On a Killer's Trail (8 page)

“I’ll do my best.” She turned and looked at Neil. “You heard her. Want some coffee?”

“No, I’m good. What else do you need to know?”

It was the most intense interview Kate had ever done, but she pounded out the story in just under half an hour. She played up the discovery of the weapon, and that it positively connected the two murders. She sent the finished product electronically to Jan’s computer.

“Not bad,” Jan said when she opened the file. “I’m impressed, Kate. Barry is still on the phone with his source for that Animal Protection Society thing. Sounds like someone connected with the animal shelter made off with a pile of money.”

Kate smiled and looked over at Neil. He winked at her, and her stomach fluttered. He was adorable, and instead of distracting her from her story, he’d helped her with it. A memory of kissing Neil in the summer sunlight flashed through her mind, but she quickly squelched it. “Thanks for letting me—” She whipped around to stare at Jan. “What did—” She turned back to Neil. “Did you hear what she said?”

“Yeah.” Neil shook his head. “Too bad. Someone stole the shelter’s money.”

“They were going to build a new shelter, and one of the directors stole over a million dollars from their bank account,” Jan said.

Neil whistled. “I wonder who’s handling it at the police department.”

“Barry could tell you, if he weren’t on the phone,” Jan said.

“Neil!” Kate grabbed his sleeve, certain there was more to the story. “Isn’t that where Edna Riley volunteered?”

He looked down at her without speaking for a long moment. Finally, he inhaled. “She left them some money, too. Oh, man.”

N
eil watched as Connor skimmed the front page of Saturday morning’s paper. Adrienne held the new baby on her lap as she ate breakfast. Kate circled the Larsons’ kitchen table, pouring coffee for herself and the two men, and Matthew sat in his booster seat, eating oatmeal, between his parents’ chairs.

“So,” Connor said, “they’ve been planning this new four-million-dollar shelter for some time.”

“Yeah.” Neil reached for the sugar bowl. “The organization has been raising money for about two years. They had over half of what they needed and expected to break ground in the spring.”

Connor nodded, still reading. “And yesterday the building fund was raided by the shelter’s director, and he has apparently left town, according to Sergeant Legere’s detectives.”

“He might have left the state, or even the country,” Neil said, “with over a million dollars.”

“Pretty crummy.” Kate slipped into her chair beside him.

Neil shot her a glance. “Kate’s the one who made the connection. He could be our shooter.”

Connor folded the papers and started reading a story below the fold. “So, Kate, I see you made page one again. Congratulations.”

“Thanks.” The toaster popped, and she jumped up to grab the toasted bagels.

“Don’t you think we should do something to find this Burton guy who stole the money?” Neil asked.

Connor looked back at the top of the newspaper. “Jim Burton.
Well, Neil, I’ll tell you. Two of Ron Legere’s detectives are handling it. But that embezzler’s not in Portland anymore, you can bet on that.”

Neil’s frustration made his coffee taste bitter, and he put an extra spoonful of sugar in it. “I spoke to Joey Bolduc last night. He’s on the animal shelter investigation. When I called him, they were trying to find out if Burton had caught a plane. And the sergeant assured me his unit is doing everything possible to stop Burton if he hasn’t left town yet, but they’re afraid he’s already skipped.”

“So you really think this has to do with Mrs. Riley’s murder?” Kate asked timidly.

“Not necessarily. Coincidences happen.” Connor laid the paper beside his plate. “However, when one organization is involved in two major crimes in the same week, I take notice.”

Neil thought back over all the information he had collected on Edna Riley. “Mrs. Riley left ten thousand dollars to the animal shelter, and she volunteered there, helping with the animals.”

“Let’s let the sergeant and his men see what they turn up this weekend,” Connor said. “We may want to interview Professor Riley again on Monday.”

“What about Hepburn, the second victim?” Kate asked. “I don’t suppose he made a large bequest to the Animal Protection Society?”

“No, he didn’t have much,” Neil said. “His house was mortgaged. What little he had goes to his children.”

Connor looked over the top of his newspaper. “Did his sister take the cats?”

Neil met his eyes. The facts slowly clicked into place in his mind. The two murder victims were both animal lovers. Kate watched him curiously.

Adrienne picked up on Connor’s mood. “Sweetheart, you aren’t going to work today, are you?”

“I wonder if Edna Riley knew Ted Hepburn,” Connor said.

“Yeah. We could ask Mr. Riley,” Neil suggested.

“Or we could call the shelter. What time do they open in the morning?”

“It’s Saturday. I’m not sure they’re open at all today.”

“Somebody has to feed the animals,” Connor said.

Adrienne let out a quiet moan.

Neil jumped up. “I’ll go.”

Connor nodded and reached over to give Adrienne’s hand a squeeze. “Don’t worry, honey. I told you I’ll stay home this weekend. Neil’s doing great on this case so far. I’m sure he can handle it.”

Kate stood up, with half a bagel still in her hand. “I’ll get my notebook, Neil. You’re taking me, too, Neil. Please?”

One car sat in the parking lot of the animal shelter when Neil pulled in. He and Kate got out of the truck. Neil tried the handle on the shelter’s front door, but it was locked. He knocked loudly. A red-haired woman in slacks and a ski sweater opened the door.

“May I help you?”

“I’m Detective Alexander with the Portland P.D., and I’m investigating the death of Mrs. Edna Riley.”

“Terrible thing,” she said.

“Yes, ma’am. May I ask you a few questions about Mrs. Riley?” He gestured at Kate. “This is Kate Richards of the
Press Herald
.”

The woman opened the door wide, and they followed her into the office area. It smelled like animals and shavings and dog food and manure. Somewhere beyond the office, dogs were barking.

The woman faced them. “I’m Roberta Palmer.” She was forty or more, of medium build and pleasant. Not a model, by any means, but attractive. “How can I help you?”

“Mrs. Riley left the shelter a bequest,” Neil said.

“Yes, ten thousand dollars. Her attorney informed us.”

Neil asked, “Did the society receive that money yet?”

“No, thank heavens. If we had, it would have gone to Argentina, or wherever Jim Burton is now.”

“I was very sorry to read about that, ma’am,” Neil said.

“These poor animals are the ones who will suffer. We’re so crowded here, and the facility is obsolete.”

“So, will you have to cancel the new building?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t actually take
all
the money. There were some investments that he couldn’t liquidate on his own. But he took the best part of it. Had it transferred electronically to some foreign bank, apparently. If he’s not caught, I guess we have to start over. And people won’t be so quick to donate a second time.”

“No, ma’am.”

“We’re having a big fund-raiser next week,” she said. “It’s our annual fancy dinner dance, the Fur Ball. We expected to raise a huge amount of money, maybe as much as two hundred thousand dollars. But now I don’t know if people will support it.”

“And you and the other employees had no inkling—”

“Of course not!” She sounded offended.

“Did you know Edna Riley personally?” Neil asked.

“Oh, sure. Edna volunteered two days a week to brush the animals and take dogs out for a walk, or whatever we needed her to do. She was very helpful, and a good worker.”

“How long had she done this?”

“Ten years maybe. She was devoted to the animals.”

“But she didn’t have any pets,” Neil observed.

“Her husband was allergic.” Roberta nodded sagely. “When she left here, she would go home and shower and wash her clothing so the dander wouldn’t bother him.”

Neil was aware of Kate standing behind him, listening avidly. She knew when to keep quiet. His conviction that she would succeed at her job ratcheted up a notch.

“Miss Palmer, did you know a man named Theodore Hepburn?” he asked.

“Ted Hepburn? Sure. He was another of our volunteers.”

Neil glanced at Kate, who was writing quickly in her notebook. “He came in here regularly to help you out?”

“Yes. Every Friday,” Roberta said. “He loved cats especially. He adopted several himself, ones we couldn’t find a home for.”

Neil nodded. “It’s wonderful when people care so much about pets. Was Friday one of Mrs. Riley’s days?”

“Why, yes. She was here on Tuesdays and Fridays. Ted was here on Fridays. Like clockwork.”

“So they worked together one day a week?”

“Sometimes. He would clean cages and bathe new animals.”

“How long had he been a volunteer?”

“Three or four years.”

Neil said gently, “You know Mr. Hepburn was also murdered last weekend?”

“Yes. It was quite a blow. Two of our volunteers being killed like that.” Her face whitened. “You don’t think there was some connection, do you?”

“Well, yes, ma’am. There was a connection. You may not have read today’s paper, but they were shot with the same gun. We didn’t realize they knew each other, though. Can you tell us what their relationship was?”

“They seemed to get along. Talked cheerfully while they tended the animals.”

“Do you know if they saw each other outside the shelter?”

“You mean, like dating?”

“No, I mean…well, anything. Is there anything else they had in common?”

“Just cats, so far as I know. Ted would help with the dogs, but he was really fascinated by the cats.” She looked at Neil anxiously. “Do you know what’s happened to his cats?”

“His sister took them home with her.”

“Oh, good, I’m so glad someone is taking care of them.”

They talked for a few more minutes, during which the noise from the kennel area increased.

“The animals are hungry,” she said. Neil thanked her, and he and Kate went outside.

“I think I’ll go see Gerald Riley,” Neil said, “and then I want to talk to the detectives on the Burton case.”

Kate stayed in the pickup when they reached the Riley house.
Mr. Riley came to the door in his bathrobe, and Neil apologized for arriving so early. When he said he had some information about the case, Mr. Riley eagerly showed him into the family room. Neil glanced into the living room as they passed the archway and saw that the Christmas tree was still up, but the packages and the stained rug were gone.

When they were seated, he took out his notebook. “Sir, I understand your wife was a volunteer at the animal shelter.”

“Yes, she loved to go there. She left them some money, you know.”

“Yes, sir. Did you read this morning’s paper about Mr. Burton running off with the shelter’s building fund?”

“Wicked,” he said, shaking his head.

“Yes. Did Mrs. Riley know Mr. Burton?”

“She knew him. Didn’t like him much. She didn’t usually see him when she went to the shelter, but once in a while she did.”

“How do you know she didn’t like him?”

“She said things about him, like he thought more of his position than he did the animals. Edna loved the animals.”

“Did you know a man named Theodore Hepburn?”

“Hmm…don’t think so. Was he the fella got killed Sunday night?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I saw on the news that you were investigating that murder. I also saw where you were looking for a boy who shot at a cat.”

“Yes, we still are.”

“The paper says they’re connected. Detective, does that cat have something to do with Edna?”

“Sir?”

“Well, you were investigating these two murders, and then you start in on this cat thing. You’re too important to go chasing someone who shot at a cat and missed.”

Neil smiled. “Mr. Riley, your wife worked at the animal shelter with Theodore Hepburn. He was another volunteer there.”

Riley stared at him in disbelief. His voice croaked a little when he said, “Ted? That was Ted from the shelter? I didn’t connect it.”

“Yes, sir. Did you know him?”

“Never met him, but on Fridays, Edna always came home with stories about Ted. He would flea-dip the dogs and things like that.” He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “Yes. She did say…last Friday…Christmas Eve, that is…”

“Yes, sir? What did she say?”

Riley looked him in the eye. “Ted was upset that day. His daughter wanted him to go to her house over Christmas, and he didn’t want to go. But there was something else. He told Edna something wasn’t right. She came home and told me, ‘Ted says something shady’s going on at the shelter.’ Like that.”

“Do you think she was referring to the finances?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think she knew. Just that Ted was uneasy. I didn’t pay much attention. This Ted was like a character in a book. I heard about him on Fridays. The rest of the week I never thought about him. But I guess Ted knew what he was talking about.”

When he was in the vehicle again, Neil quickly told Kate what he had learned. “Joey Bolduc and Emily Rood are the detectives investigating the animal shelter embezzlement. I suppose I should back off and see what they can do with this case.”

“But the murders,” Kate said.

“Yes. We’re right on the verge of connecting this Burton character to our two murders. It’s looking like one big case.” Neil sighed. “I’m supposed to be off-duty this weekend. I guess I should let them do some legwork. They’re trying to run Burton down and recover the money.”

“Will they be able to do it?” Kate asked.

Neil grimaced. Privately, his opinion of Joey Bolduc wasn’t stellar. Joey was temperamental and occasionally sloppy in his work.

“They’ll keep an eye on the airport, I suppose,” Kate said.

“But Burton probably got in his car Friday and drove south before anyone even knew he’d emptied the society’s bank account.”

“In which case, you can’t do much about it,” Kate pointed out. “I don’t intend to work this weekend unless something incredible happens. But on Monday, I’d like to do another follow-up on this case.”