“Why did he owe you a favor?” Madison asked.
“No one said it was a favor,” Rodney replied, nonchalant. “Caught a break, remember?”
“Need I remind you again that your son was an ex-con and a murderer,” Madison served back, feeling good about verbally smacking the older man. “It had to be a favor or something even shadier is going on. Now who paid for his schooling?”
“The company.”
Madison raised her brows at Terry. “Wow, that’s generous.”
Rodney patted the arm of his chair but said nothing.
“So Greg owed you a favor?” She reused the word he had hated so much and tossed in a smirk.
“Fine. Whatever,” Rodney consented.
“You know, we never found out who took over being the numbers man for the mob. Maybe it was Greg Berger. And then your son went to work for him.” She turned to Terry again. “It sounds like a real possibility. Berger & Stein might be laundering money.”
Rodney stood up. “It’s time for you to go.”
Given the man’s rigid body language, his statement had in no way been a suggestion. Madison and Terry got up.
At the door, Rodney turned to Madison. “You might want to watch your back.”
Madison got to within inches of his face. “Is that a threat?”
Rodney hitched his shoulders. “I’ll let you decide.”
She’d love to do nothing more than slap a set of cuffs on the old man and bring him downtown, and if she listened to her impulses, she’d have done just that. He had just threatened a police officer! But what good would cuffing him do? It would only prove that he had affected her, and by extension, that this case was more personal than she wanted to admit. And that might get her taken off the investigation. She held eye contact with Rodney as she stepped back. Once they were outside, he slammed the door behind them.
“Oooh!” She balled her fists and walked to the department car. “That son of a bitch!”
She got behind the wheel, and Terry loaded into the passenger seat.
“I’m surprised you didn’t take him in,” he said.
She turned to him. “Really?”
“He threatened you.”
She shook her head and clicked her seat belt into place, her hand shaking as she did so. “It just wouldn’t have been worth the trouble.”
There was a flicker of knowing that passed over Terry’s eyes. “I understand why.”
She detected judgment in his tone, and she didn’t like it one bit. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Terry’s shoulders tensed. “Did you hear yourself in there? You asked him if Jimmy was connected to the Russians, and when Rodney said he didn’t know, you said—and I quote—‘You really expect me to believe that?’ Me, Madison, not we.”
“That didn’t mean anything. I was just talking for myself at the time.”
“Okay, how do you explain jumping off the couch ready to slug the guy?”
“I didn’t, though, did I?”
“Didn’t hit him? No, but only because I stopped you. And then your swearing?” He shook his head, a hint of disgust showing on his face. He detested foul language. “No matter what you say, this case is personal.”
“Hell yes, it’s personal,” she fired back. “Is that what you want to hear? That man was pushing my buttons.”
“And you gave him what he wanted. A reaction,” Terry punched out. “If the Russians are involved in Bates’s murder, and Rodney still has connections there, they’ll be tipped off that we’re looking at them.”
“If?” The word slipped out, and there was no backing out now.
Terry shifted his upper body, putting his right shoulder and part of his back to the door. “I know you’ve suspected them from the start.”
“As I said at Bates’s, we need to consider all the possibilities. That includes, but is not limited to, the Russians.” There, she’d left out any specific mention of Constantine. Now, maybe if she switched the topic up a little… “I found it interesting how upset Rodney got when I’d alleged that Greg Berger or his company was in cahoots with the mob.”
“That makes two of us.”
-
CHAPTER
5
BERGER & STEIN ACCOUNTING TOOK up the top ten floors of a twenty-one-story high-rise in downtown Stiles. Madison and Terry checked in with a man at the desk in the main lobby, and someone from the firm was being sent down to escort them upstairs.
About ten minutes after their arrival, a twentysomething blonde in a black pencil skirt paired with a cream blouse stepped off the elevator and headed straight for them.
Madison and Terry held up their badges.
“No secret that you’re the detectives wanting to speak with Lyle Berger and Sylvester Stein,” she said pleasantly. “Unfortunately, Mr. Berger isn’t in today, but Mr. Stein will speak with you. I’m Anita, Mr. Stein’s assistant, and if you’ll come with me…” Anita led them to the elevator bank, and within minutes they unloaded on the twenty-first floor. Chrome lettering on the wall opposite the elevator announced the business name. There was a curved reception desk with another twentysomething blonde sitting behind it talking animatedly into a headset.
Berger & Stein sure likes its blondes…
Anita led them to a corner office and gestured for them to enter. “Here you are.”
They stepped inside to find walls of windows affording spectacular views of the city. The space was the size of a large studio apartment with a seating area that had a rug, couch, and two sofa chairs. There was a substantial mahogany desk that was more than just practical; it was a piece of art with ornate touches such as the scrollwork that accented the legs. Behind the desk, a man in his fifties sat in a plush leather chair. He had a head of silver hair, piercing gray eyes, and a neatly groomed mustache.
“Mr. Stein, these are Detectives Knight and Grant.”
“Detectives.” Sylvester dipped his head and smiled cordially.
His friendly reaction was odd given that two detectives from Major Crimes had wanted an audience with him. Most people would have a sense of foreboding from such a request.
“Would any of you care for water or coffee?” Anita offered.
“I’m fine, thanks,” Terry responded.
Madison shook her head.
Anita looked to her boss. “Mr. Stein?”
“I’m fine, Anita.”
“Very well.” She left the office, closing the door behind her.
Sylvester gestured toward two chairs that were set up across from his desk. “Please. Take a seat.”
Terry sat while Madison remained standing.
Sylvester’s gaze drifted over her. “As you likely know, I’m one of the managing partners of this firm. I understand that you had wanted to speak with Lyle, as well, but he’s out of town on business until next week.”
“We heard he just wasn’t in today,” Madison said.
“Was it Anita who told you that? I apologize for any misunderstanding, but he’s gone until next Monday on a business trip.”
“When did Mr. Berger leave for his business trip?” she asked.
“Last night.”
That was convenient timing. “And where did he go?”
“Colorado for a conference on acquisitions and accounting law.” The room fell silent, and Sylvester wet his lips and tilted his head to the left. “I’d ask what your purpose here is today, but I heard what happened to Jimmy.”
“Word travels fast,” Madison said coolly. She wasn’t happy that he’d already heard because she’d been robbed of the chance to gauge his reaction to the news. Not to mention her curiosity about the integrity of this firm had been heightened. First, Rodney’s reaction to her allegation that the firm was connected to the mob, and second, Bates’s murder had already reached his boss.
> Sylvester squinted at her. “Yasmine mentioned it.”
“Ah, of course.” Madison’s cheeks heated, and she hated that she’d let her thoughts get carried away. It would make sense that Yasmine told him, as he’d been trying to reach her. She really needed to get her emotions in check. As much as she kept trying to convince herself she was remaining objective, the interaction with Rodney Bates had tilted her scales of logic and reason out of balance. And she hated that errant thoughts of Constantine being back to kill her kept entering her mind. Maybe if she took a seat, she’d be able to concentrate. She sat next to Terry.
Sylvester continued, letting his gaze go back and forth between Madison and Terry. “She said he was murdered?”
She nodded. “Yasmine found Mr. Bates in his home this morning.”
Sylvester sank back into his chair, concern etched in his brow. “She told me that much, as well. What happened to him?”
Yasmine apparently left out those details. And while Madison didn’t have the chance to see how he responded to the news of Bates’s death, she could witness his reaction to how he was killed.
“Mr. Bates was stabbed multiple times,” she said, her gaze on him.
His mouth opened and closed shut, and his eyes widened and watered, telling Madison he was shocked by this.
“The exact cause of death is yet to be determined,” she added thoughtfully, surprised by his show of emotion.
Sylvester pinched the tip of his nose and shook his head as if demonstrating he thought Bates’s murder had been a senseless act.
“Were you close with Jimmy?” This time she intentionally used Bates’s first name to establish familiarity and friendliness.
“He was a good employee. Reliable.”
Madison nodded, though she hadn’t asked about his standing with the company. “Were you close outside the office?”
“We had drinks on occasion.”
“Do you know of anyone who might have wanted to hurt him? Someone who he didn’t get along with, or butted heads with recently?”
“I’ve heard detectives ask those types of questions on TV.” He paused, reflectively. “But it’s quite different in real life, and to be the one faced with them…” He looked her in the eye. “Honestly, I don’t know of anyone he didn’t get along with.”
“He must have been a nice guy.” It almost killed her to say that.
Sylvester nodded. “He was.”
“We understand that there was a meeting scheduled with the board of directors this morning. What was the purpose of the meeting?” Madison asked.
“It was just a quarterly review.” Sylvester tossed out the topic as if it bored him.
If that’s all it was, why wouldn’t Yasmine have known as Bates’s assistant? “And that’s all you’d discuss at these meetings?”
“Yeah.”
Madison nodded. “And it was imperative that Jimmy be at these meetings?”
Sylvester nodded. “Part of his responsibility was to prepare the financial reports and present them.”
“How did the directors react to the news of Jimmy’s death?” Terry asked.
“I canceled the meeting when I couldn’t reach Jimmy or Yasmine. I didn’t get into details with them. Heck, I didn’t have any at that point.”
“How did the board members react to the cancellation?” Madison asked.
“They weren’t impressed.”
“Yasmine mentioned that Jimmy called them ‘stuffy uptights.’ Did he have a beef with any of them?” she asked.
“Not that I’m aware of.”
A corporation’s board of directors were a matter of public record, and Madison made a note that they should pull the names and backgrounds on all its members.
“What about any clients who might not have been happy with him or his work?” Madison asked.
“Again, not that I’m aware of.”
“We’d like to see a list of Jimmy’s clients,” she said.
“If you have a warrant, I’d be happy to help.” Something in Sylvester’s eyes belied his claim. Or was she projecting that onto him?
“We’ll get a warrant,” she assured him.
Sylvester nodded. “At that point, I’ll get you the client list.”
Madison’s mind turned down another path as she recalled how Sylvester had called Yasmine looking for Jimmy. “You knew about Jimmy and Yasmine’s affair, I imagine?”
Sylvester propped an elbow on the arm of the chair and cupped his chin. “I think pretty much everyone did.”
“Why’s that?” Terry asked.
Sylvester sat back in his chair and swiveled slowly side to side. “Let’s just say they weren’t too discreet. More than a few employees saw them fraternizing.”
Like Lyle Berger.
“And there isn’t any company policy against employees dating?” Madison asked.
He shrugged. “It wasn’t hurting anyone.”
“That wasn’t exactly what I asked you.” Madison waited a few beats.
“As a general rule,” he went on, “we’d prefer that business relationships stay just that, especially between a manager and their staff.”
Bates seemed to have had the golden touch. First the company overlooked the fact that he was an ex-con and sinks thousands into his education, and now, it seemed the rules didn’t apply to him.
“It seems like Jimmy had it easy here,” she summarized.
Sylvester stopped swiveling, leaned forward, and clasped his hands on his desk. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Jimmy murdered a man. He had a record.” She presented this to Sylvester in a passively judgmental way.
“He went to prison and paid his debt to society.” When she didn’t respond, he glanced at Terry. “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say here.”
“You don’t need to say anything else, Mr. Stein,” Madison responded. “It just seems that Jimmy was given a lot of leeway.” She laid out her hand, palm up. “Is it common practice for Berger & Stein to pay for the education of its employees?”
Sylvester seemed hesitant and leery about answering. “I wouldn’t say that.”
“But his was paid for by the company.” she pointed out.
“I’m not sure…”
Madison nudged her head forward. “Really?”
“Really,” Sylvester shot back. “Lyle’s the one who brought him on board.”
“Did he say why?” she asked.
Sylvester’s posture relaxed. “He doesn’t answer to me, so no. And I didn’t ask.”
“He’s the majority owner,” Madison reasoned aloud. “His father founded the company.”
“That’s right.” Sylvester adjusted his tie and let his hands fall when he noticed Madison watching him. “What did it matter to me where he got the guy or why? Same thing if he paid for his education: it doesn’t affect me.”
Madison didn’t understand how the latter didn’t affect him, given he owed stakes in the company, but she’d let that pass for now. “When did Jimmy come on board?”
“Off the top of my head, I’d say about sixteen years ago.”
Bates had gotten out of prison nineteen years ago, so that was swift placement. He must have raced through getting his diploma and licensing. She held eye contact with Sylvester. “And the affair he had going with Yasmine…?”
“Wasn’t hurting anyone as I had said. Besides, it probably wasn’t going to last much longer.” He shrugged.
“Why’s that?”
“Because I knew Jimmy, and he wasn’t a one-lady kind of man.”
“So he had other girlfriends?”
“Girlfriends? No. Women he had sex with? Yes.”
She’d thought about it from the standpoint of Yasmine or one of her boy toys getting jealous and knocking off Bates, but maybe one of Bates’s other
women didn’t care much for being one of many, either. Still, Lyle wasn’t far from her mind.
“Do you know any of these women’s names?” Madison asked.
“Sorry, I don’t. It’s not like they hung around for long. Not even sure if Jimmy got their names,” he added with a smirk.
Madison held eye contact with him, disgusted by the glimmer of male chauvinism, but he seemed to be telling the truth.
“Well…” Sylvester regarded them. “If that will be all?”
“A couple more questions and we’ll be on our way,” Madison promised. “How did Lyle feel about Jimmy and Yasmine’s relationship?”
“Beats me.”
If Lyle had actually footed the bill for Bates and brought him on board, he could feel entitled somehow. He obviously thought he could take advantage of Yasmine. “So you never witnessed any hostility between them about Yasmine? Any sexual tension between Yasmine and Lyle?”
Sylvester squared his shoulders, and his body language became guarded. “None. To both your questions.”
“So as far as you know, Lyle never raped Yasmine?”
“No,” Sylvester ground out, his face reddening.
She gave it a few seconds, then asked. “Where and when did you last see Jimmy?”
“Here. During business hours yesterday.”
“And where were you last night from eleven until seven this morning?” They still didn’t have a time of death so it was a big window, but she expected most people would be home sleeping during those hours. But if Sylvester was the killer, there’d likely be some tell in his facial expression, body language, or energy.
“Let’s see. I worked in the office until about eight and then went home. I watched some TV and nodded off to sleep by midnight.” Sylvester rattled off his schedule with boredom.
“Can anyone corroborate your claim?”
“Claim?” He mocked. “No. I live alone,” he added bitterly.
“All right. Just one more thing,” she said. “We’d like the information on the conference Lyle Berger is attending.”
“Sure.” Sylvester pressed a button on his phone.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Stein?” Anita answered.
Power Struggle Page 5