“I’m sorry that happened to you,” Marlee said. She knew what if felt like to be an outsider in a new town. It could be a very lonely experience.
“Well, it’s nothing to dwell on. I travel so much that I’m rarely home anyway,” their host said.
“Where do you travel?” Marlee asked hoping to uncover more details about this fascinating, but eccentric man.
“I just got back from a trip to Thailand. Last year, I spent a month at an ashram in India. In a few months, I plan to spend time with a friend in New Zealand. I also travel extensively in the United States,” Thayer said, anxious to discuss his travels.
“Who takes care of your home while you’re away?” Vince inquired.
“Oh, my sister lives here too. She takes care of everything whether I’m here or not,” the eccentric collector replied.
“I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to meet her,” Marlee said, hoping the mystery sister would appear, so she could get a better sense of Conrad Thayer and his bizarre lifestyle.
“Oh, you already met her. Rita brought in the drink cart when you first arrived.”
I’m in a prison of my own making. Finding the key is the great puzzle of life.
Chapter 16
On the way home, Marlee and Vince talked over each other as they reviewed their evening with Conrad Thayer. “Who in the hell has their sister wear a maid’s uniform and serve refreshments?” Marlee asked. “That’s just plain weird.”
“Everything about that guy and his house is strange. What was with the doll head mounted on the wall along with the deer head and other hunting trophies?” Vince asked.
“Maybe he likes to shoot people but knows he can’t have their heads mounted on the wall so he substitutes dolls,” Marlee suggested.
“He’s creepy enough to do something like that,” Vince agreed.
“I know. He’s the strangest person I’ve ever met, but I really don’t feel like he’s a dangerous person. He’s just odd. And a bit of a pompous ass,” Marlee said.
“I kind of dig some of his collection. I’d like to go back and look around more,” Vince said.
“Me too. At least we left on a positive note. He was really getting on my nerves when he kept saying Bridget was a thief.” Marlee said.
“I could tell you were about to lose it. That’s why I kept interrupting with questions.” Vince said.
“Oh my God, Vince. You don’t even know the best part. When Hector and I went to the house yesterday, he met us at the door and led us to believe he was a butler or an employee of some sort. Then, when we arrive today it’s the same guy. When I saw him yesterday, he was bald. Tonight he has a full head of hair. I wonder if he does stuff like that to amuse himself.” Marlee commented.
“Maybe. I bet a lot of strange things go on in that house. He was probably on his best behavior tonight for us,” Vince said, and they both burst out into laughter.
Marlee drove back to her house, and Vince came inside to use the restroom. Marlee sat at the table and began jotting down the highlights from their conversation with Conrad Thayer. When Vince came out of the bathroom, he sat down at the table and began to look at the crime chart and some of the papers Marlee had strewn about.
She glanced up at him, but didn’t point out that he was free to leave. After writing for a few more minutes, she went to the refrigerator and brought them each back a beer. “Sorry, I’m all out of Scotch. I hope this will do,” she joked as she handed him the Bud Light.
“This is perfect. Why did you order Scotch on the rocks? That was terrible.”
“I planned on asking for wine, but I didn’t see any on the drink cart. Then I sort of panicked after he said he couldn’t make an Alabama Slammer. Scotch on the rocks just popped into my mind, so I ordered it. One good thing about our horrible drinks is that at least we didn’t get tipsy and say too much,” Marlee said.
After three more beers and a good deal of conversation about Bridget’s case, Marlee excused herself. While in the bathroom, the land line phone rang. “McCabe residence,” Vince said as he answered the phone.
“Who is this?” asked a male voice.
“This is Vince. Is this Hector?”
“Yeah. What are you doing at Marlee’s house?” Hector asked.
“We just got home from our meeting with Conrad Thayer, and we were here drinking beer and going over the case,” Vince said, standing his ground.
“What do you mean you’re going over the case? You’re only involvement in this was to go along with Marlee to Thayer’s house to make sure she didn’t get murdered by the crazy old coot. You’re done here,” Hector barked.
“I have to go now. We’re getting ready to go out for supper,” Vince said as he hung up the phone.
As she was finished washing her hands in the bathroom, she thought she heard someone speaking. “Is someone here, Vince?” Marlee asked as she walked back to the dining room table.
“No, my cell rang, and I was talking to somebody from work. It was nothing. Hey, let’s go get something to eat. I’m starving, and the food at Thayer’s was horrible,” Vince said.
“Alright. I guess that would be okay,” Marlee said as she grabbed her purse and walked to the door. Her irritation with Vince diminished over the evening, and she was enjoying his company.
Vince drove his pickup to Apollo’s. It was Marlee’s second visit to the establishment in the past two days. As luck would have it, Chad was their server again. He gave Vince a nervous glance as he came over to introduce himself. Noticing Marlee’s male companion this time was not Hector, he relaxed and launched into his chatty spiel about the weather, how busy he was, and the evening’s specials.
Marlee, taking her cue from Hector’s handling of the overly chatty waiter from the previous night, used the same approach. “Chad, this is a business meeting just like last time I was here. If you could bring us each a beer and then leave us alone to talk for twenty minutes before you come back for our order, that would be great.”
Chad nodded and took off, returning moments later with their requested beers. Again, he spun away without a word. “Wow! That worked really well. I’ll have to remember that when I get a Chatty Cathy server next time,” said Vince.
“I know. Hector and I were here and he said something similar to Chad, and it worked like a charm,” Marlee said.
A darkness spread over Vince’s face at the mention of Hector’s name. “So you’ve been spending a lot of time together lately, I see.”
“Not really. Just the past couple of days. He heard about Bridget’s predicament from a friend at the Elmwood Police Department and took some time off to come here and help. I didn’t invite him. He just showed up,” Marlee said, feeling guilty although everything she said was truthful.
“Are you two back together?” Vince asked.
“No, I still haven’t figured out what to do.” Marlee rubbed her temples as if that would make her decision any easier. “This whole thing is a mess.”
“You got that right.” Vince took a large gulp from his beer bottle and set it down with a thud on the table top. “When are you going to make your decision? I can’t wait around forever.”
“Hector said the same thing,” Marlee replied, instantly wishing she had not disclosed that to Vince.
“I really don’t want to hear anything else about Hector. I don’t like him, and I don’t trust him,” Vince said.
“That’s because you two are rivals. I’m beginning to wonder if either of you are really interested in me, or if you just want to win the contest.” Marlee had been noticing the competition between her two suitors had taken on a life of its own. Once the competition was gone, would either of them hold an interest in her for a sustainable amount of time? And would her interest remain after one was chosen?
“Have you forgotten that we were dating when you took up with Hector? I was interested in you before he came into the picture. I was ready to move in together.” Vince was getting huffy. He recognized the volume of his voi
ce had risen, and they were starting to get stares from the diners around them. “I thought we had a good thing going on. I wanted to make it permanent,” Vince whispered.
“We have your brother and your cousin to thank for messing everything up.” Marlee referred to Vince’s creepy brother, Spud, and their cousin Shari who led Marlee to believe Vince had dumped her and was back with his old girlfriend.
“I’ll never forgive Spud for that.” Vince shook his head. “I kicked him out of the house and don’t see him much anymore.”
“We’re not going to get any of this figured out tonight. Let’s move on and talk about Bridget and the urn,” Marlee said. She’d already made the decision not to tell Vince about the foreclosure notice or the cryptic hand-written letter to Bridget. Both documents put Bridget in a negative light, and she wanted Vince to remain a champion for Bridget’s innocence.
Vince nodded. “I know.”
Chad, noticing a lull in the conversation and noting that he had given them the requested alone time breezed by to take their orders. They hadn’t even looked at the menu, but Marlee ordered a margarita pizza, while Vince requested a steak. The same steak Hector ordered the previous night. These two seem more and more alike all the time. No wonder I’m having so much trouble picking between them, Marlee thought.
The evening took on a lighter tone once they returned to the topic of Conrad Thayer. “How about that outfit he was wearing?” Marlee asked with a laugh, as she recalled their host’s skin-tight zip-front jump suit.
“That’s something I hope to never see again,” Vince said, shaking his head as if to erase the memory. “It looked like something a mechanic would wear to keep his clothes from getting dirty. But this was tan and really tight. And I’m pretty sure he wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothing underneath.”
Marlee shuddered. “What about the room with all the empty milk cartons? I didn’t get a chance to ask him about them. What do you think the significance is there? I mean, milk cartons can’t have any value, can they?”
“Maybe it’s his recycling project.”
“The cartons must have been rinsed out thoroughly because the room didn’t stink like sour milk. Maybe he keeps the cartons because they have the faces of missing children on them.” Marlee wasn’t sure if that rationale put Thayer in a better light or if it made him even creepier.
“I’d like to find out more about his sister too,” Vince said.
Chad brought their food, and they began eating as they continued to dissect the dynamic between Conrad Thayer and his sister and the oddities within their home. Finally feeling comfortable enough to ask, Marlee hit Vince with a question. “I really need to talk to Bridget. Can you look the other way while I go visit her?”
“Are you out of your mind? The judge’s order specified you two were not to have any contact. None! Nada! If you went over there to see Bridget, and I knew about it, I could lose my job!” Vince went on and on about the impropriety of going against the judge’s orders and how it could impact everyone involved. “Bridget could get her bond revoked and go back to jail.”
“I know. It was just a far-fetched idea. I won’t have any contact with Bridget.” Marlee lied through her teeth, already planning another night-time visit to see her cousin.
“I hope you mean that, and you’re not just telling me what you think I want to hear,” Vince said, squinting at her as if that would send a stern message. He is really cute when he’s all business, Marlee thought.
“I won’t contact Bridget. Really!” Marlee used her exasperated tone to get Vince off the topic. If the conversation continued, he would get her to promise not to see her cousin. She didn’t like to break her promises, so it was best to end the discussion before it got to that point.
“Do you want dessert? I have a two-for-one coupon,” Vince said, as he took out his overstuffed wallet with torn edges of paper sticking out from the sides. He began rifling through the various coupons, specials, and discounts, until he noticed Marlee shaking her head.
As the meal ended, the conversation waned. The talk of their past relationship and of Bridget’s case were both off limits now, leaving them little to discuss. They finished up their meals, and Vince dropped her off at home. She jumped out as soon as he parked in front of her house, not inviting him in lest he think she had other things in mind. “Thanks again for going to Thayer’s house with me. I appreciate it.”
“No problem. Marlee, don’t go over to Kathleen’s house to see Bridget. It could turn out really bad for everyone, because I will report it to the court.” Vince was sincere as he stated this warning, and the professor felt fairly certain he would follow through.
It was nearing 10:00 p.m. when Marlee entered her house. She was full from supper and the beers she drank at home and at Apollo’s. The volume of the pizza was enough to offset the alcohol, so she didn’t feel intoxicated in the least, just sluggish. She washed her face, brushed her teeth, and pulled her tangled curls into a short pony tail. Then Marlee changed into a dark sweat suit and tennis shoes. Throwing on a black coat over her athletic attire, she left the house. Marlee needed to talk to Bridget again, and nothing was going to stop her.
I’m not just a little scared. I’m really scared!
Chapter 17
Marlee drove the few blocks over to Kathleen’s neighborhood and parked three houses away on a side street. She didn’t want anyone who could recognize her car to see her parked in front of Bridget’s temporary residence.
Marlee walked toward the window to Bridget’s bedroom and was planning what she was going to say. She ducked behind a row of shrubs, hoping to conceal herself. From the street light, Marlee could see Bridget standing in the doorway talking to a person who was just leaving. The conversation was heated as Bridget was using her hands as she talked. The distance and Marlee’s need for a stronger eyeglass prescription prevented her from identifying the visitor.
Bridget pushed the door shut with a loud thud and the person, who appeared to be a male, walked to a small sports car and drove off. Marlee ran to her SUV parked around the corner and followed him to a convenience store. He went inside just as Marlee pulled into the parking lot, so she only saw his back. Parking next to his car she waited until he exited the store holding a can of Coke and a sack of red licorice. It was Conrad Thayer, still clad in his tight jumpsuit and wearing his fluffy wig. An unbuttoned fur coat hung around his shoulders.
“Conrad Thayer!” Marlee said as she jumped out of her vehicle and into his path. “What were you doing talking to Bridget?”
“I, uh,…” Thayer mumbled.
“Don’t try to deny it. I saw you. What were you doing?” Marlee stood just inches away from the eccentric collector, doing her best to make him uncomfortable.
“I just wanted to let Bridget know that I had talked with you and that you made some good points about her being innocent.” Thayer had taken a step back and was now regaining his composure. He pulled the fur coat tighter around his shoulders as he attempted to stand taller.
“If the conversation was so chummy, why did Bridget slam the door on you?” Marlee asked. She wasn’t convinced that’s what she saw, but thought it was good to keep him off balance during this conversation.
“We didn’t argue. Bridget just got emotional about her legal predicament. That’s all,” Thayer said, not too convincingly.
“How did you know where she was staying?” Marlee asked. “I doubt that address was made public during any of the court hearings.”
“I just did a little online research to find out where the third-party custodian lived. It wasn’t that hard. Plus, I’m an internet whiz, remember?” Thayer asked, his cockiness returning.
“So is Bridget going to confirm your version of the conversation?” Marlee asked.
“You’ll never know, will you? As I recall from the court hearing, you are prohibited from contacting your cousin or else she’ll go back to jail. Isn’t that right?” Thayer said with a smug smile.
“Maybe
I’ll have someone else ask her for me,” Marlee said.
“I believe that’s still contact and is not allowable. I’m not a legal expert. Maybe I should ask the judge about it. He only lives a block away,” Thayer said, becoming more obnoxious and confident by the minute.
“I guess I’ll have to wait until she’s found not guilty, and then I can ask her all the questions I want,” Marlee shot back.
“Yeah, good luck with that.” Thayer got into his car and tore out of the parking lot, leaving some rubber tire marks on the pavement which was not covered with snow or ice.
Marlee stood in the parking lot for a full minute, dumbstruck, before she got into her car and drove back toward Kathleen’s house. What does he have to talk to Bridget about? She’s already been charged with stealing the urn, so he wouldn’t have any need to accuse her face to face. And why did Bridget appear to be so upset when he left? Questions raced through Marlee’s mind so quickly that before she could devise a plausible explanation another question demanded attention. Is it possible that Conrad Thayer wrote the letter to Bridget?
Suddenly, Marlee had an idea. She pulled the cell phone from her pocket as she drove and punched in Vince’s number, using her elbow to keep the steering wheel in place. “Hey Vince. It’s Marlee. I had a quick question for you. Was Conrad Thayer in court when Bridget was released on home detention to Kathleen’s house?”
“No, why?” Vince asked. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“Nothing really.” Marlee lied, because to bring up her conversation with Thayer at the convenience store would bring to light that she was outside Kathleen’s home waiting to talk to Bridget. “Thanks. Good bye.” She clicked the off button and threw her phone on the passenger seat in her car. When it rang, she didn’t answer it, knowing it was Vince, and he had follow-up questions.
She parked in the same place as she had when she was preparing to talk to Bridget earlier. Before leaving her vehicle, she waited for a few minutes just to see if any cop cars were circling the area. Eventually satisfied that no one was surveilling the neighborhood, she exited the Honda CR-V and walked toward the front door and hid behind the shrubs. Seeing no activity in the house, she snuck around to the window of Bridget’s bedroom and knocked just as she had the night before.
Art of Deception Page 15