Candace McCauley, P.I Mysteries (5 Cozy Mystery Books Collection)

by Kira Reese

  “Is your uncle someone who would want to kill your sister?”

  “I don’t know why he would wait this long. He had plenty of time to kill us both when we lived there.” The bitter tone told me he had no regard for those in charge of his upbringing.

  “Is there anyone else I should know about?”

  He shook his head. “I can’t think of anyone else. I’m in shock about Aniyah’s death. I am going to try to reach Jerome again.”

  “I want you to wait until I contact him first. I will let you know if I find out anything from him.”

  When asked, he scribbled the number on my stick notepad. “Do you know when Aniyah’s funeral will be?” he asked.

  “I don’t have any information on that, but I doubt her body has been released yet. You can check at the precinct if you want.”

  The look on his face told me the last thing he wanted was to show up asking about the funeral date of a third murder victim. Getting the spotlight back on him didn’t set well with him.

  I told Jon if he could put off Alaska a while longer it would be a good thing. “I expect more developments in your sister’s case. It may be good if you could stick around longer.”

  “I contacted my boss. He said for me to take all the time I needed,” said Jon.

  After he left my office, I felt better about our relationship. He gave me information I was unaware of before. I didn’t tell him that if I had that information sooner the case would have been further along. On the other hand, if he had told me right away, Aniyah may still be alive at that point and there’d be no reason to look into Jerome Oalmann. I picked up the paper that had Jerome’s number scrawled on it. The phone rang on the other end several times before a deep rich voice answered.

  “May I speak with Jerome Oalmann, please?” I said.

  There was a hesitation. “This is Jerome.”

  I identified myself by name and expressed sympathy at the death of his wife. In the background, murmured voices could be heard and, a short distance from the phone, a female wailed. It was a house of mourning.

  “I know this is a bad time for you, but your wife died of the same cause as her friend Janet Dubois. I am investigating on behalf of her brother, Jon. He gave me your number.”

  “I have not spoken to Jon since Janet’s death. The cops have told me of the similarity of their deaths. It must be as awful for Jon as it is for all of us. Janet was the only family he had. They were close.”

  “Do you have any idea who may have committed these two murders?” I paused and then continued. “I’m so sorry I am asking these questions at a time like this.”

  The background noise subsided. I was sure Jerome moved to a quieter area. “I have no idea who could have done this. Miss McCauley, I have not been the best husband. I’ve been in and out of the house and Aniyah had the full responsibility of our two children. Her family does not look kindly on me for good reason. The worst part is that, had I been home, I would have known if anyone harassed my wife. I should have been here for her.”

  His voice shook slightly but came across as somewhat forced. I wondered if he really was grieving. It would be better if we were face-to-face in this conversation. Body language could speak volumes.

  “I am sure you feel badly about that part of your life. I will hang up for now, but if you think of anyone who would want to harm either woman, please call me.”

  I gave him my number and we ended the call. Natalie knocked on my door. She had information about Tracy Linden.

  “It seems Tracy and Nancy enjoyed plenty of wild parties. Somehow all of the abundance around them wasn’t enough. They were cited more than once for drug possession, but because of slick and well-paid lawyers they never did any actual jail time.”

  “Where did they get the drugs?” I asked.

  “At first it was generously sold at the parties among their peers. Then they met a bigger dealer who led them to the head honcho. He went by the name of Sleek.” She snickered and went on. “Of course, that is not his real name, though I believe you already told me a little about the man.” I nodded and told her to go on. “He pulled in several rich kids so much so that eventually they went to him instead of the other way around. Tracy and Nancy got hooked and didn’t mind driving down to the lower east side to load up on their stashes. They apparently had no qualms about driving an upscale car in that neighborhood.”

  “Now that Nancy is gone, Tracy is training a new candidate. Did you find out the younger girl’s name?”

  “I haven’t yet but don’t doubt I will.” Natalie laughed at her own confidence. Then she sobered. “I wonder if this Sleek murdered all three victims.”

  “I don’t think he is a murderer. He may know who killed them, but I have a strong feeling he isn’t our man.” I told Natalie about Lillian. “If I could find her again, I believe I could get more out of her. For now, she has disappeared. All she told me was every time there was a murder, a skinny man appeared. Her description fits Sleek, but I just don’t believe he is the perpetrator.”

  When my assistant returned to her office, I thought about Oliver Mansfield. Was Tracy trying to steer me in his direction to cover her own tracks? It amazed me that she returned to that area after the horrific murder of her best friend. I decided she had a calloused mind or was so desperate for drugs that she found her way back down there easily enough.

  Chapter 14

  Railroad Warehouse

  Oliver Mansfield appeared confident and in charge of his young life the day he voluntarily came into my office. My first impressions of him told me he was not into drugs. Nothing in his mannerisms hinted at that. Surely a head of that distinct red hair would be noticeable, and Lillian made no reference to anyone who looked like him at all. The homeless woman was my key for now. I had to find her. Not only Lillian, but a visit to the Oalmann household was in order, as well. I decided to go by and offer my condolences and gather as much information as possible.

  The next morning I let Natalie and Evelyn know where I was headed. I wanted things moving faster before the weekend. Nick’s competition would take all of Saturday. As he told me, the rest of Saturday night and part of Sunday we would be celebrating his win. I crossed my fingers again and then I headed out for now familiar territory. The alley where the bodies were found was empty. Yellow tape was gone. I parked and walked in that direction. There was no Lillian. I went to Mitchell’s Grocery. Mitch glanced in my direction and nodded his head to acknowledge me. Several customers were in the store. I walked down the narrow aisles as if shopping. I was searching for my snitch. When I was just about to give up on finding her, I recognized her bent back. She rolled her small cart in front of her. She wore the same two dresses she had on the first day I met her. Her canvas shoes were mismatched and marred with city grime. She wore one dirty red-and-purple striped sock. I watched as she placed a loaf of bread on top of her pushcart. One wheel squeaked and I stayed well behind her until I could get to the next aisle. From there I went back outside to wait for her. When she walked outside, dull grey eyes met mine. She opted to ignore me. I walked alongside her. Both of us were silent. I decided to stick with her until she physically shoved me away. She finally stopped and looked at me.

  “What do you want?” she asked. The scowl on her face told me she was not all that happy to see me again.

  “I have some more questions for you.”

  I reached in my pocket and pulled out a ten-dollar bill. She eyed it as if a child looking through the window of a candy store. I could have sworn she salivated. She motioned to her corner in the alley and I followed her where she immediately snatched the ten.

  “What are you keeping from me?”

  “I didn’t tell you about those rich kids, did I?” she said. Since our last visit, she lost another tooth. The gap was where a front right tooth had been. “They come down here throwing money around, and do you think they would ever think of someone like me?” She did not give me time to comment. “No, they go into alleys and back doors a
nd give it to someone like Sleek. They’re happy when they leave with a pile of chemicals that will destroy them faster than murder itself.”

  “Are you telling me the man you described to me is Sleek?” She grunted. I took that as a yes. “Who else have you seen around here at the time of the murders?”

  She shuddered. I wasn’t sure if that gesture was because of my question or the memory of her discoveries in her alley. “Plenty of people down here,” she said. “Don’t go thinking Sleek did any of them. He’s a coward.”

  I asked her to expound on that observation, though didn’t use those exact words. She went on to tell me he sold drugs for a living but not in the open. He had “his people” to lure the young ones in. Dealings were behind closed doors. According to Lillian, if he stooped to murder, his livelihood would go up in flames. Those were her words. I knew she meant he definitely did not want to go to prison. His name fit him.

  “When those women were murdered he showed up to see if they were lost customers,” said Lillian. Her toothy grin displayed a little crookedly.

  “Does anyone else come to your mind? I mean, who specifically hangs around this alley, mainly in the nighttime?”

  She rolled her eyes and then gazed toward the railroad warehouse. “There’s no one else in particular.”

  “I’m paying you for information, Lillian. You aren’t giving me very much.”

  Hesitancy caused her to reconsider. Her decision was made. She was happier stopping where she was than going for more money. I concluded fear held her back from saying anything else.

  “I may see you around again, Lillian,” I said.

  She shuffled away without another word. I listened to her squeaking cart until she found her spot and settled in. I went back to the grocery and asked Annalee to make up two sandwiches of ham and cheese. I chose a few condiments to help load them. Then I checked out with a cold Pepsi. Mitch smiled and again cautioned me to be careful down in the neighborhood. I returned to the woman in the alley and gave her the food. She first tried a smile, but the scowl overtook it when she took my offerings.

  Back in my car, I took a long look at the railroad warehouse. No semi backed up to it today. I drove around the block and up the back alley to the loading area. Three men worked on the dock. They all looked up in surprise when they saw me getting out of my car. I introduced myself to them and asked if they minded some questions. One stood back and didn’t answer. The other two stepped forward.

  “I’m sure you know of the recent murders in the alley next door,” I began. They nodded. “Did you see anything unusual around the time of the incidents?”

  “We don’t have a clear view of the alley from here, but I understand they happened in the middle of the night,” said one. The name embroidered on his faded blue shirt read Jimmy.

  “They did happen at night,” I said. “Have you noticed anyone not usually seen around here?”

  Again Jimmy said no. The shorter man next to him spoke up. “We get busy here and aren’t always on the dock,” said Tommy. “If we aren’t loading trucks, we are cleaning up like today. At other times we are inside separating merchandise for shipment.”

  The man in the background had remained silent. I looked at him and asked if he had noticed anything or anyone unusual around the area. “I don’t live down here,” he mumbled. There was a crease in his shirt that hid most of his name, but it looked like a J at the beginning on the worn tag. I didn’t ask his name. He turned back to work. The other two waited for me to leave, which I did after thanking them for their time.

  When I got into my car I noticed a message on my phone from the Ben. I listened to it before turning on the ignition. According to him, there were no fingerprints found in Janet’s Focus. Even where car parts had been removed there were none. Ben stated the perpetrator was very careful. “We are still going over the car in detail,” the message said. “Her purse and cell phone were on the floorboard with just her prints on them. We are hoping to get something out of the phone, but no information on that yet,” the message continued. “Our expert has it.”

  I put my car in reverse and pulled away from the loading dock. In my rearview mirror, I noted Jimmy and Tommy were no longer on the dock. J stood staring at me.

  Chapter 15

  Competition Day

  By the time Friday evening arrived I was more than happy to get home. Nick had arrived earlier than usual. His quick peck on my cheek told me he was in competition mode. I laughed at him and pulled him closer for a real welcome-home kiss. He accommodated me with an apology.

  “I’ll forgive you this time. You have a lot at stake, but I’m not worried. You will come out on top this time.”

  I noticed the grill was cold. I learned after the first contest year that he didn’t fire it up too close to his battle day. He told me he didn’t want to be jinxed. I took his word and didn’t question it.

  “I’ll have something delivered,” I said.

  “I hope you don’t mind, but I ordered Chinese for us,” he said.

  I didn’t mind at all. We both enjoyed Chinese food and I was starved. Nick’s quick movements told me he needed to calm down. What better way than to discuss my case and get his mind off of Saturday’s events. It worked, and he sat across from me waiting for our food delivery. He focused his attention on what I told him.

  “That is interesting that Janet Dubois, on one end of town, and Aniyah Oalmann, way down on the east side, had something in common. Do you know what it was?”

  “I don’t yet and that is most frustrating. I wanted to go by the Oalmann house after the warehouse, but the day was getting by me. Now that I think about it, I should have gone on by the house while I was down there.”

  “So you don’t think this Sleek guy murdered the women?”

  I told him I didn’t think that. Every time I thought of Sleek, I remained convinced that he made a living in drug dealings but shunned anything to do with murder.

  “Do you know the name of the aunt and uncle who raised the Dubois children?” asked Nick. He chuckled. “I guess they grew to adulthood, thankfully.”

  “I did not ask about who they were. Jon did tell me the uncle appeared at Benny’s café one day out of the blue. As far as anyone knew, it was an awkward moment and a one-time visit.”

  Nick gave me time to process some new ideas on the matter. Why did I not question Jon more about the uncle? I made a mental note to do that. The doorbell rang and our dinner interrupted more discussion for the time being. We watched a movie after dinner, and after a couple of glasses of wine, we were relaxed enough to get a good night’s sleep.

  The next morning was one of those late August dog days of summer. The sun was out and a light breeze lifted the air somewhat. Nick gathered his ingredients set up the day before and we loaded things into his SUV and headed for the fairgrounds. The competition would be held outside. The judges tasted inside, and no one knew which competitor cooked which sauce. Nick chose ribs for one entrée and steaks for the second one. He set up his grill and started preparations. In the meantime, there was much friendly egging on between competitors. Nick knew most of them personally. The day was proving to be festive as crowds started to appear.

  Booths arranged several yards from the contestants offered games and food. A beer garden was separate, and tables were set up for festival goers to eat their favorite meats off the grills.

  I stood by Nick and gave every taster my best smile as I offered them samples. So far, reactions were positive. I encouraged Nick to keep at it while I left to get a beer for both of us. When I came back he was busier than ever. I quickly took my place again. I felt certain more compliments than ever were being thrown Nick’s way. His wide grin told me so. At four o’clock, winners were finally announced.

  The judges appeared on the steps of the building and a woman was handed a microphone. She began by naming third place and then second. Nick’s hand dug into my palm. There was no way he didn’t place at all, I thought. When they announced Nick Ad
ams as the winner, loud cheers went up. None were as loud as mine. Nick was grinning from ear to ear and accepted the coveted trophy, waving it in the air. He felt many slaps on the back, heard “congratulations” spoken repeatedly, and still it was hard to believe he finally won his prize. My crossed fingers for him worked, I thought. Then I laughed silently. It was his hard work and expertise, I chided myself.

  He turned and kissed me soundly on the lips. “I did it, Candy. I did it,” he said.

  “Yes, you did,” I told him, kissing him back.

  Friends joined us and we bought plate dinners of my favorite man’s barbeque, along with side dishes from other booths. We settled in the beer garden and listened to music being played nearby. We enjoyed the camaraderie of friends and other contestants. Not only was Nick top of the line in the real estate business, he was now well known to be the best in barbeque, as well. I didn’t need any more from him at that moment. I just hoped it didn’t mean barbeque every night for the rest of our lives. He did remind me once that he could smoke the dinner without barbequing. That soothed me, though tonight nothing mattered except his unending happiness.

  We ended the festival night around ten but not before visiting other booths and playing a few games. Neither of us won any stuffed animals or other gadgets of possible interest. It didn’t matter since we already had the triumph we wanted. Now it was time for champagne at home.

  “Before we uncork it, I want a shower,” said Nick. I agreed that we needed to get the day’s grime off of us. I noted the same loopy grin on his face as he swept me up into his arms and headed for a refreshing cleansing together.

  The feeling we both felt was more than pride. Accomplishment was a very good feeling. Late into the night, sleep finally overtook us both. The next day was sleeping-in day before another week started.