Chapter 13
1155 Words
The story about The Harry’s business deal with the Russians had broken. It was on every newsstand: bold headline reading, “
GROOMS FATHER MAY HAVE TRIGGERED RUSSIAN WRATH.”
The chronicle reported that the FBI was seriously looking into the matter. Great.
Two half-liter begs of hemoglobins-enriches blood were pumping through me as I finally reached my desk at about ten-thirty. It took everything I had to push from my mind the image of the thick, crimson blood slowly dripping into my vein.
Kalistus called my Name- the usual disgruntled glower was all over his face.” Chronicles says it’s the Russians. The FBI seems to agree,” he said as he leaned over my desk. He pushed a copy of the morning’s paper at me.
I saw it. Don’t let the FBI in on this.” I said.” This is our case,”
I told him about last night, my going back to the crime scene. How I was pretty sure the s****l rings added up to a single, obsessed killer.
It’s not som Russians professional. He put his fist inside her,I reminded him.” He did this on her wedding night,”
You want to tell the feds to back off,” Kalistus said” because you have strong feelings about the case?”
This is a murder case. A kinky, very nasty s*x crime, not some international conspiracy.”
Maybe the Russian killer needed prof. Or maybe he was a s*x maniac.”
Proof of what? Every paper and TV station in the country carried the story. Anyway, don’t the Russki hitters usually cut of a finger, too?”
Kalistus rattled a frustrated sigh. His face showed more than its usual tic of agitation.
“I have got to run,” I said. I shot my fist in the air and then its usual tic of agitation.
Don Harry was still At the Hyatt, waiting for his son’s body to be released. I went to his suit and found him alone.
“You see the papers?” I asked him as we sat at the umbrellaed table on the terrace.
“The papers, Bloomberg, some women reporter from the chronicle calling all night. What they are suggesting is total madness,” he said.
“Your son’s death was an act of madness, Mr Harry. You want me to be straight with you when It comes to investigation?”
What do you mean, Detective?
“You were asked the other day if you knew anyone who might want to cause you harm-“
“And I told you detective, not in this way”.
“You don’t think certain factions in Russia might be a little angry at you for pulling out of there deal?”
“We don’t deal with factions, Ms. Moo. Kolya’s shareholders include some of the most powerful men in this country. Anyway, you make me seem like I’m a suspect. It was business. Negotiations. In what we do, we deal with this sort of things every week, Nathaniel’s death has nothing to do with kolya.”
Me Harry, how could you be so sure? Your son and his wife are dead?”
“Because negotiations never broke off, Detective. That was a ruse we used for the media. We closed on the deal last night.”
He stood up, and I knew my interview was over the. My next call was to Fatimah. I aches to talk to her anyway. I craved my daily Fatimah fix. I also needed help on the case.
Her secretary said she was in the middle of a conference call when my call came in. She told me to hold on.
“Forensic specialists,” Fatimah grumbled as she came on the line.” Listen to this... some guy’s driving sixty in a thirty-five zone, rams into an elderly man in his Lexus, double-parked. Waiting for his wife. DOA. Now the driver’s trying up the guy’s estate with that the victim was illegally parked. All each side wants is to grab a piece of the estate, experts included. Righetti’s pushing me in ‘cause the case’s begins written up in an AAFS journal. Some of these bastard, you give them a penny for their thought, you know what you get?”
“Change,” I answered with a smile. Fatimah was funny.”you got if. I have got about thirty-one seconds. How are you doing?” She inquired.” I love you, sweetheart. I miss you. What do you want, Moo?”
I hesitated, part of me wishing I could let the whole thing burst out, but all I asked was if the Harrys were wearing any wedding bands when they were brought in.
“ to my Knowledge, no,” she replied.” We inventoried earrings and a diamond as large as an eyeball. But no wedding bands. I noticed that myself. In fact, that’s why I was calling you last night.”
“Great minds think alike,” I said.
Busy minds, at least,” she countered.” How’s your grisly, godawful case coming?”
I sighed.” I don’t know. Next thing we have to do is to go through three hundred guest to see if any might have been carrying any special grudges. You saw how this is being played up in the press. Russian revenge. The FBI’s creeping around, and chief Kalistus’s barking in Roth’s ear to put a real detective on it. Speaking of which I have Isaiah out trying to trace down the jacket. Other than that, the case is moving along smoothly,”
Fatimah laughed.” Stick with it, sweetie. If anyone can solve these murders, it’s you.”
I wish it were only that...” I let my voice drop.
“Is everything alright?” Fatimah came back. You don’t sound your usual chatty irrelevant self.”
Actually, I need to talk with you. Maybe we can get together Saturday?”
“Sure,” Fatimah said.”oh, damn... we have got Micheal’s graduation party. Can it keep a day? I could drive in for brunch on sunday.”
“Of course it can hold,”I said, swallowing my disappointment.” Sunday would be great. I’d like that.”
I hung up with a smile. For a moment, I actually felt better about things. Just making the date with Fatimah made it seem as if weights had been lifted off my shoulders. Sunday would give me some time to prepare.
About how I was going to deal with the treatment, and my job.
Gebriel wandered up,”You want to grab a coffee?” I thought he was needling me about what time I’d come in. He must have sensed my resentment.
He wagged a legal-size Manila envelope In my face and shrugged.” It’s the Harry’s wedding guest list. I thought you’d want to see who made the cut.
“
- Writer
