“Good point,” I said.
“Just because Gull wasn’t aware of Quick’s involvement doesn’t mean Quick’s a virgin. We’ve got a guy who hires a stripper as a phony secretary, uses prepaid phone cards, leaves condoms in his luggage to rub salt in wifey’s wounds, hits on his sister-in-law, doesn’t pay his bills on time. To me that’s precisely the kind of tainted citizen who’d love something like Sentries for Justice. I’ll buy the concerned dad bit up to a point- the point where Quick supplied Gavin with Christi Marsh. Which got her killed, too. Quick knows if it all comes out, he’s in big trouble with his family, not to mention the law. So he cuts out and leaves Sheila to fend for herself. This is not Ward Cleaver.”
“I wonder how Sheila’s doing,” I said.
“Ever the shrink. Feel free to drop by and do some therapy. God knows she needs it. Meanwhile, I’m gonna earn the salary the city pays me.”
A block later: “Did I thank you for all your help?”
“More than once,” I said.
“Good,” he said. “Got to be civilized.”
CHAPTER 42
South Camden Drive at two in the afternoon was a pretty scene.
Temperate Beverly Hills weather, unfettered by seasons, nice houses, nice cars, nice gardeners mowing nice lawns. Up the block from the Quick house, an elderly man made his way along the sidewalk with the help of twin walkers and a tiny Filipina attendant. As I drove by, he smiled and waved.
Happiness had so little to do with the state of your bones.
The door to the white traditional was open, and Sheila Quick’s minivan idled in the driveway, exhaust pipe blowing delicate puffs of smoke that dissipated quickly in the warm, smooth air.
Woman’s silhouette in the front passenger seat. I got out and approached the van, found Sheila Quick sitting stiffly, looking hypnotized, her window up.
She didn’t notice me and I was about to knock on her window when a young woman came out of the house hefting an oversized blue duffel.
When she saw me she froze.
Tall, slim, dark hair drawn back in a careless ponytail. Pleasant face, less plain than in the family photo. She wore a hooded blue sweatshirt over jeans and white sneakers. Down-slanted eyes, her father’s large jaw. His slightly stooped posture, too; it made her look weary. Maybe she was.
“Kelly?”
“Yes?”
“My name’s Alex Delaware. I work with the L.A. Police-”
“With the police? What does that mean?”
First-year law student, trained to parse? Or she’d chosen the profession because it fit her nature?
I said, “I’m a psychologist who consults to LAPD. I’ve been involved in your brother’s-”
Hearing “psychologist” she turned her head toward her mother. She said, “I just got in to town, don’t know anything about that.”
A cheery voice behind me said, “Hi!”
Sheila Quick had rolled down her window and was waving and smiling. “Hello, again!”
Kelly Quick lifted her duffel, came forward, interposed herself between me and her mother.
“He’s with the police, Kell.”
“I know, Mom.” To me: “Excuse me, but we’re kind of in a hurry.”
“Getting away for a while?”
No answer.
“Where to, Kelly?”
“I’d rather not say.”
“Aunt Eileen’s?”
“I’d rather not say.” Kelly Quick edged past me, to the rear of the van, lifted the hatch, and loaded her duffel. Two large suitcases were already there.
Sheila Quick said, “Still no sign of Jerry! For all I know, he’s dead!”
Still cheerful.
“Mom!”
“No need to be dishonest, Kelly. I’ve had enough dishonesty to last me-”
“Mo-ther! Please!”
Sheila said, “At least you said ‘please.’ ” To me: “I raised them to be polite.”
I said, “Where you heading?”
Kelly Quick got between us, again. “We’re in a hurry.” Her mouth twisted. “Please.”
Sheila Quick said, “This one is smart, nothing wrong with her brain. She was always a great student. Gavin had the charm and the looks, but Kelly had the grades.”
Kelly Quick’s eyes misted.
I said, “Could we talk, Kelly? Just for a moment?”
Fluttering eyelashes, cock of hip. A hint of the adolescence she’d barely left.
“Fine, but just for a moment.”
We walked a few yards past the van. Sheila Quick called out, “Where are you two going?”
“Just one sec, Mom.” To me: “What?”
“If you’re heading to your aunt Eileen’s, that’ll be easy enough to find out.”
“We’re not- we can go anywhere we want.”
“Of course you can, I’m not here to stop you.”
“Then what?”
“Have you heard from your father?”
No answer.
“Kelly, if he’s gotten in touch and given you instructions-”
“He hasn’t. Okay?”
“I’m sure he instructed you not to talk. I’m sure you think you’re helping him out by obeying.”
“I don’t obey anyone,” she said. “I think independently. We need to get going.”
“You can’t say where?”
“It’s not important- it really isn’t. My brother was murdered, and my mom… she’s having problems. I need to take care of her, it’s as simple as that.”
“What about your dad?”
She looked at the sidewalk.
“Kelly, he could be in serious trouble. The people he’s dealing with shouldn’t be underestimated.”
She raised her eyes but stared past me.
“No one knows better than you about your mother’s vulnerability. How long do you think you can take care of her?”
Her head snapped back toward me. “You think you know.”
“I’m sure I don’t.”
“Please,” she said, “don’t make matters worse.”
Tears blurred her eyes. Old eyes in a young face.
I stepped aside, and she returned to the van, got in the driver’s seat, locked the door. As she started up the engine, Sheila prattled and gesticulated.
Festive mood. Kelly was grim, hand planted on the wheel. Not going anywhere until I did. I pulled away from the curb.
When I reached the corner, I looked back in my rearview mirror and the van was still there.
Milo was out, so I asked for Detective Sean Binchy.
He said, “So you think Mr. Quick phoned his daughter?”
“That would be my guess.”
“So she probably knows where he is. Think I should put a BOLO on the van?”
“I’d check with Milo about that. When will he be back?”
“He didn’t say,” said Binchy. “Something about going over to the Marina for lunch. I think there was more to it, but that’s what he said. Usually he ends up explaining.”
An hour later, Milo showed up at my house and explained.
“Had a nice cool drink at Bobby J’s,” he said, rubbing his gut. “Found a waitress who recalls Flora and Degussa eating there several times. Brunch and dinner. She remembered them because she thought they were an odd couple.”
“The teacher and the thug.”
“She said Degussa flirted with her shamelessly, and Flora just sat there and took it. She also said Degussa ate funny- all hunched over his food, like someone was going to steal it.”
“Prison etiquette,” I said. “She ever see Flora with Van Dyne?”
“Nope. Either it wasn’t on her shift, or ol’ Brian didn’t make an impression. Extra kudos to you for the Marina lead. I found an address there for Bennett Hacker.”
“Thought he lived on Franklin.”
“As of seven months ago he’s got two addresses, apartment on Franklin, condo on Marina Way. Maybe his weekend getaway.”
“Guess what paid for it,” I said. “I wonder how much kickback he got from Sentries.”
“Total billing was over a million and a quarter during the sixteen-month period, so there’d be enough for everyone. Larsen and Mary could have shot him and Degussa a third and still ended up comfy.”