“I’m really happy you’re here.” I stood on my tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss. “And that you didn’t dump me on the side of the road.”
Grey chuckled. “Next time. And I’m certain there will be one.”
As I walked up the driveway, Grey stood off to the driver’s side of the car. Slattery, a good-sized man, filled the opening to his patio as he gave me a scrutinizing once-over. I waved and gave him a big smile. “I’m the one that called about the case.” I’d given my real first name on the phone but not my last. I’d have to get better at all this subterfuge. “I have a few questions, but I don’t want to take up a lot of your time.”
Before going inside, he gave Grey a twice-over. “Have a seat.” Slattery pointed him to one of the Adirondack chairs that adorned the outside space. Thank goodness they had pillows. “You want something to drink?” He sat with one eye on the driveway.
I shook my head. “I have water in my purse.”
“Did you bring my payment?”
“I got the biggest one I could find.” I opened my briefcase, pulled out a box of Godiva chocolates, and handed it to him.
“I never thought you’d get so much, but you can bet I’ll enjoy every piece.” He ran his hand over the top of the gold box and set it on a side table. “Shoot with your questions. A heads up that my grandkids are on the way over, and we won’t get a peaceful moment once they arrive.”
“Were you convinced Grey Walker was the killer?” I asked, getting right to the point.
“There was no evidence to support an arrest, or we wouldn’t have hesitated, cop or not. The body being found on his property wasn’t enough, and though he didn’t have an alibi for that night, that didn’t mean someone else didn’t drop her there. Unfortunately for him, the news media convicted him, and for some, that was enough. I did wonder where they were getting their information. They certainly had a lot of it, albeit false.” Slattery downed most of his iced tea, then chewed on an ice cube.
“Mindy Graham’s journal must have been an interesting twist.”
“It was shocking when it came out that a young rich girl who could’ve chosen any path in life had tried to perpetrate a hoax that would ruin a man’s life. Then ended up dead, though that wasn’t her intent, according to her own words. There were whispers of suicide—once again the news—but that was quickly disproven. I hated retiring with any unsolved cases still on my desk, but this one really rankles.”
A little ankle-biter dog bounded out of the house, leaped into Slattery’s lap, and made himself comfortable, staring at me. Slattery scratched his head absently.
“There hadn’t been any mention of the case in a while… until Detective Walker was found dead. Is there someone still actively working it?”
“Cases stay open until someone is charged. How much attention it’s currently getting, I have no idea.” He fingered another ice cube out of his glass. “It’s my opinion that Mindy’s father had the clout to keep the investigation quiet. He told me once that he was tired of seeing his family name on the nightly news. I’d have thought he’d be pushing hard for an arrest.” He shook his head. “I was sorry to hear about Walker; thought he got a raw deal. Once your reputation is flushed, it’s next to impossible to get it back.”
“Did you have any other persons of interest?” I asked.
“We looked at family and friends, for all the good that did. They all lawyered up. And these were people supposedly close to Mindy Graham; you’d think they’d want to be forthcoming and helpful. But nope, they had to be run down and brought in for questioning, and that never turned into anything helpful.”
A large white SUV pulled up, the doors opened, and four kids of various ages piled out, all screaming and laughing over one another.
I noticed that Slattery looked relieved by their arrival and glanced furtively at my watch. Ten minutes. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that he’d planned the interruption to happen when it did. I stood. “Thank you for your time.”
“A word of advice, young lady,” Slattery said in a stern tone as he stood. “In most unsolved cases, and some solved ones, there are unanswered questions. Someone killed Mindy Graham and that someone won’t be happy you’re poking around. You could end up dead.”
I stepped back from the patio opening as the kids dashed forward and breezed by me, hollering “Grandpa” as they swarmed him for a group hug. I waved and kept walking.
Grey had the passenger door open and didn’t take his eyes off me as I approached. Once we were both inside, he asked, “What was in the box?”
“Godiva chocolates that he requested to do the interview.”
“I’m certain you didn’t get enough info to cover the cost of that box of candy.”
Rather than agree, I said, “Now’s the time to fess up if you’re a sweets-hater. It would be sad to part ways, but better now than later. You know, after you’re all broken in and I’ve got you trained… and then find out you abhor sweets.”
Grey laughed. “No worries there, hon.”
I took my phone out and sent myself a couple of notes.
“To show you what a great boyfriend I can be…” Grey grinned.
“Boyfriend.” I smiled at him.
“Have you broken the news to your friends yet?”
“I’ll do it at our weekly breakfast. I can’t tell one before the other. I’m certain that neither is going to be surprised.” Knowing those two, they figured it out before me. “Back to you proving your greatness…”
“Write down your questions, run them by me, and I’ll give you my opinion… which, by the way, is one of my favorite things to do. Also on that list, include the people you plan to contact.” Grey raised his brows, as though I’d argue.
Not just yet.
“Early on, I figured out that I would need to keep an eye on you, and that’s panned out.” Grey pinned me with a stare as he turned onto the highway. “I propose that I be your backup for these sit-downs of yours, and in return, you can help me figure out where Wilson is hiding. That should keep you busy and out of trouble. Hopefully.” Grey reached out and clasped my hand. “You’ll be great backup, Brenda.”
“That’s Miss Jones to you,” I said in a snooty tone, struggling not to laugh.
Grey laughed. “Smith and Jones, now there’s a great name for my new business.”
“I’d prefer alphabetical order.”
Chapter Thirteen
I followed the scent of freshly brewed coffee into the kitchen and heard Grey tell someone, “I’ve got his laptop.” I eyed it where it sat on the island as I slipped onto a stool. I waited for him to hang up, then banged my hand on the granite. “Coffee.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He bowed, then picked up a mug, filled it, and set it front of me.
The front door slammed, and Avery poked her head around the corner, large sequined frames today’s fashion choice, then danced in barefoot, in jeans, and crossed over to the island, tossing down a large bag.
“You’re supposed to knock,” I reminded her.
“Since when? Never.” She opened a cupboard and took out a plate, then turned the bag upside down, and a variety of donuts fell out.
“You might catch Grey naked, and then you’ll feel bad that you don’t have such an amazing specimen lurking around your house.”
Grey shook his head.
“It’s fate that I brought donuts.” Avery licked her lips. “Does this mean you two are…” She scissored her fingers and turned her attention to Grey. “Just trying to get the visual of you in your birthday suit.”
I attempted to kick her, and she scooted away, laughing.
Grey poured her a mug of coffee, then set out plates and a roll of paper towels.
Avery eyed the laptop. “Is that the one?”
Grey handed it to her. “I appreciate this. I attempted to snoop through the files last night, but I couldn’t find any.”
Avery flipped it open. “It’s an older model.” She clicked around. “People think th
ey’re so clever. Someone deleted all the files but forgot to empty the recycle bin, which only means they won’t take as long to recover. I can transfer all the information to a drive and get it to you later today.”
“I appreciate you helping me out like this,” Grey said. “You blew off payment, so just know that if there’s anything I can ever do, ask. The answer is, ‘I’ll get on it.’”
“I love a good mystery.” Avery closed the laptop. “So excited about being on the good side of an investigation. Wouldn’t feel the same if I was the one under the microscope.”
Grey nodded in agreement.
“More.” Avery banged her mug on the island.
Grey laughed. He stood and reached for the pot, refilling it for her.
“Interesting news about the phone number you gave me…” Avery said.
“I’m impressed that you’ve got something for me already.” Grey tipped his mug towards her in a toast.
“If someone doesn’t want to be found, they should do a little research and learn to turn off their phone and get rid of the battery. The location of the phone is… the mansion. There’s an app running on it that disconnects calls after the second ring. I remotely installed an app of my own, and I’m tracking all the calls.”
“I wonder who installed that—Kent or Wilson?” Grey mused. “It’s hard to believe that there’s a phone ringing somewhere in the mansion and that nosey butler doesn’t know jack about it.”
“Didn’t have the time to do a thorough check on the Kent family, but a little digging uncovered a couple of interesting facts.” Avery took a big bite out of a jelly donut and savored it with a sigh before continuing. “What surprised me was how unsecure the company computers are… until I noticed that the coffers are being looted. Someone’s ripping off the company to the tune of millions. With just a glance, it’s hard to know if the culprit is the son. I do know something about corporations, and it’s going to come out, probably before the next board meeting. Kent’s position is in jeopardy if the money hasn’t been returned. If I were a board member, I’d vote to kick him off, especially if he’s involved in any attempt to cover it up.”
“Would it placate the members if the money were returned before they found out?” I asked.
“I imagine Kent would have to call in every favor ever owed him to keep his seat,” Grey answered. “Is it possible to find out if Wilson is the culprit? Or where the money’s going, regardless of who’s stealing it?”
“Avery’s a numbers wizard.” I got up and grabbed a water, having met my coffee limit for the day.
“It will take a few days, but I’ll be able to track the cash and give you a report covering everything you need to know.” Avery grinned at Grey.
“If Kent continues to cover for his son, and he turns out to be the culprit, then he’s looking at criminal charges,” I said.
“All it would take is one board member finding out and calling the cops. It could become a major case overnight,” Grey said.
“Once it hit the news, the stockholders would get screwed. In addition to a securities investigation, there would be criminal charges and, I’m certain, lawsuits from the stockholders,” Avery said. “I have a little news on a different subject. I went by the office building yesterday, and the workers were de-ratting the place. I took a quick peek around and left. Hugo says it will be ready by the first of next week.”
“The security doors will be installed by then,” Grey told her. “Not to be bossy, but… don’t be hanging around there by yourself until then, and not at night. Ever. I’m thinking of your safety and that of anyone else that’s going to work there. I’m not expecting any trouble, just want everyone to be safe.”
“The reason the move into the offices will be delayed by several days is my fault,” Avery said with a shifty smile. “I ordered all the offices painted, and Hugo’s men are jumping on it.”
“The next time, do you think you could run it by me first?” I asked.
“That’s a familiar question,” Grey said, his lips quirked.
“Promise.” Avery held up her hand. “It’s going to be a big improvement. The faded and yellowed walls will be gone, and it will no longer look like an animal’s been lifting its leg.”
Eww. “It’s a great idea. Glad you thought of it.” I smiled my thanks.
“You ready for another great idea?” Avery grinned.
“Twice in one day is too much for me.” I almost laughed at her faux outrage.
“You’ve got to jump on this one. Hugo told me he’d like to rent the first floor. He needs an office for his business, since it’s grown and he doesn’t want to run it out of his truck anymore. I’m thinking the more hulky guys hanging around, the better. Discourages troublemakers. I told him I’d put in a good word.”
I looked at Grey, and he nodded and said, “Not the worst idea.”
“It’s a good idea…” I trailed off.
“But?” Avery questioned.
“What happens if my dad comes back and there’s all these changes?”
“It’s not if but when. Since he thinks you’re near-perfect, he’ll be fine. And when it does happen, I’ll sit him down and recommend that he diversify and buy more real estate.” Avery’s phone dinged; she pulled it out of her pocket and glanced at the screen. “I’m meeting a client.” She stood and grabbed the laptop. “I’ll get on transferring the files and get it back to you no later than tomorrow.” She waved and left.
Grey patted my hand. “When your dad comes back, it’s not going to be a problem. I’ll move out, and he can have his old office back.”
I stood, slid into his arms, and hugged him.
Chapter Fourteen
After Avery left, I cleaned up the kitchen and went out to the balcony, sitting next to Grey. “Are you going to feed me before or after your trip back to Kent’s house?”
He gave me a distracted smile, and when he spoke, it wasn’t to answer my question. “There’s something off about this case. I’m wondering if it’s a setup of some kind. Since I don’t know the man, I did a little digging online and came up with almost nothing. Perhaps I’m just generally paranoid.”
“Have all your other cases been straightforward?”
“There’s usually some hurdle that has you wondering what the heck. You regroup and come up with a different angle to approach the problem.” Grey heaved a sigh. “I was hired to find Kent’s son, and everything points to him being holed up in the mansion. Or someone else is busy on his phone. I find it hard to believe that Kent wouldn’t know.”
“I get that the house is big, but how could he possibly be living there without either of the other two residents noticing?” I found it hard to believe anything got past the butler. “The first thing that would stick out would be Wilson’s car… unless he walked, which I doubt. If Kent’s sincere about wanting to find his son, then he won’t mind if you have a look around the house.”
“I would’ve asked yesterday if I’d had any indication Wilson lived or stayed there. I googled the address Kent’s butler gave me, and it’s a mail drop. Another ‘what the hell’ question for the old guy. I’m assuming Kent’s never paid his son a visit.”
“Go check out the mailbox place and turn on the charm, flash a little cash, and maybe whoever is behind the counter will break the rules and give you Wilson’s address of record,” I suggested.
“Maybe… people are sometimes willing to take a chance on making a buck if they think they won’t get caught.” Grey stood and pulled me to my feet. “Let’s go for a ride.”
We got in the SUV, and Grey headed straight back to Palm Island, which was a short trip. He drove up to the security gate and hung his head out the window, pressing a button on the panel.
“How can I help you?” The butler’s voice came through loud and clear.
I was surprised that he didn’t greet Grey by name, since we were just there.
“Steve Smith. I’d like to speak with Mr. Kent.”
“Do you have an
appointment?”
“I have a few questions that I need answered to move his case forward. It won’t take too much of his time.”
“Mr. Kent is not at home, and I don’t have an exact time for his return,” the butler said, rebuke in his tone. “I suggest that before coming back, you call first.”
“How about Wilson Kent? Does he have a few minutes?”
Total silence. There was no way to tell if Grey and the butler were still connected.
Finally, the butler came back on. “Wilson doesn’t live here. I gave you his address when you were here last.”
“Were you aware that that address was to a rented mailbox?”
Another long pause. “I had no idea. I’ll have to let Mr. Kent know.”
I found it hard to believe he was telling the truth. But why lie? Unless he was part of whatever was happening behind the scenes.
“Since I’m here, I’d like to come in and have a look around,” Grey said. “I might be able to pick up a clue to facilitate Mr. Kent’s case.”
Dead silence. Grey’s jaw tightened as he waited for the man to respond.
The butler finally came back on. “I’d have to have Mr. Kent’s authorization, and as you know, he’s not here to ask.”
“Have Mr. Kent call me.” Grey backed out of the driveway.
“With the delayed responses to your questions, the butler was acting shifty,” I said. “Probably following instructions. Be interesting to see how long it takes Kent to call you back.”
“If he does. Either will be telling. My instincts tell me that there’s more going on than Kent’s said. No investigator wants to be left in the dark.”
“Ender would be the one to ask, since he was the referral,” I said.
“When I first considered taking the job, I had a few questions I wanted answered without making it sound like the third degree. Ender assured me that his badass reputation was an exaggeration and he’s a straight-up businessman with several ventures going. Due to family connections, he knows everyone, which is how this case landed in his lap.”
Hired Killer (Biscayne Bay Book 1) Page 9