The hunt, p.40
The Hunt, page 40
I sighed. “I’m not going to waste my breath defending myself.”
“You left me three times.”
“Two. You can’t count high school.”
“Yes, I can.”
“We weren’t even dating. You had another girlfriend. You screwed her on the night we were supposed to run away together. Or don’t you remember that, Donatti?”
“I’m not senile yet. I not only fucked her, I fucked her twice. I was a fucking idiot. And it caused me a whole lot of grief, including half a year in a medium-security penitentiary, in order not to get you involved in my mess. It may not sound like a lot of time, but believe me, prison is the ultimate shit show.”
I paused. “I stood by you.”
“For a while.”
“Christopher, I’m committed to you. I married you. You’re my husband. And that’s all I’m going to say.”
He looked up. “Forgive me if I’m a bit insecure.”
“That’s an odd adjective to use.”
“I’m human. I have my weaknesses.” He yawned. “I could use a cup of coffee. Don’t move. I’ll do it. Is the machine set up?”
“Yes.”
He got up and returned a moment later, took a sip, and started sketching again.
I said, “Are you okay doing this?”
“Doing what? Drawing you?”
“No, not that.” A pause. “You know …”
“No, I don’t know.” His voice was gruff. “What?”
“Rescuing Sanjay?”
“Oh, that.” He stretched. “Yeah, I’m fine. Shooting people isn’t one of my weaknesses. But I don’t think it’ll come to that.” He went back to his sketch pad.
I tried to remain calm. “Did you take something this morning?”
“What? Like drugs?” He looked at me. “No, I didn’t take drugs. I need my wits about me for the next week.”
“What about Viagra?”
“Of course I took Viagra. I won’t see you for at least a week, maybe longer. I knew I wanted a lot of sex. You need a hard dick for that.”
“It’s not good for you, baby.”
“I’ll survive. Pick your chin up about an inch. A little more. Stop.” He surveyed what he saw. “Spread your knees about two inches. Stop. Hold the pose.”
He sketched furiously. About ten minutes later, he took off his glasses, waved me over, and showed me the pad. “What do you think?”
I smiled. “I think you made me look sixteen instead of forty-two.”
“No, I drew the lines on the eyes and forehead.” A pause. “Maybe I softened them a little, but it’s what you look like, baby. You are that gorgeous.”
I whispered a thank-you.
“You can put your robe on.” He got up and came back five minutes later. “Okay. Here’s what you looked like at sixteen.” He showed me the sketches from twenty-six years ago. They were in a laminate plastic, but still roughed up at the edges and yellowed with age. He said, “Not that much difference between now and then.”
“Yeah, right!” I stared at the picture. “I was so young. How did you talk me into doing that?”
“You loved me.”
“I would have died for you.” I took the sketches and laid them on the floor. I sat on his lap. “Please, please be careful.” I kissed him. “Please.”
He kissed me hard, then gave my butt cheek a slap. “I’ve got to pack.” He got up and opened a cupboard and brought down the same leather bag that he had shoved in my chest just a few short months earlier. I felt tears coming. He turned to me. “None of that.”
“Sorry.” I sat on the bed and watched him start to pack.
He said, “You have total freedom now, Teresa. You’re in the system. I even gave you the codes to my vault in case something happens to me. Theoretically, you can steal all my cash and run away anywhere. So, you be good, okay?”
“I’m not going anywhere, baby. You are stuck with me.”
His smile wasn’t cross, but it wasn’t friendly. “I believe you.” He blew out air. “That could be a deadly mistake.”
Anything I’d say he would misinterpret. I said nothing.
He said, “Be a good girl and get me another cup of coffee.”
“Of course.” I took his mug, refilled it, and poured one for myself. I gave myself a pep talk and walked his mug back to the bedroom. When I got back, he had taken down a small duffel. He was quick and efficient in his packing. When he yawned, I said, “Do you want to rest a little before you go?”
“I don’t have time. Besides, I can sleep on the plane.”
“How are you going? To India?”
“My jet to Chicago. Chicago to London. London to Mumbai. That’s where the event will be.”
“You’re not piloting your jet, are you?”
“Copiloting you mean. Not this time.”
“Good.” Silence. “Juleen wants to say good-bye.”
“Really? Why?”
“Maybe she likes you. Maybe she just wants to get out of her studies. Just pop in and say good-bye.”
“I can do that before I leave, which will be in about”—he checked his Rolex—“forty-five minutes.”
Panic seized me. “I’ll miss you.”
He zipped up his duffel, then came over to the bed and sat down beside me. “How much will you miss me, angel?”
I smiled. “Whatever you want type of miss you.”
He laid me down on my back. It was sweet, sweet lovemaking. Not the kind that you want when you’re on fire, but the kind you want when you’re sad, filled with wistfulness and longing.
When he was done, we both took a quick shower. We dressed, then we went to see my daughter.
Juleen looked up from her studies when we came in. Her lips turned upward into a grin.
Chris smiled back at her. “I’ll see you in a little over a week. Take care of your mom.”
“I think it’s the other way around,” I told him.
“I don’t know about that, Terry. Sometimes I think she’s stronger than you.”
I smiled. “You’re right.”
Juleen walked over to him, and he knelt down until they were eye to eye. He said, “I expect you to practice while I’m gone.”
“Of course.”
“And work on your studies.”
“Yes.”
“And be good for your mother.”
“Always.” A pause. “Will you see my father?”
“Yes, I think I will.”
“Say hi for me. Tell him I love him.”
“You can tell him yourself. I’ll have him call you.”
“I can talk to my father now?”
“Once this is all over, of course you can. I’m sure you miss him.”
“I do.” She threw her skinny arms around Chris’s neck. “Thank you for helping Mommy and me. You are not my father, but you are my friend. And I am very grateful.”
“You’re very welcome, Juleen.”
“Please be careful, Chris.”
“Yeah, your mother already warned me.” He patted her back and pulled her off him. He gave her a warm smile. “You need anything, call that lazy brother of yours.”
She nodded and he stood up. “See you soon with Sanjay. Relish your last minutes as Mommy’s only kid.”
“Bye, Chris.”
“Bye.” He grabbed his leather case and his duffel. Together we walked down to his waiting limo. He took me in his arms. I started to cry: deep sobs of sorrow and loneliness and longing.
He said, “I should go away more often.”
I tried to smile but couldn’t quite pull it off. I certainly couldn’t answer him. I was too emotional.
“You’re my girl?”
“Always and forever.”
He kissed me, then broke off the hug. “I’ve got to go. You be good.”
“You be careful, Christopher. Whatever happens, I want you to be safe.”
“I’ll do my best.” He kissed the top of my head. To my bodyguard, he said, “You keep your eyes on her at all times.”
“Certainly, sir.” He opened the door to the rear passenger seat. Chris climbed in and the bodyguard shut the door. The windows were tinted, so once he closed the door, I couldn’t see him. He rolled down the window and waved.
I waved back and watched the car drive off.
I inhaled deeply and exhaled with a whoosh. The uncertainty of the next week or two was so anxiety provoking that I knew that the only way I could cope was to bury any outcome deep within the recesses of my brain. I just couldn’t deal with it. And when that happened, the safest thing for me was to ignore it until it was right in front of my face. Sanjay was now in Chris’s hands, not mine.
“Ready to go back, Doc?”
I turned to my protector. Ben was on duty. “In a minute. Go get yourself some coffee. I’ll meet you upstairs.”
“I’ll wait for you, Doctor.”
“Ben, I know you’re doing your job. But right now, I’m the boss. I won’t be more than a minute or two. Get some breakfast. You’ll work better with food in your stomach. I promise, I’ll be there by the time you get back.”
He didn’t move. A Mexican standoff.
I smiled sweetly and winked. “Our little secret, okay?”
He shuffled his feet. “Just this once.”
“Thank you.”
I watched him head for the cafeteria. He was a soft touch. Within a day, I’d be able to do whatever I wanted.
I felt numb.
I felt alone.
But strangely enough, I breathed easier.
For the time being, I was free.
CHAPTER 30
IT TOOK UNTOLD man-hours, hunting for someone who had never been missing, but it was a happy ending. Three weeks after Elsie Schulung and Brock Baer were arrested and charged with second-degree murder of Pauline Corbett, Decker received an invitation to the wedding of Bertram Lanz and Kathrine Taylor.
“You should go,” Rina told him. “It would be a lovely way to end the case and end your time here in Greenbury.”
“I don’t think so,” Decker answered.
“Why not?”
“The wedding is in Germany, for one thing.”
“But there’s a reception in the Berkshires,” Rina countered.
Decker said, “When I close the case, I close the case.”
It was five in the afternoon and lunch had just ended. All the children and grandchildren were in the backyard getting the last bits of sunshine while Decker and Rina were debating whether or not to tackle the dishes. The family had come in for the last two days of the Jewish holidays—Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah—except for Gabe and Yasmine. Yasmine was with her parents in Los Angeles, and Gabe was out of the country. It had been a lively time—boisterous, with a lot of laughs: everyone bunking down in their small house, siblings catching up with one another, and cousins catching up with cousins, because who knew when they’d all meet again. There wasn’t a square inch of floor to be seen; all of it was covered with toys, baby equipment, and sleeping bags.
Decker rolled up his sleeves. “Shall we?”
“No time like the present.” Rina dug into the soapy water basin and began rinsing dishes. “Nice couple of days.”
“Indeed.”
“Will we miss this when we move to Israel?”
“Probably not, because they’ll all come visit us for the holidays,” Decker said. “I’m already putting away money for hotel bills.”
Rina smiled and handed him a dish. “Do you think that’s really going to happen?”
“Actually, yes, I do think they’ll come and visit,” Decker said. “But probably not all at the same time.” He wiped a plate. “But children or no children, I’m ready to cut ties with Greenbury.”
“I’m glad you reached that decision on your own.” Rina put a pile of wet dishes on the counter.
“It was a great interlude between Los Angeles and our future, but it’s over.”
“Then we should seriously think about the offer we received for the house.”
“It’s a good one,” Decker said. “What do you think?”
“If we sell, it’s final,” Rina said. “We are really cutting ties.”
“Even if we decide to come back to the States, what’s the likelihood that we come back to Greenbury?”
“If you are definitely quitting your job, we’re not going to return here,” Rina said. “If we buy anywhere, it’ll be close to the kids.”
“Do you want to take the money from the house and buy in Manhattan?” Decker said.
“Not really. What about you?”
“Your decision. Your trust fund.”
“And it was your house that we sold in Los Angeles to buy a bigger house that we sold. Don’t lay it on me, buster.” Decker smiled. Rina said, “Honestly, I’d rather help all of them buy bigger apartments with a guest room. Let them do all the maintenance.”
“I like it.” Decker paused. “Let’s counter the offer and see what happens.”
“I’ll call the agent right after Yom Tov.” She looked at her watch. “About an hour and change from now.”
Decker finished drying the holiday dinner plates and put them on the top shelf. “Last time we celebrate a holiday here, huh?”
Rina said, “I can finish this up. Go outside and be with the kids.”
“I’ve been with them for the last two days. I’d rather have the quiet time with you.”
“Thank you. That’s a lovely thing to say.”
“Heartfelt.”
“I’m glad you finished off all your cases here.”
“Took a while, but like I’ve always said, Missing Persons cases usually have happy endings.”
There was a loud knock at the door. They looked at each other.
“Someone must have locked themselves out.” Decker put down the dish towel. “I’ll get it.”
He managed to sidestep his way through the maze of toys, cribs, playpens, strollers, and bedding. He opened the door, and standing on the other side was a man looking at him at eye level. Or maybe Decker was looking upward an inch or two. What he saw were jumpy blue orbs darting from side to side. The man’s mouth was downturned and his expression was frantic. Dressed in all black except for red boots, he was breathing hard, holding hands with two children: a boy around five and a girl around eleven. Decker stepped aside to let him in.
“What’s wrong, Chris?”
“Is Gabe here?”
“No, he’s out of town.”
“That’s probably a good thing.” Donatti crossed the threshold, children in tow. “Right now, I don’t want to deal with him.”
“What’s going on?”
Donatti let go of the children’s hands. “Terry’s missing.” When Decker didn’t answer, Donatti said, “The boy and I came back yesterday from India, and my wife was gone.”
Tears were in the little girl’s eyes. She whimpered, “I’m sorry.”
Donatti looked down at her. “Juleen, stop apologizing. Your mom wasn’t your responsibility.”
Rina materialized. “Terry’s gone?”
“Apparently,” Decker said.
“I just spoke to her right before Sanjay and I left.” Chris blew out air. “We all talked for about fifteen minutes. She was happy, right?”
“Yes.” Tears were running down Juleen’s face. “She was so happy.”
“I can’t believe this!” Chris started pacing. “Everything was going perfectly between us. And even if she did leave me, why wouldn’t she take Juleen with her? It doesn’t make any fucking sense! Except that it’s Terry!”
Quietly, Decker said, “Why don’t you start at the beginning?”
“There is no beginning, Decker. I told you everything I know.”
Decker said, “It just might help me to get a little background.”
“This is the background,” Donatti said. “Sanjay and I came back from India, and she was gone. I’ve questioned everyone at my place. No one seems to know anything!”
The little girl said, “I tried to call Mommy, but her phone kept going to voice mail.”
Donatti said, “I don’t know if she took off on her own or if she was kidnapped by the motherfuckers I just dealt with. I thought I had a handle on that. I thought we had an understanding. But with people like that, I could have been conned.”
“Are any of Terry’s things missing?” Decker asked.
“All her clothes are in the closet, but her purse and phone are gone. If she left, it was with the clothes on her back.” He wiped sweat from his face with his shirt. “I’ve got a vault filled with cash in my bedroom. Before she left, I told her all the codes in case something happened to me.”
“Is money missing?” Rina asked.
“I did a brief check. It all appears to be there, but I haven’t counted each and every stack. She could have easily grabbed a handful of bills at the bottom and left.”
“Chris, is there a reason why she’d take off?” Decker asked.
“No! We were getting along fine.” Donatti was still pacing. “Yeah, we fought. We always fight. But she wasn’t pissed at me when I left. In fact, she was crying. She kept telling me to be careful.” Back and forth and back and forth. “I used to be able to read her perfectly, but I can’t anymore. Yes, it could have been an act. Yes, she might have been planning this from the start. But she married me. She swore she was committed.”
No one spoke.
“Yes, I know what that is worth, idiot that I am.” He stopped pacing for a moment. “If she took off on me, I’ll find her. Believe me, I will find her.”
Rina said, “Any idea how she slipped past everyone at your place and no one noticed?”
“No!” Donatti looked up at the ceiling. “Before I left, I put twenty-four-hour guards on her just to avoid anything happening to her. Apparently, she kept ditching them. It drove them crazy because she was always disappearing on them. They called me about it. I told them not to sweat it. As long as she came back, it was okay. And she always came back. They got used to the patterns. I’d be furious at them except they called me, and I was the one who pulled them off. I’m such a moron when it comes to her. Maybe she was trying out a couple of dry runs and had wanted to leave me all along. Okay. I could understand that. But even if she wanted to leave me, she’d never leave without Julee—” He flashed to an earlier memory: her packing up after they had a knock-down, drag-out fight. He had beaned her with a pack of money. Her words sparking in his brain after he had accused her of abandoning her child—again.
