legal fees alone cost more than entire pictures used to rack up. We were set up for a signing, going to make a big thing about it, press conference, photo ops. The day before, they change their mind.”
“How come?”
“People like that have to give a reason?” His fist hit the table. The wineglass bounced. He caught it. “Gotcha, you little bastard.”
Beckoning the waiter, he brandished the glass. “Take this away, it’s annoying.”
“Yes, sir.”
Flecks of foam had collected at the corners of Brent’s mouth. He made claws out of his hands, scratched air. “I put everything into it, Alex. Hadn’t taken on another client the entire year and I’m talking names, people pissed off at me. Everything else came my way, I delegated to other agents at the firm. So of course, my alleged friends and colleagues held on to everything after I got … after the deal got murdered and I had nothing, was starting from fucking scratch and my credibility’s worse than a politician. Everything changed. I got moved to a new office. Want to take odds it was bigger? Don’t.” Long sigh. “But I’m getting back to a good place in my life, every day’s progress.”
He shoved his plate to the side. “The deal was perfection, every
I said, “Thought they didn’t give you a reason?”
“I said that? I never said that. What I said was people like that don’t
His eyelids dropped farther. “Here’s a confession, Alex. For a while I got paranoid. About you. Did they go see you and you laid some shrink crap on them-spend more time with the kids, whatever-and
He reached across, patted my wrist. “I have to be honest, that’s one reason I wanted to meet with you. To find out what the fuck happened. So now I find out you don’t
“What kind of people are they?”
“What kind do you think? Selfish, narcissistic, inconsiderate, he’s an idiot, she’s a controlling bitch. You buy that Super Mom-Super Dad crap? It’s just part of the facade, everything about people like that is a facade. You ever hear him talk? Dluh dluh dluh dluh. That’s what passes for James Dean, now. Welcome to my world.”
The waiter came over. “Anything else, gents? Coffee?”
Brent said, “No. Check.”
I paid.
Brent said, “Good man.”
CHAPTER 43
I reached Milo at the coroner’s.
“Just watched a.45 slug get pulled out of Wedd’s head, a weapon ever shows up, it’s early Christmas. His apartment was vacant except for a mattress on the bedroom floor and some over-the-counter pharmaceuticals in the john. He used to get heartburn and headaches, now he’s passed both along to me. Had the place dusted, sent the meds and the mattress to the lab, located one relative, Wedd’s brother, cowboy-type in Montana where Wedd’s originally from. No contact with Brother Mel for years, was appropriately shocked about the murder, said Mel was always the wild one but he never figured it would get that bad.”
He paused for breath.
I said, “Wild but no criminal record.”
“Minor-league stuff when he was young-joyriding, malicious pranks, neighborhood mischief, a few fights. No criminal record because the sheriff was his uncle, he’d bring Mel home and Mel’s dad would whup him. Then Mel got bigger than Dad and the parents basically gave up.”
“When did he come to L.A.?”
“Ten years ago, brother’s had no contact with him since. He wasn’t surprised to know Mel had gone Hollywood. Said the only thing Mel liked in high school was theater arts, he was always getting starring roles, could sing like Hank Williams, do impressions. John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, you name it.”
“I’ve got something. You might even think of it as progress.”
I told him about the order from JayMar Lab, my talks with Kevin Dubinsky and Brent Dorf. Leaving out Len Coates because everything he knew was secondhand.
Milo said, “Knives and beetles. Her.”
“Purchased right around the time the baby was born. Poor little thing might’ve been targeted in utero.”
“I need to digest this … got time? My office, an hour.”
Midway through the drive to the station, I got a call from Len.
“Alex, I can’t tell you where I got this, so don’t ask, okay?”
“Okay.”
“The client we discussed did in fact opt for a therapist other than yourself. But the contact was limited to a single visit so obviously there was some serious resistance going on, don’t take it personally.”
“Thanks for the reassurance, Len.”
“Well,” he said, “we have feelings, too, no one likes to be passed over.”
“Agreed. One visit for what?”
He cleared his throat. “Here’s what I can tell you, please don’t ask for more: Client shows up late, can’t seem to articulate a good reason for being there, leaves before the session is over.”
I said, “Trouble focusing.” Thinking of Donny Rader’s voice on the line, his reputation as a barely literate dullard.
Then Len slipped and changed all that. “She … there was a lot of generalized anxiety, no ability to … explicate. Basically, it amounted to nothing, Alex, so I don’t see anything you can do with it.”
“I’m sure you’re right, Len. Thanks.”
“Law enforcement issues notwithstanding, Alex, none of this can ever be repeated to anyone.”
“I get it, Len. You have my word.”
“Good … you still taking patients?”
“Infrequently.”
“I’m asking because sometimes I get run-over. Good cases, not bullshit ones, things get crazy-busy, I could use backup.”
“Beyond your associates.”
“They’re kids, Alex. We’re vets. You interested?”
“Something short-term, in a pinch, I might be able to help.”
“Pretty busy, yourself.”
“It can get that way.”
“Playing Sherlock, huh? Ever think of selling yourself to TV? Make a good series.”
“Not really.”
“No interest at all?”
“I like the quiet life.”
“Think about it anyway, I’d produce in a heartbeat. And don’t be a stranger.”
I continued toward the station, thought about Donny Rader setting up an appointment, Prema Moon showing up late and leaving early, unable to explain what she was after.
