Dead in the Water (Kate Ryan Mysteries Book 10) (3 page)

“Very funny. I’m not sure what else to look for here. I’d like to see the surveillance tape. Let’s go visit Mike at the precinct. C’mon along, Coco.”

“Coco Chanel,” Hannah said proudly. “I like that!”

*******

The precinct never changed. It still looked like it did when my father was a cop. The desk sergeant was new, however. And very young-looking.

“Is Lieutenant Kelly in?” I asked. “I’m Kate Ryan.” I waited for him to recognize the name, but he was either not impressed or had no clue. As I said, he looked young.

“Sure. One minute.” He buzzed Mike.

I looked around the precinct and took a deep breath. “Still smells the same.”

Hannah raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sure if that’s good or not.”

“Katie Ryan,” Mike called out. He pulled me into a fierce hug. “You look great.”

“Thanks, Mike. Oh, you remember Hannah Winfield.”

His big ruddy Irish grin filled his face; he stuck out his hand. “Sure, I do. Nice to see you again. How is your lovely niece? Is Maggie still with this two-headed arse?” He motioned to me with a jerk of his head.

“Oh, yes, Mike. She’s crazy in love. How have you been?” Hannah asked.

“The same. Unfortunately, we’re up to our ass bones in…” He turned bright red. “I’m sorry.”

Hannah waved him off with a laugh.

“So what brings you down here? Business or pleasure?” He grinned and looked from me to Hannah. “No. Business?”

“Yes, business.” I patted him on the back. “Your office?”

“My office,” he said sadly, leading the way.

“So what do you need this time?” he asked, sitting behind his desk.

“I think I have a prospective client,” I said, sitting next to Hannah. “His business partner was murdered four months ago.”

“Vic’s name is Chad Henson,” Hannah said, all business.

It always amazed me how Hannah could be an adorable, sophisticated woman and sound like a Chicago moll from the forties.

“Vic?” I asked her.

“Well, victim to the unenlightened,” she said, winking at Mike.

Mike laughed and picked up his phone. “Gimme the Henson file and the tape, will ya?” He sat back and rocked in his chair. “So who’s your client? Don’t tell me. His business partner.”

“Phil Bledsoe, yes. I take it you’ve talked to him?”

“On several occasions. He doesn’t think we’re doing enough. I know. He’s made it very clear. I can’t blame him, I suppose.” Mike beckoned the patrolman in when he knocked. He took the folder and opened it. But first, he put on a pair of reading glasses.

I let out a barking laugh. “When did that happen?”

Mike looked over his glasses. “Two years ago. Shut up.” He handed me the file when he was done reading it. “All pretty clear, Katie. No prints, no evidence, no DNA anywhere but the…vic.” He grinned and glanced at Hannah, who nodded approvingly. “I am enlightened,” he said to me in a haughty voice.

“And full of crap,” I said absently as I read. I closed the file. “So nothing.”

“I know.” He held up the tape. “I have a young eager detective who coveted the surveillance tape. I think he hoped something would miraculously appear. We’ve had it long enough. They were just about to send it back to Mr. Bledsoe. We have a copy. You’ll want to see that, as well, I suppose.” He swiveled around in his seat and popped the tape in and picked up the remote. “Sorry, no popcorn.”

“No Goobers?” Hannah asked.

“Or Raisinettes,” Mike added and turned on the tape.

“You two should take this act on the road,” I said, leaning forward.

“If it paid anything, I would.” Mike sat back. “Let me know if you see anything out of the ordinary.”

We watched the tape in silence. It showed Chad Henson standing behind the counter greeting a customer. “Is this the guy?” I asked.

“We think so.”

“Looks as if Chad knows him.”

“That’s what we think.”

Chad talked to the customer, who was wearing the fedora, and as the report read, that was all the tape showed…which it did. Chad conversed with the customer, then looked surprised. The customer grabbed a piece of paper Chad was holding. Chad held up his hands, and after a short conversation, he backed out of the view of the camera. So did the customer. For a moment or two, there was nothing. But in the corner of the screen, we saw the edge of the metal filing cabinet fall and caught a glimpse of Chad.

“This is all that happened next…” Mike said.

An arm appeared. The customer, well, the assumed murderer, wiped off the counter. Then we could see the light shine into the shop, probably sunlight from the murderer leaving.

“Seemed like it took him long enough before he finally left,” I said.

“The tape goes on for the rest of the afternoon, nothing happens. No movement, no change in lighting, no evidence at all that anyone was there. Until Mr. Bledsoe showed up.” Mike clicked off the tape and turned back to his desk. “So?”

“I’d like to see it again. If you were going to give it back to Mr. Bledsoe, would you be willing to release it to me?” I asked.

“I might. Get Mr. Bledsoe on the phone. If he gives the verbal okay, you can sign for it if you can’t wait. So you think you’ll find something we didn’t see?”

“No, I doubt it. I’d just like to take my time and look. I told Mr. Bledsoe I’d do what I could.”

“Good enough.”

“Why call it a robbery if nothing was missing?” Hannah asked. “And all this talk of Goobers and Raisinettes, I’m starving.”

Mike laughed. “I know Mr. Bledsoe said nothing was missing, but he has a lot of…” He scratched his head. “Merchandise in that small warehouse. So many little switches and battery packs. And all those tiny electrical wires. How can he be sure what was missing? He said he didn’t do an extensive inventory. Perhaps he is missing something. He’ll never know.”

“Why?”

“Because he told me they hadn’t done a complete inventory in over a year. So it’s all speculation. He can’t say for sure if anything is missing, even though he swears nothing is. It’s too iffy. We have no choice but to call it a robbery. From what we can tell, Mr. Henson had no enemies. Mr. Bledsoe said they’re a small company and can’t think of who’d want to harm either of them.”

“But…”

Mike looked up. “No buts. My detectives just can’t find a thing, which burns my ass because something is always left behind in a crime scene, Katie. You know that. There’s no such thing as a perfect crime. They always screw up somehow.”

“Maybe this guy really knew what he was doing. I mean, he took the time to wipe off the counter. And stay out of the camera.”

“He did seem calm in the tape,” Hannah said. “I’d be running if I fired a shot. Someone had to hear it.”

“You would think,” Mike said. “It was around ten a.m. in the middle of the week.”

“Devon Avenue would be busy then,” I said absently. “Mike, what do you know about Chad Henson? Anything unusual?

“No. All we have is in the file. Where he grew up, college, navy. He was some kind of whiz kid, I guess. Top in his class in college and in the navy. No criminal record. The guy was squeaky clean. And no, by the look on your face, Katie, you can’t take the file. If it were a cold case, I’d say yes. But my eager beaver still has it open. So you’d better read it here. He’d be very upset if a PI came in here and took the file. Anyway, I can’t let you.”

I looked at Hannah. “Can my girl Friday take notes?”

“Yeah, go ahead. The autopsy report is in there, as well. I have an appointment with the mayor’s office. Leave it on my desk when you’re done.”

I let out a barking laugh. “You? The mayor? Why?”

“Shut up. Some bigwig is coming to town.” He walked around his desk, offering his hand to Hannah. “Hannah, it was a pleasure seeing you. Next time, leave this lug at the office.”

“It was good to see you, too, Mike. Oh, and I’ll be calling you. I’ll need your address. Someone is getting married.” She wiggled her eyebrows and motioned to me.

Mike seemed stunned when he looked at me. “Are you kidding?”

“I don’t think so,” I said seriously. I looked at Hannah. “Am I?”

“Well, I’ll be…” he said, shaking his head.

I stood when he walked over to me, pulling me into another monstrous hug. “Your dad would be so proud of you,” he whispered.

“Thanks, Mike,” I said and hugged him back.

He pulled back and sniffed. “Well, you two go ahead and take notes, but that’s all. I’d better see that file on my desk when I get back.” He grinned and shook his head. “Kate Ryan getting married. Who would’ve thought it…?”

“Certainly not me,” I called after him. I glanced at Hannah, who was already taking notes.

“Why don’t you read this again, Kate, then tell me what’s important?”

“This will take a while.”

I opened the autopsy report and settled down for a nice morbid read.

Chapter 3

After what seemed like a lifetime in Mike’s office, I was ready for lunch, and besides, Hannah’s expensive fountain pen was running out of ink. And she was having much too much fun taking pictures of the autopsy photos with the smallest camera I’d ever seen. And I’d seen many cameras. I wondered where she got that and how much it cost, if she put it on the company dime, or if she ever used the company dime. Knowing Hannah, she had plenty of her own dimes. But it was a good idea. This way, Maggie might be able to help.

So we made our way down the block to Matt’s Café. I chuckled quietly when I saw Matt standing by the hostess desk examining the reservation book—he looked bored.

“Got a reservation for me?” I asked.

Matt’s head shot up, sporting that goofy grin. I swear, he still looked like a blond version of a young Jack Lemmon. He let out a screech that had me wincing as he ran around the desk with open arms. “Kate! And, Hannah! To what do I owe this wonderful pleasure?”

“A friend of yours. Phil Bledsoe,” I said.

“Really? Oh, that’s right.”

I saw the morbid gleam in his eye before he led us to a table by the bar—smart man. He pulled out a chair for Hannah but left me standing there like a dummy.

“Thank you,” I said dryly as I pulled out my chair.

Hannah and he had a good laugh. “So tell me…no, wait. Something from the bar first,” he said. “I’ll join you.”

“Well, it is a little early,” Hannah said, glancing at the bar. “Don’t look at me like that, Kate.”

“It’s never too early, Hannah, my darling,” Matt said, kissing the back of her hand. He looked up. “How about a Tom Collins?”

“Perfect, Matt. Thank you.”

He looked at me and raised an eyebrow. “And a Guinness?”

“Please and thank you.”

“You got it. Be right back. Do not talk without me,” he said and hurried to the bar.

“The place is always full.” I looked around, then realized it was later than I thought.

“Well, it is lunchtime,” Hannah said, pulling out her notebook. “But we have so much to discuss.”

“Here we go,” Matt said, placing Hannah’s drink in front of her. “I think the umbrella is the icing on the cake, as it were.”

“That and the orange slice and cherry. Yum,” Hannah said.

“Oh, here,” Matt said; he set my pint of Guinness on the table.

“Thanks,” I said dryly.

Matt laughed and pulled up a chair. “You know I love to tease you, Lady Ryan.”

“You haven’t called me that in a while.”

“Well, you haven’t saved fair Maggie since that dreadful Christmas.”

“Oh, I don’t know. They’re on the verge of saving each other,” Hannah said, sipping her drink. The umbrella did make it look tropical and fun.

“What does that mean?” Matt looked from me to Hannah, who twirled her umbrella while wriggling her eyebrows. “What does that mean?”

“Nothing,” I insisted.

“It does, too. What?”

“Kate’s going to ask Maggie to marry her,” Hannah blurted out, her blue eyes bugging—the insane woman.

Matt’s jaw practically hit the table. I could feel the blood seeping from my eardrums when he squealed.

 
“Oh, my God!” He put his hand to his heart and practically cried. “You’re going to? You mean you haven’t asked her yet?”

“Not yet. I just—”

“Did you get a ring?” he asked.

“Oy.” I rubbed my forehead. “Again with the ring.”

Matt gaped at me, then looked to Hannah, who grinned evilly. “Kate wants to…oh, how did you put it? Ah, yes. She wants to cut out the middleman—”

“What middleman?”

“And just get a wedding band because, naturally, Margaret is already wearing her college ring from Wossamotta U.”

Matt blinked in utter confusion. Hannah merely nodded. Matt, his mouth still hanging open, looked at me. “Kate,” he said slowly. “You can’t do that.” He looked at Hannah. “She can’t do that. You have to get Maggie an engagement ring.”

“I know, I know,” I said, glaring at Hannah. “I will.”

“Whew, you’d better. You had me worried,” Matt said, slapping my arm. “Not getting an engagement ring. What were you thinking?”

“I wasn’t,” I said obediently.

“You nearly gave an old woman a heart attack,” Hannah said, taking another sip.

“You did! And I bet you scared Hannah half to death, as well,” Matt said, slapping me again.

Hannah spit up her drink.

“So…” Matt regarded Hannah and completely ignored me. “Where will you get the ring? I have a friend on Michigan Avenue. But I’m sure you must know someone.”

“Yes, I do. But I have something in mind. It will be something simple but elegant.”

“That’s Maggie. Good idea. Platinum?”

“Naturally.”

I took a long drink from my pint. “Naturally.”

“Perhaps a marquise cut.”

“Has to be a marquise cut,” I said absently.

“Oh, that’s good,” Matt said thoughtfully. Then he let out a barking laugh. “Wossamotta U. I just got it.” He looked at me, still laughing. “Did you get it?”

“Yes,” I said, glaring at him. “Rocky and Bullwinkle. I got it.”

Matt stopped laughing, but his grin had him looking like a little kid. “Have you thought about the reception?”

“Matt, I haven’t even—”

“Oh, please, please, have it here. You can rent the whole restaurant. Please…” he begged, holding his hands in prayer.

“I think I know Maggie pretty well…”

“I should hope so,” Hannah said, nibbling the orange slice.

“I think she might want to be included in the planning of her wedding. So let’s all calm down and relax before—”

“Kate’s having anxiety issues,” Hannah whispered to Matt.

“Ah, okay,” Matt replied in kind, placing his fingertip against his lips. “So what else is new?”

“The main reason we came in,” I said.

“What was that?” he asked.

“Phil Bledsoe and his partner, Chad Henson?”

“Oh, right, right. That was so sad,” Matt said. “I hope you don’t mind I gave him your name. He just seemed so upset. He said the police found nothing, so I figured maybe you could help.”

“I don’t mind at all. But I’m not sure what I can do. He said he knew you.”

“Yes, but actually, Jerry knows him better. From the navy.”

“How is your darling beau?” Hannah asked.

“Darling.” Matt sighed dreamily.

“You two make such a handsome couple. Kate was right. He looks like Tyrone Power with those dark blue eyes and coal black hair. You just want to run your fingers through it,” Hannah said, wriggling her fingers.

“And I do, believe me.” Matt looked at me. “What’s the matter?”

“Phil Bledsoe?”

“Oh,” Matt said. “Well, after my beloved got out of the navy, he worked with Phil for a few years. They both have that annoying thing in common.”

“What’s that?” Hannah asked.

“Brainiac intelligence. It worries me one day their heads might explode.” Matt sighed dramatically.

“Yes, such a mess to clean up,” Hannah said sadly.

“Chad was the same way. That’s why they started that company together.”

“How well did you know Chad?”

“Not too well. You know they’re just business partners, right? Chad was not gay. So we’d see him on occasion, but not really socially. But what I knew of him, he seemed like a nice fellow. A little eccentric, even more so than Phil.” Matt laughed as if he were remembering something.

Hannah laughed along. “Why am I laughing?”

“Oh, I was just thinking how Jerry used to call Chad a young Lex Luthor. He was always trying to invent some new gadget with an odd twist to it.”

“Really? Like what?” I was trying to piece together what Chad might have been doing with our mystery man.

“I have no idea. When they’d all start with the science stuff, it was like they were talking in another language. I’m more of a people person,” he announced with a wide grin.

“And you do it so well,” Hannah offered, patting his arm.

“Thank you, darling. And your glass is empty.”

“Drat…” Hannah said, staring at her glass. “I do hate when that happens.”

Matt laughed along with her as he gathered both glasses. “I’ll be back.”

“With menus?” I called to him.

“Absolutely not. How gauche,” he said. “I will prepare you a midday extravaganza.”

“Wonderful!” Hannah sighed absently. “I love an extravaganza.” She turned back to me. “Well, I do.”

“Yes, I know. We spend a lot of time eating and drinking.”

“I know. Isn’t it wonderful? I mean, truly, Kate. Other than love, what’s more satisfying than breaking bread with the ones you love? I tell you, if more world leaders talked around a kitchen table with a good cabernet and plate of pasta, we’d have fewer wars and more peace.”

“I suppose,” I said, not really listening.

“So what’s on your mind?” Hannah asked. “I can tell you’re thinking of something.”

“It’s just nagging me. This whole robbery business.”

“Why?”

“Because something tells me it wasn’t a robbery. Mainly because nothing was taken.” I laughed while scratching my head. “How’s that for great deductive reasoning?”

Hannah laughed along. “I’ve always said I love the way you think. But I think you’re right. It is a curious thing.”

“And will probably get curiouser and curiouser.”

“I believe you’re right, Alice.”

Matt replenished our drinks and sat down. “I have an idea.”

“Oh, no…” I groaned, but Hannah laughed.

“What is it?” She took a drink. “Ooh, this is good.”

“Have you thought about when and where you’ll ask Maggie?” he asked.

“No.” There went my stomach again.

“What have you accomplished?” Matt cocked his head, looking very curious.

“I’ve done plenty so far.” I hated when I was sucked into bantering with Matt.

“Like?” he asked.

“Matt,” Hannah said, patting his arm. “It’s more than enough that she’s decided to ask Margaret. We don’t want her to implode before she asks her.”

“You two are hysterical. Now why are you asking about the when and the where?” I was so afraid of his answer.

“Well… Now keep an open mind,” he started.