The hunt, p.11
The Hunt, page 11
“Just no.”
He ran his hands across my breasts. “I should have done it when you were sixteen and madly in love with me. You would have done anything I asked back then.”
It was true. I said nothing.
“Then I should have done it when you came back to me. What were you? Twenty-one?”
“Twenty.”
“You were so desperate that again you would have done anything I asked.”
Also true. “Then why didn’t you?”
“Because I was a moron. Back then I thought there were things that you didn’t do to your wife. Now you’re not madly in love with me and you’re not desperate. Once you heal up, you’re an independent woman—much to my irritation. I know you can’t stay here. You can’t raise your kids in a brothel.”
“As of right now, it’s just a kid—as in a single child, you mean.” I screwed up my courage and took a deep breath. “Chris, can you just find out if he’s safe?” No answer. “Would you do that for me?”
Again, he didn’t respond. I felt tears coming on. Why would he help me with my kids? They were nothing to him other than a sore reminder.
Finally, he spoke. “I will help you, but under one condition.”
“Anything.” My heart started racing. “Anything at all.”
He laughed. “That’s a good response, because I can think of lots of things.”
“Please, Christopher,” I pleaded. “I just want to make sure he’s okay.”
He said, “I will help you, Teresa, but you cannot ask me about this again. If I find out something, I’ll tell you. Otherwise no questions. I won’t answer them, and they’ll annoy the hell out of me.”
I was trying to calm myself. “Do you know something that you don’t want me to know?”
“That’s a question.”
“Chris—”
“I don’t know anything, okay?”
“But you will—”
“Stop!”
“Okay.” His mood had changed. I could only push him so far. I said, “Thank you so much—”
“Don’t thank me yet. I haven’t done anything.”
I said, “I’m sorry if I’ve upset you.”
“Nothing you said.” He hugged me and kissed the top of my head. “I know you can’t live here.” His hands roved across my chest. “But it’ll kill me when you go.”
“No, I can’t live here,” I whispered. “But that doesn’t mean—”
“No, Terry, we can’t be friends.”
“I was going to say we can still have some kind of a relationship.”
“Sexual relationship.”
I was quiet. Then I turned over to face him and said, “If we’re going to continue down this path, I need some things from you.”
“Hit me.”
“First and foremost, I need to see Juleen.”
“I figured. You know I never touched her.” When I didn’t answer, he said, “Ask her.”
“Oh, I will.”
He said, “I’m not her father, I don’t get near her. Even when I talk to her, I stand on the other side of the room. When I get mad at you, I say stupid things.”
“Really stupid things. What’s her schedule?”
“She has tutors until four.”
“What about her meals?”
“She takes care of her own breakfast. I bring her lunch and dinner. After four, I help her with homework or with her practicing.”
“How’s she doing?”
“She’s a smart girl. No mystery there. I imagine her father is a bright guy.”
“He’s a brilliant cardiac surgeon.”
“That didn’t stop him from fucking up his life.”
“Didn’t stop me either. How’s her playing progressing?”
“Okay.”
“She’s no Gabe.”
“No, she is not Gabe, but she has grit, and sometimes that gets you further than talent.”
“I’ll see her at four, then. I’ll stay with her until she goes to sleep.”
“That’s around ten. She’ll exhaust you, Terry. She’s a chatterbox.”
I was taken aback. “Juleen?”
“Yeah, Juleen. The kid you had with Devek while you were married to me.”
I turned over so my back was to him. “She’s normally so reserved with strangers.”
“I’ve always had a way with girls.” He pulled me to his chest. “What else do you need?”
“We need phones. I have to be able to talk to her whenever I want. I need to contact you if I need something. I’m stuck here.”
“I’ll get you set up in the system so you can come and go from here after you heal up. But I don’t want you or her having a phone. I don’t want you contacting Devek, and I don’t want her contacting her father. With you, it’s not a problem. But Devek is her father. It’s not that I’m trying to keep her away from him, but until I know what’s going on, that can’t happen.”
“Get a restrictive phone that doesn’t allow foreign calls. I need to be able to talk to her.”
“I can do that. What else?”
“If you could contact the dentist and find out when I can get my jaw unwired, I’d appreciate it. Nothing’s broken. I’ll be careful about chewing. I’d just like to talk better. And eat something other than protein shakes.”
“I’ll call the dentist. Anything else?”
“Some makeup and a blow dryer of my own would be great.”
“Done.”
“Shouldn’t you be writing this down?”
“No need. What else?”
“That’s it.”
“Money?”
“Not now. What for?”
He held me tight. “Anything else I can do for you? Like right now?” He nibbled my neck. “Like turning a no into a maybe?”
“Chris, I’ll do anything you want. But I am dog-tired.”
I felt him pull away. “We’ll wait until we’re both more awake.”
“I think that’s a good idea, although you’re very sexy.”
He gave a small laugh. “But I’m also a pest.”
“It’s the novelty effect. You’ll calm down.”
“Probably not. With you, I never got enough.”
“And that’s why you cheated on me all the time?”
“Yeah, when I was away from home, I fucked my whores. It was part of my business.”
“Right.”
“When I was home with you, angel, I never cheated.”
“Chris, it’s past history. It doesn’t matter. No sense lying.”
“I’m not lying. When I was home, I didn’t fuck anyone but you. Not because I’m moral—I don’t know the meaning of the word—but because I didn’t want to do anything that would drain me. I probably would have been nicer to you if I had gotten it from other women—or from other men for that matter. I’ll take it from anyone. Instead, since I was depending on you for it, I became a very frustrated guy.”
“We had sex all the time!”
“I’m sure it felt that way to you.”
“It was that way!”
“Not to me, baby doll. You know, there were times when I was up late at night—I was always a night owl—when I was done with my work, and I just kept staring at the clock, waiting for a sufficient amount of time to pass so I could wake you up and fuck you again. Back then, I was not only younger but insatiable. I’ve slowed a little, but I’ve still got that in me with you around here. I could do it again. Right now. I’ve been waiting for you for a very long time, little girl. I haven’t touched another woman since I picked you up in Los Angeles.”
That would explain a lot. Still, I was stunned. “Really?”
“Yeah, really! Think I’m always this way? It’s years of fucking pent-up frustration.” He wrapped his arms around me. “But … I know you’re tired. I can wait until the sun comes up.”
I saw light shining through the top of the bedroom window. “The sun is up,” I noted. “Please, let’s sleep. I’m so tired. You must be exhausted as well.”
“I’ll cop to that.” He hugged me tightly. “This is nice.” He nuzzled me again and I pulled away. His beard, the few times he had one, had always been soft. But his stubble against my cheek was like sandpaper. He said, “I’ll shave before I come to you. Been a long time since I’ve had to think about that.”
A few moments later, I felt him relax. I said, “Chris?”
“No, I don’t know anything about your boy, and no, I really didn’t cheat on you when I was home, and no, I haven’t fucked anyone since you got here. God’s honest truth.”
“How’d you know what I was going to ask?”
“Because I know you as well as you know me. Now go to sleep.”
I closed my eyes.
For some absurd reason, his admissions made me feel better.
I had always been easily pleased.
CHAPTER 7
OUT IN THE blazing sun at eight in the morning, with temperatures already in the high seventies, Decker was kneeling in the dirt, helping his mother tend the garden. Ida Decker claimed she was only ninety-four, but certain things—like her birth certificate—didn’t quite match her avowed age. He didn’t dare challenge her. However old she was, she had the strength and the vitality of a woman years younger.
The patch wasn’t just a few beds with a couple of plants; it was rows of peppers, squash, melons, eggplants, potatoes, and tomatoes, the veggies in every shape and variety. His mom could have opened up her own farmers’ market. Decker was dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, with a hat on his head for sun protection, but he was still sweating bullets. Rina was in the kitchen making preparations for tonight’s dinner. Randy and his fourth wife were coming over, and since Decker and Rina were kosher, whenever they visited, she did the cooking. Mom had accommodated them by not only supplying kosher meat but also keeping kosher pots and pans and dishes whenever they visited. Still, Rina wanted to clean the stove and oven before she cooked.
A religious Baptist, Mom had been furious when Decker had converted to Judaism. His father, Lyle, had been more accepting, but that was his style. He had been quiet and stoic, and Decker missed him terribly. He had always been closer to his father than his mother. But he gave her credit. Over time, Mom had adapted. The truth was she liked Rina way more than him. They had similar interests as well: cooking, gardening, religion—although the Gods were different—and just plain good common sense.
He stopped, picked up the garden hose, and filled a plastic cup with water. He drank with gusto. “You want some water, Mom?”
Ida looked up. “I’m fine.”
“You need to drink.”
“I’ve looked after myself for a long time, Peter. I think I can manage without your advice.” A slight smile. “I appreciate the caring.”
“Are we picking any of this for dinner?”
“Rina’s making ratatouille with the zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, and onions.”
“Should be good. What time are Randy and Blossom coming over?”
“Around seven.”
“Nice of them to come. It’s a long drive.”
“It is,” Ida said. “He always comes over when you’re here. Just about the only time.”
“Mom, you know that’s not true. He comes at least once a month.”
“Better than you, I suppose,” she grunted.
“At least you kept one son local.”
“I blame the defection on that wife of yours.”
“Since I met Rina in Los Angeles, you must mean Jan.”
“Who else?”
“She’s a nice person, Mom. We just didn’t work out. Anyway, she gave you a wonderful granddaughter.”
“Yeah, I suppose she was worth it for Cindy.”
Mom adored Cindy. It was that old joke. Why do grandmothers and granddaughters have such a special relationship? Common enemy.
Decker’s phone buzzed. He looked at the number, stood up, stretched, and took the call. “Hey, Tyler. What’s happening?”
“We haven’t been able to locate airline tickets for Elsie Schulung, Bertram Lanz, or Kathrine Taylor,” McAdams said, “but they could be using assumed names. We’re now just looking at manifests around the dates they disappeared and trying to match the names to actual people. It’s going to take forever. But I’ll keep at it.”
“Thanks, Tyler, for picking up my slack,” Decker said. “Where’s Pauline’s body?”
“Still in the morgue.”
“What about next of kin? Didn’t you tell me that Pauline had a sister?”
“I did.”
“I want to call her. Get me her name and number.”
“She lives on the West Coast. It’s still a little early to be making calls. And I can call her, boss. You’re on vacation.”
Decker glanced at his mother. “That is debatable. Where is she on the West Coast?”
“In Ventura. Do you know where that is?”
“Yes. It’s where my ex-partner lives. And since Pauline’s body is in our jurisdiction, I think I can justify a visit to ask the next of kin some questions. Hold on … let me check flights from Orlando.”
“Then you’re planning on leaving from Florida instead of coming back to Greenbury?”
“Yes. There are lots of nonstops. Cheap too.”
“Then let’s meet at LAX. And we can drive up to Ventura together. Unless you want to go with Rina.”
“She’s staying in Florida. She’s going to visit her mom. You know, you don’t have to come, Tyler. I’ve got Margie over there.” Silence. Decker could picture the young kid sulking. Probably wasn’t the most sensitive thing to say. “On the other hand, this is your case as well as mine. I think we both should be there.”
“Then I’ll come. Call me when you get a flight and I’ll try to match the time.”
“I will do that. I’ve got to go. Mom is giving me dirty looks.”
“Tell Mom to give you one for me.”
“Tyler, Marge is a very nice person and was a great partner. But now you’re my partner. No need for the snide comments.”
“Moi? Snide?” The kid hung up.
Decker smiled. He had two biological children, two stepchildren, and a foster child. Between his mother and Tyler, his “kid” count went up to seven. Rina was independent, but he still felt it was his duty to protect her. That was just the way it was with husbands. All the people in his life depending on him. But it wasn’t a burden. Always better to be the hammer rather than the nail.
I WOKE UP at around nine, having had over sixteen hours of sleep between bouts of war and sex. I slowly wiggled out of Chris’s grip. He was dead to the world. I went toward the bathroom on my tiptoes, and after washing up, I wrapped myself in one of his black jacquard silk robes and left the room, closing the door behind me. I made myself coffee and then settled on his black leather couch to read, trying to keep my mind off Sanjay. If I thought about what happened, I’d sink into deep, muddy waters. I still had a daughter, and I just needed to stay afloat emotionally.
My spot faced the window, and I enjoyed the light and the view. Usually when I got up, Chris was already gone, but I guess the fatigue caught up with him. An hour later, I made a fresh pot of coffee, poured myself a new cup, then padded back into the bedroom. He hadn’t moved, in the same position as when I left, on his stomach, shirtless, but with sweatpants. His white hair was splayed over a black pillowcase like a cloud in a storm.
On the nightstand was his gun. It was a 9 mm, probably a Glock. He liked Glocks. He had taught me how to shoot years ago, but I hadn’t fired a gun in a very long time. I transferred my coffee cup to my left hand and picked up the gun. It weighed about a pound and had good balance. I checked and saw that there was a magazine in the chamber. I held the stock in my hand and put my finger on the trigger. Firearms gave me an enormous sense of power.
“Tempted?” The voice was low and almost playful. I looked away from the gun and at his body. He still hadn’t moved. He said, “Bad idea. How would you get out of here?”
I said, “There’s coffee.”
Finally, he turned around, sat up, and held out his hand. I offered him the gun, but instead, he took my mug. “Coffee first. What time is it?”
“A little after ten.”
“Shit!” He swung his legs over the side of the bed and sipped coffee. He took down one of his many black suits and a black tee and started to dress. “I’ve got some business that can’t wait. Good coffee, baby doll. Better than mine, that’s for sure.”
“I wait until the entire pot is brewed.”
“Yes, I am impatient.” He dressed quickly, strapping a gun holster across his chest. I gave him the 9 mm still in my hand and he jammed it into the holder. He put on red lizard-skin boots and went into the bathroom, and when he returned, he had given his hair a quick brush. He took a briefcase from the closet and left the bedroom. I heard him unlock the vault. When he returned, he said, “I’ve got several back-to-back appointments. Then I’ve got to check in with my workers. They get pouty when it’s been a while, and it’s been a long while. Plus, I’ve got your to-do list. It’s going to take time. I’ll shoot for two or three to be back.”
“Don’t rush. You have a business to run.”
“You have enough food?”
“Your fridge is filled with shakes. I’m fine.”
He kissed my forehead. “Don’t go anywhere.”
“As if.”
“If it were up to me, I’d keep you locked up forever.” He stared at me, then checked his watch—a gold Rolex. “Damn. I really got to go.”
“And you’ll take me to see—”
“The dentist. Yeah, yeah.”
“I meant Juleen.”
“That too. See you later.”
He was off.
Chris had always been a whirlwind. He didn’t require a lot of sleep, which meant he was always on. He exhausted me. It was calming to have the room to myself, but I felt more than a little frightened. I couldn’t shake the images in my brain—the men bursting in, me grabbing Sanjay only to lose him. It made my heart fly from my chest to think about it. But the good news was that both Juleen and I were safe and secure for the time being. I always was pragmatic, not one to belabor what was out of reach. Instead, I always looked for whatever I could get.
