by Beth Urich
Sid and Lenny were waiting by the front fence.
“We appreciate your showing us the murder scene,” Tom said. “Please, keep us posted.”
“No problem. But you know that goes both ways. Hell, you may get a confession from someone in Branson about killing Fortner.”
“Could happen,” Tom said, adding in a whisper to his partner, “but I wouldn’t bet on it.”
THE DRIVE BACK TO BRANSON allowed Tom and Sid to plan what they would say to Lieutenant Palmer to persuade him that they should confront Larry Allen about Fortner’s death. As it turned out, the lieutenant didn’t require much convincing. When the detectives pulled up at the office building site, they spotted Paul Andrews and asked him where they could find his boss.
“Left in a hurry not ten minutes ago,” Andrews said. “Got an emergency phone call from his granddad. Apparently, he was late for a big family meeting back at HQ.”
“Do you know when he’ll be back?” Sid asked.
“I’m pretty sure it won’t be today.”
“Incidentally, where were you every day this week?” Tom asked.
Andrews gave the detective a what-business-is-it-of-yours stare before he shrugged and said, “I was on this site, like every day, twelve hours or more each day, for the last several months. We’re working like crazy to get this job done on time and within budget.”
“Others working with you?” Sid asked.
“Yes, including Larry.”
Sid smiled and asked, “You sleep on site?”
“I’ve been known to take a nap on the boss’s cot, but not these last few days. I spent evenings and nights at home with my wife.”
“You don’t mind if we confirm that,” Sid said.
“Not at all,” Andrews said, reeling off his home number.
FORTUNE ENTERPRISES was shut down for the day. Although the door was unlocked, the lights were either off or dimmed and no one was in the reception area. Tom glanced at his watch to see if it was past quitting time. “Maybe they closed early for the big family meeting,” he said.
“Maybe the big meeting is at Brighton’s house.”
“Andrews said headquarters. Besides, the door to the suite was open. Let’s see if we can find the councilman.”
Sid knocked then slowly opened the door to Allen’s portion of the suite. He peeked inside and disappeared into the dark area. “Lights off in the secretary’s area and his office.”
Tom led the way into the hallway going to Jack and Randy’s offices. The detectives were entering the secretary’s area when Sid stopped and held his index finger to his lips. Tom heard the voices too—some faint, others louder. He waved his thumb toward the door and Sid followed him out of the suite and down to their vehicle.
“What was that all about?” Sid asked.
“They’re having a family meeting alright, and it sounds like someone may be very angry. We better contact Allen through his lawyer.”
Tom radioed dispatch and requested a patch to Keith Hawthorne’s office.
“I’m sorry, he’s out for the rest of the day,” his assistant said.
“Do you have a way to contact him?”
“Only for an emergency.”
“Good. This is an emergency. Please have him contact me as soon as possible. He has my number.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
The councilman mumbled something about all the lights being out as he stormed past the hidden reporter and opened the door to his uncle’s office.
“What’s going on?” he shouted.
Jack said, “We sent the staff home.”
“And they left you in the dark?”
“I’d say you are the reason we’re in the dark, Larry. What was so urgent about having this meeting?” Jack said.
Randy added, “And since you called it, why are you late?”
Weighing the open door against being exposed, Kate made her way to Jack’s office hoping the Brighton’s adjoining door was not open and that she could distinguish words through the ancient walls. Finding both conditions to be true, she made one final wish—to remain undiscovered. Unfortunately, everyone was speaking at once blaming each other for numerous catastrophes. Jack’s usual calm voice was the loudest, at least until his grandson took charge.
“All I know,” Larry shouted twice, causing the others to be silent. “All I know,” he repeated slowly with his voice lowered, “is that I had a plan. We all had a plan. Everything was going smoothly. Everything was handled.”
Randy snickered and said, “You know what they say about best laid plans.”
“Hey, I’m not the one who dragged the reporter into the mix,” Allen sniped. “Thanks to you, Granddad, Kate’s snooping may destroy the whole thing.”
Jack countered, “You think your late-night visit to her home didn’t raise a red flag?”
Randy chimed in, “This downfall started with Porter’s accusations.”
“Nothing has come of his suit,” Jack said.
Randy countered, “That may change soon.”
Larry shouted, “Porter’s claim is bogus as far as our company’s concerned. We may be a little loose on certain procedures, but we build to code. I guarantee you those topnotch detectives have found nothing to the contrary.”
Jack said, “Save your defensive posture for the courtroom. I’m more interested in what change Randy sees coming.”
His son responded, “I’ve been told by individuals who are reliable that the PD is making progress on the Porter suit. They have a tip-line. Even worse, people are calling in. Sooner or later, something will surface.”
Larry said, “Keith, you were there when Collingwood grilled me yesterday. I don’t know how he put it together, but it had nothing to do with Porter’s suit.”
Hawthorne confirmed, “Their suspicions are vague and unsubstantiated. They are nowhere near to making charges against this company or any other.”
Randy interjected, “Larry, if what you say about your projects is true, why are you worried?”
“Who knows what someone might have manufactured? Even Porter. He hates us. Hell it may be someone close to us,” Larry said. After several seconds, he added, “Uncle Randy, what have you done?”
“I’ve fixed something you should have fixed,” Randy said.
Kate visualized Allen strangling his uncle through the long silence.
“What did you fix?” Jack asked, his voice almost inaudible.
“Issues at the office complex, mainly failed inspections.”
Larry interrupted, “You’re lying!”
“How would you know? You won’t listen to Paul Andrews. He was frantic. He came to me for help. I took care of the problem.”
“You took care of it? I swear, if you’ve done something that puts the lakefront project in jeopardy, I’ll—”
“What? Thrash about demanding we put everything back in place and start fresh so your big plan succeeds?”
Hawthorne chimed in, “Let’s not get too far afield. Maybe something will come of the Porter accusations, maybe not.”
“Easy for you to say,” Larry shouted.
Jack raised his voice. “Keith’s right. The suit is not the most important issue.”
“Tell me you’re not referring to the item found on Etta’s land,” Larry said.
“The property belongs to the company, to us, not just Etta,” Jack corrected.
A chair bounced across the wood floor, possibly tipping over. Kate guessed Allen was up and flailing his arms above his head. Her image amused her, especially when the councilman confirmed it by shouting. “You swore to me that skeleton meant nothing to us. You swore to me that everything was a go for the Branson riverfront project.”
Jack said, “And everything is a go, but—”
The response was interrupted by the annoying and persistent sound of someone’s pager alert. The alarm was silenced and its owner revealed when Hawthorne spoke. “I’d better call the office. My secretary doesn’t use her emergency code withou
t a good reason.”
Hawthorne must have moved to Randy’s desk to use the phone. The room was silent until the lawyer returned to the group. “Detective Collingwood wants to speak to Larry.”
Jack asked, “That was your secretary’s emergency?”
“Apparently he made it seem like an urgent request.”
Again, the room became quiet.
After a moment, Larry said, “Why are you all looking at me? I’ve done nothing illegal. I have cooperated one hundred percent with the good detective.”
“I can call him for specifics,” Hawthorne said.
“No. Let’s wait.” Jack said. “We need to get a few things ironed out first.”
Larry offered, “How about we start with that skeleton. Or, even better, the partnership agreement. You made it clear Bryan Porter would believe he was entitled to part of the company. You manipulated me by making me angry enough to confront Kate.”
“I did not trick you. I merely pointed out an obvious problem. I certainly did not suggest that you confront the reporter at her house,” Jack said, his frustration building.
“But that’s not the real problem, is it?” Larry asked.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” his grandfather said.
“The real problem is that partnership agreement was a problem long before now.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Randy shouted.
Larry shot back, “That’s true. No one discusses what happened. In fact, nothing happened. Right? An employee quit, moved out of town, and never came back. Hell, he deserted his family. Happens all the time.”
Randy said, “Calm down, Larry.”
“I’ll calm down when you assure me they won’t prove the skeleton is Lex Porter.”
Jack said, “Lex Porter worked for our company. Whether he was a partner or not is irrelevant. What must be remembered is that only three living people know the facts of Lex Porter’s last few years and none of those three are going to say anything to the authorities.”
Hawthorne said, “We better continue this discussion another time. The good detective is not going to wait much longer for a return call.”
Jack said, “Make it.”
Kate couldn’t hear anything but the faint sound of Hawthorne on the phone with Tom. She wished she could see Allen’s face. Surely, he wasn’t smiling.
“Collingwood and his partner will be over as soon as possible,” Hawthorne said. “He wouldn’t give me any details about what they want to discuss.”
Kate didn’t intend to be in the building, hidden or not, when Tom arrived. But she couldn’t chance running into him on the stairs or in the reception area. She decided to stay put and leave quietly once the detectives were speaking to the group.
Unfortunately, Jack had something else in mind. “Keith, wait for the men at the entrance and take them to Larry’s office for the interview. I’m sure Collingwood will not allow the grandfather and uncle to participate, so we’ll wait in our offices until the detectives leave.”
Before Kate could move, Jack turned the knob on the adjoining door. Opening it a crack, he said, “And, Larry, make sure you display that self-control you’re always bragging ...”
Kate was across his assistant’s area before Jack finished his sentence. She ducked into the empty conference room and waited by the door to the reception area.
Within five minutes Hawthorne said, “Sergeant Collingwood, welcome. You must have been waiting in the parking lot.”
“We were close by,” Tom said. “I appreciate your allowing us to interrupt your meeting. Would it be possible to speak to Mr. Allen privately?”
Hawthorne said, “Already arranged. I’d like to sit in.”
When she was sure they were in Allen’s office, Kate cracked open the door. She was in and out of the vacant area and down the stairs as fast as possible. She wouldn’t be able to share what she heard with Tom or anyone else for that matter. The detective would be at best furious and at worst unforgiving.
Chapter Forty
Tom and Sid followed Hawthorne into Allen’s office. The councilman was seated at a small conference table on one side of the room. The lawyer sat down next to Allen and motioned for the detectives to take chairs across the table.
“I don’t mean to seem critical,” Allen began with a smirk on his face, “but we spoke to you not twenty-four hours ago. You asked all your questions.”
“As I told you yesterday, we have a witness who described and subsequently identified your site foreman, Paul Andrews, as the individual who gave the funds to a building inspector.”
Hawthorne asked, “You didn’t mention the inspector’s name.”
“Brad Fortner.”
Allen said, “I know him. He’s worked on several of our projects. He’s been with the department for many years. I’d say he’s above reproach.”
“I’d agree with you except he got in a bind and needed quick cash.”
“So what? It doesn’t mean he took a bribe,” Larry said.
“We have a witness. And he took care of his cash flow problem.”
“Sounds circumstantial too me,” Hawthorne said.
“We’re still working the case.”
“It wouldn’t make sense for Paul or anyone working for the project to bribe an inspector,” Allen said, his voice growing louder. “We’ve never had a safety issue on any job. We abide by the building codes. What would be gained?”
Tom said, “Let me give you a general answer from our point of view. Sometimes the motive for doing a crime is not logical or even understood. It could be much more than completing a project on time and within budget. Perhaps the goal is to lay the foundation for a much larger, more ambitious project. Or even to eliminate an issue which might threaten that future development.”
Hawthorne asked, “Are you referring to your fantasy lakefront project?”
“I’d say the project is far from a fantasy. A good bit of work has been done to place your company in a key role for a huge project, at least by Branson standards.”
The lawyer said, “We are right where we were yesterday. Unless you can bring up something more interesting than your opinion, we are done.”
Tom observed the councilman and said, “Brad Fortner was murdered in Arkansas this week. We’re here today to ask you to detail your activity for the last seven days.”
Allen came out of his chair, his face turning light pink. “You’re asking me for an alibi? Like I would go to Arkansas and kill a man?”
“We are checking the alibis for all individuals of interest,” Sid said. “As a matter of fact, Mr. Andrews verified you were on site each day this week, but he could not verify every hour. Nor did he know how you spent your evenings. We’re trying to fill in the gaps.”
Allen walked away from the table, turning his back to the others. He lowered his head and shook it in disbelief or perhaps denial. After a few moments, he returned to the table, his arms folded across his chest. When he spoke, his tone was calm and measured. “I’ve been at the job site every day this week. I’ll have to check with my secretary to see when I had meetings somewhere else. One notable exception is when I visited your friend Kate on Monday evening. My wife has been visiting relatives in Florida, but you can check with my neighbors to see if they noticed my comings and goings. That’s all I can tell you other than I did not kill Brad Fortner. Nor did I have the man killed.”
THE DETECTIVES RETURNED to City Hall and spent thirty minutes documenting the interview and discussing how to proceed with the Fortner bribery-murder case. Neither one could decide if the councilman was telling the truth about his involvement. They were hoping Lenny would find a suspect on his end, preferably someone who would identify Allen. They were about to head out of the office when the phone rang.
“I’m already late for dinner at Katie’s. Can you take that?”
Sid shook his head and said, “Not if it might be an angry Kate.”
Fortunately, it was Lenny Harper. His men
stopped an individual driving Brad Fortner’s truck. The man claimed a friend had sold it to him, fake invoice and all. The friend was identified as one of a pair asking about Fortner in the Lead Hill area.
Lenny said, “Once we convinced the two slimeballs we had them cold for first degree murder, they were happy to finger the man who hired them.”
“You’ve had a busy couple of days,” Tom said.
“Don’t get too excited,” Lenny said. “These guys don’t have a name, but they gave me a description. I’d say it fits about twenty-five percent of the men in Taney County.”
“Swell. How about I send you photos of some possibilities. I’ll throw in a few more to complete the line-up.”
“Fax them tonight, but messenger them ASAP, in case the faxes aren’t clear.”
“Better yet, Sid can bring them down right away.”
“We’ll be waiting,” Lenny said.
Sid said, “You better get to Kate’s. I’ll take care of this and call you with any news.”
TOM LEANED AGAINST the banister and breathed in the cool night air. Kate slipped up beside him and massaged his back with both her palms. He relaxed his neck and allowed his head to ease forward.
“You have no idea how good that feels,” he whispered.
“One of my many valued talents.”
“But not the most valued.”
“Careful, you’ll turn my head,” she said, scooting onto the glider and setting it in motion.
“Is this seat taken?”
“I was saving it for someone special.”
“How special? Maybe I can qualify.”
She reached up and took his hand, pulling him down beside her. “You definitely can.”
Kate nuzzled closer, resting her head on his shoulder. A stray thought about Sid taking the photos to Lenny tried to distract him, but he brushed it aside.
“Tommy?”
“Uh-oh. You haven’t called me that for a couple decades.”
She sat up straight on the glider and the faraway gaze she’d had several times during dinner reappeared. “I need to tell you what I did today,” she said.