Murder in the Dorm (13 page)

That evening Charlie took Kate to dinner at the Casa Santini, a restaurant that was making every effort to replace Sandoval’s and largely succeeding. They both had rabbit cacciatore and a very nice chianti. Charlie related his late-lunch conversation and asked Kate if anything struck her.

“If you did talk to this Giacomo, what would you be looking for?”

“Basically I’d just like to size him up, to see if I can believe that he’d shoot McDermott deliberately or whether it’s likelier that he was trying to scare McDermott and things went wrong. I can see Giacomo trying to get some of his money back from McDermott, but it’s a jump to killing him for revenge. That would get Giacomo nowhere except in trouble with the police.”

“Charlie, you’re probably being too rational. It sounds like McDermott really did screw up Giacomo’s life. Revenge doesn’t look so unbelievable to me. And don’t forget that he was tipped off as to who McDermott was. Not knowing before he was tipped off probably was extremely frustrating and would have added to Giacomo’s anger and resentment.”

“What I want to know is who tipped him off?”

“Well, whoever did had to know who he was and that McDermott had bilked him. Why don’t you get Giacomo’s address, if you don’t have it, and see if you can learn something from his neighbors? You can use your line that you’re helping the police.”

“That’s a great idea. It’d be risky because DeVries or Matson may find out, but it could be worthwhile. I didn’t get his address but was told he lives on Elsinore, so that won’t be a problem. We tend not to think of it now, but there’s always the phonebook.”

Back at home, a look in the phonebook provided what Charlie needed.

“Giacomo’s address is on Elsinore Crescent. That’s a very upscale address; no wonder he’s carrying a big mortgage. I wonder how he managed to get in there in the first place. It’s not an address you’d expect for a dispatcher.”

“That will make talking to his neighbors harder. People who live in places like that aren’t given to chattiness with total strangers who come knocking on their door.”

“You’re right. I’m going to need more than my standard story.”
 

Chapter 20

The Fourth Thursday

Charlie wasn’t late for his epistemology class, but he’d had to rush. He’d overslept and was distracted over breakfast and while dressing, thinking about how to approach Giacomo’s neighbors. During a student’s long-winded question he had an idea. He wouldn’t ask about Giacomo; he’d ask about the house.
 

Charlie’s class went well and lunch went well, so he was in good spirits when just after two o’clock he set out for Elsinore Crescent. Charlie had dressed carefully that morning, trying to look wealthier than a college prof. He was wearing a dark grey suit, a white shirt, and an expensive silk tie Kate had given him. He reached Giacomo’s address without difficulty and parked in front of the house, which was well in keeping with the style and grounds of others in the crescent. Charlie estimated it had to have four bedrooms upstairs and that the downstairs would be spacious and include living and dining rooms, a kitchen and pantry, and no doubt a study or library.

Charlie walked up to the front door and rang the bell. He expected and got no response. He rang again and made a show of looking in the nearest window. Surely by now a curious neighbor would be watching. Charlie made a slow turn, as if looking for someone and sure enough, he spied a woman directly across the street either checking her mailbox or pretending to. Charlie hesitated a moment, as if unsure of himself, then crossed the street and approached her.

“Good afternoon. I wonder if you know anything about the Giacomo house. There’s no one there and I was led to believe that it’s coming up for sale.”

Having dropping Giacomo’s name was intended to give Charlie the credibility he needed and it worked because the woman took a step forward and asked if he knew Stephen. She was in her late sixties and probably welcomed a chance to chat.

“No; I don’t know him personally, but I believe that the house is going to be put up for sale.”

“Well, I don’t know anything about that, but it wouldn’t surprise me. I don’t know Stephen well. His wife died, you know, and his two boys are away at school.”

Just then Charlie got lucky because an older woman he’d not noticed behind him joined them.

“Hello, Ethel. Everything all right?”

“Oh, Janet, yes. This gentleman was asking about the Giacomo house. He thinks it’s to be sold.”

“About time! Poor Stephen has been hard-pressed to make his mortgage payments.”

“Now, Janet, you can’t…”

“No; this isn’t gossip, and now that he’s been arrested…”

“Janet! I’m sure this gentleman doesn’t want us to air our dirty laundry.”

Before the second woman spoke Charlie tried to head off a possible argument.

“Excuse me, but I do know about Mr. Giacomo’s arrest. I don’t know the details, and don’t want to know, but my wife and I have long wanted to move to Elsinore Crescent and all I’m interested in is not missing this opportunity. If selling the house helps Mr. Giacomo, so much the better.”

“Why don’t you both come in and we’ll have some coffee and talk a bit.”

The woman’s living room was a large and gracious place to enjoy a cup of coffee and what she provided was excellent. The other woman, Janet, groused a bit but then relaxed over her coffee. When the first woman, Ethel, sat down, Charlie addressed Janet, the one who’d joined them.

“Do you know Mr. Giacomo well?”

“None of us know him well. He kept to himself. He also had odd work hours. He’s a dispatcher for a trucking firm, you know. Sometimes he worked early, starting at one or two A.M. and sometimes he’d start at noon or in the evening. The firm, I think it’s called Sullivan Trucking, has all sorts of trucks for moving furniture but also for special deliveries. A few years ago he seemed to be doing fine, then his wife died and everything seemed to fall apart. I don’t think his sons are any help at all. They’re both now in England and intent on their degrees. They seldom came back after they left for England.”

Charlie noticed Ethel was looking uncomfortable and thought he’d best get back to the alleged point of his visit.

“So you think there’s a good chance he’ll put the house up for sale?”

“I don’t think he will; the bank will. Having been arrested he can’t work and he’s way over his head. As for the two boys, they will have to fend for themselves.”

At that point Ethel broke in, trying to shift the conversation.

“And what is it you do, Mr….?”

Charlie had been dreading this, but couldn’t lie.

“I’m so very sorry. I’m Charles Douglas; I teach at Meredith.”

This seemed to put Ethel more at ease.

“Is it just you and your wife? It’s a pretty big house.”

“Yes, it is, and I know it’s too large for us, but there are no small houses on the Crescent, are there?”

“No, that’s true. In fact, Mr. Giacomo’s is one of the smallest. It has four bedrooms. Most of the others have five or six. This one has five. These are houses originally built for good-sized families.”

“Well, perhaps we should rethink it. It’s just that when I was told about Mr. Giacomo and where he lived, I couldn’t help myself. Perhaps I’m being unrealistic. Look, I’ve imposed on you enough. I think I should be off. Thank you for the coffee.”

With that Charlie rose and his silent wish was fulfilled as Janet also rose and thanked Ethel, clearly ready to walk out with Charlie. Ethel saw this, but could hardly object. A minute later Charlie and Janet were walking down the path to the sidewalk.

“Can I give you a lift, or are you one of Ethel’s close neighbors?”

“I live just one house down. I only came up because I saw you looking at the Giacomo house. I’ve been expecting someone to put up a ‘For Sale’ sign. As for a ride, I was planning on going to the drugstore. I’d appreciate a lift there and I can have a leisurely stroll back.”

Janet and Charlie crossed to his car and Charlie caught a glimpse of Ethel at her window, no doubt ruing Janet’s having connected with Charlie.

The drugstore was just four blocks along the street the Crescent opened onto and Janet said nothing while they drove. When Charlie pulled up in front of the store she turned to him and spoke in a serious tone.

“Mr. Douglas, this is none of my business, and I’ve probably already said too much, but you seem a nice person and I think you should seriously rethink your interest in the Giacomo house. I didn’t want to say more in front of Ethel. I knew Stephen needed money. We shared a house cleaner for a time and she told me that he hadn’t paid her for several weeks before she finally quit. She never did get her money. I don’t understand how he managed to buy his house in the first place. Another neighbor thought it was an investment; I’d say it was pretension. Anyway, I’m sure there are liens on the house over and above the mortgage, so there are more creditors than just the bank. I suspect purchasing the house would be a mess and it might run more than it’s worth.”

“I appreciate your frankness, and I must say that the whole idea looks much less attractive now than it did this morning. Poor Giacomo sounds like he’s had a run of very bad luck. Maybe he bought the house with an inheritance and then things went wrong.”

“Oh, no. One of the few times his wife Marilyn and I talked openly, not long before she died, she told me Stephen had started from scratch and done quite well in the stock market. But we both know that can change in a minute and I’m sure it did. Besides, there was not only the cost of maintaining the house, and of course living expenses, but the sizeable additional expense of sending the two boys to London and supporting them there. They don’t have scholarships or anything like that. I’ve no idea how they’re coping now. No, Stephen was in serious financial difficulties and you don’t want to inherit any part of that. Well, I’d better do my bit of shopping. Thank you for the ride.”

“I can wait and drive you back.”

“No, thank you. I’m looking forward to the walk home.”

With that Janet was gone and Charlie drove away, reflecting that the main thing he’d learned was that Giacomo had played the market.

Over dinner Charlie told Kate about his conversation with Ethel and Janet. He had barely finished when Kate stated the implication of what he’d been told.

“If Giacomo played the market, Kim Berger could be back in the picture.”

Chapter 21

The Fourth Friday

Charlie was finishing his second coffee when Kate came into the kitchen and headed straight for the coffeemaker. He waited till she was half through her first cup.

“You know, we both may have jumped to the same conclusion. Just because Giacomo was playing the market doesn’t mean he had anything to do with Kim Berger. There are lots of brokers out there.”

“Yes, but it’s an interesting coincidence. Do you know if he was trading online, since that’s mainly what she handles?”

“No, and I doubt there’s any more to be gotten from the neighbors. I just hope DeVries doesn’t find out I talked with two of them.”

Charlie was in his office by eight-thirty. He was in the process of sorting out what he was going to do when the phone rang. Just as on the previous Friday morning, it was DeVries and Charlie steeled himself for a scolding about talking to Giacomo’s neighbors. He was pleasantly surprised when DeVries made no mention of his extracurricular sleuthing.

“Charlie, I thought you should know. Our suspect has cut a deal. He won’t be going to trial. His lawyer made out a persuasive case and the prosecutor settled for a confession and is going to charge him with manslaughter and recommend a fifteen-year term. Given how things work now, he should be out in eight. I’m sure whatever judge we draw will go along.”

“And the consensus still is that McDermott killed Kelsey?”

“Yes. I should have told you. His prints were on the bookend.”

“So as far as you’re concerned the case is closed?”

“Well, it will be for homicide after the hearing. That’s still a couple of months away. There’s no hurry now, and our suspect will get credit for time served. He will, of course, be kept in custody. I know this won’t satisfy you, and that you still think there was someone else involved, but Guy and I have no grounds to continue digging into this and we both do think that we’ve got it right. Kelsey and McDermott were running a scam; McDermott killed Kelsey; and our suspect killed McDermott. As for the missing money, that’s in the hands of the forensic accountants.”

“What about the missing computer?”

“Our captain decided that it’s part of the missing money problem, so not our concern. Frankly, I’m not optimistic about either the money or the computer being found. There’s just not enough to go on. Worse is that we don’t know who tipped off our suspect and have nothing to work with there, either.”

“Well, I hope you’ll let me know if anything changes.”

“I will. ‘Bye, Charlie.”

Charlie hung up and the only positive thing he felt was that DeVries now wouldn’t be learning about his snooping expedition. He thought that she and her partner were wrong. The question was what he could do about it.

Charlie worked on his paper most of the morning, dealt with the usual mass of emails, spoke with one student who came in with questions, and went to lunch. He was hoping Baynes might be at the Club so he could talk over the latest on the McDermott case. The Club table had its normal complement, but no Baynes. Things looked up, though, when Janice Sommers walked in. She was alone and headed for a table for two. Charlie picked up his glass of wine and sandwich plate and followed her.