Murder in the Dorm (19 page)

Charlie got to his office a little before his class, which went well. When he returned to his office, on his way to lunch, he had a call from DeVries.

“Charlie. Now that we don’t have to look for McDermott’s laptop and the forensic accountants are doing what they can about the money, it looks like Guy and I are done with the case. I wanted to let you know so you wouldn’t think I was cutting you out of the loop by not calling. We certainly have enough to do and I don’t see us getting anywhere with this case. Do let me know if you learn anything new.”

“I certainly will, but I was thinking this morning that it looks pretty hopeless. I take it your techies haven’t had any luck tracing any of the emails?”

“None at all. Whoever was sending them knew what he was doing. Okay, have to go. Take care.”

Charlie put the phone down and started in on his emails, suddenly feeling fed up with the case. Eventually he went to the Club for lunch.

The first thing Charlie noticed was that Baynes was at the Club table with Jones. He quickly went over and snagged a seat next to Baynes and joined in the conversation about student entitlements or what students perceived as such. When lunch was pretty much over, Jones announced he had a class to prepare and left. By then Charlie and Baynes were the only ones left. Charlie offered brandy but Baynes insisted it was his turn. When they were served Baynes asked if there was anything new on the case. Charlie told him about Giacomo’s allocution and his admitting he’d taken McDermott’s computer and destroyed it. He added that DeVries and her partner were off the case unless the forensic accountants came up with something.

“They won’t. I’ve heard about that sort of thing. They’ll dig around and contact Interpol and who knows what other agencies and it’ll come to nothing. The banks are being more cooperative, but mainly with tax situations and when it’s governments that are doing the pressing. If the money is all that the police have to work with, your third party is free and clear. Even if the police got a lead, it would be years before anything came of it. Looks like this one got away from you, Charlie.”

“There were two murders involved.”

“Well, yes and no. I understand McDermott killed Kelsey, so that’s a write off. And they have McDermott’s killer, Giacomo. The fact that someone put him up to it is basically only his claim. He has no evidence.”

“What about his first lawyer and his sons’ tuition being paid?”

“He could have done that himself, claiming someone else did it.”

“I guess you’re right. In the end, the only real evidence for a third party is the money being gone and those files McDermott or Kelsey kept about the split.”

“Either Kelsey or McDermott could have moved the money around; they certainly had the know-how. As for the files, the three-way split could have been a ruse McDermott or Kelsey pulled on the other.”

“I’m still convinced there is a third party. I even had poor Janice Sommers cast in the role.”

“I thought that was a nonstarter. I couldn’t see Janice involved in a scam. No, she left because of the promotion thing, period.”

“What would you do in my place?”

“Honestly? I’d drop the whole thing. I don’t see you getting anywhere, or the cops for that matter. Now it’s just a distraction. Forget it, Charlie.”

“I’m glad you’re paying for the brandy because all you’ve done is depress me.”

“Look, Charlie, last time around you were dealing with a case where you knew the parties involved and some of the background. This is different. It’s all outside your department and you didn’t know any of the people involved. I wouldn’t feel bad about admitting that, with nothing to go on, you’re not going to get anywhere. All you’re going to do is frustrate yourself and probably irritate Kate. You’ve been at this for months. Let it go.”

After three or four minutes of silence, Baynes excused himself and left. Charlie was in a foul mood. He could find nothing wrong in Baynes’ thinking. He had to admit that he had zero to go on. He also felt some shame that he seemed to care as much about not solving the case as that someone was getting away with a lot of money and prompting a murder. Charlie also realized that he’d enjoyed Kate’s interest and participation. Now they both had to give up. It was also true that he was likely starting to irritate people with his interest. Baynes had struck him as tired of the whole matter as he’d left. There were no doubt others that saw his interest as a tedious obsession. Well, he had nothing to lose, really, if he packed it in, and that’s what he should do. In fact, probably after a bit Kate would be relieved, too. Okay, then; no more case. Charlie finished his brandy, got up, and was on his way out the main door when he ran into Jones just coming in.

“Charlie. Left my briefcase. At least I hope I left it here. Did you and Richard solve the case?”

“Hardly. In fact, I think Richard is fed up with it. He left a little abruptly after telling me more than once that I should just drop it.”

“Well, I haven’t been following it, but from what I’ve heard it does sound to me like you’re dealing with a hopeless situation. Perhaps in time the police will come up with something.”

“Oh, I think that unlikely. The detectives I know are now done with the case. All the police have is a faint hope of finding the money, which seems unlikely.”

“That’s too bad; I think Richard was counting on you to come up with a solution. He may feel bad about McDermott and would like to see the loose ends tied up.”

“Why would Richard feel bad about McDermott?”

“Well, I saw them together a number of times when I went to Richard’s office to pick him up on our way down here for lunch, so I assume he felt bad about McDermott being killed. But I’m sorry; I really have to look for my briefcase.”

With that Jones hurried into the Club and Charlie was left to absorb what he’d just heard.

Chapter 34

The Last Friday

Charlie woke with the same thought in mind that he’d had when he went to sleep: Baynes knew McDermott. He hadn’t mentioned it to Kate the night before because he was afraid of blowing the point out of proportion. After all, Baynes was in computing and had been head, and McDermott had been in computing. When Charlie first met him, he recalled Baynes saying he’d spoken with McDermott only a few times. He also remembered Baynes saying he was dubious about the sort of questions McDermott had asked. Now Evan Jones was saying he’d seen them together a number of times, clearly enough times that Jones thought Baynes would feel bad about McDermott’s death. He’d think up a pretext and call Jones; he certainly wasn’t going to ask Baynes.

Charlie arrived at his office in plenty of time to sort out what he needed for his class. He was there promptly at nine and the class went well and distracted him. Back in his office, Charlie called Jones.

“Evan, this is Charlie. Are you going to lunch at the Club and did you find your briefcase?”

“Charlie; good morning. Yes, I found it, but no, I’ve got too much to do for this afternoon. Was there something you wanted?”

“It’s just a quick question. I was talking with Richard yesterday and I think I riled him a bit. We were talking on about the case. I just wanted to check with you whether you think Richard might have been offended by something I said or implied about McDermott. From what you told me yesterday, it occurred to me Richard might have known him better than I thought.”

“Oh, I don’t think he’d take offense. As I told you, I did see them talking fairly often, but I don’t think Richard was close to McDermott. I saw them together when I went to collect Richard to go to lunch and usually in the corridor outside of Richard’s office, though sometimes in the office. I wouldn’t worry about it, Charlie.”

“Okay, Evan, thank you. It just niggled at me. See you next time.”

On his way to the Club Charlie decided that given what Jones had said, there was a definite discrepancy between Baynes’ claim that he’d only spoken to McDermott a few times and Jones’ comments. But did it matter? Only to the extent that Baynes had played down their connection, and that might be important.

Could Baynes be the third party? If Baynes was the third party, things were much neater than otherwise. He was in computing, he’d known both McDermott and Kelsey first hand, and he would know how to send untraceable emails. Charlie thought that Baynes’ original story about Kelsey could have been a ploy. Jones no doubt had said something about Charlie looking into the case and Baynes would have quickly come up with a reason to meet Charlie to learn if he knew anything that threatened him. And in retrospect, what he’d learned from Baynes didn’t come to much.

Charlie went to the cafeteria for a sandwich and skipped going to the Club. The last thing he wanted was to find Baynes there. He did a bit of work and went home early. Over a glass of pinot noir he recounted to Kate what Jones had said and what he’d been thinking.
 

“Hummm. Now that does sound like a real break. I agree that Baynes was misleading you when he said he only spoken to McDermott a few times. And why would he want to mislead you except to distance himself from McDermott? I think what you have to do is find someone else who saw them together. You can’t just take Jones’ word against Baynes’ word. Do you know anyone else in computing?”

“No, but I think I know how to do it. It’ll just take a phone call, but I have to hurry since it’s close to five.”

Charlie called Mason Blake, hoping he was still in his office. He was.

“Mason, this is Charlie. I’m sorry to call late, but something’s come up and I need to ask you a question.”

“We’re talking a double sundae; I was just leaving.”

“Okay, okay. I need to ask if you know whether McDermott spoke much with Richard Baynes.”

“With Baynes? Well, I did see them together, both in Bayne’s office and a couple of times in the snack bar we have in the basement next to the computer store. Why is it important?”

“Will you keep it to yourself?”

“Are we talking another double sundae?”

“Yes, we are.”

“Okay.”

“It’s just that when Baynes told me some stuff about Kelsey, he also said he’d only spoken to McDermott a few times.”

“No, that’s not so. They may not have been big buddies, but I certainly saw them talking more than a few times.”

Charlie thanked Blake, reminding him to keep his confidence, and hung up. He told Kate what Blake had said and added that perhaps Baynes was just trying to avoid what was happening right now, namely, Charlie becoming suspicious but for no good reason.

“That could be. In any case, Charlie, the only thing you can do is to confront Baynes, and that might not be wise. I still think you should drop the whole thing.”

Charlie wasn’t happy about it, but he had no rejoinder. Kate was right. Confronting Baynes wasn’t a good idea, at least not without more to go on.

“Do you think I should call DeVries?”

“And tell her what? You don’t have enough. This discrepancy is like the coincidence of Sommers leaving and Giacomo’s money stopping. You’d only annoy her, Charlie.”

“I can’t just drop it. Baynes misled me.”

“Then risk asking him. But you might well regret it. If just by chance he is the third party, don’t forget that then he’s the one that had Giacomo shoot McDermott. Do you want him sending somebody after you? After us?”

“No; of course not. I certainly wouldn’t put you at risk. But there must be some way to follow up on this. I’m going to think about it. Let’s drop it now and go out for dinner. I owe you that for going on about this damn case.”

Kate didn’t argue with that proposal.

Chapter 35

The Last Weekend

Saturday morning Charlie slept late and the rare occurrence that resulted was that when he went to the kitchen for coffee and a muffin, Kate was already on her second cup.

Halfway through his first cup Charlie asked a possibly provocative question.

“You still think I shouldn’t call DeVries and tell her my suspicions?”

“To what end? Does DeVries even know who Baynes is?”

“I told her he’d given me some information on Kelsey. It’s just possible she did a little digging to check on the source of the info.”

“Charlie, you’re clutching at proverbial straws. I can’t see Baynes registering on DeVries’ radar.”

“No, you’re right. It’d be a waste of her time. It’s not as if I’ve something tangible to tell her. Okay, what are our plans for today?”

“Plenty of nothing. I don’t feel like going out. I’m going to unlax, as you would put it, and read. You can, too, after you do one small job.”

“Job? What job?”

“You have to clean the junk out of my computer; it’s been running slow. You do that and I’ll do something interesting about lunch.”

Charlie ran a couple of his favorite cleanup programs on Kate’s computer and was, once again, taken aback by the amount of useless junk he found and deleted. When he finished he thought some more about what had been on his mind while clearing out the computer. He decided to go ahead and called Baynes.

“Richard, this is Charlie. I wonder if we could have lunch somewhere tomorrow. I’d like to talk to you somewhere other than next week at the Club.”