“Interesting,” she said. “You’d never met Farrell before, maybe when you were visiting the shop?”
I shook my head. “Never saw the guy.”
“You really don’t remember anything more after you went to the casino?” she finally asked.
“It’s all a blur after I got hit on the head.”
“Let’s assume that whoever beat you up, got you drunk, and let you drive down Golden Gate Canyon was the same person who killed Farrell.”
“That’s a safe bet.” I decided not to tell her about Gus and Mick because I didn’t know exactly how they were connected to all this, nor did I have a way of proving they were involved.
“And that same person took your gun at that time and used it to kill Farrell.”
“Again, I’d bet money on it.”
My cell phone chirped, signaling I had a text. I was sure it was Willie, wondering why I hadn’t called her back, but I ignored it again.
Spillman continued twisting her cup. “Why frame you?”
“If I knew that, don’t you think I’d tell you?”
“You’ve held back information before.”
I couldn’t argue with that. I’d kept information from her on a number of cases, but it was because I didn’t want to implicate Willie or my friends. That was noble, right? And yet, I wasn’t telling her about Gus and Mick. But I had my reasons.
She leaned forward. “What were you doing at U.S. International Realty?”
“I was asking about some property for a friend.” The lie sounded to me as smooth as fine whiskey.
“Ferguson, I can’t help you if you’re not honest with me.”
“I’ll take my chances,” I said. “What have you found out?”
She stood up. “You know I can’t tell you that.”
“Right,” I said, frustrated. “Because I’m a suspect.”
“Yep.” She donned her coat, tossed her empty cup in a trash can and walked out, leaving me to contemplate our conversation.
My cell phone rang again, interrupting my deliberations.
“Reed, you were going to call me right back,” Willie said. “When you didn’t, I got worried. What happened?”
“Sorry, I ran into Spillman.”
“Oh no. Is everything okay?”
“If still being a suspect is okay, then yeah, I’m dandy.”
“I’m sorry, hon.”
I sighed. “It’s okay. The good thing is the GSR tests came back negative.”
“GSR?”
“Gunshot residue.”
“Then why are you still a suspect?”
“Because they think I could’ve hired someone who could’ve used my gun to kill him.”
“I hadn’t thought of that. But that seems so stupid. Why would you do that?”
“That’s what I told Spillman. Anyway, what’d you find out?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Trevor hasn’t been to work in a while,” she said.
“He’s disappeared?”
“Well, not initially. He was on vacation last week and he was supposed to be back Monday, but he didn’t show up. No one can get hold of him.”
“So what happened? Was vacation so good that Welch decided to ditch work altogether?”
“I doubt that.”
“Me, too,” I said. “How did you find this out?”
“I pretended to be Trevor’s on-again-off-again girlfriend,” she said, pride in her voice.
“And that worked?”
“Reed, when you confide in another woman that you’re having trouble with your man, that can open up all kinds of doors.”
“Did you need to act like you were his girlfriend?”
“Do I detect a hint of jealousy?”
“Please,” I said, covering the fact that she was right. “I’m way better looking than him.”
She laughed. “You are, and you don’t have anything to worry about. Anyway, I acted concerned about Trevor and made up a story about how we’d broken up but then he agreed to meet me at the Starbucks down the street this morning and he didn’t show up, so I thought I’d check at his office. The receptionist was very sympathetic, and told me about her own boyfriend issues. Reed, if what she said is true, she’s dating a real heel. He doesn’t think about her feelings at all, and he expects her to do whatever –”
“You found out a lot,” I interrupted before she told me more about the horrible boyfriend. “That’s great detective work.” Sans the extra information, I thought, but wisely didn’t say. “So it appears that Trevor may be on the run.”
“It looks that way,” she said. “Do you think he’s dead?”
“I don’t know.” I ran a hand through my hair. “But I need to find out what happened to him.”
“I don’t know that I can help you with that. Do you need anything else?”
“What does Trevor do?”
“I don’t know. It’s something technical, from the looks of the place, but I couldn’t ask that.”
“Why not? Oh, because Trevor’s supposed girlfriend would know what he does for a living.”
“Right.” She laughed. “I’m going to grab some lunch and then I have some errands to run. What’s your next move?”
I thought for a second. “I need to see how Ace is doing. And it might be time to get into Welch’s house and see if I can find anything that might explain his disappearance.”
“Be careful.”
“I will.”
“See you for dinner?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll keep you posted. Thanks for your help, and good work.”
“Like I said, I don’t want to visit you behind bars,” she said, then her tone grew lighter. “And you better watch out, I may open up my own detective agency.”
“Oh, dear Lord,” I said.
She was still laughing when I hung up.
Chapter Eleven
After all the coffee I’d consumed, I badly needed a bathroom, so I used the facilities, and then braved the cold again. It was almost eleven as I hurried back to my car. Gray clouds blanketed the sky as I drove out of downtown. I had just gotten on I-25 when my cell phone rang.
“Reed!” Ace said breathlessly when I answered.
I didn’t like the edge in his voice. “What’s going on?”
“I’m following a guy that showed up at Welch’s house.”
“You’re what?” I nearly shouted. “Ace, I told you not to do anything dangerous.”
“It’s not dangerous,” he said. “I’ve got a few cars between us and he doesn’t know I’m behind him.”
I opened my mouth to respond, then paused. Was a Goofball Brother actually making sense?
“I’ve learned from watching your film noir movies,” he continued.
I almost dropped the phone. Not only had he remembered that it was “film noir”, not “film now”, as both he and Deuce usually called it, but he was actually tailing properly.
“Where are you?” I asked.
“Heading east on I-70. We’re about to pass the National Western Complex.” That was a large venue just east of I-25 that hosted the National Western Stock Show each January.
“Be careful,” I said, sounding like Willie. “I’m headed in that direction. And tell me what’s going on.” I stayed in the right lane so I could exit onto I-70.
“I went to Welch’s house like you asked,” Ace began. “I parked down the street, got into the back of my car and bundled up. It wasn’t bad, really. I could’ve used some hot chocolate. But then I would have to use the bathroom, right? And I’m kind of hungry now –”
“Ace,” I interrupted him. Did he get the art of relating extraneous story details from Willie? “Tell me about the guy you saw.”
“Oh right. So anyway, I waited and watched the house. About ten minutes after I got there, that guy Welch came home.”
“He did? Are you sure?”
“Pretty sure. I used the binoculars you gave me, so I got a good look at him. He was the guy in the picture you showed me, b
ut he looked sick or something.”
“How so?”
“He was kinda hunched over like he had a stomach ache. Or maybe he had a hangover. He looked like I feel when I have a hangover.”
“Huh,” I said as I exited 25 onto I-70. “Did you see his car?”
“No, that was weird. I first saw him down the street, near the corner. He was on the other side of the street. That’s when I first noticed him because he just stayed there and I was thinking ‘why is that guy hanging around outside in the cold?’ Because it’s really cold, Reed.”
“I’ll bet.”
“Anyway, that’s when I got the binoculars and I knew it was Welch. He finally crossed the street and walked up to the house and let himself in. After a few minutes, he came back out carrying a big duffle bag. He walked back down the street and around the corner.”
“And now you’re following him in the car?”
“No, you told me not to,” he said, indignation in his voice.
“But you just said you’re following him.”
“No,” he said slowly, as if I were the dunce in the class. “I told you, I was following a guy. I’m not following Welch.”
“Then who are you following?”
“I don’t know. He’s a big dude, reminds me of Arnold.” Arnold Schwarzenegger was Ace’s favorite actor. “He showed up a few minutes after Welch and I think he broke into the house because he went around to the back and I didn’t see him for a while. When he came back out front, I decided to follow him.”
My heart leaped into my throat. “Ace, that’s probably the guy who beat me up. You don’t want to mess with him.”
“I’m not messing with him, I’m just following him.”
His logic would be the death of me. “Are you still on I-70?” I asked.
“No, we went south on Washington Street and ended up off of 22nd and Downing.”
I knew the area because it was close to St. Joseph Hospital where Willie worked. Washington Street was coming up, so I exited, driving as fast as I dared to catch up to Ace.
“Oh, he just turned into a parking lot,” Ace said. “It looks like a doctor’s office. I’m going to park on the street.”
“Ace, stay in the car.”
“I’m going to. I got the heater going and it’s nice and warm. Okay, he went inside. He didn’t even see me.”
“Buddy, you’re asking for trouble,” I chided him.
“It’s fine. He…uh-oh.”
“What?” I groaned. I felt completely helpless and blind, and it was driving me crazy.
“He came back outside and he’s staring right at me.”
“Leave, now!” I said.
“Okay.” Fear crept into his voice. “I’m pulling out into traffic now.”
“Don’t look at him.”
“I won’t.”
A long pause ensued. The suspense was killing me.
“What’s happening?” I asked.
“I’m looking in the rearview mirror. He watched me as I drove by, then he ran to the parking lot. Reed, what if he saw my license plate?”
“That’s our second problem. Did he follow you?”
“No…wait. I see the SUV.”
I cursed. “You need to lose him, fast.”
“How?”
“Go north on Downing.”
“I am.”
“Good,” I said. I yanked the wheel and careened onto 33rd Avenue, then whipped a U-turn and drove back to Downing. “Where are you now?”
“Uh…31st.”
“Keep going. When you pass Martin Luther King, hit the gas and put some space between your car and his.”
Another pause and then Deuce said, “I just passed MLK and I’m gunning it.”
A moment later, Ace’s Kia shot past me. I hit the gas, pulled in behind the car, and glanced in the rearview mirror. The SUV braked hard, nearly hitting me.
“Is that you?” Ace asked.
“Yeah. Go to the 7-Eleven on 18th. I’ll meet you there.”
“What if he follows you?”
I grimaced. “Then I’ll lose him.” I neglected to say that I was in trouble if Gus recognized my rental car. And since he’d followed me and watched my car the other night, I didn’t see how he wouldn’t. But I had a better chance of losing him than Ace did. Plus, it was my job, not Ace’s.
Ace hung up and I tossed the phone on the passenger seat, then sped up and suddenly turned onto Marion Street. Gus stayed with me and I gritted my teeth as I passed a small industrial complex. I took a hard right into a wide alley and skidded around a moving truck that was headed toward me. A horn blared as the truck’s front end barely missed the rear of the Subaru. I heard a loud crash and looked in the rearview mirror. The truck was blocking the alley, but on the other side, I saw the SUV. It had rammed into the front end of the truck.
“Ha ha!” I shouted, then pumped my fist in the air.
I got back onto the next street and sped off. But my elation didn’t last long. I soon realized that Gus was aware not only of me, but now Ace. And I’d have to figure out how to keep Gus from finding Ace. Could things get any worse?
It turned out they could.
Chapter Twelve
I met Ace at the 7-Eleven and followed him home. After that, I didn’t want him driving his car in case Gus tried to track him down from the Kia’s license plate, so I had Ace put his car in the garage, retrieved my binoculars and blankets and took them upstairs to my condo. Then I took him to lunch. After that we rented a vehicle for him. It turns out a short-bed truck was a cheap option so I chose that, and Ace was excited to drive it instead of his car. His Kia was relatively new, the result of his beat-up Subaru being totaled when the garage we shared was burned down. When it came time to get a new car, he’d wanted a 4-Runner like I had but insurance wouldn’t pay for it. He’d settled for the Kia, but he hadn’t been happy. When we left the rental agency, he giggled as he took the truck keys, and he promised to keep his eye out for Gus.
I debated whether to rent a new vehicle for myself, but unless Gus had someone like a Cal who could look up car rental records, I didn’t see how he could trace the Subaru back to me.
By the time I got home, I had a splitting headache, my face hurt and I was in a bad mood. Willie was still gone, so I popped Sweet Smell of Success into the DVD player and lay back on the couch and closed my eyes. As Tony Curtis walked the streets of New York City, I fell asleep.
“Hey,” a sweet voice said a while later.
I opened my eyes as a cold gust of air enveloped me. The living room was dark and blue light from the television bathed the room in an eerie glow. Willie was standing in the doorway, grocery bags in her hands.
“Hey yourself,” I said, pushing myself off the couch. I turned on a light, then helped her with the groceries.
“Are you feeling okay?” she asked as she put fresh vegetables into the refrigerator.
“I had a headache but I’m okay now,” I said.
“You’ve been pushing it too hard,” she scolded me.
“I don’t have much choice. I’ve got to figure out who killed Noel Farrell.”
“I know. Why don’t you sit down and I’ll fix dinner. Then you can relax tonight.”
She didn’t have to ask twice. I sat down at the table and we chatted while she prepared some canned soup and salad.
“You’re not going to believe what Ace did,” I said and then filled her in on my afternoon.
She shook her head at his antics, then became serious. “You think Gus will be able to find where we live?”
“I don’t see how he could, but be careful, okay?” Now I sounded like her. “What I don’t get is how Gus and Mick are connected to U.S. International Realty.”
“Maybe they’re realtors?” Willie suggested.
“I highly doubt it,” I said. “They’re not exactly the realtor type. Plus, there were only a couple of realtors listed on the website. I met one named Lois. She showed me properties in Belize.”
; “We’re moving to Belize?”
“Hardly. I was trying to figure out why Gus and Mick were driving an SUV that belongs to that company. Lois said the realtors usually use their own cars to take clients to properties, so I’m not sure why there’d be a vehicle registered to the company.”
“Who owns the company? Maybe the SUV belongs to the owner.”
“That’s not a bad thought.” I dug out my cell phone and Googled the company. “Their website doesn’t say who owns it.”
“Cal can find it,” she said as she put plates on the table.
I sighed and gingerly scratched my jaw. I hadn’t shaved in a couple of days and the stubble was itchy. “I can’t see how Noel Farrell, the thugs Gus and Mick, and Trevor Welch are connected.”
“You’ll figure it out,” she said. She smiled. “I have faith in you.”
I appreciated her trying to make me feel better. We lapsed into silence while she puttered around and finished making the salad. I helped her put everything on the table and then we sat down.
“Where do you go from here?” she said after we’d eaten a bit.
“I’m going back to Welch’s townhouse.”
“Now?”
“Tonight.”
“Do you think he’s going to come back?”
I shook my head. “He’s in hiding, so I’m going to try to get in and see what I can find.”
Her face fell. “Are you sure you want to do this tonight? You look tired.”
“I am tired, but it’ll be better to go when it’s dark, and I can’t waste any time.”
“You’re right.” She started to take a bite of salad, then put her fork down and pushed her plate away.
“I’ll be fine,” I said before she could say anything. I’d lost my appetite, too, and I stopped eating.
She nodded but I hadn’t convinced her. “I’ll go with you.”
“No way.”
“We’ll take my car, that way if those thugs are around, they won’t recognize your rental. And if they show up, I can call and warn you.”
I had to admit, that made sense. I pointed at her. “But you stay in the car. Two people breaking into a home is easier to spot than one. And my mother would never forgive me if you ended up in jail.”
“That’s true,” she said. “By the way, have you told her what’s going on?”
The Reed Ferguson Mystery series Box Set 3 Page 24