Checkmate (Caitlin Calloway Mystery Book 2) (6 page)

“Having the same problem at my place,” CC said. “Loving the weather, but it’s a new house and the garden is shabby in comparison to yours.” CC rambled, fully aware that Mulligan was carefully watching her. “I hate to bother you, Dr. Himple . . .” CC abruptly cut herself off when she noticed the older woman’s eyebrows lift, apparently questioning how CC knew of her occupation. “My apologies. I noticed your name on the mailbox. Occupational hazard. We notice things.”

Dr. Himple nodded. CC instantly liked this woman who seemed completely at ease with herself and the world in general. So unlike her neighbor.

“Speaking of noticing things…” the doctor began to say hesitantly. “The police seem to have taken an interest in my neighbors. Tell me there’s something scandalously exciting happening.”

“Wish we could.” CC smiled, wishing she could share their suspicions with the kindly older woman. “We just had a few questions about the Stern’s au pair.”

“Annie?”

“She hasn’t called home in over two weeks, and her parents are very concerned.”

“Oh, dear.”

“Have you seen or heard anything that might help us track her down?”

“You think she ran off?” She gasped. “Not that one. If anything I’d be looking at…” Her voice trailed off as she seemed to realize what she was about to say.

“What is it, Doctor?” Mulligan asked. “Her parents are terribly worried.”

“I don’t know anything certain.” Dr. Himple hesitated. “It’s just that, well, Natalie wasn’t very nice to the girl. If you ask me, I think she was jealous. Then again, when wasn’t she jealous? You’d think that husband of hers was Warren Beatty. “

“When was the last time you saw Annie?”

“A couple of weeks ago,” she confidently answered. “Annie may have been very young, but let me tell you, she was quite reliable. Those two boys were more than a little difficult to handle. Annie is a good kid. Very polite and the patience of a saint.”

“Do you think Annie might have had enough and thrown in the towel?” CC asked.

“No.” The response was adamant.

“Even with Mrs. Stern’s snotty behavior?”

“She wouldn’t. Annie was humbled by her parent’s scraping the money together so she could make this trip. She couldn’t let them down.”

CC and Leigh thanked the good doctor for her time before deciding to pay Mr. J.M. Charles Stern a visit at his office. CC tensed slightly as she made her way through the mid-afternoon traffic. Navigating the streets of the financial district was difficult enough; adding the lateness of the hour turned it into a horrible experience.

“I liked the way you handled yourself,” Leigh said. “It’s true what they say about you.”

“What do they say?”

“That you could sell snow to an Eskimo.”

“Hah!” CC barked, thoroughly amused by the comment. “Right. That lady was easy. I’m guessing by all the time she’s spending in the garden that she’s retired and probably not by choice. Doctors hang on forever. They talk about retiring, but they’re addicted to their work. Dr. Himple seems to have a lot of time on her hands. I’m willing to bet she’s a widow. Also sticking her with a lot of free time. She just needs someone to talk to.”

“I doubt that the Sterns make for good company.” “There didn’t seem to be anyone else on the block around her age. Too many minivans, which means middle-aged or twenty-something soccer moms. Something I seriously doubt that Dr. Himple has a great deal in common with.”

“You’re thinking no kids?” Leigh seemed to be intrigued by CC’s assessment.

“The house is too small. By the looks of it, she’s lived there for a long time. Annie was probably very bright and well spoken. I think she and Dr. Himple enjoyed chatting.”

“Yeah, the Sterns don’t strike me as the type to do a coffee chat with the staff.”

“From the vibes I get from Mrs. Stern, I have a feeling that most of the world doesn’t meet her exacting standards.”

“How did you know that I’m divorced?”

“Lucky guess.” CC said. “Very few cops get through with only getting hitched once.”

“You let those ladies think that you’re married to a man. Why?”

“They assumed. Although I think the doctor wouldn’t have batted an eye, Mrs. Stern would have tried to act overly cool with it. I wouldn’t have gotten as much out of her as I did. She places her family above all else. She also thinks they are above anyone and everything. I made you out as a lost divorcee and me a happily married woman. Next time I’ll let slip that I’m married to a doctor. That should narrow the gap just a wee bit.”

“So, if you’re the happily married one and I’m the hapless blonde floozy, does that make me Cagney and you Lacey?”

“No.” CC chuckled.

“Why? Because Sharon Gless was so much hotter than Tyne Daly?”

“See, you do catch on quick.” CC finally found a place to park.  “Now, we need to get moving.”

“And just what is your game plan?”

“Ever play chess?”

“Yes, with my dad. Why?”

“Familiar with the term ‘removal of the guard’?”

“Kind of. You want to remove Mrs. Stern’s protection so…”

“So she’s vulnerable. And when you’re vulnerable, you make mistakes.”

“What about a squeeze? You know building up pressure until she can’t keep up with our moves?”

“If we try that, she’ll have her defenses up. Or worse, her lawyer on our butts,” CC said, impressed by Mulligan’s knowledge of chess. “If we can catch her off balance, we’ve got a shot at finding out something other than the fact that Annie is missing.”

*   *  *

The office was typical of financial firms that littered the district. CC often wondered what these folks really did all day long. They always seemed busy, yet given the way the economy was circling the bowl, what did they do for forty-some-odd hours a week? A good-looking man directed them toward J.M. Charles Stern’s office.

“Snaps, will be with you in a moment,” he informed them.

“Snaps?” CC couldn’t resist.

“College, nickname. He had a thing for wearing suspenders.” He chuckled. “Well, until . . .”

“He met his wife?” CC finished for him.

“Yeah,” his smile dimed. “Oh, here he is.” He quickly blurted out.

“Mr. Stern, I’m Detective Calloway and this is Detective Mulligan,” CC offered her greeting as his college pal darted out of the office.

J.M. Charles Stern was thin, a bit on the wiry side. He and his wife were a picture-perfect suburban couple. Hair properly coifed, nannies for the children, and a gal who came in twice a week to clean. Like his wife, he spoke proper English clouded by a hint of disdain.

“I have met Detective Mulligan previously.” Since he failed to offer his hand, CC refrained from doing so. “Any luck? I’m quite surprised that Annie hasn’t been in touch. She appeared to be far more responsible.”

“Appearances can be deceiving.” CC tried to gauge just how much this man knew about what was and wasn’t happening in his happy home. “When was the last time you saw or spoke to her?”

“The morning she quit.”

“Did she seem distracted?”

“Not at all.” He shook his head as if trying to understand the situation. “Everything was normal. Annie said she was taking the boys to the park. I was more than a little surprised when I returned home that evening and my wife informed me that she tendered her notice.”

“Well she didn’t,” CC said. “She didn’t give the standard two weeks. Annie walked out.”

“Yes.” He cleared his throat. “So unlike her. And not come by and get her last check or belongings. It doesn’t make any sense. Then again, my wife…” His words trailed off, and a look of confusion clouded his face.

“Mr. Stern, we hate to take up your time,” CC quickly began to say when he seemed to be losing his train of thought. She suspected that if he started thinking about his wife’s version of events, chances were he would quickly clam up. “Would you mind if we took a look at Annie’s belongings? It might give us some hint as to where she’s staying. Maybe there’s a friend or schoolmate we haven’t spoken to yet that might know something.”

“Of course. Just let me…”

CC was on her cell phone before he could finish what he was saying. She knew he was about to call his wife to clear things with her. Mr. Stern contacting his controlling wife was the last thing she wanted.

“I just need you to confirm that with the ADA.” She thrust the phone at him. His eyes bugged out. “Just need to keep things on the up and up. Annie might try to blame you or us for invading her privacy. Teenagers can be unpredictable. No one wants a lawsuit when all any of us are trying to do is put her parents’ worries to rest.”

He seemed baffled by her actions and threats but conceded and gave his verbal consent. CC had just gotten exactly what they needed. Max loved it when she pulled a fast one on some hapless idiot. She was going to miss the way he’d shake his head and call her slick.

“Thanks.” CC smiled graciously after she concluded her call. “Trifling details can be tedious. I guess I don’t have to tell you that.” She nodded towards his overly organized desk.

“Oh, I understand,” he said, although CC could detect a lingering sound of confusion in his voice.

“We’ll let you get back to business.” They tried to appear casual as they made their departure as quickly as possible.

“That was interesting,” Leigh said while CC drove with urgency. “Let me see if I can follow your reasoning. Mr. J.M. Charles Stern just gave his consent allowing us to search his home. Something the formidable Mrs. Stern is against. He has no idea at how pissed off his wife is going to be. But since you had him give his consent to our ever friendly ADA I’m assuming it was Collins he has no recourse.”

“I just wish I could have called in the techs,” CC said. “His wife is going to be pissed.”

“I know it’s wrong to feel good about this.” Leigh gave a snort. “But knowing that we’re going to disrupt Natalie Stern’s day pleases me.”

“Yeah, me, too.”

“More importantly, I’m hoping we discover something that will help us find Annie,” Leigh said. “You are good. Everyone we’ve talked to, you’ve somehow reminded them this is about Annie.”

Upon arriving at the Stern residence, they learned the lady of the house had dropped her faux politeness and opted for a more hostile approach to her guests.

“I told you before that you can’t invade my privacy,” Natalie Stern bellowed in the most unpleasant manner.

“I understand how upsetting this is,” CC said soothingly. “Perhaps you should contact your husband? He gave permission. In the meantime, we just need to see Annie’s room. We’ll be out of your way as quickly as possible. Again, perhaps you should call your husband. I swear if we didn’t keep track of them, they’d forget to eat.”

“Really?” Mrs. Stern sounded suspicious. “And just what does your husband do?” Once again her condescending tone was painfully obvious.

“I married a doctor.” CC brushed past the annoying woman.

“Really? Then why—”

“Oh, my pension might come in handy,” CC offered in a conspiratorial whisper. “Like I said, if we don’t keep track of them, Lord knows what kind of trouble they can get into. I’m just thinking ahead and putting a little something aside.”

“Smart girl.”

“Now if you could just show us Annie’s room? We can get out of your hair, and I can head home for the day. Plus if we clear out all of her things, you won’t be troubled by any of this any longer.”

Mrs. Stern reluctantly showed the detectives the way. Her hesitation only further confirmed CC’s suspicions. When she saw the state of Annie’s room, her heart dropped. Everything was in place except all the bedding had been torn off the bed and tossed onto the floor.

“What happened to this girl?” Leigh voiced CC’s fears.

Chapter 5
 

They took all of Annie’s things back to the station. Wayne
needed to go through the laptop and cell phone. Leigh personally
wanted to go through the phone log.

“Pretty girl.” CC stared at the picture of Annie Fraser and her
family. She had found the family portrait resting on top of the girl’s
nightstand.

CC couldn’t shake the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.
The way the girl’s bed had been trashed didn’t fit. Who keeps their
room immaculate then tosses their sheets around?

“Who walks off their job in a foreign country and leaves
behind everything including their passport?”

“No one.”

CC felt her stomach churn as she gazed at the image of Annie
laughing happily, surrounded by her parents and her two older
brothers. It was the same with all cops. When the victims are so
very young, full of life and promise, the loss seems immeasurable.

“I used to do that,” CC said.

“What’s that?” Leigh glanced at the picture.

“Look at the jacket and belt Annie is wearing. I’m willing to
bet they belong to one of her brothers. When I was a kid, my older
brother couldn’t keep me out of his closet.”

“I only have sisters,” Leigh said with a smile. “But all my
friends used to raid their brothers’ closets. Nice belt. Armani? I
would have swiped it. So, do you still ransack your brother’s
closet?”

“He died.” CC tried to shrug it off. She liked Mulligan; she just
didn’t feel a need to divulge the convoluted details of her troubled
childhood. “You can tell that’s Armani from this picture?”

“Oh yeah.”

“Any luck with the cell?”

“Annie didn’t lead an exciting life. She called the employment agency, the Sterns, BC a couple of times, the library, and with the
aid of an international calling card, she called home. The calls back
to Kensington were the most frequent. The husband seems clueless.
He struck me as a gutless wonder since the first day.”

“No kidding. I worry about people who let their girlfriends or wives change them. Mrs. Stern is the key to this case. Getting her to be
more forthcoming is going to be a challenge.”