The Gift of Grift Page 12

  Ray reassured Lori that there must have been some mix-up. He wasn’t sure he’d really been all that effective in his efforts, but he did his best despite the drums that seemed to be thundering in his ears.

  Katie had already lowered her spoon and stared at him by the time Ray set the handset on her table.

  “What is it?” she asked at last.

  “Lori doesn’t know a Gail Santaquin.”

  Katie drew in a breath. “Of course. That’s why she said she was from the Triangle.”

  “Hm?”

  “Lori’s from Charlotte.”

  “Oh.” Ray glanced at his wife, who apparently remembered Lori’s life history better than Ray did. “And maybe that’s why Gail was feeding squirrels.”

  It seemed like too big a coincidence that the one person in town they didn’t know could also be a killer. But why would Gail lie about why she was in town?

  His wife scrunched her nose at the thought. “If she wasn’t here for Lori’s wedding, how did she know about it?”

  “Talking to people in town? Maybe even talking to me.” Was he the first one to bring up Lori in his conversation with Gail? Possibly. He couldn’t remember now.

  Katie fixed her gaze on his. “I need you to remember everything you can about her. Everything she’s said. Everything she’s done.”

  Ray riffled through his memories for a long moment. “She noticed the buoys on the porch and called them an eighty-dollar larceny lure. Uh, she said she’d passed through small towns. She had the nicest smile, kind, like you really thought she cared about you — but I thought maybe when she turned away from me that her expression changed?”

  “That’s good. Anything else?”

  His mind jumped to his next encounter with her. When was that? The Salty Dog? “She said her car threw a rod through the oil pan and she’s stuck here in town.”

  Katie nodded, prompting him to go on.

  The next time he saw her was just last night. “She was trying to feed a squirrel under the porch last night.”

  Katie snapped up to look at him again. “The porch? Last night?”

  Ray nodded. The night the tipster called in and the buoys — the murder weapon — was found under their porch.

  Katie shifted in her bed. “Okay, let’s not rush into anything.”

  “We’ve bothered Chip enough.” And of course, by that Ray really meant that Chip was less than likely to believe them if they called him without evidence.

  “Is there anything else? Anything you can think of about why she came to town?”

  Ray began to pace, tapping his fist against his mouth as if to jog the memories. What else? There had to be something else, probably from that first meeting. “No, no.” But there was something more, something just on the edge of his memory, as though if he looked at it straight on, it would disappear, but if he could sneak up from the side —

  “She asked if someone had lost something.” At the time it had only seemed like a curious question, but now it seemed awfully convenient.

  “Judy dropped something, didn’t she?”

  Ray shrugged. He couldn’t be sure she actually had or whether maybe Brian had brought the diabetes monitor in with him. “That was their scam though.”

  “Gail knew what scam they were running?”

  Ray looked at his wife. “Judy — Judy said that Brian ran into someone he used to be involved with romantically.”

  “And he was with Judy now, right?”

  Ray nodded, excitement building in his chest. “What if she didn’t mean Pam? What if —”

  “What if Gail used to be his girlfriend and grifting partner?” The words tumbled out of Katie’s mouth before Ray’s brain had quite had the chance to put them all together. “And that’s how she knew their con, and she’s whom Judy meant.”

  “But how could she be in town at the same time as they were?”

  “Maybe she followed them here?” Katie shook her head. “Even without knowing that, we have to tell the police this.”

  “How will we find Gail? Last night — last night she said that her car might be done soon.”

  Katie shook her head, triumph in her eyes. She grabbed the bag from the Salty Dog. “Remember? We got her bag tonight. She’s still got to be here, right?”

  “As of half an hour ago, certainly looks that way.” But how would they find her?

  “The delivery ticket,” Katie continued. “It said the bag was supposed to go to the motel!”

  For half a second, Ray and Katie stared at one another. If he knew his wife, she was doing the same thing he was: calculating exactly how to go about this.

  “Are we certain about this?” Ray asked. “Have we made too many leaps?”

  Katie hesitated. “I don’t think so.”

  She hadn’t been the one to be halfway accused of the murder already. “I want to be sure.”

  “What are you thinking?”

  It was his turn to hesitate. What was he supposed to do? Convince Gail to confess based on their assumptions from what Judy said?

  Judy. If she really wanted to help Brian, this was the one thing she could do now. He grabbed the phone and dialed the number he had memorized, he’d dialed it so many times.

  He hardly believed she’d answer for him. The ringing gave him just enough time to explain his plan to Katie before Judy came on the line. “What is it?”

  Ray raised an eyebrow at the phone. She was going to take that tone with him, when she was the one who’d run out instead of talking to the police as promised?

  “Now, child,” Ray said, with all the sternness of a wronged grandfather. “If you really cared about Brian, it’s time for you to act.”

  There was a long silence on the line, so long that Ray checked the call timer was still running. Finally, Judy spoke. “What do I need to do?”

  “Do you know a Gail Santaquin?”

  “No,” she said.

  Ray’s hopes fell. What if they were wrong?

  But what if Gail wasn’t her real name, just the alias she was using in town? Judy would certainly recognize the woman. “How fast can you get to Dusky Cove?”

  “Where at?”

  “The Riverboat Motel.”

  Judy was quiet again for a moment. Debating?

  “We’re going to catch his killer, but I need your help.”

  “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” Judy hung up and so did Ray.

  He grabbed the empty plastic take-out bag and tossed their empty Styrofoam containers inside. “I’ll go to the motel.”

  “I’ll call Chip.”

  Ray stopped mid-stride. “Is he going to believe us?” He certainly hadn’t seemed inclined to after Judy pulled a fast one on the both of them this afternoon.

  “Oh, he’ll believe me,” Katie said with an air of supreme confidence. Ray couldn’t help but recall the last conversation he’d witnessed between Katie and Chip — and exactly how the town’s Chief of Police had been cowed by a woman who’d barely been able to walk for a decade.

  Yep, sounded as though Katie had her task in hand.

  He hoped that he and Judy did as well.

  Ray’s hands shook as he drove to the Riverboat Motel. It took him much less time than Judy to reach the parking lot, giving him plenty of time to second-guess his plan and to worry she wasn’t coming.

  After fifteen minutes, however, Judy pulled into the parking lot. She parked and peered around the lot before exiting her car and heading over to Ray’s. He climbed out too, grateful the threatening rain had held off so far.

  “Where is she?” Judy asked.

  “I don’t know what room number yet.”

  Judy scowled. “How are we supposed to find her?”

  Ray looked askance at his junior partner in crime — solving crime. “I thought that was your specialty.”

  “I’m still learning.” She folded her arms.

  Ray’s mind raced for a long second. Maybe he could do this himself. He’d known Walt for decades. He shou
ld be able to get the information out of him.

  But as Ray walked up to the motel office, it wasn’t the familiar craggy face and scraggly hair sitting behind the glass. Ray vaguely recognized this young man, maybe a Cromley? He had that look about him. Good to see him on his feet.

  Judy positioned herself out of sight of the office window.

  “Hello, there,” Ray said to the ma in the office.

  “Hi, Mr. Watson.”

  Yes, he probably should recognize this young man. Not the first time he’d struggled with a name, and it wouldn’t be the last. But that wasn’t his primary focus now. He held up the bag. “Got the wrong order from the Salty Dog by mistake.” He mentally kicked himself. He should know better than to provide extra information unprompted. It could only make you look as if you were lying or guilty. “Any chance you’ve got a Gail Santaquin staying here?”

  Ray’s breath caught in his throat as the clerk stared back at him for a long time. He managed to keep his focus on the young man behind the glass, not checking with Judy. Finally, the Cromley boy leaned forward and tapped on the keyboard of the computer in front of him. It felt as if it took ages, but Ray had to admit that machine looked ancient, even to him.

  “Room twenty-three,” the Cromley boy finally said. He pointed, as if Ray hadn’t been by the motel enough to know the place as well as any other in Dusky Cove.

  “Thanks, son.” He saluted and headed away.

  Once he was in the shadows of the stairs, Ray glanced up the stairs where the Cromley boy had pointed. His relief at accomplishing the first part of his task was fleeting.

  What was he supposed to do now? Confront Gail himself? Or wait for the police to arrive and tell them where to find her? That second option definitely seemed wisest.

  He took up a position by the stairs, but quickly began pacing. Judy approached Ray again on his second circuit around the bottom of the stairs. “That was slick,” Judy commented. “Ever thought of grifting?”

  “Can’t say I have.”

  “Room twenty-three?” she asked.

  Again, he had to give her a skeptical look. “Are you going up there?”

  “Of course I am. You said I needed to act now.” Judy pointed up the stairs. “I’m going up there to confront her.”

  “She won’t answer the door for you, and we’ll never be able to get her talking.”

  “Is that your plan?”

  “Maybe.”

  Judy glanced down at the take-out bag in his hand, her own expression doubtful. He stuffed the bag of empty Styrofoam into a trash can nearby. Probably for the first time, he wished he had a cell phone with him. He never missed the newfangled contraptions, but it would help right now if he could call Katie. Should he try to borrow the office phone?

  No, he couldn’t possibly ask Katie for advice in front of the Cromley boy. If Ray remembered correctly, the boy had had a hard enough time these last few years. Hadn’t he been a suspect — and nearly a victim — in a homicide just last year?

  Yes, that sounded right. One Lori had solved. Once again, he wished she were here. If he had a cell phone, he could call her. And interrupt her honeymoon again. So maybe he didn’t really want to do that.

  But he could certainly use a little guidance now, from someone with a little more — and a little better — experience than Judy. He stamped his feet. It didn’t get all that cold in Dusky Cove, but after dark, along the coast, with the humidity, it still was chilly enough to put a twinge in his joints.

  Ray rubbed his hands together and checked his watch. He’d been here waiting for seven minutes. That, along with his drive over, was more than enough time for Katie to talk sense into Chip and mobilize him. Was he not coming?

  If Chip wasn’t coming, Ray would be on his own. After all they’d done to work on solving Brian’s murder, he wasn’t ready to give up and let Gail skip town tomorrow morning. Both he and Pammy deserved to have their names cleared, and Brian deserved to have his killer brought to justice.

  Once ten minutes had elapsed, Ray shook himself one last time and gathered his courage. Chip wasn’t coming. It was up to Ray.

  “You stay here,” he told Judy. If a gold sedan pulls up and the police chief gets out, send him my way.”

  She looked anything but certain at his instructions. “Are you sure you want to do this? That woman has been evading arrest for longer than I’ve been alive.”

  He resisted the urge to pat Judy on the head. That wasn’t saying much. “Didn’t you just offer me a job, missy?”

  “I wouldn’t go that far.”

  “You keep a look out. You’re my backup.”

  Judy glanced up the stairs with trepidation. “Be careful. You don’t know how far she’ll go.”

  Ray nodded, his lips pressed into a solemn line. “I need you to watch the door and tell me if it’s her.”

  “How?”

  He thought as fast as he could. Room 23 had to be that third one on the balcony above them, right? Ray pointed it out. “That’s the room, right?”

  “Says twenty-three.”

  He managed not to sigh. Sure, she could see that just fine.

  “Stand where you can see the person who opens it. If it’s her . . .”

  “I’ll cough three times.”

  “Great.” With a final nod, he climbed the stairs and walked down the breezeway past rooms 21 and 22. The light was on in the window of room 23 in front of the other set of stairs. She was probably there, eating her meal. Ray lifted his fist and rapped his knuckles against the door.

  What was he supposed to say?

  The deadbolt slid open and the door opened two inches. Gail peered through the gap. When her eyes caught sight of him, she smiled that warm, kindergarten teacher smile. “Why, hello,” she said, her voice as warm as honey in the summertime.

  His heart caught in his chest. Could he confront her? Accuse her of murder?

  “Can I help you?” Gail asked.

  Three coughs echoed up from the parking lot in quick succession

  Ray sent a silent prayer winging heavenward, took a deep breath, and opened his mouth to speak, hoping that the words would find him.

  “Hi there, Gail. Any luck with your car?”

  “The repair shop said it should be ready by noon tomorrow. Took forever to get a part in.” She furrowed her brow. “How did you find me?”

  “Oh, our orders got mixed up at the Salty Dog.” He realized he should have kept the bag now. On the other hand, Gail obviously knew their orders weren’t mixed up if hers had already arrived.

  The V between Gail’s eyebrows grew deeper. “No, I have my order.”

  Ray tried to wave away the concern. “It’s a long story.”

  “Uh huh.” She shifted in the narrow band between the door and jamb to fold her arms. “So what did you want?”

  “Um, I just had some questions for you?” Good start. The same thing he’d done with Judy and Pammy. Even if he was a lot more certain about Gail’s guilt than he’d been about either of those women.

  “About what?”

  “You said you were Lori’s friend?”

  Gail nodded, her eyes somewhere between wary and watchful. “Why?”

  “Oh, I was just talking —” No, he couldn’t say to Lori, then Gail would know she’d been found out. “To Katie. About you. And the squirrel. Last night.”

  “Did you manage to catch it?”

  “Oh, no, we just let ’em run wild ’round here. They’re sorry excuses for pets.” He grinned and hoped the hint of humor would keep Gail on his side.

  She offered a polite laugh. “And who is Katie?”

  “My better half.” The words had never seemed truer — she’d certainly be running this questioning scenario a lot better than Ray was. “So, how long have you been in town?”

  “Oh, um, since the day before the wedding.”

  Ray nodded, trying not to betray his disappointment. He was hoping she’d lie about that, too.

  But he didn’t need to c
atch her in another lie. He needed to lay a trap with the ones he already knew about, and he needed to figure out what she’d been doing in town.

  “Have you had a chance to visit any other shops in town?”

  “Oh yes, on Main Street and Front Street.”

  “Did you see the library? It’s in a historic building, too.” Now Ray was lying, unless you considered a converted modular home circa 1989 “historic.” It might have set a record for surviving this long, but that was about it.

  Gail went back to that furrowed brow expression. “Didn’t look all that ‘historic’ to me.”

  He laughed. “You caught me there. I’m just wondering how you’ve been able to fill your time while you’ve been stuck here all week.”

  “Well, I got to see your shop, didn’t I?”

  He smiled. “Yes, ma’am, and that was a highlight of my week, too. And what did you do the next morning?”

  “Tuesday morning?” Gail asked.

  “Yes, ma’am.” The morning Brian died.

  “Can’t say I remember.” She shrugged. “Obviously didn’t get to talk to anyone as gentlemanly as you.”

  Ray laughed. “Oh, but didn’t you see anyone that morning?”

  Gail tilted her chin. “Now, why would you say that?”

  Between the narrow gap of the door and the shadows from her room, he couldn’t see enough of her face to get a good read on her body language. “Could you step out here a minute and talk?”

  A look of concern flashed across her face, but it was quickly replaced with that warm smile. “Certainly.” She closed the door, and Ray braced himself for the sound of defeat: the deadbolt sliding shut.

  It didn’t come. Just the clatter of the chain against the door, and then it swung open again. Gail stepped out onto the breezeway and closed the door behind her, tugging her shawl tighter around her. “What did you want to talk about?”

  “I think you did talk to someone Tuesday morning, Miss Gail.”

  “Oh really?” She snorted out a little laugh, as if his statement were truly amusing, rather than a prelude to a very serious accusation.

  “Yes, really. I think you ran into an old friend here in town.”

  Gail lifted her chin. “Lori is the only person I know in town. I came here to see her, and if my car were working, I’d be home again now.”