Chapter 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

We left Emma in Sharon's capable hands. It was hard not to feel guilty after the look Sharon had given us, as if we'd been kicking small puppies, but I knew Emma was in good hands. She'd found a good community and a surrogate mother. And maybe after some time and healing, Emma could go home to her own mother and things could be healed there.

"I've got a couple of missed calls from Martinez," Jack said, starting the truck and plugging in his phone. He immediately dialed him back.

"Sorry," Jack said, when Martinez answered. "We were interviewing Emma Lidle. What's up?"

"A judge sprang Astrid Nielsen on bond this morning," Martinez said.

"You're kidding me," Jack said. "We have her cold on first-degree murder and they allowed bail?"

"Half a million dollars," Martinez said. "Guess who hired a fancy attorney and bailed her out?"

"Let me guess," Jack said. "Robert Lidle."

"Right the first time," Martinez said. "How'd it go with Alex Wheeler?"

"I asked him about the statutory rape charges," Martinez said. "He wasn't defensive about it. Didn't try to hide it. He had he was nineteen and was dating a friend of his sister's who was still in high school. I guess the dad walked in on them having sex and called the cops. He told them Alex was forcing himself on the daughter, and the daughter was so scared and embarrassed she didn't refute it. Wheeler ended up being charged and did a year in prison. The girl came forward to try and help clear him once she'd graduated and was out of the dad's house, but it was too late for Wheeler.

"He actually ended up on work release at a ranch not far from the prison, and that's how he started learning about horses. He said that year in jail was probably the best thing that ever happened to him, and said Kitty gave him a chance despite his past, and he'd always be grateful. It all rang true."

"Okay," Jack said. "Anything interesting at Alan Goble's place?"

"Oh, yeah," Martinez said. "I've got a team heading over to go through it. He's got enough weapons to start his own army, a dozen burner phones, and a go bag with a hundred thousand cash inside and a falsified passport."

"Sounds like he was thinking about getting out of the business," Jack said.

"That was my take," Martinez said. "Do one last big job, cash in, and disappear off the face of the planet.

"Maybe Astrid Nielsen knew that," I said.

"Did you find Emma Lidle?" Martinez asked.

"Oh yeah," Jack said. "We're heading back from Prince Frederick. It's time to pay Robert Lidle a visit in person." Jack filled him in on the conversation with Emma.

"Son of a bitch," Martinez said. "Let me know when you're in the area. I'll meet you there."

"Will do," Jack said and disconnected.

"You know what our problem is," I said.

"Yeah," Jack said, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. "Just because he repeatedly raped his granddaughter and sold her for money doesn't incriminate him for the murder of his other granddaughter. He's alibied up tight in another state. Which still leaves us with no suspect for Evie Lidle's murder."

"Maybe not," I said. "But maybe Robert Lidle's habits are the same. Emma is five or six years older than Evie. Maybe he wasn't able to spend the two years grooming her and decided to sell her anyway. He's the connector, right? We just need to find out who he's connected to who fits the bill and who is pure evil."

"You'd think it would be a short list," he said. "The older I get the more disappointed I am to find that it's not."

We made the rest of the drive mostly in silence, both of us lost in our own thoughts. When we pulled up to the Lidle house Martinez was waiting for us. There was a new guard on duty and he hesitated as Jack pulled up to the gate.

"The family wishes privacy during this time," he said. "No one but immediate family is allowed on the premises."

"Unfortunately, we're investigating two murder investigations, so that supersedes the wishes of the family," Jack said. "You're going to want to let them know we're here."

The guard hesitated again. "I'll let them know you'd like to speak with them. I can't promise anything other than that."

"You'll let Robert Lidle know that we'll speak to him here or in an interview room. My patience is up."

The guard nodded and disappeared inside the guardhouse where we watched him use the phone. The gate opened just a few seconds later and Jack drove through, and then Martinez drove through right after us.

They'd had time to prepare by the time we made our way down the winding road that led to the main house. Jack parked under the covered area, where several other cars were also parked. I recognized a couple of them from the day before when we'd visited Everett Lidle.

"Looks like the gang's all here," I said.

"Probably for the best," Jack said. "It seems like a good time to air some dirty laundry."

"In my experience," I said, "Family deaths are generally where dirty laundry is aired. I've seen some doozies."

Martinez nodded to us as we got out of the truck, and then all hell broke loose. There was a singular gunshot, and then Jack was on top of me and rolling me behind the protection of his truck.

"Stay down," he yelled as he got up and moved closer to the front door. His and Martinez's weapons were both drawn and I could see Martinez out of my periphery coming in from the other side.

There was screaming from inside the house, and I knew I would only be in the way until the scene was assessed and we knew what we were dealing with. I hated knowing that, when my instinct and medical training made me want to rush in and see if there was someone who could be saved.

I stayed crouched down behind the truck wheel, but I could see the front door if I moved ever so slightly as Jack approached. I heard Martinez calling in for backup, but my eyes were for Jack. I hated this part of the job. Knowing he was putting himself in the immediate line of fire.

The house was like a glass castle, and I could see a man running from the opposite end of the house toward the front door. I'd never seen him before. He was older, probably mid-sixties, though he moved with the speed and agility of a younger man. His hair was white and freshly cut, and he wore a black suit.

He pulled open the heavy front door and stared at Jack and Martinez while he visibly pulled himself together.

"Gentlemen," he said. "It seems we've had an accident on the property and are in need of some assistance."

His accent was British and proper, and I was already rising from my crouch before Jack could summon me. I opened the truck door and grabbed my medical bag and hurried to catch up as they moved inside.

"Who are you?" Jack asked.

"I am Geoffrey Higgins," he said primly. "Personal secretary to Mr. Lidle."

"We heard a gunshot," Jack said, prompting him since Geoffrey seemed to be finding it difficult to speak.

"Yes, sir," he said. "It seems Mr. Lidle had an accident in his study. I—" He paused and then swallowed. "We all heard the gunshot, and I naturally went to check on him. He was—is—at his desk."

"Which way is the office?" I asked, not remembering from our last visit.

"Toward the back of the house," he said, "Past the formal living room and the music room."

"No one leaves this house," Jack instructed Martinez. "I want everyone on the premises gathered in one space. No one leaves and no one talks until we talk to them. You," Jack said, looking at Geoffrey. "You come with us."

The closer we got to the office the more chaotic it became. Phin and Everett were yelling at each other, and it looked like Everett was trying to get into the office to see his father. Janet was crying against her husband's chest. Molly stood solemnly to the side, her hands wringing a dishcloth in her hands.

Jack whistled shrilly and everyone stopped to look at him. "I need everyone to go with Detective Martinez," he said. "Dr. Graves and I need to look at the scene."

"I'll not have my father's reputation ruined because the police start spreading rumors," Phin said, blocking Jack from the room. "You'll sign an NDA before you leave this house and if any photos or information leak to the media that's not approved by the board of directors then we will own this entire town before we're done suing you."

"Step aside, Phin," Jack said. "I appreciate that you know what you're doing in a boardroom, but you should read the law before you say anything else that stupid. Now go with Detective Martinez and once other officers arrive you'll be giving statements individually."

Phin took a step toward Jack, but Jack didn't budge. "Listen, Phin. I get that your family has fallen apart the last couple of days, and that you're under a lot of stress. Don't add to it by getting arrested for impeding an investigation. The longer you keep me out here the longer it takes for us to see to your father."

"Come on, Phin," Everett said, pulling his brother out of the way. "Let them do their jobs."

I moved past Jack and everyone else, pulling gloves from my bag and then handing another pair to Jack.

"Did you touch anything?" Jack asked Geoffrey.

I turned the knob and opened the door to the office.

Geoffrey's face blanched and he started to shake his head, but he froze. It was easy to see why. Robert Lidle sat slumped over his desk, a revolver in his hand, and a small hole at his temple. The smell of blood and death was fresh.

This space was different than the rest of the house. It was dark and masculine with wood-paneled walls and black modern light fixtures. There were double doors leading out into a patio and garden area, and I thought that must have been the place he snuck out to smoke because I could smell a faint tinge of cigars beneath the powdery scent pumped through the ventilation system.

"Did you touch him?" Jack asked again.

"I'm not sure," Geoffrey said. "I heard the shot and then ran in. And he was there. I went to check on him, but I could see…"

I walked across a thick ivory rug that looked like it hadn't been completed on the loom, but I was sure was very expensive, and to the massive black desk. Robert Lidle still gripped the .22 revolver in his right hand.

Jack followed behind me and stood over the body with his hands on hips, eyeing the scene.

"No signs of struggle," Jack said, looking over the desk, and then he turned to look at Geoffrey who still stood ramrod straight just outside the door, his gaze not veering from the scene. "Did Mr. Lidle keep a weapon in his desk?"

"He did," Geoffrey said. "A .22 revolver."

"Walk me through what happened," Jack said. "Every detail that you can remember."

"We received a call from the hospital early this morning," he said as if reciting notes off a card. "I believe it was before six, but you can check the phone records for accuracy. I answered Mr. Lidle's phone, as that is part of my duties, and I learned that Mrs. Lidle had passed away shortly before. I alerted Molly and Alex, and then I drove to the main house and woke Mr. Lidle to give him the news. He was understandably upset."

"Mmhmm," Jack said. "Keep going."

"Molly called Ms. Janet and Mr. Everett," he continued stiffly, Jack's response obviously pricking his pride. "Mr. Phineas was staying here, so I went to his suite and woke him. They left for the hospital a little after seven o'clock. The others met them there."

"You and Molly stayed here at the house?" Jack asked.

"We did," he said.

"When was the last time you saw Astrid Nielsen?"

"I'm not sure," he said. "Mr. Lidle and I have been out of town. She lives in one of the staff houses."

"You haven't seen her this morning?"

"No," he said.

"What time did the family arrive back here?"

"Mr. Lidle and Mr. Phineas arrived just after nine o'clock. Ms. Janet and her husband and Mr. Everett arrived before ten."

"So everyone was here together maybe fifteen minutes before we arrived?" Jack asked.

"Yes, that would be correct."

"Was Mr. Lidle in distress after the trip to the hospital?"

"I assume so," Geoffrey said drolly. "His wife had just died."

"Yet when he'd found out she'd been poisoned and hospitalized he wasn't in a hurry to rush home. In fact, his trip to the hospital this morning after she'd died was the first time he went."

"Mr. Lidle is a very busy man, as was Ms. Kitty. They understand the pressures of scheduling and priorities. It's their station in life."

"Mmhmm," Jack said again. "So Robert and Phineas get back from the hospital and what happens?"

"They met privately in here until the rest of the family arrived," Geoffrey said.

"Did they now?" Jack asked. "Big business to attend to after the death of the matriarch."

"I wouldn't know," he said.

"I thought you said it was your job to intercept personal communications for Robert Lidle," Jack said.

Geoffrey's lips pressed together tightly, but he said nothing.

"What calls did you intercept this morning? Or maybe Robert answered the phone himself? Or maybe when we announced ourselves at the gate it made him nervous and he decided to end things before too much information got out."

"I couldn't say," Geoffrey said.

"Oh, I think you can," Jack said. "You've been Mr. Lidle's personal secretary for how long?"

"Twenty-one years," he said.

Jack nodded. "Then you know. And by the time we're done, you will say. We've found Emma Lidle."

There was no reaction from Geoffrey except for a slight tightening around his mouth. And then Officer Plank was at the door.

"Plank," Jack said, "Would you show Geoffrey back to the room with the others? Keep an officer on him, and make sure he's separated and doesn't talk to anyone who isn't a cop. Martinez can start taking statements. And then I'd like you and another officer to go collect Astrid Nielsen from the staff cottage and bring her back here."

"Yes, sir," Plank said, and guided Geoffrey down the hall.

"Small entry wound matches the small caliber weapon," I said. "Powder burns around the entry wound, so that's consistent with close-contact firing. Once Daniels gets in here she can swab for powder residue on his head. There's no exit wound, so that .22 is rattling around in there somewhere. Interesting timing, huh?"

"Yeah, interesting," Jack said, and I could hear the irritation in his voice. "I was really looking forward to questioning him."

"There's no evidence to show he killed his granddaughter," I said.

"I know. But he's got a built-in alibi anytime he wants one. Geoffrey has access to every aspect of Lidle's life. He knew exactly the kind of man he was. And I bet he knows what happened to Evie."

"He was lying about not having seen Astrid," I said.

"Yeah, I caught that too," Jack said. "I'm pretty sure he's made his living lying."

I took photographs and then measured the wound on his temple. I took his body temperature, which was still almost at normal. I looked for other wounds or indication of distress, but there was nothing.

"I'll be able to give you a conclusive ruling once I take x-rays and I can measure the angle of the bullet wound," I said.

"Anything under his head?" Jack asked. "Any paperwork?"

"Not that I see," I said, shifting his body slightly. "Wait. There is something."

There was a small envelope beneath his head. It was heavy and expensive and inside was his personal stationery and a handwritten note.

I read it aloud. " It's my fault. I'm sorry. ~R "

"Well, that's enough to get a warrant for a lot of unpleasant things. Let me make a phone call and check in with Doug. Then let's go make a scene."