Marla wrinkled her nose. “I spotted the manager talking to Brad at the home expo. Whatever the guy said, it made Brad angry. I had wondered why Davinia didn’t stop by to greet her brother, but maybe she stayed home to avoid the paparazzi.”
“Davinia never brings a friend into the store when she comes,” Tally remarked. “It’s always the manager who accompanies her. I couldn’t stand having that man hanging around and watching my every move.”
“I don’t like him either. If I can get Davinia alone at the garlic festival, I’ll ask her about Brad.”
“Good luck with that.”
Tally flagged down the waitress to order dessert once they’d finished their meals. She couldn’t pass up a chocolate opportunity, while Marla settled for a refill on her iced coffee.
“How’s your mom holding up?” Tally asked, leaning back in her chair.
“She’s doing okay, but she’s worried about Reed. He admitted that he chose the design company as a show of support for Davinia’s brother. Davinia had done him a favor in the past, and he wanted to return the good deed. But he wouldn’t elaborate any further.”
“Does Detective Wanner have any other suspects besides Reed?”
“I imagine so, but it’s been three weeks already, and he doesn’t seem to be getting anywhere. I wish he would accept Dalton’s input, but Wanner won’t involve him due to a conflict of interest. We’re grateful for whatever details he does share.”
“I’m sorry for your mom. This must be terribly frustrating for her.”
“Yes, it’s been stressful. I wish I could do more to help her and Reed.”
“Remember to ask her for a description of the necktie at the crime scene. Maybe it’ll ring a bell for someone.” Tally’s face brightened. “Yum, here comes my chocolate brownie sundae. I asked for two spoons. You have to taste it.”
Marla indulged herself in a spoonful of the gooey dessert while asking about her friend’s life and Luke’s activities.
She’d just requested the bill and plucked a credit card from her purse when her cell phone rang. “Oh, it’s Dalton. Excuse me for a moment,” she said to Tally. “Hi, hon. I’m at lunch. What’s up?”
“I have news about Jack Laredo,” he said in his deep voice.
“Yes, what about him?” Her heart thumped in sudden alarm at his clipped tone of voice.
“The man had a rap sheet. Evidently, he’d been involved in one of those copper-robber rings. They got caught and he spent time in prison.”
“No way. Wait, what do you mean by copper robber?” Marla’s heart raced at the realization that a convicted criminal had been inside her mother’s house.
“He and his gang stripped copper wiring from air-conditioning units and stole underground pipes from homes, including your mom’s development. They’d operated for quite a while in the area until an anonymous tip led to Laredo’s arrest.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Do you think Jack went straight after his release from prison, or did he resume his former role as a thief?” Marla asked. She glanced at Tally, who appeared to be enthralled by her water glass. Doubtless her friend was listening to every word.
“I don’t know enough to make an informed guess,” Dalton said. “That type of crime would be handled by a different division. I’ve left Detective Wanner a voicemail message to call me. He might have more details.”
“Who else was in this alleged thievery ring? Did your research turn up any other names?”
“I’m still working on it. I don’t want to alarm your mother, but Jack’s associates may be involved. Ask her if the former owners of her house did any remodels. That could be useful to know in case any of the workers were involved in this gang.”
After he hung up, Marla told Tally what she’d learned. “What if Pete, one of the general contractors, found out about Jack’s criminal past and threatened to expose him to Brad? That could have gotten Jack fired.”
Tally pursed her lips. “Then Pete would be the dead guy and not Jack. Besides, doesn’t Brad do background checks on the people he hires?”
“That would be Caroline’s responsibility. Remember how her friend Jodi—my new client—hinted that Caroline might be taking kickbacks from the vendors she approves? If Jack greased her palm, Caroline might have slipped him through regardless of his history.”
“Or Jack lied on his application where it asks if you’ve ever been convicted of a felony.”
“Stealing copper may not be considered a serious crime,” Marla suggested. “Dalton told me the classifications. If I recall, they include felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions.”
“I’ve heard about copper thefts,” Tally said, her eyes gleaming. She loved a mystery as much as Nicole at work, who devoured whodunit novels as though they were candy. “It’s a valuable commodity, along with other metals. Crooks sell it to scrap dealers for a high price.”
Marla wondered how this issue related to the project at her mother’s place. “Wouldn’t the thieves favor construction sites? They’d have plenty of time after workers left for the day to sneak in and strip out whatever they wanted. Abandoned buildings would offer the same opportunities.”
Tally nodded. “True, and they can cause a lot of harm at those sites. In one article I’d read, crooks ripped open the walls on a building scheduled for demolition. They cut out the copper piping and wires. Unfortunately, they didn’t turn off the main water valve, and the construction company had to pay an enormous water bill.”
Marla had never realized developers had to deal with these types of problems. “I imagine builders have to balance the cost of security against the potential replacement of stolen materials, not to mention damage repairs. Either way, they’d lose money.”
The waitress trundled their way and left the bill on the table. Marla grabbed it, glanced over the charges, and put her credit card down. “This is my treat,” she told Tally. “It’s been too long since we’ve gotten together.”
“Thanks. It’ll be my turn next time.” Tally’s demeanor sobered. “It’s awful how bad guys have no regard for other people’s lives. A friend of mine once had her jewelry stolen. It hurt more for the sentimental value of the items lost than the money involved.”
“Thieves have been around since the dawn of time,” Marla said with a cynical twist to her lips. “But why steal copper? What makes that particular metal so valuable?”
Tally got out her cell phone and did some research. “Copper is used in critical infrastructures such as electrical sub-stations, cell towers and telephone lines. It ensures reliable connections and is corrosion resistant. Thieves can make thousands of dollars per month from selling copper parts to scrap metal dealers.”
“How does that affect the average homeowner?” Marla got a whiff of barbecued beef as the waitress strode past carrying a tray piled high with burgers and fries.
Tally snorted. “For one thing, your power can go out when they steal a transformer. Your central air-conditioning units are another target with their copper piping. If the thieves did their job, you could come home one day and find your cooling system didn’t work. Your electrical systems and plumbing might also have copper components.”
The waitress returned their way to take the payment. “I didn’t realize copper was so prevalent,” Marla said after the server left them.
Tally’s eyes widened. “Listen to this. Copper can also be found on propane tanks. Thieves cut the pipes at ground level near the meters and then rip away as much piping as they can reach. It can result in a home losing its gas supply. Can you imagine how annoying that would be? You turn on the range and nothing happens.”
“I’d be more afraid of a dangerous leak caused by a cut pipe. Doesn’t a security system protect against people stealing this stuff outside your house?” Marla asked, thinking of the video cameras and exterior lighting around her place.
“Nope. Here’s one case where a man took ten minutes to crawl beneath a house and cut out a hundred feet of piping using a plumber’s tool. They�
��re fast, so by the time you receive an alert, they’re already gone. Nothing is ever secure to a determined criminal.”
“You’re right.” Marla had learned the sad reality of Tally’s statement through the cases Dalton had shared. “It makes me wonder if Jack had truly given up his activities as a copper thief, or if he’d resumed his former practice. Either way, it might have led to his death. Hopefully, Dalton can uncover more information.”
“Keep me posted on what you learn,” Tally said, gathering her purse. “You do realize I’m the Watson to your Holmes, yes?”
Marla laughed, and she was still chuckling on her way home. But her mood sobered that night when she brought up the subject again to Dalton after they’d put Ryder to bed. She repeated what Tally had told her.
“I never realized copper was a target for criminals. What can be done to stop these thieves?” Having finished her other chores, she was brushing her hair in front of the dresser mirror.
Dalton lay on the bed with his book resting open on his lap. “That’s a tough one,” he said, folding his arms behind his head. “Some states have passed laws to ensure better record-keeping by the scrap metal dealers and penalties for noncompliance. It doesn’t help that only a small percentage of the crooks are arrested and convicted of a misdemeanor. They pay a low fine or serve a short prison term. It doesn’t deter them from striking again.”
“That doesn’t sound too effective. What other options are available?”
Dalton’s brows lifted. “The dealers could record the photo IDs of sellers with each transaction. They could request payment by check to establish a paper trail. Or they could refuse to accept the goods unless the seller proves legitimate ownership. These guys will steal anything, even commemorative statues and cemetery ornaments. It’s a billion-dollar industry.”
“So the scrap metal dealers are the key to stopping them?”
“Exactly. The only thing we can do as average citizens is to be watchful. Keep the bushes trimmed around your house and install exterior lighting and cameras.”
“We already do that much. Do you suppose it’s worth the effort to talk to any of the scrap metal buyers in the area? You could show them Jack’s picture and ask if he’d stopped by in recent times.”
“I’ll suggest it to Wanner whenever he calls me back. He might already have that covered. It’s his locale, not mine.”
Marla tried to shut out these unpleasant issues as she settled down for the night and drifted toward sleep. Elusive dreams created a restless slumber. Thoughts flashed and fled before she could register them. She awoke startled, as though a cry had wakened her.
Ryder’s wails sounded from his video monitor. He was wide awake, howling in his crib. Marla glanced at the empty spot beside her on the bed and at Dalton’s rumpled pillow. He’d already gotten up. The bathroom light was on behind the closed door.
Great, she’d have to start Ryder’s feeding. Still groggy, she proceeded through the morning routine while her brain went along by rote. Brianna added an extra mouth to feed, and the dogs scampered underfoot demanding attention. Dalton came into the kitchen, his hair still damp, and helped her pack Ryder’s lunch kit. He took care of Spooks and Lucky while she dressed Ryder. It was her turn to drop him off at daycare.
Finally out the door, she remembered to call her mother once she hit the road. Since this might be the only free time she had all day, she let out a whoosh of relief when Ma answered.
“Good morning, bubeleh, what’s going on? Is everything all right?” Anita’s singsong voice came loud and clear over the car’s speaker system.
“Yes, I’m taking Ryder to daycare. Hey, that’s your grandma,” she told her son, flicking a glance at his car seat through the rearview mirror.
“Eh,” he said in response.
“Yes, it’s my mother, sweetie. Hey, Ma. How are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m as good as I can be under the circumstances.”
She heard the frustration in her mother’s tone. “I have a question for you. Do you have the contact info for the sellers of your house?”
“Why would you ask?”
“Dalton has learned something about Jack that he wants to follow up on. Are you aware if the previous homeowners did any remodeling?”
“I believe so, but it was years ago. We don’t have a forwarding address for them, but I can text you their real estate agent’s name. She might be able to help.”
“Thanks; that would be great.”
They exchanged pleasantries before Marla got off the phone. At a stoplight, she forwarded Ma’s information to Dalton. He replied with a terse thanks.
She didn’t give the subject another thought as she dropped Ryder off at daycare and headed for the salon. Several hours passed until Arnie Hartman walked in bearing lunch platters for the staff. She’d cleared counter space in the rear storeroom and had the owner of Bagel Busters set the goods there.
After she added a placard that said, Thank you for all you do, she turned to him. He smelled like garlic and pickles and wore his customary apron over jeans and a tee shirt. His moustache quivered as he grinned at her.
“Happy belated National Hairstylist Appreciation Day,” he announced in his New York accent.
“Thanks, Arnie. This looks great. The girls always love your food.”
“I know. Robyn has been picking up the bagel order every morning for your clients. What’s doing, shaineh maidel? Have you been avoiding me?”
She frowned. “Of course not. I’ve been busy. My mother is involved in a murder case.”
“Oy vey. I thought you were occupied with the baby. Is Ryder okay?”
“He’s fine, thanks.” Her face dissolved into a smile as she showed him the latest photos on her cell phone.
“What’s the deal with your mom?” Arnie asked finally, crossing his arms.
Marla gave him a brief rundown of what had been happening. His variety of expressions was almost comical as he regarded her during this recital.
“I’m sorry for your troubles. Is there anything I can do to help?” he asked, his face earnest.
“Not really, but thanks for the offer. How are Jill and the kids? Anything new with you guys?”
“We’re doing well. Speaking of kids, tell me about Brianna. Doesn’t she graduate next month?”
Marla clapped a hand to her face. “Oh gosh, yes. We still have to plan her graduation party. You’re invited, of course. We have the date but not the place yet. Brianna promised to look into restaurants with private rooms, but I’ve forgotten to follow up.”
Her cell phone played its melodic tune. Dalton’s face showed on the screen.
“Excuse me, Arnie, but I’d better take this. Please give my regards to your wife. We’ll have to make plans to get together soon.”
Marla answered the phone as soon as Arnie left.
“Hi hon, what’s up?” she said, holding the phone to her ear.
“Wanner returned my call, and he had unexpected news. You’re not going to believe this, but Tobias Banyan is dead.”
Chapter Seventeen
“What?” Marla gripped the phone closer to her ear. Had she heard correctly? She’d seen the man only recently. How could the permit inspector be dead?
“He died at home from carbon monoxide poisoning,” Dalton added. “I don’t have all the details yet, but this smells fishy to me, especially coming so soon after Jack Laredo’s death.”
“It could have been an accident,” Marla said, her voice subdued. Still stunned, she stared at a smudge on the wall. What did this mean for their investigation? If it turned out to be a deliberate act, that would put a whole new spin on things.
“Tobias lived in West Boca,” Dalton told her. “It’s not my territory, but I know a guy there and have contacted him for more details. I’ve also left a message for that real estate agent you’d mentioned. I’ll get back to you when I have news on either situation.”
“I can’t believe Tobias is gone. Dear Lord, didn’t he h
ave a wife and children?”
“They’re safe. His family was out of town visiting the wife’s mother. Tobias was alone in the house.”
“Thank goodness for that much, but their poor family.”
“We’ll talk more about it later. Did Ryder make it to class okay?”
“He was clingy this morning. I hope he’s not coming down with something.” The baby caught colds nearly as often as she did the laundry.
“Maybe he’s teething again.”
“Let’s hope so. I couldn’t handle a call from his teacher on top of everything else today.”
Marla emerged from the storeroom in a trance. She announced the complimentary lunch to her staff. Her mood dampened, she headed to her station to prepare for her next client.
“What’s wrong?” Nicole asked, wandering over. Her raven hair tied in a high ponytail, she looked comfortable in a coral pants set.
Marla caught a whiff of strong chemicals from one of the manicurists who was doing acrylics. Sometimes she wondered about the fumes she breathed in all day. “Dalton had some shocking news to share.”
Nicole gaped at her. “Don’t tell me they’ve arrested Reed.”
“No, it involves someone else. I’ll explain later. My customer just walked in.” Marla plastered a smile on her face and showered attention on the woman. It helped calm her nerves to focus on work.
The hours seemed to fly by as her staff enjoyed the food she’d provided. They greeted a steady influx of clients.
Marla never did resume her conversation with Nicole. Anxious to get home, she couldn’t wait until the clock struck five and she completed her last wash and blowout.
Once she was on the way to pick up Ryder, she allowed herself to consider the dreadful tidings of the day. Who had discovered Tobias’s body? Was it his wife coming home from her mother’s house? A neighbor who’d smelled a strange odor outside? Or a housekeeper coming to clean on a regular rotation?
Horrifying images played in her mind of Tobias falling asleep and never awakening. How long did it take carbon monoxide to build to toxic levels? Several days or only a few hours?
Styled for Murder Page 16