Postcard killers

Chapter 111

Jacob went back to his car and made a phone cal.

Carlos Rodriguez answered with the same crackling si as he had at the gate of the Rudolphs' mansion in Montecito.

"Jacob Kanon here," Jacob said. "NYPD? We spoke yesterday."

"Si, senor.?Que pasa? How can I help you, Detective?"

"Just one more question. It's about Sandra Schulman. You said she was with them at the Mansion that last weekend before the auction? Is that correct?"

"Si. Why?"

"You're quite sure?"

"Sandra used to play here since she was a little chiquitita. Of course I recognized her. She and Malcolm were boyfriend and girlfriend."

"How did Sylvia feel about her?"

"Oh, I don't know. She liked having Malcolm to herself. They were very close, brother and sister."

"Did you speak to Sandra that evening at the house?"

"Si, claro! She kissed me on the cheek."

Jacob pushed the hair from his forehead.

"You said the twins left in the middle of the night. Did you see them drive away?"

"Pero claro que si. They woke me up. The gate can only be opened manual y, from inside the lodge."

"Did you notice if Sandra Schulman was in the car?"

There was silence at the other end.

"It was late at night," he said. "You couldn't see anything inside the car."

"But you spoke to the Rudolphs?"

"With the senorita. She was driving."

"But you didn't actual y see Sandra Schulman leave the property?"

There was a moment's silence.

"She must have gone with them, because they didn't leave her behind."

Jacob covered his eyes with his hand.

"Thanks," he said. "That's al I needed to know."

He ended the cal and quickly made another.