Closet Confidential (28 page)

I had no idea what order the photos had been in before the box had fallen out, but I straightened them up in what seemed to be a Jack-like arrangement. I headed back up the stairs, got the stepladder, brought it down, and replaced the box on the shelf. I closed the door and took the stepladder back upstairs again. I loaded the blankets into the rented Matrix and headed out. I didn’t let myself think much more about the photos, because I couldn’t figure out what the hell that was all about.

I dropped off the blankets to Jack and Little Nick. The baby was happily gurgling in Jack’s arms, distracting Jack from a couple of guys who were vying for his attention. Apparently they were desperate to order DT Swiss wheels, whatever they were. I didn’t want to break up that happy scene, so I left the blankets and went straight to the hospital. At this rate, Jack would need to bring his part-time repair guys in for more hours and put them to work in sales, too.

Luckily there was a new cop guarding the room, an officer I recognized from the crime scene. He looked to be a few years past retirement, one of those guys who didn’t want to give up the job. He let me through to visit Pepper on her say-so, although I knew he was keeping a fatherly eye.

“Pepper,” I said brightly knowing the cop was listening. “You asked me to pick up your toothbrush and a few toiletries, but I couldn’t get into the house.”

She opened her swollen eyes and said, “What? Oh, right. I’ll have to give you my key.”

“Great. I’ll go pick up whatever you need and bring it right back.”

She blinked. That looked painful. “I don’t know where my keys are.”

“The keys were in your vehicle. Oh hell, Tierney must have them.”

“I’ll have to ask him to bring them in,” she said.

First I said, loudly, “Yes, maybe do that tomorrow.” Then I leaned forward to whisper in her ear, “I don’t want him to know that I’m going there.”

I didn’t mention that we had no idea where Nick’s house keys were. Did the police have those, too?

“Right,” she mouthed.

I fished a piece of paper out of my purse.

Pepper wrote,
Mavis Morley. Cleaning lady. And CODE 7622#. Front and back doors
.

Of course, Pepper had someone clean her house when she was working. She scrawled the name, address, and telephone number. She scribbled,
You distract him
—she stopped writing long enough to point to the hallway—
and I’ll call her and tell her to hand them over. Pass me the telephone
.

I complied, then grinned and stepped into the hallway.

“Excuse me, Officer,” I said, beckoning him away from the door. I lowered my voice. “I don’t want her to hear me.”

He glanced toward the door and said, “I can’t leave my post.”

I whispered, “You don’t need to. Step away so that she can’t hear us. Keep your eye on the door.”

“What is it?” he said when we’d moved a few yards down the corridor.

“I need to know what you’ve found out about Detective Monahan’s husband.”

“I can’t tell you that,” he blustered. “That’s up to the brass. They’ll make a briefing.”

“We’ve all been friends since we were kids. I am worried about her. Do you think he means to harm her? I mean would he come in here and—?” I gave him my best expression of alarm.

Oddly enough, I thought this guy wasn’t buying the idea of Nick as the deranged husband, either. I said, “Because if it wasn’t him, it was sure somebody, and I need to know what kind of person you’re looking out for.”

“You actually need to mind your own business,” a voice said behind me. I whirled to find Tierney, back again. Didn’t the man have any work to do? “This officer is far too experienced to fall for your cheap tricks.”

“Guess you’re right,” I said, sheepishly. “Sorry. You can’t blame me for trying. By the way, Pepper’s wondering where her keys are. She’s hoping I can go over tomorrow and pick out some toiletries.”

“I could send a uniform,” Tierney said.

I shook my head. “Too personal. Whenever you’re ready to give up the keys, let me know. I’ll say good night to Pepper now.”

Pepper gave me the high sign as I left, and then she turned an anxious eye toward Tierney. Tierney didn’t think I should stay on to hear whatever he had to say.

Mavis Morley’s kind face was full of questions, but she handed over the key without a fight. “I sure hope Mrs. Monahan’s better soon.”

I nodded. “Me, too.”

“It’s hard to believe that Mr. Monahan would do such a thing,” she said, shaking her tight gray perm. “There was never any sign of anything like that.”

“No,” I said, “there wasn’t.”

“I don’t hold with that at all, wife beating. I didn’t think he was the type. Her, neither.”

“We’ll wait and see what the police turn up. They haven’t proved that he did it.”

“But they’re looking for him.”

“Yes, but I’m not convinced, and his wife’s
absolutely
not convinced.”

“The poor thing. But that’s often the way, isn’t it? They can’t accept that it happened to them.”

I pulled up in front of Pepper’s house and noticed the unmarked car parked two houses down the street. My favorite bright young officer was sitting in it looking alert and on the ball. I was pretty sure he’d already spotted me, too. So much for checking out the Monahan house surreptitiously. I got out of the Matrix and walked back to his car, hoping for a chance of picking up some new information.

“No luck yet?” I said.

“No sign of him.” I imagined he was thinking,
This is Nick Monahan. Anything’s possible
.

I added, “I don’t suppose he’ll come home when there’s an APB out for him.”

He shrugged. “Or if he saw me talking to you for that matter. That might scare him off.”

“You’re right. You guys could do better in the camouflage department.”

“Tell me about it,” he said with a quick grin. “I’m only a foot soldier. I don’t get to make those strategic decisions.”

“Nice to see you,” I said. “Gotta go now. Good luck with your assignment.”

“You, too,” he said with a wide grin. “Watch out for Tierney. He’s on the warpath.”

I hoped that meant he wouldn’t let Tierney know that I’d been cruising down Old Pine Street.

I made a quick call to my friend, Rose Skipowski, to check how she was doing and to ask a big favor. She was doing fine and she was happy to help. That left me at loose ends. I headed home to Truffle and Sweet Marie. We had a walk, they had some food, and I tried a bit of training. When the dogs took their hourly nap, I sat at my little desk and made a list of the things that were bothering me.

Top of the list was Where’s Nick? followed by:

The issues about Anabel Beauchamp, her tragic death, and her mother’s obsession would have to go on a separate list. There was so much to worry about that it put my little no-barking project with Truffle and Sweet Marie into perspective, that was for sure. The worst part was that there wasn’t much I could do to find answers to any of those questions.

I took an ice cream break before I picked up Ramona’s file to have another look at the information there. Reading it in CYCotics hadn’t been ideal for concentration. I had stopped reading closely in the excitement of spotting Brad Dykstra’s name as the paramedic who’d been first to the scene when Anabel died. Now, I took my time and read closely and carefully. Nick Monahan’s name appeared in one of the articles as one of the officers at the site. I decided it was worth it to try and find the name of the other officer so I could ask him or her about Nick’s behavior. In the third clipping an Officer Dean Oliver was quoted.
Got him now
, I said to myself. I wasn’t sure exactly what I’d be asking this Officer Oliver, though, so when I finished checking through the files and clippings, I decided to take a little trip. There was still plenty of June evening before it got dark. And the time was right.