Chapter Twelve

"Beauty Wasted"

I received a phone call early the next morning, waking me from the two hours of sleep I'd managed to get. It was Quinn. He'd successfully met with Senator Smith, who, of course, had very little to say about his brother or who was responsible for transferring him to Happy Acres. He did suspect Kade was capable of murder, though he would deny any relation whatsoever if the police became involved.

Those records were supposed to have been destroyed, the senator had told Quinn, adding that he had better not see or hear from anyone regarding this matter again or else there'd be consequences.

Quinn took that as the threat it was intended and left town. He was headed back to the city and we hadn't succeeded in proving anything yet.

Ami's idea was our only chance and I called the girls into the office earlier than planned. Our coffee this morning was strong and black.

"Iris, see if you can dig up an envelope. One of those big kind with the string at the top." I ordered. "Ami, look through the old case files and find half a dozen or so photographs. It doesn't matter what they are. I just need something to bluff with."

While the girls did as I suggested, I gathered my necessary tools; a sharpened pencil, notepad, my loaded revolver, and a flashlight. I usually also grabbed my camera. I'd see if it could possibly be fixed later. Every item had a specific place in the pockets of my coat, except for the gun. It was conveniently placed in the holster which buckled around my shoulder; a gift from Iris on my last birthday. Finally, I adjusted my fedora and went to check on the girls.

"Here," Ami told me, handing me the photos. I checked them out one by one. They were of random people and places, but that didn't matter. All the receptionist was going to see was the back of them.

"And here's the envelope," Iris said.

"Perfect," I told her before slipping the photos inside. It looked exactly like something a private investigator might be carrying around.

"I'm going alone this time. I shouldn't be gone long, but if I'm held up for some reason and Mr. Quinn arrives before I get back, stall him, and don't tell him a thing. Especially anything regarding the fiasco last night."

"Don't worry Sherlock," Iris cut in. "Mum's the word."

Ami looked worried and stepped to one side of the room for more privacy. "What happens if she doesn't cooperate?"

"Then we are dead in the water," I told her. "Without her testimony, as Dunn said, all the evidence we have is circumstantial."

Her brow furrowed. "I can't believe Kade could get away with murder!"

"And don't forget about Nick," I reminded her. "His pre-trial is today and we're pretty short on witnesses."

She had lifted her hand and was chewing on a fingernail. I stopped the nervous activity by placing a kiss on her knuckles. "Try not to worry. Everything's going to turn out okay. It usually does."

Ami looked at me and slowly her concerned frown lifted into a smile. "How do you do that?"

"What?" I asked.

"Make me believe everything you say."

I put on a mysterious expression and passed my fingers in front of her face. "I have the power to influence your mind and make you do things you normally wouldn't," I teased.

"How about using that trick on Rita?" Iris mentioned from her desk without bothering to turn her head away from the morning paper.

I couldn't pretend to not understand her sarcastic comment. It was time to head out.

"Wish me luck," I suggested before stepping through the door, although I didn't wait for a reply. We all realized I was going to need all the luck I could get.

The taxi dropped me off in front of the Happy Acres and I told the driver to leave. I wasn't sure how long this was going to take. Envelope in hand, I marched up the sidewalk toward the entrance, smiling at a few residents who had already come outside this morning to enjoy this unusually warm weather.

It hadn't occurred to me that the Rita Hayworth look-alike wouldn't be on the job this early; or that she wouldn't be here at all. That would really throw a wrench into the works.

When I stepped inside and didn't see her behind the desk, I automatically thought the worst. But then she appeared coming down the hall and immediately put on a radiant smile.

"Mr. Noble, what a pleasant surprise. What may I do for you this morning?"

I had yet to ask this lady her name. Not that it mattered, though sometimes I found that a witness was more cooperative if they were approached on a more personal level.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know your name," I mentioned as she stepped behind her desk.

"Would you like my number as well?" she asked. Her voice was like a mink coat; silky and smooth.

"Let's start with the name. First and last," I suggested, adding what I thought was my most charming grin.

"It's Layla. Layla Scott," she purred before reaching for my hand. Turning it over, she used an ink pen to write on my palm. "Now, you won't lose it."

I read the series of numbers aloud. "Klondike-5549." I now had her phone number, which might come in handy in the future. For testimony purposes only of course. I was loyal to a fault. Ami had nothing to worry about. "Thanks."

"Sure. Try to use it sometime," she suggested with a wink. "Now, handsome. What can I do for you?"

She was so forward, I decided it had to be an act. If it wasn't, I hated to disappoint her. I pulled out the envelope and withdrew a couple of photos. being extra careful to only let her see the back.

"This is photographic proof that last night around a quarter after one, you transported Kade Mooney off the premises and drove him to my apartment building on 6th and Pine." As I spoke, I was judging her reaction. She had yet revealed any change in her expression.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she stated mildly before shuffling some papers around on her desk. She knew. Oh, she knew all right.

"No problem," I replied. "I can just hand these over to the police. I'm pretty sure Mrs. Bernonsky would be pleased to find out one of her employees is involved with a patient and takes him off campus to go commit crimes all over the city."

She was going to take her chances. I could tell by the smirk on her full red lips. "You ain't got nothing on me. Let me see those photos."

She reached for the snapshots but I quickly pulled them out of her range. "Uh, Uh, Uh," I warned her. "Not so fast. These are evidence and meant for the eyes of the Police Chief only."

"You're a liar." Finally, here was the reaction I was hoping for. It showed she was guilty – perhaps of more than just driving Kade around the city.

"Kade was right. You're nothing but a pretender. A wannabe cop who couldn't pour water out of his shoe if the instructions were on the heel."

That was a new one. I'd have to remember it to use on Quinn sometime. He'd appreciate it. I, on the other hand, wasn't having much luck with this temptress. Although, like any feline; if you back one into a corner, their fangs usually come out.

"Have it your way," I told her, tucking the Photostats back into the envelope and sealing it. "I'm sure Chief Dunn will be contacting you shortly. Have a nice day!"

I actually didn't think she was going to stop me. In fact, I'd made it outside before she caught up with me.

"Wait, Mr. Noble," she insisted, nervously looking around. Who was she looking for? Kade was in jail. What would he do if someone told him she was talking to me? I was curious.

"You're right. I took Kade to your apartment last night, but I didn't go in. I stayed in the car. I don't know what he was up to. He doesn't tell me things like that."

I pictured Kade in my mind. He was older, balder, and creepier than any man I'd ever met, and yet he appeared to be leading this young, attractive woman around by the nose.

"What does he have on you?" It was the only thing that made sense to me. Blackmail, perhaps bribery…he had to be using something to keep her trust.

"Nothing!" Layla said in her defense, once more checking who was outside. "He's kind to me, that's all. He's a real gentleman and he treats me good; like I'm somebody special. I can't say that about anyone nowadays."

Boy, did he have her fooled! So much so, that I had a strong suspicion anything I said to try and change her mind would be a waste of time.

"Have you taken him out before to the same area? Say, the night of the fourteenth?" I asked, realizing anything she said might help.

"I think that's when it was. It was Tuesday night last week. He said he had to go downtown to talk to somebody. He didn't mention who it was."

She was honestly this naive. It was difficult to understand, although I realized I had to be careful. One wrong word and she would flee. What I really needed to do was to put the smoking gun in Kade's hand and she was the only one who could do that.

"When he came back to the car that night, could you tell anything different about him? I mean, was his clothing covered with anything? Perhaps on his hands or face?"

David McCoy had been stabbed fifteen times. It was impossible for Kade to have left Nick's apartment that night without blood spatter on his clothing or on his skin.

Layla glared at me. "I'm not sure what you mean, but I've said enough. I've got to go back in now."

"Before someone sees you out here talking to me, you mean," I pressed, trying to get as much as I could out of her. "And perhaps tell Kade about it. Is that why you're so afraid? Has he ever threatened you? Struck you?"

"You don't understand," Layla insisted, nervously looking around once more. "I've got to go!"

She returned inside the building and I couldn't stop her. I was helpless and was beginning to believe that for the first time in my career, I wasn't going to be able to prove my client was innocent. And he was innocent. I was sure of it.