Never Con A Con Man (An Arizona High Country Mystery Book 1)

by Suzanne Floyd

  Tears were streaming down her face when she hung up a few minutes later. This had gone all wrong. None of this was supposed to happen. It had sounded so simple at first. With a pile of money, they could go away together. No one would know they were behind this. But somehow Max had figured out what they were doing. What had he told Holly? How much did she know? Things were starting to unravel.

  ~~~

  The news of the latest murder spread through town like a wildfire. I was only slightly surprised when Beth Ann called me that evening. “Did you hear about Fred?” Her voice rattled my ear drums it was so loud. “Someone killed that poor boy I introduced you to the other day. How could someone do that? Does Drake know who did this horrible thing?” She finally stopped to draw a breath.

  “I’m sorry, Beth Ann. I don’t know any more than you do. We’ll have to wait until Drake finishes his investigation.”

  “First Max was murdered, now poor Fred. I’ll bet there’s a serial killer loose in our town.” She wasn’t listening to me. “Who’s going to be next? What if you’re next?”

  “Why would you even think that?” My heart was in my throat now.

  “Well, Max was your uncle, and now Fred is murdered right after you came to see him. It can’t be a coincidence. I’ve always heard that the police don’t believe in coincidences. You need to be careful.” That sounded like a warning, or a threat. For several long moments I zoned out as I thought about what she said.

  When she finally ran out of steam, I managed to ask a question of my own. “Do his parents live in town?” I didn’t recall anyone with the last name of Brewster, but I hadn’t lived here long enough to know everyone. They could have moved here after I left.

  “No, he’s from Denver. That’s where his mother lives. His parents are divorced.” She gave me a complete rundown on his life. He was twenty-one, and had only worked at the bank a few months. He didn’t know anyone when he moved here. After more useless information, I finally managed to hang up. If Drake wanted the scoop on anyone in town, he should talk to Beth Ann.

  She said Fred was from Denver. Jane’s mother lives in Denver. Was that the connection between them? Maybe I should do a little digging on Jim’s latest wife. He’d kick my backside if he knew I was even thinking about that.

  ~~~

  “How did this happen?” Things were going to hell, and he didn’t know how to stop them.

  “You know perfectly well how it happened. If he hadn’t panicked when she came to see him, he’d still be breathing. You need to calm down.” It was clearly a warning.

  “None of this was supposed to happen,” he argued.

  “Well, it did happen, so get over it.” Her sharp response sent chills up his spine. “You should have thought of the consequences before you included Max in your little game.”

  “I didn’t have a choice.” He sagged against the chair cushion. She was right, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He had to figure a way out without getting caught. Everything had been right on track until Max realized he was playing the game for real. He didn’t think anyone would notice the small discrepancies in the accounts. But Max noticed. Who would think someone with his shady background would suddenly develop a conscience?

  He’d done his best to cover his tracks, but the man was smarter than he looked. Max wasn’t the only smart one though. He looked at his companion giving another shiver. She had played all of them for fools, including Max. What was she going to do next?

  “We need to figure out what Max told her.” Her calm voice interrupted his troubled thoughts. “She has to know something or she wouldn’t be poking around. Maybe you should have gotten rid of her instead of Fred.”

  “It was an accident. I told you that. He came at me.” He had to get away, but he wouldn’t leave without what was his. His life was like a snowball rolling down hill, and he didn’t know how to stop it.

  “Keep telling yourself that. Maybe you’ll believe it. You might want to remember that you’re in this for murder now.”

  He gulped air. “I didn’t mean to do any of that,” he whined. “Nothing like this ever happened before.”

  “Because it never went this far before,” she said.

  “You said you could control him.”

  “Don’t even think about turning this around on me.” Her voice held a hidden threat. “Now get a grip before you give yourself away. If Holly keeps poking around, she might come across something to prove Max hadn’t done it. We need to find out what Max told her.”

  ”Maybe we should leave now before that happens.”

  She shook her head, sending her hair whirling around her face like a tornado. “I’m not leaving while there is still the chance that Max left something behind that would point in my direction. I’m not going to spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder” She gave him the evil eye. “You need to remember who is in charge now.”

  ~~~

  “You arrested your father?” I was in shock. News like that couldn’t be kept under wraps, not in a town the size of Pine Mountain. “How could you do that?” We were in Drake’s office at the police station the day after Fred’s body had been found behind my shed.

  “I didn’t arrest him.” He sighed in frustration. “I brought him in for questioning. The gun belonged to him. Ballistics show it was used to kill both Max and Fred Brewster. What else could I do, Holly? I wouldn’t be doing my job if I hadn’t questioned him.”

  “So he isn’t in jail?” I sank down in the chair in front of his desk feeling lightheaded with relief. “What did he have to say?” I was only slightly mollified.

  He ran his fingers through his hair making it stand up in spikes. “He’s always kept his guns locked up, I know that. Since Hannah was born, he’s been even more careful. When Tim came to stay this past summer, they went to the practice range for target practice. When they came home, the guns went back in the locked cabinet. He hasn’t had them out since.”

  “So someone stole it,” I said with determination. “Was the lock on the cabinet broken?”

  He shook his head. “Holly, I know how to do my job. I’ve checked everything. If someone took that gun, they were very good at picking the lock. Or they had the key.”

  “How many people know where that key is kept?” I continued pressing him with more questions, but I was just adding to his frustration.

  “It isn’t a secret where he keeps the key. Anyone he ever went hunting with could know where to find it. Other than Tim, there haven’t been any visitors since Hannah was born. Jane said she was too tired taking care of the baby to play hostess.” There was a trace of sarcasm in his voice.

  “Huh,” I snorted, but didn’t put my thoughts into words. He was probably thinking along the same line.

  When his office door exploded open, hitting the wall, we both jumped in surprise. “Where is he? What have you done to him? How could you do this to your own father?” Jane didn’t stop for him to answer her questions. “How could you think he would do something like this? He would never hurt anyone.”

  “Simmer down, Jane. I didn’t arrest Dad. I just had to ask him some questions.”

  “Oh.” She didn’t know what to say to that. She looked around sheepishly.

  “Where’s Hannah?” They didn’t have live-in help. If Jane brought her along, had she left her in the car?

  “What?” She acted like I was speaking a foreign language.

  “Where’s Hannah?” I repeated slowly.

  “Oh, crap.” Clapping her hand over her mouth, her eyes went wild. For several seconds she was too stunned to move. Then she rushed out of the office.

  “Jane, where is she?” Drake called. We both hurried after her. Before we got outside, she was speeding down the street. “That damn woman.” He slammed back inside. “Apparently she left the baby at home. Alone. She should never have had a baby. But since she did, she needs to take care of her.”

  I was torn between following Jane to make sure Hannah was okay, and stayin
g here to find out more about the latest murder. The gun belonged to his dad. Who had access to the gun cabinet? I settled on the latter, and said a prayer that God would watch over Hannah and keep her safe.

  “Did you find any fingerprints on the gun?”

  “You know I can’t discuss an ongoing investigation with you.” He sank down in the chair behind his desk.

  “I’m not a reporter. I’m not going to leak anything to the press.” When he remained stubbornly silent, I pressed him with more questions. “Do you know of a motive for Fred’s murder? He was so young. What could he have done that meant he should be killed?”

  Another thought came to mind. “Did he have anything to do with that store coming here?” I was still trying to make a connection between everything that had happened lately. It seemed too much of a coincidence that the town’s money went missing at the same time a big chain store was trying to make ground roads in town for them not to be connected.

  “I don’t see how he could have, but I’ll be looking into that as well. I’ll be checking,” he reemphasized. “I want you to stay out of this.” When I started to bristle, he held up his hand. Coming around his desk, he sat down on the corner, his eyes dark with emotion, searched my own. It felt like he was looking into my soul.

  “Two people are already dead,” he said softly. “I don’t want that to happen to you.” Reaching out, he pulled me out of the chair and into his arms. For several minutes his lips explored my face before settling on mine. When he lifted his head we were both breathing hard. This was what I’d wanted for so long. I didn’t know if this was the right time for it though.

  “Please stay out of this, Holly,” his voice was a tender caress. “I can’t keep you safe if you keep poking around.”

  “Do you think Fred was killed because I was asking questions?” That question had plagued me all night, giving me little rest. I felt responsible, but not threatened. “Does that mean he was involved?”

  He sighed. “I don’t know if he was involved. From what I gathered from the manager, he was a low level employee. He didn’t have any authority. If he wasn’t involved, maybe he had figured something out, and that’s why he was killed.”

  “How well did Jane know him? She was pretty upset when she heard he’d been killed.”

  He shook his head causing that same lock of hair to fall over his eyes. He was past due for a haircut. “I’ve tried to stay out of Dad’s marriage. I couldn’t believe it when he said they were getting married. She’s more glitz and glamor than jeans and cowboy boots. I do know she’s tried to convince him to sell the ranch. It’s too far out of town for her.”

  I gasped. “He wouldn’t sell it, would he?” I loved the ranch. I couldn’t imagine him selling it to please Jane.

  “No, he’d never sell it,” Drake said. He still had his hands on my waist, keeping in place. “The ranch has been in our family for four generations. My granddad had a pretty good grasp on finances. Both the store and the ranch are tied up in a trust. Max didn’t want any part of either of them, but I don’t think he would have agreed to sell.” He heaved a sigh. “With Max gone, I’m not sure how that changes things. Max had no heirs, and no will. No matter what, Dad wouldn’t sell.”

  “Who was involved with getting the store to build here?” I needed to move away from him, but couldn’t find the initiative to do it. “Jim said Max was trying to stop it. Maybe that’s why he was killed.”

  “Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.” He sighed. “Emails contacting the corporation about the store were found on the server. It was suggested that there could be big tax breaks if they brought the store here.”

  I gasped. “How could anyone make that kind of offer without the town council and mayor signing off on it? Who sent the emails?”

  Drake sighed. “That’s the problem. They were traced back to Max’s computer. It looks like he wasn’t trying to stop the store from building here. He was behind it in the first place.” Whether he realized it or not, he was giving me information about the case.

  I pulled away from Drake, taking a step back. “I don’t believe that for a minute. Whatever was going on, Max was scared of something or someone. When he came to see me, he said he didn’t take the money but it was his fault. What if he found out who was behind this store’s attempt to build here, and wanted to stop it. Wouldn’t the person behind this want to discredit him? They wouldn’t want any opposition to their plans. Maybe they managed to embezzle the money, making it look like Max did it.”

  “You’re seeing conspiracies where there aren’t any. I’ve seen the paperwork. Max was trying to stop the store, but first he was trying to convince them to move here. The emails came from his computer,” he stated again.

  “So when he changed his mind, maybe that’s why he was killed.”

  “Do you really believe that a major corporation would kill someone because he opposed them? That’s a little farfetched even for your mystery-loving mind, don’t you think?” He lifted one eyebrow.

  “Maybe, but it isn’t out of the realm of possibilities either.” I stubbornly stuck to my theory. This was an argument we’d had several times since this began. I believed Max when he’d said he didn’t take the money. I also believed he knew who did. I wish he’d confided in me. I had no idea what trail he told me to follow. Maybe I should go to that shack in the woods. That might be a good hiding place for any clues. How well had Bill searched it?

  “I need to get to the library. If Wally finds out how many times I’ve been late recently, he’d try to get me fired.” I tried to make a joke, but it was also the truth. Wally hated anyone connected to the Cox family. You’d think he let go of his grudge since Max was gone.

  Entering the library through the back door, I took out my cell phone before going to my desk out front. “Hi Jane, how’s Hannah?”

  “She’s fine of course.” Her voice quivered slightly. “Why would you think otherwise?”

  “You left her alone to come into town. Anything could have happened while you were gone.” There was a note of accusation in my voice now.

  “If you were so worried about her, why didn’t you come to check on her? On second thought, I want you to stay away from Hannah. She’s my baby, and I’ll take care of her without your interference.” She hung up before I could say anything.

  That didn’t work out so well, I thought. I didn’t think her ban would last long though. Next time she needs a babysitter, she’d bring Hannah to me.

  Drake showed up on my doorstep later that evening. “A peace offering.” He held up a bottle of wine. “Mind if I come in?”

  My stomach fluttered, but I stepped back allowing him in. After the kisses we’d shared in his office that morning, this might not be such a wise move. But it was time to find out if there was really something between us after all this time.

  “A peace offering for what?” Getting two glasses out of the cabinet, I looked over my shoulder at him. “We can agree to disagree.”

  He poured a generous amount of wine in each glass before handing me one. “Things have gotten a little complicated between us lately. I want to make sure we’re all right.”

  “Okay.” My stomach fluttered again. I was unsure what he was hinting at. I decided to change the subject. “I’ve always heard if a case isn’t solved within the first forty-eight hours it gets much tougher to solve.”

  “Tougher, yes,” he nodded his head, “but not impossible. I will find out who killed Max and Fred and who stole the money.”

  “Don’t forget that someone invited that big store to come to town. I don’t believe Max did anything that people are accusing him of.”

  “Yeah,” he sighed. “That’s why the peace offering.” He pulled out a file folder he had in his jacket. “These are copies of the documents Max signed with the corporation agreeing to let them build a big store here. There are also copies of transfer forms, wiring the money out of the town’s accounts.”

  I grabbed the folder out of his hand. “I
guess a peace offering was needed after all. Were you hoping to get me drunk before showing me these?”

  “Holly, please understand. I have to look at the evidence. I can’t let my emotions cloud the issues. Look at what I brought. It’s pretty clear Max was involved.”

  I flipped through the papers, one by one. It was as he said; Max’s signature was on each form. But something was off. Taking my time, I went through them again. Finally, a light came on in my mind.

  “Do you see anything wrong with these signatures?” I handed him the transfer forms. A smug smile lifted the corners of my mouth.

  “It’s Max’s signature. Holly, I don’t want to believe he would do something like this any more than you do. But the proof is right in front of us.”

  “No, it’s not. What you’re calling proof against him, I say is proof of his innocence.” Next I handed him the two sets of letters between the corporation and what is supposed to be the town’s treasurer. “Check these out. Do you see any difference?”

  A frown creased his forehead as he compared the signatures. Giving his head a shake, he looked at me. “What is it I’m supposed to see?”

  I picked up a small tablet, handing it to him. “Sign your name five times,” I instructed.

  He frowned again, but did as I said. “Okay, now what?” He handed the tablet back to me.

  “Do you see any differences between those signatures?” I tilted my head to one side.

  “Sure, no one signs their name exactly the same each time.” Even with Drake’s scribbled signature, there were small differences.

  “Take a look at those transfer forms again.” He picked up the forms, studying them carefully. “Do you see any differences in the signatures?”

  He studied the forms for a long moment, a frown drawing his brows together. Unlike so many men, Max had beautiful handwriting. He had been very precise. Even at that, there were small differences each time he signed his name. It was the same with everyone.

  For several more minutes, Drake compared all of the signatures. “There is no difference in the letters on these transfer forms or the first letters to the corporation. It’s like a stamp of his signature. These are copies of the originals, but I swear someone signed the forms I have in my office.”