to the holiday inn.

I didn’t mess around with the desk clerk. I asked to speak directly to the manager. He was an eager young turk fresh out of school with a degree in hotel management. His name tag pegged him as mister young. Which seemed entirely a appropriate. What can i do for you. He asked

After minute lie examining my identification. I’d like to see your guest register for the night of October eighteenth. This is of course highly irregular. Mister young. I said firmly. I’m attempting to prevent another homicide there’s not much time. Can’t this wait until Monday when i could check with my superiors in Seattle know.

Someone else could be dead by then. Youth can often be intimidated by a steady middle aged stare. It worked like a charm. Oh alright. I don’t see how it could hurt. There were lots of registration slips. Many of the women had registered separately even though they were staying in the same room.

A variation on the female penchant for separate checks. I thumbed through them carefully. I was close to the bottom before i found the one i wanted. A slip that read ed Darryl Watkins. I jotted down the license number of the car and eighty one Audi.

Mr young had stood peering over my shoulder the whole time. Did you find what you needed. He asked. Yes can you make me a copy of this. I showed him the slip. This is nuts i shouldn’t have shown it to you in the first place without a court order

Now you want me to make your copy. By the time i could get a court order i said. The killer may strike again. The score is for nothing right now the killer is winning. He made me a copy. One more question i said as he handed me the paper.

Who on your catering staff handled the league of women voters convention. That would have been sue cotton. Is she here. He sighed exasperated. She’s upstairs. So Carlton turned out to be a heavyset dame and her middle years.

I had a feeling she had come up through the ranks without a degree in hotel management but with a healthy regard for and an easy ability to work with other people. She had a pleasant manner and a sparkling sense of humor. What can i do for you detective beaumont she asked.

I wanted to talk to you about the league of women voters. They were awful she smile. Too many chiefs and not enough Indians i almost lost my mind. I wanted to ask you about one of the speakers Daryl Watkins. That jerk. He was late

I had to pay my people over time because they didn’t finish on time. What happened. Here was supposed to speak at the beginning of the program. He didn’t show up until nine when they were almost finished. They let him give his whole speech anyway i was livid. I stood.

That’s all i needed to know. Did he offer any explanation. Car trouble i think does this help. You’d better believe it. Thanks. Galloping out of the holiday inn i sped north the anacortes hoping i’d hit the ferry schedule right. No such luck.

A ferry was just pulling away from a dock as i drove up to the ticket booth. There was nothing to do but cool my heels and wait for the next one. It was possible barrel could have been on orcas with at the time ginger’s room was broken into and

Still have made it back to Everett by nine. If that is he had better luck with the fairies than i did. Once on orcas i drove straight to rosario without notifying huggins. I wanted to get in verify the information and get back out. Without arousing attention. It was Saturday evening

A laughing crowd was grouped around the massive fireplace in the moran room and a clutch of people stood in front of the desk waiting to register. The overtaxed desk clerk was far too busy to help me right then. I went into the vista lounge. Barney was at his station.

He glanced up and waved as i walked past. I had no more. Than taking a seat on the stool at the end of the bar when he brought me a mcnaughton and water. That’s pretty good i said as he set the drink in front of me. He grinned.

I don’t do much but i’m good at what i do. Someone signaled for a beer. Barney drew one from the tap delivered it then came back to me. So what’s up. You get your car back alright. I nodded. Already did a great job. I’m up here looking for some answers i told him.

What kind. I need to see the guest Reggie tour for the eighteenth. Quietly i added. Unofficially. I nodded and he grinned. I might be able to help. You see the lady at the desk. Just a glimpse she was busy. Wera engaged he said proudly.

Tell me what you want she’ll get it for you. Another customer summoned him. When he returned he stood in front of me vigorously polishing the bar. What are you looking for. He asked. At least one room was rented twice that day. Someone checked in changed his mind and checked back out.

I need a copy of any registration slips on rooms that were rented twice that day. He gave me a sly wink. Looking for somebody sneaking around. He glanced at my glass. You want another. No i’d better switch to coffee it’s a long drive. You’re not staying over. We’ve got rooms.

I shook my head. I drank a couple of cups of coffee and ate a hamburger while i waited. It was almost an hour before Barney’s fiance delivered the goods. There were three rooms that had been rented twice on the eighteenth. Using a lighted hurricane lamp from one of the

Tables i studied the copies Barney gave me. Five of the six names didn’t ring any bells. Three of them had actually spent the night. The other two were probably a respectably married people sneaking an illicit afternoon without their lawfully wedded husband ends and wives. The last name stopped me cold. Don Lacy.

The address was in burien. I wrote it down. One to eight to three south one hundred and twenty fourth. The clincher was that the car was a nineteen eighty one Audi. The same make and model listed on Darryl Watkins guest registration at the holiday inn. Naturally the license numbers didn’t match.

What a surprise prize. Don Lacy and Darryl Watkins had to be one and the same. I left the lounge and walked to the last wing of the hotel where ginger’s original room had been. The room registered the Lacy was right next door to gingers. When Darryl had been talking to her

Pleading with her not to divorce him. He had been directly on the other side of a narrow wallboard petition. Not calling long distance from somewhere or on the mainland. Hurrying back to my car i barely had time to catch the last ferry to anacortes. I sat by one of the huge windows

Staring at the glass that reflected the bright lights inside the boat. Rather than the midnight water outside. My mind jumped to a dozen different conclusions. Wilson homer and Darryl we all had to be involved together somehow. All three of them had been at orcas that afternoon.

Funny how both Darryl and homer had neglected dimension it. The question remained. Were they in it together. Or was one covering for the other. I wanted to be the one to find the answers. I owed ginger that much but i wasn’t working with a full contingent of soldiers.

I didn’t have all the resources of Seattle pd standing behind me backing me up. I suppose i could have called huggins and insisted he reopened the case but i didn’t. Pride i guess. I wanted to nail the case down with a fistful of incontrovertible evidence before i called for reinforcements.

My mother used to say. Pride goeth before a fall. It’s true. By the time i reached anacortes. I had a game plan mapped out in my mind. It was almost two in the morning when i hit Seattle. I drove straight through town and took the seatac exit tiberian.

The address on south one hundred and twenty fourth street wasn’t hard to find. A silver Audi was parked in the driveway. I drove home. Once in a house i went searching for the phone book. I looked under Lacy Darlene. One two eight to three south one hundred and twenty fourth street. That

Answered a lot of questions. I put the phone book away and went to bed. Ames woke me Sunday morning. According to my count that was two sundays in a row. He wondered if i would care to join Cody and him for brunch at the western. Ames sounded smug.

He couldn’t quite conceal his lack of disappointment when i said no. Ames had never struck me as much of a ladies man. He was proud of what he regarded as a personal conquest. I wasn’t the kind of guy to tell him that he’d been duck soup for someone like Colleen borden.

And she was far too much of a lady to tell him herself. I left his delusions of adequacy intact. Too much to do am sorry but i want to talk to you later today or tomorrow about some of the reward money. Okay he said. But.

If you don’t reach me and my room you might try Cody’s. Right i said. I waited until ten o’clock before i called Janice moraine at home. She’s a criminalist in Seattle’s Washington state patrol crime lab. Over the months she and i had become friends.

I couldn’t call the crime lab directly to ask for help. I didn’t have an official case number. How are you it handwriting analysis. So-so she answered. About trading breakfast for an off the record opinion. She laughed. Smooth talker she said.

We went to an omelet house at the bottom of east Madison right on lake Washington. There amid the early afternoon Sunday brunch crowd she smoked one cigarette after another and compare the two signatures from copies of the guest registration forms. She studied them in silence for several long minutes

Leaving me to sip my coffee and stare at the top of her head bent over the papers and total concentration. At last she looked up at me. You know i’m not the final word. She said. I nodded. But. In my opinion they were signed by the same person. That’s what i thought.

Is this the Daryl Watkins. She asked pointing in his signature. I nodded again. If this is something bad you’d better not just take my word for it. She warned. I won’t. And we haven’t had this conversation. How did you guess. Now what do you want to eat.

We each had huge omelettes with crisp hash browns and a thick jam covered toast. As far as i was concerned it was a celebration. I was getting closer and closer to nailing those bastards. Nothing definite. Strictly circumstantial but closer nonetheless. Daryl Watkins homer Watkins and the deceased Dunn Wilson.

Gradually i was closing in on the truth. Hurrying back to my apartment i pod through the receipt shoe box until i found my bill from rosario. The long distance phone calls were their. Time duration phone numbers and charges. Thank god for computer printouts. I saw the problem immediately.

How could homer have been seen by blue fang at seven o’clock Friday night less than an hour. After he had phoned my room and left word for ginger to call. Her answering call to Seattle was right there on my bill dialed direct from my room.

The time on the print out said seven forty. The call from orcas to Seattle it lasted six minutes. Settling into my recliner i studied the list of phone calls with minute care. Again on Saturday there were calls to Seattle numbers. One to homer in the early evening and one the Peter’s much later.

I didn’t bother to work the crossword puzzles i had a new one dropped outside my door. I sat there and wondered why bleus vang had lied to me. Or if she hadn’t. How had homer Watkins managed to be in two places at once. Chapter thirty five.

Monday morning i woke up early and waited until six before i called ray Johnson and pasco. Evie answered the phone. Just a minute bow raised in the shower. Even though i chatted amiably until ray came on the phone. How are you he boomed. I need your help re. Sure thing what’s up.

Remember that morning when we were all there in your office and the governor’s office called. I remember just before the press conference. They wanted to make sure we had you safely under lock and key. Do you happen to remember the man’s name the governor’s aide. Ray Johnson is an encyclopedia of names.

Once he hears one he doesn’t forget it. When he left Seattle for pasco i felt as though i had lost my right arm. I had come to depend on him to remember names for both of us. Just a minute now he said.

Old on and it’ll come to me or something do with a bird a hawk. Hawkins. That’s it i’m almost sure. What do you need him for i thought the case was all sewed up. Except for a couple of loose ends i said. By ten to eight

I was suffering from a serious case of twenty four minute flu. I called the department at eight. Peters wasn’t in yet. Margie took the call. I. Am not feeling well Marge. I said doing my best to sound feeble. Or i hope it’s not stomach flu Margie sympathised.

That’s going around my kids were both down with it last week and missed two whole days of school. By five after eight i was in the pores heading south on the freeway feeling much better. It was a miracle. As i drove toward Olympia my mother’s words came back to me.

One thing about Jonas. He doesn’t let good sense stand in the way of what he wants. My mother’s twenty five year old word still held a ring of prophecy. What i was doing didn’t make good sense. J p beaumont good sense to the contrary was

Turning up the heat under homer and Darryl Watkins. Attempting to smoke them into the open. It was best not to use a direct attack. I parked as close as i could to the governor’s office on the governmental campus and walked in as big as life.

I asked the Doe eyed young receptionist for mister Hawkins. Do you have an appointment she asked. No i said flashing my ID in her direction. But i’m sure he’ll see me just the same. I was right. Within five minutes i was shown into Lee Hawkins office.

And i handed him my city of Seattle business card which he examined with some care. Work you’re the one who was mistakenly arrested in pasco. I supplied helpfully. Yes. I am. He nodded. I thought so. The name looked familiar what can i do for you. He dropped my card onto his desk.

I’m actually here about the Washington state victim witness protection program. I see. What’s going on with that. Well. We’ve been involved in negotiations with the senate and house judiciary committees. There’s no question that the program will cost money although the governor’s office supports the idea whole heartedly. He paused and looked at me.

Is this on or off the record. Off. Weave about ironed out all resistance. We’re hoping it’ll be presented as a joint bill early next session. No announcement will be made prior to that. That would be premature mister beaumont. And no and investment was planned for the parole board retreat on orcas. Absolutely not.

Just in case my message hadn’t gotten through. I added one final hook. That’s funny. Don Wilson was sure there would be an announcement at orcas. Lee Hawkins smiled. He must have been mistaken. Of course i replied. Thanks. I left and drove straight back to Seattle. If somebody called to check on my health

The invalid should be at home. In bed. And if somebody took the bait the fishermen should be hanging onto the other end of the pole for dear life. Predictably the phone was ringing as i got off the elevator. It was Peter’s. Where the hell are you then. You’re supposed to be sick.

I needed some medicine. I lied. The girls. They’re in school. The babysitter aims hired will pick Heather up after kindergarten. Tracy can walk home by herself. Mrs keene that’s the babysitter’s name will stay until i get home tonight. Do you have everything you need. Yogurt or maybe some pepto bismol. Oh everything thanks.

I’m much better. What are you doing. Manny and al are trying to negotiate a peace treaty with the feds to extradite farley from Canada. Good luck. I was glad i wouldn’t be there to fight and lose the opening rounds of the paperwork war.

I’ve seen more than one crook hole up across the border hiding out in plain sight behind a mountain of red tape. Get-well Peter said. See you tomorrow. A fixed product coffee sat down and put my feet up. The next call was aim totally focused on business. What about the reward money. Never mind

The witness may have lied to me we’ll have to see. This ends side one. Please stop your player here and without fast forwarding the tape. Turned decide to. Never mind the witness may have lied to me we’ll have to see. Okay. Ames said agreeably. Whatever you say. Oh Cody.

I couldn’t resist catching him off base. Ames was trying with some difficulty to concentrate on work. Is obvious confusion was laughable. He hesitated half switching gears attempting to maintain his dignity. She’s. Working today i don’t know doing what. He paused again scrambling for what to say next. I guess.

As long as i’m here I’ll go ahead and mother hen the penthouse deal. Are you going to do any customizing. I hadn’t thought about it. What do you suggest. Aim side. I’ll get a couple of decorators to take a look and see what they say. Just one thing aims. Much that.

Wherever i go my recliner goes. Right. He said. He hung up. I poured myself a cup of coffee and waited. It was the calm before the storm. I was convinced the storm was coming. Who would call their or homer. I figured it was a toss up.

When the phone finally rang at four that afternoon it was a delivery boy bringing flowers. I buzzed him into the building and opened the door without even bothering to check the peak hole. The crime prevention unit would have drummed me off the force. Hello detective beaumont. Darryl Watkins said easily.

I’ve got a gun. You’re coming with me. He raised a snub nose thirty eight from behind a box of flowers. He lifted my Smith and Wesson out of it’s holster and dropped it into a jacket pocket all the while keeping me covered.

I understand you are making inquiries about the victim witness protection program. That’s right. Was your interest personal or professional. Both. Since that’s a program i’m interested in too i thought maybe. We should get together and talk. Where’s your car. In the garage. Let’s go.

He directed me to the Watkins mentioned on capitol hill. I walked ahead of him to the house and pushed the door open half expecting to find homer waiting inside but the entryway was empty the house itself quiet. I stepped over the threshold tensing as i realized we were alone.

Hoping i could catch him off guard taken by surprise. Instead something hit me behind my right ear. And went down like a sack of potatoes. The cold woke me. I opened my eyes thinking i’d gone blind. I could see nothing. I struggled to move and ran my nose into my knee.

It startled me to find my knee jammed directly in front of my face. It shouldn’t have been there. Tried moving my fingers and felt my feet. Slowly it started making sense. That was tied. Trust in a fetal position with my hands and feet fastened together at my ankles. I was also. Stark naked.

It’s tough getting your bearings in pitch darkness. Under me were what seemed to be wooden slats. A humming motor clicked off followed by ominous silence. I was trapped in a refrigerator waiting to die. Rocking painfully on the small of my back i tried rolling as far as i could in one direction.

Hoping to find a door and figure out a way to open it. Until i encountered a smooth hard surface. Before i could ascertain whether it was a door or wall a door at the other end of the compartment jerked open. A single lightbulb next to the door snapped on momentarily blinding me.

When i could see Daryl Watkins was standing over me. My my aren’t we clever. I didn’t think he’d wake up before i got back. I had to take your car downtown and park it on third Avenue in the bus zone. By now it’s being towed at owner’s expense.

It’ll take days to find it. You’re crazy. Man maybe. He said agreeably. But smart. Is this how Wilson died of exposure. He nodded. I let him hang around long enough for the drug to get out of his system then i sprayed him with cold water. Worked like a charm

And never had to tie him up. I’m afraid your rope burns will show. I wanted to keep him talking. I gauged the distance between us wondering if i could roll against his legs with enough strength to knock him down. You met him on the ferry.

He met me on the car deck so i could give him a copy of the governor’s proclamation. But there was no proclamation. What can shrugged. Don Wilson didn’t know that. He got in the car. I gave him one little prick with this. And he went night night. He held up a hypo

The needle glinting in the light from the bulb near the door. I made a tentative roll toward him. He laughed and stepped away. None of that he said. Wilson went off the ferry in your car. That’s right. Out cold on the floor of the backseat. And put them in the trunk later.

He slept like a baby until Sunday when i finally got him back to Seattle. I had plenty of time to see said Larsen. And kill him. He grinned. That too. He sobered suddenly. You puzzle me detective beaumont. As far as i can tell you’re the only one who doesn’t believe Wilson did it.

How come. Gut instinct. Wilson left a chicken thawing at home and he didn’t feed his cat. Looked like he plan to come back. He did. You think you’re pretty smart don’t you. Get that’s why you’re there and. I’m here right. He laughed. The maniacal laughter of someone losing his grip.

Except for that i was good though wasn’t i. Framed wellstone every step of the way that poor stupid bastard he wanted to make headlines. You’re the one who called him the orcas. He nodded grinning. You bet. I even arranged for that reporter to do a series on him. That was brilliant.

His word reeked of ugly truth. You’ve been planning this for a long time. Months. This was my last chance before the sheriff sale. After that would have been too late. Mona to. Mana two. How did you know she was at the red lion. My father.

I told him i wanted to explain why i couldn’t go to six funeral. I was waiting. When you drove up i decided to use your car. That was masterful don’t you think. You did it for the money. Money isn’t everything but it helps. I’ll need every penny to get back on even ground.

Yeah i think you’ll get away with it. Absolutely. How did you get ginger drunk. He laughed. He you should have seen her face. She was real surprised to see me. I was waiting just outside the gate. I almost missed her because he was driving a different car. Your car. How come.

I ignored his question and repeated my own. As you get her drunk. A house. A soft plastic hose. That was for Tom’s benefit. She promised him she’d never drink again. Little miss perfect. Shoved down our throat and poured the booze through it. She was already unconscious. At work till.

You see the old time at the funeral. What about the calendar that you ticket. If i was going to die it would at least be with some answers. Share. I had to put Wilson’s fingerprints on something while he was passed out on the back of the car.

Far away through the chill i heard the chime of the doorbell. Darrell jumped as though shot. I tried to call for help. He covered the distance between us and one long step. The hand clamped over my mouth. And a needle pricked my arm. The lights went out. Literally and figuratively. Chapter twenty six.

When i awakened again my fingers and toes were numb. Trying not to succumb to panic i moved them as much as possible hoping to force circulation back into them. There was a gag in my mouth with sticky tape holding it in place. The humming motor clicked off.

And the subsequent silence i could hear another person’s breathing. I strained to listen. The roaring beat of my own heart threatened to drown out the shallow sound. The person was sleeping asleep very close to the big one. Panting with effort i rocked toward the sound.

For painful rocks away i encountered another naked body bound and trust as i was with legs as hairy as my own. Another man. For some unaccountable reason. That made me feel better. Positioning my back against his i tried to jar him awake. He stirred a little but immediately resumed his shallow breathing.

Again i attempted to shake him. Exertion caused beads of sweat to pop out of my body. I was aware of further heat loss as cold dry air met perspiration. Painfully i scooted around until my feet were in his face. I kicked him in his breathing changed. He was awake now whoever he was.

Some circulation had returned to my fingers and toes. I felt for the tape that covered his mouth. Grasping a corner of it between my thumbs and forefingers i rolled away from from him taking the tape with me. It took long precious minutes to roll back again and reposition myself to remove the

Cloth material that had been stuffed into his mouth by the tape. Thank you. He choked once the gag was out. I recognized the voice. Homer Watkins lay on the wooden slats beside me. He had not yet mastered the fundamentals of movement in our condition.

I roll around until my face was against his fingers. His first numbed attempt at grasping the tape on my gag didn’t work. It took numerous tries before he was at last able to hold the tape. While i rolled away. Then i maneuvered my way way back so he could remove the gag.

Who are you. The asked as soon as i could speak. Beaumont. I answered. What time is it. I don’t know. It was morning when they put me in here. He kept me up all night raving. Is crazy. We’ll discuss that later. Let’s get outta here first before we die a cold or suffocation.

Can you untie me. We struggled in the dark our fingers too numb and clumsy to know what they were about. Time passed i don’t know how much. Finally i gave up in defeat. Stay here i ordered. I’m going to find a bottle to break. I remembered seeing a wine rack

But in the struggle to free us i had become disoriented. I rocked back and forth across the confines of our prison searching for the rack my muscles screaming at the unaccustomed position. After what seemed like hours i finally bumped up against the stack of corked bottles. Deliberately breaking a bottle seems easy

But not if your hands and feet are tied together. The adult male body has long since lost the newborn deliberateness which allows a baby to suck it’s toes. Each movement was an agony each failure unbearable. And wanted desperately to break the bottle in the farthest corner of our cage. There is an.

Atavistic fear of bleeding to death in the dark. I didn’t want to roll blindly and helplessly on broken glass. At last i managed to return to homer with a jagged shard from a bottle. You do me i said. If anybody gets cut it’ll be me.

Fortunately the insides of our wrists were tied together. The cuts and slices in my flesh though painful and bloody. Were also superficial. As homer sawed at my restraints. I asked him questions. The exercise served two purposes. It gave me some answers and it took our minds

Off the sticky blood that accompanied his work. Why did you go to rosario that Friday. Darlene said she thought that’s where Daryl went. I was worried about him. He was upset. Why. God knows he had no right to be jealous. But he couldn’t believe she’d go ahead and divorce him.

You took the maids’ keys and broke into ginger’s room. Someone had already been there. The room was a mess i panicked. But i talked to you. Ginger called you back. When she didn’t return my call at first i was afraid. He might have killed her too. Ginger called you in Seattle.

I have the phone number on my bill. I have a phone in the car. I forwarded calls there. A long silence ensued between us with only the scraping of glass on the fibrous rope filling the emptiness left by the stilled motor. Why didn’t you turn him in.

He waited a long time to answer me. When they said it was Wilson i believed it. Wanted to believe it. It wasn’t. I know. He said Holly. Eventually after what seemed an eternity the rope parted. My hands and feet were freed. To my complete frustration i wasn’t instantly able

To straighten up and walked at a light switch. My muscles were too cramped and stiff. I lurched across the wooden slats crawling awkwardly on my knees dreading the broken glass. Groping blindly for the elusive switch i knew was there. Eventually i found it.

The sudden light from the single forty watt light was dazzling. I found the thermostat and turned the refrigeration unit off. Then i cut through homers bonds. Movement returned slowly even then it didn’t do us a hell of a lot of good. There was no latch inside the refrigerator door.

Only a smooth seemingly impenetrable metal surface. I turned from the door at a homer. How long have you known for sure. Since last night. I wouldn’t let myself believe it. I never saw him in a jealous rage before. Jealous rage hell. I said harshly. Stripping away homers last vestige of justification.

Is after money the insurance. He set it up the framework Wilson for the first three. You can bet he has some plan so it will look like jp beaumont did away with you. Homer swayed dangerously i caught him and broke his fall. He would wouldn’t he he’d kill me too.

Palmer Watkins sank the rest of the way to the floor. You don’t fake the kind of shock that spread across his face. Seeing it told me once and for all that homer was innocent. Daryl Watkins had acted alone. The naked old man diminished squatted broken lie on his haunches

A picture of abject defeat. I looked down thinking to help him to his feet. In looking down i saw our way out. Ourselves wooden slats were actually the tops of pallets. Wooden laughing on frames of sturdy two by fours. Get up amr quick i urged.

Grasping him by the wrists and pulling him to his feet. The pilots were about three and a half feet square. I picked one up. Hefted it. Stood on edge. With both of us swinging in concert we could use it as a battering ram. The latches on the outside of the door couldn’t

Hold forever under that kind of treatment. I explained the plan. If the door opens and he’s outside chances are he’ll have a weapon. Keep swinging and hope we can hit him. We took her first tentative swing at the door. The noise of the blow seemed deafening. We waited

Breathless expecting Daryl to charge through the door. Nothing happened. We swung again. Again nothing happened. All right i said here goes. Swing together in rhythm back and forth. Eventually we will build a momentum. I didn’t tell homer my other worry. That our air would run out and we’d suffocate

Before we ever broke through to the outside. At least we’d die warm. Swing. Blam swing. Blam swing. Blam. Obviously the house was empty or the noise would have aroused a response. Swing blam swing. Blam swing. Blam. The metal dented as the inside of the door crushed against an outer shell swing. Blam swing.

Bland swing. Bland. The door shuddered each time we hit it. Giving way under every blow swing. Plan swing. Plan swing. Plan. As the hinges crumbled the momentum carried us into the kitchen. We were out. We were free. We weren’t going to die. At least not then. And not in a refrigerator.

The kitchen was dark. It was night. Homer crossed the floor and switched on a light. O’clock over the sinks at nine o’clock. What night i asked. Tuesday he said. Election night. The strength that it sustained him as we battered the door abd away.

He leaned heavily against the stainless steel table in the center of the room. What are you going to do he asked. I gave the first answer that came to mind. It had no bearing on the question he was really asking. I’m going to find some clothes. There is something implacably sane about insanity.

I found all our clothes both homers and mine in a dirty clothes hamper in the laundry room. Where else. It was as though Darrell expected a made to appear and wash them for him. Maybe even dispose of the corpses in his refrigerator. A kind of macabre noblesse oblige.

Daryl Watkins was no more accustomed to living without money. Than i was used to living with it. Homer was still leaning against the table when i returned to the kitchen. He hadn’t moved. What are you going to do. He asked again his voice a plaintive monotone. I countered with another question.

Where is he. The victory party. Where. Homer took the clothes i handed him. I won’t to it said stubbornly. I’ll show you. Will you arrest him. If i can. Don’t. He said. I was bent over tying my shoe convinced i had misunderstood him. What did you say. Don’t arrest him.

Put him out of his misery. He’s a mad dog. I knew what he was asking and why. I shook my head. I’m an officer of the law homer. I can’t do that. My thirty eight had been in it’s holster at the bottom of the clothes hamper.

I checked it now making sure it was loaded that it wasn’t jammed. Will he be armed. No. Homer stopped speaking abruptly and stood examining his shoes as though unsure which shoe went on what foot. I can’t say. He resumed at last. He’s killed four people so far. What do i know.

A phone hung on the kitchen wall. I had seen at the moment the light came on but i waited to use it until we were both dressed. Homers dignity had suffered enough. While i waited i washed the dried blood from my hands and wrists. When homer finally finished tying his shoelaces

I picked up the phone and dialed the department. It was late after nine but i knew Peters would be there. We were partners. He would be working trying to find me. Vo he exclaimed relief evident in his voice. Where the hell are you. Quickly i gave him the address.

Come as fast as you can bring a couple of squad cars with you but no sirens understand. Right. He replied without question. Homer had disappeared from the kitchen while i talked on the phone. He returned now wearing a heavy jacket over his suit. He still looked cold and pale. Are you warming up.

I asked. He nodded. I’m coming with you. He was determined. You can’t i said. It’s too dangerous it would be better if you stayed here. No no i know where he’ll be. Maybe i can talk him into giving up. It was remotely pa possible. Where’s the party i asked.

Will you take me along. I relented. Alright. Now where are we going. The trade center. Homer replied. Shit. I remembered seeing the live election night coverage from the muni league party in previous years. It was usually held in the Seattle trade center. The candidates and their campaign workers would gather

Their winners and losers alike to watch the returns. There would be throngs of people drunk and sober. Television cameras bands lights ray reporters. It would be chaos. The last place any cop in his right mind wants to go after a crazed killer. Peters in before a uniformed patrolmen arrived within minutes

The three of us Peters homer and i rode in a squad car to the trade center at Elliott and play. Let me talk to him. Homer insisted as we made our way through traffic. Maybe i can get him to surrender. My initial reaction was to say no out of hand.

We’re not in this business to risk civilian lives. Peters however assumed the role of devil’s advocate. It’s going to be a madhouse in there. If homer can get him to come quietly it could prevent wholesale bloodshed. Spending well over twenty four hours in cold storage

Had put me in a mood to listen to sweet reason. Alright. Agreed so how do we handle it. Homer let out his breath as though he’d been holding it. I’ll lead the way to our spot. We’re usually on the first floor near the escalator. Give me a minute or so to find him.

It was better than no plan at all. We approached the trade center with lights flashing but no sirens. Not wanting to broadcast a warning we maintained radio silence. Surprising him was our only chance. Alerting the world would create a riot. Once their Peters designated an officer to assume command outside the centre.

He deployed men to cover all building. Garage entrances. It was an empty gesture. We all knew that if panic ensued no one would be able to tell Darryl Watkins from hundreds of other terrified partygoers crushing through the doors racing to get outside. Peters and i paused for a moment outside the door

Giving homer had started crossing the crowded room. I are you sure you’re okay. Peters asked. Yeah i’m all right. I’ll go first he said. You follow no deal asshole i told him. You got a couple little kids to raise no fuckin way you’re sticking me with that job.

Before Peters had a chance to object i pushed my way in front of him. Following homer weapons into a wall the wall throng of people. Chapter thirty seven. Afterwards there were conflicting stories. A woman said she saw homer weapons walk up to Darryl.

Pull a gun out of his jacket then try to shoot him. Others said there was a struggle the gun went off and homer fell mortally wounded. I heard the report of a pistol and a woman scream. Time for Rose.

The sea of people turned as one man moving toward the disturbance and away from it at the same time surging forward and back closing ranks. I fought my way through moving in slow motion flinging people aside. Only to have others blunder into my path. Wait please. Peters roared behind me

But the crowd became denser more compact. Absolutely silent and compact. To this day. I don’t know if that silence existed anywhere but in my mind. It ceased when i reached the escalators. People are coming down screamed and saw world backup the moving stairs attempting to escape the carnage below.

They encountered a wall of people above them who stood unable to move transfixed by fear. I saw Daryl Watkins as he broke and ran. Gun in hand he dashed up the escalator three and four steps at a time plunging over people pushing them aside. Delayed depend ammonium erupted through the crowd

As i touched the rail of the down escalator. Maybe the noise was there the whole time and i only just then heard it. Clearing the way with my drawn thirty eight i charged up the downward treadmill desperate to reach the top. My only hope was to drive him farther up into the building.

Away from the crowds. Away from da doors that would lead him outside. Peters must have been only one or two steps behind me at the outset but the crowd caught him in a crushing wave of panic and carried him back towards the door with him. I paused and.

Turned briefly at the top of the stairs hoping he was with me. He wasn’t. It would be Daryl Watkins and jp beaumont. Alone one. The trade center is made up of a soaring atrium with the ground floor and two layers of shops arranged around circling balconies under a huge skylight.

Watkins charged up the second escalator. On the second level the crowded thin. Erased across the landing to the up escalator and followed watching in dismay as he disappeared around a corner and down the hall before i reach the next level.

It was halfway down the long corridor when i turned the corner in hot pursuit. Stop or I’ll shoot. I shouted. I promised to fire but he was out of range. My slug pong harmlessly off the wall behind him. I ducked my chin into my chest and sprinted down

The corridor after him as he vanished into a farewell. Gasping for breath i flung open the fire door. I stood on the concrete landing listening to the echo of retreating footsteps. For one heart-stopping moment. I thought they were going down.

Then a gust of fresh air rushed down the stairwell and into my face. Followed by the warning shriek of an alarm on and opened the emergency exit. He had gone to the roof. I crept up the stairs. It could be a trap.

He might have opened and shut the outside door to trick me. Maybe he was lying in wait around the blind corner of the stairs ready to blast me into oblivion. I held my breath as i rounded the turn. He wasn’t there. The stairs leading to the emergency exit were empty.

Below i heard the wail of sirens as ambulances and emergency vehicles raced to the scene. They would set up a command post and summon the emergency response team trying to position them to negotiate a surrender or as a last resort to fire off a clean shot. Peters would direct officers through the building

Evacuating the crowd securing first one area and then another yeah. But all that was happening in another world far below us. Out on the roof Darryl Watkins was waiting. For me. I pushed open the heavy door. Over the wail of the alarm i heard a bullet

Flying past the door’s metal frame above my head. That was his second shot. I counted wondering subconsciously what kind of a gun homer had smuggled into his jacket. How many bullets. Did Darrell have four more shots. Or seven. And did he have another gun of his own.

Standing in what amounted to a metal bunker at the top of the stairwell i was better off trying to draw his fire and exhausted his ammunition while i could use the heavy door as armor between us. Each bullet he expended was one less available to slaughter innocent bystanders. Or me.

I yanked the alarm wire off the wall silencing it’s blood curdling screech. In the sudden quiet that followed. A surprising calm settled over me. He was trapped. His only way out was past me. If i could drive him into a frenzy force him to attack me in the open.

Maybe i could end it. The irony struck me with the force of a physical blow. Daryl Watkins and jp beaumont. Men who had possessed the same woman. Were locked in mortal combat. I remembered homer’s hopeless pronouncement in the kitchen. Put him out of his misery. I was tempted. God i was tempted.

But shooting was too easy. Too good for him. I wanted him to live to know his loss to pay a price. To suffer humiliation and defeat. To live out his days with Philip lathrop as his lifelong companion. They deserved each other. I would take him alive.

I steeled myself to use every weapon at my disposal. Somehow ginger Watkins would forgive me. I opened the door a crack so he could hear me. She was a hell of a lay. I called into the night. What. Ginger. She was one hell of a lay. I totted.

Too bad you didn’t know how good she was. Another bullet wind off the metal door. That was three. Year lions son of a bitch. What’s the matter. Can’t take a dose your own medicine. She was hot stuff Darryl. I continued. Soft enough so he had to strain to hear me.

She was so hungry. You never gave her what she wanted. She needed a man to take her to make her know she was a woman. I waited silence riddled between us hoping another bullet would crash into the wall near my head. Nothing happened. He was across the roof from me

Crouched out of range behind a small fenced terrace outlined in a sudden splash a moonlight. Needing to draw his fire i opened the door and spun around toward the back of the rooftop the box that formed the top of the stairwell. It worked. Too well.

A slug ripped into my upper left arm spinning me against the wall. Searing pain came quickly making it hard to talk to concentrate. How many bullets was that now. Four or five. You couldn’t handle that could yeah. I rasped through gritted teeth. You’d have young ones like Darlene.

Girls you could impress with money if not performance. Ginger been empty so long i couldn’t fill her up. Yeah. He said. Just because you couldn’t get it up for it didn’t mean nobody could. No. He croaked his voice a hoarse broken whisper. It’s not true. It is to. Ask me. Ask sig.

Didn’t he tell you. He could have. Maybe with him. Not know. His voice Rose dangerously. A tongue of flame spewed from his pistol in the darkness. The shock whistled harmlessly away into the night. Five or six ks. Let there be only six bullets i prayed not nine. I can prove it.

About the stretch marks from Katie. Remember those or hadn’t it been so long since you looked at her that you forgot. I waited to see if he would reply. There was nothing. No response. She’d have been stupid to divorce you i continued. She should have just screwed around behind your back.

That would have been fair. Several separate shots peppered the wall of the stairwell followed by silence. For a long time we remained motionless frozen in place him across the fence the balcony and me behind the stairwell. The sticky stream of blood oozing through my jacket sleeve.

I couldn’t tell for sure if he had emptied the bullet chamber. Or if he had another gun. It was time to play Russian roulette. I stepped into the open. If he had only one shot left. He could squander it on me. Whether or not he got me. Daryl Watkins was finished.

I always know she was fucking around she had to be. Is that why you killed her darrow. Or was it the money. He raised up. His form outlined on the other side of the terrace. He said simply. She was going to divorce me.

He spoke with a wonder of a philosopher contemplating life’s fundamental mysteries. He seemed quiet subdued. Dropped a gun barrel. I won the election. Did you know that. But your hands on your head you’re under arrest. My words were a catalyst spurring him to action.

With an enraged roar he vaulted over the fence charging at me like a wounded bull he landed on the terrace. Except it wasn’t a terrace at all. It was the skylight. The glass shattered. With an agonizing screech he plunged out of sight. Crashing into the melee

Television cameras and milling people three stories below. I walked over to the jagged hole and looked down. Far below Daryl’s coupled body lay in a broken heap. Seeping blood on the red brick floor. Around him television cameras hummed. Fighting for focus and position. Recording live footage for the people staying up late

To watch election night returns. Viewers would have their full recommended daily dose of blood and guts before they fell asleep. In living color. The door behind me flew open. Peters burst onto the rooftop is thirty eight glinting in the moonlight. Are you alright. He demanded. I am now. Chapter thirty eight.

We went to Peter’s house in kirkland the following Sunday for dinner. My left arm was in a sling. Cody borden insisted she knew just what i needed. She would cook southern for us. Southern fried chicken black eyed peas and cornbread. She bustled around Peter’s kitchen with Peters serving as cook’s helper.

She wore stiletto heels. One of Peter’s oversized aprons was cinched tightly around her tiny waist. She looked better than any middle aged woman has a right to look. Peters was catering to the invalid. I had been off work the rest of the week recuperating. In the interim

Peters kodi and ames had joined forces to spoil me rotten. Aims content for once to let Cody out of his sight sat on a couch with Heather and Tracy cuddled on on either side of him. He was teaching them the pledge of allegiance.

They had never learned it while they lived with new dawn in broken Springs Oregon. At greenwood school in kirkland they were required to memorize it. I listened on the sidelines. Uncle Ralph as they called ames showed infinite Patience.

It was funny that the man who inspired stark terror in the heart of Maxwell kohl. Was meek as a lamb with those two little ankle biters. They had him wrapped around their fingers. It was a quiet family setting as American as apple pie. I sat in an easy chair across from.

My arm safe from squirming little bodies. Sipping a mcnaughton. Physically i remained in the room but my thoughts roamed far afield. Had the homer Watkins lived things would’ve been different. Since there were no surviving partners however. Armor or life would pay the insurance proceeds to each person’s next of kin.

Tom lender had put his seventy six station on the market. He planned to buy a motorhome and hit the road. Six children had been notified and were in the process of filing a claim. No one had yet been able to locate Mona’s brother but kodi said she was working on it.

Cody said it would be only a matter of days before death benefits owing them were paid. As far as we could tell homer had no surviving kin. And his attorney said that his will left everything he owned to children’s orthopedic hospital.

I understood blir vang had used her reward money to make a down payment on a small house with room for a large garden. Aims was handling those details including getting Blair hired on in the western laundry. Blears whole family. Aunt uncle and cousins. Would be moving out of the low income housing

Development and into a place of their own. I didn’t go to homer and barrels w funeral. I sent flowers to homer. Not Darryl. The funeral was widely attended and televised. Thinking about ginger still hurt. But an Carly’s pain was a little more remote. I had ginger to thank for that.

She had helped me say goodbye to Anne to move beyond that chapter in my life. Without her. I dunno how long it would have taken to get back on track. I returned to Peter’s living room in time to hear the girls repeating in sing song unison. One nation. Under god. Indivisible

With Liberty and justice for all. And justice for all. Aims corrected gently. I took a long sip of Mick Norton’s. Thinking about ginger and Mona and cig and homer. I wondered if the girls hadn’t got it right the first time. And so concludes. In justice for all.

Second in the series of jp beaumont mysteries by. J agents. Four books in motion in spokane Washington this is your reader gene agony. Thank you for listening.

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