The KenKen Killings

by Parnell Hall

  “I don’t believe he is.”

  “You don’t?”

  “Of course not. It’s absolutely absurd. The man kills his own witness?”

  “Yes, but we don’t know why.”

  “What do you mean, why? There isn’t any why. The guy’s on Melvin’s side. He testified for him on the stand.”

  “Suppose he was going to recant his testimony?” Harper suggested.

  “About approving a check? What would that do? It would be a minor hiccup at best. All Melvin would have to do is what he’s doing now. Call other people to the stand.”

  “Which may not work. The way I understand it, Becky made mincemeat of the other witness.”

  “Even so, it’s a ridiculous idea.”

  Harper thought that over. “Okay. I guess I gotta talk to Melvin’s wife. Where is she?”

  “At our house.”

  “Oh?”

  “Aaron’s with her.”

  “Alone?”

  “Sherry must be back by now. She dropped me off here.”

  Harper picked up the phone and dialed. “Sherry?… Chief Harper. Is Melvin’s wife there?… Okay, thanks.” Harper hung up. “She went back to the motel.”

  He raised his head and bellowed, “Dan!”

  “You have an intercom, don’t you, Chief?” Cora said.

  Harper glared at her.

  Dan Finley stuck his head in the door. “Yeah, Chief?”

  “Go out to the— What’s the name of the motel?”

  “Oakwood.”

  “Go out to the Oakwood Motel, pick up Mrs. Crabtree, and bring her in. I got some questions to ask her.”

  “Can I help you question her?” Cora said brightly.

  “I don’t think so,” Harper said. “Why don’t you run along.”

  “Killjoy. Come on, Becky. Let’s go.”

  “Reverse psychology?” Becky said on the way back to her office.

  “I didn’t really want to be there when the bimbo comes in.”

  “Petty jealousy?”

  “Not entirely.”

  “You know, you could have helped Dan Finley out by giving him the room number.”

  “I didn’t want to.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t want to give anyone ideas.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s too close to some other numbers I could think of.”

  “Damned if it isn’t.”

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  Becky shook her head. “I don’t like this.”

  “It’s not so bad.”

  “The hell it isn’t. Sherry’s a witness. Not to mention a co-conspirator.”

  “Hey, it’s better than Bambi.”

  “Cora, I’m not Sherry’s lawyer. I can’t be Sherry’s lawyer.”

  “Why not?”

  “I’m her ex-husband’s lawyer.”

  “Good. Remember that when Melvin tries to hire you.”

  “Cora, this is no laughing matter.”

  “That’s why I’m not laughing.”

  “You moved the gun.”

  “Of course I moved the gun. I brought it to the police station.”

  “You moved the place you found it.”

  “I would have to dispute that. I don’t think anyone could accuse me of moving the motel room. This is not the end of the world. If little Miss Ditsy Pants tells the cops the KenKen added up to a number that was almost her room number, I don’t think anybody’s going to be surprised that it didn’t pan out.”

  “Whereas no one will have a problem with North Main Street,” Becky said sarcastically.

  “North Main Street is far more credible than room one oh six.”

  “How do you figure that?”

  “Because a gun was found there. That immediately ratchets up the credibility. Whereas nothing was found in the motel room. It’s hardly credible at all.”

  “The gun was found in the motel room.”

  “No one knows that. And no one has to know that. Because if they did, they’d be arresting Melvin for murder, and that’s never a good thing. If you accuse a man of murder, he’s got nothing to lose, and he lashes out in all directions, and I’m one of them. So if we could just downplay the gun in the motel room…”

  “Downplay?” Becky said. “What a charming suggestion of how to handle tampering with evidence, compounding a felony, and conspiring to conceal a crime. Let’s downplay it.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t play it up,” Cora said. “Of course, you’re the attorney.”

  The phone rang.

  Becky glared at Cora, snatched it up. “Hello?… Sorry, Chief, didn’t mean to snap. I’m a little on edge.… What’s that?… No, that can’t be right.… No, I’m not arguing with you, Chief. We’ll be right there.”

  Becky slammed down the phone, put her hands on her hips. “Well, now we’re screwed.”

  “What’s the matter?”

  “Dan Finley brought in Melvin’s wife.”

  “And?”

  “She just made a statement. Guess what she said?”

  “That the puzzles referred to the motel and I must have found the gun in room one oh six?”

  Becky smiled grimly. “No. She says she never gave you any puzzles at all.”

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  Cora nipped at Becky’s heels as she strode down the alley to the police station. “I’ve got witnesses, Becky. Granted, they’re biased, but that goes to the weight, not the admissibility, right? If they had to testify? They were there. They saw her give me the puzzles. They heard what she said. I swear to you, I’m not making it up.”

  “Like one oh six North Street.”

  “Okay, maybe I made that up. But the rest of it’s sound. I mean, why would I drag the bimbo into it if I didn’t have to?”

  “She’s young and pretty and you hate her guts?”

  “That has nothing to do with it.”

  “Of course not. It’s true. Truth has very little to do with any of it.”

  Becky marched up the steps, threw open the front door of the police station, strode inside.

  Dan Finley stuck his head out the door of Chief Harper’s office and waved to them. “Come on in.” Under his breath, he added, “He’s not happy.”

  Cora followed Becky into the office and stopped dead.

  Standing next to the desk was an attractive woman of approximately thirty years of age, with flaming red hair and flashing green eyes. “Is that her?” she demanded. “Is that the woman spreading all the lies?”

  “Who are you?” Cora said.

  “I’m Melvin’s wife. His current wife. His legal wife. As opposed to his ex-wife, the one who’s bleeding him dry.”

  “You’re Melvin’s wife?”

  “Are you hard of hearing? You’re not that old. Well, maybe you are. Damn right I’m his wife. How dare you tell lies about me to the police?”

  “I never said a word about you.”

  “Oh, yeah? You sent an officer to pick me up.”

  “Are you staying at the Oakwood Motel?”

  “I certainly am.”

  “You’re not staying with Melvin.”

  “That’s none of your damn business. I’ll thank you to butt out of my personal affairs. Which includes giving misinformation to the police.”

  Cora collapsed into a chair. “Oh, for God’s sake.”

  “You want to clue me in?” Chief Harper said.

  “My ex-husband is every bit the son of a bitch he always was. This may be his legally married wife, but he’s not traveling with her. He’s got a younger, fresher bimbo in tow.”

  “Is that true?” Harper demanded of Mrs. Crabtree.

  “I fail to see how my marital problems are any concern of the police.”

  “This is a murder investigation. We wanted to question the woman staying with Melvin at the Oakwood Motel. We assumed that was you. If it’s not, we apologize, but it’s hardly our fault.”

  “You might ask her what she’
s doing staying at the same motel as her husband and his current flame.”

  “Oh, I’m sure I’ll have some questions.” Harper bellowed, “Dan!”

  “I’m right here, Chief.”

  “Oh. Then I don’t have to explain the situation. Would you like to try again? Go to the Oakwood Motel and bring me the woman residing in the room with Melvin Crabtree.”

  “Would you like Melvin, too?”

  “Not if you can possibly avoid it. I see nothing to be gained by a family reunion.”

  “Well, you’re not going to get it,” Mrs. Crabtree said. “If you had no reason to bring me in, then you have no reason to hold me. I’m out of here.”

  “You’re not going to ask her any questions?” Cora said.

  “Yes, I am. Mrs. Crabtree, were you aware that your husband was staying at the same motel you were?”

  “Of course.”

  “Were you aware that a young lady was staying with him?”

  “Yes, I was aware of it.”

  “And was he aware you were staying at the same motel?”

  “What do you think?”

  “I know what I think. I’m asking you.”

  “No, he was not.”

  “And I assume the young lady in question wasn’t either.”

  “One would assume.”

  “I have a question,” Cora said. “Did you take care to see that they were not aware of your presence?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “In other words, you were spying on them. Were you aware your husband was here for an alimony suit?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “Do you have any opinion as to that?”

  “Yes. I hope he wins it.”

  “Why?”

  “The less money he pays you, the more he’ll have to pay me.”

  “You’re planning on filing for divorce?”

  “You think I want to remain in this deplorable situation?”

  “So, you’re here primarily to dig up evidence to use in a divorce case.”

  “That’s one way to look at it.”

  “What’s another?”

  Mrs. Crabtree frowned. “I think I’ve answered all the questions I need to.”

  “I think so,” Harper said.

  “I’m not so sure,” Cora said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, if she didn’t receive the items in question, you have to wonder if she was the one who sent them.”

  “Interesting,” Harper said.

  “What items in question?” Melvin’s wife said. “What are you talking about?”

  “If you actually did send them,” Cora said, “pretending not to know what they were would be a good course of action.”

  “I don’t think I need to answer any more of your questions. I know I don’t have to answer yours.” The fiery redhead straightened, stuck out her chin, and strode off.

  “You going to let her walk out?” Cora said.

  “How do you suggest I stop her?”

  “Hold her on suspicion of something.”

  “Suspicion of what?”

  “Suspicion of using henna rinse. What the hell does it matter?”

  “It matters when some low-life lawyer sues me. No offense meant.”

  “None taken,” Becky said.

  “You wouldn’t represent her, would you?” Cora said.

  “I don’t know. Does she have money?”

  “You’re not helping. The woman’s getting away.”

  “Do you want her here when the other woman shows up?” Harper said.

  “It might be interesting.”

  “It might be chaotic. It’s bad enough having you here. I don’t need three women fighting over the same man.”

  “I’m not fighting over Melvin! I have no interest in Melvin! The women are welcome to Melvin!”

  “It’s a small office. I can hear you just fine.”

  “Would you like us to leave?” Becky suggested.

  “Stick around. Who knows what Dan will bring back this time.”

  The second time Dan got it right. Fifteen minutes later, he ushered in Bambi.

  The young woman sized up the present company and twisted her lips into a pout.

  “Do you know why you’re here?” Harper said.

  “Yeah.” Bambi jerked her thumb at Cora. “She ratted me out.”

  “I mean did Dan explain why we want to talk to you?”

  “No. He just said you did. I’d have argued with him, but I didn’t want to wake Melvin.”

  “Considerate of you,” Harper said. “I understand you got a letter.”

  “I didn’t get a letter. I got a crossword puzzle and a number puzzle.”

  “A KenKen,” Cora said.

  “Whatever. It was slipped under the door. I didn’t know what to do with it, so I brought it to her. She said it didn’t mean anything. If it didn’t mean anything, why am I here?”

  “The puzzle led Ms. Felton to an address at the edge of town. There was a mailbox at the end of the driveway. There was a gun in the mailbox.”

  Bambi’s mouth fell open. “There was what!”

  “There was a gun in the mailbox. We won’t know until the forensic tests are done, but it might be the gun that killed Mr. Randolph.”

  “That can’t be true.”

  “Why not?”

  “It makes no sense.”

  “It makes no sense because we don’t know the facts. Once the facts are known…”

  “What facts? What mailbox? Whose house was this?”

  “The house belongs to a Mr. and Mrs. Prichert. They’ve been residents of Bakerhaven for over forty years. They have three grown children, all of whom have left home. She’s a retired schoolteacher. He’s a retired farm equipment salesman. The chance that either of them is involved in the murder of a banker seems rather slim.”

  Bambi crinkled her nose. “Then what was a gun doing in their mailbox?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “Are you sure you found a gun in their mailbox?”

  “It looked like a gun to me,” Cora said. “I suppose we’ll have to wait for ballistics.”

  Bambi looked baffled. “That doesn’t make any sense. If the gun had been in the motel room…”

  “What motel room?” Harper said.

  “Didn’t she tell you about the motel room?”

  “No, she did not. What’s this about a motel room?”

  Bambi explained how room 106 was right next to Melvin’s motel unit. “She searched it first. It was only when she didn’t find anything she went looking for this mailbox.”

  “That’s mighty interesting.” Harper turned to Cora. “You left that part out of your story.”

  “When you summarize a case, do you include all the false leads? If I listed every place there wasn’t a gun, we’d be here all day. I just told you where one was.”

  “So what about the motel room?”

  “That was the first theory. It sounded promising, but it wasn’t.”

  “How’d you get into the motel room?”

  “Hold on there,” Becky said. “My client’s not going to say anything about what could possibly be construed as an illegal entry in front of a third party. I’m sure you can appreciate my position.”

  “I understand your position. I don’t appreciate it.” Harper turned to Bambi. “Besides the motel room number, was there anything that led you to believe there might be anything hidden in the unit?”

  “Not really.”

  “What do you mean, not really?”

  “It was just a feeling.”

  “I’ll take a feeling. I’ll take anything at this point. What was your feeling?”

  “Nothing I can point to. Nothing I can put my finger on. It’s just, ever since Melvin and I checked into that motel, I’ve had the feeling we’re being watched.”

  “Is that right?” Harper said.

  “Yes. And it’s silly, I know. But this guy got killed. And it’s nothing to do with us. But h
e was Melvin’s witness. I didn’t know him, but I knew of him. When someone you know gets killed, it’s a little creepy.”

  “No kidding,” Cora said. “So, this feeling you were being watched. That only started after the banker was killed?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I thought you said it was the reason you thought you were being watched.”

  “I may have had a feeling before and that only made it more so. It’s really hard to say when it’s only a feeling.”

  “Well, you be on your guard,” Cora said. “As long as we’ve got a killer on the loose, no one’s safe.”

  Bambi shivered. “Was there anything else?”

  “That’s all for now. I’ll have Dan run you back.”

  “No need. I brought my car.”

  After Bambi was gone, Cora said, “Interesting.”

  “What?” Harper said.

  “That she thought she was being watched.”

  “She is being watched.”

  “That’s what’s interesting. That she would know it. You gotta wonder how.”

  “She said it was just a feeling.”

  “Yeah, but there’s gotta be a reason for a feeling.”

  “Would you know if you were being watched?”

  “I’ve been through four or five divorces, Chief, so that’s a rather inappropriate question.”

  “Four or five?”

  Cora shrugged. “You know how it is with husbands. Some die. Some stray. You lose track.”

  “About this motel room…”

  “I’m not responsible for what that young thing may have thought.”

  “Are you responsible for what you did?”

  “Of course I am. If I’d actually done anything.”

  “Did you search that motel room?”

  “I’ve gotta step in here,” Becky said. “Unless Cora rented that motel room, which I somehow doubt, I think searching it might technically be construed as illegal.”

  “Technically?” Harper said.

  “See? You won’t even grant me that. Come on, Cora. As your attorney, I advise you not to answer any questions about any rooms you might have searched without finding anything until I’ve had a chance to digest this new information. I’m going to ask you to make no statement whatsoever. It’s been nice talking to you, Chief. I’m glad we could help you out, but I’m afraid we must be going.”

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