Hollywood Killer, page 11
part #11 of Hollywood Alphabet Series
“It’s a bar,” Natalie said. “It’s where this little scum sucker makes his living.”
I realized that my friend had little use for Billy Zoe, unlike her boss.
“What exactly did Walsh tell you about the killings at Olivia Ashcroft’s house?” I asked Zoe.
“I don’t want to get involved. It’s none of my business.”
I looked at Alex. “Hook him up.”
“You can’t arrest my cousin,” Sweets said. “He’s done nothing wrong.”
I met Sweets’ glassy eyes. “We not only can arrest him, but we’ll be happy to also take you downtown while we get a warrant to search your garage and business for dope.” I glanced at Zoe. “And I’m not talking about your two-legged cousin.”
Sweets made a feeble protest, but relented when Christine waved her handcuffs in front of him. “Tell them what you know,” Sweets told Zoe.
Zoe grumbled something unintelligible and then said, “Walsh just said he did the job. He told me he got a big score from the safe that was in the house.”
“What else?”
“He mentioned some guy named Freddie, who was with him.”
“Does Freddie have a last name?”
“I dunno.”
“What time do you usually go by and do business with Walsh?” Pearl asked.
“He’s usually there late in the day, around five or six.”
We went at Billy Zoe for another ten minutes, not getting anything useful, before warning him not to tip off Walsh. As we were leaving, Sweets told us we weren’t welcome at his place of business again.
We were in the parking lot when I said to Natalie, “I don’t know how you work for that asshole.”
Mo answered for her. “Jimmy’s definitely that portion of the anatomy you just described, but he lets us do our own thing. Me and baby sis run our own show.”
“You want some help with Walsh tonight?” Natalie asked. “We can hang around, stakeout the bar till he shows.”
I told them we would handle things and they left, mentioning they had plans to work security at party that night anyway.
“Your friends are a piece of work,” Alex said, coming over to me.
“They are…” I was at a loss for words to describe them and finally just said, “…a little different.”
“We might owe them a big thank you if Ronald Walsh was involved,” Christine said, surprising me by defending them. She said to me, “How do you want to handle the bar?”
“Let’s set up on the Wheelhouse a little before five. You and Alex can work inside, while Pearl and I cover the street.”
Pearl and I chatted about what we’d learned on the drive back to the station. We were in the parking lot when I said to him, “I’m going to take a couple hours off, see if I can have my spirit cleansed, and look for a woman named Rose. I’ll see you later this afternoon.”
SIXTEEN
I’d called Robin earlier in the day and made arrangements for him to go with me to the Tauist Temple. The religious retreat was in the foothills near the city of Calabasas, about an hour north of Hollywood.
As I drove I told him what Buzz had said about Mom possibly giving up all her worldly possessions, including her house.
“I know one thing for certain,” Robin said. “If Mom ends up broke, she’s not living with me.”
“That makes two of us.” Inspiration struck. “Hey, maybe she can live with Amanda.”
We shared a laugh. Amanda was our sister, who lived in Europe. Since she spent most of her time squandering her husband’s considerable fortune, Robin and I had little in common with her.
“What do you know about the Tauists?” Robin asked.
I knew about the group because of a past case I’d worked. “Tau is a letter in the Greek alphabet. In ancient times it was considered a symbol for life and resurrection. Back in the 1950’s a guy named Harlan Ryland started the religion using the symbol to represent his beliefs. From what I know, he’s still alive and lives somewhere on the retreat as a recluse.”
“What exactly do they believe in?”
“It has something to do with cleansing and healing the body and spirit, finding your natural state of balance and harmony.” I glanced over at my brother. “I’ve seen their so-called priests working the streets of Hollywood from time to time, looking for converts. Apparently their process also involves relieving the adherents of every cent they own.”
He shook his head. “Unfortunately, our mother is the perfect target for this kind of thing.”
“I can’t disagree with you.”
Robin’s blue eyes remained fixed on me and I knew there was something else on his mind. He finally asked, “Have you given any more thought…about finding…your biological father?”
I’d previously told Robin the story of my break with reality and the discussion I’d had with the man who raised me. “I won’t deny that it’s crossed my mind. I’m just thankful for what Dad did for me, raising and protecting me, so it doesn’t seem that important.”
Robin nodded, finally broke eye contact. “I get it. Still…you have to wonder.” He rubbed the stubble on his cheek. “Hey, maybe your dad was a Hollywood star. We know that your mom was an actress at one time.”
I shrugged. “You never know.”
He laughed. “Maybe your dad was someone famous, like Humphrey Bogart or James Dean.”
I chuckled. “Somehow, I kind of doubt it and I certainly didn’t inherit any acting ability.” As I’d said the words, I thought about my upcoming role on Hollywood Girlz and a wave of depression hit me.
“I wonder if he knows…” I glanced over at Robin as we parked in a lot near the Tauist Retreat and he went on. “…that he’s your father.” He then had another thought. “On the other hand, maybe he does know and is out there somewhere keeping track of you.”
I parked the car as Bernie stood up in the back seat, doing a tail wag. “If that’s the case, I have no respect for him. He should have done the right thing and become a part of my life instead of hiding in the shadows.”
Robin fixed his eyes on me and nodded, but otherwise didn’t respond.
The Tauist Retreat was set on several hundred acres of rolling hills behind ivy-covered stone walls. An iron gate marked the entrance, with the Greek letter T carved into each side of the supporting columns. We checked in with a guard and explained we were there to see our mother.
After checking some paperwork, verifying that she was a guest, the guard said, “You need to stay on the stone path and check in at the temple. They’ll give you directions from there.”
We thanked him and made our way across a bridge and up a stone path. I had the impression that we’d entered another world. The grounds of the retreat consisted of rolling green lawns, flower gardens, and massive ancient oak trees. The main temple rested on a hill and looked like something the ancient Greeks might have built, with stone columns and decorative friezes. The central building was surrounded by smaller outbuildings and cottages that disappeared into the surrounding hills. I knew it must cost a fortune just to maintain the buildings and grounds.
When we got to the temple, we were greeted by a Tauist guide named Umbra, who I’d met on a previous trip to the retreat when I was working a case.
“Your mother is in one of our detoxification lodges,” Umbra explained. She brought out a map and marked the location where Mom was staying. “Please stay on the path. After your visit, you’ll need to check in here again before leaving.” She handed the map to me. “Are either of you interested in speaking with one of our priests?”
I hadn’t expected that we’d be recruited during our visit but, given what I knew about the Tauists, I wasn’t surprised. “Not at this time. Thank you.”
Robin and I were headed out of the temple with Bernie as he said, “This place is pretty spectacular. Maybe they need a hairdresser and a cop.”
“Don’t even think about it.”
We followed a meandering path that led to Mom’s detoxification lodge. Along the way Bernie sniffed the flowers and we saw several groups of people gathered under the trees. There was a man dressed in white, leading each group in a discussion.
“It looks like they’re attending some kind of seminar,” Robin said.
“Or being brainwashed.”
Ten minutes later, we arrived at Mom’s lodge that looked like one of those tiny houses I’d seen on TV. It was the size of a small cabin. We knocked on the door several times, but there was no response.
“Maybe she’s at one of the seminars,” I suggested, turning to Robin. I saw that he was looking at a clearing beneath the trees about forty yards away. As my gaze went over, I realized there was a figure sitting in the grass. Then I became aware it was our mother. Something else then struck me.
“OMG,” Robin said, looking at me. “I think she’s…”
“Nude.” I met his eyes. “I don’t think I’m ready for this.”
“Imagine how I feel. I’ll be scarred for life.”
I chuckled. “Mom raised us, we’re already scarred.” I looked back at her for a moment. Mom was sitting completely still, maybe meditating. I cut my eyes back to Robin. “Let’s approach her from behind. That way…” I looked back at Mom. “You get the picture.”
“It’s a picture I don’t want to get.” He nodded and swallowed. “I’ll follow you.”
We made our way over to Mom. She was sitting in the lotus position, with her legs crossed. She didn’t seem to know that we were there. We stopped about ten feet away and I turned back to Robin. He shrugged but otherwise remained quiet.
“Mom, it’s me and Robin,” I said, looking back at her. “We came to visit.”
There was no response. I wondered if she was so deep in meditation that she hadn’t heard me. I called out again. She remained silent, still not moving. Even Bernie seemed perplexed by what he saw, turning his head from side to side, studying the nude figure.
I gave Robin Bernie’s leash and decided to take a few steps, moving around until I was facing her nude body. I tried not to focus on what I was seeing. I was about to call out to her again when she said, “Go away.”
I kept my voice even and firm. “We need to talk, Mother.”
Her gray eyes flickered open. She shielded her eyes from the sunlight and stared up at me. “Can’t you see that I’m detoxing? I can’t be disturbed.”
“But Robin is here with me.”
She turned her head, taking in the image of my brother, who was still behind her with Bernie.
Robin waved and said, “Hi, Mom.”
Mom turned back to me. “I have nothing to say to either of you. Why are you here?”
I tried to choose my words carefully. “Buzz called me. He’s worried that…”
“Buzz.” She spat his name out like it was a dose of bad medicine. “He’s dead to me.”
“That might be, but he’s worried that you’re going to do something you’ll regret.”
“Like what?”
“Like give your house and all your money to the Tauists.”
She laughed. “What if I do? Why is that any concern of yours?”
“Because I care about you.”
There was more laughter. “You’re not even my…” Her eyes bore into me as she paused, maybe gathering her thoughts. “I’ve come to realize that we have nothing in common. What you have to say is meaningless.”
Her words had cut me to the bone. I realized my eyes were filling as I tried again. “But you’re my mother. You raised me.”
“Your mother was that tramp the man you called your father screwed.”
Her anger surprised me. We’d talked about my biological mother before, but this was the first time she’d expressed anger toward her. “We’re not here to talk about me. Robin and I are concerned about your well-being.”
She scoffed. “This has nothing to do with me. It’s all about you—everything has always been about you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about your father—your real father.”
I’d previously shared the DNA results with my mother, showing that neither the man who raised me nor Ryan Cooper was my biological father. “What are you trying to say?”
“I’m not trying to say anything. Since you showed me the test results, I’ve done a lot of thinking. I’ve pieced some things together. I think I might know who your father is.”
I realized there were tears on my cheeks. “Who…who are you talking about?”
She laughed. It was one of those crazy laughs that made me think about someone being in an insane asylum. “Do you know anything about the Tauist religion?”
I shook my head. “Not much, but…”
“There is something called the zone of silence. It’s a spiritual space that each convert learns to access. In that zone, all worldly noise and influence abates. It is a place of absolute surrender, solitude, and quiet.” Her gray eyes bore into me. “You…” She cocked her head back, taking in my brother for a moment, then looked back at me. “You are both now outside that zone. I have nothing to say to either of you again—ever.”
With that, Mom closed her eyes and went into some kind of trance. I spent another ten minutes trying to talk to her, but got nowhere. Mom finally stood up, turned and walked back into her tiny house, slamming the door behind her.
Robin’s eyes had become like two full moons as the nude figure of our mother had walked past him.
I went over to him, controlled my emotions, and said, “What do you think?”
Robin covered his face with his hands and shook his head. “I think I’m going to need years of therapy.”
SEVENTEEN
Bernie and I got back to Hollywood Station late that afternoon and rode with Pearl to the Wheelhouse Bar. I was still angry and heartbroken about the conversation, or lack of conversation, I had with my mother. Even though she’d raised me, my adoptive mother had apparently decided to sever all connections with me forever. The more I thought about that decision, the more I realized it had as much do with my mother realizing that the man she’d been married to was not my biological father as it did her participation in the Tauist religion.
I felt like an orphan, completely abandoned by my mother. After some more reflection on how unstable Mom had been in recent months, I decided that I wasn’t entirely surprised by her actions. I also had to admit that what she’d said about possibly realizing who my biological father was intrigued me. And the more I thought about what she’d said, I came to realize that it wouldn’t dishonor the man who’d raised me to learn the truth. I would always love and respect him, but if my biological father was out there somewhere, choosing not to be a part of my life, I wanted to know that. I knew it would be useless to try and talk to my mother again, so I’d have to find another way to find him.
Pearl apparently sensed my distress and asked me how things had gone. I just told him that it hadn’t gone well and left it at that, not wanting to rehash the details. I pushed everything out of my mind, turning my attention back to our case as my phone rang. I saw that the call was from Christine.
“Alex and me are heading into the bar now,” Christine said. “I’ll send you a text if we see Walsh.”
“Pearl and I are pulling up across the street now. I hope we don’t have a long night ahead of us.”
As it turned out, we didn’t have to wait long. Christine sent me a text five minutes later, telling me that our suspect was sitting at the bar. Pearl and I were crossing the street, heading over to cover the entrance with Bernie, when we saw a man leaving in a hurry. Christine called and said Walsh had made them.
Pearl and I began following Walsh, with Bernie on alert. Our suspect turned, seeing us, and picked up his pace. We called out, announcing ourselves. It only resulted in him sprinting away from us and turning into an alleyway.
“Stop or I release the dog!” I yelled.
My warning was ignored, so I took the opportunity to snap off Bernie’s leash and give him the German command attack command, FASS. Christine and Alex joined us as we ran down the alleyway following my furry partner, who was now running after our suspect at full speed. We turned a corner as my big dog leapt through the air, launching himself at Walsh. I came over, at the same time seeing the glint of light on metal.
“Gun!” I yelled, drawing my weapon. “He’s got a gun!”
Walsh raised his gun and was about to fire, when Bernie saved his life. My hairy partner took the opportunity to make hamburger out of his arm. The gun flew out of our suspect’s hand and he screamed as Bernie chomped down. I put my gun away and got Bernie back under control as Walsh’s bleeding arms were cuffed behind his back by Pearl and Alex.
“I need an ambulance!” Walsh screamed. “Can’t you see I’m bleeding?”
I went over to him, even as Bernie strained on his leash, wanting another piece of him. I was still angry over almost having to shoot him. “Shut the fuck up. You’re lucky you aren’t dead.”
“You can’t talk to me like that.”
Christine took up the cause. “She can talk to you any way she wants, asshole.” She pushed Walsh back up the street as her partner held him by the arm, saying, “Let’s go.”
“What the fuck is this about, anyway?” Walsh demanded.
“The murder of Martin Ashcroft and his daughter,” I said.
The color drained from his face. His voice pitched higher. “I know my rights, I don’t have to say nothing.”
I looked at him, but didn’t respond. Ronald Walsh was tall and skinny as a rail, with long stringy black hair. He was obviously scared to death, something that I knew might work to our advantage. “Let’s get you an ambulance, then we’ll read you your rights.”
A half hour later, our suspect’s wounds had been bandaged and he was cleared for booking. Since we had to transport him, Bernie rode with Christine and Alex back to the station. As Pearl drove us, I turned to Walsh and began putting a plan into place.
“When we get to the station, I’m going to read you your rights. If you ask for a lawyer, we’ll book you into jail and end the interview. If you decide you want to talk to us and tell us about Freddie, then I’ll go to the DA and tell him what you did. It’s your choice.”
