Monkey Business

by Lois Schmitt

  Entering the third and largest barn, I gagged at the stench. Zebras and elk stood in four-by-eight box stalls with no room to turn, much less walk. Where stalls had been removed, leopards, ocelots, and cougars lay listlessly in cages, surrounded by feces and flies.

  After exiting the building, I grabbed a program that someone had left on a bench and studied the list of animals for sale today. I started walking toward the arena when I spied the two people from the motel restaurant. They were talking to a man wearing cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. I lingered, hoping to hear what they said.

  “I’ll call you as soon as I get word,” the cowboy told the other two. He shook their hands.

  “Thanks, Clay. I sure hope you can get us a golden lion tamarin.” The two departed.

  Clay! Clayton Malur, the auction house owner. I made my way to where he stood.

  “I’m interested in buying a woolly spider monkey,” I said, asking for an endangered animal that was not on today’s auction flyer. “Will you have any for sale in the arena?”

  “Afraid not, little lady. They’re hard to come by. Very few around.”

  “You can’t get me one?”

  “I didn’t say that. I just said it would be difficult. And expensive.”

  “Money isn’t a problem.”

  He grinned. “We’ll have to get you one that’s legal, captive bred with papers and all. It may take time, but let me see what I can do.”

  Would the papers be forged? Proving he was still involved in illegal animal sales would be a great scoop.

  I scribbled down my name and phone number and handed it to him, hoping if he called I’d be able to set up a sting with Fish and Wildlife. Then I headed to the auction arena, climbed up the bleachers, and located an empty seat as the bidding began.

  The auctioneer’s pitch blasted from the speaker system amid the drone of animal and human noises. In the center of the arena floor, a leopard paced in circles inside a tiny cage. It sold to a preppie-looking couple for seven thousand dollars.

  Sitting further down my row was a man with a short blond beard. He appeared to be texting, but when an Indian rock python came to the floor, he looked up from his phone and focused on the auction. The bidding opened at four hundred dollars, and the first bid came from him.

  “Four hundred twenty-five,” called a voice from behind me.

  I turned to look at the bidder seated two rows back. He wore an open-neck shirt, showcasing his hairy chest. He sported a large diamond pinky ring, and at least six gold chains hung from his neck.

  The bidding escalated, and the snake was awarded to the man with the blond beard for five hundred dollars.

  The auction continued with the blond-bearded man winning the bid on a saw-scaled viper and an Australian krait. He rose to leave. I followed.

  “Excuse me. I noticed you bid on several snakes,” I said once we were outside the arena. “Are you a collector?”

  “Why do you want to know?”

  “I’m interested in buying a snake for my husband’s birthday next year, and I wanted to find out about different species.”

  “I own a small roadside zoo.” He lit a cigarette. “It’s a tourist attraction in Florida.”

  The image of a roadside zoo flashed through my mind. These exhibits usually consisted of a few cages, cramped with animals. Not only was the admission fee high for what you saw, but the zoo served as a lure to get you to buy a cold drink, a snack, or a plastic souvenir at inflated prices.

  “What type of snakes—”

  “I’m here to buy snakes, not give out free advice.” He puffed on his cigarette as he veered toward the white clapboard house where I assumed he would pay for his purchases.

  I wanted a photo to accompany my piece but knew it would be risky. In addition to the warning from the guard in the admission booth, you couldn’t move ten feet without coming across a posting of NO CAMERAS ALLOWED.

  Noting that several animals occupied outdoor cages by the side of the third barn, I figured there would be less chance of getting caught if I snapped the picture there. A security guard stood nearby, talking to a teenage girl in denim shorts. While he was preoccupied, I carefully lifted my phone from my bag and photographed a caged capuchin monkey.

  Then I heard Clayton Malur’s voice from behind the barn. Stashing my camera away, I crept to the far end of the building and peeked around the corner.

  Clayton Malur was shaking hands with a man wearing jeans and a muscle T-shirt. Even without his zookeeper uniform, I recognized him.

  I watched Clayton Malur hand a wad of cash to Rocky Cove’s bird keeper, Frank Taggart.

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  “Could Frank Taggart be selling animals from the zoo?” I asked Matt during the drive home from LaGuardia airport. It was near midnight when my flight arrived back in New York, two hours late.

  “No way. I told you before. Zoos keep meticulous records. You can’t snatch an elephant and expect no one will notice.”

  “It sounds ridiculous, but what else could it be?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “First, I spotted Linda Sancho at Booker’s Amazing Pet Emporium, now Frank Taggart at Malur’s Auction.” I shook my head. “I’m calling Tim tomorrow. Maybe he can shed some light on this.”

  Matt stopped short for a traffic light. “Forget the zoo. You’ve been working really hard. You need a break, and I can use one too. Why don’t we go away for a few days? We can leave after work tomorrow.” Matt put his hand on my thigh. “We can rent one of those cabins near the ocean.”

  “Sounds great, but I can’t. Friday evening is the memorial service for Mei Lau. I’ll take a rain check, okay?”

  Matt removed his hand. “Sure. No problem.” The frown on his face and tone of his voice said otherwise.

  He remained silent for the rest of the drive home.

  “Okay, what’s the matter?” I asked while we undressed for bed. “Are you upset about not going away this weekend? We can go another time.”

  “It’s not that. I think you’re too involved in these murders.”

  “I need to help my brother. No one else is doing anything.”

  “Tim has an attorney.”

  “What’s he done except increase Tim’s debt by charging high fees?” I slipped an oversized football jersey over my head.

  “He’s kept him out of jail.”

  “He should be out of jail. He’s not guilty.”

  Matt didn’t respond.

  “Don’t tell me you think he’s guilty?” I waited for an answer. “Matt?”

  “I don’t think you want to hear what I have to say.”

  “You think he’s guilty?” I plopped down on the edge of the bed.

  “No. I don’t. But I think his trouble is of his own making. He lied about his alibi, and he’s gotten himself way into debt.”

  I opened my mouth to speak, but Matt held up his hand. “The point is, the evidence is strictly circumstantial. Worst-case scenario, he’s arrested. With a lawyer like Stan Margolis, he’ll never be convicted.”

  “But unless the real murderer is uncovered, Tim’s always going to have that stigma. People will assume he’s guilty.”

  “I know, but right now that’s the lesser of two evils.”

  “Not for me.”

  Matt snuggled next to me while grasping my hand. “I love you and I’m worried. Someone killed Mei because of what she knew. Someone tried to kill you because of what you could find out. I’m asking you to please drop it.”

  “I’m sorry, I can’t.” I jerked my hand away from Matt. “And I don’t understand why you don’t realize that.”

  Slamming the door behind me, I stormed out of the bedroom and stomped down the stairs to the kitchen. I flashed back to thoughts of my childhood. Frail and studious as a young boy, my brother excelled academically but lacked common sense and social skills.

  I hated to admit it, but Detective Steve Wolfe was right. Although only a year older than Tim, I had always fought his
battles.

  I’d weathered other minor crises with Tim, but nothing had prepared me for this. How could Matt not see the importance of what I was doing?

  Yet, the more I thought, the more I realized he couldn’t act any other way. By nature, my husband was cautious and a worrier. As someone involved in medicine, he knew the thin line between life and death. If Matt put his life at risk, I’d want him to stop. Why should I be angry because he wanted me to stay out of danger?

  Brandy trotted into the kitchen and rested his head on my lap.

  “You always know when I’m upset, don’t you?” I scratched behind his ears. As the dog moaned, I leaned down, burying my face in his fur. I sighed, realizing that I shouldn’t have yelled at Matt. He was only acting that way because he loved me.

  I trudged back up the stairs. Matt, propped up in bed, thumbed through a sports magazine, but he seemed to be staring at the ceiling. Archie was sprawled out next to him.

  “I’m glad you’re awake.” I smiled.

  “I’m sorry,” Matt said. He tossed the magazine on the floor. “I shouldn’t have criticized Tim. I know how you feel about your brother.”

  I nudged Archie off the bed and led the dog out of the room, shutting the door.

  “What are you doing?” Matt asked.

  “We’ll discuss my brother some other time.” I snuggled next to Matt, putting my hand on his thigh. “Right now, I’ve something else in mind.”

  The next morning, I phoned Roy Maxwell at the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

  “You’re not going to believe what I saw at the animal auction.”

  “I’m sure you’re going to tell me.” He laughed, but I detected an edge to his voice.

  “I spotted Clayton Malur passing money to one of the zookeepers from Rocky Cove.”

  “That’s interesting.”

  Interesting? I’d expected more of a reaction.

  “Malur’s got to be up to no good,” I said.

  “I thought you attended the auction to get a feel for the place,” he replied.

  “That was my main intention.”

  “You’d be safer if you focused on past investigations of our agency and not on uncovering new operations. You’re not a cop.”

  “I’m only reporting what I found to be suspicious. I’m not trying to be Eliot Ness. So, are you going to check it out?”

  “Money passes hands at an animal auction for any number of reasons, most of which are not against the law. Besides, if I talk about future investigations, that could jeopardize our efforts.”

  “But—”

  “Didn’t you just hear me? I can’t talk to you about current or future investigations. That means I can’t tell you if we plan to check this out. Right now I’m late for a meeting, so we need to continue our conversation another time.”

  After hanging up, I remembered I didn’t have a chance to tell him about my request for a woolly spider monkey. It was just as well. I’d wait until Malur got back to me. Then I’d ask Maxwell about setting up a sting.

  Even though he didn’t seem especially cooperative.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  A woman screamed.

  I had just arrived at the zoo. Whirling toward the right, I saw a crowd gathered by the wolf exhibit. Another spectator shrieked. Those with children hurried away.

  I navigated my way around the throngs of people until the source of the horror came into view. A wolf stood near the glass partition, blood dripping from its mouth. A few feet away, another wolf, this one with a blood-stained muzzle, grasped a limp white object in its jaw.

  My brother stood near the exhibit’s employee entrance. I threaded my way through the crowd to reach him.

  “What’s going on, Tim?”

  “Someone let loose three rabbits from our petting zoo. The wolves attacked and killed them. Two zookeepers heard cries from the crowd, but it was too late. The wolves reached the last rabbit seconds ago. It was Cookie, the most popular rabbit here.”

  Tim shook his head. “Look at the faces, especially parents and their kids. Predator and prey are nature’s way, but this is not what zoo visitors are prepared to see. I can just imagine the calls and letters.”

  “Who could have done this?”

  “Someone who wants to sabotage Saul Mandel. The trustees like things to run smoothly. The more trouble, the less likely the board is to appoint him as director permanently.”

  Saul was directing staff a few feet away. His normally flushed face was whitish-gray.

  “I was meeting with Saul when he received the call about this,” Tim said. “That’s why I’m here. I figured he could use support.”

  By now, zoo staff had isolated the wolves into a separate section away from the public’s eye. Two zookeepers swept and cleaned the exhibit, while security tried, with little success, to convince the swarms of curiosity seekers to move on.

  Since there was nothing we could do, I told my brother about what I encountered in Ohio. “Tim, I saw Frank Taggart at Malur’s Animal Auction.”

  “Frank Taggart? Why was he there?”

  “I was hoping you’d know why. The auction owner handed him a wad of cash.”

  “That’s bizarre. I can’t imagine a reason.”

  “Rocky Cove doesn’t deal with animal auctions, does it?”

  “Of course not.”

  “What about Frank stealing zoo animals and selling them on his own? Matt said this was impossible. Is it?”

  “Matt’s right. All animals are accounted for. We keep detailed records. Each animal is tattooed with an International Species Inventory System number.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Zoos use it to monitor breeding. Each animal has its own number. And a necropsy is performed on any animal that dies, so you couldn’t fake a death either.”

  “Could Frank be selling information?”

  “I don’t see how. He doesn’t have access to data worth anything. Believe me, whatever Frank Taggart was doing, it has nothing to do with his position at Rocky Cove.”

  “But why would he be receiving cash at the auction?”

  “My guess is, he’s a private breeder on the side. That’s where most auctions get their stock. I would never deal with scum like Malur, but it’s not illegal.”

  “Is it possible Frank was at the zoo when Arlen McKenzie and Mei Lau were murdered?”

  “I don’t know. I guess it’s possible. But as bird keeper, he only has the key to the bird exhibit and nursery. He doesn’t have access to the rain forest. The same holds true for the snake room.”

  “Point taken.” Suddenly a thought flashed through my mind. “Doesn’t the zoo have any security video cameras, Tim?”

  “We don’t. Prior to the zoo director’s death, this place was relatively crime free. About eleven months ago we experienced an incident of minor vandalism when graffiti was painted in the men’s room, but McKenzie thought it wasn’t enough to justify the cost of video surveillance.”

  “So, there’s no security?”

  “We have a guard at night. He’s stationed in the booth by the main gate, but he does two tours of the zoo, one at midnight and the other around four in the morning. He doesn’t go into any buildings, he just walks around. He checks the locks and makes sure there’s no major problem with the animals.”

  “Wouldn’t the guard be aware of who enters and exits?”

  “No. We have three parking lots. His booth is located in the main one where visitors park. There are two other lots. One is for general staff, which is always locked when the zoo is closed. The other, a smaller lot, is for administration, including curators and a few other professionals, like the veterinarians and the wildlife nutritionist. We have keys to that gate so we can come and go as we please.”

  “Seems a little lax.”

  Tim shrugged then glanced at his watch. “Can you do me a favor?”

  “Sure.”

  “I’m meeting with the zoo’s head veterinarian in ten minutes.” Tim handed
me a chart he had been holding under his arm. “I don’t want to lug this around. Could you take it to my office and put it on my desk?”

  “Of course. Speaking of your office, how’s Gary?”

  “My reptile keeper?”

  “That’s the only Gary I know.”

  “He’s back at work.”

  I was glad to hear he had returned to the zoo. Now I could question him about Mei.

  Tim sighed. “I better go.” He sounded tired and depressed.

  “Isn’t Barbara away at a conference until this weekend?” I asked. “Why don’t you come to our place for dinner tonight?”

  “A home-cooked meal from my sister? Really?”

  “Let’s not get carried away. Matt will throw something on the grill. I’ll probably toss a salad and husk some corn.”

  “That counts as cooking. Seriously, I’d like company tonight. Something tells me this is going to be a rough day.”

  I nearly collided with Gary on my way into the herpetology building.

  “How are you feeling? I heard you were sick.”

  “I’m better now.” He grabbed the doorknob. “Thanks for asking.”

  “Do you have a minute? I need to talk to you.” I pushed back a strand of hair that had fallen in front of my eyes.

  He glanced at his watch. “I’m expected at the monitor lizard exhibit.”

  “Then let me get right to the point. Did Mei confide in you about her suspicions?”

  “Suspicions?” He let go of the doorknob.

  “Something bothering her? Maybe something illegal or unethical happening at the zoo?”

  He shook his head.

  “Are you sure? I thought if the two of you were close, she might have said something.”

  “Close? I hardly knew her. The first time we worked together was the day we removed eggs from the crocodile nest. What makes you think we were close?”

  “When I saw her talking with you, she appeared agitated. It looked as if she was getting something off her chest.”

  “She was. But it had nothing to do with the zoo. She was complaining about a ticket she got at a speed trap about a mile from the zoo. I guess she needed to vent and I was here.”