Take Stock in Murder (24 page)

“I don’t think so. Why do you ask?”

“You were able to find the information. Don’t you think someone else could have made the same discoveries? That might account for the shredding.” Charles was hoping Sara could shed some light on the mystery woman.

“No, you don’t understand. The records he kept in his office were the meeting notes and copies of statements that showed legitimate transactions. For the real record of what he was doing, he used his laptop, and I have those records.”

“You have his laptop?” asked a surprised Charles. Immediately visions of the intruder flashed through his brain.

“Not his laptop but his files. You see, I was with Todd when he purchased his laptop, so I was sure he was keeping the Investment Club information on the computer.”

“The police must have searched his condo. How did you get the DVDs?” Charles was again thinking of all the items the intruder took.

“Actually, it wasn’t a DVD; it was a small thumb drive. I found it because I grew up with Todd. As kids we used to pass messages back and forth by hiding them. Once we took a book and cut out a section so we could pass bulky items back and forth.”

Charles smiled as he remembered how he and his brother, Jamie, had a tree in the backyard where they passed messages between themselves and friends.

“You’re smiling. You don’t believe me.” She sounded like a little child defending her statement.

“No, to the contrary, I’m remembering a similar game with my brother. Where did you find the thumb drive?”

“When I couldn’t find any computer records at the office, I remembered our childhood game. That’s why I went back to Todd’s office on Sunday. It was easy to find when I knew what I was looking for. How many investment offices do you know with a book on how to play party games hidden among the volumes of handbooks, SEC regulations, and mutual fund directories? I looked in the book, and sure enough, there was the drive. I printed copies of everything on the drive. That’s how I figured out the scheme.”

“Any chance someone knows what you found?”

“Believe me, I’m not about to take any chances. We don’t have cameras in the office, so I know there was no record of my entering Todd’s office. But I know there’s still a murderer out there. Once I found the thumb drive, I went to a girlfriend’s house and used her printer. She has nothing to do with any financial firm.”

“You have the drive hidden?”

“Yes, Mr. Faraday.” She’d reverted to formal titles again. “I believe I’m making the right decision in talking with you, but in the investment business, you learn to diversify your portfolio. I’ve taken steps to protect the drive, along with the copies I made.”

“You’re absolutely correct to do so, but I hope you understand my concern. These materials, along with your testimony, could help clear my wife.”

“I understand, and I assure you I’ll be ready when called upon.” Sara emptied her wine glass and gathered her crumpled tissues. She walked over to the trash can and deposited the used tissues.

“Great!” Charles’s earlier comment had relaxed her again, and she was showing signs of wanting to leave. “Sara, you have been wonderful, but I have a couple more questions.”

She sat back in her chair. Charles replenished her wine.

“I’ll ask again, could someone else have known what Todd was doing?”

“It’s possible someone suspected the transactions weren’t legitimate because of the high returns. I mean, people were beginning to notice the success of the Club.” Sara stopped for a moment, then added, “That could explain something else that happened. Several weeks before Todd died, some audits were ordered.”

“Is that unusual? I thought brokerage firms were under constant audits.”

“We perform constant internal audits, but these were two friends of old Mr. Barrington from outside the company. When people asked why they were there, there was a rather weak explanation that they were exploring the possibility of an acquisition.”

“Anything else?”

“It was about a week after the auditors arrived that Todd reminded me of our childhood game of hiding things. At the time, I never connected the events.”

“Who were the two friends of Mr. Barrington?”

“It’s Mr. Tom Heathrow and Mr. Frank Albright from the Club. I think that’s why we thought the audit was unusual, because most of us knew they’re both retired.”

“Yes, I know who they are. In fact, they’re the two who walked in on the fracas with Todd.”

“Yeah, I heard you punched him.” She smiled for the first time.

“Sara, I know this is an unfair question to ask. I need to know about Todd and his women.”

“Oh, there’s no mystery there. As the old saying goes, ‘If it wore a skirt,’ Todd was a suitor. I think he felt the womanizing was part of his image. Sometimes it was pretty hilarious,” she added.

“Why hilarious?”

“Well, if you could have seen some of the women he brought to the company functions…It was a joke among his coworkers to see if he could outdo his previous bad date. Most were definitely outside what his father and brother would call their class.”

“How about the women he didn’t bring to the company functions?” Sara continued looking down at the table. “I’m talking about women from the Club who would have been recognized at a company function,” Charles clarified.

“I’ve heard those rumors too, but I’ve no personal knowledge that Todd dated any of these women. Why are you interested in Todd’s dating habits?”

“Carrie and I’ve reason to believe that a woman was involved with helping Todd. The more I know about who he dated, the
more it might help us identify this person. Can you think of anyone else?”

Sara thought for a few seconds. “I can’t give you a name, but there was someone else from the Club. One night there was a group of us working late. Todd made the comment that he needed to go because he wanted to get to the Club before eight p.m. I asked him why, and he responded that if he wasn’t there, ‘she’ would just go home.”

Charles responded, “It sounds like an employee.”

“Right, someone who works at the Club. That was my conclusion too. People when they finish work—if there isn’t a reason for staying, just go home.”

“Any idea who she is?”

“No, not a clue.” She paused and then added, “Charles, I’ve told you everything I know. I must say, I feel better for having told someone.” Sara finished the last of her wine and stood to leave.

“Sara, I think this information will help us prove Carrie’s innocence.” Charles opened the kitchen door and walked out with her.

As they walked to her car, Sara stopped and turned back to Charles. “You know, there’s the possibility that the stock dealings may have nothing to do with Todd’s murder. It could still be a personal relationship that caused a jealous woman or her husband to commit the murder.”

“I understand, but the financial dealings provide some interesting new angles.” Charles opened her car door. “Nice car. I see it’s new.”

“It’s easy to handle but not my type. It’s my mother’s.” Sara smiled. “Mom bought it with some of her profits from the
Investment Club. She’s very proud of it. I think it’s the first thing she’s bought since she was married that wasn’t paid for by Dad. She let me borrow it while mine is being repaired.”

Charles returned to the kitchen window and watched Sara navigate the driveway. He felt elated and depressed at the same time. At last they knew what Todd had been doing with the Investment Club; however, had the Investment Club dealings been enough to cause his murder? Or was it still more likely that Todd had been the victim of a jealous husband or boyfriend? Sara definitely provided some light in the tunnel, but so far it was a very small candle.

Who was the woman accomplice? If she was sharing in the profits, would she murder her meal ticket? Then there was Sara driving off in a new car that belonged to her mother. How many women involved in the case were driving cars with temporary tags? Charles hadn’t reached any conclusions when he heard a noise behind him.

ind someone new to play with?”

Charles turned to find Carrie looking over his shoulder at Sara’s disappearing car. “No, I only want to play with you, but I’ve been working very hard while you were asleep. Do you see the tags on that car pulling out of the driveway?”

“It’s hard to miss those temporary tags. Who’s driving?”

“Sara Chaney.”

“So, Sara bought a new car?”

“Actually, it’s her mother’s. Sara borrowed it while hers is being repaired.” Sara’s car disappeared around the last bend, and Charles turned to Carrie. “Did I hear the phone earlier?”

“It was Christopher. He concluded that our roaring fire in the library was built to keep the body warm to alter the time of the murder. So it supports our theory that Todd may have been killed earlier than midnight. But I want to hear what you’ve been doing.”

“I’ve been fixing lemon chicken.”

“Mmm, sounds delicious. But I really want to know what Sara said.”

Charles took the next half hour to summarize what Sara had revealed and then looked more closely at the folder of transactions Sara had brought with her.

“Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to verify our mystery woman or anyone else helping Todd with the investments,” Charles said.

“Don’t worry, darling. It’s only a matter of time before we find out who she is.”

What happens if she doesn’t come to light before the trial?
Charles thought.

“What are you thinking, darling?”

“What?” Charles snapped back from his thoughts. “Oh, I was trying to put all the pieces together. We need to know who that woman was in Todd’s condo and in our kitchen.”

“Well, we won’t find out by continuing to discuss it. Will dinner wait a little longer?”

“Yes, of course. I only had time to get the ingredients together for the sauce and prepare the chicken before Sara arrived. Not feeling hungry?”

“You’re an absolute dear for making my favorite meal, but right now Mama needs a new pair of shoes.”

“Now, Carrie. What about keeping that low profile we talked about?”

“What? And let you have all the fun of interviewing the suspects? Besides, you can’t very easily go into a women’s shoe store. They have nothing that will fit those big feet of yours.”

“You never complain about my big feet when they’re keeping those little feet of yours warm in bed. Besides, there’s probably a policeman watching the driveway to report your movements.”

“Then I won’t go out. It will appear that only you’re leaving. I’ll hide in the back seat under a blanket.”

“Carrie, you’ve been watching too many movies.”

“OK, boss, so how are you planning on escaping this joint?” Carrie sounded like a crook from Brooklyn.

“Did I ever tell you about the service drive that no one uses? There’s a little lane at the back of the property that exits on the main highway.” Charles could tell by the look on Carrie’s face that she knew nothing about it. “See, this is why they call me ‘boss.’” Charles returned the accent.

“Married all this time and still keeping secrets.”

“It’s a secret because no one has used it in years. Remember, our property was originally a farm. It’s a lane that led from the fields to the house. Hopefully I’ll be able to get through.”

“If the police are watching, won’t they know when you take the car out of the garage?” Carrie asked.

“I don’t think so. I’ll take the four-wheel drive, which is parked in the far-left bay. If I pull out tight and move carefully between the garage and the trees, I don’t think the watchdog can see me from the road. Besides, let’s hope they’re concentrating on checking out Sara.”

“Great plan. It makes it easier on me. I won’t have to hide under a blanket. But even if they see us leave, there’s no reason why I can’t have a little outing to work up an appetite for dinner. I’m not confined to the house.” Carrie kissed him on the cheek and went to the closet to get their jackets.

Once they were in the car, Charles maneuvered the vehicle into the partially hidden access lane. “This road isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I bet the landscapers are using it to get from one side of the property to the other.”

“It’s always nice to have an escape route.”