“He didn’t kill him?”
“That’s what he says. He says he found him dead, then decided to search the place, like any good friend would. And that’s when he found the plastic bag with the blackmail money and took it.”
“I don’t believe a word the guy says,” said Chase. “I think the part about them falling out is true. And so when Edwardo dropped by last night, they got into yet another fight, only this time he hit his ex-partner over the head, grabbed the money and ran.”
“So where is Willie’s phone?”
Chase shrugged.
“He didn’t have it?” I asked.
“Edwardo claims he didn’t find Willie’s phone,” said Odelia.
“He probably took it and dumped it,” said Chase, “to hide his connection with the guy.”
“So where does that leave us?” I asked.
“That leaves us with a job well done,” said Odelia, smiling and giving me a pat on the head. “Hats off to you, Max, for helping us catch the guy.”
“So you think he did it?” asked Dooley. “He’s the killer?”
“Yeah, I think that’s pretty much a foregone conclusion. A falling-out amongst thieves, and one thief deciding to kill the other one and take the money.”
“Rosa will be happy,” I said.
“Yeah, not only does she get her money back,” said Odelia, leaning back and rubbing her eyes, “but her blackmailer has effectively been put out of business.”
“Unless Edwardo decides to take over from his partner,” I said.
“I doubt it. Frankly I think he wasn’t lying about that part. He really didn’t seem to have a clue about the blackmail stuff Willie was into.”
“No, he seemed completely oblivious,” Chase confirmed. “And now if you’ll excuse me,” he said, cracking his knuckles, “I have a report to write.”
“What do you think happened to Willie’s phone?” I asked as we walked out.
“Like Chase said, Edwardo probably took it and dumped it.”
“So case closed?” asked Dooley.
Odelia smiled.“Yes, honey. Case closed. And an extra treat for you guys tonight.”
“Yay,” said Dooley.
We returned to Odelia’s office, where she, too, had some writing to do. While Chase slaved away over his report, she promptly settled in and started writing up an article about the murder of a handyman, and the arrest of his criminal associate. Meanwhile, Dooley and I settled down in the cozy little nook in her office she’s reserved for us, and would have continued enjoying our much-deserved naptime, if not suddenly Odelia’s phone had rung and the moment she saw who it was, put it on speaker.
“Odelia,” said a voice that sounded familiar. “It’s Rosa Bond. The most terrible thing has happened. My son has gone missing!”
Chapter 14
When we arrived at the house where the Bond family lives, I was pleasantly surprised to find it to be a nice big house in an affluent part of town. After the squalor we’d been confronted with all morning, it made for a nice change of pace.
The house wasn’t just big, it also sported two garage ports, and the big Tesla parked in front of one indicated these people didn’t stint for money.
The front door opened, and an anxious-looking Rosa greeted us and ushered us in.
“I don’t know where he is,” she said, not bothering with preliminaries. “I called the school about the upcoming summer bash, and they asked how Todd was doing. Turns out he called in sick yesterday.”
“Sick?” asked Odelia as we were led into a spacious living room. The humans took their seats on the beige leather couches while Dooley and I found the fluffy carpet very agreeable.
“He didn’t go to school this morning either,” said Rosa. She had dark circles under her eyes, and it was clear this whole blackmail business had taken its toll. Coming upon that dreadful episode, her son’s disappearance had hit her hard. “He handed in a doctor’s note yesterday. Must have been a fake. Todd is very handy with the computer.”
“So he didn’t go to school yesterday or today?” asked Odelia.
Rosa nodded nervously.“And when he came home last night he was distracted and irritated. He snapped at me, and at his sister, and when I told him to apologize, he ignored me and went straight up to his room.”
“Did he leave here this morning?”
“He did. He left at the usual time.”
“And you have no idea where he could be.”
Rosa hesitated, then said,“I think it must have something to do with his dad.”
“You mean your husband?”
“No, his real dad. Lately he’s been asking me a lot of questions about Clive. I’ve tried to ignore them, since I don’t think it’s fair to Tilton, but Todd insisted. Started rehashing that whole dreadful business.”
“So what are you saying? That he’s gone looking for his real dad?”
Rosa bit her lip and nodded.“That’s what I’m afraid of. He talked about this years ago, when he was old enough to understand what happened, about finding his dad and asking him why he did what he did. But then the last couple of years he seemed to have accepted that his dad left us and I thought he’d dropped it. Only now it all started again.”
“Remind me again how old Todd is?”
“Sixteen.” She threw up her hands. “It could be his age. Boys his age need a father figure, maybe? I don’t know, Odelia. I’m grasping at straws here.”
“Did you try his phone?”
“Of course. He’s not picking up.”
“Maybe he’s staying with a friend?”
“I’ve called all of the people I know, but they haven’t seen him either.”
“Did Todd talk to your husband? Maybe he told him what his plans are?”
“Oh, no. Todd and my husband are barely on speaking terms these days. Even though he respects Tilton, he has never accepted him as his dad.”
“And how about his sister?”
Rosa automatically glanced up at the ceiling.“Todd and Aisha are very close. If he’s confided in anyone, it would be her. But I’ve already asked her, and she says he didn’t tell her what he was up to.”
“Maybe I can talk to her?” Odelia suggested.
“Will you?” said Rosa, an anxious look in her eyes. “It’s possible that she’ll tell you more than she would me. She’s fifteen, and she seems to have entered her rebellious phase. So now all of a sudden I’m the enemy.”
“I’ll give it a shot,” said Odelia, and gave the woman a reassuring smile. “I’m sure Todd is fine. And I also think it’s normal for a boy his age to wonder about his dad, and to want to go and look for him.”
“But if he went down to Mexico…” said Rosa, and let her voice trail away. But the look of terror in her eyes spoke volumes. A boy of sixteen, alone in Mexico, looking for his dad, might run into all kinds of trouble.
“I’ll talk to Aisha first, shall I? Maybe she knows something she’s not telling you.”
Rosa nodded, and got up.“Aisha!” she called out along the staircase. “Can you come down a minute, honey?”
“I’m busy, Mom!” the girl yelled back.
“It’s important!” Rosa said, raising her voice, and giving Odelia an apologetic little smile. Teenagers, that smile seemed to say.
“Oh, fine!” the girl’s voice came, full of exasperation, and then we heard footsteps stomping down the stairs, and moments later a teenage girl appeared. She looked younger than her age, and was dressed in stylishly ripped jeans and a T-shirt announcing that she thought Bruno Mars was way cool, and giving Odelia a curious look. Then she saw Dooley and me, and she actually smiled. “Oh, nice!” she said, and immediately crouched down to give us both cuddles. In response, we started purring up a storm.