Part 32 (1/2)
He stared at the cheap little key ring. It felt strange in his hand... just a bit too cool against the flesh of his palm, as if he'd pulled it from a refrigerator. And still that imploring look in Roger's wide blue eyes.
Originally he'd wanted it for Vicky. But Vicky wasn't involved anymore; he didn't want her near anything Eli Bellitto had owned, touched, or had even looked at. Jack wasn't sure why he wanted it now. Bellitto had turned down a ridiculous amount of money for the silly thing. That meant it was important to him. And what was important to Bellitto might be important to Jack. Or maybe Jack wanted the key ring to hara.s.s Eli Bellitto, just for the sheer h.e.l.l of it.
Before turning away he let his gaze roam once more over the shelves of the display case and the junk they carried... the Pogs and Matchbox car and Koosh ball and...
A notion struck Jack, a possibility so sick and cold he felt a layer of frost form on his skin.
These were all toys... kids' stuff... all belonging to a guy who'd s.n.a.t.c.hed a kid last night.
Jack stood before the cabinets and swayed with the vertiginous certainty that these were trophies, mementos emptied from the pockets of other missing kids. And Eli Bellitto was flaunting them. How many hundreds, even thousands of people had walked by this case and stared at its contents, never guessing that each one represented a dead child?
Jack couldn't bring himself to count the items. Instead he looked down at the key ring in his hand.
Who did you belong to? Where is your little owner buried? How did he die? Why Why did he die? did he die?
Roger's eyes had lost their imploring look. They were a flat dead blue now. Maybe Jack had simply imagined that look, but it had served its purpose: He wasn't through with Eli Bellitto.
He wondered what his own face looked like. He had to compose his expression, look calm, casual.
He took a deep breath, let it out. Tossing the key ring casually in his hand, he headed for the counter.
”Sorry,” the clerk said as he approached. He tapped the owl clock before him on the counter. ”I can't get it working.”
Jack shrugged. ”I'll take it anyway.” He knew a clock-smith who'd have it ticking in half a minute. ”What's your name, by the way?”
”Kevin.”
”I'm Jack, Kevin.” They shook hands. ”You're new here, aren't you.”
”Fairly.”
Chalk one up for me, he thought. He'd got the impression on Sunday that this fellow was new.
”Well, good luck here. It's a great store. Oh, yeah,” he said, as if suddenly remembering. He tossed the key ring onto the counter. ”I'll take this as well.”
Kevin picked it up and turned it over, examining it. ”Never seen this before.”
Jack let out a breath. He'd been counting on that. Even if Kevin had been working here awhile, he might not have paid attention to the contents of a cabinet he couldn't open.
”I found it on a shelf back there.”
”Where?”
Jack jerked a thumb to the right. ”Back there.”
”Hmmm. Trouble is, there's no price on it. I don't even think we carry anything like this.”
”I'll give you, oh, say, ten bucks for it.”
Kevin reached for the phone. ”I'd better just check with Mr. Bellitto first.”
Jack stiffened. ”Hey, don't bother Eli. I'm sure he needs his rest.”
”No, it's okay. He told me to call if I have any questions.”
Jack suppressed a groan as Kevin tapped in the numbers. He'd wanted to slip away with the key ring-no fuss, no ha.s.sle. That might not be possible now. But if he had to grab it and walk out over Kevin's objections, that was what he'd do. One way or another, Jack and Roger were leaving together.
Apparently Kevin called Bellitto's room directly because seconds later he said, ”h.e.l.lo, Mr. Bellitto, it's Kevin. Sorry to bother you, but I've got an item here with no price tag and I was wondering-”
Even from his spot across the counter Jack could hear the angry squawking from the ear piece.
”Yes, sir, but you see-”
More squawks.
”I understand. Yes, sir, I will.” He hung up. ”I'm afraid this is going to take a while. I'm going to have to go through the inventory and find similar items and price this accordingly.” He shook his head as he gazed at the key ring. ”Trouble is, I'm pretty sure we don't-”
”Let me make it easy for both of us,” Jack said. ”I'll pay for the clock and give you ten bucks for the key ring. If it comes to more, I'll settle up. If it's less, I get a refund. Sound fair?”
”I guess so...”
Jack picked up the key ring and dangled it between them. ”Hey, let's face it, Kev, we're not talking about a Ming vase here. Just find some paper and write down, 'Roger Rabbit key ring-ten bucks-Jack.'”
”I'll put it in the sale book,” he said, opening a black ledger. Kevin dutifully wrote it all down, then looked up. ”Just Jack?”
”Sure. Eli will know.”
Maybe not right away, Jack thought as he pulled out his wallet. But soon. Very soon.
Jack wanted Bellitto to know the key ring was gone. Because that was when he would begin wondering and worrying.
Jack planned to give him lots to worry about.
6.
Morphine might help pain, Eli Bellitto thought as he pressed the PCA pump's b.u.t.ton for another dose, but it does nothing for anger.
Imagine Kevin calling him in the hospital with a question like that. Why couldn't you get good help?
He wondered if it might have been unwise to castigate Kevin as severely as he had. With Gert off today and not answering her phone, he was minding the store on his own. No telling what untold damage a disgruntled clerk might do.
Eli was reaching for the phone to call him back when Detective Fred Strauss made his second visit of the day. Strauss managed to be lean and yet paunchy. He wore a green golf s.h.i.+rt under his wrinkled tan suit. As he closed the door behind him, he removed his straw fedora, revealing thinning brown hair.
”It's safe to talk?” Strauss said in a low voice as he pulled a chair closer to the bed.
Eli nodded. ”Did you learn anything?”