One Deadly Sister (Sandy Reid Mystery Series #1) (17 page)

“I expected it. It’s in the cop manual...raise your voice to keep control. What’s with the parking in back?”

“Huress has been nosing around. I don’t want our cars seen together. Yours stands out like a red jellybean in a bowl of peanuts.”

“Huress?”

“Bobby Huress, my old partner. We rode patrol. He thought we were great buddies, but I just tolerated him. He’s into all that macho crap. The buddy stuff disappeared fast after I passed the detective exam and he flunked. He claims I got special treatment because my dad was once chief. He barely studied, and then said he couldn’t pass because of the burden of wife and kids."

“He envies you. Why are you telling me this?”

“Probably shouldn’t. I just wanted you to know, if you run into him, he's not on the case.”

She could tell he was warming up to her. She liked this guy letting down his guard and throwing out some personal information, not afraid of appearing vulnerable. That earned him a couple more points. “Are you saying there’s a patrol cop running around that you can’t control. And he might try to play detective and approach me?”

“He’s a sergeant now, has a lot of freedom. It’s just a tip. All I’m saying is you’re free to ignore him. Forget I said anything.”

“I’ll spot him if he follows me. What’s he driving?”

“A blue and white. Also, watch out for his personal vehicle, a red Ford pickup with a large orange and blue ‘Gator Nation’ decal on the back window.”

“Hey, I’ve seen that truck parked outside my apartment, Raymond’s apartment. I saw it and wondered what the hell ‘Gator Nation’ meant. Is that your school?”

“Not mine, I’m Florida State. When did you see his truck?”

“Don’t remember now, but I know I’ve seen it.” Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. “Why was it there? You two better not be running some kind of police tag game on me.”

“No game. Huress has nothing to do with this case. I’ll look into it.”

“I’m dead serious about getting info to free my brother. This smells like a tag team to me. I really don’t like this! Are you tracking me? I demand to know right now why a cop was parked outside my apartment in his personal vehicle.”

“I know you’re serious. I said I’d look into it.” He paused for another sip and then his voice took on an official tone. “Jerry Kagan told me he hired you as his investigator.”

“That makes a difference?”

“It’s easier for me, if you’re officially on the case. Otherwise, it looks as if I’m just being cozy with the defendant’s sister. Since I can’t question your brother directly without his attorney being present, I don’t want to be accused of tricking his sister into spilling info.”

“Got it. You’re now officially off the hook. If the new investigator for the defense screws up, it’s not your problem.”

“You could really foul up your brother’s defense by talking to me. I want to be certain we understand each other; starting now, consider yourself fair game. I don’t intend to tell you anything about the investigation. Whatever you tell me I’ll definitely use if I can. And will testify to in court.”

“Seems fair to me, what’s your problem?”

He shook his head. “You are a puzzle.”

“The world isn't ready for the unpuzzled me.”

“Maybe you don’t want anyone to understand you.”

“I haven't met anyone that can. So, I guess you’ve figured out that you don’t have any choice but to deal with me.” She gave him a nice smile to take the edge off that pronouncement.

He frowned. “So you’re going for our arrangement?”

She continued, “If you’re asking for cooperation, sure I’ll do that. I need to be able to communicate with the opposition. You just have to listen. If you’re on the wrong track, then it might help your investigation. Just stay off my back.”

“Okay, I won’t bother you unless you start acting crazy. I can use some cooperation right now. If I’m reading you correctly, I can make statements like that without you laughing.”

“Keep being honest like that and I won’t laugh.” She felt she was getting somewhere. “You called me here because you need my help.”

“Maybe, don’t know enough about you. Don’t know whether to trust you or not. You said your job in Philadelphia puts you in contact with the police. So, I suppose you know your way around attorneys and judges and courtrooms and cops and even criminals.”

“All of the above.”

“Good, so you’re probably savvy with the dos and don’ts. I phoned the Chief of Detectives in Philadelphia. He said you’re okay.”

“I’m thrilled at the thought.”

“Hey look, don’t let your wisecracks get in the way of our understanding each other. I’m trying to get you pegged. You’ve made it clear I must deal with you. I’m trying to figure out if I can live with that.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll behave. I’ve no idea who the Chief of Detectives is, but I’m glad I received no bad reports.”

“That’s better. So, you’re like a semi-pro in this business. Now I see why you hustled down here when your brother had a problem.”

“He didn’t have a problem until he met you. I suppose you’d never ask for help from me, if you thought my brother was guilty, right?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Well, you’ll get absolutely no help from me unless you’re buying this coffee. I have my principles.”

“You’re tough. Okay, I’ll assume you know how to dig for the bits and pieces that could help both of us. To start with, I need to find out about the Jardin Café, something beyond public records, something beyond common knowledge.”

“Ah, the Norma Martin angle, tell me more.”

“Nope.”

She struck a pose with one hand on her hip and stared at him.

“You have to let me be a cop.”

She shrugged and took a notebook from her purse. “It’s owned by MoonGlow Enterprises, a Delaware Partnership.”

“Thanks a lot. Anyone can Google that.”

“Well, they don’t make it easy to dig down to the true owners. I work with a woman at our firm in Philly who specializes in uncovering such information. That is I used to work with her, I might not have a job anymore. Anyway, I’ve already phoned and given her that business name. She’s checking it out. I’ll get back to you.”

“Excellent. May I ask something else of you? I’d prefer you not interview Towson’s seventh floor neighbor, at least not yet.”

She wasn’t aware Towson had a seventh floor neighbor. She bluffed, "Well, I don’t know if I can promise that, why not?”

“She’s old and deaf to start with, Mrs. Crawford. She witnessed people coming and going that day. I don’t want to get her more confused than she already is. I’m afraid if you talk to her, later she might even identify you as the killer.”

She didn’t laugh. “So, it was a woman she saw?”

“Oh, you’re fast. Come on, I didn’t say that.”

“It was on your mind. Admit it now. You’ve an unidentified woman on your mind, or you wouldn’t have put me in your little joke.”

“Do you read tea leaves too?”

“Yes, but I’m better at men. You realize, of course, that Mrs. Crawford will tell me things she’d never tell you.”

“Perhaps you’re right but stay away for now. Maybe I can use that angle later.”

“You mean maybe
we
can use that angle later.”

“Don’t get presumptuous, Sandy. We aren’t working this case together. I’ll welcome your input as long as you don’t become a loose cannon. Do you know how far I’m sticking my neck out just talking with you? Moran would love to catch me smiling at you.”

“You’re right. Go do your cop thing. Do I detect a hint of animosity between you and the state attorney?”

“No secret there. He doesn’t much care for me either. Little Bonaparte is a tyrant with far too much power. In their Judicial District, state attorneys have tremendous control over life and liberty. The system is very efficient. Moran simply states what he wants and the judge gives it to him. No conflicts. And everyone other than the defendant has a nice day.”

“Great, the guy who has a noose around my brother’s neck is a bully and a jerk. I hope you don’t mean he’s crooked?”

“The cold-blooded bastard would ignore evidence, if he believed it would punch his ticket to Washington.” He appeared uncomfortable with the subject. He straightened and pushed away the empty mug. “Do you have anything else you’d like to share with me?”

She had a sexy response to his question that she didn’t dare use. She put a napkin to her mouth to hide her evil smile. She cleared her throat. “I went to the Inn Towner. Loraine was definitely there. The maids said she was lounging around, wearing a thong and flirting with Raymond. Personally, I find flirting while wearing a thong redundant.”

“She already admitted to me she was there with Reid.”

“Oh, good, but I’ll bet she didn’t admit she wore a thong? What does that tell you? Does that fit in with her explanation for being there? Doesn't that indicate deviousness on her part?”

“No comment. Were you able to establish when she left the motel?”

“All I know is she left before the noon checkout time. Guess I’ve struck out again with useless information.”

“Keep trying”

“Okay, then tell me something about yourself,” she said. “Why does a nice person like you take a job frightening people and ordering them around?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing.”

“Geez, I’m not that bad.”

“Are all Philadelphia girls as cocky as you?”

“I usually get away with it.”

“Well, in my case it’s in the genes. Dad was a cop, the best, he made police chief.”

“You want to be just like him, right?”

“He’s not around now, killed eight years ago.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“I was home for mid-semester. He was off duty. It was half-time on TV. I started to go for ice cream. He said relax he’d go get it. As he parked at the convenience store, he saw a robbery in progress. He radioed for backup. The perp came out too soon. Long story. Shots traded. Dad died on the sidewalk.”

“My God!”

“When he didn’t come back home right away, I figured he got some emergency call, not unusual. I’m lounging around like an idiot cheering for the Dolphins while my father is lying in a parking lot gutter bleeding to death. Later two cops came to the house. I opened the door and they just stood there. Neither one was able to speak, couldn’t get one word out.”

“Ever find the bastard?”

Chip shook his head, “There was a big manhunt with posters all around. We never found him. It shocked the town terribly, as if the citizens were insulted that it happened here. Park Beach changed after that, it was a turning point. As though Park Beach was innocent before, and then afterwards it was nothing special. Just another American town where even the police chief wasn’t safe.”

“So, some piece of shit is walking around free.”

“Whenever I have to go to that store, I see blood on the sidewalk.” He pressed his lips together hard and paused for a moment. “It should have been me going for the ice cream.”

“Not your fault. Must have been difficult for your mother.”

“Don’t know if my mother ever knew. She took off years earlier. I didn’t know her. They were never married. She moved on. Dad raised me. Then I went into the Marines. Why am I’m telling you this?”

“Because somehow you figured out, I want to hear it.”

“It’s time to change the subject.”

“After all that you still wanted to be a cop?”

“I wanted to catch all the guys who think they can get away with it. Actually, at first I wanted to shoot them all on sight. Later I softened and decided it was best if I just arrested them and let the justice system deal with them.”

“You’ll get some of them.” Rough episode to live through, she thought. “Well, you’ve kept your head as far as I can tell. So, you want to follow his example. Are you worried about failing, I mean failing your father?”

“I’m not going to fail him.”

“I know this case is a big deal for you. And you’re risking something by being here with me.”

“It’s nothing if I don’t screw up. If I find all the evidence, and it’s sufficient and rock solid. If a witness doesn’t disappear. If no one else on our side screws up. If the jury convicts. Should I go on? If I do all that, then Moran will have his showy trial and be a United States Senator.”

“And if he does screw up you’ll be blamed.” She waved off a refill on the coffee. “So, you stayed here in Park Beach. You made a life for yourself.”

“It’s nice here. Florida’s east coast is all about the same. Most of these little towns could all use the same postcard, just change the name. A bit prettier and quieter here, lots of trees, water and bridges.”

“How’s your social life? You’re easy-going with females. Where did you pick that up?”

“None of your business. What about you?”

“Yes, Chip, I do have a social life.” A lousy one but he didn’t need to know that.

“No, I meant what about your family?”

“Don’t have any. Mom and Dad are gone, died in an accident on the Schuylkill Expressway. So, no family.”