A Finder's Fee

by Joyce

  Miller told his father we were there to see him then left us. Wally grinned and shook hands with Kevin. “What can I do you for?”

  “I’m Dae O’Donnell.” I shook his hand too.

  “Horace’s girl? Wow! You’ve grown. I haven’t seen you for a long time. Is Kevin your husband?”

  “No, sir.” Kevin kept his professional stance. “Dae is the mayor of Duck now and I run the Blue Whale Inn.”

  “Right. I knew about Dae. And I heard about that old place reopening. Some FBI—” His eyes widened and his voice dropped. “Are you here on federal business?”

  Kevin smiled what I’d come to think of as his Fed smile. “No. Dae and I are here looking into the death of Joe Walsh.”

  Wally made a disparaging face. “That boy. I heard they’d found him. He was nothing but trouble. I hate to speak ill of the dead, but it’s true. Fast cars. Smoking. Alcohol. Women. There was no way he was going to end up right.”

  I defended Joe. “He was only a kid. Lots of people get in trouble when they’re kids and turn out fine.”

  “He was a no-good kid who took advantage of everyone he knew. I busted him a few times, but his parents always bailed him out. It took everything they had to keep him out of jail and racing that hot rod. I felt sorry for them, you know?” He glanced at Kevin. “Why is the FBI involved in a local matter?”

  “I’m retired, Mr. Newcastle. I’m doing a little favor for local law enforcement. There is some evidence that someone in the sheriff’s department has information about Walsh’s death. It could be someone who was a deputy during that time.”

  “Well, don’t look at me. My daughter was born the night he disappeared. I was with my wife all night. You want to talk to Mad Dog Wilson. I thought he was already in jail for the crime.”

  Kevin lowered his voice, moved a little closer to Wally and kept his eyes focused on Wally’s face. “We have specific evidence that ties a Dare County deputy to Walsh’s death.”

  Wally swallowed hard. His eyes never left Kevin’s. “I understand.” He appeared to think hard for a moment or two. “Blackie Rogers had a few run-ins with the kid back then. He might be the one you’re looking for, even though he’s dead now.”

  “Did those run-ins include a woman?” I lowered my voice like Kevin and stared hard at Wally.

  “A woman?” He frowned. “It was a long time ago but—oh, you mean Rosie Carpenter. I don’t think she was involved with any deputy, if that’s what you mean. She was gone on the race car drivers. Although, Blackie did ask her out once. She shut him down faster than the revenue men could shut down a still.”

  “Do you know what happened to her?” Kevin asked.

  “Not really. When they stopped racing after Joe disappeared and Mad Dog couldn’t drive, she stopped coming down with her dad. He ran a big car dealership in Portsmouth or Newport News, if memory serves me right. You might want to check there.”

  Wally was no help after that. Kevin and I left a few minutes later. I learned a lot from watching Kevin question him, as Gramps had said I would.

  My cell phone was ringing when we got to the truck. I’d decided not to bring it in so we wouldn’t be interrupted.

  Gramps asked, “Where are you, Dae?”

  “In Kitty Hawk. We just finished talking to Wally Newcastle and he—”

  “Never mind. Come home. I’m with Ronnie at Mad Dog’s place. We found Lightning Joe’s car.”

  Chapter 21

  Kevin and I talked all the way back to Duck about what this could mean. He dropped me off at the Wilsons’ big house on Racing Snail Drive. He wanted to stay, but he had to get the flowers he’d picked up back to the Blue Whale.

  The Wilsons had been in Duck for many generations, like my family. Unlike my family, Mad Dog had used his local fame to promote his business building engines for stock cars and had become quite wealthy. They’d bought several pieces of land that had adjoined theirs so that he would have a place to work.

  There were storage buildings and garages behind the brown clapboard, two-story house. All of the action seemed to be taking place at one of the garages. The police had already barricaded the concrete drive that led there, so I could only stand in front and watch. Finally Gramps saw me (he never answers his cell phone) and walked back toward the house to fill me in.

  “They’re still looking things over, Dae. Let’s come over here and talk.”

  Chief Michaels had received an anonymous tip that car number twenty-three might be at Mad Dog’s house. Gramps had been there at the time, talking to his old friend about his lost badge and asking uncomfortable questions about Joe’s death.

  “I didn’t get many answers once this came up,” Gramps said. “I don’t mind telling you how hard it was to even ask Ronnie those things.”

  “I know.” I smiled at him. “It was hard for me too.”

  “Well, the tip was right. Joe’s car was in the back garage hidden under a tarp. It’s in perfect condition. Probably like he left it the night he was killed. They think it’s been here all these years.”

  “Who would know about that to call in a tip?”

  “Could be one of the mechanics who used to work for Mad Dog. He might’ve thought about it with everything going on. That’s what Ronnie thinks.”

  I thought about Laura trying to get her husband released from jail. What a homecoming this would be. Further proof, no doubt, that Mad Dog was guilty of killing Joe.

  Sheriff Riley and one of his men pulled in behind us, blocking the way into the drive. “Horace.” Tuck nodded to Gramps. “Mayor O’Donnell. I always love these down-home crime scenes that happen out in the county. Everyone in town is welcome to attend and give their opinion on what’s going on. It’s kind of like a county fair, without the bread-and-butter pickles.”

  Tuck laughed—obviously he found his words amusing. Gramps frowned but let it go.

  Sheriff Riley left right away as a deputy waved him farther into the crime scene.

  “I don’t think any investigation of ours is going to help Mad Dog at this point,” he said after Tuck was gone. “It’s gonna take a lot to dig him out of this hole.”

  DA Luke Helms showed up next. He smiled and nodded at both of us, asking after our health, then went to join the others at the garage.

  “I wish I could get in there and touch it.” I said it even though it wasn’t really true. I wanted to find something that would help Mad Dog, but I didn’t want the repercussions that would go along with it.

  “That’s not going to happen today. They’re sending a crime scene team from Manteo to go over the whole thing. Maybe after that, you might be able to get your wish. I think Ronnie will want that badge you found, Dae. It’s part of the investigation. We shouldn’t have messed with it. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  I told him about our interview with Wally and the information I got from the courthouse. “Wally kind of implicated Blackie. He definitely had his alibi ready to go.”

  He looked at the marriage license. “We can probably find Joe’s wife with this.” He folded it up and handed it back to me. “But we’re not going to. Any other ideas have to go through Ronnie first. It’s bad enough I accused him of killing Joe because he has a sister who was interested in race car drivers. I’m not speculating on what happened anymore. I’d rather you didn’t either.”

  I put the marriage license in my pocket. I respected both Gramps and Chief Michaels, but I was convinced from my visions that Mad Dog was innocent. I knew I couldn’t use that information to make Chief Michaels believe me. I couldn’t stop looking though, having seen that other side of Mad Dog.

  Gramps had ridden down there with Chief Michaels, so neither one of us had a ride home. Lucky for us, Luke left almost as soon as he got there. He offered to drive us where we wanted to go.

  “This is some bad stuff.” Luke talked to Gramps, who was in the
front seat with him. “Mr. Wilson’s case seems to be going under. I’m afraid his wife may have only saved him a few weeks in jail.”

  “So he’s getting out on bond?” Gramps asked. I hadn’t had a chance to tell him.

  “Yes. He should be home later today.”

  “Are you going to ask for a higher bond since you have new evidence?”

  Luke shook his head. “I don’t think so. Mr. Wilson doesn’t strike me as a bail jumper. His wife is using their home as collateral. I don’t see him endangering her home, do you?”

  Gramps agreed with him. “I also don’t see him as a killer, Luke. I know this is your job, but there may be compelling evidence that another person was involved.”

  He went on to tell Luke about the badge I’d found. It made me uncomfortable. Luke wasn’t from Duck and he always seemed a little skittish about my gift.

  “I hope Chief Michaels has that evidence.” Luke glanced at me in the rearview mirror.

  “He doesn’t yet. He will soon enough.”

  Luke was a nice man. He took himself a little too seriously for me, but he’d been a big asset to Duck in the short time he’d lived there. Gramps said it was prestigious to have the Dare County DA living in Duck. I agreed with him. I wished he was on Mad Dog’s side instead of prosecuting him.

  Luke dropped Gramps off first at home even though it meant he had to come back to the Duck Shoppes to drop me off. There was this awkward moment right before I got out of the car when he tried to ask me exactly what I’d seen from holding the badge.

  “It wasn’t much.” I described the scene. “I think the deputy this badge belonged to had something to do with Lightning Joe’s death.”

  He smiled and looked away as though he were searching for the right words. “Dae, I know people value your gift, but you can’t take evidence from the scene of a crime.”

  “Even if I’m the one who found the crime in the first place?”

  “Make sure the badge gets into the proper hands by morning. And stay away from that site. Let us figure out what happened. Be sure to tell Kevin the same thing for me. He’s not in the FBI anymore. He shouldn’t go around representing himself as an agent.”

  I started to argue with him. Kevin had clearly told Wally he was retired. I wanted to ask Luke what he was afraid of—did he think I’d solve the case without him?

  I didn’t say anything. Unfortunately, Maggie was too near an attractive man to let him go.

  “Let’s not argue anymore, good sir. There are far better things we could do with our time.”

  Before I could take over again, she’d leaned in close and given him a big kiss right on the mouth.

  I looked at him in the instant that ensued. I was pretty sure I looked horrified.

  Luke was calm about the whole thing. “It’s okay, Dae. I know people tend to get emotional over this kind of thing. We’ll talk later.”

  He kind of awkwardly patted my arm, and I got out of the car. It was too late to feel embarrassed, since it was already over.

  Maggie was angry at what she took to be Luke’s dismissal of her charms. “That man has no heart. If he ever comes to court you, Dae, steer clear.”

  I tried calling the historical society again. I was beginning to get desperate to find Thomas’s grave, even though I was still a little sketchy about exactly how we were going to get Maggie in the ground beside him. When we buried her bones, would that be it?

  I had an hour before I was going to meet Dillon at the shop, but I decided it would be nice to have some time to relax and enjoy a cup of tea before he got there. Not to mention issuing a severe warning to Maggie—for all the good that would do.

  I said hello to Nancy as I went by town hall where the big election posters were up telling everyone that we voted at Duck Elementary School. Trudy was busy with Mrs. Johansen’s hair as I walked by her windows. I waved but didn’t interrupt.

  I let myself into Missing Pieces and slumped against the closed door. “What were you doing back there, Maggie?”

  “Nothing, it seems. You have no heart for romance. Neither did he. All I’m asking is for a little time being human again. A stout pair of arms around me would warm me through the chill to come. You ruin everything. You are more like a nun than a flesh-and-blood woman.”

  I made myself some tea and sat on the burgundy brocade sofa for a few minutes. I had to get myself together before I spoke with Dillon. He was sharp and eager to be part of my life. I knew repaying the money he’d loaned me needed to be the end of our relationship. I could see that it would be asking for trouble to continue being involved with him. I didn’t need Maggie’s “sight” to know that.

  The front door opened, and two men in wildly flowered shirts and jeans came in. They were both wearing the same kind of fishing hat, and both of the hats looked brand-new. There was something odd about their shirts and jeans too. They were ironed, with neat creases in them. Gramps never went fishing looking that way. Neither did anyone else I knew.

  They were probably from the mainland and thought they looked like they fit in with the locals. If they wanted to buy something, I didn’t care what they wore.

  “Hello,” the first man said. “I’m looking for an antique for my wife. She’s not happy when I come home from fishing without a gift.”

  “Same for me,” the other man said with a big, crazy grin. “Show us something nice.”

  I wasn’t sure what that was, but I was happy to oblige.

  We walked all over the store together looking at jewelry, vases, anything I could imagine that would interest any woman who might be married to these goofy-acting fishermen.

  They had no idea what they were looking for, and I was about to send them to the Duck General Store when the first man said, “What’s in here?” and stepped into the storage area.

  “Nothing in there is for sale.” I started to follow him.

  The man behind me put his hand across my mouth and bodily moved me into the storage room with his friend. He pulled the curtain closed behind us.

  “We need a few minutes of your time, Mayor O’Donnell.” The first man flashed a badge and ID.

  “We’re with the ATF.” The second man took out his badge too. I saw his gun at the same time. “Please stay calm. This room is the only one in your store that hasn’t been bugged by Dillon Guthrie.”

  I relaxed, at least outwardly, and he released me. I wasn’t sure I believed their story, even after I got a closer look at one of their badges. It did serve as a wake-up call on how easily something like this could happen.

  “You can buy badges that look exactly like this online. How do I know you are who you say you are?”

  The first man made a snorting noise. “Who else would come in this way?”

  “Some kind of rival smuggling gang. Or people who want to kill Dillon.”

  The two men looked at each other. The first man shrugged.

  “Those things could be possible,” he agreed. “But we really are with the ATF, and we need your help. We’re trying to build a case against Guthrie. We know you’re in contact with him. We’re here because we read your email about meeting him here today.”

  “Of course, anyone could have hacked into Dillon’s email. I’m sorry. I’m not convinced. Do you have some other proof?”

  The second man took out a pair of handcuffs and snarled, “How about if we arrest you for doing business with a man wanted for drug and gun smuggling? If we fly you to DC and put you in a federal lockup, would that make you feel better?”

  “Easy, Bob,” the first man said. “The mayor has a valid point. She’s the granddaughter of a sheriff and the girlfriend of an ex–FBI agent. What did you expect?”

  “I have a way to resolve this. Let me hold one of those badges. It won’t take long.”

  They exchanged looks again, but the first man handed me his badge.

&n
bsp; Lucky for me, there weren’t a lot of bad emotions tied to it. I saw pieces of his life, including his wife and the swearing-in ceremony where he’d received the badge from ATF officials.

  I handed it back. “How can I help you, Agent Moore?”

  He raised his eyebrows. “I read your file. You’re good. How come you aren’t working for the government?”

  “Yeah,” Agent Bob Jablonski added. “Instead of hanging out with a sleazy dirtbag like Guthrie?”

  “I’m sure you know becoming involved with Dillon Guthrie wasn’t exactly my doing. He came here with another man I was doing business with, Port Tymov. I didn’t ask him to come back. He keeps following me around.”

  Agent Allen Moore nodded as he took off his fishing hat. “It starts out that way. It always starts out that way. No one made you borrow money from him, did they?”

  They knew more than I thought they knew. I never said anything about the money in an email or a phone call. “How do you know that?”

  Jablonski snickered. “What? You think Guthrie is the only one with listening devices? Look, you’re in with him up to your eyeballs. You help us, we make that go away. You could be exactly what we need to bring Guthrie in.”

  “I plan on paying him back the money I owe him today. That’s why I set up the meeting. He won’t be doing any more advertising for my mayoral campaign. You do what you want with him. I’m cutting my ties.”

  Agent Moore shook his head. “We have something else in mind, Mayor. We want you to continue your relationship with Guthrie. We need information to stop the flow of illegal weapons coming in through this area of the country.”

  “Guthrie doesn’t make contact with little people like you who don’t play his game,” Jablonski said. “I don’t know why he’s taken a shine to you, but it’s good for us.”

  Their plan didn’t sound like a healthy idea to me. I wasn’t going into witness protection in Idaho when it was over. I knew I’d made some mistakes, but I wasn’t willing to jeopardize my life, or Gramps’s life, for them.