Major Crimes

by Michele Lynn Seigfried

  Frank had quite an imagination. Did he honestly think men didn’t drive that type of vehicle? And how does he know a doctor wouldn’t be frugal? What if the car was a rental? I reached into my pants pocket and retrieved the bag with the ring inside. “Freddy told me to give you this ring.”

  “Yeah, I’ll have it tested. Feel like going for a drive?”

  “Sure.”

  Frank saved the video to a flash drive, which he pocketed. We hiked up the black staircase, past the toilet seats, which made me chuckle yet again, and into the kitchen.

  “Geri, where are my car keys?”

  “Where are you going? You know I’m making lunch. The food’s gonna get cold.”

  “We won’t be long. We’ll eat when we get back.” Frank pulled a polo shirt over his wife-beater tank and shoved his wallet and cell into his pants pockets. He found the keys and I followed him toward the front door.

  Geri yelled from the kitchen. “Linda and the kids are coming again tonight. Pick up some torpedo rolls on your way back.”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  Was Frank annoyed that the entourage was returning to his house or the fact that he had to pick up rolls? Or could it be that he also had to deal with my problems? I didn’t dare ask.

  We buckled ourselves into Frank’s van and he sped off. Our first stop was at the DNA Lab of New Jersey. It was thirteen miles from Frank’s house in an industrial warehouse complex. We walked in the main doors and strolled down the hallway marked “Nuclear DNA Unit.”

  Hopefully, there was enough blood on the ring for proper testing. Hopefully, the sample hadn’t been compromised. We still weren’t sure the ring had anything to do with the murder. But, hopefully, it did.

  After Frank submitted the ring along with Freddy’s contact information, we drove to an auto parts store. Frank approached the guy behind the counter. “I was wondering if you could look at some taillights on a video and tell me what type of car it is.”

  The guy looked confused. “I don’t think so.”

  Frank whispered to me, “He’s dumber than a load of bricks.”

  I thanked the guy for his time and we left.

  “Maybe one of Freddy’s investigators could figure out if the taillight belongs to a Ford Focus.” I was trying to be helpful, but Frank was determined to figure it out.

  “Maybe.”

  Frank drove to an auto body repair shop. No luck there either. Three stops later, we were in Florence Township at the house of a mechanic who does repair work from his home.

  The house was white and resembled an old farm house, minus the farm. A sign on the road said, “Buster’s Auto Body.”

  We walked up the long driveway and knocked on the door. The man who answered looked like he just walked off the Duck Dynasty set. I presumed that was Buster.

  “What can I do ya for?” He had more of a southern accent than a Jersey one.

  “We were wondering if you could take a look at a photo and see if a taillight belongs to a Ford Focus.” Frank’s bald head beaded up with sweat in the afternoon heat.

  “Yep. Where’s the photo?”

  “I have it on a flash drive.”

  “What in tarnation is a flash drive?”

  “Do you have a computer?”

  “Nope. Never had much use for one.”

  I did a mental eye roll. Frank reached in his pocket and pulled out a phone. “Good thing I sent the video to my cell phone earlier in the day.”

  Frank found the video on his phone and handed it to the guy. Buster grabbed the phone, squinting at it. “What the devil?”

  Frank took the phone back. Buster had inadvertently hit the side button and turned off the phone. Frank cued up the video and handed the phone to Buster again.

  The video started to play. Buster brought the phone closer to his eyes. “Dang it.”

  Frank took the phone back and cued up the video again. “I’ll hold it for you.”

  Buster scrutinized the video playing in Frank’s hand. “Yupper. That there is a Ford Focus taillight. See them there L-shaped thing-a-ma-bobs? Yep, them babies would cost about two hundred and ninety dollars to repair here at my place.”

  Frank looked at me. “Am I good, or am I good?”

  “You’re good.”

  We thanked Buster and turned to leave.

  “Y’all have a nice day now and if you need any work done on your cars, remember me.”

  “We will,” I answered.

  We hopped back into Frank’s van and he sped off again. I wondered where he was headed. Since I had nowhere to go and nothing to do, I didn’t bother asking where we were going.

  An hour later, Frank zipped onto the Garden State Parkway. We were shore-bound. Nerves got the better of me. I didn’t want to be seen in the area. My fellow law enforcement officers were searching for me. I scrunched down in my seat and lowered my baseball cap.

  “You look scared shitless, Bryce.”

  “You could say that.”

  “No worries. We’ll be outta here in no time.”

  “Won’t Geri be angry that we missed lunch?”

  “Yeah. Probably.” Frank smirked.

  I shook my head.

  Frank exited the parkway and took the causeway over the bridge headed toward Coral Beach. He pulled up to the deli across from Archie’s house. It would have been a relief if I never had to see Archie’s house again.

  He pointed to the street next to the deli. “That’s where your perp must’ve parked.” He then pointed to a spot on the overhang of the building. “And there’s your camera.”

  Frank pulled up the video on his cell phone and watched the person walk from where they parked and toward Archie’s house. He motioned with his hand. “See, she walked from there to there. There’s nothing else around here. No side streets. Archie’s house takes up a good three acres. Yup. I think that’s the person who did it.”

  I wondered why Frank trusted me when not many others did. He never assumed that I had committed the crime. Underneath the quirks, he was a caring guy. He cared enough to help me, a total stranger.

  Frank swung the car around and headed back to the parkway. I asked if I could watch the video on his phone. He agreed and handed me the phone.

  The next stop was the bakery. Frank ran inside to get the rolls while I stayed in the car and watched the video. I watched it over and over—searching for some clue. Something, anything. Then I saw it. It was just a glimpse, but I saw it.

  I’d have to wait to get back to Frank’s house to enlarge and enhance the video—but I knew it in my bones. Frank was right. That was the perp. And the perp was wearing that odd ring on a chain around her neck.

  Chapter 15

  Chelsey

  Wawa’s hoagies were the best. I ordered a turkey and cheese with lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, and mayo on a Shorti Roll through a touch-screen monitor. I paid for a diet soda, a bag of chips, and the hoagie at the register, then waited for my number to be called.

  I glanced at an array of newspapers near the front door. Bryce’s picture appeared on the front of each one. He was a wanted man. I felt relieved that my photo wasn’t beside his. Guilt washed over me for thinking that way, but I needed to be selfish for the sake of my daughter. I wondered how she was making out with her father and grandparents in New York.

  My order number was called, so I retrieved my hoagie and left. I drove to a nearby park to eat since it was a beautiful day. Not too hot and not cold. Summer was here, even if the calendar said the official arrival of summer wasn’t for a couple more weeks.

  I settled into a cozy bench near a small pond. The sunlight glinted off the water. I wished I had my sunglasses, but they were at my house with the rest of my belongings. Oh how I longed to be home.

  The phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number, but since it could’ve been Jennifer or my daughter calling, I didn’t want to risk not answering.

  “What on Earth is wrong with you, you nutcase?” The screaming was from Drew. I guessed he heard abo
ut my little trip in the trunk of his sister’s car.

  “Um, hi Drew.”

  “Don’t you ‘hi Drew’ me, you mistake of a human being.”

  “That’s not very nice. You should get your anger in check.”

  “You know what, Chelsey, you need to keep your distance from me and my family or bad things will happen to you.”

  I was alarmed. Perhaps I shouldn’t have taunted Drew. What if he was the killer? “Is that a threat, Drew? Are you going to do to me what you did to Archie?”

  “You imbecile! I didn’t touch Archie. If you go around saying I did, I’ll sue you for slander. I’m sick and tired of your charade. Go out and find the real killer and leave us alone!”

  “Or what?”

  “Or what? Or what? I’ll have you arrested, then I’ll sue you for every dime you have.”

  “Sue me for what?”

  “Harassment, for starters.”

  “I know you’re hiding something Drew. There was no baseball game that night of Archie’s retirement party. Tell me where you were that night.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about and I don’t owe you any explanation. Psychopath!”

  “Why, Drew? What are you hiding?”

  “I’m not hiding anything. You concocted this foolishness in your own head. Leave us alone!”

  Drew hung up on me. He must’ve gotten my number from Jennifer. I shrugged. I wasn’t worried about ruffling a few feathers in my search for answers. If you asked me, I thought Drew was as guilty as they come. He was left-handed and he was one of the last people to see Archie alive. Jennifer could’ve been lying about the ring or maybe the ring had nothing to do with the murder. If Drew didn’t do it, then I would’ve bet money that he knew who did. He was definitely hiding something.

  My appetite was gone, so I wrapped up my hoagie and drove toward Freddy’s office. Maybe I’d be useful at work while I waited for Savoy’s to open for the dinner crowd.

  * * *

  The hour drive to Freddy’s office was plenty of time for me to think things through. I needed to figure out what Drew was hiding, but I didn’t know how. I also wanted to check out Archie’s other ex-wife, Martha. And his former mistress, Cynthia. I needed to figure out where they were first. There was no better way to find that out than to be at work, with Freddy’s computers which were equipped with software made for finding people.

  The downside about having time to think was that my mind wandered to Mandy. I was sad that she hadn’t been with me all week. I wondered what she was doing, if they were treating her well, and if she was happy.

  Then there were the thoughts about my love life. I had nearly forgotten about Kris. He hadn’t called to check in with me. In the past, I would be sad when I hadn’t heard from him. But either I got used to him not being around or stopped caring. I couldn’t fault him—he was a workaholic and a single dad. He didn’t have free time. He didn’t have free time for me.

  It was time I ended the relationship, but how was I going to end something that didn’t seem to exist? I felt stupid calling Kris and breaking things off with him when maybe things were already over in his mind. Otherwise he would’ve called, right?

  Then there was Bryce. I sort of missed him already. He gave me butterflies. We had chemistry. I liked working with him to figure out who killed Archie. I even liked his sarcasm. Thinking about that last kiss…I sighed. The man made me melt.

  Pulling up to Freddy’s office, I parallel parked the rental car in front of the building and jumped out. I ambled up the sidewalk and struggled to open the heavy-duty steel door. Freddy was seated in his office.

  “You really need to do something about that door. I’m going to get a hernia trying to open it.”

  “Well, well, well. Do I know you? Oh wait, let me think…you worked here once, didn’t you? By golly, I almost didn’t recognize you. What’s your name again? Carrie, Kelly…no wait, let me think…Chelsey. That’s right. Chelsey.”

  I rolled my eyes. “You’re hilarious.”

  “What, may I ask, has brought you to grace me with your presence?”

  “I missed your gray hair, mustache, and the way you look at me so…disappointedly.”

  “I’m not disappointed, but if you weren’t my niece’s good friend, you might be demoted.”

  “I didn’t think I could sink any lower.”

  “Oh, it could get lower. So much lower. Instead of sending you to question suspects and spy on people, I could send you dumpster diving for evidence.”

  “So things can always get worse.”

  “A life lesson for you.”

  “So fill me in. What have you found about Archie’s murder?” I presented Freddy with the hoagie I bought from Wawa.

  He cringed. “How can you buy this junk?”

  Freddy had opened up a hoagie shop in West Trenton decades ago. His wife, Florence, ran it. They did have fantastic hoagies, but it was out of my way to go there. Plus, I always felt like I was taking advantage when I went there, because they insisted on feeding me at no charge.

  As disgusted as he was with my choice of lunch, he ate it anyway while he filled me in on the discoveries he and his team had made. The Ford Focus with a potential female suspect, the ring being delivered to the DNA lab, the cabbie confirming the time of pick up, Solar’s stint in prison, and his thoughts on Drew.

  I told Freddy about my conversation with Jennifer. I included the details about Archie’s former mistress, Cynthia, and her husband. I excluded the part about my hiding in the trunk of Jennifer’s car. I wasn’t sure if Freddy would laugh, fire me, or worse.

  Freddy and his other investigators had discovered more in twenty-four hours than I did. Again, I wondered if this job selection was a good fit for me. “I’m not sure I agree with you about Drew.”

  “And why is that?”

  “He’s hiding something, I know it.”

  “For now, we are concentrating on finding evidence to set your friend free. Whether or not Drew is hiding something is irrelevant.”

  I pursed my lips. “You don’t care about finding out what happened the night of Archie’s murder?”

  “Not really. That job is for the police. My job is to create reasonable doubt. Evidence that someone else did the crime should make it so Bryce doesn’t have to do the time. If the police don’t believe it, a jury will if I do my job well.”

  Freddy had a much different approach than I expected. I had been looking to solve Archie’s murder rather than proving Bryce didn’t do it. It never occurred to me that they weren’t the same thing. “Do you still want me to go to Savoy’s tonight and question the staff?”

  “Yes, and I have another task for you. I need DNA samples from suspects. I have all my other investigators tied up on other tasks for this case, plus, they are all working on multiple cases. You’re the only investigator with a light case load.”

  “Understood. But I haven’t done that before. Do I have to use a swab or get a clip of their hair? I don’t think anyone is going to consent to that.”

  “We don’t need them to consent. Be creative. If they eat at a restaurant, get their glass. If they smoke, get a cigarette butt. Do whatcha gotta do.” Freddy handed me a list of names and addresses.

  “Okay, I’ll try.”

  “Do better than try.”

  “I will. See you later then.”

  “Ten-four.”

  I left the office, pushing through the hernia-maker door, and drove home to shower.

  * * *

  Warm water washed over my body, refreshing me and clearing my mind. I washed my hair, used conditioner in an attempt to tame it, and stepped out to dry off. I contemplated my schedule. It was nearing four o’clock.

  Since Savoy’s opened at four, I thought I’d go there first. I was too tired to tail Archie’s wife and daughter, or anyone else on Freddy’s list for the evening. I wondered if I should pick up Snickers from my parents.

  A loud crash made me jump. Snickers wasn’t home. Wh
o the heck was in my house now? Déjà vu described the moment. I wrapped a towel around myself and crept into the hallway to get a look at the invaders.

  “Dad!”

  “What?”

  “What the heck are you doing? You gave me a heart attack!”

  “Oh. I’m sorry. I was getting more food for Snickers. I didn’t bring enough to my house. I didn’t think you were home.”

  My car in the driveway and a rental car sitting behind it should’ve been dead giveaways that I was home. I shook my head. My dad could be so dense.

  “Since you’re here, would you want to do me a favor?”

  “Sure.”

  “Would you follow me over to the rental car company? I need to return the rental in the driveway and then I’ll need a ride back here.”

  My father didn’t ask why I had a rental, which was a relief. I didn’t want to explain anything about Bryce to him. I also didn’t want to fib about anything. My parents would have seen through my lies.

  My dad waited patiently for me to dry my hair, dress, put on makeup, and get my shoes on. I grabbed my cell phone, texted Randy to tell him I had my old phone back, and then we left the house. Dad followed me to the rental car company and then chauffeured me back home.

  I got out of the car. “Thanks, Dad.”

  “Are you coming over to get the dog?”

  “Would you mind keeping him for a couple more days? Freddy has me working overtime on this case and it would be a big help.”

  “Sure thing. When’s Mandy coming home?”

  “Sunday.”

  “Alrighty then.”

  “I’ll see you later.” I closed the car door and jumped into my own car. It was time for me to get to Savoy’s.

  Chapter 16

  Bryce

  Arriving at Frank’s house, I was anxious to get to his basement and enlarge the video of the woman wearing the ring. But that wasn’t going to happen any time soon.