Final Price

by J. Gregory Smith

  “Could we have your permission to run a copy of Heather’s credit, so we can see where else she might have looked?”

  “No. We don’t need her name dragged through the press any more.”

  Chang wasn’t surprised by the lawyer’s reflexive response. Could get what he wanted anyway, but right now he needed to show deference.

  “Mr. Cleary, you could help us get closer to whoever did this. If we have to wait, the killer could be after someone else’s daughter.” Sometimes the truth cut like a scalpel.

  Cleary seemed to crumble. “Just try to keep it quiet and stay away from anything about the drugs. I don’t want her remembered that way.” He signed the waiver and wrote down her social security number.

  Chang walked to the front door and peeked out the glass in the frame.

  “The area is clear for now. Mr. Cleary, if you’d like, I’ll have a unit stay with you today and keep the media off your property.”

  “I’d appreciate that, Detective.” Cleary looked ten years older than he had the day before. Chang made the call.

  “He’ll be here in ten minutes. Until then, keep your door locked and let the answering machine screen your calls.”

  Chang called in a request to run a credit report on Heather. Nelson and Chang sat in his car while they waited.

  “I was going to run a check on her for priors, anyway.”

  “How soon?”

  “I’ll get the arrest record read to us on the radio. The credit material should be on my desk when I get there.” Chang called in to dispatch, and they promised a response in a few minutes.

  Nelson fidgeted in his seat. “Why haven’t we moved?”

  “Think. Is there any chance the killer might return to the scene of the crime and finish off the rest of the family?”

  “Oh. We stay until backup comes?”

  “I didn’t want to scare these poor people any more than necessary, but we don’t budge until they’re covered.”

  Back in New York, Chang always had to remind Nelson about his own personal security. A couple of times during some tense investigations he’d followed Nelson home, unobserved, just to make sure the wrong people didn’t try to harm the precinct’s top investigator.

  “If he was after the parents, they’d be dead with Heather. I think he added his signature even though he was trying to make it look like an accident. Couldn’t resist,” Nelson said, and then he began to look at his notes.

  “What was it this time?”

  “If my theory holds, the car itself, since it was the real murder weapon. I’ll know for sure after we get a look at the credit report.”

  A dark blue twin to Chang’s cruiser pulled alongside.

  “Howdy.” Steve D’Agostino greeted Chang across the driver’s side windows. He looked like he still wore shoulder pads under his uniform, but his football days were long over.

  Chang briefed him.

  “No problem, man.” D’Agostino smiled over at Nelson, who gave him a shy nod. “Hey, Columbo, you forgot your raincoat!” D’Agostino had a deep laugh.

  CHAPTER 37

  Suspended Animation

  “One-one-two, this is dispatch.”

  “Go ahead, dispatch.”

  Chang always marveled at how mechanical dispatchers could sound; he almost didn’t recognize Irma over the radio, but he knew her from around headquarters.

  “Dispatch” told them that Heather pleaded no contest twice for possession of marijuana, had several speeding tickets, and recently was charged with failure to control her vehicle in a single-car accident.

  “Does the report say what kind of car?” Nelson said.

  “Irma, what type of vehicle was in that crash?” Chang relayed.

  “One-one-two, please observe proper radio procedure.”

  Chang used his most formal tone. “Correction. Dispatch, please advise if report indicates make and model of single vehicle.”

  “One-one-two, thank you. Report indicates vehicle was a 2002 Honda Accord coupe, license plate Delaware 6523.”

  “Thank you, dispatch.”

  “Ten-four.”

  Chang replaced the microphone. “It doesn’t sound like she was into anything serious, does it?”

  Nelson doodled on his pad. “Possession counts, nothing heavy.”

  Chang turned into the headquarters parking lot. “So, she wrecks her new Honda, then her parents spring for a BMW.” Chang pulled in next to a dumpster.

  “Do you have to park so close? It’s a war between the vegetarians and the carnivores in there. Ugh.” Nelson rolled up the window.

  “Use it as cover. Wait a minute after I’m gone and then go. Byrd’s upset enough as it is. He doesn’t need to see us come in together.”

  “You’re late.”

  Chang turned and saw Foley. Pressed uniform and stupid grin.

  “I was in the field.”

  “You’re supposed to call it in. I don’t have it on the board.”

  “Nobody was there to take the call, and I was on the move.”

  “We have a machine.”

  “Foley, is this going somewhere?”

  “You tell me.” Chang caught the smirk, and the guy pointed to the interoffice memo folder on top of what had to be the credit report for Heather. The folder bore the colonel’s stamp. Another log across the road.

  Chang needed to get his mind serene before he confronted the memo. He grabbed the side of his desk to line it up for meditation.

  At first he thought the desk was caught on something, but then he realized the legs were bolted to the floor. He opened the drawer where he kept his fountain and chimes. Gone.

  Foley. Toad. Petty bureaucrat. Just kept pushing…

  The guy stood at the end of the room with his hands on his hips like a scolding old woman. Chang covered the distance and watched Foley’s smirk dry up. Foley backed up until the edge of a desk bent him backwards. Chang smelled his fear.

  He loomed over Foley and spoke through gritted teeth. “Give me my…property.” Chang almost said “wind chimes” but realized the worm would laugh. Sweat rolled down his face onto Foley, who recoiled.

  Chang’s vision sharpened, and he saw Foley’s pores fill and heard the flutter of his heart…like prey…

  Foley squeaked like a mouse. “Hit me and I’ll prosecute.”

  Chang felt his own heart gallop and realized the Dragon wanted out. It stared at Foley. The scaled head began to wriggle through the bars of its cage…Chang tore his gaze away and concentrated on restraining it.

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought. I heard you would back down.” Foley looked relieved, and a trace of his smile resurfaced. He pointed at the paper still in Chang’s hand. “Don’t you have bigger rice to fry?”

  The Dragon pulled back, for now. Chang tore open the memo. Report at once…Pithy.

  “Close the door.”

  Chang did.

  “I know that you brought Rogers to crime scenes after I specifically said not to.”

  “Sir, the last one we didn’t know…”

  Byrd glared at Chang. “Don’t interrupt me again. That’s insubordination. Rogers’s contamination of the crime scenes is good enough to boot you off the case, but I can’t do that. Got a call from Governor Spiker’s office. Seems Cleary, all upset this morning, is now so enthusiastic about helping that he’s joining a press conference this afternoon with the governor and yours truly.”

  Nancy was good.

  Byrd’s voice rose. “Not only that, but I’ve been told to expect representatives of the…‘wack’ something.” He pawed through a sheaf of papers. “The WAACs and the CIA Wilmington.”

  “WAACs and CIA, sir?” Chang didn’t have to pretend to be confused.

  “Forgot to renew your membership? The Wilmington Asian American Community and, for good measure, the Community of Indian Americans will join them. They’ll be front and center to grill me on why we didn’t expand our efforts until the murderer started killing white people.”

 
; Nancy was very good.

  “Don’t look so surprised, Chang.”

  “Sir, I didn’t know about any press conference. I met with Mr. Cleary this morning when I saw the paper. We were following up as related to the case.” We. Byrd pounced on the slip.

  “Those pronouns can be tricky, can’t they? Chang, you’re a good cop, but you don’t understand how we do things in Delaware, do you?”

  He understood perfectly.

  “We’re a big small town here. We’re all a family of sorts, and that means this state is different.”

  Where was this going?

  “Part of being in a family means you look out for one another. Take Foley, for example. We trust each other.”

  “With all due respect, sir, he’s your cousin.”

  “There you go again. That’s your problem. You don’t see the big picture.”

  “Sir, the big picture is that we have a killer on the loose.” Even Shu would lose it with this man.

  “We’ll catch the killer. Rogers said so. I don’t know what you pulled to get the governor on your side, but just because you’re still on the case doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. Catch this nut, but if you don’t go by the book, I’ll have your shield and weapon, and maybe file charges.”

  Chang noticed Byrd’s head. It looked like a red bowling ball. “Of course, sir.”

  “You roped me into this stupid presser; maybe you should join me.”

  “Sir, I’m on the trail. I don’t have time to…”

  “If you need time, I could always have you suspended. Like I did Rogers…Oops, there goes the surprise.” Byrd grinned.

  “Suspended?”

  “Apparently you both forgot Rogers is an employee of the state police. His attendance has been spotty lately, and he’s been seen interfering with my best investigator. I suggest you learn to play ball, or his suspension might become permanent.”

  “Some team.” Forget sharing the news about Nelson’s breakthrough. Byrd would probably leak it anyway.

  “If all goes well next year when I’m elected governor, I can see to it he gets a nice job with the department of tourism. The director is another cousin of mine.”

  “The one who came up with the slogan ‘Delaware—We Were Here First’?”

  “That’s him. I hope you don’t disappoint me, Chang. Catch this guy, but remember who you work for.”

  Chang returned to his desk. He could feel Foley watching him from across the room. Nelson walked onto the floor and shuffled over to Chang.

  Chang looked at his friend. “You heard?”

  Nelson waved an official-looking piece of paper. “Effective today for an ‘indefinite period,’ it says.”

  Chang felt his face flush, but he refused to show his emotion while Foley leered at them.

  “I’ll take you home.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Byrd’ll need something bigger to remove me, so he can embarrass the governor. Until then I’ve been spared. Your suspension was a warning to me. I’m sorry.”

  “Not your fault. I’m a tool, that’s all.”

  At Nelson’s place they looked through the report on Heather Cleary.

  “Does this say she put down four different deposits?” Nelson pored over the printout.

  “Yes. Look at the detail on her credit card. She charged five hundred dollars each to Diamond State Lexus, Patriot Motors, and Marlo Honda. Interesting. Why would she buy four cars and then ditch three of them for the BMW?” Chang tried to block out the bizarre events of the day and focus.

  “Couldn’t make up her mind?”

  “Maybe. She bought two Hondas. First a deposit down at Patriot, and then a day later she charged one to Marlo. After Marlo, she put money on a Lexus. Two days after that, she bought the BMW.” Chang felt dizzy. “In the morning we can begin with Marlo, where all but one of the cars were sold.”

  “We?” Nelson looked worried.

  “Dealers don’t know you aren’t official.”

  Nelson smiled. “My schedule seems to have opened up.”

  “You’d think for once we’d get one where we only fight the bad guys.” Chang knew he wouldn’t get much sleep. The trail was warm.

  He’d stop by to see Shu. Maybe he could help him relax.

  CHAPTER 38

  Three’s a Crowd

  Wilmington, Patriot Motors, Tuesday evening

  Shamus wanted trumpets to announce the arrival of Myrtle the Timid. Due any minute now, she told him she’d bring a friend to help. The more the merrier.

  She better appreciate that he was here on his day off.

  “Famous Shamus on overtime! Tonight’s the night? Your girlfriend’s really coming in to talk turkey?” Jake clapped him on the shoulder.

  “I’d say it’s time to consummate.”

  “You hung in there; I’m proud of you. That’s salesmanship. You’ve earned this one; go and take it.” Jake walked away, and Hank sidled up.

  “I don’t know why you put up with her,” Hank said. “She’s unbelievable. I’d have told her to hit the bricks a long time ago, man.” Hank waved his thumb like a hitchhiker.

  The sun set, and Myrtle arrived in a shiny red Dodge pickup escorted by a middle-aged black man with gray hair and a strong-looking frame. His face could have been dark granite for all the warmth it held. Myrtle smiled and nodded to Tommy and Jake, who stood near the front of the showroom.

  “Good evening, Shamus! I want you to meet Larry Stiles. He’s going to help me out.”

  She wore her Sunday best for the occasion.

  “Nice to meet you, Mr. Stiles.” Shamus extended his hand, and the man shook it without enthusiasm. Stiles didn’t make eye contact.

  “You too.” Stiles spoke to the floor.

  “Larry worked with my husband at the machine shop in Newark before he died.”

  “Oh, I was sorry to hear about her loss; he sounded like a good man.” Shamus hoped to find some common ground.

  “Uh huh.” Stiles looked around the showroom, and his eyes lingered on the little hybrid.

  “I see you’re looking at the Insight. Those are neat cars, and if you want another vehicle to commute to work in, they’d certainly cost less to run than your truck.”

  “Not interested in a Honda. I like my truck and have a short commute. Besides, why come all the way here when I could just go to Marlo? I’m here for Myrt.” He glowered at Shamus.

  “He lives right near the shop, over in Carpenter Woods. Almost walking distance.”

  The mention of Marlo nudged up Shamus’s blood pressure. He needed to get things back on track.

  “Let’s have a look at the buyer’s order, shall we?” Shamus reviewed every feature and option. Stiles looked bored. “Have I left anything out?”

  “No, Shamus, that’s what I want, in the light blue. I’m ready to talk about the price.”

  Sure you don’t want to think about it another five or ten years?

  Shamus played up the discount and slid the buyer’s order toward Myrtle. She said nothing and looked over at Larry, who rolled his eyes. “Boy, you must think we’re simple! That ain’t no discount!” Stiles raised his voice. “You think I don’t know anything?”

  Shamus knew most of the other salesmen were trying to look busy, but they were listening intently.

  “Sure it is, this is a…”

  Stiles cut him off. “Not here to waste time. Let you in on a little secret. I happen to know a woman who bought an Odyssey right here last week and got seven hundred and fifty dollars off, so don’t go starting with that ‘no discount’ stuff. You need to do a whole lot better that that, son.”

  “That lady lives next door to the owner, so she got an exception. Tell you what. If I could get Jake to match that discount, would we have a deal?”

  Myrtle seemed detached from the process, so Shamus looked and talked to Larry. This wasn’t the plan at all!

  “Hell no! We need at least fifteen hundred dollars off the van. Minimum.”
/>   “Myrtle, Mr. Stiles, I appreciate you want a good deal and to protect your friend. Nobody sells these vans for that much off.”

  “I don’t care. You get in there and tell your boss to knock another fifteen hundred dollars off that price, and maybe we’ll have something.”

  “Let me understand. Now you’re saying you want an additional fifteen hundred dollars off, on top of the original five-hundred-dollar discount?”

  “No, on top of the seven hundred and fifty. Who do you think you’re trying to run this by?” Stiles snorted laughter at him.

  Myrtle sat like a stone and refused to come to his rescue.

  “Mr. Stiles, I can’t go into my manager’s office with anything close to a request like that. There’s no point.”

  “I believe you heard me. Get in there and get me that price so we can start negotiating for real, or else we’ll go somewhere else.” He folded his thick arms across his chest.

  “Then we’re done.” Shamus heard himself speak. It took all his concentration to sound calm.

  “I’m sorry to have taken so much of your time, Myrtle. I told you how popular these vehicles are, and you will not find them at any dealership in the country for that price.”

  They got up and walked out without another word. Myrtle never even looked back.

  Several salesmen looked at him. His head felt like it would pop. He smiled, shook his head, and walked by Hank.

  “You sure called that one,” Shamus said. “They were out of their minds. Glad I didn’t spend the money ahead of time.” He tried for a “can’t win ’em all” tone.

  “I told you,” Hank commiserated, “don’t waste your time with the crazy people, they’re unbelievable. I mean, I don’t know what universe they’re living in, man. You can’t discount enough to make them happy. So I don’t try.”

  Shamus walked into Jake’s office. Get it over with.

  “Shamus, what was that? What happened?”