“Got it.”
“But crazy people like Pirro don’t scare easily. He got mad, said nobody threatens him, and someday he’d do her, while I watched.”
“If she gets in his way, why doesn’t he just kill her?”
“He doesn’t dare to kill anyone unless he’s ordered to. He tried to scare her once though. Mom’s fourth floor apartment has a tiny balcony. He tried to get her to step out there with him one night. Said he had something to show her down below in the pool. He was just trying to scare her. He wouldn’t kill her, at least not when he’s sober.”
“But it’s alright if he screws you guys?”
“Not exactly alright but the family realizes sex happens. It’s something else. Not a big thing with them.”
It occurred to her that Elena wasn’t telling the real story. “So, Mom is saving you from Pirro.”
“Yes, to some extent. He’s scared of her threat. But he’s been after me since the first. Every time he sees me, he corners me and tries to feel me. He puts his awful breath in my face and describes his—you know—his arousal to me. Now he’s free to do what he wants.”
“Why now?”
“Because the game is over. He knew the plan was important to La Familia while Albert was alive. Pirro fooling around with me in the middle of things could mess up everything. So, it was hands off. La Familia doesn’t need me for the plan now because Albert’s no longer a political threat. They have what they want, and Pirro has a green light with me. If he touches me I’ll get sick. My perfect lover is dead, and I’m running from both Pirro and the police.”
She was crying again so Sandy changed the subject, “Do you have a red and blue scarf?”
“Yes I do, silk with red and blue triangles. I got it at Burdines years ago. I wear accessory scarves a lot. I suppose you found it, huh? I left it at Albert’s with my white leather jacket in the small closet off the master bath. That doesn’t mean I was there when he was killed. I have other things there too.”
“Were you in his apartment the day he was killed?
“Am I supposed to answer these questions?”
Sandy reached in her purse. “Here’s the card of Detective Goddard. He’s a straight shooter and he needs your help. He needs your fingerprints and your DNA and what you saw and when, all that.”
“Sure, and then he arrests me.”
Sandy had a momentary guilty thought that she’d rather see this cookie behind bars than her brother. Then it would be a fast trip back to Philly. Still, she had to be honest with her. “The detective needs your help to catch the real killer. But if you killed Towson or were even in his apartment that day, you need to immediately get yourself a lawyer.”
“I just want to go back to my life in Tampa.”
“The police will find you. They have evidence you’ve been in the apartment. And you still must keep Pirro from getting to you and your mom.”
“Maybe I’ll get a gun. Maybe he’ll have an accident.”
“Would you kill Towson if the family ordered you to?”
“I’d kill myself first. We were lovers.”
“Would you do anything to save your mom from Pirro?”
“Absolutely.”
Sandy decided to be blunt. “Would you carry out an order to kill Towson to keep Pirro from raping your mother?”
Elena hid her face in her hands. “I loved Albert.” She abruptly started her car and motioned vigorously for Sandy to get out.
As Elena drove away, Sandy clinched her fist and jabbed the air. “Score!” she said aloud. She had discovered Towson’s lover. Elena had given her an entire family of new suspects. And, if true, had also revealed a motive for murder and at least one plot to sabotage Towson’s election campaign.
Sandy was on her phone before the white Buick was out of sight. “Chip, can you break for coffee? We need to talk. This will knock your socks off.”
Chapter 23
Sandy was stopped at a cross-street traffic light when she saw Detective Goddard in his unmarked car pass across in front, headed for their Coffee Spot meeting. At first, he had begged off. It was Sunday afternoon, he had planned to take the day off. She had insisted, eager to get him moving on the new La Familia info. Also, it occurred to her that he should spend as little time at home as possible. Miss Legal Secretary was probably there taking dictation, and he should keep his mind on finding Towson’s killer.
The light changed and after two blocks, she caught up and pulled in behind him just as they joined the Sunday beach traffic going over the Intracoastal Bridge. She waved knowing he was watching his rearview mirror.
Just over the crest of the bridge all traffic stopped. Ahead they could see rows of cars backed up for over a mile all the way east to some jam at the A1A intersection near the beach.
She saw him position his portable flashing light on the top of his vehicle. He left the siren off, pulled over on the narrow shoulder, and slowly crept by the stalled traffic. As he passed the long line of stopped cars, the occupants could see that close behind the grey Impala with the flashing lights was a top-down red convertible driven by a serious-looking young woman. She had both hands stiffly on the steering wheel and her eyes frozen straight ahead.
Ten minutes later, they pulled in and parked behind the Coffee Spot. They got out, both laughing.
“Fun to be a cop for a minute. You get paid for playing this game? Where can I buy some flashing lights?”
“I was waiting for you to wave to the stalled drivers.”
They walked through the kitchen and headed for the usual back booth. The waitress was only a step behind with their coffee.
As they settled in Sandy said, “So, Sonny Barner is alive, huh? Well, glad for that. I don’t have time to solve two murders. Was he at the apartment before or after Raymond?”
“I’m busy, Sandy. Get on with it. This better be good.”
“You’ll love it. First, I should tell you Joanna at the office in Philadelphia traced the ownership of the Jardin Café. It’s a Deleware corporation owned by Tampa interests linked to crime, drugs she thinks. What’s going on out there?”
“Possibly drugs. What else is there?”
“If this were Philly, I’d guess a front for money laundering. Do you have that down here?”
“You’re talking to a small-town cop. What I know about money laundering wouldn’t fill that mug there. That’s your big news? Some shady corp owns the Jardin. Goodbye, got to go.”
“No, listen, you might get a call from Elena Duarte. You know, from the café.” Sandy related the conversation with Elena, but didn’t mention advising her to get a lawyer.
He was interested and impressed. “So, Norma Martin is tied into what may or may not be a crime family, and very likely a pro-casino force. Furthermore, she’s the mother of Elena Duarte. You say Elena claims to be the one who actually had the affair with Towson?”
“You don’t believe her?”
“I have my doubts. Without prints or DNA, we can’t even put her in his apartment.”
“Of course, you can put her in his apartment. She told me she left a white leather jacket and some other clothes up there.”
“Why doesn’t she just run? Why come to you?”
“For help, she’s afraid the police are looking for her. And I just told you Pirro is chasing her. She doesn’t know what to do about him.”
“Maybe this Pirro was flat out ordered to kill Towson and Elena’s weeping act is to cover it all up.”
“Well, she’s clever and obviously good at lying. Towson was no dummy and I bet she fooled him. Is she truly frightened or did they send her to me for some purpose?”