“Because it feels good in my hand. I’ve decided I’m officially back at work. I’m going back down to West Palm today and carry on. First, I’ll drop in on Detective Dominic and get the latest on the Myra Cramer murder. Then I’m going to check out Gail’s used-car dealer ex-boyfriend.”
“That’s quite a day. You certain you’re up to it?”
“Can’t wait.” She blew on her coffee and took a cautious first sip. “Oh, I didn’t get a chance to tell you. Detective Dominic is now on our side. Had coffee with him. I just knew he’d turn out to be an okay guy. I phoned and started to explain why I hadn’t been bugging him lately. He cut me off in mid-sentence. He’d called Jaworski two weeks ago to see why I had dropped out of sight and was sorry to hear the news. Nice, huh? Said he’d bring me up to date on the Cramer case, if I’d drop around. That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
“I met Gail yesterday. I don’t believe she suspects anything.”
“I notice you didn’t stay over last night.” She looked pleased about that.
“She’s attractive. Well mannered and well dressed. Great hair, terrible earrings. Not shy but not all out there either.”
“Martin you believe all women are so nice. And they’re all well mannered unless they flash their breasts at you, and if they did, you’d say it was a wardrobe malfunction. What’s she like, a flake, an airhead, halfway normal, what?”
“She’s an appealing, likeable woman. Out on her own working. Cares about her brother and has a good relationship with him. She was upset about the way Myra was treating him. She suggested we go across the park to a nearby bar-and-grill place for some drinks. We were there over an hour.”
“It sounds to me like you have her. Of course, if she were a pushover it wouldn’t take a charmer such as you to buy her drinks.”
“Who said anything about a pushover? What’s with you? Not knowing any more about her, why would you not like her?”
“I’d like her better, if she’d hand our money back.”
“Maybe she has our money. Anyway, we have a date for tonight at her condo.”
“The one she bought with our money?”
“We don’t know that yet, Sandy. We don’t know where she got the money. All we know is she had money to buy the condo. We could be playing fast and loose with an entirely innocent woman. I suspect her past isn’t without fault, but she’s in there trying.” He thought about last evening and Gail sitting there trying so hard to be liked. “I’m manipulating this woman and getting wound up in her emotional life. I’m beginning to regret my deceptive role in this.”
“Yes, it’s bad. Not kill a puppy bad, but it’s bad.”
He said, “Did you check on her lawsuit against her ex-husband’s estate?”
“I found no record of any such lawsuit. Ryan said her husband’s death was an accident. His family blamed her and cut her out of the estate. I checked thoroughly. There’s just no lawsuit.”
“Perhaps, she received an out of court settlement of some kind. Gail Cramer Holman could be an innocent woman.”
“She’s not innocent until I say she’s innocent.” Sandy knew that four hundred grand would buy a small West Palm condo with money left over. “Even her brother has no idea how she could afford that condo. And she must have paid cash because she’d never qualify for a mortgage on her mall employee’s pay.”
“She’s not Jane.”
“Sure, go ahead and give her the benefit of the doubt.”
“No, I mean it. She has an alibi. You were abducted on Wednesday, May first. She was dancing with a boyfriend at the SunFest street fair in West Palm that night until late.”
“What! Then she can’t be Jane.”
“Hello! That’s what I just said.”
“Geez. This changes things. Why didn’t you phone me with this immediately?”
“You’ve been out of it, remember.”
“Oh, right.” Sandy needed to think. “Did she mention the boyfriend’s name? If she went to the street fair, I’ll bet it was with that used car dealer guy. If I can catch up with him, I’ll verify her alibi.”
He shook his head. “Give it up, Sandy. She’s not Jane. I didn’t just ask her where she was the night of the abduction and she came up with an alibi. She just happened to innocently mention where she was that night. Isn’t that why I’m destroying my integrity, to find out facts like that?”
“You’re right. You did great.” She looked up at the ceiling thinking. “Okay, the abduction was on a Wednesday and the bridge money-drop on the following Friday. Gail has an alibi for Wednesday, but she doesn’t have one for Friday. So she can’t be Jane, but she might have shot Boyd on Friday and taken the money.”
“You believe she was up here in Park Beach, when Boyd picked up the money, and she shot him? That makes sense. Of course at one time we thought Jane shot him.”
She held up her hand. “Hold on, let me get my mind around this new angle. They were partners, right? Boyd picks up the money and is going to take it to Jane. Why would Jane shoot him in the park, when he was going to bring the money to her anyway?”
“So, Jane didn’t shoot him, because she didn’t need to,” Martin summed it up. “But Gail might have. And that would explain where Gail got the money for her condo. How did Gail know he was going to Park Beach to get the money?”
“Don’t know,” she said. “Boyd might have bragged something to Myra, and she was eager to tell Gail everything about him.”
“So we are getting closer to the money, but we’re farther away from Jane.”
“I want both.”
“Jane might not even be in the area. Jane could be in Tahiti by now. Run Jane run,” he said.
“No, we just theorized that Gail took the money. If so, then Jane is around here somewhere looking for it. She might even have killed Myra looking for it.”
He frowned. “You realize Gail already bought that condo. Our money might be long gone.”
“First we need to prove Gail took the money, and then we’ll figure out how to get it back. We’ll keep investigating her. I’m going down there today. I’m going to check out Gail’s used-car-dealer boyfriend and find out what he knows. She might have mentioned buying the condo to him. By that time, Gail will be off work and I’ll tail her. If Detective Dominic isn’t too busy, I like to see him as well.”
“Remember, I’m seeing Gail tonight.”
“Yes, and that’s the important part. Since I’m down there, I’m going to tail her when she leaves work. We need to keep her under surveillance as much as possible from now on. Between the two of us, maybe we’ll come up with something. So, you keep your date tonight and find out as much as you can.”
“Without unzipping,” he said.
“That part is entirely up to you.”
Chapter Thirty-five
If you want to buy a great used car, in Palm Beach County, Florida, you head for Auto Row on Old Dixie Highway. That’s what Brad Powell’s business card claimed and that’s where Sandy headed. The sun was high and the heat was heavy. But with the top down and the air on full blast, she considered it a gorgeous June day. She was there within two hours, straight down I-95 from Park Beach.
Old Dixie Highway was easy to find. It ran parallel to and just a couple blocks over from the railroad tracks. Back in the 1950’s it was a major thoroughfare. Now it was just another extra-wide, second-rate street ignored by progress. Every imaginable low-rent storefront lined both sides. Tattoo parlors, pawn shops and used car lots were part of the scenery now.
Brad’s Premium Cars, was one of many used car lots. The bright orange whirly-propeller things strung around his lot might have distinguished his particular business—except that every other used car business in the area also had bright orange whirly-propeller things strung around their lots.
Brad Powell was no longer Gail’s boyfriend according to Ryan. An ex-boyfriend sounded perfect to Sandy and an ex-boyfriend suffering a bitter breakup would be even better. He might be more
willing to talk about the dream girlfriend from heaven, if she had become the ex-girlfriend from hell. On the negative side, since he was married he might be reluctant to talk about any of his affairs. She would decide how to handle that problem after she got a look at the guy.
Her GPS announced her arrival; she slowed and pulled into his lot. Possibly, that was Brad Powell under the canvas-awning shade of the office building, leaning against the doorway under a meaningless “Quality Cars” sign. At first glance, she took him for a tourist with his sporty white-mesh Polo shirt and tan walking shorts. With those broad shoulders, she guessed he was a once-upon-a-time athlete. A well-built male physique is fun to look at she wouldn’t deny him that, yet he wasn’t quite as impressive as his pose would have you believe.
“I can get you top-dollar for your Miata. I have a customer who’s been looking for just that model,” he said, walking over to meet her halfway. He appeared to be the good-humored, indefatigable type everyone would want on their softball team. And most likely successful since he hadn’t wasted any time coming out with the smooth sales spiel.
“Sorry, I’m a no sale.” She wouldn’t have traded her Miata for his entire car business, including all of his quality cars. “Just wanted to talk with you a minute.”
“No problem. You can park that snazzy red convertible out front on my lot anytime. And traffic would stand still, if you stood out there with it.”
Flirting with this guy would be redundant. He was looking at her as though she were lunch. “I assume you’re Brad Powell.”
“A woman who looks like you can assume anything she pleases.”
“I was hoping you might help me. I’m a close friend of Gail Cramer.”
“I’ve heard the name.” Continuing to check her out as he spoke.
Nothing subtle about this guy, she thought. “She gave me your card.” She flicked the card between her fingers. “I forget how you two met.”
“Sold her a car.”
She thought quickly. “That’s right, her green Ford.” And it should be a suitable time to check on what Gail had told Martin, “She told me you two went to the first day of SunFest. That must have been fun.”
“Oh, so you do know her. I wasn’t certain there for a minute.” He hooked his thumbs in his waistband and took a step closer. “Maybe I could interest you in a test drive. I’m good at driving. Do you like to go fast?” His steady eye contact filled in all the blanks.
“Not in a car with no brakes.”
“You won’t want to stop.” His grin was charmingly evil.
“I’m not that fond of accidents.”
“You consider me an accident?”
“I’m not going to find out.”
“But you still want my help.”
“Look, either help me or tell me goodbye. But stop undressing me.”
“Too late.” His faced turned serious and his eyes swept over her again. “I already know exactly how you look without your clothes. I mean exactly.”
In her mind, for an instant, she stood totally exposed before him. And her body reacted with an involuntary tingle. She’d been on the receiving end of such remarks in the past, but none so believable.
She tried to sound cool, “Women are just a collection of parts to you, aren’t they?”
“Vive la collection.” He stepped back and folded his arms across his chest. “How close to Gail are you?”
“Define close.”
He flashed a great smile; obviously enjoying this kind of patter. “You have a rather naughty mind, I like that in a woman.”
She gave him a bored look. “About Gail?”
“Ah yes, Gail. She was a fun time.”
“A fun time, what else can be said about a woman?”
“Maybe you haven’t heard the latest.”
“You’ve broken up with her.”
“Yeah, so I’m a free man, unless you’re going to count my wife.” He looked at her intently. “Why don’t we get together sometime? What are you doing Tuesday night?”
“Can’t. I need to sort out my sock drawer.”
“Oh...how about Wednesday? Does that work for you?”
“Never, works for me.”
“I suppose going into my office right now is out of the question.” He gave her a wink but she knew he was serious.
“You don’t make it easy for decent women do you?”
“You don’t make it easy for men.”
“The right man will be absolutely astounded at how easy I am. Look, this conversation is getting tiresome. Why don’t you cool down a bit? I didn’t come here to be seduced. I’ve a problem with Gail. You can help, if you will.”
“Just out of the goodness of my heart?”
“That’s so ninth grade. Get off it.”
“You’re right. What’s your name?”
“Sandy.”
“So you run with Gail?”
She didn’t know what he meant; she’d best not say yes. “I like her. We’ve had some good times.”
“Can you keep up with her?”
Something told her not to answer that question either. She just shrugged hoping that would cover it.
“Okay. So, why are you here, Sandy?”
“Gail asked me for money, way back when. Said she was desperate. I had it back then and loaned her quite a bit. Now she won’t give back a dime. Says she doesn’t have it. I said what about the fucking condo? She said the condo was something else, and buying it didn’t mean she had any cash. I need that money, Brad, and I need it now.” All that sounded pretty cool, she thought.
“You’re not hurting too much considering what you’re driving.”
“Acceptable lifestyle is a relative term.”
“So it is. How can I help you with yours?”
“Well, did you hear about her money? That’s what I want to know.” She left it vague hoping he’d pick it up.
“Maybe.”
That meant he did know something. “If I knew more about her money deal, what happened, how she got it and all, maybe I could figure out an angle to get some of it back.”
“And there’s nothing in this for me?” he asked.
He was easier to read than the top line on an eye chart. “You’d be getting back at her...for what she did to you.” That guess seemed safe enough. Couples were always doing wrong things to each other. He’d think of something.
“What she did to me? You don’t know what you’re talking about. Gail got tired of me having something on the side.”
“Something on the side? Does your wife know you’ve been cheating on your mistress?”
He brushed the entire subject away with a smirk. “At least Gail knew about everything from the git go. Everyone was happy. All of a sudden, she gets some money, buys an upscale condo and I don’t fit into her plans anymore. A different woman.”
“You, rejected? That’s one for Guinness isn’t it? What did Gail say, exactly, when she first mentioned the money?”
“Gentlemen don’t talk about old girlfriends.”
She hated to go away empty handed. She glanced over at her car to hint she was about to leave.
“Look, Sandy. Maybe I know a few things that will help you.” He checked his watch. “We can talk if you want. But I don’t have time right now.”
“Pretty busy holding up that doorway, huh?”
“Why don’t you come back around eight tonight. We can sit and talk.”
“Why don’t I just rip off all my clothes right now and save us both a lot of time?”
“No, no. Nothing like that. There’ll be customers coming in after work soon and couples after they’ve had dinner. At eight o’clock it’ll be quiet. I guarantee you the lot will still be all brightly lit, and we’ll be able to talk. Doreen is inside right now, my office manager. I’ll tell her she can’t leave tonight, until I’m all locked up and you’re gone. Okay?”
She looked down and around and then studied his face. Doreen being there was almost the clincher. Yet, she didn’t
like the vibes. She didn’t know this Doreen any better than she knew him. Plus she had to consider what type of woman would work for this walking phallic symbol. “I’m sure I’m misjudging you, Brad, but thanks anyway.”
“Hey, it’s okay. You’re the one who wants the information.” He really appeared disappointed. They walked to her car.
She was certain that Brad did know something about Gail and her money. But he was one of those dangerous guys you don’t dare tease with some phony hint that he might get what he wants. She gave him a smile and a wave, got into her car and swung around onto Old Dixie Highway heading north. Eventually, she merged back onto the multi-lane Interstate. She was getting tired of the expressway’s six to eight lanes. She slowed down. Plenty of time to get to the Gardens Mall and follow Gail home. There was always the slim possibility that Gail would take some incriminating action while being shadowed. Sandy was running out of leads. She needed to know about Gail and the money. And if she stole the four hundred grand was any of it left?
She located Gail’s car behind the Mall near the rear exit, just as Martin had described. She was early. She went in, bought a takeout coffee and sat in her car watching for Gail to leave. A few minutes after six she saw the woman come through the automatic doors and get in the green Ford. So that was Gail Holman. Sandy had seen her driver license photo, but this was the first time in person. Martin was right on. Great hair, dynamite outfit. Sandy could never mix and match like that. Gail, no doubt, knew all the shop clerks and could get excellent advice.
She followed Gail through the winding maze of access roads and then south on I-95. The woman was no doubt headed home. Nothing very interesting about that. Unfortunately, that was the usual result when conducting surveillance, except Sandy didn’t have days and weeks to wait for the shadowing to pay off. Following a subject using only one vehicle was always a tough gig anyway and frequently unsuccessful. She knew that law enforcement agencies often used two or three vehicles. Sometimes, one ahead and one behind the subject, staying in touch by radio and often playing leapfrog changing positions. Gail exited at Okeechobee Boulevard and went east. At least, Sandy didn’t have to follow too closely knowing the green Ford was headed toward her condo.
Alive After Friday (Sandy Reid Mystery Series) Page 20
