Dead Man Code: A Jarvis Mann Detective Novel

by R Weir

  April laughed. “I wish I could go with you.”

  “Oh, you wouldn’t have any fun. All work for this boy.”

  No need to explain to April that it wouldn’t be all work, since Lyndi planned on boffing my brains out shortly after I arrived, as part of the deal for giving me her ex-husband’s plans. Sometimes work required me to go the extra mile. In this case the mile would be up and down a beautiful woman’s body.

  “Neil, don’t you have a cop friend in Vegas?” said April, after going back into the living area.

  “I do. Why?”

  “Jarvis is heading there on a lead for his case. Figured it wouldn’t hurt to have a friend in high places in case of trouble.”

  “Do you plan on getting in trouble, Jarvis?” Neil asked.

  “Not if I can avoid it. But with all going on I may need to up the pressure, which may require physical persuasion.”

  “Let me send you his contact info. If I can figure out how on this nightmare of a phone.”

  He struggled with it for a few minutes before Mandy took it from him and did what he couldn’t do in five seconds and then handed him back his phone. I think I saw her lips whisper “amateurs” before going back to her computer.

  “He is a good guy. Owes me a couple of favors. So be sure to mention my name.”

  It was getting late, so I said my goodbyes and got a short kiss from April. Once at home I crashed, with gun handy. It wasn’t the best night of sleep I ever had, but at least it was in my own bed, senses tuned to any possible trouble coming my way.

  Chapter 49

  I was slowly waking up when I heard pounding on my door. The last time, it was April’s brothers coming to roust me. I wondered if it was some of King’s family coming for paybacks. I put on some pants, with gun in hand, and saw who it was. I let Mallard in, cardboard coffee container in his hand, noticeable sweat on his brow, from another hot August day, even though it was only around nine.

  “How can you drink that hot shit in this weather?” I asked.

  “Need the caffeine to get me moving.”

  “Don’t they have iced coffees too?”

  “I hate that crap. If I want cold I’ll drink a soda. Mind if I sit?”

  I pointed to my kitchen chairs, where he sat down. I put my gun on the kitchen counter and grabbed some juice from my nearly empty fridge. I needed to grocery shop, but as usual there hadn’t been any time.

  “Expecting trouble?” Mallard said, while motioning to my gun.

  “Seems like a daily occurrence in my life. Coming at me from all sides. Hopefully you aren’t here to add to my burden.”

  “No, not this time. Came to let you know King is still hanging in there. Though he is critical. Bullet did a lot of damage.”

  “I hope he pulls through.”

  “Did you know he had a wife? Well, ex-wife and a son.”

  “No, I didn’t. I knew very little about him. He was more a thorn in my side. Only working together because circumstances dictated it.”

  “Been divorced for over ten years. Kid is thirteen. Both of them are there at the hospital. Even though they weren’t married anymore, it sounded like they were friendly.”

  “How old is he?”

  “I think a couple years older than you. Forty, if I recall correctly.”

  “A shame. But I’m sure you are not here to give me a medical report and rundown on his life.”

  Mallard took a long sip on his coffee. He continued to look down at the table.

  “Went to a reunion yesterday. Saw some family members I haven’t seen in years. Had a great time and got some perspective being away from work. After I got home I was thinking about all the crap I go through at work. The political bullshit that keeps me from doing my job. The actual work is great. I love being a detective and solving cases, when I can actually solve them. Time in the field is taken away from me when my captain calls me in the office and says ‘put the screws to that PI or else.’ I wish I was in the position to tell him to fuck off, but I can’t.”

  In a roundabout way it appeared Mallard was trying to apologize about having me booked on withholding evidence. I could have been an ass and thumped my chest, saying, I told you so. But no need to rub it in.

  “Anything new on the King shooting?” I said, changing the subject.

  “It appears the shooter did get hit. Some of the blood on the scene wasn’t King’s. The tech team said it was only a small amount. So, likely superficial. He got off one round. Probably kept the assailant from chasing after your client, though.”

  “So if there is blood, then you have DNA.”

  “Yes. But only if they are in the system, will it turn up.”

  “What about other physical evidence?”

  “King’s hand had some bruising. May have gotten off a punch or two. Some hair but don’t know whose it is.”

  “Anyone else in the neighborhood see anything?”

  “A couple of cars. One appears to have been the one Lok was in. One nosy neighbor saw the car and was keeping an eye on it. Says, though, it drove away after King and your client left to go shopping. The other was your basic silver mid-size sedan. Local plates, but no number. Same nosy neighbor saw it drive by a couple of times. Didn’t see it when the shooting happened. But could have been parked in the alley for all we know.”

  “How did they get into the house?”

  “No signs of forced entry. Either a door was left unlocked or they picked it.”

  “I doubt King would have been that sloppy. If it was picked that speaks to someone with skills.”

  “I agree. Of course that doesn’t narrow it down much.”

  “No, but likely a pro of some kind. I’ve been running into quite a few of them so far, for a simple murder case.”

  “Not simple anymore. Two dead and one near death. It’s time to figure out who it is. I don’t care what you know anymore and don’t tell me. I just want them caught. Do what you have to do. I won’t be a pain in the ass, no matter what the captain says.”

  He stood up and finished the rest of his coffee, tossing it in my trash. From his pocket he pulled out my license and gun they confiscated when arresting me and placed them on the table.

  “The charges have been dropped,” he said. “All the paperwork has been misplaced.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Should have never let it go that far, no matter what my captain said.”

  He seemed sincere, so I thought I’d throw him a bone. Whether it would cheer him up any, was the question.

  “King saw what happened at Wilmar Boylan’s murder,” I said. “At least he witnessed some of it. He was following Cong and Lok and saw them drop off someone. He couldn’t tell who it was, but decided to follow them into the building. He heard the shots but didn’t get a good look at the assailant. He was broad in size and tall. That was all he could tell.”

  Mallard turned around. “Why was he following Cong and Lok?”

  “Tony Bristol hired him to do so. Mostly at the request of my former girlfriend, who was worried.”

  “The brother of Don who showed up to bail them out?”

  “Yes. He was also making sure his brother wasn’t into something risky. Though he’d never admit it. That is what I sensed after talking with him.”

  “A tangled web you have gotten yourself into.”

  “It gets stranger. Don served papers on my client. A Cease and Desist order. Seemed she signed some document saying she wouldn’t hold WANN at fault for her husband’s death, in exchange for money.”

  “How much?”

  “A lot. Five hundred thousand. Though she said that is not what she was told she was signing. Though didn’t get a lawyer to go through it first. They said it was a short one-time offer if she didn’t sign immediately. Barry, my lawyer, is working on it right now.”

  “So if they served her, why try to kill her now?”

  “Because she isn’t going to stop, no matter what. She wants to know who the killers are and doesn�
��t care. I think they know that and are desperate.”

  “Or someone unconnected to WANN is involved,” said Mallard.

  “Possibly. Everything so far points to them. In time I’ll know for certain,”

  “We are working on it too. If you have anything else, let me know. If they are truly involved I’d like to see her bring them down. These tech companies worry me. They are gathering too much information on all of us.”

  Mallard headed for the door. As he started to leave, I did something I’d never done before and called him by his first name.

  “Stu. Something happened at the family reunion,” I said. “Something that seems to have shaken you. It is none of my business, but…”

  With the door open, he turned and looked at me, sadness in his eyes.

  “Found out my cousin has terminal pancreatic cancer,” he said, solemnly. “Probably only has a few months to live, but he was there, enjoying the day and saying his goodbyes. He was like a brother to me at times. The news sent me for a loop. Made me evaluate things.”

  I said I was sorry and he was gone. Our mortality often brings us back to reality. It had happened to me many times as well. A couple hours later it hit me again, when the call came that Adam King had passed away from his wounds. One more ghostly spirit to haunt my days and nights.

  Chapter 50

  I had pulled myself back to the business at hand, and got reservations set for Vegas. I would arrive Wednesday afternoon, the couple of Mr. and Mrs. Mann sharing a nice deluxe room with king bed, walk-in shower and separate jetted tub for two. It felt odd when I made the arrangements and even odder when I called Lyndi back, letting her know the plan. She would be there Wednesday afternoon as well. Which would give me the evening and night with her, and I could sleep in until noon when Logan arrived. That is, if she let me sleep.

  Checking in with April, all was quiet. She said Mandy was working away but still hadn’t hacked in. She was determined, though, and never wavered that she could accomplish the task. I mentioned I might stop by for dinner later, but had an errand to run. After hanging up, I called to try and talk with Tony Bristol, but he was on the phone. I left a message and about thirty minutes later he called me back.

  “I assume you are calling about Adam King,” he said. “So sorry to hear. He did a lot of good work for us through the years.”

  “His time working, the pay you owe him. I want it put in a trust for his son. He is thirteen.”

  “Silly me, I didn’t know he was married and had a family.”

  “Not married anymore but still has a kid. Set it up, please. If you feel it in your heart, add a little extra. Be good money for the kid to have for college someday.”

  “Do you know the name?”

  “No. But I’m sure you can get it, being a resourceful person.”

  “Melissa can dig it up for me. Anything else?”

  “Lok was waiting outside that morning watching the house. I don’t think he did the killing because he doesn’t use a gun, but he may know who did. Just like he may know who killed Wilmar Boylan, the computer hacker.”

  “So you are warning me again about Don. I told you whose side I’d be on in this.”

  “Yes, your brother. I was on my brother’s side as well. But I also sided with his wife and daughter, who nearly were killed because of what he was into. Keep that in mind.”

  The line went eerily silent. I hated dead air when talking on the phone.

  “Were you also aware he sent a Cease and Desist order to my client, telling her to stop pursuing WANN in her husband’s murder, or they were going to sue her?”

  “No, I didn’t. Though I’m sure if he has legal grounds to do it, that is alright with me.”

  “Tony, they killed or had her husband killed. Then her business partner, and now King. Hell, I didn’t like the guy, but I never wanted him to die on the job, a job I put him on. Enough of this legal mumble-jumble shit. Tell him to back away from this mess or he is going to go down too. That is my final warning to him and you. Be sure to pass it on. And don’t forget the additional favor I did for you. As far as I’m concerned, you owe me now.”

  I hung up the call feeling better, getting it all off my chest. With little to eat in the house, I decided to do some grocery shopping and came back with three bags of food to tide me over for a while. After making some lunch I got a call from Bill down at the Denver Police Station.

  “Mallard wanted me to pass on that they brought in Cong and Lok,” he said. “They spoke very little and denied even being anywhere near your client’s house. Don Bristol showed up shortly after and walked out with them, when they couldn’t press charges.”

  “No surprise. Do you know what Mallard is doing next?”

  “I think he is planning on making a trip to the WANN office in the Tech Center. We’ll see how far he gets, but he is determined to get somewhere with them. Somebody has to know something.”

  “Thanks, Bill, that gave me an idea.”

  I hung up and went looking through my phone for a name. Mitchell Crabtree had headed out of town after his vintage Corvette was torched by the Platov boys. I did have his cell number and gave it a ring. He answered quickly.

  “Jarvis,” he said. “What do you want?”

  “Mitchell, I hope you are enjoying your vacation.”

  “It would have been better if we’d left on our own terms. Have things died down?”

  “The Platov boys are being detained. So you shouldn’t have any worries about them. Though there are others now involved. Probably best you stay away for now. But something came to mind and I wondered if you could answer me one question.”

  “Ask and I’ll decide.”

  “On the night Aaron was killed, did you have anyone from your main office in town that you were aware of?”

  There was a long lull, with only the crackling sound of the cell reception.

  “Why do you ask?”

  “Something is telling me it was someone at the home office that was engaged. Possibly even sent someone to take care of Aaron. Just looking at it from all angles.”

  “Well, WANN’s corporate head of security had been there the day before.”

  “Kyle Lambert?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you know much about him?”

  “Not really. Ex-military, I believe. Though that was true of a lot of us. WANN liked people with that type of experience on the security team.”

  “Anyone else?”

  “Logan Albers had been there a few days earlier. Mostly to press the flesh.”

  “Any ideas if he met with Aaron Bailey?”

  “Sorry, can’t help you there. If they did I wasn’t aware of it.”

  “Thanks.”

  I then called FBI Agent Price.

  “Do you know anything about Kyle Lambert? He is the head of security for WANN Systems. Apparently ex-military.”

  Price seemed perturbed.

  “Why should I help you anymore?”

  “It might be important to bringing down WANN Systems. Lambert might be the one who killed Aaron Bailey. Or at least orchestrated it.”

  “I could care less about them anymore. I’ve got better things to work on, now that my boss has chewed my ass.”

  “What for?”

  “For imprisoning the Platov brothers on trumped-up charges.”

  “Really, what happened?”

  “That local law firm, Bristol & Bristol, got wind of them being in Florida. Got some other big-shot law team involved and before we could whisk them away, got a Federal judge to delay them shipping out. Right now we still have them, but not much longer. Seems I was using Gitmo for the wrong reasons. Apparently their idea of a terrorist is not mine. So for now, you can do your own dirty work and find this guy on your own.”

  The phone slammed down. I was surprised that Bristol & Bristol had the kind of pull to get them out so quickly. When I told Tony of where they had been sent, I didn’t think he’d be able to get them out. Apparently that was no
t a smart move on my part. If they did get released, would they be coming back to get me? Sometimes I didn’t think things through all that well.

  The afternoon wore on and I began thinking of dinner. Since I told April I might stop by, I decided on some good old KFC chicken for dinner. I hopped in my car and was in the drive-thru when my phone rang again and this time it was Mandy. She sounded thrilled.

  “I’m in,” she said.

  With only those words I tossed the bucket on the passenger seat, grabbed a secret recipe drumstick and headed over to April’s, buoyed at what we would find.

  Chapter 51

  August in Las Vegas is hot. I mean, really hot. And today it was 109 degrees when the jet landed at McCarran International Airport. Thankfully I was wearing shorts and a tank top, as the heat hit me when I went outside to get a taxi. The yellow vehicle had the air conditioning running full blast, yet it was still warm inside. The drive to Caesar’s was not far, and I was dropped off at the main entrance, which was busier than most airports. I gathered my bag and luggage, and after paying it was only a short walk to cool air.

  As I marveled at the inside: tall oval ceiling, huge lights, marble floors and water fountain, my phone dinged with a voicemail. I checked and it was from Lyndi. It would seem she wouldn’t be making it to join me after all.

  “Jarvis, its Lyndi. Damn, I’m so disappointed, but I can’t come out there now. My daughter got a case of the early season flu and needs her mother to take care of her. I know, it seems odd, a twenty-year-old needing her mother. But she has always come first and always will, even over my own carnal needs. If something changes, I’ll let you know. So you can do your detecting while I lie in my bed tonight, naked, fantasizing about what you would be doing to me. Maybe if the mood strikes me I’ll send you a couple of pictures for you to ogle over. Take care.”

  Darn. No joy before having to go to work. So I now had a day to get the lay of the land, instead of getting laid. And I probably would need it, as Caesar’s Palace was the size of a small city. It was huge, with the gross national product of some third world countries being spent daily inside the borders of the complex. It would probably take me a day just to walk the entire span of the facility. If I wanted to spend the money I could take in a show and see one of the many stars who perform there daily. But for now I wanted to get to my room and relax. Which is what I did, using the express kiosk check-in, and then taking the long trek to the Palace Tower where my room was located.