Checkmate (Caitlin Calloway Mystery Book 2) (52 page)

“Wait,” Val said. “I think I glanced at that. Weren’t you attacked by Janie? She claimed she was defending herself.”

“Poor Janie. That dyke twisted her thinking. Janie has nothing to fear from me. It was that cop who was sniffing around her. I need to get out of here to protect her from those kinds of people.”

“You just never know with that kind.” Val nodded in agreement. Internally, she wanted to smack Fisher. Calloway had been right. Dr. Simon Fisher was just as crazy as he was smart. Something Val found to be a very dangerous combination. She gave Ricky a nod to inform him that it was time to go. Fisher had already told them what they came there to find out. He was involved, and there was no way they could prove it.

Ricky peered over his goofy eyeglasses, and his look begged for more time. Val shrugged, not feeling confident that anything would come of it. Ricky pursed his lips before returning his attention to the stack of paperwork.

“Dr. Fisher, at what age did you stop wetting your bed?”

Fisher barked out a laugh. “That’s the best you got? Please. Dr. Richards should write fiction. In fact she already does. My father, God rest his soul, was confused, and she manipulated him.”

“Actually, the statement regarding your little problem came from your mother. That’s how she referred to it, ‘Simon’s little problem.’”

“What?” Fisher’s face turned beet red. “No, it was my father. Mother still sees the truth. She knows I’m an innocent victim.”

“Innocent victim?” Ricky enunciated slowly.

“I know your associate doesn’t care one way or another, but I was framed.”

“You keep telling yourself that, Doc.” Ricky snorted with disgust. “Just like you keep insisting that you didn’t set Professor Harden’s office on fire after you almost failed his class.”

“Why would I bother? I took the class again and fared much better with a more enlightened professor. One who, I might add, wasn’t a pervert who liked to play dress-up.”

“Different class at a different college. You switched schools a lot. Why is that?”

“I expect the best,” Simon said. “I was extremely disappointed in the education, or rather lack thereof, I was being offered.”

“You’ve been getting some interesting mail lately. Planning on baking a cake?”

“Agent Dick.” Simon chuckled. “The outside world is filled with crazy characters. I can’t stop some poor lonely woman from sending me mail. The guy in the next cell, Tim Doriean, is in here for killing his pregnant wife. Bolted her inside the household freezer. Kept her there for over a year before someone figured it out. At least once a week, he gets a letter from some misguided woman begging him to marry her. There are some seriously deranged people out there.”

“I’ve got a question for you, Dr. Fisher,” Val said casually and took another sip of her coffee. “If you’re innocent, then why did you confess? This has nothing to do with the case. I’m just curious. It sounds like you got a raw deal.”

“I didn’t confess.” Simon scoffed at the idea. “Haven’t you been listening? I was framed by a jealous dyke. I’ve warned Janie time and time again to stay away from those people. Just not natural.”

“No kidding.” Val pretended to agree. “You must be worried. Janie’s back in Boston under the influence of that deviant, and you’re stuck in here.”

“I don’t know why she doesn’t listen to me. That will change once I’m out of here.”

“I hope you’re free very soon. I’d hate to think about someone I cared about hanging around with that type. Agent Dick, are we done yet?”

“No.”

“Dr. Fisher has informed us that he has nothing to say. Until his lawyer is available, we’re wasting our time. Hell, even if his lawyer were here, we’d be wasting our time.”

“Fine.” Ricky pretended to fuss before he called for the guard.

“Holy crap,” Val said once Simon was escorted from the room. “Now I understand why Calloway called for the clown wagon instead of letting it go to trial.”

“No kidding.” Ricky gulped. “He’s nuts. This guy really believes that Janie is alive. We need to drop in on Fisher’s lawyer. She’s in LA. I want to wrap this up before we find another body.”

“I agree. Now that we’ve tipped our hand, he knows that we know. Calloway has to be number one on his hit list. I’d like to be in Boston, if anything happens. This guy let a child molester run wild. I want to be the one to grab him by the short hairs.”

“You believe Fisher is behind this?” Ricky gloated.

“So do you. The guy knew too much. Pity we can’t use it. Even if we got the tape in, Fisher can just claim his lawyer or his mommy told him about the unfortunate events. It doesn’t help that the guy is a couple clowns short of a circus.”

“I’ll send a copy of the video to Calloway, then we can hit the road.”

“Hurry. It will take her forever to figure out how to play the video.”

“Done, let’s go.”

*   *  *

It did take CC a good amount of time to open the video message. Thankfully Leigh Mulligan intervened and loaded it onto her laptop.

“Look at the cocky bastard,” CC said with disgust as they watched the video at her desk.

“Janie Jensen fought back?” Leigh asked, the confusion evident in her voice.

“Not that we know of. The only victim we know that fought back was the surviving victim.”

“Who was that?”

“My wife.”

“But Brown said Janie?”

“The twitchy little freak thinks she’s alive. He confuses his victims with Janie. My wife
Jamie
really confused him. It’s the reason we took a plea. The little bugger really is nuts, legally nuts. The truth is, we never had enough evidence to ensure a conviction.”

“And yet you still got him. Amazing. Okay, so other than tipping her hand, what did Brown accomplish?”

“Now that he knows that they know, he’ll step up his game.”

“That would be interesting if it weren’t so freaking insane.”

CC looked up at Leigh, who was studying the board she had created. “We had to push him.” CC tried to reason with her new partner. “Worst-case scenario, I’ve been moved way up on the hit parade.”

“What is the best-case scenario?”

“I’ve been moved up on the hit parade. That or Simon’s goon will take an interest in Ricky. Either way we’ll be on the alert.”

“Seriously?” Leigh sputtered. “The best and the worst outcome is a target on your back. I don’t know.”

“Honestly, neither do I. We’re just playing a hunch. Maybe the background check on Fisher’s playmates will give us a leg up.”

“A leg up on what?” Palmucci entered the conference room.

“Who kidnapped the Lindberg baby. Got any ideas?”

“You’re a real smart-ass, Calloway. What’s going on with your grand plan? So far all I’ve seen is nothing but smoke and mirrors.”

“Best I can do.”

“If that’s your best, we’re all screwed. I got a good case against your partner.”

“Take your best shot, Palmucci. In the meantime, Leigh will play you a video we’ve been watching. I need to talk to my boss, but he’s locked in with Crowley.”

“That cannot be good.” Leigh cued up the tape for Palmucci. “Didn’t Crowley retire a few years ago? Why is he butting in on this business with Andy?”

“Because he can. He was the number-one badge in this city forever and as backward as the day is long. He still thinks that women shouldn’t be on the streets.”

“The first time I met him, he referred to me as a greasy wop,” Palmucci said. “Unless you’re an Irishman, Crowley doesn’t think you should be wearing a badge.”

“Nice,” Mulligan said. “So he’s in there chewing the captain a new one because Andy is a good old boy?”

“Yes.” CC glanced over to the Captain’s office. “I’m glad you’re here, Mulligan. But I have to say I miss the coffee the guys were bringing me every morning.”

“It’s no secret that almost everyone wanted Max’s seat.”‘

“I hate this little tool!” Palmucci slammed his fist on the desk. “He did everything but say that he’s in on it. The little dingle berry needs to have his arse kicked.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Everyone in the squad room jumped when the door to the captain’s office flew open. Crowley stomped out, his face red and the veins in his neck bulging.

“Listen to me, you stupid Canuck. You do what you’re told.”

“Or?” Rousseau confidently challenged. “If you’d like to testify on Andy’s behalf, feel free.”

“Shove it.” Crowley stormed out of the squad room.

“Like a breath of fresh air, isn’t he?” Palmucci returned his attention to the video. “Hey, what’s the word on Mac C? I need to get my bets for Sunday in.”

“I can’t get through to him,” CC said. “Keep it down about Mac if you don’t mind.”

“Try him again,” Palmucci grumbled.

“Fine,” CC snapped unclipping her phone. Quickly her mood turned surly when she was unable to get it to dial her uncle’s number.

“Here, let me.” Leigh snatched the cell phone from CC’s grasp. “You were streaming real-time video to him.”

“Great. I’m putting my career in the hands of a woman who can’t work her phone.” Palmucci shivered. “Oops, your CO does not look happy.”

“Calloway, my office, now!”

“Sucks to be you.” Palmucci gloated.

“No kidding.”

“Tell me you have something!” Rousseau said before she had a chance to close the door.

“Nothing we didn’t already know.”

“Not what I was hoping to hear.”

“We’ve just confirmed that all of the unfortunate mishaps weren’t mishaps. Fisher probably knows that we’re on to him.”

“Oh, goody. Any other happy news?”

“No, sir.”

“Calloway, what’s going on with you?”

“I wish I had a better foothold on this.” She confessed. It feels just like the last time I went up against this little puke.”

“It would help if we had a clue who we’re looking for.”

“True enough. Right now I don’t know who to trust.”

“You think there’s someone on the inside?”

“Wouldn’t surprise me. At this moment, I trust you and Max. Everyone else involved with this farce is new.”

“The Feds sure, but what about Mulligan?”

“I’d like to trust her and Brown, but let’s not forget the boatload full of Feds that showed up out of nowhere, Palmucci, and the rest of the lot. Everyone came on board right about the time Beaumont showed up. I’d like to think I’m not working with that psycho’s handyman, but how can I be sure?”

“You can’t,” he said grimly.

“Please don’t make me promise to watch my ass, again.”

“Just do it. Keep me up-to-date on everything, and I mean everything.”

“You say the sweetest things.”

“Get out of here. Go see your wife.”

“Good advice. Maybe the break will clear my head.”

*   *  *

CC didn’t make it past her desk when Wayne rushed in waving his hands frantically. CC surmised that he was either on to something that might be important or he had finally snapped.

“Credit card.” Gasping, he almost fell over when he caught up with CC.

“Wayne, catch your breath,” CC said as Mulligan joined them.

“Credit card.”

“Yeah, you’ve said that.”

“Okay.” Wayne fought to control his breathing. “The prepaid credit card that was used to book Billy Ryan’s room was used to book another hotel room.”

“That’s the best news I’ve heard in weeks. Where was it used?”

“The Beachside in Revere.”

“I know where that is. It’s right across the street from Blanchards Liquors.” CC’s heart pounded against her chest.

“The room was booked the night before Dr. Temple died.”

“Wayne, this is great.” CC felt a jolt of exhilaration. “We’ll swing by and find out if anyone at the hotel can help us with a description of our mystery man.”

“He’s still there.”

“Come again?” Mulligan asked.

“Whoever used the card hasn’t checked out yet.”

*   *  *

“Good afternoon. Is Ms. Cockburn in?” Val asked as she and Ricky showed their badges.

“No,” the petite, bored-looking woman said.

“We need to speak to her regarding one of her clients.” Val

kept her tone polite as she tucked away her badge.

“Simon Fisher?”

“Yes. How did you know that?” Val leaned closer, sensing that the young lady wouldn’t object.

“Ms. Cockburn never has more than one client at a time.”

“Really? I’m Val by the way.”

“Leila.” The slender woman giggled slightly. “It’s true. She never has more than one client at a time. Which is good because she’s always running around. I had no idea estate planning was so complicated.”

“Is that her specialty?”

“It’s all she does.”

“With only one client, how does she manage to keep you busy?”

“I have to do all sorts of stuff, background checks, booking flights and hotel rooms. You wouldn’t believe the errands she has me run.”

“When is she due back?”

“Don’t know. She called the other day to let me know that she had to extend her trip. I’m just enjoying the peace and quiet, and I get home in time to watch
Ellen
.”

“A real slave driver, huh?”

“She’s always sending me all over the place to pick up weird stuff.”

“Like what?” Val took a seat on the edge of the desk.

“One time I had to pick up a snake. Not just any snake, a rattlesnake. I almost peed my pants the whole drive back to the office. I mean it was in a box, still I was terrified.”

“A rattlesnake?” Val was taken aback.

“Swear to God.” Leila held up her hand to emphasize the point. “What can I do? She pays mad money. Plus I have a company car. She pays for the gas, my cell phone, and lots of other things, so long as I hand in the receipts. She’s a real stickler for receipts. I guess lawyers have to be that way.”

“We have to go.” Ricky handed Leila his card. “Thank you for your help. Just let Ms. Cockburn know that I need to speak to her.”

*   *  *