One Deadly Sister (Sandy Reid Mystery Series #1) (13 page)

Detective Goddard sat at one of the white round tables on the enclosed white porch that ran across the back of Loraine Dellin’s white house, watching her arrange a teak tray with glasses and a pitcher of iced tea. From the porch, he could see out to the patio and pool area and beyond to the spacious backyard. Sliding glass doors connected the porch to a family room and kitchen area. Another glass door opened from the porch into the living room. Nice location, sitting on what passed for a hill in Florida. From the second floor, there was a slight ocean view.

He knew this house, had played here as a child back when she and Al were first married. Towson was entering politics, and this porch had been a popular gathering spot. As he recalled, she received this house in the divorce settlement. Back then, the house was all bright and sparkling. Even allowing for his exaggerated childhood impressions, the place seemed sullied now.

Harsh sunlight flooding the porch didn’t enhance Loraine either, yet he had to admit she was in good shape. He tried to picture her in a thong as Reid had claimed, but the image wouldn’t come. He couldn’t imagine she’d actually wear one. But if she did, yeah, he’d probably look twice. “Do you use the pool much?”

“Ah, the interrogation has begun. I notice you checking me out. You’re wondering if I work out. Yes, daily at the Club.”

He remembered her from before he went off to college. His father had just made police chief. Al Towson had just won the mayoral election. He won in spite of her cleverly exaggerating the bitter divorce proceedings into a major campaign distraction. She would have preferred to stay married and play the mayor’s wife, but it didn’t happen for her. Sabotaging his campaign seemed the next best thing. Goddard was uncertain what she had been up to the last few years.

“Must be expensive to keep up a place this size.”

“Is that code for my house appears shabby? To tell the truth I’ve been putting off some maintenance because a lot will be changed during the remodeling.”

“Big plans?”

“Yes, I’ve decided to put a major amount of money into renovations.” She passed the tea. “Everyone calls you Chip, right?”

Of course, she knew his nickname. She had called him Chipper and wiped his runny nose right here on this porch.

“Before you start asking, I wouldn’t say we remained close after the divorce, just civil. We’d chat briefly at parties and such.” She turned away from him and began fussing with the glasses. “Some love never fades.”

He doubted that was true. “Sorry for your loss. We’ve a suspect in custody, Raymond Reid. Have you heard of him?”

“Save the nonsense Chip, it annoys me. It’s all over the papers. I’m glad that man is behind bars. That’s exactly where he belongs. That’s why you’re here isn’t it? Shall we start over?”

“Sorry Mrs. Dellin. Your name came up.”

“Which town bitch talked about me this time?”

“It was in Reid’s statement. How did you meet him?”

“Megan Emerson’s little soirée a week ago,” she answered. “He came on to me. I guess you’d say I let him pick me up. How about that? First time for everything, they say. He was new in town. I was a little high. I felt sorry for him, so I agreed. It might be an amusing way to end the evening. While we were driving to his apartment, he started talking crudely. I had second thoughts. I said I had a headache and asked him to take me home. He became angry and then started his pitiful begging. As a result, I went along with it, sort of a mercy thing, if you know what I mean.”

He made notes. “You were intimate?”

“None of your business, yet I suppose I can’t deny it. I’ve never done anything like that before. An after-party fling for me, however he considered it the start of the romance of the century. I never dreamed he’d get serious. When he took me home, he wanted to come in. No gentleman would act in that manner. I had terribly misjudged him. I was frightened. I didn’t let him in. He phoned me the next morning. Said he loved me, for God’s sake, imagine. Pathetic. I tried to be civil at first but he kept calling. During the week, he showed up at my door. He was actually right out there on my front porch. I didn’t call the police because I didn’t want to admit I’d been with such a person.”

“You met him later at the Inn Towner. Poolside I understand.”

“Of course not poolside. However, I did meet him there. Didn’t know what else to do. By then I was certain he was stalking me. There were times when he was here, outside my house, late at night trying to watch me. I couldn’t go on with that. Indeed, the next time he phoned, I agreed to meet him at a neutral location.”

“He phoned you?”

“Yes, he wanted me to come to his apartment. I suggested the motel. I didn’t dare to go to his apartment; he might tie me up and do whatever those men do. I thought I could explain I had no interest in him and could let him down gently. So, we met at the Inn Towner. I suppose it’s difficult to understand.”

“When?”

“Saturday morning, one week after the party, the day of the shooting. I thought the motel was better than being seen in public. That was a big mistake. I just intended to talk. He misunderstood. Thought we were meeting for sex. He threatened me when I refused. He was all hung up on Al being my ex. Al and I had laughed at something at the party and Reid saw us. He said he knew I was still in love with Al, and that I wanted to go back to him. Of course, now I regret leaving the party with the weirdo. When I read they arrested him, I phoned the chief. There you have it, Loraine’s big indiscretion.”

“I need to ask you where you were Saturday afternoon.”

“The museum most of the afternoon. Then home.”

“How long at the museum?”

“I got there about three and I left about five. I talked to a docent and a couple of guards. They know me over there. They’ll remember me. How long is this going to take?”

“Did Reid ever say anything to lead you to believe he might kill Towson?”

“Absolutely. He said I’d love Al as long as he remained alive. He wished Al were dead. Is that what you mean? No doubt about it, he’s your killer. Are we about through here, I have a hair appointment?”

He didn’t look up from his notes. “You’re lucky he didn’t decide you should be the victim. Do you know Norma Martin?”

“I know who you mean. I attended a luncheon once out at her restaurant. I didn’t meet her, but I assume she’s common, like her food. I think she’s one of those Guatemalans or something. Why would Al take up with a tradeswoman who fancies herself a restaurateur?”

“What did you say?” Goddard straightened in his chair.

“Guatemalan.”

“No, you said Al Towson was seeing Norma?”

“Indeed. They were seen places.”

“How about Sonny Barner?”

“The exterminator? What about him? I use him. Half the town uses him. He’s done handyman work for me around here.”

“So, he’s around here quite a bit.”

“Not lately. I used to save up little jobs I needed done. He did them when he came around to do his spraying thing. I had to watch him every minute.”

“What do you mean?”

“I guess he’s okay but he’s a drinker. He smells of insecticide and whiskey, fortunately it kills his body odor. I caught him over here once in the middle of the night in my swimming pool!”

“That’s a serious intrusion.”

“Of course, and I put a stop to it immediately. He’s rather heavy-handed. Once I told him about a mole problem in the backyard. Later I looked out and he had a shotgun, I guess it was. I don’t know much about guns. I yelled out not to kill them. He wasn’t going to shoot them, he said. Just fire the gun down the mole hole. Said the moles go insane, stagger around for a while and then wander off. I told him to put the gun away and forget about the whole thing.”

“When did you last see him?”

“I had enough of him. I told him to come for the spraying and absolutely nothing else. I guess he was here last month.”

“Everyone knows Tammy Jerrold. Did you talk about her with Reid?”

“Why would I talk about her? I ignore tramps.”

“Reid claims you told him you and Norma Martin knew that Tammy was raped by Barner and for payback you shot him.”

“Ridiculous, why would I make up such an absurd story? Besides, I’m too busy to shoot someone whenever Tammy Jerold forgets whether or not she gave consent.”

The mention of the rape and shooting didn’t seem to bother her. He wondered if anyone could ever tell when this woman was lying. “Can you think of any connection among Ray Reid, Norma Martin, Sonny Barner and Tammy?”

“No, other than the Sonny-Tammy thing.”

He gave her a confused look.

“Never mind.”

“What about them?” He knew she was playing with him.

“Come on, Chip. All the police know how Tammy sleeps around.”

He thought that was ridiculous; however, he wasn't there to defend Tammy. “Tell me about her and Sonny.”

“I’m not one to repeat gossip. Let’s just say outside of her apartment is a strange place to park his van overnight.”

Goddard let the whole Tammy thing go. “Okay, Mrs. Dellin. That’s it for now. We’re trying to punch holes in Reid’s story. If it became necessary, would you be willing to come to my office and make a formal statement?”

“I’ll do no such thing. I think I’ve been more than cooperative but there are limits. I don’t intend to be interrogated further at police headquarters. Unless you can give me one good reason why I should do so.”

He couldn’t resist. “Well, you slept with the man who killed your ex-husband.” Some would see that as a love triangle and a murder that happened because she went after sex with a stranger. That would be one good reason to lie.

T
wo hours later on Thursday, after a quick trip home to change into his full sergeant’s uniform, Goddard was across town at Memorial Park, standing stiff as a statue, as expected of an ex-marine-officer. Among the mournful dignitaries at the crowded final ceremony for State Senator Albert Towson, were state and federal politicians, including the governor, a U.S. senator, two U.S. representatives and a former cabinet member. Other expected familiar faces were present—and one that wasn’t expected.

Goddard nudged the chief and now neither was listening to the cleric. They exchanged a quick do-you-see-who-I-see glance. They were looking beyond the casket at Sonny Barner, alive and looking uncomfortable in his Sunday best. Goddard was relieved; he didn’t need a second murder.

“Reporters are here,” the chief whispered, “so pick him up without tipping them off.”

Within the hour, Goddard had changed back into civilian clothes and was sitting across the table from Barner in the interrogation room. Moran and the chief watched through the glass in the adjoining room.

Barner was a tall, scrawny character who had never quite caught on to the fundamentals of socializing. It didn’t help that his yellowish crooked teeth, big ears and too-long face made him seem unapproachable. Yet Barner had made it on his own for some fifty years.

He claimed he didn’t know anyone was looking for him. “Against the law now for a businessman to travel to Vegas?” His finger pulled at the tight collar of his wrinkled, white dress shirt.

“Business must be good to fly off to Vegas for a few days. You left town in a hurry, didn’t you? Didn’t change your answering machine. No note on the door. What was the rush?”

“Yeah, the idea just came to me sudden like.”

“Where’d you stay?”

“Caesar’s Palace.”

“Cheaper places than Caesar’s Palace. You a big spender? Where’d you get the money?”

“I’m a businessman, I have resources.”

“Does one of your resources shoot bullets?”

“I know why I’m here. You’re not sure who killed him and you’re fishing around.” Barner leaned back in the chair. “Forget about me.”

“You own any guns?”

“Yeah, a couple of pumps. Want to buy one?”

“Any handguns?”

He locked his hands behind his head. “No, but I got a Uzi SMG I use to plink tin cans around the backyard.”

“You’re sort of flip with this, Barner. You’ve done this police routine before haven’t you? You ever do any big time?”

“You’ve already checked my record, you know I’m clean. I just don’t like to spend time with cops, no offense.” He made a half smirk. “Oh, now I see your problem. You’ve got the wrong sonafabitch in jail!”

"And you’re sitting there laughing because you know he didn’t do it. When did you make the plane reservation?"

"Didn’t, just walked up to the counter."

“Which airport, what time, when did you come back? We're going to check all this, you know.”

“Oh, what day is it now? Let’s see, left Saturday evening from Orlando, seven o’clock flight, back last night. Back just in time for the funeral.”

“That’s nice, back for the funeral. You and the senator, pretty close, huh? Funny, the word around town is you didn’t like the guy at all.” Goddard made up that one.