Part 23 (2/2)
Kaplan smirked and swaggered toward the elevators.
Crusher muttered, ”Putz.”
Back in the truck, we hopped on the 110 Freeway north and transitioned to the 134 west to Encino. My confrontation with Hardisty left me elated, which meant I was also hungry. I checked the digital clock on the dashboard, relieved to find it was lunchtime.
”I'm starved. How about some lunch?”
Crusher let his eyes slide down my body and grinned. ”I know what I want for lunch.”
You betcha!
I struggled for control. ”How about a falafel instead?”
Hilda wasn't in her usual spot near Rafi's on the Boulevard, nor was she inside. I hadn't heard from her since Monday and wondered if she was okay.
”She take recycle this morning like always, but then she leave, chik-chok.” Rafi slapped his palms together. He pointed to a padded banquette seat running the length of one wall. ”I let her sleep there.”
He looked at Crusher and half-smiled. ”You not from Health Department? You do not shut me down?”
”Oh, sorry, Rafi. This is my friend Yossi Levy.”
Rafi grinned and stuck out his hand. ”Levy? Atah medaber Ivrit?” (”You speak Hebrew?”) Crusher took his hand and smiled. ”Ketzat.” A little.
Was Crusher just being modest? After all, he quoted Torah, chapter and verse, during Shabbat dinner last week. There was so much I didn't know about Yossi Levy, but what I did know I found intriguing and attractive. Unfortunately, I wasn't ready to let go of Arlo Beavers.
After lunch, Crusher drove back to my house. ”You can just drop me off, Yossi. I don't need a bodyguard anymore. All of Hardisty's financial secrets are out, so she has nothing left to hide there. If she's protecting the killer, the police will find out. Either way, I'm the least of her worries. With Hardisty in custody, I doubt I'll see Lawanda Price again.”
He cut off the engine and turned to me. ”You're forgetting one thing, babe. The killer. The tall guy in the baseball cap with the funny voice-he's still out there.”
”Why should I be worried?”
”Maybe he'll want revenge for blowing the whole fraud-and-conspiracy thing wide open.”
”I don't think so. My money's still on Jefferson Davis. He had a double reason to want Dax Martin dead-one, for having an affair with his wife and two, for blackmail. The first motive we know for sure. The second one we're just guessing at. Either way, Davis has no reason to come after me.”
Crusher appeared to agree I was probably safe. It was also clear how much he wanted to get me in bed again.
”Are you sure? I just don't feel right leaving you alone.”
”I'm positive, Yossi. What happened between us last night was out-of-this-world, but it might never happen again. You have to give me a chance to figure things out on my own.”
”Is this still about Beavers?”
”That's one part, yes.”
He reached over and took my hand. ”The other part?”
I smiled at the only man in the world who could make me feel like a size four. ”You called me neshama. ”
Crusher, aka Yossi Levy, closed his eyes and pressed his lips into the palm of my hand.
I got out of the truck and walked to the door without looking back. As soon I was inside the house, his engine started up and he drove away. I slumped against the door and breathed a sigh of relief mixed with a most sincere regret.
CHAPTER 37.
Simon Aiken answered on the third ring. ”Yeah.”
”Simon, I want you to know, last night I was officially questioned by Detective Beavers. I had to tell him everything.”
”I know. Crusher called me this morning. He said you did fine. He even said you protected your sources. n.o.body could ask for more, Martha. Is he there?”
”No, I'm by myself.” I told Simon about my little talk with Barbara Hardisty. ”On our way out, we ran into Detective Kaplan. He showed up to take her in. What's happening with Ed?”
”The DA still seems determined to go forward. I'm prepping for the preliminary hearing. With all this new information we've uncovered, along with a dearth of evidence against Ed, I'm presenting a motion for dismissal.”
”What about the pressure from the US Attorney's Office to prosecute?”
”They'll probably back down. They'll have their hands full defending the Army Corps of Engineers. The press has really jumped on the destruction of the wildlife reserve. We just learned the funds transferred to Valley Allstar Construction were misappropriated. They were federal relocation dollars specifically earmarked to help the homeless move from publicly owned lands to low-cost housing. Both Barbara and Lowell Hardisty are now in custody. Hopefully, the police will find out if they were also involved in Dax Martin's murder.”
”I hope the Hardistys get what they deserve. What about the conspiracy to get the Beaumont Stadium built?”
”That's going to be a little tougher to prove, since the corruption involves so many sitting officials, but someone at the Times is working on it. Eventually the public will know about the scandal.”
”So, does Ed still have to stay in jail?”
”Yes, at least until the hearing or until the real killer is found.”
I bristled at the unfairness. ”Dax Martin's memorial service is tomorrow at the baseball stadium. I'm sure Jefferson Davis will be speaking. I know he fits the physical description of the killer. I'm going over to check him out. I want to hear his voice.”
”Be careful, Martha. They know who you are. Take Crusher with you.”
”He's too easy to spot. I want to walk unnoticed through the crowd.”
”Don't go alone.”
”I'll take my friends with me. n.o.body will pay attention to three old ladies.”
The smile came through Simon's voice. ”Maybe your friends fit that description, but I know one big dude who definitely doesn't put you in the same category.”
I was glad he couldn't see me blush.
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