Page 32 of The Accomplice
‘I didn’t tell Eddie either. Since it happened, I haven’t been able to sleep. My neighbor suddenly has a TV with a really good sound system. And he likes to play it loud.’
‘Why didn’t you …’ said Harry, then stopped. Because he already knew the answer.
‘Ah, you didn’t want Bloch to find out,’ he said.
Kate nodded, said, ‘I have to live in that building. It’s just a TV. It’s not worth it.’
She picked up the case files and put them into the trunk of Harry’s car.
‘Let’s take a drive. See if we can spot Carrie,’ said Kate.
Harry closed the front door over but didn’t fully shut it. They got in the car and Harry drove around Meadow Road. There was no sign of Carrie. Kate suggested they take a look around Old Westbury anyway. They passed the antique stores, high-end furniture showrooms and boutique salons. There were three car dealerships in the area. Ferrari, Land Rover and Mercedes. It was that kind of place. No sign of Carrie, so after a half hour or so Harry turned around and headed back to the house. Two news crews were setting up outside the gates and more protestors had arrived. Around fifteen of them now, and they were starting their chants.
KIL-LER CARRIE, LOCK HER UP !
KIL-LER CARRIE, LOCK HER UP !
Soon as they pulled off Meadow Road, Kate saw the car in the driveway.
A midnight blue 1965 Mustang. The driver’s door opened and Eddie Flynn got out. Kate exited Harry’s car, made her way over the gravel driveway toward him.
Kate was about to explain when Eddie said, ‘Peltier called me to see if I was alright after last night, and to express his remorse for Delaney. He asked if I knew where Carrie Miller might be. Don’t tell me she’s jumped bail, please.’
Crunching through the gravel, Harry joined Kate. They exchanged a look.
‘Hard to say,’ said Kate. ‘Doesn’t look like she’s packed anything. She hasn’t taken her car. There’s a set of night clothes laid out on the bed, like it’s just been made this morning. No sign of a break-in either. The only strange thing is she isn’t here, and her front door was open when we arrived.’
‘Does she have a maid service ?’
‘Not that I know of,’ said Kate.
‘Let’s take a look inside.’
Kate followed Eddie into the house. He looked around downstairs. The lounge, kitchen, everything was immaculate. They went upstairs. He checked the closet, the guest bedrooms, the two guest bathrooms and then the bathroom attached to the master bedroom.
An electric toothbrush sat in a charging point above the sink. It was the only toothbrush in the bathroom – there were none in the cabinets. Eddie took a piece of toilet paper, lifted the toothbrush and grabbed the bristles with the paper, examined it then threw it in the toilet bowl. Kneeling he placed his hand flat on the shower basin, then got up and looked at the tub.
He nodded, then Kate followed him downstairs to the hallway.
‘What do you think ?’ he asked.
‘I don’t know,’ said Kate. ‘There’s no struggle. She left in a hurry, that’s for sure.’
‘You’re right,’ said Eddie. ‘Her toothbrush is dry. So is the tub and the shower basin.’
‘What does that prove ?’ asked Harry.
‘It proves she probably didn’t leave this morning. You remember her last night. Even in the depths of whatever hell she’s living through she is at least looking after her appearance. I’d at least expect to find some dampness in the toothbrush or the shower.’
Kate folded her arms, looked down at the tiled floor of the hallway.
‘The silk pajamas on the bed were the ones she was supposed to wear to bed last night. She must’ve left after dark, when there were no protestors at the gate. The first reports of the Sandman at Grady’s Inn made the ten o’clock news. All I know is she’s been gone overnight.’
‘Shit,’ said Harry. ‘She’s jumped bail, hasn’t she ? Trial starts tomorrow. The nerves kick in around now. I’ve seen it before. Problem is, we don’t have a defense if we don’t have a client.’
‘We need to find her. Where’s Bloch ?’ asked Kate.
‘She’s with Gabriel Lake. They’re going to try and hunt down the Sandman.’
