Under the Moonlight collection

by MaryAnn Kempher

  “Yvonne, that paperwork may be very important. I think it’s likely what the intruder was looking for when he ransacked both of your houses.”

  Yvonne wasn’t terribly surprised. “Candy really was involved in something big this time, wasn’t she?”

  Jack didn’t answer.

  Yvonne walked into to the kitchen. “Here it is,” she said, pulling the paperwork from beneath a stack of cook books resting on the counter. She handed it to Jack as he sat at the table. He leafed through them, scrutinizing their text as he went.

  “It’s bad, isn’t it?” Yvonne asked.

  Jack nodded. “I think so. Some of these are emails between Candy’s boss, Sergeant Pike, and a woman named Elaine Monroe, who works in the mayor’s office. The others are photocopies of deeds of sale.” He scoured over the paperwork, trying in vain to see anything concrete that might link Pike or Monroe to Candy’s murder. He didn’t share everything he found in the papers.

  The emails, sent during the days and nights before her murder contained thinly veiled references to Candy. They’d gotten less and less careful, speaking openly about the threat that Candy posed. While they discussed paying her off—or as they put it, “taking care of her”—they never made an outright threat against her, and there was definitely no talk of killing anyone. Jack knew Pike was too smart for that. Even though he’d been foolish enough to discuss some very sketchy real estate schemes, he’d been careful when discussing Candy. Finally, Jack looked up.

  “What do you make of it all this?” Yvonne asked.

  “Looks like Candy’s boss and the mayor’s assistant were working together.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Buying up properties around town.”

  “And how is that bad?”

  “The city plans to upgrade the neighborhood near my office. To put a lot money in the area and build a visitor’s center, among other things. According to this paperwork and these e-mails, Pike and this woman were buying or attempting to buy property in that area, knowing that once the city renovated, property values would go way up.”

  “I don’t understand,” Yvonne said.

  “It’s illegal to do that. Similar to insider trading on Wall Street. In some of these early emails, you can tell they try to talk around what they’re doing, but in later emails they’re not so cautious. If Candy had access to Pike’s e-mail account, she must have found out what they were doing. She must have told them what she knew. And if she did that, then…”

  “Candy was trying to blackmail them?”

  “I know this isn’t a pleasant thing to learn about your daughter, but I think she got in way over her head.”

  Jack took out his notebook and flipped through the pages. “This is the text on a note the police found in Candy’s house. Jack read it aloud:

  C, I refuse to be ignored. I know what you’re doing. I don’t care, I just want in on the action. If I don’t hear from you soon, you’ll both be sorry.

  “Who is C?”

  “Originally, we’d thought the note was addressed to Candy, so she would ‘C”. However, if what we know about Candy follows, ‘C’ would be Sergeant Christopher Pike. He moonlights as security detail for the mayor. It’s probably how he met the other name on the paperwork, Elaine Monroe. I saw her at Pike’s house and on television. She’s the mayor’s assistant. If what they planned was successful, millions of dollars could have been at stake.”

  “Oh my God,” said Yvonne, shaking her head. Jack turned over the paperwork, looking at the back of everything for more information. “Looks like they’ve created a dummy corporation to front all of this.”

  “How quickly will they be arrested?” Yvonne was suddenly hopeful.

  Jack smiled. “They won’t be…not for Candy’s murder. Unfortunately, none of this proves they killed Candy, but at least it’s a start, and more to go on than I’ve had so far. Seeing all of this now, I’d be willing to bet it was Pike who broke into Candy’s home, and in here, too. He must have been looking for this paperwork.”

  “So what’s next, then?”

  “I’ll make some calls. Hand this paperwork over to the people who need to see it. The DA, the chief of police…they might even release Mark.”

  Jack walked to the door. Yvonne tugged on his arm before he left. “Thank you for all of this,” she said. “I haven’t done anything yet,” he reminded her. “But at least we have a little hope now.”

  Once in his car, he dialed Nolan.

  He hardly gave the man a chance to say hello. “I’ve had a break in the case. You free?”

  Nolan sounded encouraged. “Absolutely.”

  ***

  When Jack entered the Starbucks he and Nolan had agreed to meet at, Nolan was already seated at a window table. Jack sat across from him, holding out the papers. “Candy mailed these to her mother before she was killed.”

  Nolan leafed through the stack. “What are they?”

  “Emails and deeds of sale. Looks like she was blackmailing at least two people.”

  Nolan’s eyes registered concern as he read the contents. “These emails have Sergeant Pike’s name on them.”

  “Yes, they do,” said Jack. “And the other name is Elaine Monroe…she’s the mayor’s assistant.”

  “Holy cow, Jack. This is a major shit storm waiting to happen. You think this is what got Candy killed?”

  “I think it’s likely. There was a note written on a napkin…the crime scene photographer told me about it.”

  “Yeah…I knew about that.”

  Jack was stunned. “So why wasn’t it in your notes?”

  “It was, you must have missed it. It didn’t say anything about Pike, though. Even if he’d written the note, he was her boss, I figured he needed to stop by for something work-related.” Nolan held up the papers. “I know this looks damning, but it’s a huge leap to accuse the man of murder. All you really have here is some seriously unethical behavior by him and this Monroe woman. What do you have that even puts him at the scene?”

  Jack knew he still had nothing.

  “Even if we could get a judge to issue an arrest warrant on Pike for Candy’s murder, based on these e-mails—which is seriously unlikely as it is—his lawyer would have him out in no time. You have a note, maybe or maybe not written by her boss, and Mark saying he saw ‘a big man’ enter her house. That description fits thousands of men living in Reno.”

  Jack sat back in his chair.

  “I’m sorry Jack,” said Nolan. “I’d like this to be the smoking gun, but I’m not sure it is.”

  “What about the shoe print outside her house? Did you ever find out anything about that?”

  “Yeah,” answered Nolan. “It was a woman’s shoe…so not Pike again.”

  “Did it have a heel?”

  “What?”

  “Did it have a heel?” Jack’s voice was more urgent now.

  “Yeah…so?”

  “So maybe Pike didn’t do the actual killing…maybe it was Elaine Monroe.”

  “Jack, you’re reaching,” Nolan told him. “Look, you do what you think is right…I couldn’t stop you from doing that anyway. But keep my name out of it. I want to catch Candy’s killer just as much as anyone, but this? This could be a career killer.”

  “So you won’t help me then?”

  “Help you how? Maybe you can afford to accuse a high-ranking police officer and the assistant to the mayor of murder, but I can’t. I’m still on the force. I can’t take that kind of risk. I have a wife and kids to think about.”

  Jack hung his head, feeling frustrated.

  “You don’t have enough here, Jack. I’m sorry. But you know it as well as I did.”

  Nolan didn’t wait for an answer. He stood and left Jack studying the paperwork once again. Nolan was right…he was reaching. Did he have anything at all that could really tie Pike to Candy’s murder?

  The answer in his head came back as a resounding “no.”

  He took out his phone and searched for
the district attorney’s office. He dialed a number, expecting to get a secretary and to jump through countless hoops before actually speaking to the woman.

  The phone rang at least eight times before an annoyed voice answered.

  “Yes?”

  “I was hoping to speak to Jane Sinclair, please.”

  “This is she.”

  “Hello, Ms. Sinclair…my name is Jack Harney. I’m a private detective. I have reason to believe that some high-profile public figures have been involved in a murder…I believe I have evidence that implicates them. I’d like to come see you right away, if that’s possible.”

  Ms. Sinclair hesitated. “This sounds like a matter for the police, not the DA.”

  “This evidence involves a police officer.”

  There was silence on the other end. Jack began to worry he’d been hung up on.

  “I have an opening in forty-five minutes,” she said finally. “Bring your evidence. And this had better not be a waste of my time, Mr. Harney.”

  Mine either, Jack thought.

  ***

  Jane Sinclair was about sixty years old, petite with short dark hair sprinkled with grey, and wore a tasteful blue suit and comfortable shoes. She sat across from Jack, silently looking over the emails and copies of deeds of sale. Finally, after many minutes, she looked up.

  “You say you found this during your efforts in a murder investigation?”

  “Yes,” answered Jack. “Candy Dashwood. She was murdered about three weeks ago. She worked for Chris Pike, the police officer in those emails. Pike also works security for the mayor.”

  “I see the name Elaine Monroe in here, too…know who that is. She’s worked for the mayor over ten years. And you believe Ms. Dashwood was blackmailing one or both?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I can’t prove it, but in the evidence I’ve collected and through people I’ve interviewed, I think they were responsible for her murder.” Jack told Sinclair about the intruder at Candy’s home the day he and Yvonne visited.

  “I suspect it was Pike, looking for these papers.”

  Ms. Sinclair shook her head. “You have a large collection of circumstantial evidence here, Mr. Harney…maybe it ties Officer Pike to Ms. Monroe, and it may expose their dirty dealings, but that doesn’t equate to murder. We can’t possibly make an arrest based on this.” Jack’s face fell. “But it’s enough to justify a thorough investigation into the real estate fraud these two have been involved in. This might not stop with the mayor’s assistant.”

  It was something, at least.

  “I’ll keep this for the files,” Ms. Sinclair said. Jack stood. “I’d like copies, please.” The DA shot him an angry look. “Sorry…I’ve been involved in investigations like this before. I don’t feel comfortable handing over what little proof I have that Pike and Monroe are up to no good, only to lose it on someone’s desk somewhere.”

  “I understand,” Ms. Sinclair told him. She walked out of the room, returned a few minutes later, and handed Jack copies of the emails.

  “Thank you,” Jack said on his way out.

  The DA didn’t bother to answer.

  ***

  Jack awoke early on Friday morning and turned over onto his side, staring out his bedroom window. The rain was coming down in sheets; he could hear the wind whistling outside. He looked at the clock; it was nearly eight-thirty. He should already have gotten up and been his way to the office, but instead he turned onto his back and stared at the ceiling.

  He thought about the events of the last few days. He wanted to be confident with what he’d discovered, or at least somewhat satisfied. He just couldn’t be. Sergeant Pike and Elaine Monroe would soon be under investigation and maybe even be arrested, but Jack hadn’t been able to link either directly to Candy’s death, or to Ms. Albright’s attack. It was too soon to celebrate. Reluctantly, he got out of bed and took his shower.

  He arrived at the office, his eyes naturally drifting in the direction of the bakery. The lights were off, and the closed sign hung in the window. A rush a sadness washed over him, which wasn’t helped by seeing the blood stain on the carpet.

  “If we really want it gone,” Curt said, noticing Jack’s preoccupation, “we’ll have to rent something. Or maybe we should leave it…will the police be coming back?”

  “No,” answered Jack. “They dusted and took pictures the day it happened. I’ll rent a steam cleaner.”

  “Okay. Sounds like a plan. What happened to you yesterday? I thought you were coming back?”

  “I meant to call you about that,” said Jack. “A lot happened after we spoke yesterday.” Jack filled him in on the paperwork and his visit with the district attorney.

  “Wow,” Curt said. “That is a lot of development, isn’t it? It’s good news though, right? Pike and that woman will be investigated, maybe do jail time.”

  “Sure, I guess,” said Jack. “Somehow it feels a little anti-climactic, though.” Jack nodded at a small television sitting on the stand that used to be home for their now-broken coffee pot. “Where’d that come from?”

  “Had it in my truck for a few days. I thought it would be nice to have a TV in the office.” He smiled. “You know…so we can see what the weather is like without having to go outside.”

  Jack’s head swiveled. “As opposed to looking out our huge picture window, you mean?”

  “I don’t believe anything if I don’t see it on the weather channel first,” Curt said, smiling. He picked up the remote and clicked through a few channels. “We can even watch the news.”

  “And your soaps, right?” Jack teased. His attention focused on the image on the screen. “Hey…turn this up.”

  Curt turned up the volume. A local reporter was speaking in front of city hall.

  “Any minute now, we expect to hear from the mayor after this morning’s unexpected announcement that her assistant, Elaine Monroe, and a member of her security team are under investigation for abuse of authority, fraud, and unethical behavior connected with money that had been allocated toward renovations in various areas of Reno.” The reporter listened to her headset for more details. “The security team member has been identified as Christopher Pike, a senior member of the Reno police department.”

  “Well, that didn’t take long, did it?” Curt said.

  “They’ll do more digging,” said Jack. “By now, they probably have both their computers. They’re bound to find something linking them to Candy’s murder.” He exhaled in relief. This would work out for the best after all.

  “Will they release Mark, do you think?” asked Curt.

  “Maybe not right away, but I think they’ll have to eventually. I’m no lawyer, but I think what I gave them is enough for that, at least. And Mark should never have been arrested in the first place on the flimsy evidence they had.”

  Jack picked up his ringing desk phone. “Hello?”

  “Mr. Harney? This is Abigail Sinclair.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” said Jack, a smile on his face. “I’m watching the news right now…you didn’t waste any time, did you?

  “Mr. Harney, a body was found this morning floating in the Truckee River.”

  Jack waited for the other shoe to drop.

  “It was Chris Pike…and it wasn’t a suicide.”

  Oh God, Jack thought. “Have they arrested anyone?”

  “Not yet. I don’t mean to alarm you, Mr. Harney…but you were a police officer, so you know how this goes sometimes. We don’t know if Pike and Monroe were acting alone or with others who might have done this, and until we have more information, I suggest you be extra careful.”

  “I will.” Jack said. “Thank you for calling.”

  Jack hung up the phone. “Pike’s dead.”

  “Seriously?” said Curt.

  “Yep. They found his body in the river.”

  “Killed himself?”

  “Doesn’t look like it.”

  Curt shook his head. “Now what?”

  “I have no idea. Pike may be res
ponsible for Candy’s murder…it pisses me off that he might get a hero’s funeral.”

  “They don’t know who killed him yet, do they?”

  “No. It leaves Elaine alone to deal with all the fall-out from their activities.”

  Curt’s brow kinked. “You don’t think she would have…”

  “At this point, anything’s possible.”

  Gaga’s entrance into their office surprised them both. She rarely visited; it was always Nene who stopped by with whatever new sweet treat they’d gotten into the bakery that morning. She looked out of her element—tired and somehow smaller than usual. “Good morning, Jack…Curt,” she said.

  “How is Nene?” asked Curt.

  Gaga sighed. “She still hasn’t woken up.”

  “I’m so sorry,” said Jack. “If there’s anything we can do, please let us know.”

  “Thank you. That’s very kind. All of this has been very overwhelming. I’ll be reopening the store this morning. Can’t afford to keep it closed.”

  Curt and Jack looked at each other, a little surprised, but they didn’t question Ms. Albright’s decision. Gaga nodded and crossed the hall.

  “Poor thing,” Jack said. He looked over at the plant, their office-warming present from the Albright sisters. It was looking a little sad after having been knocked about during the break-in. But it would have been a shame to let it die. “I’ll be right back.”

  Jack marched up the stairs, unsure of which apartment was Mr. Bryan’s, but figured he had a fifty-fifty chance of getting the right one. He knocked hard, knowing Mr. Bryan didn’t hear very well.

  “Yes, yes.” Jack could hear Mr. Bryan from his side of the door. Then he heard the tell-tale “Yep! Yep! Yep!” from Boris.

  Mr. Bryan opened the door, wearing a robe, sandals, and white socks. “Well, what is it?” Before Jack could answer, Boris ran from the apartment, passing Jack as he flew down the stairs.

  “I’ll get him,” Jack said. Mr. Bryan slowly climbed down the stairs behind him.

  Jack followed Boris into his office and followed. When he saw Boris, he laughed. Boris was so small, and the office plant was huge. He’d jumped onto the pot and was half-in, half-out, his hind legs dangling over the side as he dug at the potting soil.