“But we have to investigate,” said Chase. “If the guy was murdered, there has to be a murder investigation.”
“You know as well as I do that there needs to be a reasonable suspicion. What am I going to tell the DA? That a badger talked to my niece’s cat, who told my niece, who told me? He’s going to lock me up in the loony bin and throw away the key.” He shook his head. “No, we have to tackle this thing differently. We need to approach this from a different angle. An angle that leaves us out of it entirely.”
“And with us you mean the police,” said Chase.
Uncle Alec eyed his niece keenly.“You’re going to tell people you’re working for Madison’s insurance company. Investigating a life insurance claim.”
“That might be difficult,” said Odelia. “Since a lot of these people know me as a reporter for theGazette.”
“You could them you’re moonlighting as an insurance investigator?” But when Odelia gave him a look that said, ‘Are you kidding me?’ he relented. “Yeah I guess that wouldn’t fly. So what do you suggest?”
Odelia shrugged.“I’m a reporter, so why not use that as my cover?”
“Excellent thinking,” said her uncle, pointing a stubby finger in her direction.
“And since Gran and Scarlett are already undercover,” Odelia said, “we should be able to cover all of our bases.”
Her uncle rubbed his face.“I hope they don’t mess it up, like they usually do.”
“And what do you want me to do?” asked Chase.
“You’re going to coordinate the investigation, check alibis, ask around.”
“But not officially.”
Uncle Alec shrugged.“Just tying up loose ends. You know the drill.”
“Absolutely, Chief,” said Chase.
“So there’s going to be an investigation, only there’s not going to be an investigation,” Odelia summed things up.
“Exactly,” said the Chief. “And I hope this thing won’t come back to bite me in the ass. So the sooner you can crack this case and find me Madison’s killer, the better, you hear? Before people start asking questions, and the DA starts breathing down my neck or, God forbid, the Mayor.”
“I thought the Mayor was Uncle Alec’s girlfriend?” asked Dooley.
“She is, but she’s also his boss.” When Dooley stared at me, I added, “It’s complicated.”
“Human affairs always are,” he said, and not unjustly so.
“One thing I don’t understand,” said Chase, “is how the killer got in and out of the building without using a badge. Security is absolutely sure only Madison was in the building last night. So how did the killer move around undetected?”
“One of the mysteries you will have to solve, Max,” said Odelia.
“I know what’s going on,” said Dooley. “He’s the Invisible Man!”
“Unlikely,” I said with a smile. It was a real mystery, though.
How do you move around a building where every door is locked, and can only be opened with a personalized badge connected to the security system?
It was also the topic of conversation when we met up with Gran and Scarlett in a coffee shop around the corner from the police station. Odelia and Chase were there to brief the two older ladies on their new mission: to catch Michael Madison’s killer.
“So what can you tell me about potential suspects?” asked Odelia, her hand poised over her tablet.
“Oh, there’s plenty,” said Scarlett. “Take your pick.”
“There’s Tom Mitchell,” said Gran, earning herself an astonished look from Scarlett. “The kid is head over heels in love with Natalie, who is expecting Madison’s baby. So obviously Tom is the first suspect that comes to mind.”
“Yeah, I guess so,” said Scarlett reluctantly. “He’s so nice, though. I don’t think he’s a killer.”
“He could be nice and a killer,” said Gran.
“So Tom Mitchell,” said Odelia. “Who else?”
“Well, there’s Deith Madison,” said Scarlett. “We saw her storm in and out of her husband’s office yesterday, and there were a lot of harsh words spoken. So if I were you I’d have a long talk with her, cause that couple was not on good terms.”
“And then there’s Gary Rapp,” said Gran.
“Who’s he?”
“Fashion editor who was fired for harassing his models. He’s suing the company for wrongful termination, though there’s plenty of models who filed a complaint against him with HR.”
“Okay, so Gary Rapp. Upset with Madison after being fired,” said Odelia, writing all this down in her neat handwriting. “Did he have a badge to the building?” she asked, then reconsidered. “Never mind. Chase will find out. Next?”
“Next is Ona Konpacka,” said Scarlett, sharing a glance with Gran. “She’s a model who was permanently disfigured by the plastic surgeon Madison set her up with. The poor girl is a recluse now, and is also suing Madison and Advantage Publishing for damages.”
“And emotional cruelty,” Gran added. “After Madison terminated her contract,” she explained when Odelia looked at her expectantly.
“Okay, so we’ve got Tom Mitchell, Deith Madison, Gary Rapp, Ona Konpacka…”
“Let’s not forget about Doris Booth,” said Gran. “She was a publicist who quit her job when Madison gifted her a copy ofElements of Style, insinuating she couldn’t spell and was unfit for her job. She wrote a letter to Dear Gabi,” she explained, “but had already quit her job when we got there.”
“So we never got to talk to her,” said Scarlett.
“And a good thing, too,” said Gran. “We’ve had plenty to work with trying to match up Tom and Natalie.”
“You’re not still going to continue that matchmaking business, are you?” said Chase. “Not when a murder has been committed?”
“We could do both,” said Scarlett. “Solve Madison’s murder and get Tom and Natalie together.”
“It’s going to be a lot easier now that Madison is gone,” added Gran.
“Cold, Gran,” said Odelia. “Very cold.”
“I’m just being realistic!” Gran cried. She took a sip from her hot cocoa. “Okay, so who else is there? Oh, that’s right. Wayne Piscina!”
“Who’s Wayne Piscina?” asked Chase, who’d also been jotting down notes.
“He’s an assistant who got fired for some old homophobic and racist tweets,” said Scarlett. “And if I’m not mistaken, he’s also suing Madison and Advantage.”
“With so many people hating on Madison, it’s a miracle the man survived for so long,” Chase grunted as he wrote down Wayne’s name. “Anyone else?”
“That’s about it, I guess?” said Scarlett, looking to her friend for confirmation.
“Yeah, for now,” said Gran. “Isn’t that enough to get you started?”
“More than enough,” Odelia agreed. “And you’ll continue to dig around?”
“Oh, trust me, honey,” said Scarlett. “We’re going to dig like we’ve never dug before!”
“Funny, isn’t it, Max?” said Dooley.
“What is?”
“We’re all going to dig, just like that badger.”
“I know. And let’s hope we dig up something good.”
CHAPTER 21
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“I’ve got one more suspect,” said Gran, once Dooley and I were installed in our old position on top of her desk at Advantage Publishing. “Natalie.”
“You can’t possibly think that poor girl had anything to do with Madison’s murder,” said Scarlett.
“She is pregnant with his baby, and he did treat her terribly. Telling her to get an abortion and breaking up with her. People have been murdered for less than what he did to that ‘poor girl,’” Gran insisted.
“Long list of suspects,” said Scarlett.
“I’m sure it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Guys like Madison create lots of enemies.”
“I can’t believe Natalie would do a thing like that, though, or Tom. They’re such a cute couple.”
“They’re not a couple yet, honey.” She frowned. “You don’t think…”
“What?”