Couples
Chapter 65
"You think Kushman and Flatt are behind the body in Celia Bulova's boutique?" Rick asks as Kate settles behind the steering wheel of their family car.
"It's possible," Kate acknowledges. "Everything fits. But we'd have to tie them to the man Sela and Jed identified, the victim, or both."
"You still don't know who the victim is, do you?" Rick queries.
"No. No match on prints or DNA, and at the time Celia found the body, no one tried very hard to find out. Perlmutter was the M.E. He theorized that the man might have been newly homeless. The body was in reasonably good health except for showing signs of recent weight loss and malnutrition."
"And being dead," Rick adds. "What was the cause of death?"
"GSW, two shots to the back of the head and one in the chest. One of the exit wounds made a mess of his face."
"A mob killing?" Rick queries.
"More likely made to look like one. According to Perlmutter, the chest wound didn't penetrate the heart. Family hitters usually have better aim."
"So the shooter might have been trying to both cover his tracks and divert suspicion. That would have been handy if properly executed. Oops! Pun unintended."
"But if Denny was right, the whole purpose of the murder was to scare Celia Bulova," Kate figures. "Kushman would want to target her specifically. As the tenants' protest ringleader, if she stepped back, the whole effort might fall apart. But I wonder why Sela didn't say anything about the building situation."
"Maybe Celia deliberately kept her away from it," Rick suggests. "It's one thing for a bunch of seniors to put their necks on the line. But a young, talented woman like Sela has her whole life ahead of her. Celia would want to make sure her granddaughter has a chance to live it."
"First thing tomorrow, I'll see how Tori did with facial recognition," Kate decides. "And I want to talk to Celia Bulova. What are you going to be doing?"
"Besides keeping an eye on our little fireball? I let Lanie and Lorne's engagement celebration slide a bit after putting out my call for champion lightsaber wielders," Rick confides. "I need to finalize the plan."
Kate pulls out of the hotel parking lot. "That should keep you busy."
"Not too busy to stay updated on your case. Nothing I'm doing could get me killed – except maybe for tripping when I climb into the corral. Stay in touch, OK? I need to know that you're all right."
"Yeah, Babe. I get it. I'll make sure I check in."
Rick expels a deep breath as he leans back in the passenger seat. "Thank you."
"Got anything. Tori?" Kate inquires, sticking her head into Tech.
Tori turns toward the detective. "Got a match just now. The minute I went to make an espresso, the guy popped. I emailed you his file, but I have a hardcopy printing out."
Kate retrieves the pages from the printer and giggles. "Bradley Merdebutte. If I had a surname like that, I'd stick with my first name too. The birthmark fits. He was born in Newark, New Jersey. Oh, here's the meat of his file! He got involved in several real estate swindles, civil suits. The settlements were paid jointly by Saul Kushman and Joseph Ross Flatt. This case is beginning to come together. Wait! The last known address for Merdebutte is Rikers! He was picked up two weeks ago on a hit and run and is awaiting trial. This is too good!"
"So you're going to Rikers?" Rick asks when Kate calls.
"Uh-huh, but I'm going to talk to Celia Bulova first. Merdebutte isn't going anywhere, and I want to hear Celia's version of what's going on with Kushman and Flatt. She may know a lot more than your pal Denny did."
"And you want to ask her why she didn't talk to Sela about it," Rick assumes.
"Only if it comes up. What she tells her granddaughter is her business."
"Who's watching your beautiful behind, and don't tell me your mother," Rick insists. "I want to hear about cops with guns."
"Don't worry, Babe. Ryan and Esposito will be backing me up. Ryan's looking forward to visiting the boutique. He wants to look for a gift for Jenny."
Kate can hear Rick chuckle through the phone. "How did he screw up?"
"I don't know. He said something about her grandmother's Shepherd's Pie recipe.
"Ooh! Dissing the family dish. That calls for some major groveling. Does Celia Bulova sell jewelry?" Rick inquires.
"I saw some gold necklaces and earrings in her shop," Kate recalls.
"Tell Ryan," Rick advises, "that if he's smart, he'll buy both."
"I've had this store for over 40 years, but I've always tried to keep up with the times. Whether it was disco or boho, classic blazers or distressed jeans, I've stocked what New Yorkers wanted to buy that season. But some things shouldn't change," Celia declares. "People need places with reasonable rents and stores they can afford to shop in. Saul Kushman wanted to take that away from this block. I couldn't let him do it. And I read the Ledger. I know what he's done to others and what he might try to do to me. So I kept Sela and anyone who had too much to lose out of it. But I'll tell you, Detective Beckett. Until this moment, I never let myself believe that the body on the floor of my shop had anything to do with Kushman.
"I mean the man harassed people. He said nasty things about us on radio shows. He had his managers turn off the hot water. He refused to fix broken elevators, and when we complained about rats in the alley, he canceled the extermination contract. But I never thought anyone would die."
"How about Joseph Ross Flatt? Did you ever have anything to do with him or anyone representing him?" Kate asks.
"Not that I can recall, but I saw the name on some paperwork. Do you think he and Saul Kushman were doing business?"
"I don't know," Kate admits, "but…"
"Detective Ryan," Celia interrupts, "I have some lovely earrings that go with that necklace. They're four-leaf clovers. Does your lady need good luck?"
"No," Ryan responds, "but I do. I'll take the set. Do you gift wrap?"
Celia pats her tight gray curls. "Better than the fancy services downtown."
Bradley limps into an interview room at Rikers, gratefully taking a seat opposite Kate. "Damn assholes wouldn't let me keep my shoes. I need my special shoes."
"That's what happens when you hit someone with your car and take off, Merdebutte," Esposito retorts.
"I'm sure the guy you put in the hospital with a broken back would love to be able to walk in any kind of shoes," Kate adds. "If you want something, you're going to have to give something, Bradley. What were you doing hanging around the Bulova Boutique?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Bradley insists.
Kate snaps her leather folder closed and stands to leave. "Fine, wear whatever the correctional system gives you."
"Wait," Bradley urges. "Can you get me back my shoes?"
"I can talk to someone about it," Kate replies. "But you have to tell me everything you know about the Bulova Boutique and the body Celia Bulova found on her floor."
Bradley groans as he attempts to flex his toes. "You may find out more than it's safe for you to know."
"Just start talking," Kate commands.