Double Trouble

by Scott Wittenburg

  “How long, then?”

  “A week or so?”

  “Shit, I need it sooner than that. What if I paid you double time—could you get it done quicker?”

  Ling let out a long sigh. “Jesus, man. Okay, I’ll put a rush on it and see if I can fit it in. And you can forget the tip—you know me better than that. When are you bringing it over?”

  “Well, that’s another issue. I’m down in Milldale so I’ll have to Fed Ex it to you. You’ll get it tomorrow.”

  “Actually, that’s better. I couldn’t touch it today anyway. So what are you looking for on this thing?”

  “To make a long story short, it belonged to a woman who was just murdered. Amanda’s childhood friend, who’s the ex-husband of the deceased, is suspected of murdering her. We’re trying to prove his innocence so I’m looking for anyone else who could be a suspect.”

  “Amanda?”

  “Yeah, you know—the girl that helped me nab the perp in the McPherson case. An old friend of Julie’s.”

  “Aha, now I remember. So you’ve got a new girlfriend.”

  “Christ, Charlie! Why are you always trying to get me married off? This is actually a business arrangement—I’m thinking about partnering up with her on some of my cases. She’s got a sharp mind and will be a nice addition.”

  “And she just so happens to be beautiful from what you told me before,” he pressed.

  “Yes, that’s true. Can we get back to the computer now? I’m looking for any correspondence—deleted or otherwise—that this woman may have had through emails or social networking. Jodi, the deceased, has supposedly been living like an old maid for the past year since she and her husband divorced. I need to find out if that’s true or if somebody else is in the picture. Somebody who was looking for romance or sniffing around for a piece of pie. Also, I want to take a look at any images that may have been deleted you can retrieve. Got the idea?”

  “Yeah, and it sounds like this could take more time than I have.”

  “Maybe not. It’s an older laptop with only a couple hundred gigs or so. Plus the cops have already looked at it, although I doubt they scanned the entire drive. Just do me a favor and see what the situation is. If it looks like some sort of major time taker, we’ll go from there. Okay?”

  “Alright. I’ll give it a preliminary scan and report back anything relevant.”

  “Thanks, you da man! I’ll ship it out as soon as I can find a place here to do it—should be on your doorstep tomorrow.”

  “I’ll look out for it.”

  “See ya, dude.”

  He disconnected and called Amanda.

  “I meant to ask you, is there a Fed Ex or UPS in this town?”

  “Could be, hold on.”

  Alan realized she was probably Googling it right now and felt a bit guilty for not simply doing it himself. The girl hadn’t been in this one horse town for years and probably wouldn’t know any more about the local shipping facilities than he did.

  “There’s a Pack and Ship store with UPS on your way out of town. No Fed Exes. It’s on Front Street a couple of blocks before you reach the bridge. It’ll be on your left.”

  “Awesome, thanks.”

  “What are you sending?”

  “Jodi’s laptop. I’m going to have my ‘puter hacker friend take a good look at it for possible evidence.”

  “Oh, I see. Well, I just pulled up in front of Summer Moore’s house. Looks like there’s a car in the driveway.”

  “Good. Let me know what you find out.”

  “Okay.”

  A few minutes later Alan slowed down and began looking for the UPS store. He took the laptop inside, paid the man to have it packed and shipped overnight to Charlie Ling’s home in Columbus. It cost about as much to ship as the computer was worth.

  He wasn’t sure how wide he should spread his net to question Jodi’s neighbors. Because her home was in such an isolated area, he doubted there was more than a handful of residences close enough to have been able to see or hear anything the day of her murder.

  He pulled out his iPhone, clicked on Google Maps, clicked the GPS icon and switched to satellite mode. When the pulsating blue circle appeared on the screen he zoomed out to get a better view of the surrounding area. As expected, the homes were few and far between. He did his best to locate Jodi’s house on the screen but it was impossible to negotiate and keep an eye on the road at the same time. It would have to wait until he got closer.

  Several miles further he pulled over and parked along the berm then brought up the nearby area on the phone’s screen. He knew Jodi’s house would be to the southeast of his present location so he scrolled along the narrow roads until he found it. Her place was only accessible from the same road on which he was parked. There were a couple of neighbor’s houses about a half mile before the gravel road leading up to Jodi’s home and a single farm house located a mile or so beyond it.

  He pulled back out onto the road and drove another five minutes until he reached the first of the homes he wanted to canvass. The house was a small single story situated around forty feet from the road. He pulled into driveway, went up to the door and knocked. A moment later an elderly woman greeted him.

  “Can I help ya?” she said.

  “Hello, my name’s Alan Swansea and I’m a private investigator. I was wondering if you’d mind answering a couple of questions.”

  “Depends on what you’re investigating,” she replied. “I don’t like meddling in other folks’ affairs.”

  “Oh, it’s nothing like that. I’m investigating the murder of your neighbor, Jodi Wilburn.”

  “I should have known. Horrible thing—but I’ve already spoken to the sheriff about that.”

  “I understand, and I promise I’ll be brief. Did you by any chance see or hear anything unusual that day?”

  “Like I told the sheriff, nothing comes to mind. I’m an old woman, Mister um—”

  “Swansea.”

  “Swansea. I don’t see so well and I don’t exactly spend the day staring out the window for unusual things to happen either. Nothing going on I can recall, other than the occasional car or truck passing by. That’s it.”

  “Do you remember seeing a blue SUV?

  “No, not off hand.”

  “I see. How well did you know Mrs. Wilburn?”

  “Hardly none at all. Oh, I’d see her jogging once in a while and chat with her about the weather—wave to her when she’d drive by in her little car. She seemed to be a nice girl, friendly.”

  “What did think of her ex-husband, Nick?”

  “He seemed like a fine young man. Helped me get my power on one day once after a hellish thunderstorm.”

  “Did they seem to get along okay—as a couple?”

  “Far as I could tell. Not that I saw them together that often except when they drove by. The husband wasn’t much of a jogger.”

  “Just one last question. Did you ever see Jodi with another man? Or notice any men other than her husband heading toward their house?”

  “You asking if she was unfaithful? Not that I know of.”

  “Well, thanks for your time, ma’am. I appreciate it. Here’s my card if you think of anything else.”

  She took the card he handed her, glanced at it and said, “Hope you find whoever murdered that little gal. I don’t know what’s happening in this world anymore—ain’t safe anywhere you go.”

  “I know what you mean. Well, have a nice day.”

  Alan pulled away and drove to the next house. There were no cars in the driveway and the place looked abandoned. As he drew closer he saw a lockbox on the front door and noted that the windows were uncovered. He got out and peeked inside. Not a stick of furniture anywhere.

  Disgruntled, he headed for the last house on his list. He passed by the road leading to Jodi’s and arrived at a two-story farmhouse a couple of minutes later. Pulling into the driveway he saw a middle aged woman standing over a lawnmower near the back of the house. He got out and
walked over to her.

  “You lost?” she said, eying him suspiciously.

  “No, ma’am. I’m investigating the murder of Jodi Wilburn and wonder if you’d mind answering a couple of questions.”

  “The sheriff’s already been here.”

  “I’m a private investigator working for Ken Barker. He’s the attorney representing Mrs. Wilburn’s ex-husband.”

  “I see. Okay, damn mower won’t start anyway—too cold, I guess. Shoot.”

  “Thanks. Were you by any chance at home the day the crime took place?”

  “Yup, all day. My son was at work and I was doing some housecleaning. There’s just the two of us living here. Husband ran off on us a few years ago.”

  “Sorry to hear that.”

  “Don’t be. Best thing that ever happened to me. The man was a drunk and a womanizer. Couldn’t trust him any further than you could throw him. So I say goodbye to bad rubbish.”

  “Uh-huh. So, did you see anything unusual that day? Strangers driving around or anything like that?”

  “Nope. Traffic was really light that day so I would’ve noticed anybody lookin’ suspicious. In fact, I’d just gotten the mail and was coming back up the driveway when I saw one of the sheriff’s deputies drive by. I remember thinking how rare it is to see the law around here. It’s about as dead as it gets in this part of the county—nothing ever happens. Especially something like this.”

  “About what time was that?”

  “Must have been just past noon—that’s around the time the mail comes.”

  “And you mentioned this to the sheriff when he questioned you?”

  “I did. He actually acted kinda odd when I told him—like he was surprised to hear there’d been a patrol car in the area.”

  Alan felt his pulse quicken. What’s this all about?

  “Did you get a good look at who was driving the patrol car?”

  “Naw.”

  “Then how do you know it was a deputy and not the sheriff himself?”

  “Like I said, Sheriff Foley never told me otherwise so I reckon it was a deputy.”

  “I see. And which way was the patrol car headed?

  She pointed to the west, away from the Wilburn house. “That way.”

  “I’m sure he’s already asked you, but did you happen to see Nick Wilburn that day? He would’ve been driving a blue Toyota SUV.”

  “Never saw him. But to be honest, I don’t know how anybody could think he’d murder his wife. It was obvious he loved her an awful lot.”

  “Oh yeah? And why do you say that?”

  “They invited me and Billy to their place a couple of times. Nick was really into firing up the grill in the summer and they would have us over. Lord, he made the best ribs you ever ate! Anyway, he and Jodi were attached at the hip—always clinging to each other and such. I was surprised when they split up, I can tell you that. Heard he played around on her, but that’s just a rumor. All I know is that he could never have killed her. Never in a million years.”

  “Well, thanks so much for your help, ma’am. Do you mind telling me your name?”

  “Esther Weems.”

  “Thanks, Esther. Would you like a hand with that mower?”

  “That’d be awful nice of you.”

  Alan walked over, took hold of the cord and pulled it hard. There were a couple of sputters but it failed to start. He reached down, primed it and tried again. It roared to life.

  “Thank you,” Esther hollered above the din of the old Toro.

  Alan handed her one of his cards. “You’re welcome. Please give me a call if you think of anything you may have forgotten.”

  “Will do.”

  She took over the mower as Alan headed back to the Pilot.

  His thoughts were in overdrive as he backed out and headed toward the Wilburn house. The possibility that the sheriff might have something to do with this weighed heavy on his mind. The law officer’s involvement might explain his overbearing presence and insistence that Nick was the murderer. It would also explain why he seemed so concerned that Alan had been hired to investigate the case.

  Alan recalled the police report stating that Jodi’s mother had asked her husband to drive out here to check on Jodi at around noon. It would have taken him at least fifteen or twenty minutes to make the drive. That meant the patrol car had been spotted approximately a half hour prior to Mr. Brooks’ arrival.

  Could that have been the sheriff making his getaway? What were the odds of there being a patrol car around just prior to Jodi’s body being found by her father and just prior to his contacting the authorities to report it?

  But if Foley were the perp, what was his motive?

  Who was he kidding? The guy was an arrogant sonofabitch and he wouldn’t put it past him. Foley was a high-ranking law officer who could easily have found out about Jodi’s stash through the small town’s legal pipeline. Young woman living alone inherits a small fortune from her grandmother and doesn’t like banks so she keeps the spoils hidden away at her home.

  Certainly not implausible.

  He would have to take a look at Foley—see what he might be up to. Tailing a law officer would be touchy but not undoable.

  He headed toward the Wilburn house in earnest. He had left the place yesterday feeling as though he hadn’t been thorough enough. He was accustomed to working alone and still getting used to having a partner. Then the sheriff had shown up before he’d really had a chance to finish his investigation of the crime scene.

  But as he drew nearer to the house, he spotted something that made him brake to a complete stop.

  Parked in the driveway was a sheriff’s department patrol car.

  CHAPTER 8

  Summer Moore was a lanky redhead who wore too much makeup and appeared as though she had partied a few too many times. She looked absurd in her denim mini skirt and mid-calf suede boots, pretending she was twenty years younger than she actually was. The perennial teenager, Amanda thought.

  “I nearly died when I heard what happened to Jodi,” she said. “It was such a damn shock, you know—I’d just been out with her a couple of nights before. And then all of a sudden, just like that, she’s gone. So sad.”

  Amanda continued standing as Summer leaned back against her front porch railing.

  “What were you doing when you last saw her?”

  “Oh, we just went down to the Brewery for a few drinks. That’s about it.”

  “Was anybody else with you, or was it just the two of you?”

  “Just the two of us.”

  “Jodi’s mom mentioned that Jillian Weathers was also a friend. Do you happen to know her phone number?”

  “Sure. But Jillian doesn’t hang out much since she moved in with Keith.”

  Summer recited the phone number as Amanda punched it into her iPhone.

  “Thanks. Was Jodi seeing anybody?”

  “No. She didn’t want to get mixed up with anyone after Nick pulled his little stunt. That whole thing really hurt her bad. I remember her vowing she would never ever have anything to do with men after the divorce and I just thought to myself, yeah right. But in all this time, she held tough. Hadn’t ever been with a single guy that I know of.”

  “Did guys ever ask her out?”

  “All the time. As you probably know, Jodi was drop-dead gorgeous and the guys were always trying to pick her up. Used to make me kinda jealous, really. But she never took anybody up on it. I mean, she was always real sweet whenever she’d turn them down—not conceited or anything like that. She just plain wasn’t interested in men anymore.”

  “Were there any guys that seemed particularly persistent—who kept asking her out repeatedly in spite of her refusals?”

  “There’s one guy—Blaine Evans—who doesn’t know what the word ‘no’ means. He’d hit on Jodi every damn time he saw her out. And when she’d blow him off, he’d just smile and walk away. Then turn around and ask her out again the next time he saw her. Creepy guy.”

  “
When was the last time that happened?”

  “That night at the Brewery, as a matter of fact. Why are you asking all these questions, anyway?”

  Amanda keyed in Blaine Evans’ name. “I’m just trying to get a snapshot of everybody in Jodi’s life, that’s all. Does this Blaine guy seem like the violent type, capable of assault?”

  “I don’t know him too well, but I don’t think so. He’s not too swift in the brains department if you know what I mean. But he seems harmless enough.”

  “Did Jodi talk about Nick much?”

  “All the time. Between you and me, I don’t think she ever really got over him. I mean, she played a tough game, divorcing him so suddenly like that and all, but sometimes I thought she regretted it.”

  “How so?”

  “Oh, she was forever bringing up things they used to do together; how she wished he wouldn’t have fucked up like he’d done—pardon my French—because they could have started a family by now. Stuff like that. Funny thing is whenever I’d say something like, ‘then why don’t you just give Nick another chance?’ she’d blow me off. Like that was the most absurd thing I could ever ask her.”

  “So she was in denial?”

  “That’s one way to put it.”

  “Do you think Nick murdered Jodi?”

  Summer’s eyes widened. “No way!”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “Because Nick loved Jodi way too much. And he’s a good guy. He just plain could never have done that to her.”

  “Could you tell me the name of the hair salon where Jodi worked?”

  “Hair Plus. It’s down on Court Street.”

  “Great. Just one more question. Do you recall Jodi ever mentioning giving Nick some old coins? Coins she received from her grandmother’s estate?”

  “No. The only thing she ever said about her grandma was how much she missed her.”

  “I see. Well thanks for your time. Here’s a card. Please give me a call if you think of anything else.”

  “No problem. Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  “Did you know Jodi?”

  “Yes, I did. I used to live in Milldale years ago and Nick was my neighbor. He and Jodi started going steady back when we were all in middle school.”