chapter 48

we kept a close watch on zaddicos's movement s with surveillance team of three cars. if he made move to dump the gun, we will know. if he move to kill again, we hoed we could stop him. No matter how clever he was, I didn't see how he could execute another murder right now.

I wanted to speak with someone who knew him, who might be willing to talk. Gabriel had mentioned his ex wife, a history of violence between them. I needed to talk with her.

it wasn't hard to track down mabel Zaddicos, now Mabel Miller. A search through the police files had her maiden name listed as part of the domestic complaint she filled against her husband years before. A Mabel Miller was residing at 1115 filbert street on the Russian Hill.

it was an attractive limestone house on the steepest part of the hill. I buzzed, identified myself to the housekeeper whi answered, she informed me that Ms. Miller was not at home. "Ehersizing," she said, "Gold's Gym. in Union."

I found the gym around the corner between a Starbucks an Alfredson's market. at reception, a buffed, ponytailed staffer informed me that Mabel was in Exercise Room C. when I asked what Mabel Miller looked like, the staffer laughed. "think blond. and kick-ass fit, I wondered in, and through a large observation window, spotted a Tae-Bo class in Exercise Room C. about eight women sweating in Lycra and jog bras were kicking their legs out in karate style to loud music. I knew that Tea-Bo was the latest exercise craze, the biggest burn. Any one of these women looked as if she could take a resisting suspect up against a wall, then beat the patrol car back to the precinct with breath to spare.

the only blonde was in front. trim, sculpt ed, pushing herself hard and barely breaking a sweat. it was her class.

l hung around untill she finished up and most of the class rushed out. she toweled the seat off her face.

Great workout," I said, as she headed my way.

"the best in the Bay Area. looking to sign up?"."maybe. first I thought I could ask you a couple of question,"

"try Diane up front. she can tell you the whole deal."

" I wasn't talking Tae-Bo." I flashed her my badge,

I'm talking Richard Zaddicos."

Mabel stared at me, flapping her blond ponytail off her shoulder to cool her neck. she smirked. " what did he do, get caught shoplifting one of his books out of Stacey's downtown?"."can we talk?" I asked.

she shrugged and Les me over to a changing area that was unoccupied. "so what could I tell you about Richard that you couldn't find out from one of his jacket flaps?"

I know it was several years ago," I said, but you once filled a domestic complaint against him.

"listen, in case the paperwork didn't catch up, I dropped the charge back then."

I could see terror of the moment exploding all over again for her. "look," I said genuinely, "no one's trying to dig up d wounds, Ms. Miller. I'd just like a read on your ex-husband."

"up to his old truck again?

I could see her sizing me up. was I an ally or a doe? then she let out a capitulating breath and looked right at me.

if you are here about lilly, I could have warned her, if he hadn't been such a creep about how he dumped me. How did he put it, I write through her, Mal. she inspires me. you ever read his books, inspector?" she asked. " she didn't have to inspire him by holding a job down while he went off and found himself, did she? she didn't have to read his drafts, deal with his rages when he got rejected, tell him every night how much she believes in him. you know where he met her? in the makeup room at Entertainment tonight."

"what I'm asking, Ms. Miller," I said, "is how violent is Richard Zaddicos?"

she paused, looked away. when she turned back, her eyes filled up Asif she were about to cry.

"you know, you come in here after all this time and make me go through this again. what do you want me to say? that his mother didn't love him? that he's a screwed-up, dangerous man? life with Richard... it's so hard. He's holding something in and God only knows when it's going to come out. I would ask myself, why? what had I dine? I was just a kid, Her eyes glistened .

"I'm sorry, I truly felt for her. for both Mrs Zaddicos. I couldn't even imagine what it's like to wake up and find myself married to someone like him.

"I need to ask, I said. what chances things with your ex-husband have intensified? Become more serious,"

she looked stunned. is lilly all right, inspector?"

Lilly's all right, I nodded making it clear I felt there were others who might not be.

she waited for me to blink. when I didn't, she gave me a mirthless laugh. so I guess we are talking a lot deeper than pilfering a book from Stacey's bookstore?"

I noded again. women to woman now, I said, "I need to ask you a crucial question, Ms. Miller.