Chapter Thirteen

An Hour Earlier…

Eliza found her car empty. She looked around and saw Michael standing outside a liquor store watching people go by. He spotted her just as Deeprose dug in behind the bumper of a parked car, waiting for his next move. A second later he darted across the street, catapulting himself into Eliza’s car. He shouted, “Get in!” and jammed the keys into the ignition.

With no time to think, Eliza simply did as she was told. She heard the click of the door lock as soon as she got in.

He threw a vial under the car seat before slamming the car into reverse and crashing into a front fender. The car leaped forward again smashing a back bumper. “Shit!” It was the only way to get the car out of its parking spot. No one blinked an eye.

Eliza’s head flew forward and hit the dashboard. “What the f-”

As her car flew back and forth over and over again, she was shocked into silence. She hadn’t gotten a chance to put on her seat belt and the constant bucking threw her around like a ragdoll. She wrenched the passenger door handle to jump out, but it wouldn’t budge. “Unlock this door!”

The car finally jerked free, but not without burning a long, black line onto the road. Michael threw the car into 5^th gear.

“No, Michael! Stop! There’s a police officer right in front of us! You’ll get us killed!”

“Shut up! I can’t get caught now. I found a vial backstage the other night and took it before I found out what it was. If they find it on me, I’m a dead man. It’s under the seat, so hang on to something and keep your mouth shut.”

The gear engaged just as a huge Ford 4X4 crushed the trunk like an empty soda can. It was an unmarked police vehicle.

“Screw you!” Michael roared.

“Michael! There’s nowhere to go! Stop!” Eliza screamed, holding onto the dashboard and the car door for support.

A voice on a loud speaker demanded Michael stop his car. “We’re going for it.” He gunned the engine again, but the weight of the Ford on the trunk held them back. The tires spun uselessly. “O.K., you wanna play? Let’s play!” He slammed into reverse, pushing the Ford backwards and into a parked vehicle. It reared up, freeing the trunk. Michael raced forward again.

Eliza began to think about what she was going to say and do when Michael was finally caught.

I’m not going down with him. I had no idea he took a vial of that stuff. It’s my car, but he’s driving. I’ll say he grabbed me, took my keys and threw me in the car when he saw that cop chasing him.

Something swooped over the hood of the car and landed on it. Hard. The windshield was half covered with what looked like a black blanket. Eliza screamed, “What the hell is that?!”

“Goddamned sonofab…” Michael slammed on the brakes but the giant blob on the hood couldn’t be thrown off. Whatever it was, it was used to riding bulls.

“Stop the fucking car, Michael! Stop the car!”

Michael’s right hand connected with her left cheek. Eliza’s head flew into the passenger side window and ricocheted back off it. She was bloody but calm. This was just what she needed. Eliza heard the roar of a large engine and braced herself.

A nearby hotdog stand was suddenly flooded with customers. Everyone could see what was about to happen and those closest to the vendor were buying food and soft drinks to watch the show live and in relative comfort. A large utility truck was approaching the intersection from a side street. Crowds of people murmured, Oh my God!, but continued eating and watching.

A woman holding an infant screamed, “Stop! Stop! You’re going to hit him!” Michael was momentarily distracted by her, and that was the precise moment the truck slammed into them. The thunderous impact of metal screeching and scraping against metal could be seen on the face of every onlooker, but the momentary shock passed, and in relative silence, the crowd disbursed. The show was over.

The blob with hands finally tumbled off the hood of the car. Michael shook off the impact and threw open his car door, ready to run. Eliza didn’t fare as well. She came close to being crushed to death. She was surrounded by metal on all sides and wasn’t going anywhere.

A woman in a black jumpsuit flashed a badge at Michael and ordered him to stop. Michael charged. She waited until he was almost on top of her and then stuck out her foot and tripped him. “Down on the ground. Now! Hands behind your back.”

Michael hesitated.

“Don’t even think about it! Ah’m an excellent shot, mister, and Ah will not hesitate to shoot you.”

Even Michael could see the game was up. He laid down in the road on his stomach.

“What the hell were you chasing me for? I didn’t do anything!”

The agent kneeled to place handcuffs around the suspect’s wrists. “You disobeyed several orders to stop, and y’all nearly killed me with your car. I thought you mighta stopped with a human bein’ ridin’ on your hood, but Ah see now that was wishful thinkin’.” The agent sighed.

Eliza’s heart jumped up into her throat. She decided it was a good time to play the victim card. “Officer! Help me! This man kidnapped me in my own car! Look what he did to my face! Look what he did to my car!” Eliza projected her voice so she’d be heard by as many witnesses as possible.

A man rapped at her window. He wore a badge on his belt and was dressed in a rich, chocolate brown suit. Eliza gazed into the man’s brown eyes and was sure he would believe her story. It was her word against Michael’s, and after all, he was a killer.

“Are you hurt? Don’t worry, you’re safe now.”

She nodded, tears streaming down her bloody, swollen face.

Two uniformed officers dragged Michael to his feet. His mouth was bleeding from the impact of his fall. Agent Deeprose addressed the officers. “Please read the suspect his rights. He’s a suspect in two murders. We don’t want any technical slip-ups on this one.”

“How’d you hang on to the hood like that?” Carter was in awe.

Deeprose removed a stray strand of black hair from her eyes. “The windshield wipers! That was better than ten carnival rides put together.”

Eliza knew both their names by now. It took a few hours to cut her free of the metal twisted all around her. She remained quiet, listening to as much of their conversation as she could hear.

Carter squinted. “That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. Now that’s what I call tenacious!”

Carter turned to the ambulance crew. “Let me know if they decide to keep her at Columbia Presbyterian for testing or observation. She’ll need stitches and she’s pretty banged up. I want to know if she was sexually assaulted. We’ll question her after she’s been treated and calms down a little.”

“Agent Deeprose, what made you do a crazy thing like that in the first place?”

“Ah wanted him to think Ah lost him in the crowd, so Ah walked up the street while he was fumblin’ with the vehicle. Ah noticed a lovely display of shawls, and well, Ah sorta borrowed one. Ah figured if I tossed it over the windshield and held it there, he’d have to stop. Ah wanna reward that vendor, sir.”

“Agent Deeprose, I’m going to make sure the expense is covered by the Bureau. That was really something. Not one fatality or major injury. You threw a simple, black shawl over the windshield and blinded him while you were perfectly safe and having the time of your life. They’re going to love this at the academy. Who would ever think of such a thing?”

“Ah would, sir.” Deeprose beamed with pleasure.

Carter noticed a billboard ad for winter coats. “And a brand new winter coat for you is on me.”

***

“What is this all about?” Michael slammed his cuffed wrists on the interrogation table.

Carter used meditation to face rage without becoming enraged himself, but all he ever managed was a veneer of calm. Everything else was swallowed and stored away. Essentially, he put on a very good show. “Such negative energy! Calm down, Michael, that won’t work here. Care to give us your last name?”

Michael stared straight ahead.

“We’ve had a look at your possessions. It doesn’t appear you were carrying a license.”

Michael shrugged. “I must have lost it.”

Carter looked at Michael head on. “I’m here to make a bad situation better. Help me, and I’ll help you.”

“I told you. You have the wrong man.”

“You were ordered to stop, but you tried to run. Why did you do that if we have the wrong man?”

Carter folded his hands and leaned forward. “You’re in trouble, Michael. If there are others involved, give me their names. If you can give me a solid lead, I can help you get out of this. I can protect you, Michael. You don’t have to be afraid. Just give me the names.” The agent peered underneath the table to glance at Michael’s sneakers. “Hey! Nice Stridewells. Expensive, too. You know, you can’t buy those babies just anywhere. Michael, if we have the wrong man, do you mind if I borrow a little of that blood on your shirt to prove it?”

Michael exploded. “Take all the fucking blood you want! I’m not the guy in the video!”

“Video? What video?’

“The video that was taken from the museum!”

“Oh, that video! See, it’s very interesting that you mentioned that, Michael, because that information was never leaked to the press. You never saw it the papers, but you saw it on the way out of the museum, didn’t you? Sure, you did. But it was too late to go back for it. Here’s what I think: I think you visited a museum called the Cloisters a few days ago; I think you took two husbands away from their wives; and I think you should help me understand why.”

Carter smiled. “No answer? O.K. If you prefer to remain silent, it’ll be for a very long time. A vial of clear liquid was found under the driver’s seat of the car. The owner told us she saw you put it there when you jumped in. Our lab is analyzing it now. The F.B.I. lab, Michael. Let me clue you in a little; you stumbled into something huge. Much too big for you to handle on your own, but you went for it, anyway. Now, you’re a part of this investigation whether you like it or not, because this is a federal investigation, son, not a local one. Something else to consider…whoever you ripped off is going to get to you no matter where you are. So what’s in the vial, Michael, and where’d you get it?”

“It’s hers. It was in her car when I got in it. She’s lying.” Michael raised his chained hands. “Test my blood. You’ll see.”

“Ah! So it’s a drug. Thank you, Michael. I appreciate the information. Does it have a name? What’s it for? Where’d you get it?”

Carter sighed. “More silence? Michael, just because a drug is not inside you doesn’t mean you can wiggle out of possession. I have you on kidnapping, assault and battery, resisting a federal officer, possession of a stolen car, possession of that chemical, and on suspicion of two murders. Testing your blood to see if you ingested the chemical is of no interest to me whatsoever. I’m not looking for a drug dealer, Michael, unless he’s also a killer. Maybe you’re him. Maybe you’re not. Maybe the real culprit put you up to it. Unless you talk to me, I’ll never know.

“Still not talking. All right, if it’s the last nails in the coffin you need to see before you decide to save yourself, I’ll show you two. Your Stridewells are a perfect match for a bloody shoe print left at the scene of a double homicide. That was not very smart of you, was it? We traced the brand and model to a store just around the corner from where you live. The size of the shoeprint matches yours. We’re going to search your apartment and find them, but we really don’t need to. You see, you left blood on those sneakers and if we can match yours to the bloody prints, you’re done. You can’t fight forensic evidence, Michael. It’s impossible.

“It might also interest you to know we recovered D.N.A. and finger prints from a glove you left behind. A blood sample from you would pretty much close the case. So, I’ll take you up on your offer to provide us with a blood sample. We’re closing in on you, Michael, and when we do, we’ll have justice for those dead men and their widows. If there were other people behind it, Michael, you shouldn’t throw yourself into the fire for them. Why don’t you get rid of all that bad karma and tell me who’s really behind those museum murders? I know full well you don’t have the brains it takes to be a professional killer, but you know who does.”

“Back off, Buddha. I want a lawyer.”

“Certainly; that’s your right. As long as you understand that once I walk out that door and you lawyer up, there won’t be any more deals. The way things stand now, your goose is cooked. I don’t understand your silence, Michael. The evidence is piling up against you, and yet you refuse to defend yourself. No lawyer can save you if you take a vow of silence.”

“Why don’t you take a vow of silence?”

“I think everyone hears better when they are silent, Michael, but sometimes it’s necessary to do the talking.”

***

Agent Deeprose was at the hospital to talk to Eliza. “Here’s a tissue, honey. Go ahead and let it all out.”

‘”Thanks.” Eliza blew her nose and wiped her eyes. “I thought I was going to die. He ran up to the car and just went crazy. I thought he had a gun, so I got in. When I found out he didn’t have one, I tried to get out, but I was locked in. And, well,” Eliza sobbed, “when I tried to escape he punched me in the face and my head hit the window.”

Deeprose assessed the damage to Eliza’s face. The punch appeared real enough but she wondered if the woman would back up her story in court. “Are you willing to press charges and testify?”

“I don’t know. How can I be sure I’d be safe?”

“We can provide you with protection.”

Deeprose observed Eliza. The car was hers, she wasn’t suspected in either of their cases, and a quick check of her name and address proved her identity. Although she had no priors, Deeprose still wondered if she knew the guy she said kidnapped her. If she had any connection to Michael Santiago, Deeprose needed to know it. “Is there anyone we can call for you?”

Eliza scratched her nose. “No. I just want to go home. I need a drink. Can I leave if the nurse says I’m free to go?”

“You may. Ah want you to take my card, Eliza. Call me right away if you remember anything else. Here, give me that tissue to throw away for you.”

Eliza got out of bed. “Excuse me. I need some water.”

Deeprose waited until Eliza was out of the room to stuff the used tissue into her handbag.

Ah hope for your sake these tears are real, Eliza.

***

Alison was worried. Michael and Eliza weren’t downstairs, the car was gone, and neither of them were answering their cell phone. Í don’t have a good feeling about this, Clara. I think we better stay right here until we hear from one of them,”

“Fine with me. I’m starving, Alison. Can you cook at all?”

“I’m pretty awful, but I know how to make omelets. You want to have dinner with me? Why?”

“Because I like you, that’s why. I don’t think one in a million people would do for me what you did today for a total stranger. I want to be your friend, Alison. I think you need one, and frankly, so do I. Now look, I can’t cook at all, and there’s nothing in the fridge. Would you mind going down the block to pick up groceries for the omelets? Oh, and we can use a nice bottle of chardonnay and something sweet for dessert. I’ve been so upset today that all I want to do is relax in a hot tub. Here are the keys.”

Alison accepted the keys as if she was being offered the key to the city. “Thank you! I’ll have to find an A.T.M. – I don’t have my credit card on me – but that’s no problem, really! I’ll be back in about an hour. You just take it easy, and when I come back, we’ll have a feast.”

Clara hugged her and sniffled a little. “Oh, Alison, you’re so kindhearted. Anyone can see that! I’m glad we met today, even under these circumstances. That other girl – Eliza – she’s a horrid little person, isn’t she?”

Alison seemed flattered that Clara had chosen her as her confidant. “She’s sick in the head, Clara. Cold and mean. Don’t worry, I said I’d protect you, and I will.”

Clara turned her baby blue beams on Alison. “I know you will. Hurry back.” Clara’s smile faded as the front door closed and then vanished altogether.

What a piece of work! I’m not surprised she has no friends. Who could stand all that fawning and begging? She’s exhausting to be around, but I need an ally, and Alison will do anything for a friend. Well, Allie, meet your new best friend.

That other one is too smart in some ways and dumb as an ox in others. She’s going to be trouble. I’ll just have to ask Uncle for enough money to buy her help and silence. I’ll tell him it’s for a new costume. He’ll never know the difference.

I also need to come up with a way to get one of them to get rid of that bitch for me. Then I can breathe again. I’ll think about it in the tub. Oh, I wish I’d broken her neck instead of her ankle!

She padded off to the bathroom thinking about what scented bath oil she wanted to use.

***

Alison and Clara finished their dinner and were sitting in the living room sipping white wine.

“I’m getting worried, Clara. Where is Eliza? I don’t care about Michael, but we need Eliza to tell her story to the cops. I can’t do it. I’m guilty.”

“She’ll turn up. You, know, Alison, being a prima ballerina with the A.B.C. is a much bigger deal than you think. I’ll get to travel all over the world sharing the love of art and culture. I’m also going to be an ambassador of peace.”

“An ambassador of…peace? You?”

“Why not me? I speak several languages, and I’ll naturally be invited to all the state dinners. Uncle has friends in the United Nations who owe him some very big favors. He called in a few of them, and now I’ve been officially asked to help improve international relations with Russia, China and the Middle East, and all I have to do is be beautiful, graceful, entertaining, and polite. That will speak for itself.”

“I guess I won’t be seeing you much after next season, then.”

Alison looked down at the carpet, frowning. She was already losing her new friend.

Clara thumbed through an address book as she answered. “Nonsense, Alison. You’re a friend. All I ever had were competitors. We’ll be besties after you help me get rid of that horrible creature who wants me dead, won’t we?”

“Really? Really, Clara? Will we really be best friends from now on?”

“What? Oh, yeah, sure. I think this shade of lipstick is a little too dark. Don’t you?”

Poor Alison. Sure I’ll be your bestie.