CRIME OF RETRIBUTION: A Gripping Crime Mystery Full of Twists Read online

  “Whatever the reason, it leaves us in the dark as to whether he knows what’s going on. If the manager is the only one responsible, he’ll deny everything.”

  “You’re right. And Richard will believe what Carl tells him because that’s what he wants to believe. He has no wish to become entangled with problems at the ranch with his time consumed by politics.” Dan’s brow creased with lines. “We need to remove that listening device before he finds it. He’s bound to know who planted it. It may create trouble for us.”

  “We can’t go ourselves. He specifically instructed us to conduct future contact by phone to avoid the necessity of explaining our presence to Ellen.”

  Dan picked up his cell. “Don’t despair. I know someone who can gain access to his office.”

  “Who are you calling?”

  He held up a finger to silence her until he heard a person’s voice on the other end. “Now that you’re back in the saddle, there’s something else you can assist with.”

  “You’re asking Maddy to help?” Lea snarled.

  He put his hand over the phone. “No one will suspect an interior decorator of being a covert spy for a detective agency. She might even discover new evidence while she’s there to retrieve the bug.”

  “She’ll never agree. Last time I used her, she swore never again.”

  “I’m harder to resist.”

  He spoke for a few moments and then ended the call.

  “I told you she’d turn you down,” Lea gloated.

  “No such thing,” he smirked. “Everything’s set. She’ll come by the office later to return the device to us.”

  Lea shook her head. “My sister’s a pushover for a charming man.”

  • • •

  Back at the office, Lea drummed her fingers on her desk.

  “Still fuming over how easily I talked your sister into helping?” Dan asked as he entered.

  “It’s not that. I don’t like the thought of Carl talking his way out of things with Richard.”

  “There’s nothing we can do in that regard. Without proof, we’ll never convince him to take our word over the word of his manager.”

  “He may not listen to us but there’s more than one way to skin a cat.”

  She picked up her phone and dialed a number.

  He raised an eyebrow. “Who are you calling?”

  “Your ex-wife.”

  “Why are you calling Jessica?” he asked warily.

  “To ask for an invitation to a fundraiser she’s working on.”

  “We’re in the middle of a case. You don’t have time for charity events,” Dan retorted.

  “Quiet!” She held up a finger and spoke into the phone. “Jessica, it’s Lea Austin.”

  He twiddled his thumbs while the women exchanged pleasantries.

  “I have a favor to ask,” Lea continued. “Can you get me into the benefit dinner you mentioned?”

  He gave her a dirty look and stood to leave.

  She ignored his petulance. “Yes, the one Dottie Wolf is hosting.”

  Smiling, he tipped his hat and left the room.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  As soon as Maddy arranged for her mother to fill in at the store, she paid an unannounced visit to the congressman.

  His assistant entered his office to inform him of a visitor who wanted to take pictures. Maddy followed closely on the woman’s heels.

  “Her design business publishes a magazine featuring homes and offices of distinguished members of our community,” Ellen explained, echoing Maddy’s words. “Someone suggested your office for an upcoming issue.”

  He scowled, irritated by the interruption. “Who suggested my office? I don’t have time for such nonsense.”

  “What a magnificent piece of furniture,” Maddy declared. She circled his desk, catching his attention with the seductive swaying of her hips. “And look at all these pictures of you with famous people.”

  Voicing no further objection, he followed her with his eyes as she drifted gracefully around the room.

  “It’s all right, Ellen.” He waved off his assistant. “You may go.”

  Maddy completed her tour by admiring the paintings on the wall. “Someone has good taste in art.”

  “My wife. I assume it was she who suggested my office for your magazine. She was thrilled when our home was featured in an edition of Architectural Digest.”

  Instead of confirming his assumption, Maddy offered an apology. “I thought you knew. I hope I’m not ruining your wife’s surprise. She also wants suggestions for possible additions.”

  “What changes does she have in mind? I like things the way they are.”

  “If you approve, I’ll take pictures and superimpose images of items from my store over your existing furniture. That way, your wife can see exactly how your office would appear.”

  “I’m the one who uses the room,” he grumbled. “It’s up to me to decide.”

  They brushed shoulders as she rounded the corner of his desk.

  “I’d love a chance to show you what I’m capable of doing,” she purred as she rubbed her hands along his straight-backed chair. “I have a leather chair you’d be more comfortable in. One built especially for a handsome, stately man like yourself.”

  His chest puffed out. “I admit this chair has seen better days.”

  She moved closer. “At your convenience, I’ll return with my camera.”

  He smiled seductively. “I’ll tell my assistant to make time in my schedule.”

  “One thing I suggest is to soften the lighting.” She removed the scarf around her neck and draped it across the desk lamp, reducing the harsh glare to a softer hue. “See the difference?”

  With a lascivious wink, he moved toward her. “Quite appealing.”

  In one quick move, she pulled the scarf from the shade with one hand while removing the tiny device on the lamp with the other.

  He reached out to touch her shoulder. “You have a flair for creativity. I admire that trait in a woman.”

  She pocketed the bug and stepped away from the desk. “I have to run but it was a pleasure meeting you. I’ll be in touch to schedule our next appointment.”

  “I look forward to seeing you again,” he murmured.

  She made a hasty exit from his office. When she got to the street, she allowed herself a quick glance back.

  He was standing at the window watching her.

  She shivered and hurried down the sidewalk.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Lea found Jessica in the hotel banquet room where the fundraiser was underway. “I appreciate you arranging this opportunity for me to speak with Mrs. Wolf.”

  Her friend nodded toward a woman attired in an elegant cashmere dress accented with gold jewelry. “There’s Dottie. Let’s go over. I’ll introduce you.”

  Jessica tapped the older woman on the shoulder. “I hope we aren’t interrupting. I have someone who wants to meet you.”

  When Mrs. Wolf turned, Lea could see she was a woman who never had a strand of stylish hair out of place. She silently scolded herself for postponing a long overdue hair cut.

  “I was telling my friends of an odd incident that occurred at my husband’s office,” she told the new arrivals.

  “Tell them, Dot,” another woman insisted. “Your story is amusing.”

  “Richard was busy working when an interior decorator of some sort came by. She claimed I suggested featuring his office in her magazine and even solicited suggestions for improvements.”

  Lea gulped.

  “As if our husbands would allow us to refurbish their man caves,” her friend tittered.

  “Was it true you sent the woman?” Jessica asked.

  “Of course not. When he learned I didn’t request her services, he called her highly upset.”

  “And?”

  “She admitted she made an error by going to the wrong address. Can you imagine?”

  “I’d hate to use her to redo my house. She might mix up the plans.
I’d end up with a greenhouse instead of an exercise room.”

  Lea forced herself to join in the women’s laughter.

  “Give us her name so we don’t make the mistake of hiring her.”

  “That was odd, too. Richard didn’t get her last name and she left only her number. No card with the name of her company or an address. The whole thing would be laughable except it wasted Richard’s time.”

  The woman turned her attention to Lea, who at the moment felt two inches tall.

  “Are you interested in the purpose of our fundraiser, Mrs. Austin?”

  The others moved away, leaving the two alone to talk.

  “Jessica told me of your passion for human rights, Mrs. Wolf,” Lea began.

  “Please, call me Dottie,” the hostess said amiably. “Did she describe our program to help starving people in Africa?”

  “Have you considered focusing your efforts closer to home? There are disadvantaged people in your own back yard.”

  The other woman gazed over the crowd, uninterested in what was being said. “My dear, what are you talking about?”

  “I’m referring to activities taking place at Rancho Hidalgo.”

  “That’s my husband’s department. Speak with him. I have nothing to do with business affairs at the ranch.”

  Lea stepped in front of the woman to keep her eyes from roaming. “I had occasion to visit your farm recently.”

  “That’s nice,” Dottie said absently. “Were you there to gather fruit? I hope you stopped by the produce stand. They sell the most wonderful strawberry jam.”

  “I was there to call on an employee. I saw the workers’ housing, the part of the farm off limits to the public.”

  “How nice.” Dottie waved at someone across the room. “However, I can’t imagine that area to be of much interest.”

  “On the contrary, my time there was quite illuminating.”

  The woman turned her attention more fully to Lea. “Illuminating in what way?”

  “I wonder if you’re aware of the current working conditions there.”

  The woman’s eyes widened as curiosity overcame her indifference.

  “Please proceed,” she said cautiously. “I’m interested to hear what you have to say.”

  Lea spent the next few minutes describing the farmworkers’ housing and the dangers they faced from the unhealthy environment. “Workers are in fields where pesticides are used.”

  “You obviously know little about farming,” the older woman responded condescendingly. “Pesticides protect plants from weeds, disease, and insects. Use of those products allows more food to be produced, increasing yields and improving farm revenues. Without pesticides, more than half our crops would be lost.”

  “The question is whether pesticides do more harm than good. Many of the products are hazardous to humans and other living things. Besides contaminating the land, the air, and the water, they seriously harm or kill native and domestic animals.”

  “You don’t understand. All farmers use pesticides, including organic farmers. The difference is that organic farmers use pesticides from natural sources.”

  “It doesn’t matter. Both synthetic and organic pesticides contain levels of toxicity. But there are ways to keep crops free of pests without using conventional pesticides.”

  Dottie chuckled. “My dear, you’re being naïve.”

  “A world without pesticides is a vitally important concept to explore.”

  “Why tell me? Complain to Richard.”

  “It’s a problem your husband seems unwilling to improve, along with the dilapidated condition of the living quarters.”

  The woman’s eyes narrowed. “You must be mistaken. I doubt such conditions exist at Rancho Hidalgo. Richard wouldn’t stand for it.”

  “How long has it been since you visited the farm?”

  Dottie twisted the diamond ring on her finger. “You’re beginning to get on my nerves, Mrs. Austin.”

  “Find out for yourself,” Lea urged. “Go talk to the workers. Ask for Roberto or Pedro. They’ll be happy to show you what you need to see. But be prepared. It won’t be as pleasant as the visitors’ tour. I doubt what’s happening is what your father or grandfather intended for Rancho Hidalgo.”

  “That’s presumptuous on your part, wouldn’t you agree?”

  Noticing the woman’s patience ebbing, Lea tried a different approach. “The impact of pesticides on workers’ health may be of little concern to you, but tell me this. Did you know a man was seriously hurt in a tractor accident on your farm?”

  Dottie picked lint from her sleeve. “I vaguely remember the incident.”

  “He didn’t have workmen’s compensation insurance even though the ranch, as his employer, is required to provide it. To pay for necessary treatment to prevent becoming an invalid, the family went into debt.”

  “That’s unfortunate but I fail to see your point.”

  “Your manager is using the family’s obligation to talk the daughter into engaging in prostitution.”

  The woman’s expression changed to a mixture of shock and barely contained anger. “What a preposterous accusation! How could such a thing happen without my husband’s knowledge?”

  “That’s the sixty-four thousand dollar question.”

  Dottie’s eyes filled with contempt. “It appears you came with an agenda other than helping our cause. I’m afraid I must ask you to leave. I have guests to attend to who are here for the right reason.”

  “You must listen. What I have to say is important.”

  “If you insist on making a scene, I won’t hesitate to have you thrown out.”

  Lea had no choice but to obey. She left the room feeling frustrated, embarrassed, and angry. Worst of all, she’d been ordered away before she asked about the dead girl found at Dottie’s ranch.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  Dan was on his way to the office in response to a request for a late night appointment.

  He knew Lea was attending a fundraiser. After his meeting, he’d have the place to himself. He relished the chance to lay out the facts to determine who was trying to kill him.

  As he neared the building, he noticed a peculiar light casting shadows on the window. Before he determined the source, there was a fiery explosion and the curtains burst into flames.

  He grabbed his phone and pressed the number for emergency services. “Fire at a one-story building downtown,” he yelled and gave the address.

  A familiar noxious odor filled his nose when he leaped from the car. He pulled an extinguisher from the trunk and ran toward the property.

  When he tried to open the door with his key, the metal was hot beneath his fingers. Spinning around, he grabbed a potted plant from the porch and threw it through the window. Standing in front of the shattered glass, he aimed the nozzle at the base of the flames, squeezed the handle, and swept from side to side until the fire was extinguished.

  By the time the fire engine arrived, Dan was bent over in the yard with his hands on his knees gulping fresh air.

  “You okay, buddy?” a fireman yelled as he ran toward the scene.

  Dan held up a finger signaling he needed time to catch his breath.

  The man in charge turned to his crew. “It appears this guy put out the fire. I’ll stay with him to make sure he’s all right. You go through and secure the building.”

  Dan stood upright, breathing deeply.

  “What happened here, sir?” the firefighter asked.

  “I came to my office for a meeting. I was parking my car when I noticed a strange light in the front room. A second later, flames broke out. I grabbed an extinguisher from the trunk and put out the fire.”

  “You’re lucky you had that extinguisher or the damage would have been worse. The fire might have destroyed the entire building.”

  “I’ve carried one ever since my engine caught fire. If I had an extinguisher then, I could have saved my car. One of those lessons you learn the hard way.”

  “It wa
s a lesson well learned. You saved your office and possibly other buildings on the block.” The fireman looked at his watch. “Lucky you were here. Do you typically work at this late hour?”

  “I received an anonymous request to meet regarding one of my cases.” Dan glanced around. “It seems the sender of that message has disappeared.”

  “Did you see anyone when you arrived?”

  Dan shook his head. “If someone was here, they left without lending a hand.”

  Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of another car. Lea parked haphazardly and ran to Dan’s side. “What happened?”

  “I’ll let you explain while I see to my men,” the man said, backing away.

  “A small fire in the reception room,” Dan told her as he rubbed his scratchy eyes. “Everything is under control.”

  “Are you all right?”

  “Other than having another batch of clothes which need airing, I’m fine.”

  They walked inside to examine the damage. Besides scorched curtains and a patch of blackened wall, there was minimal destruction to the reception room.

  “I’ll call a service to board the window until it’s replaced,” Dan said.

  Lea removed the plant from pieces of broken pot and placed it carefully in a wastebasket.

  “This will suffice until I bring a container to replant it,” she said woefully. “I don’t want to lose it. It’s one of my favorites.”

  He smiled meekly. “Sorry. At the moment, it seemed the only thing to do.”

  “Don't apologize. You did the right thing. I can easily replace the pot. The important thing is you weren’t harmed.” She set the plant to one side. “Without your presence, the building may have burned to the ground. Because of faulty wiring or a short in electrical equipment, our business would have gone up in smoke.”

  “This fire was no accident,” the fireman announced as he entered the room. He held up a small plastic object for them to see. “Someone intentionally started it using this remote device.”

  Lea gasped. “Are you saying this was a case of arson?”

  The man nodded. “Someone started the fire at a time of their choosing from a location outside the premises.”