4 DEAD ... If Only Read online

  “Nonetheless, we’re glad you’re here. I know Victoria wants to see you, Liana; she’s been asking for you repeatedly. After you’ve seen Victoria, Richard will stay with her, while you, Mateo, Gurn, and I will go out to dinner to discuss the situation.”

  Our marching orders. And she was not done. Mom looked down at what I was wearing with a raised eyebrow.

  “That is, once you’ve put on appropriate attire. If Gurn is dressed in similar fashion, you might want to alert him to change, as well.”

  My eyes shifted down. I was still wearing the blue shorts and red and blue plaid midriff blouse I’d worn to the baths in the morning, looking like they’d been slept in for a week. She had yet to mention the rubber flip-flops on my feet, purchased two years ago when driving past a Wal-Mart parking lot two-for-one sale. Even I didn’t want to be seen in them other than a Calistoga mudroom or doing my laundry.

  “Right, Mom. Consider it done. But for now, I want to talk to Richard, just he and I. Why don’t you sit down for a moment and try to relax? Give it a shot.”

  I enveloped her in a quick hug and kissed her on the cheek. Mom took a breath about to say more, thought better of it, and merely nodded. She sat down, erect of carriage, and picked up a withered magazine from a pile on a side table, one probably announcing the arrival of the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.

  I grabbed my brother and maneuvered him to the other side of the hallway. Richard glanced over at our mother before turning back to me.

  “Mom’s scared, that’s all, Lee. I’ve noticed ever since Dad died she tries to control things a little more.”

  “Which is like saying a Great White becomes more aggressive on steroids.”

  He cocked his head to one side. “You’re being funny, right?”

  “Apparently not. Never mind. How are you? Really?”

  He shrugged, but his lips were tight and grim. “Really? Just about done. The pre-natal unit is monitoring Vicki’s vitals. The doctors are afraid to give her something strong to bring down her blood pressure because of the baby, but they can’t seem to keep it from peaking. Tío’s been in there for about twenty minutes trying to help out.”

  I reached out and wrapped an arm around my brother’s shoulders. He’s only about a half an inch taller than me, normally, but now he shrank into almost nothing, leaning his body into mine.

  “I know the waiting’s tough, Richard, but Vicki’s young and strong. She’s got everything in the world going for her. And you know Tío is crackerjack at making good things come about.”

  After my little pep talk, Richard’s persona seemed to lighten a little. He stood taller and took a deep breath, releasing it with a hissing sound.

  “True. He’s crackerjack at just about everything.”

  “Remember how we said if he hadn’t have been a chef, he would have made a great shaman?”

  “You said that. I said nobody could sooth a growling dog the way he could. Not quite the same thing.”

  I need to learn when to shut up, I really do. I smiled brightly and tried again.

  “Brother mine, Tío has a calming, spiritual oneness with the universe, very powerful. We’ve seen him use it time and time again.”

  Richard looked at me, then chuckled.

  “You’ll say anything to try to make me feel better, won’t you?”

  “Yup. That’s what big sisters are for. But it’s true. Vicki is going to be fine, I can feel it.”

  “Who’s the shaman now?”

  The door to Vicki’s room opened and a tall, angular, dark-skinned man emerged. Dressed in blue hospital scrubs, he radiated the command and sympathy of a physician, along with the look of a man who’d had a long day.

  “Dr. Frietas!” Richard ran to him, followed by Mom and me. The policeman looked up with momentary interest, but didn’t move.

  “How’s my wife?” Richard planted himself in front of the doctor, vibrating from head to toe.

  Dr. Frietas laid a soothing hand on Richard’s shoulder, a slight Jamaican accent lilting his words. “She is better, much better. Her blood pressure has lowered by a good twenty points. If we can keep it there, she and the baby will be fine.”

  “What about the blow to the head?” I piped up, studying the tall man. He was around my age, but his black hair was already graced with silver. Chocolate brown eyes focused on me, questioningly. “I’m the sister.”

  “Ah!” He reached out a slender hand with long fingers suited equally well for a pianist as a surgeon. The doctor grasped my hand warmly and covered it with his other. “You are Lee?”

  I nodded.

  “She has been asking for you.” He released my hand and turned back to the others. “The concussion is not as serious as we first thought, but we do want to keep her here for a day or two to make sure there are no further ramifications from the head wound and to monitor the baby.”

  Mom turned to her son. “This is good news, Richard. Hold onto that.” She embraced him.

  “When may I see her?” I stepped closer to the doctor as I spoke, my voice eager, urgent. His remained gentle and calm. I liked this man.

  “Now, if you wish. But only for a few minutes. And only if she doesn’t become agitated again.” He raised a slim finger for emphasis and gave me his style of my mother’s eagle eye. “Mrs. Alvarez’s vitals are finally stabilized, thanks in part to your uncle. I have seen a similar approach used on the islands from time to time. One was from a cousin of mine.”

  Dr. Frietas gave me a brilliant, white-toothed smile Colgate would have been proud to plaster on a billboard. “I am a man of medicine myself, but I cannot fault its success. I’m not saying Mrs. Alvarez is out of the woods yet, but it is very promising. Very promising. I would like to see her sleep for a couple of hours, so I have given her a mild sedative. It should take effect in about ten minutes. Why don’t you go in and see her before it does?” He looked at me, adding a gentlemanly gesture to the door.

  It was odd hearing Vicki referred to as Mrs. Alvarez. That was a title I thought reserved only for Mom. But when I considered it, my short, red-headed sister-in-law was next in line to become the matriarch of the family, just as Lila Hamilton Alvarez currently wore the crown. Lord knows it would never be me. Most of the time, I’m too busy chasing down bad guys who steal computer chips and playing with my cat.

  Chapter Four

  Reality Comes Calling

  I crossed the threshold into the darkened room where monitors monitored and IV drips dripped. The room was abuzz with beeping machines and blinking colored lights. In the middle of it all lay an ashen Vicki, looking drained of life and vitality. Like her surroundings, her hospital gown and bed linens were all variations of shades of white. Even Vicki’s glorious auburn hair, often set-off by one of her own fun-loving chapeaus, was now constricted by a pallid gauze covering. It was pretty scary.

  At her side, Tío sat on a small stool stroking her outstretched arm. The other arm had lines connecting her to various apparatuses, all giving forth their take on how she was doing.

  I could hear Tío droning on with something pleasant and mesmerizing in her ear. Neither was aware of my presence. I studied the machines, trying to figure out what the displayed numbers meant. Giving up, I came to the foot of the bed and called out softly.

  “Vicki, it’s Lee. I’m here. Hola, Tío.”

  Tío glanced up at me and smiled, his gaze filled with so much love, I experienced the first peace of the day. Tío’s gift to the world.

  Vicki’s eyes flew open. She blinked several times, and looked down to the foot of the bed, where I stood. Her voice cracked, sounding strained and dry.

  “Lee, thank God you’re here.” She let out a wretched sob and made a reaching gesture toward me with the arm wearing the IV. “He’s alive. That horrible man is alive. He didn’t die after all.” One of the monitors began to beep faster than before.

  I gave Tío a worried look, went to her side, and grasped her eager hand.

  “Shhh. Easy, Victori
a. Don’t excite yourself. The doctor gave you a sedative to help you sleep.”

  Tío spoke to her, his soft Spanish accent filling the room. “You need to think the pleasant, calming thoughts, but first, the breath, mija. Take the slow breath; hold to the count of ten then let it out as slowly as possible. Do not think of anything else.”

  “Yes, yes, Tío. I will try.” Vicki did as she was told, concentrating on her breathing. I squeezed her hand and did likewise, because man oh man, I needed a little calming down, myself. We both took in air, held it, then released it in unison. We did it again. I could see the tension subside within Vicki, the hot color fade somewhat from her flushed face. My own heart rate slowed down from a gallop to a trot. In less than a minute, the monitor returned to its steady, slower beep.

  “Okay,” I said. “Why don’t we talk a little bit, Vicki, but as calmly as possible? Doctor’s orders.”

  Even though the monitor didn’t increase its beeping, a large tear gathered in the corner of Vicki’s eye and slid down her upturned face. She nodded then began to speak. Her lips trembled as she spoke but her voice was soft and composed, almost as if she was reporting an event from someone else’s life.

  “Around nine-thirty this morning, I saw Dennis Manning coming out of Beignets on Bourbon Street. Richard and I were shopping for baby clothes across the street; it’s the store right next door to mine. Richard was still browsing inside, but I had come outside and was standing on the sidewalk waiting. Then I saw him. Dennis Manning. I couldn’t believe it was him. I just stared. He didn’t notice me at first. He was with someone else, a short, older man.”

  “Do you have any idea who the older man is? Or where he might be now?” I was thinking of the dead man found beside Vicki.

  She shook her head. “I never saw him before. Why would I know where he is?” Her question had an incredulous air.

  “No reason, no reason.”

  I glanced at Tío. He was silent, but listening intently, never ceasing the up and down stroking of her arm and soft chanting. I turned back to Vicki, who seemed lost in the past.

  “What makes you so sure the man you saw was Dennis Manning?”

  “He was thinner, older, wearing a beard, but there was something about the way he stood, leaning a little to the side. I had a crush on him when I was a teenager and I used to watch his every move. Then there was his laugh. I recognized it; I’d know it anywhere. He caught me staring at him. I saw the recognition of me on his face. I couldn’t move at first. We just stared at one another. But he knew. He knew I knew who he was.”

  Vicki turned her head and looked at me. “I stepped off the curb to cross the street to get a better look. When I did, he walked away, nervous. It was like he didn’t want to show anything was wrong, but he needed to get out of there.”

  For a moment, all I heard was the steady beep on the monitors. Vicki went on.

  “Then he started to run. I didn’t even think to tell Richard where I was going; I just took off after him. The faster I ran, the faster Dennis Manning ran. But I could keep up because of his limp.”

  I finally spoke up. “His limp? Dennis Manning didn’t have a limp that I know of.”

  “He has one now, Lee.” She nodded slowly but emphatically. “Anyway, he stopped all of a sudden and said something to the short man, who was trailing behind. That man stopped running, too. They both turned and glared at me. That’s when I realize how far we’d run and that no one else was around. In fact, I didn’t even know where I was. Then the two separated. The short man took off in another direction. I almost lost him but I kept up.”

  “Who did you keep up with? Manning or the other man?”

  “Dennis Manning.” Her voice became impatient, agitated. “Always him, Dennis Manning, Dennis Manning! Why would I chase the other man?”

  “Easy, Vicki, easy.” I took her hand in mine and stroked her fingers, imitating Tío’s methods. “Let the sedative do its stuff.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ll try to calm down.” She swallowed hard. “Can I have a drink of water? My mouth is so dry.”

  I looked over at Tío, my face a question mark. He nodded and pointed to a small glass on a side table filled halfway with water.

  “Sure, sure.” I unwrapped a nearby straw and plunged it into the liquid. I held the straw to her lips and she strained to lift her head without moving her body. Vicki took a few sips and released the straw from her mouth.

  “Thanks. That’s better.” She gave me a weak smile and my heart went out to her.

  “Go on telling me what happened. Try not to get excited, kiddo.”

  “As if, kiddo,” she bantered, her humor returning for a moment. She squeezed my hand then looked back up at the ceiling. “I kept following him to God knows where. It seemed like forever. I didn’t even think about what I’d do when I caught up with him. I didn’t think about anything other than the man who’d destroyed my sister’s life was still alive. I followed him into someone’s backyard and woke up here.” She gulped several times. “I asked what happened to him, but nobody knows what I’m talking about. He’s gone. Vanished. Again.”

  “You don’t remember anything about what happened in the backyard? Any details at all? Sights, smells, things like that?”

  She shook her head.

  “Maybe you remember something from before, when you were chasing the two men. Close your eyes.”

  She obeyed.

  “Think back. You said Manning spoke to the man and the man spoke to him. Did they say anything you could hear?”

  Vicki shook her head again, but was silent for a moment. I could feel her concentrating.

  “Wait a minute.” Her mood became eager, as if she’d made an important discovery. “The short man yelled out the name ‘Sam’, I think. Yes, that’s right. I heard him call out, ‘Sam, where are you going? Wait for me.’ Then Manning said something to him I couldn’t hear and the short man took off in the other direction. There was a lot of nearby traffic noise and I couldn’t hear much, but the short man did call him Sam.”

  She turned her head toward me and struggled to rise, pulling her elbows under each side of her. Both Tío and I panicked.

  “No, mija,” Tío, said, standing over her and gently pressing down on her chest. “You must not move. You must rest. Think of el bebé. Do not make the stress.”

  She nodded and lay back down, anxious to please. “This is good, isn’t it? I heard his name. Sam.”

  “This is good.” I tried imitating her doctor in the toothy grin department and sound positive. I didn’t want to mention how many men there must be in New Orleans with the first name of Sam, let alone in the state of Louisiana. “How was he dressed? What was he wearing?”

  “Dressed?” She stuttered.

  “Come on, you fashionista, you. How could you not notice what he was wearing? Even if all you design are hats.” I baited her and waited. She rose to it.

  “What do you mean, ‘even if all I design are hats’? You’re talking fiddle-faddle, Lee. A hat is the most important accessory we can add to our wardrobe. No offence, you could use one right now.”

  I saw the old Vicki return, if only for a moment, and it was wonderful.

  She went on, seemingly as impressed as I was by her ability to recall details when tested. “Speaking of hats, he was wearing a tan Big Apple flat cap.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You know, the Great Gatsby, very thirties. And a white dress shirt, rolled up at the sleeves, khaki pants, and there were Huaraches on his feet. That’s right.” She gave me a proud look, like an A student would give her teacher.

  “Very good. Was he carrying anything?”

  “Carrying?” She screwed her eyes shut. “He was carrying something. A canvas bag. Yes. A canvas bag that looked kind of heavy. And a cup of coffee, which he threw away when he started running, but he kept the bag. It was slung over one shoulder and he clutched at it with his right arm.”

  “Nothing else?”

  “That’s all. Y
ou’ll be able to find him now, won’t you?”

  “You betcha.” Out of the corner of my eye I saw Tío signal me to leave with him. “Vicki, I should go and let you catch some sleep.”

  She grabbed my hand and pulled me toward her with more strength than I thought her capable. I stared into her beautiful, but fearful green eyes, now bloodshot and teary.

  “It’s for Robin. He can’t go free after what he did to Robin, can he?”

  “No, he can’t.” I leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. “But first things first. Right now, your job is to get well and have a healthy baby. Our job is to find Dennis Manning and bring him to justice. Discretionary Inquiries at your service. ” I stood, gave her a small salute, and grinned down at her. “We clear on our assignments now?”

  She nodded, a brave smile on her face. I became more serious.

  “You need to trust me on this. We’ll find him. I promise. This is what I do best.”

  I saw her relax, faith in me, in what I could do, shining in her eyes. I felt a shift of the weight of the world from Richard’s shoulders to mine.

  “I know you will, Lee. And I am a little tired.” Vicki closed her eyes and let out a long, deep sigh. “I think I’ll sleep for a while.”

  “Bien, mija.” Tío said. “We will go now and you will rest.”

  “Thank you, Tío,” she murmured. “Lee, kiss Richard for me and tell him I love him. I love you, too, Lee.”

  “Backatcha, kiddo.”

  I headed for the foot of the bed and met Tío there, who put a strong arm around me, regal bearing ever present in his six foot frame. It was only natural for me to bend into him. We left Vicki’s room together.

  Chapter Five

  Things Are Never What They Seem

  Richard was nowhere to be seen but Mom stood in deep conversation with a man of stature, tall and imposing but beginning to run to fat. Sure of his own importance, the large man looked like a policeman to me, even though he didn’t wear the uniform. I labeled him as the ‘brown’ man, in that his hair and clothing were various shades of brown, down to skin that wore a healthy tan. He looked over at Tío and me. His piercing blue eyes were all the more vivid because of his otherwise russet appearance.