“That’s my guess.”
She took out saucers and coffee cups and filled both from a thermos. She put a small pitcher of milk on the table and set the sugar bowl close by. Then she sat down. “You know what bugs me? The bill collectors were hounding him. And I mean, hounding him. A lot of it was nickel-and-dime stuff. I’m not saying the bills weren’t overdue, but some were in the two- to three-hundred-dollar range. There wasn’t anything major, except maybe his back rent. It burns my ass to think how many debts he could have paid off with money like that.”
“You know how he was. I’m sure in his mind, paying bills wasn’t any fun. That’s why he avoided it. I’m sure he felt better saving for a trip, which was at least something positive.”
“Oh, right, and thanks a bunch, pal. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with that plan.”
“If it’s any comfort, he probably hadn’t booked anything.”
“Be thankful for small favors.”
I put the clip of money on the table between us. “What are you thinking the source for this is?”
“You go first.”
“No, you first. You were married to him.”
“I think he was extorting money from someone. Mid-July, he told me business was looking up. He had some kind of job he thought might net him a paycheck. I think ‘a handsome chunk of change’ is the phrase he used.”
“Well, he did pick up a job running surveillance in Reno. That’s the work he asked Dietz to cover for him.”
Ruthie thought about that while the two of us stared at the wad of money. “Do you really believe that’s where it came from?”
“No.”
Ruthie actually laughed. “I appreciate your honesty. I thought chances were good that it was hush money of some kind. Who was the victim? Do you have any idea?”
“Pete had only one job in the last six months as far as we could tell. There are two or three people associated with that client, and of those, only one has money—a doctor out at UCST with something to hide. I was in his office less than an hour ago and there’s something off. Somehow Pete picked up a whiff of it and cashed in. I can’t prove it, of course, but I’d lay odds.”
“Honestly, I’m not saying I approve. All I’m saying is if my husband was a crook, I wish he’d been better at money management,” she said.
“With Pete, there’s always something to forgive,” I said.
“So what do you advise? You think I should go to the police?”
“And say what? At this point you really don’t know anything for sure. That’s part of what I’m trying to work out myself. I do think you have a point about preserving fingerprints. As long as you don’t intend to spend the money, I’d leave it alone. Hide it somewhere good.”
“Oh, you bet.” She propped her chin on her fist. “I wasn’t sure you knew about his tendency to play fast and loose. I wouldn’t have said anything myself, but you understand where he was coming from.”
“I knew him in the good old days and he wasn’t exactly a model citizen back then. Sweet guy,” I added in haste.
“I can’t tell you how much I miss him.” Her smile was pained. “I guess one of these days I’ll get used to it.”
32
When I arrived home, there was a parking spot right in front, which I took as a good sign. As I rounded the corner, moving into the backyard, I saw Henry in the act of closing his garage doors. He turned and picked up his four heavy plastic grocery bags, two in each hand.
“I thought you’d already done your grocery shopping.”
“These are for Ed. I’m trying five different brands of wet food to see which he prefers. He turns his nose up at beef. He says cats don’t eat cows.”
“Opinionated little guy, isn’t he? When I came home Tuesday, he popped in for a visit, just to have a look around. I was surprised he was out.”
“Ed was out on Tuesday? I don’t think so. He was in when I left and he was in when I came home.”
“That’s because I put him in.”
“How’d he manage to get out?”
“Beats me. Cats are mysterious. He might have transmogrified himself and slipped through the cracks like smoke,” I said.
“You think he’s capable of doing that?”
“How do I know? This is only the second or third cat I’ve met in my life.”
“I’ll have to keep an eye on him,” he said. “How was your meeting with Dr. Reed? I hope he put your mind at ease.”
“I wouldn’t go that far. There’s still a big chunk of the story missing and he’s not the one who’s going to fill me in. At any rate, talking to him was a good suggestion. I guess I should thank you for browbeating me into it.”
“I’ll take full credit.”
As soon as I let myself into the studio, I went straight to the phone and called Ruthie. When she answered, I said, “Hey, Ruthie. Kinsey Millhone again.”
“Forget the last name. You’re the only Kinsey I know.”
“Sorry about that. Force of habit. Quick question I should have asked you while I was there. The guy who bought Pete’s Fairlane pulled the junk out of the map pockets and the glove compartment. Do you still have that plastic bag?”
“I’m looking at it. I was just about to go through it. I need the proof-of-insurance card so I can call Allstate and cancel the coverage.”
“Could you check and see if there’s a parking ticket in there? Not a citation—from a pay lot. It’d be an ivory color with pale green stickers on the back.”
“Hang on. I’m putting the receiver down, so don’t go away.”
“I won’t.”
“I’m turning the bag upside down, shaking everything out on the counter,” she called. “Ick. There’s a dead bug. What the hell is that thing?”
“Take your time,” I said.
She came back on the line. “Good news. I found a savings passbook I didn’t know we had. Okay, here. I’m looking at a ticket from UCST with stickers on the back.”
“Is there a date-and-time stamp?”
“Says July 12. Machine stamped at twelve forty-five P.M. when it was issued, but that’s it. No time stamp going out or the machine would have eaten it.”
“Hold on to that, okay? I’ll pop over there first chance I get and pick it up.”
“No problem.”
I trotted up the spiral stairs to the loft, where I unzipped my all-purpose dress and stepped out of it. Then I stripped off my pantyhose with a sigh of relief. I pulled on my usual workaday rags and went downstairs again.
There was a knock at the door and when I opened it, there stood Anna. She wore jeans and a blue knit top that made her blue eyes electric. “I need to talk to you.”
“Sure.”
I stepped back, inviting her in. “Sit anywhere you like.”
She chose a kitchen stool. I moved around the counter to the other side so we were facing each other. I was aware that I was putting a barrier between us, but it felt appropriate. Given her demeanor, I wasn’t sure how cozy this chat was going to be. I’d been irritated with her. Now it was payback time.
She said, “I called Ethan to give him Henry’s number so he’d know where I was. He has questions.”
“And what might those be?”
“Not for you. Ethan thinks I should talk to Daddy’s doctor directly. Henry says you have his phone number.”
“Dr. Reed wasn’t his physician. He’s in charge of the research program your father was enrolled in at one point.”
“I still want to talk to him if it’s all the same to you.”
“May I say one thing first?”
“Say anything you like.”
“Your father was scared to death of Dr. Reed. He thought the test drug was killing him and that’s why he dropped out of the trial. I believe he was right. His friends are convinced of it, too, but of course Dr. Reed won’t own up to that. According to him, your father was incapable of adhering to the guidelines and the clinic gave him the boot.”