Homicide! (Parker & Knight Book 2)

by Wells, Donald

  “We’re not dating, but we are... interested in each other.”

  “How come a man your age isn’t married?”

  “I’m recently divorced,”

  “Why?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I want to know why you’re divorced. Were you caught cheating?”

  “It was the other way around,”

  “Your wife cheated, why is that?”

  “You would have to ask her about that.”

  “Any kids?”

  “No.”

  “Do you gamble?”

  “Usually only when I’m on vacation.”

  “Are you a smoker?”

  “No.” Parker answered, while thinking that he now knew what it felt like to be interrogated.

  “What about drink?”

  “A whiskey now and then, and beer a few times a week.”

  “Just how old are you?”

  “I’m forty.”

  “You do know that my daughter is only twenty-two?”

  “Yes ma’am, I am aware,”

  “Her father was fifteen years older than me, so I know that the age thing isn’t always a problem.”

  “Has Heather dated older men in the past?” Parker asked.

  Lyla Jones smiled.

  “My daughter doesn’t have any Daddy issues if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “I guess I was,” Parker admitted.

  “If you’re so interested in Heather then why aren’t you dating her?”

  “She’s part of the investigation I’m working on, she’s on the peripheral, but still connected. Until the case is resolved, dating her would be unethical.”

  “Then I guess you best solve that case, hmm?”

  “Yes.”

  Lyla Jones stood and Parker followed suit. She looked up at him, her eyes narrowing.

  “You seem all right, but don’t you ever hurt my daughter or I swear you’ll regret it.”

  “I would never hurt her, and I’m glad we’ve met.”

  “Um hmm, goodbye Detective,”

  Parker watched her drive away. When he went back inside, he found Jo waiting for him.

  “Did that concern the case?”

  “No, that was Heather’s mother.”

  “So, did you pass scrutiny?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “Because I’m still alive,”

  A man entered the station and both Parker and Knight looked at him in surprise. He saw the expressions on their faces and smiled as he offered his hand.

  “Hello detectives, my name is—”

  “—Umbria, you’re Nico Umbria,” Parker said, and then he took Nico’s hand and shook it.

  8

  Nico Umbria sat across from Rick Parker with a confident smile lighting his face.

  “I heard from my friend, Tim Hearn, that you were looking for me, and so I came in to talk.”

  They were in one of the all-white interrogation rooms. Jo stood as Parker and Nico took the only two seats. She was leaning against the door, studying Umbria.

  “Timothy Hearn is a friend of yours?” Parker said.

  “That’s right, although I hear that’s not true for you. He stole away your woman, didn’t he?”

  “We’re not in here to talk about me. We have questions for you.”

  “Fire away; I’ve nothing to hide.”

  “How well did you know Charles Woolley?”

  “I met Woolley once. Patrick Taggart was there, he can tell you.”

  “And that was your only meeting?”

  “Yeah, the dude was a jerk. He threatened to kick my ass and all I did was offer to buy the bar.”

  “What do you know about the string of vandalism the bar suffered a few weeks ago?”

  “Not a thing,”

  “And the attack the other day?”

  “I heard that was done by some gang.”

  “The gang is called, Muerte Soldado, and it was our understanding that you’re a former member.”

  “I’ve never belonged to a gang.”

  “The Camden P.D. says different,”

  Nico shrugged.

  “They’re wrong, what can I tell you?”

  “You can tell me where you were the night Charles Woolley was murdered.”

  Nico opened his mouth and then shut it. He was just about to say that he was with Hearn that night, when he realized that Parker hadn’t mentioned a date. Some of the cockiness left his manner, as he realized that Parker was no fool.

  “Tell me when he was murdered and I’ll try to remember where I was.”

  Parker gave him the date, and Nico made a show of searching his memory.

  “I was at Tim Hearn’s that night, yeah, the two of us were watching TV.”

  “And he’ll back that up?”

  “I guess he’ll remember.”

  Parker stood.

  “We’ll be right back Mr. Umbria; please wait here,”

  When they stepped out into the hallway, they found Chief Howard staring at Nico through the one-way mirror.

  “What do you think, Chief?” Jo said.

  “He’s lying.”

  “I think so too, but he must think that Hearn will back him up,” Parker said.

  “Mr. Hearn is waiting in my office with his lawyer.”

  “He’s here with his lawyer? That was quick; we just called him when Umbria arrived.”

  The chief laid a hand on Parker’s shoulder.

  “Jo will be talking to him alone, Rick.”

  “Why, because he slept with my ex-wife?”

  “That, and, Rachel is here with him,”

  “I see; they’re trying to upset me, probably hoping that I’ll do something stupid.”

  “Which you will not do, because you won’t be anywhere near them,” the chief said.

  Parker ran a hand through his hair.

  “Gabe, I can handle seeing them together. Rachel and I are divorced.”

  “I’m sorry, Rick, but no, and to tell you the truth, I should probably take you off this case now that Hearn is a part of it.”

  Parker raised his hands in surrender.

  “No, don’t do that. You’re right, Jo can handle Hearn.”

  “Is there anything in particular you’d like me to ask him?” Jo said.

  “Yeah, ask him why he’s such a prick.”

  Jo laughed as the chief shook his head.

  “See, this is why you’re staying away from him.”

  ***

  Jo sat behind the desk in the chief’s chair as he stood beside her. Across from them in a set of three chairs were Hearn, Rachel, and Hearn’s lawyer, a white-haired man named Manetti.

  After introductions were made, Jo studied Hearn and thought that he looked nervous; she also noticed that Rachel was gazing at her with a critical eye, as if she were making a judgment about something.

  Jo ignored her staring and spoke to Hearn.

  “Thank you for coming in on such short notice.”

  “It’s not a problem; I’m willing to help in any way I can.”

  “Where’s Rick?” Rachel asked.

  “Detective Parker is busy interviewing someone else.” Jo said.

  “You two don’t do interviews together?”

  “Not always,”

  “But you do other things together, don’t you?” Rachel said, and Jo heard the venom in her tone.

  She’s jealous. She thinks that Rick and I are sleeping together and she’s jealous. Jo thought.

  She ignored Rachel and asked Hearn about his whereabouts on the night of the murder.

  “I was home watching TV with an acquaintance of mine, a man named Nico Umbria.”

  “And are you two good friends?”

  Hearn smiled. “I said we were acquaintances, not friends,”

  “I’d like you to sign a statement that reiterates what you just told us.”

  The lawyer, Manetti, held up a hand.

  “Why does he ne
ed to sign a statement? He’s come in willingly and answered your questions.”

  “We find that people become forgetful and that stories change over time, and so we like to get all statements on record.”

  Manetti turned to Hearn. “I’d advise against signing anything.”

  Hearn held both hands, palms up. “I’m going to follow my attorney’s advice.”

  “I see, but tell me Mr. Hearn, do you have any involvement in the acts of vandalism and violence that have been perpetrated against the bar called Taggart’s?”

  “No. I would never be involved in such activities.”

  “Do you know anyone who would be?”

  “If I did, Detective, I would tell you.”

  “Even if they were a friend... or an acquaintance?”

  “Yes. I don’t condone such behavior.”

  Jo looked up at Chief Howard and he shook his head slightly, she then looked back at Hearn.

  “Thank you for coming in, and if you think of anything helpful, please call.”

  Hearn stood and headed for the door, but Rachel paused for a moment to glare at Jo, before walking out, her head scanning back and forth in an effort to spot Parker.

  “Do you think I should have pushed on the affidavit?”

  The chief pointed at the ceiling, where the camera and microphone were, a camera and microphone that looked like an ordinary smoke detector.

  “We have all we need on camera. Go tell Rick to cut Umbria loose, but to make sure he gives us a way to contact him.”

  “It’ll probably be no good.”

  “No, Umbria’s cocky, he thinks that Hearn’s lie will protect him forever, but he’s wrong. I know you and Rick will nail him someday.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence, but now that Umbria has an alibi, this case is dead in the water.”

  ***

  A few minutes later, Jo and Parker watched a smiling Nico step on the elevator.

  As the doors closed, Parker held up a slip of paper for Jo to see.

  “He listed Hearn as his contact. I think those two are covering each other’s butts.”

  Jo told him about her interview with Hearn, and also about Rachel’s behavior.

  “I’m sorry if she gave you any grief, but she seems to have more interest in me now than when we were married. She was also rude to Heather the other day.”

  “Some people want something more when they can’t have it.” Jo said.

  “I know the feeling. Heather is off-limits until we solve this case, and it looks like that’s not going to happen anytime soon.”

  Jo looked thoughtful.

  “You know, if Hearn wasn’t with Nico that night, he might have been with someone else, and that someone might just be your ex-wife. We need to check her whereabouts, and if they were together, she’ll either have to back up Umbria’s alibi or deny he was there.”

  “I hope you’re wrong about that. We’re through as a couple, but I don’t want to see her go to jail for perjury, or as an accessory.”

  “Still, it’s an avenue to explore,”

  “You’re right, and I’ll talk to her about it.”

  “If she tells all she knows, I doubt the D.A. will go after her.”

  Parker let out a long exhale.

  “The chief was right; this case is becoming too personal for me.”

  “You can handle it; just let me deal with Hearn.”

  “Fine, but if it ever comes time to put the cuffs on and lock him in a cell, he’s mine.”

  Jo grinned. “I would never deny you that pleasure.”

  ***

  Rachel and Hearn talked as he drove them back to his home.

  “Why are you lying to protect this man, Nico?” Rachel said.

  “Who says I’m lying?”

  “I remember that night, and you were with me, not him. Remember, I cooked you dinner and then we ordered a movie.”

  “That was that night?”

  “Yes, and there are ways I can prove I was there that night. I’m sure Rick and his sexy new partner will figure it out soon as well, and when they do they’ll ask me about Umbria.”

  “You’ll say he was there too, if you know what’s good for you.”

  “Are you threatening me?”

  Hearn reached over and took her hand.

  “You know I’m not like that, but this guy Nico... he’s unpredictable. You don’t want him after you, trust me.”

  “If I came forward, Rick would protect me, I know he would. After all, he loved me enough to marry me, unlike some men.”

  Hearn released her hand and then pulled to the curb that bordered the park.

  A few hundred feet away, a group of kids played on a baseball diamond.

  “You’re trying to blackmail me, aren’t you? You’re trying to blackmail me into marrying you?”

  Rachel smiled.

  “I just think that we’d be good together. I understand you, Tim, that one woman isn’t enough for you, and that wouldn’t have to change if we were married.”

  “And if I don’t marry you, you’ll go to your ex and tell what you know, tell him that I lied?”

  Rachel leaned across the seat and kissed him passionately.

  “Would marriage to me be so bad?”

  “I could tell Nico to have a talk with you.”

  “And if anything happened to me, then Rick would never leave you alone, and would probably hurt you. I might be his ex, but he still loves me.”

  Hearn sat quietly as he stared out the window, but when he turned back to Rachel, he was smiling.

  “Would you settle for a small wedding?”

  She grinned. “I love you too.”

  Hearn pulled back onto the road and Rachel looked sideways at him.

  “Tim,”

  “Yeah?”

  “Marriage will be nice, but there’s one more thing,”

  “What’s that?”

  “Taggart’s, I know you’re going after it and I know you’ll get it. You always get what you want.”

  “Not always, but what’s your point?”

  “I want half of it, the two of us partners in it.”

  Hearn closed his eyes for a second as he sighed.

  “And then I suppose you’ll want half of everything else, hmm?”

  “No, just Taggart’s,”

  “Why?”

  “I think owning a bar would be fun, and I’ve grown tired of nursing.”

  “Just Taggart’s, but I get to run things, not you, deal?”

  “Deal,”

  Hearn shook his head.

  “I don’t know who’s tougher, you or Nico,”

  “When we get to your house, I’ll do things to you that Nico never could.”

  “I like the sound of that,” Hearn said, and drove faster.

  9

  That night, Parker called Heather as promised, but was surprised when the first words out of her mouth were words of apology.

  “You don’t have to apologize; your mother was only looking out for you.”

  “It still makes me look like a child.”

  “You’re young, but I’ve never thought of you as a child.”

  “How do you think of me?”

  “I could say, but as a police officer I shouldn’t engage in phone sex.”

  Heather laughed, and the sound made Parker wish that he could reach out and hold her.

  “So, how is the case going?”

  “Ah, things are a mess, but we’re hoping to uncover the truth soon.”

  “I thought that man, Umbria, was your main suspect.”

  “He still is, but there’s been a complication,”

  “But you’ll still solve it, I know you will.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence. Are you working tomorrow?”

  “Yeah, the evening shift, but I called earlier and they said that business is dead; it’ll just be me and one other girl.”

  “I’ll stop by there for dinner,”

  “All right, and Rick?”<
br />
  “Yeah?”

  “Solve this case; I want to be able to do more than talk on the phone.”

  “We’ll solve it; we’ve only begun to put on the pressure.”

  ***

  Hours later, Nico applied a little pressure of his own, as he walked about the circumference of Taggart’s with a five gallon can of gasoline.

  When he was done, he strolled off into the woods, where he dumped the empty can behind a tree; he then took off his gloves and walked back to his car.

  ***

  Taggart’s began serving food at eleven each day, however, long before the cooks arrived, there were workers on site doing prep work, such as peeling potatoes and refilling supplies.

  Sal Venno arrived earlier than anyone, including the man who delivered the day’s bread from the local bakery. He had been at Taggart’s for many years, and other than a change in the weather, one day at work was much the same as another.

  Today would be different.

  As soon as Sal rode his bike into the parking lot, he smelled the fumes and braked to a stop.

  After looking around, he walked to the building and saw Nico’s handiwork. Knowing that one spark could set the building aflame, he took out his cell phone and called the fire department, then, he rode his bike back to the edge of the driveway, where he made another call, this one was to his boss, Patrick Taggart.

  ***

  An hour later, Parker and Knight stood beside Taggart as they watched the fire department spray down the building.

  “I don’t understand why someone went to all that trouble but didn’t light it.” Taggart said.

  “It’s because it’s cheaper to renovate than to rebuild,” Parker said.

  “You think Tim Hearn is behind this, don’t you?”

  “Absolutely,”

  “So does my grandfather. He called Hearn and asked for a meeting.”

  That news surprised both Parker and Knight.

  “He’s willing to give in to him and sell?” Jo said.

  “I don’t know. I do know that I would sell. I can’t stand the thought of anyone else being hurt, and look at this, what if this had happened during business hours.”

  Parker had been thinking that same thought.

  “Mr. Taggart, when and where is this meeting between Hearn and your grandfather taking place?”

  “At eight p.m., at the house,”

  They watched the fire department finish up their work, and then the fire chief walked over and told Taggart that the building was safe again, but cautioned that ideally, the wooden steps and latticework should be replaced.