Too Little, Too Late (20 page)

“Don’t say you haven’t been warned—”

“—why that
bitch
!” Karen fumed. If Ashley thought that she was going to go after Josh, a busted nose wasn’t the only thing she’d have to be worried about! “Maybe that’s why she came solo to the party. So she could flirt with him.” She took her cell phone out of her purse, ready to do battle.

“Don’t bother,” said Heather. “She won’t talk to you.”

“Of course not.” With that, Karen threw her cell phone back into her purse before reaching across Heather’s breasts to grab her cell phone off the passenger seat. “I’ll just have to use yours!”

***

“What the hell were you thinking, attacking Ashley like that?” Karen and Laurie were in the coffee shop on Hollywood Boulevard. Josh was across the street, checking out his new CD. It was the first time Karen had talked to Laurie since Josh’s party. Spic’s finger had taken nine stitches to close the wound so she had been laying low for the past week.

“No one’s gonna call me a hoe for no reason,” Laurie replied calmly. She had smoked some grass before meeting Karen and was feeling its mellowing effects. “I know her type. Miss fat-ass fuckin’ WASP princess who’s a total anal bitch.”

“Anal bitch or not, you had no right attacking her and wrecking Josh’s party,” Karen reprimanded her. She was totally pissed off. Sometimes, Laurie was just too much. “What were you doing down by the beach anyway? The last I saw you, you were making out with this guy from Josh’s crew.”

Laurie reached for the open pack of smokes on the table and lit one, letting the smoke saturate her lungs. “We’d both smoked some weed and he was feelin’ up my pussy when he sees one of Miss WASP bitch’s friends and thinks he knows her. Next thing I know, we’re on the beach, she insults me and then POW!, we’re at it.”

Karen lit up, too. “I should never talk to you again after what happened.”

“But you will,” Laurie assured her confidently. “Wanna try scoring some booze?”

“I can’t,” Karen glanced at her watch. “I promised to do some stuff for my grandmother.” Butting out her smoke, she threw a few bills down on the table before getting up. “I have to go. Are you staying or what?”

“Naw.” She got up on shaky legs. “What’s the point?”

Karen looked at her friend with a twinge of pity. She looked so spaced out and defenseless. “You gotta get your shit together.”

“Fuck you!” said Laurie by way of a response.

“Come on,” Karen said impulsively. “You might as well come with me and Josh. We’ll give you a lift home afterwards.”

“Isn’t he pissed at me?”

“He’ll get over it.”

***

It had taken Leo weeks to find Maria again after he’d lost her going down the embankment. He had eventually found the squatter’s slum underneath the freeway overpass but she hadn’t been there. And then today, during his daily drive along Hollywood Boulevard, he’d finally spotted Maria and managed to tail her here. But the fact that she had come
here
, to Kate Stanton’s house, hit home the fact that Maria was a loose cannon who had the ability to destroy him – better yet,
all of them
. Leo could feel the sweat collect along his spine. His hands involuntarily shook as he clutched the steering wheel, feeling as though he was about to become physically ill. He knew what he had to do – he’d known it since Maria had showed up at his door. But knowing it and doing something about it were two different things. The thought of her made his gut ache with longing for her. Despite her treason by showing up here, Leo still loved her.

He’d been hoping that the rock the kid threw at her would’ve cracked her head open or, at the very least, knocked her unconscious. That would’ve made things easier for him, but no such luck. She had more lives than a mangy cat and fought like a wild animal. Then without warning, she was off, shuffling along the side of the road, with the nicer looking girl chasing after her in high heels, of all stupid things.

His father’s voice came roaring into his head.
Do it now!
 

“I can’t, Father. I love her,” he cried feebly.

Looking at the road in front of him and behind him, Leo noted that it was devoid of traffic. Now was the perfect opportunity to kill Maria. He swore softly under his breath as his head filled with the now familiar rushing noise.

“Leave me alone, for Christ’s sake!”

Kill her now!
 

“I can’t…”

You can and you will!
 

With Leo’s window of opportunity closing in around him, he was having trouble breathing. It was now or never. He eyed the battered photograph on the seat beside him. His mother’s face taunted him, forcing him to take action. Taking a deep breath, he abruptly put the car in gear, the adrenaline making his heart pound against his chest. With a squeal of tires, he headed for his mark. Soon he would be free of Maria, once and for all.

In that split second before the car hit her, she turned and he saw her face. It was no longer old and wrinkled; it was young and beautiful and trusting as it had been back in the beginning.

“No!” he screamed.

But it was too late to stop.

***

Kate’s balcony had a great view of the San Francisco skyline; a view meant to be shared with someone. Almost immediately, she chided herself for being ridiculous. The last thing she wanted, or needed for that matter, was to get involved with Paul Wagner, especially at this stage in her life. Putting away the few articles of clothing she had brought with her, Kate glanced at her watch. She still had time for a quick soak. Running a bath, she poured a generous amount of bath salts into the water. Taking off her clothes, she quickly secured her hair on top of her head with a clip before easing herself into the tub’s scented warmth. She closed her eyes, wondering what Paul was doing before discarding the thought. Better not to go down
that
route!

Kate was roused from her daydreams by the distinct ring tone of her cell phone which was lying on the bed where she’d thrown it. She ignored it, knowing it would go straight to her voicemail. She became annoyed when it rang again several minutes later. Getting out of the tub, she threw on a terrycloth robe that the hotel had supplied and quickly checked her display. It was Eve.

“Hello!”

“Why didn’t you answer your phone the first time I called you?” Eve’s voice was unusually sharp.

“What’s wrong, honey?” Kate asked instinctively.

“Mom, I’m really sorry to be calling you but…I need you--.”

“Oh my God!” Kate felt fear clutch her heart. “Is it Karen—”

“—she’s not hurt,” Eve told her brusquely, “but there’s been an accident involving someone else. Karen’s somehow mixed up in all of it.”

“For God’s sake, Eve,” she implored. “Tell me what happened!”

“It’s too complicated to try and explain over the phone. Please just get back here as soon as you can, okay Mom?” Eve cut off the connection without waiting for her response.

Kate stared at the phone in her hand, trying to comprehend what had just happened.
I need to go home right now.
Shaking off her shock, she went to the door adjoining her suite to Paul’s and opened it, only to be confronted with another closed door. Trying the knob, she realized it was locked. She knocked on it hesitantly. When there was no answer, she put her ear to the door but there was only silence on the other side of it. In desperation, she began pounding on the door, hoping Paul was still in his room.

“Paul, are you in there?” she cried. “Paul if you’re in there, open up!”

After what seemed like an interminably long time, the door was unlocked and Paul appeared, wearing only his jeans. From his disheveled appearance, it was obvious he’d been sleeping again. “What’s wrong, Kate?”

“There’s been an accident,” she told him quickly. “I’ve got to get back to L.A. right away.”

“Has anyone been hurt?” he asked, immediately switching to alert mode. “Is it Eve or Karen?”

“It’s Karen. Apparently, she hasn’t been hurt but she’s involved somehow.” Kate felt suddenly overwhelmed. “Eve didn’t go into details.”

“Get dressed,” he ordered. “I’ll make the arrangements.”

Kate made to leave but stopped abruptly. “I’m so sorry about this, Paul.”

He bent down and gently kissed her cheek before reaching for his shirt. “Don’t worry, my fair Kate. I’ll have to think of some way for you to repay me.”

PART THREE

July, 2011
 

Los Angeles, California
 

Kate arrived at Hollywood Division a little before midnight. Paul had come back to Los Angeles with her. He hadn’t said much on the trip home but had held her hand during the car ride, squeezing it reassuringly every once in a while. She had been grateful for his calm, take-charge presence.

When Darryl pulled up in front of the police station, Paul turned to her. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come inside with you?”

She shook her head. “I don’t think so,” she told him. “But I appreciate everything you’ve done to get me here so quickly.” Flashing him a grateful smile, she got out of the car and hurried up the steps of the police station.

It was Friday night and Hollywood Division was a frenzy of activity. Telephones were ringing, people hurried about and the place was filled with all the noises generally associated with a very busy police station. Kate ignored everybody as she made a beeline for the reception desk. She waited impatiently until the woman looked up from her computer screen.

“May I help you?” she asked.

“My name is Kate Stanton,” Kate explained hurriedly. “I understand my daughter and granddaughter are here. Their names are Eve Stanton and Karen Devane.”

Before the woman could reply, a familiar voice called out to her. Turning, Kate was relieved to see her daughter. Eve looked exhausted.

“Eve!” Kate anxiously took her daughter’s hands in her own. “Where’s Karen?”

“She’s in one of those rooms,” Eve told her, pointing down the hall. “We haven’t been allowed to talk to her yet and now Eric’s gone to pick up his attorney.”

A uniformed officer appeared at Eve’s side. “You can go to your daughter now. She’s in Interrogation Room 5. If you’ll follow me, please,” he told her formally.

Eve turned to her mother. “You’ll come with me, won’t you, Mom?”

“You bet I will,” she told Eve, giving her daughter’s hand a reassuring squeeze.

They followed the officer down the corridor to the last room on the left. After a brief knock, he opened the door, standing aside to let them in. Karen was sitting on one side of a tired-looking table and across from her was an older woman who stood up when Kate and Eve entered.

“Mom! Grams!”

They rushed in and threw their arms around Karen

“I thought they’d never let me see you,” Karen told them tearfully.

“We’re here now, sweetheart,” Eve told her daughter soothingly.

The other woman held out her hand. “You must be Ms. Stanton.”

Eve nodded briskly. “Yes, I’m Eve Stanton and this is my mother Kate.”

“I’m Detective Koranski,” said the older woman. “I’m in charge of this investigation.”

“I’m not altogether sure what has happened,” Eve told her, “so I’d appreciate it if you could enlighten us.”

“A woman of no fixed address was killed late this afternoon,” the detective told her.

“And my daughter witnessed her death?” Eve frowned. “Wouldn’t you normally just write up a report or something instead of dragging her in here?”

“I’m afraid it’s a little more complicated than that,” Detective Koranski informed her.

“How so?” Kate looked at the other woman blankly.

“Maybe your granddaughter should be the one to tell you what happened,” the detective suggested.

“Karen?” Eve looked at her daughter expectantly.

Karen refused to make eye contact with her.

“We’re waiting, Karen.” There was an edge to Eve’s tone now.

“We never meant for that woman to get hurt.” Karen looked at her mother imploringly through tear-stained eyes. “You’ve got to believe me!”

“We do believe you,” Kate told her firmly, keeping her gaze fixed on her granddaughter. “Now tell us what happened, honey.”

“I went to your house this afternoon with a few of my friends to drop off the stuff that’s being donated to the Foundation auction,” she began hesitantly.

“What friends?”

“Just some friends,” Karen told her mother defensively. “Laurie and Josh.”

“I see.” Eve shot Kate a quick look that spoke volumes.

“Oh my God, Mom!” Karen threw her hands up in the air. “I knew you’d make a big deal out of nothing which is exactly why I don’t tell you anything!”

“That’s enough, Karen.” Kate rubbed her temple tiredly. “So what happened when you got to my house?”

“A homeless woman was beating up on your mailbox,” Karen explained. “We figured she was probably trying to steal something or put something inside.”

“I had a couple of officers go back to Mrs. Stanton’s house but there was nothing inside the mailbox,” the detective informed Eve.

“Well she
was
freaking out about the mailbox,” Karen insisted. “And she kept saying something about tit’s milk.”

“
Tit’s milk?
” Eve repeated blankly.

“I’m pretty sure that’s what she was saying,” her daughter replied. “Then after she tore the lid off Grams’ mailbox, the woman went psycho and attacked Laurie.” Karen looked away, unable to meet her mother’s eyes. “Josh just lost it and threw a rock at her. I told him to stop but he wouldn’t listen.”

“Oh, my God,” said Eve quietly.

“It gets worse,” the detective warned her grimly.

“Then Josh threw another rock at her,” Karen told them, her voice barely audible. “The first one hit her in the stomach but the second one hit her on the head, cutting her forehead open.” Karen looked at Kate, her eyes full of tears. “I got scared, especially when she looked so confused. I told Laurie to call an ambulance, but the woman freaked out and tore off down the street.”

“What were you kids thinking?” asked Eve in horror.

“I tried to help her, Mom, you’ve got to believe me!” By this time, Karen was sobbing. “I didn’t want her taking off while she was bleeding like that so I ran after her, hoping to stop her until the ambulance came. But then, this asshole in a car comes out of nowhere and runs her down.”