Family Secrets: A Jake Badger Mystery Thriller

by Glenn Rogers

  “Exactly,” I said. “And because of the work you did, I was able to solve the case. Do you have any idea how valuable you are to me?”

  “Based on the size of my paycheck, no.”

  “Mildred,” I said, “a talent like yours can't be rewarded with money. That would be tawdry. Instead, you have my undying devotion.”

  “Your devotion sustains me,” she said dryly. “What do you need?”

  “I need you to find everything you can on Lindell Industries. Go back to the beginning. Find everything there is to find.”

  “And how much time do I have to complete this thorough and extensive historical inquiry?”

  “Lunchtime.”

  “Great.”

  I smiled.

  “Do you have an extra minute?” she asked.

  “For you, always.”

  “I know you are busy and I don’t usually do this sort of thing, but I have a favor to ask you.”

  Whatever it was, I could see that it was serious. “No problem. What is it?”

  “It’s my niece, Shannon. My sister’s daughter. She’s been dating a guy. Turns out that when he’s had a couple of drinks he gets mean. He’s been pushing her around. Hasn’t hit her yet, but she’s afraid he will. She’s tried to break it off with him but he won’t let her. Says they’re meant to be together. His parents and my sister are friends and Shannon doesn’t want to create a problem between them. She talked to me about it and I said I thought maybe I could help. I was wondering if you could have a talk with the young man and reason with him.”

  “Sure. Give me Shannon’s address. I’ll go by and visit with her and then have a chat with the young man.”

  Mildred gave me the information.

  “Call her and find out what time I can come by to see her. When you’ve got a time, call me.”

  *****

  I was on time for my ten-thirty appointment with Gavin Leonard. Gavin's fifth floor office suite suggested he was doing quite well. According to the marque in the lobby, he did estate planning, asset management, and investment advising. Probably a lot of overlap in those three specialties. My father's law firm did those same kinds of things, so I was familiar with the concepts. Gavin probably knew my dad. I wasn't planning on bringing it up.

  “Badger,” Gavin said once we were both seated. “Not a common name. Law firm in Santa Monica started by a Carlyle Badger. Any relation?”

  “My father,” I said.

  “Knew it,” Gavin said. “I can see the family resemblance.”

  Actually I look like my mother. But there was little point in arguing with the old gentleman, so I just smiled and nodded.

  “So how can I help you?” Gavin asked.

  “Jane Lindell passed away recently.”

  He sighed. “I didn't know that. I'm sorry.”

  I nodded. “I've been retained by a family member to investigate matters surrounding her departure thirty years ago. Your name is on a list of people who knew Jane before she left.”

  “And you want to know what I know,” Gavin said, “about Jane Lindell before her disappearance.”

  “Yes.”

  “Nothing,” Gavin said.

  “Nothing?”

  “Nothing.”

  “You just referred to her departure as a disappearance,” I said. “Why'd you use that word?”

  “Who put my name on this list you have?” Gavin asked.

  He was a crafty old bird. “Mr. Leonard,” I said, “you didn't answer my question.”

  “And you haven't answered mine.”

  “Her sister,” I said, after a moment. “June prepared the list. Did you know June as well?”

  “Yes. I knew both of the Lindell girls. Fine young women.”

  “Yes, I'm sure. Mr. Leonard, did you have contact with Jane Lindell days or weeks before her, as you call it, disappearance?”

  “I did.”

  “Are you aware of anything that was going on or that had happened that might have led to her departure?”

  He became pensive. “Not specifically,” he said. “But I remember she seemed sad. And she was concerned about asset accessibility.”

  “As in, she needed to access her assets?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you think she was concerned about money because she was planning to leave?”

  “In retrospect,” he said, “that appears to have been the case. But I can't be sure.”

  “I understand,” I said. “Can you think of anything that might have been an indication that she was preparing to leave?”

  He thought some more. “No. I'm sorry.”

  I handed him my card. “If you think of anything…”

  “I'll call,” he said.

  Chapter 12

  As I drove away from Gavin's office, I thought about the fact that Jane appeared to have planned her departure. She took the time to consult her attorney and financial advisor about access to her assets. That meant that whatever happened, it was something where she had time to plan and act in a considered manner. Did that mean she was not forced to leave? Not necessarily. She could have been pressured to leave, but given time to get some things in order before going. This was an important piece of information. The attorney had been more helpful than I thought he'd be.

  *****

  I got back to my office at eleven thirty. When I walked in, Mildred was at her computer. She said, “The story of Lindell Industries is more interesting than I would have imagined. Lyell Lindell is quite a man. Did you know he's still alive and active in the company?”

  “I knew he was alive. I didn't know he was still active in the company.”

  “Was there anything specific you wanted me to look for?” Mildred asked.

  “At this point, I don't know enough about what's going on to ask specific questions. So mostly I just need a lot of general information. But negative things, problems, scandals, those sorts of things might provide some insight.”

  “If I knew a little more about the case,” Mildred said, “I might have a better idea of what to look for.”

  She was right. So we went into my office and sat down. I explained the whole story about Jane and June Lindell. I also told her about the two security guys who tried to warn me off the case the day before.

  “So you think Lindell Industries or someone within Lindell Industries has something to hide,” Mildred said.

  I nodded.

  “And you're wondering if Jane somehow stumbled onto something that someone did not want exposed.”

  “Might be an angle to work from,” I said.

  She thought for a moment. “The two guys,” she said. “They gonna be a problem?”

  “Not those two.”

  “But maybe others?”

  “Maybe.”

  “And that's why you're carrying your gun?”

  “Better safe than sorry,” I said.

  She stood and walked to the door. “Don't take any unnecessary chances, Jake. Do you have any idea how hard it would be for me to find another investigator to replace you if you get yourself killed?”

  I smiled. “Yes, mother.”

  “Don't you get smart with me young man.”

  Mildred went back to the computer and her research on Lindell Industries. I heard her cell phone ring as I called Jane's therapist. Turns out Dr. Barbara Albert had closed her practice and retired five years ago. She had moved to Phoenix. I made some inquiries about her and was told that she was beginning to have trouble remembering. Files had been put in storage and due to doctor-patient confidentiality, would require a court order to access. So much for Dr. Albert. Jane’s medical doctor, however, Dr. Allen Burnwall, was still in practice. I was able to schedule a consultation for five o'clock.

  Mildred heard me hang up and came back into my side of the office. “Shannon got back to me. She can see you at four if that’s convenient.”

  I said it was and Mildred gave me her address. She lived in Van Nuys, a few blocks behind Presbyterian Hospital. I told Mil
dred I’d take care of it.

  In the meantime, I decided to go see the woman who lived next door to Jane and June when they'd first returned from Harvard. I stopped at Burger King for lunch on the way. Wilson and I ate in the Jeep and listened to the Moody Blues. I broke Wilson’s burger into four pieces and fed them to him. It took less than a minute for him to eat his burger. He then watched me very closely as I ate mine, hoping I would share. I gave him a few of my fries. He was pleased.

  The condo where Jane and June had lived thirty years ago was in Westwood. According to the list June gave me, Jennifer Grayson still lived there. I found the address and knocked on the door. Chances were good that she wouldn’t be home at two in the afternoon on a weekday. But after a moment, the door opened.

  “Jennifer Grayson?”

  “Yes. And you are?”

  I handed her my card. “I'm Jake Badger,” I said. Jennifer Grayson looked to be in her late-fifties. Her hair was red, a nice shade, but not natural. Her eyes were blue. She had an athletic figure. She spent money on her appearance. She was wearing a pair of jeans and a low cut sweater.

  She read my card and then looked up. I said, “I'm working for the family of Jane Lindell. She and her sister June used to live next door to you. I'm hoping you remember them and might be willing to talk with me about Jane.”

  “Why do we need to talk about Jane?”

  “Jane passed away recently,” I said. “Brain tumor.”

  “I'm sorry to hear that.”

  “Is this a convenient time for us to talk?” I asked.

  She looked me over and decided I was on the up and up. “Sure,” she said, stepping aside. “Please come in.”

  I sat on the sofa; Jennifer sat in a chair that sat at an angle to the sofa.

  “What would you like to know?” she asked.

  “Were you aware that Jane abandoned from her family and job?”

  “Yes.”

  “We're trying to figure out is why.”

  “I don't know why she left,” Jennifer said.

  “Tell me about your relationship with Jane and June,” I said.

  “We were neighbors. Friends. We were about the same age. I was maybe a couple of years older.”

  “Did you spend much time together?”

  “Not a lot. We were all working, trying to establish ourselves in a career. We would go out to eat sometimes, go shopping. Usually it was all three of us. But if June was working late, it might be just Jane and me. Sometimes it was Jane working late and it was just June and me.”

  “In the days or weeks before she left,” I said, “did you notice anything different about Jane?”

  Jennifer took a deep breath and began thinking. She shook her head. “It was such a long time ago.”

  I sat quietly.

  “What I remember,” she said, “was Jane sort of closing in on herself. She became very quiet. Kind of distant.”

  “Any idea why?” I asked.

  Jennifer shook her head. “None. But something was bothering her. It was like something had happened.”

  “Did you ask her?”

  “I asked her if everything was all right. She said she was just tired. That everything was fine. I knew it wasn't. But what are you going to do? You can't help someone who doesn't want help.”

  “I understand,” I said.

  I stood. “Well, you have my card. If you think of anything else ...”

  She interrupted me.

  “Wait. I do remember one other thing.”

  I sat back down.

  “The next time I saw her ... after I had asked her if anything was the matter and she had said she was just tired. She was coming in as I was going out. We spoke to each other and then I asked her again if there was anything I could help with. And she said, Do you have any experience with betrayal? I remember thinking that it was such a sad question. I didn't really know how to answer her. I guess I hesitated too long. Anyway, she smiled. It was kind of a sad smile. And she said, It doesn't matter. And she went in and closed the door.”

  I thought about it for a moment and then said, “Betrayal.”

  Jennifer nodded. “That’s what she asked me. Do you have any experience with betrayal?”

  Jennifer looked at me for a moment and then asked, “Who do you think betrayed her?”

  “Good question,” I said.

  Chapter 13

  On my way back to my office, I called June.

  When she answered I asked, “Are you positive Jane did not have a boyfriend?”

  “I'm pretty sure,” June said. “Why?”

  I told her about my conversation with Jennifer Grayson.

  June repeated her sister's question: “Do you have any experience with betrayal?”

  “What do you make of that?” I asked her.

  “It's rather cryptic, isn't it?” June said. “I've no idea what she could have been referring to. If she had a boyfriend, I was completely unaware of it.”

  “Is that possible?” I asked.

  “I suppose it's possible. But even if she had a boyfriend and he betrayed her in some way, why would that cause her to abandon her life?”

  “I don't know,” I said.

  We were both silent for a moment. Then June said, “By the way, Gillespie and Bickel no longer work for Lindell Industries. And if you'll press charges...”

  “No, there're not gonna be any charges pressed.”

  “Why not?”

  “It's not the way I work. Besides, I'm not the one who got hurt.”

  “Fine,” she said, sounding a little annoyed. “This is one of those macho things, isn’t it?”

  “Macho things?”

  “A tough guy thing,” she said.

  “Well, tough guy sounds better than macho,” I said

  “Whatever.”

  “Back to your sister,” I said. “Can you spend some time thinking about the betrayal thing?”

  “Sure.”

  “If you come up with anything, call me.”

  *****

  I got back to the office a little after three. Mildred was still busy at the computer.

  “Discover anything unsavory about Lindell Industries?” I asked.

  “Either everything in print about this company has been sanitized, or it is as squeaky clean as it appears to be.”

  “Does it seem to you,” I said, “that a company that deals in electronic weapons devices, has been doing business with the government since the late nineteen sixties, and is worth a little over one hundred and twenty billion dollars is likely to be squeaky clean?”

  “Not really,” she said.

  “I agree. Therefore, something is amiss.”

  “Time to call Alex?” Mildred asked.

  “I think so.”

  I called Alex's cell. When he answered, I said, “Something's come up. I need some information and it's not available in any of the places I have access to.”

  “Tell me.”

  I told him about the investigation, giving him details I wouldn't otherwise have given him. I told him about Tweedledum and Tweedledee and what I had learned about Jane's planned departure and the betrayal comment.

  He listened without interrupting and then said, “And you're wondering if she stumbled onto something that someone at Lindell Industries would rather keep secret.”

  “Seems at least to be a possibility that ought to be considered,” I said.

  “And you're entrusting the task to your faithful companion, Tonto.”

  I said, “Tonto knew how to ride a horse.”

  “I'm an urban Tonto.”

  “I see.”

  “When do you need this?”

  “About an hour ago.”

  “It's gonna cost you.”

  “Whaddya need?”

  “Double date.”

  “What?”

  “My sister's roommate from college is coming for a visit. Susan wants me to escort her friend Kathy. You get to be Susan's date for the evening. Dinner and a movie.”
>
  “Oh, man. Isn't there someone you need beat up or something? Some evidence to plant or something like that?”

  “Hey, you're talking to an agent of the federal government. Don't say that kind of stuff over the phone. Someone might be listening.”

  “Why don't you ask whoever’s listening to go on a double date with you?”

  “Hey, her first plan involved dinner and dancing.”

  “Dancing?”

  “I negotiated the dancing down to a movie.”

  I took a deep breath. If I was going to ask favors, I had to be willing to grant them. “Fine. Dinner and a movie. Do we at least get to choose the movie?”

  “Jake, come on. You know it doesn't work like that.”

  “Fine. Where do they want to eat and what movie do they want to see?”

  “I don't know yet. They're still deciding.”

  “Do we at least know when?”

  “Saturday night.”

  “Okay, Tonto,” I said. “Saturday night. When do I get information on Lindell Industries?”

  “Depends on how well they've got their dirty laundry hidden.”

  “Okay. ASAP?

  “Of course.”

  Chapter 14

  I left the office and headed to Van Nuys to see Mildred’s niece, Shannon. I found her apartment and knocked on the door. A young woman opened the door. I handed her my card as I introduced myself.

  “Thank you for coming. Please come in.”

  Shannon looked to be in her late twenties or early thirties. Slender. Five-seven, one-twenty. Brown hair, brown eyes. Nice looking woman. She led me to her sofa and invited me to sit. She sat on a chair across from the sofa.

  “How much did my aunt explain to you?” she asked.

  “She said you were having a problem with a man you dated. Evidently, when he drinks he gets belligerent.”

  “Yeah. At first, he was really nice. He didn’t drink when we were together. But then he began drinking when we were together. Just one or two at first. Then he started having a couple more. It’s after he’s had three or four beers that he gets mean. I asked him to stop drinking but he won’t. First, he just said some ugly things, but then he began to get physical. He didn’t actually hit me, but he threw things and pushed me down on the sofa and held me there.”