“It was spontaneous, Freddy. Mother said he wanted to talk to me … after he heard about my … assault.”
“And you agreed to talk to him?”
“I was shocked, of course, I didn’t know …” Tears formed in her eyes. “Yes, I agreed. And he was very nice over the phone. Comforting … soothing. Just like when I was little. He seemed to care about me again—”
“Kingston doesn’t care about anyone but himself!”
“Just because you two don’t get along—”
“How’d he hear about your assault anyway?” Brecht asked.
“I told him,” Marge said. “After Mike Ness took you upstairs to calm you down from your fight with Dr. Merritt.”
“So how’d he find out about your horse?” Brecht asked.
Lilah said, “He didn’t even know about that, Freddy. He just wanted to visit me. Isn’t that so wonderful?”
Brecht muttered, “That ass has something on his mind—”
“Freddy, you are impossible. He loves me—”
“He wants something from you—”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about!”
Marge said, “Can we stay on a topic, people? Lilah, what about King and dinner?”
Lilah turned to her, then began to pace. “I agreed to meet him last night for dinner … first time in years—”
“I don’t believe this!” Brecht interrupted. “How could you do that!”
“Freddy, please try and understand,” Lilah said. “I know you hate him—”
“You’re the one who froths at the mouth at the mention of his name!”
“People, please!” Marge said. “I’m tired and grumpy. Get on with it.”
“I’m trying to, Detective,” Lilah snorted. “I agreed to meet Kingston if I felt up to it. And I did. I called his service and left a message that dinner was on, providing we’d meet at Monique’s because it was very close to the ranch. I told his service I’d be there at eight. Then I called up the spa and left a message for Mother. I wanted to borrow her limo and driver. I was still very weak—too shaky to drive my own car.”
She looked to Decker for sympathy. He nodded, remembering the genuine terror scored into her face as the horse charged toward the mountain.
“Go on,” Marge said.
“I never heard from him.” Lilah dropped her hand to her side. “So I called his residence. Nothing. His service hasn’t been able to get hold of him, either. I know something has happened to him. Just as sure as I knew something was going to happen to me yesterday morning! The electricity, the vibes …”
Brecht said, “Why would you want to talk to him?”
“Freddy, for God’s sake, listen to what I’m saying. He’s your brother, too. Something has happened to him!”
“You don’t know that!” Brecht said.
“Oh, God!” she screamed. “Just shut up!”
At that moment, Decker caught a glimpse of her mother in her face. “You called his house and his service. What about his office?”
“That, too. I’ve called all his private lines. He doesn’t answer! Peter, I’m scared!”
She started to come to Decker, but he backed away. Marge stood and placed her hand on Lilah’s shoulder. “Where does Dr. Merritt live, Miss Brecht?”
“Newport.”
“House or apartment?”
“A condominium actually.”
Marge said, “Is it an exclusive building?”
“Detective, it’s very chercher!”
Marge looked at Decker. He shrugged. She said, “So it has maintenance, housekeeping, a doorman, maybe even a front desk.”
“Of course!”
Of course, Marge thought icily. To Decker, she said, “Front desk would have a key to the place. I’ll call.”
Lilah gave Marge the number and they waited. Seventeen minutes later, Marge hung up the phone. “He’s not there. But they told me the quarters looked fine, nothing’s out of place.”
“How would they know?” Lilah said.
Marge ignored the question and said, “Okay, that leaves his office. I’m not about to go out to Newport—”
“Palos Verdes,” Lilah corrected.
“Whatever.” Marge draped her parka over her shoulders. “I’m not going out on a wild-goose chase—”
“It is not a wild-goose chase, I can assure you! The electrical charges are very strong.”
“Then maybe you should drive out to Palos Verdes,” Marge suggested.
“In my current state of mind?” Lilah snarled. “How could you possibly think—”
“Palos Verdes will keep until the morning,” Decker stated. “In the meantime, go home and sleep, Miss Brecht.”
“I couldn’t do that.”
“Then rest,” Decker said.
“Take another ginseng and gingerroot bath,” Marge said.
“At last!” Brecht piped up. “Someone with good advice!”
Lilah said, “Peter—”
“Sergeant Decker,” Marge corrected. “What is it, Miss Brecht?”
“My brother …” She let out a deep breath. “He has a little satellite office in Burbank.”
“His abortion mill,” Freddy Brecht clarified. “Hourly rates—”
“He’s doing a service—”
“The mad butcher of Burbank—”
“No one has ever died—”
“No one you’ve heard about!”
“Hey!” Decker shouted. “Don’t you two ever quit? Enough! So Dr. Merritt has the office in Burbank. Why should he be there?”
“He’s not answering the phone,” Lilah said, “but I know he had a few morning appointments there yesterday—he told me that. I’m sure that’s one of the reasons he was coming to meet me. Burbank isn’t too far from the ranch. I guess he figured as long as he was in the area …” She sighed. “Can’t you just take a look for me?”
“What good would it do if I couldn’t get in?” Marge said.
“I don’t know …” Lilah looked down at her lap. “I’m just worried. I know something’s wrong. I just know it!”
Marge checked her watch and looked at Decker. “What do you figure? Forty-five minutes tops if nothing’s there?”
“That sounds about right.”
Lilah peeked sheepishly at Decker. “Will you look for Kingston?”
“I’ll do the honors,” Marge said. She cocked a thumb toward the front door. “Now if you two could kindly make an exit?”
Brecht took Lilah’s elbow and guided her to the door. Before he left, he turned and said, “Again, I’m sorry for the intrusion.”
“There you go again. Apologizing for me! I’m