Winston grinned. “What do you have planned?”
“We sue Xavier’s parents for wrongful death. This kid was seventeen when he died, and under the mother’s supervision. Then we’ll freeze any assets from the lawsuit they should receive.”
“Sounds good.” Stuart leaned back in his chair. He patted his wife’s arm.
All was quiet for a moment and then Fran said, “If we go ahead, and end up with the money from their lawsuit, I’d like the money to go back to the police. To their widow’s fund or something.”
“I like the way you think.” Kimberly chuckled. “But once they realize they won’t get anything they’ll likely just walk away.”
“If you freeze the assets,” Winston asked, “does that mean Coleman won’t get paid either?”
“That will depend on the judge. But most attorneys won’t go forward if they know their clients will get nothing.” Papers shuffled on Kimberly’s side of the phone line. “I’ve already spoken to the attorney for the city, and he’s ready to help any way he can.”
Stuart gave a curt nod. “And what’s your fee?” he asked.
“Nothing. I need some pro bono hours, so this will be on the house.”
“Oh my,” Fran sobbed. “That’s so kind of you.”
“So, what’s next?” Winston asked.
“Let’s see.” Kimberly paused. “There’s a hearing on a Motion to Dismiss next Tuesday at 10:15. Can you all make it?”
“We’ll be there,” Stuart said.
“I already have it on my calendar,” Winston said.
“If we can pull this off,” Kimberly said, “it might set a precedent. Too many of these lawsuits have become better than a winning lottery ticket for far too long now.”
Chapter 16
Jane trudged back into the office. Twenty hotels, yet no sign of Phillip Evers. At least the rain had let up for a couple of hours.
She found Brenda in the snack room eating her lunch. Two people from the office next door were at a table in the corner. The snack room, shared by the entire floor, held a microwave, two tables, and an individual cup coffeemaker, which Jane needed immensely.
“Long morning?” Brenda asked Jane.
“I hate getting nowhere. Would rather be spying on people.”
Brenda laughed. “That’s what you private eyes do best.”
“Yep.” Jane sighed. “Doesn’t help my son is mad at me.” They’d had an argument when she got home from Winston’s the night before, and he still wasn’t talking to her that morning.
“Why’s that?”
“I have a babysitter for him.” She slid a pod into the coffeemaker.
“He’s what? Twelve, in middle-grade?”
Jane nodded.
“Makes sense. I’m sure he’s got friends who are allowed to roam and do what they want, but in the long run, that only gets them into trouble.”
“Yeah, and I’m not ready to let him roam just yet.” The coffee hissed behind Jane’s back. She turned and swallowed a lump in her throat. She didn’t know why this was so hard. It wasn’t like Luke hadn’t learned to shoot a gun at the age of eight. If she could let him handle a gun, why couldn’t she allow him to be home alone? “I guess I’m just having trouble letting go.”
“That’s because you know the seedy side of life. His friends’ parents probably have regular jobs that don’t put them face to face with evil. You need to give him a reason to allow this girl to watch him.”
“And how do I do that?”
“Is this girl cute?”
“I guess.” Jane wasn’t sure, but thought she knew where this was going.
“He can just tell his friends that’s why he likes her being there.”
Jane smiled. “Tried it, but it didn’t work.” She leaned back against the counter. “Enough about me. How’s your mom doing?”
“Not well. The Alzheimer’s makes her not realize what she’s doing.” Brenda’s voice trembled. “My sister caught her walking down the road in her nightgown the other day. She used to be the neighborhood Southern Belle. All pristine, matching shoes, purse, and nails. Now she goes to the bathroom in her pants. It would kill her if she knew.”
“Sorry to hear it.”
“We’ve been talking about putting her in a home, but I think my sister’s worried once Mom is gone, we’ll ask her to leave also.”
“Will you?”
“No.” Brenda straightened. “I like having her there when Bud’s on the road. Keeps the place from being so lonely. That, and she does all my housekeeping for me.” She shrugged one shoulder. “Besides, Peggy doesn’t even have a job except for watching Mom. I couldn’t expect her to leave immediately.”
“Have you told her that?”
“I have, but she’s not sure of Bud.”
“Find out how he feels about her being there. Might not be an issue.” Jane looked around as if making sure no one was listening in. “If it is, tell him being alone might make you turn to retail therapy.”
Brenda laughed and shoved her food container back into her lunch bag. “Gotta get back to work. Pay for that retail therapy you mentioned.” She got up and left the room.
Once at her computer, Jane searched for independent insurance agent organizations. The first one to pop up was the Florida Association of Insurance Agents. When she clicked on Find an Agent, the Florida Independent Insurance Agents’ website popped up. No sign of anyone named Evers listed.
She dialed the 844 number, and a computer-generated greeting answered her call. A couple buttons later she was speaking to a human.
“I’m trying to locate an agent who might have been a past member,” she said. “He moved, and I can’t find his new location.”
“I’ll be happy to try to help you with that. What’s the name?” the man asked. He had a foreign accent but spoke English well enough for Jane to think he might actually be in the U.S.
“Phillip Evers.”
“Please hold for a moment.” The line went silent. Within a second, he was back. “I don’t show a Phillip Evers was ever a member.”
“You don’t?”
“No, ma’am. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay. Thanks.” Jane hung up. She went to the next. This went on for over a half hour with no luck.
She pulled up her cell phone and looked at the school photo with Trish’s floating head. It just didn’t look real to her. She looked up Trish Peterson. There were well over one hundred just in Florida alone. None said specifically they went to Beaumont Private Girl’s School. Jane didn’t recognize any of them as being the Trish Peterson she was looking for.
After a few minutes of futile searching, she dialed Poppy’s number. Her sister being a photographer was also a good editor. She might be able to tell if the photo had been manipulated.
“Could be,” Poppy said upon receiving the picture. “It’s hard to tell looking at a picture of a picture, but the head in back doesn’t appear to have any shoulders and the shadow on her face is off from the others.”
“Thanks.” Next Jane called Trish.
“Hello.”
“Hello, Trish, this is Jane Bayou.”
“Yes.”
“I’d like to meet with you if that’s all right.”
“What for?”
“Just to go over some background on Pamela,” Jane lied.
Trish was quiet for a moment, then said, “I’m available now if you want to head over.”
Brenda was on the phone when Jane left, so she just waved.
Within twenty minutes, she pulled up to the three-toned brown townhome community on Beach Boulevard just before the Intercoastal Waterway. She parked her car in front of building 600. A guy was walking in the parking lot talking on his cell.
“…I swear, I didn’t…” His voice rose an octave.
Jane’s deductive skills told her he was having relationship issues.
“She meant nothing.” The guy’s voice faded as she walked to number 612. Trish answered on the first k
nock. She sported a sophisticated pale-yellow pantsuit, and her fingernail polish was white decorated with blue zig zags.
Hardwood flooring led from the living room, through the kitchen, to rooms in the back. The living room itself had just a sofa and a recliner. An entertainment center held what looked to be a 32-inch screen TV. About the size as the one she and Cam had in their bedroom.
She could see a half-counter leading into a kitchen and the backdoor. Several windows allowed light in, including the small one on the door. Having the corner unit probably kept noise down from neighbors.
Jane sat on one side of the sofa. Trish took the recliner.
“Nice place,” Jane said.
“Thanks. I did some interior decorating when I was married and living in Atlanta.”
“You still doing that?”
“No. Thanks to a nice divorce settlement, I don’t need to work anymore.” Trish crossed her arms over her chest. “So, how may I help you?”
“How well did you know Phillip Evers?”
“I didn’t. I went to elementary school with Pamela and happened to bump into her at the Town Center. They say Jacksonville is a big, small city. I believe it.”
“So, it’s Pamela you know well.”
“I wouldn’t say well. It’s just when all this happened, I thought she might need a friend.”
Jane nodded. “I saw the elementary school picture you gave her. I know it’s been doctored.”
Red ran down Trish’s face and all the way down her neck. “Doc…” She cleared her throat. “Doctored, how?”
“Your head has the wrong shadow and no body.”
“You caught me.” Trish stared down at her hands and let out a low laugh. “I don’t really know Pamela at all. It was Phillip I knew. I was sure she’d catch on, but she never did.”
“How well did you know Phillip?”
“We were engaged.”
Jane was sure her face reflected her shock. “What happened?”
She looked away. “He took me to the tune of twenty-five grand. Claimed he needed the money to catch up on child support. I thought we were going to spend our lives together. Once he got the money, he disappeared faster than he’d appeared. I thought he’d left town until I saw him with Pamela at the Town Center.”
“How’d you know about the school?”
“I overheard him say her first name, then when the waitress handed back her card, she called her Ms. Evers. It wasn’t too hard.” She grinned. “When I bumped into her, I could tell she was trying to place me, so it was awkward for her. Later I looked her up and saw an article about her swimming and the schools she’d gone to.”
“Did you contact the police after Phillip stole from you?”
“No. I was too embarrassed.” She stared at her polished manicured toenails. “I’m not sure why I’m even telling you.”
“You ever tell Pamela?”
“No, I couldn’t. It was clear she was in love with him.” She clawed her hands through her hair. “We met later, and he said he’d repay me every penny.”
“Did he?”
“Five thousand for the past three months so far.” She grinned. “I made it clear if he didn’t, I’d not only tell Pamela, but go to the police as well. Seemed to scare him.”
Which explained where the money in the bank account had gone. Now where did it come from? He certainly didn’t get it selling insurance.
Could he have gotten tired of paying Trish and thought playing dead would get him out of it? Jane considered that, but with only ten thousand left to repay, it wasn’t likely.
“He was good,” Trish said. “I fell for every line. I haven’t been able to date since. I’m finding it too hard to trust others.”
Jane couldn’t help but think what Evers took from her was probably a lot more than money.
“The only good thing that came out of it was my friendship with Pamela. When I heard about the shooting, I went to visit. It turned out she’s a nice lady.”
“Why lie in the first place? Even to the point of giving her a picture.”
“I was going to be honest that first day, but I saw them there cuddled together. I just couldn’t hurt her the way I’d been hurt. And he sure wasn’t about to correct me.” Trish got up and walked to the back of the chair. “I guess I wanted her to not feel so alone after the shooting, so I got the picture made so she’d feel she had a friend, someone she could lean on.”
Jane looked at Trish. Could she be the one who needed someone to lean on? With no photographs of family or friends, she might be the one who was lonely.
“Where were you on the morning the shooting occurred?” Jane asked.
Trish jerked upright.
“You have a motive,” Jane explained.
“Yeah, I guess I do.” Trish let out a slight laugh. “I’ve never been suspected of doing anything wrong like this before. I was here, asleep. Alone.”
“Do you have any idea where Evers might be?”
“If I did, I’d have let the police know. I can’t help but think he’s responsible for shooting Pamela, killing her baby.” Her lips tightened. “Have you found out anything?”
“Not yet.” Jane tapped her pen against her cheek. “You ever knew his actual name?”
“No. In fact, he had a business out in Orange Park when we dated. It was closed shortly after he ripped me off.”
“Did you ever go to his business?”
“Not until after. I kept an eye on it for a week, but no one ever showed up. That’s when I really knew I’d been taken.” She paused then went on. “Maybe he’s found another woman to target.”
“Could be.” Jane stood. “Well, thanks for your help. If you can think of anything else, please call.” She paused. “You know it’s just a matter of time until Pamela finds out the truth about you not going to school with her. You might want to tell her first.”
“I know, but right now, with all she’s going through, I just can’t do it.” Trish followed Jane to the door. “Do you think you’ll be able to find her husband?”
“That is the million-dollar question.” Jane walked to her car feeling like she was spinning her wheels. Getting a lot of information that amounted to a whole bunch of nothing.
Chapter 17
The mailman slowed at Pamela’s mailbox. He glanced at her picture window, but she ducked behind the curtain before he saw her. She couldn’t take one more sad face. Once he was out of sight, she put her sweater on and headed to the box.
She pulled the stack out. Mostly cards.
A black SUV sped around the corner cutting off a large box truck which slammed on his brakes. The truck pulled up in front of her home. A young man was driving with another one, about his same age, in the passenger seat.
The driver hopped out. He wore jeans and had a tattoo on his right arm. His hair was combed back away from his face. The other had a short crew cut, and a t-shirt of some rock band.
“Mrs. Evers?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“I’m with Stork Supplies. I have a delivery for you.”
“I didn’t order anything.”
The guy looked at his clipboard. “It was ordered by Phillip Evers.”
“Phillip?” She stepped forward.
“Yeah.” The kid grinned and then disappeared around the back of the truck. They opened the sliding door and disappeared inside while Pamela waited.
Her mouth went dry. Stork Supplies?
The boys climbed down a ramp with a large box with a picture of a baby and a crib.
“W-wait.” Pamela held her hand up to stop them.
“Don’t worry. We’ll assemble it for you,” the driver said.
“No. What is this, some kind of joke?” She fought tears. “When was this ordered.”
“Mr. Evers ordered it February 12. Must have meant for it to be a surprise.” The kid shoved the toe of his shoe into the dirt. “Sorry if we ruined it?”
“No, you, you don’t understand.” She scooted away from the b
ox with the picture of the baby in the crib. “Get it out of here. Now.”
“But ma’am…”
“No. No. No.” Pamela rushed inside, slamming the door.
How could they not know? It was all over the news. She fell to her knees and held her head in her hands, sobbing. Her cell phone rang. After a few rings, it went to voice mail. Then it rang again. She crawled to the sofa and scooped it off the end table. Stork Supplies.
She swiped her finger across on the third ring. “Leave me alone. Please.”
“Mrs. Evers, we’re sorry but we didn’t get any…”
“Leave me alone!” Pamela tossed her phone to the other side of the room.
The truck started. The engine droned as it drove away. Pamela curled her arms around her legs and rocked.
“Why? Why?” She stared up at the ceiling. “Why couldn’t I have died that night also?”
***
Gabriel sat across from Analyn in the small diner which advertised a gyro special on the window. The girls had a scout meeting, so once a week, they ate out. His cell vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen. Employee 368 texted: Call me.
“I need to take this,” he said.
The squished look on Analyn’s face made it clear she wasn’t happy. He’d make it up to her. Maybe the matching bracelet to the necklace he’d bought her for their anniversary.
He walked out the door just out of sight of his wife and called the number.
“I spotted the target.” Employee 368’s voice was agitated.
“And?” Yates asked.
“He got away. But he’s definitely watching the wife.”
“You need to get him,” Gabriel growled.
“I know. I know.”
After a second of grinding his teeth, Gabriel asked. “Did you find out who that other woman was who followed you?”
“Yeah, I got a friend to check her license plate. She’s some P.I.”
A florist van pulled up to the curb, and the driver grabbed a bouquet from the back of his vehicle.
“Great,” Gabriel said. “Just what we need, more snoops.”
“I know where she works, so if she’s trouble, I can grab her. Unless you want me to get her now.”
Chasing a Dead Man Page 9