by PJ Fernor
“So what do you think?” Garrison asked.
I looked out the window and watched Andy almost running away.
The memories were painful for him.
I was done with Andy.
My next stop?
Time to visit IY Green.
Chapter Twenty-Six
IY Green was located in the tallest building we had in the area. Still a far cry from the skyscrapers of the city, but this building had plenty of space and businesses. There was a grand walkway and stone path around the entire thing, including a meditation garden with a fountain.
All of this I learned by looking it up on my phone while Ben drove.
“What’s our plan?” Ben asked. “They could boot us out in a second. We don’t have a warrant.”
“We’re not asking to look at anything,” I said. “We’re just checking off boxes.”
“They’re smarter than to believe that,” Ben said.
“They’re also guilty. So if they want to go the route of a warrant, why not?”
“You heard Garrison,” Ben said. “They’ve been in trouble before. They don’t seem to care.”
I closed out the window on my phone about the building and looked up IY Green.
The first image was of two men.
Dressed in expensive suits. With the kind of grins that made you know something was shady. Devious smiles that suggested yeah, we’ll give you money without asking… don’t worry about it… unless, of course, you can’t pay us back…
“Anthony and Giovanni,” I said. “That’s who runs it. Two brothers. Just look at these guys…”
I showed Ben my phone. He quickly turned his head and laughed.
“Yeah, they look the part,” he said. “Tough businessmen.”
“Murderers,” I whispered.
“We don’t know that yet, Allie Down,” Ben said. “We can’t go in there pointing fingers.”
“I’m not going to do that. I just want to make sure I have the facts right when I start talking,” I said. I scrolled with my finger on the screen. “Oh, look, testimonials. Think these are real?”
“It’s the internet,” Ben said. “Who knows what’s real. That’s the sad truth of our world right now.”
“IY Green’s fast loan saved my business during a really tough winter and down turn!” I said.
“You remember what Garrison said…”
“Yeah,” I said. “They pad their bigger, violent loans with little ones to look more legit.”
“You know they’re going to toss us out,” Ben said.
“I know,” I replied. “I just want my face burned into their memories. I’m not going to stop until I get to the truth. These guys are going to pay for what they did. You know, in a sense, I almost feel bad for Calvin.”
“Really?”
“Sure. He thought he was doing something good with his restaurants. Trying to fix up something that needed work. He couldn’t get help when times were tough, so he felt he had no choice. Maybe he saw an ad for IY Green. Or he saw some of these emotional stories about businesses almost shutting down but were saved because of a loan. When someone is desperate, they’ll believe anything…”
My voice trailed off.
Like me. I was so desperate to find someone to take my mind off Ben, I fell into the arms of Dr. Jerry. The fake Dr. Jerry. The kidnapper. The trafficker. The killer. I fell for his smile, his eyes, and everything he did. I never thought for a second he could have been the person he really was…
“Allie?”
I cleared my throat. “What?”
“You kind of just stopped talking,” he said.
“Sorry. Just thinking. Um… Calvin. Right. He thought he was doing the right thing. And he put Jessica’s life on the line. He didn’t do it on purpose.”
“Not talking about it is the crime,” Ben said.
“Right. But he’s scared.”
“Did we flip roles here?” Ben asked. “I’m usually the sympathetic one.”
“Are you saying I have no heart?” I asked.
“Do you?” Ben asked with a grin. “What does your heart think about me?”
I pointed to my phone. “Keep it on the case, Detective Welloski.”
I continued my research and started to discover the dark side to IY Green. Articles and stories of how the company was a predatory lender. How they shook people down for payments. How they shut down businesses that couldn’t make their payments. How some people tried to fight back but when the fine print of the contract was examined, there was nothing to be done.
They literally signed their rights away, along with their businesses or assets.
The complaints of threats and attacks were never tied directly to IY Green.
“This company is unbelievable,” I said. “They get away with everything. All the time.”
“Seems that way,” Ben said.
“Not this time, Ben. I’m not letting this one go.”
“Well, to be fair, this is murder now. It’s not about hurting someone.”
“Do you think this was by accident?” I asked.
“What? Killing Jessica?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Maybe they took her hand and didn’t think she’d die.”
“Anything is possible,” Ben said.
We were silent for the last few minutes of our drive.
Ben pulled to the curb and I looked at the building through the windshield.
We exited the car and walked with purpose toward the front door.
Still no words.
Both of us processing.
Ben reached for the main, glass door and opened it for me.
I stepped through and looked back for Ben, but he was still holding the door.
Two more people came through.
A third hurried toward the door.
“Thank you,” the man said to Ben.
He tipped his fedora hat and Ben nodded.
“Are you done playing the role of doorman?” I asked.
“It’s called being nice,” Ben said.
“We have a murder to solve,” I said.
I opened the next set of doors for Ben, and just Ben.
“What did you think of that hat?” Ben asked.
“What hat?” I asked.
“That guy that was wearing the hat,” Ben said. “The hat and the coat. I’m thinking about what Andy said. We don’t look like detectives.”
“We’re not on a television show, Ben,” I said. “Do you want a fedora? I’ll get you one for your birthday.”
Ben laughed and pressed the up button on the elevator.
IY Green was on the top floor.
“I’m not much of a hat guy,” Ben said. “I have good hair.”
“You have great hair,” I said.
“Did you just complement me?” Ben asked.
The elevator doors opened. “Don’t get too full of yourself.”
We stepped into the elevator.
We were both smiling.
I liked Ben. A lot.
The doors shut.
Our smiles faded.
It was time to get very serious.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The blonde bombshell at the desk to greet Ben and I jumped up as we tried walking by the desk.
All I had to do was turn and flash my badge to get her to shut up.
Her eyes looked surprised but… she looked like she knew the drill.
She dove toward the desk to grab for a phone.
“They know we’re here,” Ben said.
“Good,” I said. “They can make us some coffee while we get cozy.”
“Allie,” he said. “Remember… we can’t accuse. We’re here to talk.”
“I’m here for coffee and maybe a loan,” I said.
I winked.
Ben shook his head.
I turned left to go down a hallway and at the very end, a large door opened.
Out stepped a man in a very expensive suit.
He opened his arms and s
miled as though he were family to Ben and I.
“Come on in,” he called out. “We don’t bite. Too hard.”
He laughed.
Ben and I didn’t laugh.
The hallway was brightly lit, doors to my left and right.
My focus stayed on the man.
As we got closer, I recognized him as Anthony.
“You know, you’ve come at the perfect time,” Anthony said.
He jumped forward and threw his hand out for Ben to take.
Instead of shaking his hand, Ben showed Anthony his badge. And his gun.
Anthony showed his hands. “Okay then. I guess we’re skipping intros.”
“I know who you are,” I said. “You know who we are.”
“Actually, I don’t,” Anthony said. “I mean the badges…”
“I’m Detective Allie Down,” I said. “This is Detective Ben Welloski.”
“We need to talk,” Ben said.
“Of course,” Anthony said. “Come right in.”
I stepped into the office and the first thing I noticed was another man.
Giovanni.
Anthony’s brother.
He was in almost the exact same suit.
Anthony was taller and skinnier.
Giovanni was shorter, rounder, and he had a little touch of gray in his hair.
His face though… he was one mad guy.
His eyes were dark and judgmental.
It was pretty clear he did not want us there.
Anthony knew better.
It was easier to let us in now than put up a fight.
“This is my brother,” Anthony said.
“Giovanni,” I said. “I recognize you from your website.”
“He had a better head of hair when those pictures were taken,” Anthony said. “Right, Giovanni?”
“The job is stressful,” Giovanni said.
He voice was deep and sounded like it was cut from jagged stone.
“What can we do for you today?” Anthony asked as he stepped behind a large, dark wooden desk.
The office was big and very bare.
There were no library of books or obnoxious pieces of furniture anywhere. No bar.
Just a desk and plenty of windows.
The smell was clean plus the collision of their colognes.
“Tell us about what you do here,” Ben said.
“I think you know,” Giovanni said.
“Then tell us,” Ben said.
He stepped toward Giovanni. Giovanni stepped closer to him.
“We’re a loan company,” Anthony said, smoothing the tension over. “We help anyone in need. I know what you’re thinking. Who are we really, right? We’re the guys that help the every-day person. Someone struggling to make the rent payment, knowing they need an extra week. And you know what? It’s not right or fair. The landlord says pay me or you’re out. We help that guy.”
“And you charge an obscene interest rate,” I said.
“No,” Anthony said. “It’s a fair rate. Yes, if you keep the loan for a year or more, you’re going to pay more. On average, it’s not that much.”
“Give us an example,” Ben said.
“Why?” Giovanni asked.
“It’s okay, Giovanni,” Anthony said. “They don’t understand it. Let’s say Tim comes in and needs twelve hundred to make rent. I’ll cut him a check. Personally. Tim pays his rent. A week later, Tim comes back and gives me fourteen hundred. Get it?”
“Two hundred dollars?” I asked.
“Tim didn’t complain.”
“That should be a crime,” Ben said.
“But it’s not,” Giovanni said. “So tell us why you’re here. You just think you can walk in here like this? You’re lucky my brother is here.”
“Is that a threat?” Ben asked.
“Hardly,” Anthony said. “My brother is a little more… I don’t know. I’m the face of the company. The kind voice.”
“Let me guess,” I said. “He’s the muscle.”
“Always,” Anthony said. “He would defend me against bullies as kids. I’d try to reason with someone and there was Giovanni… pow…”
Anthony laughed.
Giovanni just scowled.
“Let’s talk about that,” I said. “The pow part of your business.”
“I’m sure you’ve heard rumors,” Anthony said. “We’ve never been-”
“Someone is dead, Anthony,” I said.
“Pardon?” Anthony asked.
“Someone involved with your shady loan business is dead.”
“Shady loan business?” Giovanni roared. “Don’t you dare come in here-”
“Don’t raise your voice to her ever again,” Ben said.
He pointed at Giovanni with a look on his face I’m not sure I’d ever seen.
“Let’s all take a breath here,” Anthony said. “We aren’t in the business of killing people who owe us money. What kind of practice is that? How would we ever collect on the debt then?”
“That’s your worry?” I asked.
“Of course it is,” Anthony said. “I’m not sure where you’re going here, Detective.”
“Calvin Delgado,” I said.
Anthony pursed his lips. “Okay.”
“You know that name.”
“Yes.”
“He took a big loan from you.”
“Yes,” Anthony said again.
“He’s been having a hard time with his payments.”
“I’m not allowed to-”
“And now his girlfriend is dead,” I said. “Murdered.”
“Her hand cut off,” Ben said. “Got any hands hidden around this office?”
“Get out of here,” Giovanni ordered. “I’m done with this.” He looked at Anthony. “I told you not to let them in.”
“I’m just trying to do the right thing,” Anthony said. “We have nothing to do with a murder. Cutting off a hand? No. That’s not our business.”
“You expect me to believe that?” I asked.
“Why wouldn’t you?” Anthony asked. “Do you have proof?”
He slowly grinned.
I wanted to charge around the desk and smack him.
Before I made the decision on whether to do that or not, the door behind me opened.
I turned and watched a man built of nothing but muscle step into the office.
He looked right at me and snarled his lip high into the air.
I wasn’t going to back down.
He had muscle, but I had a gun.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The big guy stood near the door.
Almost as though he meant to block it, meaning Ben and I were now trapped.
I turned sideways so I could keep everyone in my view.
“No need for a defensive stance, Detective,” Anthony said. “We’re just talking.”
“Why is he here?” I asked about the big guy.
“We were scheduled for a meeting right now,” Giovanni said. “You’re in the way.”
“Oh, we can really be in the way if you’d like,” Ben said.
“You have no business being here,” Giovanni said. “You made your point, now leave.”
“We haven’t even started to make our point yet,” I said. “We need to talk.”
“We did talk, Detective,” Anthony said. “You wanted to discuss a private financial matter about a client. We can’t do that. You know that. I’m not one to dance along the lines of the law.”
Anthony smiled, knowing he was full of you know what with that statement.
I side stepped closer to his desk, while keeping a close eye on the big guy.
He just stood there. Dressed in black pants and a black shirt. The long sleeves were pushed up a little, showing off tattoos and thick, forearm muscle.
Everything about the guy screamed one word.
Murder.
“Calvin’s girlfriend is dead,” I said.
“You’ve mentioned it,” Anthony said. “As I already s
aid, we would never do such a thing. We are a legitimate business. Do we have complaints? Sure. There’s a fine line between money and emotion. We get that. Are we willing to help those in need? Yes. We offer high risk loans, Detective. These are to people who have been turned down by other banks and lenders. Are our interest rates higher? Yes. They have to be to make up for the risk. There are a lot of loans that default and we’re left carrying the bag.”
“You make people sign documents that they lose everything,” I said.
“That’s the risk. If you bought a house and didn’t pay the mortgage, you’d lose the house.”
“The homeowner wouldn’t end up hurt or dead beforehand.”
Anthony laughed.
“This is out of control,” Giovanni said. “They need to leave, Anthony. This is becoming harassment. Call the lawyers. We can have their badges by the end of the day.”
“I don’t want that,” Anthony said. “Neither do the detectives here. They’re doing their jobs. Pushing at everyone. I can respect that. As I said, we have no reason to hurt or kill someone, Detective. If Calvin was having a hard time paying his debt back, what good is killing his girlfriend? I assume the poor guy is distraught and heartbroken now. How is that going to make him pay us back any quicker?”
“I see through that smug smile, Anthony,” I said.
“Why don’t you see yourself out?”
The voice was from the big guy.
I slowly turned and looked at him.
“Am I interrupting your meeting? Are you getting today’s work? Who to beat up? Who to follow? Who to murder?”
“I’ve had enough of this!” Giovanni growled.
He took a step and Ben put his hand out.
I moved toward the big guy. “What’s your name?”
Of all the names in the world to say…
“Jerry,” he said.
I felt a switch go off in the back of my head.
I blinked and saw Dr. Jerry standing in front of me. I heard all his sweet words. I felt his calm touch. I was back in that world he created. The one that was all lies. Fake. Not a single ounce of truth to its existence.
“Jerry,” I said. “Did you kill someone for these two?”
“I’m not answering your questions,” Jerry said.
“Want to come for a ride then?” I asked.
“You have no grounds to do so.”