Read Online The Detective & the Chinese High-Fin by Michael Craven - Free Book Online Page A

‘Hey, man, you have insurance.’ You know? On and on. And with people like that, if they’re your family, you love them and you keep trying. But eventually, something clicks and you just say, ‘I’m done.’ But what was tricky with Keaton was that he was a really charming guy when he wanted to be. Occasionally he’d apologize for something. He didn’t with my car, but for some other things he would. He’d say, you know, ‘I’m sorry if I offended you,’ playing dumb a bit. But still sort of apologizing. And whether or not he deserved it, I, everybody, gave him lots of chances. But like I said, one day I just said, ‘I’m done . ’ And that’s why at the time of his murder we really weren’t in touch that much.”
    I thought, A charming guy with an oily, unctuous smile who lets a bunch of people down all the time. Sounds like a guy I’d like to walk up to and punch really hard in the thigh, then just walk away. And the way he apologized. I’m sorry if I offended you. I hate people who apologize that way. If . If I offended you. You’re not taking any responsibility when you say it that way. You’re not acknowledging that you fucked up. Have the courage to admit you were at fault. I’m sorry that I was an asshole. I’m sorry that I let you down. I’m sorry that I’m a shitty older brother, Greer. I’m sorry if I offended you? Yeah? Well, fuck off, because you haven’t apologized yet.
    I didn’t say any of that to Greer. Instead I said, “Who else was in Keaton’s life? I know there’s Craig Helton, theguy you mentioned, the guy he started the bar with. And there’s the ex-girlfriend, Sydney. I’m going to talk to both of them. You said you and Keaton weren’t that close at the end, but do you know anyone else who was in his life? Especially at the time of the murder.”
    Greer said, “Keaton knew everyone. From growing up, from college, from after college. But in his life? At that time? You know, I really don’t. I really can’t think of anyone in particular. But what I know from having known him my whole life is that, you know, he was a charming guy. He was a manipulator. And you add money to a guy like that . . . It wasn’t hard for him to keep finding new people who were willing to hang around him. Give him another chance. Put up with his shit. And it was probably one of those people who decided not to, you know—not to put up with his shit anymore.”
    Not to put up with his shit anymore. Or, in other words, to kill him.
    I looked at Greer. Seemed genuine to me. He had a little bit of that pathos about him that people get when they don’t have to fight for their dreams. He seemed just a little lost . He’d probably be a different guy if he’d had to earn or raise the money to buy the marina. Yeah, and I’d probably be more likely to want to have a beer with him then too, because he’d have some edge, some bite, some of that energy that comes from eating what you kill. But, I thought, at least he’s working. Probably working reasonably hard. The marina looked to me to be pretty successful. Pretty well run. Which probably wasn’t that easy to do. Most professional endeavors aren’t.
    He said, unprompted, “You know, I’m not sure how Keaton got to be the way he was. Was it because our dad worked a lot when he was young, thirteen, fourteen? Keaton was four and a half years older than me. So when he was that age, growing up, our dad was doing whatever he had to do to build his company. He wasn’t around a lot. So did Keaton feel neglected? Or was he mad at me? Because when I was that age, our dad had sold the company and was more relaxed. Was at home a lot more. Or maybe it was that Keaton felt like he had to compensate because he was the oldest son and we had a successful dad? You know? I don’t know. I really