Devil's Waltz

37

The indictment made the third page of a news-thin Saturday paper. The headline was PROFESSOR CHARGED WITH MURDER AND CHILD ABUSE, and an old college photo of Chip was included. In it, he looked like a happy hippie; the article described him as a “sociological researcher and recipient of several teaching awards.” The mandatory sample of disbelieving colleagues was quoted.

Next week’s story swallowed that one up: Chuck Jones and George Plumb’s arrests for conspiracy to commit the murder of Laurence Ashmore.

A co-conspirator named Warren Novak — one of the gray accountants — had cut a deal and was telling all, including the fact that Plumb had instructed him to draw cash out of a hospital account to pay a hired killer. The man who’d actually cracked Ashmore’s skull was described as a former bodyguard for Charles Jones named Henry Lee Kudey. A photo showed him being escorted to jail by an unnamed federal agent. Kudey was big and heavy and sloppy-looking and appeared to have just woken up. The marshal was blond and wore black-framed spectacles. His face was a nearly equilateral triangle. As a Western Peds Security guard he’d called himself A. D. Sylvester.

I wondered why a government agent would be doing the arresting on a homicide until I came to the final paragraph: Federal charges against Chuck Jones and his gang for “alleged financial wrongdoings based upon a lengthy government probe” were imminent. Anonymous “federal officials” were quoted. The names Huenengarth and Zimberg never appeared.

At four o’clock on a Tuesday, I made my fourth attempt to reach Anna Ashmore. The first three times, no one had answered at the house on Whittier Drive. This time, a man did.

“Who’s calling?” he said.

“Alex Delaware. I’m on the staff at Western Pediatric Hospital. Paid a condolence call last week and just wanted to see how she’s doing.”

“Oh. Well, this is her attorney, Nathan Best. She’s doing as well as can be expected. Left for New York last night to visit with some old friends.”

“Any idea when she’ll be back?”

“I’m not sure she will.”

“Okay,” I said. “If you speak to her, give her my best.”

“All right. What did you say your name was?”

“Delaware.”

“Are you a doctor?”

“Psychologist.”

“You wouldn’t be in the market for some bargain real estate, would you, Doctor? The estate will be divesting itself of several properties.”

“No, thanks.”

“Well, if you know someone who is, tell them. Bye.”

At five o’clock, I stuck to a recently acquired routine and drove to a small white house on a shady dead-end street in West L.A., just east of Santa Monica.

This time Robin came along with me. I parked and got out. “Shouldn’t be long.”

“Take your time.” She pushed the seat back, put her feet up on the dash, and began sketching pearl-inlay designs on a piece of Bristol board.

As usual, the house was curtained. I walked up the path of railroad ties that split the lawn. Vermilion-and-white petunias struggled in the borders. A Plymouth Voyager van was parked in the driveway. Behind it was a dented copper-colored Honda. The heat was really settling in and the air felt thick and greasy. I couldn’t detect any breeze. But something was causing the bamboo chimes over the doorway to clank.

I knocked. The peephole slid open and a pretty blue eye filled it. The door swung back and Vicki Bottomley stood aside and let me pass. She wore a lime-green nurse’s smock over white stretch pants. Her hair was sprayed tight. A pumpkin-colored mug was in her hand.

“Coffee?” she said. “There’s a little left.”

“No, thanks. How’s it going today?”

“Seems to be better, actually.”

“Both of them?”

“Mostly the little one — she’s really come out of her shell. Running around like a real little bandit.”

“Good.”

“Talking to herself, too — is that okay?”

“I’m sure it is.”

“Yeah. That’s what I thought.”

“What’s she talking about, Vicki?”

“Can’t make it out — mostly babbling. She looks happy enough, though.”

“Tough little kid,” I said, walking in.

“Most kids are... She’s looking forward to seeing you.”

“That so?”

“Yup. I mentioned your name and she smiled. ’Bout time, huh?”

“Sure is. Must have earned my stripes.”

“Got to, with the little ones.”

“How’s she sleeping?”

“Good. Cindy’s not sleeping so good, though. I keep hearing her get up and turn on the TV a bunch of times every night. Maybe the Valium withdrawal, huh? Though I don’t notice any other symptoms.”

“Maybe that, or just plain anxiety.”

“Yeah. Last night she fell asleep in front of the TV, and I woke her and sent her back to her room. But she’ll be okay. Doesn’t have much choice, does she?”

“Why’s that?”

“Being a mother.”

The two of us began walking through the living room. White walls, beige carpet, brand-new furniture barely out of the rental warehouse. The kitchen was to the left. Straight ahead were sliding glass doors that had been left wide open. The backyard was a strip of Astroturfed patio followed by real grass, pale in comparison. An orange tree heavy with ripening fruit served as a centerpiece. At the rear was a scallop-topped redwood fence backed by phone wires and the roofline of the neighboring garage.

Cassie sat on the grass, sucking her fingers while inspecting a pink plastic doll. Doll clothes were strewn on the grass. Cindy sat nearby, cross-legged.

Vicki said, “Guess so.”

“What’s that?”

“Guess you’ve earned your stripes.”

“Guess we both have.”

“Yeah... You know I wasn’t too happy having to take that lie detector.”

“I can imagine.”

“Answering all those questions — being thought of like that.” She shook her head. “That was really hurtful.”

“The whole thing was hurtful,” I said. “He set it up that way.”

“Yeah... I guess he knocked us all around — using my bunnies. They should have capital punishment for people like that. I’m gonna enjoy getting up on the stand and telling the world about him. When do you think that’ll happen — the trial?”

“Probably within a few months.”

“Probably... Okay, have fun. Talk to you later.”

“Any time, Vicki.”

“Any time what?”

“Any time you want to talk.”

“I’ll bet.” She grinned. “I’ll just bet. You and me talky-talking — wouldn’t that be a hoot?”

She slapped me lightly on the back and turned around. I stepped out onto the patio.

Cassie looked at me, then returned to the naked doll. She was barefoot and had on red shorts and a pink T-shirt patterned with silver hearts. Her hair was topknotted and her face was grimy. She appeared to have gained a little weight.

Cindy uncrossed her legs and stood without effort. She wore shorts, too. The skimpy white ones I’d seen at her house, below a white T-shirt. Her hair was loose and brushed straight back from her forehead. She’d broken out a bit on her cheeks and chin, and tried to patch it with makeup.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hi.” I smiled and got down on the ground with Cassie. Cindy stood there for a moment, then walked into the house. Cassie turned to watch her, lifted her chin and opened her mouth.

“Mommy’ll be right back,” I said, and lifted her onto my lap.

She resisted for a moment. I let go. When she made no attempt to get off, I put one hand around her soft little waist and held her. She didn’t move for a while; then she said,

“Ho-ee.”

“Horsey ride?”

“Ho-ee.”

“Big horsey or little horsey?”

“Ho-ee.”

“Okay, here we go, little horsey.” I bounced her gently. “Giddyap.”

“Gi-ap.”

She bounced harder and I moved my knee a little faster. She giggled and threw her arms up into the air. Her topknot tickled my nose on each assent.

“Giii-ahp! Giii-ahhp!”

When we stopped, she laughed, scrambled off my lap, and toddled toward the house. I followed her into the kitchen. The room was half the size of the one on Dunbar Drive and furnished with tired-looking appliances. Vicki stood by the sink, one arm elbow-deep in a chromium coffeepot.

She said, “Well, look what the wind blew in.” The arm in the pot kept rotating.

Cassie ran to the refrigerator and tried to pull it open. She wasn’t successful and began to fuss.

Vicki put the pot down, along with a piece of scouring cloth, and placed her hands on her hips. “And what do you want, young lady?”

Cassie looked up at her and pointed to the fridge.

“We have to talk to get things around here, Miss Jonesy.”

Cassie pointed again.

“Sorry, I don’t understand pointy-language.”

“Eh!”

“What kind of eh? Potato or tomato?”

Cassie shook her head.

“Lamb or jam?” said Vicki. “Toast or roast, juice or moose?”

Giggle.

“Well, what is it? An ice cream or a sunbeam?”

“Eye-ee.”

“What’s that? Speak up.”

“Eye-ee!”

“I thought so.”

Vicki opened the freezer compartment and took out a quart container.

“Mint chip,” she said to me, frowning. “Frozen toothpaste, if you ask me, but she loves it — all the kids do. You want some?”

“No, thanks.”

Cassie danced a quick little two-step of anticipation.

“Let’s sit down at the table, young lady, and eat like a human being.”

Cassie toddled to the table. Vicki put her on a chair, then pulled a tablespoon out of a drawer and began to scoop ice cream.

“Sure you don’t want some?” she asked me.

“I’m sure, thanks.”

Cindy came in, drying her hands on a paper towel.

“Snack time, Mom,” said Vicki. “Probably ruin her dinner, but she did pretty good on lunch. Okay with you?”

“Sure,” said Cindy. She smiled at Cassie, kissed the top of her head.

“I cleaned out the coffeepot,” said Vicki. “Down to the dregs. Want some more?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Probably go out later to Von’s. Need anything?”

“No, I’m fine, Vicki. Thanks.”

Vicki set a bowl of ice cream in front of Cassie and pressed the round part of the spoon into the green, speckled mass.

“Let me soften this up — then you can go at it.”

Cassie licked her lips again and bounced in her chair. “Eye-ee!”

Cindy said, “Enjoy, sweetie-pie. I’ll be outside if you need me.”

Cassie waved bye-bye and turned to Vicki.

Vicki said, “Eat up. Enjoy yourself.”

I went back outside. Cindy was standing against the fence. Dirt was clumped up around the redwood slats and she imbedded her toes in it.

“God, it’s hot,” she said, brushing hair out of her eyes.

“Sure is. Any questions today?”

“No... not really. She seems to be fine... I guess it’ll be... I guess when he’s on trial is when it’s going to be hard, right? All the attention.”

“Harder for you than her,” I said. “We’ll be able to keep her out of the limelight.”

“Yeah... I guess so.”

“Not that the press won’t try to get pictures of both of you. It may mean moving around a bit — more rented houses — but she can be shielded.”

“That’s okay — that’s all I care about. How’s Dr. Eves?”

“I spoke to her last night. She said she’d be coming by this evening.”

“When’s she leaving for Washington?”

“Couple of weeks.”

“Was moving something she planned or just...”

“You’d have to ask her that,” I said. “But I know it didn’t have anything directly to do with you.”

“Directly,” she said. “What does that mean?”

“Her moving was personal, Cindy. Nothing to do with you or Cassie.”

“She’s a nice lady — kind of... intense. But I liked her. I guess she’ll be coming back for the trial.”

“Yes, she will.”

A citrus smell drifted over from the orange tree. White blossoms dusted the grass at the tree’s base, fruit that would never be. She opened her mouth to speak, but shielded her lips with her hand instead.

I said, “You suspected him, didn’t you?”

“Me? I — Why do you say that?”

“The last couple of times we talked, before the arrest, I felt you wanted to tell me something but were holding back. You just had that same look now.”

“I–It really wasn’t suspicion. You just wonder — I started to wonder, that’s all.”

She stared at the dirt. Kicked it again.

“When did you start wondering?” I said.

“I don’t know — it’s hard to remember. You think you know someone and then things happen... I don’t know.”

“You’re going to have to talk about all of it, eventually,” I said. “For lawyers and policemen.”

“I know, I know, and it scares me, believe me.”

I patted her shoulder. She moved away and hit the fence with her back. The boards vibrated.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I just don’t want to think about that now. It’s just too...”

She looked down at the dirt again. It wasn’t until I saw the tears drip from her face and dot the soil that I realized she was crying.

I reached out and held her. She resisted, then relented, leaning her full weight against me.

“You think you know someone,” she said, between sobs. “You think you — You think someone loves you and they’re... and then... your whole world falls apart. Everything you thought was real is just... fake. Nothing — Everything’s wiped out. I... I...”

I could feel her shaking.

Pausing for breath, she said “I” again.

“What is it, Cindy?”

“I–It’s...” Shaking her head. Her hair brushing against my face.

“It’s okay, Cindy. Tell me.”

“I should have — It didn’t make sense!”

“What didn’t?”

“The time — He was... he was the one who found Chad. I was always the one who got up when Chad cried or was sick. I was the mother — that was my job. He never got up. But that night he did. I didn’t hear a thing. I couldn’t understand that. Why didn’t I hear a thing? Why? I always heard when my babies cried. I was always getting up all the time and letting him sleep, but this time I didn’t. I should have known!”

She punched my chest, growled, rubbed her head against my shirt as if trying to grind her pain away.

“I should’ve known it was wrong when he came to get me and told me Chad didn’t look good. Didn’t look good! He was blue! He was... I went in and found him lying there — just lying there, not moving. His color... it was... all... It was wrong! He never was the one to get up when they cried! It was wrong. It was wrong — I should have... I should have known from the beginning! I could have... I...”

“You couldn’t have,” I said. “No one could have known.”

“I’m the mother! I should have!”

Tearing away from me, she kicked the fence, hard.

Kicked it again, even harder. Began slapping the boards with the flats of her hands.

She said, “Ohhh! Oh, God, oh!” and kept striking out.

Redwood dust rained down on her.

She gave out a wail that pierced the heat. Pushed herself up against the fence, as if trying to force herself through it.

I stood there, smelling oranges. Planning my words and my pauses and my silences.

When I got back to the car, Robin had filled the board with designs and was studying them. I got behind the wheel and she put them back in her folio.

“You’re drenched,” she said, wiping sweat from my face. “Are you okay?”

“Hanging in. The heat.” I started the car.

“No progress?”

“Some. It’s going to be a marathon.”

“You’ll make it to the finish.”

“Thanks,” I said. Hanging a three-point turn, I drove away.

Halfway down the block I pulled over to the curb, jammed the transmission into PARK, leaned across the seat, and kissed her hard. She flung both arms around me and we held each other for a long time.

A loud “ahem” broke us apart.

We looked up and saw an old man watering his lawn with a dribbling hose. Watering and scowling and mumbling. He wore a wide-brimmed straw hat with a ragged crown, shorts, rubber sandals. Bare-chested — his teats sagged like those of a woman wasted by famine. His upper arms were stringy and sunburnt. The hat shadowed a pouchy, sour face but couldn’t conceal his disgust.

Robin smiled at him.

He shook his head and the water from his hose arced and sprayed the sidewalk.

One of his hands gave a dismissive wave.

Robin stuck her head out the window and said, “Whatsamatter, don’t you approve of true love?”

“Goddam kids,” he said, turning his back on us.

We drove away without thanking him.