Classified as Murder (33 page)

“FBI?” Truesdale put up his hands to ward Anita off. She stepped back, appearing confused. “What has the FBI got to do with anything?”

I watched Anita’s face as I replied. “They’re going to be investigating the thefts from Mr. Delacorte’s collection.” Anita paled and began to tremble.

Truesdale glanced at her. “What have you done, Anita?” The distaste in his voice was obvious.

“Nigel, honey, don’t look at me like that.” Anita smiled in what she probably thought was a coquettish fashion, but to me it simply looked like she had gas in her stomach. “I’m sure we can get this sorted out. After all, that belongs to you now.” She pointed to the folder. “Why don’t you just take it and put it back in the library, and we can forget all about this.”

“That’s utterly ridiculous,” I said. “
Tamerlane
isn’t the only thing you’ve stolen from the collection, and you know it.” I remembered the bracelet. “Where did your gentleman friend get the money to buy you that expensive piece of jewelry? Tell us that.”

Anita clutched at her wrist as if trying to hide the bracelet. Truesdale’s eyes narrowed as he regarded her. “So Mr. James was correct in thinking that items were missing from the collection.” He turned to me. “What has been stolen?”

“I think you’d better wait and speak to Deputy Berry about that.” I suddenly realized that if I started giving details about the missing books, Kanesha would probably be angry with me. She was the one running the investigation, and I had to be careful. “As a matter of fact, I think we need to call her right now.”

“That sounds like a very good idea.” Truesdale’s tone was grim. He strode over to a table near one of the bay windows and opened a box. He pulled out a telephone and punched in a number.

While he spoke with the sheriff’s department, I kept an eye on Anita. Diesel rubbed against my legs to remind me he was there, and I stroked his head a few times. Anita’s gaze swung back and forth between me and the door, and I feared she might try to run away. I moved a few feet closer to the door, and she glared at me.

“Deputy Berry is on her way here.” Truesdale came to stand by me, and we both watched Anita.

“Nigel, I can’t believe you’re acting this way. After all the nice things I’ve done for you, too.” Anita pouted. “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have known what was in Mr.—”

“Quiet!”

Truesdale was so loud and fierce as he roared out that one word. Anita, Diesel, and I all jumped.

In a quieter but still firm tone, he continued, “I think you had better not say anything more until you have an attorney to represent you. You wouldn’t want to say anything that could get you into deeper trouble, would you?”

Anita stared at him and then nodded. She didn’t say a word.

Truesdale turned to me. “Why don’t you take that to the library and wait for the deputy there? I’ll keep watch over Miss Milhaus and ensure that she doesn’t run away.”

And give you a chance to talk privately,
I added silently. How stupid did he think I was?

“No, I think I’ll wait here with you.” I smiled.

A voice spoke from behind us. “I’ll take over now. Ms. Berry’ll be here in five minutes.”

I was happy to see Deputy Bates. The situation might have turned ugly, because Truesdale might have challenged me over staying in the room.

I handed the deputy the archival folder, along with my handkerchief. “This was in Ms. Milhaus’s bag. It’s extremely valuable. Deputy Berry will be happy to know it’s been found.”

Bates held the handkerchief and folder gingerly, and he examined the contents. His expression revealed his skepticism about the value of the contents, but he simply nodded.

“Why don’t you folks sit down while we’re waiting? It won’t be long.” Bates gestured toward the sofas, and Anita moved to one and sat. Truesdale ignored the deputy’s suggestion and went to stand by the mantel instead.

I glanced past Bates to see Sean standing in the doorway. I motioned for him to come in as I moved farther back from where Bates stood guard. There was a seat in the bay window, and I headed for it.

Sean joined me there, and Diesel leaned against my legs.

“What’s going on?” Sean spoke in an undertone. “Bates got a call, and the next thing I knew, he was hustling me out and locking the door.”

I explained what had happened, and Sean said, “Whoa. You have got to be kidding me. Right there in her bag.”

I nodded, and Sean grinned. He leaned forward and scratched Diesel’s head. “Good for you, cat.”

Diesel chirped a couple of times, and I’d almost swear he smiled at Sean.

“What’s going on? What are all you people doing in here?”

Hubert Morris stood in the doorway, looking irritable. Then he spotted Anita on the couch. He glanced at his watch and frowned. “Anita, I thought you’d be on your way to Memphis now. You’re going to miss your plane.”

“Shut up, Hubie,” Anita hissed at him.

“Don’t tell me to shut up.” Hubert took several steps into the room but paused when Bates turned toward him.

“Why don’t you have a seat, Mr. Morris.” Bates gestured with one hand. “Deputy Berry will be here in a couple minutes, and I reckon she’ll want to talk to all of you.”

By now Hubert had spotted the archival folder Bates held, and it was obvious to me that Hubert recognized it—and its contents.

“Um, I’m really busy right now.” Hubert started backing up. “I’ve, uh, got to call the funeral home. Yeah, that’s right. I’ve got to make arrangements for my wife.” He turned to flee.

Hubert’s luck was out. Kanesha stepped into the room and blocked his exit.

“Going somewhere, Mr. Morris?” Her voice was cool. “If you don’t mind, I’d prefer you hang around until I find out what’s going on here.”

Hubert’s shoulders slumped, and he slunk over to the sofa opposite Anita and plunked himself down. Anita glared at him, but he stared at the floor.

“Bates, I’d like to speak to you for a minute.” Kanesha remained in the doorway, and Bates walked over to her. They conferred in low voices while the rest of us waited in an increasingly tense silence.

I thought back to what Anita said to Truesdale, when he cut her off and warned her about talking until she had a lawyer. What had she said exactly?
If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have known what was in Mr.—
That was when the butler interrupted her.

I was willing to bet that the final words of that sentence were “Delacorte’s will.”

Anita had told Truesdale about the contents of James Delacorte’s will. But how had she known? Then I remembered what Alexandra Pendergrast told me only a little while ago. Anita’s niece worked as a paralegal for Q. C. Pendergrast. Anita and her niece talked a lot on the phone.

Therefore the niece must have gossiped about James Delacorte’s will.

The full implications of the situation hit me then.

If Truesdale already knew he was James Delacorte’s chief heir, his fainting at the reading of the will was nothing but an act. He wanted everyone to think the inheritance was a complete surprise.

But if I was right about what Anita meant to say, then he clearly had a strong motive for murdering his longtime employer.

Truesdale had just moved to the head of the line of suspects in James Delacorte’s murder, as far as I was concerned.

Kanesha moved forward into the room, her conversation with Bates finished. She positioned herself near the end of the sofa Anita occupied, and that meant Sean and I had a clear view of everyone in the room.

“Mr. Morris, Ms. Milhaus.” Kanesha paused, perhaps to be certain that Hubert and Anita were paying attention. “I’m going to ask both of you to accompany me to the sheriff’s department. I have questions for both of you, and I think it best to talk to you there.”

Hubert started sputtering, half rising from the sofa. “This is outrageous. You can’t treat me like this.” He plopped back down on the sofa.

“I’m not arresting you, Mr. Morris—yet.” Kanesha put her right hand on the gun at her waist. “Let’s do this the easy way, all right?”

Hubert nodded. He seemed to be staring at Kanesha’s gun, and I had to admire the subtle way the deputy had intimidated him.

Anita still hadn’t said a word. When I glanced at her, she had her eyes closed. Her mouth was moving, but no sound came out. Was she praying? If she was, she’d better ask for a miracle, because I figured that was the only thing that could help her and Hubert now.

Truesdale, from his vantage point by the fireplace, watched everything with a blank face. I avoided looking at him, because I didn’t want to risk his reading my suspicions on my face. I’m not always good at hiding my thoughts.

Bates came forward and motioned for Hubert to follow him. Hubert rose from the sofa and moved on unsteady legs toward the deputy. Bates took him by the arm and led him out of the parlor.

“Ms. Milhaus.” Kanesha spoke in a sharp tone. Anita appeared oblivious, and Kanesha had to reach over and touch her on the arm to get a response out of her.

“I’m taking you to the sheriff’s department.” Kanesha grasped Anita by the arm as she rose. The contents of Anita’s tote bag were still on the floor, and Kanesha guided Anita around them and a few steps away.

Kanesha stopped, and Anita did the same. Kanesha pulled the radio mike from her shoulder and spoke into it. “Franklin, I need you inside, and bring the kit. First room on the right.” She replaced the mike.

“We’ll be going in a moment,” Kanesha said.

“Deputy Berry.” I stood, and Kanesha turned her head in my direction. “I really need to speak with you about something. It’s important.”

Kanesha frowned. “And I need to talk to you, Mr. Harris. Please be patient, and I’ll get to you as soon as I can.”

“This can’t wait,” I said.

Kanesha glared at me. I stared right back at her, refusing to back down.

Another deputy, a beefy blond, entered the parlor then, and Kanesha motioned him forward. “Take Ms. Milhaus down to the station, Franklin. I’ll be along as soon as I can to question her.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Franklin took Anita by the arm and started to lead her away. “Come with me, ma’am.”

Once they were out of the room, Kanesha spoke again. “Mr. Truesdale, I need a statement from you, and I think I’ll take yours first. Please, have a seat.” She motioned toward the sofa lately occupied by Hubert.

Truesdale did as she asked, but he looked none too happy.

Kanesha turned back to me. “Mr. Harris, if you and your son—and your cat—will wait in the other parlor across the hall, I’ll be with you as soon as I finish speaking with Mr. Truesdale.”

I really wanted to talk to Kanesha first, before the butler, but I didn’t think I could sway her—short of accusing Truesdale openly of murder right this minute. I might as well give in now. At least I could spend the time until she came to talk to me marshaling my thoughts. I’d have to make a cogent, forceful argument because I figured she was set on either Hubert or Anita as the killer. Their guilt in the thefts from the rare book collection was obvious, and I was sure Kanesha still believed the thefts were the motive for the murders.

“Okay,” I said. “I’ll be waiting.” I stood, and Sean and Diesel followed me out of the room. I didn’t look back.

Sean didn’t say anything while we crossed the hall, but the moment we were inside the small parlor with the door shut, he said, “Okay, Dad. What is it that can’t wait? I thought for a minute there you were going to burst a blood vessel.”

I was only half listening to Sean. I remembered there was a desk in the room, and I made a beeline for it. Under normal circumstances I wouldn’t have poked through the drawers of a desk in someone else’s home, but I wanted pen and paper. I needed to jot down the bits and pieces of things I was remembering to see if they all added up.

“I think Truesdale is the killer,” I said as I opened a side drawer in the elegant roll-top desk. No paper in that one. I opened the next one down. Bingo. I pulled out three pieces of expensive-looking stationery and sat down at the desk. I pushed the roll-top up to use the surface of the desk, and inside I found a tray with several pens and pencils.

Diesel placed a paw on my leg and meowed. I gave him a quick rub on the head, and he sat down by me.

“The butler? You’ve got to be kidding.” Sean laughed.

“I’m not,” I said. “I’ve got to get some things down on paper before Kanesha comes in here. I’ll explain it all later, but now I need you to let me work.” I flashed my son a quick, apologetic smile.

“Sure, Dad.” Sean sat in a nearby chair. “I’ll sit here and watch Sherlock do his thing.”

I ignored that little sally as I stared at the blank piece of paper in front of me.

I picked up a pen. I would write down whatever occurred to me. I could reorganize it as needed.

I printed Truesdale in block capitals across the top of the page.