“What makes you think Williamson had anything to do with your uncle’s death?”
Karen was sitting on the couch in the living room of Lowell’s townhouse, Luigi asleep at her feet. “I don’t know. I’m just following the trail. The last time I spoke to him he told me that he had discovered something strange about a case he was working on and he needed to follow it up.”
“He didn’t tell you what he found out?”
She shook her head. “I only know that he came to the East Coast for a few days, and then flew back to L.A. I got one short phone message while he was here.” She took her cell phone from her pocket, pushed a few buttons, and gave it to Lowell.
He listened. “Hi Karen, I’m in a hurry, I’ll call you later when I have more time.” There was the sound of rustling papers. “I’ve got the weirdest case I’ve ever had. Things aren’t at all what they seem. Listen kid, if anything happens to me I want you to take the keys I gave you last year, go to my N.Y. apartment and get the mail. I sent something to myself and if I can’t get there for any reason, you must check it out.” He could hear a door opening. “I gotta go. I’ll call you soon,” said in a whisper. Then the message ended.
Lowell handed her the phone. “Doesn’t tell us much. Not even if it was Williamson he was talking about. Maybe he was looking into something else altogether.”
“That’s possible. But I’m going to follow my uncle’s footsteps until I find out what happened.”
“If Williamson was involved, he lives and works in New Jersey. Why are you in Manhattan?”
“My uncle was born here and grew up on the Lower East Side. He always kept his rent-controlled apartment to use when he was in New York. He held onto it for decades, even after he moved to California, and that’s where he was staying when he was here. He went back to L.A. right before I received this message, and he was dead forty-eight hours later. That’s all I got to go on. Sometimes all we have is our instincts.”
“If your uncle has a place here…”
“Why aren’t I staying there?”
Lowell shrugged.
“I went down there and saw the super when I first got here. No dogs allowed. And he was very unbending and nasty about it. He said that if he found a dog living in one of his apartments he’d call the cops immediately. And I think it would be pretty difficult to hide Luigi.”
“I see.”
Lowell’s live-in housekeeper, Julia entered. She was originally from Brazil and went to work for Lowell soon after her husband died, almost seven years before.
“Mr. Lowell, the guest room is ready.” She looked down at Luigi, her displeasure quite apparent. “What do you want me to do with him?”
Karen bent down by Luigi, who rolled on his back so she could rub his belly. “Don’t worry about him. He’s as gentle as a cow.”
The housekeeper nodded. “And twice as big. You got food for him?”
“I’ve got a fifty-pound bag in the car.”
“And what are you going to feed him tomorrow?” She turned to leave. “Bring it to me and I’ll take care of him.”
“I’ll do it,” said Karen. “After all, he’s my dog.”
“Oh, no you won’t. He may be your dog but it’s my house. I’ll be in the kitchen if anyone needs me.” She went down the hall.
Lowell watched with amusement. “Look, Karen, I’ll try to help you find out what happened to your uncle in any way I can. Feel free to ask any of my staff for help as well. I’ll let them know tomorrow. But I have to separate your situation from my case. I can’t let it interfere with my investigation.”
“I understand. I appreciate any help you can lend.”
Lowell got up. “I’ve got some work to do downstairs in my office. Will you be alright here for a while?”
“Sure. I’m real tired anyway. Luigi and I will watch some TV and then turn in early. We haven’t had a good night’s sleep since we left L.A.”
She yawned and tilted her head from side to side, stretching her neck muscles. “I’ve got some phone calls to make early in the morning. Also, there’s a guy in Queens who might know something. Last time I spoke to my uncle he mentioned a name and an address in Queens, New York. Where is that? Queens? And how do I get there?”
“It’s that way.” Lowell pointed east. “But it’s a big borough with lots of different neighborhoods and you don’t know your way around. Let me know if you decide to follow up on it. I’ll have my driver take you.”
“Really? You mean like a chauffeur?”
“Exactly like one. Just call my office a few hours in advance and let Sarah know where you need to go. Andy will pick you up and take you there.” He handed her his card.
“Cool.”