“So you're saying you pretty much trusted Conners to do the right thing?"
“Not really, but I couldn't catch him. When he discovered I'd taken that money, he immediately turned me in to Bud. He probably breathed a sigh of relief, figuring I'd be his fall guy for all the money he'd embezzled. And with Bud dead, it would just be my word against the accountant's."
Tom shifted in his seat, knowing this would be hard to prove for Ken. He could still be in hot water. “I notice the company has security on all the doors of the building. Does each person have his own code?"
“Oh yeah."
“Could your office be entered without your knowledge?"
“Easily."
“Why's that?"
“Because I seldom closed my door. The security keys were mostly for night after everyone left. I didn't have anything in the office that I worried about, and I always left my card on the desk. In fact, I had them make me an extra one."
“How did Bud feel about that?"
“Oh, he did the same thing. We were always misplacing our cards. We didn't keep stuff that required security in our offices. True, we didn't want any of our ideas stolen; but they were kept in a different area where we installed high security."
“That pretty much solves that problem,” Tom mumbled.
“What did you say?” Ken asked.
“Nothing, not important. Thanks, Ken, I'll keep in touch."
“Wait, have you found anything in the records that might clear me of embezzlement?"
“Not yet, but we'll keep looking."
Ken let out a long sigh. “I told Sandy I'd talked to you. Told her everything. I pray she'll forgive me."
“Give her time. She's going through a lot right now."
“Thanks, for all you're doing."
Tom had barely hung up when the phone rang. Figuring it to be Cliff, he answered. “Yeah."
“Tom, is that you? This is Angie."
He felt a warm flush fill his cheeks. “Oh, sorry about that. I expected a call from Cliff."
“I won't keep you. Just glad I caught you before you left. Do you think you could drop by? I think we've found something in the accounting records that will clear Ken."
“Hold on to it. But it will probably be an hour or a little longer before I can get away."
“That will be fine. Don't eat and we'll have something here."
“Sounds great."
It dawned on Tom that he hadn't contacted his computer man. Locating William Bird's card in his Rolodex, he set up an appointment for the following morning. Then he leaned back in his chair, exhaled and wondered what Autumn Conners would be doing about now. He called his tail man.
“She went to McDonald's this morning, returned to the house after you guys left and hasn't left since."
“Anyone come to her place?” Tom asked.
“This is either the loneliest woman I've ever seen or else she doesn't want company. No one comes or goes from that household except her and those two little girls. In fact, those two kids don't even play outside, even though her back is fenced. I don't get it."
“Neither do I. She's a strange one. Just keep your eyes open. She may be laying low for awhile."
“Will do."
Tom pulled the Nevers and Conners files and sat down at his desk. His inner sense still nagged him. He knew there was still something he had overlooked. It had to be something right in front of his eyes, but what? It was eating away at him.
By the time Cliff returned, he'd reread both files. They exchanged their findings and agreed that from what Ken had told Tom, it was anyone's guess who got at the computers.
“I can tell your intuition is still bugging you,” Cliff said, eyeing the files.
Tom nodded. “There's something right here in front of me, but I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it will pop up in my dreams tonight."
“It'll hit you in the middle of the night. Please wait until morning before you call me.” Cliff yawned and rubbed the back of his neck. “Yep. I'm ready for a good night's sleep myself."
“Let's call it a day. I'm dropping by Angie Nevers’ place. She found something on the computer she wants me to see.” The two men ambled down the hallway.
Cliff cocked his head and looked at Tom out of the corner of his eye. “Gettin’ awful cozy with that woman. You got the hots for her?"
Tom cuffed him playfully on the shoulder. “Now what makes you say something like that? I'm the detective working on the case. Who else is she going to call?"
Cliff threw back his shoulders and stuck his thumb to his chest. “Why, me, of course. I'd love to have all those home-cooked meals."
Tom chuckled all the way to his car.
* * * *
Melinda paced her small apartment, smoking one cigarette after another. Her boyfriend, Tony, sat on the couch, his dirty bare feet resting on the coffee table. He took a big gulp of beer and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. “Ah, come on Melinda. What's eating you anyway?"
“Shut up, Tony. I've got to think."
“You've been neglecting my wants for several nights now. Come on baby, let's go to bed."
She flipped her head around and glared at him.
He put a hand up in defense. “Whoa, baby. Don't look at me like that. Those eyes of yours are mean."
“I'm worried about the future. Certainly more than you are."
He dropped his feet to the floor and went after her, grabbing her arm. “Hey, don't talk to me like that."
She yanked away from him and flinched. “That's my sore arm. Don't ever take hold of me like that again."
He let go, looking downcast. “Sorry, I forgot."
“You forget a lot of things. Like, getting a job? Where are we going to get the rent?"
“I'll get it.” Then he looked at her, puzzled. “Thought you were going to have some money coming in?"
She let out a loud sigh. “Me too. Things aren't working out. Why don't you go to bed and let me think."
He tossed the empty beer bottle into the trash and disappeared into the bedroom. What a loser, she thought, closing the door so she wouldn't have to listen to his snores. I've got to get rid of him.
She sat down on the couch and dialed the phone in her lap. “Mom, don't hang up. I need to talk to you."
“I have nothing to say to you, Melinda. You're evil."
Melinda narrowed her eyes and bit her lip. “Look, I don't want to argue. All I want to know is, who is my father?"
“Why, so you can cause more people pain? Haven't you caused enough problems?"
“Mom, I'm coming out there."
“I won't let you in. You know what Mrs. Nevers said. She'll call the police. So I wouldn't try it."
“Then meet me somewhere. It's not fair for a girl not to know who her daddy is.” Melinda's hand gripped into a fist. “And you know, don't you?"
“He's dead as far as you're concerned. Don't call me about this anymore."
Melinda heard the click and then the dial tone. She tossed the phone off her lap and onto the floor. “Damn her! She knows he's alive and well. She's lying to me again."
A muffled voice came from the bedroom. “Hey, hold it down in there."
She made a face, lifted her hand in the air, middle finger extended, and gestured toward the door.
* * *
Chapter Thirty-one
The weariness of work lifted as Tom looked forward to the evening. He waved at the officer as the Nevers’ gate swung open. What had Angie found in the records? Or was it possible she just wanted to see him? God, how he wished.
He shook his head at his wishful thinking, put out his cigar in the ashtray and brushed the loose ashes from his jacket as he got out of the car. The cool evening energized him, so he took the steps two at a time and rang the doorbell. Angie smiled when she opened the door and immediately took him by the arm.
“Sandy could hardly wait for you to get here.” She led him straight to the study. “I've already got the computer o
n and the file opened that we want you to see.” She pushed him down in the chair in front of the monitor and pointed to an entry. Sandy stood behind him, wringing her hands.
Tom ran his finger across the monitor. “Company loan to Ken Weber, forty thousand dollars.” A smile curled his lips. “I think you gals have just cleared Ken. We ran a check on his gambling and since this date, he hasn't acquired any more debts. Everything is falling together."
Sandy stared at the monitor, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Thank you, God,” she whispered. Then she straightened. “Tom, can I call Ken?"
He turned and looked at a smiling Sandy, who'd just thrown a knitted dark-colored coverlet around her shoulders.
His shocked expression made her step back and frown. “Is something wrong?"
He jumped up. “No, no. Excuse me while I use the phone in the kitchen.” Without waiting for Angie's permission, he dashed from the room, only to find Marty putting dinner together.
Damn, he thought, and hurried onto the front porch to make his call from the cell phone. When he finished, he returned inside. “Angie, I've got to leave."
“But what about dinner?” she asked, surprised.
“If I can get away in an hour, I'll be back. Otherwise, don't wait for me.” He headed for the door, with Angie at his heels.
“Can Sandy call Ken and tell him what we've found?"
He stopped on the way down the porch steps. “Yeah, let her call him."
She watched him thoughtfully as he jumped in his car and sped over the crest.
On the way to the police station to meet Cliff, Tom called the surveillance man he had on Autumn Conners, who assured him that she had not left her home since this morning.
Cliff stood on the curb outside the police station and hopped into the car before Tom came to a complete stop. “What hunch hit you now?"
Tom sped away from the curb. “I told you something had been nagging me for days. Well, it hit me like a bolt of lightning when Sandy threw a shawl over her shoulders at Angie's house."
“I'm not following you."
“Do you recall that every time we go to the Conners’ house, Autumn has that dark gray shawl over her shoulders?"
“Yeah."
“The fibers found under Ryan's fingernails were from a dark wool material?"
“True. But any lawyer could tear that apart. She's his wife."
“I know that's a risk, but what if Ryan's blood or bits of brain matter is found on that shawl?"
“Hey, now you're talking. Let's get over there before she decides to send the thing to the cleaners."
“Fat chance of that,” Tom chuckled.
Cliff nodded, smirking. “You've got a point. Blood and guts wouldn't bother that woman.” He shifted in his seat, turning toward Tom. “You know, I've been thinking about Bud's murder. No one saw Bud after the golf game. Do you think he had an appointment with Ryan over the books?"
Tom nodded. “We know Bud talked to Ryan at work about the ABC Wafer Company. I figure on that Saturday, Conners somehow contacted Bud and convinced him to come to his house so they could discuss the matter. Bud, thinking it would take only a few minutes, drove over. He didn't carry his cell phone on the golf course, so he had no way of contacting Angie to let her know he'd be a few minutes late."
“Makes sense so far.” Cliff scratched his sideburn. “But no one saw Bud talking to anyone."
“Ryan could have been in the parking lot in his car. No one would have paid any attention to two men chatting around a car. Then Bud followed him out of the lot without anyone suspecting a thing."
“Yeah. I could see that happening.” Cliff rubbed his chin. “But how did they drug him?"
“Good question."
Cliff stared out the window. “They could have knocked him out, then injected him. The condition of his body would have made it pretty damn hard to find a needle prick or a bruise not caused by the wreck."
Tom frowned. “True. And the coroner's report confirmed he was unconscious when the car hit that tree."
“Sounds like the act of a cold-hearted, desperate person."
Stopping the car in front of the Conners’ house, Tom stared at the front door. “Yeah, it sure does."
“That BMW is still shining,” Cliff commented as he climbed out of the car. “But it won't stay that way long.” Tom followed at Cliff's heels as they headed up the sidewalk.
The two detectives stood side by side as Autumn opened the door a few inches.
“What the hell do you want now? Haven't you disrupted my life enough?"
Cliff pushed his face close to the crack. “Let us in, Mrs. Conners, I don't want to break in the door."
She closed and rattled the chain guard, then opened the door with a jerk. Stepping back, she glared at the two men as they entered the house.
Tom glanced at her as she clung to the dark gray shawl around her shoulders. Then he glanced around the living room where the television glowed, giving off the only light in the house. “Where are the children?"
“They're in bed. Where do you think two young babies should be at this hour?"
Neither man responded to her sarcastic remark. Instead, they walked around the house. Cliff checked the kitchen while Tom went down the hall, peering into each of the cold rooms. When he came to the little girl's room, he found them asleep under dirty covers. He shook his head in disgust.
When the two men came back into the living room, Autumn still stood by the front door, tapping her foot. “Well, are you satisfied?"
Tom crossed the room and stood in front of her. “Not yet, Mrs. Conners. We need one more thing, then we'll leave.” He pulled a large plastic bag from his pocket.
Her eyes grew wide when he pulled the shawl from her shoulders and carefully tucked it into the sack.
“What the hell are you doing?” She reached for the sack, but Tom jerked it out of her reach.
Cliff stepped forward. “Our warrant is still good, Mrs. Conners. We might return your shawl after we run some tests. If it turns out clean.” He took the bag from Tom and walked out the front door.
Tom stared into Autumn's face as she hugged herself. “I'd advise you not to leave the area, Mrs. Conners. I have a man watching your house."
Her eyes narrowed. “As if I didn't know I have a tail."
Tom shrugged and went out the door, slamming it behind him. He heard the rattle of the chain as he sucked in a deep breath of fresh air and stepped off the porch.
* * * *
Sandy hung up the phone and glanced at Angie. “Do you mind if Ken comes over?"
“No, of course not.” Angie studied Sandy's face. “Are you going home with him?"
She bit her lower lip. “I don't know, but I'm sure he'll want me to."
Angie walked over and put an arm around Sandy's shoulders, giving her a hug. “Wait until you see and talk to him. Then make a decision. But I have a feeling you'll see the old Ken again."
“How I pray you're right. I've been so worried."
“We have no way of knowing how these accusations have affected Ken. And it still might be best that you stay here for another day or two. But, I'm leaving that up to you. You know you're welcome."
Marty came into the study. “Excuse me, Mrs. Nevers. How much longer do you want to hold dinner?"
Angie glanced at Sandy. “Do you think Ken would like to eat with us? It doesn't look like Tom is going to make it back."
“I'm sure he'd enjoy it very much."
“Give us another ten minutes."
Marty nodded and left.
* * * *
Ken felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Sandy's voice alone had reassured him, but the news she brought made him feel exuberant. He pledged to himself and God above that he would never strike his wife or daughters again. He prayed for words that would convince Sandy of his promise so she'd come home.
When Ken pulled up to the Nevers’ property and gave his name, the officer looked at him suspiciously.
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“It's okay, Officer. Just contact Mrs. Nevers. She'll confirm I'm expected."
The officer didn't take his eyes off Ken as he dialed the house. Then he stood in the center of the road watching Ken drive toward the house as the gates slowly closed. Suddenly, a small car screeched past him, the bumper clipping his leg as it slipped through the small opening. Crying out in agony, the officer fell to the ground.
* * *
Chapter Thirty-two
His mind elsewhere, Ken almost didn't see the car that sped past him as he crested the hill. “What the hell?” Hitting the accelerator, he followed the vehicle to the house, pulling up sharply behind it.
He jumped out and started toward the Toyota. But, to his amazement, a tall blond woman leaped from the driver's seat. Grabbing her arm, he whirled her around, then stood mesmerized as he gazed into her eyes. “Dear God!” He loosened his grip on her arm and stepped back. “Who are you?"
“Melinda Smith, so what's it to you?"
A tree nearby rustled in the breeze and Ken didn't realize a branch had cast a shadow across his face so that Melinda couldn't see his eyes. She turned on her heel and hurried up the stairs to the big house. An uneasy feeling cut through Ken that Sandy might have called her. He followed close behind.
When Angie opened the door, sheer shock crossed her face. “How'd you get in here? I'm calling the police.” Then she spotted Ken standing behind Melinda. “Did you bring her here?"
He stepped forward. “No, she sped past me on the road."
Sandy rushed up behind Angie, but stopped abruptly, putting a hand to her mouth.
Ken pushed past Melinda to Sandy's side and put an arm around her shoulders. “Did you ask her to come?"
She shook her head.
Ken stared into Melinda's face. “Why are you here?"
She looked at Ken and sucked in her breath, her face turned ashen. “Who are you?"
“I'm Ken Weber and this is my wife Sandy."
“Do you know Marty Casale?"
“Yes."
At that moment, two police cars, lights flashing and sirens wailing, appeared over the crest.
* * * *
Tom left Cliff with the responsibility of getting the shawl sent to the lab and headed back to the Nevers’ place. At the gate, he found emergency vehicles with lights flashing. He jumped out of his car just as they were loading an officer into the ambulance.
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