by Carol Costa
"Good. Thank you," Dana said, still resting her head against his broad chest. "I'll walk you to the door."
"So, I don't even get a second cup of coffee?" he asked, resting his head against the top of her head.
"I'm not dropping the Judy Porter case," Dana said.
Bruno sighed and released her. He left the apartment a few minutes later without even kissing her good-bye.
it snowed during the night and driving to the office the next morning was an exercise in patience. The streets were icy and the motorists were ill-tempered.
"Sam's in your office," Marianne told her as soon as she came through the door.
"Hold my calls," she replied.
Sam was sitting in Dana's chair, looking out the window at the icicles that were suspended from the overhang of the building across the street. He exchanged greetings with Dana as she came in and hung up her coat and scarf on the coat tree in the corner of her office.
"Have you talked to Bruno this morning?" Sam asked, relinquishing Dana's chair to her and walking around the other side of the desk.
"No. I doubt if he would take my call."
"Sorry. What's new on the Porter case? Emily expects me to call her with a full report this morning."
"Is she still working at the gallery?"
"No. Del came back last night. He heard about Lucas being murdered and called Emily. I guess he tried to call you but couldn't get through."
"After Bruno left, I turned off my cell and unplugged my land line."
"Uh-oh. This sounds serious."
Dana nodded and proceeded to tell Sam what Bob found out at the pool hall the previous afternoon. "Of course, Bruno got the same story and immediately went after Teddy and ordered him to show up for questioning at the station this morning with Judy."
"So Bruno thinks that Judy and her boyfriend killed her husband. What do you think?"
"I don't know. They claim to be just friends. I talked to both of them after Bruno was done with them yesterday. Teddy looks like a choirboy. I'm having a hard time seeing him as a murderer. By the way, I arranged for Troy Kimball to represent Teddy as well as Judy this morning. Another thing Bruno will get steamed over when he finds out."
"I'd say you've done all you can, Dana. Let the police and the lawyers handle it now."
"I may have to do that, but first I'm going to the gallery to talk to Del."
What Dana didn't tell Sam was that Del Pitman was the most inquisitive person she had ever met and that he just might have some inside information to share on Judy, Teddy, and Lucas.
Sam left and Marianne came in with some messages. One of them was from Floyd Flannery of Flannery's Garage.
"I assume this one is about the story Casey wrote blowing the whistle on his unethical business practices," Dana said holding the message up for Marianne to see.
"You don't have to call him back. He just called to say he was going to sue the Globe for printing a bunch of lies."
"I assume Casey made a file with all her backup information in it."
"She always does, but she didn't leave it with me."
"Can you call her and remind her to bring it in?" Dana asked. "If Flannery gets a lawyer, Sam will want the file immediately."
"I already tried to call her this morning, on her cell phone and her land line. No answer either place."
"That's strange. She didn't say anything about needing the day off. Bruno and I had dinner with her and Tony last night."
"You did? What is he like?" Marianne sat down in the one of the brocaded chairs in front of Dana's desk. It was obvious that Marianne wasn't going to move until she got some details from Dana.
"He looks like a perfect match for Casey-tall, slim, attractive. They were even wearing matching sweaters. We had a nice time. They're thinking of getting married in Las Vegas."
"That would be fun," Marianne said. "So, did you like him, Dana?"
"I did, and he got along fine with Bruno, which isn't always easy."
"Go on. Bruno is a sweetheart"
"Sometimes," Dana said, glancing at her watch. It was still early. Judy Porter and Teddy weren't due at the station until ten. "I'm going to take a quick walk over to the Pitman Gallery. Sam told me that Del came back last night and I want to talk to him."
Dana put her coat back on and wrapped her scarf around her head. She told Marianne to keep trying to get in touch with Casey and to call Bob too and remind them both of the staff meeting that afternoon.
"Will do," Marianne said. "How long will you be gone?"
"Not more than an hour," Dana answered. "I've got to sort through that mess on my desk before the meeting."
The sidewalks outside the newspaper building had been sanded and salted and Dana was wearing her fur-lined boots so the two-block walk to the gallery only took a few minutes.
Although the sign on the door said Closed, Del's car was parked in the gallery's parking lot, so Dana was sure he was inside. She tapped on the window and Del came out of his office and opened the door for her.
"Good morning," Del said cheerfully. "It seems this is my day for unannounced visitors."
"Who else is here?" Dana asked softly.
"The love of your life."
"I'll come back later." Dana turned to go back outside, but she was too late. Bruno had come out of the office and seen her.
"Don't leave on my account," he said. "I'm about to question Del about his artist and I'm sure you're here for the same reason"
"Yes, please, Dana," Del said, "I've got a lot to catch up on, so let's combine the two questioning sessions."
Dana pulled the scarf from her head, feeling the static that made her curls fly around her face. She unbuttoned her coat as they all trouped into Del's office and sat down.
"Bruno already told me that Judy Porter and Teddy are being questioned this morning," Del said. "My first concern was whether she had legal counsel and Bruno said you arranged it, Dana. Thank you."
"You're welcome," Dana replied. She was puzzled by Del's casual attitude. "I still want to do whatever I can to help Judy."
"Okay," Bruno said. "Let's get down to it. Del, what do you know about Mrs. Porter's relationship with Teddy Larson?"
"They're friends," Del said. "She brought him over here to meet me one day and we all had lunch."
"You only met him once?"
"Yes. He's a very sweet boy, the son of Judy's neighbor, I believe."
"Other people I've questioned claim that he and Judy were more than friends and that Judy's husband suspected something was going on between them. What do you know about that?"
"I know that Judy's husband was a lunkhead, but the girl loved him madly. She was so upset when he disappeared that she couldn't function. That's why I had to ask Dana to help her. Listen, Bruno, if you think Judy and Teddy had something to do with her husband's death, you're wrong. Those two are not bright enough or brave enough to kill a fly, much less a man like Lucas"
"I agree," Dana said.
Bruno turned and looked at her with a scowl, but said nothing. Dana glared back at him. Del got upset.
"Oh, my darlings," Del said. "Don't tell me you two are fighting again. I will never forgive myself if my asking Dana to help my artist drives a wedge between the two of you"
"I love Dana," Bruno said, still scowling. "I'd walk through fire for her, but sometimes I think she's only using me to get information and help on her cases. Her career means more to her than I do"
"This is still a pretty small town," Dana told him. "It's only natural that we'd become involved in the same cases. If it hadn't been for my career, we'd never have met in the first place."
"How true, how true," Del agreed quickly. "So, Bruno, if Judy is arrested will I be able to bail her out?"
"It depends on what she's charged with."
Del turned to Dana. "Will your paper be reporting on the fact that Judy is being questioned in connection with her husband's death?"
"I suppose so. We have two reporters who work the
police beat and monitor what goes on at the station."
"Good"
"Good?" Bruno and Dana said together.
"I don't mean good that she's under suspicion. She's an innocent lamb, but the publicity would be good for the showing." Del tried not to smile, but his eyes reflected his good humor.
"If she's locked up in jail she won't be able to do much painting," Bruno told him.
Del sobered. "You need to look elsewhere for your killer, Bruno. My artist is not capable of murder."
"What about Judy's friend, Teddy?"
Del waved his hands in the air as if to clear the room of Bruno's suggestion. "Impossible"
Bruno stood up. "Killers come in all shapes, sizes, and temperaments. Just because they don't look dangerous, doesn't mean they aren't. Lucas Porter abused his wife, which gives her a pretty strong motive."
Del looked at Dana, who had to agree that Bruno had a valid point. That coupled with the insurance policy just might send Judy Porter to prison.
Bruno sighed heavily and got to his feet. "Thanks for your time, Del. I'd better get back to the station." He put on the overcoat that hung from the back of his chair. "Are you going back to the paper?" Bruno asked Dana. "I came on foot, rather than try to skid along the icy streets in my car. I'll walk back with you"
"You go on," Dana told him. "I have another matter to discuss with Del.
"I'll bet," Bruno said. "I'll call you later."
Dana sat and waited while Del escorted Bruno to the door. He came back to the office smiling broadly.
"Okay, Del," Dana said. "What's going on? You seem very happy about a very sad turn of events."
"This is for your ears only, darling. Don't you dare share this information with Bruno. Promise me."
"I promise."
"Judy called me at eight a.m. to tell me that she worked in her studio, ratty little room in her apartment actually, most of yesterday afternoon and all night. Didn't get a wink of sleep. She finished all the paintings I had contracted for and I went right over there and picked them all up. Come on, I'll show you."
Dana was stunned. "That's unbelievable"
"That was my first thought and I was also worried that they wouldn't be salable."
"Are they?"
"Judge for yourself."
Del stood up and Dana did the same. She followed him to a locked door down the hall from his office. Del quickly unlocked the door and allowed Dana to enter the room first. Judy Porter's paintings were the only ones in the room. The larger ones were leaning against the walls, the smaller ones were set out on a long worktable in the middle of the room.
Dana had seen most of them at Judy's apartment. They had been in various degrees of completion. She had never known anyone who worked on so many different pieces at the same time, and had marveled at Judy's ability to do so. She had also wondered if working on multiple pieces would diminish the final quality of the paintings. Now she could see for herself that Judy Porter's technique and work ethic had produced spectacular results.
"These are wonderful," Dana exclaimed as she walked around the room studying each painting.
"She is clearly one of the most talented young artists I've ever discovered," Del told her. "I hope I can count on you to keep her out of jail. A little adverse publicity will increase interest in the show, but I can't have my artist actually behind bars"
"Del, I can't stop Bruno from arresting her if he feels he has enough evidence to make the charges stick."
"Do you think he does?" he asked anxiously.
"I don't think he would have been here questioning you if he did."
"Good. Then all you have to do is use your influence with Bruno and convince him to look for other suspects."
Dana laughed. "You overestimate my powers of persuasion, Del. Bruno has a fit when I meddle in one of his cases. You just heard him voice his objections and we had an argument over that very thing last night."
"He seemed to want to make it up to you today," Del said.
"Only because his mother is coming for a visit soon and he wants me to help him entertain her."
"Bring her here. I'll take you both to lunch."
"You don't have to make rash promises, Del. I don't believe Judy Porter and Teddy Larson killed Lucas and I will keep working on the case. Based on the people I've already talked to, Lucas Porter had more enemies than friends."
"Judy told me she worked like a demon to complete the paintings because she couldn't bear the thought of leaving them unfinished while she was in prison."
"That sounds a lot like a confession to me."
"On the contrary, she swore to me that she was innocent, but she's terrified of Bruno"
"He has that effect on a lot of people," Dana replied.
By the time the staff meeting convened, Dana was more than a little worried about Casey. There had been no word from her all day and attempts to reach Casey on her home phone and cell phone had been unsuccessful.
"Do you think something could have happened to her?" Marianne asked Bob as they took seats in Dana's office.
"No. I'm sure she's okay. If there was a problem we would have heard something by now."
"You're probably right," Dana agreed. "It's just that it's so unlike Casey not to at least call in."
"She's never been in love before," Bob said. "Love makes people do all kinds of crazy things. Right, Marianne?"
Marianne smiled, but didn't answer him.
The outside door to the reception office opened and closed and all three of them looked expectantly to the doorway of Dana's office expecting to see Casey cross the threshold. Instead, a strange man charged into the office.
Bob jumped up and confronted him. "Can I help you?" he said.
"I know you," the man shouted. "You're the fat guy that was with the skinny broad who brought her car in the other day. And yes, you can help me. I want a retraction and an apology for that pack of lies you printed about me and my garage."
Dana stood up. "Mr. Flannery?"
"Yeah, that's right," he acknowledged. "Who the hell are you?"
"I'm Dana Sloan, the head of Globe Investigations."
Flannery glared at her. He was a big man with a shaved head. His face was flushed with anger, his blue eyes bloodshot. He smelled of the whiskey he had already consumed that day. "Where's the skinny broad?" he asked. "That's who I want to talk to"
"She's not here," Bob told him.
"Please sit down, Mr. Flannery," Dana said calmly. "Marianne will get you a cup of coffee"
Marianne was already heading for the door to call security, but Flannery grabbed her arm as she tried to pass him. "Stay put, girlie," he ordered.
"Let go of her, please," Bob said in a soothing voice.
Flannery let go of Marianne's arm and took a swing at Bob. Although Bob was overweight, he was trained in martial arts. He deflected Flannery's punch and before the garage owner knew what happened, he found himself on the floor with the full weight of Bob's size-twelve foot pressing down on his back.
Marianne had quickly escaped to the outer office and called security. Flannery was yelling threats and obscenities but was unable to dislodge Bob's foot from the middle of his back.
Dana walked around and sat down in the chair Marianne had vacated so she could speak to the man on his level. "I understand that you're upset by the story we ran on your garage, but it was the result of several complaints we received. All of it is documented. Bursting in here, making threats and assaulting people is only going to make things worse for you, so I suggest you shut up and give me your lawyer's name. I'll call him so he can meet you at the police station."
The mention of the police station got Flannery's attention. "First you ruin my business and now you're going to have me arrested?"
Before Dana could answer two of the Globe's uniformed security guards came into the office. Bob stepped aside as the two men hauled Flannery to his feet.
In the outer office, the telephone was ringing and Marianne answered it.
"Globe Investigations." She paused and listened to the caller. "Casey, are you all right? We've been worried about you" Marianne listened to what Casey was telling her as Flannery was escorted out of the office. As the door closed behind him, Marianne said, "Hold on. Dana will want to hear this from you."
Bob danced around the office loosening up the muscles he had exerted subduing Flannery, while Dana hurried back to her desk and picked up the phone to talk to Casey.
"What's going on?" Dana asked.
"I'm sorry," Casey told her. "I meant to call earlier, but I got confused with the two-hour time difference. After we left you and Bruno last night, Tony whisked me off to the airport. We're in Las Vegas and we just got married"
"Wow," Dana said. "When you said you were thinking of getting married in Vegas, I didn't know you meant immediately."
Casey giggled. "Neither did I. It was all Tony's idea but to tell you the truth, I wasn't so keen on having a big wedding anyway. We'll be back in a week or so and we'll have a party to celebrate with all our friends at the country club. I hope it's all right that I take the time off for my honeymoon"
"You have plenty of time coming," Dana said. "I'm really surprised by this, but I'm also really happy for you, Casey"
Bob was at Dana's side, wanting to grab the phone from her hand. "Let me talk to her," he said.
"Bob wants to say hello. I'll see you when you get back"
Dana let Bob take the phone while she rushed out to talk to Marianne, who was sitting behind her desk with her head in her hands.
"Are you all right?" Dana asked. "Did that jerk hurt you?"
Marianne straightened up and smiled. "I'm fine. No bruises. I just can't believe that Casey eloped to Las Vegas with a guy I've never even met."
"She sounded very happy on the phone," Dana said lamely.
Marianne nodded in agreement. The door to the hallway opened again and both girls turned to see Bruno filling the doorway.
"Hi, Bruno," Marianne said. "I'm glad it's you."
