just don’t see Hermann writing about his tawdry little affairs—or my tawdry little affairs, for that matter. Affairs are just something one does when one is creatively blessed. Personally, I suspect Hermann wrote exclusively about his art. I’m sure he wrote rather harshly about some of his contemporaries. Hermann was very, very critical. But I can’t imagine some old irate compadre director breaking into Lilah’s safe and stealing the memoirs just to censor what Hermann may have written about him thirty years ago.” There was a pause. “Yet I’ve seen weirder things. Egos do abound in this business.”
Decker smiled.
“We’re getting off track,” Davida said. “These memoirs may very well be a figment of Lilah’s overactive mind. Find my jewels. Once you do, everything else will fall into place.”
“Maybe.” Decker noticed Davida staring at him. “Anything else you’d like to add, Ms. Eversong?”
Davida tapped her nails against the portable table. “You seem to be a very skeptical man, Peter.”
Decker folded his notepad and stuffed it into his jacket. “That’s why I’m a cop and not a cowboy, Ms. Eversong.”
Ness sat in a lotus position on the floor and watched Freddy rant. Since Freddy couldn’t handle the ladies and their medical questions, they went to Kell’s office instead of Freddy’s study. Man, sonny boy had a temper, but it was nothing compared to the old lady’s. Bitch could cut metal with her tongue. Ness often wondered if she’d melt if doused with water.
“I’m talking to you!” Brecht screamed.
“I hear you, Doc,” Ness said, quietly.
“Then answer me! What’s he doing here?”
“I don’t know—”
“Hell you don’t!” Brecht screamed. “You were with Mother last night.”
“She didn’t mention anyone visiting her. Doc, I didn’t even know this Kingston existed until today.”
“That’s bullshit!”
Ness didn’t answer him. He watched Doc pace. Asshole just couldn’t hold up well under pressure. Probably why Davida didn’t trust him.
“What’s he doing here?” Brecht mumbled. “He must be involved in what happened to Lilah!”
“Could be.”
“Stop being so poised and casual! Doesn’t it bother you that Lilah was beaten and … raped?”
“Of course it bothers me, Doc. You know how I feel about your sister. I just don’t think acting like a fool—”
“Are you saying I was a fool?”
“C’mon, Doc, give me a break, okay?”
“It’s Kingston,” Brecht raved. “He brings out the worst in me.” He touched his fingertips to his forehead. “I behaved very stupidly, didn’t I?”
“S’right. Your sister was raped. No one expects you to behave normally.”
“Mother didn’t mention her son Kingston coming for a visit?”
“No.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Your prerogative.”
“Why is he visiting Mother?” Brecht raged on. “At this moment! At the spa! Mother would never call him down here.”
“I don’t know.” Ness was exasperated, but held himself in check. “Why don’t you ask her?”
“I will as soon as I see her.”
“Where is she?”
“Talking to the police about the theft of her jewels.”
Suddenly, Ness felt the heat of Brecht’s eyes. “Something on your mind, Doc?”
“You wouldn’t happen to know anything about the theft, would you?”
“You think I’d steal from your mother?”
“You’d steal without a second thought.”
“Sure I’d steal.” Ness grinned. “But not from Davida. I’m not stupid.”
Brecht didn’t respond. Guy was pacing again. Ness placed splayed fingers on his knees. “Calm down, Doc, and meditate. It’ll do wonders for the spirit.”
But Brecht wasn’t listening. Ness closed his eyes, but kept his ears open.
“Kingston’s planning something, I just know it!” Brecht muttered. “He and Mother are colluding behind my back. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
Ness opened his eyes. “No, I wouldn’t.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Ness stood without using his hands to rise. “What do you want me to do, Doc?” He placed his palm on Brecht’s shoulder. “Huh, what should I do? Slit my wrist and sign my name in blood? Until today, I didn’t even know you had a brother. And I certainly don’t know what happened to Lilah!”
Brecht was quiet.
Ness patted Brecht’s shoulder. “You want me to chase your brother away?”
“Can you do it without causing a scene?”
“Yeah, I can handle him.”
“Then why didn’t you do it before, hotshot?”
“Because you don’t stick your hands in the middle of a dogfight.” Ness folded his arms across his chest. “Both of you weren’t receptive to suggestions.” He laughed. “God, you boys really hate each other.”
“You’re very perceptive.”
Ness arched his eyebrows. “Wanna tell me about it?”
Brecht sneered. “No, I don’t want to tell you about it! If you can get him out of here, get him out of here. Tell me when he’s gone. And I don’t want Mother to know he was here.”
“Man looked determined, Doc. You know he’s gonna call her.”
“I’ll worry about that when the time comes. In the meantime, don’t mention his visit to Mother. Give me time to figure out what those two are planning.”
Ness grinned. “Secrecy’s expensive, Doc.”
“You’re scum, Michael.”
Brecht took out his wallet. Ness held out his hand.
