It wasn’t something he spoke of. Ever. But at least it had been the right thing to share, because Mowry’s expression softened.
‘Okay, so maybe you do. I don’t know how it affected you, but I do know how it affected Gwyn. She was duped by a man who claimed to love her. She had hearts in her eyes for the first time.’ He shook his head. ‘I always thought she and Thorne would end up together. I was pretty shocked when she brought this Evan guy in.’
‘What did you think of him?’
A sigh. ‘I wish I could say I hated him, that I thought he was “off”. But I didn’t. He fooled me too. I got on with him. We went to ball games together. He was a likable guy.’
‘Evil often wears a pretty face.’ How well Frederick knew that. Taylor’s mother had duped him for years. So he supposed he understood Gwyn better than he’d realized.
Mowry’s chuckle was hollow. ‘Evan did. And Gwyn believed him. She . . . used to be different. Vibrant. Alive.’
‘Not dark and sarcastic?’
‘If you only knew. See, you met her on her way out of the worst of it. After Evan, she imploded. She wouldn’t perform. For anyone. Lucy wanted her to sing at her and JD’s wedding, but she couldn’t.’ His sigh was ragged. ‘I found her at the piano one day. Nobody was here and it was dark. She was crying because she couldn’t make herself put her hands on the keys.’
‘She did last summer. I saw the tape of a wedding for which she and Lucy provided the processional music. It was beautiful.’
‘Yeah, well, like I said, she’s been coming out of the dark place. She’s been singing. And recently she’s been doing the silks.’ He pointed at a contraption on the stage, a twenty-foot-tall A-frame with two long pieces of white silk dangling from the highest point. ‘It’s like Cirque du Soleil. Gwyn is damn graceful. I have to admit, the first time she got back on the stage, I cried like a baby.’ One side of his mouth lifted. ‘I wasn’t alone. Not a dry eye in the house. She’s well loved here. So when Thorne asked me to back off my daily duties and allow Gwyn to take over, I did. Not that it was easy, mind you, but I didn’t argue.’
‘But you didn’t want to back off.’
‘Not at the time. And sometimes I get a little annoyed, still. But Thorne’s a mensch. He knew I hated being idle. He also knew I’d never gotten to go to college, so he’s paid for me to go. I take classes part time. One more year and I’ll have my degree in hospitality. I can write my ticket.’
‘Will you leave Sheidalin?’
He smiled. ‘Probably not. I like it here. It’s home, and Gwyn, Thorne and Lucy are my family. None of us had much family of our own, so we banded together. So you don’t have to come here and look over my shoulder, Freddie. I know my business and I do my job well. I love those guys. We all do, all of the employees. We won’t let them down.’
‘So you don’t think Thorne did it. The murder, I mean.’
Mowry scoffed. ‘Please. You really need me to say it? No, he didn’t. Full stop.’
‘And the other employees? Are they as certain as you are?’
‘Ask them. Ming!’ he shouted. ‘Laura! Come out here, please.’
The two came from two different doors. Ming from the main office in the back, while Laura returned from the storeroom.
Ming was the head of security – aka ‘the bouncer’ – and every bit as big as Thorne. His real name was Clive, but Frederick didn’t think anyone called him that out of sheer fear. He had been with Sheidalin from the very beginning. He and Thorne had played college rugby together. When Thorne had needed muscle, Ming had been the first person he’d turned to. The man was the most upstanding citizen you could think of. Took care of his mother, went to church, and did unpaid work with Meals On Wheels. He even volunteered to hold the abandoned babies of drug addicts in the neonatal wards of the local hospitals, posting photos on social media of the tiny creatures in his enormous hands.
The sight had made Frederick’s eyes tear up. But Ming knew Thorne better than almost anyone, excluding Jamie and Phil, so he was on Frederick’s suspect list.
The two of them dragged chairs to the table and Ming put his tablet in front of him. It showed the camera feeds, Frederick realized. The security man was vigilant.
‘What’s up?’ Ming asked cautiously.
‘He’s worried about the day-to-day,’ Mowry said, one brow raised. ‘Since Thorne and Gwyn are out for a while.’
Frederick nodded, well aware that the other two hadn’t bought the excuse either. ‘Yes. So . . . is there anything you need in order to function?’
‘No,’ Laura said. ‘I just finished the inventory and placed the order.’
‘And I just finished this week’s schedule,’ Ming added. ‘So far so good. Nobody’s quit and none of our booked bands have cancelled on us.’
‘There’s notoriety in playing Sheidalin right now,’ Mowry said.
Frederick figured that was true. ‘I understand there was some trouble last night.’
‘No more than usual,’ Ming said. ‘We toss drug dealers out three times a week on average. These guys were opportunists. Figured they’d give it a try since Thorne was . . . well, not here.’
Mowry’s eyes flashed. ‘Sons of bitches,’ he grumbled. ‘But seriously, we have this covered. Yes, we’re getting a lot of media exposure right now, but we’ll make it work for us. Thorne and Gwyn don’t need to worry.’
‘They weren’t,’ Frederick said. ‘I was.’
Ming gave him a dubious look. ‘Who made you the boss?’
Frederick smiled at that. ‘Old habits die hard. I’m kind of used to taking charge, and I like Thorne. He’s a good man. I’d like his businesses to be intact when he comes back. Having said that, I’ve got some law firm business to take care of. I arranged a meeting with someone here. I hope that’s okay.’
‘Make yourself at home,’ Mowry said. ‘If you need privacy, we can make ourselves scarce for a while.’
‘Thank you.’ Frederick checked his watch. ‘She should be arriving soon.’
Ming glanced at his tablet. ‘I think she’s here.’ One of the camera feeds showed a woman approaching the backstage door. ‘How did she get to the alley? There are news vans all up and down the street.’
One point for Sally Brewster. She listened and complied with instructions. ‘I told her to park at the movie theater and cut through the bookstore next door. They let her out their alley door. Said they owed Thorne a favor, so they were okay with it.’
Frederick stood up, wondering if these three could really be as loyal as they seemed. He hoped so, because Thorne deserved loyalty. ‘Thanks for putting my mind at ease. If you end up needing any help, please call me.’ He gave them his card. ‘My cell’s on there. I’m serious about wanting to help Thorne. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to let my appointment in before the news vans see her.’
Nine
Annapolis, Maryland,
Monday 13 June, 10.45 A.M.
He stepped out of the shower in his discipline room to see Patton waiting by the door, revulsion clear on his face as he stared at what remained of the drug dealers he’d picked up the night before.
‘Is something amiss, Mr Patton?’
Patton turned slowly to face him, swallowing hard. ‘No. Sir,’ he added belatedly. ‘It’s . . . fine. It’s fine.’
He almost smiled. Big strong men reduced to green-faced little girls at the sight of a bit of blood and gore. Making sure he stepped around the affected areas, he went to his wardrobe and began dressing.
‘I have a list of tasks for you to complete this morning.’ He pulled on silk boxers and then his trousers, finding the folded paper in his pocket. He held it up, waiting for Patton to come to him to get it. ‘Mr Patton?’
With an effort, Patton tore his eyes from the carnage on the floor and walked toward him, gingerly avoiding a puddle of something nasty. The head clerk’s gulp was audible.
He was amused. ‘One cannot eviscerate a man without a little mess, Mr Patton.’
‘I know. I remember.’