Postcard killers

Chapter 103

Montecito, USA

The directions Jacob had been given led him to a huge gate at the end of a paved private road.

A tarnished bronze sign revealed that this was THE MANSION, with a very definite capital M.

No false modesty here.

Jacob sat in his car for a moment studying the surroundings.

While he had been cruising the streets of Montecito, he realized that this whole area was a playground for the wealthy and famous. Many of the houses were showy mansions built in a faux Mediterranean-style, with ornate gates and colorful bougainvil ea.

This one was different, though.

The wal s were several feet high, unwelcoming, granite gray. They stretched as far as he could see up toward the hil s. They protected the house and grounds so wel that he had no idea what might be on the other side.

The Mansion, my ass. More like the Fortress. To protect what secrets?

He got out of the car and went up to the phone to the left of the gate.

"Si?" a crackling voice said.

So it wasn't entirely uninhabited.

"Hola," Jacob said. "Speak English?" He had many good qualities, but a 137 talent for languages wasn't one of them.

"Si. Yes."

"Jacob Kanon, NYPD. New York City police. I'd like to ask a few questions about the Rudolph family. It's important that I speak to someone."

"Can you hold your ID up to the camera beside the phone?"

Opening his wal et, Jacob pul ed out his badge and held it up to the camera.

"Come in!" the crackling voice said, and the tal gates started to glide apart.

A smal Tudor-style gatekeeper's lodge was situated some fifty yards in on the left. The door opened and an elderly man limped out onto the drive.

Jacob stopped the car again and climbed out.

"You've no idea how long I've been waiting," the man said, holding his hand out and saying that he was Carlos Rodriguez.

"What for?" Jacob said, surprised.

The man hastily crossed himself. "The kil ing of Mr. Simon and Mrs.

Helen has been unsolved for too long! It is like a heavy weight I carry."

"So you knew the Rudolphs?" Jacob asked.

"Knew?" Carlos Rodriguez exclaimed. "I've been the gardener here for more than thirty years. I was here the night it happened. I cal ed the police."