Racing the Light, page 21
Skylar smiled.
“No worries. I’ve been thinking about your loft.”
Grady beamed.
“It’s fantastic, isn’t it?”
“Your walls are too empty.”
He looked surprised.
“No way! I love this look.”
“You should have one of my paintings. I’ll paint something special. Just for you.”
She tossed the iPad aside and threw back the sheet.
“Now get in bed.”
He attacked her like an animal, but Skylar barely noticed. She thought about the bucket and the texts. She imagined how she might use these things to make them pay for their cruelty. When she screamed, she felt a rush of incredible power.
He thought it was him, but he wasn’t even there.
48
The recording lasted only eight or nine minutes. Rachel spoke well. Her voice was pleasing and she sounded genuine. Her story ended in sudden silence.
Allie Rice looked ashen. She said one word.
“Slime.”
Josh leaned back.
“One bucket of Kentucky Fried cash, please. What assholes.”
“She saw Horton Tarly deliver the cash.”
“Yes. She was there. She saw it. The next time she went back, she found more cash. The asshole hides cash all over his loft.”
I said, “How many tapes did she make?”
“Tracks. I don’t record on tape.”
“Tracks. How many?”
“Three. She tells about being an escort in one, how she got into it, the people she worked with, that kind of stuff. The third track is about the work she did for Grady. Thirty-four minutes, and it is a killer. What she did, where they went, who met with who and what they talked about. How he used her.”
Allie Rice murmured again.
“Slime.”
Ryan said, “She names names, bro. It’s awesome.”
I frowned at Ryan.
“You knew he was doing this?”
“He called me.”
Josh said, “I didn’t want him involved. Rachel was telling me dangerous things. I thought if—”
He looked at Ryan. Sad.
“Dude.”
Ryan nodded with understanding.
“Dude.”
I interrupted the duding.
“Does she mention Sanford Richter or not?”
“Richter, a couple of U.S. representatives, a judge, this guy Castillo from Allie’s plane, and other developers. She names them. Times, dates, and places. Want to hear it?”
“I do. But not now.”
These recordings had serious problems as evidence, but I didn’t want to discuss it in front of Allie Rice.
“We should let Ms. Rice get on with her life.”
“I don’t mind. Really.”
Josh nodded, agreeing with me.
“We should go. Ryan and I have to interview more people and start cutting this thing together.”
I said, “You should call your mom. Let her know you’re okay.”
He frowned.
“And say what, hi Mom, I’m okay, bye?”
“Tell her what’s going on. Let her know you’re okay. She’s worried.”
Allie nodded.
“You really should.”
“When I finish. C’mon, Ryan. Let’s roll.”
I took out my phone and dialed Wendy Vann.
Josh looked alarmed.
“What are you doing?”
Wendy answered.
I said, “Let me speak to Adele.”
Josh said, “Asshole!”
Wendy said, “Was that Josh?”
“Yes. He’s fine. Let me speak to Adele.”
Josh shook his head as Ryan packed their gear.
“This is a big mistake.”
Wendy said, “Say your location. I’ll come get him.”
“Adele.”
Adele came on a few seconds later.
“Josh?”
“Elvis Cole. Here’s Josh.”
I held out the phone.
Josh flipped me off with both hands.
I said, “Speak.”
Allie said, “Don’t be like that. She’s your mother.”
Josh took the phone and turned away. He mumbled to keep his conversation private, but mostly he listened. They spoke for three or four minutes before he handed back my phone.
Adele said, “Are you bringing him home?”
“No, ma’am. Not unless he wants to go.”
“You were hired to find him and report his location.”
“I understand. I’ll refund your money.”
She was silent for several seconds.
“No need. The police were here, as you warned. Is Josh in trouble?”
“Not with the police. He’ll have to speak with them sooner or later, but he’s fine for now.”
“Will you keep him safe?”
“Yes, ma’am. So long as he doesn’t do anything stupid.”
I looked at Josh when I said it.
Adele said, “Mr. Cole?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Corbin left an odd message today.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“ ‘I’m sorry.’ This was his message. ‘I’m sorry.’ ”
“Odd.”
“Yes, well, I’ll be going. I don’t like phones. Someone is listening.”
Josh waved his hands to get my attention. He mouthed words so Adele wouldn’t hear.
“Your phone. They’re coming. They know where we are.”
I said, “I’ll call you later, Adele.”
“Here’s Wendy.”
I hung up before Wendy came on.
Josh headed for the door. Ryan was already there.
“You have no idea. They’re geolocating your phone. They’re coming.”
Ryan shouted.
“Dude! Take out your SIM card. What are you waiting for?”
I turned off my phone, took out the SIM card, and slipped it into my wallet.
Allie looked confused.
“Your mother’s coming?”
“Her people. I’m sorry. I really have to go.”
I said, “Wendy and Kurt. They’re fine.”
“You have no idea.”
Allie Rice looked alarmed.
“Wait a minute. Are these people dangerous?”
I glanced at Josh, the glance saying stop.
“No, they run errands for his mother.”
Josh held the door.
“Let’s go. Please. Before they get here.”
Allie said, “This is very weird.”
We hustled to the street and I pointed at my car.
“With me.”
“What about my car?”
“Ryan can take it.”
Ryan said, “I’m in my car.”
“Then leave it. Get in my car or I’ll keep you here until Wendy or whatever Wendy sends arrives.”
Josh frowned at my car.
“It’s kinda small.”
“In.”
Ryan said, “What about me?”
“Go home.”
Josh said, “I’ll call.”
Josh climbed into the shotgun bucket like a man stepping into boiling oil.
I pulled away and drove east.
“Can they actually locate a phone or were you being dramatic?”
“Welcome to my life.”
I drove for five minutes and pulled over outside a taco stand. Prepaid burner phones and battery packs were stashed behind my seat. I got one powered up and called Pike. He didn’t recognize the incoming number so he didn’t answer. I left a message.
“I’m on this number now.”
I dropped the burner between my legs and pulled away.
Josh said, “This is bullshit. Where are you taking me?”
“To the Batcave.”
“Dude. Seriously.”
I turned into the parking entrance of the first large medical building I saw, took a ticket at the gate, and circled deeper and deeper until we reached the bottom of the parking garage. Josh realized what I was doing and grinned like a kid.
“The Batcave. Brilliant.”
Five levels of concrete and steel made a good cave. I put the SIM card in my phone, powered up, and transferred my contact list to the burner. When the burner was set, I pulled the card and we headed back to the surface. The exit gate wanted eighteen dollars to let us leave.
I said, “You owe me eighteen bucks.”
Josh was enjoying himself.
“I’ll pay you twenty if you let me drive.”
“Not a chance.”
We emerged from beneath the building and headed into the city.
49
Josh watched the sky with a hand shielding his eyes.
I said, “C’mon. It can’t be this bad.”
“It’s worse.”
He tried to slump low enough to rest his head, but he’d run out of room. The bright sky made him squint.
“I should’ve taken my sunglasses. They’re in my car.”
“Check the glove box. Might be an old pair.”
He dug through the glove box and found a pair of Wayfarers. He cleaned the lenses with his shirt, put them on, and showed me.
“The eighties. Livin’ in a river of darkness.”
I laughed.
“Looking good, Sonny.”
“I’m a man of the streets.”
He turned to see behind us, but couldn’t turn far.
“Could we put up the top?”
I pulled over, lifted the top, and latched it into place. Now he looked squished.
I said, “Better?”
“Livin’ the dream. If you’re helping, take me downtown.”
“What’s downtown?”
“Richter. I’m going to stuff his face with my mic and confront him. Cut his reaction into the show and humiliate him.”
I couldn’t tell if he was serious or not.
“Get real. You’ll be arrested.”
“This is the show. In Your Face with Josh Shoe. I’m going to get in his face and expose him to the entire world. That’s how you beat powerful people.”
“Let’s deal with the evidence you have. An Attorney needs to review your recordings.”
“They speak for themselves. I don’t need an Attorney.”
“Who was present when you recorded Rachel?”
“Me and Rachel. What’s your point?”
“The D.A. will want to establish she wasn’t threatened or induced to say it.”
“I didn’t induce her! She wanted to go on record. It was her idea.”
“These aren’t sworn depositions taken under oath before an officer. This is a prostitute saying she’s slept with famous people. It’ll play great on your podcast, but the D.A. will need corroboration. Same for Allie. Corroboration. Did the pilots see money change hands? The ground crew?”
“This is bullshit.”
“It isn’t bullshit. What you think is evidence and actual evidence aren’t the same. I’m trying to help.”
“Okay. So help. I’m waiting.”
I thought about it. I wasn’t sure if I could help him or not.
“How specific did she get?”
“I told you. Times, dates, and places. Specific. She knew what she was doing. She wanted to get these people.”
“Why?”
Josh hesitated.
He shook his head like he didn’t quite understand, but he was telling me what he knew.
“Rachel went to one of Locke’s little parties. Meaning Richter, only it was Locke who paid her. She’d screw guys they wanted to be in business with or get favors from. That kind of thing.”
“I know how it works.”
“Richter made a deal to kill a low-cost housing project so this guy could get the property cheap and make a mint building an entertainment center. Rachel hated it. She hated them for it. They actually doomed people to live on the street.”
“Is this on the tape?”
“Yeah.”
“She names them? She gives the dates?”
“Yeah. Some resort out in the desert.”
I saw how it might work.
“If the people she names can be placed where she claims they were on the dates she says they were there, her statements will have credibility.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Corroborating testimony would help. Someone else who was present or has knowledge of it.”
He lapsed into silence.
I said, “Meredith Birch?”
“No way. She didn’t trust Meredith. She even kinda hated Meredith. Meredith made money off Locke.”
Kimberly Laird had told me the same.
“Have you met Rachel’s friend Kimmie?”
“The girl from Visalia?”
“That’s right. They grew up together.”
Josh changed position and looked interested.
“Twice, I think. At the opening and the first time I interviewed her. We did a pornstar show. Kimmie came with her. Why?”
“What you said about Rachel not trusting Meredith. She didn’t. Rachel used Kimmie as her safety.”
His lips pooched as he remembered.
“Rachel mentioned this on the pornstar show.”
“Not in so many words, but she did, and Kimmie confirmed it. She might be able to corroborate some of Rachel’s statements.”
“You heard the pornstar show?”
“I did.”
“What’d you think?”
He looked hopeful.
I said, “I heard both the Skylar shows. Tell you the truth, I thought they’d be stupid. They weren’t. You were better than I expected, Josh, and that’s on me, not you. I enjoyed them. You made good shows.”
He made a small smile and seemed pleased.
“My father was the last and only person to expect excellence of me. He gave up when I was nine.”
“Must be painful.”
“When people expect mediocrity, they’re surprised when I prove them wrong.”
He slid the Wayfarers down his nose and peered over the frames.
“And I always prove them wrong.”
He slid the Wayfarers back into place, faced forward, and grinned.
“Are you hungry?”
“I could eat.”
We stopped for burritos and then we went to find Kimmie Laird.
50
Kimberly had canceled her appointments for the remainder of the week. The receptionist at Stennis apologized and asked if I’d like to schedule with another stylist. I hung up, dialed Kimberly’s cell, and found her at home. She sounded as lost as yesterday’s kiss, but she agreed to see us.
I lowered the phone and cautioned Josh.
“So you know, they were a couple.”
“A couple couple? Rachel didn’t mention having a partner.”
“Point is, she’s in pain. Be sensitive.”
Kimberly lived in a tiny courtyard apartment in Mar Vista, not far from the I10–405 interchange. The building was a featureless, two-story stucco box surrounding a concrete courtyard. A massive royal palm was centered in the courtyard, standing tall above the building on a heavy, gray trunk thicker than three elephant legs. We found Kimberly’s ground-floor apartment hidden behind the palm.
Kimberly looked empty when she opened the door. Her eyes seemed lost in gray caves, and she probably hadn’t slept. She wore pink tights with a beige stain at the knee and a pale blue T-shirt cropped below her breasts. Her feet were bare.
I said, “I’m sorry about Rachel.”
“You warned me.”
She went to a couch and pulled up her feet.
The furnishings in her tiny living room were scant. The couch was the only furniture available for seating, so I took a chair from the dining table. Josh remained by the door, as if he felt uncomfortable being with this woman and her grief.
I said, “Remember Josh Schumacher?”
Josh said, “We’ve met. I’m Josh Shoe.”
“I remember. Hey.”
“Hey.”
“Those were good shows. Rach made everyone listen.”
Josh seemed uncertain how to respond.
I said, “How’d you hear?”
“Online. Then people called. Now everybody’s talking about it, but nobody knows what happened.”
“Maybe you can help us find out.”
“I don’t know anything.”
“You were her safety. You know things no one else knows.”
Kimberly shook her head, as incredulous now as she was before.
“It can’t be Grady. She hasn’t seen him in almost a month and she was fine.”
Josh came closer.
“She saw him more recently than you think.”
“She would’ve told me. She always tells me.”
Josh kneeled, making himself smaller.
“She was helping me with a special podcast I’m putting together. Did she tell you about it?”
A tiny line appeared above her nose.
“What kind of podcast?”
“About her life and stuff. About Grady Locke and what she used to do for him. And his boss.”
“I know what they did. They fucked.”
“Besides that.”
She glanced from Josh to me.
“What’s going on?”
I said, “Josh has the recording. We’d like to play it. Rachel can tell you herself.”
Kimberly unfolded her legs.
“Okay, sure. I’d love to hear it.”
Josh took a small speaker from his pack, connected his phone, and selected the track. It was the long track, the track about Grady Locke.
Josh said, “Here we go.”
Thirty seconds after Rachel began, Kimberly sobbed and covered her face. Josh paused the playback, and I brought her a glass of water from the kitchen. She pulled herself together and went to the bathroom. When she returned, we started from the beginning. This time Kimberly Laird didn’t cry. Kimberly seemed confused at first, but when Rachel described Horton Tarly delivering a bucket of cash she took a single sharp breath. She listened intently as Rachel described the texts between Locke and Tarly, and the things she’d done after. When the track finally ended, Kimberly looked at Josh and wet her lips.
