Caliber Detective Agency Box Set 2

by Remington Kane

  “Hey, Sis, I need you at a crime scene, we got a DB... it’s off of the old county road... yeah, where the fire is... and uh, Sis, the DB is Peter Gates.”

  There was a pause, and then Hennessy said, “I know, but I’m still sorry... uh-huh, yeah, and also a tox screen, and bring a magnifying glass, you’ll need it, and thanks.” Hennessy put away his phone and smiled. “My older sister is a doctor and the town’s coroner. If you have an injection mark on you, she’ll find it.”

  Velma gazed around.

  “She’s going to examine me out here?”

  Hennessy pointed towards Deputy West, who was busy setting up a tent.

  “She’ll examine you in that tent, and we’ll also need those clothes. Deputy West there will see that you have something to put on. She’ll also make certain that she and the doctor are the only ones with you. And, she’ll be taking pictures of any wounds you might have, such as that bruise on your face.”

  Velma nodded.

  “You’re thorough, that’s good, and I’m sure the evidence will prove me innocent.”

  Hennessy pointed at her.

  “That blouse sure doesn’t help your case.”

  “I don’t know how the blood got on me.”

  “I’m sending your clothes to a blood expert in El Paso named Dr. Reese Brown. He should be able to shed some light on things, he’s a recognized expert on blood splatter, he’s even written a book or two on the subject.”

  A car entered the scene and was let through by the deputy at the entrance, as he moved a traffic cone aside to let it pass. When the driver emerged, Velma saw that she was a tall woman in her late-forties with short dark hair. She had prominent freckles sprinkled across her nose and very blue eyes.

  Hennessy tipped his hat as the woman walked over and stared down at Velma.

  “Good morning, Mayor Penn.”

  The mayor pointed back at the entrance to the driveway.

  “Your man there should move those traffic cones closer together; if I had wanted to, I could have driven straight in.”

  “I’ll be sure to mention that to him, ma’am,” the sheriff said.

  “Is this the woman that killed, Peter?”

  “That has yet to be determined.”

  Mayor Penn looked at him with shock showing on her face.

  “Are you serious? Look at the blood.”

  “Yes, ma’am, I see it, but we’ve evidence to process before we make a determination.”

  “I see, crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s, but I still say that it’s obvious that she killed Peter.”

  “I did not kill Peter, Mayor, and I would appreciate it if you would stop saying that.”

  Mayor Penn stared at Velma while squinting her eyes.

  “I know you. You’re the little tart that Peter ran off with years ago, aren’t you?”

  “I... we’ve met?”

  “No, but I remember when he was prancing you around like a prize calf. If I recall, the marriage didn’t last a week. I guess your hatred for him has been building all these years.”

  “I didn’t hate, Peter. I simply came here to talk to him. He had information that I needed.”

  Mayor Penn smiled.

  “She’s guilty as sin, Rich. Are you sending her clothes to a lab?”

  “Yeah, Reese Brown.”

  “Good, the evidence will prove her a liar.”

  The mayor spun around and headed back to her car, on the way there, she stopped to advise one of the firefighters on the proper way to hold a fire hose. She then left the scene as quickly as she showed.

  Velma sighed.

  “Your mayor likes to jump to conclusions, doesn’t she?”

  “Oh, Mayor Penn knows everything, just ask her,” Hennessy said.

  Deputy West walked over.

  “The tent’s ready.”

  “Don’t forget to document her wounds.”

  “I know,” West said.

  Velma stood, and made a face, as the blood drying on her caused the clothes to stick to her skin.

  Hennessy looked at her.

  “Are you going to call Jake Caliber?”

  “Maybe, if things go bad.”

  The sheriff pushed his hat back a ways on his head.

  “Ma’am.”

  “Yes?”

  “Things are bad, and if I was you, I’d call a lawyer too.”

  Velma nodded in understanding, and then walked to the tent with Deputy West.

  CHAPTER 12

  Pachaw, Texas

  Emmy Gates cried genuine tears as she sat in front of Sheriff Hennessy’s desk, as the sheriff and Deputy West watched her.

  “I can’t believe he’s dead.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss, Emmy, but can you tell me what you know about this Velma Parker?”

  “I know she’s a murdering whore and that she killed Peter.”

  “Maybe, but is there anything else you can tell me?”

  “Peter went to see her the other day, in New York, and in Atlantic City too, and then last night, that man, Pruitt, he told us she was here.”

  “Pruitt, who’s he?”

  “He’s a private eye from New York, and he’s the one that got Peter to go there and see that Velma, but I don’t know why?”

  “What’s this Pruitt look like?”

  Emmy blushed and lowered her eyes.

  “He’s handsome, real handsome, and tall, with dark curly hair. He’s still in town, I saw him leave the motel earlier.”

  “You were at the motel?”

  “No, I was down the street, at Dr. Penn’s, the vet? I used to clean out the cages there and I was looking to see if he was hiring.”

  “Is that where you were this morning, while Peter was meeting with Ms. Parker?”

  “No, Dr. Penn wasn’t around, and so I stopped by the Roadhouse, the bar, Roxana is there and I went to see her.”

  “Roxana is back, huh?”

  “Yeah, and she’s with some biker guy.”

  “I know about those bikers, and so far they’ve been behaving, but they’ve been involved in some very nasty business over the years, and that Roxana is nothing but trouble.”

  Emmy shrugged.

  “She’s nice to me.”

  “What did you and Roxana talk about?”

  Emmy told Hennessy about her husband’s obsession with finding some of the money his brother had stolen.

  “Did he know for certain it was there?”

  “Peter never said, but I think he did because he was so sure that he would find it, but I really don’t know if it’s there or not.”

  Hennessy stood, indicating that the interview was over, and after a few words of condolence, he asked Deputy West to escort Emmy outside to her car.

  As Emmy left, Hennessy’s sister came in. Dr. Gloria Hennessy was blond, had a curvy figure, and was two years older than her brother.

  “Find anything, Glo?”

  “Yeah, Richie, Velma Parker has a fresh puncture wound on her back. There’s also a fairly new scab there from a cut, but she says she suffered that two days ago.”

  “So, she could have been drugged?”

  “I’ll know more when the tox screen comes back.”

  “Thanks, Sis.”

  Gloria Hennessy gave her brother a careful look.

  “You don’t think she’s guilty, do you?”

  “No, I don’t, she doesn’t give off that vibe. She also works for Jake Caliber, and I doubt that man goes around hiring murderers, and sloppy murderers at that.”

  “It would only be a sloppy murder if she did it. If it was someone else, well then, it could turn out to be a clever frame.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking.”

  Gloria leaned over the desk.

  “I had nothing to do with this.”

  Hennessy shot out of his seat.

  “I know that. You put Gates behind you a long time ago; it’s why I let you examine Ms. Parker. I know you’re not holding a grudge.”

 
; “She has no idea that I was dating Peter when he went off and married her, she showed no reaction to my name.”

  “You’re not performing Gates’ autopsy, are you?”

  “No, I sent the body on to El Paso; they have equipment there that will help with the charred remains.”

  “That’s good. I know that you no longer loved him, but you shouldn’t have to cut him open either.”

  “Is there any chance that Jake Caliber might come here? I’d love to meet that old man.”

  “Could be, Velma Parker is calling in the cavalry right now.”

  ***

  New York City

  Chris saw the unfamiliar number on his caller ID and nearly let the phone go to voicemail. He was in his apartment, sipping on a beer, as he tried to sort out his feelings for Rayne.

  “Hello?”

  “Chris, it’s me, Velma, I need your help.”

  Chris put down the beer bottle and sat up straight.

  “What’s wrong, baby?”

  “It’s ah...”

  “Velma?”

  “Peter has been murdered, and I’m the main suspect. Chris, I need your help, your professional help, and Jake’s too.”

  “Oh God, Velma, what the hell happened?”

  Velma explained the little she knew, and when she was done, Chris moaned.

  “It sounds like a mess, but don’t worry, we’ll be there soon and get things cleared up.”

  “Chris, I love you, baby.”

  “I love you too, Velma. I swear I do.”

  “Please hurry, I need you.”

  “Yes, see you soon.”

  Chris hung up, dialed again, and heard a gruff voice answer.

  “Hello?”

  “Granddad, it’s Chris.”

  ***

  Pachaw, Texas

  Trace Pruitt smiled at Sheriff Hennessy, but the lawman didn’t smile back at him.

  “Exactly what is it you were doing with Peter Gates in Atlantic City, Mr. Pruitt?”

  “That’s confidential, Sheriff, I’m sure you understand.”

  As Pruitt talked, he was looking with interest at the young, blond Deputy West, who was standing to the left of Hennessy’s chair. For her part, West stared back at him with a blank gaze.

  “Deputy West,” Hennessy said.

  “Yes, Sheriff?”

  “Please place Mr. Pruitt here into one of the cells. I think he needs time to gather his thoughts.”

  “Whoa!” Pruitt said. “What cell, I was kidding, what do you want to know?”

  Hennessy leaned forward in his chair and stared at Pruitt until the man looked away in discomfort.

  “I want to know everything, Pruitt, and the second I think that you’re lying or holding something back I’ll walk you into a cell myself, now talk.”

  Pruitt did, starting with the first email he received from the client he called Madam X and ending with his visit to Gates’ trailer the night before.

  Hennessy leaned back in his seat.

  “You came all this way on the off chance that Gates would find the money his brother stole? But didn’t you know? That money was either recovered or washed down a sinkhole.”

  “Some of it was, yeah, but I figured that Gates’ brother must have told him that he’d hidden it there, or at least some of it, because there could have been as much as one million, but only a few thousand was accounted for.”

  “Hell, Gates’ wife said that her husband had been searching that land for over a year with a metal detector while looking for a strongbox. If it was there, he should have found it.”

  Pruitt shrugged.

  “I was following a hunch.”

  “You say you saw Velma Parker on the plane, does she know you?”

  “No, but I guess that she would recognize me now.”

  “And this mysterious client, this Madam X, any idea who she is?”

  “No, she paid me with money orders, but she sounds hot, I’ll tell you that.”

  Hennessy turned in his chair and looked at West.

  “Deputy, but out an APB on a woman with a hot voice, oh yeah, and she goes by the name of Madam X.”

  “Ha ha,” Pruitt said. “Hey, can I go now?”

  “You can leave here, but stay in the area. I’m not done with you.”

  Pruitt looked away from Hennessy and spoke to Deputy West.

  “If you need me for anything, I’m in Room 12 at the Penn Motel.”

  Deputy West returned Pruitt’s gaze with the same blank stare.

  “Goodbye, Mr. Pruitt,” Hennessy said.

  Pruitt rose from his seat and left the office.

  Hennessy pointed at the door.

  “It’s dudes like him that give New York City a bad name. Keep an eye on him, Amy, hmm?”

  “Yes sir,” West said, and then she too left the office.

  Hennessy got up from his seat, poured a cup of coffee, and as he looked out the window, he tried to put a face to the man or woman who killed Peter Gates.

  ***

  New York City

  The old man left his apartment when he heard the elevator doors open, and met Chris and Jake in the office.

  He patted Chris on the arm.

  “Don’t you worry, boy, you’ll be bringing Velma home.”

  “How soon can we leave?”

  “I won’t be going; Jakey will be running point on this one.”

  Jake had been sitting on the sofa, but he stood and walked over to his grandfather.

  “I think we’d all feel better about it if you were there.”

  The old man looked at Chris.

  “I want to speak to your brother alone.”

  “Yes sir,” Chris said, and then he went back into the outer office.

  “What’s up?” Jake said.

  The old man took him by the shoulders and stared into his eyes.

  “It’s your time now, boy. Go to Texas and show them what it means to be a Caliber.”

  “I know I can handle it, it’s just that this is about Velma. I know she didn’t kill anyone, but the evidence is not in her favor, and if I fail on this one, the stakes are huge.”

  “And that’s why you won’t fail, because you can’t.”

  Jake nodded.

  “I understand, and I won’t let you down.”

  The old man grinned.

  “Hell, boy, you’re the best there is, believe it.”

  They heard the elevator chime and walked out to see who had arrived.

  It was Gail, and she was giving Chris a hug.

  Jake kissed her on the cheek.

  “Hello Mother, what brings you here?”

  “I’ve come to see you off at the jet.”

  “What time will it be ready?” Chris asked.

  “You’ll be leaving at two.”

  “That’s good, and I didn’t even know that Caliber had a corporate jet.”

  “We actually don’t, but we’re in a program where you can rent them when you need them. I nearly closed our account earlier this year for lack of use, and now I’m glad that I didn’t.”

  Chris kissed his mother and headed for the elevator.

  “I’ll meet you all at the airport. I want to get Rayne; we might need her.”

  Jake raised an eyebrow.

  “Do you think that’s a good idea, Little Brother?”

  “Yes, she’s got a ton of investigative experience and... I trust her, even though it’s about Velma, I trust her.”

  “Go,” Jake said.

  After the elevator doors closed, Gail looked back and forth at the old man and Jake.

  “What’s this about Rayne?”

  Jake grinned.

  “Chris has been a bad boy.”

  CHAPTER 13

  New York City

  Rayne opened her door and smiled at Chris.

  “I didn’t expect you back this soon.”

  She reached up, put her arms around his neck, and kissed him, but Chris pushed her away.

  “I need to talk to you, an
d this time I really do mean talk. Actually, I need a favor, and a promise.”

  Rayne studied his face.

  “Something’s wrong, what is it?”

  Chris guided her over to the sofa and then explained to her what had happened. When he was finished, Rayne stood and began pacing.

  “This is partly my fault. Oh Chris, I’m so sorry.”

  “It doesn’t really matter why Velma is there, what matters is discovering who is framing her, and other than Jake and my granddad, you’re the best detective I know. Will you help her, Rayne, will you help, Velma?”

  “Of course, my God, you don’t even have to ask. Velma and I are rivals but I don’t hate her, and I don’t believe for a second that she killed Gates.”

  “Fine, but please pack a quick bag, we have to get to the airport. My mother has gotten a jet for us.”

  “Just give me a minute and I’ll be ready to leave.”

  Rayne headed towards her bedroom, but stopped short.

  “What was that promise you wanted me to make to you?”

  Chris walked over and stared into her eyes.

  “I want you to promise me that you won’t do anything to harm Velma.”

  Rayne took a step backwards.

  “What the hell do you think I am? I love you, but I wouldn’t send Velma to prison for a chance with you. Tell me you don’t believe that.”

  Chris hugged her.

  “No, baby, and forget I said anything. If I really believed that about you, then, I wouldn’t be here.”

  “Velma will be fine, Chris, and we’ll all come home together.”

  “Thank you.”

  Rayne went into the bedroom to pack and Chris plopped onto the sofa, while praying that he was doing the right thing involving Rayne.

  CHAPTER 14

  Pachaw, Texas

  Emmy Gates sat inside the Roadhouse Bar & Grill and told Roxana and Bronco about Peter’s murder.

  “So, I guess the area is all taped off with that yellow crime scene tape they use, hmm?” Bronco said.

  Emmy shook her head.

  “I think it says Arson Investigation, and the tape is red.”

  “Still, there will be official types looking around out there, and by now, the sheriff knows that Gates was searching for that money.”

  Bronco looked thoughtful for a moment, before turning to Roxana, who was sitting in the booth on his left.

  “We’ll go in tonight. The sky will be clear, there’s a mostly full moon, and with any luck we’ll find that money before the sun comes up.”