Trifecta (24 page)

Robin knew he was treading a thin line.  If Juan Carlos
admitted that Quijada had ordered Brian Monay's murder, he might incriminate himself.

"We didn't say nothing about murder," Juan Carlos
whined.  He was shaking again and reaching for his fourth cigarette with nicotine
stained fingers.  "I'll spill my guts about the drug cartel.  But you gotta
believe me when I say there was no murder."

"A near lethal beating," Robin said, leaning
across the table, snarling directly into Juan's face.  "A man left for dead. 
When that didn't work, there was machinery in a hospital that was tampered with."

Tony was kicking Robin under the table, trying to get him
to shut up, but Robin, furious now, ignored him.  He wanted Juan Carlos good and
scared.  Then he wanted him up on murder charges, along with Aaron Quijada.

Later, Robin and Tony sat together in Tony's office, going
over the evidence that they had accumulated against Aaron Quijada.  Robin would
not be joining the trial in any capacity, except as material witness in case they
called him.  The two had been there for hours, drinking coffee.  Robin was rubbing
his head.  He had developed a pounding headache, but basically he felt good about
the case against Quijada.  An arrest was imminent.

Tony finally pushed all the paperwork aside and stood up,
stretching out the kinks.  "I really appreciated you coming in on the interrogation
with Juan Carlos.  But you're letting things get personal when you accuse Quijada
of murder."

"I know he did it."

"The police closed the case on Brian Monay.  There's
no physical evidence.  I was afraid you were going to lose control and coldcock
Juan Carlos yourself tonight."

"If we don't get him good and scared he'll weasel
right out of giving testimony.  And you're damn right about it being personal. 
That little creep killed Brian Monay, and then he slugged Julia.  You saw her the
next morning, what he did to a defenseless woman.  That man is slime.  We can't
let him go.  He's the key to the Monay murder."

"We have to get Julia to testify that Juan Carlos
assaulted her," Tony said.  "It wouldn't have to be in open court.  Just
before the judge."

"Absolutely not."

Tony smiled at his friend.  Robin had been working like
a maniac, trying to forget about the beautiful woman from Boston.  "Still no
word?"

Robin shook his head.

"I could subpoena her.  She would have to come and
give evidence against Juan Carlos and Mike Gonzales.  Then you two could get back
together again."

Robin laughed.  Tony's plan was simplisticly ridiculous. 
"Just like that.  She sees me again and falls into my arms?  Come on.  She's
furious about that bet we made.  With friends like you and Jay, I don't need enemies."

"Hey, I said I'm sorry.  I'll call her up.  Tell her
the bet was my idea.  Take all the blame.  Well," Tony paused and smiled, "we
gotta give Jay a little of the blame, too.  Take the heat off you."

"I'll do it myself.  I'm going up to Boston tomorrow. 
The last time I called Julia her phone was out of service.  She may have changed
it, but there's no new listing."

"What if she won't see you?"

"Then I'll go begging to her grandmother, Charlotte,"
Robin said.  "And tonight, I have an appointment with your boss.  The District
Attorney will have to reopen the investigation on Brian Monay with the evidence
I got at Cedars-Sinai Hospital."

Tony looked at his friend with concern.  Robin was exhausted
with all the work he had been doing, including trying to reopen the Brian Monay
mugging case as a deliberate, premeditated murder.

J
ulia quickly went over her options after the police
investigators left her apartment.  The decision was to flee, and if that was being
a lily-livered chicken-shit she didn't care.

The police had identified the small dead body on her bed
as that of a rat.  Julia knew the poor little animal had been sacrificed as a symbol. 
A threat to intimidate her.  It had worked.

She contemplated Hawaii, the Caribbean, Mexico, or any
number of places to relax, write, gestate and await the birth of her baby.  She
couldn't stay in Boston.  She felt like a red bulls-eye target was invisibly imprinted
on her back.  The phone calls and then the horrible aftermath, the ruination of
her possessions in her own apartment, pointed to the fact that Quijada wanted serious,
if not lethal revenge.  She was afraid her very life was in danger now.  Which meant
that her baby was also in jeopardy.  As long as Quijada knew where she could be
found.

Julia couldn't stay with Charlotte.  It might put her grandmother
in danger.  But Julia wished she had someone to share her fears with.  She remembered
a walk in the snow just a few weeks ago in Lake Arrowhead.  At that time she had
the comforting feeling that she was sharing her anxiety and had someone she could
lean on.  Someone who wanted to help her.  Now she felt old and cynical, with a
heavy weight of responsibility on her shoulders because there was no one to whom
she could tell the truth about the telephone calls and the violence so graphically
displayed in her apartment. 

Although Quijada was in trouble, the investigation had
been extremely covert because he was such a well known and respected personage in
the film and political life of Los Angeles. 

As Julia had conducted the police through the mess, they
asked her if she had any enemies who could have caused the damage, because the obvious
vandalism did not include theft.  Julia acted innocent and confused.  She couldn't
accuse a famous movie mogul of taking revenge from afar.  They would laugh in her
face.  But she did want an official record of what had happened.  If the vandals
were eventually caught, they might be traced back to Quijada. 

Julia practically threw clothing in a suitcase after the
police left.  She alone would have to protect her own life and the life of her unborn
baby.  She took a taxi to the enormous and anonymous Sheraton Hotel in downtown
Boston where she felt she would be safe for the night.  On the way she had her cab
driver take her to several banks and she withdrew enough cash for the trip.  She
would not be using credit cards on this journey.  She remembered the police that
Quijada controlled through his pocketbook; how he had found her at the cabin in
Lake Arrowhead.  Now he had reached all the way across the country.  She had to
remain hidden until her baby's birth, or until Quijada was in jail, whichever came
first.

When Julia got inside her room at the Sheraton Hotel she
called the manager of her apartment building to direct the cleaning and repair in
her condominium.  It was too painful for her to do it herself, and she really couldn't
take the time.  She had to disappear. 

Julia called her grandmother to tell her she would be traveling
on a photography shoot for a while.  She would get in touch as soon as she knew
exactly where she would be.

All the while she was making the arrangements to leave
Boston, Julia really knew, in the back of her mind, exactly where she was going. 
The one place Quijada would never expect her to turn up.  Back in California.  She
wanted to be there and take graphic pictures when Quijada was arrested, hand-cuffed
and thrown in jail. 

The next morning she tried her own home number from the
Sheraton Hotel and found that the telephone line, which had been ripped out of the
wall, was repaired.  She could still get the messages from Robin each night when
she was in California.  He had hinted that Quijada's arrest was imminent.  Now she
could find out exactly when the event would occur. 

Julia dozed most of the way to California on the five hour
flight.  She roused herself when the plane's engines roared into reverse to a thunderous
taxi ride to the terminals.  The view from the plane's window showed endless sunny
skies in a flat dry landscape with mountains in the far distance.  She was groggy
and sluggish.  Forming a new life inside her was using up a lot of energy. 

Now that she was sure that the pregnancy was real and not
just a wonderful fantasy, she found herself depressed and saddened that there wasn't
a husband in the picture who would be thrilled with the news that he would soon
become a father.  In the past she had played it in her mind like a fantasy motion
picture; the wonderful fun of telling someone she was in love with that they were
going to have a baby. 

Thinking about it made her feel more lonesome than ever. 
But this reaction was something she had expected.  The longing for a strong man
must be a primitive throwback all women experience at a time like this; when new
life is expected and the woman is not as capable of caring for herself when the
time comes to give birth.  In her case she didn't have to worry about carnivorous,
predatory animals devouring her as she helplessly went through excruciating labor
pains. 

She did have the threat of the long arms of a vindictive
and angry drug lord.  Which, in Julia's mind, was almost as scary.

Julia rented a nondescript silver Ford sedan from Hertz
when she got to LAX and got a room temporarily at the Airport Hilton Hotel.  Even
a hotel was dangerous, now that she was in enemy territory.  She was anxious that
she had to use her own name when she registered for the room, but it had never occurred
to her that she would need another identity.

The most noticeable distinguishing characteristic she had
was her blond hair.  As Julia went into the modern drugstore situated in the vast
hotel lobby she found a dark brown color dye to temporarily cover her natural blond. 
It brought back the disguise Robin had used on his clandestine drug meet with Quijada's
underworld associates.  She hadn't even recognized him with the rotted teeth, brown
eyes, layers of padding and the skull cap which made him appear bald.  She almost
laughed out loud at the memory.  In retrospect it was very funny.  Her baby's father
had been imaginative and amusing. 

As Julia paid, she steeled her intent, sternly reminding
herself that Robin had deceived her.  There was a natural urge to think favorably
of him, as he'd been so steadfast in making the promised phone calls each night. 
And she had to stop thinking about amazing, fantastic sex.  It had been startling
that a physical act could be so fantastic. 

The worse thing Robin did was to lie when he said he loved
her.  She had already decided to spend the night with him, so it was unnecessary
and cruel.  Especially since he had been so persuasive that she believed him.  But
he was a lawyer.  They made a living convincing people of their versions of the
truth. 

The fact that Robin had lied about his feelings just illuminated
the fact that he was a ruthless, slimy lawyer.  He wanted sex and was prepared to
deceive to achieve the goal of an affectionate and responsive woman in his bed. 
And he wanted a trial against Quijada, which would give him lots of publicity and
further his career.

As Julia read the instructions on the box of hair coloring 
she reminded herself that Robin was a womanizing skirt chaser who made obnoxious
bets about the exact date on which he would bed his next conquest.  He didn't deserve
another moment in her thoughts.  She promised herself that she would put him out
of her mind forever.  Except for the nightly phone calls.

Robin stood looking at the beautiful apartment building
in Boston.  The plan was to just drop by and hope Julia wouldn't be too stubborn
to see him.  He had to smile at his uncharacteristic nervousness.  He hadn't been
this anxious about a woman since he was about fifteen years old. 

The doorman standing under an ornate gold canopy in front
of the building asked Robin for identification before admitting him into the lobby. 
As Robin walked inside and looked around, the place reminded him of a tiny luxurious
hotel because there was a front desk, where another man in a blue suit identical
to the doorman's stood.  The manager politely asked Robin who he was visiting. 
Robin was asked to wait while the man placed a call to Ms. Monay, after requesting
to see his identification again. 

They were extraordinarily security conscious here, but
Robin thought it was normal because the building catered to wealthy Bostonians who
owned these luxury apartments.

Robin sat in the lobby and waited for what seemed an exceptionally
long time.  He kept glancing at his watch because the hands were evidently stuck. 
Either that, or he was so impatient to see Julia again that time seemed to have
stopped.  He took the ring out of his pocket and looked at it appraisingly, tossing
it from one hand to the other, watching sparkles so bright it hurt his tired eyes. 
The enormous white diamond with the smaller yellow diamonds around it was a little
ostentatious, but it was something she would be wearing for the rest of her life. 
He wanted to give Julia something beautiful.  He didn't believe he was being foolhardy
or impetuous. 

As Robin sat there he realized he was a little pissed at
her attitude.  So, okay, he had made a silly bet with his pals when he was inebriated. 
But she would have to get over it, eventually.  It was her characteristic stubbornness. 
He had never met such a stubborn, willful woman in his life.  On the other hand,
he knew that was one of the qualities he liked best about her personality.  The
ring would demonstrate his sincerity.  He wanted her to have it, even if she didn't
think about it as an engagement ring for a while.  He tried it on his pinky and
it slid down to the knuckle and stuck there.  Maybe it was too small.  She had long
thin fingers.

Robin could see through a glass wall into the back office. 
The manager was using the telephone.  Then, suddenly, two large men in trench coats
came rushing in through the front lobby door.  They stood in front of Robin, effectively
barring his exit from the building, standing too close and appearing angrily intimidating.

Robin knew the men were cops, although they were not in
uniform.  He was surprised with the thought that they were suspicious of him, principally
because he had made an effort to look respectable even though he was exhausted from
the night flight.  He had hardly slept three hours in the last twenty-four, but
his hair was combed and his heavy beard had been recently shaved. 

Robin answered the serious but polite police interrogation,
producing his identification for the third time in fifteen minutes.  He was horrified
when he eventually learned the reason for the suspicion of strange men in the building. 
Especially strange men visiting Julia Monay.  Robin was even more worried when he
tried to find out where Julia had gone and they couldn't tell him. 

As Robin exited the building he decided his only recourse
was to go to Julia's grandmother, Charlotte.  It was imperative that he find Julia
quickly and get her some protection.  What had happened was a graphic demonstration
of how perilous her situation was.  It all made ghoulish sense.  Quijada had fashioned
the perfect life for himself.  He was rich and famous, planning to run for high
political office in California.  Then Julia stole Quijada's private papers, and
suddenly he was losing money in the narcotics trade, there was an enormous investigation,
and he might ultimately land in jail.  All because one slim and beautiful woman
had the audacity to delve into his secrets.

As Robin rode in the taxi to Charlotte's home, he suddenly
told the cab driver to turn around.  He wanted to go back to the airport because
there was no doubt in his mind where Julia had gone.  The one place where an impetuous
woman with a one-track mind would be headed if she wanted revenge.  Right into danger. 
She was on her way to back California.

Robin knew it with absolute certainty.  He also knew exactly
how to locate her.

Julia was gazing at herself in the mirror in her hotel
room.  Since her eyes were dark brown, and her lashes and eyebrows almost black,
she didn't think the fake hair color looked false.  It was just so...dark.  She
turned around in front of the full length mirror and laughed aloud.  It was almost
as though she had a new persona to keep her and the baby safe, an invincible protective
aura no one could pierce.  She was still recognizable, but it was a wonderful disguise. 
From far away no one would be able to identify her.  She didn't plan on getting
close to Quijada.

Julia glanced at her watch.  It was time to call Boston
and see if she had a message on her answering machine.  Julia bounced on the edge
of the king sized bed and called her private number.  As she listened she could
see her own eyes getting larger and wider in the mirror over the dresser across
the room. 

It was tonight! 

She couldn't believe her luck.  She had made it just in
time.  Unbelievable as it sounded, Robin said that the police would be arresting
Quijada at his home and that he would be taken to downtown Los Angeles for questioning
at about eight this evening.  Robin promised to call her as soon as the arrest had
been made, later tonight.

Julia sighed as she put in the code to save Robin's message
and hung up.  His communications had become impersonal in the last couple of weeks,
as though he understood that there was no bridge to gap the harm done when she had
found out about the wager.  In a way she felt sad.  He must have given up on her. 
But it was best for both of them.  Best for the baby.

Julia got up and opened her suitcase to check her cameras. 
She needed special film for night photography and the camera was delicate.  She
inspected the lenses and decided to get fresh film.  She didn't want any mistakes.