Tic Tac Toe (A Suspense Novel)

by Kel E. Mitchell

  Irene and Phyllis would be the best people to talk with about Duncan’s recent activities. They were the best sources to know any critical information involving him that was suspicious or out of the ordinary. They could point to a possible motive, which in turn could lead to the murderer. But would Irene and Phyllis even talk to him – let alone answer his questions? How and when would he get the chance to see Irene? Law enforcement was shielding them, and the rare times Irene and Phyllis were seen in public, they were quickly escorted to a waiting vehicle or private location.

  Max started re-reading the police and medical examiner’s reports and tried to make sense of the piles of information. He knew that he was missing something – his only question was what? As much as he wanted answers – what he wanted even more was the chance to see Irene.

  Chapter 24

  “We appreciate that you would come in today. We know how difficult it must be for you right now,” Lieutenant Drake said sympathetically to Irene and Phyllis as they all sat down in his office. Drake was a middle-aged man who didn’t seem to fit the stereotype of a hard-nosed police officer. His appearance was ordinary at best, and he wasn’t the least bit intimidating. However, he’d been in law enforcement since he was a young man, and his performance record was impressive. He had a reputation for being one of the finest officers in the field. “We hope that by talking with you we may be better able to determine exactly what happened the night that the judge was killed.”

  Phyllis nodded. “We understand Lieutenant. We would like to help in any way we can. We appreciate your waiting until after Duncan’s wake to speak with us.”

  Drake paused and looked at Irene. He hoped that he would be able to learn something from her. She hadn’t said a word since she’d arrived at the police station. “I should begin by telling you that I know how difficult the details will be for you to hear, but I’ll do my best to explain the situation as delicately as possible.” He paused again as he finished sorting through his meticulous notes. “This is what we know for certain. Judge Duncan’s body was found several hours after his murder. It took us a while to identify his body due to the extent of the facial injuries and because he didn’t have any identification on him. It appears that the beating is what killed him. There were no other injuries on his body.”

  Drake paused. “So, here are some theories for what we believe happened that night. The first possibility is a robbery. If the Judge usually carried a wallet or wore a watch, they were missing. We’re not sure if any other valuables were also stolen.

  “Yes,” Phyllis acknowledged, “you and I had talked about this possibility over the phone.”

  “Another possible explanation is that this had something to do with drugs.

  “I beg your pardon?” Irene questioned, speaking out for the first time since she’d arrived.

  “I’m very sorry, Ms. Duncan . . .”

  “Please, Lieutenant, feel free to call me Irene.”

  Drake smiled amiably at Irene and then continued, “I’m sorry, Irene, to have to tell you this – but your father’s autopsy report shows that high levels of narcotics were in his system. Our investigation has uncovered that your father had been abusing prescription drugs for some time.”

  “He what?” Phyllis questioned in a voice of disbelief. “I can’t believe it.” She and Irene exchanged surprised glances with one another while they tried to process the startling news.

  “I gather from your reactions that neither of you knew anything concerning his drug abuse?” The women nodded their agreement. “That’s what I was afraid of. I was hoping that you might be able to shed some light on the information.”

  “Do you honestly believe that my father’s drug use could have led to his murder? What could anyone else gain from this?”

  “One thing is for certain – your father had something that someone wanted badly enough to kill him for it.”

  The women sat there, unable to speak. “At this point in our investigation we’ve reached an impasse – and if anything comes to mind that you think could help, please let us know.” Lieutenant Drake reached into his coat pocket and removed his business card. “If you think of anything, anything at all, I want you to call me, day or night. I’ve written my home phone number as well.”

  Phyllis took the card from Drake as she said, “Indeed we will, Lieutenant.” The three stood as the conversation came to a close. Phyllis and Irene were just about to leave the office when Phyllis spoke again. “Irene and I have talked about the possibility of returning to Paris in the near future. If we decide to leave soon, is that going to be a problem?”

  “It shouldn’t be, as long as we’re able to contact you in Paris.”

  “Certainly, Lieutenant,” Phyllis agreed. “Please feel free to contact us any time.” She paused and then continued, “Do you know when my brother’s body will be released? We’ve left the arrangements for his cremation in the care of Christopher Blake.”

  “It’s still too soon to say. We’ll contact you and Mr. Blake as soon as possible.”

  “We’d appreciate that. Thank you again, Lieutenant.” With that, Phyllis and Irene shook hands with him, said goodbye, and then left the police station.

  Once they were on their way back to the Duncan home, Phyllis finally spoke her thoughts aloud. “Something just doesn’t seem right. I can’t believe that Duncan was involved in drugs. How could I not know something like that?” She looked at Irene who seemed pensive. “Are you okay, Irene?”

  Irene nodded. She looked worn out. “I’m just so overwhelmed by everything that’s happened since we’ve been back. I don’t know what to think anymore.”

  “I know how hard this has all been for you, Irene. We can go back to Paris or if you feel like you need to stay in Boston, I’ll stay with you as long as you want.” Phyllis looked intently at her niece. “What do you want to do?”

  “I want to go back to Paris. My life made sense there. Hopefully if I go back, it will make sense again.”

  Phyllis nodded. “I’ll plan for our return to Paris as soon as possible.” She paused and then continued uncomfortably, “Is there any business that you need to take care of while you’re still in Boston?”

  “Such as?”

  “You know perfectly well to what I’m referring.”

  “If you’re asking what I think you’re asking, then the answer to your question is ‘No.’ Max and I have nothing left to discuss. I’ve moved on – and so has he.”

  Phyllis knew better than to believe what Irene was telling her. She knew that regardless of what Irene said that she had never truly moved on.

  She looked straight ahead and countered in a voice intended to rouse Irene’s suspicion, “So, Max has moved on has he?” Irene looked at her meaningfully and waited for her to elaborate further. Phyllis exhaled dramatically. “If you say so, then who am I to argue?”

  Chapter 25

  “So, how’s the newspaper business?” Luke questioned as he stood in the doorway to Max’s office at The New England Post. Max looked up from his work and saw that his friend looked exhausted and disheveled, and that was putting it nicely. He knew that Luke’s work had been even more demanding than usual during the past couple of weeks. Since Duncan’s death, the media had bombarded everyone relentlessly, particularly anyone who had a connection – even a minor one – with him in the hope of learning something about the murder. News stations and reporters from all over New England descended on Boston. The John Adams Courthouse, where Duncan had served as one of the seven justices on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, was constantly swarming with reporters waiting just outside its doors. Luke and his fellow colleagues were hounded – some even harassed – for information when they arrived or left work. It now seemed that the production was irritating Luke. “Have things been any worse than normal?”

  “Apparently I should be asking you the same thing,” Max joked as he gestured
for Luke to come in and sit down. Luke dropped his briefcase on an end table and then lounged on the leather sofa in the office. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but based upon your appearance, I’m guessing things haven’t calmed down much at the courthouse.”

  “To say the least – it’s been a nightmare. No offense, Max, but people in your profession are obnoxious. I can barely get through the doors at work each morning. I mean, I hardly knew the man. Besides Irene and her aunt, you and Blake are the best people for the media to interview. You guys actually knew him outside of work. Over the years I’ve gone to his house plenty of times, but he was never there.” Luke took a deep breath as he rubbed his eyes. “From now on I’m going to tell the vultures about your connection with Duncan and give them your contact information just to get them off my back!”

  “That would be a great idea,” Max countered sarcastically. “I wonder which story they’d find more interesting – my connection to Duncan or the fact that I jilted his daughter.

  “Speaking of Irene,” Luke said sitting up, “you ever talk to her?”

  Max shook his head. “Not yet. I went to her house two days ago, and Mrs. Lewis, the housekeeper – I don’t know if you remember her or not – anyway, Mrs. Lewis told me that Irene and Phyllis had left Boston . . . indefinitely.”

  “Are you serious?” Luke questioned in disbelief. “Wow, I can’t believe that after all these years, you still didn’t get the chance to talk to her.” Luke laughed. “Man, she must really hate your guts!”

  Max started to laugh as well. “I’m sure she does, but this time I’m not going to let her get away so easily.” Luke looked questioningly at his friend and waited for Max to elaborate. “The last time I met Irene’s aunt was when I was eleven. She came to Boston for Irene’s mom’s funeral. I’ve done some research the past two days on Phyllis Duncan. I’ve decided that if I find her that she in turn can lead me to Irene. It appears that Phyllis has a home in Paris. She’s lived there for years, even before Irene’s mother died.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “I’ll bet you that really ugly tie you’re wearing that Irene’s been living in Paris this entire time. I just can’t believe that I never thought of it until now. So, that’s my theory on Irene’s whereabouts, and now I’m going to find out whether or not it’s true.”

  “And how exactly are you going to do that?”

  “Easy. I’m going to ask Phyllis?”

  “How do you know that she’ll even talk to you? Since Irene won’t, it’s pretty safe to assume that her aunt won’t either. I doubt that Phyllis Duncan’s the kind of woman susceptible to your charms.”

  “It’ll be pretty hard to ignore me when I show up on her doorstep.” Luke just stared at Max as though he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “What’s the matter Luke – did I take you by surprise?”

  “It’s the first time in years that you haven’t been an idiot, so of course, I’m surprised,” Luke grinned. “So, you’re finally going after her, huh? What are you going to say to Irene when – or maybe I should say if – you finally talk to her?” he questioned.

  “I’m going to tell her that something about her father’s murder doesn’t add up. The last time Duncan called me he sounded uneasy. He said that everything was fine but that he needed to give me something – that he couldn’t say what it was over the phone. We were going to meet for dinner, but he was killed two days before that. I know that Duncan’s murder had nothing to do with a robbery. I’m going to find out what really happened the night that he died. To do that, I need Irene’s help. She’s the person who knows about his acquaintances, social circles, activities, and aspirations. Any of these things could have led to his death. The other person who’s privy to inside information is you.”

  “Me? What could I possibly know that could help?”

  “You worked closely with Duncan, his fellow judges, and all of their law clerks. His murder could be connected to his work. If something doesn’t add up, and we find out what, we may be able to find the piece of the puzzle that’s missing. That’s the key to finding his killer.”

  “Why are you trying to solve his murder? That’s not really your area of expertise. I mean no offense, but isn’t your job reporting the news rather than solving it? We really have nothing to go on because Duncan never told you what he needed to give you. Maybe he needed to give you a kick in the pants or a smack to the head. Anything’s possible.”

  Max became serious. “I just can’t give up until I find out what really happened that night.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I let Irene down, Luke, and now I’m going to do all that I can to try to repair the damage. I want to find out who did this to her father, and I want her to have some sense of resolution.”

  Luke knew that Max desperately wanted to uncover the truth about Duncan’s murder because of his feelings for Irene. Max had loved Irene like a sister when they were growing up – but they weren’t children any longer – and he knew that Max had fallen for her. He knew that Max wanted to talk to Irene about far more than her father’s murder. He wanted to talk to her about the friendship they’d lost. He looked seriously at Max and said, “Is it Irene who needs resolution, Max, or is it you?”

 

  Chapter 26

  Paris

  Max checked the house number again and knocked on the door. The bronze knocker fell with a thud. Max stood, holding his breath. Finally, the door opened. “Bon jour, M’sieur.”

  “Hello,” Max responded to the man at the door. “May I please speak with Ms. Phyllis Duncan?”

  “Is she expecting you?”

  “No, no she’s definitely not expecting me.”

  “May I have your name, M’sieur?”

  “Maxwell Frost.”

  “Won’t you please come in, Mr. Frost,” the butler said standing aside so that Max could enter Phyllis’s home.

  “Thank you,” he responded pleasantly as he walked into the entryway. He looked briefly at the lavish surroundings and then followed the butler down the hall and into the dark walnut paneled library.

  “If you’d be good enough to wait here, M’sieur, I’ll see if Ms. Duncan’s available.”

  He nodded, “Certainly.” The butler shut the doors softly behind him, and Max looked curiously about the room in an effort to help pass the time. After a while, the doors to the library opened, and Phyllis stepped through them.

  Phyllis approached Max. “Maxwell Frost? I’m Phyllis Duncan. You wished to speak with me?” She firmly shook his outstretched hand. “Won’t you sit down?” Phyllis asked gesturing toward a high-backed leather chair. He sat down, but he was far from comfortable. “May I offer you something to drink?”

  “No thank you, Ms. Duncan,” Max responded trying to mask his anxiousness. The only person he was more afraid of than Phyllis at that moment was her niece. He was extremely nervous because he didn’t know exactly how she was going to react to his showing up at her home. So far, she’d been very polite, but he believed that she might very well be the type of person who would tell someone where to go and, all the while, have a smile on her face.

  Max cleared his throat as he summoned his courage. “I’m sure you don’t remember me, Ms. Duncan, but we’ve actually met – many years ago when Seville Duncan passed away. I’m Christopher Blake’s nephew.”

  “Of course,” she responded pleasantly. “May I call you Max?”

  “Please do.”

  Phyllis sat down in a chair across from him. “So tell me, Max, what brings you to Paris. You’re certainly a long way from home.”

  “I’m here to see Irene.”

  “Really? Well, I’m sorry, but I’m afraid that she isn’t here.”

  He looked stunned. “What? Are you telling me that Irene hasn’t been living here?”

  “No, I never said that.”

  “Please, do you know where I can f
ind her? I really need to speak with her.”

  “About what?”

  “About something stupid I did when we were living in New York.”

  “That was a long time ago, Max. I’m sure you’ve moved on. I know Irene has. So, Max, do you have any children? I understand you’ve been married for several years now and just wondered. I apologize for asking.”

  “Please don’t apologize – it’s just that I’ve never been married.”

  Phyllis tried to suppress her smile at this unexpected news, and she had to breathe deeply to keep her voice from sounding uneven. “So, you called it off, did you? Irene mentioned you were engaged. I’m sure that must have been very difficult for you.”

  “Actually I found it quite easy – due to the fact that I wasn’t in love with my fiancée’.”

  She nodded. “I see.”

  “Do you?”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “If you could truly see the situation, then you’d know why I have to find Irene. I’ve tried to move on, but I can’t. I feel awful about what happened. If I’m ever going to get over it, then I have to see Irene again so that I can at least let her know that I’m sorry. I hope that you believe me, Ms. Duncan. I need to know where Irene is so that I can get on with my life.”

  “What am I supposed to think, Max? You hurt my niece terribly, and now you come here and just expect me to divulge her whereabouts?” She took a deep breath to steady herself. “I’m sorry if I seem hesitant to assist the man who broke my niece’s heart, but why on earth should I help you when you may end up hurting her all over again?”