The Puppet Master

I told her yes, and when she left, I asked Eldon if I could sit down. It took him a few seconds to answer, but he said yes, so I sat. Then, using his stubs as the third point of a mobile tripod, he went to another chair and got into it with a remarkable movement, a one-armed vault, torso twisting, free hand grasping the far arm of the sturdy overstuffed chair. And this man was 61 years old! I curbed my gawking and made a little small talk, an awkward, one-sided monolog.

The nurse came in with a tray, holding a teapot, two cups and saucers, a cream pitcher, and a sugar bowl with tongs. And oatmeal cookies. There was a little side table by each large chair; she served and left. I sipped, and tried to think of something to say that wouldn't sound inane. 'Are you and Aldon identical twins?' I asked, then realized the question was insensitive on two counts. But after the typical long pause, he answered.

'Yes. Identical. But . . . we . . . were . . . always . . . different.'

He may be brain-damaged, I told myself, but he's not stupid. Not across-the-board stupid. I found myself saying, 'Different but close, I suppose.'

'Yes,' Eldon said. 'Close. Stood . . . up . . . for . . .  each . . . other. Always.'

It hurt to hear it. But he seemed okay now. Not cheerful, but resigned. Accepting.

Then I heard the front door open, and got to my feet. A minute later Veronica Ashley strode into the room. Her eyes moved to me like a laser. She was not pleased. 'I'm Veronica Ashley,' she said. Making it a challenge. 'Mr. Ashley's wife.'

She wasn't a tall woman, but she had presence. Her build was sturdy. I got the impression of someone who worked out, probably at the faculty women's health club. But the strongest impression was of will, perhaps mixed with unforgivingness. Maybe she could have climbed the encina with a gun and shot Ashkenazi.

'You're also Arthur Ashkenazi's sister-in-law,' I said. 'My name is Martti Seppanen. I presume you've heard about his death.'

'I was informed by his attorney.'

'He was shot in the head,' I added. 'Once, right through the brain, with a 9mm pistol.'

She was definitely startled by that. 'He didn't tell me that,' she said. 'I'd assumed—assumed he'd died of natural causes.'

Something felt wrong here, but I had no notion what. 'I'm investigating the death on a contract with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department. Do you have any idea why someone would shoot your brother-in-law?'

'None at all.' Veronica Ashley was fully in control of herself now.

'Have you had any contact with him recently?'

'We haven't seen Aldon since their mother's funeral, ten years ago. And barely then.'

'Not even in connection with the trust fund he set up for you? To help take care of Eldon?'

She grimaced, her face darkening with blood. 'No. His attorney handled it.'

I glanced at Eldon. He was watching intently, his mouth slightly open. His eyes were unreadable, but it seemed to me he was comprehending it all. And that it was new to him.

'You're the payee of the fund. What do you suppose your brother-in-law was worth?'

Her answer was stiff. 'I have no idea.'

'I don't either, Mrs. Ashley, but apparently quite a few million.' I changed direction on her then. 'Perhaps you have some idea who might have killed him. Think back. These things can grow out of old grudges.'

Her lips had compressed. Now they opened. 'Am I a suspect, Mr.—?'

'Seppanen. Detective Seppanen. Family is often suspect in these matters, Mrs. Ashley. That's a general rule.'

'Well I'm afraid I can't help you. And you can believe this or not, but I hope you catch the gunman. If for no other reason than to remove any suspicion from me.'

The way she said it, it felt like the truth.

13

I drove home trying to make sense of it, and getting nowhere. Back in my apartment, I phoned Tuuli. It was late to ask for a date that evening, so knowing her taste for space opera, I suggested the Star Wars festival showing at the New Hollywood Palladium. The first three movies in one marathon night! In honor of the ninetieth anniversary of George Mather, who'd produced the special effects for the first one.

When I finished my pitch, she answered me in Finnish. 'Martti,' she said, 'that was nice of you. But what you're really looking for is distraction from whatever is on your mind. And I don't feel like being a distraction tonight.' She may have picked up that I felt abused by her answer, because after a moment she added: 'But I'd enjoy visiting on the phone awhile. Tell me about your day.'

So I did: the day and the night before. When I'd told her about getting the data on Veronica, Tuuli interrupted. 'When was she born?' When I said November 10, 1950, she laughed.

'A Scorpio! It fits like a glove. Sometimes they don't. Just a minute.' I waited. After a minute she was back. 'I just looked up her horoscope in this morning's Times. It says Scorpios should avoid strangers today, that they could cause serious danger.' She laughed again. When I'd run the rest of it by her, she said I was getting close, that it would start coming together soon. Starting tomorrow.

'What do you mean?'

'It's not explicit. But a lot of things are going to simplify for you.' She paused. 'You might want to call Carlos this evening.'

So I let her go and phoned him. His machine told me he and Penny had gone to the New Hollywood Palladium,