Where There's a Will ....There's Murder

by Julie Ramson

  “Go now, Jim. We’re about done here anyway. We’re going to lock up the house and station a uniform here for the rest of the night.” He met Jimmy’s eyes. “Go on.”

  We watched as Jimmy headed to his car. “I’m worried about him, Sean. He’s getting in way too deep way too fast.”

  Digs nodded. “Come on back with us for a beer, Sean. It’s been a long night.”

  Sean rubbed his face with his hands. “Yeah, sounds good. God, it’s not even midnight yet and I feel like I have put in a second full day!” He gave a small laugh and we all headed for our cars.

  I got in and turned to Digs. “I don’t like this, Digs. And I don’t just mean Mrs. O’Brien’s house being broken into. I don’t like this with Jimmy either. I like Emily, I do. But I’m afraid he’s really going to get hurt.”

  Digs sighed. “I like her too. But she’s been through a very rough time and it just doesn’t end! Jimmy is a nice guy. She needs that right now and I hope that after this is solved and her life gets back to normal she still appreciates him.”

  I stared at Digs. I felt that way about Jimmy but I was surprised at him. “He is a nice guy, Digs. So are you.” He looked at me, rather surprised, then covered my hand with his. We rode home in comfortable silence. When we got to my apartment door, Digs motioned me back and entered, gun hanging loosely from his right hand. After a few moments, Killer must have recognized us and bounded out to give us the royal welcome. I walked in and tossed my coat on the couch.

  Digs came over and put his arms around me. “One hug then I’ll walk the Killer Dog.” I smiled and gave him a good, hard hug and brushed my lips over his to boot. “There, that’s worth at least two walks.” He smiled.

  He walked out as Sean was arriving. He came in and tossed his coat on top of mine. He eyed me. “So, Maggie. What’s with you and Digs?” He was grinning.

  I gave an elaborate shrug. “You’re the one who sicced him on me! Nothing is going on!” Lie again. Something was going on. I just didn’t know what it was.

  “Who was that Olivia this morning? She seemed to know Digs.” Sean asked as he popped a beer and sat on the couch. He pushed the coats to the floor and propped his feet on the coffee table.

  “She does - or did at some point. She came here before the meeting,” I started.

  “Here? Wow.” Sean shook his head. “And....?”

  “And they have some kind of past but I don’t know any more than that.” I sat on the other end of the couch. “But you were right, Sean. Digs is a really nice guy. And a smart ass. What do you know about him?” I tried to sound casual. Sean narrowed his eyes at me.

  “I met him when he working a mob killing in Detroit. The killer came down here to hide out and, long story short, Digs got him. I gave some help, but it was really Digs. I knew him as Hank then. He was working some task force.” He rolled the bottle in his hands. “He’s always struck me as a straight up guy. What you see is what you get. Good with women. Don’t you get hurt either, Maggie.” He spoke quietly.

  I smiled. “Oh, I won’t, Sean. I’m careful.” Ha. Maybe already too late for the not hurt part.

  Sean started to say more but we heard Digs coming in. Killer bounded over to us - what is it about a dog who's gone for less than fifteen minutes that causes so damn much energy? He all but pushed Sean off the couch in his enthusiastic hello. Sean laughed and petted him, scratched his ears and then his belly.

  Digs got a beer, held one out for me with a questioning look. I shook my head and pointed to my wine glass. Digs popped his can and came over. He sat next to me.

  “Sean, how deep is Jimmy in with Emily, do you think?” Digs looked down at his beer.

  “Don’t know. Getting deep, I think. Emily seems like a nice woman who’s gotten mixed up in an ugly business.” He sighed. “Digs, I’m going to call Mrs. Gorman first thing tomorrow. Want to come along while I interview her?”

  Digs nodded. “I would. We also need to ask Emily again if she’s called John. If she hasn’t, she needs to. We need to talk to him.” He narrowed his eyes. “Think he could be the guy who keeps breaking and entering into places?” He glanced at me. “Besides your sister, of course.” I hit him with the couch pillow.

  “I’ve been wondering that too. Could be. Maybe he knew of something hidden in that house. Whatever it is, we need to talk to him. Find out what he was up to tonight when Mrs. O’Brien’s house was broken into, where he was the day Maggie was attacked, the morning Chris McCann was attacked......lots of questions for John.” He finished his beer.

  “Plus the boyfriend. Ben Freeman. I want him checked out too.” He yawned. “Now I’m gone. God, what a day.” He rolled his neck and picked up his coat. “Call you in the morning.”

  He ambled out the door and Digs followed. He locked the bolt and the safety chain. He turned to me. “Now, my Pretty,” he said in a high witch’s voice, “Where were we?”

  I laughed. “Nowhere, Fella. Sean was right. Long day.”

  Digs shook his head. “It’s a conspiracy against me, Killer. I can feel it in my bones.” Killer perked up at the word bones but realizing Digs was not heading for the kitchen, put his head back down. Digs came over and wrapped his arms around me.

  “Chicken in wine sauce. Potatoes, wine. Candles. I get bed rights again, huh, Toots?” He grinned.

  I pulled back. Gave him the eyeball. “Same rules. I’m not ready to have you jump me.” I shook my finger at him playfully but I really did mean it. I wasn’t sure what this was or who Digs was. Good with women, Sean had said. Undoubtedly far more experienced than I was. The last thing I needed right now was a complication. Or a broken heart. Been there, done that. Didn’t want to again.

  Digs eyes laughed. “Promise, Maggie. I’m just a guy looking for some advanced education.....” He touched my cheek. “But I won’t do anything you don’t want.” I sighed. That was the problem. I believed him. I just didn’t know what I wanted. Not true. I knew what I wanted and what I should want. Or not want. Or what would be good for me to want. Or not want. You get the drift.

  I smiled and walked into the bathroom. I did the night stuff, teeth, hair, washed the face. I looked at the perfume bottle. No! Not necessary. Problem: It probably wasn’t necessary. Rationalization: I wanted Digs to like me. Well, actually, I thought he did like me. Problem: I didn’t know what I wanted tonight. Wrong. I did know. Rationalization: None. Absolutely none. Hell. I compromised. Just a small amount. A dab. How much could a dab hurt?

  Opening the door a crack, I slipped out through the hall and into the bedroom. I rolled my eyes. He was already in bed, lying on his back, arms up over his head. I gave up and climbed into my side. I turned out the light and.....sure enough! His arms curved around me and pulled me in. “Just spooning, Toots. Part of bed rights.” I could hear him grinning.

  I laughed softly and settled in. I had to admit it was nice having him solidly behind me. True to his word, he behaved and I drifted off, not sure if I was glad or not.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  MONDAY, JANUARY 14

  Morning. I stretched. Looked over. Digs was still sleeping. He looked so angelic, so benign. It wasn’t until those incredible blue eyes opened and looked at me that I was reminded he was anything but angelic. He opened one eye and threw an arm over me, pinning me down. I wiggled but he held fast and gave that wicked smile. He rose up over me and leaned in for a kiss.

  “Digs! You promised!” I laughed.

  “I did. Last night. But this isn’t last night. You said no hanky panky at night. So I didn’t. But this is this morning. See the difference?” He kissed me. Then again. Then settled in for some serious kissing. And feeling. And touching. My defenses were crumbling like sand. I put my arms around him, snuggled in.

  The cell phone in his jeans rang. “I don’t believe this! I don’t dammit believe this!” He looked at me.

  I smiled sweetly. “God doesn’t like liars,” I said. “She’ll get you every time for it.” He gave me a sour look and reached
over for the phone and his jeans.

  He listened for a minute. “Sure, Sean. I do want to talk to her, too.” Digs sighed and glared at the phone. “Of course not, Sean. What could you possibly be interrupting.....again?” He listened again. “Yeah, yeah, you too, you bastard.” Digs hung up laughing and started toward the bathroom.

  He stopped and looked down at me in bed. “I had the nuns as a kid, too, Toots. And believe me, another week with you and I won’t have to spend an extra minute in purgatory or hell when I die. I’ll have paid off all of my prior sins.” He disappeared. I knew what he meant.

  I got up and put on jeans and a sweater. Did the morning bathroom stuff. My plan for the day was to finish going through that damn box of photos. I thought about what I wanted to find. Photos of John, maybe anything that would tie Lily to Louie. I really didn’t know. I also wanted to be sure that Emily either already had or would call John. The mysterious, elusive John. I ambled to the kitchen and started coffee.

  Digs came out of the bedroom fully dressed in dress pants and a sweater. He looked great. He gave me a quick kiss and grabbed a left over donut. “Later, Mags. I’ll let you know what Mrs. Gorman has to say. Are you just going to stay here and do the photo thing?” I nodded.

  I got my coat and Killer’s leash. Walking out with Digs, I stopped. “Digs, I want to meet John Reilly. I want to get a take on him. I’m going to call Emily and see if she can set up a lunch or something.”

  Digs stopped cold. “Maggie, don’t. He could be a killer. If he’s the one doing this, and not someone in the mob, you could be setting yourself up for something dangerous. Wait. Just wait until I get home. Please?” He grabbed my arm. “Maggie.”

  I bit my lip. “I’ll try, Digs, but if I get the chance today I’m going to meet him. It’s broad daylight for god’s sake!” Digs angrily shook his head and stomped off, muttering something about ‘damn stupid idiot women.....never should have ..... idiot.......”

  I looked at Killer. “Well, that went well, don’t you think?” Killer just wagged his read end and waited to be let loose. That’s one of the many things I love about Killer. He never gives me any back talk. He ran around, barked at a squirrel and then came back, ready to be petted and scratched and loved. Good boy!

  I went back up and poured myself some coffee. As I dialed Emily, I thought about what Digs said. I would try to set up a dinner so we all could go, but if not......

  “Hello?” She sounded half asleep. I looked at the clock guiltily. Well, hell it was after 8. Just.

  “Hi Emily,” I started. “How are you doing this morning?” I tried to sound cheerful and casual.

  “Oh, hi, Maggie.” She yawned. “I’m not sure yet. What time is it?” I hated to tell her.

  “Emily, I was wondering if you had returned John’s call yet. I was thinking that maybe we could all get together for dinner or something.” I waited. Silence.

  “Why, Maggie? Do you think John has something to do with all this?” She sounded guarded.

  “No, not really but I would like to meet him.” I stopped and waited.

  She hesitated for several moments. “Yeah, I guess. I haven’t returned his call yet but I was going to call him today. I guess I could see if he wanted to have dinner. Will Jimmy come too?”

  “I’m sure he will,” I said. Hell, the whole gang would probably come. We had all heard so much about John, everyone would want to come along!

  Emily yawned again. “Let me try him and I’ll call you back.” She hung up.

  Wow. I guess she wasn’t a morning person. Or ready to get up. Or something. I put the phone down and stared at the boxes of photos. This was getting old. I picked the first box.

  An hour later I had set aside about twenty photos of Mrs. Hastings, probably Herbert and Emily. There were a couple of very old photos of Lily and another woman with a very small child. Her friend Rose and John? I also found three of Emily as a young child with a man and woman. Probably her parents but I intended to ask her. Brice had said her mother died when she was fifteen and her father a couple of years later. How sad. I thought of my own family and again realized how lucky I was. Even though occasionally I wanted to throttle Sean and muzzle Mary Grace. Overall, they were really great and I loved them dearly. I couldn't picture life without them, Michael and the kids all in it. I couldn’t imagine losing my parents so young or ever being an only child.

  Coffee. I needed coffee. While it dripped I drummed my fingers on the table. Emily hadn’t called back about John and I hadn’t heard from Sam about the notebooks. I picked up the phone.

  It rang several times before a distracted Sam answered. “Hi Mag!” Caller ID. She had it; I didn’t. One of these days I was going to join the new millennium.

  “Just checking in. Anything in the notebooks?” I poured the coffee.

  “A lot of the same. Before 1985 Herbert and Lily spent very little extra money. Looks like Herbert got nice Christmas bonuses from Lefty and the occasional gift, but overall they weren’t rich by any means.” She paused. “After 1985, different story. Herbert was very discreet and made sure that all the extra purchases were done on time payments, but still......they were spending more. Some purchases were paid for in cash.” She stopped again.

  “For example, instead of writing checks for some of the groceries and things, Herbert recorded the payments in cash.”

  “Is this a big difference in spending?” I asked.

  “No, not really. If you assume - and I think we are - that Herbert and Tony robbed Lefty of about $500,000, then where was it? Even if Herbert’s share was $250,000, that’s a lot of cash. If we further assume that Herbert killed Tony, then his share was $500,000 and that’s really a lot of money. To spend or hide.”

  “Hmm.” We both chewed on that for a minute.

  “So where in a house would you hide $500,000 in cash?” I asked.

  “Me? Don’t know.”

  “What do you mean, you don’t know? You’re the math whiz, the numbers woman, the money follower, the....”

  “I get the drift, Mag. Except I have never thought about where I would hide that much cash. Figure, even if it was all hundreds, that’s what? Five thousand hundred dollar bills? And back in 1985 hundreds would get attention. A lot more attention than now. Where would you hide it?”

  I thought. “Probably in a safe deposit box. Or behind a brick in the house or in a phony drawer or something. Five thousand hundred dollar bills would be about how thick?”

  “Oh, I’d guess about twelve inches high for $100,000 - you’d need a considerable space to hide it. Or a large safe deposit box. But I’m just guessing at the size.”

  “Actually,” I said, thinking, “I would put it into bonds or something small. Not cash.”

  “Yeah, me too. Maybe savings bonds.” Sam agreed.

  “Sam,” I said, “I called Emily. Hopefully, she’s going to set up a lunch or dinner with John for us. But,” I added with a grim, “before that, we could just drive over to Lily’s.......see if anything jumps out at us,” I suggested. Sam immediately agreed.

  “Great idea. Except for when Sean and Jimmy and Digs find out. Then they will kill us.” She laughed.

  “So, don’t tell them! I’ll be right over.” We hung up and I went for Killer’s leash. Always a good idea to take a guard dog along. As I headed for the door, the phone rang.

  “Mag? Emily. I called John.” She didn’t sound very happy about it. Her voice was a little clipped. “He’s agreed to meet us for dinner. How’s tomorrow night at Ernie’s?”

  “Great! I’ll let Sean and Digs and Jimmy know. What time?” I wanted to nail this down.

  “I told him 7, if that’s good for you.” Again, she sounded a touch exasperated.

  “Perfect,” I said. “I’ll give you a call tomorrow to confirm after I’ve talked to the guys.” I asked how she was.

  “Fine, I guess. I never thought that there would be all this trouble with the will when Aunt Lily...died.” She sounded wistful and a touch an
noyed.

  “Emily, are you absolutely sure that your Aunt Lily made a will?”

  “I thought she did but I never saw it. She talked about seeing a lawyer and making a will but I guess I don’t really know for sure. I just assumed.....she'd talked about finding a lawyer. She did tell me that she was going to leave the house and the contents to me, though.”

  “Emily, if we don’t find a will, then you, as the only living relative, will inherit everything. Did you know that?” I was curious.

  “Yeah. Sort of. I inherited when my parents died.” Her voice sounded a bit cautious. “I didn't know if that was true for other relatives.”

  “Well, it is and you do. Unless - are there any other relatives you know of?”

  “No. She was an only child and so was I. I don’t think she had any cousins or anything. At least none she ever talked about.”

  “What about John Reilly?”

  “He's not a relative and she never said she was leaving him anything.”

  “I just wondered. He seems to have spent time with her.”

  “He did but there were times Aunt Lily would get frustrated with him. He could be a pest.”

  I let that ride to mull over later. “Did Lily have much in the way of savings or a pension or anything?”

  She paused. “Not that I know of. She had a savings account but I don’t know how much was in it or anything. She always took care of her own accounts.” She stopped. “She did have a pension from the chocolate factory but it wasn’t much every month. That went into her checking account. I never heard her talk about stocks or anything else, either. She was comfortable but she didn’t buy a lot and never took expensive vacations or trips. I think Uncle Herbert left her financially secure but not rich. She was careful how she spent her money after he died. I don’t think she really had much more than she needed to live on.”

  “Did she have a safe deposit box?”

  “Not that I know of. She never mentioned one to me. Why are you asking all these questions?” She paused. “Do you think that her estate is why she was ki – why she died?”