The Purloined Puzzle

by Parnell Hall

  “The alleged murder weapon.”

  “Of course.”

  “No, I mean it. That knife is alleged to be the murder weapon. You have yet to connect it to the victim.”

  “Wanna bet we can?”

  “Not particularly.”

  “I don’t blame you. Odds on it’s a good bet. Framing him with a knife that isn’t the murder weapon is sort of a hollow gesture.”

  “Someone did it to Johnny Dawson.”

  “Damned if they didn’t. Now who would gain from that?”

  “I give up. Who?”

  “Someone who wanted to establish the fact that the possession of a so-called murder weapon did not necessarily constitute guilt.”

  “And people accuse me of being convoluted. You wanted to bet, Chief. Wanna bet on whether that’s a theory the prosecutor chooses to advance?”

  “Are we done discussing the crime? Because I’m running out of questions to ask you.”

  “Oh, is that what you thought we were doing?”

  “I never thought anything else.” Harper leaned in confidentially. “Seriously, Cora. Off the record. Did Melvin do it?”

  Cora considered the proposition. She smiled and weighed the choices with her hands. “You say yes. Some say no.”

  She ducked out the door before he threw the puzzle at her.

  Chapter

  32

  Melvin wasn’t ducking the media. He walked out of Becky’s office straight into the arms of Rick Reed.

  “Mr. Crabtree! Mr. Crabtree! Rick Reed, Channel 8 News. Could I ask you a question?”

  “You just did, Rick. The answer is yes.”

  Rick was momentarily taken aback, but he forged on. “Mr. Crabtree. You are the suspect in the stabbing death of the late Fred Winkler.”

  “The current suspect, Rick. They had someone else yesterday, and I’m sure they’ll have someone else tomorrow.”

  “I’m glad you can take it so lightly.”

  “Well, I didn’t do it, so it can’t be all bad. The police made a mistake. I’m sure it will all get straightened out.”

  “Is it true you put up half a million dollars cash bail?”

  “That’s true, Rick.”

  “Why did you do that?”

  “I believe in my innocence.”

  “Where did you get so much money?”

  “I robbed a bank.”

  “You what?!”

  “I hated to do it, but I had no choice. Half a million dollars is a lot of money.”

  “You’re kidding me.”

  “I can’t slip anything over on you.”

  “What do you know about this case?”

  “Only that there is no case. Apparently someone planted a knife on me. I don’t know why. It never would have occurred to me. But I’m not guilty of anything. Except maybe leaving my car unlocked.”

  “You claim someone put the knife in your car?”

  “I not only claim it, I know it.”

  “How do you know it?”

  “Because I didn’t.”

  “Why would anyone frame you for murder?”

  “I don’t know. I’m not a famous person. On the other hand, I was married to the Puzzle Lady, who is a famous person. Perhaps someone wanted to get at her through me. If so, it would be a very clever way to do it. Particularly, if the killer wasn’t good at crosswords.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “If the killer was good at crosswords, they could involve her by simply including one.”

  Cora Felton, who had come out of the police station in time to catch most of Melvin’s interview, watched the spectacle with mounting horror. Before he was done, she reached a decision, tore herself away, and went up the steps to Becky’s office.

  “Melvin’s on TV.”

  “Why am I not surprised? I assume he’s giving Rick Reed an interview?”

  “That’s right. And you know why?”

  “Because he’s an egotistical idiot.”

  “Besides that.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He’s promoting a book. That’s where he got his bail money.”

  “Are you kidding me?”

  “No, he got a huge advance.”

  “Who could possibly care about Melvin?”

  “Think about it.”

  “Huh? Oh, my God!”

  Cora nodded. “That’s right. Confessions of a Trophy Husband: My Life with the Puzzle Lady.”

  “Is he going to kill your career?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “I suppose not. So he’s going to get into all the sordid things you did when you were married.”

  “Hey, hey, give a girl a break. Just because you never tied the knot doesn’t give you the right to be all high and mighty.”

  “I suppose I could have phrased that better.”

  “I’m sure Melvin can. At least, his ghostwriter will.”

  “Did Melvin tell you?”

  “He doesn’t know I know.”

  “Then how do you know?”

  “I can’t tell you.”

  “Why not?”

  Cora made a face. “You’re Melvin’s lawyer. You have to act in his best interests.”

  “So?”

  “If it’s in his best interests to throw me under the bus, you’ve gotta do it.”

  “How is letting him know you know about a forthcoming book going to do that?”

  “Well, it wouldn’t hurt him, and that’s all you care about. On the other hand, not letting him know I know about a forthcoming book wouldn’t hurt him in the least. And not letting him know you know about his forthcoming book wouldn’t hurt him, either. So is there any rule of law that says you have to tell your client everything you know when it makes no difference in terms of his best interests?”

  “I think I followed some of that.”

  “Fine, we won’t tell him. Now, does this new information alter his defense in any way?”

  “I haven’t even planned his defense.”

  “Good. Now you have this tidbit to keep in mind when you do. But as far as the actual subject, it won’t come up unless Melvin raises it.”

  “Why are you telling me this now?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You must have known for a while.”

  “Actually, not that long, but I take your point. I’m telling you now because I realized what Melvin’s doing. He’s promoting his book. He’s not saying he wrote a book, but he’s drumming up publicity for himself so when he does say he wrote a book, people will be interested. And whaddya wanna bet he includes a chapter about being a murder suspect?”

  “Oh, hell.”

  “Anyway, someone tipped off the cops to search Melvin’s car. He used a burner phone and trashed it, so we can’t trace it that way. It was a neutral voice, could have been male or female.”

  “Where’d you get all that?”

  “I’m the best.”

  “Seriously.”

  “I didn’t get all that, and we can’t let anyone know I got all that, or we might get a police chief in trouble.”

  “I see,” Becky said. “You know, there’s not much about this case we can let anyone know.”

  “Right. As opposed to Melvin, who’s spilling it all. I suppose it balances out. Anyway, I found out about the phone tip. It was an androgynous voice, might have been a man or a woman.”

  “That doesn’t help us much.”

  “Actually, it does. If it was a man, he had a high voice.”

  “So we’re not looking for James Earl Jones.”

  “I think we can rule him out. Luckily, we’re in no hurry. Your client’s out on bail, and life is good. I can stumble around in the dark without alerting anyone to what we know and see what I can come up with.”

  Chapter

  33

  Cora conjured up her most alluring smile. “Melvin, what’s your game?”

  “Game? No game. I’m just trying to survive this unfortunate fiasco.”

>   “Why are you giving interviews on TV?”

  “I project well, Cora. It’s always been part of my charm. If this ridiculous case ever goes to trial, I’d appreciate some friends on the jury.”

  “Friends would have to disqualify themselves.”

  “As if. I doubt if they’d let any ex-girlfriends on, but they can’t object to someone just because they like me.”

  “You’d be surprised.”

  “Not much surprises me, Cora. I know the prosecutor can argue anything he wants, and I know Becky can argue anything she wants, and the truth doesn’t even have to lie anywhere between the two. I assume you caught my interview?”

  “Part of it.”

  “I thought I worked in some good promotion.”

  Cora nearly did a spit take. She and Melvin were having drinks at the Country Kitchen, and her Diet Coke went up her nose. She choked, coughed, got control of herself. “Promotion?” she said as casually as she could.

  “For Judy Douglas Knauer. I made a nice pitch for affordable homes for sale or rent. I wouldn’t be surprised if she makes a few sales.”

  Cora was relieved. So that was all he meant. “I’m sure there’s nothing Judy wants more than the endorsement of a murder suspect.”

  “Hey, publicity’s publicity. Anyway, just as soon as you get me off—”

  “I’m going to get you off?”

  He grinned devilishly. “You always could get me off.”

  “Oh, for God’s sakes, Melvin.”

  “I’m counting on you to come up with the evidence that clears my name. Yes, the police found a knife, and, yes, it has blood on it, but that doesn’t mean it’s the murder weapon. The other guy’s knife wasn’t the murder weapon, so why should mine be?”

  “Someone’s is.”

  “In that case I vote for his.”

  “He turned it in before the murder, Melvin.”

  “Yeah, according to that doctor you used to sleep with. You think I’d take his word for anything? If he could slant the case against me, I have no doubt he would. Did they ever check the blood on Johnny’s knife? Just because the time’s wrong according to the doc, there’s no reason to quit there. Find out if they matched the blood. For that matter, find out if they matched the blood on my knife. Just because someone’s tying to frame me doesn’t mean they’ve done a good job of it. I wouldn’t put it past Johnny to put a knife in my glove compartment just to get himself off the hook. Whether it has anything to do with the murder or not.”

  “Now you just sound paranoid.”

  “Someone’s trying to frame me for murder and I sound paranoid? If I didn’t sound paranoid, there would be something seriously wrong with me.”

  “Who could tell? There is something seriously wrong with you.”

  “Granted, but indifference to my situation is not part of it. I didn’t kill Fred Winkler, any knives in my glove compartment notwithstanding, and I would appreciate anything that demonstrates that fact.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Chapter

  34

  “You get the tests back on the knife yet?”

  Chief Harper looked up from his desk in irritation. “Can’t you let a guy catch his breath?”

  “Take a breath. Hell, take two. And tell me about the knife.”

  “It’s way too early for the knife.”

  “Not Johnny’s knife.”

  “You want to know about Johnny’s knife?”

  “Absolutely. You didn’t throw it out just because you got another favorite suspect.”

  “That’s not how we work.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. So what did you do with it?”

  “It’s being tested.”

  “Is it an essay test, or multiple choice? Some knives are not that sharp.”

  Harper groaned. “You didn’t really say that.”

  “I didn’t mean to. I just fell into it. Come on, Chief. You’ve had more than enough time to test Johnny’s knife.”

  “I’ll call the lab.”

  “You can do that?”

  “We have a phone.”

  Harper punched in the number. “Chief Harper, Bakerhaven. Looking for test results in the Fred Winkler case. I know it’s too early to get the report, I’m just looking for something preliminary. Is Manny around?… Thanks.” He covered the phone. “We’re in luck. Manny’s in the lab. If it was the other guy, we’d have to wait … Hi, Manny, I know you’re not done. I’m just wondering about the knife … That’s what I thought. What about the other one?… Yeah, the first knife. The doc ruled it out, I wondered if you did … That’s what I thought. So how far along are you, when will you know?… Of course it’s not for publication, you think I want to go out on a limb? Even if I weren’t taking you with me? I just need a working hypothesis … Yes, I have to do it anyway, is there a reason you’re busting my chops? I know you like to be thorough. I wouldn’t want you to miss your golf game.”

  Harper laughed, put down the phone. “He hung up on me. How do you like that?”

  “I prefer an answer.”

  “It’s not Johnny’s knife. I’m not giving that out yet, but it’s all right because nobody’s going to ask. That knife’s ruled out two ways, on time and blood type. So if Becky wants to bring it into court and make a big deal, I’m afraid she’s out of luck.”

  “I’m sure that wasn’t her intention.”

  “Of course not. That’s why you asked.”

  “And Melvin’s knife?”

  “It probably is the murder weapon. Not only does nothing rule it out, but a lot of things rule it in. It’s the decedent’s blood type. We’re still pending a DNA match, but Manny says we’re going to get it. So it looks like it’s Melvin’s knife.”

  “Well, I would hope so,” Cora said. “It would be rather pointless to frame him with a knife that wasn’t the murder weapon.”

  “I know how you feel.”

  “I don’t think you do. You’ve been married to one woman all your life, who I’m willing to bet has never been arrested for anything.”

  Dan Finley pushed through the front door, ushering in a young man in blue jeans and a dirty T-shirt. He had that rough-hewn sunburned look of someone who works outside.

  Dan saw Cora, said, “Oh.” He hesitated and said, “Ah, Chief, you want him in your office?”

  Cora made a face. “What am I, Typhoid Mary? I know the accused, and suddenly you’re all self-conscious around me? It’s not like you’re spilling state secrets here. I assume this guy’s a friend of Fred Winkler, on the same crew, staying in the same motel. I’m sure he’s seen Melvin acting in a manner that could be construed as hostile. There’s no reason to think he killed him. Unless you’re Henry Firth, who thinks everything is a reason he might have killed him. So if you want to pretend this guy’s not a witness against Melvin, feel free. But it’s a hollow sham, and you’re not fooling anyone. What’s your name?”

  “Jason Tripp.”

  “Hi, Jason. I’m Cora Felton. And contrary to whatever impression you might get from the way Dan Finley’s acting, I am not here to confuse you, cajole you, browbeat you, entice you, or in any way influence you to alter whatever account you might be inclined to give.”

  The young man looked overwhelmed.

  “Congratulations, Cora. You’ve totally disrupted everything while pretending not to.”

  “Am I as clever as all that? Thanks, Chief, I had no idea.”

  “Hey, I don’t know what’s going on here,” Jason said, “but I saw what I saw. You want me to tell it or not?”

  “In my office,” Chief Harper said.

  “Spoilsport,” Cora said.

  Chief Harper ushered the young man into his office. He left Dan Finley outside. “See we’re not disturbed.”

  “Gee, Dan,” Cora said, “I thought we were friends.”

  “Come on, Cora,” Dan said. “You know you lose your mind when Melvin’s involved.”

  “I do not lose my mind when Melvin’s involved.�
�

  “Okay, you don’t lose your mind when Melvin’s involved. But the impression you give that you could lose your mind when Melvin’s involved is enough to make people uneasy. If I feed you a prosecution witness for lunch, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

  “What’s wrong with the witness?”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “If there wasn’t something wrong with him, you wouldn’t care.”

  “I care about all witnesses.”

  “Yeah, but with this one you’re protective. You take umbrage.”

  “Umbrage?” Dan grinned. “You don’t have to tell people you’re the Puzzle Lady.”

  “Dan—”

  “The guy’s talking to Chief Harper. As it should be. When the chief hears what he has to say, if he wants to share it with you, no harm done. But I won’t be in trouble.”

  “Dan, I’m sure this is a routine witness. The only thing special is the buildup. The payoff is going to be like Geraldo and Al Capone’s safe. Are you old enough to know about that?”

  Dan rolled his eyes. “Please.”

  Chief Harper came out of his office with the young man. “All right, Jason. Keep in touch. I’ve got your number. Don’t leave town. You’re going to have to talk to the county prosecutor, so keep yourself available.”

  “And I don’t have to talk to her?”

  “Not unless you want to.”

  “It doesn’t seem like a good idea. You want to give me a ride back to work?”

  “Sure thing.”

  Dan and Jason went out.

  “Do I have to ask?” Cora said.

  “It’s probably better than if I volunteered it.”

  “Don’t tell me. He not only saw Melvin hit Fred Winkler, he heard Melvin say if you come near me again, I’ll kill you.”

  “He said that?”

  “I have no idea what Melvin said. It was something like that, wasn’t it?”

  “No.”

  “So what did he see?”

  “He saw Melvin come out of the motel, go to his car, open the passenger side door, and stick a bloody knife in the glove compartment.”

  Chapter

  35

  “Are you an idiot?”

  “Hey,” Melvin said to Becky. “Is she allowed to talk to me like that?”