49
Steven pulled up next to Nancy’s car and we said good-bye to Ron.
My brother and I were relieved to get out of his car, as relieved as I think he was to be rid of us. We couldn’t miss the effort he put into being his usual jovial self, acting as though he were sober enough to drive into his carport.
I watched for the cyclist as we drove down the private road. I thought I caught a glimpse of his bike leaning against a tree halfway down the hill to the lake.
“What do you think, bro?” I shook my head at Steven as soon as we cleared the front drive of Ron’s condo development.
“Do you know what they are hiding?” he asked.
“I’m pretty sure it has something to do with that girl who spent the weekend at the farm right before Lexi was killed. Maybe she turned out to be a high-class whore, like the Hollywood Madam, and they don’t want the world to know their connection to her, or something happened to her. Or . . . what do you think?”
“Yeah, could be her. Or maybe they really did deal drugs, and don’t want that known. After all, they’re respectable professionals now.”
I shrugged. “Carol’s next?”
“Let’s call her. She won’t be hiding anything from us, and we’re taking a long time to do this. Every time I think of Mom, my heart skips a beat.”
“Mine too.” I scrolled to Carol’s number on my cell. “Hey Carol, it’s Al.”
“Oh sweetie, how are you?”
“My head’s doing okay. I’m freaked about Mom.” I tried to calm down by watching the dark green trees lining the roadway.
“I know what you mean. I wish I knew what we could do, that there was something I could do.”
“Steven and I are trying. Look, I have this idea. Back in 1969––what do you know about a girl named Jennifer who stayed at the farm the week before Lexi was killed?”
Carol was quiet for no longer than an instant.
“That name doesn’t ring any bells. I was only at the farm one time before Lexi was killed. Midterms, papers––it was a hell of a time. You needed a gas mask to get to class. Which was the main reason Lexi escaped to the farm some weekends.”
“What about after Lexi was killed?”
Carol was quiet for a minute. “There was this one strange thing, come to think of it. Nancy tried to take me to the farm to chill after the murder, but when we got there, we were sent away. Somebody was sick, or something. I’ve never forgotten because, honestly, it really hurt my feelings.” She sighed. “Nancy understood. She took me to the St. Francis for a few days instead. Oh, god, that was such a horrendous time. I can’t stand the thought of losing another––” She didn’t finish the sentence but she didn’t need to. She didn’t want to lose my mother.
Nor did I.
“Carol, can you think of anything, any reason why someone would kidnap or harm my mother?”
“Unfortunately, reason doesn’t always have anything to do with such acts. I mean, the nut who killed Lexi had no reason, right?”
“Got it. But look, it’s possible there’s a reason, so what could it be?” I asked.
“To keep her from telling something. Or to keep somebody else from talking.”
“Like who?”
“You. Or your dad?”
“Me? I don’t know anything.”
“Maybe they just think you do,” she hesitated. “I mean look at it this way, either shooting you and kidnapping your mother were just random acts of violence, or . . . that’s just a little unlikely as a coincidence,” Carol said. “So maybe you do know something, or might know something that endangers someone. Possibly their reputation, or financial well-being.”
“Hmm, gonna think about that for awhile,” I answered. “Please call me back if you come up with anything at all. Please.”
“Absolutely. I love you, sweetie. Take care. Ciao.”
“Steven, what could I know?” Suddenly, it hit me. How could I have been so slow?
I turned to my brother and punched his shoulder. “Got it. It’s the file on the Zodiac. Look at all the trouble somebody went to, to get those papers. That was Dad’s file, not an official police file, but because of Dad’s connection to the justice department he was able to include stuff not available to everybody.”
I almost slapped my head, kicking myself figuratively. “If only I knew what it was I saw in there. There’s something that someone doesn’t want known.” Then I remembered papers jammed into a pocket. “What’d I do with the papers that were in my jacket pocket when I was shot?”
“Papers?”
“The ones with the photo of the gang on the sofa, the one you folded in half.”
Steven shook his head. “I was a little distracted concerning you at the time. I gave ’em to you at the hospital. Pretty sure you left ’em in your room at Mom and Dad’s house.” He smiled at me and said, “I’m hella glad you’re okay.”
My brother's eyes filled with tears. So had mine. He turned his head away. I figured he was as uncomfortable with the emotional moment as I was.
We arrived at Nancy’s cabin without me coming up with the answer. “I’m gonna go for a walk and think about this. You go tell Nancy her car’s back. See if she’s ready to head home, ok?”
“A walk?” I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Steven said.
“C’mon. Just along the lake. It’s all on private land. Most of the places are empty. Nobody’ll see me. You help Nancy get ready to leave.” I said.
“Yeah. Ok. But be careful.” He touched my shoulder. “You have your phone, right? I’m gonna see about those papers too. Maybe Dad can get a copy of the police file. I’ll call his secretary.”
“Good idea. I hope you do better with that secretary of his than I usually do.”
Steven gave me a thumbs-up as he headed into the house.