The last ride, p.14
The Last Ride, page 14
She shook her head. “I know a lot of the people who come in here, but I never saw him before. He was a big man...white hair.” She looked down for a moment. “I remember, he had a bit of a limp. I don’t think they were together or anything. I mean, romantically, if you know what I mean?” She shrugged. “But you never know with Kayla.”
I nodded toward Alex. “You have a picture of Roy Mason?”
She pulled out her phone, tapped the screen and turned it toward Cary. “Is this him?”
She nodded with a bit of enthusiasm. “Did you say Roy Mason? That sounds right. Now that you mention it, I remember seeing his name on his credit card.”
Chapter 29
WE PULLED UP TO THE gate at Michelle Thompson’s neighborhood. I’d expected to drive straight through, since I’d made a pretty good acquaintance of Mickey, the security guard. But he walked out from the brick guard’s house and stood in front of the Jeep so I’d stop.
He came over to the driver’s side. “Morning, Henry,” he said. “Here to see Mrs. Thompson again?” He looked past me at Alex and tipped his hat, then shifted his eyes to Raz, watching Mickey from the back seat.
I nodded. “You think that’ll be all right?”
“She’s not home. Left, oh, maybe twenty minutes ago.” He looked around as if making sure nobody was listening then leaned in close to me. “She’s out with an old friend of Mr. Thompson’s.”
“You happen to know who?”
Mickey nodded. “I know just about every person who comes in and out of this gate. Name’s Roy Mason. Nice gentleman, I suppose.” He looked down at me over his sunglasses. “Is she expecting you this morning?”
“Michelle? No, but I wish I’d gotten here twenty minutes earlier. Wouldn’t have minded bumping into Roy Mason again.”
“You know him?”
“You could say that.” I looked out at Mickey. “Has he been over to see Michelle a lot lately?”
Mickey looked out toward the road and nodded. “Since Mr. Thompson passed away. I understand doing what you can to help take care of your friend’s widow, but...” He didn’t finish. “I don’t know. Something about it seems odd to me.”
I turned and looked at Alex.
Mickey backed away from the Jeep. “I’m sorry. It’s really not my place to make remarks like that.”
“Oh, I don’t know if that’s true, Mickey. You’re watching out for the people who depend on you to keep them safe. It’s your responsibility to know what’s going on around here, isn’t it?”
Mickey paused a moment then gave somewhat of a confused look. He nodded his head in agreement, pulled off his hat and pushed back what was left of the hair on his head. “I didn’t see him much over the past couple of months when John was still alive...but I swear since the very morning of his death, Roy Mason’s been showing up quite often.”
“You mean...he was here the morning of John Thompson’s death?”
Mickey nodded. “I didn’t know anything of it at the time. But he came through here, oh, I don’t know...had to be sometime before nine in the morning. Maybe a little later. I mean, I assume he was there to show his support and condolences. But I got to thinking after...he showed up so soon...like it must’ve just happened. And here he comes driving up in that old Chevrolet pickup truck of his.”
“Any idea how long he was here?”
Mickey shook his head. “I’m only here ’til eleven on Sundays. He was still there when I left. Like I said, I didn’t know nothin’ of John’s death at the time. Went on my way to church...made it in time for the eleven-thirty service.”
“Officers must’ve come out to see Michelle that morning?”
He nodded. “I didn’t know what for, at the time. Just let them right through, of course.”
I looked over at Alex in the passenger seat and shifted the Jeep into reverse. “Thanks for taking the time to talk to us, Mickey. Maybe not a bad idea you and I keep this between us, if that’s all right?”
“I DON’T HAVE MUCH TIME,” Angela said as she stood in her doorway and looked out at me and Alex. “I need to get to the office...with everything that’s happened, I’m afraid of what this is going to do to my employees.”
“You remember Alex, don’t you?” I said.
Angela nodded, although with little acknowledgment. She stretched her head and looked toward the Jeep. “Is that a dog there in the back seat?”
Alex turned and looked toward Raz. “He’s mine.”
Angela watched Raz for a moment then turned toward the door and held it open for me and Alex. “Please, come inside.” She led us down the hall and into the kitchen at the back of the house. She took a quick look at the clock. “Any news on Kayla?”
“No, nothing. Not yet,” I said.
Angela held up a pot of coffee. “Would either of you like a cup of coffee?”
“I could use one,” I said. I nodded toward Alex. “Alex only drinks tea.”
“I can boil some water if you’d—”
“No, I’m fine, thank you,” Alex said.
Angela poured a coffee into a Thompson Insurance mug and handed it to me. She took a seat at the island and gestured across from her. “Please, have a seat.”
Alex and I sat across from her as I said, “A lot has happened in the past twelve hours.”
Angela closed her eyes and looked down into her cup. “First John. Now Kayla. It’s just hard to understand why....”
“Well, I don’t have what I need to prove it, but there’s obviously a good chance the two are tied together.”
Angela stared back at me. “You’re sure it wasn’t suicide?”
“Kayla?” I shook my head. “I’m not sure of anything just yet. But the insurance policy she’d promised me...”
“You mean Theresa’s life insurance policy?”
“Yes. We have a contact at the Sheriff’s Office who found it in her apartment. I should have a copy of it this afternoon.”
Angela looked back and forth between me and Alex. “I guess I don’t understand the significance of Theresa’s policy. I mean, it’s been five years since her death. And now all of a sudden...”
“Besides the fact her own son has a right to see it...I also think it’s important to know how much John received in the settlement. You never know...”
“You never know what?”
Alex and I both gave each other a look.
I said, “For someone who knew John as well as you did...don’t you think you’d notice a small bump in his income of say, oh, about two million dollars? I’d have to guess the answer would be yes. Especially around a time you admitted yourself things weren’t ‘great’ with Thompson Insurance.”
“I’m paying you to find out what happened to John. Not if he stiffed his own stepson.”
“There’s more to it than that, Angela. Even if Nate deserves his share...I think it’s important for us to know what happened to that money. And maybe you don’t want to hear this, but what if there was something more to Theresa’s death.”
Angela cocked her head back. “Are you saying her death wasn’t just an accident?” She shook her head. “I don’t buy it. I just...”
“I can’t stop thinking Roy and John had something to hide. And it might have something to do with Theresa.”
“That’s ridiculous. You think John and Roy might’ve...” She got up from the stool and walked to the kitchen sink. She dumped her coffee and turned back to me and Alex. “I know you’re a man who likes to work from his gut. I can appreciate that. But unless you have some sort of proof...I have to believe you’re pulling this out of—”
“I spoke with someone last night who overheard a conversation Roy had with John.”
Angela leaned back against the sink, her arms folded at her chest.
“The thing is, we don’t know for sure if it was John on the other end. But she’s sure she heard Roy mention John’s name. And Nate was mentioned, too.”
“Aren’t you going to tell me who this person is?”
I said, “I don’t think that’s important right now.”
Angela gave me a look. “You’re telling me this now, why can’t you just tell me who it was?”
I sipped my coffee, although it was barely hot. I pushed the cup aside and stood from the island. “It was Lydia. Brian Mason’s girlfriend. Or, ex-girlfriend. She heard the conversation but at the time, didn’t think much of it. But then as things started to add up...John’s death...Kayla...and now with Nate’s disappearance.”
“Okay, so then why don’t you tell me what she allegedly heard Roy say on the phone?”
I hesitated a moment. I didn’t want to give Angela everything I’d heard until I had more proof. But she was the one paying the bill. “Lydia was at Roy’s house with Brian...and she heard Roy say to the other person—who she believes was John—that he had to take care of Nate before it’s too late.”
“Before what’s too late?” Angela said. “And how does she have any idea what he actually meant?”
“I don’t know. Not yet. And we have no way of knowing if he meant to take care of Nate and get rid of him....or maybe take care of him, perhaps, pay him the money he should have in the first place.”
“And why would Roy be involved in this? It doesn’t make sense.”
Alex said, “As Henry said, we think Roy and John had something to hide.”
Angela closed her eyes and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m not exactly following. Do you really believe this will somehow lead to what happened to John?”
I gave Angela a moment to digest what I’d told her. “We stopped at Beach Diner earlier this morning. And out of pure luck, the waitress turned out to be a friend of Kayla’s. And she told us Kayla had been there recently.” I paused a moment. “Guess who she was with?”
Angela didn’t give it a second. “Will you please just tell me?”
“She was there with Roy Mason.”
She gasped. “Oh no...please don’t tell me you think Kayla was sleeping with Roy...”
“No,” I said. “But we learned something from Kayla’s friend. When we asked if she knew John...she didn’t hesitate for a second. She told us Kayla was sleeping with him.”
Angela stared back at me and Alex for a moment then turned away. With her back to us, she looked toward the window over the sink. She ran her hand through her hair, then held it there on top of her head. “Jesus Christ,” she said as she turned back to face us. “I need a drink.”
I walked toward her. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “I had a feeling. I just...I thought even John had a line he wouldn’t cross. Kayla wasn’t even thirty years old.”
I said to Angela, “I know there’s a lot to think about. Probably more than you were expecting. But...I just think we need to look at Roy. I thought maybe we could look at his business policies? Maybe see what claims he’s had over the past few years?”
Angela had her eyes down toward the floor for a couple of moments, then looked up at me and Alex. “What exactly would you be looking for?”
“I don’t know. Anything out of the ordinary. Maybe claims that were approved. Or even if any were denied? Maybe his policy changes over the years?”
She walked past us and sat back down at the island. She sat quiet for a moment. “You should talk to Eric. Before Kayla was hired he used to work with John. He was involved in Roy’s business policies...and might be able to help you. Just don’t tell him too much. He tends to talk...if you know what I mean.”
“Is he in the office today?”
“Not today. I think he’s on the road. But he’ll be in tomorrow, if you can’t track him down.” Angela looked at her watch again. “I’m sorry. I really have to get to the office. Not a good day for me to get in late.”
Chapter 30
I TURNED TO ALEX AS we pulled into her driveway. Her eyes were across the grass, toward the spot behind the shrubs where we’d found her neighbor’s dog.
“I can’t get the image out of my head.” She looked straight ahead then closed her eyes as I turned off the engine. “I don’t want to ever say I’m glad it wasn’t Raz. I mean, of course I am. But, I guess...it doesn’t feel right even thinking that. Poor Kaiyuh.”
We both sat still for a moment.
I said, “It’s okay to be happy it wasn’t Raz. It doesn’t mean you’re happy that it happened. But...” I paused a moment, not sure what I was trying to say to her was helpful. “I guess I know what you’re trying to say.”
Alex glanced at me and pushed out a slight smile. “Poor Mr. Gleason. He loved that dog.”
We both stepped out of her Jeep and I noticed the hair on the back of Alex’s head had already started to grow back.
Raz jumped down behind us and ran across the lawn to where Kaiyuh had been. He sniffed around until Alex called for him. “Come on Raz.” She slapped her hand on her thigh. “You don’t need to be over there.”
Alex slid the key in the door and pushed it open.
We both stepped inside and Alex turned to me. “It’s fine.”
I shoved my way past her and looked around the corner into the kitchen. It was quiet and everything seemed to be in its place.
She pulled her Glock from her holster and headed up the stairs. “I’m going to take a quick shower.”
I stepped toward the stairs and looked up at her. “You sure you’re okay?”
She turned to me and nodded, held up her Glock. “I’ll be honest, I’m itching to use this on someone.”
I walked into the room with the TV, still up on the wall with the shattered screen. I turned and yelled up the stairs to Alex. “Do you mind if I jump on your computer?”
She stuck her head out from her room, her bare shoulder barely hidden behind the door. “Go ahead. I’ll be down in five minutes.” She closed the door as I stood, looking up.
I yelled out for her again. “Alex?”
She again stuck her head outside her room. “Yes?”
“You sure everything’s okay?”
She nodded and gave me a genuine smile. “All good.”
I sat down at her desk and turned on her computer. The first thing I searched for was Roy Mason. And the search results were filled with articles about him and the various businesses he owned. His parent company, as I discovered, was called Mason Industries. He’d been the developer in a number of properties around Jacksonville, some on Amelia Island, and a handful in other areas of the northeastern part of the state. Most of his work, outside of a couple of residential developments, seemed to be commercial, including a couple of golf courses.
I was on the third page of search results when an article caught my eye. There’d been a fire nearly seven years ago that took down a condominium development. And it turns out it was Roy’s development, and almost put Roy out of business.
But it wasn’t developed under Mason Industries. It was called The RJM Corporation. His wife, Joanna, was involved in it at the time, which is where I guessed the ‘J’ came from in the name. The company had since been dissolved.
I turned from the desk as Alex came down the stairs and stood behind me. She wiped her wet hair with a towel then turned and pointed to the back of her head. She smiled. “I’m not supposed to get it wet...but look! My bald spot’s filling in.”
“I noticed earlier.” And then for some reason I wanted to make her feel even better. I said, “You can hardly see the wound.”
She gave me a look and rolled her eyes.
I pointed to the screen. “Look at this.”
She leaned over me with her arms resting on the back of the chair.
I said, “Roy Mason developed these condominiums out route 10, west of the city, about seven years ago. Whole thing burned down overnight, while it was still under construction.”
“That’s way out there. Does it say what happened?”
“It was under investigation for arson at the time. But this article’s a few years old.”
Alex said, “If it’s the part of town I’m thinking it is, it never turned into what they’d hoped. He was probably better off with insurance money.”
We both looked at each other, as if Alex had just hit the nail on the head.
I said, “Don’t you think Angela would’ve mentioned something about this?”
Alex shrugged. “Didn’t she say Eric was involved with Roy’s account at one time?”
I thought for a moment as I stared at the article on the computer.
Alex turned and walked into the kitchen.
I followed behind her and said, “Would it be crazy if I talked to Roy? Maybe there’s nothing to it, but...”
“You really think he’s going to tell you anything at this point?”
“What about Chris?” I said. “No word from him on Theresa?”
Alex shook her head. “He’s trying to be cool about it. He doesn’t want to just start asking around the office.”
I looked out the window toward her yard. “What about the officer who wrote up the report?”
Alex shrugged. “Chris said he retired...not long after the initial investigation. In fact he was young at the time...only thirty-five.”
“Did he say if he’s still a cop? Maybe in another jurisdiction?”
“We didn’t get into it that much.” Alex walked out of the kitchen and came back with the manilla folder in her hand. It was Theresa Thompson’s police report. She had her eyes down, then looked up at me. “Here it is. Officer Paul Krueger.”
Chapter 31
ROSIE’S PUB WAS ROCKING for a weekday afternoon. Most of the stools were taken and the five pool tables were all in use. Music cranked over the speakers. It was a mixed crowd, although most of the men looked dressed for business. Middle-aged salesmen, from what I’d guessed. The women were just the opposite, dressed for a day at the beach or a day of drinking.
I spotted Eric down the far end from the entrance. His shirt had been unbuttoned halfway down his chest. He had half a glass of booze in his hand in front of him, his eyelids heavy and a woman twice his age hanging on his back. She rubbed her hand through his hair.
