Kate went straight to the Crypt Keeper. She wanted to get the worst case scenario out of the way first.
Despite his creepy and slightly cadaverous appearance, the Keeper was a mild-mannered gentleman who had found an odd niche in life and did his best to execute his assumed duties with some degree of integrity. No one knew what he had done before. No one asked. Now, in addition to minding the crypt, he was a gardener. Kate found him digging in the beds surrounding the crypt.
"Good morning, Mr. Green."
The Keeper looked around, a misshapen lump in his hands.
"Good morning, Miss Kate." Then, because she was looking concerned, he added, "Day lilies. They do very well here. I'm thinning them out so they don't crowd the roses."
When he stood, he couldn't help but loom, yet his expression was sad and slightly worried. He dusted off his hands and offered her one.
"I heard about Joe. I am so sorry. Will you tell me where he is interred? I'm putting aside some bulbs for his grave side."
"The Garrett family plot is in the Memorial Park Cemetery, near the northwest corner. I am hoping you will come to the wake tonight and the service tomorrow. I could send a cab for you. I know he'd want you to be there."
The Keeper's weathered cheeks deepened a shade. Kate hated letting him know she was here on business, then she realized she didn't have to spoil the moment. If there was anyone new, he would tell her, especially if it was Ike. Instead, she shared a few memories of her father before letting Mr. Green return to his gardening. By that time, Kate didn't have to casually ask after Ike. He was hovering at the edge of the hedgerow separating the Graveyard from the extreme end of an industrial park. He twitched his head toward the town centre, sidling away in the opposite direction.
Every neighbourhood in the city had its community centre and Graveyard was no exception. The architectural centre of town was marked by two rusting box cars. One had been turned into a bunkhouse for the more transient residents. The second had been outfitted as a community kitchen and trading post. A patchwork fibreglass awning stretched out from the opening of the car. At the edge of the awning was the traditional and inevitable oil barrel fireplace, currently unlit since it was a fine day.
The smell of burnt coffee and nameless stew hung in the air, along with the smoke of burning herbs. There were a dozen or so people hanging about, warming their hands on mugs of roast acorn-cut coffee. Some were smoking pipes filled with whatever dried leaf was available. Most were speaking in quiet grumbles.
Silence fell with Kate's appearance. She wasn't a stranger, so the muttering conversations picked up again. For a mug of the ersatz coffee, she traded a package of bologna, which she had stuck in her pocket just for this occasion. The coffee was horrible. The bologna probably wasn't much better.
Kate caught sight of Ike. Then he was blocked from view by someone she barely recognized.
"You following me, lady?"
She looked up into a pair of bright blue eyes surrounded by dirt brown skin. It was the undercover officer she had not quite met the night before and he was taller than she expected.
"I said, are you following me?"
"No, sir," Kate said politely, regaining her composure. "That would be wishful thinking on your part."
There was a general pause in the muttering for snorts and guffaws. He loudly told her what to do with herself, but gave her a wink before stomping off.
Ike waited until he was gone, then came over and asked if she was okay. He made a show of telling her she should be more careful while crab-walking her to the edge of the group. Then his words tumbled out fast and low.
"I gotta lie low, Miss Kate. That Mr. Eldridge is a nutter. He wanted me to shoot at him. Gave me a gun. Me! You know I don't do that sort of thing. I told him I didn't. He wouldn't listen. He said he's afraid for his life and if I didn't help him, he'd never get the protection he needed. So, I threw rocks at him." Ike shuddered. "He's not happy. Doesn't want to see my face again. Very firm on that."
Ike was a dyed-in-the-wool coward. Even so, his reaction seemed excessive. Kate handed him her coffee, which she couldn't face, and patted him on the back in a soothing way.
"You lay low, Ike. I'll handle Eldridge. Can you get a disposable eCom?"
He nodded.
"Call me when you have it. I'll get you some extra funds. I might even have someone watching your back."
Ike nodded again. What scared Eldridge so much he'd turn on Ike? Or even turn to Ike in the first place? She'd have to find out.
On her way back through the coffee klatch, she jostled the big guy. He reacted predictably, giving her a chance to play tough cop and take him aside.
"You saw me talking to that man?" she asked.
She kept her voice low, relying on her scowl and posture to make it seem as though she were threatening him. He blustered in response.
"Yeah, what if I did?"
"If you can, keep an eye on him for me."
"Get off my case, lady." His eyes rolled back in his head, eloquently expressing he had his own fish to fry.
She moved away. "Try."
12
By mutual agreement, Jake and Valerio decided tackling Moonlight Games first. It was uptown, in what had been a strictly residential area until termites undermined the foundations of half the old homes. Most of the buildings along the main artery were multifunction complexes with boutiques, outlet stores, cafés and restaurants at street level. South of the road were the old money houses of Hilltop. North of the road, there was a mix of old and new—commercial, light industry and residential. That's where Moonlight Games was headquartered, in a converted stone house.
"I should warn you, Yao doesn't like suits," said Jake, opening the door.
"I'll bet she doesn't say a thing. I wear a suit like a second skin."
Valerio was right, Sabrina Yao didn't comment on Valerio's suit. She did call attention to Jake's olive-green sweater.
"Not quite khaki, but close." She waved them in. "If you've come to hound me about the fire, you're in luck. I have an unwelcomed guest. Frank is here putting the pressure on me to make a deal. It's like getting two for one at the candy shop."
Rossini was a big man with plenty of muscle under all that flesh and handsome in a male model sort of way. He stood as if he were posing for a big and tall catalogue, one foot slightly forward, a perfectly manicured hand resting on the back of the chair he had evidently just vacated. The only thing that marred the picture was the sneer he gave Jake when he followed Ms. Yao into her office.
"Called in reinforcements, Mr. Carmedy? I thought you were done with us."
"This is Detective Valerio of the City Police Services, Mr. Rossini. We're looking into the death of Delano Gage."
"Then you can't want me. I've never heard of him."
"He's the head of the company that insures Moonlight Games."
"Wouldn't know." Rossini waved dismissively. "Anyway, I have nothing to do with the business except claiming my share of the profits. Sabrina would have me believe my brother didn't do anything creative around here."
"And Frank would like me to accept his claim Matteo was only creative before we established Moonlight," said Sabrina.
Jake raised his hand to stop them. "Take your case to court. I've been asked to help the police by investigating a possible connection between the fire and Mr. Gage's death. He took a personal interest in your case."
"Wouldn't know," Rossini repeated. "I can't see this has anything to do with me, so if you'll excuse me..."
Jake smiled as he barred the way. In truth, he couldn't see what possible connection Rossini would have to do with the case, either, but the man wanted out too badly. Most people try hanging around and finding out what's going on. Besides, there was something about the man that got up his nose.
"Sit down, Mr. Rossini. We only have a few questions for you. Let's start with what you are doing here today. By now, I would have thought all communication with Ms. Yao would be done through your lawyers.
"
Sabrina grinned and took her seat behind the desk with the expression of a person prepared to enjoy herself. "He came to blackmail me," she said. "He claims he didn't set the fire, therefore, I must have. If I did, it follows that eventually the evidence will go against me. If it's going to go against me anyway, I should settle with him now. QED."
"Is that true, Mr. Rossini?" Jake asked.
Rossini folded his arms across his chest. "I'm just trying to save legal costs."
Sabrina rolled her eyes. "How thoughtful of you."
Jake shook his head. "It's unlikely either of you set the fire yourselves. You were out of town, Ms. Yao. You, Mr. Rossini, don't have the know-how to break into the place."
Rossini opened his mouth as if to protest, then exercised his right to remain silent.
Jake resisted the urge to smirk. "That doesn't mean you couldn't hire someone to do the task. You certainly have the right kind of contacts. Still, you have no reason we know of to kill Gage. So, if you will just provide Detective Valerio with your contact information and whereabouts over the last two days, you can go."
As soon as Valerio showed Rossini out, Jake allowed himself a grin of pleasure.
"He's like a fly you can't swat, isn't he?" Sabrina said, slumping in her chair.
"The point is, I can't swat him. I have no evidence to suggest he set the fire in your office and no reason to suppose he hired anyone. If he could hire someone, he'd be better off hiring them to steal the papers. You're more likely to have set the fire to implicate him."
"Thanks."
Jake shrugged. "I didn't say you did. On the other hand, I can't prove you didn't. I'd like to think you weren't involved." He grinned. "And I wouldn't mind thinking Rossini was guilty. Unfortunately, that's not how cases get solved. The evidence suggests it was an inside job. If I could think of a way you'd profit by Gage's death, you'd be a prime suspect."
Bingo. She reacted with a flash of fear and maybe a hint of guilt.
"Ms. Yao?"
"I didn't have reason to kill him, but I might have idly threatened him once." She offered up a sheepish smile. "It was after he set that risk consultant on us. You know what that guy's report cost us? It was because of him we upgraded all our security and paid out a bundle in patent insurance. Now, that little twerp I might have killed."
"Careful, Ms. Yao. Mr. Eldridge has received death threats. You wouldn't want to give anyone the impression you sent them."
Sabrina gave an exasperated sigh. "Are you investigating that, too?"
"No. Mr. Eldridge took me off the case. Did you idly threaten him, too?"
"No. I just skipped town to get away from him. I didn't kill Gage, either. When I threatened him, I just wanted him to know I was pissed off with the way he kept harassing me. First there was the risk assessment, then the arson investigation. That was fair enough, I suppose. I don't guess Gage could have hired someone to burn my records?"
"An expensive fire for his company."
"Not that expensive. Not his money, anyway."
"He's a major stock holder."
Sabrina waved a hand dismissively. "Money out, more money in. The house always wins. On the other hand, Gage also had money in Magpie. If you lock me up for arson, Magpie will be able to buy Moonlight for a song."
"Does Gage strike you as the type who would do that?"
Sabrina rolled her eyes heavenward. "Who knows? Not me. I barely knew the man. He came by the office a couple times, once when I was out of town avoiding Eldridge. Otherwise, we only spoke on the phone. We might never have had anything to do with each other if Magpie hadn't wanted me and my company. Actually," she said, brightening up, "that's a good point. Magpie wants me, too. They're going to hire all the creative staff here."
An idea crossed Jake's mind.
"Who aren't they hiring?"
The list was short and one name stood out.
"Mr. Jericho," Jake announced, "you have a problem."
Lloyd Jericho looked like a man with a problem. He fidgeted in his seat, looking from Carmedy to Valerio and back again as though a tennis ball was being knocked back and forth between them.
"I don't get it."
"You don't have an alibi for the night of the fire and now, we discover, you do have a motive. Bad combo, Mr. Jericho."
"I still don't get it."
"You aren't going over to Magpie when they buy Moonlight Games."
"I don't get that, either."
Jake heaved a sigh. "What's not to get?" He was beginning to wonder about the man. Was he that clueless or that clever? "Moonlight Games is sold to Magpie and you are out a job."
Jericho nodded. "I'm not the only one. Bob's gone already."
"Bob?" Valerio asked.
"Robert Simpson was the one fired for embezzling funds," Jake explained. "The theft was discovered in the process of investigating the fire. Doesn't matter, he has an alibi for the day of the fire."
He turned back to Jericho, jabbing a finger at him without quite touching him. "You, on the other hand, had plenty of opportunity that day, didn't you?"
Jab.
"And the files are your domain, right?"
Jab.
"You'd know what to burn to cause the most disruption to the Magpie deal, right?"
Jab, jab.
"I wasn't there!" Jericho slapped Jake's hand away. "I was playing the beta version of the new game in the test room. Ask anybody. I only file part-time. My big job is beta testing the games."
Jake backed off. He had been here before and got nowhere. All games were recorded by data input and digital video for security purposes. There was no record of Jericho playing the game. The first time around, Jake assumed the man was too stupid to plot and had really taken off early because the boss was out. Now he was beginning to wonder.
"I just don't get it," Jericho repeated. "I was there. Really!"
Jake and Valerio exchanged glances. Unless they found something tying Jericho to Gage or Rossini, this interview had gone as far as it could.
"Alright, Mr. Jericho. Just don't leave town."
As they left the office, Valerio let out a soft chuckle.
"Don't leave town? Nobody really says that. You've been hanging around Joe too long."
Jake shook his head.
"No, not nearly long enough."
13
Under the utility coverall, Kate wore a pair of black silk trousers and a beaded silk belly top. That outfit, coupled with the wrinkle-proof hooded cloak she had stowed in her pack, made a respectable ensemble for visiting a business office. She changed at the Helios, added a modest amount of makeup and jewellery and left her former outerwear hanging up on the coat stand. It could wait there until she returned for the wake. A message from Magnus let her know he'd pick up the scooter after running errands downtown.
The Touchstone building was an easy walk from the Helios, on the border of Old Downtown and Riverside. It housed Touchstone Insurance, Touchstone Fidelity and Trust, Touchstone Financial Services and the governing corporation, The Touchstone Group.
A green wall of living plants dominated the foyer. Ivy crept along the adjacent stone structure supporting the security desk. Surveillance monitors, scanners and communications arrays were masked by the greenery, granite and limestone. Even the security staff blended in with their olive green uniforms. As she approached, one of the pair stepped back to keep an eye on her while the other greeted her at the front desk.
"I'm here to see Jane Osgoode on a personal matter," Kate said.
Knowing the drill, she placed her palm down on the hand outline etched on scanner.
"Kathleen Garrett?"
She nodded.
"Joe's daughter?"
She nodded again.
"I'm so sorry."
The guard turned to his partner.
"Show Ms. Garrett to the reception area. I'll call Ms. Osgoode."
Kate picked Jane Osgoode for a few reasons. She had been around when Eldridge worked at Touchstone, wh
ich was important. Her father always spoke highly of Jane as someone who kept her eyes open as to who was doing what to whom. Kate suspected her father might have been infatuated with Jane. With any luck, the feeling had been mutual and she would be inclined to help Joe's daughter.
A little voice in Kate's head pointed out she might rely a bit too much on being Joe's daughter. The Garrett name carried a lot of prestige in various circles in the city.
Of course, said another little voice, the name also carries a lot of responsibility. She had her father's reputation to live up to.
I didn't ask for it, a third voice replied.
But you use it, said that first voice.
I wonder if this is how royalty feels. Maybe that's why they always refer to themselves in the plural. Maybe, if they were honest, they'd say, "Most of us are not amused, but one of us is laughing her head off."
"Kate, how are you?"
All the little voices shut up and Kate stood to greet the speaker. "As well as can be expected, Jane. How are you?"
Jane wrapped Kate in a warm hug, then pushed her away to arm's length so she could size her up. "Damn, you're all grown up! And all I've done is grown out."
Kate smiled and shook her head. Jane was a big, beautiful woman with an even bigger sense of style. "Twice the woman Jane Mansfield was," her father would say. The thought made her sad.
"You look tired." Jane beckoned toward the outside door. "Is this official or can we go to the Tea House?"
"The Tea House would be perfect."
Around the corner on the Riverside, the Tea House was an oasis of calm in the retrace of commerce. Kimonoed young men and women prepared tea for the patrons, without haste, leaving their customers alone once they were served. Although Kate wasn't much of a tea drinker, she couldn't have picked a better venue for a quiet talk. The only customers in this early were a couple who looked like tourists and a pair of older ladies who gave every appearance of being permanent fixtures.
Deadly Legacy (A Carmedy & Garrett Mystery) Page 8