Killer Spring

by Kay Bigelow

  When she entered Black Orchid Investigations at eight, she thought she was the first person there, but when she entered her office she knew she wasn’t. There was a Venti cup of something and a pastry from their favorite morning bakery sitting on her desk. She wondered who had been so thoughtful.

  “How’d your date go?” Cots asked, entering her office. He sat in one of the two chairs in front of her desk. “How long did it last?”

  “The restaurant was very good. We’ll have to go there sometime. And we went to watch the dragon boat races on Saturday.”

  “Aren’t they the most awesome thing ever?” Peony asked as she entered the office and sat at the table. “They’ve made me want to try out for the Lavender Dragon team this fall. Hey, isn’t a boat sponsored by your girlfriend, Jardain? Maybe you could put in a good word with her for me,” Peony said in a rush of enthusiasm.

  “I’ll mention your interest in trying out for her team,” Leah said.

  Leah was glad Peony had entered when she did, as she was sure Cots would have asked more questions about her time with Jardain. He probably already knew Jardain hadn’t spent the night, but he couldn’t know how disappointed she’d been when Jardain had gone home.

  “Now tell me what I’ve missed,” Leah said, glad to change the subject from herself to the investigation.

  “While you two were off to the races, I was working. If you’ve checked the murder board, you know I found several very interesting and meaningful things.”

  Leah knew Cots well enough to know he probably hadn’t spent a moment working on a Saturday and had left his computers running searches.

  “Why didn’t I see you at the races?” Peony asked Leah, unable to let the dragon races go. “I looked for you.”

  “She was in the Bensington family pavilion, silly,” Cots said.

  “Oh. What was that like? Was the family there? Aside from Jardain, I mean.”

  “Can we please do some work here?” Leah asked.

  “Sure, Boss,” Cots said.

  “Peony, tell me what you’ve found out about Sarah’s friends.”

  “Interestingly, only one of her friends was contacted by the police, and she wasn’t even in Sarah’s inner circle. The friends were surprised—kind of. They believe a conspiracy about how the murder is being covered up by the family with the help of the police.”

  “Really? Do they have anything concrete to back that up?”

  “No hard evidence, just coincidental facts that smell of conspiracy. For instance, the police not talking to the friends, how quickly the trail went cold, and how fast the police let the investigation die of its own accord…”

  “Do they have a suspect?”

  “They sure do. They think her father either killed her himself in a fit of rage, or hired someone to do it.”

  “Why would Lionel kill his daughter?”

  “This is where it all gets interesting and complicated. They think Lionel confronted Sarah about her sleeping with the leader of the Shaanxi Group, named Guy ShaTin. Before you ask, her friends said Sarah had told them she was sleeping with him. And it stands to reason that even if the cops had bothered talking to them, the friends wouldn’t have told them about ShaTin for fear of reprisals and probably believed they’d be betraying Sarah.”

  “Cots, what did you find when you ran ShaTin?”

  “Who says I…Oh, never mind. He’s a hard man to pin down.” A headshot of a young man in a navy-blue suit jacket, pale blue shirt, and a conservative red-and-blue tie appeared on the murder board screen. “That’s his passport photo. I haven’t been able to find any other photos of him. At first glance, he appears squeaky clean. He’s wealthy, but not ostentatiously so. He owns a condo, has his suits handmade for him by a tailor on Seville Road, drives an Ersetz a step below your own, and, apparently, lives a quiet life. However, his lifestyle is deceiving. His gang has been circumstantially connected to nearly every crime imaginable except human trafficking. He’s reportedly worth nearly a billion Xing credits,” Cots told them.

  “This is the young man Sarah was allegedly dating?” Leah asked.

  “We have no reason to believe Sarah’s friends would make this kind of shit up about their friend,” Peony said.

  “Okay. But let’s keep an open mind about Guy ShaTin and about Sarah. And keep digging. Something doesn’t feel right here.”

  “I’ve also been able to access information about the finances of Sarah, her mother, and older sister. The three women each inherited nine million Xing credits when Amara’s grandparents died. And, of course, Amara and Jardain will inherit more money when Lionel dies. But here’s the interesting part: the three women began investing at the same time in the same stock, which leads me to think they were probably working together, like as an investment club. They each invested two million initially and have a very diverse portfolio, including stocks and real estate. They have grown their inheritances into portfolios worth nearly seventy-five billion credits each. They’re each worth more than Lionel.”

  “Wow,” Peony said. “I wonder if I could join their club. Maybe they’d let me invest a portion of my salary each month. I want to be filthy rich, too.”

  The unspoken irony of Peony’s wishful thinking was that they were each wealthy in their own right, but nowhere as wealthy as each of the Bensington women.

  “Who inherits Sarah’s estate?” Leah asked.

  “It depends on whether she had a will. As I said, I don’t think many twenty-year-olds have a will. Although, because of her wealth, her older sister and mother may have insisted she have one. This could be important. If she died intestate, her money will be split between the immediate family members. However, if she does have a will, she could have designated the Shaanxi Group as her beneficiary…or her cat, if she has one. Undoubtedly, her father will contest the will if she did something like that.”

  “When will you know which it is?”

  “When I find it. Thus far, none of the family’s attorneys have a will for her so I’ve had to broaden the arena,” Cots said.

  “Do you remember seeing an inventory of what the police found in Sarah’s apartment?” Leah asked.

  “It was in one of my boxes,” Peony said.

  “Anything interesting there?”

  “No. I was hoping they might have found a journal…or a will. But there was nothing.”

  “When did they do the search?”

  “Two days after her death.”

  “So Lionel had time to have someone go in there and sweep it clean, right?” Leah asked.

  “Yes, I suppose so,” Peony said.

  “Any evidence that might have surfaced?” Leah asked.

  “Not that I’ve seen. But let me review the condo’s security to see if anyone entered the condo after the police left the premises and before they searched it,” Cots said.

  “What else do we have?” Leah asked.

  “We’re still waiting for our search bots to finish their jobs.”

  “I want to talk to Guy ShaTin. Any chance of making that happen?” Leah asked.

  “Maybe, but it will take a few days to set it up. Peony, do you think any of Sarah’s friends might help with that?”

  “There’s one I think will if she has the info. I’ll go back to campus to see if she’ll help us.”

  “Let’s meet back here at four to see where we stand,” Leah said.

  The meeting at four didn’t produce any new information. Cots reported several of his searches would be finished by noon the next day.

  At six, they went their separate ways. Leah ate the leftover Chinese food from the night before with a glass of wine. She was in bed by nine with the book she was currently reading, but wasn’t really reading it because her mind kept drifting to Jardain’s beautiful eyes so full of desire and promise. She finally set the book aside and fell asleep only to dream of Jardain’s luscious lips kissing her so gently.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Leah was again the first to the office on Tues
day morning. She loved the moments before the office came alive with ringing phones and hallway conversations. It was so still and calm, and she loved the tranquility of the lake and small park beside it.

  “Sorry to disturb you,” Stacy said from the doorway. “Your eight o’clock is here.”

  “I didn’t make an appointment for this morning.”

  “I did. She called asking for a meeting while you guys were going over the murder board yesterday. Since your calendar was clear, I went ahead and made the appointment.”

  “Okay, but I need coffee.”

  “I’ll show her in.”

  “Thanks.” Leah didn’t wonder about the meeting. She often had very early morning appointments made by people on their way to or from work.

  There was a knock on the closed door, and Leah responded with, “Come in.”

  “Good morning,” Jardain said as she strode into Leah’s office oozing sex appeal, confidence, and power.

  Not much surprised Leah anymore, but Jardain’s presence in her office did. She hadn’t expected to see her again and, at four o’clock that morning, had decided to never take Jardain’s calls. Yet here she was, in her office, and her heart was pounding out the message, “I want her, I want her.” So much for four a.m. resolutions.

  Jardain was dressed for work in a custom-made black suit with a subtle pink pinstripe in the fabric. A pale pink shirt with a stand-up collar accented and complimented her skin tone. She carried a cardboard tray with two cups of coffee on it. Her green eyes twinkled with amusement that almost pissed Leah off.

  Is this a game with her? Have I become her challenge du jour? Is she going to be the winner if she seduces me? Fat chance of that now. Whoa! Why am I angry with Jardain? What has she done but show up at my office with coffee for me and a twinkle in her beautiful green eyes? Besides, she’s already seduced me. I can’t wait to take the woman to bed and I’m pissed off because she apparently wants the same thing. Or am I pissed off because she’s in control? If that’s what’s pissing me off, I need to take control.

  “Good morning,” Leah said. “Is one of those coffees for me?”

  “Of course,” Jardain said, smiling.

  “To what do I owe the honor of an early Tuesday morning visit?”

  “I was thinking of you and didn’t want to wait until our next date to see you.”

  “I appreciate the thoughtfulness.”

  “Leah—” Cots said, walking through the door. “Oh, sorry. Didn’t know you were busy. Good morning, Dr. Bensington. I’ll catch you later, Leah.”

  “Don’t leave Mr. Benurbian. I need to get to work myself.”

  “I’ll walk you out,” Leah said.

  Leah led them downstairs and outside, and continued on until they stood near the lake.

  “I’m sorry I interrupted your work.”

  “I’m not. I’m glad you came by.”

  “We are going to have another date, aren’t we?” Jardain asked.

  “Why would we? I think we established Saturday night you can’t give me what I want and need from you. And I won’t settle for less than that.”

  “I’m amazed you can do that.”

  “Do what?” Leah asked.

  “I’m pretty sure you’re attracted to me, and I’m tremendously attracted to you. Yet, you can just walk away from me as if there is nothing between us.”

  “Jardain, I’m a pragmatist. You were pretty clear you don’t want to change your lifestyle, and I’m pretty sure I want to settle down. So why go through the motions when the ending is already guaranteed to be painful?”

  “Do you not believe people can change?”

  “As a matter of fact, I know people can change. However, I also know no transformation will occur if a person is unwilling to make modifications to their behavior. I’ve not asked you to change. Why should you?” Leah asked.

  “Because I want to be with you?”

  The circular discussion came to an abrupt end when Jardain’s phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her jacket pocket to see who was calling. She thumbed it on. “I’m on my way. I’ll be there in a few.” Jardain put the phone back into her pocket.

  “I’m sorry. I need to get to my office,” Jardain said. “In addition to wanting to see you again, I stopped by to tell you I’ll be traveling for the next three weeks and I’m leaving tomorrow morning. I’m doing a series of lectures in Tazmania. I want to ensure you’ll wait for me.”

  “Wait for you?”

  “Yeah, you know, don’t fall in love with someone else while I’m gone. I’d be heartbroken if you did.”

  Leah smiled at the thought she could ever fall in love with someone else while Jardain was around. Wait a second. “Could fall in love with someone else”? Am I in love with her now? Not yet…but I could fall in love with her so easily. Before she could become fully engaged in that train of thought, she stepped closer to Jardain.

  “I can do that.”

  “God, I’m so relieved. We’ll have dinner the evening I return, okay?”

  “Yes. When will that be?”

  “I’m not sure. It depends on whether any of the lectures are canceled for lack of interest.”

  “I can’t even imagine any of your lectures being canceled,” Leah told her with a smile.

  Before Jardain could answer, her phone buzzed again. “Yeah, yeah,” she murmured. She closed the remaining space between herself and Leah.

  Jardain kissed Leah on the cheek, and then whispered, “Leah, please, please give me a chance.”

  Jardain turned and headed for her car in the parking lot. Leah turned toward her office building instead of watching Jardain’s retreating back. As she walked toward the building, she glanced up at the window of her office, and saw Cots watching her.

  Cots was still in her office when she returned to it.

  “What are you doing, girlfriend?”

  “What do you mean?” Leah asked.

  “She’s the daughter of a client who may or may not be a suspect in the murder of Sarah Bensington. To say nothing of the client being a suspect.”

  “You said they both had rock-solid alibis.”

  “And I told you, I was still checking them both out. Plus, you heard Peony say her friends think her father killed her.”

  “Cots, Jardain has an alibi for the night of her sister’s murder and two hundred witnesses to prove it.”

  “Appearances are deceiving. Isn’t that what you taught me two years ago in New America?”

  “How can two hundred witnesses all be lying about her being at the lecture? To say nothing about the time and distance to Singapore that would have precluded her from giving her lecture and being able to get back here to kill her sister and then go back to Singapore. Finally, what is her motive?” Leah asked, exasperated by Cots for the first time. What is he doing? Does he not want me to get involved with Jardain? Or does he not want me to get involved with any woman?

  “We haven’t talked to two hundred witnesses. Hell, we haven’t even begun to verify her alibi, Leah. You need to back away from her. Now.”

  “No.”

  “Leah, it’s not just your reputation you’ve put at risk by being involved with her. It’s also my reputation and Peony’s. You’ve got business partners to think about.”

  “Is this about Quinn?”

  “You know it’s not. I’m glad you’ve found someone who rocks your boat, Leah. But before allowing yourself to be completely swept off your feet by a tidal wave of lust and passion, you need to wait for Peony and I to catch up with your faith in her innocence.”

  “Did you just say ‘a tidal wave of lust and passion?’”

  “Yes, I did. Is that not what’s happening between you and Jardain?”

  “It is, but to hear you say it in all its incongruity shakes my world. Who knew you had the soul of a poet.”

  “Who has the soul of a poet?” Peony asked as she walked in with a cup of coffee in her hand.

  “Do you have something for us?” Leah sai
d, glad to change the subject.

  “While you two have been standing around talking about poetry, I’ve found a way to contact Guy ShaTin. Apparently, he’s heavily guarded, but there’s a back door we can go through to contact him.”

  “Do I need to know the details of how we’re pulling this off?” Leah asked.

  “Not really. It’s only a matter of knowing someone who’s friends with him.”

  “Make that happen sooner rather than later. Do we know of anyone who attended Jardain’s lecture the night her sister was killed?” Leah asked.

  “Yeah. I’ve got a list of people who live locally in case we decided we needed verification of her whereabouts,” Peony said

  “You’re a wonder. We need to verify she was at the lecture at the time of the murder.”

  “I’ll get right on both those things,” Peony said, and left the office.

  “I’ll give you a week to prove your theory that Jardain is somehow complicit in the murder of her sister. If you don’t have solid evidence that will stand up in court, then I’m going to continue to see her. And don’t ever order me to back away from her again. Understood?”

  “Understood.” Cots stormed out of Leah’s office.

  Not for the first time, Leah was glad to have partners she trusted implicitly. They were the only people she’d trusted since her wife had betrayed her. As she sat sipping coffee, she wondered if Cots was right about Jardain. Could she be involved in her sister’s death? What could her motive possibly be? God, I hope she’s not involved. I’m already in lust with her. I really want to see if we can be more.

  Chapter Seventeen

  After lunch, Cots and Peony returned to Leah’s office to discuss where they were in the investigation. They studied the murder board, trying to find something they’d missed that would lead them to the murderer. There was nothing.

  “So what are we missing?”

  “We still have to find the boyfriend,” Cots said.

  “I’ve got him,” Peony said. “He dropped out of college for a semester according to Sarah’s friends, but they gave me his address. I thought I’d drop by this evening on the way home. Cots, can you be backup for me?”