Bones (36 page)

Huck said, “Am I supposed to know him? I’m sorry.”

“Let’s talk about someone you do know. Selena Bass.”

Huck seemed prepared for the question. “Selena is
how
I knew for sure.”

“Knew what?”

“Simone’s hatred didn’t stop at words.”

“You figured Simone murdered Selena.”

“Selena
came
from Simone.”

“Came from her how?”

“Simone
found
her. Said she did it for Kelvin. Simone brought Selena to the
house.
”

“Finding a teacher for Kelvin.”

“Finding a friend who — guess what — is also a piano genius and a teacher.”

“Simone called Selena her friend.”

“They acted like friends.”

“How so?”

“Happy skinny girls laughing,” said Huck. “Those low jeans they wear.”

“How do you know they weren’t friends?”

“Simone told me. Later. Said she heard Selena play piano at a party. Selena had magic hands, golden hands just like Kelvin, she’d be perfect for Kelvin. Kelvin had a grumpy old teacher, wanted to stop his lessons. Simone told Selena she could make big money. I should’ve known there was more.”

“More what?”

“The first time, I was bringing in groceries and Simone’s car pulled up, she’s got another girl with her, they’re giggling. I went inside. They didn’t. When I came out to get more groceries, they were looking at the ocean. Hands around each other. Simone’s hand went to Selena’s… her butt.”

“Selena and Simone had a sexual relationship.”

“Maybe.”

“This was before you and Simone had a relationship.”

“Yes.”

“It didn’t make you wonder.”

“About what?”

“Simone’s sexual preferences?”

Huck’s eyes turned fiery. “I didn’t care.”

I said, “Later, after you were involved, Simone told you she’d met Selena at a party.”

Nod.

“What did she say about the party?”

“Just a party.”

“Tea and cookies?”

Silence.

He said, “Later, I had ideas.”

“What kind of ideas?”

“In the backyard… after the licking, he got up and Simone stretched on the teak lounge and…” Wincing. “She had a razor blade. He came back, tasted her. He brought things with him. Ropes — beads — big huge plastic… I turned from that, didn’t want to look, but I could hear. He said, ‘Party time.’ She said, ‘Golden hands. Baby. All we’re missing is her and the piano.’ ”

Huck shook his head; dripped sweat onto the desk. Debora Wallenburg saw it, let the spatter sit there.

I said, “Party time. Meaning…”

“Selena was into the same things.” Looking to me for confirmation.

“When you heard about Selena’s murder, you developed a theory about what happened to her.”

“A feeling.”

“When we came to tell you about Selena, you didn’t mention that feeling.”

“I was… I didn’t… you put fog in my head. Finally, it drifted out and I had the feeling. I didn’t know what to do.”

Without opening his eyes, Milo said, “You could’ve picked up the phone.”

Wallenburg said, “And told you what? He had an intuition.”

Milo favored her with an avuncular smile. “On whodunit cases, Counselor, we take anything we can get.”

“Oh, sure. You would’ve believed him.”

Huck said, “I was going to tell Simon. If.”

I said, “If what?”

“I told anyone.”

Reed said, “If. Longest word in the dictionary.”

“I thought about it,” said Huck. “Telling Simon. But she’s his daughter, he loves her. I do errands.”

“So you did nothing,” said Reed.

“No, I… I phoned him, to hear his voice, maybe his voice would tell me what to do. He didn’t answer. I kept trying. He didn’t answer. I e-mailed. He didn’t answer. I switched to Nadine’s e-mail, she didn’t answer. Then I started worrying. Then those other women got… I heard about them and said, ‘Those are the women you go to.’ ”

I said, “So you ran.”

“I
killed
someone, I pay for
sex.
I knew
Selena.
Everyone else is
rich.
” Turning to Wallenburg. “You told me to come back, I disobeyed.”

“Travis, it’s not a matter of dis—”

Milo got up, walked to the front of the desk, focused on Huck.

“That the whole story, pal?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Some yarn.”

“Put me back in a cage, sir. I deserve what you want to give me.”

“That so?”

Wallenburg shot to her feet, thrust her arm between Huck and Milo. “That was
not
an admission of guilt.”

Milo said, “Selena, the hookers, one big setup just to frame you. Convenient.”

“For God’s sake, can’t you see it?” said Wallenburg. “Superficially, he’s the perfect scapegoat.”

“Superficially?”

“Look at his core: a man who was railroaded but harbors no anger. Who’s led a totally nonviolent life — who saved a
baby,
for God’s sake.”

“I didn’t save her, Debora. I just lifted her from the sidewalk and—”

“Shut
up,
Travis! You’ve seen how Brandeen looks at you. If you hadn’t found her, that bastard might’ve come back and beat her to death the way he beat her mother to death.”

“Debora—”

“Don’t
Debora
me, Travis. It’s about time you got smart and started looking after yourself. You were stupid to run, stupid not to return when I told you to. Now you’re being a total blithering
idiot.
”

“I—”

“Life sucks, fine, we all get that, Travis. But you are
not
to blame for this particular disaster and if you stick to the facts, the police will believe you.”

Looking at Milo.

He remained silent.

Huck said, “I let it all
happen,
Debora—”

“You were their
gofer,
Travis. You are
not
a cosmic watchdog. If you’d said anything negative about Simone, you’d have lost your job and she would’ve remained free to charm her father and go about her plan.”

“What plan are we talking about?” said Reed.

“A hundred-and-thirty-three-million-dollar plan,” said Wallenburg. “That girl would never have been deterred.
Never.
”

Milo said, “Pretty precise figure.”

Wallenburg’s smile was icy.

Milo said, “If that’s the case, we’re talking about a real
long
-term plan. Killing prostitutes over a fifteen-month period, dumping them in sequence, just to set up the Vanders as a thrill kill?”

“We’re
talking
about a hundred thirty-three million worth of incentive, Lieutenant. Selena’s murder got you focused on the Vanders, which led you to Travis. The three women made all of it look psychopathic. That conniving little bitch
spoon-fed
you Travis. Given his history, she knew you’d put on your blinders.”

“Garsh,” said Milo. “Can someone tell me the way to Keystone?”

“A hundred and thirty-three
million,
Lieutenant. A year’s worth of planning doesn’t seem too much for that pot of gold.”

“Be a great movie.”

“Oscar for documentary, Lieutenant.”

“We’re supposed to buy it because of Mr. Huck’s feelings. In here.” Massaging the swell of his belly.

“You’re supposed to buy it because it’s true and it makes sense and you haven’t a shred of evidence tying Travis to a single act of violence.”

Milo flashed his happy-wolf grin. Bent over the desk and put his face inches from Huck’s.

Huck licked his lips.

Wallenburg said, “There’s no need for physical intimida—”

“Travis, I like your stories. Now tell me another one.”

“About what, sir?”

“The blood we found in the drain of your bedroom sink.”

Huck’s Adam’s apple rose and fell. “I… maybe I cut my hands… I go off balance. Headaches, maybe I got a cut and washed it.”

“Got any scabs?”

Inspecting Huck’s hands. “Nope, clean.”

Huck said, “Put me in a cage, I don’t care.”

“What’s your blood type, son?”

“O positive.”

“AB’s what we found in your drain.”

Huck turned white.

Milo placed his paw atop Huck’s left hand. Huck’s fingers clasped Milo’s, like a child wanting security.

“Tell us about AB, son.”

“Simon,” said Huck. “It’s rare. He always gets asked to donate.”

“Looks like he donated some to your drain. Tell me another story, son.”

Wallenburg said, “Someone who’d slaughter people in a calculated manner would have no problem planting blood in a damn drain. Simone had access to that house — I’ll bet Weir did, too — of course he did, given his relationship with Simone, all she had to do was give him a damn key and—”

Still gripping Milo’s hand, Huck held out his free arm. “Put me in a cage.”

“Don’t say another
word,
Travis!”

Milo said, “Counselor, looks like we’ve come to a sort of consensus. Get up please, son. We’re going to read you your rights and take you into custody.”

“I agree,” said Huck.

Wallenburg shot to her feet, clamped her hands on Huck’s shoulders. “On what charges?”

“We’ll start with a whole bunch of 187s, go on from there.”

Her turn to tremble. “You’re making a disastrous mistake.”

Reed said, “You’re really committed to this guy. What am I not seeing?”

Wallenburg’s mouth formed a curse. “Lieutenant, our explicit agreement was—”

“That we’d listen,” said Milo. “We did, now we’re arresting him.”

Wallenburg’s mouth worked. “Oh, this is great, so predictable — I promise you it’ll be futile, Lieutenant. And you’d better make damn sure he’s not abused. The moment you walk out that door, I’ll be drafting motions.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less, ma’am. Please get up, son.”

Huck complied.

“Please step around to this side of the desk.” Out came the cuffs.

Wallenburg said, “Are you booking him at West L.A. or Downtown?”

“We’ll hold him at West L.A. until appropriate transportation can be arranged.”

“Everything according to procedure,” said Wallenburg. “Talk about average Germans — you damn
well
better put him on
suicide
watch.”

“I’m already dead,” said Huck.

Wallenburg raised a hand, as if to slap him. Stared at her quivering fingers and let her arm flop.

“Thank you for everything, Debora,” said Huck.

“You,”
she spat, “are a first-class pain in the ass.”

Riding the elevator down to the sub-lot, Huck said, “You really had no choice.”

Reed said, “Why’s she so devoted to you?”

Huck blinked. “Once she told me about volunteer work she does. At animal shelters. She can’t have children.”

“You’re her kid?” said Reed.

“No, but once you save an animal in the shelter, she said, you’re responsible for it.”

“You’re one of her puppies, huh?”

Huck smiled. “I think maybe I am.”

The door opened. Milo took hold of Huck’s cuffed arm, propelled him to the car. “Anything else you want to tell us?”

“I don’t think so. You don’t believe me anyway.”

“They teach you passivity in rehab?”

Huck exhaled. “Life’s been long. Longer than I thought.”

“So it’s time to give up.”

“When there’s something to do, I do. At this point, there’s nothing left.”

I said, “Not necessarily.”

Milo stashed Huck in an empty West L.A. interview room, took his belt and his shoelaces. No booking, no printing, no mug shot. Just a tall cup of water, a coarse blanket, and a second pat-down that produced nothing.

The first frisk, in the hallway outside Debora Wallenburg’s office, had produced lint, a seriously chewed blue Bic pen, three dimes, an LAX parking stub, a yellow Post-it with a Washington Boulevard address.

“Where’s this, Travis?”

“Internet café.”

“Mar Vista?”

“Yes.”

“Your link to the world.”

Silence.

“You don’t have any cash?”

“Spent it.”

“Debora was going to replenish.”

No answer.

Milo said, “You travel light, friend.”

Shrug.

“Where’s your I.D.?”

“I… lost it.”

“Sure you did.”

“You know who I am.”

“That we do.” Milo waved the parking stub. “This gonna match to the one we found in Simon’s Lexus?”

Huck said, “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“Leaving it there.”

“To mislead us. Kind of a stale scam, pal.”

“Sorry.”

“Your brilliant idea or Debora’s?”

The too-quick reply: “Mine. I’ll pay for the tow.”

Reed and I watched through one-way glass as Milo stood behind Huck, then shifted face-to-face. Huck braced himself on the back of the chair.

“Sit, Travis.”

“I’m okay.”

“Sit anyway.”

Huck obeyed.

“What else do you want to tell me, Travis?”

“Can’t think of anything, sir.”

Milo waited.

Huck said, “Really, sir.”

“Okay, sit a spell — temperature okay?”

“Yes.”

“Gets too cold, you’ve got the blanket.”

“Thank you.”

Milo left and joined us in the adjoining room. A milky patch marred the glass on the other side; dried sweat or some other body fluid. Huck’s position placed the splotch directly above his head.

Man under a cloud.

We watched as he sat there. Finally, he walked to a corner and lay down. Placing one arm over his eyes, he curled himself smaller than I’d have thought possible.

Moe Reed yawned. “Nothing like an action film to start off the morning.”

Within seconds Huck’s mouth had fallen open and he was sleeping.

Reed said, “Pretty mellow for a guy supposedly all guilty and torn up.”

I said, “Or he’s escaping reality.”

“Maybe he got duped, but you can’t think he’s totally clean.”

“I think his mind works differently.”

“Isn’t that the point, Doc? He’s a nut, easy to prime.”

“I know the obvious suspect’s usually the right one, but the way we were led straight to Huck via your brother always bothered me. Huck’s account of Simone’s hatred for her family fits the mutilated pictures Aaron found in her trash. Her lie about despising Buddy Weir also syncs with what Aaron saw, as does the fact that Simone and Weir are in a relationship.”