A Deadly Clue, page 4
“It would be a good place to start, though, don’t you think?” I swiveled to face Cam.
His expression was unreadable. “I suppose. But I’d like to have a little more information before I hire anyone to look for him in a foreign country, especially one with a lot of remote territories to search.”
“Well, here’s the thing.” Vanessa leaned forward, gripping her knees with both hands. “I’d be willing to travel to Peru to conduct a more detailed investigation, if you’d like. As I said, I still have contacts there, and I speak fluent Spanish. Of course, as a journalist, I also possess excellent investigative skills. I’m even between contracted projects right now. All I’d need …”
“Is money?” I asked dryly.
Vanessa side-eyed me. “I would need travel and living expenses, but I’m not asking for a finder’s fee or reward or anything like that. I like Rafe and would be happy to facilitate his safe return.”
Resting his elbows on the chair arm and intertwining his fingers in front of his chest, Cam examined Vanessa for a moment. “Do you have any idea why my father might have been in Peru, other than perhaps photographing the rainforest? Because I’ve heard rumors that there may have been something else going on.”
“Really? It’s my understanding that no one has more information than I do.” Vanessa settled against the chair’s tall back.
Cam raised his eyebrows. “Not even about my father helping teams attempting to repatriate stolen art and antiquities? One of my private investigators turned up evidence that he may have been photographing locations to match them to stolen objects.”
“That was in India,” Vanessa said, meeting Cam’s intense stare without flinching.
“Isn’t it possible he was doing the same thing in Peru? Work that may have put him in peril from organized groups of thieves and brokers?” Cam dropped his hands into his lap and leaned forward, his gaze fixed on Vanessa.
“What do you mean, matching location and objects?” I interjected, hoping to break the intensity of their staring contest.
Vanessa waved a hand through the air. “Oh, it’s things like finding the intact base for a sculpture that’s been looted and sold to collectors or museums. Rafe was able to take detailed photos so that groups like India Pride or the New York’s District Attorney’s Antiquities Trafficking Unit could help return a piece to the country of its origin.”
“I see.” I glanced at Cam, noting his clenched jaw. “I imagine that could make someone a target for kidnappers or other criminals, especially if theft rings were still operating in the country where he was working.”
“Which could turn any search for my father into a dangerous proposition,” Cam said. “Are you sure you’re equipped to undertake such a mission, Ms. Gale?”
“Vanessa, please, and yes, I can gather the proper support to ensure the safety of my team and myself.”
Cam’s foot tapped the floor. “But it will be expensive.”
“That shouldn’t be an issue for you,” Vanessa said, with a smug smile. “I know your worth, Cam.”
“Do you? And I’d prefer Mr. Clewe if you don’t mind.” Cam rose to his feet. “At any rate, I’m not prepared to decide on your proposition today, Ms. Gale. I’d like a few days to think it over.”
When Vanessa stood up, I realized she and Cam were the same height, but despite Cam’s slender frame, Vanessa appeared waifish beside him. “Of course. I’ve booked an extended-stay hotel in Winston-Salem, and can easily hang out in the area until you make up your mind.” Vanessa ran her fingers through her feathered hair. “I don’t mind playing tourist. There are places I’d like to check out anyway, like Old Salem and Reynolda House.”
“I have your number. I’ll call you when I’ve decided whether or not to move forward with your plan.” Cam glanced at his watch and turned to me. “Do you mind showing Ms. Gale out, Jane? I have a video conference starting soon.”
“No problem.” I stood up to face the two of them.
Cam left the room first. As I headed for the door, I noticed that Vanessa had paused beside one of the display cases and was examining the objects inside.
“Some of these items are quite rare, you know,” she said.
“I don’t doubt it. But if you’ll just come this way …” I gestured toward the door.
“Sure thing.” Vanessa strolled over. Looking me over, she smiled. “You aren’t convinced I’m legit, are you, Jane?”
“It’s a little too soon to decide. Now, please follow me. Aircroft has a lot of halls and passageways. It’s easy to get lost if you don’t have a guide.”
Vanessa trailed me out the door, but her longer stride soon put us side-by-side as we headed for the main entry hall.
“Your boss is an interesting man,” she said, after a few moments of silence. “All that money and good looks, but his social skills are a bit lacking, don’t you think?”
I shot her a sharp look. “That isn’t really relevant to your interests, is it?”
“Whoa.” Vanessa raised her hands, palms out. “Don’t get defensive. I was just voicing an observation.”
“Here we are,” I said, as we crossed into the grand entry hall. “Just head out those double doors and you’ll be able to access the driveway. I assume you parked somewhere along the circle?”
“I did.” Vanessa’s gaze swept over me. “I can tell you’re loyal to Mr. Clewe. That’s great. I hope I can prove my loyalty as well.”
“I hope so too,” I said. As I watched her stride toward her car, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I slid it out, immediately noticing the icon for texts indicated a new message.
It was from Vince. I stared at the screen and blinked before the words made any sense.
Thought you should know, it said. News just broke. Gabriel Neri is dead.
Chapter Seven
I stared at my screen for a moment before turning on my heel and hurrying back across the front hall. Walking briskly, I reached Cam’s office in record time, but just as I was about to rap on the half-opened door, I heard raised voices and took a step back.
“Which is exactly why you need to try to understand Lily and Gordy.” Frustration shimmered in Lauren Walker’s voice.
“I have tried.”
“Then try harder.”
“I don’t think this is exactly any of your business,” Cam said, his words staccato sharp.
“It’s my business because I have to work closely with you, and your attitude over these last months is fraying my last nerve.”
“You have to? No, you don’t have to. You can leave at any time.”
Lauren didn’t reply, but the brisk tapping of her heels told me to move away from the door. Sure enough, it flew open, the pewter doorknob banging into the wall as Lauren strode out of the office.
She shot me a warning glance. “Might want to come back later. He’s is a foul mood, as I’m sure you heard.”
“Yes, well, there’s something important …”
Anger flared in Lauren’s dark eyes. “Give it a try, then. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I waited until she’d stalked off down the hall, then gave the door one knock and slipped into the office. “Hello,” I called out. “Sorry to intrude, but there’s news I feel you’d want to know.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine.” All the fire in Cam’s tone had crumbled to ash.
Pausing just inside the doorway, I stared at him. He was rocking back and forth in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest and his hands gripping his upper arms. “I can return later.”
“Just come in.” Cam leaned forward until his forehead was pressed against the glass surface of his desk. “I suppose you heard that,” he mumbled after a moment of silence.
I crossed to the desk. “I’m afraid so. I also witnessed Lauren’s rather dramatic exit.”
“I shouldn’t have lost my temper. It’s just …” Cam lifted his head and met my sympathetic gaze squarely. “She was urging me to give my grandmother and great-uncle another chance.”
“So I gathered. And perhaps she was a little too insistent, but you know she’s only pushing you on this point because she cares about you.”
Cam lowered his hands to grip the padded arms of his chair. “Yes, I know.”
“She thinks you shouldn’t reject this chance to have a real family, and I have to agree with her to a certain extent. You’ve never really had the chance before, so it would be a shame to miss it now. But”—I held up my forefinger to silence him—“I also understand your point of view. Lily and Gordon Glenn didn’t get in touch with you for years, even after they knew about your stepfather’s lies. Sure, he told your real father that you had died not long after your mother, but that was easily proven false once you were old enough for word to get around about Albert Clewe’s son. Even if Lily lived elsewhere and Rafe was out-of-touch due to his globetrotting work schedule, Gordy still lived in the area. He had to have realized the truth fairly early on.”
“Exactly. He would’ve told his sister, who would’ve told my father, so there’s no excuse. They knew, and abandoned me.” Cam’s fingers drummed against the chair arms.
“I suppose they did, in a way.” I strolled over to the side window and stared out over a rolling lawn bordered by a stand of pine trees. “The thing is, as Lily’s told me, they didn’t want to disrupt your life. Let’s face it—Albert Clewe could give you every advantage. They couldn’t, and felt they shouldn’t rip you away from all this.” I turned and swept one hand through the air. “Lily wanted you to inherit Aircroft. She’s always believed it’s your proper legacy, since Calvin Airley was your grandfather.”
“Such an old-fashioned attitude. The rightful heir must be crowned king.” Cam tightened his lips. “Logically, I understand their reasoning. I can even comprehend why Rafe Glenn wouldn’t want to take me away from Aircroft. With his career, he probably thought he couldn’t give me what Albert Clewe could—wealth, and a proper, stable home. But”—Cam rolled back his chair and rose to his feet—“they made no effort. None. They could’ve worked out a deal with Al. He wasn’t warm or loving, but he also wasn’t unreasonable. If they had kept things quiet, he probably would’ve allowed some contact with all three of them. A visit here or there. I mean, Al knew from the beginning that I wasn’t his biological son, and he was still willing to raise me.”
“Absolutely valid points,” I said. “But as you said, they were hobbled by many old-fashioned attitudes. I truly believe Lily was affected by the Airley family’s scorn for someone of her station in life. They would’ve said she was definitely lower class, and would’ve treated her as such. Then she was traumatized when your grandfather Calvin died before your father was even born. Don’t forget that she had to flee the area to prevent the Airleys from discovering she was pregnant and ultimately taking her child away.”
Cam thrust his hands into the pockets of his slacks and rocked back on his heels. “It sounds like you and Lauren have been discussing this subject, because she just said basically the same things.”
“We may have talked about it a few times,” I said, with a wry smile. “Because, shocker—we both really care about you.”
“That doesn’t give you the right to tell me what to do or how to feel.” Cam’s green eyes narrowed.
“Heaven forbid,” I said, lifting my hands. “Who would dare instruct a man who knows everything?”
As Cam stared at me, obviously processing my jibe, his stony expression softened. “Sorry. I don’t mean to give that impression. It’s simply … well, I never feel anyone can truly understand me.”
“I certainly don’t claim to be able to do that,” I said. “Not completely, anyway. But I do know that you crave the human connection you never received when you were young. Which is perfectly normal and why I have to agree with Lauren about not pushing your family away. I don’t mean you should forget and forgive everything, but surely there’s a way to keep them in your life. Face it—Lily and Gordy are both in their nineties. They may not be around much longer. Don’t you want to learn a few things about your family heritage from them, for your own benefit, if nothing else?”
Cam cast me an ironic smile. “Using common sense and facts to circumvent my defenses?”
“As always. Now”—I brushed my hands together, as if dusting away the previous topic—“as for the news I wanted to share, which I assure you is strictly factual, are you ready to hear it?”
“Clever segue.” Cam settled back in his office chair. “Very well, what is it?”
I walked over to the chair facing his desk and sat down. “It has to do with Gabriel Neri, Duff Stewart’s first cousin, whom I met yesterday.”
Cam met my gaze, curiosity lighting up his pale face. “What about him?”
“Apparently he just died,” I said, pulling out my cell phone. “Or maybe it was overnight. At any rate, it may have happened at the Stewart estate, since Gabe told me he was staying there for Finlay Stewart’s birthday party.”
“Wait, the same Gabe Neri who packed up the books, including the du Maurier with the note inside?” Cam reached for his laptop, pulling it closer and flipping it open.
“That’s the one. A little odd, isn’t it?” I pulled up the search engine on my phone and tapped in Gabriel Neri and death.
Cam had obviously done the same. “They suspect an overdose since he’s struggled with addiction issues in the past.”
“Pills,” I said, reading through the article on my screen. “He had an off-and-on problem with opioids.” An image of Gabe’s unhealthy appearance and unsteady stride surfaced in my mind. “He didn’t look well. He was fragile and gaunt.”
“Did he seem to be in pain?” Cam tapped the edge of his keyboard.
“Maybe. He was my age but looked ten years older. Or at least, I hope so,” I said with a twitch of my lips.
Cam raised his eyebrows. “Fishing for compliments again? But you’re right. Judging by this photo, I’d have said the man was in his seventies rather than his sixties.”
“If he was an addict, that probably took a toll.”
“No doubt.” Cam stared at his computer screen. “He wasn’t involved in the family business, except for a few foundations set up on the Neri side.”
The reference to opioids made me wonder if Gabe had been introduced to the pills after a serious injury. The car accident, I thought, although there was no mention of that incident in any of the news reports. “Do you think it’s possible Gabe wanted us to find the note? He slipped Kimberly’s book in with the others, and also mentioned something about our amateur sleuthing efforts. Maybe he was trying to send a message.”
“Perhaps.” Cam closed his laptop. “We can certainly do a little digging into his background, just in case, see if there’s anything that would connect him to the note.”
“He said he was close to Kimberly, and there was that car accident …” Seeing Cam’s puzzled expression, I added, “Duff and his cousins were involved in a wreck when they were in their twenties. Well, Gabe was probably still a teenager, since he was eight years younger than Duff and Lucas. Anway, I can research that; see if it’s possible that’s what kicked off his addiction,” I said, thinking of Vince’s reminder about digitized newspapers. “Not sure how that would connect to his cousin Kimberly, but you never know.”
“Good idea. This sudden death does make me suspicious, especially after the victim may have slipped us a clue.” Cam’s right foot beat a tattoo against the plank floor. “I’ll have one of my investigators on retainer do some background work as well.”
I examined him for a moment. The possibility of a new case had replaced his anger and anxiety with excitement. “Before you do that, perhaps you should go find Lauren and apologize. I mean, you did tell her she could leave, so she might be taking you at your word and packing up her personal items right now …”
Before I could say anything else, Cam bolted from his chair and dashed out of the room.
Chapter Eight
As soon as I got home after work and changed into a loose sweatshirt and sweatpants, I embarked on an in-depth search of the online newspapers provided by my local library system. I had to guess at the timeframe, but a few calculations allowed me to narrow it down to a span between 1977 and early 1982. Vince had mentioned being away at college when the wreck occurred, and since he was approximately the same age as Duff Stewart and Lucas Neri, I estimated they’d have been in their early twenties during that time period. Vince had also said he was sure the accident happened before Kimberly’s death in May 1982, so that gave me a solid cut-off point.
Scouring the databases once again made me glad to have attended library school when online research was in its infancy. We hadn’t had search engines that would return a laundry list of results if you simply typed in a word or random phrase—we had to learn how to construct SQL string queries, logical equations that looked like algebra problems. But having to boil a research question down to its essential parts, and place those pieces into the appropriate query arrangement, had trained me to think about digital resources in a way that allowed for more nuanced searches and precise results.
Armed with a glass of wine, it didn’t take long for me to discover a bevy of articles, most of which were relatively short and lacking in detail. But they were reports on a vehicular accident that had involved Duff Stewart and his cousins. Donna was right—the coverage stopped rather abruptly after the original flurry of articles, but I was able to pull together enough facts to provide a clear picture of what had happened.
The wreck had occurred in December 1981. Lucas Neri, then twenty-four, had been driving, with Duff Stewart riding shotgun and sixteen-year-old Gabe Neri in the back seat. The articles stated that they’d been on their way home from a holiday party and that conditions were not great—it was dark and there were still patches of ice from a storm a few days before. The authorities determined that those conditions had undoubtedly contributed to the severity of the accident. However, despite the mention of a party, they found no alcohol in Lucas’s system, ruling out a DUI.
