FIRST STEP MURDER

by H. R. Whidden

  “We’ll I’m honored Ms. Lewis, my father has told me all about you.”

  “That sounds like a young man that works for his father,” Harper said.

  “It’s true my father is chief administrator of all the Arlington Hospitals but this is my decision on who we hire for the construction, and I have the authorization to sign the contracts, so your time won’t be wasted.”

  “This is Jason’s job and he’s very good at it, I’m just along for the free lunch.”

  She ordered grilled chicken, Jason and Laurence ordered steaks, Jason talked and went over some changes in the hospital blue prints that had to be made and Harper was impressed by his knowledge of technical requirements. Laurence only halfway paid attention he kept looking at Harper and smiling. Jason gave his pitch stating the Lewis company reputation for getting jobs done on time and within budget, then sighted recent jobs Laurence had examined as examples.

  “I like everything I hear and to be totally honest my father said I’d be crazy to choose anyone else for the simple fact job completion on time is very important to us. I am very compelled to ask Harper some questions though.”

  “I don’t mind answering any of your questions Mr. Strickland but I can’t guarantee you will like my answers, or that you won’t be offended.”

  “Did you really kill your husband, and business partner?”

  “I did, I stabbed him in the crotch and he bleed out on the upstairs floor of my home. I was actually aiming for something else but cut the femoral artery, just the same I’m glad he’s dead. And for your information I couldn’t get the blood completely out of the wood floors and had to replace them.”

  “Jason I guess failure has a whole new meaning for you as an employee I’m sure,” Laurence said as he smiled.”

  “Oh that’s not all,” Harper said. “I killed a man no more than six weeks ago outside a bar in the inner harbor area of Boston. Of course he was trying to kill me, I kicked him and he fell on his back and a piece of rebar went through his chest. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

  “Well I was also told you could cuss like a sailor and often insulted those you did business with, but I have to say I’m visualizing myself being sexually dominated by you.”

  Jason shook his head and comically put his hands over his ears expecting Harper to give him exactly what he wanted.

  “Well we can’t have you leaving disappointed, I wouldn’t waist my fucking time on a skinny piece of shit like you, I doubt you have the balls to truly give me pleasure, I’d as soon be fucked by a goat than a slimy bastard like you. I’d kick your fucking ass right now if not that I think you’d get off on yourself.”

  Jason’s face was red, and he started to put the contracts back in his brief case.

  “No, no, no, I got just what I asked for,” Laurence said. “I’ll be glad to sign. Just think of the story I have to tell at my next gala, I’ll be the talk of the room.”

  Harper got up and left, it had only made her angry and was near taking her frustrations out on the hospital regional superintendent. Jason got to the car five minutes after her.

  “Damn Harper,” Jason said as they drove back to the office. “Please tell me you won’t be going with me again. I think I’m gonna have nightmares. Did you really do those things, I mean the guy down in the inner harbor?”

  “Yes, I did, but I’m not proud of it, I can still see him squirming around with that piece of rebar sticking out of his chest before he died.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  “Hello Faxon Bennett investigations. (pause) Hello Barbie, I’m fine, how are you? (pause) Harper went home for a while is all. Looking for her mother and father’s killer became a little overwhelming. (pause) I don’t think that would be a good idea. (pause) Yes if I need someone to talk to I’ll call you. (pause) Yes Landau offered one of his older daughters. (pause) Yes they’re very pretty, (pause) yes and rich, (pause) no I’m not stupid just in love. (pause) Ok, thanks for calling.”

  Faxon fell back on the couch and finished the beer he was drinking, and his phone rang again.

  “Hello Faxon Bennett Investigations. (pause) Hello Shira it’s good to hear from you again. (pause) Yes I did help Anya get her money back. (pause) Ok, Landau’s money back. (pause) Yes I think he stayed the night. I left so I don’t know what their sleeping arrangements were. (pause) No I haven’t talked to her in several weeks. (thanks) Thanks, I miss her. (pause) A party at your house, I really don’t feel like a party Shira but thanks for asking, and thanks for the referrals. (pause) Yah, we’ll talk again soon, bye.”

  “Crap, I’m going to need a lot more beer.” His phone rang again.

  “Faxon Bennett Investigations,” he said.

  “Faxon, its Alexis Wellington.”

  “Mrs. Wellington what a pleasant surprise, nothing’s wrong with Mr. Wellington is there?”

  “My no the old goat is still stubborn as ever. We went to the New England horse show last week. I just wanted to call and tell you we saw Harper.”

  Faxon sat up on the couch, his heart was suddenly beating faster. “How is she?”

  “She took a first in the jumping event it was a marvelous display, I don’t think anyone there will soon forget. She charged the fences as if she was angry, Harper’s lost weight noticeably its plan to see she’s not happy Faxon. We got the chance to sit in her trailer and I all but scolded her. However she is very stubborn and insist you ruined her chance to find out the identity of the man that ordered her parents deaths. With that said Faxon how is your search coming with the four men?”

  “I have the best man on the east coast searching for them, no one can hide from technology, and I’ll find them.”

  “Well that might solve both of your problems, if there’s anything I can do to relay a message to Harper I may be one of the only people she’ll listen to. I really won’t be happy until the two of you are together again.”

  “Thank you Mrs. Wellington, you made me feel a little better today. I love her you know.”

  “She said the same Faxon, she loves you too.”

  Faxon went to the small table in the kitchen where his laptop was and got another beer before searching u-tube videos of the New England horse show event. There were several posted all with their own comments of the event. Most were family members capturing video of their own horses or a family member riding. But there were several of the last rider of the day, and plenty of comments from the posters, all negative.

  Harper looked angry from what Faxon could see at the distance where the people stood recording her. She didn’t take any assistance getting on Neck Rider like the others did. The tall horse stamped his feet and his ears were laid back, he threw his head back and down anxious to go. Harper reached down and patted his neck and then they turned in a circle and charged the first fence clearing it easily. She seem to attack the course not caring if she faulted or not only that she push her horse around the course like she had something to prove. In the end it was a flawless ride and the applause from the crowd was deafening on the recording.

  Faxon watched several other postings of the final ride and found one that was close in the end as Harper received her prize, it was then Faxon noticed the obvious weight loss. He shut the laptop and got another beer and drank it down. He drank two more beers before going to the bar and sitting in his normal spot, a stool at the end. William set a beer in front of him then noticed he was nearly drunk.

  “Have you had anything to eat?”

  “No, I was just watching some u-tube videos of the New England horse show, Harper took a first place. She can’t even have the decency to lose so I can feel she’s upset about our breakup.”

  “You know that’s not the way she is. I bet she gave them one hell of a show. I’d hate to be the guy that tries to push her around right now,” William said. “You want something to eat?”

  “No, thanks,” Faxon said.

  As he sat there and finished another beer the three upstairs waitresses would come by and rub hi
s back, or kiss his cheek, and try to cheer him up. William refused to give him another beer. Faxon got up off the stool and fell on the floor. William and one of the girls help get him to his small apartment and left him comfortably lying on his old couch. Lyn found a light blanket in the bedroom and covered him.

  The next morning his head pounded and it was all he could do to get up and take four aspirin and drink a large glass of water and lay back down. It was 11:00am when his cell phone rang, he got up and answered just before it stopped, he didn’t answer in his usual way.

  “Hello,” he said in a very low voice.

  “Faxon, its Lew. I’ve got some information for you.”

  “You’ve got something on those four names I gave you to track down?”

  “Only on one, Armand Verger, he’s working as a security specialist for the Chinese government. He’s suspected of technical espionage here in the US. He’s a really bad guy but he’s been in Beijing so he couldn’t be our man. If he ever steps foot in the US again he’ll be arrested.”

  “What about the other three scumbags, one of these guys has got to be our man.”

  “I’ll run’ em down Faxon but it takes time. That’s not why I called. I found Linda Walker and her two daughters Katie and Mindy.”

  “That’s the wife of Jessie Walker. I’ve forgotten I asked you to look for her. Jessie Walker was the ex-Marine that caused the head on crash with Clayton Lewis and his wife right?”

  “Ya, she’s living in a middle class neighborhood outside of Philadelphia, she’s getting some government assistance but someone’s helping her. She’s got one daughter in middle school and the younger girl is in elementary school. That’s all I could find out Faxon.

  “This is good Lew. I’ll bet she knows our guy, send me the address on my phone.”

  Faxon began to make a plan. He needed her to give him the man’s name that had convinced her alcoholic, drug addicted, husband to kill Harper’s parents, this could be what he needed to get Harper to forgive him. He thought about bribing her, but that might not work this guy was probably taking care of her. Maybe if he just met her and pretended to be interested she may tell him about the guy helping her. Maybe the older daughter might tell him under the right circumstances. One thing was for sure he had to get to Philadelphia.

  He packed a bag and snuck out the back avoiding any questions about where he was going. Faxon had called for a cab and it waited in the ally, he got in the back and they drove off to the airport.

  It was a short flight and he rented a minivan at the airport when he landed and instead of finding a hotel he drove until he found the neighborhood, street, and house number of where Linda Walker was living. There were two girl’s bicycles leaning against the side of the house and a year old car in the driveway. The garage door was open and he could see some boxes stacked against the wall and that was all.

  Two girls walked down the street away from the house, they both looked to be about twelve or thirteen years old, he saw them go to another house down the block and across the street. After a few minutes a younger girl about ten came out of the garage and she got on the smaller of the bicycles and rode down the sidewalk toward him. She looked at him and ran off the sidewalk and into a light pole, fell down, and skinned her knee. She began to cry after she looked at her knee and Faxon jumped out and went to help her.

  “What’s your name sweetheart?”

  “Mindy,” she cried.

  “Well it’s not bad, shake it off tough girls like you shouldn’t cry over a little skinned knee.”

  She sniffed a couple of times and stopped crying, proud that this stranger thought she was special.

  “I’ve never seen you on our street before,” she said. “You think I’m a tough? I can run faster than anyone in my class at play time. What’s your name?”

  “I think you’re pretty tough, you took that spill pretty good. My names Faxon, you want me to see you home?”

  “Yea sure, you can meet my mom, Faxon, that’s a funny name.”

  Faxon walked with the small girl down the sidewalk, he rolled the small bicycle along with one hand. Up into the garage he leaned the bicycle against the wall and the little girl limped over to the door, opened it, and yelled.

  “Mommy, I hurt myself.”

  Linda came running to the garage door she was barefoot and wore jeans with stylish holes in the knees, and a white V-neck t-shirt. Faxon could see the laundry room was just inside. She fell to her knees and held the small girls leg, she didn’t see Faxon standing over to the side. She was an attractive woman a little younger than he was. If she had gone through hard times the effects were no longer obvious. She had long legs and narrow hips and a small waist but certainly not skinny or underweight. She had a great figure, her hair was brown, very long, wavy, and it had a healthy shine. Her eyes were large and brown she had high cheek bones and her mouth seemed a little large it reminded him of an old picture of Carly Simon, pouty lips and all.

  “Mindy what did you do sweetie?”

  “I fell off my bicycle, but I’m tough Mom, I didn’t cry, much. My friend Faxon helped me.”

  Linda just noticed him standing in the garage. “Oh, I’m sorry I don’t think I know you sir.”

  “My names Faxon Bennett, ma’am, I didn’t mean to startle you, your daughter was riding her bicycle and fell, I’m afraid I was the cause of the accident. I was sitting in my car and when she looked over at me, well she fell.”

  “I’d hardly call that your fault Mr. Bennett.”

  “Well I just wanted to explain to you and your husband.”

  “My father died in a car accident,” Mindy blurted out.

  “Mr. Bennett doesn’t need to know that sweetheart, here let me get something to wipe that knee and I’ll get a bandage. By the way my names Linda Walker and I see you’ve met my younger daughter Mindy. You weren’t looking for our house were you?”

  “Well not exactly, I was looking for a house, a rental house I was supposed to meet someone, a furnished rental house, and I was depending on that for my place to stay tonight, were you expecting someone?”

  “It’s not important,” Linda said. She wiped Mindy’s knee and put on some antiseptic and a band aid. Mindy gritted her teeth but didn’t cry.

  “That’s good Mindy you didn’t cry, where did you get this I’m tough thing you said?”

  “From Faxon Mom, he told me to shake it off big girls like me are tough.”

  “I think sometimes a little positive self-confidence is important in a kids life especially girls. But if I’ve overstepped myself I apologize.”

  “I think you could be right, I’m afraid I baby her a little too much. You’re welcome to come in I could offer you a cup of coffee. You said you were looking for a rental house maybe I could help. I know most of the homes in the neighborhood.”

  “Mom, what’s for dinner,” Mindy asked?

  “Soup dear,” Linda said to her daughter. Faxon noticed the look on the little girls face.

  “Not again Mom,” the little girl said. “You said when we moved here things would be different.”

  “Not in front of our guest Mindy. We get some assistance and it’s overdue, that’s why I asked if you were looking for the house. The man that helps support us sometimes sends one of his employees, I haven’t been able to contact him, but that’s nothing I should be telling you.”

  “It’s ok, Mindy’s made me feel like part of the family,” Faxon said. “I tell you what why don’t you let me take you and your daughters out for dinner tonight, we’ll call it payment for helping me find a place to stay tomorrow, and maybe you could suggest a hotel nearby.”

  “Say yes Mom please,” Mindy begged.

  “Well Mr. Bennett that is very nice of you but I do have another daughter, maybe that would be taking advantage of your generosity,” Linda said. “Katie’s over at Cindy’s house, Mindy why don’t you go get her we don’t want to keep Mr. Bennett waiting he’s probably hungry.”

  Mindy ran for th
e garage door. “Me too,” she said.

  “She has quite the personality that one does,” Faxon said as they stood in the kitchen. “I know you don’t really know me or anything but I can assure you I’m not a pervert or anything.” Faxon pulled out his wallet and removed his driver’s license. “Here’s my driver’s license, and my voters registration card, my old Boy Scout ID, my gun permit, and my PI license, so you can see I’m associated with the Boston Police Department, which usually impresses the ladies.”

  Linda looked through the cards smiling. “It’s you registered as a republican that disturbs me the most.” They both laughed. “You’re just full of surprises Mr. Bennett. Who are the older couple in that picture?”

  “I’ll tell but you have to promise to call me Faxon. That’s my mom and dad, they live in Palm Beach, their retired, and I haven’t seen them in two years.”

  Mindy and Katie ran into the house. “Mom you can’t be serious, we don’t even know this guy he could be a damn rapist or serial killer or something.”

  “Shut up Katie,” Mindy said. “He’s my friend, Mom Katie said damn.”

  Katie was thirteen going on sixteen definitely a product of the hard life growing up with a drug addicted, alcoholic father living in public housing.

  “Here look Faxon’s been showing me his ID and family pictures. He’s a private detective too and has worked with the Boston Police Department.”

  “He has a gun permit,” Katie said as she looked at the ID’s.

  “I don’t have a gun on me, and I only use it when I absolutely need it. I’m also a pretty tough guy, I was military Special Forces.”

  “My father was a marine,” Katie said.

  “Ok that’s enough if we’re going out you both go change,” Linda said.

  “You’re the one that needs to change Mom,” Katie said. “You’re not going out like that you dress like you’re a teenager.”

  Both girls went to their rooms and Linda turned to Faxon. “You’re going to think I’m a little crazy but it’s important I know if you have any tattoos, and I’m going to have to see your right arm and shoulder.”