Smoked (The Alex Harris Mystery Series)

by Elaine Macko

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  By time I got in to work the next morning I still couldn’t remember the thing, whatever it was, that I felt certain was a clue and would break the case wide open. I planned on working for a few hours, if I could concentrate, and then I wanted to talk with Maria’s brother again. He was the only one I could think of besides Sergei and Ellery who might have known about Nena Connick. Maybe his sister told him Sergei was having another affair and being a good brother wanted to help his sister out. But he wasn’t a good brother and why would he kill the girlfriend after his sister was dead? Nothing made any sense. I could still see George as the killer of Maria but not Nena. So what now?

  The phone on my desk rang scaring the heck out of me.

  “Good morning, this is Alex.”

  “Alex, hi. Shelley Regal from Patterson Engineering.”

  “Hi, Shelley. What can I do for you this morning?”

  “I looked over those two resumes you emailed over last week.”

  For a moment I had no idea what she was talking about and then I remembered the student resumes Deanna Moffet had brought over. “Oh, right. Thank you for taking the time.”

  “No, thank you,” Shelley said. “We have a new project coming up and I didn’t want to recruit any permanent staff until we see if the project will be renewed. But it would still be good to have some extra help on the first phase, so I’d like to talk with the two people who belong to these resumes. Can you set something up for Wednesday at two and three?”

  I promised Shelley I would set up the appointments and then I sent Deanna an email. Ten minutes later she emailed back saying everything was set.

  I reached for my tea feeling good I had actually accomplished something. Of course, there was no commission in it for Always Prepared but once again we helped a client solve a problem and that was half the battle and what kept us in business. Sam had told me on Saturday that another one of our clients had returned to our books after two months of trying the other place, We’re Just Your Type.

  Things seemed to be going well for my business despite my recent lack of participation in the running of the place. If I were a different kind of person, I could take this as a sign I wasn’t needed, but instead I congratulated myself on picking good people who could be trusted to handle every aspect of the business while I was detecting.

  I got up and walked to the kitchen for my second cup of tea and found Millie getting an apple.

  “All settled?” I asked.

  “Just about. I have the kitchen and bathroom sorted out. Now I just have to finish organizing the closet.” Millie started to leave and then turned. “Alex, thanks for the pep talk. I know I made the right decision. I’m just so darned happy! Oh, and thanks for helping with all the boxes.”

  A light went on in my head. “Millie! The boxes.”

  “What about them?”

  “What did you do with them?”

  “We broke most of them up and put them outside for recycling pickup today. Why?”

  “Darn. I think those boxes might be a clue. Darn!”

  “I have a couple in my car. My mom wanted me to drop them off today so she and Gran can pack up some stuff to store in the basement.”

  I grabbed Millie and gave her a hug. “Can you go get one and bring it in here?”

  A few minutes later Millie brought one of the boxes to my office. Sam and Marla, having heard my yells, had come in to see what was going on and everyone gathered around my desk.

  “Okay. I found some emails Maria archived and there was an exchange with Ryan about cheap products that didn’t quite meet Maria’s standards. It seemed to me he was trying to find stuff for the online store at discount prices, mostly stuff coming from China.”

  “And she didn’t like that?” Marla asked.

  “No. Not at all. He said he would return everything and order from a reputable manufacturer.”

  “Okay. So what does this box have to do with anything?” Sam asked.

  I sat down trying to gather my thoughts and sort everything out. “Look at the date on this box.” Everyone leaned toward the desk and took a look. “It’s stamped with a date, most probably when it arrived at the office. I’m guessing Nadine logged them all in or maybe even Maria. Yeah, probably Maria because I’m not sure Nadine would take the time. These boxes are the ones Maria wanted sent back. They must be based on the date because it’s from a couple of weeks before she died.”

  “So Ryan never sent them back,” Marla said.

  “Looks that way. If I’m right, he was getting cheap stuff, pocketing the difference and hopefully no one would be the wiser.”

  “But Maria found out he never returned the inferior merchandise and he killed her. Wow, Alex, you’ve done it again,” my sister said with pride. “Millie, I think we need to update our Web site to show we also offer detective services.”

  “Calm down. I admit it looks like Ryan could have killed Maria over this stuff but what about Nena? Why would he kill her?”

  “Why couldn’t there be two killers, Alex?” Marla asked.

  “I just feel like it’s one person. I mean, Maria’s auto injectors are replaced with duds and then Nena Connick gets injected with the stuff? What are the odds?”

  “Maybe the killer of Nena read about Mrs. Kravec’s murder and tried to make the two murders look the same to throw off suspicion?” Millie said.

  “But how would a total stranger know of a connection between the two women? Nothing was ever mentioned about Nena in the papers or on the news in connection with Maria’s murder. No one would have any idea Maria Kravec knew Nena Connick. And the only reason to make the murders look connected is to have the police direct their investigation away from the second killer. So if there is a second killer how did he know Nena was sleeping with Maria’s husband?”

  Was I on to something or just going in circles? From the looks I was getting from my colleagues, I figured I was going round and round. “Okay. The only way to get to the bottom of this box situation is to go and talk with Ryan.” I started to gather up my things, but first grabbed a handful of M&M’s—the real ones this time.

  My sister stepped in front of me. “Alex, you can’t go and accuse this guy of being a killer. If he is, what do you think the chances are he’ll let you walk away? Huh? I’m going with you.”

  “Maybe you should just call John. Tell him everything and let the police handle it,” Millie, the voice of reason, said.

  “It won’t hurt to just go talk with him. We could say we’re just returning the boxes.” Marla had a big smile on her face.

  “What do you mean we?” I asked.

  “We’re not letting you go alone. We either call your husband or I go with you. Sam’s got young children and they need their mother and Millie is just starting out with her man. It’s me and you, Alex.”

  My sister didn’t look so good. “Okay. But we’re giving you a time limit and then we’re calling the police.

  Despite everyone’s feeling that I was about to meet my maker, I didn’t really share their concern. Ryan Reynolds was up to something. I always knew that, but something told me it wasn’t murder.

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  “I haven’t had so much fun on a job anywhere,” Marla said beside me as I drove my little Honda over to the office of the Vegan View. “Accounting. That’s all I’ve done my entire life. I ask you, does that sound exciting? No, it does not. Now you guys really know how to liven up a day.”

  I had a feeling Marla’s chatter was the result of a case of I shouldn’t have opened up my big mouth and offered to come syndrome. I should turn around and take her back. If something did happen to her, I had a feeling it would be considered way beyond a typical Worker’s Comp case.

  “When we get there, I think it best if you stay in the car. That way you can run get help if you hear a gunshot or see Ryan pull out a syringe.”

  “No way. I’m going in. I came all this way. And besides, if he sees the two of us he might think be
tter of doing something. He can’t stick us both at the same time so I’ll still be able to run and get you some help.” Marla stared straight out the window, her gold and black dangly earrings sparkling from the sun streaming into the car. I seemed to have a real knack for creating monsters. First, Meme and her gang and now Marla. Geesh.

  A few minutes later Marla and I walked into the office and sure enough I could see Ryan in the back, this time talking on his cell. He turned and saw us and told whomever he was speaking with that he would call them back.

  Ryan heaved a sigh and looked a bit more than just mildly annoyed. “I don’t have anything else to tell you and in case you didn’t notice, I have a business to run along with another job I need to be doing better or this will be all I have left.”

  “It won’t take long. Those boxes,” I gestured with my head to a bunch by the wall, “aren’t those the ones from China that Maria told you to return?”

  “How did you—. Okay. You need to leave. Now!”

  “Not until we get an answer,” Marla said.

  “Right. And I’m wondering what the police will think about this. What do you think, Marla, maybe a bit of fraud going on here?”

  “Looks that way to me. Buying cheap stuff and pocketing your partner’s money,” Marla added.

  Ryan put up his hand and his smirk returned. “Okay. You got me. You’re right. Maria wanted me to return the stuff and I never got around to it. Then she died and I tried, I did, but it’s not easy returning stuff to China, you know, with customs and all that stuff. But I’m not doing business with them again. This is it. Once this stuff sells, all our other products will be from more reputable manufacturers.”

  “You know what I think? And what I mentioned to Detective Van der Burg just this morning,” I said, “is that you fought with Maria, she refused to see it your way and maybe you killed her?” Both Marla and I took almost imperceptible steps back away from Ryan. Now that I finally came out and accused him of murder, I suddenly felt a need for a bit more distance.

  The smirk gone, Ryan’s face turned red. “Okay. That’s enough, lady. Did I buy cheap stuff and pocket some money? Sure. Okay, you got me. Did I kill someone? You’re crazy and it’s time for you to get out.”

  “One more thing. Do you know Nena Connick?”

  Ryan’s hands were on his hips. “Who?”

  “Never mind.”

  Back out in the parking lot, Marla turned to me. “So what’s your take?”

  I shook my head. “Same as before. I just don’t think he killed her. And I don’t think he knows Nena either.”

  “So we’re nowhere?”

  “Let’s go see the brother,” I said.

  “Does he live around here?”

  “No. New Haven.”

  “Well, then you’re on your own, Alex. I have a meeting with Sam and the accountant. Maybe you should just come back to the office and wait until someone can go with you.”

  I drove Marla back to the office but didn’t bother going in assuring her I could take the lanky George Shruder on. Back on the turnpike I got to thinking about Ryan Reynolds. He caved rather quickly admitting to pocketing the money, which got me thinking. What was he really hiding?

  Chapter Fifty-Seven

  Once I got to New Haven I made a stop first before heading over to George Shruder’s house. I walked into the lobby of PayAcc and headed for the reception desk by the elevators.

  “Good morning. I’m here to see Ryan Reynolds.”

  “One moment please.” The young woman behind the desk consulted a printout on a clip board. “I’m sorry but Mr. Reynolds no longer works here. Is there someone else who could help you?”

  “No, that’s okay. I was just in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by and say hi.”

  It was almost lunch time. I wasn’t hungry but I could use a cup of tea and walked to the coffee shop next door where Ryan and I had first talked. My hunch had been right—Ryan didn’t work at PayAcc anymore. Whether he was fired or quit didn’t really matter but I had a feeling he quit. He was always at the Vegan View and it didn’t seem to me his heart was really into selling payroll and accounting systems—especially with so much more at stake. Because if my other hunch was right, Ryan had more in those boxes than just hemp shoes and purses. But it was no longer my problem. I planned to let John in on my suspicions and the police could handle it from there. The good thing was I was done with Ryan Reynolds and his Kevin Bacon smirk.

  I finished my tea and headed over to visit George.

  “You again,” George Shruder said as he tried to close the door in my face. “Go away. I’ve got nothing else to tell you.”

  My foot and arm were wedged in between the door and the jam as I pushed back against George. “I just have one more question and then I’ll leave you alone.” I felt the tension against my limbs release.

  “Fine. Come in but just for a minute. I have a practice session to get to.”

  “Does the name Nena Connick ring a bell?”

  “Only from what I hear on the news. She was killed and the police seem to think there might be some sort of connection between her and my sister, but they’re not saying what.”

  “Nena Connick was having an affair with Sergei.”

  George shook his head. “Why am I not surprised? I would imagine half the population of Indian Cove and the surrounding towns were too. The man got my sister killed. One way or another, either directly or not, but I’m sure he’s involved.”

  “You seem to really detest your brother-in-law.”

  “The man is an oaf. He was never good enough for Maria.” This seemed to be a strange thing to say coming from a man who didn’t seem to have a lot of time or affection for his only sibling. But then maybe Sergei had been the source of their tension from the very beginning and George’s dislike of the man caused Maria to keep her distance.

  “Did your sister ever mention Nena to you?”

  “No. Of course not. Why would she? I told you, we didn’t talk a lot. It’s not that we hated each other; we just never had much in common. And now—” This was the first time I had seen any emotion for his sister coming through.

  “And you’re sure you didn’t know Sergei was having an affair?” I pressed.

  “Sergei was always having an affair. Don’t you listen? If the man wasn’t having an affair, that would have been the exception.”

  I left George Shruder with mixed feelings. On the one hand I felt I could cross him off the list for the murder of Nena Connick. But on the other, I still wasn’t sure about Maria, which screwed up my entire one-killer theory.

  I made a sudden decision and headed my car in the opposite direction from Indian Cove. I might as well go to the university and ask Nadine if she knew who Nena Connick was.

  I found Nadine sitting on the same bench we had sat on last week. Like Ryan, she was also talking on her cell. What the heck was the attraction to constantly being on your cell? How much stuff was there to say and didn’t anyone relish quiet time anymore? Of course, I did like my iPad, but I wasn’t glued to the darned thing for pity’s sake.

  “You’re like a bad penny,” Nadine said as I approached. “I’ll call you back.” She put the phone in her purse beside her. “What is it today?”

  I took a seat beside her. “It’s really lovely sitting out here. This seems like a nice place to work. You have this campus to enjoy every day.”

  “Yeah, try hiking across it wearing heels when it snows.”

  The woman really did have a sour disposition if she couldn’t appreciate such a beautiful autumn day. “You could always try flats.”

  Nadine gave me a horrified look. I guess with her short and round build a pair of flats wouldn’t do. And then she smiled. “Maybe a pair of boots. The high ones. So, what brings you out here on such a lovely day,” she said mocking me.

  “A few more questions. Did you know Nena Connick?”

  “Who?”

  “Nena Connick. She was having an affair with Sergei.
Maria’s husband. And she died. Murdered.”

  This elicited another horrified look from Nadine. “You’re kidding, right? What’s going on? Is there someone out there killing anyone who had a connection with Maria?” She was now on her feet. “Because then I want police protection or something.”

  “Calm down. Nothing like that is going on.” At least I didn’t think so though if another body turned up with a connection to Maria Kravec, I would put Nadine in touch with John. “I just wondered if you knew who she was.”

  Nadine sat down again. “Okay. And the answer to your question is no, I don’t know who that Nena lady is.”

  “Fine. Now onto my next subject. You knew all along what Ryan was up to?”

  Chapter Fifty-Eight

  “Huh?” Nadine tried to look clueless but she wasn’t that good of an actress, which made me believe she probably really didn’t know anything about Nena.

  “Did you know what Ryan was up to with the stuff from China?”

  “I’m not working there anymore. Whatever he’s doing I had no part in it. Nothing.”

  “What exactly do you think is going on?” I asked calmly though I was hoping Nadine could shed some light on what he was really up to, because so far I only had suspicions.

  “Okay. You didn’t hear this from me. But I know the stuff he ordered came from China and that Maria was pissed about it. I saw the emails.”

  “And you deleted those emails didn’t you?”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Maria backed up her system. I saw the email exchanges.”

  Nadine sighed and took off her glasses and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I figured he was up to no good. Maria fired me right before she died. As soon as I found out she was dead I used that order from China to blackmail him so he would keep me on. Of course I had already deleted all the emails just in case anyone looked at them, like the police. I didn’t want anyone to know I was blackmailing Ryan because it would make me look bad and then I’d be a prime suspect for Maria’s death. Ryan’s sneaky and I thought whatever he was mixed up in had to include big money and I wanted my cut.”