Leopard's Baby

As Jeremy came out of his 8:00 AM class a medium-height, heavyset man with dark hair and a ruddy complexion touched his arm, held up a credentials case, and said, “Mr. Huffman I’m with the Delaware state police. My colleague is with the Virginia state police. We’d like a word with you. Is there a place we can go where we can speak privately? Or would you rather come to the police station?”

Jeremy felt his knees wobble as apprehension went through his body. He tried to appear calm. “The first floor of this building has a faculty lounge grad students are allowed to use. It’s usually deserted at this hour. We could go there.”

They went to the lounge. Jeremy took a seat on a couch. The cops took facing chairs. “You appear to be nervous Jeremy,” the Delaware cop said. “Do you have a guilty conscience?”

“I haven’t done anything wrong,” Jeremy stated. “I’ve never been questioned by police before. It’s enough to make anyone at least a little apprehensive.”

The Virginia man, tall, slender, with a receding hairline, held up a picture of Tammy and asked, “Do you know this woman?”

“Yes,” Jeremy replied without elaboration.

“Your car was located in Philadelphia,” Delaware said. “Her prints were all over it. She’s an escaped prisoner. How did she come to have your car?”

“I loaned it to her,” Jeremy said. He’d decided he wasn’t going to say she’d stolen it even though she said he should. He didn’t want her to get into any more trouble than she already was.

“You could be charged with aiding an abetting an escaped convict,” Virginia threatened.

“She served her sentence,” Jeremy stated. “It was over. She wasn’t a convict any more.”

“It wasn’t over,” Virginia contradicted. “She ran away from a psychiatric evaluation. She’s considered dangerous. In the process of her escape she assaulted several men and then later a teenaged boy. Now she’s wanted for that also. You’re looking at a world of hurt here, Jeremy. Unless you help us out. Didn’t you see her picture in the news?”

“I’m a graduate student,” Jeremy said. “I’m up to my ass in work. I don’t have time to watch the news or read newspapers. All I know is she came to my home, told me she’d completed her sentence, and asked to borrow my car.”

“When did this happen?” Delaware asked.

“I think it was last week,” Jeremy said. He looked up at the ceiling. “Yes, exactly one week ago. She came to my apartment, stayed the night, and left the next morning.”

“Did she let you fuck her?” Virginia asked. “Is that why you gave her your car?”

Jeremy flushed and said, “That’s none of your business.”

“So you just allowed her to take your car out of the goodness of your heart,” Delaware said derisively. “A woman who’s been locked away for the past two years, out of your sight. You must be very gullible. Or very horny. Which is it Jeremy?”

“It’s not two years!” Jeremy exclaimed in a raised voice. “It was only sixteen months! And I visited her several times during in the intervening time span. Your records must tell you that.”

“After a week didn’t you think you should report your car stolen?” Virginia asked. “Don’t you need it?”

“I don’t use it much,” Jeremy explained. “I can walk to campus. There’s other grad students here who are willing to give me a ride.”

“You’d let anybody borrow your car?” Delaware asked skeptically. “One of your fellow graduate students walks up to you and says, ‘Hey, Huffman, I need a car for the next couple of weeks. Give me the keys to yours.’ And you would just hand them over?”

“Of course not,” Jeremy said. “Tammy’s special. We’re very good friends. If it wasn’t for her I would’ve had trouble getting through undergraduate school. She got a raw deal. I was helping her out.”

The two cops stood up. They each handed Jeremy a business card. Virginia also handed over a slip of paper and said, “We’re going to let you slide on the aiding and abetting. For the moment. You have our cards. If she contacts you at any point call one of us. Failure to do so will have consequences. Severe Consequences. I’ve also given you information on how to reclaim your car from the Philadelphia police. Be prepared to cough up a bundle.”

***

Karla Roberts and her current boyfriend, Trent, were walking hand-in-hand toward her dorm-room, looking into each others eyes. She was startled when a man’s voice said, “Going for a little afternoon delight are we?”

A man and a woman were leaning against the wall, one on each side of her dorm-room door. The woman smirked, held up a credentials case, and said, “Don’t mind my friend. He can be a little crude. He’s from the Virginia state police. I’m a detective with the Providence police. We’d like to speak to you. Do you want to come downtown, or can we talk in your room?”

“My room is fine,” Karla said. “I’ll text you later Trent.” Trent started to protest. Karla put her hand on his chest and pushed him away from her. “Just go. I’ll be fine. I’m not afraid to talk to cops.”

Once they were in the room Karla seated herself on her bed. The cops remained standing. “I can’t tell you anything about Tammy,” Karla claimed. “I haven’t seen her since you railroaded her into prison for doing nothing worse than yelling at my mother. Something I do a lot.”

“Why would you assume we’re here about Tamara Roberts?” the Providence cop asked. “Is it because she was here?”

“Give me a break,” Karla said, rolling her eyes. “She’s my sister-in-law and her picture has been all over the news.”

“She did a little more than yelling at your mother,” Virginia said. He yawned. “Sorry. I’m tired. I just flew in from Delaware. Had a meeting with Jeremy Huffman. Know him?”

“I’ve met him. I don’t know him well. He’s Tammy’s friend.”

“A friend with benefits it seems. She spent the night at his place.”

“So what? They’re single adults. If they want to sleep together it’s nobody’s business but theirs.”

“It doesn’t bother you that your sister-in-law is getting it on with someone else not long after your brother’s death?”

“It’s been more than two years since Brendan died!” Karla declared. Her lower lip trembled and tears came to her eyes. She picked up a tissue and blotted them. “He’s dead but she’s not. I can’t blame her if she wants to have a life.”

“Huffman told us she was coming here to see you,” Virginia said. He raised his eyebrows. “Do you deny it?”

“I wasn’t there,” Karla said. “I don’t know what the fuck he told you.”

“I mean do you deny the Roberts girl was here?”

“Of course a Roberts girl was here,” Karla said. She snorted. “I’m a Roberts girl, and I’m here. Are you stupid?”

“I mean…” Virginia growled as he hitched his shoulders and took a step toward Karla.

“She knows what you mean,” Providence interrupted. She stepped in front of the other cop. “She’s trying to get a rise out of you.”

Virginia stepped back and said to Karla, “You can get into trouble for lying to the police.”

“I know it’s a felony to lie to the FBI,” Karla said. “But you’re not FBI. Technically you’re not even a cop here in Rhode Island. This isn’t your jurisdiction.”

“It’s my jurisdiction,” Providence pointed out. “I could charge you with obstruction of justice.”

“You weren’t asking the questions,” Karla said. “If a crime was committed in Rhode Island, I don’t know about it. Besides, do you know who my father is?”

“Yeah, we know who your fucking father is,” Virginia said, angrily. “That doesn’t give you license to…”

The door to the room opened and Bobbi, Karla’s roommate, entered. “What the hell, Karla? I keep finding you with weird people in our room.”

“We’re police,” Providence said, holding up her credentials. “What other ‘weird people’ did you find here? And when.”

“Don’t say anything Bobbi,” Karla yelled while pointing a finger at Bobbi. “They’re trying to browbeat me.”

“We’re not browbeating anyone,” Providence said. “We’re looking for a dangerous escaped mental patient. If you know anything at all, help us out. Or maybe you want to be charged with obstruction. Your father isn’t a US senator who can pull strings to get you out of trouble.”

Bobbi looked first at Karla and then at the police. She sat down abruptly on her own bed, licked her lips, and said, “Last week. A strange girl who said her name was Maggie was here. Told me she was an old friend of Karla, but Karla didn’t want to talk about her when I asked.”

“Is this the girl?” Virginia asked. He held up a picture of Tammy.

“No… Wait a minute.” Bobbi reached for the picture and brought it to where the light was better. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure it’s her. Her hair was different and she was wearing glasses, but the more I look at it, the more sure I am.”

“Bobbi, don’t…” Karla started to say.

“Quiet!” Providence barked. “One more word out of you and I will charge you with obstruction of justice. I don’t give a shit who your father is. You were saying Bobbi?”

“Karla wrote something on a piece of paper and gave it to her. I don’t know what it was. She also gave her some money. That’s all I know.”

“Did you tell your sister-in-law where your mother is?” Virginia asked Karla. Karla said nothing. After a pause Virginia said, “Okay, tell us where your mother is.”

“She said not to tell anyone and I won’t!” Karla said. She crossed her arms over her chest and clamped her lips together.

“Describe the girl,” Virginia said to Bobbi.

“Brown, frizzy hair. Glasses with heavy, plastic rims. Kind of heavy. Frumpy dress. Tall for a girl. At least five-eight.”

“Eye color?”

“I’m not sure. Blue I think, but I wasn’t paying that much attention.”

“Thank you for your cooperation, Bobbi,” Virginia said. He glowered at Karla and the cops left.

***

FBI special agent Rita Callahan heard her name called just as she was reaching for the door-handle of her car. Approaching her was a smallish, familiar-appearing woman. Callahan tilted her head to the side and said, “I know you from somewhere, but I can’t put my finger on it.”

“We met in Ted Bilson’s office,” the woman said. “A little over two years ago. I’m Olivia Selinson. I used to be a secret service agent working under Bilson.”

“Now I remember,” Callahan said. She held out her hand and the two women shook. “What can I do for you?”

“Are you familiar with the name ‘Manny Sebaro?’ He’s a mob fixer. I need information about him.”

“I think so,” Callahan said. She made a fist with her right hand and used it to rub her face above her upper lip and below her nose. “I’ve got it. He works mostly with the Italians. Does some free-lance. My specialty is the Russian mob, so I don’t know much about him.”

“Could you introduce me to an agent who might be more familiar with him?”

“Sure. Give me your card. I know a guy. I’ll have him give you a call.”

***

“More bad news, Jennifer,” Merritt Covington said to Jennifer Roberts over her secure phone.

“Don’t tell me, let me guess,” Jennifer said with a sigh. “No sign of her. She could be anywhere in the country, going from house to house looking for me.”

“You can make a frivolous comment if you wish, but the news is actually worse,” Covington said. He waited for Jennifer to respond. When she didn’t he continued. “Not only do the police have no idea where she is, it appears she went to see Karla, who told her where you are.”

“Are you sure about that? My own daughter’s turned against me?”

“Karla didn’t actually admit it, but the police learned Tamara called on her. Do you seriously think your nemesis would calmly go on her way without putting on any pressure if Karla told her to take a hike?”

“No, of course she wouldn’t,” Jennifer said. She closed her eyes and rested her head back.

“Are you still there?” Covington asked after hearing nothing for a full minute.

“I’m still here, Merritt,” Jennifer replied. “I was just thinking. Tamara must have witch powers or something the way she was able to place both my children under her thrall. Do you have any good news at all?”

“Perhaps a little. Karla’s roommate was able to give the police a description of Tamara’s new appearance. It’s been circulated. I’ll text it to you. I’m afraid, however, they have no real urgency in searching for her. She hasn’t injured anyone since her escape, at least not seriously, and there’s a growing degree of sympathy for a young woman who just wants to see her son. There’s been a few stories on the internet and in newspapers along those lines. I suspect her family is the main source for those stories.”

“I see,” Jennifer said, drumming her fingers in frustration. “Thank you for the update. Call me if anything new arises.”

Jennifer disconnected the call and sat fuming for several minutes. Then she summoned her security chief, Kent Malone. They went to Jennifer’s office, which was soundproofed. Jennifer locked the door. It was an interior room with no windows to the outside. That way it wasn’t vulnerable to a parabolic listening device. Thick cloth wall hangings were on every wall, deadening all sounds from inside the room. Jennifer turned on a cell jammer. She and Malone sat close together where they could speak softly. She informed him what she’d learned about Tammy and asked about upgrading security.

“The entire surrounding area is covered by CCTV cameras which are monitored twenty-four/seven,” Malone said. “We have three groups of two men each patrolling the grounds in random patterns. Four more men are at the ready inside. If anyone shows up, we can respond immediately.”

“Was this room swept for listening devices?” she asked.

“We took care of it this morning, Mrs. Roberts,” Malone replied. “Just as we do every morning. Don’t worry. Nobody will be able to overhear whatever we talk about in here.”

“You might think I’m paranoid, but I’m just want to be sure you’re taking reasonable precautions,” Jennifer said. She reached over and put her right hand on Malone’s left arm.

“I’m sure that’s all you’re doing,” Malone said. He patted Jennifer’s hand.

“Don’t patronize me!” Jennifer snapped. “Tamara is on the loose. She’s learned my whereabouts from my own daughter. At one time she was in the CIA. Her mother, the bitch, was in the clandestine service, I’m not sure which branch. She was a police detective, a member of the secret service, and now works for a private security firm. All occupations where she could’ve learned surveillance techniques beyond what you’re familiar with. Whatever you do, don’t underestimate them!”

“Believe me, Mrs. Roberts, my men and I are taking the threat seriously. I wasn’t patronizing you. I was trying to reassure you.”

Jennifer’s phone beeped. She read a text message and handed the phone to Malone. “This is her description when she went to see Karla. She might’ve changed it by now. She could be anywhere, and who knows what she looks like. I won’t be able to sleep soundly until my former daughter-in-law is either locked away for good or is dead!”

“You made that pretty clear on the trip here, Mrs. Roberts.”

“I hinted previously,” Jennifer said. She leaned forward and took both of Malone’s hands in hers. “Now I’m going to be explicit. If you’re secretly taping this conversation, you’ll have plenty of ammunition to blackmail me or grounds to have me put away. I’m trusting you more than I’ve ever trusted another person. Even my family.”

“Your trust is not misplaced, Mrs. Roberts,” Malone said. He stood, pulled her to him, and wrapped his arms about her. Their lips met. He began to unbutton her blouse.

Later, as they sprawled naked on an oversized couch, Malone said, “What, exactly, are your instructions Mrs. Roberts?”

“Call me Jennifer,” she said as her heart-rate slowed. “Specifically, I want you to let your men know that if one of them shoots her dead, that person will get a $100,000 bonus. You’ll get the same amount. If there’s any pushback, I’ll guarantee the best possible legal representation.”

“I’ll pass the word along.”