“Really, Father?”
“Well, a short one.”
She sighs, and motions me to enter her hotel room.
“I have a major history with Sam Case,” I say. “That’s how he found and targeted you.”
“I know. Sam told me everything before he died.”
“By everything, you mean?”
“He said you stole his wife and ruined his business. Is that true?”
I try to think of a nicer way to put it, but I think she’s already put it the nicest way possible.
“I’ll take your silence as a yes,” she says.
“I ruined his business,” I said, “but his business was illegal.”
“Oh, please.”
I shrug.
“And the wife? Can I assume she forced herself on you?”
“Not at first,” I say. “But regardless, he had no right to punish me by manipulating you into becoming a killer.”
“Sam didn’t do that.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sam only found me a few weeks ago. Some other guy started the whole gain-my-trust-and-turn-me-into-a-killer thing. Then he turned it over to Sam.”
“What other guy?”
“Sam called him Darwin.” She looks at me. “Are you okay?”
I nod.
“So what’s the lecture part?” she says. “I should’ve called you first?”
“No. I understand why you didn’t.”
“Then what’s the lecture about?”
“Sam stole my identity. Probably had a broader plan to clean out my bank accounts some day. But anyway, he checked into the hotel under my name. Which means-”
“Shit. I killed him in your hotel room and walked away.”
She frowns. “I suck at this.”
“No. You’re amazing at this. You just need some training.”
She looks up at me. “So…I can still work with you?”
“For me. Not with me.”
She smiles.
I say, “Are you okay?”
“You’re asking because of the way I cut him up?”
“Yup.”
“I never used a knife before. The knife made it so…uh…”
She’s searching for the word. I provide it.
“Personal.”
“Yes, exactly! The knife made it so personal. It was hard, cutting through the tendons, and when all that stringy stuff scraped and clicked, it was completely unexpected.”
“Maybe we’ll ask Santa to get you a sharper knife.”
“Good, ’cause it took forever to saw through the muscle fibers. And who’d have known how much blood would spurt? And how far?”
“You knew, because you didn’t get it on your clothes.”
“Right. But still, it was really gruesome.”
“And?”
“I keep reliving it, over and over, in my mind. The look of terror on his face. The helplessness in his eyes.”
“And?”
“And every time I re-live it, I feel better about what I did to him.”
“That’s what we call a good kill, honey.”
“Thank you, Daddy.”
43
WE’RE ON THE jet now, wheels up. Maybe’s going to spend some time with Callie this afternoon, so we can get a better handle on how competent she is and how much she needs to learn. I suspect Darwin helped her obtain the physical skills and emotional mindset necessary to kill people, but she’s obviously got a lot to learn about the technical aspects of the business.
The good news is she’s young, and eager to learn.
The better news is she’s got Callie as a trainer.
The best news is she’s a natural.
I’d go on and on about it, but Sal’s calling me.
When I answer he says, “You’re not gonna believe this shit!”
“Tell me.”
“You know my niece?”
“Which one?”
“Sophie Alexander.”
“No.”
“Yeah you do. You met her at my birthday party. When you were with-whatcha call-”
“Kathleen.”
“Whatever. Okay, so you don’t remember, no problem. Anyway, I got this niece-”
“Sophie Alexander.”
“Right, and she’s a singer and songwriter.”
“Wait,” I say. “I remember her. Cute brunette. Big hair, sweet voice.”
“That’s her!” he says.
“What about her?”
“She’s gonna be-whatcha call-performing at my Fourth of July party.”
“That should make you very happy. And proud.”
“Yeah, whatever. So, are you coming?”
“I’m still working it out.”
“Reason I ask,” he says, then pauses for effect.
“Yes?”
He laughs. “You haven’t seen the news!”
“What news?”
“You’re gonna love this!”
“How good could it possibly be?”
“Oh, it’s good,” he says.
“Sal. I’m 42,000 feet in the sky, on a jet. Tell me your big news before we lose reception.”
“You remember Dani Ripper?”
“How could I not? The whole country’s talking about her.”
“She’s been staying with someone since the story broke.”
“Right. So what?”
“Guess who she’s been staying with?”
“The Blues Magoos? Lord Fauntleroy? A family of polar bears?”
“My niece, Sophie Alexander.”
“You’re shitting me!”
He laughs again. “I told you you’d love it!”
“I do. When can I meet them?”
“At my Fourth of July party!”
“That’s in what, five weeks?”
“Not soon enough? I can get you into her husband’s funeral, if you want.”
“When’s that?”
“Friday.”
“You’re going?”
“Fuck no! Are you crazy? Her husband drops dead in Cincinnati where I live and work? And Dani happens to be staying with my niece? You think they might wonder why I’m at the funeral?”
“You’re going to need my help.”
“With what?”
“When the cops make the connection they’ll arrest Dani for the murder. Then they’ll come looking for you.”
“Me? What the fuck?”
“Guilt by association. They’ll put the screws to Dani and Sophie and find out what happened.”
“Nothing happened.”
“Right. Here’s my question. Can you trust the shooter? Or do I need to get involved.”
“There is no fuckin’ shooter! Sophie says the guy died of a heart attack.”
“Sal.”
“Yeah?”
“I saw the husband on TV.”
“So?”
“No way he died of a heart attack.”
“I had nothing to do with it. Hell, I didn’t even know they were a couple till today.”
“Who’s a couple?”
“Dani and Sophie.”
“Holy shit!” I say.
“I know. We were hoping Sophie would marry a rich country singer.”
“This is great news!”
“What? Why?”
“Callie will be thrilled.”
“Why?”
“Because-” I stop. I can’t tell him Callie might steal his niece’s girlfriend. Nor can I tell him I’m excited to learn Dani likes women because maybe Callie and I will have a chance to hook up if Gwen’s not at the party. But Sal lets it slide. He only cares about one thing.
“You think Callie will come to my party?”
“I can guarantee it.”
“Tell her to wear a-whatcha call-bikini.”
“I will. But Sal?”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll need to get involved in the investigation. They’re not going to let this slide. Dani’s as high profile as it gets. This has to be handled properly.”
“Why are you saying this to me? I told you I didn’t do it.”
“What about Sophie?”
“What about her?”
“With the husband dead, she has a clear path to Dani.”
“If she wanted the husband killed, she’d go through me.”
“And she didn’t.”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“Okay. So who’s got her now?”
“Dani?”
“Yeah.”
“Nashville P.D.”
“You know anyone in the department?”
“Are you kidding me?”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
“What do you need?” Sal says.