Driving on DC streets always made Jonelle nervous. The city was one of those places that practically insisted all persons not familiar with the area had best take public transportation unless one had a death wish. Jonelle didn’t want to waste time trying to figure out what mode of transportation she needed to get to the marina in the southwest quadrant of the city, so she plugged in the address on her GPS and hoped for the best.
Almost an hour later, after swearing at the myriad of no left turn signs in the city, she arrived at the marina only to be faced with a large notice outside the open-air parking lot that stated a permit was required. Damn.
She took a deep breath, plastered the best smile she could muster and approached the kiosk. A bored looking middle-aged white man looked up from the small screen perched on his counter.
“Help you?” he asked in a voice that hoped she’d say no.
“Yes, please. I’m here to see Doctor Barrington Kelly. I need to—”
“You need a permit to park here,” he said, interrupting her. He pointed to the sign.
Jonelle forced herself to remain calm. “I know that … sir. Doctor Kelly called with an urgent request to see me as soon as possible. He might not have had time to let you know. The truth is, he sounded a bit, um, frantic. I’m sure you have visitor’s parking.” She looked around and noticed a few spots to the left of the security hut that confirmed the statement. She smiled at the man again.
He rolled his eyes while simultaneously pulling out a clipboard. “Name?”
“Mind if I reach in my purse to show you my ID?”
The man shrugged.
She pulled out her PI shield and showed it to him. A slight widening of his eyes indicated she’d finally gotten his complete attention. Jonelle recited her name, cellphone and PI shield numbers. He cocked his head over to the side, indicating where she should park her vehicle.
“Thanks,” she said, happy he didn’t put up any further resistance. He grunted his reply and went back to watching his screen.
With that barrier removed, Jonelle walked down the path from the lot to the marina and faced a large, octagonal building with a blue roof. Printed below the front window was the word “Security” in red and below that, “Dockmaster.” Directly behind, a chain link fence fanned from both sides of the structure and wrapped all the way around as far as she could see. Jonelle sighed. This place had more layers of protection than the Baltimore airport. She inched closer to the fence. While she knew Kelly’s boat existed, Jonelle had no idea if this was the correct marina, nor what he named the vessel. The reference about the existence of the craft was so casual, she didn’t ask for any details. Now she could kick herself as she gazed out on all the many vessels bobbing in the water.
A loud, rhythmic wop, wop of blades sounded above her head. She squinted at the large olive green helicopter. Definitely not a traffic copter. Then she remembered the Pentagon lay a few miles south.
Not wanting to initiate a game of twenty questions, she skirted the building and ambled over to the first gate in the fence like she belonged. She walked up and read the sign that entrance required a special card to slide in the security slot. Shoot. She explored the mechanism for some kind of button to push. Surely there were times when owners misplaced their cards. Ahh, there it was. Jonelle pressed the button and waited. Footsteps sounded behind her. She turned and watched a portly gentleman in blue work clothes and with billowing white hair stride in her direction.
“Noticed you when you passed by,” he said. “You could’ve stopped by the office instead of standing out here. Would’ve saved us both a little time.”
“Sorry,” Jonelle said sheepishly. “I didn’t think. Dr. Kelly asked me to deliver several forms to him, but he forgot to tell me how to get in here.”
The man nodded without saying a word. Gray eyes never wavered from Jonelle’s face.
“Fact is, he’s a client of mine.” The man’s eyes narrowed at the word client.
“Mind if I reach inside my bag? That’s where I keep my private investigator’s shield.”
Again, the wordless nod.
Jonelle dug into her purse and after showing him her ID, came up with a manila folder that she’d intended to leave in her office. “He needs to sign these ASAP and since I didn’t want the papers delivered by a courier, here I am. But, uh, I forgot the boat’s name.” Jonelle’s face felt hot. She’d need to practice how to lie if she was ever going to get any good. “I think the name was something like Suzy Q or …”
“You mean Oh Susanna I think.”
Thank goodness for helpful, trusting people, she thought.
“That sounds right. Is it okay if I go on in and deliver the information? It’s important I give it to him personally.” That last statement was intended to cover her in case Mister Helpful offered to deliver it himself.
He studied her a bit more before responding. “Now you’re standing at A dock.” He pointed to the right. “I think the craft is down there near the T—not sure of the exact slip number—on H dock. But you can’t get on the dock without a key card. Sorry. Maybe you can give him a call to come meet you?”
Oh damn. “The T? What’s that?”
He gave her a lopsided grin. “It’s what we call the spaces at the end of each dock. He’s lucky. Those’re easy to get in and out of. If we were on hard ground, where he’s located would be considered prime real estate.”
“So. If this is A that means I have to walk all the way down there?” Jonelle pointed in the distance. Good thing she was wearing her cross trainers. “Thanks. I’ll walk closer down and call him.” She turned to go. And maybe I’ll slip in behind another helpful citizen, she thought.
Jonelle strolled in the direction pointed out to her by the dockmaster, and found she didn’t mind the walk at all. The cloudless blue sky had just a touch of chill in the air, a faint hint of more to come. At several intervals a sign announced the piers in each section. She stopped and faced a sign that included the H pier. She nudged the gate a little, in case one of the boaters forgot to engage the latch and was disappointed to find she couldn’t get in. Jonelle pulled out her phone in the hope that maybe Kelly would answer her call.
After letting the number ring several times she got his voicemail and left another urgent message. The man had to be here. Where else could he go? She turned around hoping against hope that someone would come her way. Her wish was answered but it wasn’t the one she wanted A security guard headed straight for her.
Uh-oh. From the purposeful way he strode as he came closer, Jonelle knew the delivery ruse wouldn’t work, so she’d try a little bit of truth and a little bit of … not so much truth.
“Hi,” she said, before he spoke. “I’m on my way to see Dr. Barrington Kelly. Would you happen to know if he’s aboard the Oh Susanna?” It worked. The frown on his face relaxed. Still, the man looked as if he took his job seriously.
“Is he expecting you ma’am?”
“I’m a private investigator working for his sister-in-law. Mind if I reach in my bag to show you my badge?”
He nodded.
Jonelle pulled out her leather case. His hazel eyes widened as he studied the badge. She’d definitely have to thank Marvin and give him feedback on the badge’s effect. There was no name on the man’s dark green shirt, and as she studied him, she figured he was only about ten years older than her own thirty-two.
“Looks okay. I’ll go ahead and let you in, but please remind Dr. Kelly again that we need to know when he’s expecting visitors. That way, we won’t have to detain you.”
Again? “I understand.”
The guard disengaged the lock and opened the gate. “Just touch the red button on the other side to get out,” he said.
Jonelle thanked him and went off in search of Kelly’s boat. A few minutes later she found the dock. She stepped on the pier and pulled back. She tested one foot and then the other. The pier’s movement unnerved her a little so she stopped and waited for her legs to settle underne
ath her. Confident now, she eased down the long floating walkway. Jonelle knew very little about boats. Intrigued at the many different sizes and styles, she was amazed that the few closest to the dock actually resembled the type of house a person could buy on dry land. She ambled down toward the two boats moored at the end.
CHAPTER 41
Now for the hard part. By all accounts Kelly appeared afraid of something. When fear took hold and became the overriding force, rational people often became irrational. Jonelle knew she could defend herself, but at what cost? Surprise wasn’t her friend in this case.
The Oh Susanna rocked gently on the water in front of her. Next to the boat was a set of wooden steps painted blue. Jonelle took a deep breath and climbed aboard. Once again, the sway unnerved her and she gripped the steering wheel to settle herself. “Doctor Kelly? It’s Jonelle Sweet. I have some bad news to tell you about Sophia. Hello?”
She looked around. Except for the guard she’d encountered earlier, no one else was out and about. Jonelle remembered something she’d seen on television. “Uh. Permission to come aboard.” Once the words left her mouth, she felt ridiculous; she was already on board. No response from inside. Rather than stand outside and draw attention to herself, Jonelle took a leap of faith, opened the door in front of her and entered the cabin.
A mug of what looked like black coffee sat on a teak table with sage green placemats. Jonelle picked up the cup and noticed how cold it felt. She sniffed. Stale coffee aroma and something sharp assaulted her nose. Jonelle stared at a closed door at the opposite end.
“Dr. Kelly? I’m alone, Doctor. I need to talk to you. Finkleberg is talking to the police about the twins’ deaths and they want to help you.” At least she hoped that was Burt’s plan. She rapped hard against the door. “I don’t believe you had anything to do with the murder of either twin, so, if you want protection, you need to tell me what you know.”
Jonelle heard movement from the other side. She stepped a few feet away so as not to intimidate him and also to give her space to retreat if necessary. “I need to ask you a few more questions,” she called out, “since I haven’t been able to reach you at your office or on the phone.”
A muffled voice came through the door. “How’d you find me?”
Jonelle sighed. “Look, Doctor. This’ll go a whole lot easier without this door between us.”
“It’s open.”
Jonelle reached inside her bag and felt for the pistol. She took a deep breath and opened the door to find Kelly sitting on a large bed in a teak-covered room with a drink in his hand. “Meet my good friend Johnny,” he said, raising the glass in the air. He giggled. She smelled the liquor before she noticed the half empty bottle on the nightstand.
A few feet away, a silver-plated revolver lay next to the bottle.
Uh-oh. Jonelle tried not to show how alarmed she was, but Kelly’s eyes followed her gaze on the gun.
“It’s all been too much, too much,” he said in an eerily calm voice.
“How about we sit out front? If you want, I’ll make you a cup of coffee if you show me where everything is, in the uh, galley I think it’s called.” Jonelle inched closer to the weapon.
Kelly picked up the weapon. “Nope. You need to stay where you are.”
She stopped. “Fine. But let’s sit out front. There’s more space so we’d both be more comfortable.” Jonelle’s hand curved around the grip of her pistol. She’d achieved the rank of sharpshooter and would use those skills if necessary, although in the doctor’s inebriated state, she didn’t think he could hit her even at this close range.
The sides of Kelly’s mouth curled up. “Don’t worry. If anybody’s blood paints these walls, it’ll be mine.”
“Please?” She gestured to the main cabin.
He grunted. As he attempted to stand, the glass fell from his hand. Instead of retrieving it, he grabbed the liquor bottle and pulled himself up. He swayed several times and after sidling past her, gestured with the pistol for her to sit across from him at the table.
“Please don’t wave that thing at me.”
“Oops. Sorry. Where’s my manners?” he giggled again. After a few beats, he placed the gun in the center of the table and poured himself a generous amount of whiskey in the coffee cup. Two swallows later, bloodshot eyes squinted at Jonelle. “How’d you find me anyway? Not many people know about my girl here.”
Jonelle decided that if she needed Kelly to be honest with her, she’d come clean on a few things. “I saw the picture on your desk and since this is the closest marina to your office, I decided to take a chance. It didn’t take much for me to figure out the name.” She held his gaze. “Looks like you’re in a bit of trouble.”
“Doesn’t matter anymore.” He sipped more alcohol. In the short time she’d been there he’d drained and refilled his glass. She had no idea when he started drinking, but the man didn’t look good. Time to get as much out of him as she could before he passed out.
“What’s your relationship with the Yazzie’s?”
Kelly gagged. He put his hand over his mouth and Jonelle sat back. She was afraid he was about to spurt brown liquid, and whatever else, on top of her. Instead, he shook his head over and over.
“I … don’t know what you’re talking about,” he gasped.
“Sure you do. I discovered them following me and put two and two together. Well?”
A weak smile played over his lips. “You broke into my office, didn’t you?” His bloodshot eyes held hers.
“I wasn’t the only one.” He winced at that remark.
“Sometimes you gotta dig through a lot of muck before you get to the clean surface below. I’ve seen those guys from a distance and I know from personal experience what they’re capable of. I’m starting to believe they are the prime suspects in Susanna’s and Sophia’s deaths. And they’re still here, which tells me they aren’t finished. What I can’t figure out is why.” She pointed to Kelly. “That’s where you come in.”
Jonelle waited while Kelly poured more liquor.
“Listen. I’m not leaving here until you answer my questions. The police are not happy they’ve got two murders on their hands and since Finkleberg is cooperating, you’re next on their agenda. Might help your case if you’re more forthcoming.”
He reached forward and touched the gun.
Jonelle’s stomach clenched. She relaxed a bit as he left the weapon where it was on the table and sat back.
“Susanna should’ve stuck with the plan. Instead, she included that dipshit Rosemary and started diddling Finkleberg.” He smirked. “’Course she always did like dominating people.”
“How was the plan supposed to work?” Jonelle already knew part of it from Finkleberg but she wanted to hear Kelly’s version.
“Simple. She set up a few bank accounts under bogus names. Oldenberry is small and she’d gotten the reputation of someone who was smart and extremely good at her job. No one questioned her, especially when they noted Norm had signed off on everything. She was supposed to start siphoning off funds as they came in and making deposits into the accounts.”
“What about audits?”
“Who’s gonna look too closely when she’s the treasurer and has the backing of the commissioner? No one. Gravy train was simple and only involved those two. Problem started when she felt sorry for sad sack Rosemary and her bastard kid and decided she wanted to help.” He snorted. “All her life, she’d only thought about herself, now all of a sudden, she felt compassion for someone else. Go figure.”
“Finkleberg said jealousy also played a part. He said Susanna wanted him to leave his wife and he refused. That’s why she took off before she got all the money.”
Kelly stood and nearly toppled over. “Whoops,” he said. “Gotta go take a pee.” He staggered off somewhere behind her. Jonelle resisted the impulse to follow. She moved his gun closer to her in case he tried reaching for it again. A few moments later he reappeared.
“You got any more coffee?” sh
e asked, hoping he’d take the hint. “I’d like a cup if you don’t mind.”
He slumped down in his seat. “Naw. Tried drinking the rest of it this morning. Haven’t had time for any shopping. So, yeah I agree with Norm. She wanted to show him he couldn’t screw around with her without consequences.”
“That’s dumb.” What the hell was wrong with these people? “Why leave with a few hundred thousand just because some guy wouldn’t leave his wife?”
“Because that’s how she was. She didn’t need the money. It was the thrill of seeing if she could get away with it and then proving she was in control if you made her mad.”
Kelly’s eyes clouded over. “Except she didn’t get away with anything. Death is a helluva way to prove a point.”
“Were you involved from the beginning?”
“Not the planning. She called when Norm rejected her and said she wanted us to get back together and the money would be a good start.”
“Did you believe her?”
“Of course I did. Loved her from the moment I saw her at school, right up until …” His eyes watered.
“Did you hire the Yazzie boys?”
Kelly grimaced. “That was Finkleberg’s stupid idea. All of a sudden he needed protection or some such nonsense. Maybe he figured he could help Rosemary’s kid if he hired the father. Hell if I know. Again, too many people knew too much.” He hesitated.
Jonelle waited.
After a few moments of looking all around the cabin as if seeing it for the first time, Kelly continued.
“They were supposed to come down here, grab Susanna and the money and drag her back to Michigan. I was their contact because I knew that Susanna was staying at the Lancelot. No one expected them to go rogue and take matters into their own hands.”
“How do you know they did?” Jonelle agreed that of all the players connected to this case, the two seemed the most likely perpetrators.
“Because they put the squeeze on us. Said they wanted two-thirds of what Susanna had already stolen. Two-thirds! I told them no way. I offered a five thousand dollar finder’s fee—no more.”
The Trickster (A Jonelle Sweet Mystery Book 3) Page 25