Beyond Suspicion (4 page)

•

Theo slammed the V-8 into fifth gear. The car almost seemed to levitate. Jack smiled from the passenger seat. No one could get his thirty-year-old Mustang to hum the way Theo could. Not even Jack.

“When you gonna give me this car?” asked Theo.

“When you gonna buy me a Ferrari?”

“I can get you a sweet deal on a slightly used one. You won’t even need a key to start it.”

Jack gave him a look, not sure he was kidding. “Some things I don’t need to know about you, all right?”

Theo just smiled and downshifted as they turned off the highway and into Coconut Grove. Jack held on, trying not to land in Theo’s lap as he dug his ringing cell phone from his pocket. He checked the display and recognized the incoming number. He wasn’t in the mood to talk, but this was one call he never refused.

“Hello,
Abuela
.”

It was his grandmother, an eighty-two-year-old Cuban immigrant who, once or twice a week, would drop by his office unannounced to deliver excellent guava-and-cream-cheese pastries or little
tazas
of espresso straight from Little Havana. Her specialty was a moist dessert cake called
tres leches.
Not many people expected a guy named Jack Swyteck to have an
abuela.
It was especially interesting when Anglos would confide in him and say they were moving out of Miami to get away from all the Cubans. Funny, Jack would tell them, but my
abuela
never complained about too many Cubans when she was growing up in Havana.

He listened for nearly a solid minute, then finally cut in. “
Abuela,
for the last time, you did not invent
tres leches.
It’s Nicaraguan. We’re Cuban.
Cubano: C-U-B-A-N-O.
Comprende?…
We’ll talk about this later, okay?… I love you. Bye,
mi vida.
”

The car stopped at a traffic light. Jack switched off the phone only to find Theo staring at him. “You and Julia Child going at it again?”

“My grandmother is the laughingstock of Spanish talk radio. She’s been phoning in every afternoon to tell the world how she invented
tres leches
.”

“Tres leches?”

“It’s a cake made with three kinds of milk. White frosting on top. Very moist, very sweet.”

“I know what it is. It’s fucking great. Your grandmother invented that?”

“Hardly.”

“Except I hate when they put those maraschino cherries on top. I bet that’s not part of the original recipe. Call your
abuela,
let’s ask her.”

“She did
not
invent it, okay? It’s Nicaraguan.”

The light turned green. Theo punched the Mustang through the intersection. “You know, I think I read somewhere that maybe
tres leches
isn’t from Nicaragua. Some people say it was invented by a Cuban lady in Miami.”

“Don’t start with me.”

“I’m serious. It might even have been in the
Herald
. Long time ago.”

“Since when do you read the food section?”

“Try spending four years on death row. You’ll read the
TV Guide
in Chinese if they’ll give it to you.”

Jack massaged his temples, then tucked the phone back into his pocket. “Why do I even try to argue with you?”

After two minutes on Bayshore Drive they made a quick turn toward the bay and crossed the short bridge to Grove Isle condominiums. Grove Isle wasn’t quite as chic as it was in its heyday, back when beautiful young women used to crash at poolside to meet rich young men or even richer old men. But it was still an exclusive address in an unbeatable setting. A short walk or bike ride to shops and restaurants in Coconut Grove, balconies with killer views of Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami in the distance.

Sandra Marsh lived alone in the penthouse apartment in Building 3. It was one of the many things she stood to acquire in the impending divorce from her husband of twenty-four years, Dr. Joseph Marsh. It had taken Theo just twenty-four hours to get through to her. It had taken all of thirty seconds on the phone to talk her into a meeting.

All he had to do was mention money and her soon-to-be-ex-husband.

They valeted the car and checked in with the security guard, who found their names on the guest list and directed them to the pool area. It was two-thirty in the afternoon. Palm fronds rustled in the warm breezes off the bay. As promised, Mrs. Marsh was dressed in a red terry-cloth robe and a big Kaminski sun hat, reclining on deck in a chaise lounge that faced the water, recovering from her two-o’clock deep-tissue massage.

“Mrs. Marsh?” said Jack.

She opened her eyes, tilted back her hat, and looked up from beneath the broad brim. She checked her Rolex and said, “My, you boys are prompt. Please, have a seat.”

Jack sat on the chaise lounge facing Mrs. Marsh. Theo remained standing, his eye having caught an attractive sunbather in a thong bikini with a rose tattoo on her left buttock. Jack started without him.

“Mrs. Marsh, I’m Jack Swyteck. I was the lawyer for a woman named Jessie Merrill.”

“I know you and your case. I have plenty of friends who keep me abreast of my husband’s going-ons.”

“Then you also know he was a witness.”

“I know he was the doctor for that woman.”

“Do you know
that woman
?” he asked, pronouncing the words the same way she had.

“What does that have to do with anything? Your friend told me this was about some financial dealings of my husband.”

“It could be. But it depends, in part, on the nature of his relationship with Ms. Merrill.”

“She was his little slut, if you call that a relationship.”

“I do,” said Theo.

Jack shot him a look that said,
Get serious.
“How long was that relationship going on?”

“I don’t know.”

“Did it start before or after she started seeing him as a patient?”

“I didn’t find out about it until sometime after. But I can’t say it wasn’t going on longer.”

“Did Jessie have anything to do with the two of you splitting up?”

She stiffened. “These questions are getting way too personal.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Well, I’m not,” said Theo. “Look, lady, here’s the bottom line. Mr. Swyteck here has to dance around the issue like a fly on horseshit because he thinks he still owes some loyalty to Jessie Merrill. Well, you and I don’t have the same worries, so can we talk straight?”

“That depends on what you want to know.”

“Let’s say your husband suddenly came into a pile of money-say a million and a half bucks, or some share of it. Isn’t that something you’d like to know about?”

“Surely. Our divorce isn’t final yet. I’d have my lawyer adjust the property settlement immediately.”

“You’d want a cut, naturally.”

“I’d want more than a cut. After four kids and twenty-four years of marriage, I’m leaving that bastard broke. He’ll be working till he’s ninety-five just to pay my bar tab.”

Jack and Theo exchanged glances, and she suddenly seemed to realize that perhaps she was giving two perfect strangers too much of what they wanted to hear.

“I think it’s time I referred you gentlemen to my lawyer,” she said.

“Just a few more questions.”

“No, I’m not comfortable with this. I’ll tell her to expect your call. She’s in the book. Phoebe Martin.”

Jack started to say something, but she extended her hand, ending it. Jack shook her hand, and Theo gave her a mock salute.

“Thank you for your time, ma’am.”

“You’re welcome.”

She reclined into her chaise lounge, retreating into silence. Jack and Theo turned and walked across the pool deck toward the valet stand. As soon as they were out of Mrs. Marsh’s earshot Jack asked, “What do you think?”

“Hell with tending bar, I’m opening a tattoo parlor,” he said as he gathered one more eyeful of the woman with the pink rose on her tanned and firm buttock.

“Be serious,” said Jack.

They stopped at the valet stand. Jack handed over his claim ticket, and the kid with the pressed white uniform and monster thighs took off running.

Theo lit a cigarette. “I think you got a middle-aged doctor, a hot new girlfriend with her hand on his balls, and a pissed off wife with two hands on his wallet.”

“She’s definitely not going to go easy on him.”

“The ex gets at least half of everything he has. Probably more.”

“Much more,” said Jack. “If her lawyer is Phoebe Martin, our doctor friend really might be broke. I’ll bet she gets eighty percent of every dime.”

“You mean every dime she can find.”

“Nothing like a million and a half bucks to keep a new girlfriend happy. Especially when the Wicked Witch of the West doesn’t even know about it.”

“True, true,” said Theo. “Scam those investors and send that money right off to a Swedish bank account.”

“You mean Swiss bank account.”

“That’s what I said. Swiss.”

“No, you said Swedish.”

“You think I don’t know the difference between a bank and a fucking meatball?”

“Okay, forget it. You said Swiss.”

Theo let out a cloud of smoke. “Hate them fucking Swiss anyway.”

“What’s to hate about the Swiss?”

“Cheese with holes in it. What’s with that shit, anyway? Stinking thieves selling us all a bunch of fucking air.”

“God, you really do hate everyone.”

“Except you, Jack, baby.” He grinned and pinched Jack’s cheek so hard it turned red. The Mustang rumbled up to the valet stand, and Theo jumped ahead of Jack on his way to the driver’s side. “Except you!”

Jack rubbed the welt on his face and retreated to the passenger side, smiling as he shook his head. “God help me.”

•

It was their second-favorite indoor activity. Jack was a horrendous cook, but his wife was phenomenal, and as with all their favorite things, he fancied himself a pretty swift and eager learner. Tonight, he was taking total responsibility for dessert.

“What the heck are you making over there?” Cindy asked as she glanced across the kitchen counter. Jack was surrounded by a clutter of mixing bowls, milk cartons, and opened bags of flour and sugar.

“
Tres leches
,” he said.

“You can’t make
tres leches
.”

“Watch me.”

It had been an awful week, and goofing off with his wife in the kitchen was a good way to give his brain a rest. They hadn’t spoken about Jessie since the verdict-that was his decision, not hers. In fact, six months earlier, Cindy had seen Jessie as a victim and even encouraged Jack to take her case. That was pretty big of her, given the history between him and Jessie. Maybe she didn’t want to be the one to keep Jack from helping an old friend. Or perhaps she’d simply wanted Jack to realize for himself that representing Jessie wasn’t exactly the thing to do with their own marriage on shaky ground.

“Is it a good recipe?” she asked.

“The best.”

“Where’d you get it?”

“From the woman who invented it.”

“Seriously?”

He smiled, thinking of
Abuela
. “Maybe.”

Cindy wiped her hands clean and crossed the room to adjust the stereo. Maybe it was the Jessie experience lingering in his mind, but he couldn’t take his eyes off Cindy.

Playing by the rules.
Was that what their marriage was about? Lord knows they’d tried to make things work. A string of marriage counselors and more sessions than Jack could count. In the end it came down to how hard they were willing to work at the relationship. When it came to work, Jack was a regular beast of burden.

Cindy was no slacker, either. Even since their last counselor had basically given up on them, Cindy had made it her mission to keep their relationship fresh. It seemed she was always changing something about herself, and Jack couldn’t help but wonder what all the changes were about. Was she really just trying to keep married life interesting, or was she still fighting off demons and struggling to find happiness? Tonight she had her blond hair pulled straight back with a wide headband, her Valley of the Dolls look, as she called it. Even music was an adventure with Cindy. Her tastes were eclectic and ever-evolving, and lately she’d been exposing him to the likes of Peggy Lee and Perry Como. Without a doubt, some of the most romantic tunes ever had come straight out of the 1940s, but the lyrics to this particular song she’d chosen were pretty aggravating. Even if your heart
was
“filled with pain,” to Jack’s ear it still didn’t rhyme with “again.”

“Jack, what are you doing?”

He glanced into the bowl. His hands were buried in a thick, sweet mixture of flour, sugar, and condensed milk. “Shoot, I forgot the eggs.”

“You forgot your brain. You’ve got
tres leches
up to your elbows.”

“I’m just following the recipe. It says beat fifty strokes by hand.”

“As opposed to using an electric mixer, Einstein.”

He flashed an impish grin. “Oh.”

She handed him a wooden spoon and rolled her eyes. “Lawyers. You’re so literal.”

“Yeah,” he said, thinking once more of Jessie’s parting words. “Always playing by the rules.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.”

“It wasn’t nothing.”

“I was just kidding around.”

“But you weren’t smiling. You meant something by that.”

“I didn’t mean anything by it.”

She looked away, shook her head subtly and said quietly, “You think I don’t know you?”

“Cindy, let it go, okay? We were having fun here.”

She returned to her end of the kitchen counter. Jack could see the regret in her eyes, the way they’d slipped into their usual pattern. Without thinking, he ran a messy hand through his hair, giving himself an earful of sweet goo. Cindy snickered to herself. He chuckled, too, and sharing the moment helped to shake off some of the unwanted tension. As he snagged a paper towel to wipe it off, she came to him, grabbed his
tres leches
coated forearm, and said, “Don’t.”

“What?”

“I think I’m ovulating.”

“Huh?”

She arched an eyebrow, pointing with her eyes toward the bedroom.

He smiled and said, “Now that’s the kind of non sequitur I can live with.”

He started to wipe his face clean. “Don’t,” she said. She gently kissed a gob of the sweet mixture off the corner of his mouth, and the tip of her tongue was suddenly exploring his earful of
tres leches.

It tickled, and he recoiled-but only slightly. There’d been times when it seemed their marriage was hanging by a thread. But every now and then, out came the old Cindy and, oh, what a thread. “My, you’re a veritable box of surprises tonight.”

“And you are one lucky boy,” she whispered.

He smiled and touched her face. “Don’t I know it.”

Jack watched her as she slept, soothed by the rhythm of her gentle breathing. Even after a hot shower, the faint smell of
tres leches
lingered in the bedroom. Nothing like skipping dinner altogether and heading straight for dessert to send you off to dreamland.

Sex wasn’t exactly a strong point of their relationship. In fact, it had been nonexistent when they were first married. What should have been the happiest time of their lives was marred by Cindy’s recurring nightmares. The medical doctors had ruled out sexual assault, but probably no one would ever know the details of what her attacker had done or threatened to do. Five years was a long time; five years was yesterday. At times Jack felt as though he could only guess how long ago it was in Cindy’s mind. The good news was that she’d finally pushed it far enough away to want to try to start a family. It had taken her all that time to convince herself that the world was not such an awful place that a child should never be brought into it.

Jack laid a hand lightly on her belly, wondering if this one would be the one.

The phone rang. It was down the hall in his home office, a separate phone line from the main number. Jack let it ring five times, and the machine got it. The caller hung up. A minute later the phone rang again. On the fifth ring it went to the machine. Another hang up.

Seconds later it was ringing yet again. It was as if someone had his number on redial and was determined to keep calling until a live person answered. If this kept up, Cindy would certainly wake. He knew she hadn’t been sleeping well the last few nights, so he sprang from the bed, wearing only his underwear, and hurried down the dark hall. He caught it on the fourth ring, just before the machine would take it.

“Hello.”

“It’s me. Jessie.”

He suddenly felt more naked than he was. “I’ve been trying to reach you. You didn’t return my calls.”

“That’s because I didn’t want to talk to you.”

“Then why are you calling now?”

“Because you pissed me off.”

“I pissed
you
off?”

“It’s odd, don’t you think? I was in a lawsuit for months, and the viatical investors never once accused me of fraud. They thought the diagnosis was all just a mistake. Suddenly, the case is over, and they’ve become highly suspicious. They think they were scammed.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because they’re poking around, asking questions. And I think you have something to do with it.”

“I haven’t said a word to anyone.”

“Liar. You and your investigator were on Grove Isle questioning Dr. Marsh’s wife, weren’t you?”

Jack couldn’t deny it, so he steered clear. “Jessie, we should talk.”

“I warned you, don’t ask so many questions. You have ticked me off bad this time.”

He bit back his anger, but he couldn’t swallow all of it. “I’m tired of you acting as if
I’m
the one who did
you
wrong.”

“If you blow the lid off this, you are really going to regret it.”

“So you admit it was a scam. You did it.”

“We did it.”

He’d known since the elevator, but her admission still shocked him. “You’ve pushed it too far this time, Jessie.”

“Not just me. All of us. So watch yourself, or I’ll not only have you disbarred, I’ll have you sitting in the prison cell right next to Dr. Marsh.”

“What?”

“The simple truth is, I couldn’t have done this without you. You were a key player.”

“I didn’t have anything to do with this.”

“No one’s going to buy that. Especially when I tell them the truth-that you were in on the deal all the way.”

“I can’t believe what you’re saying.”

“Believe it. Now watch your step-partner.”

The line clicked in his ear. She was gone before he could say another word.