“No distinguishing features,” Richard said. Clearly he wanted us gone.
“Okay, I guess that’s that,” I said. I turned to the badger’s wife. “Well, thank you so much for your hospitality, Irene, but I’m afraid we have to leave.”
“So soon? How about a nice grub? They’re very tasty, you know.”
I threw up in my mouth a little, but I think I managed to hide it well. Until I saw a sly smile slide up Richard’s face.
“Yeah, why don’t you stay for dinner?” he said. “We’ve got some nice slugs.”
“Very slimy!” said Bert.
“Very yummy!” said Ernie.
“No, that’s all right,” I said, having trouble keeping my stomach under control.
Dooley was making retching noises next to me, which didn’t help.
“Or how about a big fat lizard?” Richard suggested.
“Gotta go,” I said, retching a little. “Thanks for everything, Irene!”
“Now see what you did, Richard?” I heard Irene tell her husband once we’d turned tail and were crawling out of that burrow again, in a hurry to reach the surface. “The one time we have guests, and you go and scare them away.”
“I didn’t scare them away. I offered them our best grub!”
“Oh, Richard. What am I going to do with you?”
“I don’t mind!” Bert said. “It means there’s more for us!”
Now that’s the spirit, I thought as I dug like I’d never dug before!
And soon we reached the surface, and took in big gulps of fresh air.
“There’s a reason cats aren’t badgers,” said Dooley, who looked a little green around the gills. “I never knew what it was before, but now I do. It’s very claustrophobic to be a badger, Max!”
“Yeah, and then there’s the diet,” I said, panting from the exertion.
But at least I had my answer: however the killer had entered the building, it hadn’t been by using a ladder. Of course this only added to the mystery.
So how had this person managed to get in and out of Madison’s office?
CHAPTER 23
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Odelia had arranged to meet Gary Rapp at the Steamy Bean, a sidewalk caf? that had proven very popular in recent months. It offered a nice view up and down Main Street, and was packed when we arrived, both with locals and tourists. Mr. Rapp was a local though, since he’d worked at Advantage Publishing for quite some time as one ofGlimmer’s more prominent fashion editors.
Until his services were no longer required, that is.
“Mrs. Kingsley,” said Rapp, as he got up to welcome our human with an unctuous smile. “So nice to meet a colleague. And can I say that your reputation precedes you? Your articles are always the first ones I read every week.”
“Thanks,” said Odelia as she took a seat. When the server came she ordered a soda, and Rapp ordered another alcoholic beverage.
“Who is this guy?” asked Dooley.
“Gary Rapp,” I said. “Disgraced former fashion editor.”
“Oh, right,” said Dooley, though it was obvious he still had no clue who the guy was. It was hard to keep track of the number of people Madison had crossed.
“I guess you heard what happened to Michael Madison, your former boss?” said Odelia.
“Yeah, I was shocked when I heard the news,” said Rapp, shaking his head. “Such a tragic story. Mind you, Mike had been under a lot of pressure lately, and the last time I saw him I could tell he wasn’t coping well. But still—to end his life like that. I already reached out to Deith, of course, to pay my respects. She’s heartbroken, as you can imagine.”
“I’m seeing her later,” said Odelia. “First I thought I’d talk to some of the people who knew Michael well. Though from what I heard your relationship with him got a little heated in recent days? Is that correct?”
“We didn’t part on amicable terms,” Rapp confirmed as he fingered his drink. “Some wicked gossip poisoned Mike’s mind against me, and he felt pressured into terminating my contract. I was fighting them in court, of course.”
“So the rumors about harassment aren’t true?” asked Odelia.
“Absolutely not!” said Rapp, looking thoroughly shocked. “I’ve always treated everyone with the utmost respect, and don’t let anyone tell you differently. But when you’ve got a high-profile position, like I had, you’re bound to attract all kinds of nasty gossip. And sometimes they’ll go after you if they feel slighted.”
“These models who accused you, they felt slighted, you think?”
“Absolutely. Not being given the cover of the magazine, for instance, or not enough coverage. That would be enough for some of these people to go after me.”
“Did you blame Michael Madison for your dismissal, Gary?”
“Of course not. I knew he felt cornered by these people and their lawyers. If he didn’t get rid of me they were going to tar him with the same brush. So he had no other recourse but to do what he did.” He took a big swig from his drink. “No, I never blamed Mike personally. He was my friend.Though it’s true he could have showed more backbone when push came to shove. He caved immediately. Which surprised me.”
“You felt betrayed by your friend?”
He gave her a keen look and smiled. It was a charming smile, and I could tell that he was probably popular with the ladies.“I see what you’re trying to do, Mrs. Kingsley, and it won’t work. Yes, I was surprised when he called me into his office and told me he had to let me go. And yes, I argued my case—fiercely. But since then I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and soul-searching, and I can honestly say I’ve made peace with what happened. It wasn’t Mike’s fault, and hey—” He spread his arms. “I’m still here. Other opportunities await. So it’s all good.”
Odelia shifted in her chair.“Rumor has it that Mike’s death wasn’t accidental.”
He stared at her, visibly startled.“Not accidental? What do you mean?”
“There’s a possibility that he didn’t jump, but was pushed.”
His eyes had gone wide.“Pushed? You mean… murder?”
Odelia nodded.“This is not official, mind you.”
“Oh, my God,” said the former editor.
She eyed him closely.“Can you tell me where you were last night, Gary?”
He blinked a couple of times.“You’re not seriously accusing me of murder, are you?”
“No, of course not. Just doing my job. Asking questions and trying to find some answers.”
“But…” He glanced around. “You’re not here on police business, are you? I mean, I’ve heard that you work with your husband as a police consultant.”
“No, this isn’t one of those occasions,” Odelia assured him. “I’m strictly here as a reporter for theGazette. In fact as far as I know, the police are working on the assumption that this was suicide. At least that’s what my sources are telling me.”
“Your sources are impeccable,” said Rapp, searching Odelia’s face. “Your husband is a detective and your uncle is the chief of police.”
“True,” she admitted. “But like I said, I don’t represent the police right now.”
The guy seemed to relax a little.“Okay, so I want it on the record that I vehemently deny any involvement in any murder business. I liked Mike. We were friends for a long time. And I didn’t hold any grudge against him. He did what he had to do as the company’s CEO, and I understood and respected his decision.”
“That said, can you tell me where you were last night?” Odelia insisted.
“Of course. I was at the Pussy Wagon, for the birthday party of one of the hostesses. I stayed late, until maybe, oh, three o’clock? Ask anyone. They’ll confirm my alibi.” He produced a wry smile. “Am I glad that I accepted that invitation last night. I didn’t want to go—not in the mood—but good thing I did.”
“Can you think of anyone who would want to harm Mike Madison?”
Rapp furrowed his brow and rubbed his temple.“Um… I know there was some trouble with Howard White.”
“The designer?”