Read Online Nantucket Five-Spot by Steven Axelrod - Free Book Online Page B

“But as it happens, we have a real case to work. And I need to see some results.”
    Charlie started to speak, then deferred to Kyle. “Tell him.”
    â€œWell, we brought in the Wynand kid? He was scared witless but he didn’t do anything. He hangs out with Billy Delavane though. He gave us some names. Kid’s in the group, one of Billy’s favorites.”
    â€œSo?” Jack was still gruff but I could tell he was interested.
    â€œWe went to the houses.”
    â€œHow did you get a warrant so fast?”
    Charlie shrugged. “We didn’t need anything like that, sir. We know these people. They were happy to help out. Kyle played football with Corey Herrick’s big brother. I bought my used bug from his dad, and his mom always helps out with the firehouse Halloween party.”
    Jack shook his head. “You drive a Volkswagen beetle? How do you fit into it?”
    â€œHe looks like a turkey in a microwave,” Kyle said.
    â€œI bet he does. Not the recommended way to cook a turkey by the way. So let me guess the rest, Boyce. You found the voice changing machine in one of these houses.”
    Charlie ducked his head. He could feel his moment being cut short. “Yes, sir.”
    â€œOf course the kid and his parents knew nothing about it.”
    â€œUh—that’s right.”
    â€œBut you confiscated the machine and checked the serial number against the credit card sale, so you know it’s the same machine.”
    â€œYes we did.”
    â€œSo put it together for me.”
    â€œExcuse me, sir?”
    â€œDo the rest of your job, Boyce. The important part. Put it together for me.”
    â€œWell… Billy is the Herrick’s caretaker. He makes sure the pipes don’t freeze when they’re away in the winter, stuff like that. So he has a key. He could have hidden the machine there. Assistant Chief Krakauer called Barnstable prison. Apparently Billy’s been visiting his brother a lot lately. Ed was in the Army in Kuwait. He has military connections. If Billy wanted military grade explosives, Ed would be the guy to ask. Just saying.”
    â€œThere’s another way to look at this,” I put in. “Corey stole Billy’s credit card and bought the voice changing machine with it. He’s friends with the Wynand kid, so he decided to do him one better—adolescent copy-cat behavior. He made the call from Billy’s because he was there all the time and he wasn’t dumb enough to call from his own house.”
    â€œDid you find the stolen credit card?” Jack asked.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œDid you look for it?” I said.
    â€œNo, it didn’t—I didn’t think of that, sir.”
    I turned to Jack. “I’m not sure the caretaker angle means much. Most people leave their houses unlocked around here.”
    â€œThat’s not the point. These people know him. If they caught him inside their house he could make up a dozen reasons for being there. Are you defending this Delavane character, Kennis? If you have some connection to this individual that affects your judgment or your ability to act decisively, you are obliged to disclose that information.”
    â€œForget it. I’m happy to arrest Billy Delavane or anyone else. If I have any reason to believe they’re guilty.”
    â€œWell, congratulations, Chief. You have fulfilled the minimum basic requirement for any police officer in any jurisdiction. Even this one. I’m glad to see you set your standards so high.”
    I almost said, “And I’m glad to see that you’re capable of sarcasm. You’re inching your way toward an actual sense of humor,” but I thought better of it. Like most people, Jack could laugh at something he knew in advance was a joke. He could laugh at other people’s embarrassments—but never at himself. And nothing else counts, unfortunately.
    â€œAll right,” he said.