False Prophet

Marge paused a moment, surprised he knew who she was, surprised at how smooth he was around her. Most people were jumpy around cops. “Did you just talk to your sister?”

“Yeah. She’s totally freaked out, wasn’t making a lot of sense to tell you the truth. Something about Lilah being attacked and you’re here looking into it? Whenever Kelley gets freaked, she calls big brother. What happened?”

“You’ve got some time to talk?”

“Now?”

“Yes, now.”

“I’ve got ’bout half an hour before my next class.” Ness swallowed hard, stepped back inside the Jazzarena, and gently placed his camcorder onto a mat. “I’m all dehydrated. You mind if I grab a cup of broth? We can talk in here. Hard to find privacy around this place.”

“Your sister tells me you live on the premises. We can talk in your place.”

“Nah, too far of a walk. I’ll be back in a jiff. Hang tight.”

He was out the door before Marge could protest. She paced around the gym. Against the side wall, there were a pile of fresh towels, a large wicker basket filled with dirty towels, and stacked blue exercise mats. In front of the mirrors was a CD player resting on the floor. With no chairs available, Marge leaned against the ballet barre.

Physically, Mike Ness wasn’t at all what Marge had expected. She’d figured on a muscle man and wasn’t prepared for someone on the slight side. He was sort of androgynous-looking, actually, except for the well-trimmed two-day stubble that covered his face. Shiny black hair that fell over big blue eyes. Truth be told he was almost as pretty as his sister. Though his muscles weren’t over-inflated, they had been worked on. He had the wiry kind of definition in his biceps and calves.

He came back a moment later, carrying two steaming cups, and kicked the door shut with his foot. If the guy was guilty of anything, good old sister Kelley had taken away the key element of surprise.

“I brought an extra cup for you, Detective.”

“Thanks, but I’ll pass.”

Still holding the cups, Ness sat down cross-legged without spilling a drop. “I don’t know but I’d imagine there’s a certain amount of tension in your job. The broth is a great stress reducer. And it’s low-calorie.”

Marge sat next to him, pulled out her notebook. “I’m not on a diet.”

“Take it anyway. It won’t kill you.” Ness’s lips unfolded in a half smile. “Poor choice of words, I guess.”

Marge returned his expression with a half smile of her own. “Drink mine for me, bro. I’ve already tanked up on guava juice.”

Ness broke into unexpected laughter. “I detect sarcasm. You know that cynicism is a prime toxin builder, Detective.”

“So is assault.”

Ness grew serious. “What happened to Lilah last night?”

“She was attacked.”

“Was she raped?”

“A full report hasn’t been filed yet. Do you know anything about it?”

“Me? Not a clue.”

Marge studied his face. There was some concern but he wasn’t overdoing it. Good eye contact. Didn’t seem real fidgety. Either he wasn’t worried about his ass or he was a top-notch psychopath. “How do you get along with Lilah?”

“I adore her.” He smiled slowly. “As a friend. She’s the greatest boss I’ve ever had. Lets me make my own hours, great about giving me time off. The pay here isn’t great, I’ve gotta be honest. But when you factor in the perks—free room and board—the paycheck isn’t as small as it looks on paper. This isn’t the job I want to do all my life, but it’s a great pit stop.”

Mr. Sincere.

Marge asked, “How long have you worked for her?”

“I came on about eight months ago.” Ness finished one cup of broth, crunched the paper cup in his hand. “My sister brought me over, actually. She’s worked here close to two years and loves her job. Kelley’s a great kid, but she worries too much about me. I was unemployed about a year ago. Didn’t bother me, but it drove her crazy. She talked me into coming here. More like dragged me over. But I’m not sorry. Like I said, the position is okay until I figure out what I want to do.”

“What do you want to do?”

“I sure as hell wouldn’t mind owning a place like this,” Ness said, wistfully. “But since that doesn’t seem likely in the future, I’d like to have enough clients to support myself as a personal trainer. You build up lots of contacts here. I’ve already filled up Tuesday and Saturday evenings with people. Lilah’s really good about that, she gives me the time off. But as of this moment I don’t have enough of a client load—enough income—to make ends meet on my own.”

“Did you meet your clients at the spa?”

“Sure, most of them. A few of the recent ones are referrals. See, that’s how the ball gets rolling.”

“Lilah doesn’t mind you stealing business?”

“I don’t steal business—”

“If you train women at home, who needs the spa?”

Ness slowly took a sip of his second cup of broth. “It doesn’t work that way, Detective. The spa and I are synergistic. We feed off of each other. Look around. Most of the women you see here are in terrific shape. They come here for peace and quiet and want a safe environment to relax where they won’t gain weight. Sure we have some men here—mostly husbands whose wives asked them along—but the majority of our clientele is female. They can hang out without feeling that some guy is going to hit on them.”

“That how Ms. Betham felt?”

“I knew you were going to bring that up,” Ness said. “You ever meet Miz Betham?”

“No.”

“She’s around fifty and has a face like a pineapple. Now I have nothing against ugly people except when they give me troubles. I don’t know what her problem is, but she isn’t going to bring me down. I hope the garbage she’s saying isn’t giving you funny ideas about me. I don’t hit on women. And I certainly wouldn’t ever do anything to Lilah. You haven’t told me too much about that.”

“Lilah will be okay,” Marge said. “If she wants to tell you about it in detail, I’m sure she will.”

“She know who attacked her?”

Marge was silent.

“Probably not,” Ness said. “Otherwise you wouldn’t be questioning me. Ask me anything you want. I’ll do anything to help you find the bastard who hurt her.”

“You like her a lot.”

“I told you, I adore her.”

“But just as a friend.”

“Yep.”

“Was there ever anything sexual between you and her?”

“No. Not that I’d mind, but …”

Marge waited.

“I guess I’m not her type.”

“Who’s her type?”

“Lilah’s?” Ness paused. “Wouldn’t know. I once heard she’d been married. I try not to delve too deeply into my boss’s affairs. I think that makes a lot of sense.”

“Were you here at the spa yesterday, Mike?”

“Yesterday was what? Sunday? Yep, I was here. I attended the seven o’clock lecture. Honestly, I don’t even remember what it was on. They blur. Afterward, I worked out for an hour by myself. Then I drank a little herbal tea with some of the ladies.” He smiled. “You know, trying to drum up a little business. I went to bed around eleven, maybe it was closer to twelve.”

“Did you see Lilah anytime during the evening?”

“I don’t remember.”

“Was she at the lecture?”

“Was she? I don’t remember. My sister, Kelley, might know. She’s the one who’s good with details.”

“So no one can verify where you were between the hours of twelve and seven.”

“Nope. No one. ’Cause I was sleeping by my little lonesome.” Ness shrugged. “Is Lilah unconscious or something? Otherwise, why are you questioning me? She could tell you I didn’t do anything to her.”

“She’s conscious.”

Ness nodded. “That’s good. So just ask her—”

“We intend to question her extensively when she’s feeling better. In the meantime, we haven’t ruled anyone out. You know anyone who might have a bone to pick with Lilah? A disgruntled employee, maybe?”

Ness shook his head. “Everyone loves her. Never heard anyone say a bad word … except … well, he didn’t say anything bad about her. He didn’t say anything about her … which was odd.”

Marge looked at him.

“About two, three months ago, a guy claiming to be Lilah’s brother came here,” Ness said. “Actually he wanted to see Davida because it was her birthday. He had a gift. No one was around. He left the present at reception and split.”

“That was it?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“I don’t know,” Ness said. “I’d never seen the guy before. He hasn’t been back since. I know how close Lilah is to Freddy. It just struck me as odd that this ‘brother’ would be such a mystery man. He was quite a bit older than her or Freddy. Looked to be in his middle forties. Strange.”

“What was his name?”

“I don’t remember it. I do remember it was a blueblood name, though—like Thurston Howell the Third or something.”

“Does the name King ring a bell?”

He paused, then shook his head. “That wasn’t his name.”

There had been something in Ness’s eyes—a glint of recognition. Marge said, “You’re sure his name wasn’t King something or something King?”

“No, that wasn’t the name on the card.”

“You peeked at the birthday card?”

Ness smiled. “He left his business card along with the present, too. Weird. You ever hear of someone leaving their business card with a present? Especially a family member?”

Marge didn’t answer.

“I figure he’s not a close family member,” Ness said. “He was a doctor, by the way. I saw M.D. after his name on his card.”

“You saw his card but don’t remember his name.”

“Sorry, no.”

“What’d you do with the card?”

“I gave it to Kelley. She probably still has it unless she threw it away. I doubt she did. She’s compulsive. Ask her.”

“I will.” Marge planted a large hand on his bony shoulder. “In the meantime, Mr. Ness, you stay close.”

“No problem, Detective, I’ve got nowhere else to go.”

Marge stood, flipped the cover over her notepad, and toed the tip of the video camera. “What do you do with this?”

Ness picked up the camera. “I tape myself working. To see how I move. I take my job seriously and don’t want to look like an ass in front of the women. You want a peek?”

Marge looked at her watch. “Sure.”

Ness got up. Marge followed him to the back of the Jazzarena. He opened a cupboard. Inside was a thirteen-inch TV attached to ancillary equipment. Ness opened the camera and slid the tape into a video machine. His image filled the monitor, shots of him moving with the grace of a ballet dancer. Marge asked him if he had had lessons.

“Long ago.” Ness’s eyes were fixed to the monitor.

“Unusual for a boy to have ballet.”

“My parents were unusual people.” He turned to her. “Can I eighty-six the tape?”

“Be my guest.”

Ness flipped the switch and the monitor turned dark.

Marge said, “Thanks for your time, Mr. Ness.” As she headed for the door, he called out her name. She turned around.

“Sure you don’t want to stay for yoga? It soothes the savage spirit.”

Marge smiled. “I like my spirit savage, Mr. Ness. It keeps me on my toes.”

Decker leaned against a pink column near the entrance to the spa and read the business card Marge had given him.

John Reed M.D. FACOG

Obstetrics, Gynecology, Infertility

Two phone numbers were printed on the lower right corner; a medical license number was on the lower left. He flipped the card over. Nothing written on the back.

A hot, dry wind whipped through the air, the sun flashing off the chrome bumpers that spangled the parking lot. Decker loosened his tie, unbuttoned his shirt cuffs, and rolled up his sleeves.

“Is this card legitimate?”

“I called the number right before you got here.” Marge checked her watch. “Must have been about four-thirty. It’s a doctor’s office. Apparently Reed had canceled all his afternoon appointments because he was stuck at the hospital for deliveries.”

“Stuck?” Decker said.

“His secretary’s word, not mine.”

“Find out which hospital?”

Marge shook her head. “I asked her but she didn’t answer and I didn’t push it. I don’t even know if he’s relevant to the case. I wasn’t able to get too much out of the receptionist, period, but she did tell me that yes indeed John Reed is Lilah’s and Freddy’s brother.”

Two bikini-clad women came out of the spa, laughing loudly, arms linked together. Nubile young ladies—one blond and one brunet—tossing long damp hair over their tanned shoulders. Decker followed their sway until they disappeared inside a silver Porshe Carrera. The car zoomed off and Decker stared at the empty space for a moment.

“There’s at least a couple dozen more like that inside,” Marge said.

“You like that color for a Porsche? Mine could use a new paint job and I’m sick of red.”

“You looking at the girls or the car, Pete?”

“At first I was looking at the girls. Then I got distracted by the car.”

Marge burst into laughter. “Rina has nothing to worry about.”

Decker smiled. “I could have told you that. So if this Reed is Lilah’s doctor brother, who’s Totes’s phantom named King?”

“I asked Reed’s girl about him. At that point, she started asking me questions. When I wouldn’t answer hers, she refused to answer mine. But I had the feeling that this unknown King is a real person. Whether he’s a brother or not, I don’t know.”

Decker said, “So far, Lilah has got what … three doctor brothers including a phantom brother named King?”

Marge shrugged.

Decker said, “I’ve got Hollander looking up sex offenders who live in the area. I’ve also asked him to punch the crime into the computer and see if it matches anything else that has gone down in the city. Until I’ve spoken with Lilah, we don’t have too much to go on.”

Marge said, “You speak with Davida Eversong yet?”

Decker frowned. “Did Morrison ask about her again?”

“I called in for messages,” Marge said. “He was just curious whether we’ve contacted her or not. Why’s he in an uproar over her?”

Decker said, “A famous actress’s daughter is raped—could be big news if it got out. Lots of actresses are attention junkies. I’m sure Morrison doesn’t want publicity after dealing with the fallout from the Rodney King beating.”

“A new concept in Totally Hidden Video.” Marge furrowed her brow. “You think you could lose it like that, Pete?”

“I think we’re all just a step above apes.”

Marge smiled. “You make contact with Freddy Brecht?”

“He wasn’t in.” Decker filled her in on his conversation with Brecht’s secretary. “I don’t know why he canceled his patients. Maybe he found out about Lilah and rushed over to see her. I’d like to talk to him. He supposedly saw her last night and maybe he’d remember something.”

“I’ll call the hospital and ask if he’s been there to visit her.”

“Thanks.” Decker wiped his brow, damp with perspiration. Mercury must have hit the ninety-degree mark today. Poor Rina. Next couple of months were going to be hell for her. “So tell me about Kelley’s brother, Mike. Is he the same guy who picks the vegetables?”

“Yeah. He gave me an eerie feeling. But you told me Lilah didn’t know who attacked her and she knows Mike.”

Decker said, “She was blindfolded, so the perp could still be someone she knows. I just shot out the question. She probably didn’t even know what I was asking. I’ll ask her again.”

“Maybe she does know who he is and the guy has her terrorized.”

“Is Ness scary?”

“No, more like wily—sly,” Marge answered. “Guy didn’t flinch when he turned around and saw me staring him down. I’ve nothing concrete against him—he was cooperative—but I don’t trust him. At first glance, he isn’t physically prepossessing. Then you see him move. He tapes himself exercising.”

“What?”

“Yeah, he had a video camera and I asked him what he used it for. He tapes himself. Played me the tape without hesitation. Man, the way he moves, maybe he’s not a lion, but he’s sure a jaguar. In total control of his body.”

“Want me to look him over?”

“Let me work him over first.” Marge told Decker about the Betham complaint. “I’ll get back to you on that. See if the suit’s legit.”

“Go for it, Margie,” Decker said. “I’m off to the hospital to talk to Lilah.”

The entrance doors to the spa parted once again. Out came a young lass in cutoff jeans and a tank top. A way-too-small-for-her-chest tank top. And she wasn’t wearing a bra. Decker felt he had to notice these details because noticing details honed one’s skills of observation—the primary tool of detection.

Marge tapped him on the shoulder. “You want to switch assignments, Pete?”

“No.” Decker eyes shifted from the bouncing bosoms back to Marge’s face. “No, Detective Dunn, that wouldn’t be an efficient division of labor. You finish up your hit list. I’m off to the hospital.”

7

The drive to Sun Valley Memorial was a westward stretch of freeway that had Decker riding into the late-afternoon sun. Squinting, he yanked down the unmarked’s visor, which did little to mitigate the glare, then fished around in the glove compartment until he felt a pair of sunglasses. Cheapies—the lenses were gridmarked with scratches. But it was better than driving blind.

Maybe Lilah had been able to see something from under the blindfold. It had been made of lightweight material folded over several times, but it hadn’t been form-fitting. She could have sneaked a glance or two out of an open corner.

If he got lucky.

He took the Branch Street exit, turned left, then traveled another mile on surface streets. The winds were blowing dust, little eddies of soot that looked like gold powder in the late-afternoon light.

The Foothill Substation of the LAPD patrolled the east end of the San Fernando Valley—the last bastion of rural Los Angeles filled with miles of grazing land. Slowly and steadily, commercialization was eroding the undeveloped acres, but the ranchers were a stubborn lot, often refusing to sell even if there was profit to be made. Creatures of habit, they, like Decker’s father, wouldn’t know what to do with the money if they didn’t have their work—tasks that challenged the body and roughened the hands.

As he veered the Plymouth away from the mountains and onto Foothill Boulevard, the terrain changed. Open fields yielded to lumber- and brickyards, scrap-metal dealerships, roofing companies, wholesale nurseries, and block-long discount stores advertising everyday sale prices. The boulevard twisted and turned through large open lots until the hospital came into view.

Sun Valley Memorial—a three-story square building plastered in green stucco—shared the block with a flower farm abloom with mums and marigolds. Decker parked the car in the half-full EMERGENCY ONLY lot, stuck his OFFICIAL POLICE BUSINESS card on the dash, and took the elevator up, getting off on the second floor.

The visitors’ area was small and nearly empty. To the right a woman and teenaged boy sat playing cards. On the other side of the room was a man reading a magazine and an elderly woman listening intently as a doctor, still dressed in surgical scrubs, spoke to her in hushed tones. No one was sitting at the desk marked INFORMATION.

Decker bypassed the lobby and walked down the long corridor until he found the nurse’s station. He presented his badge to a young man wearing a white uniform.

“Sergeant Decker of the LAPD. I spoke with Dr. Kessler earlier in the day and he told me I could come down and interview Lilah Brecht. She’s in room two-fifty-five.”

The man leaned over the counter to study the badge. “Lilah Brecht …”

“Yes, Lilah Brecht. She was admitted this morning, victim of an assault.”

“Lilah Brecht …” the man repeated.

With a smile, Decker asked, “Can you page Dr. Kessler for me?”

“I know who Lilah is. I’m her floor nurse. I seem to remember Dr. Kessler saying something about you coming down. I’m sure he wrote it in her chart.”

Decker waited.

“I’m not sure where the chart is now,” the nurse said. He scratched a hairy forearm. “Maybe down in Neuro. But it doesn’t matter. She’s out of it right now.”

“She’s sedated?”

“No, no.” The nurse frowned. “You don’t sedate people with possible head injuries. She’s asleep. It’s been a long day for her. Her brother tried to talk to her about a half hour ago, but she was—”

“Her brother? You mean Dr. Brecht?”

“Yep.”

“He was here?”

“Why is that weird? He’s the patient’s brother.”

“I’ve been looking for him,” Decker said. “Left messages at his office, at the hospital—”

“I never got any messages from you.”

Decker let out an exasperated sigh. “Did he just get here or has he been here all day?”

“I’d say he came about a half hour ago. When he saw she was sleeping, he said he’d be back in a half hour. But like I said, that was a half hour ago. So he should be back around … now.”

“I’m going to take a quick peek in Lilah’s room,” Decker said.

“Okay,” replied the nurse with hairy forearms. “But don’t wake her.”

Decker said he wouldn’t. Her room was at the end of the hallway—one of the few privates available in the hospital. She was sleeping sitting up in the bed, glucose trailing down an IV line threaded into her arm. Her hair had been brushed off her forehead, her scrubbed face showing the bluing and swelling of her ordeal. Both eyes were puffy, with scratches and cuts above her brow. Her mouth was open; the dry air had caused her red lips to crack. Her skin tone had markedly improved. She was still pale but the cold, ashen complexion was gone. She wore the standard hospital gown backward, the split open in the front. But her modesty was protected by a bedsheet across her chest. Softly, he called out her name.

No response.

He checked his watch and decided to wait a few minutes. He pulled a chair up to the bed, about to stretch his legs when a stern voice jerked his head around, demanding to know who the hell he was.

The man appeared to be in his early thirties, medium height and weight, prematurely bald with just a few plugs of thin blond hair sticking up from a pink scalp. He made up for his lack of cranial hair with a full sandy-colored beard and thick eyebrows. He had close-set, pale-blue eyes and a long beaky nose. He wore a long white coat over an embroidered work shirt and jeans. On his feet were an ancient pair of Earth sandals—the kind where the toe was higher than the heel. Decker thought those had gone the way of the Nehru jacket.

“I’m Sergeant Decker of the Los Angeles Police.”

The man paused. When he spoke again, he had lowered his voice. “I don’t think she’s equipped to talk to the police at the moment. Maybe tomorrow.”

“You’re Frederick Brecht?”

“I’m Dr. Frederick Brecht, yes.”

With an emphasis on the doctor, Decker noticed. He stood, overshooting Brecht by around six inches. He put him at about five-ten, one-seventy. Even though his coloring was similar to Lilah’s, brother and sister bore little resemblance.

“I’m handling your sister’s assault, Doctor. I’ve been trying to reach you all day.”

Brecht’s scalp turned a deep shade of rose. “Why is that a concern of the police?”

“You went out with your sister last night,” Decker said. “Maybe you noticed something—”

“Nothing,” Brecht said. “If I had, I would have contacted you. Anything else?”

Decker said, “Doctor, how about we grab a cup of coffee in the cafeteria as long as Lilah’s resting? Maybe you can help me out by answering a couple of questions.”

“But I have nothing to tell you,” Brecht insisted.

Lilah moaned.

“Patients, even in sleep, are still receptive to their surroundings,” Brecht lectured. “I think this conversation is upsetting her. I’m afraid I must ask you to leave at once.”

“Doctor, I know this is a bad time for you—”

“Bad is an egregious understatement, Sergeant. I’m in no mood to be interrogated.” Brecht touched the tips of his fingers to his forehead. “I can’t think clearly. Maybe tomorrow.”