Cherry Two

Part 27

Chapter 25

From the rear seat of the unmarked cruiser Alain sat in silence looking at the backs of his parents' heads. Keenan and Sonia hardly muttered a word until the car neared downtown and cleared through the Santa Monica/Harbor interchange. A sober mood had prevailed since Keenan returned from Torrance following a showdown with brother Kent. Alain didn't know what to say, the irony spoke for itself. For once in his scatterbrained life Kent had made a solid decision—uncharacteristic assertiveness the teenager could regret for many years to come.

Eventually Keenan did glance over at Sonia as the morning traffic began to slow to its usual crawl. "He'll come round. He's stubborn now, but just wait. We'll see him back home before the new semester. Living in virtual squalor won't go down too well once he realizes what he's walking away from."

Sonia was already shaking her head. "We pushed too hard. Kent never wanted university; that was always our idea. But, hell, I hoped he'd finish college at least. Get some sort of qualification—even phys-ed instructor—something of value. Abandoning everything to be a... a lifeguard beach bum in a shack is so self-destructive when we're in a position to give him so much."

Alain leaned forward as far as the seatbelt would allow. "Think up. I moved into my own place twice. It's this cool thing you gotta do—try at least once. There's no magic. Dad's right: when you're used to a lifestyle like ours a few basic house rules are a breeze compared to what you lose. It didn't take me long to get the message. Give it time. The big lummox will show up once the cash and the girls run out."

Sonia turned in the front seat and flashed a scowl at her son. "There's no comparison. You always wanted a career. Kent seems to think he'll be seventeen forever."

Now Keenan was the one shaking his head as the traffic pace picked up and started to flow. "Sonia, listen to the man. Notice I didn't say boy. Even I can learn a thing or two."

This prompted a stifled laugh from Alain.

"Kent is no genius, we all know that," Keenan continued as he changed lanes. "But he's smart enough to realize the kind of opportunity he'd be tossing away. I'm for giving him some space and time to let it sink in. If he hasn't come round by September we'll think of something else: maybe a bribe—I don't know." He raised a hand. "For Christ's sake try to calm down. This is only a phase."

Sonia turned her head away to look out the side window. "It's not fair. You men are always ganging up on me."

***

The specter of actually working at the massive and outdated Parker Center had barely sunk into Alain's head. He'd visited there enough times to know the administration layout and the basics of the COMPSTAT unit, but not being a tenured peace officer among so much high rank had an alienating feel, despite being the son of the second most powerful man in the building. Everyone smiled politely whenever Keenan introduced him around, but indulgence always lingered behind the seasoned eyes. Just another computer wiz kid with a noggin full of statistics clinging to Daddy's brass coat tails.

Before Sonia left for the fourth-floor jail area to continue her prisoner analysis, Alain took her aside in the cafeteria. She'd seemed to calm down over the Kent issue somewhat, now that a serious day's work loomed ahead.

"I didn't want to get into this yesterday at the house with the tense situation and all. Can you think about something other than Kent for a moment?"

The main commissary buzzed with uniformed and plain-clothes police coming and going. Mother and son sat at a small round table with coffee-filled cups neither wanted. From outside sounds of heavy demolition and construction seemed to permeate the entire building. "Okay, be quick," Sonia said, "I have to get going and so do you."

"It's about a young girl called Jobyna Benson. She'd be a woman now of course."

Sonia's brow creased. "Joby? What's this? Not more foolish history disturbing for Calley. Why can't she let it go and just enjoy her holiday?"

"Blame me. I encouraged her. So did Granddad in a way. Calley has inherited all his saved material from eighty-four. Don't tell me you hadn't figured out it was her main reason for coming here."

His mother's eyes and mouth tightened, revealing traces of her age. "Well, yes, the thought did occur to me. Damn Robert! There he goes again. And you should know better. She's still only fifteen."

"When you like someone a lot they get to you. It's not an excuse, just a personal observation."

This managed to coax a smile. Sonia averted her eyes to the Styrofoam cup. "I know. Her father got to me that summer. I thought I was in love with James. Thank God you're not as stupid as your mother." She returned her gaze to Alain. "So go ahead—ask me whatever you want."

"Did you know your friend Joby lied at the Coroner's inquest?"

"Lied? How?" Sonia retorted.

"I can see that comes as a surprise. There is no birth record for her in Monterey County. She wasn't born in California as she claimed. Any documentation to that effect must have been forged. I'm guessing her mother was an illegal alien with a baby. You knew them. Is it possible?" Alain waited. He could see Sonia turning it over in her mind.

"If I remember right, her father worked as a boat-rigger for the Marine Survey Department. He'd service technical equipment for undersea exploration. Joby's mother was a part-time nurse—Hispanic woman from... umm, I forget. The Caribbean I think, or was it Puerto Rico? Anyway they sold up everything and left Monterey County soon after Calley's inquest. I never heard from Joby again. It didn't help my depression any. We'd been best friends for a couple of years before I went to UCLA."

Alain nodded while deep in thought. "If Joby and her mother had been illegals, it stands to reason Calley's inquest would make the Benson family very nervous. I take it she's not even written to you or anything?"

"Not a word. I have no idea where they went."

"Hmm. It's odd... unless Joby's parents were never actually married for some reason. Perhaps Benson already had a wife. Then it would make perfect sense. Without a marriage certificate the girl and her mother could be deported. They make it through the inquest okay, scared out of their minds, then decide to get lost." Alain eased back in the chair. "It looks like Calley won't be able to talk to Joby Benson after all."

Sonia stood up, leaving the tepid coffee untouched. "When Calley goes home all this nonsense will stop. Promise me you won't encourage her any more."

"Sure, Mom. Whatever you say. Subject closed."

Alain watched as she walked away, acknowledging people she recognized with a forced smile or a wave. He wondered: I'll stop, but will Calley do the same?

COMPSTAT is short for Compare Statistics, a program originally developed by the NYPD to review and compare crime trends and develop response strategy.

_____________________________

The unanswered question over Joby Benson is about to produce some surprises, as it's now in the hands of private investigators. Robert only wants Calley's mind put at rest, but already Calley knows something is about to change—something neither Alain or Sonia can stop.

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