Guilty Minds

48

Gideon Parnell’s admin, Rose, got me in to see him between appointments.

He greeted me with a kind of handshake-hug. He was wearing a dove gray suit, a French blue shirt, and a maroon tie. His cologne was peppery.

“I’m surprised you’re still here,” he said. “I thought you’d be back in Boston by now.”

“I have some unfinished business I need a bit of help on.”

He looked a little perplexed. “Of course. Have a seat.”

I sat on his guest couch, and he sat in a wing chair next to me.

“You know the law firm Norcross and McKenna?” I said.

He raised his eyebrows. “Certainly.” His voice sounded different now, low and disdainful. “I’d keep my distance, I were you.”

“They’re apparently the key to finding out who really owns Slander Sheet. They’re the firm that incorporated their holding company, the Slade—”

“That’s all water under the bridge at this point, Nick. Slander Sheet is an object of ridicule. I don’t really care who owns that piece of garbage.”

“I do. Because last night, Kayla Pitts was found dead.”

His large liquid eyes widened and his mouth came open. “What?” he rasped.

“She was in a hotel room adjoining mine.” I explained about how she’d called and I’d gone to rescue her at the private airport. I left out where I’d gone last night afterward, breaking into Curtis Schmidt’s house — that was irrelevant. And not the sort of detail he needed to know.

“Good Lord,” Gideon said. “You don’t think it could be a suicide?”

“Not given the circumstances, no.”

“You think someone killed her.”

I nodded.

“And staged it to look like a suicide.”

“Right.”

“So who would do such a thing?”

“Maybe someone who was afraid of what she’d expose. Which is why I want to know who the real owners of Slander Sheet are. And I think the answer’s going to be found at Norcross and McKenna.”

He nodded. “I know a lot of people, but I don’t know anyone there. Which is no surprise — that’s a highly secretive crew. I mean, they’re doing all sorts of confidential work for tobacco companies, the nuclear power industry, gun manufacturers... but I’m not sure I understand what you’re up to.”

“If I find out who owns Slander Sheet, I’m one step closer to finding out who had Kayla murdered.”

“Or Slander Sheet may have nothing whatsoever to do with Kayla’s death.”

“Maybe not. But I intend to find out.”

“Well, you do what you gotta do. Though we can’t keep paying you, you understand.”

“Understood.”

“Personally, I’m not sure what’s to be gained by turning over rocks. Like they say, you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas. Nick, the work you’ve done on behalf of Justice Claflin has been extraordinary. Let me tell you, Jerry Claflin will never forget what you did. I’ll never forget it. What happened to that poor girl is terrible, but it’s not your responsibility. You did nothing wrong.”

“I don’t agree, Gideon. That girl’s death is on me.”

“You’re a compassionate man, Nick, I know that. But you shouldn’t feel guilty. You didn’t do a damned thing wrong.”

I rose, put out my hand to shake his. “Thanks,” I said.

“Hey,” he said. He placed a hand on my shoulder. “You’re a hero.”

I smiled, and nodded, and didn’t argue. But I knew who I had to see next, as painful as it might be.

My father.