14
The smell of Rhoda Carmichael’s perfume filled the elevator, a combination of lilies and baby powder. Rhoda held her ubiquitous cell phone in her right hand and a handbag the size of a small child in her left.
Alex flashed Laurie a smile with his eyes as they watched the floors tick upward. She knew he was sharing her thoughts: Rhoda is going to ask us to sign a contract on sight.
Rhoda hadn’t slipped the keys into the lock before the warning signs emerged. She talked up the “partial view,” which was Realtor-speak for a sliver of sky beyond a brick wall. “Old, established building” meant outdated, snooty, or both. And the kiss of death was “such charming potential,” which was like describing a person as having a “good personality.”
As Laurie walked through the apartment with Alex, she tried once again to visualize their new life together. Timmy had become an enthusiastic trumpeter, so the walls needed to be solid enough to protect the neighbors. Both she and Alex would occasionally work from home, so at least one home office was a must. And, of course, Ramon needed his living space and a kitchen worthy of his skills.
Within moments, they were talking about the need to move walls and replace bathrooms and kitchens. The thought of it was exhausting. This apartment wasn’t going to work.
“Is your father’s situation a deal breaker?” Rhoda asked.
Laurie blinked, not understanding the question.
“The location,” Rhoda explained. “You’re very selective about it now. Between your son’s school and your father’s apartment, I’m working with a six-block radius. If I could broaden the geography, I’m sure I could find something perfect for you.”
“We have some wiggle room, but my son has school. My dad has his life. That’s not changing,” Laurie said.
“I know. But I was thinking about it. You have Ramon, who seems capable of anything, including driving your son. So if your father lived near you—or even with you—you could buy just about anywhere in Manhattan, and Timmy would still have a way to and from school.”
Laurie pictured her son riding in the back of a Mercedes instead of tagging along at her father’s side, backpack in tow. It wasn’t how she imagined his future.
“I can’t ask my father to move,” she said. “Besides, he and Ramon would end up arm wrestling for the role of boss of the household. Too many strong personalities for one apartment.”
Alex laughed, picturing the scene.
Rhoda held up both palms, giving up the fight. “Very well then. We’ll find you the perfect spot. Another thing to be mindful of are the demands of the various co-op boards. Some of them might have concerns about you.”
“We’re not exactly a couple of hardened criminals.” Laurie knew she sounded defensive, but how couldn’t she?
“I know, I know,” Rhoda said quickly. “I shouldn’t have worded it that way. But I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the buildings had concerns about the nature of your work, Laurie. After all, it has put you in danger previously, so just be prepared for them to ask you about it.”
“They’ll have nothing to worry about,” Alex assured her. “As I mentioned, the U.S. Marshals Service is going to insist on adding a top-notch security system to any place we decide to move.”
Rhoda let out a dramatic sigh. “Well, that’s going to present a different issue for some buildings. I’m sure they’ll be worried about the inconvenience to other residents of that kind of work, no different than any other renovation.”
“So either I’m a walking target for danger,” Laurie said, “or Alex comes with too much security. Any other causes for rejection we should be aware of?”
Rhoda winced, and Laurie knew that more criticism was coming. “I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the buildings inquired about Alex’s previous work as a defense attorney. Some of his more notorious clients?”
Here we go again, Laurie thought. Alex had been worried about some of his previous cases coming back to haunt him during the Senate confirmation process. “Alex just passed a rigorous FBI background check and got bipartisan support from the Senate. I would think that would be good enough for a co-op board.”
“I’m sure I’m being overly cautious,” Rhoda agreed. “I just didn’t want you to be caught off guard. Not to worry. We’re going to find you the perfect spot. I just know it.”
After they thanked Rhoda for her time, they climbed into the backseat of Alex’s car.
“Did you buy a new apartment?” Ramon asked from the driver’s seat.
“Not yet,” Alex said.
Laurie closed her hand over Alex’s. “I’m sorry I came with so many requirements. Your life would be so uncomplicated without me.”
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Are you kidding? I’m the one with a security detail and ‘notorious’ clients. Rhoda obviously was referring to my defending Carl Newman. She’s not entirely wrong. A lot of New Yorkers lost money because of that man.”
“It’s not as though you were the one helping him doctor the books,” Laurie said.
Alex shrugged. He had learned long ago that, to some people, criminal defense attorneys were just as bad as their clients. “It’s probably for the best if we don’t end up neighbors with one of his victims,” he said.
Laurie’s phone rang inside her purse. She checked the screen. It was Leo. “Hey, Dad.”
“I’ve got bad news, kiddo. Seems your old man’s star is starting to fade at the NYPD.”
“I don’t believe that for one second.”
“Maybe not, but I struck out on getting you inside the Bell investigation. The head of the Homicide Squad told me it’s still an active case. My impression is it’s cold as ice, but they don’t dare close it down because of pressure from the family.”
Having met Robert and Cynthia Bell, Laurie could imagine the couple exerting influence over the investigation. “Did you tell them that the family’s on board with our production?”
“Yes. I even offered to have the parents make phone calls to the top brass if necessary. But it’s obvious to me that they’re afraid to do anything that might be second-guessed later—like giving you information that’s not yet public.”
“He didn’t give you any leads at all?”
“Not much. He did confirm the rumors I had heard. Kendra was groggy and out of it the night of the murder, and then became irate when they asked for a drug test. She absolutely refused, and they weren’t able to get a search warrant to force the issue. He didn’t want to give me anything more, but he eventually confirmed that Kendra was frequenting a dive bar.”
“And meeting a man there? What was the bar?”
“He wouldn’t give up anything else. As I said, they’re not going to hand over their investigation to you. I think he did give me one clue, though. When I was pressing him about the mystery man, he said, ‘I’m not saying such a man ever existed, but if he had—and if we had found him—it might have stung Kendra.’ ”
“Stung her?”
“Yeah. Weird word choice. I figured it was his version of a clue. Maybe they were thinking of doing a sting operation to prove she hired a hit man. Mull it over and I’ll do the same.”
“Will do. Hey, Dad,” she said, her tone lightening. “Rhoda suggested you might want to move in with us after Alex and I get married.”
Alex was smiling beside her, knowing that she had thrown the comment out as bait.
“And have Ramon monitor my every intake of saturated fat? He’d replace my beer with club soda while I was sleeping. I’ll stay at home until they carry me out, thank you very much.”
“That’s what I thought. I love you, Dad.”
“Love you, too. Now be careful while you try to solve a murder, okay?”
“Will do.”