His eyes told her a new, troubling logic had begun to worm its way into his brain.
True confusion or acting?
The difference between fantasy and reality. The phrase seemed to mock Petra.
“I'm sure you're right, Mr. Ramsey.” She watched Ron pocket the phone as he returned. Schick was watching her.
She excused herself, and met Ron well out of Ramsey and Schick's earshot.
“Only one open Mercedes dealer,” he said. “Sherman Oaks, never serviced Ramsey's cars. But bingo at Westward Charter. Balch tried to fly out last night. Called around eleven, wanting to book a solo trip to Vegas. Said it was a business trip. Westward doesn't take off past ten, and told him to check commercial flights. We'd better start calling airlines.”
“Oh my,” she said.
“Stupid move,” said Ron, “trying to use the charter.”
“Billing it to the boss,” said Petra. Payback.
She noticed Ramsey staring at her. Had she given away something with her body language?
She ignored him. Nice to be able to do that.
59
I just got out of the bathroom. That's where I ran after I stopped crying. When I came out, I almost hoped Sam wasn't there, but he was shining the silver charity bottle with a corner of his jacket. My eyes were dry. I felt I was walking through a bad dream.
“You got a few hours till they show up to pray tonight,” he said, still polishing.
I sat down again and thought. No ideas came. The walkway, all those people, now it seemed like a haunted place.
I couldn't see any other way out, so I agreed to go to Sam's house. “But not during the day, I don't want anyone to see me.”
“That's a little difficult, Bill. People start showing up before dark. And I have to be here to run things.”
The way we finally work it out is: At six o'clock, he'll come back with some dinner and sneak me into his car. I'll hide there while the Jews are praying, in the backseat, covered by the blankets.
“How long do you pray?”
“An hour, give or take. I stay late to clean up. When the coast is clear, I'll let you know.”
“Thanks.”
“Don't mention it,” he says. “Just take care of yourself.” Then he laughs. “Who am I to tell you that? You been taking care of yourself fine.”
60
No answer to her second knock, and now Mildred Board was worried.
She'd heard the bath filling a half hour ago. Had the missus fallen? Suffered some kind of an attack? Maybe the doctors were wrong and she really was ill.
She turned the doorknob, called out “Ma'am?” as she entered the bedroom. Empty.
And the bed was made!
Not Mildred's tight-cornered creation but a decent tuck. First the bath, now the bed. Why on earth all this independence?
Yesterday, she'd been up extra early and ready. Hearing footsteps at 6 A.M., she went down to find the missus in the kitchen, folded newspaper in front of her, next to a cup of something that turned out to be instant tea.
“Are you all right, ma'am?” she'd said.
“Fine, Mildred. And you?” The missus was smiling but the look in her eyes was… distant.
“Ready to greet the day, ma'am.”
“That's the spirit.”
Fighting a frown, Mildred fixed a proper cup of English Breakfast while glancing at the paper.
The missus smiled. “I must be developing a belated interest in current events.”
“Yes, ma'am. Up early, too.”
“I seem to be doing that lately, don't I? Must be a change in my biorhythm.”
Later that day, she'd found the missus out on the patio with her hand on a stone column, as if she needed support. Looking out at… what? The ruins of the garden? More like nothing. Her eyes had that blank look again, and when Mildred greeted her, they stayed that way for several seconds.
Strange things were happening.
Mildred walked through the bedroom into the first dressing room. No one. The bathroom was empty, too, the tub drained, towels folded.
A long corridor led to the walk-in closet. Standing in the doorway, Mildred repeated, “Ma'am?”
“In here, Mildred. You may come in.”
Mildred hurried through the narrow passage. The rear closet was larger than most rooms, lined with mahogany shelves and racks, built-in drawers. Hand-printed hatboxes, scores of shoes arranged by color. All that was left of the missus's couture collection was a pair of wool coats, a rain slicker, five suits- black, brown, beige, two grays- and a few casual dresses and cashmere sweaters, all encased in plastic wardrobe bags. The missus was standing in front of the mirror applying makeup, fully dressed in one of the gray suits, a thirty-year-old Chanel. She wore pearl earrings, the small ones, lovely. Mildred remembered the diamonds him had showered on the missus. An annoying little man from San Gabriel had examined them with a loupe and a predatory smile.
The Chanel draped the missus's figure perfectly. But… her feet…
White lace-up tennis shoes over bulky white socks.
“I thought I'd go out for a walk, Mildred.” The missus's thick, wavy hair was brushed and sprayed, chestnut embroidered with gray. Her makeup had been applied expertly except for one stray granule of lipstick near the corner of her beautiful mouth. Mildred restrained the impulse to flick it away, but she did give a pointed look and the missus caught the hint and dabbed.
“A walk. Lovely idea, ma'am…” Mildred's eyes lowered again. Those socks!
The missus laughed uneasily. “Not exactly the height of style, I know, but these are easy on the arches. My hamstrings are stiff, Mildred. I tried to stretch them out, but they're still bound up. It's been too long since I walked, Mildred.”
Drawing back her shoulders and straightening her spine, she started down the corridor.
“Do be careful, ma'am. I watered the orchard just twenty minutes ago and drainage seems to be poor, especially in the rear area, the peach trees. Boggy and slippery, you'd think that gardener's boy would have the sense to-”
The missus stopped and placed a delicate hand on Mildred's shoulder. “I'm not walking on the property, dear,” she said. “I'm going around the block.”
“Oh,” said Mildred. “I see.” She didn't. “I'll be happy to come with you-”
“No thank you, dear. I need to think.”
“With all due-”
“I'll be fine, Mildred.” The missus's chin began to shake. She drew back her shoulders.
She took another step. Stopped. “I'm always fine, Mildred. Am I not?”
61
By 6:57 p.m., Captain Sepulveda still hadn't returned and the techs had stopped working. The sun was low and the oaks blocked out straggling daylight. Sergeant Grafton had returned to her car. Petra was finished with Ramsey.
Lawrence Schick escorted his client back to the Rolls, remaining blank-faced as Petra tagged along. Ramsey got into the passenger seat and stared out the open window. He looked ancient.
Petra said, “If I need to reach you-”
“We're going for dinner,” said the attorney. “The Biltmore, Santa Barbara.”
“And after dinner?” said Petra.
Schick smoothed his bangs. “It's not exactly a night for brandy and cigars, is it, Detective, so I guess we'll return to L.A. Nice to meet you. Please continue to communicate through me.” Tapping the meerschaum twice, he got into the driver's seat, turned a frail-looking wrist. The car woke up and sailed away, but for the merest spatter of gravel, silently.
A few minutes later, Sepulveda drove up with a handful of warrants, explaining, “Every judge was playing golf.” He'd changed into sweats, Carpinteria Sheriff's insignia on the shirt.
Despite Ramsey's waiver, no search had begun because Sergeant Grafton had insisted on waiting for Sepulveda.