The Edge of Murder (A Hank Reed Mystery, Book 3)

by Fred Lichtenberg

  “If you were going through a divorce, wouldn’t you take your clothes with you? Unless you were in a hurry.” I put the suit back on the rack.

  “First of all, I would never get married, so divorce is out of the question. But I get your point. Could be a simple explanation. Maybe the guy hadn’t found a new place yet.”

  I shrugged, not convinced. “Amanda said he was away on business.”

  “There you go. Sounds like an innocent explanation.” He walked over to a chest of drawers and opened one. “Underwear and socks.” He turned back to me. “What guy leaves his Jockeys behind?”

  “Maybe he’s not going anywhere. She could have lied about that too. Her fibs keep piling up.”

  “Yeah, but how would she explain you to her husband, especially if you were shtupping in their bed?” He shrugged and grinned. “I’m afraid you’re gonna have to ask when you find her.”

  “Right, when I find her.”

  With both sisters gone and my stomach growling, I realized we hadn’t eaten all day.

  “You hungry?”

  “Jeez, Hank, I thought you’d never ask. I could use some protein, like a ribeye steak with garlic mashed potatoes and some greens on the side.”

  I closed the closet door and did a Google search on my phone. “There’s a Chuck Steak House close by.”

  “Any good?”

  “Pretty good reviews. It claims to be a friendly, family-owned restaurant with quality food and good service. It also says they have an early bird, but it’s past six o’clock, so we pay full price. You okay with that?”

  “I’m not an early bird guy, so I don’t care. As long as the food is good.”

  After a cursory look around, we hopped in the car, and I put the restaurant’s address into the GPS. “It says you’ll be savoring your steak in a half-hour.” We headed east, then north on US 1, the major north-south thoroughfare. As I pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot, my cell went off.

  I didn’t recognize the number but accepted the call anyway.

  “Hello?”

  “This is no time for food, friend. You need to go back to Amanda’s house and look harder. If you want to get Nick off the hook, you’ll need to dig deeper.”

  “Who is this?” I demanded. The male voice on the other end was friendly but straight-forward.

  “Someone who wants to make things right for Nick. We both know he wasn’t capable of killing anyone, especially in his condition.”

  I glanced at JR, who had an inquisitive look on his face. “Then why don’t you make it right and stop jerking me around. If you know something, go to the police.”

  A long pause. “Because I trust Hank Reed more.”

  I fidgeted in my seat and glanced out the windshield. There were about ten cars parked, none with their headlights on. Was he here?

  I said, “You seem to know about me and Nick. If he didn’t kill Terry—I assume you know Terry was the victim—then who did?” I turned to JR and mouthed. “The hell!”

  “I wasn’t there, so I can’t say. I know that one of the twins was responsible.” He laughed guardedly. “Though between you and me, I can’t tell them apart. Now, skip dinner and drive back to the house. Good luck, PI Reed.”

  “Wait!”

  “Oh, and I called on a burner, so you’ll have to wait for me to get back to you. It might be sooner than you think.” He disconnected.

  I looked up at the lighted restaurant sign. My moist mouth had turned dry.

  “Hank, what the hell just happened?”

  I shifted into drive. “Sorry, JR, we’ll come back for steak later.”

  Thirty-Four

  “I didn’t recognize the caller,” I said, speeding south on Federal Highway. “Not that I know Blade’s voice, or anyone else’s connected to Terry, besides Sammy, and it wasn’t him. Someone might be jerking us around.”

  “Yeah, but why?”

  I didn’t know and wasn’t about to take a chance, so I sped up and flew through a yellow light in case I was being followed. After checking the rearview mirror and not finding a car tailing me, my body relaxed.

  “The caller knew we were at the restaurant. He knew me and had my phone number.” I eased up and stopped at a light, then half-turned to JR. “He claims he’s trying to get Nick off the hook, apparently through me. How does he even know I’m involved?”

  “Sounds like bullshit.”

  “Maybe, but why is he leading us back to Amanda’s house?”

  When the light turned green, I stepped on the gas and we rode the rest of the way in silence. The house was dark when I pulled into the driveway.

  “I don’t remember turning off the lights when we left.”

  JR removed his Glock. “Let’s see what’s going on.”

  I turned off the engine and got out. The door was still unlocked, and I wondered whether my secret caller had made it convenient for us to enter the house the first time.

  “After you, JR.”

  Weapon in hand, he flipped on the foyer light. We waited a few moments, listening for sound. There wasn’t any, so I turned on every light in the house, looking around with each flip. “I don’t see anything out of the ordinary. Let’s search the place again and see if our friend left a sign. Your choice, JR. Where do you want to start?”

  “I’m a bedroom guy.” He smiled.

  I rolled my eyes. “Okay, I’ll be in the living room.”

  Nothing was out of place, and after a few minutes, I called out, “This is a wild goose chase.”

  He poked his head out of the bedroom. “Nothing here either. I think the guy was blowing smoke up your ass. Maybe the bastard didn’t want us to eat.”

  I perched on the sofa and glanced around, my eyes stopping at the kitchen, or rather, a door leading…to the garage? I hadn’t noticed it before and walked over. When I placed my hand on the knob, my cell called out.

  I stopped.

  A text message.

  You’re getting warm.

  My eyes shot to the kitchen window. No shadow, but he’s watching us.

  “JR, get in here!”

  He arrived in seconds. “You look bewildered.”

  “I’ll explain in a minute.” I motioned to his revolver.

  “Christ.”

  I opened the door slowly and pawed the wall in search of the switch. When the room lit up, JR asked, “Whose car is that?”

  “Looks like Amanda’s husband, Billy’s. I drove it once.”

  “The guy on a business trip?”

  I nodded as I studied the position of the car. “Don’t people usually pull into the garage front first?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t have a garage.”

  “Right. I’m going to pop open the trunk. Keep your weapon ready.” I opened the driver’s side door with a rag I’d found on a work bench and pulled the trunk release.

  “Shit!”

  Thirty-Five

  The body—tiny, like a woman—was curled up, but there was no smell, so if she was dead, she hadn’t been for long. I turned her around and realized it was one of the twins. She’d been tethered from behind with black heavy-duty cord and duct tape across her mouth.

  Her eyes were opened and blinking, and when I peeled back the tape, she let out a gasp.

  “Oh, Christ! What happened?”

  “Get me out of here.”

  JR and I eased her out. I snipped off the cord with a knife I’d found on the bench and freed her arms. She was wobbly at first and hung onto me. We helped her into the living room, and she dropped to the sofa. “How did you find me?”

  “Elizabeth?”

  “Who else would it be?”

  “Tell me what happened?”

  Her ashen face looked bewildered. “I need water.”

  I motioned to JR, and when he returned, I said, “Well?”

  She took the glass, downed it, and handed it back to JR. “More.”

  She settled back, rubbed her eyes. “I don’t know. Soon after you left, I heard a soun
d by the door, and when I went to see what it was, this guy—he was tall and wore one of those full-faced masks, so I couldn’t—”

  “A he?” I interrupted.

  “Had to be. He was built like a guy. He was quick and threatened to kill me if I screamed, which I was too numb to do anyway. He tied me up and demanded I tell him who killed Terry. The guy sounded familiar with a scary voice, but the mask muffled his real one. He looked closely at me, I guess, trying to figure who I was, like maybe he knew I was a twin. I was so frightened I blurted, ‘Elizabeth did it.’”

  “You?”

  “Yes, but I figured the guy knew Terry was after me, not Amanda. I didn’t want to blame her even though…I really thought he was going to hurt me.” She paused to catch her breath. “He demanded to know if anyone else was involved. I told him Blade.” She looked to me for assurance. “He must have believed me, but then said he didn’t want me to alert them. I told him I didn’t know where they were. He lifted me off the floor and carried me into the garage.” She looked toward the kitchen. “After he opened the trunk, I begged him not to put me in there. Instead, he slapped tape across my mouth and told me someone would eventually find me. The bastard.”

  I got up and paced the room, stopping in front of her. “Who’s left?”

  “What?”

  “Well, you’d know if it was Blade, but that wouldn’t make sense since he was involved in Terry’s murder.”

  Elizabeth said, “Sammy?” But then said, “No, he’s too short and thin.”

  “He’s also in a county cell,” I said.

  “Oh, I didn’t know.”

  Of course not.

  “Hank, I really don’t know who else.”

  “That makes two of us.” I thought of my secret investigator, but that wouldn’t make sense; he was helping us. I glanced at JR, who shrugged.

  “I thought I was going to die in there. Thank God you guys showed up,” she said, sobbing.

  She apparently had a guardian angel.

  I recalled Amanda telling me Elizabeth was afraid of the water and that, as a child, she cut her ankle, producing a small but evident scar. She said it was the only way to tell them apart.

  “Let me see your ankles.”

  “What?”

  “Humor me. Just pull up your jeans.”

  “I think you’re a little weird, Hank. Do you get off on women’s…ankles?”

  I smiled. “Only yours.”

  She rolled them up. “Satisfied?”

  I leaned down and noticed the scar. It was small but noticeable. “Thank you, Elizabeth.”

  I scanned the room and said, “Someone’s been watching us inside the house.”

  Elizabeth’s eyes darted about. “Hank, you’re creeping me out. Who would do that?”

  I shook my head. “Don’t know, but if it wasn’t for him, you might have died in the trunk.”

  Her eyes widened. “Who?”

  “Somebody called me and guided us back here. Maybe a friend, though he refused to identify himself. You wouldn’t know anyone who would do that, would you, Elizabeth?”

  She shook her head. “Nobody.” She stopped. “Billy’s car is in the garage. You don’t suppose he was responsible?”

  Billy. I walked over to the photos on the console table and picked up the one of Billy standing alone and smiling. While handsome, he appeared short and thin. Besides, why would he videotape the room, especially if he and Amanda were getting a divorce?

  And then it dawned on me. “I’ll be right back.” I went inside and searched the master bedroom. Maybe Billy had a reason not to trust Amanda. I checked underneath the lamps, behind the twenty-one-inch TV on the chest, and everyplace else not tethered to the wall or night tables. I sighed when I’d discovered nothing incriminating. The last thing I needed was to be filmed in their bed.

  Relieved, I returned to the living room and noticed JR casually lifting trays, lamps, and knick-knacks.

  “Anything?”

  He shook his head without looking up. “Not yet.” He lifted a picture frame off the console table and looked behind it.

  He held it up and glanced over at me. “Interesting.”

  I walked over to him. “I don’t remember seeing this one before.” The five-by-seven frame showed Yosemite National Park valley at sunset. I asked Elizabeth if it looked familiar.

  She shook her head. “Pretty, but no.”

  JR turned the frame over and smiled. “It’s a nanny cam picture frame. Parents use it to monitor the babysitter or nanny who’s watching their kids. It works with a smart phone.”

  “That’s how he knew what was going on with Elizabeth.”

  “Apparently.” He waved at the frame, then turned it around toward the wall. “Nighty night.”

  I thought a moment. “Our Good Samaritan had access to the house, maybe even had his own key.” I walked back to the bedroom, searched for a similar picture frame, and I was relieved when I didn’t find one. If Billy wanted to check up on his wife, he would have had one sitting here. Still…

  Back inside the living room, I asked Elizabeth about her brother-in-law.

  “Billy?” Elizabeth shrugged. “Seems like a nice guy, though Amanda told me they were getting a divorce. She didn’t say why, but I think it had to do with infidelity on his part. Just a guess.”

  My phone beckoned me, and I excused myself. It was Detective Walker. He thought he owed us an update for our good work. He told me Blade gave himself up and swore he had nothing to do with Terry’s murder, that he was only the driver.

  I stepped outside. “Did he explain how the gun and money found their way into his glove compartment?”

  “He said the person who hired him wanted it buried. He claimed he was going to the police, but admitted he was going to keep the money.”

  “I guess he forgot to mention the gun belonged to him.”

  Walker laughed. “Blade must have assumed he’d obliterated the serial number by filing it down. I explained it didn’t work. He then told us she asked for his firearm, just in case, which he now realizes was a mistake. He swore up and down it wasn’t him.”

  “I guess he didn’t realize he was an accessory.”

  Walker laughed. “Blade must have missed that class. He said it was an honest mistake. When we approached him at the service station, he got scared and he ran off.”

  “Total bullshit,” I offered.

  “I agree.”

  “Blade wanted a deal. He said he’d give up the person who hired him for freedom. That would be sweet.”

  “You didn’t?”

  “Of course not. I told him I knew it was one of the twins and that when we found them, they’d talk. He wasn’t too happy and said he wanted a reduced sentence that he could live with. I hedged, told him there were other things in the mix.” He paused. “Blade swore it was Elizabeth and said that had to be worth something. He also claimed he called the cops after she killed her husband. Just in case Terry was still alive.”

  I smiled to myself. “He’s wrong about Elizabeth. She has an alibi.”

  “Really? How do you know?”

  I explained how we found her at the Rustic Motel. “There’s a CCTV showing she hadn’t left the room until after the murder. I can prove it was her and not Amanda.”

  Walker held off a moment. “Damn you, Hank, I told you to go home.” He stopped. “You’re sure about this?”

  “Yes.”

  He appeared to be calculating his response. “Okay, I’ll have to verify it. We’ll talk afterwards.”

  “What about Nick? Is he still a suspect?”

  “Right, Nick. Blade was in a hurry to get a deal, and he swore your client was a patsy.” He lowered his voice. “Between you and me, I didn’t think he was responsible, but my partner…well anyway, he now agrees Nick is innocent. So, you can finally fly back home and take JR with you.” He laughed cautiously. “Look, I know I’ve been a hard-ass with you guys, but if you’re right about Elizabeth, I won’t reprimand you anymore
.” He chuckled. “I’ll call after I watch the surveillance tapes.”

  “Thanks for calling, Detective. I’ll pass the good news to JR and his aunt.”

  Walker disconnected.

  I took a deep breath and went back to the living room where JR and Elizabeth were talking about Nick.

  He looked up. “Everything okay?”

  I smiled. “Nick’s no longer a suspect.”

  “Oh, my God.” Elizabeth jumped up and hugged me. “He’s coming home?”

  “That I don’t know. He’s still…fragile. He’ll need time.”

  “Still…”

  “So, they caught Blade and Amanda?”

  “Just Blade.” I looked over at Elizabeth. “Your sister is still out there.”

  She nodded sadly. “She must have held in her rage toward Terry all these years after the rape until he showed up at her doorstep.”

  That I got. What I didn’t get was her rage toward Nick. Or did I?

  Thirty-Six

  That night Elizabeth, JR, and I celebrated Nick’s innocence by indulging in thick juicy ribeyes at Chuck Steak House. It had been a long ordeal, and although Amanda was still on the run, we managed to relax over a bottle of wine with past travails momentarily forgotten.

  “I’m going to see him tomorrow,” Elizabeth said with a smile.

  “That’ll cheer him up.” I raised a glass to her.

  JR agreed and said he was happy for both of them. “And my aunt will be ecstatic knowing Nick is in a promising relationship. And now, with the past behind you, I believe you guys will have a bright future.”

  I asked if she intended on going back to the carwash business.

  She shook her head fiercely. “No way. That place was too toxic. It was my idea to open it, but Terry took control almost immediately and started using the business for illegal purposes.”

  “Money laundering?” I said.

  She stared at her wine glass a moment, then, with a nod, said, “I’m going to sell it and stay in Florida. I have too many bad memories in New York.” She paused. “I called a funeral home and made arrangements to have Terry cremated. My final duty as a wife.”