LITMIR.BIZ

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idea what he was doing there?”

      “None whatsoever.”

      “Does your father eat at Tracadero’s?”

      “Maybe for a special occasion. Like one of our birthdays. Dad does like good food.” Michael bit his lower lip. “Mostly, he ate at the hospital. He practically lived at the hospital.”

      “Not home a lot.”

      “Almost never except for Sundays.”

      “Your mom is a nervous type?”

      “No, not at all.” Michael became tense. “Why do you ask that?”

      “Just because you keep sedatives in the house. I get the feeling she’s used to taking them.”

      “Oh … only occasionally … to help her sleep. Usually she’s full of energy. The woman is tireless. Dad was never home when we were growing up. She raised us all really by herself. That’s why she needs sedatives … she’s so, full of energy, if she doesn’t take them, she doesn’t sleep.”

      Nothing to do with anxiety, guy? Instead, Decker nodded sympathetically. How people deny. He checked his watch. “I’ve got to leave to meet your brother. Are you going to be all right by yourselves?”

      “Yes … I’m … yeah, I’m okay. Just tell Bram … as quick as he can.” Michael looked seasick. “I mean … tell him everything’s under control … but if he could …”

      “I’ll give him the message.” Decker regarded the young med student. He was dog-paddling, barely breaking surface, in an ocean of shock and grief. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

      “Yes,” Michael insisted. “Yes, I can handle it. Thank you, Lieutenant. Thank you for … I don’t know why I’m thanking you … I don’t know what I’m doing. Please tell Bram to hurry.”

      “He takes care of the family, doesn’t he?”

      Michael wiped tears from his eyes. “Bram takes care of the world.”

       4

      Impressive in size and Gothic in style, the Church of the Holy Order of St. Thomas would have felt at home on the banks of the Thames. It was especially noticeable because West Valley architecture was typically confined to blocklong barrack shopping malls, and anywhere USA strip malls. True, there were a few magnificent million-dollar-plus housing developments. But the vast majority of the homes located within Devonshire Substation area were one-story ranch houses—three bedroom, two bath—serviceable and modest. The church’s spire loomed above its residential neighbors, overlooking its domain like a prison turret.

      As Decker pulled the Volare curbside to the front steps, a thin man dressed in jeans, a black corduroy blazer over a black shirt, and running shoes bounded down the stairs. As he got closer, Decker saw the clerical collar. The man peered into the window.

      “Lieutenant?”

      Decker nodded, opened the passenger door.

      The priest slid inside, shutting the door with excess force. Threw Decker a glance, then put on his seat belt. Decker studied the clergyman for a moment. Streaks of gray at the temple, wavy creases in his forehead. He was fine-featured, almost pretty. Dressed in satin and lace, he could have walked out of a Gainsborough. Except for the eyes—alert, too intelligent for peerage foppery.

      Decker said, “I’m sorry to meet you under these circumstances, Father.”

      The priest nodded. “How’s my mother doing?”

      “Pretty well, considering.” Decker pulled away from the church. “Michael’s anxious for you to be there.”

      “I should be there. But I need to be here. I need a clone.”

      Decker nodded. The priest had said clone, not twin. Ergo, the twin was obviously not a clone. Not the right time to press him on that.

      Bram pushed locks off his forehead. His hair wasn’t quite as long as it had been in the pictures. But it still brushed his shoulders. Didn’t look like the padres Decker had seen growing up in southern Florida. Modern times. Modern priests.

      “I managed to reach all my siblings except for my brother Paul. My brother-in-law is trying to reach him. Is there a way I can call out?”

      Decker picked up the mike, asked for the number. The priest gave him the digits. A moment later, an angry male voice came through the static of dispatch.

      Calmly, Bram said, “Hi, it’s me again. Did you reach Paul yet?”

      “About two seconds ago. Are you at the house?”

      “No, I’m—”

      “You’ve got to get over there. Eva’s distraught. I don’t trust her to be alone.”

      “Michael’s there—”

      “Michael!” The voice turned sarcastic. “Oh, that’s a great comfort—”

      “David—”

      “I’m nervous … letting Eva drive by herself. You know how hysterical she can get. But she insisted. Our live-in’s vacationing in El Salvador and I can’t get a baby-sitter at this hour.” His voice grew louder. “It’s almost eleven. Where the hell are you, Bram?”

      “With the po—”

      “Paul’s asking me all these questions. Like I have the inside dope. How the hell do I know what’s going on? What is going on?”

      “David, I hate to cut you off, but I’m talking on an open mike and the lieutenant can hear everything we’re saying. Let’s wait until we can talk in private.”

      “Well, when are you going to the house?”

      “As soon as I identify the body as my father’s.”

      Silence. Then the voice said, “I’m sorry, Bram, I’m …”

      “It’s all right, David. I’ve got to hang up now. We’ll talk later.” Bram handed the line to Decker who hung up the mike. The priest slumped in his seat.

      Decker waited a beat. “They depend on you, don’t they?”

      Looking out the window, Bram said, “How far are we from the spot?”

      “About ten minutes away.”

      “Where was he found?”

      “In his car. It was parked in a back alley behind Tracadero’s.”

      Bram faced Decker. “Tracadero’s?”

      “Any idea why he would be there?”

      “No.” He shook his head. “None.”

      “Have you ever been there with him?”

      Bram exhaled aloud. “Dad rented out the back room a couple of years ago for Mom’s birthday. There are about thirty of us with all the kids and in-laws. But there was nothing going on with the family tonight.”

      “He never goes there without the family?”

      “I wouldn’t think so. Dad rarely goes out because he’s always on-call.”

      “Your brother said he practically lives at the hospital.”

      Again, Bram brushed hair from his eyes. “Only thing I can think of is maybe Dad was meeting someone from the drug company for dinner.”

      “Drug company?”

      “My dad had developed an important surgery drug in his lab in conjunction with Fisher/Tyne Pharmaceuticals.

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