Dead Deceiver (22 page)

“You know, don’t you, that everything I’m telling you now will very likely get me killed.”

“Maybe not,” said Lew. “You give me enough information, I can lock your brother up before he hurts anyone.”

“Yeah,” said Charles, “but he always gets out, doesn’t he.” He sipped from the glass of water that Osborne handed him then set it back on the desk, though his right hand shook so hard he almost knocked it over.

“I know my faults but I also know that I have … great affection for this woman I’m married to. Not sure I know what love is—but I care so much for Patience. Once Dick started the spam operation and I saw the damage it was doing to the college and to Patience, especially to Patience … She has worked so hard to build that college into something that her father would have been proud of …

Rocking back and forth, he spoke, looking as the memory alone might cause him to vomit any moment. Charles managed to get out the words, “I kicked him out last week.”

“Dick,” said Lew.

“Yeah, I told him enough was enough and he had to stop—he had to leave town. No more using my wife to run this horrible fraud. I expected a repercussion of some kind but for God’s sake, the man made over half a million!”

Charles paused, head down, then said raised his eyes to Lew and said, “I thought I had talked him into taking it all the money and leaving. ‘Take it all, every penny,’ I said. ‘Just get the hell out of here—now, today. Please.’ I made it clear the money was all his. He seemed to agree.

“Then the break-in while I was gone. He knew I was going to be away that weekend and he must have figured he had one more opportunity to make money. But when he got here and found that someone had substituted a different laptop and changed the password and email addresses … I’m sure he assumed it was me.”

“I don’t understand why he would leave the obvious—that semen on the bedclothes?” asked Bruce. “He knows that’s easy to trace through DNA. And it is your house, after all. Your marital bed.”

“I said my brother is smart, I didn’t say he’s brilliant. He was angry that I tried to stop him His revenge? Make me take the rap for his spamming fraud. That mess on our bed was disgusting but it would make it look like I never went to the conference in Milwaukee. Maybe leave Patience thinking I had had another woman in the house. Who knows—but he did it to make it look like I had been there.

“With my record,” Charles pointed at the divorce documents, “who would believe me? Even if Patience did—no one else would. Why would they? I come across as a liar and a weirdo. One hell of an easy target and brother Dick knows it.”

“Where is he right now? That’s the question,” said Lew.

Charles stared at her. “I haven’t heard from him since the break-in but that doesn’t mean anything. I’ll do my best to help. I have to—for Patience.” He glanced over at Lew, “Am I under arrest this morning?”

“You’re an accomplice to computer fraud,” said Lew. “I have to. Sorry.”

“Would you let me tell Patience—in private?”

“Of course,” Lew said. “But first, since we know your brother is entering the college at random times to work on various computers, we must stop him. Where can we find the man?”

“I don’t know where he is living. In all these years, whenever he’s been around, he has never told me where he sleeps. Dick is always on the run from somebody. Half the time it’s the Feds, so he says it’s best if I don’t know. Hell, I don’t argue with the man—I don’t want to know.”

“How does he get in touch with you then?” asked Lew.

“Prepaid cell phones. Can’t be traced.”

“We know all about that,” said Bruce in a frustrated tone. “At least around here that’s the case.”

“Charles,” said Lew, “that art seminar you attended. Did you happen to buy any art supplies while you were there?”

“I got some new oil paints. Why?”

“Do you have the receipts?”

“I do. Patience’s accountant insists I keep all those. For when my art sells,” he snorted. “Fat chance for that happening.”

“Good, that’s all I need to know.” Charles gave her a curious look but Lew volunteered nothing more.

Bruce slid a photo across the table. “Mr. Mason, is this your brother?”

Charles looked down. “Yes, that’s Dick. Bigger than me, isn’t he? Always has been. Bigger, stronger. I’m the runt. But I am better looking, aren’t I?” He gave a sad smile.

C
HAPTER
28

A
short time later, after arranging for Patience and Charles to meet in private in the large conference room down the hall, Lew locked the door and returned to her own office.

“Time to set a trap?” asked Osborne as she walked into the room where he and Bruce were waiting. A nervous worry gripped him as it always did when he knew Lew was about to put herself in danger.

“Maybe,” said Lew. “Thanks to Beth and Dani, we know the pattern: even though he has never been seen, the network activity indicates that Dick Mason has been somewhere on the college grounds every other night. Assuming he keeps to that schedule, if I can have surveillance in place tomorrow night between nine and midnight—”

“But you are so shorthanded,” said Bruce. “Why don’t I check with my boss and see if we can provide back-up from Lincoln County?”

“No, but thank you for the offer, Bruce,” said Lew. “I want the FBI to take over ASAP. Now that we know who is behind the computer fraud—which really should have been their job—the least they can do is provide the manpower to nab the guy.

“Given that he is a fugitive from a federal prison in California and likely other warrants have been issued for his arrest—dammit, this case belongs to them.

“I’ve had it,” said Lew, slamming the file she was carrying down on her desk. “I’m tired of going with five hours of sleep every day and I’m tired of our department doing a half-assed job for the people we’re supposed to be working for. You know?”

It wasn’t a question but a rhetorical demand and Osborne had a flash of sympathy for the FBI bureau chief who would be on the receiving end of her phone call.

“As far as I’m concerned, screw their case in Ironwood, Michigan. It can’t possibly be as serious. This is a multi-million dollar scam happening under our noses. If the regional bureau won’t come through, I am prepared to go higher.”

“You know, Chief Ferris, you are absolutely right,” said Bruce, looking up from where he was sifting through the legal documents sent over from Minneapolis. “Not only is this a federal case but I know several FBI officials to call if the regional guy blows you off.”

“Good, but that doesn’t solve another problem I have with this case,” said Lew, striding back and forth with a grim look in her eye. “What if they agree to take over and take so goddamn long getting up here that Mason gets away? He has to know we’re closing in on him.”

“Right again,” said Bruce.

“That does it. I’m calling the regional bureau chief as soon as we’re finished here,” said Lew. “If he doesn’t have agents heading this way by morning—I’ll have his career.”

“In the meantime, Dani and I are planning to monitor the network tonight. I don’t want to take the chance that Mason might change his routine and try to access one of the computers tonight.”

“Is Todd available to help you out?” asked Osborne. “Because you need back-up if Mason shows. Let me stay with you.”

“I’d offer, too” said Bruce, “but I don’t have the credentials unless you want to deputize me.”

“Doc and I will be fine,” said Lew. “But thank you for offering. I’ll check with the sheriff’s department but with the tournament main events scheduled for tonight, he may not be able to spare anyone. I know Todd isn’t available. I’ve got both Todd and Roger working twelve-hour shifts ending late tonight.”

Lew checked her watch, “I hope Patience and Charles finish up soon. I want to call the FBI but not if I’m going to be interrupted—” At a knock on the door, she put a finger to her lips, then said, “Come in, please.”

“Chief Ferris?” asked Patience, poking her head through the doorway, “do you have a minute?”

“Certainly, come right in,” said Lew. “Would you prefer to meet in private?”

“No,” said Patience, glancing over at Bruce and Osborne, “everyone here knows the situation. May I sit down?”

Before Lew could answer, she took the chair in front of Lew’s desk. She seemed oddly composed: her features were relaxed and she walked with a new air of confidence.

“First, I’d like to say that Charles has told me everything and—you may find this strange—but I’m relieved. I’ve known in my gut that something was really, really wrong but now that the worst is out in the open … Well, it helps to know the enemy, doesn’t it?”

Patience offered a soft smile as she spoke. Her voice was calm, almost musical and she held herself with a grace that Osborne had not seen before.

“I’m very sorry things are turning out this way,” said Lew.

Patience raised a dismissive hand. “You know, I am convinced we can work this out. I’m willing to post whatever bail the judge feels appropriate so Charles can be released in my custody. He promises to stay with me—at least until we know what we both want.”

“And he is cooperating fully with our investigation,” said Lew.

“Charles may have made some foolish mistakes but he isn’t an out and out crook. After all, the money he took from me he was planning to spend on us. And he is a sweetheart. He isn’t domineering and cold like some men I’ve known.”

As she spoke, Osborne thought of her father: big, bombastic, bullying.

“Here is what I’ve decided,” Patience was saying. “Since I’m willing to spend hundreds of thousands from our family trust on Wheedon Technical College, why not spend some of that money on … on me and Charles? Maybe I can afford to be selfish for a change. So we’re going to go into couples’ therapy and see if we can work things out—even if Charles has to spend some time in prison. You know, I’ve never seen a therapist. Kind of looking forward to it.”

She paused and looked around at each of them, “You people must think I’m absurd.”

“I think you’ll feel better knowing all the facts and giving your marriage a try,” said Osborne. “I went through therapy during rehab at Hazelden and it changed my life. None of us are perfect.”

“Speak for yourself,” said Lew with a grin. Her face turned sober as she tipped a pen back and forth in her fingers. Osborne could see her deciding whether or not to speak. “Patience,” she said finally, “at the risk of making things even worse than they are at this moment, I feel like I must warn you. Very likely Charles is a compulsive womanizer. I don’t know that you—or therapy—can change that.”

“I am very aware of Charles’ emotional weaknesses,” said Patience. “When a person grows up without a strong mother—or a warm mother figure—that can happen. I know how that works. Still, worth trying. Don’t you think?”

“As long as you know what you’re getting into,” said Lew.

“Thank you, everyone. I appreciate the support.”

“Patience,” said Lew, “I am asking the FBI to take over the case. You have inherited a brother-in-law who, as you know now, is a wanted felon. Dani and I will monitor the computer network one last time tonight but the federal agents will need to meet with you when they arrive. Just a heads up.”

“Chief Ferris, have Beth or Dani ever seen Charles’ brother on the campus? Do we know what he looks like? Is he really identical to Charles?” asked Patience.

“If you are worried that you may have mistaken him for your husband, I doubt it,” said Bruce, walking over to hand her a photo of Dick Mason.

“To answer your question,” said Lew, “No. So far the only men that have been seen on campus during the time Dani has been monitoring the system have been the maintenance crew. I was with her last evening and—”

“What time was this?” asked Patience.

“Just after ten last night, why?”

“The college janitors leave by six,” said Patience. “It’s in their union contract. I wonder who she saw?”

“Whoa,” said Lew. “That’s good to know. I’ll get on that right away. Bruce, may I have one of Dick Mason’s mug shots? I’m meeting Dani at the college at seven tonight and I’ll run a photo by her.

“Will everyone excuse me now? It’s imperative I get hold of the FBI. I’ll need to brief them and that may take some time. Everyone except you, Dr. Osborne. I have one more question for you.”

“Well, Doc,” said Lew after Bruce and Patience had left, “right after I talk to the FBI, if there’s still time, I’d like to sneak in a run by the tournament. I can only take an hour but I haven’t seen it yet and I refuse to have done all this work around the tournament and not get at least a glimpse. Want to grab a snowmobile helmet and join me?”

“Sure, but why the helmet, Lew?”

“The front desk sent an email that Polaris just dropped off two new snowmobiles for the department. Every year they give us new ones to replace the ones they contributed last year.

“I need a trial run on one of the new sleds in case we have an emergency. So I thought we could ride over to the tournament and watch a little of the happenings. Maybe get a brat and a soda while we’re there? Then we’ll bring the sleds back and drive on out to the college for a few hours. And, if all goes according to plan, end the evening at your place?”

“Lewellyn, you deserve a break
and
a brat. Meet you back here at five o’clock.”

If there hadn’t been so much ice on the sidewalk, Osborne would have skipped to his car.

C
HAPTER
29

T
he snowmobile trail snaked along the east side of Loon Lake, along wetlands of tag alder, tamarack and black spruce where homes had never been built. The brand-new Polaris sled that Osborne was on surprised him. It hugged the trail on curves and gave a low hum rather than the traditional roar.

Never having been a big fan of the “motorhead” sport, he hadn’t expected to find the ride so enjoyable. But tonight the air was a delicious crisp-cold and his helmet, issued by the Loon Lake Police Department, fit comfortably, was designed for good peripheral visibility and, best of all, it was not fogging up. He had no trouble keeping Lew, who was outfitted in a black snowmobile suit with the bright red Loon Lake Police insignia on the back of her helmet, in plain sight.