Chapter Forty-Two
Rosemarie continued to maintain her innocence to her attorney while they walked to their cars, but her calm demeanor deserted her as soon as she was on her way to her apartment building.
Walter was a dangerous psychotic who was prone to paranoia.
She knew he admired her because she was one of the few people who was smarter than he was and just as ruthless, but she also knew that he could turn on her if he saw her as a threat.
By the time she parked in her reserved space, Rosemarie had decided to hire security guards. She was distracted by these thoughts and did not notice the van that was driving toward her until it was too late.
When Walter Zegda and Gabby Wright walked into the garage, the effects of the drug that had been injected when Rosemarie was kidnapped had worn off, and she was aware that she was tied to a chair that was resting on a large plastic sheet.
“Good afternoon, sunshine,” Walter Zegda said.
“Untie me,” Rosemarie demanded.
“Patience, Rosemarie. I’ll loosen some of your bonds when we have our contest.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’ll give you the details later. Right now, I’m more interested in finding out why you tried to shoot me.”
“I didn’t. What makes you think I’d do something like that?”
“Maybe because you wanted to make sure that I wouldn’t tell the authorities that you offed Terrance to keep him from telling everyone where you’re hiding the money he stole.
“And don’t tell me you wouldn’t be able to pick me off from the woods behind my house. The night we made love at your home in Dunthorpe, you showed me all the animals you’d bagged.
“I’m also interested in finding out what you told the police. Gabby followed you to police headquarters, so don’t lie to me.”
“Why would I tell them anything? They can’t prove I’ve committed any crimes.”
“That’s what anyone who was about to be tortured would tell me.”
“You’re going to torture me?”
Zegda shrugged. “It’s the only way I can be certain that you’re telling me the truth. But first, we’re going to have a contest that will decide whether you die quickly or slowly after I decide that I have all the information I need.”
“Please, Walt, be reasonable. Why kill me? We make a great couple. Look at all the money we’ve made, and we’re great in bed. Admit it. I’m the only woman you can see as an equal.”
“Everything you say is true. I’ve never had better sex than I’ve had with you, and we’ve made a fortune together. But a relationship can’t survive when one of the partners tries to kill the other one. I’m certain an advice columnist would agree with me. So, on to our contest. Gabby.”
Gabby produced two Rubik’s Cubes.
“I’ve been trying to break the world record for solving the cube for months. Sadly, I keep failing by fractions of seconds. Have you ever solved one of these babies?”
“Yes.”
“Good. So, here’s what we’ll do. You get to pick the cube you want to work with, so you can be certain I’m not rigging the contest. Then Gabby will time us.
Wolf used to work the clock, but you killed him, so Gabby is filling in.
Wolf was my best friend, by the way. That gives me an added incentive to cause you a lot of pain.
However, you will earn a quick death if you beat me.
I looked up your IQ, and I know you scored ten points higher than I did, so you have an edge.
But if you fail … I’ve been studying books on anatomy and torture, and I can promise you a very long and very unpleasant couple of months. ”
“Don’t do this, Walt. I swear I never tried to kill you.”
“If that’s true, I will have made a terrible mistake. Now, let’s get started. Pick your cube, Rosemarie.”
“Gabby’s right hand.”
“Okay. Gabby, untie Rosemarie’s hands and give her the cube.”
Rosemarie shook out her hand to get the circulation back, Zegda flexed his fingers, and Gabby took out a stopwatch.
“Is everyone ready?” Gabby asked.
Rosemarie and Walt nodded.
“Ready, set, go!”
Rosemarie’s and Zegda’s fingers moved so quickly it was hard to see them. Then Rosemarie screamed, “Done!”
Zegda stopped and stared. He hadn’t finished. “Gabby?” he asked.
“Three point one two.”
“Son of a bitch,” Zegda swore. “You did it. You broke the world’s record. Congratulations. Sadly, no one will ever know. Gabby, take back the cube, and let’s string our champion up to the rafters.”
Gabby took two steps toward Rosemarie when the door to the garage crashed open and a team of police officers led by Audrey Packer and Chad Remington ran into the garage.
“How did you know I was here?” Rosemarie asked Audrey as she was being hustled out of the garage and into an ambulance to be checked by a paramedic.
“We thought that Zegda would come after you. So, you were followed as soon as you left police headquarters.”
“Thank God! Zegda is insane. He was going to torture me, but he challenged me to a contest with a Rubik’s Cube first. He said he would kill me quickly, after he tortured me, if I won.”
“Did you?” Audrey asked. She was unsympathetic, and it showed in her tone of voice.
Rosemarie stared at her. “You can’t still think I committed any crimes.”
Audrey met Rosemarie’s stare. “Now more than ever. Tell me, why do you think Zegda wanted to torture you if you had nothing to do with his criminal enterprises?”
“Maybe because he’s stark staring mad.”
“When we question Walter about his motivation for kidnapping you, we’ll find out if he’s crazy, if he’s worried that you’ll tell me about your involvement with your late husband’s scams, or if he only knew you from brief chats at Mensa meetings.”
“Audrey, I’m completely innocent. You have to believe me,” Rosemarie said when they arrived at the ambulance and the EMTs took over.
The detective turned her back on Cogen and walked away.
“What do you think?” Chad asked his partner.
“She’s dirty. I know it. She killed her husband, and she tried to kill Zegda so no one could tie her to Terrance’s schemes.”
“Assuming you’re right, can we prove it?”
“I’m definitely going to try.”