Monkey Business

by Lois Schmitt

  “Schuyler?” Olivia always liked dropping bombs.

  “Schuyler has been accepted in a graduate program. When I told him I was giving you the job, he decided to enroll.” Olivia grinned. “His father wanted him to continue his education and is happy the way things have worked out. Anyway, as part of the curriculum he’ll be interning with us for credit.”

  CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

  Two nights later with a mug of coffee in each hand, I joined Matt in our den. Earlier in the day I’d been on the phone with Roy Maxwell from Fish and Wildlife, then with my brother.

  “I still can’t believe what you did.” Matt dropped his newspaper on the endtable and grabbed one of the mugs. “I can’t believe Abby encouraged you. And your brother went along with your crazy scheme.”

  “We needed proof. And it worked.”

  “I don’t care. It was still dangerous.”

  “I was never in any real danger. Tim and Saul were in the adjacent room.”

  “I’ve never met Saul, but your brother doesn’t inspire confidence in a life-threatening situation. This whole egg scam doesn’t make sense. Amanda had everything going for her, including marriage to a multimillionaire. Why would she take the chance?”

  “It makes sense once you know the whole story. Frank Taggart spilled all the details to the district attorney in exchange for a lighter sentence.”

  I sat down in an armchair across from Matt. “Amanda’s marriage was in trouble from the start, and she knew it wouldn’t last. She made a decent salary at the zoo, but she has expensive tastes, way beyond the salary of a curator. Living with McKenzie, she had the estate in Stone Mount, a condo in Manhattan, expensive cars, jewelry, but with the prenuptials, if they divorced, she could never afford to live like that.”

  “Okay, but—”

  “When Frank started working in ornithology, he hinted to Amanda how much eggs of endangered species would fetch on the black market. Amanda read between the lines, so they went into business together.”

  “It’s that lucrative?”

  “You bet. Remember, Mei’s list only included the six cases where she physically saw the eggs in the nest and then noticed the difference in the reports. The operation was much larger. I understand they had an egg from a Lear’s macaw that sold for five figures.”

  Matt let out a low whistle. “And it’s all cash, of course. Tax free.”

  “That’s another charge they’ll be facing. Tax evasion.”

  “But how did they pull off the scam?”

  “Frank was in charge of the bird nursery. The other bird keepers rarely went in. When they did, he made sure none of them had any knowledge concerning the number of eggs.”

  “How did Mei find out?”

  “She was in the nursery only once. But that was enough. Frank had a computer glitch, and he didn’t want to call in technical services. Mei’s college minor was computer science, so she figured she could help. He expected her to focus on the computer, not nose around the facility. He wrongly assumed that, as an intern, she wouldn’t be at the zoo long enough to catch on.”

  “When Mei told Arlen McKenzie what she had discovered, did he try to stop it?”

  “More than that. McKenzie was getting ready to file for divorce. When he found out about the egg scam, he insisted Amanda resign as curator. Then she’d have nothing. No job. No rich husband. And he made another fatal mistake. He told Amanda he hadn’t decided if he would notify law enforcement or let her go quietly.”

  “So she murdered him because she couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t report her to the authorities,” Matt said.

  “Right. The next day, she arranged to meet with him in the rain forest at nine-thirty that night. She said she could show why the exhibit was producing big cost overruns and how the problem could be fixed.”

  “But why nine-thirty? Wouldn’t he be suspicious?”

  “Amanda made up a story about having a meeting and not being available until then. The rest is history.”

  “Then she inherited his fortune.”

  “He hadn’t changed his will yet. It’s ironic. She killed because of the scam, and once McKenzie was dead, she didn’t need to sell the eggs anymore. I understand she told the police she wanted to stop after McKenzie’s murder, but Frank wouldn’t let her.”

  “Who killed Mei?”

  “Frank. At first, he tampered with the crocodile barrier, causing it to malfunction. When that didn’t work, he didn’t have much time left. He knew Mei would be working on inventory Friday morning. Frank grabbed the cobra from its tank, threw it in the storage closet, then barricaded Mei in there.”

  “Did Frank send the poison frog?” Matt asked.

  “Yes. He wanted to scare me off the case.” I didn’t mention the incident with the black Escalade, having decided some things were better left unsaid.

  As Matt strolled into the kitchen to fetch dessert, I thought about the black car involved in the hit and run of Ginger Hart’s former lover, Jerry Rudolph. It had nothing to do with the murders at the Rocky Cove Zoo. I wondered if that crime would ever be solved.

  “It looks like Clayton Malur will be doing heavy jail time too,” I said as Matt handed me a plate of crumb cake. “First he’s charged with receiving and selling stolen property from the Rocky Cove Zoo. But that’s not all. Malur got caught selling a golden lion tamarin that had been smuggled into the country. It turns out the couple who bought the animal are special agents for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, working undercover.”

  “You’re saying the illegal sale of a golden lion tamarin computes to heavy jail time? Endangered species laws aren’t that tough.”

  “There’s more to the story. It seems Malur committed another crime. This one comes with stiff penalties. Drug smuggling.”

  “You’re kidding?”

  “A while back, Roy Maxwell sent me a press release about a federal interception of boa constrictors filled with cocaine-stuffed condoms. They were enroute to an animal import business. But I didn’t know the whole story. It turns out the owner of the business chatted like a mynah bird to the feds. In exchange for a favorable plea bargain, he provided the DEA with information as to the origin of the drugs.”

  I bit into a piece of crumb cake. “He also confirmed rumors about a second shipment of cocaine-filled snakes due near the end of the month. Can you guess their final destination?”

  “Malur.”

  “You got it. So this time, instead of confiscating the cargo, Fish and Wildlife, along with the Drug Enforcement Agency, allowed the shipment to continue as planned. In the meantime, the undercover couple who bought the golden lion tamarin introduced Malur to a friend who collected rare parrots. They let it be known that this friend sold drugs on the side and needed a new connection.”

  “This friend was DEA, right?”

  “Exactly. Malur sold the ‘friend’ cocaine yesterday, and the Drug Enforcement agents made an immediate arrest. Now Malur’s hotshot lawyer can’t claim his client didn’t know the snakes contained coke.”

  I paused to sip my coffee. “I couldn’t understand why Roy Maxwell was so annoyed at my plan to set up a sting. Now I know. He feared my interference would blow the DEA sting.”

  “Well, I’m glad Malur is finally getting what he deserves. What about that pet store in Manhattan?”

  “Booker’s Amazing Pet Emporium? They don’t appear to be involved in the illegal pet trade anymore. At least, there’s no evidence. However, the authorities issued violations for unsanitary conditions. I understand the animals were seized and the owners charged with neglect. The store is currently closed down.”

  “Someone must have reported the conditions,” Matt said.

  I smiled. “Yes, someone did.”

  “Let’s hope the owners don’t get off with a small fine and open a new pet business a few months from now.”

  “I agree.”

  The front door slammed shut. Abby paraded into the room. She kissed both Matt and me before saying to h
er father, “I picked up a litter box and cat food.”

  “Did you get a cat?” I asked, wondering if this meant she wasn’t moving to New Mexico. Or she was planning to take a cat along.

  Abby grinned. “Not just any cat. I know how tense it’s been here with Owl and the two dogs. Owl really needs a home without other animals. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to take her.”

  “That’s a perfect solution. I’ll miss her a lot, but at least we’ll get to see her when we visit you. But I thought one of your roommates was allergic?”

  “Our lease is up and my roommates want to get apartments of their own.” Abby grinned. “But that works out well. Jason and I have decided to get a place together. He’s not taking the job in Santa Fe. He accepted an offer at a Manhattan law firm.”

  “I knew about the cat, but I didn’t know about Jason moving in,” said Matt.

  I knew he wasn’t pleased with our daughter’s new living arrangements, but he’d get over it. He liked Jason, too.

  Abby plopped down on the sofa. “I want to hear the latest news about the zoo and Uncle Tim’s job. What’s happening to everyone?”

  “I got the whole scoop,” I said. “The Board of Trustees convened yesterday and appointed Saul Mandel as director permanently.”

  “What about the plagiarism charge?”

  “Totally untrue. It was Amanda Devereux who had sent the anonymous letter accusing him of cheating on his doctoral thesis.”

  “But why would she want to ruin him? He didn’t know about her scam. Or did he?”

  “When Saul, as acting director, decided to look into some of the zoo’s low birth rates, Amanda knew it was only a matter of time before he discovered discrepancies in ornithology. She had to make sure he didn’t stay at Rocky Cove, and she figured a plagiarism charge would get him fired.”

  “Do you think Saul will be a good director?” Matt asked.

  “I know the staff is pleased at the appointment. Whether he’ll be able to handle the business side of running the zoo remains to be seen. But Tim feels confident that Saul will step up to the job.”

  “What about Uncle Tim?” Abby leaned down and scooped up Owl, who had come into the room and was rubbing against her leg.

  “Good news.” I beamed. “Not only will Tim remain as curator of herpetology, but he’ll also be promoted to assistant director.”

  “Aunt Barbara must be happy. That should help their marriage.”

  “Well, she’s definitely happy. Since Tim wasn’t arrested, she wasn’t embarrassed, and now she can brag about his new position to her friends. As for the marriage, that will still be as one-sided as always. Tim will continue adoring her.”

  “What about Ginger Hart? How do you think she’ll get along with Saul Mandel?”

  “Ginger took a new job. She’s now director of public relations for the Long Island Performing Arts Center.”

  Matt laughed.

  “According to Tim, the zoo is hiring a new coordinator for public relations,” I said. “One who has a genuine interest in wildlife. She has a graduate degree in marketing, but her undergraduate major was zoology. I think she’ll work well with Saul.”

  “What about the zoo’s wildlife nutritionist?” my daughter asked.

  “Linda will remain at Rocky Cove. The position was put back in the budget. I also formulated a theory as to why Mei jotted Linda’s phone number on the bottom of the penne recipe. I wasn’t the only one Mei wanted to tell about her findings. We’ll never know for sure, but I believe she also wanted to confide in Linda.”

  “Why Linda?” Abby asked.

  “Mei didn’t know the exact reason for the discrepancy in the number of eggs reported, but I’m sure she had suspicions. She planned to talk to me, but I don’t know that much about birds. Linda is familiar with all types of animals. She could confirm Mei’s suspicions or come up with an idea of her own. And I think Linda was the only one in the zoo whom Mei totally trusted.”

  “Did Mei ever get a chance to talk to Linda?”

  “I don’t think so. Linda told Tim that she and Mei never got together.”

  “Well, I’m glad this is over.” Matt leaned back, looking more relaxed than he’d looked in weeks. “I got the bank loan, too. Let’s hope that helps me stave off the competition from the animal health and wellness center. Their facility is scheduled to open in two months.”

  The doorbell rang. Matt returned to the den with a bouquet of red roses. “These were just delivered for you.”

  “I’ll watch for thorns. There’s a card this time.” I read the note: “Thanks for all your help. I might be sitting in jail if not for you”

  The note was signed by Tim.

  “Wow. That’s so unlike Uncle Tim to think of sending flowers. But he’s right,” Abby said. “Even if the police didn’t have enough evidence to arrest him, that shadow would have hung over his head. Now he’s cleared, thanks to you.”

  “You helped, Abby. I couldn’t have done it, if you hadn’t translated the list of endangered birds from Mei’s diary.”

  “No, Mom. You realized the importance of the list and then figured out the meaning of the two numbers next to each bird. You put it all together.”

  “I am persistent,” I said and then grinned.

  Matt grinned back. “I’d say stubborn, but it’s a great quality in you.”

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Lois Schmitt has worked as a freelance contract writer for Re-media Educational Publishers. Her most current assignments included a series of nonfiction pieces featuring national parks, as well as several nonfiction pieces on New York City landmarks. She is also the author of Smart Spending (Scribner Children’s Books).

  Ms. Schmitt currently teaches economics at Nassau Community College. She served as media spokesperson and education coordinator for the Nassau County Office of Consumer Affairs.

  Her interest in animals, the focus of her mystery, is evident by her membership in the New York Zoological Society, Best Friends Animal Society, the Marine Mammal Center, and the ASPCA.

  She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America.