O Is for Outlaw

whistled into the mouthpiece. I said "HELLO!" about six times, to no avail. I knew if I hung up, all I'd get was a busy signal when I tried calling back. Clump, clump, clump. I heard advancing footsteps on the hardwood floor. I yelled "HEY!" Clump, clump, clump. The footsteps receded. Another round of chopsticks was played. Shrieks from the girls. Chitchat between husband and wife. Camilla's seductive laughter as she teased Jonah about something. Once more I cursed myself for never learning how to do the piercing whistle you make when you put two fingers between your teeth. I'd pay six hundred dollars if someone could teach me that. Think of the taxis you could summon, the waiters you could signal across a crowded room. Clump, clump, clump. Someone approached the phone, and I heard Jonah remark with annoyance, "Hey, who left this off? I'm expecting a call."
    I yelled "JONAH!" but not quickly enough to prevent his replacing the handset in the cradle. I redialed the number, but the line was busy. Camilla'd probably picked up another phone in haste, just to make certain I couldn't get through. I waited a minute and tried again. Still busy. On my fourth attempt, I heard the phone ring, only to have Camilla pick up again. This time she didn't even bother to say hello. I heard her breathe in my ear.
    I said, "Camilla, if you don't put Jonah on the phone, I'm going to get in my car and drive over there right this minute."
    She sang out, "Jonah? For you."
    Four seconds later he said, "Hello?"
    "Hi, Jonah. It's Kinsey. I just got home and picked up your message. What's going on?"
    "Listen, you're going to love this. Bobbi Deems pulled your biker over last night when she saw he had a taillight out. Kid's name is Carlin Duffy, and it turns out he's driving with an expired Kentucky driver's license and expired registration. Bobbi cited him for both and impounded the bike."
    "Where in Kentucky?"
    " Louisville, she said. You want him, he'll be in court in thirty days."
    "What about before then? Does he have a local address?"
    "More or less. He claims he's living in a maintenance shed at that nursery off the 101 at the Peterson exit. Apparently, he works there part-time in exchange for rent, a claim the owner confirms. Meanwhile, Bobbi ran a background check on this crud, who's got a criminal history as long as your arm: arrests and convictions going back to 1980."
    "For what?"
    "Mostly nickel-and-dime stuff. He never killed anyone."
    "I'm so relieved," I said.
    "Let's see what we got here: wanton endangerment, criminal recklessness, theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief, trying to flee a halfway house where he was serving a ninety-day sentence for giving a false name to a police officer. The guy's not too bright, but he's consistent."
    "Any outstanding warrants?"
    "Nada. For the moment, he's clean."
    "Too bad. It'd have been nice to have him picked up so I could talk to him."
    "You'll definitely want to do that. Here's the best part. You ready? You want to know who his brother is? You'll never guess."
    "I give up."
    "Benny Quintero."
    I could feel myself squint. "You're kidding me."
    "It's true."
    "How'd you figure that one out?"
    "I didn't. Bobbi did. Apparently, Benny's name was listed as the owner on the bike registration, so Bobbi put Duffy through his paces. She'd forgotten the story, but she remembered Benny's name. Duffy claims they're half brothers. His mom was originally married to Benny's dad, who died in World War Two. Ten years later, she moved to Kentucky, where she married Duffy's dad. He was born the next year, fifteen-year age gap between the two boys. Carlin was thirteen when Benny came out to California and got himself killed. "
    "Is that why he's here?"
    "You'd have to ask him. I'm thinking it's a good bet, unless you happen to believe in coincidence."
    "I don't."
    "Nor do I.
    "So where is he now?"
    "Well, he can't be far off if he's hoofing it."
    "He could have stolen a car."
    "Always possible, I guess, though outside his area of expertise. Anyway, if you decide to go looking for him, take someone along. I don't like the idea of your seeing him alone."
    "You want to go?"
    "Sure, I'd love it. Wait a second." He put a hand across the mouthpiece. Camilla must have been hovering nearby, listening to every word, because she squelched the idea before he even had the chance to ask. He removed his hand from the mouthpiece, addressing me again. "I'm tied up tonight, but how's Monday. Does that