Murder Most Persuasive (14 page)

I sat down next to Ann. “Now what?” I muttered under my breath, while I pretended to study one of the brochures. On the front was a woman, blond and impossibly stacked, sitting in the pool with a man. From the looks of his pumped biceps and bulging veins, he had recently completed some horribly intense upper-body workout. Her eyes closed, the woman leaned back into the man’s chest, her full lips curved in a contented smile. The man stared outward, his face dreamily satisfied. Below it read, “
And they thought they were only getting a pool…”
I quickly put the brochure down. Truth be told, I felt a little dirty.

Before Ann could answer my question, a man in a white company shirt and blue slacks came out of a back office. He had sun-bleached blond hair, a spray tan, and a lean, athletic build, qualities that probably are essential for pool salesmen. “Hello,” he said, extending his hand first to Ann and then to me and finally to Kit. “I’m Tim. I understand you ladies are interested in discussing adding on to your current pool?”

I stayed quiet and let Ann handle this. After all, it was her imaginary construction. Kit stood silent as well with an avid expression of interest on her face.

“Yes,” said Ann. “Are you the Mancuso of Mancuso’s Pools?”

Tim shook his head and smiled. His teeth were very white. “No, that’s Donny. He’s the owner, but I’m happy to help you. Why don’t we go into my office so you can tell me what you’re interested in?”

The door jingled again and a large man with jet-black hair and a short beard entered the store. Like Tim, he also wore a white polo and blue pants. However, next to this man, Tim’s lean build looked pubescent. The man’s arms were a rocky, muscular terrain of deeply tanned skin, and his wide chest stretched the Mancuso logo until it was almost unreadable. From the little noise Ann made when she saw him, I guessed that this was Donny. It was also none other than the man Reggie was with in the bar the other night. Tim’s next words confirmed my assumption. “Oh, hey, Donny. These ladies are here to discuss an addition to their pool.”

So Reggie and Donny had apparently renewed their friendship. I wondered exactly when this had happened and, more important, why. From their body language the other night, they had been discussing something serious. Could it have been the discovery of Michael’s body?

Ann stepped forward, a slightly puzzled look on her face. “Donny?” she said. “Donny Mancuso? I’m Ann Reynolds. Didn’t you work for my father once? Martin Reynolds?” I had to give Ann credit; she carried off her little speech very nicely. It sounded almost believable. Next to me, Kit’s eyes lit up as the penny dropped and she realized the true reason behind our visit. She shot me a knowing smirk before turning her attention back to Donny and Ann.

An expression passed over Donny’s face that I didn’t have time to interpret before he pasted a wide smile on his face. “Well, hello, Ann,” he said, wrapping his large hand around her small one. “How are you? It’s been a long time. How’s the family?”

“Well, I don’t know if you’d heard, but Dad died last week. He’d been pretty sick with cancer and it finally was too much for him.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” said Donny, his voice dropping to a suitable somber tone. “He was a nice man and a good businessman. Here, why don’t you come into my office? We can catch up in there.” Turning to Tim, he said, “I’ll handle this, Tim. Thanks.”

“Whatever you say, boss,” Tim replied amiably before disappearing back into his own office.

We followed Donny into a large office consisting of a mahogany desk, opposite which sat four office chairs upholstered in the same green-and-white fabric as the ones out front. Posters touting the many benefits of pools covered the wall. Apparently, this was what was missing from my life; here lay the answers to all my problems. From what I could gather, having a pool would not only transform my body into a sleek, sun-kissed form but would also ensure familial and spiritual contentment—and all for only $35,000!

As Ann, Kit, and I slid into the chairs, Ann introduced us. Donny nodded courteously. “Pleased to meet you,” he said. Taking a seat behind the desk, Donny pushed aside a newspaper. “So what’s happening to the company now?” he asked.

“My brother-in-law, Scott, has taken over,” said Ann. “I don’t know if you remember him. He’s married to my sister Frances.”

Donny nodded. “I remember him. He’s a good guy. Now, if you don’t mind me asking, why are you here for pool work? Don’t you guys do pools anymore?”

Ann flushed slightly. “Somewhat. I wanted to get some fresh ideas. I know what our firm offers. I wanted to check out the competition.”

From the way Donny cocked his head slightly, I wasn’t sure that he was buying it. I think Ann sensed that, too, because she abruptly steered the conversation to the real reason we were there. “Speaking of pools, though, did you hear about what happened with the pool at the St. Michaels house?”

Donny shook his head but didn’t speak. Ann continued, “Well, do you remember Michael Barrow?”

Donny’s jaw tightened at the name of the man who replaced him in Reggie’s affections. “I do.”

“Then you know what happened?” I held my breath wondering how Donny would answer.

A faint expression of confusion crossed over his tanned face. “What do you mean what happened? About the money? I had heard that he ran off after embezzling money from your father.”

Ann shook her head. “Yes, well, that’s what we all thought until last week. We recently sold the St. Michaels house and the new owners decided to dig up the pool. The workers found a body under the foundation. It was Michael’s.”

I watched Donny closely for his reaction to this news. I don’t know what I was expecting, but whatever it was, it wasn’t coming. “Oh, that’s terrible. I had no idea,” Donny said in a flat voice, his face expressionless. “Do the police have any ideas what happened?”

Ann shook her head. “No, they don’t. It’s pretty awful, though.”

“Well, I’m sure they’ll figure it out. In the meantime, let’s talk about pleasanter things,” said Donny, changing the subject. “Tell me, what are you thinking about your pool?”

For the next fifteen minutes, Ann rambled on about hot tubs, lighting, and widening the deck. Donny took notes and asked appropriate questions. I sat quietly and tried to look like I found both my surroundings and the conversation fascinating. I also ignored Kit, who I could tell was quivering with anticipation of shouting, “I told you so!” at me the first chance she got. Then, finally, thankfully, the interview came to an end. As we stood to say our good-byes and shake hands, I saw something of note.

On Donny’s desk was today’s
Post,
open to the “Reliable Source” article on Reggie.

So much for not knowing anything.

CHAPTER 14

Every man is surrounded by a neighborhood of voluntary spies.

—
NORTHANGER ABBEY

O
NCE OUTSIDE
and safely back in the car, Kit did just as I expected. “Elizabeth Jane Parker!” she exclaimed shrilly. “I knew it! Not only are you playing detective, but you’ve somehow convinced Ann to play along as well! You have no business involving yourself in this investigation, let alone our cousin! You have no special skills or talents for crime!”

“For your information, coming here was Ann’s idea, not mine,” I shot back just as Ann said, “Kit, I asked Elizabeth to help me, not the other way around. The police seem to think that I may have had something to do with Michael’s death.”

Kit’s eyes grew wide. “You! But that’s absurd! Why on earth would they think that you had anything to do with it?”

Ann ducked her head and didn’t immediately reply. Then she quietly told Kit of Michael’s attack and Sergeant Beal’s suspicion. When she finished, Kit slumped back against the seat. “Dear God,” she said, “how horrible. I’m so sorry, Ann. I had no idea. What a rotten bastard. But I still don’t see why they think you had anything to do with it! I mean, do they think that you killed him and then later came back and buried his body? Why on earth would you do that? It makes no sense.”

“I know,” said Ann. “But unfortunately it seems to be a theory that Sergeant Beal is considering.”

Kit fell quiet for only a moment. “So what are you thinking about this Donny guy? Do you think he was involved in Michael’s murder? Why would he want to kill Michael?”

“He used to date Reggie,” said Ann, as she steered the car out onto the busy road. “In fact, Reggie broke up with him for Michael. He was, if I remember correctly, furious. And he was also on the crew that installed the pool.”

Kit’s brows pulled together. “So you think he might have killed Michael out of jealousy? You know, I saw an episode of
CSI
where something similar happened.”

I believe I may have mentioned that Kit watches
CSI
. A lot.

“But he didn’t seem to know anything about Michael,” Ann said.

“Well, that’s not exactly true,” I said. I quickly explained that I’d seen the newspaper on Donny’s desk open to the “Reliable Source.”

“So what does that prove?” Kit asked.

“There was a blurb in today’s column about Reggie and the discovery of Michael’s body on the property at St. Michaels. Donny had to have seen it. Therefore, it stands to reason that he was lying to us.”

“I totally missed that!” said Ann. “Well done, Elizabeth!”

“That’s not all, I’m afraid. The other night I went out for a drink after work with Sam. While I was there I saw Reggie. She was with Donny.”

“What?” Ann cried.

“They were together, and from the looks of it talking about something pretty serious.”

“What do you think it was?” asked Kit.

“I have no idea. Peter called me and I got distracted. When I looked back to where they were, they’d left.”

“Do you think she saw you?” asked Ann.

“I don’t know. She might have. But in any case,” I said, “you need to call Joe right now and tell him what we found.”

“What about Reggie? Should I tell him that she was out with Donny?” Ann asked.

“I don’t know,” I said. “That’s your call. Maybe talk to her about it first.”

“Okay,” Ann said. “Um, but do you think you could call Joe? I don’t think I can talk to him.”

“You want
me
to call him? And say what exactly? That you got the list of old employees, saw Donny’s name, and then—against my expressed advice, by the way—went to see him on a completely trumped-up reason?”

“I suppose it really doesn’t matter what you say. He already hates me. Thinking I’m an idiot on top of everything else won’t matter much now.” She turned her head, but not before I saw her eyes well up with tears. Kit reached over and soothingly patted her arm. Looking back at me, she mouthed, “Call him.”

I sighed. I was no match for tears. “Fine, I’ll call him.” I took the card Joe had left with us from my purse and punched his number into my cell phone. He answered almost immediately. “Detective Muldoon,” he said.

“Hi, Joe. I mean, uh, Detective Muldoon. This is Elizabeth Parker. I, uh, thought you should know something.” I paused, unsure how to continue.

“I’m listening.”

“Ann was able to get a list of employees from around the time that Michael worked for Uncle Marty’s company.” I glanced over at Ann. Her face was red with anticipated humiliation. Oh, hell. Time to take one for the team. “Well, a name on the list jumped out at me. Donny Mancuso. He used to date Reggie. In fact, he dated Reggie right up until Michael came on the scene. He was also on the crew that put in the pool at St. Michaels.”

“Hang on.” I heard Joe rummage on his desk for a pencil. “Donny Mancuso. M-A-N-C-U-S-O?”

“Yes. Anyway, I looked him up and he, uh, owns a pool company, Mancuso’s Pools, in Rockville. I thought it might be interesting if I went to see him. So, uh … I did.”

I shut my eyes as the icy silence on the other end of the phone lengthened. “I’m sorry,” Joe finally said. “You did what?”

“I went out and met with Donny.” From the front seat, Ann shot me a grateful look. I rolled my eyes and looked away.

“What exactly did you say to him?” Joe asked.

“Nothing really. I pretended to be interested in a pool and that it was just a coincidence that it was Donny’s business I went to. We chatted a bit, and I told him about what happened to Michael. He claimed not to have heard anything about it, but as we were leaving I noticed today’s
Post
on his desk—it was open to the ‘Reliable Source’ story about Reggie and how Michael’s body had been found. I just thought you should know that.” There, I did it. Done.

“Back up a second,” Joe said. “You said you noticed the paper when ‘we’ were leaving. Who, may I ask, is ‘we’?”

Shit, shit, shit. “Um, well, now that you mention it, Ann and Kit were with me.” Hearing this, Ann hunched up her shoulders in embarrassment.

“I see. And when we took down everyone’s addresses the other night, I seem to recall you saying that you were living with your sister while your landlord dealt with some mold issues at your apartment.”

“That’s right.”

“Interesting. I must say, I’ve heard of renters who’ve taken it upon themselves to update certain aspects of their apartments, but I’ve never actually encountered one who contemplated putting in a pool. Seems to me it would have made more sense for Ann to have asked about potential pool work, seeing as there actually
is
one at her father’s house.”

The man clearly hadn’t made detective just based on his looks. “It might have,” I mumbled.

“I want you back at the house by noon. I will be there to pick up that list and enlighten you on what it means to interfere with police business.”

I assured him that we would indeed be there. I didn’t tell him that he needn’t bother with the lecture as I already had vast experience with interfering with police business. Somehow I doubted that would help my case any.

“You didn’t have to take the blame,” Ann said as soon as I tossed the phone back into my purse. “I feel terrible! What did he say?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t feel too bad. He didn’t buy my story about it being my idea. For one thing he remembered I live in an apartment and so therefore would be unlikely to have reason to put in a pool.”