Vengeance is Mine - A Benjamin Tucker Mystery

by Harry James Krebs

  “Don’t choke on it!” I called after him.

  Cox and Dunwood also left the room, but Lainie stayed.

  A young man entered and took swabs from the inside of my mouth, put them in evidence vials, and labeled them.

  As soon as he left, I looked at Lainie. “I did not kill Jennifer.”

  “I know that,” she said.

  Her abrupt answer threw me. “Oh.” I didn’t know what else to say.

  “Look, right now they’re playing politics—they have to. They made the right decision removing you from the task force. Everybody’s watching this investigation, and careers could be ruined if it isn’t handled correctly. You must realize that. But I’m convinced that the Lieutenant believes you had nothing to do with this. And I know you had nothing to do with it.”

  “And Cox?”

  “Frank’s an ass,” she said. “He’s a good cop, but he’s an ass. And he’s frustrated. He likes facts and leads he can follow. He refers to my profiling as smoke-and-mirrors investigation. But to answer your question, I don’t believe for an instant that Frank has you figured for Jennifer’s death.”

  I put my elbows on the table and put my face in my hands. “I don’t understand any of this,” I said. “Why did Plum do this? I haven’t done anything to him. Why does he hate me so much?”

  “He doesn’t hate you,” she said. “He’s in love with you.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  She explained. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a physical, homosexual kind of love. It’s the love of a god or an idol. I’ve listened several times to the recording of the call last night. He said he saw your interview with Sally Briggum, and he knew you were the one … that the two of you had a destiny. I believe Plum saw or heard something in that interview that he connected with. It may be something obviously profound that we should be able to pick up on, or it could be something insignificant to us, but very significant to him.”

  She continued, “When Plum said he had a gift for you, he was telling the truth. It was a special gift … a down payment for you to write his story and make him immortal.”

  “What if I refuse to write the book?” I asked.

  “Then you’ll probably be punished, possibly by eliminating other members of your family … starting with your daughter. Jennifer was chosen because she was an enemy of his idol. Presently, I don’t believe your family is in danger … unless he sees them as rivals for your attention.”

  “Well, I’ll err on the side of caution on that one,” I said. “Why do you think he didn’t sexually assault Jennifer?”

  Lainie shook her head. “She wasn’t his type. That’s also why her body wasn’t staged like the others. They were revenge killings. Jennifer’s murder was a crime of passion—but the passion was directed toward you.”

  “There’s something I don’t understand,” I said. “How could we get a phone trace if the lines had been cut?”

  “He must have cut them after he figured the call had been traced. I’ll bet he was right outside the house in back and cut them just before the first responders arrived. Plum only did this so you would think he had your daughter, and it worked … at least long enough for you to appreciate the message. He’s telling you he could have also killed your daughter. So in a weird, twisted way, he feels he’s given you two gifts—Jennifer dead and Amanda alive.”

  Lainie touched my shoulder. “I know you’ve been removed from the task force, but I’ll try and keep you in the loop. I had planned on going back to Virginia today, but with the recent turn of events, I’ve decided to stay. I’m not taking any chances either, and I’ve arranged to stay in a secure location. Who knows? He may come after your friends or colleagues next.

  “One more thing, Ben. I believe Plum has a plan, and he expects to die at the end of his murderous crusade. I’m certain he’s counting on taking you with him.”

  CHAPTER 19

  Wake County computer forensic specialist, Vernon Skelnik, called to inform me that he would pick up my computer at about four o’clock. I needed to copy the information on it so I stopped at Triangle Electronics, bought a 3 TB portable storage drive, and was back at the estate by noon. All five of my ladies were in the great room talking to Marcus Bradley when I walked in the door. He stood and we shook hands.

  “Ben,” he said. “The girls have just told me what’s happened. Can we go somewhere and talk?”

  “Sure,” I said. “Let’s go into the study.”

  Maggie gave me a look. She was used to being in control and having everyone report to her. I kissed her on the side of the head.

  “This is man talk, sweetheart,” I quipped as we walked away. “Now you just run along and finish ironing my shirts.”

  She crossed her arms, and her eyes shot daggers at me.

  Once in the study, I closed the door and poured two glasses of scotch. Marcus took a swallow and paused to enjoy it. “Ah, this is the good stuff.” We sat in two facing leather armchairs.

  “So, Ben, are things as bad as I’ve heard?”

  “They’re probably worse.” I opened my jacket to expose Pure Reason tucked inside my belt. “This guy Plum is a lunatic. I need to have the security system upgraded on the estate.” I knocked back a drink. “It’s going to be expensive, Marcus. Fifty grand … maybe even a hundred. I may need an advance on my spending allowance.”

  “Actually, there’s a discretionary fund in the trust that can be used for this purpose. Let me contact our security firm, and I’ll get the name of a reputable company. We want somebody who provides high risk executive and celebrity protection services.”

  “I also want to buy some weaponry … tactical stuff, but legal,” I said.

  He nodded. “Get me a list of what you want. I have a contact at Harry’s Gun Shop.”

  “I’m still researching on the internet, but I’ll let you know. And one more thing—Maggie’s not to know. She’s skittish about these things.”

  “Got it. How extensive is the threat? Is it just you, or are Margaret and the kids in danger too?”

  “I’m not sure, but I don’t want to take any chances. I’m thinking of sending them away for a while … Larkspur maybe. But I don’t want them to go alone. I’d like to hire a security detail to go with them.”

  Marcus looked me in the eye, understanding the gravity of the situation. He immediately swung into full defense mode. “I know two former Navy Seals,” he said. “They’re used to extreme physical and mental situations—they don’t take any shit. I’ll see if they’re available. You’re going too, aren’t you?”

  “No, I’m staying here. I’ve been kicked off the task force, but Netter needs me … or somebody like me.”

  He started to protest, but he knew how far he’d get. “Okay. How soon would you like to arrange this?” he asked.

  “I’d like them to go right away, but Maggie has this damn annual fundraiser for the Museum of Art on Thursday. It’s a really big deal to her, and she’s not going to miss it. You know how she is, Marcus, once her mind’s made up, there’s no stopping her.” He nodded in commiseration. His expression said it all—boy oh boy, did he know. “Okay, so she does the flippin’ event, and then I want everybody packed up and ready to go the following morning. But I’m telling you, Marcus, if things get any more out of control, they go immediately, whether she likes it or not.”

  After Marcus left, I returned to the great room.

  “I’ve finished ironing your shirts, dear, what now?” Maggie asked. I gave her a big bear hug and made a face at the girls over her shoulder. My daughter forced a smile I knew she didn’t feel.

  “Right now we’re all piling into the Escalade and going to the girls’ schools. We need to explain the situation to their teachers and tell them Julie and Amanda Jane will be away for a few days. While we’re there, we can pick up homework assignments and anything else they need.”

  The trip took longer than expected. When we got back to the estate a little after four, there was an off
icial Wake County vehicle parked in front of the main house behind the police cruiser.

  Maggie glanced as we pulled into the drive. “I wonder who that is,” she said.

  “It’s probably Mr. Skelnik,” I said. “He’s here to pick up my computer.”

  I slid the Escalade into the garage and parked next to Maggie’s Bentley. The ladies went into the main house, and I walked down the driveway to meet Mr. Skelnik.

  Vernon Skelnik was a stereotypical computer geek. He was skinny and pale, wearing black jeans and a white shirt with a black tie loosened at the neck. His hair was ruffled, and he had on glasses with thick black frames, but without white adhesive tape on the bridge. And he wore black canvas high-top basketball shoes. Yes, basketball shoes!

  We shook hands, and the two of us walked back to the guesthouse. Once inside, we took off our jackets, and he immediately noticed the gun tucked in my belt.

  “Sorry.” I said. “Things are a little crazy right now.” I removed the weapon, unloaded it, and put it in the desk drawer.

  There were two knocks on the door, and Maggie walked in. She smiled and introduced herself to Vernon. “Hi. I’m Margaret, Ben’s wife.”

  “I’m Vernon Skelnik. Very pleased to meet you, ma’am. I’ll try not to take too long.”

  Maggie adjusted the plantation shutters on the front window to let the afternoon sun shine in. “We’re ordering pizzas for dinner,” she said to me. “Pepperoni okay?”

  “Sounds great. Vernon?”

  “No, thank you. I have to get back after this.”

  I showed Vernon to my desk. “Here’s my computer, but I need the data on it. I handed him the portable storage drive. “Can we take a few minutes and copy some files onto this? I’ll show you what I care about, and then you can keep the computer as long as you want.”

  “Sure,” Vernon said, “I can do that.” He started it up. “What’s the password?”

  “It’s … uh.” I hesitated.

  Maggie had crossed the room to leave, but stopped with her hand on the doorknob, and peered back at me. She smelled a rat.

  “1richbitch, all lower case,” I muttered meekly.

  Maggie narrowed her eyes and shot flames at me.

  “It’s a loving thing,” I said to her, “like when we first met. Remember?” The door slammed, and she was gone. Damn. I grimaced and Vernon grinned. He copied the files, took the computer, and left.

  Amanda Jane was on the phone when I got back to the main house. I looked at Maggie and mouthed, “Who is it?”

  “Patty,” Maggie whispered. Patty was Jennifer’s sister.

  When Amanda Jane hung up, she looked uneasily at Maggie and me. “Aunt Patty wants me to come and live with her, but I said no. I want to be here. That’s okay, isn’t it?”

  Maggie put her arms around Amanda Jane and brushed the hair back from her fresh young face. “Of course, sweetheart. This is your home.”

  “She also asked if I wanted to help make the arrangements for Mom.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” I said.

  “No, I want to, Daddy. I think she’s going to do it Monday, but she’s going to let me know.”

  “I don’t like it,” I said.

  Maggie intervened. “Ben, it’s her mom.”

  The look on my daughter’s face told me how important it was to her. “All right,” I said, “but I’m going with you. That maniac is still out there, and I’m not letting you go alone. I’ll wait for you in the car.” A puzzled look was on Amanda Jane’s face.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “Aunt Patty sure doesn’t like you very much. How come, Daddy?”

  “Well,” I said, “in a roundabout way, she probably blames me for what happened to your mom.”

  She shrugged. “Maybe.”

  What I had told Amanda Jane was true. Patty did blame me for her sister’s death, but there was more to it than that.

  Three years earlier, when Jennifer and I were at the end of our marital rope, she had taken Amanda Jane to Seattle to visit a friend. While they were gone, Patty showed up at our house in hysterics. Her husband, Michael, had left her—for another man. She’d had no clue that he was gay, and she was crushed. I brought her in and tried to comfort her as she sobbed and spilled out her heart.

  When she’d regained some semblance of control, she asked for a glass of wine. We talked our way through a couple of very good bottles of cabernet, and I helped her start making plans to pick up the pieces of her life. I told her she was a beautiful, desirable woman, and she didn’t need Michael. At some point, she put her arms around me, and I held her, and one thing had led to another—and we ended up in bed together. It had been one of the biggest mistakes of my life.

  The next morning, when she’d realized what had happened, she cursed me, accusing me of betraying her and taking advantage of her vulnerability.

  Neither of us ever breathed a word about it to Jennifer. Patty eventually met a wonderful, straight man and married him last year, but it made little difference in our relationship. She still hated me to this day.

  I headed back to the main house, and the family sat down to a dinner as normal as possible under the circumstances. Pizza by itself was not a proper dinner, so Roberta had prepared a fantastic Greek salad to go with it. As we ate, she covertly watched over Amanda Jane, and inventoried every morsel she took in. We finished dinner with Roberta’s homemade spumoni and lighthearted chatter. I knew my daughter was grateful that we were all there for her, and she courageously forced a small smile while I knew her heart was breaking.

  After dinner the girls took Oscar outside and then went upstairs to do whatever teenage girls do when their parents aren’t in the same room. Later on, sleeping arrangements were the same as the night before, including the watchful eyes of the two police cruisers outside. Surprisingly, I fell asleep quickly.

  CHAPTER 20

  Saturday morning, Roberta prepared a breakfast spread of Belgian waffles, Applewood smoked bacon, scrambled eggs, cranberry almond scones, and fresh fruit.

  After we finished, we all went our separate ways around the estate. The girls took Oscar out and giggled as he darted erratically around the grounds, chasing a ball. He was in doggie heaven.

  I headed to the master sitting room and played the recorded video of my interview with Sally Briggum. Lainie thought there was something in it that Plum connected with, but I couldn’t see what it could possibly be. I played it again. Still nothing. After watching it several more times, I was still clueless. If there was something there, it wasn’t obvious to me.

  There were two voicemail messages when I got out of the shower. The first one was from a Jaguar service representative telling me my car would be ready to be picked up after four. The second message was from Netter. As I expected, our police security coverage would be cut back starting tonight. There would only be one car with two officers from eight in the evening until six the next morning.

  The early afternoon was spent reading the newspaper accounts of the Plum killings, including Jennifer’s murder which had a headline that said “Cary Resident Latest Victim of Headless Corpse Killer”.

  I got into the Escalade but left Pure Reason in the glove compartment. It was time to stop at Triangle Electronics and buy a new computer. Ninety minutes later, I brought it back to the estate and placed it in the guesthouse where I would set it up later. But first, I had to go pick up my car. Maggie was going to take me, but she wanted to leave right away, so she would be back before dark.

  I looked at Julie and winked. “Hey, munchkin, today’s the day if you still want to cruise in my car.”

  “Really? Yes! Yes! Yes!” She did a little dance and yelled up the stairs. “Amanda! Hurry! We’re going for a ride … in your dad’s Jag.”

  “What’s the big deal? She’s been in that car dozens of times.” Maggie squinted at me. “What are you up to? You’d better not fill them up with ice cream before dinner,” she said.

  Maggie dropped us off a
t Cary Jaguar at four fifteen, but the car wasn’t quite ready yet, and the time we spent waiting was painful. Everyone at the dealership was aware of what had happened, and I could feel them staring in sympathy.

  My sensitivity was short-lived when my brother George called and proceeded to rip me for not calling my mother and dad to tell them firsthand about Jennifer’s murder. The highlight of the conversation was when he said, “Dad’s fit to be tied.”

  I hadn’t intended to hide anything from my family—it just wasn’t high on my priority list to give them a play-by-play report just then. So much had happened over the prior three days—and they all lived in the Chicago suburbs—there wasn’t anything they could do about it anyway.

  Finally, George said, “Mom wants to know if she and Dad should come out there and be with you.”

  “Good god, no! That’s all I need. I have enough stress as it is. Please tell them Amanda Jane and I are fine, and I’ll call them tomorrow.” I hung up.

  My car was finally ready at ten minutes before five. Julie jumped in the passenger seat and Amanda Jane climbed in back. We took the car for a brief test ride to make sure it handled right. It was good as new.

  I turned west on Route 64, and we drove to a new supermarket under construction in Apex. They had just paved the parking lot, and it was pristine.

  Julie beamed at me. “Amanda, too!” she declared.

  “But, of course,” I replied. Amanda Jane had no idea what was happening. I pulled the car to a stop and killed the engine. Julie and I got out and switched places.

  “Now cool your jets for a minute. Adjust the seat so you can comfortably reach the pedals and see out the windshield … and adjust your mirrors. And one more thing before we do this. It’s just between the three of us. Your mom can’t know.” Julie nodded, shaking with excitement.

  Amanda Jane’s eyes got as big as saucers. “What? We’re gonna drive?”

  “Yep. You’re gonna drive.” Amanda Jane squealed with delight. This time her smile was genuine.

  After I gave a dead serious lesson on how the car operated, Julie pushed the button to start the engine. She turned the transmission selector to drive and began creeping across the parking lot. After a few minutes, she had the confidence to accelerate to fifteen miles per hour.