by C. G. Prado
“Did your mother’s friend know anything?”
“Same story, except that she only lost a fraction of what my mother lost.”
“Did you go to the police?”
“Of course, but it was useless. They sent me to some department dealing with such scams but all I got was a lecture about the credibility of the elderly. They had other complaints about Simpson, but though they tried to sound like they were on to something I don’t think they had anything at all. We heard from them a couple of times, but only reassurances that they were still on the case.”
“On the other matter, in strictest confidence, can you give me a ballpark figure of the sort of money McDermott dealt with in his account? I need to know to compare with some figures the investigating detective gave me.”
“The most I recall seeing in his account, both in cash and stock holdings, was a bit over twenty-eight thousand. He did very well; he only started with about ten thousand.”
“Thank you. The total is an interesting figure because it’s far below what we estimate he and Kelsey were juggling and what is still missing, so wherever McDermott’s share was going, it wasn’t to his account with Raymond, Teller.”
“Now let me ask you a question. You thought I was giving McDermott information when you learned he was a client and because I asked about him, right?”
“Guilty as charged.”
“Okay, I would have thought the same, so fair enough. But I can tell you this much, if they really were good at hacking, they could get account numbers just as readily as anything else. That’s an ongoing problem for brokerages, banks, retailers, and anyone else that carries accounts. I’m sure you’ve read about hackers getting thousands of credit-card account numbers from various companies. I don’t think Kelsey and McDermott would have needed anyone’s help in that respect.”
“I was told very much the same thing by someone knowledgeable about scams.”
By that time Charlie was feeling both that there was no more to be learned from Berger and that her version of events was likely right and he’d jumped to conclusions. They talked a little more and Charlie then offered her a lift. She said she had her car and they left the Club.
That evening Charlie felt down rather than relieved as he told Kate about his conversation with Berger.
“Charlie, DeVries knows what she’s doing. She’s probably right in her analysis and conclusion. I think you’re casting around for something to keep you involved in the case. I admit that the money still being untraced is a sticking point, as is whoever fingered McDermott, but I don’t see what you can do about either one.”
Later, Charlie was dropping off, still musing about Berger and leaning toward believing her. He awoke with a start about three in the morning with a smile on his face. He’d had an odd dream about Kelsey and McDermott carrying dozens of laptops. The dream had morphed into a waking realization: DeVries told him they’d found McDermott’s iPad and computer. Singular. But McDermott had two laptops. One computer was still missing.
Chapter 18
The Third Tuesday
Charlie was on his second cup of coffee, anxiously waiting for Kate to get to the kitchen so he could tell her what he’d realized. When Kate wandered into the kitchen he still waited until she’d had most of her first cup of coffee. He then told her about the missing laptop.
“Charlie, that’s important. It could mean McDermott had some other place to keep stuff or that the man in custody took it after he shot McDermott.”
“That’s a possibility. I’ll call DeVries when I get to my office.”
Charlie went to the university in time to allow him to make the call before his class. Once in his office he dialed her number but was told she was unavailable. Concerned she might want to avoid him, he left a message that he’d learned something new and important but that he’d not be available till noon as he had a class.
DeVries didn’t call until nearly one and sounded impatient.
“Charlie; I got your message. What’s up?”
“McDermott had two computers, as well as his iPad. If you found the pad and one laptop, there’s one missing, and I’ll bet it’s the one with the important stuff.”
Charlie was pleased there was silence at her end. She then spoke in a serious tone.
“You’re sure about this?”
“I was told by an ITS guy and a student who knew him that McDermott carried around two laptops. One was hefty, with a seventeen-inch screen.”
“This is disturbing. What we found was a normal sized laptop; I think it has a fifteen-inch screen or perhaps less. As I told you, there wasn’t much on it. And the man we have in custody didn’t have a laptop, one of his own or McDermott’s. As far as we know all he had was an old desktop. I have to talk to Guy. I’ll get back to you.”
With that DeVries hung up and Charlie went for a late lunch. He realized as he left the building that he had a grin on his face.
As luck would have it, Charlie found Evan Jones and Richard Baynes lingering over coffee.
“Richard, Evan, I can see you’re done, but I’d like to fill you in on what’s new.”
“Thank you, Charlie, but why don’t you and Richard talk. He came today hoping you’d be here and I have a class.”
Charlie ordered the special and more coffee for Baynes, who declined dessert, then told Baynes about the suspect DeVries had in custody and the missing computer.
“Looks like you’re right about a third party. What I don’t quite see, though, is this guy killing McDermott. Sure, he was taken for a lot of money, but to track McDermott down and shoot him in an alley? That sounds like a TV movie. If the guy was worried about two sons in university and a mortgage, he wasn’t doing his sons or himself any favors by risking a murder charge.”
“He would have been better advised to go into the bistro and talk to McDermott. He could threaten him there without showing his gun.”
“What do you know about this person they have in custody?”
“Just that he was scammed, has two sons in school, and shot McDermott.”
“It might be enlightening to find out a little about him.”
“I’ve been waiting for it to be on the news and for them to give his name.”
Baynes was quiet for a moment.
“You know, Charlie, if you really want to contribute to solving this case, you’re going to have to do more than think about it and talk to the likes of me. You need to get out there and do some sleuthing. I think I can help. A former student of mine works for the Kingsford Times-Standard. He started out in their information-technology department, but that was years ago. He’s now some sort of assistant manager or editor. I think if you talked with him, after I give him a call, he might know who the police have in custody and then you can try to learn something about him. What do you think?”
“I’m game. I imagine reporters at the paper have connections with the police.”
“Oh, for sure. My former student’s name is Trevor Albright. I’ll give him a call and tell him you’ll contact him. I don’t have his phone on me, but I’ll email it to you.”
“Richard, you’ve been a great help and it looks like you’re going to outdo yourself. Send me Albright’s number.”
“I will, but you have to promise to fill me in on whatever you learn.”
“Absolutely.”
Back in his office Charlie worked on his paper until interrupted by a student with questions about the seminar. It was a little after four when he got a chance to check his email and found Albright’s number. Charlie called Albright only to get an uncooperative secretary. She was more helpful when he explained he was calling at Baynes’ suggestion.
“Trevor Albright.”
Charlie explained about Baynes’ suggestion and how he was helping the police. Charlie then asked Albright if they could meet for a drink that evening or perhaps the next day.
“Can’t today; what about a quick lunch tomorrow?”
“That’d be fine. Can you make
it to the university Club?”
“I’d like to, but I haven’t the time. There’s a bar-restaurant, Dixie’s, just next door to our building. I could meet you there at one-thirty, if that’s not too late for you.”
“I’ll see you then.”
“Good; I’ll be in the booth to the right of the entrance.”
By five o’clock Charlie decided he wouldn’t hear from DeVries and went home. Over dinner Charlie told Kate about DeVries’ reaction to his call, his talk with Baynes, and his appointment with Albright. Dinner over, Kate and Charlie both read for a while. By ten o’clock it was clear DeVries wouldn’t be calling that night and Charlie went to watch television while Kate continued with her book.
Much to his surprise, the phone rang at ten-thirty.
“Charlie, sorry to call so late but I need to check something with you. Guy and I spent some time rechecking both our suspect’s house and McDermott’s apartment. I’m on my way home now, but since we found nothing, I wanted to confirm your source of the information about McDermott’s computer.”
“One source was Mason Blake, one of the honchos in ITS, who told me about McDermott’s calloused fingertips and likely hacking prowess. He also told me about the portable hard-drive. The other source was Barbara Kline, a woman student McDermott was interested in. I’ve no reservations about either one.”
“Well, the guy in custody claims McDermott wasn’t carrying anything when they had their confrontation in the alley. Incidentally, he’s now claiming he pulled a gun on McDermott to scare him and then things went all wrong. That smells of his lawyer’s advice. But we searched his house thoroughly and found no computer other than his desktop. The laptop we found only had course stuff on its drive plus some addresses and the usual innocuous internet stuff. We spoke with some of the servers at the bistro and they all said McDermott always had a computer with him, though not two, but our suspect wouldn’t budge.”
“McDermott would hardly lose his computer just walking out of the bistro or leave it behind.”
“I agree. The thing is, aside from your information that McDermott had another laptop, it’s clear to me, to Guy, and to our techies that he wasn’t using the one we found for anything to do with a scam. If we accepted that we’ve got McDermott’s only computer, we’d have to forget about him being involved with Kelsey in a scam except for those files we found on the hard-drive he hid in his doorway. The missing laptop is crucial. It seems you’ve worked your way back into the case. The question is whether there’s anything you can think of that might help us find the other laptop.”
“I still think there was a third party, and it’s looking more and more like I’m right. Let me think about it and talk it over with Kate. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
DeVries agreed and they both hung up. Charlie hadn’t wanted to tell her about his appointment with Albright until he had something worthwhile.
Chapter 19
The Fourth Wednesday
As he often did on Wednesdays, Charlie got a leisurely start and wasn’t in his office until after nine. He worked on his paper for a while and then started thinking about his meeting with Albright. He had to ask the right questions. If Albright was now some sort of manager or editor, he wouldn’t be personally involved in ongoing news stories. Charlie should get the name of a reporter who had day-to-day contact with the police and who might even be following the McDermott case. It was, after all, a murder committed on a public street and hence had to be on someone’s radar at the Times-Standard. One-thirty was late, though, and Charlie thought about going to the Club for a sandwich at noon.
Noon came and went and Charlie decided to skip the Club and get to Dixie’s early. There was always the question of parking and if the place was that close to the Times-Standard building, he’d no doubt end up having to walk several blocks.
Charlie left the university at twelve-forty-five and got lucky. He found a parking place only a block from the bar-restaurant. When he entered, he saw that despite being busy, a booth for two just to the right of the door was empty. He quickly sat down. Not two minutes later a server came by and pointed to the Reserved sign on the table. Charlie explained he was meeting Albright there. The server explained they always kept that booth for Albright and asked if he’d like a drink or coffee while he waited. Charlie ordered coffee and told the server to make sure to give him the check.
Albright showed up at one-thirty-five and he had another man with him. He sat down opposite Charlie while the other man stood by. Charlie was just introducing himself when the same server came to the booth with a chair for the man to sit at the end of the table. Albright then introduced him.
“Charlie, if I may, this is Chuck Dingwall, one of the Times-Standard’s best reporters. Chuck, Professor Douglas.”
Charlie and Dingwall shook hands and Albright waved over the server.
“Doreen, as usual I’m in a hurry. Just bring me the usual.”
The server gave Charlie and Dingwall menus and went off. Charlie was still checking out his options when she was back with a Reuben sandwich and a martini, both of which she put in front of Albright. Dingwall was also looking at the menu but put it down and told the server he’d have what Albright was having. Charlie said he would, too.
“Now, Charlie, you’ve an interest in the McDermott case. Can you expand a bit?”
Albright got this out around a large mouthful of Reuben and Charlie went into his well-rehearsed story about helping the police. He added that DeVries couldn’t tell him who they had in custody and Charlie couldn’t think what to do next without knowing.
Albright took a good swallow of his martini and gestured to Dingwall. Just then the server was back with Reubens and martinis for Charlie and Dingwall, so there was silence until she left.
“Yeah, Trevor told me about your interest. I’ve been following the case. The cops aren’t really hiding anything, but they’re not volunteering anything either. Here’s what I know: the guy they arrested is one Stephen Giacomo. He’s forty-eight, has two sons in university, and a too-big house on Elsinore. His wife died about three years ago. He got a substantial insurance payment, but most of it went to the mortgage and the sons’ expenses. He’s paying the way for both sons at a university in London. Trying to get ahead of the debt and costs, he gambled what he had on an IPO that actually did very well, but he lost it all when his account was hacked and the IPO stock was sold out from under him before he could cash in.”
“Do you know anything about how he found out about McDermott?”
“That’s the big mystery. He got an email that was traced to some internet café but no further. No hard details where he got the gun; claims he got it years ago.”
“Have you talked with him?”
“No. I shouted a couple of questions at him when I was in the station where he was being interviewed but got nothing.”
At that point Albright got up, apologized for rushing, shook Charlie’s hand, and said he’d leave them to it. Albright was out the door in seconds and either assumed Charlie would get the check or had some arrangement with Dixie’s. Dingwall immediately left his chair and sat where Albright had been, all the while raising his martini glass to attract the server’s attention. She was quickly at the booth, took the chair to carry it away, and asked Charlie if he wanted another martini. Since he’d barely touched his first, Charlie shook his head and she was gone.
“So that’s all you know?”
“Well, there’s a bit more, but you have to understand this is my own educated guess. I think something’s going on.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t see how Giacomo can possibly afford his lawyer. The guy’s got a first-rate rep as a defense lawyer and charges accordingly. Giacomo is flat broke and now that he’s in jail, he’s got no employment income. Add to that the sons still being in London with all the costs that entails. How’s he pulling it off?”
“Could the lawyer be working pro bono?”
“No way. He’s do
ne that, but only with really high-profile cases that get him more attention than he could buy.”
“Who is this lawyer?”
“Marcus Leighton. I’ve heard he charges seven hundred an hour. He likely makes special arrangements for murder cases, which involve hundreds of hours, but even so there is just no way Giacomo could swing it.”
“What if Giacomo pleaded guilty, say to manslaughter, and there was no trial?”
“That would save him a fortune, but Leighton would still charge serious money to set things up, attend the hearing, and maybe wheedle a lesser charge.”
“Do you think there’s any chance I might talk to Giacomo?”
“If you’re not family the chances are nil until he’s moved to the pen. He’s still in a cell in the police station while he’s processed, so no access.”
Dingwall finished his martini and glanced at his watch, prompting Charlie to thank him. Dingwall thanked him for lunch, making it clear that the tab for Albright and Dingwall was on Charlie, and left after taking one of Charlie’s cards. Charlie wasn’t keen on the too-dry martini, took another sip, finished his coffee, and asked for the check.
Back in his office Charlie started in on the social media to get something on Giacomo. He found nothing on Facebook or Twitter but found Giacomo on LinkedIn. His profile listed him as presently working as a dispatcher for a trucking firm, though he clearly was no longer there or at least was on leave. There wasn’t much else; the main thing being reference to his successful previous employment at Kingsford’s largest cab company, also as a dispatcher. Some contacts were listed. The names meant nothing to Charlie but he dutifully listed them just in case.
That evening Charlie took Kate to dinner at the Casa Santini, a restaurant that was making every effort to replace Sandoval’s and largely succeeding. They both had rabbit cacciatore and a very nice chianti. Charlie related his late-lunch conversation and asked Kate if anything struck her.
“If you did talk to this Giacomo, what would you be looking for?”