The Devil's in the Details (34 page)

“Don't underestimate what we can tolerate.”

“You'll just add to my troubles. If they arrest you, that gives them something to manipulate me with.”

“You may be pinned down by enemy fire, but your platoon will be there for you. Do not give up the good fight.”

I wasn't sure that being stuck in a World War II time warp was consistent with having full use of your faculties. “
You
may not be afraid of jail, but Alvin hates being arrested.”

“We don't plan on being arrested. I am eighty years old. Consider the optics.”

“That reminds me, speaking of optics. Keep on top of the media reports. I'll try and find a phone and check in every now and then.”

“Roger.”

“I'd like you to talk to my brother-in-law, Conn. He'll know what's going on. To ensure his personal survival at the hands of my sisters, he won't want his colleagues to shoot me.”

“Ms. MacPhee, we can leave Young Ferguson's cellphone for you at a designated spot. That way you will not find yourself at the mercy of payphones.”

“Thanks but no thanks. That's aiding a fugitive. But there is something positive you can do. You and Alvin can get every piece of information possible about a group called the Settlers. You can search the computer. Alvin can head over to the library. They love him there.”

“The Settlers? You mean that paramilitary outfit? Twenty years back? Females mostly. Bank robberies and bombs. Bad combo. They got a lot of coverage in the media, then they fell off the radar.”

I should have known Mrs. P. would be in the loop. “See if you can find anything about their leader and also how they recruited their members. If any of them have been caught. Bundle the information together, and I'll figure out later how to get my hands on it.”

“On the double.”

“Here's the most important thing. You cannot trust Elaine Ekstein. If she contacts you, don't tell her what you're doing, and don't believe a word she says.”

“You mean Ms. Ekstein is a turncoat?”

“I find it hard to believe, but it sure looks that way.”

“And she may have some connection with this thuggery? How shocking.”

“You're telling me.”

Romanek picked up his private line. “Romanek.”

“This line okay?” I said without saying who I was.

“No problem.”

“Good.”

“Well, MacPhee. You do have a way of getting media attention. What are you trying to prove?”

“Good question. Originally, I wanted to prove Laura Brown was murdered. Now I'm trying to find out who killed her and who killed these other women before they kill anyone else. And before I get tossed in jail.”

“You don't make it easy for a guy to build a credible defence.”

“Hold on . . .”

“This is not a caper movie with a happy ending. It's for real, MacPhee.”

“You know me, Sheldon. Do you seriously think I'm killing women?”

“The stuff you've been pulling off, the original charge could be jaywalking, and they could still put you away in a federal institution.”

“So you're glad to represent me.”

“I can't counsel you to stay on the run. I have to do what's in your best interests.”

“I'm your client, you should follow my wishes.”

“Where did you go to law school? Within the confines of the law, I can follow your wishes. You want me on your case, start taking advice.”

“Any hope of a defence?”

“Diminished responsibility. We'd go for that first.”

“That means thirty days for psychiatric assessment right off the bat. And then more time for the hearing.”

“Count yourself lucky.”

“I'd be locked in the
ROH
.”

“What difference does it make where you're locked up?”

“Good point.”

“So you ready to deal?”

“Deal? What do I have to deal with?”

“This is Sheldon Romanek representing you, remember?”

“How could I forget. No strip search. Under any circumstances.”

“Your tame cop, Mombourquette, was clear about that. I'll put it on the table.”

“Not negotiable. It's like a phobia.”

“What's that old line, MacPhee? Can't do the time, don't do the crime?”

“Okay, I haven't committed these crimes. This whole thing is a conspiracy.”

“Conspiracy. Great. Crazy talk like that will help our argument. It fits with the head injury, which is the best we got so far.”

“Sarcasm is beneath your stature as the city's most effective prosecution-buster. I'll get back to you with details on the conspiracy thing. It has to do with a seventies-style urban terrorist plot.”

“We'll reserve your whacko ideas for when we really need them. In the meantime, I'll call a press conference. Give them your demand. I'm calling it a basic human rights issue. Might get national attention. But you'll have to surrender if they agree.”

“You get some kind of guarantee we can trust, and I'll consider it.”

“Not consider. Do.”

“I'll call you.”

“MacPhee? Don't hang up.”

“Bunny?”

“Wow, Camilla!”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Me and Tonya are rooting for you.”

“Appreciated. Look, I'm sorry about your ladder. I hope it didn't have your fingerprints all over it.”

“Please. I am a pro. Hypothetically.”

“I already owe you one, and now I need you to do me a favour.”

“Anything.”

“I need a book I left at my sister Donalda's place. Just go and say you're a concerned friend or something. Whatever.”

“I'll say I'm a grateful client. What's the name of the book?”

“
One Man's Justice
by Thomas R. Berger, and I left it in the rec room, perhaps even under the sofa. She probably doesn't know it's there. The book is mine, so you are not committing a crime by picking it up.”

“Anyway, I don't even know you're a fugitive.”

“Let's hope you don't have to rely on that in court.”

“Tonya says the same thing. She says it's nothing against you personally, but I have to think about us now.”

“Smart girl, Tonya.”

“Even so, I told her that if it weren't for you, I would have served federal time, and what kind of future would that have meant for our kids. That's true, so she didn't kick up too much of a fuss.”

“Interesting reasoning, Bunny.”

“Hang on. Tonya's asking why don't I just buy you a copy of the book?”

“It has to be that particular copy. Tell Tonya I think she's right about you staying out of trouble, and I'll find another way to get it.”

“That book is going to be by the dumpster in the side alley by Tonya's hair salon, The Cutting Remarque.”

“Don't get caught.”

“It's a deal. How can I reach you?”

“You can't. My last borrowed cellphone died.”

“Bummer. Anything else you need?”

“Not unless you can get me a new identity or an answer to who is killing all these people.”

I gave Bunny Donalda's address and crossed my fingers for both of us.

I needed to eat something. I had nothing in my stomach, and I thought that might be contributing to my lightheadedness. Somehow the place didn't do much for my appetite. Might have been the sweat socks. I settled for a large bag of cheesies which had not previously been opened and a can of root beer. Add a few more crimes to my rap sheet.

I selected a new wardrobe while I was at it: a Sens baseball cap, a Sens
T
-shirt, baggy jeans, pretty much the only clean clothes in the place. I passed on the footwear. There are limits to desperation. I was about to face the street again, when the door opened.

A young man with a bad brush cut and a sleeveless sweatshirt said, “Hey.”

“Just leaving,” I said.

He raised his fists. “What are you doing here?”

“Home inspection,” I said. “Landlord sent me.”

“I don't think so.”

“Sorry, my mistake.”

He rammed one fist into the other. “You're right there.”

“Let's all stay calm,” I said.

“Hey, I know who you are. You're that whack job that killed those women. You're worth a lot of money. Cops will be grateful.”

“They'll also be impressed with your green thumb.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I can get rid of that.”

“I don't know. Sufficient quantity to consider you a grow-op.”

He wrinkled his brow. This thinking stuff was obviously not as easy as it looked.

I said, “Tell you what. Don't bother calling the cops, because you'll only get arrested, and I will forget about what's in your kitchen. Because if you get that cash, you won't be eligible for legal aid, and you'll have to waste it all paying your lawyer.”

The furrows deepened.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out a twenty. “Go get something to eat. When you come back, I'll be gone and your secret will be safe with me.”

I waited until he was out of sight but not long enough for him to figure out how to get the reward without jeopardizing the crop. I slipped into my new Sens gear, put on my trusty sunglasses and tried not to fall down the fire escape.

I gave Bunny time to take care of business before I grabbed a cab to Merivale Road. I got off a block from The Cutting Remarque and walked. I felt a bit stronger and more awake. My vision was less blurry, things were looking up, if you didn't count the fact I was having memory problems. Five minutes later, I was behind the hair salon. I felt even better when I spotted three bags tucked discreetly out of sight beside the dumpster, looking like overflow garbage. The smallest bag contained
One Man's Justice
, the largest one, proudly bearing the Wal-Mart name, had a black tank top with Pretty Baby on it in sequins, a pink pleather mini-skirt, a woman's jean jacket, extra small, a pair of candy-pink sandals with three-inch heels and a blonde straight wig. A smaller Wal-Mart bag contained a transparent plastic makeup kit plus a mirror. The makeup was still in its packaging. The lipstick was candy pink. The first I'd ever owned. The look included a pair of neon-pink sunglasses. Bunny had even found another cellphone, a slightly clunky older model. I decided not to worry about who owned it. But the real thrill was the box of baby wipes. I used about twenty of them to get the dirt off my face, hands, knees, arms and feet. I could have used a shower, but those baby wipes were better than nothing.

Bunny had come through big-time. I was guessing Tonya had put her stamp on the project too.

I'd adapted to changing in the open. I ducked behind the dumpster and slid out of the baggy jeans and the Sens gear. I squeezed myself into the mini-skirt and the tank top. I could hardly breathe. I promised myself if I stayed out of jail, I'd eat fewer shawarmas. I put on the wig and did my best to adjust it. I added the sunglasses. There was no way I wanted to make eye contact with anyone.