Spiral

speaking.”
    ”Meaning soundproof.”
    ”Right. Which is why I didn’t think Malinda would’ve—”
    ”I’m talking more about what she found out regarding the murder of Veronica Held.”
    Eisen stopped, started to say something, then stopped again before, ”We negotiating here or what?”
    ”Maybe.”
    He seemed to relax a little, as though the conversation had returned to more familiar ground. ”Hey, Cuddy, granted I told you I could use any information like that. But, with Spiral going into the toilet last night, I don’t know that who killed Very’s going to be worth a bonus for you anymore.”
    A great act on something he’d anticipated, or maybe just innocence. ”Well, give me a call if you change your mind on it.”
    ”Sure thing. Hey, and good luck with the bad guy, huh?”

    I’d parked outside the Mail Boxes, Etc., next to Mitch Eisen’s office. Sitting in the Achieva, I watched the doorway to his building. In the lot to my right, I could also see about half of his orange-and-cream Corvette.
    An hour later, I was still seeing it.
    Thirty minutes after that, I turned the key in my ignition and headed for the next station down the line.

    ”Hello?”
    Holding the cell phone, I said from the driver’s seat, ”Mr. Tranh, John Cuddy.”
    ”I am quite busy at the—”
    ”I’ll be there by one-fifteen.”
    ”That is impossible for—”
    ”The Colonel will want to hear what I have to say, and I think you will, too.”
    No reply now.
    I said, ”See you shortly,” before clicking off.

    As he closed the gate behind my car, Umberto Reyes said, ”The Colonel wants me to call him as soon as you arrive.”
    I waited until Reyes drew even with my window again. ”Don’t you always?”
    ”Always?”
    ”Call him about arriving guests who don’t live here.” Reyes colored under the blond crew cut. ”Yes, I do. What I meant was, he wants to be the first person you speak to, I think.”
    ”Who else is in the house right now?”
    ”Mrs. Helides, Mr. Tranh, and my sister, Delgis.”
    ”David Helides?”
    ”He left.”
    ”How long ago?”
    ”An hour, maybe.”
    ”To go where?”
    Umberto Reyes turned toward his gazebo. ”Mr. Helides never says.”

    ”Lieutenant, you’ve caused quite a stir.”
    Nicolas Helides kept his mangled voice as steady as possible, but his eyes were afire. He sat in the den, blanket over his legs, brace within easy reach. Next to him stood Duy Tranh, wearing a black shirt and black pants outfit. Popular fashion today, though regardless of the race of the person wearing the clothes, they always remind me of the pajamas the Vietcong used as battle fatigues.
    I said, ”Mr. Tranh, I’m glad you could join us.”
    The Skipper didn’t look up at him. ”At your suggestion, Lieutenant.” Then a different tone. ”My son tells me you’ve discovered something important about Veronica’s death.”
    ”Your son?”
    ”Spiro. He called me several hours ago, claiming that you told him something you hadn’t yet told your client.”
    A little edge there. ”Colonel, it’s a lead I’ve been developing for a while, but it just fell into place this morning.”
    ”What is it?” the edge growing sharper.
    Before I could answer, there was a knock at the door. Helides called out ”Yes?”
    Delgis Reyes opened the door with one hand while balancing a tray with what looked like three lemonades in the other. She hesitated, maybe sensing the tension in the air.
    Using a gender tone, the Skipper said, ”Delgis, please come in.”
    As Reyes nodded shyly and moved toward us, I addressed Helides and Tranh. ”I’ve found out what Malinda Dujong did.”
    Tranh started to speak, but the Skipper rode over him. ”Did to whom?”
    I shook my head. ”No, sir, what she herself found out”
    ”About—Oh, thank you, Delgis,” accepting a glass from her. Tranh and I did the same. As Reyes left us, Helides tilted his mouth to the left and took a sip of his lemonade, swallowing carefully before saying to me, ”Found out about what?”
    I was speaking with the Skipper, but watching Tranh. No reactions visible.
    ”Your granddaughter’s death,” I said.
    Nicolas Helides drew in a breath. ”Then let’s have it.”
    ”I can’t, Colonel.”
    A jump in his eyes, like I’d just slapped him across the cheek. ”I... I couldn’t have heard you right just now, Lieutenant.”
    I looked up at Tranh, his eyes a little wider as he glanced down first at his employer, then stared at