City of the Dead (Alex Delaware, #37)(82)

I said, “Con’s resisting that.”

“He says he is but I suspect he’s really holding out.”

“For…”

“A huge payout from Dad. He couldn’t get that from Judy because her parents were working-class but my family? Golden goose.”

She looked down at her lap.

“I probably shouldn’t say this, Doctor, because it makes me sound like some entitled airhead heiress but we made him a generous offer. Including free transportation to Louisville plus lodgings anytime he wants to visit, no questions asked. First-class airfare, five-star hotel, a car to use. We even said that if there’s no convenient commercial flight and the distance wasn’t too great, at least once a year we offered him a ride on the farm’s private jet. It’s a Citation Ten, nearly supersonic.”

I said, “It sounds as if you’re motivated to make it work.”

“I am, I really am, Doctor. On top of all that, he can have Philomena for any holiday other than Christmas because Christmas is a big, big deal at the farm. But any other holiday? Go for it. Plus if he did agree to come out to Kentucky, while he was there I’d stay out of his face and he and Philomena could have twenty-four seven together. Doesn’t that all sound reasonable, Doctor? Am I deluding myself when I truly think it is?”

I said, “Con doesn’t see it that way.”

“Con’s being Con. If he at least objected, I could respond and we could have a conversation. Instead he ignores me and so does his lawyer. Porer says it’s a ploy to keep wearing us down so we up the ante. I didn’t think so at first but now I’m inclined to believe him.”

“You didn’t think Con was interested in money.”

“Yes, because money never seemed to matter to him, Doctor. He drives a shitty old car, doesn’t really buy anything except books. Maybe he gives gifts to the women he cheats with, I don’t know. But they’re sure not expensive gifts. Nothing like that comes up on his credit card bills and I know because I pay them.”

“You’re pretty certain he cheats.”

She folded her arms across her chest, released them, looked at the ceiling. “Do I have ironclad proof? No. It’s just that…okay, let me give you an example. A month after Con moved out, so let’s say…two months ago, he came by to see Philomena. Which I’ve never blocked. In fact, it was his idea to move out. Though I’m not saying I argued…eventually it would’ve come to that and since my dad’s paying the rent…anyway, he came by to see my little sweetie and I came out front to see her off and saw his car but not him. Then, I spotted him walking up the block from one of the neighbors. A woman neighbor and they looked…chummy. I thought it was weird. Then I wondered, has this been going on all along? But I didn’t want to start anything in front of Philomena so I just raised my eyebrows. Besides, at that point I just didn’t care anymore. And he smiled and said, ‘Having a scholarly chat.’ I thought, About what? Your dick? But I said, ‘Okay.’ And he just waltzed by and took Philomena to the park and that was that. But if he was that blatant, a few houses away, middle of the day, who knows what he did at night?”

I said, “Is the neighbor someone you’d socialized with?”

“Not at all,” she said. “I’ve seen her coming and going, she’s some sort of doctor. Was some sort of doctor. Because listen to this.”

Another scoot forward.

“This is crazy, Doctor, but she actually got murdered a few days ago. Isn’t that horrible? Dad did research before we signed the lease and the neighborhood’s one of the lowest in L.A., crime-wise. So who’d expect? But I must admit I’m a little freaked out. All the more reason to get out of here and go back home.”

I said, “That is upsetting.” And the Oscar goes to…

“Exactly,” said Toni McManus. “Poor thing, losing her life in her own home? Even if she was fucking Con. And maybe I am being paranoid about her fucking Con, maybe he was just flirting, he’s all about that. Either way, I just have a feeling Con’s never been faithful. Obviously not to Judy, so probably not to his first wife. Or me. What I need, Dr. Delaware, is to put a fork in this marriage and move on. And I’m willing to do whatever it takes—psychologically, I mean. Whatever’s best for Philomena.”

My computer dinged. I said, “Time’s up.”

“So soon?” She frowned. “Oh, yeah, we started late. Sorry. I told Porer to be on time. Got here early and sat there waiting for him because he said to. I should probably think for myself, huh?”



* * *



—

I walked her out. At the door, she gave my hand a short, forceful squeeze. “Please help me, Doctor. Help Philomena.”

The green Porsche was gone.

She said, “No Lewis, thank God. Though I’m sure he’ll bill for travel time.”





CHAPTER


    36


I returned to my office with a brain that itched maddeningly. Sat for a long time trying to suppress the sensation. Instead, the feeling ballooned. Blossomed into a high-octane headache.

When the discomfort grew too strong to tolerate, I went to the kitchen, brewed my favorite medicine in the coffeepot, filled one mug (no logo) and another (Martin guitars) for Robin, pocketed salmon jerky for Blanche, and headed out back to the studio.