“No.” She sighed. “I didn’t begin to connect the dots until I heard Jared Shayne talking about the rash of killings in Sacramento. That’s when I began to wonder if there could be a connection to Zachary. I felt a sudden need to talk with Mr. Shayne. I wanted to do what I could to find out if Zachary could possibly be the killer.”
“So you gave Jared your number?”
She nodded. “That night I slipped Mr. Shayne a piece of paper letting him know I needed to talk with him. We talked once, but I didn’t feel comfortable giving him Zachary’s name over the phone.”
“You grant this Zachary a great deal of power, don’t you think? Worrying that he might somehow hear you whisper his name into the phone?”
Kathryn didn’t blink at this. “Zachary’s never needed me or anyone to grant him any power,” she said, her voice low and charged. “You forget. I’ve seen what he can do.” She licked her parched lips. “And he was just a little boy then.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Today, Kitally decided to help Lizzy at the downtown office. They had files at both the house and the office on J Street. This particular office was a mess, and Kitally figured she was the only one who cared enough to bother with straightening up the place. But that wasn’t the only reason she had wanted to come to the office today. She needed to talk to Lizzy about Salma, let her know she had taken a taxi from the hospital and she and her baby were moving in for a while. Before Kitally could start up a conversation with Lizzy, a man popped his head inside the door and waved a colorful flyer at them. “Mind if I hang this on your window?”
“I don’t know,” Lizzy said. “What is it?”
He stepped inside and let the door shut behind him.
Kitally guessed him to be in his late thirties. When he looked at her, it was his intense-looking eyes that struck her first. He was cleanly shaven—a preppy-looking guy with neatly combed hair, a crooked nose, and a square jaw.
He handed the flyer to Lizzy. As she read it over, he picked up a handcrafted pencil holder made of pottery and painted in fine detail and said, “This is striking. Exquisite, actually. May I ask where you found it?”
Although he was clearly going overboard with the praise, Lizzy decided to go with it. “My niece made that years ago. You’re right, though, she’s a creative genius.” Lizzy held up the flyer. “In fact, she might enjoy visiting some of these galleries. Go ahead and hang it up, and maybe we’ll see you there.”
“I appreciate it.” He looked around. “Do you mind if I hang it inside the window, so it doesn’t blow away?”
“Not a problem.”
He had to lean over Lizzy’s desk to get the flyer on the window. When he was done, he apologized for interrupting their workday. He was about to head out when Lizzy said, “Are you one of the artists who will be exhibiting?”
“How did you know?”
“You’ve got paint on your elbow.”
He looked at the spot and then laughed. “You’re very perceptive.”
“So I’ve been told. What’s your name?”
“Jake Polly.”
“Lizzy Gardner.”
“I know,” Jake said and then pointed at the etching on the door.
After he left, Kitally continued to watch Lizzy. That was the most normal she’d seen her boss since Jared’s funeral. It felt sort of good to see Lizzy carry on a conversation with a stranger. Her gaze fell to Lizzy’s stomach. She had on a baggy shirt, but still, she didn’t have an ounce of flab on her. There was no way Lizzy was pregnant.
“Do you want something, Kitally?”
“Who me?”
“Yes, you,” Lizzy said. “Nobody else is here, and I can feel your eyes boring a hole through the side of my head.”
“Sorry. It’s just nice to see you interacting with people again.”
“You worry too much.”
“Maybe you’re right. My mom says the same thing.”
Lizzy swiveled her chair around. “Out with it. What else is on your mind?”
“Jake Polly was right. You are perceptive, aren’t you?”
Lizzy said nothing. Instead, she waited for Kitally to spit it out.
“It’s about Salma,” Kitally finally said.
“Is her baby doing OK?”
“The baby is fine. The thing is, I did a little snooping around when she was living at the house, and it turns out her boyfriend is a guy named Joey Rich.”
“And?”
“And her family does not approve of him. Like, at all. She’s worried he’ll be harmed.”
“It’s not your problem, Kitally. Stay out of it.”
“Well, it is sort of my problem because she’s back at the house.”
“And what do you propose to do about it?”
“I’m not sure. That’s why I thought I’d ask you.”
“She’s young. She should be with her family. I refuse to make it my business. You should do the same. She needs to go home.”
“You’re probably right. I’ll talk to her.” Kitally stood. “I have something I want to show you.” Kitally ran to the back room and returned with a broom and a dustpan.
“Good job,” Lizzy said without enthusiasm. “I appreciate you keeping the place spruced up.”
“You think I’m just sweeping?”
Lizzy crossed her arms and sighed.
“Aha!” Kitally twisted the handle and the bristly part of the broom popped off onto the floor. Then she tripped a hidden lever and a lethal-looking spear point sprang out where the bristles used to be.
Lizzy leaned back in her chair, her hand at her heart. “That looks dangerous as hell.”
“That’s because it is. I made it myself. Pretty cool, don’t you think?”
Apparently Lizzy had no words to express her excitement for Kitally’s invention.
“About a month ago, I came up with this idea, and I couldn’t sleep. The next day I called this guy who works for my dad and asked him to put this prototype together. We have another one, too. We’ll keep one here in the office and one at home, just in case we ever get a surprise visitor.”
“I don’t have any plans to stop carrying a gun, but I’ll keep the broomstick in mind.”
“Absolutely works fine as a broom, too,” Kitally said proudly.
“Outstanding.”
There was a tap on the door. Through the glass, Kitally could see an old man. He was stooped over, and he held tightly to a cane. She put the broomstick back together and set it aside, then hurried over to the door and held it open for the man.
He grunted as he walked inside. When he looked as if he might trip over his own feet, Kitally put out a hand to help him.
“Leave me be,” he said.
She did as he said and backed off.
His hands shook as he pulled out the chair in front of Lizzy’s desk.
“Hello, Gus,” Lizzy said.
“I haven’t gotten a call since I was here,” the old man said. “We had a deal. I’m here for an update.”
Kitally kept waiting for Lizzy to tell the old man off. Since Jared’s death, she had zero patience. But she nodded and gestured toward Kitally with her chin. “Gus,” she said, “meet my assistant, Kitally. She’s the one working your case.”
Kitally pulled up a chair and offered Gus a hand. He ignored it. “Your wife was Helsie?”
“That’s right.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” she said. “I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about her. I wish I could have met her.”
He looked uncomfortable. His eyes glistened.
“I’ve been to the Shady Oaks Nursing Home twice now,” Kitally told him.
He wore a short-sleeved brown shirt and khakis. His shirt had two big stains on the front. “Go on,” he said.
“I met Betty Ackley,” Kitally said, speaking loud enough for him to hear. “She told me she knew you. Do you remember her?”
“Stop shouting,” he said. “I’m not deaf. And of course I remember Betty,” he said angrily. “How could I forget? Everyone’s heard of that loudmouth woman. She’s always getting into other people’s business. She’s also the noisiest little bird I’ve ever met.”