by R A Wallace
Callie slowed as she passed them. She could tell that the van was listing to one side. Based on what she could see, they had a flat tire. She drove past them and continued down the road for a few minutes before she could find a place to turn around. She pulled into a driveway and waited at the end of it for a few minutes.
With any luck, when she went back in the other direction she would see Randy changing the tire. Callie leaned forward and looked up at the sky. It was still raining, but it wasn’t a downpour. She positioned her camera within reach. If necessary, she would pull off the road on the other side and snap some pictures while he changed the tire.
With a plan in mind, she backed out onto the road and drove back toward the Albright family. What she saw when she approached them surprised her. It had occurred to her, of course, that Randy might call for help rather than change the tire on his own.
That wasn’t the case. Instead, she found Mrs. Albright and the son out in the rain changing the tire. Randy Albright remained in the van with his daughter.
Callie didn’t slow as she went past them. She continued on her way. As she drove, she wondered if the man might really have a back injury as he claimed.
Chapter Six
The sound of her heels as she walked down the hallway to the principal’s office Thursday morning was ominously loud. Although Callie had never been in trouble as a student in her youth, the act of going to the principal’s office now still formed knots in her stomach. She tried to push the thoughts away as she opened the outer door of the administrative suite.
The woman working behind the counter was probably somewhere in her fifties. Callie didn’t recognize her, but the gold plaque on the counter said that her name was Stella.
“Can I help you?” Stella asked.
She wore reading glasses perched on the end of her nose. The glasses were connected to a woven band that she wore around her neck.
Callie stepped up to the counter. “Yes, I’m Callie Indigo. I was hoping to speak with the principal.”
Stella nodded knowingly. “Is this about the trouble that Ariana got into with some of the other students?”
Callie wondered why her sister hadn’t mentioned that part. She smiled at Stella as though she knew what the woman was referring to.
“You can’t really blame the kids, of course.” Stella leaned over the counter and lowered her voice. “Ms. Chen was always one of the favorites, you know.”
Callie noted that Stella was using past tense. She glanced over toward the door of the principal’s office.
“Oh, let me check for you.” Stella opened the door and disappeared inside for a few moments before returning.
“You’re in luck. She can see you now.” Stella motioned toward the door.
Callie stepped around the counter and walked between a couple of desks to reach the principal’s door. Liz Torres stood to shake Callie’s hand and introduce herself before taking her seat again. Callie took the seat across the desk from her.
“I’ve met Ariana’s parents, so I know you aren’t either one of them,” Liz said with a smile.
“No, I’m her sister. Ariana asked that I speak with you about the situation with her teacher,” Callie explained.
Liz made a face. “I’m not sure what I can tell you. Although we considered reprimanding the students who were caught protesting in front of the school, no formal action has actually been taken.”
Callie breathed a sigh of relief. Protesting with a group of students didn’t seem like much of an infraction, all things considered. She had imagined far worse possibilities when Stella mentioned Ariana being in trouble.
“Even then, it would be her parents that I would need to speak with,” Liz added.
“I understand,” Callie said. “I’m not actually here to speak for Ariana.”
Liz raised her eyebrows in surprise before pulling them together.
Callie knew that the other woman was figuring out why she looked familiar before she even had a chance to explain.
“I’m with…”
“A private detective agency,” Liz said as she sat forward in her seat. “You and your partner have been in the media a lot lately. I don’t know why I didn’t make the connection.” Liz beamed at Callie.
“Yes, well. The thing is, Ariana was hoping that I could…”
“Look into who did this to Inez!” Liz pressed her hands together in front of her. “Excellent. I don’t know how to thank you for your kind offer of assistance. The school can’t actually pay you, of course.”
Callie managed to keep the smile on her face.
“We are technically the ones who have suspended Inez, after all,” Liz explained. “The school isn’t in a position to ignore the matter. I’m required to do something, even if I believe in her innocence. I’m bound by my responsibilities to resolve the situation, one way or another.”
“Yes, ma’am. That does make sense,” Callie acknowledged.
“Call me Liz, please.”
“Liz, the thing is, Ariana wasn’t one hundred percent certain about all the details. I’ve spoken with my tech support people and they’re telling me that there are several ways files could have made it to someone else’s computer.”
Liz nodded in agreement. “I can’t believe Inez is culpable. I’ve known her for years. The files were discovered during a routine backup of her laptop.”
“Okay, that makes sense,” Callie said.
It was something even she could understand. The files from the teacher’s laptops would be backed up to the school network for safe keeping on a regular basis.
“Something about one or more of the files triggered an investigation by your tech people?” Callie guessed.
“Exactly, yes. Although there was more than one file found on her computer, there is one file in particular that is cause for termination.” Liz leaned forward again. “How skilled are the tech people on your team? Are they qualified for forensic work with results that could be upheld in a court of law?”
Callie didn’t hesitate. “Yes, of course.”
She’d never heard Michael and Sierra mention it, but she figured if it involved a computer, they could handle it.
“Wonderful,” Liz said with a broad smile as she stood and held out her hand. “I’ll have my staff get some files to your people to investigate. I can trust you’ll see this case through?”
Callie shook her hand. “Yes. Indigo Investigations will look into it.”
“I’ll let Inez know to expect you. I’m sure you’ll want to speak with her immediately.”
Callie left the principal’s office feeling as though she should have taken notes. The woman was obviously very skilled at getting others to do as she wished. A short time later, she was sitting across from a teary-eyed Inez Chen in the woman’s living room.
“I swear to you, I didn’t do it,” Inez said for the fifth time as she shredded a tissue. “I wouldn’t even know how.”
Callie realized that she wasn’t getting anywhere quickly with the conversation. She decided to try again and go in a different direction with her questions.
“Have you ever taken your laptop with you when you go somewhere?” Callie asked.
Inez used the shredded tissue to wipe her eyes. “Well, sure. That’s why they gave us a portable computer.”
“Right. What kinds of places did you take it?” She saw confusion pass the other woman’s face again. “To a coffee shop maybe?”
The confusion cleared. “Oh, sure. I do that all the time. My favorite is a salad and sandwich place. It lets me catch up on my grading during the weekends but still get out for a bit.”
“Do you access the Internet? Log into the sandwich shop’s WiFi, for example?” Callie asked.
Inez looked confused again. “Well, sure. That’s how I get access to my grade book at school.”
“That could be one way the files got onto your computer,” Callie said.
Inez’s eyes widened. “Oh, that can’t be. I’m sure the sandwich
shop wouldn’t do that.”
“No,” Callie agreed. “I’m sure they wouldn’t either. It’s possible it may have been a lax security issue with their WiFi settings but even that probably isn’t it.”
“What do you mean? How do you think it happened then?” Inez asked.
Callie tried to remember what Sierra and Michael had explained to her.
“Sometimes other people sitting in the sandwich or coffee shop or other public places set up fake WiFis, wireless networks, to lure people into logging into their systems. They steal your information that way, like your passwords. That’s how they get access to your system.” Callie thought she’d done pretty okay with the explanation.
Inez looked hopeful. “Can it be proved?”
“That’s what we’re planning to find out,” Callie said confidently.
She asked Inez several more questions before leaving. She made it to her next appointment just in time. The driveway that she entered was gated. A voice asked her for her name. She spoke into the box and the gate opened. It took several minutes to drive from the gate to the house, though Callie thought ‘mansion’ would be a better word to describe it.
The front door was opened by a man who looked to be in his forties.
“My name is Geoff. I’m Mr. Ives’s personal secretary. He asked that I bring you to him as soon as you arrive.”
Callie followed Geoff as he led her through the first floor and into a room that she assumed was a study. Two of the walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling bookcases, all of them full. One wall had large windows and French doors leading to what looked like an enormous flower garden. The fourth wall had a gas fireplace.
The man waiting for her was seated in a large chair near the fireplace. Although he was wearing a blanket over his legs, the fire was not lit. Callie wondered if it was because of concern over her comfort. She had the feeling that the older man would appreciate the extra warmth, even on a warm day. The skin on his pale face looked thin and taut. His hands were wrinkled and spotted, the fingers of one moving restlessly.
“Forgive me for not standing to greet you,” Spencer Ives said as Callie took a seat.
“Not at all, Mr. Ives.” Callie said with a smile.
A brief smile touched his lips. “Please, call me Spencer.”
From the corner of her eye, Callie could see Geoff standing close to the wall. He was within range of their voices, but held apart from their conversation. She assumed it was in case his employer needed him for anything.
“I had Geoff look into Indigo Investigations. I’m told you’ve been very industrious of late with your investigations. He seems to think you might be able to help me with my problem,” Spencer explained.
“Can I assume you’re referring to the death of your grandniece?” Callie asked.
Spencer’s eyes narrowed briefly and he gave a quick nod. “Good. You did your homework before coming here.”
“Based on what I found, the police believe it wasn’t an accident,” Callie said gently.
Spencer winced and he shifted in his seat. Callie saw Geoff begin to move toward them, but Spencer held up his hand. Geoff returned to his post by the wall.
“Forgive me, just another pain,” Spencer said. He took a deep breath. “Yes, you are correct. The police are saying Crystal committed suicide. That she drove herself into the lake on purpose and drowned.”
Callie nodded. That was what she understood to be true.
“I don’t believe it,” Spencer said. “You wouldn’t either, if you’d known her. That girl was a fighter. Always was.”
Callie watched as Spencer began idly pulling at the blanket on his lap. His eyes drifted over to the fireplace.
“She found me, you know. Even as a young girl, her investigative skills were strong. It’s what made her such a wonderful reporter.” Spencer waved around the room before dropping his thin hand back to the blanket.
“She didn’t need to work. You can see that, can’t you?” Spencer asked.
Callie nodded and waited for him to continue.
“She wanted to, even with all of this. It would have been hers.” Spencer’s eyes met Callie’s. His blue eyes were faded but the rancor in them was clear. “And soon. I should have been the one to go first. It’s my time. It wasn’t hers.”
Callie watched as his fingers began plucking at the blanket again.
“Mr. Ives. Spencer. The police said that Crystal left a note. A suicide note,” Callie said.
He shook his head adamantly. “No, it wasn’t her. She didn’t do it. You have to understand. She was alone. An orphan, do you believe it? She grew up in a foster home. Several in fact. I never even knew she existed until she found her way to my door. She fought much of her life to exist. Then she found me. Found this.” He motioned to the house again. “Why would anyone leave this? I tell you, it makes no sense.”
Callie had read something of Crystal’s past, but didn’t know the details she was hearing now.
Spencer raised his finger. “Someone killed her. I want you to find out who did it.”
Spencer began coughing. Geoff quickly crossed the room and pressed a glass of water into his hands. Spencer took a sip before handing the glass back. Callie could tell he was exhausted. His eyes began to flutter. Geoff motioned for her to follow him out of the room. After closing the door to the study behind them, he led Callie back to the front of the house.
“He’ll sleep for a bit. Please let me tell him that you agreed to take the case when he wakes.” Geoff’s eyes pleaded with her.
Callie hesitated.
“Please,” Geoff repeated. “He isn’t going to last much longer. He may only have weeks left. Give him this much.”
Chapter Seven
The cool air in her mother’s modular home was a welcome relief from the humidity outside. Callie set the takeout bags on the kitchen counter and went in search of her mother. The search didn’t take long. It wasn’t a large home. She found Margaret sitting in the sunroom with a computer on her lap.
“Darling, you’re just in time for lunch.” Margaret set the laptop on a nearby table. “We might need to go out, though. I’m not sure what I have in the kitchen.”
Callie didn’t bother to point out that lunchtime for most people was actually a long time ago. “I picked up some salads and a sub. I figured we’d split the sub.”
“Sounds lovely.”
Callie glanced at the laptop. “Are you working?”
“It can wait.” Margaret pushed herself up from the seat. “Lunch sounds better.”
Callie returned to the kitchen and began taking out plates and silverware. She was surprised to see a full pitcher of sweet tea in the fridge. That rarely happened at her mother’s house.
“What have you been working on?” Margaret opened the takeout bags and lifted out the food.
“Do you remember Crystal Delaney?” Callie cut the sub sandwich and set the halves on plates.
“The reporter? Of course. She’s not someone you would forget quickly. That girl could charm the birds from the trees when she wanted to.” Margaret carried the sandwich plates to the dining room table.
Callie followed with the salad bowls. “Yeah, I guess that’s not the part of her that I think of first.”
Margaret took a seat. “She was also a master with words. In some cases, she took yours and twisted them around until you couldn’t recognize them yourself.”
“I was thinking about the false compliments.” Callie took the seat across from her mother.
“Oh, yes. Those were often particularly vicious,” Margaret agreed. “She had such a talent for them, you walked away from her smiling. It wasn’t until hours, or even days later, that you realized her true meaning.”
“And understood that she’d slammed you,” Callie added.
“But her television audience never caught on because they didn’t know the underlying nuance of her comments. They thought she was the sweetest thing ever.”
Callie grinned her agreemen
t and bit into her sandwich.
“What makes you ask about her?” Margaret asked.
Callie held up her finger as she chewed.
“I spoke with her great uncle. Do you know him?” Callie took another bite.
“Spencer Ives? Of course.” Margaret cut her sub half into smaller, more manageable pieces. “Elliot and I have seen him at more than one function and I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with him about some charitable contributions.”
Callie wasn’t surprised. Her mother expended a great deal of energy working on behalf of several such organizations.
“I can’t say that I’ve seen him lately though,” Margaret added.
Callie explained the situation with his health.
“That’s too bad. What made you ask about Crystal? Spencer hasn’t hired you, has he?”
“He believes Crystal’s death may have been something other than it seems.”
“I guess that isn’t surprising. I’m sure he misses her. Especially now that his own health is failing,” Margaret said as she pulled her salad bowl closer. “Speaking of the news, I saw that one of the high school teachers was in a bit of trouble. That’s not one of Ariana’s teachers, is it?”
“It is. I’ve been asked to help with that as well.” Callie lifted her fork and speared some of her salad.
“Has Ariana made any plans about what she wants to do when she graduates from high school?”
Callie gave a half shrug. “If she has, she hasn’t told me. She has mentioned being interested in what I do.”
“Maybe it wouldn’t hurt for her to spend some time at the office,” Margaret suggested. “It might help you out as well. You know, someone to answer the phone and all that.”
***
She entered the police station carrying two iced coffees and a bag of cookies. After checking in at the front desk, she waited until a familiar face appeared in the main entrance. In the years that Callie had known the forty-something male, he’d accumulated some gray in his short, dark hair.
“Look what the dog dragged in,” Mack McCormack said when he saw Callie.
