Her Final Watch (A Detective Blanchette Mystery Book 2)

by Marguerite Ashton

  “I’ll ship you the rest of Julius’s belongings in a couple of days. Bye, Grant.” Lily shut the door.

  Deena hissed, “That horrid man can’t know that you’re pregnant. It will only make your situation more problematic.”

  Another knock at the door.

  Deena gently pushed Lily to the side and opened the door. Grant was still there. “I’m sure you can appreciate our position at this time and why I don’t want you on my doorstep.”

  “Your position be damned. I may be a drunk, but I ain’t stupid. Is Lily going to have a baby?”

  “I’d like you to get off my property or I’ll call the police.”

  “There isn’t a need to be cross lady. I asked a simple question, and since you went all around Robin Hood’s door to avoid answering, I’m going to guess I’m right.”

  “Thanks to your son, my daughter’s life is far from simple.”

  “Mother, I’ve got it,” Lily said, stepping forward.

  Deena stepped away from the door. “What are you doing, Lily?”

  “I’m doing the right thing.” Lily stepped out into the cool air and faced Grant. “Yes. I’m pregnant with your son’s baby, and I’m weighing my options.”

  “What options?”

  “I’ve been thinking about placing the baby up for adoption.”

  “How sure are you?”

  “Eighty percent sure.”

  “The way things are it might be for the best. Although, if Julius was alive, I believe he’d disagree. He’d always wanted a kid. A boy. Not sure why with the way things were during his childhood. But Julius did talk about wanting to have children with you. The more I think about it, I know in my gut he would want you to keep the kid.”

  Deena swung the door open. “Is this your way of using oblique methods to slither your way into Lily’s inheritance, through her child?”

  “I’m the granddaddy. I’ve got rights too.”

  Fury paused in Lily’s throat. She felt as if she was fourteen again and the parents were in control, arguing as to what would be the best for her.

  What right did Grant Willer have to pour on the heavy guilt? None. However, Grant was speaking for his son, which any parent would do and Lily couldn’t fault him for that.

  If Julius were still alive, a jury’s decision and legal precedent could have left Lily with a conundrum of the missing parent, or a complicated adoption procedure.

  The banter between Deena and Grant had subsided. Grant looked at her expectantly.

  Lily wasn’t up for hearing the victim card being played over and over again. “I’m going to tell you the same thing I told my mother. This will be my decision and my decision alone. I’ve got to get to work.”

  Lily hustled across the driveway, leaving Deena and Grant to continuing arguing amongst themselves.

  *

  7:15 a.m.

  Tones of smooth jazz emitted from the speakers as Lily navigated the Dodge Ram along the straight stretch of Highway 26. Light snow flurries trickled down from the sky, adding to the overall bleakness.

  She loved the sights of Wisconsin during the early morning. Even when it snows, it’s still appealing. As Lily came out of a small turn, her phone rang. “This is Blanchette.”

  “It’s Evan. We got several tips after we released the video. I think I’m looking at the Tahoe that hit Diamond. It was abandoned off the new bypass on Highway 89.”

  “Are you in Fort or Jefferson?”

  “Fort, just before the railroad tracks.”

  “I’m on my way.”

  Ten minutes later, Lily rolled her truck to a stop behind the Tahoe. She hopped out and joined Evan, Alec, and a patrol officer.

  Evan said, “You can tell the vehicle needs to be taken to an auto body shop.”

  Lily circled the vehicle. As she came around to the front, she noticed scratches on the plastic bumper molding, a dented license plate and damage to the front tow hook and fog lights.

  She peeked through the windshield. The airbags had been deployed. “This just might be our vehicle. Let’s have it towed and fingerprinted. Hopefully, we find something useful and who it belongs to.”

  About an hour later, Lily, Evan, and Alec arrived at the garage where they followed a forensic technician into the bay area and watched as the tech continued dusting the vehicle for prints. An air compressor thumped rhythmically as an impact wrench whirred in the distance.

  “Can I have a look inside?” Lily asked.

  “Sure,” the tech said. “We did get some prints.”

  Lily gloved up and hoisted herself up into the truck. She scanned the interior of the SUV. “Do we know who the vehicle is registered to?”

  Evan joined Lily in the car on the opposite side, starting a search of his own. “I’m waiting for Jeremiah to call me back. We should hear from him soon.”

  “Sooner the better.”

  Lily stepped down and climbed in the back and searched in between the seats and the checked underneath. “Damn. This car is too clean.” She backed out, went around to the rear bumper and lifted the hatch.

  As Lily laid the rear seats down, she heard a crinkle and raised the seats back up. She ran her fingers along the sides and pulled out a piece of paper. She unfolded it. It was a receipt from a hardware store in Fort. She scanned the list of items purchased.

  Light bulbs, Multi-Printing Paper, Chain Control Collar and AA Batteries.

  Evan came around and stood next to Lily. “The Tahoe belongs to a Dan Ligelli. He’s a financial advisor at Ravenwood Investments.”

  “Okay.” Lily flipped the receipt around for Evan to see. “The purchaser used cash. There’s no way to trace it to him.”

  Evan went to the trunk of his car and retrieved an evidence bag from his kit. “Alec and I will head over to the hardware store and verify if it’s the same type of collar that we found on our victim. I’d also like to see if there’s a video.”

  “Has Jeremiah been released from desk duty?”

  “Just this morning.”

  “Good. Jeremiah and I will go and visit Dan at Ravenwood.”

  *

  The Charger sat idle in front of the two-story cream brick building, home of Ravenwood Investments. Jeremiah braved the cold to smoke while he and Lily waited for information to come back on Dan Ligelli.

  Lily clicked the refresh button on her email; nothing yet.

  Jeremiah stepped back in the car and placed his e-cigarette in the ashtray. “I didn’t start smoking until I became a cop. Trying to quit hasn’t been easy. That’s why I switched to e-cigs. But I keep one cancer stick with me just in case.” He adjusted the vents. “Where’s the heat?”

  Lily pushed the button. Warm air filled the car. “You should be happy you’re no longer on the desk.”

  “Being on the desk is like sitting on tacks. It hurts, and the guys knew I was in trouble. Sarge made it very clear that I messed up.”

  “Did he lecture you?”

  Jeremiah nodded. “Painful.”

  “Sarge served in the military. He’s very strict and takes pride in everything around him, including his officers.”

  Jeremiah turned and looked out the window. “I know I owe you a reason as to why I let Diamond go and why I didn’t show up for our meeting with Gus.”

  “You don’t owe me anything.”

  “I do. I’m ready to talk.”

  Lily’s phone vibrated in her lap. “Hold that thought.” She picked it up, swiped at the screen. It was the email from Evan.

  “I can’t find anything on Mr. Ligelli. But here is a photo I pulled from his profile off his company website.”

  Lily clicked on the attachment. Up popped a middle-aged male dressed in a business suit and tie. “Let’s go pay Mr. Ligelli a visit.”

  Both detectives got out of the car and made their way into the older building. Several small offices sat in sections just behind the secretary’s desk.

  Lily walked up to the counter, produced her badge and eyed the woman behind de
sk. “I need to speak with Dan Ligelli. It’s important.”

  The secretary raised her pencil drawn eyebrows. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Ligelli is in a meeting.”

  “I need you to pull him out of that meeting. We’ve found his vehicle and the situation requires his immediate attention.”

  “I’ll go see if he’s able to leave.” The secretary rose from her chair and walked towards the back of the offices. A few moments later she returned and gestured for Lily and Jeremiah to follow her.

  They fell in line behind the secretary and began a short journey down the wide hallway. Along the way, Lily took in an impressive collection of cigar oil paintings displayed prominently along the walls. As they reached the end of the hall, the secretary stopped abruptly, turned and pointed to the corner office with its door partially ajar. “You can go right in.”

  Lily nodded, tapping lightly and went into the room. Inside, awards and a license to work in the state of Wisconsin as a certified financial planner, along with an ashtray containing an antique cigar cutter rested on the desk.

  The man seated in an executive chair with a wide grin and stubby nose matched the photo sent by Evan.

  Dan Ligelli stood and held out his hand. “I hear you’ve found my truck.”

  A heavy smell of smoke from Dan’s clothes caught Lily’s nose, churning her stomach. Don’t get sick here.

  Lily took out her phone while Jeremiah accepted the handshake. She located the picture of the Tahoe and showed it to Dan. “Is this your vehicle?”

  The investor stared at the photo for a few seconds and looked at Lily. “It looks like mine.”

  “When was the last time you drove it?” Lily asked.

  Dan reached for the cigar cutter and squeezed it in his hand. “Yesterday. Early morning.”

  “Did you drive through Cambridge at all yesterday?”

  “No.”

  Lily clicked off her phone. “Your vehicle was found abandoned on 89 after it was involved in an auto collision and we need your help. Do you know anything about it?”

  “Only what I heard about it on the news,” Dan replied, getting up to close the office door. “But even then I didn’t realize it was my Tahoe. What is all this about?”

  Lily leaned forward and rested her hands on the chair. “A witness to a murder investigation was killed.”

  Jeremiah pulled out a notebook and pencil. “Where were you around eight yesterday morning?”

  “I was in Madison running an errand.”

  “What kind of errand?” Lily asked.

  “I stopped at an ATM.”

  “There’s ATMs in Fort.”

  “My bank is in Madison. I didn’t want to be charged the fees.”

  “What did you do afterward?” Jeremiah asked.

  “I loaned my truck to a friend of mine.”

  “What’s your friend’s name?”

  “Mikey Surace.”

  “Do you know Diamond Reese?”

  “Of course I know Diamond. Did she say something about me?”

  “What was your association with her?”

  “I was on her VIP list at the club.” Dan rounded his desk and sat down. “It would be good if we continue this discussion somewhere else.”

  “How about coming down to the station and talking with us there.”

  “I can come down after I leave the office for the day.”

  “It’s critical that we get your statement. At this moment it looks like you’re the person responsible for Diamond Reese’s death. It would be in your best interest if you made coming down to see us a priority.”

  Dan scanned through the large desk calendar before him. “I can come down during lunch.”

  “We’ll see you there.”

  *

  9:26 a.m.

  Deena held the receiver as she waited for the other line to pick up.

  “Blanchette Realty.”

  “Haley, it’s Deena. How’s my favorite realtor?”

  “Your favorite realtor? I doubt that. You don’t even trust me to negotiate a high priced listing.”

  No, I don’t. But at this point, I’m running out of time. “That’s one of the things I called you about,” Deena replied reclining on her elbow. “Taking on a client who possesses a lot of money is something that one has to be groomed for.”

  She knew that Haley was getting impatient. It wouldn’t be long before she started testing boundaries. This position was the only thing left that might stall her a little while longer.

  Deena said, “You’re a smart woman and you know it’s not something that can be handed to you. You have to prove your mettle in the real estate business. However, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking on the matter. You’ve worked for me for a while, and I’ve watched as you’ve closed deal after deal on the medium priced houses, which is very rare. You’re driven, focused, and I would like to take you under my tutelage.”

  “Are you worried that I’m going to spill our little secret? All I have to do is show Lily the papers.”

  “If you want what’s coming to you, I suggest you stop being a dark cloud on my horizon. I’ve given you plenty since my sister passed away and if you think you’re going to push me into doing something when I don’t want to, you’ve got a lot to learn about me.

  “I will do all that I can to make sure that you’re well provided for, but I demand respect, especially from the younger generation in my family. Are we clear?”

  “What about Lily? You treat her as if she’s some princess. ‘Lily can’t do that yet. Lily’s hurting.’ What about me? I’ve lost important people in my life, too. Twice.”

  “The first thing to learn is that the women in this family are strong women. They don’t whine. You work hard and reap the rewards later. My plan for you is to re-introduce you to the family by inviting you to the New Year’s party I’m throwing for Lily. She wants to be surrounded by her family and friends. Will you be there?”

  “Will you tell Lily everything during the party?”

  “Don’t be silly. I’ll do it after the party. That is a private discussion that should be handled between the three of us, first. Will you be there?”

  “It still seems like it’s all about Lily, but I’ll be there.”

  “Wonderful. You’ll get your formal invitation when I stop by the office this evening to discuss the particulars regarding your position.”

  Deena cradled the receiver on the phone in the living room. She could hear it in Haley’s voice.

  Jealousy.

  Deena stirred the whipped cream into her brown sugar-caramel latte and took a sip.

  Haley didn’t realize that Deena had done everything possible to make sure she remained a part of the family. What more did Haley want? She says one thing but does another.

  If this real estate listing is something that Haley really wants, she’ll have to work for it.

  A list of options circled around in Deena’s head. She had to come up with a plan to intervene, or Haley’s jealousy would continue to fester inside, which would spell disaster if it tapped into Deena’s and Lily’s already weakened relationship.

  Deena felt like an old rope trying to hold together an old bridge and keep it suspended over sharp rocks and rushing rapids. She was rapidly fraying.

  No sir. What little bit of trust Deena had in Haley had ended with that phone call.

  It was time for Deena to pay a visit to the bank.

  *

  9:51 a.m.

  Lily charged through the crowd of reporters as they shoved microphones in her face.

  “Do the police believe Mikey Surace is a suspect in the death of Diamond Reese?”

  The steps leading into the police station were several feet away. Lily hurried toward the stairs. “This is an active investigation, and I have no further comment.”

  She ran up the steps and ducked into the station. When she entered the homicide department, she noticed Jeremiah signaling her from the cubicle.

  As Lily arrived at their desks, Jeremiah
sat down at his computer. “Detective Keys sent over the information from Ariel’s phone records.”

  “Good.” Lily stood behind Jeremiah and looked over his shoulder as he scanned through the report.

  A massive round of deleted texts appeared on Jeremiah’s computer screen.

  Lily pointed to a file. “Click here. Let’s see what pictures were recovered.”

  Jeremiah clicked, revealing photos of Ariel and Dan Ligelli posing for a selfie.

  As they scrolled through more photos, some revealed Ariel and Dan air kissing.

  “I guess Ms. Reese wasn’t his only favorite,” Jeremiah said.

  “That’s old news.”

  “Old news to who?”

  “Sounds like you didn’t read my email. I sent you notes about my hospital interview with Diamond.”

  Evan stepped inside the cubicle, holding a file folder. “I got through Ariel’s letters.”

  Lily nodded. “I need a quick second.” She explained briefly what they were looking at on Jeremiah’s computer. “Can you page down?”

  As Jeremiah flipped through the pictures, Alec joined his colleagues.

  “There’s some of Ariel with Diamond and Dan. There’s one of Diamond kissing Dan. Wait.” Lily leaned in to take a closer look at the photo of a flash drive. “Ariel used her phone, video, and the letters to document her investigation. The only flash drive I have is the one with Ariel’s meetings, given to me by Gus.”

  Evan said, “Alec and I searched the Weeks home and came up empty.”

  “So where is the other flash drive?” Lily asked.

  Jeremiah zoomed in on the photo. “It’s labeled contacts.”

  “What type of contacts? Phone contacts?” Lily looked at Evan. “Did you find anything in Ariel’s letters that might help with this case?”

  “Not much.” Evan handed Lily the folder. “The letters tell us everything we know and some things that we didn’t. Ariel kept detailed notes on the escort business; detailing which dancers were providing more than just a casual dinner date.”

  “So, she did find evidence of prostitution.”

  “Yes. There’s a list of current and former clients included in this file. The customers would spend tons of money on girls and marijuana parties. The girls were known as contractors; they paid twenty percent to the club of what they earned. All transactions were cash, and no real names were ever exchanged.