Angela was subdued as she left the office. The news of Bob’s conduct during the last few months of his life had clearly shaken her.
“It just goes to show,” Lucy said. “No matter how well you think you know someone you can never really be sure about their character.”
“One thing’s for sure,” I said. “There’s a lot more to this case than a simple domestic murder and suicide. I wonder what’s going to turn up next.”
When I got home I sat waiting impatiently for Benny’s call. I didn’t think his latest assignment was going to cause him much difficulty and I wanted to move on the Kingsley case without unnecessary delay.
“So what are you planning?” Lucy said.
“I’m not sure – at least not in any detail. There’s nothing that the police can use to touch them for any of this – the drugs, Trish’s murder, the veiled threat to me. But I have an idea that might seal the fate of the Costas if it works out.”
The call from Benny finally came at around seven. Al Costa lived in a place called Elm Ridge, about ten miles north of Fitchburg. It was probably about a ninety minute drive, even without traffic.
“When you gonna settle up with me for all this?” Benny said.
“You’ll get your reward in heaven, Benny.”
“I’d rather have it now,” he said. “I may not be going there.”
“You want to head out of the city,” I said to Lucy; “get some fresh air?”
“Were are we going?”
“Elm Ridge,” I said. “We can do some brainstorming about the Hughes case on the way.”
“Now?”
“We’ll leave about nine,” I said. “Let’s have dinner first and then take a drive.”
As we drove northwards Lucy said, “If the police have George’s prints on file it’ll be a real breakthrough.”
“Maybe. If he left any prints at the house.”
“But even if he didn’t he’ll still have some explaining to do. Even though Claudia never saw him in the house he must have been inside that night. And it was several hours after his brother’s death – and Cynthia’s.”
“That’s if the police consider Claudia’s evidence puts him there at all.”
“You’re being a bit negative,” Lucy said.
“I’m playing Devil’s advocate, that’s all.”
“Maybe it’ll all come down to the watch in the end,” Lucy said. “The theft from Bob’s firm, the watch and the deaths must all be related somehow. But how?”
It was almost ten thirty when we arrived at Elm Ridge. Al Costa’s house was in a subdivision of about half a dozen homes. It was a large bungalow set about a hundred yards back from the road surrounded by elm trees. There were several lights on inside. We parked a couple of hundred yards past the place. “I’m going to take a look,” I said. “You sit tight, give me about twenty minutes.”
I made my way carefully through the trees and approached the house from the east. A large black Buick and a small red Porsche were parked in the driveway. The house was fairly isolated from its neighbors and the blinds and drapes were open. I got close enough to see that the main living room was situated to the left of the front door and what looked like a study to the right, at the front of the house. No dogs barked, which was a relief. Maybe Al wasn’t a dog-lover. I got to within no more than thirty feet of the study window. There was a black leather chair with its back to the window and in front of that was a large wooden glass-topped desk. The chair faced the door, about twenty feet across the room. I held my breath and looked around, gazing at the elms which stood about fifty feet high. I didn’t hear any voices or see anybody. After about five minutes I walked back through the trees to the car. I climbed in and we started our journey home.
“Is that it?” Lucy said. “You find what you wanted?”
“Yep,” I said.
It was after midnight when I turned into my driveway. I locked the car and we walked down to Lucy’s place. “How about a hot drink before we turn in?” I said. I pulled out my cell and made a call.
“Hi bro,” I said.
“Hi kid, kinda late isn’t it? How you doing?”
“I need you here,” I said. “Tomorrow if possible; how are you fixed?”
“If it’s important I’ll be there. And since you wouldn’t be calling me at this time of night otherwise I guess it’s important.”
“You got a pen handy?” I said. “I want you to make a list of what we’re going to need.”
Chapter Sixteen
Following Orders
My brother Duncan lived near Indian Lake in Vermont where he ran a training school for survivalists. I reckoned he’d have about a six hour journey by car; and with what he’d be bringing with him a car was the only option. I needed to pay Malone a visit during the morning but I’d be back before lunch. I made a call to Paddy just after eight.
“You following orders?” I said.
“Sure, Kane; to the letter. And thanks,” he said, “for everything.”
I drove across town to see Malone. He was sitting in his office with an open bag of donuts and a coffee in front of him.
“You going to stick around for a coffee this time? Help yourself,” he said nodding at the donuts. “You got something a bit more specific for me now?”
“Muriel Hughes told you that Bob had no siblings; that was incorrect. Although she’s had no contact with him for more than twenty years, Bob has a twin brother called George. He’s an identical twin.”
“Why didn’t Mrs. Hughes tell us that herself?”
“It’s a long story. Like I said, they’ve been estranged for years; but she accepts that she gave birth to identical twins, Bob and George. Shortly afterwards she split up with the father. When George was fifteen he went to live with his father, Scott. Scott died about seven years ago and Muriel has no idea where George is now.”
“And you’re telling me all this because?”
“Because I believe he was at the house the night Bob and Cynthia met their deaths.”
“Oh, wait a minute,” he said. “You’ve been talking to the little girl next door?”
“She may be little but she’s as sharp as a paring knife. I talked to her and I’m sure she’s not mistaken. Except that she thought it was Bob driving away from the house instead of George.”
“I get it,” Malone said. “The brother did them both in and then drove off into the sunset. And because he has the same DNA as his brother he left behind no evidence of his presence there?” He smiled at me condescendingly.
“That’s exactly what I’m suggesting. Except that I don’t know whether he was involved in the killing of course. I’m just saying he was there and he’s got some explaining to do; not least, why he would drive away from a house with his brother and sister-in-law dead inside without bothering to let anybody know.”
“So you want me to help you find him?”
“No, I want you to find him. It’s highly relevant to your investigation don’t you think? You think he just happened by, noticed his brother was hanging from a beam in the garage and then stole his watch and took off?”
Sam Malone munched his donut. “He got a record, this twin brother?”
“No idea. All I know is he drives a gray sedan and probably has a nice antique wrist watch.”
“Oh the watch?” Sam said with resignation. “I might have known that would come back to kick me up the butt.”
“Come on Sam,” I said. “All I’m asking is for you to follow it up; do some real detective work.”
“Like you do?”
I sighed. “Sam we’ve known each other a long time. Let’s not get petty about this. You’ve got the resources and manpower to it a lot more quickly than I can.”
“Okay, I’ll get somebody on to it,” he said.
“And make sure the scene’s preserved until you find him. His DNA may be the same but his prints aren’t.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
> “And as a reward for doing all this I won’t make you thank me when I’m proved right,” I said, smiling at him.
“Get out of here, I’m a busy man,” he said.
“You can take a back seat on this one now,” I said to Lucy when I got back. “Malone’s capitulated at last.”
“Oh great,” she said. “Let’s celebrate. I’m cooking a special lunch; we’ll have it as soon as Duncan gets here. Since he’s teetotal we may as well have a glass of something while we’re waiting for him; what do you think?”
“I think it sounds like an excellent idea.”
“But first I’ll just give Angela a call and tell her the good news.”
*
“I don’t understand why Malone was so reluctant to investigate this case. I mean that’s what they’re there for isn’t it?” Lucy said, as we both settled down with a glass of Californian chardonnay.
“It’s tough when you have a case that for all intents and purposes is closed and then a couple of smart-asses come along to complicate things.”
“I guess so. It’s ages since we saw Duncan – over a year. I hope the two of you are going to behave yourselves.”
“Impeccably, as always,” I said.
“What’s the plan?”
“I have to run it past Duncan first, to make sure what I want to do is feasible. I’ll tell you about it tomorrow if it all looks okay.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes. Duncan and I will have to go back to Elm Ridge tonight to check things out.”
“Well just make sure whatever you plan to do is fool-proof. I don’t want you putting yourselves in any danger.”
“There’s no such thing as a fool-proof plan. There are always unknown factors; but it’s the best I can think of at the moment. Duncan may have some ideas as to how it can be fine-tuned.”
“How long do you think it’ll be until the police are able to trace George?”
“Hard to say. If he doesn’t have a record they may have to try the IRS, check out his social security number and address that way. In the meantime they’ll check to see if the watch was pawned anywhere.”
“It’s been a busy week,” she said. “Bet you’re glad you’ve got an assistant.” Her eyes were twinkling.
“Let’s see how it all pans out,” I said.
Chapter Seventeen
A Sense of Drama
The last time Duncan visited me I was still living in my apartment downtown. I still had my downtown office too, and a secretary called Lucy.
“So this is the new neighborhood?” Duncan said as he unpacked the Land Rover.
“Yes, bit of change huh?”
“And not the only change,” he chuckled. “How’s your assistant – or should I say your other half?”
“I hope you’re not planning to make any inappropriate comments in that regard,” I said.
Duncan grabbed me round the neck and then bear-hugged me. “Good to see you kid,” he said.
“You’re the guest of honor,” I said. “Lucy’s cooked up something special so I hope you’re hungry.”
“Like a horse. Let me get some of this stuff inside. I guess the other stuff can stay where it is,” he said, pointing to the rear compartment.
“You got everything?”
“Everything and then some,” he said. “It’s gonna be a blast, trust me.” He winked and went indoors.
“How long can you stay?” I asked as I followed him into the house.
“Aa long as you need me, but I’d like to head back by the day after tomorrow.”
“Let’s see how it goes,” I said.
*
“Yes, from what little we know about him it seems completely out of character,” I said. “But then who knows what people might do if they’re desperate.”
“And you’ve no idea how the twin fits into all of this, except he was there? Or you think he was,” Duncan said.
“Check,” I said.
We were sitting on Lucy’s verandah, replete after a rather splendid lunch.
“Lucy’s going to Italy in the fall with her folks,” I said. “To see her long-lost relatives.”
“They’re not lost; we just haven’t seen them for a long time. Well actually I’ve never seen them at all,” Lucy said. “I’m brushing up on my Italian.”
“Oh that reminds me,” I said. I showed Duncan the note which was screwed up in my pocket.
“What the hell does that mean?” he said. I told him.
“Hmmm,” he said. “He’s got a sense of drama then?”
“Lucy thought we should frame it and put it on the office wall as a sort of conversation piece; but since nobody would understand what it meant that seems a bit pointless.”
“We could put the translation underneath,” she said sullenly.
“You see what I have to put up with?” I said to Duncan.
“I’ve got a good idea, Lucy,” Duncan said. “How about when you go on vacation I take the kid to my training camp and put him through his paces for a couple of weeks.” He jabbed me in the stomach to emphasize what a good idea he thought that would be.
“Good idea,” Lucy said. “We don’t want him to turn into a bloater,” she giggled.
“How was California?” I said, deftly changing the subject. Duncan had been back to visit friends from our old home town for Christmas.
“It was good,” he said. “But I was glad to get back. It doesn’t feel like home there anymore.”
Duncan and I had grown up in California. Well, there and a few other places around the globe because our father had been a banker, constantly posted to different places. We left more than fifteen years ago, not long after our folks passed away.
“Hey you know I was back in Hong Kong last year,” I said. “Remember that building – the one with the…?”
“The building of a thousand assholes?” he said.
“Yeah, well you hardly notice it anymore. A lot of changes there, a lot of construction.”
As the afternoon wore on we talked about this and that. We laughed a lot too; it was nice to relax for a while. About five I suggested we take a nap. Duncan and I were going to need our wits about us later, and we had a lot of driving to do as well.
“We’ll see you in the morning, Lucy. Maybe not too early in the morning,” I said, as we headed back to my place.
*
It was after one o’clock in the morning when the Land Rover slipped quietly past the house on Elm Ridge. I eased it to a stop. “What do you think,” I said.
“Nice,” Duncan said. “Let’s take a closer look.”
A little more than an hour later we were heading home again. We were all set.
Chapter Eighteen
Tweedledum and Tweedledee
It was one of those rare mornings when I wasn’t up and about at six. It was Lucy’s call that woke me. It was daylight. I looked at my watch. Nine forty. I swung myself out of bed and went to answer the phone.
“You up yet?” Lucy said.
“I am now.”
“You want a late breakfast?”
“Good idea. Give us fifteen minutes.”
Duncan was sitting out in the porch, already showered, shaved and dressed. “Breakfast, fifteen minutes,” I shouted, and disappeared into the bathroom.
“I’m off downtown to see Will Bryan and then I’ll be seeing the Costa brothers. I’ll leave you two to your idle gossip,” I said after we finished breakfast.
“See you when I see you kid,” Duncan said.
I called Testaloni’s on my way into town. “It’s Kane; tell Tweedledum and Tweedledee I’ll be in to see them at one,” I said.
“Who?”
“Jimmy and Joey, who the hell do you think I mean.” I hung up.
I got a call back about five minutes later. It was Jimmy Costa.
“I’ve got a proposition for you,” I said. “I may be able to get your father’s stuff back, but I
need to talk to the pair of you first. One o’clock.” I hung up before he had a chance to reply.
It was one o’clock on the dot when I walked into Testaloni’s. Jimmy and Joey were sitting at the counter.
“We need to talk privately,” I said.
We walked over to a table at the rear of the restaurant behind a screen. A sort of VIP room, I guessed.
“I can get your stuff,” I said, “although I need a little time. But there are two conditions.”
“Look…” Joey said.
“Let’s hear him out,” Jimmy said. “What conditions?”
“First I want an assurance that whoever took the stuff from Freddy is left alone. You’ll get the stuff back – let that be an end to it.”
Jimmy thought this over for a few moments. “You on the level?”
“Yeah, I’m on the level. I’m getting kind of old for this game.”
“You know who took the stuff?”
“Maybe yes, maybe no; but I can get the stuff back to you if you agree to this simple request.”
“Let me talk to the old man,” Jimmy said. He walked away from the table and disappeared. A few minutes later he came back. “It’s a deal,” he said, “but he wants to know the second condition.”
“I give the stuff directly to your father and he gives me his word face-to-face.”
“How do we know you’ve got the stuff?”
“I don’t have it now. I can get it this afternoon. I’ll meet you back here and take it to your father. You’ll have to take me there, wherever it is. And bring me back afterwards.”
He thought about that for a while. “Sure, okay. You bring the stuff here and we’ll take you there to talk to the old man.”
“But don’t try and get smart,” Joey said, “coz I’m itching to lay one on you.”
“I just want a peaceful end to this,” I said.
“How long you need?”
“A few hours – I can meet you here at four.”
“Get going.”
So far so good, I thought, as I walked out of the joint.
I was back at four. I had the briefcase cuffed to my right wrist. “I get to give it to the man himself,” I said, “okay?”
I Spy - Mark Kane Mysteries - Book Six: A Private Investigator Crime Series of Murder, Mystery, Suspense & Thriller Stories - A Murder Mystery & Suspense Thriller Page 9
