His suicide note was a printout of an e-mail?
Yes.
For the first time, they both looked uncomfortable.
I let the silence sit for a while. Raul looked straight at me. His gaze was steady, but his confidence was wavering. I could feel it. Ramon was looking at his shoes.
Who was it to? I asked.
The e-mail?
Yes.
We can’t tell you that.
The police asked you not to tell me that?
They asked us not to tell anyone.
Ramon nodded at his shoes.
Had Mr. FitzGibbon said anything to you yesterday, any other time, that might help us understand why he did this?
They both shook their heads. An almost convincing display of dismay.
Well, said Raul, we appreciate your concern.
Our time was up.
Dorita and I exchanged glances.
We needed that note.
101.
I hunted down Butch. I got him on his cell phone. I asked him what he knew about the note. The e-mail. Not much, he told me.
Who was the e-mail addressed to?
I don’t know.
Can we get a copy?
Whoa, Rick, he said. That’s a tall order. That’s a really fucking tall order.
I know, Butch. I hate to push it. You’ve been so great. But I think we’re on the verge. One last piece of the puzzle. That’s all we need. I just know this is connected to Larry Silver. I can feel it in my bones.
Dorita raised her eyebrows.
I ignored her.
If this doesn’t crack it, I said, I won’t ask any more favors. Promise.
Crack what, Rick? The guy threw himself out a window.
Maybe, I said. Maybe not. And whether he did or not, there’s still the ‘why’ of it. You know that.
There was a note.
So what? Anyone can type a note.
Yeah, yeah. I know. It’s not that I don’t want to do you the favor. You know I want to do it for you. But I’m not sure it’s possible. Shit. I don’t think I can get near it.
Can you at least find out what’s in it? Can you ask around?
I’ll see what I can do, Rick.
You’re a prince, man. I’ll buy you a beer.
You’re all heart.
I know. It holds me back.
I told Dorita what Butch had said.
Next step is to track down Jules, she said.
Maybe we should give him some time to settle down.
I’m not sure there’s time now.
Why not?
I don’t know. It’s a feeling. People are dying.
One person died.
Two, counting Larry Silver.
Okay, two.
Things come in threes, Ricky.
And I thought you had such a scientific mind.
Everything in its place, darling. I’m not saying I’m right. I’m just saying I have a feeling.
Let’s go with your feeling, I said. There’s not much else to go with.
I knew you’d see it my way.
I knew you knew that.
I guess you win then.
Finally, I said. Hey, don’t you think the way to Jules goes through Lisa? And isn’t she the weak link? Why don’t we try her first?
I’m not sure I agree that she’s the weak link. Just because she’s a woman? Is that what you’re saying? I mean, we’re dealing with a guy who slices up his gut with razor blades.
Good point. But I’ve dealt with both of them, and I’m telling you, he’s a tough nut to crack. She, on the other hand, seems to be constantly on the verge of breaking down, telling me something. Just my feeling.
Now you’ve got a feeling?
Yup. One of my very own.
My, you’ve become so sensitive in your old age.
It happens.
So it’s your feeling against mine?
No. I figured my reasoning was so compelling you’d be obliged to agree.
Ah, I’m quite sure you’re wrong about that. But I’m willing to do it your way, if only to create the illusion that you’ve finally made a contribution to the enterprise.
I’ll ignore that.
Suit yourself.
Where we’d find Jules, we’d no doubt find Lisa. Of course, they’d be together. An inconvenient detail. Back to Plan A.
We went to the loft.
We looked at the alley on the way.
It looked like an alley.
We rang the bell.
We were buzzed in. No questions asked. All of a sudden everybody seemed to want to talk to us.
I put it down to my natural charm.
Saw you from the balcony, Jules said when he opened the door.
He was sullen, but not overtly hostile. His anger seemed to have played itself out. Something about getting out of the police station, maybe.
Lisa was there, preparing drinks.
Hi, Lisa, I said.
Hi, she replied, without turning around. Familiarity or contempt, I wasn’t sure. Perhaps a bit of both.
You got a lot of nerve coming here, Jules said in a flat voice.
You let me in, I replied.
I did, he shrugged. You got me there.
It was time for tough love. Nothing else was working.
Listen, Jules, I don’t know what you were talking about at the station house. ‘Fucking with Lisa.’ I haven’t been fucking with Lisa. We just talked once. Before you got here.
Sure.
