Murder in the Air (27 page)

As she drove home, she told herself she had no reason to feel gloomy and sad. She was a woman of means, with a lovely home and a possible new job in the wings. She had two wonderful daughters—both married—and two lovely granddaughters. She had friends, and she enjoyed good health. True, her significant romantic relationship—if that still existed—was problematic. Her lover was sexy, virile, and exciting. He was also pigheaded, macho, and resentful of what he considered her interference in his work.

Lydia felt a stab of guilt as she thought of Nicole lying unconscious in a hospital bed. She’d been so intent on filling up her day, she hadn’t bothered to check on the poor girl’s condition.

She’d remedy that right now! The hospital was no more than a ten-minute ride from her present location. Lydia glanced at the clock on the dashboard. Nine-thirty-five. Visiting hours were probably over. If that was the case, at least she could find out how Nicole was doing.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Lydia stopped at a supermarket to buy a basket of flowers and a “get well” card. She scribbled a note wishing Nicole a quick recovery as she waited to pay the cashier. That accomplished, she climbed back into her car and headed for the hospital.

The central hall was dimly lit, with only a handful of visitors mulling around. The rest appeared to be leaving. Visiting hours must be over. From years of experience, Lydia knew no one was likely to stop her if she walked briskly past the hospitality desk on her way to the bank of elevators. She remembered that Nicole was on the sixth floor. What was her room number? Six twenty-two! Down the right-hand corridor, on the left-hand side.

She was in luck. The one nurse manning the circular nurses’ station was facing the other way as she laughed at whatever her telephone friend was saying. Lydia stepped adroitly out of the path of the middle-aged couple exiting a room, their heads turned back to the patient whom they were reassuring looked marvelous and would be up and about in no time.

She glanced into the rooms as she passed. Some of the patients were already asleep. In one room, a nurse was adjusting a patient’s bedding. Lydia hurried past, not wanting to be stopped.

Nicole’s room was at the far end of the corridor. Unlike the other rooms, the door was shut, and an empty chair was placed beside it. Lydia turned the handle and peered inside. The patient in the bed closest to the door was snoring, no doubt in a medically induced deep sleep. She tiptoed into the room and stopped at the curtain drawn around the other bed—Nicole’s bed. The hairs on the back of her neck rose. Something was terribly wrong.

Over the humming of monitoring machines came the rasping sound of someone struggling to breathe. Lydia ripped aside the curtain and gasped. On the far side of the bed, Bennett was yanking a tube from Nicole’s mouth.

“Stop that! What do you think you’re doing?”

Bennett disappeared from view. Lydia turned to run. She had to get the hell out of there to save Nicole and herself.

She grabbed the door handle, about to shout for help, when a hand clapped over her mouth.

“Shut up, you interfering bitch!”

Bennett’s other hand gripped her upper arm. Lydia tried to elbow him in the gut and was rewarded with a knee to the kidneys.

“Ouch!”

“Keep your mouth shut and do as you’re told. We’re taking the stairs once the coast is clear.”

He opened the door wide enough to peer into the corridor, then pushed her toward the door under the Exit sign. Lydia balked and was rewarded with a punch to the ribs.

“Stop that!” she mumbled into his hand.

“Don’t give me a hard time, or I’ll kill you right here.”

Her mind churned as they struggled down the steps. Bennett was strong and almost half her age, but if he had no weapon, she’d better make a run for it—the sooner the better.

She must have paused, giving him a sense of what she was thinking, because he shoved her hard against the wall. Lydia straightened up, ignoring the pain in her side, and descended as slowly as she dared.

They walked down one flight and then another. “Why were you trying to kill Nicole?” she asked now that his hand no longer covered her mouth.

“Shut up! I have a knife and I won’t hesitate to use it.”

“I don’t believe you!” Whatever had possessed her to say that?

“Oh, yeah?” His laugh sent chills down her back. “Want to see it?”

Lydia shivered. “You didn’t use it on Nicole.”

“Of course not!” Bennett sounded offended. “She’s my cousin.”

“Then why were you pulling out her tubes?”

They reached a landing. Lydia couldn’t suppress a tremor as they started down what she figured was the last set of stairs before the parking lot.

“I’ll never figure why Nicky took up with that creep. I send some business Ringo’s way, but he’s not fit to clean her shoes. Anyway, I had to take care of something and Nicky saw it go down. She went crazy. I can’t trust her to keep her mouth shut.”

Lydia’s voice quivered. “And so you tried to kill her?”

“She’s done for. She can’t make it without oxygen. I managed to pull that before you stuck your nose in.”

“Oh, no!” Lydia moaned, earning herself another poke in the ribs. “But the cops had someone guarding the door.”

He laughed. “Even cops have to pee.”

They’d reached the short hallway that led to the parking area. Lydia looked around the dim florescent-lit hallway. Shadows played on the vomit-green walls. Their footsteps sounded hollow in the emptiness. Where was everyone? Sure, it was after visiting hours, but this was a hospital, for God’s sake.

Bennett opened the door, and demanded to know where she’d parked her car.

Lydia didn’t answer. If she was going to run, it had to be now. Once he got her inside her car, it was only a matter of time before he killed her.

“See this?” He reached inside his baseball jacket and pulled out a hunting knife in a leather sheath. “In case you think I’m lying. Now, for the second and last time—where did you park your car?”

Trembling, she pointed. “Two aisles over.”

“Good girl.” He patted her shoulder. “We’ll get in your car and you’ll drive where I tell you. Won’t you?”

Lydia nodded.

“Move!”

She tried to obey, but her limbs remained rooted to the spot.

He prodded her. “Go on!”

Reluctantly, she set one foot in front of the other until she reached her car. Her mind clanged with fear and the frustration that she had no escape plan. Every move she made brought her closer to death.

Lydia pressed the remote button that unlocked the car doors. Her fingers shook so badly she had difficulty inserting the key into the ignition.

He pointed. “Exit over there.”

She did as he instructed, her mind churning furiously, seeking a way to escape with her life. She waited at the red light as cars sped past on either side of the four-lane road.

“Turn left and head for Robinson Avenue.”

“Where are we going?”

“You ask too many damn questions.”

He couldn’t hurt her while she was driving. The thought emboldened her. “What do you plan to do with me?”

Bennett eyed her thoughtfully. “That depends on your cooperation. Now I want you to pick someone up.”

He turned on the radio and started pushing buttons. The opening bars of a popular song filled the car. Lydia gave a start, and the car swerved into the right lane. Bennett reached out to steady the steering wheel and set the car back on its course.

“What the hell are you doing? You’ll get us killed.” He switched off the radio and took out his cell phone. “Hi,” he said, his voice in neutral.

He listened a minute, then said, “Sorry I’m late. I ran into something. Wait for me outside. I’m in a hurry.”

Lydia heard what sounded like someone complaining, though she couldn’t make out any words. Bennett frowned. “It’s not cold. For once, just do as I ask, okay?”

The person on the other end continued. Bennett shifted the phone to his other ear. “I love you, too. Bye, Mom. Gotta go.”

Mom? “That was your mother!” Lydia yelped. “You mean to tell me Denise is involved in all this?”

“All what?”

“Killing her own father. And Stefano.”

Too late, she realized her mistake. She nearly lost control of the wheel again, when he stuck his face close to hers. “My mother had nothing to do with anything. You got that? And when we pick her up, you keep your mouth shut.” He grinned maniacally, and she forced herself not to wrinkle her nose at the foul odor of his breath. “One word about Nicole or anyone else and I’ll slice you up like London broil. You’ll be begging me to put you out of your misery.”

Lydia nodded. She was certain Bennett intended to kill her as soon as he had the opportunity. But if he didn’t want Denise to know what he was up to, she was safe for the next ten minutes. She’d risk asking questions. The more she knew, the better equipped she’d be.

“If your mother’s not involved, why am I picking her up?”

“Why not?” he asked belligerently.

“It’s kind of strange, don’t you think?”

“I’ll tell her you were visiting Nicky. There’s no problem—as long as you remember what I said and keep your mouth shut.”

“All right.” Lydia stopped at a red light, figuring he had no intention of answering her question.

A minute later, he surprised her. “My mom and I always look after each other. I drove her to an AA meeting and it’s over. Ended ten minutes ago.”

“Oh,” she said, though his words made her skin crawl. He’d planned to kill Nicole and then drive Denise home from her meeting all along. He had the sensitivity of a snake. Lydia drew a deep breath, and asked, “Does she know you killed Daniel and Stefano?”

Bennett shrugged. “She’d never ask and I’d never tell her, but sometimes she looks at me in a way that makes me think she suspects.” He gave a little laugh. “Not that it matters. In the end, she forgives whatever I do.”

A wave of desolation engulfed Lydia. She could expect no help from Denise. She forced herself to speak calmly and not reveal her desperation. “That must be wonderful, having a parent who accepts whatever you do.”

“It’s great.”

The light changed, and Lydia drove slowly on. She drew a breath, then asked, “But why did you kill your grandfather? And strike Evelyn? And Nicole?”

His laugh was harsh. “Why do you think? The old man was a rich son-of-a-bitch, but he never gave my mother enough money for us to live on. He deserved to die. And Evelyn stood in the way of my mother’s rightful inheritance. Still does, for that matter.”

Lydia shivered to think of his trying to hurt Evelyn again. She had to get free. “What did Stefano have to do with any of that?”

Bennett scowled. “We had some business together, and he thought he could short me.”

“You didn’t like him going out with your mother.”

“You’re damn right about that! She’s too good for him. I finished him off just as Nicky came by his place for some smack. I told Ringo to stay with her until she calmed down and saw reason, but she took off. Turn left here!”

Lydia drove past car repair shops locked up for the night and stopped before the small brown church, a light bulb shining over the front door. Beyond the parking lot, which appeared to be empty, were three houses. There was no sign of Denise. Bennett swore as he stuck his head out the window.

“Damn it, I told her to wait for me outside. Honk the horn, will you?”

Lydia pressed down and released a blast of noise until Bennett yanked her hand away. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” He slapped her head.

Denise, dressed in a short-sleeved blouse and pants, ran hugging herself against the evening chill.

“I told her to bring a sweater,” he muttered, then he stuck his head out the window again. “Hey, Mom! Get in the back seat.”

Denise looked at him. “Where’s your car?”

“I had a bit of trouble and ran into Lydia. She’s giving us a lift.”

Denise peered into the car and offered Lydia a smile. “Hi, Lydia. Thanks for the ride.”

Lydia made no response, but Denise didn’t seem to notice. She climbed into the back seat, chattering about her meeting, how everyone had to rush home and felt bad about leaving her on her own.

“But I told them you’d be along any minute, and here you are,” she said brightly, lighting up a cigarette.

“Please don’t smoke in the car,” Lydia said.

Bennett glared at her but said nothing. Denise quickly extinguished her cigarette in the ashtray.

“I keep forgetting how most people can’t stand smoke, when for me, it’s the lesser of two evils.” She giggled. “Three, actually.”

“Where to?” Lydia asked.

“Drive my mother home.” Bennett reeled off the address.

Lydia crawled down the block, stalling for time. In the rearview window she watched Denise stretch her arms overhead and yawn. “I’d say let’s go out for a bite to eat, but I’m exhausted. Tonight we talked about facing the bald truths in our lives.” She sighed. “It was heavy going.”

Having a bite with Bennett and Denise was the last thing Lydia wanted to do. No, next to the last thing. Mother and son began discussing the AA meeting. Lydia felt as though she were an actress in a bizarre movie. Bizarre or not, she cleared her throat, about to change the subject of the conversation.

“Denise,” she began.

“Yes, Lydia.”

“Do you know what Bennett was doing when I met him in the hospital?”

“The hospital? Oh, you went to visit Nicky. That was sweet, Bennett.”

“Shut up, Lydia!”

Lydia looked at Bennett. “Your son was pulling out Nicole’s tubes. She’s probably dead right now, as dead as your father and Stefano. Bennett killed them all.”

A wail rose from the back seat. “Benny, how could you?”

“Mom, don’t listen to her! She’s making it up.”

“Tell her how you killed Daniel for her inheritance and Stefano for drug-related business.”

“It’s a lie!”

Denise’s sobs filled the car. “You swore to me you changed.”

“I did, Mom. I swear to you, I did! Only—”

Denise appeared not to have heard him. “You promised to lead a respectable life. Instead, you murdered the people I love.”