Secret Prey

THIRTEEN

LUCAS STEPPED OUT OF THE ELEVATOR, BRUSHED PAST a couple of uniformed cops in the hallway, stopped in ODells door and looked down at the body. She was lying flat on her back, her feet toed in, her nose pointed straight up. Her face had been ruined by the two gunshots; a small bloodstain was visible in the carpet below her skull. He could smell the blood.

What the fuck is this? Lucas asked in anger and utter disgust. What the fuck is it?

An older plainclothes cop named Swanson was sitting in a ladder-back chair, flipping through an appointment book. Same old shit, he said. Swanson had seen maybe six hundred murders in his career. Watch your feet, nothings been processed.

His partner, who was named Riley, said, We got that McDonald woman coming over. She was here just before the shooting.

Audrey McDonald? How do we know that? Lucas asked. He was walking around ODell, peering down at the body as though a clue might be written on it.

ODell was on the phone with a friend from the bank when she was killed. The frienduh, let me see, Louise Comptoncalled us, called 911. But anyway, just before

ODell was killed, she told this Compton that Audrey McDonald had just left. We understand youve been talking to her. Audrey McDonald.

Never laid eyes on her, Lucas said. Talked to her husband. He squatted next to ODell, picked out the powder burns on her face. Small- to medium-caliber pistol, fired from a few inches away, he thought. Got a slug?

Swanson pointed a pistol at an entryway wall. Right there… well get it. And it looks like maybe the second shot was fired when she was already down, so it might be right under her head. Wooden floors.

What about this friend? Compton?

Shes on her wayought to be here any minute, actually.

Lets get something over her then, Lucas said. Cover her up.

Ill get it, Riley said.

What time we got? Lucas asked.

Compton called 911 at eleven-oh-four, Swanson said. She say she was on the phone, heard the shots, and when ODell didnt come to the phone after she screamed for a few seconds, she called. So we figure it was a minute or two after eleven oclock.

You know, Sloan and Sherrill have already interviewed everybody involved, Lucas said. Maybe you ought to get them up here.

All right Ill give em a ring.

Christ, what a mess, Lucas said, turning away from the body. She opens the door and bang. Thats all.

Thats about the way we see it… We called you because youre up-to-date on this bank thingwe figured if its a goofball knocking off the top guys…

Doesnt make sense, Lucas said. Shes the wrong one to get shot.

Huh?

We thought Kresge was shot because he was pushing a merge with a bigger bank. But ODell was going after his job on the basis ofstoppingthe merger.

Swanson said, Maybe the merger doesnt have anything to do with it. Maybe they were killed for some bank reason, but nothing to do with the merger.

Lucas said, I dont know.

Whatever happened with the firebomb business? Swanson asked.

Nothing. Just fuckin nothin, Lucas said. His mind switched tracks to the firebomb. And Knox, the Caterpillar man, was probably right, he thought. A kid in the neighborhood who liked to watch fires. But not a street action.

RILEY PULLED A RUBBER SHEET OVER ODELLS BODY and stood up and turned. People in the hall. Then Wilson McDonald stepped through the door, jerked to a halt when he saw the figure on the floor, and said, My God, is that her? Audrey McDonald followed reluctantly, a foot or two behind, and peeked around her husband at the covered body. She reminded Lucas of a small, brown hen.

Swanson was just punching off his cell phone: Sloan was on the way. Whore you? Swanson asked.

Wilson and Audrey McDonald… McDonald spotted Lucas emerging from the kitchen hallway. Lucas had taken a quick tour of the apartment after talking to Swanson, but had found nothing that meant anything to him. Officer Davenport… what happened?

Somebody shot ODell, Lucas said flatly. He examined McDonald, then his wife, then said, Where were you tonight at eleven oclock?

McDonald flushed: Are you questioningme?

Do you have an answer to the question?

McDonald looked at his wife, then said, I was driving home. Id just left Jim Bones place.

Your wife was here, and you were at Jim Bones?

Yes. We were trying to put together a deal on the succession to Dan Kresge. We needed to talk to the two of them simultaneously.

Lucas shifted his gaze to Audrey: And you were driving home as well.

Yes. She touched her throat. I was.

Her voice touched a memory cell: How long were you here? Lucas asked. And what did you decide?

We were arranging Wilson McDonald started, but Lucas waved him down.

Please let your wife answer, Lucas said.

McDonald looked down at Audrey, who said, falteringly, Well, we were arranging… talking about… votes on the board of directors. The board appeared to be split three ways, and if we could arrange an alliance with one or the other of them… She shrugged.

And Lucas recognized the voice as the woman on the telephone earlier that day. He wasnt absolutely positive, but he would have bet on it. The timbre of her voice and the pacing of the words were very close.

Did you see anyone in the hall when you left? Or downstairs? Swanson asked, swerving off the topic.

There were some people downstairs, but nobody I recognized, Audrey said. There wasnt anybody up here. The hallway is short… She pointed back to the hall through the open apartment door. Therere only two apartments.

Lucas pulled them back to the meeting: What did you decide? Did you get your alliance?

Well… Audrey looked at her husband, whose lips were pressed tight in anger.

This has nothing to do with who killed Susan ODell, does it? he asked. Youre trying to screw me so your pal Bone gets the CEOs job.

Hes not my pal, Lucas snapped back.

No? Who handled the money for your IPO and the management buyout? And you were in his office last week talking about me. I havent done anything and youve been spreading rumors that are killing me.

Lucas shook his head: Routine…

Bullshit. My lawyer used to be a cop, and he says its nothing like routine.

So get your lawyer down here if you want, Lucassaid. But I want an answer: Did you strike a deal with Susan ODell?

Wilson McDonald looked down at his wife, who stared back, then nodded almost imperceptibly. Wilson turned back to Lucas: Yes, we did. Between the two of us, we had the votes. She becomes president, I become chairman. I work on strategic issues, she works on day-to-day matters.

How about Bone?

He shook his head: Bone is committed to the merger. We couldnt talk.

So, if ODell hadnt been shot, youd have had the job.

And Bone would have been out, McDonald said. Why dont you go ask your pal about that one?

Swanson stepped in: Mr. McDonald, were gonna ask you to step out into the hallway while we talk to your wife. No big problem, you can take a chair if you wish, but we need a statement from her, a sort of blow-by-blow account of everything that happened.

I thought she had a right to an attorney, McDonald blustered.

She does, Swanson said, And if she wants one, we can wait until you get somebody here. But were not accusing her of anything at all. We just want to hear what happened.

Then why cant I stay?

Because you have a way of answering her questions for her. Weve been through this before, and weve just gotten to the point where we ask the spouse to step outside. An attorneys fine, if she wants one now, or she can ask for one at any time.

McDonald looked at his wife for a moment, as if weighing the possibility that she would say something strange under questioning, then looked back at Swanson and nodded. Ill take a chair. And to Audrey: The minute they push the wrong button, you come get me, and well have Harrison get up here.

Okay, she said, swallowing nervously. Dont go far away.

WHEN WILSON MCDONALD HAD GONE, LUCAS SAID, Detective Swanson is going to talk to you for a few minutes, then Detective Sloan will want to ask a few questionsDetective Sloan has already spoken to your husband…

Up at Dans cabinhe told me about it, Audrey said. She seemed more assertive when her husband wasnt around.

I have to leave in a minute or two, but Id like to talk to you privately just for a moment, you and I, Lucas said. He looked at Swanson. I just need to speak to her for a second.

Sure.

Lucas escorted her into ODells kitchen, lowered his voice: I believe I spoke to you earlier today.

What? Was she really surprised? he wondered. There was an instant of surprise in her eyes. I dont believe so.

Mrs. McDonald, you have a rather nasty bruise on your leg, just above your ankle: Is that new?

I just… She looked away, groped for a word… bumped myself.

No, you didnt, he said. Your husband beat you up last night. Would you like a call from the domestic intervention people?

No, no, we only had a little argument.

If we took you downtown and had one of our policewomen take a look at you, shed find a lot of bruises, wouldnt she?

Thats illegal. I want to see my husband.

Okay. Lucas raised his hands. Like I said, this is just between you and me. If you dont want to make a complaint, Im not going to insist on it. But you should. It never gets better, it always gets worse.

Things will get better. Wilsons been under a lot of stress. This job…

Just a job, Lucas said.

Oh, no. She was shocked. This… this is everything.

BEFORE HE LEFT, LUCAS TOOK SWANSON ASIDE: TREAT her very carefully. Get as much as you can on her personal history, everythingand tell Sloan that I want her wrung out, but not scared. Dont push her into getting an attorney.

Are we trying for anything in particular? Swanson asked. He turned half sideways to look at Audrey, who was perched on a chair in ODells home office.

If we can do itvery gentlyitd be nice to get a wedge between her and her husband. Dont be obvious, but if the opportunity comes up, itd be good to let her know that her interests and her husbands are not necessarily the same.

BACK IN HIS CAR, LUCAS PICKED UP THE CAR PHONE and called St. Annes College, which was located a few blocks from his house in St. Paul. He told the St. Annes operator that he knew it was late and nuns commonly dont take calls from men in the middle of the night, that this was an emergency and perhaps a matter of life and death, that he was with the police department… and he got his nun.

Sister Mary Joseph, a psychology professor and childhood friend hed always known as Elle Kruger: Lucas? Is somebody hurt? A sharp, somewhat astringent voice, becoming more so as they got older.

Nothing like that, Elle. Im sorry to disturb you, but I have a couple of questions on a case.

Oh, good. I was afraid… Anyway, have you read theIliadlately?

Uh, no, actually. He looked at his watch. Had to get to Bones place.

Have you ever read it?

Thats the one… No, thats theOdyssey. I guess not. Same guy, though, right?

Lucas… She sounded exasperated. I keep forgetting you were a jock. Listen, go down and get theIliad, the one thats translated by Robert Fagles, thats the one Im reading now, and Ill tell you what parts to read if you dont want to read the whole thing.

Elle…

The thing is, this translation is much coarser, in all the right places, than the old onesmy goodness, the Trojan War resembled one of your gang wars. That was always obscured by the language of the other translations, but this one… the language is brilliantly apt.

Elle, Elle tell me later. Im calling from my car and Ive got a serious question.

She stopped with theIliad: Which is?

If a woman is routinely beaten by her husband, is it likely that she might betray him behind his back, while defending him when he was around?

Of coursewouldnt you if you were in her shoes?

No.

No, you probably wouldnt. Youd probably go after him with a baseball bat… But yes, a woman might do that.

Im not talking about some kind ofpro formadefense. Im talking about really believing in the defense. But at the same time, betraying him to the police anonymously, then denying it even to the police.

This isnt a theoretical question.

No.

Then youre dealing with a badly abused woman who needs treatmentif its not too late for treatment. Some people, if theyre abused badly enough, will identify with and even love their abusers, while another side of their personality is desperately trying to get out of the relationship. Just to use a kind of laymans terminology, you could say you have a condition of… mmm… stress-induced multiple-personality disorder. The part of her personalitythat sincerely defends her husband may not even know that the other part of her personality is betraying him.

Shit… Excuse me, Lucas said. So even if I broke her out from her husband in, say, a murder case, she could be impeached as being nuts.

Nuts is not accepted terminology, Lucas, she said.

But she could be impeached…

Worse than that. If she were required to testify in the presence of her husband, she might flip over and start defending himlyingbecause he so dominates her personality.

All right.

Will I be meeting this woman?

Probably not, Elle. Ill tell you about it next time we talk. Right now, Im running.

Take care.

You too.

BONE LIVED IN A HIGH-SECURITY BUILDING MUCH like ODells, and not more than a five-minute walk away. Lucas dumped the Porsche in a no-parking zone outside the glass front doors, and when a security guard came to the doors, flashed his ID and was admitted to the lobby.

I need to talk to James T. Bone, Lucas said.

Dont know if Mr. Bone is in. He often goes out at night, the guard said, moving behind the security console.

Ring him and let it ring about fifty times, Lucas said.

The guard did that, and after a few seconds, said into the phone, Mr. Bone, this is William downstairs. Im sorry to bother you, but theres a police officer here asking to see you… Yes, Deputy Chief Davenport, and he says its urgent. Yes sir.

He hung up the phone: Mr. Bone is on fourteen, he said. Take the elevator on the right.

BONE WAS WAITING IN THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE HIS apartment door: as Lucas got off the elevator, he realized that this hallway also had only two doors, as had ODells. Something ticked at the back of his mind, but the thought was gone as Bone stepped out and said, Whats going on?

Bone was wearing jeans and a T-shirt, but was barefoot.

You alone?

No, actually, I have a friend here… Come on in. What happened?

Lucas stepped inside. A woman, about Bones age, was sitting on the couch.

This is Marcia Kresge, Dan Kresges wife. We were just talking strategy.

Was Wilson McDonald here an hour ago? Lucas asked.

Bone looked at his watch: Well, more than an hour. He left here probably at ten-thirty or ten forty-five.

Ten-thirty. Have you been here ever since?

Yes… Marcia got here about…

About eleven-twenty, said Kresge.

So what happened to McDonald? Bone demanded.

Did you make a deal with McDonald? Lucas asked, ignoring the question.

Bone looked at Kresge, then back at Lucas: No. Whats he done?

So youre out of the job. Because he made a deal with Susan ODell.

Oh, no, Im not out of it at all. Bone shook his head. Wilson thinks he can deliver several votes to Susan. He doesnt know it, but he cant. Well, maybe one. The rest are still up for grabs. Now what the hell happened?

Lucas looked at Kresge, then back at Bone, interested in their reactions. A couple of minutes after eleven oclock, somebody rang the doorbell at Susan ODells apartment, and when she opened the door, shot her twice in the head with a handgun. ODells dead.

And they were, as far as Lucas could tell, stunned. Astonished.

Bone, who didnt seem given to sputtering, sputtered, Thats not possible. I just talked to her tonight.

What time?

Seven oclock or so. He looked at Kresge. About the Community College deal.

Kresge was solemn: You know what? Its a crazy man. We could be next.

Mr. Bone, I dont want to imply anything, but youre the obvious beneficiary of all thisthe top job is opened up by a murder, then the main competition is eliminated. Again, I dont mean to imply anything, but we really have to pin down where you were, and what you were doing all evening. He turned to the woman. And the same with you, Im afraid.

Do you really think Id do this? Bone asked. He sounded more curious than afraid.

Lucas thought for a moment and then said, I dont know you well enough to say. But even if I didnt, I have to make sure. If McDonald left here a little after ten-thirty, and you were here alone, and the woman didnt get here until eleven-thirty… who has an alibi?

I wasnt alone, Bone said. Im sorry, I should have said so… My assistant, I think you met her at the bank, the blonde? Kerin Baki? She was here. We were working on a presentation for the board.

When did she leave?

A few minutes after Wilsonshe was heading down to the bank. Shes probably still there, Bone said. And between the time she left and the time Marcia got here, I made a half-dozen phone calls. There must be some way to get at phone records.

Lucas nodded. Well get those.

And Bone said, Ill tell you something else: We know exactly how many votes Ive got, which is nine. And we know how many Susan had, which is seven. Im one vote away. At least three votes are uncommitted, and we were just working out ways to get one of those three. Because when we get one, all the others will come. He hopped off the couch, and started to prowl the apartment as he talked. So what Im saying is, I think I had the top job. Thismight knock me outor slow things down. If the board thinks theres the slightest chance that Im implicated, Im dead meat. Better to hire somebody else, and apologize to me later, if Im innocent, than get stuck with a CEO who turns out to be a killer.

You know who the real beneficiary is? Kresge said. Wilson McDonald.

He made a deal with her, Lucas said.

Kresge made a rude noise: She might have made a tactical agreement with him, just to grab the top slot. But after shed gotten rid of Bone and a few other people, shed have gotten rid of McDonald. She and Jim were actually friends, in a waybut she hated McDonald.

But everybody says McDonalds out of it.

Not if theres nobody else left, Kresge said. She looked at Bone. Jim darling, Id be very careful if I were you. Very careful.

BONE AND KRESGE AGREED TO STAY AT THE APARTMENT until Sloan got there. Lucas talked to Sloan by phone, and Sloan said he was nearly done with the McDonalds.

What do you think? Lucas asked.

When I talk to Mrs. McDonald alone, shes pretty straight, Sloan said. When I get her around her old man, shes a fucking ventriloquists dummy.

I talked to Elle Kruger about that. She said severely abused women can get like that.

We need to give McDonald a good look, Sloan said. Something tells me hes involved. I dont know if I think that because hes really involved, or because I just dont like the sonofabitch.

Listen, when you get to Bones… get him aside and talk to him about his sex life. Who hes screwing. Because I think that tip about him sleeping with Kresge is right. Youll understand what I mean when you see them together. And find out if hes screwing his assistant. Shes a little chilly, but thats probably just me. Maybe Bone can warm her up.

Ill do that, Sloan said.

And youll need to talk to the assistant. Ill give you her name and you can call her, and get her over to Bones.

Wherere you going?

Home to make a list, Lucas said. This fuckin thing is starting to confuse me.