The Lee Callaway Boxed Set

by Thomas Fincham

  Roth was seething, and he had not said two words since he arrived. Paul understood why. Roth did not want to blow a gasket in front of Paul’s mother. After she had served tea, Paul asked her to give them some privacy. She left the house to run some errands.

  When they were alone, Roth leaned forward and said, “Why didn’t you tell me you had a fight with Kyla?”

  Paul blinked. “What?”

  “On the day she was murdered, you and her had gotten into some disagreement.”

  “How did you find out about that?”

  “I got a call from the prosecutor. They have text messages between you and your daughter.”

  “I don’t see what the big deal is.”

  “If a potential juror sees this, it could leave a negative impression of you. The media has already labeled you a killer. But I think there is a bigger problem here.”

  “Like what?”

  “This helps the prosecution build a case against you for murder in the first degree. Until now, they had no reason as to why you had killed your daughter…”

  “I didn’t…”

  Roth cut him off. “I can see how they will present their case to the jury. They will say that you were angry or felt disrespected after your morning argument with Kyla. When you returned home from work, you were still seething. You went inside the guesthouse and drank enough alcohol to build your courage. When the time was right, you went upstairs to finish the fight with Kyla. You strangled her in the process and then you panicked. You ran downstairs to the kitchen, grabbed the knife from the knife block, and went back upstairs. Kyla was lying in bed, either still alive or dead, and then you stabbed her for good measure. You proceeded to hide the knife in the glove compartment of your Audi. You thought about driving away, but you feared being pulled over by the police because of the amount of alcohol you had consumed. You decided to sleep it off, but your wife found out what happened.”

  Paul put his palms over his face. He suddenly could not breathe. The world around him began to close in.

  Roth leaned closer. “Tell me that’s not how it happened, Paul.”

  “I can’t,” Paul whispered.

  “Why not?”

  Paul looked up at Roth. There were tears in his eyes. “I don’t remember anything from that night.”

  Roth stared at him for a long moment. He then relaxed and sat back on the sofa. In a calm voice, he said, “I’m sorry for putting you through this, but Barrows will be far more unrelenting than I am. She will make you remember what happened that night, whether it’s the truth or not.”

  They were silent a moment.

  Roth pulled out a sheet of paper from his briefcase and held it out for Paul. He took it. “Do you want to tell me what the fight was about?” he asked.

  Paul scanned the transcript and nodded. “I remember it. Kyla was seeing someone, and she wanted to get married.”

  “Who?”

  “She didn’t say.”

  “And why did she want to get married?”

  “She didn’t say either.”

  “She loved this person?”

  He shrugged. “I guess so.”

  “And you were against it, of course.”

  “I thought she was making a rash decision. She was still young. She had her entire life ahead of her.”

  “In one of the text messages, she mentioned she didn’t care about the money. What was she referring to?”

  Paul sighed. “My wife’s family is well-off, far more than I’ll ever be. Kyla’s grandfather…”

  “You mean Senator Lester?”

  He nodded. “Before he got into politics, he ran a pharmaceutical hedge fund. He sold it for a lot of money. He gave each of his two children a significant inheritance. My brother-in-law is a doctor, so he invested the money in his private clinic. My wife bought the house we are now living in, and my father-in-law set up a trust fund for Kyla. She was supposed to receive a lump sum when she turned twenty-one.”

  “How much are we talking about?” Roth asked.

  “Almost a million dollars.”

  “You feared it would be a marriage of convenience? That someone was going to marry her for the money?”

  “Yes.”

  Roth mulled this over. “In her last text, your daughter said that she would still take care of you. What did she mean by that?”

  Paul’s shoulders slumped even more. “Kyla knew my business was struggling, and she said that the moment she received the inheritance, she would help me out.”

  Roth’s face suddenly turned grim. “You know how the prosecution is going to spin this, don’t you?”

  Paul said nothing.

  “They are going to say that Kyla changed her mind at the last minute, and that you felt betrayed by that, and so you punished her for it.”

  Paul shook his head. “No, no, no. I never asked her for the money. She offered it to me.”

  “Doesn’t matter. Money is one of the most common reasons for premeditated murder. The prosecution now has their motive.”

  Paul felt like someone had their hands around his neck and was squeezing it tight.

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  Holt and Fisher were at an apartment building in a rough part of the city. They had come to speak to Pedro Catano. They knocked on the door and waited. A few minutes later, the door opened, and a man stuck his head out. “Can I help you?” he asked. His voice had an accent.

  They flashed their badges. Holt said, “We are looking for Pedro Catano.”

  “Pedro’s not home,” the man replied. “Is everything okay, officers?”

  “And you are—?”

  The man came out into the hall. He had weather-beaten skin, calloused hands, and he smelled of cigarettes. “My name is Luiz, and I’m Pedro’s father,” he said.

  “Do you know when Pedro will be home?”

  “I don’t know. I have not seen him since two days ago.”

  That’s the day Kyla Gardener was murdered, Holt thought.

  “Is it normal for Pedro not to show up at home for a couple of days?”

  “Not really, but sometimes he stays with his girlfriend.”

  Holt mulled this over.

  Luiz said, “Is this about Kyla?”

  “Did you know her?” Holt asked, surprised.

  “Of course I did. She grew up right before my eyes.”

  Holt looked over at Fisher. She too was confused.

  “Can you explain this to us?” Holt asked Luiz.

  “I work for the family,” Luiz proudly replied. “I do gardening for Mr. Lester for over thirty years.”

  “Mr. Lester?”

  “Barron Lester.”

  “You mean Senator Lester?”

  “Yes. And then I do gardening for his son and his daughter.”

  “Is that how Pedro met Kyla?”

  Luiz smiled and nodded. “When Pedro was young, I used to take him to work. He used to play with Kyla while I did my work. When he got older, he started helping me more. I hope he takes over the business so I can slow down, you know.”

  “So, were Pedro and Kyla like friends?” Fisher asked.

  “Oh yes, they were.” Luiz frowned. “What happened to her was so sad. She was a sweet girl, always saying hi to me. I will miss her so much.”

  Fisher asked, “You said you did work for Senator Lester’s daughter, Sharon Gardener, as well, is that correct?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “So, you must know Paul Gardener?”

  “I do.”

  “What was he like?”

  “He was very nice to me. The Lester family can be arrogant sometimes, but not Paul.”

  “Arrogant? How?”

  Luiz looked away. He must have realized he had said too much. If this ever reached the family, it might jeopardize his job.

  Fisher said, “Don’t worry. Whatever you tell us stays with us. We promise.”

  Luiz stared at her for a moment. “The Lesters don’t respect the people that work for them. They are very rud
e to us and treat us like they own us.”

  “Even Senator Lester?” Fisher asked.

  “Yes. He is very demanding and tough. One time, the lawn mower broke, and he took it out of my pay. That’s why I bring my own equipment now.”

  “Why do you still work for them if they don’t treat you properly?” Fisher asked.

  “I need the money. I send it to my sister in Colombia. Her husband was killed during a government drug raid. He was riding his bicycle when everybody started shooting at each other. Her kids are bigger now, but I still help out.”

  “Was Mrs. Gardener also disrespectful to you?” Fisher asked.

  Luiz nodded. “Oh yes. One time, the sprinkler system stopped working. I was busy because my wife was sick, and I couldn’t go fix the sprinkler. It was a hot summer, and the grass turn brown. Mrs. Gardener yelled at me in front of Mr. Gardener and their daughter. When everybody was gone, Mr. Gardener apologize to me. He gave me a bonus the next time he pay me. He was an honest man.”

  “Do you have Pedro’s telephone number?” Holt asked. “We need to speak to him urgently.”

  “I called him a million times, but he does not pick up,” Luiz replied.

  “You said Pedro sometimes stays with his girlfriend,” Holt said.

  “Yes.”

  “What’s her name?”

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  Callaway knocked on the door and waited. He was not sure why he was nervous, but he was. He fixed his hair and adjusted his shirt collar. He cupped his hand over his mouth and checked his breath.

  Maybe I shouldn’t have had onion rings for lunch, he thought. Where’s a pack of gum when you need it?

  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. They said visualization helped calm the anxious mind. He tried to focus while taking deep breaths. He was walking on the beach. He was alone. There was no one as far as his eyes could see. The sun was up, the air was fresh, and the sounds of birds chirping could be heard in the distance. He smiled as complete bliss overtook him. He was suddenly devoid of all worries.

  His smile faded when dark clouds appeared in the sky. They were followed by harsh winds that bit his face. The water turned violent, as if it was screaming at him. It crashed ashore at high speeds, making him feel pure terror.

  He snapped his eyes open and saw his ex-wife. She was standing in the doorway, staring at him. “Glad you’re awake, Lee,” she said. “For a second there, I thought I’d have to shut the door and leave you out here.”

  Patricia “Patti” Callaway had dark hair that was cut short. Her eyes were brown, and they were also great lie detectors. No fib ever got past them. Her lips were always curled into a smile, even when the world around her was falling apart. Callaway had to admit that he still found Patti attractive, even after all these years. And yet he had willingly released her when she was all his.

  Callaway had fallen in love with her the moment he saw her. They had met at a bar in Spokem County. She was a waitress. He ordered a drink, and she brought it for him. He wished he could say she noticed him because he had said something funny to her, or that he had saved her from a group of goons who were bothering her, but that did not happen. What did happen was he had clammed up the moment she smiled at him. His hands became sweaty, and he felt like he was about to faint. He spent the rest of the evening sipping that one drink. When he asked for the bill, he saw to his surprise that Patti had written her name and number on the back. To this day, she had never told him why she chose him over a dozen guys who were vying for her attention that particular night. Callaway liked to think she had chosen him because he was smarter and better looking than the other guys, but perhaps she was attracted to him by the way he acted like a little boy who had a crush on a girl in his kindergarten class. She probably was glad he did not try any lame pickup lines or crass comments on her.

  They got married and had a daughter. Sabrina, or “Nina” as they liked to call her, was nine years old now. Callaway would not have minded if he was called a lousy husband but a great father. Unfortunately, he had failed at both.

  He loved and adored his little girl. He doted on her when she was a baby, but then his restlessness took over. He could not see himself domesticated. He wanted to be free to follow his own path.

  He was selfish when he walked out on his wife and daughter. There was no other way to say it. He still regretted this decision, but he knew deep down he would not have been able to make his family happy because he was not happy.

  He moved to Milton and offered to buy a house for Patti and Nina in the city. He even offered to pay for Patti’s nursing school. He honored their agreement for a couple of years, working several jobs to make ends meet. The PI business was still in its infancy, so he worked as a security guard at a mall and as a doorman for a dance club.

  But then the restlessness took over again.

  He stopped sending money to her and fell behind on his child support payments. He vowed to pay her in full, but things always got in the way.

  “So, what brings you down here?” Patti asked, crossing her arms under her chest.

  Callaway shrugged. “I was in the neighborhood, and I thought I’d drop by and see you and Nina.”

  She gave him the same look she always did when she knew he was lying. “Really? Or are you here to grab your stuff?”

  After Callaway was booted out of the last place he was staying, he begged Patti to let him store his personal belongings in the garage and shed. He promised to pay her rent for the storage, but he never did.

  Callaway pulled an envelope out of his pants pocket. “No, I actually came to give you this.”

  He handed Patti the envelope. She squinted. “What’s this?”

  “It’s three thousand dollars.”

  She quickly grabbed the envelope, as if her ex-husband might suddenly change his mind and try to keep the money. She looked inside the envelope and saw a stack of hundred-dollar bills.

  “Where did you get it?” she asked.

  “A job.”

  “You sure you didn’t rob a bank or something?”

  “I can’t believe you would even think that.” He feigned disappointment. “I used to be on the side of the law.”

  “You used to also have a stable job, a house, a family, but you threw all that away.”

  He grimaced. “Ouch. You made your point.”

  She stared at the money as if it was not real.

  “I know the house needs a bit of fixing up, so I thought I’d help out.”

  Patti worked long shifts at the local hospital. She made enough to pay the mortgage and cover most of the bills. He found out through Nina that the roof had started to leak, and Patti was struggling to raise the money needed for the repairs.

  Patti was a great mom to Nina. She made sure their daughter was never without anything. She gave her as much love as two parents. Callaway had a million faults, but he always appreciated what Patti had done in raising Nina.

  “Why’re you suddenly so generous? It’s not like you,” Patti asked.

  Callaway shrugged. She was right. It was not like him. Whenever he had two cents to rub together, he would spend it on some get-rich-quick scheme. There was something bothering him, though. Was it Kyla Gardener’s murder? Her father was charged with killing his daughter, but Callaway had seen the pain and anguish in his eyes. Paul’s feelings were genuine, not fake. Callaway could not imagine any harm coming to his little girl, especially not at his hands.

  I guess I’m feeling guilty about what a lout I’ve been, he thought.

  “Where’s Nina?” he asked.

  “If you were more involved, you would know she is at school.”

  Right.

  “Do you mind if I pick her up?” he asked.

  She stared at him. “Sure. It’ll give me a chance to run some errands.”

  She was about to shut the door when he said, “Hey, I was thinking, one of these days, why don’t I take you and Nina out to a nice restaurant, or just a simple place to grab a bite to eat
?”

  Patti sighed. “Okay, fine, whatever, but don’t make any promises to Nina. You always end up disappointing her.”

  Can’t argue with that, Callaway thought.

  THIRTY-NINE

  The bar and restaurant was not far from where Pedro lived. The weather was nice, and the bar’s patio was jam-packed. People drank, ate, chatted, and smoked as waiters moved around the tables, bringing them their orders.

  Holt and Fisher asked a waiter about the employee they were seeking. He pointed to a girl at the far end of the patio. They approached her.

  “Martina Delacruz?” Holt said.

  “Yes.”

  Martina had olive skin, dirty blonde hair, and full lips that were painted red. Her eyes were hazel, and they were covered in heavy mascara. When she turned her head, a large tattoo of a cross could be seen on the back of her neck.

  Holt and Fisher flashed their badges.

  “What do you guys want?” Martina asked.

  “We’re looking for Pedro,” he said.

  “I haven’t seen him in weeks.”

  “Isn’t he your boyfriend?”

  “He used to be until we broke up.”

  Holt looked over at Fisher. She too was thinking the same thing. This was a dead end.

  “Listen,” Martina said. “This is the time I make most of my tips for the day. If you guys come back later, I’ll answer your questions.”

  Some patrons left the patio. “Why don’t we get a bite to eat?” Fisher suggested, gesturing at the empty table. “I’m kind of hungry.”

  Holt understood. She did not want to go back empty-handed. He did not want to either.

  Martina took them over to the table and handed them menus. “You guys want anything to drink? We have a special on tap,” she said.