Authors: Sarah Biglow
Debts and Debtors: (A Geeks and Things Cozy Mystery Novella #3) (Geeks and Things Cozy Mysteries) (4 page)
Kalina let the phone fall from her fingers and clatter to the countertop. What would make someone want to vandalize the Chases’ house? Maybe whoever shot Thomas had been watching the house and did it after Savannah left the night before. Something about the timing piqued her curiosity and she flipped the front door sign to ‘Closed’ and headed out again. If Chris asked why she was at the new crime scene, she could reasonably say she was there to support her sister and friend. She also wanted to tell him about Thomas no longer being employed at the real estate firm.
She had to look at the address online before she headed out. It turned out that the Chases lived in a not-so-modest, three-story, sprawling house near the beach. It was set far enough back that high tides wouldn’t cause trouble but close enough that they could still claim they had beach-front property. The flashing lights of the police cruiser nearly blinded her as she pulled up and parked one house over. Crime scene technicians were already flitting in and out of the house with evidence bags and fingerprint powder. Savannah huddled with Jillian off to the side, talking to Chris. Kalina climbed out of her car and got within earshot long enough to hear the gist. According to Savannah, the house had been fine when she left on Thanksgiving and she hadn’t been back until then so that had to be the window of opportunity.
“Once the techs are done, I’d like to do a walk through with you, just so we can have an accurate inventory of anything that might be missing,” Chris said and Savannah nodded.
There was something off about the front door. Trying not to look too obvious, Kalina made her way over so she had a clear view. Someone had spray painted the word ‘Traitor’ on the front door. Traitor of what? To whom? This only made things more complicated. She really needed to share with Chris what she’d found about Thomas’s employment situation but she wouldn’t just horn in on his conversation with a grieving widow. In her peripheral vision, she spotted a man dressed in a dark suit and tie standing at the end of the road, observing the scene. Immediately, the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, signaling he didn’t belong. Abruptly, the man turned and strode off, hands in his pockets. Kalina discreetly followed him until he stopped halfway up the beach at a sign for Carlisle Premiere Developments.
“Excuse me, sir!” The words were out of her mouth before she realized she’d spoken.
The man stopped and waited for her to catch up and spun on his heel to face her. Up close he was imposing with a sharp jaw and linebacker shoulders. He pressed his lips into a thin line of displeasure at his day being interrupted by a silly comic shop owner playing detective.
“Yes?” His voice was high and nasally, not at all what Kalina expected to come out of such a large man.
“You don’t happen to work for the development company do you?”
Instead of answering, he reached into his breast pocket and produced a business card. She took it and glanced over the text. The mystery man was Victor Mackland, Asset Protection Manager. Mr. Mackland did indeed work for the development company.
“I saw you down the street and I wanted to ask what you could tell me about what’s happening here on the waterfront. I’m relatively new to town.” She prayed he hadn’t seen her on Main Street any time recently.
“The company is building a new hotel and some high end waterfront condos.”
“Oh, wow. That sounds great. I mean it will just boost tourism to town and increase revenue. But … what about the people who live here?”
“I’m sorry, Miss. If you have more questions, you’ll need to speak to one of our girls in sales. Good day.”
Before she could say more, Mr. Mackland did an about face and strode off out of sight. Kalina stayed put for a minute trying to process the new information. She needed to do a little fact checking to see if there really was a new development project happening and how Thomas Chase was involved. Shaking her head, she made her way back up the beach and the street to the Chase house. The technicians were loading up the last of their gear and Chris and Savannah had disappeared. Jillian stood alone by the front steps.
“This is getting pretty crazy,” Kalina said and sidled up to her sister.
“Savannah is going to stay with us until this is all over. It clearly isn’t safe for her to be here alone.”
“That makes sense. Hey, do you know anything about a new hotel and condos going up on the beach?”
“Yeah, a lot of people weren’t too happy when that contract came through.”
“Why not?”
Jillian rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Kal. Read a newspaper sometime. Building the new hotel and condos means the people who live there now will have to give up their houses. And a lot of the older population of town live out there. They don’t have anywhere to go. But the town agreed to the project so there’s not much they can do.”
“Thanks. I need to get back to the shop. Let me know if you need anything.”
Her sister gave a weary smile and nodded. Time to do some more digging.
The trip back to the shop was short and she found AJ flipping through the Cards against Humanity deck at the front counter. She set her phone down on the counter beside him and scooted him out of the way.
“Things seem to have slowed down,” he said.
“That’s how it usually is.”
“Sorry I got mad at you before, Aunt K.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“So what’s the latest news on our dead guy?”
“Well, he hasn’t worked for the real estate firm in at least two months and there was a man from Carlisle Premiere Developments lurking around the Chase house after it had been vandalized. That was kind of suspicious.”
“Oh, they’re the guys who are building the luxury hotel on the waterfront.”
“So I’m told. But something seems off. I can’t really explain it.”
“You know who you remind me of?” her nephew said.
“Who?”
“Jessica Jones.”
She smacked his arm. “I am not.”
“You help people without being asked and you are pretty awesome. Plus you own your own business.”
“I’m also not a super powered drunk.”
“She’s got charm.”
“Yeah, OK. Look, I need to see what I can find out about this company so I’m going to be in the back if you want to hang out here.”
“Absolutely.”
Kalina grabbed the tablet from beside the register and headed to one of the big, comfy chairs in the corner. She could still keep an eye on the store and dig up some dirt on the development company. Needing to concentrate, she put in her earbuds and turned on some instrumental music. With the world effectively drowned out, she did a quick search for Carlisle Premiere Developments. Her search brought up a minimalist website with a contact number and some flashy photos of upscale developments. So at least the company was real. Navigating through the menu at the top of the page, she found a list of affiliate companies. She didn’t have to look far to spot Eastern Seaboard Realty. Had Thomas Chase jumped ship from brokering real estate deals to developing high-end luxury hotels and condos? The change didn’t make much sense to her but her gut told her there was something to this connection.
“Hey, AJ,” she called, tugging one earbud from her ear.
Her nephew materialized in the doorway between the front of the store and the game room. “Yeah, Aunt K., what’s up?”
“How did you hear about the hotel development going up on the waterfront again?”
“It was in the paper and, as I said, a lot of people weren’t too happy about it going up.”
“When did all this start? I mean I know I was away for a while but the fact they are moving forward feels kind of sudden.”
“Uh, maybe over the summer. Well, I know Mom and Dad went to some town meetings back in January or February—before Grandpa died—about using the land for the new development. I think they only finalized the deal in like September. Why?”
“It might be relevant to the case. Apparently, Mr. Chase doesn’t work for the real estate firm anymore. I know he did in late September or early October because he helped Nadine sell her house but I called earlier and they said he doesn’t work there anymore.”
“So?”
She handed over the tablet. “His firm is an affiliate company with the developer. I’m thinking maybe he went to go work for them. I’d imagine it paid better I just don’t know what a real estate broker would be doing at a development firm.”
“Maybe call and ask them? It can’t hurt, right?”
“I’m not so sure about that. Remember, the development firm had some Asset Protection manager lurking around while the police were investigating the break-in. When I tried to ask him questions, he blew me off and walked away.”
“Weird. Does Detective Harper know that Mr. Chase left the company?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t told him yet but I know he was going to check into it.”
“As I said, it can’t hurt to call and see if they’ll admit Mr. Chase worked for them. You can borrow my phone if you want.”
Kalina gave her nephew a grateful smile but shook her head. “Your mother would kill me. I’ll use mine.”
She pulled the earbuds from the headphone jack and dialed the company’s main number. It rang twice before a chipper-sounding woman answered.
“Carlisle Premiere Developments, how may I help you today?”
Kalina let out a breath. “Hi. I might have the wrong number but I’m trying to reach Thomas Chase.”
“One moment please.” Static filled the other end of the line. “I’m sorry, he’s not in today and I’m not sure when he’ll be back in. I can leave a message for you if you’d like.”
“No, that’s all right but thanks so much. You have a good day now.”
Kalina stared dumbstruck at her nephew as she ended the call. “Remind me to give you a raise. You are a smart kid. He definitely worked there before … he died.” She managed to catch herself before she said murdered. Sure, it was accurate but it sounded overly gruesome.
“If only we could talk to his boss at the old place, maybe find out why he left.”
“There’s no ‘we’ here. But I might be able to drop a hint or two. Thanks kiddo.”
“I’m here all week. And by the way, you are
totally
Jessica Jones.”
The bell above the door jingled, signaling a new customer, and Kalina shooed AJ back to front desk duty. She had plenty of reasons to drop into the police station without Chris becoming suspicious of her motives. Besides, he owed her for missing Thanksgiving with her family.
Kalina waited until after 6:30 to grab some pizza and head over to the station. She’d picked up a couple extra slices in case Jimmy was around. He tended to horn in on their office dinners, even if he didn’t mean to. She found Chris hunched over his computer staring at some file or other.
“Hey, I brought food,” she announced.
He looked up and smiled. The bags under his eyes were more pronounced than they’d been that morning and he looked paler. “Thanks.”
She settled in beside him and handed over a big slice of Hawaiian and a napkin. It was half gone with two bites. She nibbled on a slice of sausage and green pepper. They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes before she set her food down and looked at him.
“I know you can’t say much but how is Savannah doing?”
“She seems to be holding up. She’s going through hell though. First her husband is killed and then her house is ripped apart.”
“Did she know what they were looking for?”
“She claims to have no idea.”
“But you don’t believe her?”
“It just seems odd that a real estate broker would be the target of these kinds of crimes. Especially in this town. Despite the few incidents recently, we aren’t a high crime area.”
“He isn’t working for the firm anymore.”
Chris propped his elbow on the arm of the chair and stared at her. “And you know this how?”
Kalina studied her hands. “I called and asked for him and they said he didn’t work there anymore.”
“I guess I would have found that out anyhow tonight.”
“Oh?”
“Mr. Chase’s … former boss is coming in for questioning in about an hour.”
“That’s late isn’t it?” She took a bite of pizza.
“It fit with his schedule.”
Kalina nodded. “There’s more.”
“Of course there is.”
“There was a guy from the development company looking around and when I called and asked for Mr. Chase, the secretary told me he was out. That all but confirms he worked there. And the real estate firm is an affiliate of the developer. It says so right on their website.”
“That’s definitely strange.” A new message bubble popped up on Chris’s computer screen. He turned to study it, his brow knitting together in concern. “That’s not good.”
Kalina leaned forward to try to read over his shoulder. “What is it?”
“I just got information back on the gun we found at the scene. It was registered to Mr. Chase.”
“And I’m betting Mrs. Chase doesn’t know he had a gun.”
“I’m thinking not.” He rubbed the back of his neck—a telltale sign of stress and frustration—and blew out a breath. “Honestly, none of this makes sense.”
She rubbed his back gently to help ease some of the tension. “I’m sure it will.”
Two sets of footsteps echoed on the linoleum behind them, drawing Kalina’s attention. Jimmy—her go to for inside information—walked by the front desk, accompanied by a man in a navy suit. He was balding with sparse hair left on the sides. It could have been brown at one point but it was grey now.
“Sorry to interrupt, boss, but Mr. Linden is here to see you,” Jimmy announced. He eyed the extra slice of Hawaiian pizza on Chris’s desk.
Chris spun around and took in the realtor before him. Without a word, Kalina grabbed an extra napkin to go with the pizza and offered Mr. Linden her chair. She and Jimmy retreated a safe distance—still within earshot—before she handed over the pizza.
“You didn’t have to,” he said before taking a big bite.
“You guys work too hard,” she said.
Mr. Linden settled into the chair Kalina had vacated while Chris hastily cleared away the pizza remains and retrieved his pen and notepad. Kalina couldn’t keep from smiling at how he clung to old school traditions. It only made her love him more.
“Thanks for coming down, Mr. Linden. I appreciate it.”
Mr. Linden shrugged one shoulder. “Not sure what I can tell you. Thomas Chase is no longer an employee with our firm.”
“So I hear. Can you describe what happened?”
“Nothing to say really. Decided he wasn’t interested in selling homes anymore and quit.”
“So you didn’t have any concerns about his performance?”
“None. He was a good worker. One of our best in fact. It was a shame to see him leave.”
“Were you aware of anything going on in his home life that might have prompted a change?”
“Like what?”
“Anything. I know that Savannah Chase is his second wife.”
“As far as I know, things were fine between them. He didn’t talk about her much. Just between us, I thought it was a little strange he married again. They just don’t seem compatible.”
Chris tapped the capped end of the pen against his lower lip. “Did you know Mr. Chase was employed by Carlisle Premiere Developments?”
“No I didn’t know that.”
“Does that surprise you?”
“A little.” Mr. Linden’s cheeks paled.
Even from where Kalina stood, she could see sweat break out on his temple. Chris clearly noted the change too.
“Do you have any idea what sort of work Mr. Chase would be doing for a development company?”
Mr. Linden coughed and averted his gaze. “Can’t say that I do. You’d be better off asking them.”
“Oh, I will be. Is there anything else you can tell me about Mr. Chase? Can you think of anyone who would have wanted to hurt him?”
“No idea. I’m sorry. If that’s all, I need to be going.”
Chris offered his hand and Mr. Linden shook it. “Thank you again for coming down.”
Mr. Linden stood, straightened his suit jacket and strode out of the station without a word to anyone else. The interview had been somewhat illuminating but Kalina realized it was time to talk to Savannah again. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed her husband change careers. And she couldn’t get the image of the developer goon out of her head.
“Hey, Jimmy, can you tell Chris I’ll see him tomorrow? I need to go check in with my sister to make sure everything is going all right at her house.”
“Sure thing, Kal.”