Chasing Ghosts (8 page)

“
Do you believe in evil?” Dagger
countered. “And I don’t mean the staged exorcisms.”

“
I noticed you avoided answering my
question.” Esrey studied Dagger for the longest time. Then he
leaned forward, forearms on the table. His tone was hushed so the
women at the end of the table couldn’t hear. The cardinal’s eyes
were penetrating when he stared at Dagger. It was as though he were
searching for Dagger’s soul and couldn’t find one. “I have a
feeling, Dagger, that you have witnessed both.”

Now she was angry. Not only did Sara have to
carry the brunt of the hard work while Dagger was eating caviar and
drinking champagne, but she had almost been killed. It didn’t take
her long to shower and change and drive over to the Tyler mansion.
She slammed out of the Ford Torino which was still rattling after
she turned off the engine. This made her angrier. Dagger had taken
the Beemer and left her with the choice of an aging Torino, a black
Taurus or the Lincoln Navigator which she felt was too large for
her to drive. She would have preferred the Beemer.

The look on her face dared the valet to take
her car keys, complain about the eyesore of a car she left at the
curb, or look twice at her legs. She gathered the black shawl
around her bare shoulders and marched up the stairs. Her P32 was in
her purse and it would take all of her control not to pull it out
and shoot Dagger.

Security let her pass without even checking
her purse. She walked up to the bar set up in the foyer, ordered a
glass of white zinfandel, and glared at the bartender when he asked
to see her driver’s license. She tossed the bartender a five and
walked away. It was close to ten, dinner had probably been served
hours ago. She could hear violin music playing, probably something
to eat dessert by.

The doors to the ballroom were closed. The
thought of flinging open the doors and marching in brought back
memories of Sheila. That was definitely something Sheila would do.
Sara took a sip of wine to calm down. Her hands hadn’t stopped
shaking and her head was still reeling after seeing a second Paul
Demko. Were they twins? Who was the dead man in the closet? And did
the truck explode or did Demko explode?

“
Sara?”

She turned to find Robert Tyler stepping out
of a side room, cell phone in hand. “Sorry I’m late, Mr.
Tyler.”

Robert Tyler oozed wealth. Distinguished gray
hair and fine lines only added to his appeal. It was easy to see
where Nick got his good looks.

“
I thought you couldn’t make it.” “My
plans changed.”

“
Great. We’ve already eaten but I could
have Lily bring you a plate.”

“
That isn’t necessary. Just thought I’d
stop in for a few minutes.”

“
Wonderful.” He wrapped his arm around
her shoulder and led her to the ballroom. “You’re almost like
family.”

“
I am?”

“
Of course. If I have anything to do or
say about it, Nicholas is going to someday settle down and start a
family. And I can’t think of anyone more suitable.”

Sara didn’t like where this conversation was
going. “I’m not sure what Nick told you but he and I are just
friends.”

“
Of course.” Tyler gave her a wink.
“Whatever you kids call it these days.”

He led her down the hall to a study. A study
in the Tyler mansion was like a single family house at a
residential country club. Area rugs separated cozy sitting areas.
The local librarian would kill for the number of books stocked on
Tyler’s shelves. All heads turned as she walked in. Her eyes were
immediately drawn to the cardinal whose vestment was trimmed in
scarlet. Then her eyes drifted to Sheila who was sitting on the arm
of Dagger’s chair, her fingers spinning through the hair in his
ponytail. There were only six other people in the room. Sheila’s
mother gushed at Sara’s black lace shawl which added a little flash
to the conservative black dress. Leyton Monroe chewed on an unlit
cigar and gave her a passing glance. Seeing Sara reminded him of
the wedding that never happened between Dagger and his daughter.
The cardinal gave her a polite nod while Dagger’s eyebrows furrowed
in confusion.

Sara wandered over to a table of desserts and
grabbed a small éclair. Dagger suddenly appeared behind her. He
whispered, “What are you doing here?”

She turned to face him, held up her drink.
“Getting a glass of wine.” Her shawl fell from her shoulders and
she saw his eyes move to a spot on her neck.

“
Is that a bruise?”

Sara pulled the shawl up, draping one end
around her neck. She could still feel Demko’s arm against her
throat. Dagger moved in closer then turned to scan the room, his
back to the table.

“
What’s happening, Sara?”

Suddenly Tyler’s cell phone rang, followed by
Leyton’s cell phone. Next, two of Cardinal Esrey’s security guards
were digging in their pockets for their phones. Obviously it took
some time for the hotel authorities to first discover there was a
body on the burning truck, then determine which floor the victim
jumped from.

Sara watched the guests with amusement.
“Let’s see. The bugs were planted, found a briefcase on a table, a
dead guy in the closet, and I killed Demko.” She popped the éclair
into her mouth.

Dagger moved in front of her. “You want to
run that one by me again?”

Sara pointed at the rush of bodies nearing
the exit. “That is probably the police notifying the cardinal that
someone fell out of his twelfth floor window, although it was
actually two people but just one hit the ground. Oh, and by the
way, he also exploded. It was quite a sight.”

Dagger stared at her for a beat. “You’re
wrong, Sara. Maybe it looked like him.”

“
I know what I saw.”

“
My, my. A lover’s quarrel?” Sheila
pried answers from them with her eyes. It was the reporter in
her.

“
This is a private conversation,
Sheila.”

Sheila backed down from Dagger’s glare.
“Daddy and I are going over to the Ritz. There’s supposedly a
murder/suicide. Thought you’d like to come with. Maybe we can get a
drink afterwards.”

“
No, thanks. Murders make me
nervous.”

She walked off in a huff. Dagger turned back
to Sara. Her hand shook as she raised the glass to her mouth.
Dagger pulled it away. “Have you eaten anything besides the
éclair?”

“
I don’t think I can.”

“
Robert,” Dagger called out to Tyler.
“Can we get Sara something to eat?”

Lily was more than happy to bring out a plate
of crab and cocktail sauce, cheese and crackers, fruit, and hot tea
for Sara.

Dagger settled her at the end of the table.
Either Sara’s skin had a healthy glow or anger was radiating from
her body. He reached over and pulled the shawl down. The bruise was
already starting to fade but still looked tender. He saw a blur of
black and scarlet approaching.

“
I don’t believe I have officially met
this young woman.” Cardinal Esrey pulled out a chair and sat down.
“Mind?”

“
Not at all, Your Eminence.” Sara
introduced herself. The shawl fell from her neck and she saw the
cardinal’s eyes move to the bruise and then swiftly snap to Dagger
as though recognizing his fingerprints. She felt compelled to
explain. “Dagger and I work together. Since he was already
committed to this dinner tonight, I took a surveillance assignment.
My suspect got a bit aggressive.”

“
I hope you got the best of
him.”

Sara couldn’t help but smile. “You could say
he won’t be a problem anymore.”

Anna Monroe turned on the large screen TV
which had on-the-scene camera footage of the burned out vehicles in
the parking lot behind the Ritz. A large tarp covered the body of
the man who had fallen out of the suite. Speculation was that the
jumper had broken the window in order to commit suicide. More
speculation centered on a radical group targeting the church over
pedophile priests. The victim in the parking lot had yet to be
identified. Police were not forthcoming on the body found in the
suite other than to say it was one of the security guards hired for
the cardinal’s visit.

“
Your Eminence,” Robert whispered. “I
believe it is best you and your assistant stay here for the time
being.”

“
I’m going to need some clothes and my
briefcase,” the cardinal said. “I had worked on my speech on the
plane but I need to finish it.”

“
The police are advising that you
cancel your speech,” Robert said.

“
Out of the question. I won’t be
bullied into changing my plans.”

“
How about if I send someone to your
suite to pick up a few things and your briefcase,” Robert
suggested. “I know the police chief. I’m sure there won’t be a
problem getting your things packed up.” He immediately turned to
Dagger. “Would you go? Maybe you can get an update from
Padre.”

“
Sure. I’m one of Padre’s favorite
people.”

CHAPTER 10

“
Oh, this is making my night even
better.” Padre grimaced as Dagger stood in the doorway to the
Cordova Suite.

“
Nice to see you too, Padre.” Dagger
had a big smile and a handshake for Padre.

The sergeant ignored Dagger’s outstretched
hand. “You aren’t coming in so get that out of your head right now.
I already turned away Sheila and her father. Where were you
tonight?”

“
Why am I always at the top of your
suspect list?”

“
Oh, I don’t know. Why don’t you tell
me?” Padre led Dagger away from the entrance and to a sitting area
near the elevator.

“
I wish you would quit your grudge
against me because of that Friday the Thirteenth case.”

“
Oh? You mean because you aged me ten
years and turned what little hair I have left grayer?” Padre
huffed.

“
If you must know, I was having dinner
with the cardinal at the Tyler residence. Tyler sent me to pick up
a few things for the cardinal since he will be staying with
him.”

Padre motioned toward a couch by the atrium
and took a seat across from Dagger. “Lightning hasn’t struck from
the sky so I find it hard to believe you were breaking bread with a
man of the cloth.”

“
I break bread with you.” Dagger winked
at the cop.

The elevator doors opened and two medical
assistants rolled a gurney out onto the floor. Padre waited for
them to leave before resuming.

“
We found a housekeeping cart outside
the suite, the door bolted from the inside, a security guard in the
upstairs bedroom dead, and a guy who decided to take a flying leap
out of the window. And how was your night?”

“
Caviar, crab legs, beef medallions,
great desserts.” Dagger leaned back and fingered his diamond stud
earring. There was something in Padre’s eyes that told him the cop
was holding out on him. He wasn’t sure what exactly but Dagger had
seen that look in Padre’s eyes too many times before.

“
Where’s the maid?” Dagger
asked.

“
We thought she might have heard a
commotion and taken off. According to management there shouldn’t
have been anyone working tonight. And why didn’t she take the cart
with her?”

“
What could the cardinal have worth
stealing?”

Padre dug in his pocket and pulled out a
stick of gum. He took his time refolding the paper for later use.
“Looks like there was a fight or struggle of some sort but it
doesn’t look like robbery was the motive. The wall safe hasn’t been
tampered with. Hotel security opened it and there’s still cash and
important papers in there. One of my guys is calling the cardinal
to get a verbal list of what he had in the suite. We did sweep the
place and found three bugs.”

“
Spiders?”

Padre just glared at him.

“
Sorry. There are just so many food
blessings and ring kisses I can sit through in one night. I’m a
little slap happy.” He watched Padre massacre the gum then start to
blow bubbles. “Any suspects?”

“
Found some red hairs in several of the
rooms. Too long to be a man’s.”

Dagger cocked his head. “You don’t think the
cardinal was…you know.”

Padre drilled him with another stare.

A female police officer approached carrying a
suitcase, a suit bag, and a briefcase. “The hotel manager said they
would deliver the rest of his clothes tomorrow.”

Padre thanked her and stood. “I have to get
back to work.”

“
Any information you want me to beat
out of the cardinal?”

Padre laughed, another boisterous laugh that
snapped off as quickly as it had started. “Always the comic.”

Before delivering the items to Cardinal
Esrey, Dagger had first stopped at Skizzy’s to go through the
briefcase thoroughly, looking for secret compartments, which proved
fruitless. The only item worth copying was the cardinal’s travel
itinerary. Dagger was curious if it had changed any since the one
Skizzy found on Demco’s computer. A quick call to Sara garnered him
a chill through the airwaves he hadn’t felt before. She was still
pissed but did manage to steal a glass the cardinal had used. Being
an honest and moral person, compared to his own devious nature,
Sara had explained to Robert that Dagger needed to exclude the
cardinal’s prints from any others that might be found in the hotel
suite. Sara had left out the little detail that Dagger wasn’t
investigating the possible theft in the suite. Perhaps he finally
was rubbing off on her.