True Detectives

CHAPTER 49

The air was warm but Aaron put up the top on the Porsche for the climb back up Laurel.

Wanting quiet as he phoned Merry Ginzburg and told her what she needed to know about Mason Book.

Parceling out appetizers, what amounted to a picayune scandal. The red meat, she didn't need to know.

With Ax Dement maintaining his loyalty, Book's name would never appear on any court papers. Wouldn't be associated in any way with drug use, suicide, the murder of the woman he'd helped lure to her death.

Aaron had spent some time with Book, was convinced Book really had been an unwitting dupe. Was certain the hourly fee for babysitting the actor wasn't influencing his opinion.

Liana agreed. Book didn't impress her. The man in her life was some number-crunching Ph.D. Aaron would have to check out.

Even the little he gave Merry was enough to rejuvenate her career. Maybe put some big bucks in Aaron's pocket if he played it right.

She said, “So I was right. He starves himself.”

“Almost died, Mer.”

“Thank you, Denzel.”

“Don't I always come through?”

Sigh. “You do.”

“Let's have dinner.”

“A pity meal?” she said. “That's sweet, but no thanks.”

“A good meal,” said Aaron. “No business.”

“That's impossible, my dear. For both of us.”

“You never know.”

“True,” said Merry. “Older I get, the less I get.”

Mr. Dmitri said, “How much do I owe you?”

“I have to add it up.”

Dmitri returned to his Russian newspaper. The factory was buzzing. On the way to the boss's office, Aaron had made sure to pass Maitland Frostig's cubicle. Frostig was away from his station.

Dmitri looked up, as if surprised Aaron was still there. “Thank you, Mr. Fox. I will call you when the next problem arises.”

“I'm looking forward to it, sir.” Aaron sat there.

Dmitri put the paper down. “What, Mr. Fox?”

“Sir, this may be presumptuous, but I'm getting the feeling that what I learned about Caitlin doesn't surprise you.”

Dmitri smiled.

“I also noticed that Mr. Frostig wasn't at his desk.”

“Probably in the bathroom,” said Dmitri. “Tomorrow there will be another explanation for his absence.”

“Sir-”

Dmitri laughed. “I am not Russian Mafia, Mr. Fox. Maitland's work product has been poor. He will be terminated.” Chuckle. “His position at the company will be terminated. What happens to him is no longer any concern of mine. Did I ever tell you what my wife does?”

“She's a psychiatrist.”

“ Regina is excellent psychiatrist. In Moscow she was head of hospital that specializes in sexual deviancy. Before they imprisoned her for not poisoning dissidents. She is woman of great insight.”

“I see.”

Dmitri fingered his mega-Rubik's. “I see numbers, she sees people. I am proud of her.”

“You should be.”

Dmitri's eyes twinkled. “I'm thinking, Mr. Fox, I should be proud of you, too.”