Chapman. I’d crossed him off my list, but based on his behavior earlier this evening I’d have to put him back on.”
“What kind of behavior?”
“He went semiballistic at a cocktail party over at the Captain Chadwick condos. I was there. You see, a childhood friend of Mitch’s is getting-”
“I knew it!” erupted Soave, who’d never had any use for the unlikely civilian in Des’s life. “I knew Berger would end up in the middle of this.”
“His friend, Kenny Lapidus, is engaged to marry a local yoga instructor named Kimberly Farrell. Her father is Dex Farrell. The Dex Farrell.”
“That thieving bastard cost me almost thirty grand,” Soave grumbled. “I’d like to punch him out.”
“You and everybody else. The Farrells live in the Captain Chadwick House. So does Kenny’s mom, Beth.”
“Is this the Beth Breslauer who the victim was hassling?” asked Yolie.
“The same. Hal’s a trainer at Kimberly’s fitness center. I knew he had a history-exposed himself to a girl back in high school. I also knew he was a major player with the ladies. But I didn’t know until tonight that he’s seriously into Kimberly. And has a major temper.”
“Okay, who else do you like?” Soave pressed her.
“You’ll also want to look at a local housepainter-slash-garbage head named J. Z. Cliffe,” Des answered, not bothering to mention the source of this particular lead. “J. Z. has a grudge against the rich old ladies in town. His girlfriend works nights. And he used to be married to Kimberly.”
“Sounds like this girl’s smack-dab in the middle of it,” Yolie said.
“I never trust yoga teachers,” Soave blustered. “That whole mellow act of theirs is a complete crock.”
“Time out…” Yolie whipped out her notepad and pen. “Sometimes I just have to write this stuff down.”
“And then there’s Kenny,” Des went on. “He’s a big-time computer geek up in Cambridge. Comes down every weekend to see Kimberly. Before tonight he didn’t strike me as a likely candidate to be our Flasher. But he’s in play now. I saw him out on his mother’s porch getting busy with Kimberly shortly before the attack. Once I took off after Augie, who knows where Kenny went.”
“Kimberly would know,” Yolie said.
“I saw something else just before the attack-Beth slipped out of the building and headed down Dorset Street alone on foot.”
“Was she carrying a Louisville Slugger by any chance?”
“Just her purse, Rico. And she was headed in the opposite direction of the crime scene. Still, she was out and about when this went down. And she was feeling harassed by Augie. And here’s one other thing you ought to know: Augie suggested to me that Beth Breslauer isn’t who she appears to be.”
“Meaning what exactly?”
“Damned if I know.”
“Well, who does she appear to be?”
“A well-heeled doctor’s widow from Scarsdale. When Mitch was a kid in Stuyvesant Town she was his neighbor. Her name was Lapidus then.”
Soave thumbed his moustache as he considered all of this. “Des, let’s be straight about one thing-do you or do you not believe that Augie Donatelli was the Dorset Flasher?”
She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “No, Rico, I don’t.”
“You’ve changed your mind about him?”
“Yes, I have.”
“Why?”
“Because we’re standing here looking at him, that’s why.”
Later, she climbed the narrow stairs up to Mitch’s darkened sleeping loft and crawled into bed next to him, stretching her naked self out against him.
“Gee, mom, is it time for school already?” he murmured.
“Very funny.”
“What time is it?”
“Just after three. Go back to sleep, baby.”
“Not a chance.” He kissed her, running his hands up and down her back. “Just give me ten more seconds to wake up and I’ll go fetch the lavender oil.”
“Not tonight. Go back to sleep, okay?”
“Something’s happened. What is it?”
“Somebody beat Augie Donatelli’s brains in. I found him in the bushes next to Rut Peck’s house.”
“My God, who…?”
“Either he was attacked by the Flasher or by someone who thought he was the Flasher. That’s the working theory, anyhow.”
Mitch’s sleeping loft wasn’t wired for electricity. He struck a match to light the oil lantern. She promptly blew it out.
“Don’t you want to talk about this?”
“I’m all talked out,” she replied. “Until nine a.m., which is when I’ll be getting my head chewed off by my barracks commander.”
“Why will Rundle be pissed at you?”
“Because I was tailing Augie when it went down. Hell, I was practically on top of the crime scene. And I had that public scene with him on Friday.”
“They don’t think you killed him, do they?”
“There are some people around town who definitely will.”
“Which people?”
“The ones who want me gone. Don’t approve of me.”
“Like First Selectman Bob Paffin, for instance?”
“Well, yes, now that you mention it.” She snuggled against him, hugging him tight. “Or do you think I’m being a paranoid nut job?”
“When I was growing up my parents used to tell me that there were people out there who hated us on spec-simply for being Jews. I didn’t think they were nut jobs. And I don’t think you are. In fact, I know you’re not.”
“Rundle will probably chain me to a desk until the case is closed.”
“All because you were out there doing your job tonight?”
“Basically. The good news is that Soave and Yolie are on it.”
“Not to worry then. They’ll figure out who killed Augie. Or I should say Yolie will. Mr. Potato Head will just puff and preen and say dorky things.” Mitch had reciprocal warm, fuzzy feelings for Rico. He cradled her face in his hands, his own face very close to hers. “Nobody who knows you-really knows you-will believe you had anything to do with it. And anyone who does think that, well, you’ll never win them over in a million years. So screw them.”
She caressed his cheek with hers, kissing him softly. “I don’t know what I’d do right now if I didn’t have you.”
“Now you know exactly how I feel every minute of every day.”
“How did I get so lucky?”
“Luck had nothing to do with it, thinny. I chased after you.”
“Did not. I’m the one who chased after you.”
“I was just letting you think that. It was my play all of the way.”
“Armando…?”
“Hmmm-mmm…?”
“Go get the lavender oil.”
CHAPTER 9
