Trifecta (19 page)

"What's that?"

"You're an excellent investigator.  The things you
found out about Quijada, and the way you went about it so fast.  No one without
some sort of training could have done that."

"Really?"

"Yes.  And now all the trouble you're going through
to learn exactly how Quijada smuggles the narcotics into this country.  You could
just give the information to your friends in the D.A.'s office, but you're doing
all the work yourself.  So you're probably used to working on cases with them."

Robin smiled at Julia.  "These vegetables are just
perfect.  I don't know what you did to them."

Julia was not going to be deterred.  "Maybe you're
not a full time cop.  Maybe you're not a full time mechanic, either.  I don't know. 
But I don't understand what all the secrecy is about."

"Would you rather I was a cop than a mechanic?"

"That's not fair.  You're asking because you think
I'm a snob."

This conversation was not going at all the way Robin had
planned.  He wanted them to get to know each other better in this beautiful isolated
setting.  He didn't want to argue or have to equivocate about his profession.  "You
are a snob, Julia.  But it's okay.  I like you just fine the way you are."

"Well, I like you well enough to be curious about
your occupation, but let's not have this discussion if it makes you uncomfortable. 
I just hope you weren't helping me because it's in your professional best interests."

"You want me to be helping you because I like you?"

"You're sounding just like a lawyer, you know?  Do
you always answer questions with questions, or is it some sort of investigative
technique?"

"Let it rest, Julia.  Let's enjoy this glorious repast."

"Okay."  She sat and looked out the window. 
She did not say another word for so long that the silence was becoming awkward.

"What you see is what you get."

Julia laughed.  "You're very handsome, Robin.  But
I think under that fine exterior, there's lots more than what I'm seeing."

"That's exactly what I thought about you, when I first
met you.  And now I know it's true."

"Really?"  She could feel a nice compliment coming
on.

"You just proved you can cook like an angel."

"What a chauvinistic thing to say."

"That's me.  You know the true way to a man's heart."

"A snob who can cook.  What a fine characterization," 
Julia said, pretending to be hurt and sighing gustily. 

"No.  There you're wrong.  Do you want me to be perfectly
honest?"

"That would be refreshing."

"Okay.  You asked for it."  He paused for a moment
and took a deep breath.  He didn't know if he should tell her his true feelings
just yet.  He decided to go ahead and the hell with the consequences.  They wouldn't
have much time like this alone after the information she had stolen was furnished
to the proper authorities.  "I see a woman whom I like very much, who is filled
with courage and talent.  She can make beautiful photographs, she can write and
she can cook.  Not even mentioning that she is very beautiful and has great heart,
sweetness and loyalty."

Julia stared at him in speechless surprise, her eyes wide
open.  What he said about her was the nicest thing she had ever heard from anyone. 
It almost brought tears to her eyes.  She had come from a strict upbringing where
compliments were rare. 

What he said also made her extremely uncomfortable.  She
felt struck dumb, sliding her eyes away from Robin's.  Her gaze landed on the video's
that were sitting beside Quijada's ledger books. 

"You know what we forgot?" Julia asked.

"No."

"The videos."  Julia started talking quickly
to cover her confusion.  "Brian said they were important and told me specifically
in his message to take them from the safe, too.  So  we should watch them.  And
it looks like you're almost finished.  I'll put a video in the television right
now."

She started getting up, picking up her plate.

"Wait."  He was laughing gently. 

"What's so funny."

"I also see a person who can't take a compliment gracefully."

"Well, shoot.  You knocked me over, Robin.  But we
really should look, don't you think."

"I think I should look."

"What do you mean?"

"Your brother warned you not to.  He was right about
everything else.  I want to preview them.  They might be violent, with what we know
about Quijada, now."

"My brother was the most wonderful person in the world. 
He was also overprotective.  I  want to see what I stole."

"It might be things that Quijada's kept to protect
his power.  Pictures of gangland killings, or people putting drugs into their veins. 
Whatever it is, it's not going to be pretty, I'm afraid.  And it will all be real. 
This isn't a movie where you know the bad guy will get up after having been dismembered. 
It might be terrible."

"I can handle it.  It might just be one of Quijada's
old movies.  But I'll let you hold my hand, if it makes you feel better."

Robin sighed.  "You've got a deal."  He got up
and took the plates into the kitchen.

When he came back Julia had the remote control in her hand. 
He sat down close beside her on the couch and took her other hand.  Julia took a
deep breath and pressed the play button.

There was classical music and on the screen there appeared
the picture of the fountain in Quijada's entrance hall; the little boy and girl
with water running over their chubby, naked bodies.  That faded into black.  Then
there was a backdrop of red curtains.  A young girl of six or seven years old walked
in front of the curtain and sat down on the floor.  It looked like the child was
hearing instructions from somewhere because her head was cocked to the side, and
she gave a melting innocent smile in that direction.  She began taking off her shoes.

Julia heard Robin say, "Oh, no." 

Then the child took off a little blue velvet dress and
her underwear.  The child's movements were slow, almost like she was under water. 
She was moving into different poses.  Then there was a fade to black and another
child, even younger, appeared on the screen.

Robin looked at Julia and saw tears coursing down her cheeks. 
"They're just babies," she said angrily.

"I think they're drugged," Robin whispered sadly.

Julia threw down the remote and ran to the bathroom. 

Robin ejected the tape.

W
hen Julia came out, Robin wordlessly put her parka
around her shoulders and helped her with the sleeves.  He started leading her to
the door, guiding her with an arm around her shoulders.

"What are you doing?" Julia asked.  She didn't
resist as he pulled the hood up over her head carefully, as though she were in a
state of shock, or a very young child he was taking care of.

"I need some fresh air," Robin said quietly.

He led Julia outside to a trail not far from the cabin
that went around the perimeter of the lake.  It had virtually stopped snowing, but
occasionally a lone lacy flake would fall, all by itself.  The moon reflecting on
the snow made it seem bright outside. 

Robin started moving quickly, striding down the path and
Julia practically had to run to keep up.  She slipped and nearly fell on the newly
fallen snow and Robin, quick as a cat, grabbed her arm and hauled her up.  Then
he hooked her arm under his, clamping it to his side so she wouldn't fall, pulling
her along with him.

After about fifteen minutes he finally slowed the pace
a bit and Julia got her breath back.  The way he was moving, stomping with gigantic
strides over the snow, she could feel the outrage in his very muscles.  She had
to get things back into perspective, too.  Their strenuous movement was making her
more and more calm.  She had wanted to grab a gun and go hunting Quijada when she
saw the kind of pornography he had secreted away.

Julia looked around at the trees and the snow piled on
the banks of the lake.  There was the pungent smell of damp earth, pine and clean
water in the cold air.  After the shocking revelation of the video's contents, Julia
breathed deeply and could feel that life was beautiful again out in the still winter
landscape. 

Robin led her to a short dock that went out onto the lake. 
They walked to the very end and stood there for a while, gazing at the vague silvery
reflection of the moon, which was almost obscured by snow clouds, wavering in the
dark water.  It fashioned a pathway of undulating light that advanced right to their
feet.

Finally, Robin said, "I want to kill that bastard."

"I get first dibs.  He murdered my brother." 

Robin smiled down at Julia.  He put an arm around her shoulders
and hugged them tight.

"Did you watch any more of it?" Julia asked.

Robin shook his head.  "On top of everything else,
the guy's a pedophile."

"Those videos were taken at his home."

"How do you know?" Robin asked.

Julia described how she had found the professional studio
and dark room in the basement of Quijada's house, next to the screening room.  "I
was surprised," she went on, "because all the time there was the perfect
place for me to do my work right on the premises.  One of the expenses Quijada complained
about was due to the fact that I would have to rent a studio to develop and print
the film." 

Julia was quiet for a minute, and then said, "I plan
to have children.  Very soon, I hope.  I don't care if I have them myself, or if
I adopt.  I love kids.  To think that someone would do that..."  She shook
her head.  "It's horrifying.  This is more important than the drugs, Robin. 
We have to stop him.  Do you think he sells the videos?"

"Child pornography is a multimillion-dollar international
industry, but I don't think he's really into that.  It's a serious type of child
abuse, as well.  There are other wealthy people with his type of pornographic predilections
with a large network.  They trade pictures and videos through the mail and by email. 
Quijada was careful to use a backdrop, so it's impossible to tell where the videos
were taken, although that shot of his fountain in the beginning is probably his
signature.  Most people are horrified by child pornography.  Evidently he's been
planning to run for governor for a long time.  It would sort of mess up his chances,
if anyone found out."

"What an understatement," Julia commented.  "I
thought I understood him, from reading my brother's autobiography.  Before I was
sure he killed Brian, I thought of him as a sort of modern day Al Capone.  Quijada
had a terrible childhood and it made sense that he would try to get wealthy by any
means.  But this puts him over the top."

"He ordered the hit on your brother, because Brian
knew too much."

Julia nodded.  "Now, at last, Brian's final words
make sense.  He was saying, They're too small.  And talking about little angels
on heroin.  He looked so tortured.  Like the horror was breaking right through the
coma.  He must have seen the videos."

"Your brother was living on the estate for about two
months.  He might have had suspicions before he took the videos and checked for
himself," Robin said.  "I'll have to see the rest of them, too.  Fast
forward through.  Find out if there's anything that can be used to incriminate Quijada. 
Child pornography is a felony, with heavy fines and jail time for a conviction."

"Would the children have to testify?"

"Maybe.  But it could be done on closed-circuit television,
so they wouldn't have to face him."

"I'd bet my life this is why his wife committed suicide,"
Julia speculated.  "She must have known.  How could she have children with
a husband who was perverted like that?"

They silently retraced their steps back to the cabin. 
As they were moving, Julia had a feeling that she was not alone anymore and it was
like a massive burden had tumbled off of her.  Her own partner was moving right
beside her, a larger shadow with her own intentions but with different means; strong,
sensible and reliable, ready to help in any way he could.  There was a solid feeling
that she could lean on Robin and that he would be there to pick her up after the
bruises and nightmares. 

What had happened was terrible and frightening:  The death
of her brother, the flight from men who would kill her for the information she possessed,
the massive narcotics network, and now the videos of a twisted soul.  She felt a
strong comradeship with this tall dark man beside her.  He was like a dynamic force,
armed with her own intent and an implacable will for justice.

As they went in the doorway, Julia said, grimly, "Lets
get him."

"We will.  I promise you."

Julia looked him in the eyes and saw he meant it.  She
went upstairs and got her cameras.  Then, taking the ledger books and placing them
under a strong light, she meticulously took pictures of each page.

Julia wanted a copy of the material in another medium. 
There was always a chance that the ledgers themselves would be destroyed.  She shuddered
at the thought that Quijada's lethal net would be successful.  She and Robin would
have the same fate as her brother.  Now that she understood the importance of what
they had, she knew Quijada would be using every means at his disposal to find them. 
She would have been terrified if she had been all alone.

Robin had gone upstairs to his own room and when he came
down and saw what she was doing he nodded at her.  "Good idea."

After she had finished with the ledger books, Julia took
the rolls of film and put them in her purse.  She would send them directly to her
lawyer in Boston.

Julia went hunting for Robin and found him up to his elbows
in soapy water at the sink in the kitchen. 

"I was kidding about the dishes," Julia said,
smiling when she saw him.

Robin turned around, dripping suds on the floor, "I'm
almost done.  Why don't you go on up to bed.  I have to finish looking at those
videos."

Julia took a towel and started wiping.  She liked the look
of Robin in the kitchen.  It was like a picture that she could imagine of her own
future.  With a different husband, of course, but there would be children in the
bedrooms upstairs and a quiet sharing of the everyday mundane duties.  She tried
to think of another man in Robin's place that she would like as much.  It seemed
impossible to think about any other man when Robin was around and she gave up. 
"I don't think I could sleep right now."

"I talked to Tony, while you were taking pictures. 
They let him out of the hospital and he's coming up tomorrow.  He thinks it's too
dangerous to stay here much longer.  He's arranged with a friend for us to fax the
ledgers to the D.A.'s office tomorrow morning.  Then the information can go to the
DEA.  We have to work quickly, before Quijada has time to change all the routes
and schedules he has in place for moving the narcotics."

"You think they can get organized fast enough?"

"This is real hot.  They're going to jump on it immediately. 
And tomorrow we'll have complete police protection for you."

When Julia got in bed, she was fine for a minute and it
felt wonderful to finally rest, but the icy cold of the previously unheated cabin
had permeated the mattress and radiated right through the one piece long johns and
a pair of his own pajamas that Robin had given to her.  It was like lying on a block
of ice.  Julia got up and put on a robe she found in the closet.  It didn't help.

She was surprised by the thought that if Robin was here
with her she could sleep.  He always seemed to give off heat.  She knew she could
go to sleep with Robin, like she had the night before, in the bungalow at the Beverly
Hills Hotel.  It seemed like weeks ago, so much had happened since this morning
when she had awakened, shocked to find Robin in the bed with her.  At least then
she had been warm, she thought, trying to hug the pillow to generate some heat. 
The pillow was cold, too.

When Julia got up to put on her parka she heard faint noises
from the floor below.  The telephone rang.  She lay back down and fell into a light
shivering sleep for a few moments.  Then she heard the bedroom door open.  She could
see Robin's silhouette in the hallway.

"Julia?"  Robin whispered.

"I'm awake."

"I didn't want to worry you.  I'm going out for a
while.  Tony called again.  They want the information right now.  They're going
to work all night in Los Angeles.  I'm going into town to fax it."

"Can I come?"

"It'll be faster if I go alone.  I don't want to have
to worry about you getting cold, or about us skidding in the snow and falling off
the Harley."

Julia had been ready to mention that she was freezing right
now, but his reply stopped her.  She didn't want him to think she was a wimp in
this beautiful, luxurious cabin.  It would sound like whining when he had to go
outside in the freezing weather and ride all the way into town.

"You be careful, Robin."

"Sure.  I'm going to take the videos and put them
in the safe of an attorney here.  I don't want possession."

"Good."

"I have everything locked up downstairs.  Bolt your
door, after I close it."

"That's seems a little excessive, Robin," she
said, smiling in the dark.

"Do it.  I'm going to stand right here and listen."

Julia got up out of the freezing bed, padded over to the
door and turned the bolt.  She heard him running down the stairs.

The air in the room seemed warmer than the cold mattress,
so Julia lay down on top of the bed and covered herself with another blanket that
she found in a closet.  Then she folded the quilt on the bed around her.  Before
she fell into a deep sleep she could hear the motorcycle backfiring.  She smiled. 
The pistons needed work.  Then she turned the corner on unconsciousness.

The next time Julia awakened it was much later.  She thought
she heard the bike backfiring again.  It was unusual for her to wake up to any noise
once she got to sleep and she listened carefully, almost feeling her ears prick
up, trying to catch sounds from down below. 

Suddenly she was alarmed, then frightened.  There was too
much noise.  Robin moved like a giant cat and was surprisingly silent for such a
large person.  He didn't draw attention to himself through noise of any kind.  It
was something about him that she had noticed and liked, but it had not come to her
consciousness until just this moment, because whoever was down below was making
an unnecessary racket, bumping into the furniture, from the sounds.  Also, she knew
Robin would have been more quiet than usual, not wishing to wake her up, simply
because he was considerate. 

Julia got up silently and tiptoed to the door.  She put
her ear against the wood.  It was quiet for a moment, and then she heard the sound
of boots.  She carefully unlatched the door and opened it about an inch.  Hardly
breathing she moved her head around the edge.  There were no lights on below, just
a warm glow from the fire.  Then she saw the beams of some powerful flashlights
slashing the darkness and knew strangers were in the cabin.  There was the sound
of sibilant whispering.  Two people, maybe more.

Julia stood there paralyzed, wanting to shut and bolt the
door with every fiber of her being.  It would be exactly the wrong thing to do. 
She opened the door a little wider, and ran to the bed.  She grabbed the blanket
from the bed and threw it in the closet.  Then she picked up her boots at the side
of the bed and frantically pulled them on.  She smoothed the bed as well as she
could in the darkness and grabbed her purse from the bureau, tiptoed to the closet
and slipped inside, leaving the door ajar.  She covered herself with the blanket
and sank into the corner, trying to make sure that each part of her was covered
and curling  herself as small as possible.  She was barely breathing as she heard
noises clumping up the stairs.

She hoped the intruders would assume that she and Robin
had left.  If she had locked the bedroom door it would have been noticeably different
from the other rooms in the cabin, and the people who broke in would bash it down
just to make sure it was empty.  She heard them searching the other rooms down the
hallway.

She almost yelped with surprise when the light went on
and bit the inside of her cheek hard, tasting blood as she squinted her eyes with
dread.  She could see light through the blanket and heard someone going around the
room as she tried to remember if she had left any damning evidence.