Page 90 of The Lady on Esplanade
“Another bingo for both of you.It appears the hair is synthetic, like that found on dolls and in some wigs.One with short, brown hairs, to be more specific.”
“So the victim or someone else associated with the crime scene wore a wig,” I said.
“Possibly,” Bernie replied.“The good news is that this new clue might lead to reopening the case.”
“But how long will that take?”I asked.
He shrugged his large shoulders, the buttons of his corduroy jacket straining from the pressure.“You know how it is.Current cases keep the NOPD pretty busy, so it won’t be a priority.”
“But that doesn’t mean I can’t get a head start on the investigation, right?”I asked.“I could talk to the previous owners and ask them if they know anyone who wore a wig.”
“Nobody’s stopping you.”He looked at his watch.“I have to go now—I told Frank I’d meet him in ten minutes, and it’s going to take me that long to walk around to the front of the building.”Using his cane, he pulled himself up with a little assistance from Sarah.“Ladies, it has been a pleasure, as always.I’ll let you know if I find out anything else, and I’ll ask you to do the same.”
“Of course,” I said.“Would you like me to share what you just told us with Beau, or do you want to tell him yourself?”
He leaned heavily on his cane.“I should probably tell him in person.I need to speak with him about another matter anyway, and I really hate giving information over the phone.There’s always a chance it will be misinterpreted.I can make an appointment to see him—unless you’re going to be seeing him soon?”
“He’ll probably stop by tonight or tomorrow, and if you’d like me to pass anything along, I’m happy to do it.”
“Yes, well, please tell him that I found some information on that fellow he asked me about.I think you know him—Cooper Ravenel.”
I took a moment to respond, surprised at the mention of Cooper’s name.“I’m sorry—what?”
He looked confused.“I, uh, thought you, uh—that there was…”
I felt a burning sensation in the pit of my stomach.“Did Beau ask you to check up on Cooper?”
Bernie’s neck reddened, and he looked so uncomfortable that, if I hadn’t been so angry at Beau, I might have felt sorry for the old man.“Oh, dear,” he said.“I shouldn’t have said anything.I was under the assumption that Beau was asking for you.I shouldn’t have assumed, and now I’ve gotten you upset.I’m so sorry.”
Picking up on the agitation in my voice, Mardi had begun to pace around the bench.Forcing a calm I was far from feeling, I said, “It’s not your fault, Bernie.It’s Beau’s.And I’ll talk to him later, when I don’t feel like killing him with my bare hands.For the time being, I’ll tell Beau about the wig if I see him first, but please don’t let him know that you told me about Cooper.I’ll need to deal with him myself.”
“That’s fair.And I really and truly am sorry.”He studied me without moving away.
I hated myself for asking, but the words were out of my mouth before I could call them back: “Is there something I should know?”
Bernie raised his bushy gray eyebrows.“Depends on how close your relationship is.If it’s as close as Beau thinks, then probably.Maybe you should just wait until you see Mr.Ravenel again and ask him yourself.”
“About what?You can’t just drop that on me and walk away.Cooper and I have known each other for a long time and his sister is one of my best friends.If there’s something I need to know, please tell me.I can handle it.”I said that only because I assumed that if it was anythingbad, Alston would have already told me.Even though I’d just had a lesson on why people should never assume.
He glanced at Sarah and Mardi, who were hanging on every word.
“It’s all right,” I assured him.“Say what you need to, because my sister knows that if she repeats any of it to our parents, I will never allow her to visit Mardi and Jolene ever again.”
Bernie remained reluctant to speak, and he kept looking ahead on the path as if he wished he were already halfway down it.
With forced calm, I said, “I know you’re just the messenger, so I won’t hold it against you.So please tell me, and I promise I won’t tell Beau that you told me anything.I personally don’t want to speak with him ever again, so I doubt that will be a problem.”
He pressed his lips together and nodded.“Well, then, I’ll just say it.Cooper Ravenel is engaged to be married to a woman who is currently in a coma and has been for a couple of years.He was driving the car that led to the accident that caused her current condition.He has power of attorney and will not allow her to be taken off life support, even though her doctors and the experts he’s called in have all confirmed that she is in a permanent vegetative state, with no hope of ever waking up.He pays for her twenty-four-hour care in an upscale nursing home outside of Los Angeles and visits her once a month.He’s been doing that for two years now.”
I heard wind rushing in my ears even though the leaves on the oak tree remained still.My heart pounded heavily in my chest, my breath suspended as my world slowly dismantled itself around me.I recalled how Cooper had avoided talking about the scar on his chin, recalled his shutting down whenever I joked about my driving.I was heartbroken over Cooper’s pain.But I was equally angry about his silence.
“Nola?Are you all right?”Bernie asked.“I can ask Frank to drive you and Sarah back to your apartment.”
I gave a quick shake of my head.“No.I’m fine.”My voice even managed to sound normal.“Do you remember the woman’s name?”
He nodded.“Lilly Hoffman.”
“Lilly Hoffman,” I repeated, the name weighted and strange on my tongue.
