V is for Vengeance (Kinsey Millhone 22)

Cappi was trouble. He’d been out of prison for six months, his release dependent on his having a job. Previously he’d worked construction as a heavy-equipment operator, making good money until he was fired for drinking on the job. His response had been to climb back on the bulldozer and plow into the construction trailer, destroying the trailer and all its contents, and narrowly missing the job-site supervisor, who was injured by flying debris. Along with a laundry list of property crimes, he’d been charged with aggravated assault, assault with a deadly weapon, and attempted murder, which was how he’d ended up in Soledad.

Pop wanted him brought into the business, so Dante had put him on the payroll. Cappi reported this to his parole officer without mentioning he’d never shown up for work. He told Pop he needed time to get reacquainted with his wife and kids. What kept him busy was honing his pool skills in the family room of his house in Colgate. In public, he was careful to avoid bars, firearms, and the company of known criminals. At home, he went through two six-packs of beer a day and popped his wife in the face if she complained. After a month of this, Dante had finally insisted that Cappi show up for work, a move he now regretted.

In the absence of an intercom, Dante hollered for his secretary in the outer office. “Bernice? Could you come in here please?”

“In a minute. I got stuff to finish first.”

Dante shook his head. The girl was nineteen. He’d hired her four months before and she already had his number. He sorted through the papers on his desk until Bernice appeared in the door. She was tall and lanky with a big wad of frizzy blond hair she wore in a ponytail. She came to work in jeans and running shoes, which was fine with him. The low-cut top he could have done without. Weren’t women these days taught anything about modesty?

“What?” she said.

“You know my brother?”

“I look like an idiot? Everybody knows Cappi. He’s crazy as a loon.”

“I’d like you to keep an eye on him. He’s new to the concept of work for pay. I don’t think he’s got the hang of it yet.”

“I charge extra to babysit,” she said.

“How about spying?”

That idea seemed more appealing to her. “You want regular reports?”

“That would be nice,” he said. “Meanwhile, get Dade O’Hagan on the line. His number’s in there.” He pushed the Rolodex in her direction and watched as she worked her way through.

“O’Hagan, like the mayor?”

“Ex-mayor. You’re behind the times. This is old business. I’m calling in a marker if it’s any of your concern.”

She smiled. “Hot stuff.”

“You bet.”

15

I left Marvin’s house at 2:15 with a promise to keep him posted on my progress. I was feeling more optimistic. Marvin’s mention of time travel had sparked a train of thought. I too had regretted I couldn’t go back to relive those moments in the parking garage when I’d blown the opportunity to pick up the plate number on the black sedan. The nice man who’d come to my aid had suggested I notify mall security and file a report. At the time, I’d been distracted by my outrage, my throbbing shin, and my badly scraped palm. With Marvin’s offhand remark, it dawned on me that I did have a way to go back in time and review events. I knew the woman in charge of mall security.

Maria Gutierrez had been the beat officer assigned to my neighborhood some six years before. On the last case I’d worked, I’d crossed paths with her former partner, Gerald Pettigrew, who was now in charge of the K-9 unit at the Santa Teresa Police Department. Maria’s name hadn’t come up in conversation, but she’d been on my mind. Some months before, I’d found myself standing behind her in the checkout line at the supermarket. She looked familiar, but she wasn’t in uniform and I didn’t make the connection. She’d been quicker at the recognition. She greeted me by name and identified herself. As we inched our way closer to the register, we played a quick game of catch-up. I filled her in on my life, Henry’s whereabouts, and my last encounter with Lieutenant Dolan, whom she knew from the police department. She told me she’d resigned from the PD in order to take a job in the private sector. That’s when she’d given me her business card.

I stopped by my office and sorted through the pile of business cards I routinely toss in my bottom drawer. After a bit of digging I found hers, and I was just about to call when I noticed the light blinking on my answering machine. I punched play.

“Hello, Kinsey. This is Diana Alvarez. Please don’t hang up. I need to talk to you about the article I’m writing. I’m offering you the opportunity to clarify the facts and add any comments you might have. Otherwise, it’s going in as is. My number is . . .”