Hedging (A Smith and Wetzon Mystery)

York it’s square footage that makes a relationship work.”
    Carlos pounced. “Laura Lee. You said Laura Lee. You’re remembering.”
    “It just came out when I wasn’t trying.” She was close to joy. “It’s going to happen now. I know.”
    As they got on the elevator, Leslie thought, Zoey was so trusting. David sold us both out, got her murdered, and I’m to blame.
    “Twenty years ago,” Carlos said, checking out the other open loft spaces. “I might have thought living like this was fun.”
    “Sheesh, you were never a bohemian, my love.”
    “Where is it already?”
    “Here. Don’t say anything, let me do the talking.”
    Carlos rolled his eyes, then looked past her. “And who are you going to be talking to, Birdie darling?”
    “What do you mean—?”
    It was easy to see what he meant. David Lumare’s loft was cleaned out, bare of possessions and person. Only the mirrored wall remained to reflect their astonishment.

30
    A CELL phone cut the silence. Carlos blinked. “Mine,” he said, pulled it from his jacket and answered the ring.
    “It had better be since I don’t have one.” But she must. Didn’t everyone these days? So hers must have been left behind in the lost world that was Mary Lou Salinger’s.
    “Where are we?” Carlos made a face at her. “Not where we should be. David Lumare’s place. I’ll let her explain.” He passed his phone to Leslie. Sputtering noises were coming from it.
    “Silvestri, stop yelling.” She held the phone away from her ear. “Do you believe him?” she asked Carlos.
    “He has a point,” Carlos said.
    “You’re all against me.” She handed Carlos’ cell back to him.
    “Yo,” he said. “Not to worry. Lumare took a powder.” He listened, nodding. “Okay.” Folded the phone and dropped it into his pocket, took her elbow. “‘Let us go then, you and I.’”
    “Where?”
    “I have my instructions.”
    They came out on the street and Carlos began looking for a cab.
    “Hey! If you don’t tell me where we’re going, I’m going to run away. And I can run faster than you can.”
    “T.J.!”
    The Lumare Mimes, what was left of them, had just crossed the street. It was Eric who’d called out.
    Carlos was wary. “Who’s that?”
    “Eric. One of the mimes. They must not know David ran out on them.” Do they know, she wondered, about Zoey? They had to. The papers had been full of the news, with pictures and all.
    “You’ve changed your hair,” Eric said. “Because of what happened to Zoey?” His eyes were as sad as his mime character.
    “No. This is my natural color. I’m so sorry about Zoey.”
    “Where were you when it happened?” Mona’s demand unnerved her.
    “Wait a goddam minute,” Carlos said, getting between her and the mimes.
    “It’s okay, Carlos, they have a right to know.” But she’d lost their attention. They were now staring at Carlos.
    “You’re Carlos Prince,” Jeff said, awed.
    “Yes. And Leslie Wetzon is my friend.”
    “Who is Leslie Wetzon?” Mona asked.
    “I’m Leslie Wetzon. When Zoey took me in, I’d been in an accident and lost my memory.”
    Eric said, “Does David know?”
    “David knew. You’re on your way to the loft?”
    “We have a gig—are you coming along with us?” Mona began moving. “Let’s go. We’ll be late.”
    “David’s not there.”
    “Of course, he’s there,” Jeff said.
    “He’s not,” Carlos said. “He cleared out.”
    Mona shook her head. “I don’t believe it. He wouldn’t do that.”
    Jeff hurried into the building.
    “He did,” Leslie said. “There was a reward for finding me. He took it and ran.”
    Carlos gave Leslie a nudge. “We’re going to be late.”
    “I’m sorry about everything,” Leslie said. The guilt was there and she couldn’t make it go away. If she hadn’t met Zoey, if Zoey hadn’t introduced her to David, Zoey might still be alive.
    “What are we going to do?” Mona asked Eric.
    “You can audition for Carlos,” Leslie said. “Can’t they, Carlos?”
    “Birdie—”
    “Carlos, they’re wonderful. Give them a chance.”
    Carlos knew when he was losing. “Give my stage manager a call at the Imperial. His name is Sam Barry. Tell him I said to set it up.”
    “All three,” Leslie said. “Do you need a pen?”
    “All three.”
    “Thank you,” Mona said. She wrote down the backstage number.
    “He’s gone,” Jeff shouted. “So’s all our stuff.”
    “That was very nice of you, my love,” Leslie