Corridor Man Volumes 1, 2, 3,4 5

by Nick James

  “Why not copy them all?”

  “I can do that, and I fully intend to, but I want to make sure I get the more important ones first. Once those are copied I’ll move on the others.”

  Luis seemed to think about that, then nodded.” Please help yourself to some breakfast.”

  Once he finished breakfast Miguel drove Bobby to the office. No sooner had they pulled out onto the downtown street then Bobby’s cellphone gave off a noise signaling three phone messages. The first was from Bishop Dalton, who had apparently changed his mind and wanted to talk to Bobby. The second was from Emily saying she saw the news report about the shooting and was he all right? The third was from Detective Carrick telling, not asking, but telling him to call as soon as he got the message. Bobby checked the time the call had come through. Just a little before nine last night, a full hour before Luis received the call telling him the woman had been known to police.

  Bobby pushed the button to return the call.

  “Carrick.”

  “Detective, this is Bobby Custer returning your call from last night.”

  Miguel glanced in the rearview mirror and caught Bobby’s eye.

  “Where are you, Custer?”

  “Just now, I’m in my car heading toward the office. Actually, I just got your message. I spent the evening at a friend’s.”

  “How convenient.”

  “I’m sure you’re referring to the incident in front of my building last night. I heard about it on the news and decided I wasn’t all that excited about going home.”

  “Where were you around six last night?”

  “Around six? I was at the Salt Cellar having a drink with a friend, after that we went to my apartment to grab a bottle of wine, then drove to his place. I think that must have happened just after we left. You guys got any leads?”

  “We’ve got a couple people of interest. What’d you have at the Salt Cellar?”

  “My friend had a vodka martini, dirty, two as a matter of fact. I had a bourbon. The bartender’s name was Gary and I’ve got a credit card receipt if you’d like to see it.”

  “Lucky you. Just wanted to make sure you were okay. Wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “That’s really nice of you, Detective. I appreciate your concern.”

  “Yeah, well don’t leave town and it might be a good idea if you hang onto that receipt.”

  “I appreciate the advice, Detective.”

  Carrick hung up.

  “That the cop?” Miguel asked looking in the rearview mirror again.

  “Yeah, you never know with him. God, I wish I would have kept my mouth shut in that damn elevator.”

  “You asked who it was and I said it was a neighbor. If we’re ever asked, by anyone, we stick to the story. Just say it was a woman who took her time getting off the elevator on the floor below you. I don’t recall, is there a security camera in the lobby of the building?”

  “Not that I’m aware of. Christ, that’s all we need. You get rid of that gun?”

  “Got it all cleaned up and left it next to the bench at a bus stop near a high school. Now we just need some stupid kid to pick it up and try and pull a robbery.”

  “You going to look at the new place today?”

  “Right after I drop you off.”

  “I’ve got some things to do in the office, I’ll call for a ride sometime after three, that work for you?”

  “I’ll make it work. After all, you’re the boss. You call, I’m there,” Miguel said and then pulled to the curb in front of Bobby’s office.

  “Maybe I didn’t tell you last night, but thanks Miguel. Hopefully this is all going to shake out our way.”

  “I hope so. Now, let me walk you to the elevator.”

  “You know, I don’t think I’ll ever argue with you about that again.”

  Miguel put the flashers on, then walked around to Bobby’s side of the car. After a careful look around, he opened the door, then escorted Bobby into the building. They nodded at the two guards behind the security desk, then Bobby stepped onto an empty elevator and rode up to his office. Miguel took another look around, then headed back to the Mercedes.

  Chapter Nineteen

  It was after the noon hour when Bobby unlocked his office door. He gave a quick glance into Bennett’s office, but he was nowhere to be seen, undoubtedly already at the bar of his club, enjoying a beverage before his ritual lunch and sauna.

  Bobby stepped into his office, left the door open, and headed for his desk. He phoned Emily first.

  “Please don’t tell me your canceling,” she whined.

  “Depends what you have in mind,” Bobby said, remembering the call would come up as the firm’s phone number.

  “Oh, hey, Bobby, you caught me by surprise. I was afraid it was someone calling to cancel on the bridal shower.”

  “No, just me. You’re doing a bridal shower and a baby shower? Wow, busy lady.”

  “Oh, oh, did I say bridal? Kind of stressed out, I meant baby, yeah the baby shower.”

  “When is it?”

  “The shower? Oh, umm, we’re having it this weekend. We’ve got a final planning meeting Friday night and then the actual shower Saturday afternoon. It’s bound to go into the evening. God, I’ll be an absolute wreck and totally worthless all day Sunday.”

  Bobby took that to mean she was going to San Francisco with Bennett for the weekend. Which meant she’d probably lower the boom on him Wednesday or Thursday night of next week.

  “Sounds like you’re really busy.”

  “Oh God, I’m so sorry, but I really am. Are you going to think I’m a real bitch if I ask for another rain check?”

  “No, not at all. Tell you what, you take lots of pictures at that shower. I’m going to want to see them.”

  “Sure you do. Bunch of women playing stupid baby shower games. I’m sure you can live without seeing a…”

  “No, really, Emily. I love that stuff. I’m serious, I want to see the pictures. It sounds like it will really be fun. Hey, listen, would love to chat, but I got another call coming in. I’ve been waiting to hear from this guy all morning.”

  “Wait a minute, what about that shooting last night? They had a picture of your building on the news. What happened?”

  “You know as much as me. I wasn’t there at the time, the street was still blocked off when I got home. Look, I got to run and catch this call. See you, bye, bye,” he said then hung up.

  So, Bennett was taking her to San Francisco this weekend. Might be the perfect time to copy Montcreff files, sneak into Emily’s, and download whatever new files she had on her computer.

  He phoned Bishop Dalton next. The receptionist put him on hold while she checked to see if Dalton would accept his call. A moment later he picked up, “Mr. Custer, sorry about that, thank you for holding.”

  “Not a problem. I’m returning your call from last night. Sorry I couldn’t get back to you, I was…indisposed at the time,” Bobby said, then conjured up a vision of himself snuggling in bed, with one arm around Gabriella and the other around Maria.

  “I was just thinking that I may have been a little hasty in my rather unfortunate dismissal of your offer to meet. I was hoping you might be willing to reconsider.”

  “Oh, by all means,” Bobby said then wondered what had happened that suddenly had Dalton calling back. Another ethics committee problem? “I’m a little tied up for the rest of today. Would a lunch meeting work tomorrow?”

  “Lunch? I think I can move some things around and make room for that. Where would you like to meet?”

  “You know Luigi’s?” Bobby asked.

  “I do indeed, excellent choice.”

  “Can we make it late, say one?”

  “That would actually work better for me,” Dalton said. “Appreciate you calling me back, Mr. Custer.”

  “Please, call me Bobby.”

  “And please call me Bishop,” Dalton said.

  Bobby hung up the phone, not quite sure there w
ould be room for Dalton’s ego in a small office working on very secure items. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to talk to the man. He was about to head back to the file room when his cell rang. Luis.

  “Yes, Luis,” Bobby answered on the second ring.

  “I just received the word. She is dead. Her name is Arlene Davis, or Arnetta David, or Alexa Daven.”

  “What? They aren’t sure who she is, can’t identify her?”

  “No, those are the names she’s used in the past. Well known to the police for a variety of offenses.”

  “Such as?”

  “Solicitation, intent to distribute, shoplifting, bad checks, welfare fraud, drunk driving. I believe there’s an assault charge as well as a domestic abuse in there somewhere, too.”

  “How does she go from that low-level, dead-end stuff, to murder?”

  “That’s what they don’t know. What they suspect is someone put her up to it and probably paid her in drugs. There are indications of injections on her body, I’m guessing heroin use.”

  “Did they find a gun with her?”

  “Yes, thank God, she was armed. Right now they’re thinking a drug deal gone bad, maybe some sort of street rip-off. The only association with the building, at this point, seems to be the entryway.

  “Did my name come up?”

  “Not that I’m aware of. It’s looking like it just happened to be at that time and place. Pure coincidence.”

  “I still think it would be wise to move. If whoever is behind this didn’t know I had security, they sure as hell do now. I’m thinking they’ll probably try again,” Bobby said.

  “I agree, I don’t think there’s any probably about it. Next time they’ll have their act together. I want you here again tonight. You do not go near your building without Miguel. Is that clear?”

  “You don’t have to tell me twice. Thank you for the call, Luis.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Bobby phoned Miguel, and told him he would be working late. He passed on the information from Luis about the shooting, and then told Miguel to pick him up later that evening around nine. He checked again for Bennett, but didn’t see him, and so he headed back to the file room.

  “I’m taking off. Don’t work too late,” Dorsey said a little after five.

  Once Dorsey left, Bobby locked the file room door from the inside, then started making copies of the files he’d marked as important. For the next three and a half hours he made copies of documents. He placed the copies in the firm’s files and placed the originals in files he had labeled exactly like the firm’s. When he was finished he had a stack of files close to two feet high. He emptied a box filled with reams of paper, placed the files holding the originals in the box, and put the box on a two wheeled dolly and brought it down to the first floor. Miguel was there waiting for him, chatting with one of the guards at the security desk. The guard looked like a college kid who figured getting paid to stay up all night and study for whatever class he was taking over the summer would be a pretty good gig.

  “We’re spending the night with Luis again,” Bobby said as he pulled the dolly out from underneath the box full of files. “Load this in the trunk and I’ll be back down in a couple of minutes.” Then he hurried back onto the elevator and up to the office. He checked the file room to make sure nothing looked amiss, then locked up and headed back down to the first floor.

  “I suppose we should think about picking up some dinner,” he said from the back seat. He’d been looking out the window as Miguel drove toward Luis’s building, and suddenly felt hungry.

  “I hope you don’t mind, but I already had something to eat. After looking at the new building the three of us grabbed a quick meal.”

  “Did you like it, the new unit?”

  “Yes, very much. Similar to where Luis lives. I mean it’s on the top floor of a tall building. But there is no swimming pool,” Miguel said and turned to look at Bobby in the back seat. “Will that be a problem for you?”

  “No. Good God, I don’t need a swimming pool to look after,” he laughed. “The rooms, how were they?”

  “It has a nice kitchen, a dining room off the kitchen. There is a living room, three bedrooms, each with its own bathroom and then back by the kitchen, a room that could be used as a small office.”

  “So you liked it?”

  “Yes, very much. It’s bigger than where we are now. And safer, better for you.”

  “Sounds like it will be better for both of us. Did anyone mention when we move? I suppose they have to talk to the owner and…”

  “Luis is the owner. And when we move? You could be there tonight if you want to be.”

  “It’s furnished?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “I’ll talk to Luis then. To make sure he agrees,” Bobby said.

  Miguel pulled up to the door that led to the underground garage in Luis’s building. He looked up and down the street before he pushed the button to open the door. Once they drove inside he stopped, lowered the door, and waited until it was completely closed before he pulled ahead.

  “I think for now we’ll leave those files in the trunk of the car. Tomorrow, after you drop me at the office, you can take them to our new home and leave them in the room that will serve as the office. But first, better let me check with Luis just to make sure he is in agreement.”

  Bobby found Luis in his office, sitting behind his desk with a map spread out. Two men were seated on a couch that was up against the wall. They looked familiar. He thought they may have been introduced at some point, but Bobby could not remember their names. The door to the office was open and Bobby knocked on the door frame.

  Luis looked up from the map and the two men on the couch turned to look, both men on the couch remained expressionless.

  Luis smiled and said, “Yes, Bobby, welcome. How was your day? Successful, I hope.”

  “Yes, actually it was very successful. Luis, forgive my interruption. When you are finished, if I could have a minute of your time. I’d like to discuss my move and make sure you are in agreement with what I have planned. I also want to check with you on the placing of some legal files.”

  Luis nodded, then smiled. “We shouldn’t be much longer here. Have you had anything to eat?”

  “No, I was going to…”

  “I believe Maria is still in the kitchen working, and I’m sure she would have something you would enjoy,” Luis said and chuckled more to himself than the room. The two men on the couch smiled. One of them said something in Spanish to Luis which brought a round of laughter from all three.

  “I’ll check with her.”

  “I’ll let you know when we’re finished here,” Luis said, then returned to his map, dismissing Bobby.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  He wandered out to the kitchen area. Maria was alone in the kitchen, seated at the granite topped counter in the middle of the room sipping a glass of red wine while she polished silver from a large wooden chest.

  “Hi, Maria. Luis mentioned there might be something I could get from you for dinner.”

  Her eyes brightened when she looked up and saw him. She immediately jumped off the kitchen stool and hurried toward him. “You can have anything you want. I have a dish in the oven it you would like to try it,” she said then stood facing him for a long moment staring into his eyes.

  “Thank you,” he said, not knowing what else to say and very aware she was not talking just about dinner at the moment. “Thank you for your company last night. You are very…gifted.”

  “It is I who should thank you,” she said and smiled, maybe even blushed. She suddenly stood on her tip-toes, gave him a kiss, brushing against him before she pulled away, and hurried to the far end of the kitchen counter. She grabbed a kitchen towel and wrapped it around her hand then opened an oven door.

  “I saved this special for you, Mr. Bobby. You’ll like it, no?”

  “Yes, that will be perfect,” he said as the aroma from the dish suddenly drifted toward him. She set the gla
ss pan on a metal trivet. There was red meat and what looked like tomato’s and maybe red peppers with something else he couldn’t quite identify. The enticing smell caused his stomach to suddenly growl loudly.

  “Mmm-mmm, I’d better hurry to get this on the plate for you. Do you wish to eat in the dining room? You’ll be alone.”

  “Would it be all right if I joined you here? Ate at the counter?”

  “I would be blessed. You always give me pleasure,” she said as she took a plate down from a cabinet and ladled a large helping of the dish onto the plate. She pulled a linen napkin from a drawer and set it at the far end of the counter where she had been sitting. She pulled a knife and fork from the box of silver she had been polishing and said “Please, sit while I get you something to drink. You would like some wine, yes?”

  “If you have some open.”

  “Of course, always,” she said then reached alongside the refrigerator for a wine glass and an open bottle, a red.

  “I hope Luis won’t mind,” Bobby half joked.

  “Oh no, he rarely drinks the wine. And never from the bottle that has already been open.”

  “Really?”

  “Oh, yes, just to be safe. He is always very careful,” she said filling a glass for Bobby and pushing it across the counter toward him. She topped up her glass, set the bottle on the counter, then sat down and started polishing again. Once Bobby shoveled a forkful of food into his mouth, she said, “Is good, no?”

  He nodded, indicated a full mouth by pointing his finger, then chewed and swallowed. “Yes, it’s good, very good, Maria. Delicious. You cooked this?”

  For a moment she looked surprised at the question, then smiled. “It is what I do. In the kitchen, I am the boss.”

  They chatted for another twenty or thirty minutes. Maria refilled their wine glasses and told Bobby about growing up near the ocean and walking in the waves as a little girl, how her mother taught her to cook and how she came to the US as a ten-year-old by hiding in a boxcar. They heard the sound of a door closing in another room and she was suddenly off the stool, clearing Bobby’s plate and silverware. A moment later, Luis walked into the kitchen. “Oh, so you were taken care of. I hope there was enough.”