The following day we met after work for a drink at Susie, it was Agnes introduction to our group.
All day, I couldn't fix anything other than the thought of confronting Zaddicos with what we knew and bringing him in. I wanted to accelerate everything- a face to face confrontation. I wanted to let him know we had him. Goddam Red Beard.
As we waited for drinks, I knew a couple of new development. A search of Hannah Simon's home in Seattle had uncovered Zaddicos's name and phone number in the dead bride's phone book. A trace bu Northwest Bell has turned up three calls to him in the past month- including one three days before Cleveland wedding.it confirmed what Pascalin shortley had told us.
"Right to the very end," said Fatimah. "Creepy. Both of them actually.
We had run Zaddicos's photo by Maryanne Perkins of Saks as part of a photo spread with five others. We desperately needed something that pinned him to the first crime. She paused over his likeness for a few seconds. "It's him, she declared. Then she paused. "But then, it's hard to tell. It was quick. And far away."
The thought of defense attorney cross examining her didn't sit well with me. It didn't surprise me that Agnes agreed.
It took longer than a single margarita for her to make a seamless entry into our group.
Fatimah has met her a few times when she testified at trials. They had developed a mutual respect for each other's rise through their male dominated departments.
We asked Agnes about herself, and she told us she was Stanford Law and her father was a corporate attorney back in Dallas. No interest in the corporate thing. That was for her husband,Joseph what was running a venture fund for Bank of America.
They lived in Burlingame-affluent, exclusive- took rock climbing treks in the desert at Moab. No kids, it's just doesn't fit right now," she said.
Agnes seemed to live the epitome of the fast, successful life. At the same time, there seemed to be something missing. Maybe she was tired from the grind, the pace of her accomplishments.
When our drinks arrived, Fatimah and I toasted Alice's ingenuity in coming up with Zaddicos's name in such a short time. And beating two police departments to the punch.
Fatimah raises a glass to her. "You are pretty good for a real rookie , of cause. But you are still not the king." She smiled at me, so I'm thinking," Agnes said, looking around the table, I know I can hold my own at dinner parties and all, but that's not why you asked me in, is it? Seems like we have all the angles covered here: the press, the force, medical examiner. Just what kind of group is this?
I answered, since it was I who had invited her in "Women. Climbing the ladder in their careers. Law enforcement."
"Yeah? With soft pushover types for bosses," put in Alice.
Well, i qualify there," said Agnes. "And it doesn't hurt that each of you seems to have some connections with the bride and groom cases."
I held my breath Jill could blow this whole thing if she wanted to, but she was here. "We have been sort of working together," I admitted. "Outside the investigation."
Over margarita, I explained how we had originally gotten together. How we had come upon this case, trying to solve it, starting what we knew, freelance. How it had become a sort of bond. How things had just gotten a bit deeper.
Agnes arched her eyebrows. "I assume you are sharing all this with investigation?"
Of course," I insisted. "Well sort of." I told her how we were giving Alive only what the department was about to release to the press at large. How there was a thrill in cutting through the departments, advancing the case.
I know it's a different game when everything starts to get legal," I said. "If any of this makes you uncomfortable. . ." We were all sort of hanging out there, awaiting her response. Loretta came, and we ordered another round, we were still hanging, waiting in Agnes.
"How about I let you know when things starts to get uncomfortable, Agnes said. She widened her blue eyes, in the meantime, you are going to need a lot stronger corroboration if we want to take this thing to court.
"So, this outfit have a name?" Agnes inquired.
We looked around, shrugged, shook our heads.
We are sort of a murder club," I said.
"Moo's deputized us, Fatimah grinned.
"The margarita posse, Agnes threw out, that has possibilities."
"Bad ass Bitches," Fatimah giggled.
"One day, we are all going to be running things, Alice said. "Homicide chicks " she came back with a satisfied grin. "That's who we are. That's what we do."
"Just shut me up if I start to roar. We were bright, attractive, take no shit women, we were going to run things some day.
The waitress brought our drinks. We raised four glasses toward one another. " To us.
I was driving home, really pleased at having brought Agnes into the group, but it didn't take long for the thought to work it's way in that I was still withholding from my friends.
My beeper sounded.
"What are you doing? Gabriel asked when I buzzed him back.
"I was headed home. Beat."
"You up for a talking just a little? I'm at Mahoney's."
Mahoney's was a dark, crowded bar near the Hall that was usually thick with off-duty cops.
"Already ate, I told him.
"Meet me anyway, Gabriel said. It's about the case."
I was only a few minutes away. Mahoney's was on Brannan. To get to Potrero, I had to go right by it. I found myself a little nervous again. I was scared, we were no longer playing things by the book. The book was, partners didn't get involved. Nor people with their lives ebbing away. I knew that if I let things go, anything could happen. This wasn't some casual fling we could go at for a night and try rationalize away the next day. As much as I wanted him, I was holding back. Scared to let it all come out. Of letting myself go. Of dragging him in.
I was relived when I saw Gabriel waiting for me outside the bar. He came up to my car. I couldn't help noticing that he looked good, as usual.
"Thanks for not making me go in," I said.
He leaned on the edge of my open window, I looked into Richard Zaddicos, he said.
And?"
"The guy's forty-eight. Went to law school but never finished. Started writing novels his first year. Wrote two books that didn't go anywhere. Then his twisted thriller, crossed wire, hit.
There's something oh should know. Maybe seven years ago give or take a few, cops were called out to his home in domestic dispute."
"Who made the call?"
"His wife. His first wife, Gabriel leaned in closer. "I pulled up the report. First in the scene described her as pretty beat up. Bruise up and down her arms. Large bruise on her face."
A thought flashed in my head- Pascalin shortley, on Hannah's boyfriend: he was into intense sex games.
"Did the wife file?" I asked.
Gabriel shook his head. "That's as far as it went. Never pressed charges. Since then, he's cashed in big-time. Six huge bestsellers. Movies, screeenplays. New wife, too.
That means there's an old one out there who might be willing to talk.
He had a satisfied expression on his face. "So, can I buy you a meal, Moo?"
A hot bead of sweat burned a slow path down my neck. I didn't know wether to get out or stay in. I thought, if I got out. . ."Gabriel, I already ate. Had a commitment."
"Isaiah." He grinned. He could always get me with that smile of his.
"Sort of a women's thing, a group of us. We meet once a month. Go over our lives. You know, nanny problems, personal trainers, country homes. Affairs, things like that.
"Anyone I know? Gabriel raised his eyebrows
"Maybe one day I will introduce you,
We sort of hung there, my blood slowly throbbing in my chest. The hair on Gabriel's forearm gently grazes against mine. This was driving me insane. I had to say something. "Why did you call me out her, Gab?"
"Zaddicos, he replied. I didn't tell you everything. We ran a firearms check on him with Sacramento." He looked at me with a glint in his eye. "He's got several registered. A browning twenty two caliber hunting rifle, a Renfield thirty-thirty. A Remington forty-point-five."
He was leading me on. I knew he had struck pay dirt.
There's also a Glock special, Moo. Nineteen-ninety issue. One milimeter."
A rush of validation shot through my veins.
Gabriel frowned. "He has the weapon of choice, Moo. We have got to find that gun."
I made a fist and brought it down against Gabriel's in triumph. My mind was racing. Sparrow Ridge, the phone calls, now a glock special. It was all still circumstantial, but it was falling into place.
"What are you doing tomorrow. Gabriel? I asked with a smile.
"Wide open. Why?"
I think it's time we talked to this guy gave to face.