Crime & Counterpoint (21 page)

They rode down together in silence, both equally annoyed by the elevator music. Much to their discomfort, the lift stopped at every floor from seven to three, accumulating disgruntled hotel guests, all of whom complained about an out-of-service elevator. Thousands of dollars on a night’s stay and they had to
wait
to descend to the lobby
.
God forbid. On level six, Shelley had spied several police officers congregating the corridor. She chanced a peek at Zach, but his focus remained forward and blank, giving away nothing.

As soon as the pleasant ding sounded and the doors parted to the eminence of the third floor, Shelley was the first to jettison through them. So intent was she on getting away from Zach that she completely missed the yellow police tape criss-crossed over the second elevator. But she did notice that Mr. Ericson was gone, more cops had come, and a young woman of well-packaged beauty stood with Carter and two other officers, answering questions.

Carter failed to even glance her way as she strode towards him – a fact which did not suit her in the least. Fiancés were supposed to be attentive, doting, drooling. But he’d spent most of the reception letting her do her own thing with occasional kiss-and-run checks while he schmoozed with every invited government official, noteworthy prosecutor, and politician in the Big Apple. The thought lit a fuse to her inner struggle.

On the flip side, Zach tailed her like a faithful dog, or perhaps Secret Service. Wanting to slap them both, she went up to Carter and tugged at his sleeve childishly.

Carter ripped his gaze from the voluptuous blonde, and gave Shelley his lukewarm, transparent attention. “Hey you. Did everything turn out?”

“See for yourself.” She gestured behind her as Zach strode casually through the slough of cops.

Alarmed, Carter quickly met up with him, putting distance between them and the officers. “Those guys in the elevator have been taken to the hospital for treatment. Rick just texted and said the Feds might be getting involved. I told him to stall. But if they show up, get the hell out of here.”

Zach shrugged noncommittally and glanced at Shelley who was a meek flower again, fading into the backdrop. “What about my Father?”

“He’s been taken down to the Central Park precinct. He put up quite a fuss, but they threatened to arrest him, and he cooperated. They found the money like you said. It was in his car.” Carter appraised the woman. “Is that her?”

Zach threw a pained glance at Vienna, remembering her dripping voice. Her body. “Yeah.”

“She was with a Ron Hightower,” Carter said.

“I want them both taken in for questioning.”

“I agree. I’ll see what I can do.” With zeal, Carter marched down the long foyer, pulled open the first set of French doors to the Grand Ballroom, and disappeared into the still-pumping reception, basically ignoring Shelley.

Zach saw the way she watched Carter walk right by her without a word. Her jaw might as well have dropped. Considering the fact that she was content not to return to the wedding crowd, he joined her in her wall space. “What do you know about a Ron Hightower?”

Surprised he would be asking her, she replied, “A lot. Why?”

“Does he have any connection to the club?” 

Shelley’s gaze darted about as she searched her memory. “I think he’s an investor. Shouldn’t you know? He works with your dad.” Seeing his face darken, she quickly added, “Ron was the reason I even knew The Purple Gazelle was hiring musicians. He said Cervenka wanted me to audition. That I’d be doing him a favor.”

Zach narrowed his eyes.

She felt his worry. “What? What’s wrong?”

He wasn’t about to tell her what he really thought. Spotting Vienna, he nodded towards her. “Is she Ron’s girlfriend?”

Shelley let out a short, derisive laugh. “Ron doesn’t have girlfriends. He has
dates
. Expensive ones.” She looked at Zach, conveying her insinuation. “He flirts tirelessly with eligible, wealthy bachelorettes, but he never sleeps with them.” She eyed Vienna and sighed. “I’ve seen her before, I think. Ron tends to recycle the girls he likes,” she said with saccharine inflection.

At that moment, one of the cops, a Lieutenant Jordan Fox, came up the carpeted stairs from the lobby and spotted Zach. “Hey, Ericson!” Fox shook Zach’s hand, white smile against his mocha skin. “Look at you all spiffy. Didn’t know you ran with the upper crust.”

Zach grimaced. “Run
from
is more like it.”

The white-shirted officer jerked his head towards the elevators. “You hear what happened?” he asked, his Harlem origins coming through. “Elevator was stuck between the fifth and sixth floor with three guys beat to shit.” He eyed Shelley and gave her an apologetic nod. “Sorry, ma’am.”

“It’s okay,” she replied, thinking she wasn’t needed, shrinking away. But without moving, Zach caught her wrist, pulled her back, and made her stand beside him.

Fox’s gaze shifted to Shelley briefly and then returned to Zach. “Anyway, it was something,” he said. “You didn’t happen to see anything, did ya?”

“Yeah. It was me.”

Jordan’s expression went from a half-smiling ‘yeah right’ to a dawning ‘oh hell’. “You serious?”

Zach felt Shelley’s shock and judgment.

Shifting closer, Fox asked in a lowered voice, “What’re you doing, man? Aren’t you on probation?”

Aware that Shelley stood anxiously beside him, Zach explained. “I got in the elevator to head up. Those men were already in it. I didn’t know who they were, but one of them made a call and spoke in Russian. About me. Then another guy stuck his hand in his coat. I assumed the worst, hit the emergency stop. Before I could do anything, two of them jumped me. I fought them off. Third guy pulled a gun, fired it, it shattered the glass, and then I–”

“Put him out of commission.” Scoffing, Fox shook his head, writing on a notepad he’d produced. “Are you carrying?”

Shelley tensed as Zach unbuttoned his jacket and flashed his concealed Glock in its holster.

Brushing a glance at it, Fox nodded. “Did you fire it?”

“No.”

For this, the lieutenant checked Zach’s face instead of the gun to verify. Satisfied, he jotted it down and then: “So you immobilized them, then what?”

“I searched their pockets, took some pictures.” Zach showed the officer his cell phone. And as he thumbed through, he said, “I found a room key for 1121.” He took out the correct card from his pocket and handed it over. “That’s where I saw her.” Zach subtly indicated Vienna who was now being led away by the other cop, her coat draped over her arm.

She looked at him; her eyes held a glimmer of recognition. He had the urge to shake the truth out of her. Did she know he was a detective? That he was the son of the man she’d just slept with? The veins in his neck popped.

Zach proceeded with the rest of the story, trying to take his emotions out of the equation. He had no stomach for the details so he stuck to broad generalizations. The cop took pity on Zach, knowing that David was his father. So, after verifying a few details via his radio and checking the phone number Zach had written down, he let him off without any issues.

Touching Zach’s arm with her ringed hand, Shelley said, “I need to get going.”

“Get your coat. I’ll drop you off.”

Surprisingly, she didn’t argue. Zach kept his eyes on her receding form as she walked off and reentered the reception. The music swelled and then decrescendoed as the panels clicked shut.

Lieutenant Fox smirked, following Zach’s gaze. “She’s a doll, Ericson. About time you found yourself a–”

“She’s Carter’s fiancée,” Zach bit off, voice sounding hollow, gaze distant.

“The guy from the DA’s? Lucky dog.” Fox pocketed his notepad. “Well. See what happens, I guess. I’ll call you if I need more details.” He started walking off and threw Zach the universal call sign. “Make sure you answer your phone. ‘Kay?”

Depressed, Zach gave a casual reply and began striding to the ballroom, wondering what was taking Carter so long.

Cutting through the still-pumping crowd, Zach searched for Carter. He looked to his left through the gyrating crowd on the dance floor and spotted his grandmother chatting with Carol Mitchel. Brad was dancing with Melissa with Janine in one arm. All three happy, smiling. The sight wrenched Zach’s chain.

Quickly, he averted his gaze and checked the open bars. Plenty of men and women in line for more drinks, flirting with each other, turning up the heat for the rest of the night. No sign of Carter.

His “step-mom” flagged him down out of nowhere, mascara smudged from crying. “Zach, what’s going on? You have to tell me,” Lexi pleaded, holding onto his arm. “No one’s saying anything. Is David coming back?”

Zach bit down hard but took compassion. He rubbed at the back of his neck, unable to look at her. “It’s just questioning. Everything’ll be fine. Just…” He sighed and gestured to the general fray. “Try to forget about it.” He forced a flat smile and moved on, not giving her the chance to prod him further.

But Jared, standing with his effervescing bride, noticed Zach and extricated himself from Carrie and the couple with whom they were talking. “Hey,” he said with an air of apology, falling into step with Zach. “Can we talk about yesterday? I want to explain.”

Curtly, Zach stopped and glared at Jared. “Did you explain it to Carrie?”

Worry entered Jared’s face. It was a clear no.

Clenching his teeth, Zach stormed off, thinking it was no wonder the Greene’s had graciously volunteered to pay for the whole affair with no expense spared. Looking about the outrageous venue, he now recognized the signs of guilt. The champagne bar; the buffet tables piled high with innumerable fragrant delicacies; the professional jazz orchestra; the ice sculpture fountains; the gourmet Italian chocolates in little bags on every table; the scores of orchids dyed in vibrant sky blue and fuchsia; the enormous six-tiered cake in ice blue and vivid pink layers which was in and of itself a Metropolitan Museum work of art, requiring its own table, platform, and enhanced lighting. Oh, and the photographers. Complimentary portraits for anyone and everyone who wanted red-carpet-perfect shots in the timeless hall.

He couldn’t help but think – unkindly – that this giant production was just a bribe to keep everyone’s mouths shut. Because surely, this whole damn crowd knew way more than he did. Anyone of them could have said just a few words within Carrie’s ear, which would have ruined her special day. And – Zach looked at her – she was more than happy with Jared. He wasn’t going to be the one to trample upon her happiness.

Just then, the music cut out at the end of the number, and Zach heard several men talking, one of whom sounded like Henri Mitchel. Turning around, he encountered the table of glittering presents and only a shot away stood a gathering of powerful-looking men. Zach was certain he’d reached his destination.

Barreling through the Capitol Hill ensemble, Zach reached the main attraction and found Carter, Henri, and a man who was undoubtedly Ron Hightower III. White teeth, blonde hair, suit that likely cost half of Zach’s yearly salary. He looked nervously between Carter and Henri who were lobbying their arguments back and forth. Zach caught the gist and gleaned that Henri was Ron’s lawyer as well. How had Shelley not mentioned that?

Carter was trying hard not to disrespect his future father-in-law. But Henri was a beast. And the venerated attorney refused to let his client get taken in for questioning or anything else without a warrant. To make legal matters worse, the state attorney general and other interested NYC lawyers were in attendance for the proceedings. All four Mitchel sons stood behind their father, watching him work effortlessly.

Henri’s voice grew louder as Zach neared. “…without sufficient proof, and since you have none–”

Zach boldly interrupted, stepping between Carter and Henri, causing all eyes to fall on him. “I’d like a moment,” he said to Henri. “
Now
, if you don’t mind.”

Though it was clear Henri found Zach’s intrusion rude, he allowed it and stepped outside the circle.

“Hightower’s the reason Shelley auditioned at the club. Were you aware of that?” Seeing that Henri wasn’t, Zach continued. “And his escort? I have reason to believe she’s working for Kazanov.”

Henri scowled.

“If he’s going around your back, talking to Shelley without your knowledge, what else is he hiding from
you
? His legal counsel.” Zach met Henri’s dark glare. “If I were you, I’d throw him to the sharks.”

Henri’s attitude changed subtly, and Zach knew he’d pushed the right button. So he pressed further.

“You want me to protect her? He’s got to be taken in. You can plead whatever the hell you want, get him off the hook, but I need answers first.”

Henri mulled it over.

But at the same moment, Zach caught a vaguely familiar face amidst the crowd of lawyers, staring at Shelley who was talking with the pianist in the band. Zach saw a sleazy smile grow on his countenance, and then as the man lifted a drink to his lips, Zach remembered who he was.

Shelley bid goodbye to the keyboardist who’d been a good friend of hers while she was at the Manhattan School of Music. His name was Tony Vasquez, and he hailed from Puerto Rico. He’d been one of those who’d confessed die-hard love for her when she was sixteen and a rising star. But that was a flight of fancy, and look at him now. Married, apparently, with kids and doing well for himself. Better than her, anyway, she thought with self-disgust.

Sighing, she tried to find Zach, eager to leave now. But just as she spotted him, another stepped to block her path. Her eyes widened in horror.

“Hey sweetheart,” Kevin Larson boomed. “How ya doin’?” His gaze poured over her. “Looking good. Were you playin’ or something? Shoulda told me. We coulda done a duet together.”

“I’m sorry, but I have to go.” She stepped firmly to her right, but he copied her move. Mildly concerned, she tried to circumvent him the other way, but he tripped her and used the excuse to catch her.

He grinned as he held her. “Careful there.” He tried to get a look at her face, but she kept it down and averted to avoid his breath. “Hey. Whatsa matter? We’re practically best friends you and me. You know who I am, don’t ya?”

She lifted her gaze then and glared. “Yes. And do you know who I am,
Kevin
?”

The corners of his mouth turned upwards. “No, but I’ll find out later. You still have to make it up to me. That incident at Ramone’s was very traumatizing.”

“Apparently not traumatizing enough,” Zach growled, sounding like a bear ready to charge.

Larson looked around. Recognition dawned. “Hey, you’re that cop.” A glance at Shelley. “Oh, I see. Paid-by-the-hour musician meets NYPD blue. Match made in a steakhouse. So damn sweet it’s fucking killing me.”

“Mind letting her go?” Zach said evenly. “She’s gonna be late.”

“What are you? Her fairy godmother?” Larson scoffed derisively. “Get the hell outta here. Or I’ll sic my attorneys on you.”

Zach cast a quick glance around. Satisfied that he had the attention of no one, he shot his arm out and grabbed the inebriated fool by his necktie, yanking hard and pulling him away from Shelley.

To save his neck, Kevin let go of her. “Hey!” he choked out. “What the hell are you doin’?”

Zach began to gain an audience as he dragged Kevin by his tie and threw him against the nearby Ionic column, pinning him to the piece of restored history with bloodthirsty hands. And he would’ve hit him, except–

“Zach!” Henri boomed from behind. He approached, eyed Kevin with bloodless eyes, and said, “What seems to be the trouble?”

“This guy’s crazy, that’s what,” Kevin blurted, face red. Zach found reason to increase pressure. “She’s just some stupid pianist.”

Henri’s power scowl darkened a shade. “Pianist?”

Zach looked at Henri and said with a glower, “He was imposing on her at Ramone’s Steakhouse. She used to play there.”

Henri’s eyes filled with disbelief at the disclosure. He rotated his head to the right and cast his only daughter a questioning look. “Shelley,” he beckoned sternly. “Come here.”

She quaked under her dress and wished she could puddle to the floor. Her gaze darted around for a rescuer. But her brothers just stared at her, Carter was otherwise disposed, and Zach seemed to be on her father’s side. All at once, four hundred sets of eyes gawped at her like she was naked on display at the zoo

Heat flourishing through her veins, she felt the world pushing her down.
Run!
Clutching the satin folds of her gown, she fled, blind to the many who watched her. She passed by her mother and Barb who looked at her in astonishment.

“
Mi hija!
” Carol called as she streaked around their table. “Where are you going?”

By the column, Henri pursed his lips in displeasure. Turning to Zach, he leaned close and spoke for his hearing alone. “Get her out of here. I’ll handle the trash.”