Murder.Com (6 page)

     
Tom cleared his throat, shifted his posture and put his arm on the edge of the desk.
 
"Angie tells me there were some problems here at work.
 
Can you enlighten me?"

     
Ken shot him a look.
 
"Problems?
 
Did she give you a clue as to what they were about?"

     
"No.
 
She didn't know.
 
Told me to talk to you."

     
With a thoughtful look, Ken picked up a pencil and rested his elbow on the desk.
 
He didn't speak for a few long moments.
 
"The only thing I can think of is that he might have a problem with a client."
 
He leaned back in his chair.
 
"And he wouldn't confide in me about something like that unless it affected the business."

     
Tom nodded.
 
"Do you know of any personal difficulties he might have been having?
 
Like at home or with his health?"

     
Ken raised a brow.
 
"I don't understand these questions.
 
I thought Bud died in the car accident."

     
Tom drummed his fingers.
 
"That crash didn't occur until hours after his golf game.
 
He never called Angie to let her know he'd be late.
 
I'm trying to close the gap between the time he left the course until the wreck.
 
She told me you had a short meeting with him after the game.
 
How long did it last?
 
And where did you meet?"

     
"We talked at the clubhouse for about thirty minutes."

     
"What'd you talk about?"

     
"Business."

     
"Did Bud say where he'd be going after he left you?"

     
Ken shrugged.
 
"No.
 
I just assumed he went home like he usually did.
 
So it surprised me when Angie called the house and asked if we'd seen him."

     
"Did that bother you then?"

     
"Not at first.
 
But later that night, when Sandy called Angie back and found out he still hadn't shown up, then we began to worry."

     
"What did you think might have happened?"

     
Ken stared at him for a moment before speaking.
 
"I didn't have the foggiest idea."

     
"Did you consider going out and looking for him?"

     
"Why?
 
I wouldn't have known where to begin."
 
Ken frowned.
 
"I don't like the tone of these questions."

     
"Sorry, didn't mean to step over my bounds."
 
Tom stood and extended his hand.
 
"Thanks for your help."

     
Ken pushed his chair back and stood.
 
"Wish I could have been more helpful."

     
"I may be back after the autopsy."
 
Tom started to leave, then turned back.
 
"Oh, I'd appreciate it if you'd keep Bud's office locked and not let anyone in there until we know more."

     
"Sure, that's no problem."

     
Tom left and drove back to the accident site.
 
The first officers on the scene had already verified there were no skid marks.
 
The written report also stated that an anonymous caller had reported hearing an explosion and seeing the glow of what they thought to be a fire in that area.

     
He again walked the stretch of road on both sides where the Porsche had gone over the incline and methodically searched the ground where the car had left the road.
 
Then Tom slowly walked down toward the large oak.
 
One would never have guessed a car had gone over the embankment.
 
The only evidence left was scorched grass, roughed-up soil and the blackened side of the tree.
 
Within a few months, nature would heal those scars.
 
While he stood staring at the scene, his cell phone buzzed.
 
He snatched it from his pocket.
 
"Tom Hoffman here."

     
"Tom, this is Angie.
 
Sorry to bother you, but we need to talk."

     
"I'm in the area.
 
I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

     
He scurried back up the hill.
 
When he reached the Nevers' property, the gates were already ajar, so he drove through.
 
He parked in front of the house and hurried up the steps, but before he had a chance to knock, Angie opened the door.
 
She would have looked great in her designer jeans and pale-blue silk shirt, but the dark circles under her eyes marred her soft features.
 
He followed her into the study and before he could take a seat, she jolted him with her next statement.

     
"I don't believe Bud was driving the Porsche."

     
Tom raised a brow and leaned against the back of a chair, studying her for a moment.
 
She's gone into denial, he thought.
 
"What makes you think that?"

     
"Something inside me."
 
She stopped abruptly and put a fist to her heart.
 
"I can't explain it, but I want to start a search for him.
 
I know legally you can't do it, for what, seventy two hours for a missing person?"
 
She stared at him.
 
"Tom, I can't wait that long.
 
I'm going to hire a private detective.
 
Can you give me the name of a good one?"

     
He stepped away from the chair and approached her.
 
"Look, Angie.
 
Why don't you wait until we get a positive identification of the person in the car.
 
There's a possibility we'll know by tomorrow.
 
Don't do anything rash right now.
 
If it isn't Bud, we can start the investigation immediately."

     
Tears welled in her eyes.
 
"I can't stand it.
 
The frustration is driving me crazy"

     
He took her hand and led her to the couch.
 
"I know it's hard.
 
But I've already been doing a bit of digging."

     
She looked at him with wide eyes.
 
"Did you find out anything?"

     
"Not yet.
 
But I did talk to Ken Weber today and asked him about the problems at work that you'd mentioned.
 
He said that things were fine and that Bud must have meant some problem with a client."

     
Angie furrowed her brow and slowly shook her head.
 
"No, Bud distinctly said there were problems at work.
 
He'd have said client if he'd meant that."

     
"Tell me.
 
How well did Ken and Bud get along?"

     
Angie waved her hand.
 
"Beautifully.
 
They've been in business all these years without an argument."

     
Tom didn't want to upset her, so he decided not to say any more.
 
He'd find the answers he needed from another source.
 
"Promise you'll give me until tomorrow before hiring a P.I."

     
She squeezed his hand, her chin quivering.
 
"Only if you promise to call me the minute you find out anything.
 
I don't care what time it is."

     
"Done.
 
Scout's honor."
 
He put his fingers to his forehead and smiled.
 
"Now try to get a good night's rest.
 
I know this is a very trying ordeal."

     
"Ken and Sandy will be over tonight.
 
I'll talk to him about what Bud said.
 
Maybe he'll be able to enlighten me on what the problem might be."

     
"I'll call you tomorrow."
 
He gave her a hug and left.

*****

     
Angie watched Tom's car disappear over the crest.
 
She'd decided not to tell him about Melinda just yet.
 
First, she wanted to see if Ken knew anything about her or had any idea of what she wanted of Bud.
 
She felt that woman might have had something to do with his disappearance.

     
Marty scowled at Angie when she came into the kitchen.
 
"Mrs. Nevers, you have no business having company for dinner tonight.
 
You know you're not up to it."

     
Angie sat down in one of the kitchen chairs and dropped her head into her hands.
 
"Don't scold me, Marty.
 
It's only Ken and Sally.
 
I need my friends right now."

     
Marty stepped over and put a hand on Angie's shoulder.
 
"I'm sorry.
 
I didn't mean to scold.
 
I'm just worried about you."

     
Angie patted her hand.
 
"I know.
 
I'll be all right."
 
She glanced up at the clock.
 
"It's almost five.
 
They'll be here at six-thirty.
 
I think I'll go upstairs and take a nice long bath before getting dressed."

     
"That's a good idea.
 
Now get on with you so I can finish getting dinner ready."

     
Ken and Sandy arrived on time and Angie directed them into the study to have a cocktail before dinner.
 
She saw the concern in her friends' faces and tried to put them at ease.
 
"I'm doing fine and am so glad you're here with me right now."

     
Tears welled in Sandy's eyes
 
"I can't believe what's happened."

     
Angie fiddled with the stack of napkins on the bar.
 
"I'm hoping the body in the car proves not to be Bud's."

     
Ken shot a look at her as he stood behind the bar mixing the drinks.
 
"What do you mean by that?
 
Have the tests come back?"

     
She shook her head.
 
"No.
 
I just feel it."

     
"Who else could it be?"

     
"I don't know.
 
It's just this crazy feeling I have."

     
Ken remained silent.

     
Angie sat down in the big leather chair.
 
"Ken, did you know the strange woman who came to the party?"

     
Sandy looked puzzled and glanced from one to the other.
 
"What woman?"

     
"She said her name was Melinda."

     
At that moment, a crash sounded in the kitchen.
 
Angie jumped up and stuck her head out the open door of the study.
 
"Marty.
 
You okay?"

     
"Uh, sorry, Mrs. Nevers.
 
I just dropped an empty pan.
 
"Everything's fine."

     
She went back to her chair.

     
Sandy cocked her head.
 
"Melinda who?
 
I don't remember seeing any strange woman at the party."
 

     
"She didn't actually get more than inside the door before Bud took her back out on the porch.
 
I never learned her last name.
 
In fact, I never got to talk to Bud about her at all because the bus accident happened the next day and™"
 
Her gaze dropped to her clenched hands and she let out a soft sigh.
 
"That's why I wondered if you knew her."

     
Ken quickly responded.
 
"No.
 
I didn't see her and I don't recall anyone by... what was her name?"

     
Angie fought back the tears.
 
"Melinda.
 
I did so hope you knew her.
 
Bud seemed so upset afterwards and didn't act himself all week."

     
Ken put his glass on the bar.
 
"I don't mean to be rude and change the subject.
 
But do you think dinner might be ready?
 
I have an early appointment in the morning and can't be out too late."