Evelyn David - Sullivan Investigations 02 - Murder Takes the Cake (20 page)

“
So how do you explain the attempt to run Bridget down? What about the mail threats and the dead rat?” Mac’s disbelief was clear.

Lasky remained calm.
“I think death threats like these are in the eyes of the beholder. It’s only Bridget’s word that these events happened. Did anyone else see the car barreling towards her? Anyone else see the dead rat?”

“
I believe Bridget,” Mac said flatly. “Why exactly did you come here this afternoon?”

“
I heard that you were with Scott Merrell when he died. I wanted you to know that I knew the man, not learn about it through some investigation you felt obliged to conduct. If you’re not exactly Bridget’s family, you’re close. I also hoped you’d help your goddaughter to calm down. I can tell Josh is getting tired of all the…tension. Camille was low-key, even tempered and Bridget is….” Lasky shrugged.

Mac fought to keep his temper under control.
“I appreciate you coming to me with the information about Merrell. I’ll certainly talk to Bridget. Like you, I protect my family, and believe me when I tell you, the O’Herlihys are my family.”

Lasky
‘s cold hard stare convinced Mac the man had understood every word not spoken.

“
Thank you for your time.” Lasky rose. “You’ll be at Thanksgiving dinner?”

Mac considered for a moment, then nodded. His private plans with Rachel, Whiskey, and the television just got cancelled.

***

JJ answered the vibrating phone. She
‘d switched it off ‘ring’ after Edgar’s last call had almost given her a heart attack. “Edgar?”

“
No, this is Sean.”

She moved to the corner of the room.
“I can’t talk right now. I’m in the middle of a B&E.”

“
You’re having lunch?”

“
Not BLT, a B&E.”

“
Huh?”

“
Never mind. What do you want?”

“
We have to meet. Right away. It’s like super urgent!”

“
What’s wrong?”

“
There’s trouble. It’s the caskets. I don’t know what I should do.”

JJ glanced around Martha
‘s office. She was still alone. Edgar and the secretary were lingering over coffee and dessert (or at least that’s what she thought the old man had whispered when he’d called ten minutes ago).

“
Talk quick or call me tonight.”

“
This can’t wait that long. One of the caskets is back.”

“
Good. Now work on bringing back the other three.”

“
I didn’t; I can’t.”

“
What?”

“
I didn’t bring any caskets back yet. I was waiting on a truck a guy said he’d loan me tonight.”

“
How did the casket get back in the funeral home if you didn’t move it?”

“
I don’t know. And now the other three are missing.”

“
Missing?”

“
From where I had them hidden.”

“
Let me get this straight. Someone stole the caskets you stole from your father and now has returned one of them.”

“
Yeah. My Dad is going to kill me.”

She shook her head. Jeff O
‘Herlihy might have to get in line for that opportunity. “Maybe they’ll deliver the other three to the funeral home too and you’ll be off the hook.”

“
You really think so?” His sigh was audible through the cell phone. “But there’s another thing.”

“
There’s too many things, Sean. I’ve got to go.”

“
Wait! It was a dead rat. There was a dead rat in the casket. Rachel found it.”

“
Did you keep these caskets in a barn?”

“
No. A building my Dad owns. Right now he has some of my grandparents stuff stored in there. Things they had in the funeral home when they ran it. Mom told him to get rid of the stuff but he–”

“
I don’t care, Sean.”

“
You don’t care about the caskets?”

“
I don’t care that your Mom wanted.… Forget it. You’re making me crazy. I’ll call you tonight. Don’t do or say anything until then.”

“
I’ve already ordered a pizza. I missed lunch and–”

“
You can eat. Just don’t talk about the caskets.”

“
Oh, right. Thanks, JJ for–”

She hung up on him.

***

“
Where have you two been?” Mac stared at his associates. Edgar was in a suit and tie. JJ was in dark green coveralls accessorized with a tool belt. “Or rather what have you been up to? A Village People look-alike contest?”

“
A village who?” Edgar asked.

“
I don’t sing,” JJ answered.

“
Sing?” Edgar’s facial expression was priceless. “Who’s been singing?”

JJ laughed.
“The Village People were–”

“
Never mind,” Mac interrupted. “Both of you just tell me what you’ve been doing.”

Shrugging, JJ said,
“Fact finding mission.”

Edgar explained,
“I wanted to see if there was a connection between Martha Martinelli and Brian Crager, besides the Harvard one. I also wanted to know if there was any new contact between Martha and the Lasky brothers.”

“
Do I want to know why you are both dressed like you are?”

“
Probably not,” Edgar admitted. “After all I’m still in mourning.”

Mac and JJ did a double take.

JJ’s face turned red. “I thought you were chugging coffee and chocolate éclairs all afternoon?”

“
I did. We did.” Edgar smiled. “But then I think my new aftershave was too much for–”

“
Just stop.” Mac shook his head. “I don’t want to hear any more. I’ll need anti-acids on top of the pain pills if you keep up this conversation.” He turned on a radio, located behind his desk, cranking the sound up to the ‘window rattling’ setting. He motioned for them to follow him out into the hallway of the building, being careful not to jingle the bells on the front door.

“
Tell me what you found out, not how you did it.”

Edgar and JJ stared at him.
“You don’t want to talk in the office for some reason?”

“
Humor me. I’m getting a little paranoid. Tell me what you found out.”

“
Someday soon I want to reiterate my request for a digital camera and some decent sound equipment,” JJ said, pulling out her recorder.

“
Consider it reiterated and mark down my refusal again to spend money I don’t have.”

“
Fine.” JJ hit rewind on her recorder and played her voice notes for Edgar and Mac.

Mac paced the hallway.
“So she talked to Brian Crager and some member of the Lasky family before her death.”

“
Yes. But we don’t know if she actually had dinner with a Lasky,” JJ said. “We only know someone asked.”

Edgar chuckled.
“Maybe she just had drinks with him. Is it just me, or is there a pattern forming?”

“
You’re referring to the attempt on Bridget’s life at the karaoke bar and the shot glass we found at Crager’s?” Mac frowned. “Weak. We still don’t know if foul play was involved with either. By the way, it could have been a ‘she’. There’s also Helen Lasky in the mix. Anybody do a background search on her? Also anybody know exactly how Martha Martinelli died?”

JJ made a note.
“Heart attack was listed in the obits. But I’ll see if I can talk to someone at the hospital.”

Edgar moved his scooter chair closer and handed Mac a file.
“This morning I also managed to finish up the background check on Joshua Lasky. Only three surprises. I can’t confirm his alibi for the day Bridget says someone tried to run her down. He might be seeing his old girlfriend on the side. Oh, and he’s adopted. Ran into a wall with getting into the sealed records.”

Mac leaned against the wall and flipped through the file.
“I knew about the adoption. You talked to his co-workers about the alibi?” With Joshua’s flippant attitude about Bridget’s safety, Mac wanted that alibi nailed down. Edgar’s attempt to gain the information hadn’t worked, but he appreciated that the old man hadn’t wanted to light any fuses impacting Bridget’s relationship with Josh.

“
Yeah. I didn’t push too hard. I was afraid the problem might be the old girlfriend, Camille Denton. She works there too. Another damn lawyer. You want me to go back and talk to Josh’s supervisor?”

“
No. You were right to tread lightly. I’ll handle that.”

Edgar nodded.
“Okay. Well, I’ve put in a long day. I’d better head home. Some ladies from the church are bringing by some more food tonight. I’m hoping that stops soon. It’s been a month and I’ve got dozens of casseroles in the freezer. Mostly broccoli and chicken–you guys like those? I could bring you some. I hate broccoli, but those women don’t listen to me. They’re mostly widows. One of them brought me flowers the other day. Said it was to cheer me up. I don’t need cheering. My suspicion is that they’re after my body.”

“
Better not keep them waiting.” JJ laughed. “I think your body’s already past its ‘throw out by date’.”

“
I’ll have you know that–”

“
Enough. Edgar, go home!” Mac demanded. “JJ, I need to talk to you for a few minutes, please.”

“
Okay.” She frowned. “This isn’t about my wardrobe again, is it?”

“
No.” He watched Edgar get on the elevator. “You haven’t taken to leaving the office door unlocked have you?”

“
No.” Her eyes narrowed. “Is that why we’re out here in the hallway?”

“
Yeah. Might be nothing, but I found Leo Lasky and his driver waiting inside for me when I got here. I’d feel a whole lot better if we could get the office swept for bugs. Can you find someone who can do that?”

She nodded.
“I know someone who knows someone.”

“
I was counting on that.” He slowly opened the door, reaching up with one hand to hold the bells. “Edgar’s comment about flowers has me thinking. I’d like to get some for Rachel. Any suggestions?”

***

“You’re right. There aren’t any caskets in here,” JJ remarked, walking around the old warehouse. “But I’m not so sure about the rats.”

“
I’ve never seen any.”

“
You probably haven’t looked. I’m surprised your Dad hasn’t remodeled this building.” She glanced upward at the open beams above them and the night sky seeping through the grimy windows covering one whole side of the two-storied brick structure. The building was only about two miles from O’Herlihy’s. Now she knew how Sean was able to get away with four caskets without being caught. “It smells a little like coffee. I’m guessing that was what was originally stored in here.”

“
Maybe.” Sean fingered his sore ear, then shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“
Just used for storage?”

“
Mostly. I’ve held a few parties here.”

“
Is that why you wanted the caskets?”

“
Yeah. I got one for a Halloween party. It was damaged. One side was split in two. Dad was sending it to the dump. I took it instead.”

“
And then your friends suggested you get a few good ones to play with? And maybe to sell? Get some cash to buy beer, and cigarettes, and–”

“
Something like that,” he said, interrupting. “But no drugs. I’m not stupid.”

“
Really? Cause you’re acting way stupid.” She crossed the warehouse floor to the wall of dusty windows. “You think your friends took the caskets from here just to mess with you?”

“
Nah. Too much work, moving them around. Especially after–”

“
After it got around that a corpse grabbed your friend when you tried to steal the last one?”

Sean nodded.
“Really freaked them out.”

“
Good!” She walked around the building, noting the scuffed wooden floors, and stacks of plastic wrapped furniture. “Is this all your grandparents’ stuff?”

“
Yeah. I wrapped the sofa and some chairs back up after the parties. We didn’t hurt anything.”

“
Notice anything else missing?”

“
Besides the caskets?” Sean shrugged. “I don’t know. Don’t think so. Why?”