Out of Circulation, page 17
“Have you managed to find Leslie to question him?” I asked.
“No, much as I’d like to. I understand he and his mother had an acrimonious relationship.”
I released a deep sigh and told him what I’d witnessed when Winnie showed up at the deli while Leslie was working. To give John credit, he didn’t berate me for having gone to the deli to spy on Leslie.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Leslie’s with Fred Rawlins,” I said.
“Me neither,” John said, “especially if they were both in on the diary theft.”
“And maybe Winnie’s murder too,” I added softly.
“Is there anything else you remember hearing when Winnie and Sally were arguing?”
“Well, Winnie took offense that Sally had dared to tell her that her own son probably stole the diary.”
“Do you think she really was offended or angry? Because if Leslie was the one who stole the diary, he certainly didn’t hand it over to her.”
“I think she was genuinely pissed at Sally for making such a suggestion.”
John grimaced as he stood to leave, looking as discouraged as I’d ever seen him. And who could blame him? He now had three unsolved murders and a robbery to solve. I wished there was something I could do, but I was getting married tomorrow evening and in no position to help him. Although I hoped I had successfully changed his mind about considering Sally Prescott a viable suspect.
“I’m sorry I spoiled your day by questioning you about Winifred Thompson’s homicide,” he said.
I shrugged. “You have your job to do.”
“Still,” he said, trying to lighten the tone, “I promise the next time we talk will be at the rehearsal dinner tonight. And it won’t be about murder.”
I felt unsettled as I walked him to the door. Dylan and I were getting married tomorrow and leaving for Greece on Sunday. I hated going away with unsolved murder cases hanging over Clover Ridge, but there was nothing I could do.
Dylan arrived home at eleven thirty while I was packing for our honeymoon. After he showered and dressed, I told him what John and I had talked about. I finished by griping, “I can’t believe he seriously considered Sally a suspect.”
“You know as well as I do he has to question everyone who recently argued with Winifred.”
“That includes her own son as well as Fred Rawlins and Garrett Grimm. What do you know about Grimm?” I asked.”
“Not much,” Dylan said, “since he’s about fifteen years older than me and we never traveled in the same circles. The word is he’s a wheeler-dealer kind of guy. Always looking to make a fast buck on some kind of a scheme, and from what you’ve told me, kind of obsessed with preventing Verity Babcock from being pardoned as a victim of witchcraft because he believes she murdered his ancestor.”
I shuddered. “He’s creepy. And he likes to argue with everyone.”
“I don’t blame you for not liking him, the way he stormed into your office last week.” Dylan reached over to rub my cheek. “But let’s not talk about this anymore this weekend. We have more important things to do.”
“Do we ever.”
The doorbell rang. Dylan and I looked at each other. “Did my father say he and Merry would be stopping by today?” I asked.
“Not to me,” Dylan said as he went to open the door. “And who might you be?” he asked Albi, whose eyes darted about. He looked frightened and about to run off.
“What are you doing here?” I asked. “How did you find out where I lived?”
Albi cringed. “I went to the library looking for you. They told me you were home because you’re getting married tomorrow.” He looked from me to Dylan. “I know you must be very busy, but I had to talk to you, Carrie. Miss Singleton. I’m afraid …”
“Afraid of what?”
I motioned to Albi to enter the cottage. He hesitated then stepped into the hall.
“This is Albi Valdez,” I told Dylan. “Brother of Tino Valdez, who knocked me unconscious.”
“Your brother did that, and you expect Carrie to help you?” Dylan said.
Albi reared back. “I’m sorry. Tino’s all riled up. He’s not usually like that.”
His eyes swept from left to right, like he was searching for an escape route, and I knew he was about to take off.
I reached for his arm. “Come on inside and tell us what you’re afraid of.”
Albi glanced at Dylan, then followed me into the living room, where we all sat down.
“Tino’s been released,” Albi said breathlessly. “Now he’s out searching for the money his pal Luke hid before he was murdered.”
“The bank money he, Luke, and Billy Carpenter stole five years ago?” I asked.
Albi nodded.
That confirms one big question, I thought.
“Did your brother murder Luke and Billy?” Dylan asked.
“No! I swear he didn’t!” Albi rapped his fingers against his leg.
The kid was jumpy and speaking in riddles. I leaned toward him and gazed into his eyes. “What exactly do you want me to do?”
“Stop him!” Albi drew back, as though his own words had shocked him. “Tino knows Luke killed Billy and hid the money. He figures if it’s not in that shed, then Luke stashed it somewhere else.”
“Where else?” Dylan asked.
Albi shrugged. “I’ve got no idea, but Tino said once he finds the money, he’ll take off. Leave town.”
Dylan and I looked at each other. Why was he telling us this? It made no sense. Albi must have read our expressions because he let out a grunt of frustration.
“You don’t get it. My brother’s a screwup. He can’t take care of himself. I told Tino he has no choice but to find the money and follow the guy’s instructions. If he runs, the guy is sure to track him down and kill him …” Albi shuddered.
“What instructions? What guy?” Dylan asked.
Albi swallowed. “Tino calls him the Boss. I don’t think he knows the guy’s real name, or at least he won’t tell me who he is.” He drew in a deep breath. “Tino says the person disguises his voice on the phone. All I know is the Boss set up the bank job and is furious because the job never paid off. He went bonkers when he found out Billy hid the money and then Luke got hold of it. He thinks Tino killed Luke and stashed the money somewhere. He’s giving Tino till five PM tomorrow to hand over the money or he’s dead like his friends.”
“This guy sounds dangerous,” Dylan said. “Are you sure you don’t want to go to the police?”
“Don’t you think I tried?” Albi said. “Tino says no way. The police will throw him in prison. And for what? Tino says he got nothing from the bank job. So why should he do time when he got nothing out of it?” Albi looked at me then at Dylan. “My brother sees the world from his own skewed perspective. Actually, from Luke’s perspective—until he was murdered.”
“Was Luke the leader of the trio?” I asked.
“You mean Tino, Luke, and Billy? Yeah, he was. They did whatever Luke said.”
“Except Billy ran off with the cash and went to prison for it,” Dylan said. “He intended to keep it all.”
“It looks that way,” Albi said. “I never thought Billy was solid with Luke and Tino, but my brother worshipped Luke. He went along with whatever Luke said.”
“Now I have a better understanding of the trio’s dynamics,” I said. “Albi, what exactly do you want me to do?”
“Talk to Tino. Make him see that running isn’t an option. Let’s hope he finds the money and settles with the Boss. This way he comes out of it alive. Then we’ll make him see that he has no choice but to give himself up. Maybe they’ll go easy on him because he didn’t benefit from the heist.”
Albi shuddered. “And please don’t tell the police what I just told you, whatever you decide.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Dylan and I stared at Albi, both of us too dumbstruck to speak. Albi remained silent. He wasn’t relaxed, but now that he’d said his piece, he seemed calmer.
Dylan was the first to speak a coherent sentence. “Albi, you know Carrie and I are getting married this weekend. In a few hours we have our wedding rehearsal and then our rehearsal dinner. You can’t expect us to get involved in your brother’s criminal escapades.”
“Tino’s not planning anything criminal besides finding that money.”
“Either way, absconding with the money or handing it over to the guy who masterminded the heist both sound illegal to me,” I said.
Albi nodded. “I know, and I just got an idea that’s a win–win solution for Tino—if he finds the money.”
“We’re listening,” Dylan said.
“The cops want to recover the bank money that Luke hid. If Tino finds it and you can convince him to hand it over to the authorities, maybe they won’t charge him if he helps set a trap to nab the Boss.”
This is one smart kid, I thought.
“That’s a great idea,” Dylan said. “Lieutenant John Mathers is a good friend of ours. He’ll listen to you and Tino.”
“No!” Albi shouted. “No police. Not yet. Miss Singleton—Carrie—my brother knows you’ve helped solve murders. He’s terrified of the Boss. I think that’s really why he wants to leave town. But he’s not smart enough to make it on his own.”
He put his head in his hands. “I can’t deal with this anymore. I’m supposed to be at my graduation this afternoon and thinking about my future, when all I can think about is stopping my brother from getting killed!”
“Where’s Tino now?” I asked.
“Carrie …” Dylan said. “What are you thinking?”
“Maybe we should talk to Tino, try to convince him not to do anything stupid.”
Albi’s fingers were flying on his phone. “I’m texting him right now.”
A minute later, he was speaking to Tino. His tone was calm and measured. I got the feeling that Albi had plenty of experience talking his brother down from reckless plans and crazy situations.
“Yes, they’ve agreed to hear you out,” Albi said. “No, they swear they won’t rat you out to the police …Yeah, you can trust them.”
He repeated the same sentences a few times without a trace of impatience. Finally, Tino agreed to meet us.
Dylan and I exchanged glances. I did not want Tino Valdez coming here to our cottage. “Ask Tino to meet us in town in half an hour,” I said to Albi. “There’s a coffee shop on Walnut Street, a few blocks past the supermarket.”
Albi gave his brother the information and nodded to me as he disconnected the call. “Tino knows the place. He’ll be there. And he’s sorry he hit you, Carrie.”
“Do you have a photo of Tino?” I asked.
“Oh, right.” Albi got busy on his phone and brought up a photo of the two brothers clowning around, their arms wrapped around each other’s shoulders. They both had dark curly hair and narrow faces, and resembled each other, but while Albi’s eyes sparkled with life, I saw defeat in Tino’s.
I walked Albi to the front door.
“Thanks, Carrie, for helping Tino deal with this problem he got himself into. I know he might end up in prison, but that’s better than running away or double-crossing a guy who’s threatened to kill him if he doesn’t come up with the money.”
I watched him drive off in a dark blue sedan at least eight years old. It had been recently washed, and the motor ran smoothly, both evidence of Albi’s meticulous care. Interesting, how two siblings can be so different, I thought. Tino Valdez was lucky to have a younger brother who loved him so much.
Ten minutes later Dylan and I climbed into his BMW and headed for the coffee shop in town.
“I never expected to be talking down a potential fugitive the day before our wedding,” Dylan said.
“Me neither. I wonder who this Boss is who set up the bank robbery,” I said. “Tino doesn’t even know his name, and yet he’s terrified of him.”
“Tino must be terrified, period, with John liking him as a suspect for his friends’ homicides. I hope he shows up at the diner now and doesn’t get cold feet.”
“Me too.”
My cell phone played it’s jingle. “Good morning, Caro! How are you today?”
“Hi, Dad. Were the accommodations all right?”
“The motel is great. We slept well and had a lovely breakfast. Merry and I were wondering if you were up to having company.”
“Er, we’re not home right now, so we’ll see you at the rehearsal. You have the directions to Victor’s house, right?”
“Yes, I remembered to bring them—that is, Merry remembered.”
“That’s great, Dad. See you there at five.”
“Are you okay? You sound rushed. Where are you off to?”
“Just to take care of a few things.”
“I was wondering—”
“See you later.” I disconnected and shook my head. “Right now I wish I could concentrate on our wedding plans and nothing else.”
Dylan smiled at me. “We’ll hear Tino out, give him our advice, then it’s up to him to decide what to do.”
I reached over to grasp Dylan’s hand. “Should we be telling John what Albi told us?”
“So far it’s hearsay, so John can’t do anything with the information. And we told the kid we’d hold off, so let’s do that until after we speak to Tino.”
Though the diner was filling up with the lunch crowd, we managed to snag a booth in the far corner. We were ten minutes early, so I didn’t expect Tino to have beaten us there. A waitress in her forties asked if we were ready to order. We said not yet but asked her to bring us coffee.
When the ten minutes had passed, I began to fidget.
“Let’s order something,” Dylan said.
“Good idea.”
I ordered a tuna fish sandwich. Dylan ordered an egg salad sandwich. “And a burger and a coke,” he said.
As our waitress returned with our order, I caught sight of Tino Valdez standing in the doorway of the diner. I recognized him from his photo. I knew he was twenty-five or twenty-six, but his scrawny frame made him look both less mature and wizened at the same time—like an apple that had never matured and was drying up.
Tino looked around furtively, as if he had no business being there. When he noticed me waving, he drew in a deep breath before heading to our table.
As Tino approached, Dylan moved from his side of the booth, to sit next to me. Now that he was so close, I could see he was thin almost to the point of emaciation. He looked terrified as he slid into the seat across from us.
“Tino, I’m Carrie Singleton, and this is my fiancé, Dylan Avery. Your brother thinks I—we can help you.”
Tino licked his lips. “I sure hope so. Things have gotten real sticky lately, with Luke and Billy murdered and … stuff,” he finished lamely.
“We’re here to listen to you and come up with what we consider the best solution to your situation,” Dylan said.
“Yeah.” Tino stared at the burger in front of him.
“Why don’t we eat first and talk after?” Dylan said. “Tino, the burger’s yours. We ordered it for you.”
“Really? Thanks.”
We ate in silence. Tino wolfed down his food and was the first to finish. If his behavior and appearance were anything to go by, he hadn’t been eating regularly. I brushed the observation aside because I didn’t want to feel sorry for Tino’s no-win situation, which he’d managed to get into all by himself. I was helping him for Albi’s sake and hopefully to keep him from doing something stupid. All the while, I didn’t for one moment forget that he’d knocked me unconscious.
Tino’s thoughts must have been running along the same lines, because he said, “Carrie, I’m really sorry I hit you.”
“So am I,” I said.
Dylan cleared his throat. “Tino, why don’t you tell us what’s going on, starting with the bank robbery.”
“You know about that,” Tino said.
“Not as much as we’d like,” I said.
“Okay. About five and a half years ago, this guy approached Luke and laid out plans for him and a few guys to rob a bank in Hartford. He said the two guards were useless, and it would be an easy heist. Luke talked it over with me, and we decided to bring Billy in.”
“Just a minute,” I said. “Who is this guy that arranged the plans for the heist with Luke? Albi said you don’t even know his name?”
“Luke never said, though I know he did a few one-man jobs for him over the years.” Tino sighed. “Luke and me were really tight, but this was one thing he always held back—who the guy was. He called him the Boss, so that’s what I called him when he contacted me.”
Tino gulped down the rest of his water. “Do you think I could have another soda?”
“Sure.” Dylan called over our waitress. “Another Coke, please. Carrie?”
“Coffee, please.”
“Make that two coffees.”
“Thanks,” Tino said. “Over the years I asked Luke what the Boss made of Billy taking off with the bank money. Luke told me not to worry, that the Boss could be patient when he needed to be.”
“In other words, he was waiting for Billy to get out of prison,” I said. “Do you think he killed Billy?”
Tino looked like he was about to cry. “I don’t know. I don’t know if he did it, if Luke did, or Billy’s cellmate. I only know I had nothing to do with his murder.”
“What about Luke?” Dylan asked. “He must have been furious at Billy.”
“Yeah. He was angry, all right. Luke couldn’t believe Billy would double-cross us.” He laughed. “Actually, he was kinda shocked that he was smart enough to pull off a stunt like that. Luke said we’d get the money as soon as Billy got out of prison.”
“Someone managed to get it,” I said.
“Wasn’t me. I figured it was Luke or Fred Rawlins who killed Billy, so I took to following them whenever I could.”
The waitress brought our drinks. We waited while Tino downed his soda.
“Then Luke was out of the picture, courtesy of Rawlins I suppose, so I followed Rawlins, careful to make sure he didn’t make me and off me too. He led me to Luke’s parents’ home.” He looked apologetically at me. “Sorry again.”
