Glass Eye: Confessions of a Fake Psychic Detective

Chapter 56

Zandra expects to see Herman waiting in the jail lobby after she gets ready. Nope. It's someone she's not expecting at all.

"Gene?" Zandra says, suddenly feeling the urge to go back to her jail cell.

"I hope you don't mind, but I figured you didn't have the money to make bail," Gene says, sucking on a peppermint. He motions toward a window aimed at the street outside. "My car's waiting for you. Want to chat?"

Might as well hear what he has to say. At least they allow smoking outside.

Zandra and Gene take seats in the back of the car while the driver runs across the street to pick up more cigarettes at a gas station. There's no smoking in the car, so Zandra waits until they're outside again at the Carey estate to light up.

"Enjoy them while you can," Gene says as he paces the lawn outside the front door. Zandra can't tell if he's making an observation or a threat.

Asshole.

"I intend to," Zandra says. She lights a fresh cigarette with the cherry of the one between her lips. "There a reason you made my bail? You don't usually act out of the kindness of your heart."

"Is that so?" Gene says. There is no sadness in the droops around his eyes. Nothing to indicate he's effected by his daughter's death. The silent house behind him suggests the grief is overwhelming those inside. But outside, on the lawn, it's yet to make an appearance.

Gene isn't responsible for Elle's death, but that doesn't mean he isn't still his heartless self. What about comforting his wife? What about making funeral arrangements? Why spend this time with Zandra, of all people?

He needs something.

"No, I haven't acted kind toward you. Can we be honest with each other for a second?" Gene says. He kicks a clump of dirt off his shoe.

"Why not, you smug prick? Let's start with how you used the newspaper you own to smear me before the case on your daughter was even closed. Got a bunch of people all riled up until they took it out on Sneak Peek, my only means of supporting myself. Just like the good ol' days, right, Gene? Like I needed another fucking problem in this town," Zandra says.

She sucks hard at the cigarette. Feels good to unload on him. There's a certain freedom in knowing the only options are going back to jail and going back to jail. Nothing left to lose. Nothing worth holding back.

Don't forget about David.

"And, oh, yeah, a little birdie at the police department told me about your involvement with my husband's supposedly accidental death. Used words like, 'what Gene did to your husband at Soma Falls.' So, yes, we can be real honest with each other right now, Gene. Go right on ahead," Zandra says.

The loose skin draped over Gene's skull crinkles into a conciliatory smile. "I bet you're talking about Charlie. She told you that, didn't she? That I had something to do with David at Soma Falls?" he says.

"And people say I'm the psychic," Zandra says, a cool fall breeze whisking the scent of mulched leaves into her nose.

"You deserve the truth for all the trouble you went through with my daughter," Gene says. "The truth is Charlie re-opened your husband's case not long ago. She discovered a few things that went unnoticed in years past because the technology just wasn't there. Things that proved I had David drowned in Soma Falls and made to look like an accident. As you well know, he was a whistleblower ready to bring down my insurance company. For the good of this town, I couldn't let that happen. My company is the lifeblood of Stevens Point."

How very noble.

"You son of a bitch. I knew it," Zandra says.

"Simply put, Charlie saw an opportunity to blackmail me, just like David tried to do. This is the burden of success. Everyone wants a piece of your money. When I refused, she kidnapped Elle for ransom. That's why I wasn't in a rush to find her. I couldn't risk Charlie taking my money, reputation and daughter all at once," Gene says.