Рита Браун - Probable Claws

“I really doubt Gary was one of their own. His murder was anything but hidden. Brazen. Absolutely brazen!” Harry clapped her hands for emphasis.

“Yes, it was.” Cooper inhaled. “You read the codes?”

Harry nodded. “Pretty clear. Now could a large construction company or, say, lumber supplier pay off city officials? Sure. Maybe Gary uncovered corruption, felt he would be in danger, resigned, and moved here.”

“Well, he wouldn’t be the first.” Cooper glanced down at Pewter. “She snores.”

“Yes, she does.” She looked down, had to crane her neck to see the rotund gray cat fast asleep. “She’s such a bad kitty at times but I really do love her. Can’t help it. Mrs. Murphy, on the other hand, is an angel. Well, anyway, back to this mess. What have you found out about Ducatis?”

“Sweeping the mid-Atlantic. Not many. Wherever I have found the DiavelX, or is it the XDiavel, I have contacted the police department, asked for records. Nothing much jumps out at me. If I can ferret out a connection to Charlottesville or Gary, that’s a different story.”

“This is what I think: The motorcycle was driven here in a closed van. Taken off. The job was done. Back into the van and driven to wherever home is.”

“Not a bad idea, but why use a motorcycle?”

“You can weave in and out of traffic. It’s easier to hide. There was no license plate, which is why I think it was taken off the road after the murder. Whoever it was knew his schedule, pretty much. Had it not been snowing, my hunch is they would have parked in the back, come in, killed him, and sped down the alleyway. The weather, all of us walking out onto the sidewalk, perfect. I bet he was heading for the back. Anyway, we’re not dealing with a shrinking violet.”

“Right.” Cooper dropped her head in her hands for a moment then looked up, sat up straight. “Back to the codes.”

“He must have kept paperwork about a violation, a payoff, or maybe an accident. I truly believe it’s information not drugs, diamonds, you name it. He saw something or knew something and kept a record. When your team sifted through the files, they found notes on building projects. It makes us hope there’s other information somewhere.”

“Well, if that’s true surely he didn’t tip his hand when he left.” Cooper blinked. “I would hope not, but then who figured this out? And why now?”

“Monday a part of a skull was found. You saw the televised reports. Accidents happen a lot in a job like that. Maybe someone was crushed by materials. Hit by a swinging crane. I don’t know. But what if Gary knew?” Harry said.

“Wrongful death.” Cooper hummed. “That’s a big jump. I can’t think this has anything to do with the murder here.”

“That’s the only thing I can think of.” Harry threw up her hands.

“If you’re right that information is the key, then his death isn’t as bizarre as it seems. The file box is the key.” Cooper inhaled deeply. “Now I’m getting as crazy as you are. If I had to take a bet, it would be payoff. Enough for Gary to retire.”

“But he didn’t retire. He went to work. And, Cooper, he was an honest man.”

“There is one other nagging detail. And yes, I think, I hope, he was honest,” Cooper remarked. “Whoever killed Gary was a good shot. You watch TV and films and it looks easy to kill someone. It’s not. People who aren’t good shots spray bullets everywhere. Often it takes more than one shot. This was one simple shot straight to the heart.”

Cooper warned her friend, “Gary is dead. The stakes are high. Few people kill for a thrill. I appreciate you getting the building codes, your thoughts. You are very logical but, Harry, you stumble onto things. Leave this to me and the department. None of us knows who, what, why, or how close the killer is. Don’t put yourself in danger. Yes, a dear man we all liked very much was killed in front of both of us. You are not going to avenge his death. We’re bumping around in the dark. Just let it alone.”

“I will.”

22

January 26, 2017

Thursday

“Wow.” Harry once again admired the work already completed for Nature First.

Lisa, excited, leaned toward Harry, sitting across from her desk.

“One of our biggest projects, which we haven’t made public yet. We need more work, really, and to see if we can convince those at Monticello and Montpelier to return those places to their natural state.”

“But they are. The work has been spectacular and accurate.” Harry loved both of those gifts to America.

“Sorry. I’m not being clear. The wildlife, the trees, shrubs, the obvious botanical archaeology, so to speak. We also want to encourage the return of the wildlife at the time.”

“Oh, Lisa, with all those visitors, most of them city people, how can you revitalize, say, bobcats? It will scare them to death.”

“Now see, I disagree.” She smiled as Pirate slept at her feet. “If we explain the life cycle of the animal, do not disturb their dens or nests, I think all can coexist. Obviously we will need to feed them. We wouldn’t want your pussycats to be lunch.”

“Lunch! Why I have Odin, a coyote, for a friend. I’m not afraid of anything. I have battled a giant spider!” Pewter immediately shot off her mouth, waking the puppy.

“Spider?” The Irish wolfhound blinked.

“You’re scared of that spider. Big as a teacup, that thing.” Tucker grimaced. “Don’t worry, Pirate, the spider’s not here.”

“I am not scared of the spider. Not scared of a bobcat!” The gray cat puffed up to twice her size, unpuffed she was a large lady, puffed she truly needed Jenny Craig.

“You go right ahead and infuriate a bobcat. I am not messing with our larger cousins,” Mrs. Murphy sensibly chimed in.

Lisa, hearing the commotion, cocked her head, looked down. “Are they always like this?”

Harry laughed. “Such strong opinions. Well, I don’t mean to take up your time. Thought I’d drop by.”

“You’re not taking up my time. Before you go, Kylie has been investigating the Kushner Building, which will be the Cloudcroft Building, for six months now. The minute word got out about a forty-story replacement she started research. Finding a skull is a godsend. TV coverage was extensive. The newspaper actually wrote about the history of the Kushner Building. Have you read today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch ?”

“No,” Harry answered.

“Nature First took out a full-page ad suggesting city leadership include Nature First in all planning activities for buildings and parks. Of course, there is not one plan for a park.”

“Bet it cost a lot.”

“Four to five hundred dollars, maybe more.”

“Why now?”

“The skull,” Lisa replied with ill-concealed glee.

“I was there.” Harry then relayed why she was at the pit, the condition of the skull.

“Why didn’t you tell me!” Lisa nearly shouted. “Felipe! Raynell. Come into my office.”

The shouts upset Pirate. “What’s going on?”

“Human drama.” Pewter smirked.

Pirate put his head on his paws, keeping his eyes wide open.

Harry recounted her story.

“Do you think there’s more down there?” Raynell asked.

“I do. I doubt there would be a disembodied head. Of course, the police will be very careful. You almost need an archaeologist for something like this.”

“Toothbrushes,” Felipe added.

Lisa, a bit overenthusiastic, said with confidence, “If we can delay further construction for a while, cost Rankin and Cloudcroft millions because they’ll have to keep everyone on payroll, all those big companies will take us seriously. Listen to us before they dig.” Lisa gloated.