Couples
Chapter 83
Checking the window of the bodega before going inside, Kate spies some candles she might even buy. Several of her favorites burned down to globs of wax during her fun with Rick the night before, after Lily was in bed and Rick had roughed out his outline. He turned it back into a Nikki Heat instead of a Derrick Storm for purposes of crime-solving. Actually, Rick roughed out two outlines. Dimmer was a murderer only in the first one, so Kate concentrated on that.
Rick's theory was that the victim had been responsible for the break-up of Dimmer's marriage. Wanting the hunky cop to himself, he'd managed to tip off the ex-wife to Dimmer's meanderings. Dimmer got wind of what happened and used the apartment now belonging to his ex-wife to execute his revenge.
Dimmer cleans up the scene, but it doesn't take much. He doesn't have to worry about his own D.N.A. His presence in the apartment for years will account for that. He merely has to worry about his target. If Dimmer kept a sheet or something under the victim, all he'd have to do is bleach it. And even that might not be necessary if he does a good job getting rid of the body. With nothing to indicate a murder, no one would even be looking for physical evidence.
As to how Dimmer got rid of the corpse, Rick figured that he put it in a large duffle or something similar to carry it out. Since the ex-husband visited his old apartment to pick up his things, being seen with the bag wouldn't raise any eyebrows. He could weigh it down and dump it in the river or take it to the Jersey Meadows. He could even bury it in a wooded area within a short drive of the city. Rick decided to play on Dimmer working in Missing Persons. Using his knowledge of those investigations, the cop took the corpse to an area where cadaver dogs had already searched for a body and found nothing. No one would be searching there again very soon.
Kate's problem is that Rick's Dimmer character committed the almost perfect crime. Had it not been for the stubborn brilliance of Nikki Heat, he would have done precisely that. So, how is Kate going to achieve the success of her counterpart? The bodega is as good a place to start as any.
The bodega's owner, Oscar Sanchez, looks down at Kate's purchase. "Nice choice," he pipes. "Too bad that it's a little early in the season for cranberry. It's perfect with vanilla. But the cinnamon is lovely, too. That will be $14.95. Cash or credit?"
To Kate, Oscar looks a bit like Esposito. She'd expected him to talk a little like him too. But the voice coming out sounds more like Michael Jackson – or maybe Michael Jackson with a cold. She arranges her face in a smile and hands Sanchez a $20 bill. "Everyone in the neighborhood must find something to buy in here. You have a great selection."
Oscar's chest puffs out. "New York has people of every taste. I pride myself on serving as many needs as possible. Of course, it's good for business too."
"Then you must get to know the residents of the neighborhood pretty well," Kate suggests.
"I do," Oscar agrees. "But I don't remember seeing you before. Did you just move in?"
"I'm checking some things out about the building down the block," Kate replies. She leans over the counter conspiratorially. "I heard that there were mysterious cries in the airshaft."
Oscar waves a hand dismissively. "Oh, that! Just a little playtime. As I said, there are all kinds of tastes."
"So you don't think anyone was really in trouble?" Kate presses.
Oscar's head whips back in forth. "No. If you move in there, you'll have nothing to worry about except the boiler breaking down and the hot water going out. I've heard that happens every year."
"Yes, I met a Ms. Dimmer who told me about that," Kate replies.
Oscar's voice rises to a screech. "Marge Dimmer! Bitch. She…" Oscar draws a deep breath. "Never mind. I don't tell tales. And I think you'd like most of your other neighbors."
Kate brightens her smile. "I do like the area." She holds up her candles. "And I like these too, very much. Ooh, and I love a spicy wing. Do you know a place around here that makes good ones?"
Oscar winks. "The real spice is at the Back Door, three blocks down."
Kate winks back. "I'll remember that."
"Richard and Miss Lily!" Auchincloss greets his theoretical boss, and the toddler Rick holds firmly by the hand. "I didn't expect to see you back so soon. I have the bones of my business plan ready. I put it together before – well, you've been through it. But It's not finished."
Rick boosts Lily into his arms. "I didn't expect it would be. You would have to be twins. Oh, that would be handy—one for each restaurant. The reason we dropped in again so soon is that Lily's little playmate is off at a class with her mom this morning, and she kept asking for Patch. So I thought I'd make her happy. Also, my wife wants to know when you're going to start making chili-stuffed pumpkins again."
"It won't be long. Pumpkins start coming in season in mid-September. As soon as I can source some that are the right size and high enough quality, they'll be back on the menu. But if Katherine would like, I can make her chili-stuffed squash or just the chili."
"I suspect she'll pass on the squash. The pumpkins have a certain ambiance. But I will transmit your gracious offer. And she always loves your chili. So do I."
"Chili," Lily repeats.
"She's a little young for the heat, isn't she?" the chef inquires.
Rick chuckles. "I suspect she thinks you're talking about ice cream."
Lily bounces in Rick's arms. "I-ream!"
"Can she have some?" Auchincloss asks.
Rick pulls his daughter tightly against his chest. "If she doesn't, I'm not sure I'll get out of here alive."
"Chah-lat," Lily adds.
Rick strokes her cheek. "You come by your tastes honestly." He glances at Auchincloss. "One scoop of chocolate?"
Auchincloss nods. "Right away."
Kate makes sure that the badge on her belt shows and her gun is obvious under her light jacket. Some members of the public think female cops are lesbians. If anyone where she's going draws that conclusion, it won't hurt. And she really could go for some spicy wings. A cold beer wouldn't be bad either. But on duty, she'll settle for a club soda with a twist of lime.
After Kate puts in her order, she regards the screen above the bar, tuned to a cable channel carrying films of Broadway shows. She turns to the man next to her. "No matter how many times I see this, Alan Cumming amazes me."
Her new companion takes a sip of his drink. "I think Joel Grey was better. But can you believe how long the man was in the closet?"
"Some guys are still afraid to come out, aren't they?" Kate asks.
"Like who?" The Grey fan inquires.
"Some cops. They think they have to ooze testosterone to do their jobs. Ever meet one like that?"
"I don't know. I've seen cops come in here looking for company. There's one with great blue eyes, who's made some friends in here. But I think he has another boyfriend now. Too bad. He'll be missed."
"That's the way it goes," Kate comments, visualizing Tom Dimmer's bright blue eyes. "But it's great to find the right person."
"I wouldn't know about that," her new buddy responds. "But I wish him luck."