The Children's Corner

Chapter 47

"Working on your lit book?" Kate asks as Rick hunches over his laptop.

"No, a little research project. When Lily and I went to pick up her art supplies today, I overheard some people worrying about the destruction of animal-themed art. And I remembered that Lily was afraid that pictures of dogs at Schnelling House would burn up in the fire. So I started wondering if there might be a pattern. I've been searching through articles to see if other blazes engulfed similar works."

"I can't imagine why anyone would go after that type of artwork," Kate admits.

"Artwork might be stretching it," Rick judges. "I've seen what Lily called the 'doggie paintings' at the Schnelling House. I don't think the Met would have been interested. And the other instances of animal art going up in flames are similar. They might look fine in a basement rec room, but I can't see a gallery expressing any interest. And the insurance wouldn't pay out much either. They're amusing kitsch."

"Maybe that's the problem," Kate considers.

"You've lost me."

"Maybe some art lover wants to wipe out an insult to artistic sensibilities."

A grin spreads over Rick's face. "That sounds like one of my theories. I think I'm rubbing off on you."

Kate winks. "We've been rubbing against each other enough. But why else would a firebug go after that junk?"

Rick leans back in his chair, staring at his screen. "I don't know. But I'm going to keep digging. This could contribute to the weirdness of a character in Platinum Heights – or not. The story might work better in a Heat book – if I throw in a murder. And speaking of murders, how did your day go? Did you get what you wanted from Markway?"

"I did. And I got one of those pickles for myself too. It was almost too big to get my mouth around."

Breath forces its way from Rick's lungs. "I've found you pretty talented in that area."

"Or maybe you're overestimating your assets."

They simultaneously shake their heads. "Nah!"

"But about murder," Kate continues, "Michael Fink duct-taped his brother to a chair in his basement."

"He stole that from one of my books! Before I wrote it I had Alexis tape me down to test how I could get out of it."

"Hmm. The boys told me they saw duct tape on your pants once. I always wondered about that. But this part Michael didn't steal. He claims he kidnapped Myron to force him to confess he killed their parents. That's why I needed Markway. We're exhuming the bodies so Lanie can run autopsies. The bodies weren't embalmed, so she may not find much. But she says if they were poisoned, she still might find traces."

His nose fleeing toward his eyebrows, Rick sticks out his tongue. "Ugh! Two thoroughly decomposed corpses. She's going to need a hazmat suit with its own air supply."

"I think she has one from working on a body giving off toxic fumes."

"The alien!"

"She wasn't an alien. The woman had cervical cancer, and her body converted something she was using for pain to a toxic substance. That meant Lanie needed the suit. I think Perlmutter wore one too. He helped figure out the chemistry. So I don't think the deceased Finks will be a problem. But the exhumation and the autopsies will take time, at least a few days. Until then, I won't know if Michael was telling the truth. And we can't hold Myron on Michael's say-so until then. So we're going to have to keep him under surveillance."

"Stake-outs?"

"Uh-huh."

"Why not leak the Great Lazarus's story to the paparazzi?" Rick proposes. "They can keep an eye on him for you – with pictures."

"It's a tempting idea," Kate admits. "But somehow, I don't think Montgomery would go for it."

"Then, with Julia here for the boys and Lily in school, maybe I can join you on watch for a while. It could be fun, like old times."

"Yeah," Kate considers, "it could."

"Are you having flashbacks or something?" Brock Zeman asks as Myron trembles while he paces the room. "I could call the doctor to get you a prescription. Or we could smoke some grass."

"Just get me a drink," Myron demands. "Damn cops believed every word Michael told them."

Brock pours a double whiskey from a crystal decanter and hands it to Myron. "But they're investigating, right? They said the autopsies will be done soon. So, they'll find out he's lying. Then this whole mess will be over. Your tour starts soon. We can go back on the road, and you can forget about Michael."

Myron winces as the alcohol burns his throat. "I'm not waiting for the tour. Call Alfie. Tell him I want a booking somewhere away from here, Florida maybe. They love me in Florida. Or out of the country would be even better. How about the islands someplace?"

"Didn't the police ask you to stay around until the investigation is finished?" Brock queries.

"It doesn't matter. I didn't do anything. The cops can't keep me in New York if I don't want to stay. Just call Alfie."

Brock pulls his phone from his shirt pocket. "All right, Baby, I will."

Rick opens a plastic container with Mark Hamill on the side and offers a brownie to Kate.

"No thanks, Babe. It was sweet of you to bring them, but I can't be ready to move if I'm trying to swallow a mouthful of fudgy cookie."

"You think Myron's going to try to take off?"

"If he really did kill his parents, he will. And when Brock Zeman called this morning to get a progress report for his boss, I let it slip that the autopsies could be finished today."

Rick smiles his admiration. "I forgot how smoothly you lie like that. And it was an even bigger lie since from the report you got on the way out here, Lanie will have to wait for CSU to analyze the gunk she dug out of what was left of the coffins. Myron must have bought the cheapest model."

"If he did poison them, he'd want the evidence to disappear as quickly as possible."

And he wouldn't want to blow his inheritance on the old folks either," Rick adds. "Oh, look! Myron's personal hulk is emerging from the house, and he's carrying a suitcase I couldn't even lift. Your suspect must be getting ready to fly the coop."

Kate puts her hand on the ignition. "Myron could be coming out any second. There he is. They're both getting into Myron's CT6. Zeman's going to drive."

"Are you going to follow him?"

"I'm going to hang back as much as possible. A car like that will be hard to lose. There aren't many of them on the road, even in this neighborhood. But get the boys on the phone. I want to play leapfrog with them. Zeman hasn't been in the bodyguard business long enough to know the tricks yet."

"And if there's anyone who does know the tricks, it's Kate Beckett."

"I hope so. OK. There they go." Kate counts silently to herself before starting the car. "And here we go. Get Ryan and Esposito ASAP."

Rick's fingers fly over his cell as Kate maintains a steady three cars behind. "If he's heading for the airport, he'll either need a private plane or have to check that suitcase," Rick observes after making the call. "It's not going in any overhead bin. What do you think, private or commercial?"

"This route could take him either way, but my money's on private. The last thing he'll want right now is for some fan to post his photo on Twitter."

"Then, to Teterboro, we go."