Liquid Lies (30 page)

Tiptoeing with the leash in hand, around the dumpster, I positioned myself for a better view of my surroundings.

The door to the back of the building was knocked out. Most of the windows were broken. Graffiti covered one section of the wall. This building had been an eyesore for some time. It sat on a large corner lot within blocks of the hospital, but far enough away from the tourist area. It had become a hideout where local teens came to drink.

Clang
. Someone or something was here.
Please let it be another animal. Maybe a raccoon. Or a rat
. Pulling Skipper close to me, I crouched, attempting to make myself small, thereby hopefully unseen.

I whispered in his ear, “Let’s stay quiet. Then we can go play.”

He let out a soft whimper as he wagged his tail. Footsteps nearby crunched broken glass. I held my breath as I turned off my phone. I didn’t want it to ring and give away my hiding spot. I got dizzy. I had to breathe. So I took short shallow breaths to steady myself. My knees trembled. Skipper licked my face.

I couldn’t stay squatted behind the dumpster. But I sure didn’t want to show myself.

There was a low rumble nearby. It sounded like a truck. But it blocked my ability to hear anything.

Skipper shoved his nose in my side. “What is it boy?” I said.

He barked and lunged. The sun was in my eyes, but there was a man. Skipper had the man’s arm in his mouth. I went to grab Skipper but the man flung the dumpster lid down. Automatically, I reached up.

The heavy steel lid hit the back of my head, knocking me to the ground. My face hit the gravel. I tasted blood in my mouth. I felt my lip, it was tender. Skipper whimpered. He lay on his back. Please let him be okay.

I crawled to him and put my hand on his head. “Hey boy, it’s going to be fine.” He licked my hand. I scratched behind his ears. “Did you get a good chunk out of him?”

Pushing the lid away, I got to my feet. The muscles in my arm ached. I scanned the area, looking for any movement. I saw no one but a man and woman with a stroller on the sidewalk.

I turned my cell on and called Detective Wurkowski. I told him what had happened. He said he was sending a squad car to meet me. Skipper slowly stood. He was dragging one of his hind legs. “Hey boy. I’ll carry you.” I scooped him up and carried him to the corner.

Tears spilled down my cheeks and onto Skipper’s fur. “I’m so sorry. Your poor leg. It’s going to be fine boy.”

Everyone close to me seemed to get hurt. I tilted my head down to touch it to Skipper’s nose. He nuzzled me then let out a bark. Within a few minutes, the police arrived.

Two officers helped me load Skipper into the squad car. Now that my hands were free, I called the veterinarian. They said they would be ready for us when we got there. I told them I was on my way. One officer asked me questions while he filled out a report. The other officer walked around the dumpster and surrounding area. A few minutes later, the officers drove us to the veterinarian. I called Jacob on the way. He picked up on the first ring.

“Hey Jacob,” I said.

“How did the meeting with McNally go?” he asked.

“It didn’t,” I said. Then I told him about the dumpster incident and about Skipper’s leg.

“I filled out a police report. And we’re on the way to the vet’s now.”

“I’ll meet you there,” his words came out fast. “That’s it. Until this killer is found, you’re not going anywhere alone.”

No arguing with that reasoning.

***

A few hours later, Jacob and I left the veterinarians. We had waited until the surgery on Skipper’s leg was done. The doctor wanted to keep him overnight.

“What really pisses me off is this. If whoever it is has something against me, then deal with me. Stop hurting innocent people. Jeez. Hurt a dog? Who would do something like that?” I ranted to Jacob as we made our way to Estelle’s.

“Or maybe you’re getting close to finding the killer, and the killer is feeling the pressure and getting sloppy,” Jacob said as we walked. “But you’re right. Who would ever want to hurt a dog? I guess some people are so driven they place their own needs above anything or anyone else.”

“I guess so,” I said. “But why?”

“They’ll hurt anyone who gets in their way. It’s like they’re obsessed. People don’t mean anything to them. It’s like people are dispensable pawns on their way to obtain power.” Jacob held my hand.

The sun had just set. There was an orange glow left in the sky. Everything was bathed in the soft light. The smell of barbeque on grills wafted in the air.

I stopped in my tracks. “Oh my God. Jacob. It all makes sense now.”

“What?”

“Power. Get ahead. Drowning. Swim scholarship. It was just the start.” I almost hopped up and down with excitement. “He was with McNally when I was on the speaker phone, and he heard me taking about the shortcut through the empty lot. It’s him.”

“Slow down.” Jacob stopped and held my shoulders. “What’s going on?”

“You and I are going fishing tonight. We’re catching the killer,” I said.

“We are?” he asked.

“Yes. And it’s a big fish too.” Excitement built in me like a roller coaster going over the edge.

“Big fish?”

“The mayor.”

“Whoa.” Jacob put his hands up. “You think
the mayor
is the killer?”

I poured it out. “Here’s what I think. His sister, Vivian, told me their family was poor. I don’t know if it bothered her or not, but it seemed status mattered to her brother, Charles or, as we all know him, the mayor. She had told me some childhood stories about his cousin. At the time I felt sorry for him. The tragedy he endured. But now, I see it differently.”

“How so?” Jacob asked.

“The mayor has killed before.”

“Really?” Jacob raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, I think so.”

“How so?” Jacob asked.

“He killed his cousin Don and made it look like an accident. And this all makes sense to me now.” I almost tripped over the words. They were coming out of my mouth so quickly. “You see, his cousin Don got a full college scholarship. Charles was runner up. Charles killed Don, so that he would get the scholarship. You see, that’s how a poor kid like Charles was able to attend a top college and break away from his impoverished small town life.”

“If he killed his cousin, I just don’t understand why no one figured it out,” Jacob shook his head.

“Oh, but I think that Vivian did. I think while she was here for Francesca’s funeral, she might have begun to piece it together. Anyone who got in his way in his quest for more power had to be eliminated. He thinks he’s untouchable. Remember that athlete who killed his ex-wife and her lover? They’re arrogant and narcissistic. They have power and money. They think rules don’t apply to them.” I kicked a stone. “But the mayor won’t get away with it anymore.”

“That’s why we need to get the police involved. Let them sort this out. But I don’t think anyone will believe that he killed Francesca.” Jacob shook his head. “His own
daughter
? C’mon now.”

“Especially his daughter. He knew McNally got her pregnant. I bet the mayor was pissed. He probably confronted McNally. But McNally had something over the mayor. Shady business dealings or something. I’m not sure. The mayor knew that if anything came out, his world would disintegrate under his feet. So he took matters into his own hands. He had to get rid of Francesca. For both his and McNally’s sake.” My heart raced. I paced back and forth while I talked.

“It still seems a little far fetched,” Jacob said.

“Oh no. It makes perfect sense. It all makes sense now.” I bit my lower lip. Mark knew. “It wasn’t ‘ask father.’ It was ‘axe father.’”

“Isn’t that the same thing?” Jacob asked.

“No. Mark knew the mayor was the killer. That’s why the mayor killed him. Mark figured it out. His last words to me were ‘axe father.’ I didn’t know until now what that meant,” I said. “I thought it was a-s-k father. But it was a-x-e father. Listen, it has to be the mayor. He had access to your locker to plant your necklace.”

“I guess,” Jacob said.

“Then the mayor was with McNally today when I called, so he knew about my meeting and also my short cut. A day ago, I had I left the mayor a message that got cut off after I said I knew who the murderer was. I bet he thought that I knew it was him, when at the time I suspected it was McNally.”

“This is a lot to take in.”

“Yes it is. But I’m right.” I squeezed his hand.

“How are you so sure?”

“He lured me with Skipper,” I said. “Still, it wasn’t too smart for the mayor to use Skipper as bait. I mean, Skipper would defend me if anyone attacked. And Skipper did defend me. I bet the mayor has a bite mark on his arm. I just know it.”

The words were tumbling out of my mouth. “The mayor must be under tremendous pressure and might not be thinking clearly at this point. He is
so
not going to be governor.”

“CiCi, calm down. I agree with your theory,” Jacob said. “So, let’s go to the police,”

“To accuse the most powerful man in this city?” I paused. “They may not be too excited to confront the mayor without proof.”

“Then we need to somehow trap him into a confession. Let’s set the bait,” Jacob said. “Blackmail him.”

“How?” I asked.

“Let’s tell him we have proof that he killed Francesca.”

“Let me think.” I paused and racked my brain. “Proof, like what?”

“Security camera footage or something?”

“Good. But, wouldn’t the police have found that?” I said.

“I guess so.” He ran his hand through his hair.

“However, you’re onto something. The night he killed Francesca, I was on Ken’s boat. The mayor must have known there was a boat out there. We were the only one, and we passed by his dock. I could say I had footage from that night. It was the maiden voyage of Ken’s new boat. It would be an event that someone might record. It’s believable.” I opened my arms. “Funny thing is, Ken did want to record it, but my video camera was broke.”

“Okay, what next?”

“That, I haven’t figured out yet.” Rats. What now?

“We could lure him someplace, rig up a recorder, and get him to confess,” Jacob said.

“But my video camera doesn’t work.”

“No worry. I’ve got everything we need at my house. Plus I never leave home without this handy tool.” He pulled a Swiss army knife out of his pocket. “Scouts are always prepared.”

“You were a scout?”

“All the way to Eagle,” he smiled

“Good to have you on my team. I need someone who knows what the hell they’re doing. Because I sure don’t.” I playfully tapped him in the arm.

“Glad to help out.”

“So, you’ll get everything you need to set up your video camera on the mail boat. I’ll get the mayor to show up and confess.” I said. “We have a plan.”

I felt restless. I was as keyed up as a kid on Christmas morning, knowing there were presents under the tree.

I called the mayor’s house. Juanita said he was in the shower. I told her that it was urgent that he meet me at the mail boat because I had proof of Francesca's murderer. Juanita was curious and wanted to know more. I assured her she would know soon, but to give the mayor the message immediately.

Jacob had gone to his townhouse to get his digital video camera and some other equipment. Meanwhile, I went to the mail boat to wait for Jacob.

“I got all the stuff we need,” Jacob said as he came on board. “My video camera and two memory cards.”

“Why two?” I asked.

“We can use this one to record the meeting. The other, you can show the mayor,” he said as he handed me a memory card.

“Of course. I almost forgot. I have to show him the proof I claim I have. I’ll tell him this has video of the killer on the dock from when Ken and I were on the boat.” I held the memory card in the air and examined it briefly. “I’ll keep it in my pocket for now.”

“And I have everything we need to get our plan to work.” He showed me his tool belt and a bag. “I can get this rigged up in no time.”

“Let’s set it up. My guess is that he’ll be here very soon,” I said. I told Jacob about my phone call with Juanita.

Jacob set up the camera and turned on the night vision setting. We had it at an angle that would cover the bottom of the deck. We figured even if we couldn’t get great pictures, we could at least get audio. Jacob positioned another microphone to better catch the audio.

We tested it out. It all worked.

“Jacob, thank you,” I said.

He kissed me. “You can thank me in private later.”

“It’s a date,” I said.

“Look,” Jacob pointed toward a figure near the dock. “Your big fish.”

The mayor sauntered up the dock that led to the mail boat.

“You hide back there,” I said. Jacob entered the control room. For a second, I imagined Mark in there, behind the window with his wild mop of red hair, his crooked smile. I got a little choked up. This was for him too.