Self-Defence

say?'

He walked over to the window. 'Okay, my thoughts are provoked, but let's not forget the only reason this came up in the first place is Lucy's dream. And we still don't know how much of that is real.'

'Karen Best's disappearance is real. And there'd be no easy way for Lucy to know that. Unlike the party, it wasn't covered in the Times. Best said all the major papers shined him on.'

I got the copy of the Shoreline Shopper and handed it to him.

'He paid for this. The paper went out of business shortly after. I doubt it's catalogued in any library.'

He read as I looked at the gulls. 'Says here no one saw her after she left the restaurant at eleven P.M. on Friday, never came home that night. So you're saying she went up to Sanctum and spent the night?'

'Maybe she had a one-night stand with a guy. A guy who picked her up and hurt her.'

'Trafficant?'

'He was famous.'

'Then what? He offs her Friday night? Or parties with her again on Saturday and then offs her?'

'In the dream, Lucy remembers lights and noise. Maybe that was the staff setting up, but it sounds more like the party itself.'

'The dream,' he said, shaking his head. 'So she's there working on Saturday. Slinging designer hash to hundreds of people and no one remembers her.'

'There's no indication either the sheriffs or Barnard made any connection to the party.'

'Maybe because Karen wasn't there.' He waved the clipping. 'This is major coverage, locally. You'd think someone around the beach area would have seen it.'

'That piece ran six months after the disappearance. Who's going to remember a waitress who served them half a year ago? With Lowell and movie stars at the party, who'd notice the staff, period? It would be nice to get hold of Felix Barnard and see if he has any of his old records, but I can't find a listing on him. Some background on the Sheas would be useful too. Like, have they gotten involved in anything shaky since then? I can pay another visit to the Sand Dollar and try to get more out of Reingold. The chef who catered the party would be another potential source. For old time cards or personnel records that could verify Karen's presence. Some guy named Nunez. Scones Restaurant.'

'Dead,' said Milo. 'AIDS, couple of years ago.'

'You knew him?'

'Rick knew him. Patched up a sliced finger in the ER. We went to his restaurant a couple of times and got comped. Vegetables I'd never seen before and the portions were too small.' He tapped the glass lightly.

'Have you punched Trafficant into the computer yet?'

He nodded. 'Nothing on NCIC. Haven't had a chance to look into his tax returns. Have you called his publisher?'

'No, too late to do it now, I'll try tomorrow. I may also get a chance to sound out his patron.'

I described my conversation with Lowell.

He said, 'Sounds like the asshole Lucy says he is. Why his sudden interest?'

'Good question. Peter phoned him from New Mexico, too, and told him about Lucy's suicide attempt. Lowell implied it was an attempted guilt trip that didn't work. He claims he has insights to offer on Lucy, though his tone was more contemptuous than concerned.'

'Insights? After all these years?'

'He's sure she hasn't changed much. The only thing I can think of is he's trying, in a bizarre way, to get some kind of relationship going.'

'By being contemptuous?'

'He's a real piece of work, Milo. Spews out words nonstop. He made such a point about not feeling guilty, it could mean on some level he does feel responsible.'

'Weird,' he said. 'So old Pucko continues to call everyone but Lucy. Guy gives me a definite bad feeling- like that picture on her TV. She's smiling, but he looks like he can't wait to get the hell out of there and jam a spike in his arm. And he's more than a penny-ante addict. Three arrests for possession of heroin and two for selling, all within the last six years. There's also a sealed juvenile record back in Massachusetts and some misdemeanor stuff with Boston PD. The biggest bust was three years ago. He tried to peddle thirty grand worth of smack to an undercover cop. Got off on technicalities, case dismissed. Gary Mandel was his lawyer. Ever hear of him?'

'No.'

'Ex-prosecutor, specializes in serious dope cases, very big retainer.'

'Think Puck's connected?'

'Thirty g doesn't make him King Smack, but it does make him more than a street-corner pusher. If he was playing with the big-tentacle crowd and offended someone, that would explain the quick escape. Whatever, Lucy ain't winning any family values sweepstakes; hope Ken turns out to be a good egg. When you gonna go see Daddy?'

'I'm not unless Lucy wants me to. And I'm not going to bring it up until I'm sure it won't agitate her.'

'Yeah.' He turned toward the tide pools. A couple of skiffs were floating out near the kelp beds. 'God, it's gorgeous here. You could forget what planet you're on.'

'Sure could,' I said, but I was thinking of log cabins and the crushing terror darkness could bring to a small child's mind.

The phone rang, jolting both of us. I picked it up.

'Doctor? Ken Lowell. I'm still in Palo Alto, but I wanted you to know I got that Brentwood place set up for Lucy. I'm catching a seven o'clock flight, should be able to be there by eight-thirty, nine. Do you want me to come by and pick her up or should I just meet you there?'

I asked Milo.

'Tell him to meet us.'

I did.

'See you then,' said Ken. He gave me an address on Rockingham Avenue. 'How's she holding up?'

'Fine.'

'Good. We Lowells are tough- built to take it.'

He hung up. I gave Milo the address and he wrote it down. He returned to the table, glanced at the Shoreline Shopper piece, and headed for the door. 'I'll see what I can do about locating the PI. Regards to Beauty and the Beast.'

'Where are you off to?'

'Get Lucy some dinner, and then we'll drive over to Brentwood, get her set up. I'm glad he came through.'

'Finally someone in the family does.'

'Yeah… I was planning to spend the night with her. Rented a suite- two separate bedrooms and all.'

19

No one had called by ten the next morning, so I phoned the Brentwood house. Ken answered, yawning.

'Oh, hi. We didn't get to sleep till late. Hold on, I'll get Lucy.'

Seconds later: 'Morning, Dr. Delaware.'

'How's everything?'

'Fine. I just got up. Ken and I were up late, talking. Hold on, please-'Bye, Ken- he just left to buy some groceries. He's nice… I keep thinking about Puck- I'm sure he'll be back any day but… I guess the last few days are a jumble. It's hard to believe any of this is really happening.'

She managed a brief, tight laugh.

'Would you like to come in?' I said.

'I would, but my car's still back at my place. I need to get it towed here.'