Debts and Debtors: (A Geeks and Things Cozy Mystery Novella #3) (Geeks and Things Cozy Mysteries)

by Sarah Biglow

  Kalina leaned forward, pen poised to write. “Who was it to?”

  “Didn’t say. Just had bank information on it.”

  Alex cleared his throat and eyed his younger brother. “I don’t think you should be sharing details about an ongoing case, Jim.”

  “Right, of course. Just forget I mentioned that.”

  Kalina gave Jimmy a smile. “Don’t worry about it. I appreciate you guys explaining the debt collection stuff though.”

  “That kind of life can be dangerous too. You try to collect from the wrong person and things could go sideways fast,” Alex said and stood up.

  “That’s what I’m afraid of,” Kalina muttered.

  “I need to get home. I’m on shift tomorrow,” Alex announced and Jimmy followed his brother out.

  Kalina barely stifled a yawn as they left. It had been a busy day and she’d been running on adrenaline more than she’d realized. She rubbed at her eyes and yawned again. Time to go home and sleep on the information she’d gathered. Maybe things would make more sense in the morning. Before she turned out the lights and headed home she set a reminder in her phone to check city planning records in the morning.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  The next morning Kalina woke with a headache. It had taken far too long to fall asleep the night before and her dreams were filled with disparate pieces of the Thomas Chase puzzle. She dragged herself out of bed and into the kitchen for a much needed cup of coffee. Her phone beeped at her to remind her of the task she’d set. Thankfully, the town made all building plans digital when they were approved; it made fact checking as easy as a couple mouse clicks. She downed her first cup of caffeine in record time, pouring herself a second cup before she settled in front of her laptop in the living room. She had to move some boxes off the couch so she had a place to sit.

  “OK, let’s see what we’ve got,” she muttered to herself and found the listing of most recently filed plans.

  She didn’t have to look very long before she found the plans for the condo and hotel layout. It loaded in a new tab and she had to blow it up to read any of it. She wasn’t an expert with building plans but it was pretty obvious that the layout of the building stretched over a large section of the waterfront, including the Chase residence. In fact, it was right in the middle of the whole thing.

  “Damn.”

  The little pieces of information she’d been gathering were all starting to fall into place now. The developer had likely hired Thomas because they needed his land to build the hotel and they thought getting him to collect on debts would get them what they wanted. Whether they expected his neighbors to turn on him and run him out of town or some other scenario, they likely counted on him handing things over to them before long. She doubted they’d intended to kill him. The guilty party could have been one of his neighbors but it didn’t explain the gun registered in his name. Perhaps a trip to the only pawn shop in town was a good idea. She also wanted to head back out to the waterfront and see if she could talk to anyone whom Thomas might have tried to collect from.

  Kalina forced herself to eat something before racing off for her day of investigation. Her curiosity was so overpowering at times that she forgot to eat. But fainting in the middle of things wasn’t going to do anyone any good—least of all her—so she hastily downed a banana and some soggy oatmeal before heading out to her first stop. The pawn shop sat on the edge of town closest to the highway. In fact, it wasn’t that far from her sister’s place now that she thought about it. The parking lot was small—only three poorly marked spaces in front of the dimly lit front window. It gave her the creeps but she squared her shoulders and strode in.

  “Well, I never thought I’d see you set foot in here,” a deep baritone said from behind the front counter.

  Blake Jansen had been a few years ahead of her in school and, much like her, had inherited the family business. He was big but in a non-threatening way. It was all belly fat and smile lines.

  “Hey, Blake. How’s it going?”

  “It’s going. I hear your place is hopping.”

  “People love their comics and nerdy stuff.”

  “What can I do for you today?”

  “You may not be able to tell me but I was wondering if you know Thomas Chase.”

  “Real estate guy? Yeah, he helped my parents sell their place before they moved down south.”

  “His wife asked me to check if he’d been in to buy or sell anything recently. They came into some money recently and she’s just worried he might be trying to sell off some antiques.”

  “Nope. Can’t say that I’ve ever seen him in here.”

  “Really? Because she said she also found a gun case in his closet.”

  “Well, if he bought a gun, it wasn’t through me. That I’d remember. There isn’t anyone less likely to come into this place than him.”

  “Does anyone else work at the shop besides you? Maybe he came in when they were working?”

  “I was out a few days last month with the flu. Had my cousin’s kid cover for me. I’ll check the receipts for you.”

  Kalina leaned on the countertop. “Thanks. I know his wife will really appreciate it. I’m just hoping to put her mind at ease.”

  “How do you know the current Mrs. Chase?” Blake asked as he pulled a rolodex of cards from beneath the counter.

  “She was friends with my sister in college.”

  “That so?” He flipped through some cards.

  “Why? Is there something I should know about her?”

  Blake shrugged and continued to sort through the cards. “I heard she majored in theater. Fancied herself something of an actress. If she’s worried her husband’s been pawning stuff, I wouldn’t necessarily believe her.”

  “I didn’t know that.”

  “Yep. I was honestly surprised she married Mr. Chase. I never thought he quite got over his first wife and I can’t say I see what he does in her.” He stopped flipping. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

  Kalina tried to lean over to read the card he now held in his hand. The handwriting was too tiny and slanted for her to get a good look upside down.

  “What is it?”

  “Says he bought a handgun last month.” Blake handed over the card for her to look at.

  She pointed to the bottom of the card. “Is this his signature?”

  “Looks like it. I guess I was wrong about them both. Sorry to say.”

  “Thanks. You’ve been really helpful. Do you mind if I take a picture of this just so I have proof for Savannah?”

  “Normally I don’t go handing things like this out unless there’s a warrant involved but it can’t hurt just this once.”

  Kalina whipped out her phone and snapped a picture, making sure to get a good image of the signature. She had been with Nadine when she’d signed the final documents with Thomas on the Larrabees’ family home and this signature looked slightly off. After her next stop she’d definitely share what she’d learned with Chris. As much as she hated to admit how cliché it sounded, she was beginning to suspect that Savannah had a hand in Thomas’s death.

  “Thanks again for your help,” she said before heading back to her car and the fresh air.

  Armed with this new knowledge, she made the short trip to the waterfront and started browsing for houses with foreclosure and for sale signs until she spotted Leslie Mayfair sitting on her front porch with a for sale sign stuck into the small front lawn. Kalina would have preferred someone else to question but this was what had presented itself. It wasn’t Kalina’s fault that Leslie’s former fiancé had turned out to be a vengeful murderer.

  “Hi, Leslie,” Kalina greeted as she left the driver side door open.

  “Oh hi.”

  Kalina gestured toward the sign. “I didn’t know you were moving.”

  “I was. The bank was going to foreclose but…”

  “What happened?”

  “The man they sent to collect on my debts offered to forgive them completely. He said he respec
ted me and the value I add to this town too much to force me out.”

  “He just forgave them,” she snapped, “just like that?”

  “Yes.”

  “That wasn’t Thomas Chase was it?”

  Leslie nodded. “How’d you know?”

  “I’d heard he’d gone into debt collection.”

  “Well, he said it sickened him what the town was doing with the development company. He said I wasn’t the only person he had forgiven. Since the bank doesn’t have any claim on this place anymore I don’t have to move.”

  “And I’m guessing they can’t build the hotel and condos if you’re still here.”

  “Nope.”

  “I never said I’m sorry about what happened over the summer.”

  Leslie’s eyes shone with unshed tears but she smiled. “I don’t blame you, you know. I should have seen what was going on right in front of my face. The man I loved wasn’t real. Just a façade.”

  “Still, it wasn’t fair that he ruined your life too.”

  “I appreciate that.” Leslie stood up and smoothed out the creases in her pants. “Can I ask why you were asking about Mr. Chase?”

  “I realized I’ve been so busy getting my life sorted out I didn’t know what was happening in town and I felt I should take more of an interest. This is home, after all.”

  Leslie glanced around the property and sighed. “Yeah, it is.” With a grin she crossed the short distance to the sign and yanked it free, tossing it aside.

  Kalina turned to get back into her car when she caught a hulking figure in the distance. She had an idea who would be lurking around this area and it sent shivers up and down her spine.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Kalina slid back behind the wheel and closed the driver side door. Time to tell Chris everything. Just as she reached for her phone, it began to buzz along the passenger seat with an incoming call: Jillian.

  “Hey, look, I’m sorry I butted in earlier,” she said after hitting ‘Accept’.

  “Forget that. Your boyfriend’s little shadow, Jimmy, just showed up and arrested Savannah.”

  “What? Why?”

  “I don’t know. They won’t tell me anything. This is insanity. She couldn’t have killed her husband.”

  “Get her to call a lawyer. I’m going to the station to try to find out what’s going on. I promise.”

  “A lawyer. God, this can’t be happening.”

  “Jillian, stay calm. We’re going to sort this out. You just need to stay level headed and don’t get in their way.”

  “Fine. Just hurry and get there. Please,” her sister pleaded.

  Kalina revved the engine and did a quick U-turn at the end of the street, tires squealing as they tried to catch traction on the road. She raced up the street and caught sight of Mr. Mackland still lurking. Her heart thumped painfully against her ribs until he was out of sight in her rearview mirror.

  Her thoughts raced as she made her way to the station. What could they have arrested Savannah for? Had they found incriminating evidence in the $30,000 or some fingerprint on the gun? She pulled into the station parking lot and killed the engine. Before she could unbuckle her seatbelt, a second car came screaming into the lot and pulled in beside her, far too close for her to get out of her car without scratching the paint. She grabbed her phone and, as covertly as possible, hit Chris’s number on speed dial. He might already be in with Savannah but maybe she’d get lucky and they were waiting for a lawyer to show up. She tried to ease the driver side door open but the driver of the other car stepped out and loomed large: Mr. Mackland. She glanced at her phone to see that it had connected and then placed it in her pocket. She eased her door shut and rolled down the window despite the chill that was settling over the day.

  “Excuse me, I need to get out,” she said as politely as possible. She thought she heard Chris’s muffled voice from her pocket.

  “What were you doing talking to Ms. Mayfair?”

  “That’s none of your business.”

  “It is my business if it affects my employer’s business plan.”

  “Well, that’s not my fault. Leslie and I are friendly. You may not have heard but she had a bit of a rough time over the summer. Her fiancé was arrested for murder. I wanted to check on her and see how she was doing.”

  Mr. Mackland shrugged one beefy shoulder and slid his hand into his pocket, pushing the edge of his suit jacket back far enough to show her the gun holstered underneath his armpit. Her mouth went dry.

  “You’ve been nosing around things that don’t concern you.” His tone implied the threat of the weapon he carried.

  She pulled her phone out of her pocket as if it had just started to ring with a call. “Hi, Detective Harper.”

  “Kal, what’s going on? I’m about to go into an interrogation, here.”

  “I needed to stop by and see you but a Mr. Victor Mackland from Carlisle Premiere Developments won’t let me get out of my car.”

  Mr. Mackland stayed where he was, not even flinching at the mention of Chris’s title. Kalina tried to stare him down without showing fear but she doubted it was very effective.

  “I’ll be right out.”

  “Great. Thanks.”

  She hung up but kept the phone in view. She tried to keep her breathing even for the thirty seconds it took Chris to make his way out to the parking lot. Her pulse slowed a little at the sight of him. At least now she didn’t have to worry about the thug pulling his gun on her. He couldn’t be that reckless.

  “Are you Mr. Mackland?” Chris asked and stopped mere inches from the man.

  “I am.”

  “You need to move your vehicle and let Ms. Greystone get out of her car. I’d hate to have her file a harassment complaint against you.”

  “She’s been snooping around where she doesn’t belong.”

  “That still doesn’t give you the right to intimidate her. Now move your car or I’ll move it for you. Do I make myself clear?”

  Mr. Mackland glanced between the two of them before he let out a grunt and stormed around to the driver side of his car and backed up enough for Kalina to get out. She rolled the window up and climbed out, throwing her arms around Chris without thinking.

  “Thank you. He has a gun,” she whispered in his ear.

  “Go inside. I’ll handle this.”

  She pulled away a little before saying, “I have to show you something about the case. It’s important.”

  “When I’m done here you can show me.”

  “Please be careful.” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before heading inside.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Jillian sat at Chris’s desk and Savannah was nowhere in sight. Kalina assumed she’d already been taken to the interrogation room. For once, the monitor showing the room was turned off. Kalina pulled a chair next to her sister and let out an anxious breath.

  “They haven’t questioned her yet. She asked for a lawyer,” Jillian said, her tone flat.

  “Good. I just had a run-in with a security guy from the developer.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I took a drive to the waterfront to see what’s been going on and I talked to Leslie Mayfair. This security guy, Victor Mackland, followed me back here. I met him the day after Thanksgiving while Savannah was giving her statement about the break-in. He threatened me just now. Chris is handling it.”

  “Threatened you?” Jillian took Kalina’s hand, going into protective older sister mode. “Did he touch you? Are you OK?”

  “I’m fine. It was more an implied threat. He made sure I could see he had a gun. But I’d called Chris so he knew what was going on. I think I’ve figured some things out about Thomas’s death. I just need Chris to get back in here so I can tell him. It might help Savannah.”

  “You know sometimes I don’t know why he lets you poke around in his cases.”

  “Because I’m helpful? And I don’t really mean to poke around, I just get curious and have to know what happene
d. He appreciates it, even if he doesn’t say so.”

  On cue, Chris reappeared through the front door of the station. He held a business card by the tips of his fingers. “Jimmy! Get the fingerprint kit,” he called before approaching his desk.

  Kalina cleared a spot for him to work and noted Victor Mackland’s name on the card. “What happened?”

  “I told him politely if he ever went near you with a loaded firearm again I’d arrest him.”

  “Thanks. What’s with the fingerprint kit?”

  “I have a hunch.”

  “Can I tell you what I found out?”

  Chris glanced at Jillian who promptly stood up and made herself scarce. Kalina took the spot her sister vacated and pulled up the photo of the paperwork from the pawn shop on her phone.

  “So, after you mentioned that Mr. Chase had a gun registered to him, I paid Blake Jansen a visit. He said someone came in and bought a gun under Mr. Chase’s name.” She enlarged the photo of the signature. “I’m no expert but I’ve seen Thomas Chase sign his name once or twice and this looks off.”

  “You think someone bought it using his name.”

  “Yes.”

  Chris brushed excess fingerprint powder into the trash and held up the card with a fresh print on it. “We found prints on the gun and the spray can that don’t match Mr. or Mrs. Chase.”

  “And you think it was Mackland.”

  “I’m beginning to.” He stuck the card in an evidence bag and scribbled information onto the label. “Jimmy, get this to the lab and tell them to rush it.”

  Jimmy grabbed the bag and disappeared. She could tell they both wished they had equipment to check the print themselves but the department was still strapped.

  “There’s more,” Kalina said and set down her phone. “I think I might know why someone would want Mr. Chase dead and why Mr. Mackland would be involved.”

  Chris leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers beneath his chin. “I’m listening.”

  “He was working for the developer as a debt collector. They needed to force people out of their houses so they could seize the property to build their new project. Basically, he offered to wipe people’s debts clean if they paid part of their debt and he pocketed the difference between what they paid and what he bought the debt for.”