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Authors: Deirdre Savoy

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BOOK: Body of Lies
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But the rapes the prosecution had pinned on him had to have been planned. Each of the victims was a single mother with two children, an older girl and a younger boy. In each case, the perpetrator had broken into the woman's apartment and hidden in her closet or waited until she ventured into the bedroom alone. Then he'd pushed the women down on their bed and raped them. His parting shot had been to smash any mirrors visible.
Thorpe didn't have the wherewithal for all that. With the smashed mirrors linking all the cases and his semen in one of the women, no defense attorney in the world was going to keep him from getting convicted of something. With the help of her subpoenaed testimony, Thorpe's attorney had painted him as a hapless copycat, too inept to get it right, and the jury bought it. So instead of being convicted on eight counts of rape he was only convicted of one. The difference allowed him to be out on the streets instead of being locked up. No wonder the cops hated her.
“You didn't have any clue what Thorpe was up to? No hints of violence? No rape fantasies?”
She exhaled, wondering if he thought her incompetent, too. Did it not occur to anyone that she hadn't been treating Thorpe long enough to uncover most of the dysfunction in his personality?
She tilted her head to one side, challenging. “If they arrested every guy who indulged in rape fantasies, there wouldn't be a man left on the street.”
He lifted one eyebrow, and his smile deepened. “Touché.” His expression changed, softening. “How are you doing, Alex, really?”
She frowned and straightened to a standing position. “You gave up the right to ask me that question thirteen years ago.” She sighed. “If you have no more professional questions ...”
She didn't add, hit the road, but she might as well have. He looked at her with an expression she didn't understand. “Just a warning. They're going to be releasing Thorpe's name and description to the media this afternoon, only as someone they want to talk to. Make sure you get those files to me by the close of business today.” He turned and walked out of the room, leaving the door open behind him.
For a moment, she stared after him. He could take her abrasiveness any way he wanted as long as he left her alone. That was a precaution for both their benefits. She closed her office door, crossed to her seat, and flopped down on it. Only then did she contemplate the last bit of information he'd given her. They were releasing Thorpe's name. Good God! Now it would begin for sure.
Seven
Zach's sister-in-law opened the door to him when he arrived at his brother's house that night to collect his niece. He'd left Alex's office in a foul mood and his disposition hadn't improved since then. He'd attended the press conference held at 1 Police Plaza where Commissioner Burke announced the formation of the Alpha Task Force, assembled to track down the so-called Amazon Killer and to name Captain Victor Craig as the new head thereof.
Zach could almost feel the steam coming off McKay as the news was announced. He hadn't even lasted the day. Zach couldn't find fault with whoever had made that decision, or whatever calmer head had decided to keep Thorpe's connection to the case quiet until they'd run down whatever leads they already had on him.
The bad news was that McKay had already ordered records for Alex's work, home, and cell phone numbers, hoping to find some evidence of communication between the two of them. Tapping her phone might not be far behind, if they could convince some judge to sign off on it.
Why McKay insisted on bringing Alex into this, Zack didn't know. It smacked of a vindictiveness that had nothing to do with job advancement as he'd suspected, but of something more personal in nature. Alex would probably call it a fixation; he'd call it trouble waiting to happen.
“We were beginning to think you weren't going to show up,” Barbara said, ushering him inside the door.
To Zach's eye, her smile looked brittle. Too bad. He liked Barbara. Whatever difficulty she was having with Stevie or his brother, he hoped it was resolved soon. The whole family had more than its share of grief at the moment. Besides, who other than Barbara would ever put up with Adam?
“Long day,” Zach said. “Is Stevie ready?”
Barbara gave an exasperated sigh. “Does Martha Stewart wear white after Labor Day?”
Zach chuckled. “I guess I should have known.” If he had to hang around he might as well see what his brother was up to. “Is Adam around?”
“The usual spot.”
Which meant he was off in his study, probably brooding like the last time. Except now there was a hint of a smile on Barbara's face. “Thanks, I think.”
Barbara patted his shoulder as he turned to make his way to the study. “Have fun.”
He knew the reason for Barbara's smile even before he reached his destination. Adam wasn't alone. He heard Jonathan's voice as well as Adam's as he approached the open door.
“Well, if it isn't the Brothers Grimm,” Zach said, taking a position by the door. “Plotting more tales to frighten the bejesus out of unsuspecting children?”
“It's about time you showed,” Adam said. “We were beginning to think you weren't coming.”
“So I heard.” Zach crossed to the bar Adam kept in the corner to pour himself a scotch. Something told him he was going to need it. “So what were you two up to when I came in?”
“Joanna.” That came from Jon. “
We're
worried about her.”
Zach recognized that tone and what it implied—that Zach wasn't, which wasn't true. Ever since Ray's death, she'd done nothing but stay at home and look after her kids, which wasn't like her. She hadn't even returned to work two months ago, as she was supposed to.
Her house was sparkling, but every time Zach saw her he sensed the emptiness inside her, the loss. But since he didn't know what to do about that, he'd let her be. He didn't know what his brothers expected him to do about it now.
“She needs to see someone, get past this.” Adam cast a glance at Jon. “Dana's tried talking to her, but she's not getting through.”
That didn't surprise Zach. If they shared one family trait in common it was that no one could get them to do something they didn't want to do. “What do you want me to do? Hog-tie her and leave her on a shrink's doorstep?”
Adam sighed. “It's a thought, but no. We were just expressing our frustration, really.” He sipped from his own glass. “How are things going with you? I hear you got pulled in on this Amazon Killer thing.”
Zach slid into the seat next to Jon. “Yeah.”
“It's not going to be a problem having Stevie stay with you?”
“Not as long as all parties realize I'm probably not going to be in much. But Stevie's a responsible girl.”
Adam made a face suggesting that wasn't entirely true. Zach grinned. “Don't worry. I'll lay down the law. Or if you're so worried about her staying with me, why doesn't she stay with this one over here?” He gestured toward his younger brother with his drink. Jon had a spare bedroom, just as he did.
“That one moved in with Dana two months ago.”
Zach cast a surprised look at Jon.
Two months ago?
It surprised him less that his brother had made the move than the fact that no one had told him about it.
Zach winked at Adam, letting him know he intended to have a little fun with their younger brother. “Poor girl. Is this a short-term deal or are you planning to make an honest woman of her sometime soon?”
Jon's expression didn't betray the barest trace of humor. In fact, his jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed. “I'm not the one who has trouble finding the right bed.”
Zach exhaled, letting his breath flow out over clenched teeth. He should have known better than to expect a different reaction. Neither of his brothers possessed much of a sense of humor, especially not where their women were concerned. He'd always been the odd man out in that regard. Hell, in any regard. Adam and Jon got along together in a way that he did not with either of them.
Both of them blamed him for the destruction of his own marriage. Nearly six years after the fact, Jon in particular still couldn't let it go. He'd considered Sherry a sister, much like Zach felt toward Barbara. Neither of them had forgiven him for what they saw as his betrayal of her.
He couldn't blame either of his brothers for thinking poorly of him for cheating on her. That's what they'd assumed and he hadn't told them any different. What difference did it make if they castigated him for imagined sins when he went unpunished for the ones he had? It seemed like a fair exchange, though it hurt sometimes to think his brothers could so easily think the worst of him.
Zach downed the remains in his glass, deposited it on the side table next to his chair and stood. “Well, it's time for me to get what I came for and go. Any chance Stevie's ready yet?”
As if on cue, Stevie burst into the room and launched herself at him. She threw her arms around his neck. “Uncle Zach, I'm so glad you're finally here.”
Zach hugged her back, looking over her shoulder to where her mother stood framed in the doorway. He wasn't sure what to make of the expression on her face—concern, sadness, disappointment, or a combination of the three. Again, he wished someone would confide in him what was going on between mother and daughter. But if no one found it necessary to divulge such simple things as his brother's living arrangements, the chances of being informed of a more complex situation were nil.
He released his niece. “Are you ready to go?”
“My bags are by the front door.”
Bags? Adam had given him the impression her stay would last only a few days. Then again, he was dealing with a teenage girl. He had no clue what all she might find essential to bring on a stay away from home.
“Let's go, then.” He gestured toward the doorway. Just to be perverse, he added, “It's getting late.”
Stevie went around to give her father a hug, but no similar gesture was given to her mother. Still Barbara followed them to the front door.
“Behave yourself for your uncle Zach,” Barbara said.
Stevie just rolled her eyes and picked up the smallest of the three bags. “I'll be out in the car.” She slung open the front door and marched out.
Zach turned to Barbara and embraced her. “Don't worry, I'll take care of her.”
She hit him on the shoulder. “I know you will.” She took a step back from him. “You better.”
For a minute, Zach contemplated asking her to confide in him. Barbara was the only one who knew the truth about his marriage, having weaseled it out of him at a low moment. She'd kept his confidence all this time. He wished she trusted him enough to share hers.
The sound of the horn blaring outside cost him the opportunity. Barbara gestured toward the door. “Her Highness awaits.”
With a sigh Zach picked up the remaining two bags and headed outside. He put them in the trunk before sliding into the driver's seat. Stevie had already switched from his radio station to one that blared rap noises at a high decibel. He switched it back and lowered the volume. She looked at him as if he'd just killed her pet hamster. “I have a few things to say before we get home.”
“Go ahead. I figured as much,” she said in a voice that sounded both bored and impatient.
He pulled out of the driveway onto the quiet suburban street. “I'm glad to have you stay with me if that's what you want.” Even if Jon hadn't moved in with Dana, Stevie would have picked his place as her spot of refuge instead of his younger brother's. Zach was the cool uncle, the one she thought she could cajole into giving her more freedom and keeping a less watchful eye. She wasn't wrong, but he didn't intend to let her steamroller over him, either.
“I know, Uncle Zach, and if I didn't say thank you before, I mean it.”
“But there are a few rules you'll have to follow.”
She sighed, resting her elbow on the window frame. “Now you sound like my dad.”
Since that was his intent, he didn't argue with her. “No cutting school, no ‘forgetting' to do your homework.”
Her mouth dropped open. “I go to Fieldston. They'd kick me out if I did that.”
“No running up a huge phone bill talking all night.”
“I have my cell phone.”
Zach slid a glance at her. That addressed the expense of her phone habit but not the hours of it. He could live with that. “I don't suppose I have to get into drinking or drugs.”
“Please. My dad told me he'd take me in himself if he ever caught me doing drugs.”
Zach smiled. It was the same thing his father had said when they were young. “No boys unless I'm in the house.”
“You're not serious, right? That's so unfair.”
Zach noticed that was the only condition of his she objected to, leading him to believe that might be the issue she and her mother clashed over. “We can always turn around.”
Her hand shot out to cover his on the steering wheel. “All right, all right. But can I have someone over if you're home?”
“We'll see.”
She relaxed against her seat, folding her hands in her lap. She was staring out the opposite window, pensive.
“Any chance you want to tell me what's going on between you and your mother?”
She shook her head.
Well, that made it unanimous, at least. Zach pulled off the New England Thruway at Connor Street, the same exit Ingrid Beltran had used the night she was killed. He traveled the same length of service road where her body had been found, only now there was a patrol car stationed there.
“This is where that girl got killed, isn't it?”
That was close enough to the truth for him to agree. “Yes.”
“She was only a year older than me.”
Zach hadn't thought about it in those terms before, or in relation to Stevie. Adam and Barbara worked hard to afford a nice house outside the city, the best schools, but given the coverage the story had garnered in the media already, she could hardly have missed it. From all accounts so far, Beltran had lived a life nearly sheltered as Stevie's. Which led him to the question that bothered him that no one yet had answered: How had this man gotten this girl to get in his car?
The prostitutes were easy to figure out. That's what hookers did. They got in the car to earn their money and, as often happened, they got something they hadn't bargained for. Even Stevie knew not to get in a stranger's car. Why hadn't this other girl figured that out? He couldn't say. It was an unfortunate truth that often when you shielded your children from the ugliness of life you deprived them of the ability to cope with it when it was shoved in their faces.
“Are they going to catch him, Uncle Zach?”
He smiled in a way that he hoped reassured her. If he had anything to say about it they would.
 
 
Alex sat in her living room, nursing a glass of wine while she waited for the eleven o'clock news to start. She didn't usually drink alcohol of any kind, but today she'd needed something to take the edge off. She'd dug up her personal files on Walter Thorpe and had Alice xerox a copy for Zach. She'd made sure they got there by five o'clock, preferring to take him at his word that he'd be back if she didn't comply. However, most of her records were still with the hospital, as they were work produced from that job. If he wanted them, he'd have to look there for them.
BOOK: Body of Lies
9.29Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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