Styled for Murder

by Nancy J. Cohen

  “She’s the rock in our organization. We all work together as a well-oiled machine. I’d advise you to drop your inquiries, or I’ll have to take steps to shut you down.”

  Chapter Eleven

  During the drive home, Marla shared her findings with Dalton. Her husband glowered at the mention of Brad’s threat. She couldn’t decide if the company president meant he would take legal action against her or if his words implied something more sinister.

  “Regardless of his intent, you’d better steer clear of that man,” Dalton advised. “I suspect he’s up to no good. I’ll keep checking into his background and the company’s financial status. Unfortunately, I don’t have access to their books and neither does Wanner without a warrant.”

  “I have faith in you. You’ll find out what we need to know. How was your chat with the detective?” They had missed the opportunity to meet Jack’s son after the service. By the time they were both free, he’d already left.

  “Wanner believes Jack was killed in your mom’s backyard and his body moved into the shower,” Dalton replied, his hands on the steering wheel. “That indicates either the killer meant to implicate Reed, or he intended to leave a message of some kind.”

  “What, like a warning? Could the murderer also have a grudge against Reed?”

  A frisson of alarm shot up her spine. Was her stepdad in danger, and by association, her mother as well?

  “I can’t help feeling there’s a link we’re missing,” Dalton said, focused on driving. “Wanner hasn’t eliminated Reed as a person of interest. It’s possible he staged things this way on purpose, so the investigators would assume it was a setup. I’m not sure what to believe except we might not know the professor as well as we’d thought.”

  “I should talk to his former colleagues,” Marla suggested. “They might be more willing to open up to me than to Wanner.”

  He shot her a concerned glance. “That could be helpful, but if you go down that road, watch your back. As Nadia said, somebody could be watching.”

  ****

  Marla got a break in the case on Monday morning. She received a text message from the customer who’d commented online about the permit inspector. He gave her the man’s name.

  She’d already dropped Ryder off at daycare and was heading to the supermarket. Instead, she changed lanes and veered toward city hall. That was the most likely place where she’d find the fellow. She meant to investigate the customer’s allegations that Tobias Banyan had accepted bribes and confirm that the other man seen in the yard with him had been Jack.

  She pulled up to the white-columned building amid stately queen palms and flowering hibiscus bushes. She’d had few occasions to come here, having signed up online for water service when she and Dalton moved into their house three years ago.

  Night-blooming jasmine perfumed the air as she climbed the steps to the entrance. Inside, she faced a reception desk staffed by a middle-aged woman.

  “Hi, I’m looking for Tobias Banyan, the permit inspector.”

  “Is Toby expecting you?” the lady asked, while Marla admired her hairstyle. Her auburn hair had been smartly cut in a flattering bob. The color complemented her warm green eyes.

  “I don’t have an appointment,” she replied, “but I’ve an urgent matter to discuss with him. It won’t take long.”

  “All right. Please sign our visitor log and I’ll give you a badge.”

  Marla complied then stuck the adhesive label onto the amethyst top she wore over black pants. The receptionist gestured to a hallway on the right.

  “Go down that corridor. His office is a few doors down.”

  Marla thanked the lady and headed down the hallowed halls, impressed by the hard-working city staff she saw busy in their offices. Glass panels on the doors let her see inside. On her way out, she should pick up one of the brochures she’d seen detailing the city’s seasonal activities. Maybe they had mommy and me classes she could do with Ryder.

  She stopped at the door with the designated name plaque and rapped on the wood.

  “Come in,” a man’s voice called from inside.

  She twisted the brass knob and entered. A quick survey revealed overstuffed bookcases, a wilted potted plant on a battered file cabinet, a collection of glass paperweights, and several framed family photos. The room smelled of old paper and dust.

  Marla closed the door so they wouldn’t be overheard. She introduced herself and took a seat opposite the man’s desk. He had tousled wheat brown hair and tired eyes. Her gaze surveyed his stocky frame and ill-fitting jacket and tie.

  In a brief flash of memory, she saw the shadowy figure at Jack’s memorial service who’d stood by observing the crowd. It wasn’t this guy, though. That man had favored a bowtie and vest even outside in the heat. The suit had fitted his bulky figure like a second skin.

  “How can I help you?” Mr. Banyan asked in a gruff voice. A mound of folders covered his desktop in a disorganized heap. The quiet hum of an air-conditioner droned in the background.

  “I’ve been looking into Amaze Design Center,” Marla said, debating how to ease into her questions. “My mother is having work done by their company, and I understand you’re the inspector who signs off on their jobs.”

  He snickered. “I sign off on most of the jobs for this city. They only have the budget for one other guy.”

  She pointed to a framed picture of a couple and two children. “Is that your family? It’s a beautiful photo. I hope you don’t have to work weekends so you can spend time with them.”

  “Fortunately, this is a weekday job, although some days I work late.”

  “You’re lucky. I’m a hairstylist, and I work every Saturday. It’s tough on my husband. He has to stay home and care for our son when I’m at the salon.” She figured sharing family stories might encourage Tobias to open up to her.

  “I get it,” he said, nodding. “Our daughter has health issues, and it’s hard on my wife when I don’t come home until after dinner. She has to manage the two kids by herself.”

  “Is she a stay-at-home mom?”

  “No. Olivia runs a cleaning service. Her company is licensed and bonded. Are you in need of a housekeeper?”

  “Not really, but I could refer her to my friends if you have a business card.”

  They exchanged cards, and Tobias included one of his own.

  “You didn’t come here for a friendly chat, Mrs. Vail,” he said after scanning her data. “My time is valuable. What can I do for you?”

  She crossed her legs to get more comfortable. The chair could have been better cushioned. “As I said, my mother is having renovations done by Amaze Design Center. I grew concerned when I read reviews from former customers.”

  His brow furrowed. “What do you mean? They do good work.”

  “It appears many of their clients weren’t happy with the foreman, Jack Laredo. I’m sure you’re aware he was found dead in a homeowner’s shower. That would have been my mother’s house. Naturally, she’s extremely upset. I’m trying to gain information that might help solve the case so she can move on.”

  “All right, but why come to me?” he asked, spreading his hands.

  “Have you ever cited this company for faulty construction?” Marla ventured.

  His left eye twitched. “If I did, any problems would have to be remedied before a re-inspection.”

  “How about materials? For example, have their contractors installed things like cabinetry with wood that seemed mismatched?” She remembered that had been one guy’s complaint.

  “I deal with safety issues, not aesthetics.” Tobias’s gaze swung to the window with its view of the parking lot.

  “According to some reviews, you’ve given this company’s projects a passing grade more often than not.” Marla was guessing, but maybe he’d slip up during their conversation.

  His lip curled in a snarl. “What are you implying? Customers complain all the time. It’s not my fault if the kitchen wiring looks sound, but then an applia
nce goes bad. Or if a client whines about his cabinets because he doesn’t like the amount of space inside. People are picky about every detail.”

  Wouldn’t you care if it were your dollars spent? You should be just as critical with your inspections. You’re on the side of the consumer, not the installer.

  “At least this design company files for permits,” Marla said with a sympathetic smile. “I realize people often get work done on the sly and don’t bother with legalities. This happened to us with a former neighbor. He tried to erect a fence between our properties without getting a survey. We had to file a code violation for him to correct his mistake. Otherwise, his fence would have encroached upon our land.”

  Unfortunately, this neighbor—the homeowners’ association president—had ended up dead shortly thereafter. Dalton, who’d been seen arguing with the fellow, had been removed from the homicide case due to a conflict of interest.

  Tobias’s mouth curved downward. “There are also unscrupulous companies that tell their clients a permit isn’t required because they want to skip the proper steps. Most laypersons don’t know the difference.”

  “I’d want to go through proper channels,” Marla said. “Tell me more about Jack’s relationships. Considering the negative reviews, is his company better off without him?”

  Are you? she wanted to ask but didn’t. If Jack had been paying him off, Tobias might have considered eliminating him as a liability.

  What would be the permit guy’s motive in accepting bribes in the first place? Tobias couldn’t make much salary as a civil servant. Did he need money to pay for his daughter’s medical care? That would be motivation enough to loosen one’s scruples. And if he’d taken bribes from Jack, had he murdered the foreman to keep his lips permanently sealed?

  Tobias shifted in his chair. “Jack may not have had many friends, but he knew his job.”

  “Do you have any theories as to who might have been responsible for his death?”

  He snorted. “Ask Caroline at their office. She runs the place and knows everyone involved.”

  Marla’s attention returned to the design center. What if Jack had been siphoning money that Brad issued for the payroll? He might have used the funds to pay off Tobias. But why feel the need to bribe him about the inspections? As Tobias said, if there were construction errors, the company merely had to fix them.

  But if Jack or Brad were making money by ordering inferior materials or by sending in unlicensed subcontractors, that could be a reason to pay off the permit inspector. She should talk to Pete and Juan, her mother’s work crew.

  “My husband and I attended Jack’s funeral to pay our respects,” she said, wishing she could learn more about the foreman’s personal life. “I didn’t see you there.”

  “We weren’t that well acquainted.”

  “Had you ever met his girlfriend? Hannah came to say goodbye even though she and Jack had broken off their relationship.”

  “As I said, I wasn’t on personal terms with Jack. We rarely discussed family.” His gaze skittered toward the exit.

  “Hannah said her brother didn’t like Jack,” Marla persisted. “I’m wondering why.”

  “Jack had a temper. Make your own guesses.” Tobias’s face reddened. “Now if you don’t mind, I have to sort through this paperwork.”

  Marla gripped her purse and rose. She’d learned a few things but didn’t get any hints that Tobias had a strong reason to get rid of Jack.

  “When do you think Brad will get a new foreman?” she asked in a final attempt to gain information.

  Tobias stood and strode to the door, opening it in a clear message of dismissal. “I wouldn’t know. Hiring someone is Brad’s duty. Good day, Ms. Vail.”

  Marla left, pondering their conversation. Tobias hadn’t admitted to skirting the rules, but the customer might have been right about him. If he did accept bribes, had he done away with Jack to ensure his silence? Yet Tobias had given her no overt cause to suspect him.

  Something still didn’t sit well with her about this interview, though.

  If Jack was slipping money to Tobias, where did he get the cash? Was he stealing the funds from the payroll money Brad had made available?

  But how often were inspections required? It couldn’t be that frequently. So this begged the question, what if Jack was paying off Tobias for another reason?

  Her temples throbbed as this notion didn’t wash. Then Jack would have killed Tobias and not the other way around.

  As she reached the lobby, she tore off her visitor badge and tossed it in a trash can. Outside, bright sunlight gleamed off the cars in the parking lot. The glare hurt her eyes. Standing at the top landing, she dug inside her purse for a pair of sunglasses.

  She should contact Pete, one of her mother’s contractors. Ma had given her the man’s phone number. It could be Pete and Juan who took the shortcuts that jeopardized safety. If Jack had called them out on it, they might have acted to silence him.

  Or was she grasping at straws? George Eustice, the granite dealer, still had the most likely motive. Jack had stalked his daughter. Any devoted father would be enraged under those circumstances.

  After running a few errands, she went home to call her mother with a report on her visit to the permit inspector. The dogs nipped at her heels until she threw them each a couple of treats. She sank into a chair at the kitchen table and sipped from a mug of coffee as she placed the call. Her eyelids drooped. She needed the fix of caffeine to stay awake.

  “Hi, Ma. How is everything?” she said when her mother answered.

  “I’m glad you called. You’ll be happy to know I have a mahjongg game this week. It’ll be good to get out.”

  “That should cheer you up. Has Reed been any better at telling you what’s on his mind?”

  “Not really. He stays shut in his office most of the day.”

  She detected her mother’s frustration in her voice. “Have you ever asked Pete or Juan, the contractors working at your house, about Reed’s past connection to Jack?”

  “Pete said he’d been unaware the two had met before. His main complaint was not getting paid for their last two jobs. Plus, he didn’t like how Jack failed to keep customers informed about schedule changes. People would get angry when the workmen didn’t show up as expected.”

  “So Pete resented Jack for his poor supervisory skills and possibly for stealing his paycheck.”

  “I suppose.”

  Marla updated her mother on the interview with Tobias Banyan. “I wonder if Detective Wanner has been to see him. Has the detective shared anything with you?”

  “Are you kidding?” Ma said. “I was going to ask you the same question.”

  “Wanner believes Jack must have been killed in your backyard and dragged into the shower. But that doesn’t explain how Reed’s tie ended up around the man’s neck.”

  “You said Reed knew Jack’s son from his teaching days,” Anita reminded her.

  “I know. But surely, Kit wouldn’t have murdered his father and tried to cast the blame on Reed. I’d had that thought, but it’s too far off to be plausible. Kit lives out of town. He’d have to have made a trip here earlier.”

  “If only Reed would trust me,” Anita said with a sigh. “There’s more to their relationship than he wants us to know.”

  “We have to learn what really happened between them. How about if you and Reed join us at a home expo on Sunday? Maybe we can get Reed to loosen up if we act supportive as a family.”

  Anita clapped her hands in the background. “That’s a great idea, and I’d love to see Ryder. How is my sweetie?”

  Marla latched onto this happy topic. “He’s feeding himself better, but he likes to throw his food on the floor and laugh at our reaction. It makes a mess but he’s so cute.”

  She rambled on about Ryder’s antics until another call came through. “Oops, I have to go. Dalton is calling. I’ll talk to you later.” She switched to the other line. “Hi, hon. What’s up?”

  �
�I have news,” he said in a curt tone. “You know the granite guy you went to see? Apparently, George had been a former partner of a man named Brad Quincy. They had a disagreement and split up after dissolving their company named Jazz Kitchen Designs.”

  “What? Are you saying Brad Quincy and Bradley Quinn might be the same person?”

  “It seems obvious. They folded their business and took down the website.”

  “That’s interesting. George did call Brad a liar when I spoke to him. He claimed to know Brad’s history and said it was only a matter of time before he moved on. Maybe he was talking about the business. Do you think Brad’s done this switchover more than once?”

  “It’s a possibility. I’ll have a talk with Wanner. He’s moving too slow on this case. I agree with you that he seems fixated on Reed as his prime suspect. George Eustice has a more valid reason to want Jack dead, from what you’ve told me about his daughter.”

  She nodded, glad he agreed with her viewpoint. “I spoke to the permit inspector this morning. Sorry I didn’t text you earlier, but I got caught up in errands and then I called Ma when I got home. I invited her and Reed to join us this weekend at the home improvement show. Maybe we can get Reed to open up about his relationship to Jack’s son. Plus, it’ll cheer my mother to see Ryder.”

  “I saw the screenshot his teacher sent. He looked so cute sitting in that toy car.” Dalton’s voice softened when he spoke about their son.

  “I know. He looks so small compared to the other kids in his class, but at least he’s not playing by himself anymore.”

  Marla and her brother hadn’t gone to school until they were three, and the two of them had turned out fine despite the lack of early socialization. That reminded her to call Michael to see how he was doing. She’d forgotten all about his problems with so much else on her mind.

  Bad Marla. But how could she keep up with everything? Add one more item, and her life would topple over. She could barely manage as it was to get all her tasks done.

  “The permit guy is married and has a child with medical issues,” she told Dalton. “His wife runs a housekeeping service. According to his story, he and Jack weren’t acquainted that well.”