Fatal Connections

Chapter 61

Once again, in the wee hours, I had to call 911. In the wrong neighborhood. I thought about running, but what was the point? I had no weapon on me. But had my inquiries led to another killing? Maybe. Maybe not.

This time the police arrived so quickly and in such force, the whole neighborhood turned into a psychedelic circus. They blocked off the street and brought in squadrons of police officers and one serious-looking SWAT crew. Perhaps the National Guard would come next. The normally peaceful facades of suburban ranchers and colonials were splashed with color from the police cars' red and blue disco lights. Radios crackled in the still of early morning.

And neighbors milled about, many on cell phones. I tried to imagine their conversations. Sorry. Can't come in today. My house is part of a crime scene. Not that I did anything . . . .

I dutifully spoke to the officer in charge, keeping my statement short, truthful, and not offering more than what was asked of me. Two detectives eventually arrived. Not Gordan and Sully, thank God. Another go-round with Sully would have put me over the edge.

After finishing with the cops, I returned to my apartment and kicked the paper inside, not bothering to look at it. My early edition wouldn't mention what had happened within the past few hours. I tottered toward the bed, dove onto the mattress, and went to sleep, with all my clothes on—again.

When I woke up, midafternoon sun streamed through the cracks around the closed curtains. I considered staying right where I was until it got dark, but eventually I raised myself up on one elbow. After adjusting to the idea that it was still daytime, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up. I had plenty of work to do.

It was possible that Benny's death was not connected to the Harcourts in any way, but I rather doubted it. So why was he killed after I became interested in him? Was my phone tapped? And what, if anything, did the brown sedan and/or Mabel Forbes have to do with any of it?

Could Benny's death be connected with his regular visits to this house? He could have been having an affair or been engaged in some sort of illegal enterprise. Regardless of why, someone had it in for him, but that may or may not necessarily relate to my investigation. I needed to do something while I waited for Nick and Alex to get back to me. This was getting way too serious. I had a powerful need to find out who was following me. And what, if any, connection they had to Embrace the Wild. And why people with answers to my questions were getting killed. For this, I needed some unofficial help. And I knew who I could trust to provide it.