The Truth of Yesterday (78 page)

     “Like what?”

     “I don't know; some kind of back-up?”

     
“Back-up?
You're not a cop; you can't get back-up.”

     “I just meant maybe some officers could be sent over to
Razi's
apartment or something.”

     “That would be
back-
up. Without evidence, their hands are tied. Right now, there's no evidence linking
Razi
to either crime except for the testimony of your friend, who isn't the most reliable source. If someone else could corroborate his story...”

     “Everyone who could have corroborated his story is dead.”

     “Which would be convenient if he was lying since that also means that everyone who could disprove his story is dead.”

     
“Except
Razi
.”

     “And of course all you have to do is ask him if he killed Paul and the others and he's going to fall all over himself to admit it.”

     “I didn't say that.”

     “Then what exactly are you expecting to happen?”

     “I don't know,” I admitted. What was I expecting? Why was I doing this? I paused a second while I thought about it, and I recognized that underlying feeling of pressure I'd almost grown accustom to do over the last few days. It had been my driving force through all of this. I couldn't identify it except that I felt as if something bad was approaching, as if a storm was building and only I could do something about it. “I just feel...compelled somehow. It's hard to explain,
Chris
. I just know I have to do something. Look, I'm sorry I called and upset you. I'll handle this myself.”

     “Killian, don't do anything stupid.”

     “I won't.” I hung up and slumped down in my seat sulkily.

     Micah took his eyes off the road long enough to glance over at me. “Why don't you try to get a little sleep?” he suggested. “I'll wake you up when we get there.”

     I shrugged. It was as good a suggestion as any, but I doubted I'd be able to fall asleep as keyed up as I felt. Somewhat surprisingly, I realized I was drifting off after just a few minutes. I struggled against it for a bit longer, but finally gave in and fell asleep.

     I came awake with a start as Micah gently shook my arm. “We're almost to DC,” he said. “Where do we go from here?”

     I drowsily pulled out my notebook and tried to focus my eyes. I think my little nap had done more harm than good; I was feeling very discombobulated. I found
Razi's
address and read it off to Micah.

     “Oh, I know where that is.”

     “Have you been there before?” I asked somewhat suspiciously.

     “No, but I know the area. I did live here for several years, you know.” We drove in silence for a few minutes,
then
he asked, “So what's the plan once we get there?”

     “I don't really have one,” I confessed grumpily.

     “Well, it might a good idea to have one, don't you think?”

     “I work better without a plan.”

     “Ok, well what about me?”

     “What about you?”

     “Hey, Killian, can you stop being so hostile here? I'm on your side. Remember? I didn't have to drive you up here.”

     “You're right. I'm sorry,” I said contritely. “I'm just so tired. Not that I'm trying make excuses. It's just...”

     “It's ok. I understand. This is something you feel you have to do. I can understand that. I'm not going to try and stop you. I want to help you but I don't know what to do. Do you want me to go in with you? Or do you want me to stay outside and act as your back-up?”

     I rubbed my face, wishing I was more alert for this. “I don't know. Which do you think would be better?”

     “Neither one is going to be a picnic,” he said darkly. “If I go in and something goes wrong I might not be able to call for help. But at least I'd know what the hell was going on. If I stay outside and something goes wrong, I could maybe call for help, but I won't know what's going on. And what if
Razi
isn't home?”

     “Huh?” That possibility hadn't even occurred to me.

     “What if
Razi
isn't even there? He could be out on a job.”

     “Well, it would make it easier to get Tad out of there at least.”

     “Have you thought ahead as to what you're going to do with Tad if you do get him out?”

     My silence was answer enough.

     “You're really doing this on a wing and a prayer, aren't you?”

     “He can stay with me until we figure out what to do with him,” I said.

     “I hope Adam will be ok with that.”

     “He will be. Besides, he isn't even at the beach house that much these days. He spends most of the time at the B&B.”

     “And what if
Razi
is there?”

     “Then I'll think of something.”

     “Kill, I know you think fast on your feet, usually anyway, but you're really tired right now. You're not exactly at your peak performance.”

     “Do you have any ideas?”

     “Not really.”

     
“Alright then.
We wing it.”

     Micah sighed, obviously not happy with that prospect but unable to come up with a better alternative.

     We drove the last few minutes to
Razi's
neighborhood in tense silence. He parked the car and we approached the apartment building on foot. At
Razi's
door, I hesitated, wondering if maybe we shouldn't form some sort of plan at least. The question was answered for me when the door suddenly swung open and Tad stepped into the hall carrying a large trash bag. He blinked in surprise when he saw us. I quickly put my finger to my lips before he could say anything. He pulled the door shut and looked at me questioningly.

     “Is
Razi
home?” I whispered.

     He nodded uncertainly. “I have to take this to the dumpster,” he whispered back. “If I take too long he'll be mad. He's been in a really bad mood lately. What are you doing here?”

     “Take it to the dumpster. I'll come with you and tell you on the way. Micah, you stay here and watch the door in case
Razi
comes out.”

     “And what do I do if he does?”

     I shrugged. “You'll think of something.”

     Tad trotted off down the hall with me matching him step for step.

     “Do you know why
Razi
has been in such a bad mood lately?” I asked him.

     He shot me a look out of the corner of his eye and I noticed the fading evidence of a black eye. “No,” he answered shortly.

     “Was
Razi
home last night?”

     
“Yeah, why?”

     That stopped me in my tracks for a second. I rushed to catch back up. “He was home?” I
asked,
the disappointment clear in my voice.

     “Why? What's going on?”

     “There was a murder last night, several murders in fact, and a friend of mine is being accused of them. I think it's all connected to Paul's murder, and I think
Razi
is involved up to his eyeballs. But if he was here last night...”

     “You think
Razi
is the killer?”

     “Yes, there's a witness who heard
Razi
being asked to kill Paul.”

     “But...but Paul was
Razi's
friend. He wouldn't kill him.”

     We stopped at a dumpster in an alley next to the apartment building. Tad tossed the bag in and we started back at a slower pace.

     “The witness said that it sounded like this guy had something on
Razi
, something he was holding over his head. Besides, it would be killing two birds with one stone. Didn't you say that Paul had been talking about getting in touch with your father?”

     “He wouldn't have killed him,” he insisted again, but he didn't sound so convinced this time.

     “Look, I know you feel like you owe
Razi
some sort of loyalty because he took you in, but like I said before, it could be a lot different, better. You can stay with me until we figure something out.”

     His eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

     “Yes, very serious. I don't think it's safe for you to be here anymore.” I stopped and grabbed Tad's wrist. “Listen for a minute. If I'm right, then
Razi
has killed at least four people, one of whom was supposed to be his best friend. Even if I'm wrong about that...” I reached out and gently touched the fading bruise. “He did this, didn't he?”

     Tad nodded slightly.

     “If he's hitting you, what makes this any better than living with your dad?”

     “It's not always like this, only when I do something wrong.”

     “Nobody deserves to be treated like this, Tad. Get out while you can.”

     “What about
Razi
?”

     “What about him?”

     “What if he comes after me or something?”

     “Do you think he would?”

     “I don't know.
Maybe.
He doesn't like to lose things he thinks of as his.”

     “And you're his?”

     He shrugged.

     “We'll have to deal with that if and when it happens. Do you have anything inside that you need?”

     “I never said I was going with you!”

     “Tad, come on. Use your brain. You're essentially
Razi's
sex slave right now.” He winced but didn't argue. “And now you're turning into his punching bag too. Is that what you want?” He shook his head no. “I can give you somewhere safe to stay until we can figure something out. Do you want to go with me?”

     He nodded yes, but looked more terrified than ever.

     “Good. Now is there anything in the apartment that you need or can we just leave now?”

     “The clothes
Razi
bought me...”

     “We can get you new clothes.”

     “That's all I have.”

     “Ok. Then you can wait by the car while I go get Micah.” I pointed out Micah's car and started back inside to get my boyfriend.

     “Killian, wait,” Tad called before I reached the door. I turned back.

     “I wasn't completely honest with you.”

     
“About what?”

     
“When you asked me if
Razi
was home last night.”

     “He wasn't home?”

     “He was but not all night. He got a phone call yesterday afternoon and it seemed to upset him. I don't who it was or what it was about because
Razi
hardly said a word, but as soon as he hung up, slammed around the apartment for a few minutes, and then left. He didn't come home until after dark and he was in a terrible mood. I did my best to avoid him for the rest of the night.”