The Chemistry of Death

Chapter 46

Vivian leaned forward as if that would make the cab go faster. She’d already offered him a fifty dollar bonus to speed, and he swerved between a minivan and another cab, streaking through a yellow light.

She looked back down at her phone, but there was nothing new. As soon as she’d sorted things out with Katrinka and her father, she’d returned Parker’s call. He’d told her that Tesla was missing. He’d gone out to walk the dog, leaving Tesla in the office with Marnie Kay and Leandro Gallo, and when he’d returned, the office was locked.

He’d found Miss Kay at the food court, and they’d gone back to the office. She’d used her key to get in, and they’d quickly determined that the office was empty. They’d called the police, and Miss Kay was waiting for their arrival.

Vivian braced herself as the driver screeched to a halt next to Grand Central Terminal. The car behind them laid on the horn and shot past them in the nearby lane. Her driver yelled out the window.

She pushed the pre-counted fare through the sliding window, then sprinted out of the cab without even bothering to close the door. With that fifty buck bonus, he could shut his own door.

Parker met her inside the 42nd Street entrance. Edison was on a leash next to him. The dog barked when he saw her.

“Any news?” she asked.

“Cops are talking with Miss Kay. They’re not taking it seriously yet, say he might have gone on a walk.”

“Outside?” She gaped at him. “Tesla?”

They were both moving fast, heading through Vanderbilt Hall. Edison was pulling on the leash, urging them forward. He knew something was wrong with his master.

“How did he seem?” Vivian asked.

“In good spirits,” said Parker. “He requested I take Edison for a walk. He seemed happy to see his friend. He said they’ve known each other for years.”

“They have.” She had already tried to call Leandro Gallo, but it went straight to voicemail. She’d tried his sister’s number and Tesla’s, with the same results. “He owns the house Joe rents. They’ve known each other since college.”

“I’m wondering if Mr. Gallo was called away, and then someone came and took Mr. Tesla when he was alone. But there was no sign of a struggle.”

“Have you checked the house?”

“The house?” Parker shot her a glance.

“The underground house.” They’d reached the concourse now, and she jogged toward the clock, sliding between commuters. Parker was already a few steps behind. Maybe Tesla got sick and went home. That’d clear things right up.

Vivian rapped on the glass next to Miss Evaline’s window. The woman was talking to a guy holding a tuba case, and she put up one stubby finger to tell Vivian to wait. A line of commuters with questions glared at Vivian, and she ignored them.

Vivian knocked again, and Evaline shot her the kind of look that would have made the average commuter scuttle away in fear.

“It’s urgent,” Vivian called.

Miss Evaline said a few quick words to the tuba player, and Vivian stepped into his spot.

“No cutting!” said a woman with lavender hair. She looked old enough to be Vivian’s grandmother.

“You deal with her.” Vivian jerked her thumb at the purple menace.

Parker put on a kindly expression and moved between Vivian and the angry line. Edison looked between the two of them as if not sure which way to go, then pulled his leash out of Parker’s hand and came to stand by Vivian.

“Has Joe Tesla or anyone else used the elevator in the last hour?” Vivian asked.

“No one.” Miss Evaline looked past Vivian’s shoulder at the line behind her.

“Have you seen him?” Miss Evaline kept a good eye out on activities in the terminal. “He might have been in a wheelchair. Without the dog.”

Miss Evaline looked down at Edison. He was sitting in front of her door, and as soon as he caught sight of her, he whimpered and cocked his head. Miss Evaline’s face softened, and she pursed her lips. Vivian wanted to give Edison a treat — he knew how to melt the hardest of hearts.

“I saw a man pushing a wheelchair, and he came from the same direction as the Lucid office. His back was to me, and I couldn’t see the man in the chair either. The man in the chair was wearing a hat and he was kind of slumped over, but he was tall like your Mr. Tesla.”

He’s not my Mr. Tesla, Vivian corrected automatically, but silently. “How about the man pushing the chair? What did he look like?”

“Tall, blond. There was something familiar about his walk.” She pursed her lips again, clearly thinking hard. “It might have been Mr. Gallo.”

“Are you sure?” Vivian’s heart sped up.

“I just said I wasn’t.” Miss Evaline crossed her arms. “I said it might have been.”

Not much to go on.

Vivian thanked her and headed back outside to get another cab.

“Where are we going?” Parker and Edison kept pace with her. The dog carried his leash in his mouth.

“To Leandro Gallo’s house,” she said. “I’ll call Dirk on the way, see if he can meet us at the door with reinforcements.”