The Seattle Cipher, page 8
“So, you want Rachel to have the diamond in order to…?”
“End the curse,” Eva explained. “I want to die in peace, Ms. McKay.”
“Then why the numbers? Why not—”
“Just tell Rachel the truth?” Eva finished. Patricia nodded. “This may sound confusing to you, Ms. McKay, and I certainly will not expect you to grasp what I’m about to tell you.”
“Try me.”
Eva steadied her mind. “Very well,” she said, drawing in a deep breath. “Brannon Handorf is buried with his diamond on the land Rachel now owns, the land under Northern Lights Academy. His grave is marked with the numbers 3, 9, and 7. I can’t tell you where the grave is, but I will say the grave is at—”
“397 Pine Rain Street.”
“But the grave marker has a different meaning,” Eva explained. “The numbers 3, 9, and 7 were chosen because of the address of Northern Lights Academy, yes, but there is more to the numbers. Brannon Handorf was born on March 9, 1907. When you apply the numbers to our modern way of writing dates you get—”
“3-9-07, or 3-9-7.” Patricia stared at Eva. “Is the address and the date of birth coincidental?”
“Brannon Handorf was the man who originally owned the land. That’s how he met my father. When my father sent my brother to Northern Lights Academy, they met. At least that’s what my father claimed in his journals.” Eva grew silent for a second as her mind drifted back through time. “Brannon Handorf lived in this area before returning to Europe. My father went with him. They worked as jewel thieves together. My father…betrayed Brannon. Shot him and took the missing diamond. Brannon survived his wounds and turned into a monster, determined to kill my father for his crimes.”
“I can understand most of what you’re telling me. In time, the muddy water will become clearer in my mind.” Patricia rubbed her eyes. “Eva, you want Rachel to know the truth, is that it?”
“Foster and I buried a journal that belonged to Brannon Handorf next to him in his grave. Rachel has to find the journal—find the truth—and do whatever she thinks is right. I have to clear my conscience of this matter. So why not just tell Rachel the truth? Why the numbers? The answer is very simple: Before Foster died, he made me swear that I would never tell Rachel a word, and Ms. McKay, I intend to keep my promise. Rachel must discover the truth herself. She is a very smart woman, and I was certain she would locate the numbers on my father’s work—the work of a man who betrayed her grandfather—and understand. Or that was my hope.”
“But Henry Green interfered.”
“That awful man,” Eva nearly spat. “I’m not certain how he came across the truth, but he did. Mr. Wills informed me that Henry was searching for the diamond.”
“Eva, don’t get upset at me, but I need to ask you an important question.”
“Alright.”
Patricia rubbed her eyes again before asking about Mr. Wills. “Eva, the man you mentioned, the man who works in Phoenix, Mr. Wills—is he as innocent as you claim? And I also want to know who the man is and why you trust him. Please.”
“Ms. McKay—”
“Eva, Henry Green told me he sent your father’s photos to Roger Cameron to protect them from a dangerous man. The only person who knows the truth besides you would have to be Mr. Wills,” Patricia explained. “You did tell me Mr. Wills placed the numbers on the photos.”
Eva sat silent for a minute. Patricia watched her old but lovely face twist into a painful knot. “Mr. Wills and I were in love once. We nearly married many years ago, but life tore us apart. We did, however, maintain a steady friendship. Never once did the man ever betray my trust. When I went to him with my—secret goal, you could say—the man was more than willing to help me.” Eva sighed. “Mr. Wills is only a year younger than me, Ms. McKay. I’m afraid he isn’t much of a threat to anyone, especially because he suffers from a weak heart. The poor man works two days at a museum his daughter manages.”
“Then who could Henry Green be afraid of?”
“I don’t know,” Eva answered in an honest voice.
Patricia bit down on her lip. “Henry Green told me that I have until tomorrow night to locate the diamond. He informed me that he has a flight that will be leaving at midnight, so it seems that he’s in a time crunch for some reason. Maybe the little rat is scared of the man he mentioned to me.”
“I couldn’t say,” Eva answered Patricia and then cleared her throat. “Ms. McKay, I have a confession. I had Mr. Wills do some research on you when Levi told me you were in the theater when my father’s photos were stolen. You are a very interesting woman who seems to be a magnet for murder. It appears that you have been involved in many different murder cases, yes?”
“Sadly, yes,” Patricia confessed. “I take no pleasure in murder, Eva, and the murder cases that I have been able to escape from were not pleasant.” Foggy Rocks, Oregon, wasn’t pleasant at all. My heart is still reeling from that case. Did I really see what I thought I saw? Or was my mind playing tricks on me?
“Be that as it may,” Eva pointed out, “after finding out who you were, I decided to ask you to explain the truth to Rachel and help her find the diamond. Locating the diamond should not be very difficult.” Eva sighed again. “I made a promise to Foster, but you will be doing the talking, not me. My scheme to lure Rachel to Northern Lights Academy, back to the old grounds, was foolish. You must remember that I’m an artist and my mind works in strange ways. I have never been too good at creating clever schemes and at my age, when I had Mr. Wills place the numbers onto my father’s photos, I assumed I was being careful—and clever. Surely, I thought, Rachel would make the connection.”
“She did,” Patricia promised. “But Eva, next time, a phone call would be much easier, even if it means breaking a promise.” So, that solves the mystery of the strange numbers. I’ll have to take some time to digest all of this, but I think I’m starting to get a handle on this situation. But I still have Levi to worry about. “Eva, I’m in a little jam here because Henry Green has taken Levi Edelstein hostage.”
“Oh dear! We must call the police immediately!” Eva exclaimed.
“If I call the police, Henry will kill Levi. I’m certain of that. The man is now desperate and his right-hand man is a rat that is quite trigger happy.”
“We must not let any harm come to Levi. Levi is a wonderful man.”
“I intend to save Levi, but I have to be careful, Eva.” Patricia felt her tummy grumble with hunger. “I think poorly on an empty stomach. Mind if I order some food for us?”
Eva stood up. “Poor Levi, he has always been so kind to me. I will call the police at once and—and—” Eva’s voice halted. Her lovely face turned pale. “My…heart…” Eva said before collapsing.
“Eva!” Patricia ran to the phone. “I need an ambulance in my room right now! A woman has collapsed—possible heart attack! Hurry!” Patricia slammed down the phone, ran to Eva’s collapsed body, dropped onto her knees, and checked for signs of breathing. “Not breathing—no heartbeat—have to start CPR.” Patricia immediately began CPR, forcing her mind to think and remain focused instead of panicking. “Stay with me, Eva—stay with me! Oh, please don’t die—please—oh please—stay with me.”
Patricia continued CPR until two paramedics burst into her room. The paramedics immediately took over, working efficiently to help Eva.
“How long has she been unconscious?” one asked, trying to find a pulse on Eva.
“Can’t locate a pulse. Let’s shock her,” said the other.
Patricia watched helplessly as the paramedics used a defibrillator to shock poor Eva. The old woman’s body jerked and jumped.
“No pulse—hit her again.”
Unable to stand the sight of Eva’s poor body being treated so desperately, Patricia walked out into the hallway with tears in her eyes.
She’s gone.
Patricia leaned back against the hallway wall and waited. A few minutes later, one paramedic came out into the hallway.
“I’m sorry,” was all he said and then vanished back into Patricia’s room.
“So am I.” Patricia cried quietly. She waited until poor Eva had been carted away on a gurney and then grabbed her purse and umbrella. I need to speak with Rachel.
Patricia waited until the ambulance had gone before trudging out into a darkening night filled with a constant, hard rain. She walked steadily in the rain, keeping her head low, moving past thick traffic and sidewalks filled with busy people going here and there. As Patricia neared Rachel’s café, a hand suddenly grabbed her arm. Patricia spun around and, to her shock, she was looking at Wilson. “You—”
“Take it easy.” Wilson spoke in a slurred voice, swaying from side to side. “I have a message from Paulie. Give us the diamond and he’ll make sure your boyfriend lives.”
Wilson smelled of vodka and cigarette smoke. It was clear the guy was very drunk. This punk is harmless, but his friend is a real threat. I need to be smart. Patricia stared through the dark falling rain, looking directly into Wilson’s shadowy face. “Tell your friend to call me tomorrow morning and we’ll talk. I’m going to get something to eat.”
“Really, lady?” Wilson asked, barely able to keep his drunken eyes open. “Paulie won’t like that, so wise up, huh? It’s been a long day, and I’m too wasted to care anymore. Just give Paulie the diamond and he’ll hand your boyfriend over to you. Paulie doesn’t like the guy who hired him anyway, whatever his name is. Green or something like that.”
“Tell your friend to call me in the morning. Tell him I have a plan.”
Wilson let go of Patricia’s arm. “Whatever, it’s your funeral—or his funeral—your boyfriend’s, I mean. Green is going to kill him. Well, have Paulie kill him. Paulie won’t mind doing the job. He’s messed up, you know. Like me.” Wilson turned and walked away into the rain like a wobbly scarecrow. “Your funeral—errr, his funeral—who cares.”
Patricia felt her heart break for Wilson instead of getting angry. “A lost soul wanders away into the falling rain. Poor guy. What turned him into that?” Patricia shook her head and continued down a crowded sidewalk. When she reached Rachel’s café, she spotted the woman sitting inside at the front counter—alone.
“Rachel.” Patricia began knocking on the front door. “Rachel, it’s me—Patricia McKay—remember? I was here earlier with Levi!”
Rachel spotted Patricia knocking on the glass. “One sec!” she called out, hurrying to the door.
“What are you doing here? Where is Levi?” she asked, pulling Patricia into the café with worried hands.
“It’s a long story,” Patricia answered Rachel in a low, tired voice. “Let’s just say that the art in this city sucks raw eggs, Rachel.” Patricia closed her umbrella. “May I please have a cup of coffee and then we can talk?”
Rachel examined Patricia’s eyes and then hurried away to the back kitchen. She returned a few minutes later carrying a cup of coffee and a plate with a turkey sandwich. “You look hungry.”
“I am hungry,” Patricia confessed, taking her coffee and food. “Sit with me, please.”
Rachel followed Patricia to a booth and sat down. “Okay, what’s happening?”
Patricia bowed her head, took a deep breath, and then opened her eyes. “Rachel,” she started, then took a sip of hot coffee, “how much do you really know about your parents?”
“What?” Rachel asked back in a confused voice.
Patricia settled back in the booth and carefully conveyed nearly every word Eva had revealed to her. Rachel listened with wide, shocked eyes. “But that can’t be! My mother was a good woman. Eva is a liar!” Rachel insisted angrily.
“Eva is dead. She died of a heart attack,” Patricia informed Rachel. “She died after I told her that Henry Green has Levi.”
“Dead… a heart attack?” Rachel stared at Patricia in disbelief. “Patricia, this is—unreal. There is no way my mother betrayed my father, and my father was faithful to my mother. Eva Vinovich is a liar!”
“Is she?” Patricia asked Rachel, feeling her heart break for the upset woman. “Rachel, do you really—really—know if Eva is lying or not?”
“I… Patricia, I knew my parents.”
“You did admit that you were a late surprise in life,” Patricia pointed out in a soft voice so as not to upset Rachel any more than the woman already was. Rachel started to answer, but Patricia stopped her. “The only way we’re going to find out the truth is if we travel to Northern Lights and have a look around, Rachel.”
“Yes,” a shadowy figure hissed, standing unseen in the rain. “Go to Northern Lights. I’ll be waiting!”
Chapter Eleven
Morning arrived with more hard, gray rain. Patricia yawned, threw her legs over a soft bed, and allowed her feet to touch a warm floor. “Another day, another dollar—another case. Remind me to shoot Edna when I get home.” She yawned again, struggling to wake up. “Remind me to shoot Edna and bury her body,” Patricia said again to no one, then her cell phone rang, interrupting her. “It’s not even seven o’clock, but I have a feeling I know who’s calling.”
Patricia stood up and hobbled over to the table in her hotel room. She checked her phone and took a deep breath. “Here we go,” she whispered, answering the call. “Hello?”
“What’s the deal, smart mouth?” Paulie asked Patricia in a cruel voice. “I’m through waiting.”
Patricia closed her eyes to drown out the sound of the rain and traffic that was buzzing around outside the hotel. “I know where the diamond is.”
“Yeah, I figured.”
“I want Levi Edelstein safely delivered to Northern Lights by noon, is that clear?” Patricia ordered Paulie. “I want Levi dropped off and left at the Northern Lights Library.”
“You must think I’m stupid.”
“Yes, I do, but that’s beside the point, moron,” Patricia snapped at Paulie, keeping her voice tough. I’m sitting in Seattle wearing bunny slippers and arguing with a rat. Boy, my life sure takes some interesting turns. “When I see that Levi is safe, I will call you and tell you where the diamond is.”
“No deal, smart mouth.”
“Then no diamond,” Patricia promised. “You can kill Levi for all I care. I only want the guy alive because I don’t want his death on my conscience. But hey, I’m not going to risk my neck any more than I’m already doing. I should be on a plane home right now.”
Paulie nudged Wilson on the arm. “Let’s get out of here,” he barked, glancing around a bar that was cloudy with cigarette smoke and drunks. Wilson nearly toppled off the dirty stool he was sitting on. Paulie caught him with a quick hand. Wilson was on the verge of collapse. It was time to take the guy back to his room and run solo, just like Paulie wanted. “Look, smart mouth, that little guy is watching Levi Edelstein right now. I’ll have to kill him to—”
“No, take Mr. Green with you,” Patricia insisted. “I’ll let the law deal with him.”
Paulie walked Wilson out into a rainy back alley. “Are you talking about a set up?”
“Look, I don’t want anyone to die, okay?” Patricia confessed. “I want Mr. Green to be the one to release Levi. When he does, the local sheriff will snag him. In return I’ll send you a text.”
“Lady, you must think I’m really stupid.”
“Look, moron, take the deal or leave it, okay?” Patricia fussed, keeping her eyes closed. “I’m not stupid, either. I know you intend to kill me—Levi—Henry Green—and take the diamond for yourself.” Patricia kicked her act into high gear. “The diamond you want is cursed. You can have it.”
“Cursed? What are you talking about?” Paulie insisted, walking Wilson down the alley, ignoring the heavy morning rain.
“Does the name Brannon Handorf mean anything to you?”
Paulie froze. How did Patricia know about Brannon Handorf? “You know too much, smart mouth. That’s a bad thing.”
“I know that Paul Vinovich stole Brannon Handorf’s diamond and an innocent girl was killed as a result,” Patricia told Paulie, feeling her heart becoming heavy. The truth of evil is that it cares more about power and money than people. Love is an enemy to evil souls. An innocent girl was killed before she even began her sweet life, but does the world care? No. I’m going to make the world care, though. “Take the deal or leave it. If you leave the deal, then go kill Levi. I’ll hop a flight home and never look back. I offered a deal, you refused it. I did my part. Get it?”
Paulie stepped Wilson out onto a shadowy, rain-soaked street lined with ugly bars, motorcycles, and tough-looking thugs waiting to punish anyone who stepped in their way. He knew his arm was being twisted. Patricia had the upper hand. Paulie had come into the game a little too late to gain any useful advantage. Playing Henry Green was his only option, and threatening Patricia had become a second option. But Patricia was a smart woman who was giving Paulie a run for his money. Still, Paulie wasn’t a stupid street rat. He had brains (or so his arrogant mind believed). He could get rid of that little guy, play Patricia for a fool, get the diamond, and split the scene with Wilson before dark; all he had to do was play smart. “Okay, smart mouth, we’ll run the scene your way. Only there’s a catch. When you have that little guy removed from the playing field, I want you to go to where the diamond is hidden. I’ll be watching you, and I’ll have a rifle pointed at your face. If you try to run, I’ll end your miserable life. If you play smart, I’ll back off. No sense in making myself a wanted man unless I have to, get it?”
Patricia wasn’t sure if Paulie was bluffing or not. I hate Seattle. She sighed inside of her heart. “Okay, deal.”
“What time?”
“Noon,” Patricia informed Paulie. “Be at the Northern Lights Library exactly at noon.”
Paulie checked the time on the cell phone he was talking into. “I got it. I’ll be around.” Paulie ended the call and shoved his cell phone into the pocket of a black leather jacket. “Come on, Wilson, let’s get you back to the room and—”
