Gideon Page 24

  “It’s over, Kel. You can get back to your life now.”

  Kelly doubted if that would ever be possible.

  58

  She found parking a block from Benedetto’s office. After her conversation with Pete, Kelly knew she wouldn’t be worth a damn at the clinic today. Not until she took care of a few things that weighed heavily on her mind. She’d spoken to Vik, who happily agreed to go in early, along with his brother Krishan.

  As Kelly rang the buzzer at Benedetto’s office, she realized it had only been three days earlier that she stood there, oblivious to the facts about her father.

  Three days.

  It felt like a lifetime.

  Benedetto opened the door and led Kelly back into his office. She gladly accepted his offer of coffee, hoping the caffeine would dampen her headache. Once they were comfortably situated, Benedetto wanted to hear what had happened last night. “Leave nothing out.”

  Kelly was totally blindsided. She’d called him and asked for this meeting, but hadn’t mentioned a word about Moretti, or Pete coming to see her. Nothing.

  “How did…?” she started.

  “If I hadn’t made it clear, I’m well connected in this city. If there are places where I don’t have an insider, I know people who do, as well as a tech expert who’s constantly monitoring the electronic landscape. Do you want to tell me what happened, or should I tell you what I’ve heard?”

  “I came here to discuss how to distance myself from this situation, not to be debriefed,” she said with slight indignation.

  “I can’t help you move forward until I know exactly how much exposure we’re talking about.”

  “Exposure?”

  “Kelly,” he began in a softer tone, “you did what you thought was best for you and your sister. I understand that completely. Believe me, I do. But you took a monumental risk and the only way I can hope to protect you against any blowback is if I’m up to speed on every detail.”

  “By blowback, you mean arrest?”

  “And possible retribution. Nothing this significant happens in a vacuum. You know that better than anyone. Your father was killed and you reacted. Now Moretti is dead, and there could be a countermove. It’s like a continuous game of chess, but played by people who often make decisions based upon emotion instead of intellect. Some consider it biblical, ‘an eye for an eye’, while others think it’s the only way to retain respect. Whatever the motivation, when a person’s killed, you have to be prepared for other dominoes to fall. The trick is to anticipate them and avoid getting crushed under them. Do you understand?”

  “I understand that you were the one who started me on this path in the first place.”

  “I believe that distinction belongs to your father, but let’s not quibble. I’m here to help.”

  His words struck a chord. She clearly understood the severity of her situation. “Where do I start?”

  “Start with staking out The Battery.”

  She reacted. “How did you know about that?”

  Benedetto shook his head. “Don’t worry about how I know. I want to find out about the things I don’t know.”

  Over the next two hours, Kelly told her story in as much detail as she could recall. Benedetto dutifully listened and occasionally prompted her with a question or asked for a clarification while he made copious notes on a legal pad. During her narration he didn’t comment upon her actions or question her judgment.

  Kelly wrapped up her story and was exhausted. The Dexedrine had worn off and she was on the verge of crashing.

  As if on cue, Mrs Mathews arrived with a tray of fruit, pastries and bottles of 5 Hour Energy. The kitchen was well stocked with an array of fresh, healthy foods, as well as cases of “energy boosters”, which were the go-to source of caffeine for the paralegals who frequently toiled in the back rooms.

  Benedetto excused himself to make some calls and Kelly used the time to refuel and check in with the clinic. Vik assured her they had everything under control, and they were managing fine. She needn’t worry… but, of course, she did.

  Benedetto returned, settled in behind his desk and asked Kelly if she was feeling better. She thanked him for the food and the drink and said she was almost back to normal.

  “Good, because I want to make sure you understand what I’m about to tell you.” Gone was the friendly tone, replaced by the demeanor of a stern professor or a disapproving father.

  Kelly bristled. “I’m not stupid.”

  “No one’s questioning your intelligence. It’s your judgment that’s highly suspect.”

  “I know I was in over my head and probably made a few mistakes…”

  Benedetto shook his head.

  “What?” Kelly asked.

  “‘A few’ is being dangerously naïve. You’re incredibly lucky to be alive and not the target of a police investigation. At least, not yet.”

  “I know, but…”

  “You have no idea. If there’s any hope of you surviving this next time…”

  Kelly was shocked. “Next time! There won’t be a ‘next time’!”

  “That’s exactly what your father said.”

  “I already told you, I’m not picking up where my father left off. What happened with Moretti was a one-time situation. As it is, I doubt I’ll ever be able to come to terms with it.”

  “Time has a way of softening even the sharpest edges.”

  Kelly stood up. “Not these.”

  Benedetto raised his hands in surrender. “I didn’t mean to suggest you follow in your father’s footsteps. But, there are other exigencies we need to discuss.”

  “Like?”

  He motioned for her to sit. “Hear me out, then you can walk away and never have to look back.”

  Kelly had no choice. Benedetto possessed information, and the only way to get it was to play by his rules.

  She sat back down and he gently but firmly began his appraisal. “I’d like to review your actions leading up to this morning. Not to scold you or to prepare you for another outing, but rather so you’re forewarned in the event Mr Moretti’s death turns out to be something other than a simple open-and-shut case.”

  Kelly flinched. “Have you heard something about the investigation?”

  “A few things. At this point, the police are considering it self-inflicted. The good news is, if they were to find your prints or DNA at his house, they aren’t in any law enforcement databases, so they wouldn’t get a hit. The other positive factor is that the SFPD, like all departments these days, have an impossible time keeping up with their caseloads, so when a case like Moretti’s presents itself, everyone up and down the chain is eager to stamp it ‘closed’ and not waste time or assets digging beneath the surface.”

  “Okay. Now comes the part where you tell me how I screwed up?”

  Benedetto looked down at his notes and started in. “When you were across the street from The Battery, you said Moretti looked at you. Do you think he recognized you?”

  “I didn’t think so at the time. I wasn’t sure he even saw me.” She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe he did.”

  “Never place yourself in a situation where you can be seen, or worse, recognized by your target. It puts them on alert, which is the last thing you want.”

  “I told you, there aren’t going to be any more ‘targets’,” she insisted.

  “Moving on; when you purchased your costume, you exposed yourself to many people, particularly the sales help. Plus, you were clearly out of your element, which potentially made you stand out.”

  Kelly nodded. She didn’t like where this was going. “In retrospect, I can think of a dozen ways I was sloppy, but I wasn’t thinking in those terms.”

  “Which can get you killed, or at the very least embroiled in a murder investigation. The choice of picking up Moretti at The Patch was your second biggest mistake. Even though you were in disguise, you put yourself at tremendous risk by engaging him in public.”

  “There were a few hundred people t
here,” she said defensively.

  “Doesn’t matter. Any detective worth his salt, like Inspector Ericson, could get a composite drawing of the dark-haired woman who spent time with Tommy Moretti in the VIP lounge. On top of that, the club has at least two dozen security cameras, and I’d wager your face was caught on several of them.”

  Kelly was deflated. She thought she was being clever, but she’d left a trail of breadcrumbs that Inspector Clouseau could follow.

  “However, your most critical lack of judgment was going home with him.”

  “I explained that. It wasn’t my choice. I was drugged.”

  “You put yourself in that position. And, what was your plan again? To drug him and get him to confess to killing your father?”

  Kelly felt her face redden. She was humbled and embarrassed.

  “I’m not here to second guess you, but your ‘plan’ was riddled with holes,” he said in a softer tone.

  “I thought if I could get him to drop his defenses and then get him talking…” The rest of the plan was left unsaid.

  “You can’t go into something like this and wing it. Every step should’ve been thought through with excruciating detail.”

  “Are you done? Is it my turn to ask you a few questions?”

  “As many as you’d like.”

  “Why didn’t you know about the $5 million bounty on Gideon?”

  “I’m fully aware of it.”

  Kelly flared with anger. “Don’t you think it would’ve been important to tell me about it?”

  “As far as I’m concerned, it was a non-issue. We’ve been feeding disinformation to their so-called computer experts for years. Your father’s name was only on a list because of the death of Musselwhite. The fact that Moretti stumbled upon your father’s true identity was sheer happenstance.”

  “Did my father know there was a price on his head?”

  “I never mentioned it to him.”

  “Why not?” Kelly was stunned, and yet not at all surprised. Benedetto was extremely stingy with the information he doled out.

  “Because it would have been an unnecessary distraction. Your father already knew he was putting himself at risk.”

  “Well, now that I know there’s a bounty, and that my father’s name is on a list, what can we do about it? Even though he’s gone, it’s obvious that if other people were to ‘stumble upon’ his identity, my sister and I could be in jeopardy.”

  “True, unless Gideon were to carry out another assignment.”

  Kelly violently shook her head. “Haven’t you been listening to what I’ve said?”

  “Every word.” Benedetto paused for a drink of water and to give Kelly a moment to calm down, then continued, “Arthur Moretti has a son named Angelo, who’s a small-time dealer that lives in Oakland. He’s a screw-up and was banished from the family business a few years ago. He and Tommy were very tight growing up. Like brothers. Tommy was angry when Arthur forced Angelo out, but he didn’t want to rock the boat. Instead, Tommy gave Angelo a monthly cut that kept him afloat.

  “I have it on good authority that Angelo’s not in touch with anyone in the family and spends most of his time in a drug-induced haze, so he’s probably not aware that his cousin is dead. However, once he finds out, he’ll no doubt make a play to reclaim a share of the family business.”

  “What’s all of that got to do with me?”

  “Maybe nothing, maybe everything. You said that Moretti swore he hadn’t told anyone else about your father. What if he did? What if he used his surrogate brother as a sounding board? After all, Angelo’s father was supposedly murdered by Gideon. The best way for Angelo to get some much-needed cred and prove himself worthy would be to take revenge against Gideon’s family.”

  “You’re proposing that I kill a man because he might know my father’s identity?”

  Benedetto shook his head. “I’m not proposing anything. I’m merely giving you information that you may find” – he shrugged his shoulders – “useful. There are a few other things to keep in mind.”

  Kelly sighed. “Of course there are.”

  “If Angelo was to suffer a fatal accident, I could plant the information that his death was attributed to Gideon, signifying Gideon’s still out there, which would put to rest any suspicions regarding your father. Also, there’s a person who’s highly motivated to see Angelo Moretti taken off the boards and is willing to pay to make that happen. In fact, your father had already committed to the assignment. Have you read his entire journal?”

  “No, I find it too painful. As to your subtle suggestion, I’m having a really difficult time dealing with what I’ve just been through. There’s no way in hell, for any amount of money, that I’m going to put myself in that position again. Besides, as you pointed out, I screwed up everything! I’m not cut out for this. Why don’t you find someone who is? Let him or her inherit the Gideon mantle. They can take Angelo ‘off the boards’, and it’ll be a win-win all the way around.”

  “It’s much too risky. Your father was a unique man with specialized skills and driving motivation. There are innumerable people out there who will kill for money, but no one who could take the place of Gideon. No one but you.”

  “I don’t know whether to thank you or curse the day I met you. Either way, I plan to go home and burn the journal. Don’t take this wrong, Mr Benedetto, but I pray our paths never again cross.”

  59

  After leaving the Marina, Kelly felt a powerful urge to see her sister, so she headed south on the Bayshore. Along the way she replayed her conversation with Benedetto in her head. She was seething, but wasn’t exactly sure why. Was it his ridiculous suggestion that she should consider killing another human being? Or was it because he made her feel like a complete idiot?

  Neither. Deep inside, she knew the reason. She was angry at herself for getting entangled in this morass. Even though she could rationalize the fact that Moretti had intended to kill her and Jessica, she should’ve gone to the police and let them handle it. Maybe her father’s name would’ve been dragged through the mud, but then again, how could Moretti, or anyone for that matter, prove that David Harper was a hitman known as Gideon? It was such an absurd notion that no one would’ve believed it.

  Damn it! It was so obvious in hindsight. And now, because of her reckless decision, she could be the target of this Angelo Moretti. To make things worse, the police were no longer an option; not without implicating herself in Tommy’s murder.

  She heard Benedetto’s voice like he was sitting in the passenger seat. ‘If Angelo was to suffer a fatal accident, I could plant the information that his death was attributed to Gideon, signifying Gideon’s still out there, which would put to rest any suspicions regarding your father… There’s a person who’s highly motivated to see Angelo Moretti taken off the boards and is willing to pay to make that happen… Your father had already committed to the assignment.’

  Kelly was so inside her head, she missed the turnoff to the facility. Swearing, she got off at the next exit and doubled back, hitting construction on the side streets, which only served to worsen her already foul mood.

  When she pulled into the parking lot, she turned off the ignition and remained in the car. Suddenly, she wondered why she came.

  Kelly felt the pressure building up inside of her. Her secret was burning a hole in her conscience and she needed to share it with someone. Someone who wouldn’t be judgmental. Kelly again pondered whether she’d be as willing to share with her sister if she weren’t lying in a bed in a waking coma. The answer was yes. That’s why Kelly was here.

  She’d come for confession.

  They were back at the idyllic spot under the majestic oak tree on the edge of the facility’s grounds. The day was blustery and Cookie recommended that they remain inside. Surely there was a nice warm spot in the “day room” where Kelly and her sister could visit. Kelly replied that Jessica always loved the cool San Francisco weather and thought the crisp, clean air would be a welcome change, so
she bundled Jessica up in a thick sweater and wheeled her out. The air was less “crisp” and bordered on “cold”, but the upside was they were alone in the garden, and Jessica didn’t seem to mind.

  Kelly gently caressed her sister’s cheek, then sat down across from her so they were face-to-face. “Jess,” she said in a low voice, “I killed him.” There was no reason to dance around the facts.

  Once she uttered the statement aloud, she felt a twinge of relief, followed by a heavier dose of guilt and remorse. Kelly knew if she didn’t continue with the rest of what she came to say, she’d resent it later.

  “He was the one who killed Dad, and he would’ve killed us as well.” Kelly searched her sister’s eyes for a reaction, but there was nothing. Not a hint of emotion. No miniscule nod, not the tiniest crease of a smile or even a fleeting blink. Jessica’s head was slightly cocked to the side, and her eyes were fixed on the motionless hands in her lap.

  Kelly hadn’t expected acknowledgement, but she’d hoped that somewhere in the husk of what used to be Jessica there was a scintilla of understanding.

  Undaunted, Kelly continued, “He was evil and deserved what he got. I’m positive of that. If I had to do it again, I would.” Did she honestly believe what she was saying, or was she simply trying to give herself absolution? It didn’t matter. It felt good to vocalize her actions. Confess her sins. Wasn’t that the purpose of confession? It wasn’t about being judged by a faceless priest, but rather to give air to your wrongs. To hear them aloud and wallow in the guilt. And then, miracle of miracles, to be forgiven.