He has someone handling his dinners? God, that is rich.
“Actually, I meant tonight.”
“Tonight? Oh, I don’t know if …” he replied, mumbling something else that was unintelligible. “You know what, Curt. Please forget what I said. Tonight will be fine. Say, around seven? Dina and I will be happy to clear our schedules for you. It has been a while.”
“Darling, who is that and why are we clearing our schedules? You know, we owe the Mortons. They threw that party and we’ve yet to reciprocate.”
It was the matriarch in the background. Dina was wanting reasons as to why her husband was going rogue, and I didn’t blame her.
“Seven it is, sir.”
I hung up before anyone changed their minds. After all, I just needed to see Ruthie’s room. Dr. Shadow’s orders.
* * * * *
It was so like the Warwicks to have one of their cars waiting to pick me up at the airport. Although they owned stretch limos that could house a hot tub, they still only referred to them as “cars,” and not spas on wheels.
I made a little small talk with Tom for the first few miles. It’d been a while since I’d seen him, and then there was the fact that I liked him. Thomas Ferry had been the Warwicks’ chauffeur since Ruthie was in diapers. I figured it must be a good gig to have him stick around that long. And it obviously paid enough. Since starting, he’d gotten married and supported his wife and two children on the salary the Warwicks paid him. Yes, siree, there was something to be said for being satisfied.
“Hello, Curtis,” Piers greeted.
I’d been left in his office to wait by the maid, Birgita. She’d acted as Sherpa guide, escorting me through the maze the Warwicks called home. She hadn’t looked thrilled to see me, but then, she didn’t get that nickname Berg by being warm and fuzzy.
“Hello, Piers. It’s very kind of you to see me on such notice,” I responded, rising and shaking his hand. He hadn’t changed much, but then, I hadn’t expected him to. His hair a little whiter, his complexion exhibited a healthy shade of tan. Of course, his color was courtesy of the golf course and not rub-on cream that stained shirt collars. He was taller than I was, but I never could figure out by how much.
“Nonsense!” he blurted, going to his wet bar to fix drinks. It was a habit he had—at least with me. Not bothering to ask me what I wanted, he covered two ice cubes with whisky. Piers was quite the connoisseur.
The leather chair I occupied was entirely too comfortable. My butt sank into the cushioning as I took a sip. Funny how the surroundings were all too familiar. The Persian rug was an intricate affair. I wondered how many skilled hands it took to design. Then there were the built-in bookshelves on all four walls. Lined with classics and bestsellers, a fair amount were devoted to theories on economics. I’d sometimes wondered if the books were sorted, and by what criteria. Name, subject, pomposity of words? And whose job was it to do? Maybe it was Birgita’s. Maybe that was how she’d gotten so mean.
An old clock that looked to be an antique still held center stage of the ledge overlooking his desk. The carved bird held court, peering over Piers’ shoulder. The large eyes drilled into my cranium. The furniture was what you’d expect. Heavy, the mahogany had been fashioned to last a century or two. No pieces requiring assembly would ever darken the Warwicks’ doorstep. Not that it was a bad thing; it was just a thing.
“I heard you were having problems, Curt. I suppose it’s to be expected. It was a shock. And the police, well, I always felt they were barking up the wrong tree.”
“Thank you, sir. And, yes, I have to say that your daughter’s death packed quite a wallop, but I’m recovering. Slowly.”
“And this is part of the recovery?”
“Yes, it’s perceptive of you to say, but then, I’m not surprised. You’ve always impressed the hell out of me, sir.”
“Me?” he responded with a faint chuckle. “I had no idea.”
“I don’t know how you couldn’t know. I mean, look at this. You did this—all by yourself. It’s quite an achievement.”
“Well,” he commented, scratching one bushy brow. “It’s what people can do when they persevere. People quit too early. Give up on things. I don’t quit.”
I let the statement alone. If I said something, I’d give away too much about what I was up to. The respite allowed me the opportunity to drink some more of his fine liquor.
“Before we join Dina for dinner, I did want to let you know that I saw those ads,” he stated. “The ones about my daughter.”
“You did?” I replied.
“Yes. And I think it’s a noble cause, but it is a mountain you’re attempting to conquer. You’re not thinking of … well, investigating, are you?”
While not anticipating the question, I had been prepared for it by my stint at the police academy. I was inculcated to never tip my hand before the murderer is caught and in the can. After all, the killer was unidentified and still out there. If Piers knew what I was up to, he might let it slip to the one person I didn’t want knowing.
“No, sir. I just felt I had to do something. I planned on passing any tip to the proper authorities.”
The ones that tried to screw me over, sir.
“Then you haven’t received any information?”
“None at all, sir. Only some prank calls.”
“People actually do that sort of thing?” he questioned.
“They do indeed.” I stopped short of saying, at least in my world. It was hard to believe someone with a kabillion dollars would have time to dabble in making people miserable.
“Terrible, just terrible.” Stretching up, I followed suit. His arm went around me. I missed the opportunity of him being a second dad. I could have learned a lot from him. He was that kind of man.
His strong fingers dug into my shoulder as he gave a comforting hug.
“Now let’s go find Dina. She hates it when I’m late.”
CHAPTER 21
“It’s so nice to have you join us,” Dina Warwick commented as she took her seat at the head of the dining room table. She’d chosen the smaller, more intimate chamber for the evening meal, but I was still feeling insignificant in comparison to its scope. “Thank you, Petra,” she said, acknowledging the server who’d placed down our entrees.
“Thank you, Dina,” I responded, getting my first sampling of the pea soup with lavender infusion. I gotta say, it was the best thing I’d ever tasted in my life. “This is delish.”
Dina inwardly chuckled. The reaction was minimalist, but then, everything was a subtlety with her and that included the way she dressed. For women like Dina, fur was reserved for lining coats and not for being displayed garishly.
“Yes, our new chef is most talented. Graham came highly recommended.”
I imagined he did. You’d need quite the pedigree to get past the Warwicks’ requirements.
“I understand that you left your place of employment,” she continued, her steely blue eyes on me. The elegance of her brow foreshadowed an intelligence lurking beneath that smooth skin.
“Yes, last year.”
“And are you considering going back? I hear you were quite good at it.”
No need to ask who told her that. Ruthie was always there for me.
“No, no. I decided to go in an entirely different direction.”
“Really? And what direction would that be?” Piers chimed in.
“Dog sitting.”
The Warwicks considered the remark by exchanging blank stares.
“And that …. pays?”
Dina had to coax the question out, but it was there.
“Yes, yes, it does. And it’s more dog servicing. Walking, grooming, boarding, obedience training. I’m looking to expand into accessories and supplies. You’d be surprised what people will spend on their pets.”
“Would I?” she queried. “I don’t think the cost would be unexpected. I remember the bills Piers’ h
unting dogs accumulated. There was always some new purchase needed to keep them happily retrieving. Then there was the man hired to take care of them. What was his name, dear?”
“Travis,” her husband responded.
“Of course, Travis. You remember those hounds, Piers?”
“Yes, Dina. They were splendid companions.”
“Yes, they were. Especially Rufus. Exceptional dog, that one. Followed Piers everywhere. He’d camp out in his study and wait until he got home just so he could bring him his slippers.”
“Dina is right. There was never a more devoted dog. That’s why I don’t keep any now. It’s so hard to say goodbye.” He paused. Whether to stifle a tear or two, I’ll never know. “I think you’ve made a wise move in getting out of police work. There is that financial ceiling, but entrepreneurship? There’s really no limit.”
“No, sir, there’s not. Then there’s the freedom of not answering to superiors—not that a hierarchy isn’t needed, because it is.”
“Quite right. Otherwise, there’s chaos,” Piers allowed. Pushing his plate away, he patted his lips with a linen napkin that had been supplied to all of us. I just didn’t want to use mine. I felt guilty when I got them soiled.
“And how are your mother and father doing?” Dina inquired.
“Fine. They’re keeping busy and ask about you.”
Petra made another appearance. A man with her this time, he whisked the plates away while she served. Everything was precision in this household. It was like some giant Swiss movement kept time.
A flash of lightning and rumble of thunder cast an auspicious shadow. Noticeable through the three walls of paned windows, both were unexpected.
“My, Piers. Did you hear that?”
“I did indeed, my dear.”
“I don’t believe this was predicted,” she remarked.
“It happens occasionally. These storms just crop up out of nowhere,” he tacked on.
I nodded, getting my first gander at the main course. The wine swapped out, I tasted the quail. Graham hit one out of the ballpark. The occasion was marked by another grumbling of the heavens.
“What were we discussing?” she queried. “Ah, yes, Connie and William. I’m so glad to hear they’re doing well. Your parents are good people. You should be as proud of them as they are of you, Curtis.”
“I don’t know that they are,” I muttered, wiping my lips for the first time with the pristine cloth.
“Nonsense. Of course, they are! You’re a fine young man. My daughter adored you and she wouldn’t have done that if you weren’t worth the trouble. Then there’s the way you treated her, don’t think I didn’t notice. You did everything you could to please her, and she could be difficult at times. But you? You handled everything like a true gentlemen. Not like some nefarios she brought home. They were gold diggers, out for money; but not you. None of us ever had a doubt. Isn’t that right, dear?”
“What my wife said is correct, Curt. We would have welcomed you into our family. The way you fell apart after her unfortunate death only tells us how much you cared. And don’t think we didn’t suffer,” he assured me.
“Yes, we just did it in our own way,” Dina added.
“Well, it is personal, isn’t it? Pain, I mean. And thank you for believing in me. I always felt you did.”
“I wasn’t sure,” Dina confessed. “Especially in the beginning. But when those horrid police went after you, well, even Piers’ hounds never missed a scent that badly. No, what they did was not right, but we felt bound not to say anything. With our, our, what would you say … standing in the community, it would have seemed as if we were trying to pressure them to stop. It wouldn’t look right for Piers’ business connections to think we were influencing an active investigation. Especially one concerning our daughter. So we stayed out of it.”
“But we were ready to jump in with legal counsel if things got out of hand, but they didn’t. They spotted their mistake straight off,” Piers asserted.
With another crack of lightning and thunder, a torrent of rain beat against the glass. The water coming down in sheets, it showed no signs of slowing up anytime soon.
“No, they didn’t see anything, dear,” Dina corrected. “He had that alibi and that’s what dissuaded them. You did, didn’t you, Curtis?”
“Yes, ma’am, I did.”
“Right. Poker, wasn’t it?” Piers contributed.
“Exactly,” I replied, not surprised that the conversation had veered towards Ruth. I’d never really talked about her death with them. Yes, there were condolences exchanged, and words of sorrow, but that was it.
“Piers told me about the ads, Curtis. It’s very kind of you to be looking. If the cost is too much, we could reimburse your expenditure.”
“No, Dina, it’s what I want to do.”
“Have you received any responses?” she asked. God, Ruthie had favored her. I never noticed how much.
“Curt and I were just discussing that. I guess he’s had no luck.”
“Pity, but I’m not surprised,” Dina sighed. “It was all so sordid and dark. Someone must have snapped.”
The last words were muttered in frustration. I understood. And while you’d be hard pressed to think that I had something in common with these two, unfortunately, I did. Her name was Ruth.
“Might be,” I responded. “It could also be she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“I suppose her being murdered elsewhere didn’t help,” she theorized.
“Murdering her in another location was why it was done,” I supplied. “Makes the police tracking down the killer that much more difficult.”
“But if that’s true, then it wasn’t someone snapping. It would be more along the lines of premeditation,” Piers countered.
“Anything’s possible, sir. I just don’t know.”
Another course, cleared away. The rain was driving down harder.
“Petra, could you call the airport and see if flights are being cancelled?” Dina urged, immediately turning to me. “I’m glad you came, Curtis. I don’t know your reasons, but it feels right having this conversation now.”
“I feel the same as my wife. Dina, Curtis mentioned he came here for closure and I think he’s closer to achieving that. It’s hard when the murderer is still out there—wandering among us. Then there’s Curt’s relationship with us. You weren’t sure what we were thinking about you, were you?”
“I wasn’t. I did speak to you, Dina. That one time—after I was no longer a person of interest. I got the impression you were genuinely relieved, but you never know. There might have been doubt.”
“There often is, I’m sure,” she sympathized as a molten chocolate cake was served along with a hot steaming cup of cappuccino. “It’s because people have ulterior motives. I suppose that’s what I was trying to say earlier. That you seemed clear of these hidden agendas. It’s why Piers and I took to you right away. We felt our daughter had made the right choice.”
“Thank you. I think Ruthie and I did complement one another pretty well,”
The thunder and lightning didn’t let up. The storm interrupted our meal with frighteningly close encounters with the harsher side of nature.
Petra bowed before whispering into Dina’s pearl adorned ear. The family matriarch’s spine went even straighter as she nodded her head, dismissing the hired help.
“I’m afraid they are delaying flights, Curtis. We can’t send you out in this weather. I think it best if you stay. I’ll have a room made up.”
“Oh, no, I don’t want to put you out. I could get a room somewhere,” I argued as my fork broke through the outside layer, sending rivers of chocolate amassing on my plate.
“Nonsense. My wife is right. We certainly have the room. You can leave in the morning.”
“That’s very kind of you both.”
“Good. I’ll have the Drake Room readied.”
A plan formulating, this downpo
ur might be just the thing I needed to slide in that curveball.
“Actually, this is going to sound unusual, but I was wondering if I could perhaps stay in Ruth’s bedroom.”
Another set of glances were exchanged between the married pair.
“What on earth for?” Dina blurted.
“I knew that it was going to sound strange, and it probably is, but I’ve felt so guilty about her death.”
“Why would you say that?” Piers inquired.
“Because she’d wanted me to drive up that weekend and I didn’t. I should have gone, but I’ve explained before about the double shifts.”
They both relaxed, digging back into their dessert.
“You can’t allow yourself to think that way,” Dina soothed. “We simply don’t know if that would have changed anything.”
“Exactly. The only thing different may be that there were two victims instead of one.”
Piers’ words hung in the air like used gym socks. It was like that with death. Even if discussed, it exuded a bad odor.
“Logically, I know you’re both right, but I need to make amends.”
“And you think staying in her room will help?” Dina asked between sips of her coffee.
“I do. You see, I’ll get to see her things and reconnect. I want to remember—everything. Once I do, I can apologize to her for letting her down.”
Dina placed her cup down, fidgeting with the white collar of her navy blue shirt. It was so sophisticated; just like the lady who wore it.
“I suppose there would be no harm.”
“No, none,” Piers agreed. “And, Curtis, we do understand.”
CHAPTER 22
After an aperitif and more idle chatter, I retired to Ruth’s room. Escorted by both of her parents, they led me in a procession befitting the occasion. I didn’t feel good about making up the fairytale, but the truth would have revealed too much about Dr. Shadows and my growing obsession with the mysterious caller. Besides, relating facts would have done no good because there were none—only speculation.
With a pat on my back from Piers’ huge hand, I was left alone. Sealed into my fiancée’s former boudoir, I wondered what the hell I was doing. The Warwicks were good people; they’d given me Ruthie. It didn’t seem right trespassing this way, but then, maybe I’d revealed too much of myself in that first lie. The one about needing closure. I did need it. I just didn’t know the source.