by Mike Faricy
“I confronted Hackett with the images you gave me. My friend was there and she immediately gave me the earrings and the necklace. Later, she found the ring and the bracelet and gave me those as well. She had no idea they had been stolen, although she was vaguely aware that the Prescott’s had been robbed. She just didn’t put the two together.”
“And where is Hackett now?”
“I wish I knew. He disappeared sometime in the middle of the night. I’m not sure where he went. I do know he seems to be experiencing some financial difficulties, he’s behind in his mortgage and property taxes.”
“What’s the woman’s name?”
“Her name is Heidi Bauer; she lives here in town. I’ve known her for a lot of years. She has no criminal record and she is simply just another victim in this situation. Hackett had been courting her and I believe he was going to give her the ring for an engagement, and then he planned to drain her bank account as soon as they were married. He’s done that three previous times and I can provide you with the names of those women if you would like. I’ll be willing to testify in court to everything I’ve just told you.”
Randolph eased back in his chair causing it to squeak. “I had a chat with a contemporary of mine, Haskell. He cautioned me about dealing with you. I have to say I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’m pleasantly surprised.”
“I’m guessing that might have been detective Norris Manning, up in homicide. We tend to not get along all that well.”
“That’s an understatement,” Randolph snorted. “By the way, where did this exchange take place?”
“Where? Oh, at Hackett’s place.”
“You go there often?”
“No, my first time.”
“He invited you?”
“No, he did not. I actually went there to confront my friend…”
“This Heidi?”
“Yes, I felt very strongly he was getting ready to give her that ring and I hoped to convince her he had been less than truthful on a number of issues.”
“Apparently you succeeded.”
“I think so, although in all honesty, she’s more than a little brokenhearted.”
Randolph just nodded then said, “We may be in touch. I’m going to issue an arrest warrant for Austin Hackett.”
Chapter Fifty-Four
“Dev, you’ve been staring out of those binoculars for the past week,” Louie said. “No one’s even out on the street to watch. Why don’t you put them down and take Morton for a walk? At least you’ll start to accomplish something. And for the love of God, stop that incessant humming, will you?”
“I’m in a reflective mood, Louie. I’m pondering things.”
“You’re driving me and everyone else who has to deal with you crazy, that’s what you’re doing.”
My phone rang.
“Thank God. Look, whatever job it is, take it,” Louie growled. “I can’t deal with much more of this.”
“Haskell Investigations.”
“Mr. Haskell, Detective Randolph. Wondering if you’d have time to chat today.”
“Time to chat?”
“Just trying to tie up some loose ends.”
“Did you ever get Hackett?”
“As a matter of fact we did. I could send a squad if you need transportation.”
“No, let me get to a stopping point with what I’m working on and I’ll come down. Would the next hour or two work?”
“The next hour will be just fine,” Randolph said and hung up.
“Business?” Louie asked, not bothering to look up from his computer.
“I suppose. It was Randolph.”
“That grouchy cop?”
“Yeah, said they nabbed Hackett and he’s got a couple of questions.”
“I’d better go with you,” he said and started to push his chair back.
“Don’t Louie. If you show up he’s just going to ask more questions and start thinking somethings wrong. There’s nothing I’m really worried about.”
“You essentially broke into that jerk’s cabin.”
“Yeah, I’m sure Hackett’s laid a line on him about that. I sort of left Randolph with the impression it all happened at Hackett’s mansion, but in the end I recovered stolen property and turned it over to the cops.”
“I still think I better go with you.”
“How ‘bout I just call you if I need you?”
* * *
Randolph met me in the lobby again. He had to have been waiting just on the other side of the door he was so fast. “Mr. Haskell, thanks for making the time. Come on up,” he said then punched in a code on the key pad and held the door for me. We walked about ten feet then waited for the elevator. I wasn’t really worried until we stepped onto the elevator and he pressed the button for the sixth floor instead of the third floor where his office was located.
“Sixth floor, we getting a room with a view?”
“Hmm, no, like I said on the phone, just trying to tie up some lose ends is all. After you,” he said as the doors opened onto the sixth floor.
I stepped off the elevator and there, heading toward us, red faced and exposing fangs that passed for his smile, was Detective Norris Manning.
“Haskell,” he growled. “Can’t thank you enough for joining us, you’ve just made my day. I’ve reserved interview room three for us, if I recall it’s your favorite. Please, let’s get started.”
I looked over at Randolph who just stared down the hallway.
The room featured cinder block walls painted a glossy institutional barf green and smelled of fear and sweat. A four-wheel metal cart was parked in the far corner of the room with all sorts of recording and video equipment stacked up on it. None of the equipment seemed to be turned on from what I could tell. I noticed there wasn’t any sort of recording device on the metal topped table where Manning told me to sit. The table was bolted to the floor and I slid the bright orange plastic chair back, then pulled it in and rested my arms on the table. Randolph and Manning pulled two grey padded chairs with chrome legs up to their side of the table. Randolph leaned back just as Manning inched forward in the attack mode.
“So, what’s this all about, and why are you here?” I asked Manning, hoping to steal his thunder.
“I’ll ask the questions here, Haskell. Let’s start with you telling me how you came to acquire this jewelry you turned over to Detective Randolph?” Manning asked. He seemed to be enjoying himself.
“You’re working robberies now instead of homicide?”
“I’m not going to tell you again. Just answer the question.”
“They were given to me by a friend. Her name is Heidi Bauer. She received them from Austin Hackett, but she turned them over to me once she learned they were stolen.”
“And where was this?”
“At Hackett’s. Look, you’ve got all of this information. I gave it to Detective Randolph earlier this week.”
“When was the last time you saw Mr. Hackett?”
“The night I received the jewelry. I went to sleep and he was gone in the morning. I don’t know exactly when he left, and I’ve no idea where he went.”
“Do you know where Mr. Hackett might be now?”
“No.”
“How well do you know Mr. Hackett?”
“Not well at all. I believe I’ve only spoken to him two or three times, never a long conversation.”
“And yet you know personal information regarding Mr. Hackett.”
“I know information that is a matter of public record. He hasn’t paid his property taxes, he had at least three former wives who aren’t too thrilled with him, and I believe him to be behind in his mortgage payments. I also know that the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility, the OLPR is looking into his behavior and that there has been talk of disbarment for at least the past twenty-four months, although the state bar seems incapable of acting in the matter.”
“Seems like you know quite a lot for someone who has never ever had a long conversatio
n, as you put it.”
“I looked into his background as a matter of interest regarding a friend of mine. It’s all public record. Even you could probably find the information. Look, Manning, you guys know all this. What’s going on here, Randolph? I told you all this stuff the other day.”
Randolph looked at Manning, “Norris?”
“When was the last time you drove up to Hackett’s cabin?”
“I’ve never driven up there” I said getting very specific with my answers. “I know he has a cabin up north, but I wouldn’t be able to find it.”
“Norris?” Randolph said this time with a little deeper voice. Manning gave him a quick glance then refocused on me.
“Do you know, does Mr. Hackett like to swim in his lake?”
“Does he like to swim up there? I have no idea. I believe he was a Navy Seal, at least that’s what he told my friend. Based on that, he must know how to swim. If you’ve got him, why don’t you ask him?”
“Mr. Hackett washed up on shore yesterday morning,” Manning said then watched for my reaction.
I couldn’t hide the surprise on my face or in my voice. “Washed up on shore? You mean he’s dead? Did he drown?”
“Possibly. His jaw was broken, and he had a nasty bump on the back of his skull. It may have been from a fall off his boat, maybe something else. We don’t know at this point. His cabin cruiser was found adrift out in the middle of lake.”
“I never realized you had jurisdiction that far north. How unfortunate, and Hackett was such a nice guy.”
Manning stared at me for a long moment, then leaned forward and almost whispered. “Does this strike you as funny, Haskell?”
“No, it strikes me as ironic. If I were you, Manning, I’d see about renting the Xcel Center.”
“Why is that?” he said looking slightly confused.
“Because you’re going to need it to hold all the folks who would just love to see Hackett dead. You do some checking; you’ll see he was not a very nice guy.”
“So, you’re happy that he’s dead?”
Randolph rolled his eyes and pushed back his chair. “I want to thank you for your time, Mr. Haskell, and your earlier cooperation,” he said, then stared back at Manning for a long moment before he stood. Manning’s face was quickly changing from pink to crimson and there seemed to be steam coming off his bald dome. “Come on, we’re finished here, I’ll show you out,” Randolph said.
The elevator was approaching the ground floor with just the two of us aboard, Randolph and myself. “Thanks for bringing our discussion up there to a close, Detective.”
“Nothing short of harassment, and I won’t be a part of it. I do appreciate your help with the jewelry. If you’d take a bit of advice?”
“Sure.”
“I’m not up to speed on the history between you and Detective Manning, but if I were you, I’d tread carefully, very carefully.”
Chapter Fifty-Five
We were watching the rerun of a movie we’d both seen countless times before, The Big Lebowski. The Dude was just in the process of telling Bunny he was going to look for a cash machine when my cellphone rang. The ringtone was set to Adele’s, “Someone Like You”. Morton gave me a look suggesting the noise was interrupting his concentration. My phone was lying just beneath the wedding invitation for Richie and AJ. I knew who was calling and decided to play it cool.
“Haskell Investigations,” I said, then suddenly had a tough time getting another word out.
“Hi, Dev?”
At the sound of her voice, a large lump suddenly formed in my throat, it had been over a month since I’d last seen her. “Heidi?”
“Yeah, I was just wondering what you were up to?”
“Nothing much. Actually we’re, ahem, just watching a movie,” I said trying to get back in control.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Serves me right, I suppose. I didn’t realize you were entertaining.”
“Relax, it’s just Morton.”
“Morton? That dog that likes to eat my thongs?”
“Yeah, I got him back a couple of months ago.”
“Would it be all right if I swung by tonight to see him?”
“We’d love it.”
“Can I bring anything for breakfast?”
THE END
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Mike Faricy
Foiled
Published by Credit River Publishing 2016
Copyright Mike Faricy 2016
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior and express permission of the copyright owner.
All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Copyright 2016 by Mike Faricy
ASIN# B01FFXBQZE
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank the following people for their help and support:
Special thanks to Stephanie for her hard work, cheerful patience and positive feedback.
I would like to thank Roy and Julie for their creative talent and not slitting their wrists or jumping off a bridge when dealing with my neanderthal computer capabilities and thanks to Angie for a lot of laughs.
Last, I would like to thank family and friends for their encouragement and unqualified support. Special thanks to Maggie, Jed, Pat, Schatz, Pat, Emily, and Av for not rolling their eyes, at least when I was there, and most of all, to my wife Teresa whose belief, support and inspiration has from day one never waned.
To Teresa
“Come here to me now till I tell you.”
Mike Faricy
Foiled
Chapter One
We were out on Angie’s deck sitting in the hot tub, just the two of us. She was a petite little thing of Korean ancestry with jet-black, shoulder length hair, flashing brown eyes, a delicious little figure, and weighed no more than a hundred and five pounds. That said, I’d met her at my karate class where she was the instructor. She’d proven on more than one occasion she’d have no problem using me to clean the floor.
We’d been in the hot tub long enough that I was almost through the six-pack of Finnegans Hoppy Shepherd. It’s a pretty good beer, so actually it hadn’t taken all that long. I opened the cooler to grab another and realized there was only one left. Then I noticed Angie was still on her first, and as a matter of fact, not even halfway through.
“You’re having another?” she asked.
I’d just opened the beer and the satisfied gasp from the bottle had apparently caught her attention.
“Yeah, I mean, with all the hot water and the jacuzzi, I have to stay hydrated,” I joked and took a sip.
She shook her head, she’d been doing that a lot lately. After a moment she gave a long sigh, like she’d suddenly come to some sort of momentous decision, and stood up. I immediately did a thorough scan of her gorgeous body and set my beer down, ready to welcome her with open arms.
“I’ll be back in just a minute,” she said and climbed out of the hot tub. She grabbed her towel off the chair and just threw it over her shoulder, not bothering to wrap it around her, a fact I appreciated. I stared as she walked into the house and disappeared from view. She was back two-thirds of a beer later. She stepped onto the deck, grabbed a lawn chair and dragged it over to the edge of the hot tub.
“You got any beer in the fri
dge?”
She gave another long sigh, then grabbed the belt on her terrycloth robe and cinched it tighter. Just in case I missed that not-so-subtle hint, she turned off the jacuzzi and the heater. “We need to talk,” she said, then sat down in the lawn chair and tightly crossed her legs. Any sense of romance basically evaporated. Past experience warned me that any time a woman said, “We need to talk,” it was a safe bet the conversation wasn’t going to go my way.
“Dev, you can be really fun… sometimes. But I’m sort of looking for something a little more stable and a lot more permanent.”
“Two words not too often applied to me,” I joked.
“I’m aware of that,” she said, not seeing the humor. “I thought with a little encouragement, maybe some direction, God forbid a modicum of discipline, you might change. That now appears to be a distinct impossibility…” She went on from there, backing up her hypothesis by listing example after example for the next forty-five minutes. I was out of beer. My skin was all wrinkled and prune-like.The hot tub where I’d been relaxing was now just lukewarm. I wasn’t sure if I should hit myself over the head with an empty beer bottle or just slip beneath the water.
“…could be really sweet, but I don’t want to hang out in bars night after night. Your dog always eats my thongs. It would be nice sometime to go to bed and, I don’t know, maybe just talk about how the day went or something.”
