The Trophy Exchange (32 page)

“
Why, Charley?
”

Charley punched in the numbers to Lucinda
’
s cellphone.
“
Because that man scared me.
”

“
What man Charley?
”

Charley spoke into the phone.
“
Lucy. This is Charley. I
’
m scared.
”

Thirty-Eight

After District Attorney Reed left to take the search
-
warrant request documents to the judge
’
s chambers, Lucinda had time for only one deep exhalation of relief before her cellphone rang.
“
Pierce,
”
she said.

Lucinda listened as Charley told her about the phone calls.
“
Is Kara there?
”

“
Uh huh. She
’
s standing right here.
”

“
Can you put her on the phone, please?
”

Without a word, Charley handed the phone to Kara.

“
Kara, how long are you planning on being with the girls today?
”
Lucinda asked the sitter.

“
Till about five or so. But I was only going home for a couple hours and then coming back. Dr Spencer has to go to bed early because of his flight tomorrow morning. I planned to put the girls to bed and spend the night.
”

“
Kara, something
’
s come up. If you
’
re needed, can you do without the two-hour break?
”

“
Sure.
”

“
O
kay
. This is what I need you to do right now. Go around the house and make sure every window and door is locked. And if the phone rings again, don
’
t let Charley answer it. And if Dr Spencer comes home, Kara, please do not leave without calling me first. O
kay
?
”

“
Not a problem, Lieutenant. But if you
’
re concerned about the girls
’
safety in this house, I can walk them down to my place right now.
”

“
No, do not go outside. Not now. If all goes as planned, some police officers will be at the house soon. When they get there, tell one of them that Lieutenant Pierce wants a police officer to walk you down to your house with the girls,
okay
?
”

“
Sure.
”

“
Could you put Charley back on the phone now?
”

“
Lucy?
”
Charley said.

“
Hey, Charley. Don
’
t worry about a thing. We
’
ve got it all under control now. Just do whatever Kara says, all right? Don
’
t open the door and don
’
t pick up the phone,
okay
?
”

“
O
kay
. Can you come over?
”

That question zinged straight to Lucinda
’
s heart.
“
I can
’
t do that, Charley, but I
’
ll send some other policemen over to take care of you. O
kay
?
”

“
O
kay
, Lucy. I love you.
”

I
’
m about to destroy her life and she tells me she loves me.
“
I love you, too, honey. No matter what happens, always remember that. It will never change.
”

It didn
’
t take long for Reed to return with the judge
’
s signature on the warrant. The
c
aptain took the search warrant for Evan Spencer
’
s house and the one for his computers to the team he had on standby. Lucinda and Ted snatched up the arrest warrant and headed out the door.

“
Don
’
t be cowboys,
”
District Attorney Reed hollered in their wake.
“
Don
’
t make a scene.
”

“
You want me to drive?
”
Ted asked.

“
No. My car,
”
Lucinda said.

She slid behind the steering wheel and headed across town to the medical office of Dr Evan Spencer, one block away from the hospital.

“
There
’
s his car,
”
Ted said pointing to a midnight blue Chrysler 300 parked by the side door of the building.

Lucinda pulled in and turned her vehicle around. There was an empty space next to Evan
’
s car, but instead of pulling into it, she parked her car lengthwise across the end of the open area and the rear of the Chrysler, blocking Evans
’
car from pulling out.
“
I want to go in,
”
she said.

“
I know, me, too, but it
’
s not worth it to tick off DA Reed right now.
”

“
I know.
”
Lucinda sighed.

“
He
’
ll be out any minute.
”

Lucinda
’
s sigh was even bigger this time.
“
I know.
”

They sat in silence for a moment. The only sound in the car was the tapping of Lucinda
’
s finger on her armrest.

“
Why don
’
t you ever want me to drive?
”
Ted asked.

“
I hate your driving, Ted.
”

“
There
’
s nothing wrong with my driving.
”

“
I
’
m sure you don
’
t think so. You drive like a man.
”

“
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
”

“
In traffic, you don
’
t brake until you
’
re nearly up somebody
’
s rear. At a stop sign, you don
’
t slow down as you approach. You don
’
t
switch
your turn signal on until the last moment. You go where you want without listening to anyone
’
s directions.
”

“
I haven
’
t had an accident in nearly twenty years.
”

“
No credit to your driving, Ted. God obviously sent you an expert guardian angel.
”

“
If men are such bad drivers then why are all the jokes about women drivers?
”

“
Because men made up all the jokes to divert our attention from the fact that men spend most of their lives with their heads up their butt holes.
”

Ted opened his mouth to respond but stopped when he saw the door to the side entrance crack open.
“
Look,
”
he said.

“
Looks like the vindication of your gender will have to wait, Ted.
”

“
Vindication? We don
’
t need no stinkin
’
vindication.
”
The rest of his argument froze in his throat as the side door pulled open and Evan Spencer stepped outside.

Evan
’
s brow furrowed as he spotted the vehicle blocking his car. He leaned back into the door and spoke to someone in the building. The two front doors on the car opened up and Lucinda and Ted stepped out.

Evan heard the car doors shut and turned back to face Ted and Lucinda.
“
What do you want now?
”

Lucinda held up the arrest warrant in her hand.
“
You
’
re under arrest for suspicion
of
four counts of murder including that of Kathleen Spencer.
”

“
Are you out of your mind?
”
Evan asked.

Ted approached Evan dangling a pair of handcuffs.
“
Turn around, Doctor,
”
Ted said.

“
You
’
re arresting me?
”

“
Please turn around, Doctor,
”
Lucinda said.
“
Please don
’
t resist.
”

“
I want my lawyer,
”
Evan said.

“
Fine, Doctor, we
’
ll take care of that down at the station. Now turn around.
”

Evan Spencer swiveled on his feet. Ted snapped the cuffs on his wrists and escorted him to the back seat of the vehicle. As Lucinda pulled the car out into traffic, Ted pulled the card out of his pocket and read Evan Spencer his rights.