“I just hope you can catch this guy before anyone else gets hurt.”
“We’ll try our best,” said David. “And rest assured that your secret is safe with us. You can go now.”
When Dora had gone, David turned to Josie. “How could your time traveler know what happened to Miss Barnes? Surely he couldn’t have Googled that.”
Josie considered it. “It’s possible that Dora spoke about it later in life in an interview.”
“Who would ever talk about that?” asked Barker.
Josie shrugged. “She becomes a famous writer, so one day she might want to share her story to help others. Or, there’s the possibility the doctor is arrested one day and his records become public knowledge. If either of those things happen, our time traveler could easily get the information he was seeking.”
David nodded. “As for the rest of her story, I’m not sure anyone could invent Miss Collins and her Secretarial Science School of Terre Haute, Indiana.”
Grant grunted. “She seemed pretty legitimate.”
“I agree,” said Josie. “Plus, given how famous she becomes in my time, I tend to think she’s not our murderer.”
Tanner was the next person to be interviewed. “I hear you want to speak to Kurt,” he said, pulling out a notebook. “I’ve prepared a list of questions you can ask him. Speak slowly and clearly. He can get a little confused in press interviews.”
“This isn’t a press interview,” said Barker. “It’s a murder inquiry.”
Tanner looked confused. “Then why do you want to speak to Kurt?”
“We want to speak to both of you,” said David. “How long have you worked for Kurt Franklin?”
“I don’t work for Kurt Franklin, I work for the studio in the publicity department. Mostly I work with the gossip rags, letting them know who’s gonna be at the Cocoanut Grove and with whom. Occasionally, I have to squelch a story, like if someone has a secret marijuana habit and it becomes not so secret anymore.”
“Does Kurt Franklin have a secret marijuana habit?” asked Barker.
“Of course not!” said Tanner. “Why, did you hear that he did? Because he absolutely doesn’t. Maybe your murderer has a marijuana problem. I hear it drives people insane.”
“Like ‘Reefer Madness?” asked Josie. “That’s just propaganda.”
“What are you talking about?” asked Tanner.
Josie looked at the blank stares around her. “Never mind. Just think of it as a coming attraction. What did you do before going to Hollywood, Mr. Tanner?”
“I grew up in St. Louis. My family was very prominent there, but I didn’t want to follow in my father’s footsteps by studying the law, so I made my way out west. I got a job with Mack Sennett and the rest, they say, is history.”
“Are you being blackmailed?” asked Barker.
“No. I’ve got nothing to hide.”
“What about the actors you try to protect?” asked David. “Could someone have blackmailed you that way?”
“I guess. But it would have been smarter to go straight to the studios. They’ve been known to shell out a lot of dough. I’ve got two bucks and change in my wallet. I wasn’t expecting this shindig to include blackmail.”
“You were a last-minute addition to the party,” said Josie.
“Yup. Once I learned the kid was coming up here, the studio decided to send me along, just in case. And not because he has any type of marijuana problem.”
“Of course not,” said Josie.
“Do you have anything else you’d like to know?” asked Tanner. “I should probably get back to Kurt. I’ve found it’s best if I don’t leave him alone too long.”
After Tanner left, Josie, David and Barker looked at each other. “What do you think?” asked David.
“I think he’s a blowhard Hollywood press man who’s trying to cover up for Kurt Franklin’s marijuana problem,” said Barker.
“But do you think he’s a murderer?” asked David
“I don’t know,” said Barker. “It’s not like I don’t think he’s capable of it – just about anyone could be a killer – but I don’t know why he’d knock off Madame Racine. And from his background, I don’t think he’s our time traveler, either.”
“I agree,” said Josie. “His background seems detailed enough. I think he could probably blackmail someone to get what he wanted, but I don’t think he’s our guy.”
“Let’s take a break,” said Barker. “I’ll check in with the Bureau to see if they have anything else.”
“We’re not making much progress,” said David once his friend has left.
“No,” said Josie. “We’re not.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“What are you doing?” Lydia asked her husband as she saw him checking his revolver to ensure it was loaded. They were in their room waiting to go downstairs for afternoon cocktails.
“I’m going on a hunt,” he said, as he looked down the barrel and snapped it shut.
“Matt, where are you going and why are you taking a gun?”
“I’m meeting the killer.”
“What? Who is it?”
“I’m not going to tell you.” He tucked the weapon into his waistband, then practiced drawing it. “I wish I’d brought my holster. The one I had made in Mexico.”
“How do you even know who the murderer is?”
“Because I was up that night and I saw the murderer leave Madame Racine’s room.”
Lydia couldn’t hide her shock. “Why didn’t you tell the authorities? Why haven’t you said anything before now?”
Farnsworth shrugged. “It didn’t concern me.”
“But it’s murder! It concerns everyone.”
“It’s not the first time in my life I witnessed a serious crime and didn’t report it. Trust me, you get a lot further in life if you keep what you know close to your vest. You never know when it’s going to come in handy.”
“You’ve got to tell Grant and David!” said Lydia, putting her hand on her husband’s arm.
He brushed it off him. “Are you kidding me? That’s the last thing I should do. I slipped this guy a note saying I knew what he’d done and we needed to talk. And that’s what we’re going to do right now.”
“So it’s a man?”
Farnsworth smiled without humor. “Is it?”
“Stop playing games. Who is it?”
“I’m not going to tell you. I don’t want you queering my play by going to Barker.” Farnsworth tucked a second gun into his boot. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. He’s still in love with you.” He stepped back to look at himself in the mirror, checking to see if either gun was visible. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d say the feeling was mutual.”
“I’ve always been fond of Grant,” said Lydia, not quite meeting his eyes. But then she looked at him full on. “Don’t go. You can’t trust a murderer.”
“Sure, I can. And if he doesn’t go for what I propose, he’ll answer to this.” He held up his gun. “Look, I’m sick of dancing to this guy’s tune. I have a mutually beneficial proposition for him.”
“This is madness.”
“No. It makes all the sense in the world. If I don’t make a deal with this guy, I’ll be paying him for the rest of my life. I can’t have this hanging over my head when I’m back in Washington. The ethics hearing has been enough of a black eye. So, I’ll tell him flat out that what I have on him is a lot more damning than what he thinks he has on me.”
“What if he doesn’t agree to the deal? Will you kill him?”
Farnsworth shrugged. “Not if I don’t have to. I’ve killed men before, of course, though most of them were natives, so that doesn’t count as much. Don’t pull that face with me.”
“You know I don’t like it when you say things like that. We’re all equal.”
“You really are naïve, aren’t you?” He looked at himself in the mirror, putting a few stray hairs into place. “I’ve faced down a few men in my day, so you needn’t worry abou
t me.”
“You can’t kill this man, no matter how odious he is. You must tell Grant – Agent Barker – and David. They’ll find a way to arrest him and we’ll all be done with this madness.”
“I don’t plan to kill him. And I especially don’t want him arrested, free to tell everyone what he knows. I’m going to give him something he doesn’t know he wants. I’ve been keeping my ears open and have learned quite a bit about the other guests. Once this guy hears what I have to say, the last thing he’ll do is make me an enemy. He’ll stay quiet just to keep me talking.”
“That’s terrible. You can’t betray other people just to protect your own secrets. And it won’t work! As soon as you can’t tell him any other secrets he’ll turn on you. You’ll be right back where you are right now and have made things worse for the others.”
“I don’t care about the others. And I’m not just asking for my secret to stay buried. I want a cut of the action. I’m a United States Senator. There’s no telling what dirt I can dig up on government officials, Wall Street bankers and anyone else I come in contact with. Hell, I could probably dig up dirt on world leaders. There’s money in this just waiting to be taken.”
“Matt, we don’t need the money. Please don’t do this. It will hurt so many people. And you can’t trust this man.”
Farnsworth studied her. “You really are pathetic, aren’t you? I didn’t get to where I am in life by worrying about others. Let them take care of themselves. Right now I’m worried about what’ll happen to me. And you should be worried about it, too, because what affects me affects you.” He studied his wife. “What does he have on you?”
Lydia paled, then turned away. “Who says he has anything?”
“Because money disappeared. I know you made a drop the other night and that’s probably how you hurt your hand. What does he have on you?”
Lydia sighed. “It’s about my mother. He knows about her past and said he’d tell everyone.”
“Jesus, Lydia!” said Farnsworth. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me? I can’t have it out there that my wife is the daughter of a whore.”
“Don’t talk that way about my mother.”
“That conniving, money-grubbing bitch is barely a mother. She all but sold you to me. I knew what she was then. I almost said no, except I knew how much it would anger Grant Barker. I couldn’t resist that.”
Lydia tried not to cry, but her eyes were filling with tears. “Don’t strike a bargain with that monster. I’m begging you.”
He ignored her, then finished dressing. She placed a hand on his arm, then he back-handed her, sending her flying across the room. For a moment, he looked like he regretted his actions.
But only for a moment.
“I’ll be back in an hour. Don’t ruin this for me, Lydia, if you know what’s good for you.”
Then he left without looking back.
* * *
Josie, David, Grant and Mikey were on the south lawn seated on Adirondack chairs. They could hear Lawrence Henry singing at the piano and from the way the servants were hurrying back and forth, it was obvious the rest of the guests were enjoying themselves. David, Josie and Barker had just filled Mikey in on what they’d learned from Professor Crowfeather and Josie’s time travelling. So far, he hadn’t said much in response.
“So, what did I look like in this picture you saw, Miss Matthews?” asked Mikey. “The one where I was dead.”
“I’m afraid you were dressed just as you are now, lying dead in the forest.”
“I guess I must have taken a walk in the woods in my evening clothes. I wonder why I’d do a fool thing like that.”
“I don’t know,” said Josie. “Very little was revealed about the motive behind the killing. The stories said you and David had known each other for a number of years. It didn’t mention Agent Barker at all.”
“Why do they think I killed my friend?” asked David.
“I think the most damning evidence was you disappeared soon thereafter. I guess they figured an innocent man wouldn’t run. You were known as somewhat of a recluse, as much as a Wall Street tycoon can be. You stayed out of the press, kept your love life private. The incident with Clara Bow didn’t come out until years later.”
“Hold it,” said Barker. “You dated the It Girl?”
David shrugged. “I wouldn’t say we dated. She came to a party at my Hamptons estate and we talked.”
Mikey snorted. “What’s the real story? You can talk in front of Miss Matthews on account of I think she’s a lunatic who’s used to hearing all sorts of odd things. God knows she says enough of them.”
“I’m not a lunatic,” said Josie.
“That’s right,” said Mikey. “You’re a lunatic time traveler. So, what’s the deal with Clara Bow?”
“She was nice. Fairly ordinary. I felt sorry for her. if you must know. We kissed and she wanted to take it further.”
“Maybe Miss Andrews should excuse herself now so we can hear the rest of the story,” said Barker.
“There is no rest of the story,” said David. “I turned her down.”
“Now, I think you’re a lunatic,” said Mikey.
Lydia ran up to them, breathless. “Matt is going after the murderer!”
“What?” asked David.
Grant took Lydia’s hands as he studied her. “What the hell happened to your face?”
“He struck me. But that’s...”
“What?” said Grant, enraged. “I’ll kill the bastard.”
“I think the murderer will beat you to it.” She explained everything her husband had said to her.
“Where was he going?” asked Barker.
“I don’t know. He was too fast for me. But I saw him heading into the woods.”
Grant pulled out his gun. “You two stay here,” he said, pointing to Lydia and Josie. “David, call Deputy Irwin. Mikey get back in the house.”
“I’m coming with you,” said Mikey, pulling out his own gun.
“You can’t go into the woods dressed like that!” said Josie. “You look exactly like you did in the pictures.”
“Don’t worry, Miss Matthews. I still don’t believe you,” said Corrigan, as he followed Grant and David who’d already run ahead of him.
Josie and Lydia followed.
It was dark in the woods, with only occasional glimpses of sunlight shining through the treetops. It was slow-going for both Josie and Lydia, since they were wearing heels. The men must have split up, because Josie could hear people walking through the woods in three different directions. They walked ahead carefully, straining to hear anything which indicated the way they should go. But the woods were eerily silent, with not even the sound of animals around them. Then they heard it – the deafening crack of a gunshot, along with a flash of light to the left of them.
As quickly as possible Josie and Lydia made their way in that direction, finally figuring out they were in the right place when they saw David and Barker looking at something on the ground. Josie looked down at the spot and sunlight showed a man dead on the forest floor. But it wasn’t Mikey Corrigan. It was Senator Matt Farnsworth.
Lydia was silent, as Josie pulled her into her arms.
A moment later, Mikey Corrigan caught up to them. “What’d I miss?” he asked, before seeing the body. “You really know how to throw a party, Remington.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Deputy Irwin looked at the remaining guests who were assembled in the parlor, as the waning sunlight shone through the French doors. It would be dark in less than an hour. He looked less befuddled than before and a good deal more irritated. “I must say, Mr. Remington, that until your party the county hadn’t had one murder in more than two years – and that’s only if you believe Mr. Lester’s horse meant to kick him in the head, as some had testified. If you don’t – and I’m on the fence about it, myself – we hadn’t had a murder in nigh on seven years. But now we’ve had two murders at one party. What do you have to say for yourself?”
/> “I’m not the murderer, if that’s what you’re asking,” said David.
“But from what you told me, no one can account for your whereabouts when Senator Farnsworth was killed. From what I’m hearing no one can account for anyone’s whereabouts, except for Miss Matthews and Mrs. Farnsworth, who say they were together, but Mrs. Farnsworth could just be saying that so she doesn’t anger the escapee from the loony bin.”
“Once again,” said Josie. “I didn’t escape. I checked myself out. And Mr. Remington, Agent Barker and Mr. Corrigan were right ahead of us.”
“But no one saw them. As for the rest of you, it appears Mr. Henry had taken a break from playing the piano, Mr. Franklin was answering the call of nature, Miss Lucy was in the ice house, Mr. Tanner was working on a press statement in his room, Miss Barnes was powdering her nose and Miss Andrews was going over the next day’s menus in her room. Honest to Pete, this sounds like the most boring party I ever heard of, other than the two murders which occurred. By the way, is that alcohol?” he asked, pointing to several bottles of Canadian Club gin on the bar.
“Yes,” said David. “Would you like some?”
It was clear that Deputy Irwin was very tempted. He eyed Agent Barker. “Is this a trick question?”
“No,” said Barker. “I’m not going to arrest you for drinking.”
“Then, yes,” said Deputy Irwin. “I wouldn’t mind having a glass of gin.”
“You can’t drink and question people at the same time!” said Barker.
“I’ll have a few bottles waiting for you Irwin,” said David.
Irwin nodded. “Now, with the exception of Mrs. Farnsworth and Miss Matthews, none of the rest of you have alibis. I don’t suppose anyone would like to confess.” He looked at everyone hopefully. No one did anything except for Agent Barker, who groaned. “Mrs. Farnsworth, why was your husband in the woods?”
“Don’t you think this interrogation would be better done in private?” asked Agent Barker.
“No, sir,” said Deputy Irwin. “This is my investigation and it’s high time I went about it in my own way. Mrs. Farnsworth, why was your husband in the woods?”
The Tycoon Murderer Page 18