In Their Blood (33 page)

Oh Marina. Oh God.

The letter was written on yellow legal paper in her all-caps handwriting. How familiar it was to him. All those charts listing suspects and motives. Had she really intended to help him or had it simply been the spider’s way of keeping the fly in her web?

Mon amour:

I’m going away. That will be a big relief to you. Perhaps I should have left sooner. When your father had wanted me to go. At least I would have spared you the pain I’ve caused you.

I cannot leave without telling you some things about your father. Yes, he was a man, like most men, who didn’t have the strength to resist a woman’s seduction. But ultimately, he did. And not because of your mother or his marriage. No, Jeremy. Your father was no saint, but he couldn’t bear the thought of disappointing you. Of losing your respect should you ever learn of his human weakness.

He cared about you more than you realize. It was you he was always talking about. Yes, sometimes in frustration, but mainly with pride. He once said. “My son has the character to become the man I’ve been too weak to be.”

He loved you, Jeremy.

Marina

Jeremy squeezed his eyes shut. His father hadn’t really said that. Marina had just been trying to fix what she had destroyed between him and his father.

He loved you, Jeremy.

But he knew the letter was the truth. His father had loved him.

But that still wasn’t enough to numb the hurt.

Chapter 46

Liliam had decided on a black St. John’s knit suit with gold buttons after rejecting a low-cut cashmere sweater set and a pastel silk dress. Neither the sex kitten nor the ingénue seemed the right choice under the circumstances. Batting her eyelashes and faking tears wouldn’t achieve her purpose. She was playing for keeps this time.

She waited with Dwight in the alcove outside the PCM partners’ offices. He was picking at the bandage over his nose like a nervous child. Had she made a mistake involving him? Certainly not. People tended to underestimate her, but Liliam always had things well in hand.

That’s why she’d asked Dwight to draw up the papers weeks ago. She didn’t know when she’d have the opportunity to set her plan in motion, but she had wanted to be ready when the time came. And now, it had.

“They’ll be with you in just a moment,” Bud’s secretary said, appearing noiselessly from around the corner. “Can I get you anything, Mrs. Castillo?” Gladys, in her outdated glasses, looked straight through Dwight as though he were invisible. “Coffee? A soft drink?”

“How kind of you to offer, Gladys, but I’m fine. And again, thank you. I know I’m intruding without an appointment.”

“Mr. McNally and Mr. Luria are always happy to make time for you, Mrs. Castillo.”

The door to Bud’s office opened and the firm’s managing partner,
looking crisp and energetic, filled the hallway with his presence. “Liliam, what an unexpected pleasure.” Bud took her hand in both of his. “Dwight, nice to see you, too. Why don’t you both come into my office? Irv’s already here.” Bud glanced at his assistant. “Thank you, Gladys. Hold our calls, please.”

Irv, looking sullen and gray as though he’d binged on prunes, had the good grace to stand and acknowledge Liliam’s presence when she entered the room.

“Nice shiner,” Bud said to Dwight. “I’d hate to see the other guy’s fist.”

“My nephew,” Dwight said, settling himself into a chair.

“Jeremy hit you?”

“I was worried about his sister and went to check on her. My nephew attacked me because I let myself in.”

“You have a key to the Stroeb’s house?”

“Several, actually, from when I had the locks changed. And now I’ll probably have this damn tattoo the rest of my life. ” He opened his hand, revealing the outline of a key branded into his palm. “Look at this.” He covered the outline precisely with a silver key he’d taken from his pocket. Liliam had seen his little performance before, but Bud seemed fascinated.

“He practically broke my hand.”

“How terrible.” Bud leaned forward and picked the key up out of Dwight’s hand. He examined it, placed it back over its outline, then picked it up again and twirled it through his fingers.

“What a mistake his parents made naming him as guardian.”

Liliam cleared her throat.

“I’m sorry,” Dwight said. “These are my problems.”

“Well,” said Bud. “I’m sure you’ll work things out.” He turned his attention to her. “So Liliam, I understand you’re here on urgent business.”

“Enrique’s left,” she said.

Bud cocked his head and scowled slightly. “What do you mean?”

“Packed his bags and left. And not just an overnight bag. Two large suitcases.”

“When was this?” Bud’s voice was even. She couldn’t tell if he was concerned.

“Some time this morning. After they found that dead girl at the Stroebs’ house.”

“Fuck,” Irv said.

“Did he say anything?” Bud said, ignoring his loutish partner. “Where he was going? Why?”

“Not a word. I didn’t even realize he was gone until I returned home from the gym. Then I went up to our bedroom and sensed something was wrong. I opened his closets and found his clothes and the luggage missing.”

“No note?” Bud asked. “Anything to indicate where he went?”

“I’m sure he’s gone to the Olympus Grande. It’s always been his obsession.”

Irv looked over at Bud, who ignored the glance.

“Ordinarily,” Liliam said, “I wouldn’t be concerned. Except this time, I don’t think he’s coming back.”

“What makes you say that?” Bud asked.

“He hasn’t been himself since the murders. I think he’s had a breakdown and I’m worried. Not just for me and Carlos— we can take care of ourselves— but for the company. I’m worried about Castillo Enterprises.”

“That’s very selfless of you, Liliam,” Bud said. “Castillo Enterprises is important to me. I don’t know if you realize this, Bud, Irv, but I’ve been the wind beneath Enrique’s wings. I’m the reason Castillo Enterprises is what it is today.”

“I’ve never minimized your role in the success of the company, Liliam,” Bud said. “I know about your tireless work at SWEET, your zealousness in encouraging your husband’s endeavors.”

Liliam wasn’t sure whether he was bullshitting her, but she smiled. “Thank you, Bud. In any event, what was Enrique thinking? That the company will run itself in his absence?”

Bud looked disturbed. “So you believe Castillo Enterprises is at risk?”

“Very much so,” Liliam said. “It’s apparent that Enrique doesn’t care about the survival of Castillo Enterprises. I think if it were up to him, he’d be happy to see the company his father built ruined. I can’t let that happen.”

Bud was sitting up straight. “What do you have in mind?”

“I’d like you to support me as president and CEO of Castillo Enterprises.”

Irv shook his head almost imperceptibly.

“I’ve taken the liberty of asking Dwight to prepare the relevant papers.” Dwight handed her a blue-sheathed packet, which she placed in her lap beneath her folded hands, acting a composure she certainly didn’t feel.

Bud rubbed his chin, as though considering something. He glanced down at the chess set on the corner of the desk. “Y’all play?” he asked.

Instinctively, she smiled.

“Chess,” he said.

“Oh. I’m afraid chess was never my game.”

Bud gave a little half smile. “Well then, how about letting me have a look see at those papers?”

He was expressionless as he read, turning each page slowly.

“What we’re trying to do here—” Dwight said.

Bud held up his hand to silence him and continued reading. “These documents transfer majority ownership of Castillo Enterprises from Enrique to you, Liliam.”

“That’s correct.”

“Now Liliam, don’t get me wrong— I’d like to help if I
could— but it seems to me this is something between you and your husband.”

“You’re the only one he’ll listen to, Bud. You and Irv,” she said, trying to be polite. “Please, won’t you go to St. Mary’s and talk to him? Persuade him that it’s the best solution for everyone?”

“These papers would give you complete control of the company,” Bud said. “Are you sure that’s what you want? My mama always said, ‘Don’t go eatin’ little brown nuggets thinkin’ they be chocolate.’”

“I’m prepared for the bad as well as the good. It’s my son’s future.”

Bud closed the packet of papers. “Irv and I need to discuss this.”

“Of course,” she said, trying to hide her disappointment.

Bud patted Dwight on the back and shook Liliam’s hand at the door. “I’ll be in touch with you very soon.”

She lifted her chin, as she imagined her forebears would have done under the circumstances. “You know you and PCM will have my undying loyalty.”

Bud turned a hand-carved chess piece over in his hands. Mammoth ivory. The finest. The ivory was hard, yet fragile. If he dropped it, it would shatter irreparably. But he wouldn’t drop it. Bud hadn’t gotten where he was by dropping things.

And now, as often happened when he laid out the pieces strategically on the board, a solution had presented itself. Who would have imagined— Liliam Castillo, a knight in shining armor? A knight with no interest in protecting her king.

“So what do you think, Irv? Time for a changing of the guard?”

Irv’s hands were palsied, a sign that he was long overdue for a drink. “You do what you want. I’m finished with this business.”

Bud put down the chess piece. “Care for some, Irv?” Bud said,
opening his credenza and holding out a bottle of Drambouie like a cube of sugar for a horse.

Irv stood up. “I’m going back to my office.”

Bud left the bottle on the far corner of his desk. “Come on, Irv. Come with me to St. Mary’s. Help me persuade Enrique to turn over his company to Liliam.”

“I said I was finished. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Sit down, Irv.” Bud scrutinized his partner. There’d been a time Irv could have put Bud in checkmate, but that was many years ago. Now, Irv was simply a blight on the firm’s image. Rachel had been right about that. “So I suppose you’re willing to let Enrique prevail? Willing to let him get away with murder?”

“What are you talking about?”

Bud took the strap off its hook and slid it through his fingers. The strap his daddy had used to teach him that there were certain things in life he needed to avoid at all costs. “I spoke with the detectives this afternoon. They called after Enrique fled the country in his private jet. It’s apparent to them that Enrique left because of that girl’s murder.”

“They think he killed her? What business could he have had with Danny Stroeb’s graduate assistant?”

“That’s the thing. They believe she was killed in error. That Elise was his intended victim.”

“Impossible.”

“She found the transfer files on his yacht. Easy to imagine that he believed Elise connected them and him to her parents’ murders.”

“What are you saying? That Enrique killed the Stroebs?” Irv shook his head. “Impossible.”

“Impossible? You know what Rachel would have discovered when she got to the Olympus. And so did Enrique.”

Irv stood back up, teetering. “I’m leaving.”

“He was once in love with her. Come on, Irv, don’t give me that look. Everyone knew how they felt about each other. And with his macho Latin ego, do you think he could have handled Rachel seeing him for the failure he really was?”

“It’s not possible.”

“Think about it, Irv. Are you willing to let the man who murdered Rachel enjoy his memories on his private island?”

Irv brushed past him, picking up the bottle of Drambouie. “I want nothing more to do with this.”

Bud laid the strap down flat on his desk. “And here, I always thought Rachel meant more to you than that.”

Chapter 47

Jeremy awoke with a start. He was lying fully dressed on his bed. He checked his watch. 7:45. The brightness coming through the closed shades told him it was a.m., not p.m. He’d slept straight through since early yesterday.

His body was sore as though he’d been in a fight. He sat up, resting his elbows on his knees as he hung his head. Dried mud and leaves were stuck onto his sneakers.

The park. He’d gone to the park and read Marina’s letter. Then he had just sat there. In the grotto. It had to have been for hours. He remembered coming home, passing the tow truck with his father’s Corvair, going up to his room.

Jeremy heard voices downstairs. Tired footsteps climbed the staircase. A soft knock on the open bedroom door. “Jeremy?”

“Hi, Grandpa.”

“Elise was worried.” His grandfather leaned against the door jamb, as though needing the support. “Detective Lieber told us she’d seen you. That you were spending the night here at the house. But your sister was worried.”

Jeremy hugged his grandfather. “I’m okay, Grandpa.”

“I told Elise we’d stop by to see you on the way to school.”

“That’s good. Where is she?”

His grandfather looked around him, seemingly surprised that
Elise wasn’t standing beside him. “Elise?” he called out. “That’s strange. She was so anxious to see you.”

He and Jeremy hurried down the steps.

Elise was in the front foyer, standing perfectly still.

“Hey,” Jeremy said softly. “Are you all right, Ellie?”

She seemed to be unaware of her surroundings.

“Elise?”

She blinked her eyes, as though coming awake. “Oh God, Jeremy.”

“What is it?”

“I-I remembered.”

“What? Remembered what?”

“Just now. I was standing here and the house was so quiet and I heard his voice.”

“He’s not here, Ellie,” Jeremy said. “The murderer’s not here.”

His grandfather was shaking his head. “We never should have come.”

Jeremy took Elise by the arm, but she pushed him away. “You don’t understand. I know he’s not here now. But I remembered. I remembered what he said.”

“You remember his words?”

She nodded. She was trembling, an excited trembling, like when a kid’s had too much soda or chocolate. “Your-your mama’s calling you.”