Dead In Bed

by Curry, Edna

  I pulled out my cell phone, called Ben and told him about being tailed. Once again, he told me to drop the case, which of course, I told him I had no intention of doing, but I did promise to email him the pictures I’d taken, just in case they were of some use. After all, identifying the person who wanted me off this case might lead to solving it and Ben wanted that result as much as I did.

  Farther to the back of the large dining room, I noticed a table of a dozen or so people. I recognized several as Carter employees and guessed they all were. They were probably commiserating the factory audit and loss of time at work. Sam wasn’t with them. No surprise there, they probably hadn’t invited him to join them.

  I ordered a grilled chicken salad and hot tea. By the time my order arrived, the grumbling from the Carter table had risen to loud exchanges and none of it sounded friendly. I heard sharp criticisms of Clara for ordering the audit and heated replies saying something must be wrong for Clara to feel an audit was necessary. Another insisted Sam must be involved since Clara had kept the audit a secret from him as well as all the rest of them.

  “That’s silly,” one man said. “Why would Sam need to steal from the factory? He already owns it. How can you steal from yourself?”

  “Right,” said another, giving a short hoot. “That’d be like taking money out of one pocket and putting it into the other. Doesn’t make any sense to me.”

  “Me, neither,” another voice agreed.

  “Yeah, but maybe he was taking it to hide it from Clara,” the first man said. “Maybe she found out and that’s why he did her in.”

  “That could be,” a woman agreed.

  My stomach knotted as one person after another blamed my client. Only a couple of them seemed willing to give Sam the benefit of the doubt. Where was their company loyalty? Were they just upset and blowing off steam? Would they change their minds tomorrow?

  Or were they right? Was Sam guilty of theft and fraud? And murder too, as these people who worked for him seemed to think? They knew him better than I did, didn’t they?

  I’d almost finished eating when the Carter group left, faces glum and discouraged. Were they already sure they’d soon be losing their jobs? None of them seemed to notice me at all, or at least pretended they didn’t.

  A few minutes later, my cell phone rang. It was Sam. He was sitting outside my locked office, wanting to talk.

  I told him I’d be there in ten minutes, then signaled the waitress for my bill.

  * * * *

  I kept an eye on my rear view mirror all the way home, but didn’t see the SUV.

  As I drove up to my house, I saw Sam waiting for me in his silver Mercedes. God, I loved that car! Clara had had good taste.

  I greeted Sam, waving him inside as I unlocked my door. Scamp scooted outside as soon as I opened the door. I watched her go for a quick run, then squat beside a tree down the trail a ways. I’d been keeping a close eye on her when she was outside ever since the night she’d been drugged. I didn’t want that to happen again. I called her back and we entered the house together.

  Sam had gone on down the stairs to my office, waiting for me in the chair across from my desk.

  “Want some coffee?” I asked.

  “Sure,” he said. “I got your messages. What did you want to see me about?”

  “Just wondering what was going on at the factory and how it would affect our investigation.” I started the coffee and sat opposite him while it ran through.

  “Oh.” He sounded disappointed. “I was hoping you had some good news, or had found out something.”

  “Not yet. So what’s been happening?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “You heard that Clara ordered an audit and the factory is closed while they go through everything, right?”

  I nodded. “Sandra told me. She also said she didn’t think you had to go along with Clara’s order. Is that right?”

  Sam rubbed a hand down his face. “Maybe I could have used a technicality to avoid it, but why? I mean, I’m hurt that Clara didn’t tell me about this, or talk it over with me like we usually did.”

  “Why do you think she didn’t this time?”

  “I don’t know. Apparently she saw something she suspected wasn’t right. And her keeping it a secret from me makes me wonder if she thought I might be involved.”

  “And you aren’t?” I had to ask, though I knew he wouldn’t like it.

  He scowled at me. “Of course not! That factory means everything to me. Clara and I put a lot of work and sweat into trying to make a go of it. I know lately it hasn’t been as profitable as it used to be, but I was hoping we could figure out what the problems were and turn it around again.”

  I saw the coffee was ready so I got up and poured us each a cup. I handed one to him, then sat down again. “And now?” I asked.

  He sipped the coffee. “Now I guess we’ll see what the auditors find out. For months, both Clara and I have asked Wade to help figure out why the factory was making so much less. He claimed he couldn’t see anything wrong. Maybe these guys will have some answers for me. I sure hope so.”

  “I hope so, too.”

  “In any case, I have to honor Clara’s wishes, to complete the search for answers that she wanted. It’s the last thing I can do for her now.” He gazed bleakly down into his coffee, then drank some more.

  “Do you have any idea how long the audit will take?”

  He lifted a shoulder. “Maybe a couple of days, maybe a week. They said it will all depend on what they find. And how easy it is to find the problem, if there even is a problem.”

  “But Clara must have told them why she suspected a problem, didn’t she? Maybe she even gave them some hints on what to look for?”

  “I’m sure. They didn’t say.”

  Once again, his expression was bleak. “Some of your employees are pretty discouraged.”

  “Yeah. I know. Can’t blame them. They’re worried about where their next paycheck is coming from.” He gave a wry laugh. “I am, too. I have no idea if any of them will have a job when this is over. Or if I’ll have a job, either.”

  I frowned at him. “Surely the situation isn’t that dire?”

  “I don’t know. Clara handled most of the financial stuff along with Wade. I know she’d been worried lately. And I know Clara had a big quarrel with Wade last week over the last P & L statement.”

  “Because the profit and loss statement showed profits were lower than she expected?”

  “I think so. She didn’t show it to me. She just said she’d take care of it and not to worry. But she was very angry and tight-lipped all last week.”

  “I see. I talked to the women Clara fired. Cassie Nelson hinted that something illegal was going on at your factory. But she wouldn’t tell me any more.”

  Sam jaw dropped and he stared at me. “Cassie said that? She didn’t mention anything to me about it.”

  “She insisted she wasn’t involved.”

  He shifted in his chair. “I liked Cassie. I tried to convince Clara not to fire her, but she insisted. I’m afraid Cassie’s main crime was being too pretty.”

  “You weren’t romantically involved with her?”

  He gave a short laugh. “No. I’m not perfect, but I don’t rob the cradle. Cassie was young enough to be my daughter. That didn’t stop Clara from being jealous.” He sighed. “Did you find out anything else?”

  “I’m looking into this PI Clara hired, Harry Alders.”

  Sam looked up hopefully. “Do you think he had something to do with Clara’s death?”

  I gaped at him. Now there was a possibility I hadn’t considered. Could Harry have killed Clara? If so, why? “I don’t know. Why would he?”

  Sam shrugged. “I don’t know. Why would she hire him in the first place? What kind of work did he do?”

  I grimaced. “As far as I can tell, he mostly looked into divorce cases.”

  “You mean he collected evidence of infidelity, like pictures and stuff?”

  I fl
ushed. “Yeah.” It sounded kind of sleazy when he put it that way.

  He eyed me. “Do you do that sort of job, too?”

  I nodded. “I have, yes.” More times than I wanted to admit.

  He got up, tossed his empty cup into the wastebasket and walked over to star out of my window at the lake.

  I finished my coffee and waited.

  Finally he turned, giving me a wry smile. “I wonder if that’s what Clara hired Harry for. Maybe she decided to listen to her mother and dump me.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Helen told Clara to divorce you?”

  He smiled sadly. “Often, even to my face. So it is possible Clara hired Harry to get evidence against me, don’t you think?”

  “I have no idea. But someone killed Harry, too, you know. Ben thinks he was run off the road on purpose.”

  Sam’s mouth twisted in a little smile.

  “Yeah, I know. Ben would like to blame me for that too, except it happened while I was at Clara’s wake, surrounded by half the townspeople.”

  “You definitely have an alibi for that one.” But he could have hired someone else to do it. I drank my coffee.

  “Did you get a bill for Harry’s services? Maybe there’s an explanation on that about why he was hired.”

  “I’ll ask Wade. He takes care of all of that. Clara approved payments, of course. I suppose that’s one more job I’ll have to handle now. If we’re allowed to continue, that is.”

  I nodded. I’d hoped he had some useful news for me, but I knew little more now than before he came to see me. I shuddered, remembering the SUV.

  “Someone followed me today in a dark blue SUV. I noticed him before I got home so I drove back to town. He went on across the bridge into Wisconsin. I couldn’t ID him. Do you have any idea who it could have been?”

  Sam looked surprised. “We have several vehicles various people use for factory business. One of them is a dark blue SUV. But with the factory closed, no one should be driving it.”

  “Can you check?”

  He shrugged. “I suppose I could ask the auditors’ security guys.”

  He dialed the factory and asked if all the company vehicles were accounted for. “Who checked it out?”

  He hung up. “The SUV isn’t in the garage and they don’t know who has it. Anyone who usually drives it could have thought it was okay to borrow it for a few days, I suppose.”

  “You allow personal use of your business vehicles?”

  He squirmed and shrugged. “I guess we’re a little lax on some of the rules. I mean, if an employee’s family has only one vehicle and the wife needs it, what’s the harm in letting the guy drive the company car back and forth to work? Most of them live close by and it would just be sitting in the garage anyway.”

  “But wouldn’t you know who was doing that?”

  “Usually. But all of the guys do it, from time to time.”

  “So any of your employees could be the driver?”

  “Assuming the SUV that followed you is our vehicle. You have no proof of that. I can’t think of any reason anyone would want to harm you.”

  “Why would anyone want me off this case? Because obviously, Sam, someone does. Besides, following me, someone drugged Scamp and slashed my tires. And someone has left threatening messages on my answering machine, too, warning me to mind my own business.”

  Sam blanched, then swallowed hard. “Gosh, Lacey. I’m sorry. Did you report this stuff to the sheriff?”

  I nodded and he looked a little relieved. He had more faith in the sheriff’s ability to catch the perpetrator than I did.

  “I have no idea who would do things like that. I sure don’t want you to get hurt trying to help me. I just wanted to find out what really happened.”

  “Don’t worry, I’m not quitting. Now it’s getting personal. I don’t like being told what I can or can’t do. And I don’t like someone trying to run me out of business, either.”

  “But if things are getting dangerous, maybe…”

  “Maybe we’re getting close to a solution. Maybe someone is afraid we’re about to nail him.”

  “Well, I sure hope that’s true.”

  “Me, too, Sam. Me, too.”

  * * * *

  Janine knew Wade usually ate at the Corner Sports Bar in Canton after work. He often spent several hours there, watching whatever game was playing that night.

  She arrived early, grabbing a booth and ordering a beer and hamburger, taking her time eating it and sipping the beer.

  By the time Wade came in, the bar was hopping and most of the tables were taken. It was only common courtesy for her to go over and offer to share her booth with a fellow Carter employee, wasn’t it?

  Wade looked reluctant, but since he didn’t have much choice, followed her to her booth.

  She made small talk for a while, then asked him when he thought Carter Manufacturing would reopen.

  “I haven’t the slightest idea,” he said with a shrug. “You’re dating Sam, aren’t you? Why don’t you ask him?”

  She sent him a coy glance over the edge of her glass. “Jealous, darling?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I couldn’t care less what you are up to or who you’re going to bed with these days.”

  She smiled. “Oh, I think you care, Wade. You just don’t want to admit it.”

  “Don’t flatter yourself.”

  Janine flashed him an angry look. “You’re still in love with Clara, aren’t you?”

  He turned beet red, then swallowed hard. “It doesn’t really matter any more, does it? She’s dead.”

  “Damn right she is! I saw to that. And I’m glad she’s gone! It’s time for you to realize it and start looking around. Can’t you see any other women for a change? Like me?”

  Wade turned white, ignoring her reference to his noticing her.

  “What do you mean, ‘you saw to that?’”

  Janine gasped, suddenly looking scared. “Nothing. I was just spouting off. I didn’t mean anything by that. Forget I said it.”

  “I don’t believe you. Did you have something to do with Clara’s death?”

  “Of course not! Don’t be silly. Why would you think that? I have to go now.”

  She grabbed her purse and hurried out of the bar, leaving her beer unfinished.

  Wade turned to watch her go, then squeezed his eyes in despair. Had Janine’s childish jealousy cost his lovely Clara her life?

  He should have made it plainer to Janine ages ago that he wasn’t interested in her and never would be. Why hadn’t he? He’d been flattered by a lovely girl’s attention, that’s why. Clara’s rejection still stung and Janine’s adoring advances had been a welcome salve to that wound.

  But at what cost? And what was he going to do about it? She was Gus’ niece and he was Gus’ business partner.

  What a mess!

  Chapter 13

  After Sam left, I dug out my digital camera, then uploaded the pictures I’d taken of the SUV to my computer. I enlarged them as much as I could. None of them showed anything unusual about the vehicle that could identify it. The license plate didn’t show in any of them either.

  The driver seemed to be a large person, with some dark hair showing under a baseball cap, but I couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman. Nor was there enough detail for me to recognize the person. Disappointed, I sent copies to Ben, hoping he would have better luck.

  My cell phone rang. I flipped it open and looked at the screen. Paul. “Hi, Hon. What’s up?”

  “Hi Lacey. I’m about an hour from you and in the area for the night. Want to drive down and join me for dinner and whatever?”

  I grinned. “Sure thing. Especially the whatever. I’ll have to see who I can get to take Scamp, though. Where are you?”

  “There’s a nice restaurant here and a motel that even allows dogs, so you can bring Scamp.” He gave me the address and directions.

  “Okay. I’ll be there in about ninety minutes.”

  I quickly copied my fi
les to my jump drive to take with me. I usually carry my laptop on overnight trips, just in case I can’t sleep and have time to work.

  I hurried through a shower and change of clothes, packed an overnight case, then locked up and headed out. Scamp was happy to go with me. All I had to say was, “Get in the car, Scamp,” and she ran out to it, standing by the door, wagging her tail.

  All the way into the Twin Cities, I kept an eye out for the blue SUV or any other car that might be tailing me, but didn’t notice any.

  I saw Paul’s rig as I pulled into the motel parking lot. Paul came to the door of his room to welcome me. Scamp bounded ahead of me to greet Paul. I grabbed my overnight case and followed her inside.

  Paul took my stuff, set it inside and closed the door behind me. I laughed as he picked me up, swinging me high, then around in a circle. He slid me down his body, wrapping his arms around me and kissing me over and over. “God, I’ve missed you!”

  “I’ve missed you, too! This was a great idea.” I said, kissing him some more.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “For you first, Paul. Food can wait.”

  “That’s my girl!” he agreed, then began stripping off my clothes. Scamp whined.

  “Oh, you want some attention, too, eh, Scamp? He reached down, petting her a couple of times and then finding a treat in his jacket pocket. “Come on in here, Scamp. I’ve got a bowl of water for you,” he said, leading her into the bathroom.

  That’s one of the softie things I loved about Paul, he always remembers treats for my dog. Sometimes I worried that Scamp would switch her loyalty over to him, but so far, she hasn’t. She went to drink some water, then laid down on the bathroom rug, her head on her paws. “Stay,” Paul told her as he closed the door.

  He grinned at me, pulling off his shirt as he came back to me.

  “No point in an audience,” he said, then began unbuttoning my blouse. “Now where were we?”

  I giggled as I unzipped his jeans. “Right here, I think,” I said, circling him with my hand. He was obviously rigid and ready and groaned at my touch.

  In moments, we were naked on the king sized bed, hungry mouths tasting and enjoying each other. I loved the feel of his naked skin on mine, his weight on me. He kissed his way from my lips down the side of my throat, sending shivers of need through me.