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CHAPTER
41
On a lovely, warm, clear L.A. afternoon, as Conrad Deeb sat in a high-power cell at County waiting for transport up north, Toni McManus called and asked for an appointment.
I said, “For Philomena?”
“No, just me. And could it please be soon? We’re due to leave for Kentucky in a couple of days.”
I checked my book. “How about four today?”
“Perfect. Thanks so much.”
—
This time, she arrived early. I’d just finished a phone conference with a judge and was free to oblige her.
Same as other times I’d seen her, she wore all-black, but the flowing hair had been tied back carelessly with stray hairs frizzing, and her face looked raw and drawn.
I fetched her a bottle of fizzy water, popped it open, and handed it to her.
“You remembered.” Wan smile. She drank greedily. “May I start by asking you a question?”
“Sure.”
“When did you know? Abouthim.”
“When the police told me.”
“Not before?” she said. “I’m not trying to be rude, I’m only asking because I just learned that you work with the police. My mother told me. She flew in, she’s the one taking care of Philomena, which enabled me to come to talk to you. She’s a crime buff, reads mysteries, watches I.D. She’s on her computer all the time, thinking she can solve things. She looked you up and found out.”
I said, “Flattered to merit your mom’s attention.”
“But you weren’t investigating Conrad when you saw him.”
“Not at all.”
“That’s what I thought,” she said. “My mom has all sorts of ideas. Like maybe you’re one of those Sherlock types.”
Her posture loosened. “To be honest, Dr. Delaware, Mom would like nothing better than to meet you, so she can brag to her friends.”
She turned grim. “I know she’s doing it for my sake but she’s making light of the whole situation. No trauma, just annoyance. He’s getting his just deserts, she never trusted him. Which, of course, she never mentioned once to me. Anyway, that’s not why I’m here. Mom brought the Citation and as soon as we’re packed up, she’s flying us back to Kentucky. Philly hasn’t been told anything, she hadn’t been seeing him very much anyway, so it’s not a big change. But I figure eventually she’s going to ask and I need to know what to tell her. Not just now, in the future. I guess it’s the future that’s freaking me out. What will come up and how do I handle it?”
I said, “The easy part first. Don’t bring her dad up until she does, then tell her he has to be away for a while.”
“Technically honest.”
“And compassionate, Toni. No way Philly should be dealing with homicide. If he really wasn’t a big factor in her life, he’ll fade.”
“He wasn’t,” she said. “I swear. What’s the hard part?”
“As she gets older, she’ll get curious and will need age-appropriate answers. I’m not going to cookbook those in advance. Your best bet will be to find a local child psychologist or psychiatrist and explain the situation. If their guidance makes sense, go with it.”
“If not?”
“Get someone else, Toni. Trust your instincts.”
“They’re good?”
