15. Odds and Evens
//
Kevin stood across the street on the front lawn of his neighbor’s house, June leaning against him.
Father and daughter staring at the commotion in their yard from the neighbor’s yard across the street.
Mr. Hen and the school bus were shooed along as soon as the police arrived in force, the bus pulling away with the face of every kid plastered to the window, gazing back at all the blue lights flashing in front of the Dell household.
Officer Scott Przyzycki and his partner arrived minutes after Kevin.
The police stopped in the center of the street and rushed out to find Kevin, June and Mr. Hen huddled between the front of the bus and the GTO, unsure of what to do next, but comfortable to wait with the sound of so many police sirens approaching.
Kevin told officer Przyzycki what he knew, he escorted Kevin and June to the yard across the street and told them to wait there while he updated the other officers.
When Brillo arrived he quickly had cars moved to allow the bus to proceed.
The street along the Dell was covered by cop cars and blue lights flashing.
was certain that no
Once Kevin assured Sargent Brillo that no members of his family were in the house, the Sargent himself led a team straight through the front door while others stormed in from the cellar and a side entrance.
In the meantime, Kevin was able to catch Sara still at the gym.
Gave her as cryptic an explanation as possible—insisting that both himself and June were absolutely fine, but their home was invaded and now the police were there.
***
Kevin and June were back across the street standing in the middle of their own yard when Sergeant Brillo approached Kevin and June with a female officer.
While officer Kim engaged June, the Sergeant escorted Kevin into the backyard.
“Was he here,” Kevin asked as soon as June was out of earshot.
“Yes.”
Kevin and the Sarge kept walking.
After a moment, Kevin said, “Oh shit. So it was that close.”
“Yeah. He came in through the back. That’s why my guys were pretty sure he was already gone when we got here. Probably went out the same way when you got here.”
Brillo glanced at Kevin’s profile, seeing how pale he looked.
“I’m glad you waited until we got here before going inside,” was all he said.
//
***
June, Kai and Zee went from bewildered to concerned over their parents’ demeanors, but that was soon forgotten because this might have turned into the best school night ever when they went to The House for a supper of pizza and soda (a rarity in the Dell household) and then spent a couple hours at Mom’s gym sitting in her office with popcorn and candy watching a movie!
Sara and Kevin talked through the evening; each of them taking a turn leaving Sara’s Gym for the short drive back to the house.
They combed through their property as the cops hovered.
Sara had several expensive pieces of jewelry laying plainly in the open, but nothing was missing.
The Dell’s had several thousand dollars of cash for emergencies, stuck in a jar in the kitchen cupboard; left untouched.
Kevin and Sara finally regrouped back at Sara’s Gym, exhausted with worry, talking in the office next to Sara’s, while the kids remained engrossed by the story of a Zebra with the voice of Mathew Brodrick that becomes a winning racehorse.
“I can’t decide what to do,” Sara finally said.
“I know,” Kevin answered. “Both options make sense.”
The Dells were struggling with conflicting urges: run away with the kids and stay anywhere but Worthboro tonight or run home to reclaim what was theirs.
“Let’s do the finger shoot thing,” she said.
“Sounds good.”
Kevin noted that Sara’s lips were set in a way he hadn’t seen in a while; the way she used to when competing.
She said, “One to go home, two to stay somewhere else tonight.”
“Got it.”
Kevin stuck a hand behind his back and Sara did the same.
Looked at each other.
How many times had they done this?
Countless.
Yet, a second shoot was never necessary.
“Okay tall man, shoot.”
Both hands came around with only the index finger pointed.
“Right,” Sara said. “Fuck that sonuvabitch. Let’s get the kids home.”
***
The girls piled into Sara’s SUV and Kevin followed in the goat back to Locust Street.
Two cruisers and an unmarked car were still parked along the street and in their driveway.
Sergeant Brillo and a half dozen officers were all outside. They had done everything they could to find evidence of who was there.
There had been nothing.
No prints. Simply nothing, as though this Rico was a ghost.
Brillo informed the Dells they would have a continual police presence outside the house for the next 48 hours.
After 48 hours they would reassess.
//
Sara said, “So we should get a dog.”
Kevin answered with a firm, “Yes. Security systems are good to have, but a smart human can beat a machine, not a dog.”
Sara smirked. “Well, you know telling the kids that we’re getting a dog might be even better than when we set up the pool.”
Kevin smiled for the first time that evening. “That was fun.”
Eyeing her husband while he continued to scour over the kitchen cabinets, Sara said, “Well, with all of this commotion, I got some news for you, Mr. Tall Man, but it’ll have to wait till we get the kids settled.”
Kevin turned from the cupboard he had already checked three times.
Looked at his wife.
Sara always had a great poker face.
Making him wonder.
Kevin asked, “You wanna get them upstairs now? I can do that.”
“Yes, but I’ll take care of the upstairs. I want you to relax a bit before I tell you the news. Just help me round them up.”
Kevin nodded. “Pincer move?”
“I’ll take the front.”
Kevin moved from the dining room into the kitchen and down the hall to the living area where he found the girls, in their PJs, kneeling in front of the curved bay window, elbows planted on the sill, chins in hands, three little rear ends pointed at the couch across the room.
Watching the cops, still grouped in the front yard.
June, in silky blue matching pants and top, looking serious with her brow furrowed.
Kai, in a yellow, tinkerbell sweatshirt and green pants, watching with interest, one foot tapping a steady pattern on the carpet.
Zee, sandwiched between, wore orange and black tigger pants with a pink t-shirt that had a silver sparkly unicorn on the front.
She looked studious, but Kevin can tell she is waiting for any excuse to go ripping around the living room; instead, trying to follow the lead of her big sisters.
Looking around, she spotted her father and said, loudly, “Dad, wanna come watch the policeman with us?”
Sara rounded the front door stairway and June said, “Mom the police are still in the yard.”
Kai said, “I think they’re talking about daddy’s goat. They keep looking at it.”
“The police are going to be here for a little while longer,” Sara said. “But nothing to worry about. Time to get upstairs. It’s a school night.”
***
Kevin remained by the bay window, staring outside.
The days were nearing their longest, so the last remnants of light lingered.
Sergeant Brillo stood with three officers, the four forming a square on the squarish front lawn, next to the driveway, where the GTO was parked next to a cruiser.
Kevin couldn’t stop thinking the same thought: Rico was here.
Our home.
A violation that allowed no forgiveness.
He pulled out his cell and sent a text message to the faceless number that Luci gave him.
As long as you are a threat to my family I will hunt for you.
A few minutes later the sun set and Kevin turned on the outside lights and went outside to the sounds of the neighborhood at nightfall: the shrill voice of a child, a barking dog, a distant car engine, songbirds delivering a last announcement.
Lawn lamps lit up the yards next door and across the street.
Kevin approached Sgt. Brillo and guiltily told him that he sent Rico a text message.
“Not a biggie,” Brillo said.
He dismissed the other officers and gave Kevin his full attention.
Set his hands on his duty belt and said, “Phone’s probably destroyed by now. We’ll keep looking and others will too. We’ll get ‘em. Or somebody else will.”
Kevin, looking skeptical, watched the other officers get into their cruisers to drive off.
Not looking at Brillo, he asked, “So you think he’s gone?”
“Yes.”
Seeing the concern on his profile, Brillo added, “He probably found out who you are and what you were up to and somehow got your address.
“The guy’s a dirtbag. He was pissed, you know? Wanted to rip you off because you got between him and the big prize.”
“Makes sense, I guess,” Kevin said.
Brillo tried to sound more upbeat.
“Dell, try not to worry. If anyone needs watching, it’s Lucielle Pineiro. She has his money. Or money he thinks of as his.”
He looked at Brillo. “Does she get to keep it?”
“Probably. I mean, we still can’t prove who actually bought the damn ticket.”
Threw a thumb over his head to indicate a direction toward the center of town.
“We got her at the station. Probably be there all night. Poor kid. Never had a clue what this asshole was up to, but we have to get everything she can tell us.”
He touched Kevin, looking away again, on the arm near the elbow, adding when he looked at him, “Seriously Dell, try not to worry. This perp targets high-cost items that he can easily carry.
“He probably stopped here just to grab something and piss you off, but ran out of time. You were right behind him.”
Still skeptical, Kevin said, “I suppose.”
“Shit. What pisses me off is he was at Foster Street—when my guys were watching! Fucker probably knew we were there the whole time.”
Kevin, unable to stop imagining Rico lurking in his home as the school bus arrived, pinched the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger.
The mind-numbingness of life’s infinite outcomes.
Forced himself to think and said, “Selfies.”
“What?”
“June. My daughter showed me. The kids are doing it. The picture thing with their cell phones.”
Brillo nodded. “Right. We already started with the neighborhood. Talked to Lucielle Pineiro’s friends. Maybe we get lucky and get a picture of the guy. We’ll see.”
Kevin looked intently at the Sergeant, thinking of how he called the perp a dirtbag and asshole.
While this Rico person was certainly not honorable or altruistic, Kevin felt there was something different going on than the usual bad guy.
He asked the Sargent, “You really think one guy was clever enough to pull off all this mayhem and somehow remain invisible?”
Brillo snorted.
Having learned that Kevin was not somebody you tried to fool, he said, “I know Dell, I know.”
Shook his head in chagrin, in a way that someone did when the big prize slipped away.
Brillo nodded and looked at Kevin saying, “Gotta tell ya Dell, this guy? Almost forty fuckin years and I never come across someone like this. People are people. Predictable. But this guy?
“Someone this capable and remaining a complete mystery—and a stone-cold killer?”
The Sargent shook his head once more.
“Very scary indeed. Can’t help but admire him in a fucked up way, though. Gotta wonder what makes a guy that capable turn into what he did, ya know?”
Kevin nodded that he understood.
Brillo looked at Kevin with admiration and said, “But you almost caught him.”
A look of disappointment, Kevin said, “Almost.”
“Well, I wish you would’ve called me right away, but shit happens in the moment. Believe me, I know what that’s like.
“But for what it’s worth, I don’t think this is a guy who sticks around. My money says he’s already long gone.”
Brillo added, “Still, if it makes you feel better, I’m gonna take the first shift tonight.
“Me or another officer will be right here. In front of your house all night long. Tonight and tomorrow and whenever, if need be.
“You feel nervous, you call me.”
His gratitude apparent, Kevin said, “Thanks Sarge. That does make me feel better.”
A rare smile creased Brillo’s worn face and he looked 10 years younger.
“I heard about your drive across town. My guys saw you take off. One of my cars took off after you, but said you disappeared like a damn fart in the wind.”
Looking sheepish, Kevin said, “Sorry Sir. I didn’t know they were out there.”
Bowed his head and looked at his big feet.
Sighed and explained the best he could.
“That was a terrible moment, Sarge. The only thing that I knew for sure was there were still five minutes before the bus got here and I knew I could do it in five flat. A tad less, if everything went right.”
Brillo thought for a sec and said, “You were on Foster Street, right?”
Kevin offered only a slight nod.
The Sergeant gave him a long and thoughtful look.
Brillo knew that, even on his best day—with sirens blaring and blue lights flashing—he wouldn’t come close to navigating that distance in five minutes.
If someone else claimed such a thing, he would laugh in their face.
Finally he said, “Five minutes flat, huh?
Again, Kevin simply nodded.
Brillo eyed him a moment longer and smiled again, saying, “I will be honored to watch over your family tonight.”
***
At the conclusion of such a crazy day, Kevin found respite in his office.
Grabbed the latest novel and sat in his gaming chair and rotated to view Pollock’s Cathedral.
Settled and checked his cell.
Oh shit!
A message arrived from the number Luci had given him for Rico.
Feeling as though his stomach were in his throat, Kevin read the message.
Maybe you can find me but nobody else has been able to. Don’t waste your time. You have nothing to fear. I will never be back.
Wow!
There was a lot to digest in that statement.
Could Kevin truly not worry about Rico coming back?
Then why had he come in the first place?
And for whatever reason that may have been, why should he believe anything such a person would say?
We are machines, he thought.
Complex. Magnificent. Flawed.
And like Brillo said, there’s always a degree of predictability.
Or something like that.
But no, Kevin couldn’t simply take Rico’s word, as much as he would like to.
Not when the safety of his family was at stake.
His job was vigilance, for as long as he breathed.
There was a familiar knock on his office door and the door opened and Sara leaned in.
Kevin said, “Hey you.”
She returned a neutral look and said nothing.
Stepped into the office and closed the door.
Leaned back against it.
Looked at Kevin, who looked back (feeling just a tad nervous).
Sara was by nature, a quiet person.
Contemplative, like her husband.
Kevin said, “Weird day, huh?”
A nod and that unreadable expression again, making him wonder.
She could be mad?
Or she could be glad?
Two decades and counting and still moments of mystery, Kevin thought.
But, as he had countless times before, oh golly, she sure is beautiful.
Sara still said nothing.
Perplexed, Kevin asked, “Girls settled?”
“Yeah.”
“You sure you’re okay?”
Sara leaned back against the door and nodded.
Arched her back and put hands to the back of her waist, just above her bottom.
Half closed her eyes.
Straightened and sighed and finally smiled and said, “Told you I had some news.”
That’s when Kevin knew as much as he could know anything, that everything was going to be okay, the mad tinkerer remaining silent, as though in agreement.
There was a saying that he liked, from his favorite movie, Field of Dreams and it went something like: when all the tumblers in the universe fall into place.
Means that life is good and that it’s good to be alive and heck, they were gonna end up with an even number after all.
Sara said, “You are a little devil, you know that Kevin Dell. That last hurrah? … Well, I’m pregnant.”