03_Cornered Coyote (12 page)

“Yeah, but don’t think it’ll work.”

“Why not? I need all the help I can get.”

Slade told him about Darya and how she’d met Maria in France. He started to tell Brian that Jordan was the subject of an investigation by the Police Commission for withholding evidence regarding a crime. Brian interrupted him and said, “Yes, they told me about it.”

“So, ya’ see, it’d be a problem not only for Jordan, but also fer’ Darya. She’d be outted fer’ bringin’ little girls into this country illegally. I mean, some things are above the law, and this is one of ‘em, but that bitch prosecutor and jury might not take too kindly to it. Like the best Maria can do to get people testifyin’ on her behalf are people who are breakin’ the law. Nah, Brian, no can do. I’ll have myself a nice long think and see what else I can come up with. So where do ya’ think this Marsha bitch lives?”

“I’ve been to her home. She had a big party there awhile back. It was a joint party for the Riverside and Los Angeles County Criminal Bar Association members. Nice old home. Lots of trees, brick, classy. It’s in a wealthy area of Riverside in the foothills. I hear she kept the house after the divorce and she inherited family money. She and her husband didn’t have any children, but the property was big enough for a couple of horses. I remember seeing a barn. That’s about it.”

“Thanks, Brian. I’ll wait to hear from you.”

CHAPTER 20

“This is Sean Moriarty, may I help you?”

“Mr. Moriarty, my name is Brian Meeks. You don’t know me, but I’m hoping you remember a woman by the name of Maria Brooks who owned the Blue Coyote Motel. I believe you stayed there.”

“Yes, of course I remember Maria. What can I do for you?” the large grey-haired psychologist asked. He looked around his study and wondered why this man was calling him.

“Well, this is kind of a long story, but I guess the place to start is at the beginning. I’ve been retained to defend Maria for the murder of her husband, Jeffrey Brooks. She met Jordan Kramer, a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department, Art Theft Division, when he was investigating a case in Provence. They fell in love. He wanted her to come to California with him, but she refused. To make a long story short, he later found out she was a person of interest in the murder of her husband, Jeffrey Brooks.”

“Let me interrupt you for a minute, please. I liked Maria a lot and if there’s something I can do for her, please tell me.”

“Yes there is, but I want you to know the background of this before you commit to anything.  She returned to California a few days ago to live with him. The day before she returned, a local tabloid did a scathing article on Jeffrey and Maria – all about a cop on the public payroll who harbors a criminal; the classic type of yellow journalism. I guess the phones rang off the hook at the Riverside County District Attorney’s office demanding that Maria be charged with murder. The DA is up for re-election and had no choice but to have her arrested as soon as she landed. She’s been arraigned and is in the Riverside county jail awaiting trial. Here’s why I’m calling. She remembered that you’d given her a business card and told her to call if she needed to talk to you. I could sure use your testimony during the trial that her husband, Jeffrey, appeared to be drifting into insanity. Coming from a psychologist, that would be powerful,” Brian said.

“I heard she’d gone to France after Jeffrey’s death and disappeared. I’ve thought about her many times. She was a kind, generous woman, and I was sorry to hear she was on the run.”

“She told me about some other people who stayed at the Blue Coyote Motel over that Memorial Day weekend. Do you remember their names? Maybe you could help me get in touch with them? Anyway, if you can do anything to help her, I know she’d appreciate it,” Brian said.

“It’s Brian, right?” Sean asked. “That’s correct,” Brian replied.

“All right Brian, let me tell you about the other guests. There were six of us and we’d all become addicted to the drug that Maria’s husband administered to us through the air-conditioning system at the motel. At the time none of us knew that was happening. We were simply innocent victims. I honestly don’t think Maria knew he was doing it. None of those other guests are presently taking the drug. The five of us have a Skype conference once a week, loosely based on the Alcoholics Anonymous program. I’m happy to tell you it’s worked out well for us.”

“Let me interrupt. I thought there were six guests. You said the other four and you. What happened to the sixth person?”

“You’re referring to Jorge Ortega. He was murdered in the Amazon jungle when he went to visit one of the family gold mines. He’d forgotten to take his monthly pill and his wife is certain he was going through withdrawal symptoms and became careless. He walked a few steps away from his bodyguards in the middle of the night to relieve himself and was brutally murdered by local natives.”

“I’m so sorry and I know Maria will feel terrible.”

“Yes, it was a tragedy. I won’t go into all of the things which have happened to these people since their time at the Blue Coyote Motel, but I know all of them thought Jeffrey was a monster for what he did to them. We met with him on that Memorial Day weekend and could clearly see he was insane. A brilliant man, but stark raving mad.”

“Wait a minute. I read the detective’s report and it says that you never met Jeffrey. Is that right?”

“That’s what I told the detective. I didn’t tell him the truth because I felt that, being a psychologist, what happened during that meeting fell into the realm of professional ethics. I actually texted the others and told them not to return the detective’s phone calls. They were innocent victims and certainly didn’t need to have some drug charge filed against them. Anyway, by that time, they were all more or less my patients.”

“So, you’re still in touch with the others?”

“Yes, as I told you, we speak weekly. Let me do this. I think all of them liked Maria as much as I did. I’ll set up a Skype meeting tonight and see if any of them will testify on Maria’s behalf. Do you think that would help?”

“That would be invaluable. Thank you so much. Let me give you my number. I’ll wait for your call. Thank you, Sean.”

“You can do something for me,” Sean said. “If I testify for Maria, I’m going to have to say I met Jeffrey. That means I lied to the detective when he called me about it. You’re a lawyer. How can I explain that? And could I be held in contempt or some such thing?”

“I think I can put your fears to rest. You weren’t under oath when you told the detective that you hadn’t met Jeffrey, so you can’t be prosecuted for anything. Since no one is taking the drug and it’s not even being manufactured now, I don’t think they need to worry about the question of taking a drug. Plus, it was given to them unknowingly.  I really don’t see that it’s a problem.”

“Thanks, that makes me feel much better. I’ll call you later tonight.”

* * * * *

Sean and the group met on Skype and all of the motel guests except Louisa agreed to testify. Blood was definitely thicker than water and it was clear that the drug had played a part in her husband's death, a very vital part. If Louisa decided to testify against Maria it more than likely would hurt her chances for acquittal.

CHAPTER 21

“Hey, Doll, put me through to Darya, would ya? Tell her it’s Slade.”

“Slade, Merry Christmas. I’m glad you called. You were on my list of calls to make. I have a little something for you. Any chance you can come by my office this afternoon?”

“Yeah, great minds think alike. Got a little somethin’ for ya’, too. How about 4:30 or ya’ got big plans for tonight?”

“I’m completely free. I’ll see you then.”

Promptly at 4:30, Slade arrived at Darya’s office, walked up the stairs, and greeted Mahsa. She buzzed Darya. “Mr. Kelly is here. Shall I send him in?”

“No, I’ll come out and get him.” Darya walked over to the conference table where the wrapped case of 1976 Roederer Cristal Champagne was and made sure the bow and the card were in place. She opened the door. “Merry Christmas, Slade. Come in.”

Slade followed her into the office. “Doll, yer’ lookin’ good. Course when don’t you? Gonna pretend there’s a little mistletoe hangin’ above yer’ head. Here’s a Christmas kiss for ya’.” He kissed her cheek and handed her a small wrapped gift.

“Slade, I have something for you, too. It’s over on the table. Why don’t you open yours first?”

He looked at the large gift on the conference table. “Doll, that’s one hell of a big gift. Never been real good at savin’ paper and bows,” he said as he tore off the gift wrapping. “This here’s the good shit you’ve treated me to before, ain’t it? Wow, thanks!” He opened the attached envelope and read the Christmas card. In a much quieter voice, he said, “Miss R, thank you. I consider meeting you and working with you to be one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.”

“Slade, hearing that from you might be one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. May I open my gift now?” She looked at him, trying hard to keep her passion under control. She wasn’t successful. Her body betrayed her as her nipples hardened and her cheeks reddened.

“Sure. Jes’ a little somethin’ I picked up for ya’. Hope you like it. Kept the receipt if ya’ don’t.”

She carefully unwrapped the gift and saw a blue Tiffany box. She looked up at him. “Slade, what is this?”

“Go ahead, open it up. No use waitin’.” He was pacing nervously back and forth.

“Slade, what’s wrong?”

“Nothin’ Doll, jes’ hope you like it. Kind of a spur-of-the-moment buy.”

She opened the small box which had the trademark Tiffany logo impressed on the top and reached under the cotton. Her hand touched a small hard object and she took it out of the box. She was quiet for several moments, stunned by the exquisite piece of jewelry she held in her hand. It was a gold angel inlaid with a dazzling set of diamonds on each tiny wing.

“Slade, this is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I can’t believe you got it for me. I’m wearing a gold chain and it should slide right into the bezel. Would you mind unfastening it? It takes me forever.”

He walked over to her and put his hands on the gold necklace. His fingers felt her warm neck and his nose picked up the scent of her signature perfume. The intimacy of the moment didn’t escape him or his body. It aroused him no end.

Thank god I don't need the blue pill… yet.
Slade, get a grip. The only reason all this romantic stuff is happening is because she wants to get Maria out of jail and get her hands on the manufacturing rights to the secret drugs developed by Jeffrey Brooks. She’s way too high on the food chain for you, ‘ol boy.

He undid the chain, slid the angel on it, and reattached the clasp. She took a mirror out of her purse and looked at it.

“Slade, I love it. It’s beautiful. Thank you so much. I’m surprised, but happily.” She turned around, walked over to him and kissed his cheek. “What made you buy this for me?”

“Ain’t never gonna hear me say it again, Doll, but you remind me of an angel.”

She stared at him as the buzzer rang on her desk, interrupting the moment. “Miss Rahimi, I’m leaving. Merry Christmas and thank you again for the generous bonus. See you in two days,” Mahsa said.

“And Merry Christmas to you and your family, Mahsa, and thank you for everything you do for me.”

Darya turned back to Slade who was standing perfectly still and staring at her. “Slade, I’m no angel, but I will cherish this little angel every day of my life,” she said as she gently touched it with her index finger.  They stood and looked at each other for a moment, both thinking of the night when they were interrupted by Lou coming home. Darya broke the silence. “I took the liberty of icing a bottle of champagne. Will you join me?”

“Ya’, I’m off the clock, it bein’ Christmas Eve and all. Want me to get that cork out? Ain’t the easiest thing to do.”

“Please. By the way, did you bring those forged papers you were going to get for me so the little orphan girls can get into the States?”

“Yeah,” he said, carefully untwisting the wire on the bottle. “Doll, ya got a towel or somethin’ in case it spills?”

“Here’s a towel and a big bowl. I think this is the first time I’ve ever had a glass of champagne in my office.”

“Well, Doll, guess I better leave a couple of bottles so we can do this again. By the way, I let Lou go home. If you ain’t got nothin’ better to do tonight, how about ya’ let me take you out to dinner? I tol’ Lou long as I was here I could protect you. He said Scott was going to be watching ya’ tonight, so I should call him when I leave ya’. Anyway, we could go to that French restaurant up the street. Ya’ know, the one where Pierre used to work.”

“Yes, I’d enjoy that very much. Before we go, I’d like to know if you’ve heard anything about Maria and Jordan. Have you talked to him in the last few days? Not being together tonight and tomorrow on Christmas day must be so hard on them.”

“I called him a coupla days ago and yeah, this a tough time. Between her bein’ in jail and him havin’ the Police Commission problem, not a good time. Here’s those ID papers you need for the little girls. Ya’ goin’ to France to bring ‘em back this time?”

“No, I asked Pierre to handle it. He’s done it so many times he knows the drill. I may have mentioned that Mahsa’s sister just arrived from Afghanistan and she’s going to take care of one of the little girls Jordan and Maria met when they were in Provence. Jordan arranged for her to have plastic surgery on a bad scar on her face, so she’ll stay at Mahsa’s house before and after the surgery. I don’t think he’s told Maria yet. Her plate’s overflowing at the moment.”

“He ain’t never had kids or even been married. Right?”

“That’s right. His life sure seems upended now. I guess he had an instant connection with the little girl when he first saw her in the barn at the Younts’ home in Provence. Isn’t it interesting how things turn out? It amazes me to think that my aunt will be responsible for a little girl coming to the United States and having corrective surgery that a California police detective arranged. You couldn’t script a story like that.”