True Detectives

“Restless sleeper,” said Moe.

“Guilt can do that to you. Though it doesn't look like Mr. Book's remorse extends to self-mutilation.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just before you arrived I was clearing a text message.” Tapping the BlackBerry. “One of my sources heard a rumor there were no cut marks on Book's arms, or anywhere else on his body during his supposed suicide stay at Cedars. No sign, period, that he'd placed his life in danger.”

“Who's the source?”

“Sorry,” said Aaron. “And given all the hubbub over at the U. about patient confidentiality, you don't want to know.”

Good point. Moe said, “Reliable source?”

“Very.”

“Someone who works at Cedars?”

Aaron smiled. “Someone who's co

“Why?”

“I promised a scoop once the dust settles.”

“Once, not if,” said Moe. “Nothing like optimism.”

“Only way to live, bro-sorry.” Aaron adjusted his jacket. Today's was smooth silk the color of dark chocolate, a hue black men pulled off better than anyone. Moe was thankful he'd stopped at his locker and changed out of his bum clothes. Tossing the green hoodie into the trash because he couldn't shake the feeling it was alive.

He said, “If Book didn't try to off himself, why was he hospitalized? And why a

“Good questions, Moses.”

“Exhaustion,” said Moe. “Isn't that how celebs spin when they check in for detox?”

“No detox here,” said Aaron. “No drugs of any sort-that's what tipped off my source's source. It was like the guy was using the place for a hotel.”

Moe said, “Maybe no prescription drugs, but he had friends bring in recreational chemicals-maybe suicide was a cover for something worse career-wise. Like a total mental meltdown. If Book fell apart totally, his handlers wouldn't want it publicized. Better to cover with a half-truth.”

Aaron's eyes widened. “I like that. Going off the deep end, total blithering lunatic… people shy away from crazy, but depression, suicide-climbing back up from adversity-that's the cover of People. That's Oprah being your new best friend-yeah, that makes sense, Moses.”

Moe said, “And the fact Book never made it to Oprah or People could mean he's still nuts-the problem didn't go away. It also syncs with his not making a movie in three years. Hearing voices, seeing little green men, would make it hard to follow the script. But one thing bothers me. They treat psychotics with drugs, right? Is your source's source certain there were no meds at all?”

“That's what I'm told,” said Aaron, careful to avoid any hint of Merry's gender.

“Then maybe we're wrong.”

“Or maybe Book found himself a shrink who doesn't use drugs. I like the total-whack angle because it makes him capable of some real bad behavior. As in picking up a starstruck girl like Caitlin at Riptide, bringing her over to his place to party, once he gets her under control, he goes all Lecter.”

“Has his way with her in the Hollywood Hills,” said Moe, “and buries the body forty miles away to be safe.”

“With Ax Dement's help, because Ax is Book's primary walking-around guy, could very well have been part of the kill. I say that because choosing Malibu points to Ax's involvement, Moses. He's been brought up there. Hell, maybe he was the one chose the burial spot because he knows the area, nice and close to Daddy's ranch.”

Moe said, “And Book, weird as ever, returns to the scene to get high, relive the experience. Chauffeured by Ax-who could also be getting off on the whole thing.”

Aaron said, “Rory Stoltz chauffeured Book to Malibu the first time. Even though Book chickened out and they turned back at the Colony, Rory could've been in on the kill, as well. The three of them meeting up in that damned bar.”

Moe said, “Book's nuts but he can still feel guilt. That's why he checked into Cedars a week after Caitlin went missing. Freaked out over what he'd done.”

Aaron leaned over, clapped him on the back. “This is good, Moses. I know it's all theory, but it feels right.”

Moe went silent, thinking about his options. Show his hand to his brother? Or keep working Aaron as an outside guy.

Aaron was smart, would eventually figure it out.

Aaron would be smarter if he was informed.

“What, Moses?”

“There's more.”

CHAPTER 29

For the first time in his life, Moe realized something about Aaron.

His brother could be an excellent listener.

Aaron didn't move a muscle as he took in the facts. Adella Villareal, Baby Gabriel, Ax Dement's Eagle Motel tryst with Raymond Wohr and Alicia Eiger. Wohr's peep of his own niece. Caitlin Frostig babysitting for Adella.

The only thing he didn't tell Aaron was Wohr's passivity in the face of Eiger's verbal abuse, which had shaken up Moe's notion of him as a dominant psycho killer. Because he was still trying to figure out what that meant.

When he finished, Aaron said, “Whoa.” Genuinely knocked over by everything Moe had uncovered. Not a trace of now you choose to tell me? “So now we've got a link between two dead women… oh, man… okay, my op's over to Riptide. How do you feel about getting me a jpg of Adella?”

“Could be too risky.”

“My person knows how to be subtle.”

Moe knew his brother could get pictures of Adella with or without his help. He said, “Let's go back to my desk, I'll get you a scan.”

“Thanks. Now it's my turn for something additional. Nothing I was holding back, I just didn't get to it after we started brainstorming about Book. This morning, I spent some time with Gemma Dement. Ax's mommy.” Keeping his voice even, but he shifted uncomfortably.

It was unlike his brother to fidget.

Moe smiled. “Good-looking woman.”

“For her age.”

“The two of you discuss politics?”

“We discussed peanuts-forget all that, the point is the woman's seriously Weird. Obsessed with guilt and atonement. Quote unquote. Normally, I might attribute that to some sort of religious conviction- her and Lem finding God together.” Though she doesn't put much stock in the Seventh Commandment. “But if baby boy Ax was involved in murder, she might be tormented by the knowledge.”

Moe said, “Living with a big, dark secret-did she come across guilty herself, or just talk about it philosophically?”

Aaron shook his head. “There was emotion there, but hard to pinpoint what it was.”

“What does that mean?”

“What it means is she wasn't bent over with guilt or grief or anything like that, but she brought up the phrase out of context. Guilt and atonement. The last time she got into it, it made her really angry. Unpredictably angry.”

“But nothing about any murder.”

Aaron hesitated. “It wasn't that kind of conversation.”

“Still, sounds like you got to know her pretty well.”

“Well enough to know she's a seriously messed-up lady, Moses. Who Lem is still beating on. I saw a bruise.”

Bet you did.

Moe said, “Getting pounded could mess you up.”

“I think this was more. I'm no shrink, it's just an aura she gave off. Something dark and deep and troubling.”

“That's the second time you mentioned that.” “Mentioned what?”

“Not being a shrink,” said Moe. “Seeing the direction this is taking, maybe we should talk to someone who is.”

Aaron went off to a corner of the D-room and called whoever he was sending over to Riptide. A woman, Moe figured, from the way his brother loosened up and put on the charming smile for an unseen audience. Seconds later, Aaron gave the thumbs-up, they sca