Killer Karma

It also has to be someone who knows about the burglaries and Kijurian.”

“But that’s only- ” Flaxx broke off, his eyes narrowing. “You’re thinking of Earl? Ridiculous!”

Cole grinned. Things might shake up more than he thought.

Flaxx snorted. “That voice was nothing like his and Earl doesn’t take a dump without asking for my approval. I own him.”

She shrugged. “Maybe arranging to save a nerd’s butt then thrill him with membership in you’re a-list clique doesn’t buy you a worshiper for life after all.”

“Arranging!” Flaxx flushed. “I never- ”

“Oh, of course.” She sat back in her chair. “My mistake. Forgive me.”

The rescue had been a setup? Cole felt his ears prick. Then it made sense. He filed the information away under “Ammunition.”

“Even without our friendship, what I pay him in salary and bonuses earns his loyalty.”

“Maybe Earl’s losing his nerve. He did freak out about the firefighter being killed.”

Really. Cole filed that fact away, too.

“He was in the hospital on Wednesday.” Flaxx said. “There’s no way he could know anything that happened then.”

She nodded. “You’d think so. But…who else fits?”

Flaxx’s jaw tightened. “Stick up your little spy cameras and find out.” He straightened and moved toward the door. “When you do learn who it was, you will come and tell me immediately, is that clear? Then I will decide what to do about him!”

Irah smiled. “Right. Absolutely.”

Once the door closed behind Flaxx, the smile became a grimace. “‘I will decide what to do about him,’” she repeated mockingly. Dragging a legal pad on the desk to her, she wrote Lamper’s name…circled it…glanced across the room at the surfboard photograph. “It’s got to be Earl, lover…but…how? Did Dunavan get to him as well as Benay? Does Earl have a stooge of his own watching me? And why would he pull that stunt? What’s he figuring to get out of it?” She circled the name one more time and threw down the pen. “If it’s him, I expect he’ll let us know soon enough.”

Cole grinned. This just might work. “Irah, I can’t take your twisted ass off the street fast enough but, honey, I certainly appreciate the help you’ve given the cause here.” He blew her a kiss. “Happy paranoia.”

19

Walking away from Irah’s office, Cole mulled over what he wanted to do. Being devious and underhanded was no problem. Cops were allowed to lie in pursuit of a confession. As long as he avoided anything that would screw up the eventual prosecution. The biggest problem with it all was timing…being able to charge up and catch each subject at the right moment. A gamble, yes, though he did have a few things going for him. Irah’s suspicions of Lamper. Differences between her and big brother on how to solve business problems. And he had Earl Lamper.

So let the games begin.

He still had time this afternoon for an opening round to test his effectiveness with Lamper. Shuttling back and forth between Lamper and Irah’s offices, he waited for the chance to catch Lamper alone when Irah was also alone.

To his frustration Lamper seemed glued to his desk and computer. Hope rose as five o’clock approached and the Bookkeeping staff began closing down their work stations while Lamper kept working. Once they cleared out, he was in business.

Or not. Mrs. Gao and Kenisha Hayes showed no sign of quitting, either.

Cole scowled at them as the last of the others left. “Damn it, go home, ladies.”

He was considering subliminal whispers when Lamper shoved back from his desk and walked out of the department. Cole followed. And cheered silently when Lamper headed into the men’s room…into a stall. A lucky break. He should be able to pull this off without materializing.

A quick check on Irah found her alone. Back in the men’s room, Lamper remained the only occupant.

Cole leaned against the stall door at the height of Irah’s head, pulled in some room heat, just in case, and imagined his voice as Irah’s. “So…had a good day, Earl?”

Stepping up high enough to see over the stall door, he found Lamper frozen on the john. The magnifying effect of Lamper’s glasses made him look twice as startled. “Irah?” His hands clapped together over his lap, as though he thought she could see through the door. “What are you doing in here?”

Good. He heard. And the voice was right. Cole ducked back down. “I just wanted a word. Don’t let me interrupt you.”

“I’ll be back in my office in a minute.”

“No, this is better.” Cole put an edge on his voice. “It’s more private.”

Another look over the door confirmed that Lamper heard it. His expression went baffled and wary. “What?”

“I never realized that you had any sense of humor but now that I see you do, I have to say your idea of a joke is in poor taste.”

Lamper blinked. “What joke?”

“Standing outside Donald’s washroom this afternoon…pretending to be Inspector Dunavan and making accusations about me.”

“Standing-” Lamper’s jaw dropped. “I did no such thing! What accusations?”

“About Wednesday night.” Cole turned Irah’s voice into a snarl. “About Dunavan and Sara Benay. Who’s been talking to you?”

An angry flush rose in Lamper’s face. “I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about. What do you have to do with Dunavan and Sara? Will you please leave? If you want to talk to me, do it in my office.”

He was recovering his composure. That needed to change. Cole ducked down. “Don’t make me an enemy like…others have, Earl. That would be big mistake.” He backed away to the screen wall and around it. “A very big mistake.”

Lamper called Irah’s name. Moments later trousers rose from around Lamper’s ankles and the toilet flushed. Lamper peered cautiously out of the stall, then into the hallway. He beelined for Flaxx’s office. Cole followed.

Maldonado had gone and Flaxx’s door stood open. Lamper knocked on the frame. “Donald, I’m sorry to bother you. May I come in?”

Flaxx waved him in with a hearty smile. “You’re always welcome. You know that.” He eyed Lamper. “Is something wrong?”

Perching stiffly on a chair, Lamper licked his lips. “I–I just had a…bizarre encounter with Irah.”

Flaxx’s smile turned into lipless displeasure as Lamper described the incident.

“She’s wrong, Donald.” Lamper leaned close to the desk. “I wasn’t outside your washroom. I swear. What kind of accusation could there be about her and Inspector Dunavan and Sara? And saying I shouldn’t make her an enemy sounded, well, like a threat. Why would she think I’d make her my enemy?”

Cole listened in satisfaction. Lamper’s bafflement and concern must reassure Flaxx of Lamper’s innocence and his control of his flunky.

The smile came back, even heartier than before…reassuring. “I think Irah was indulging in a little twisted humor of her own. I’ll talk to her and straighten it out.” He walked Lamper to the door, an arm across his shoulders. “Don’t you give it another thought. Worrying won’t help your recovery, you know.”

Lamper still looked uneasy as he returned to his office. Behind Lamper’s back. Flaxx’s smile vanished. He stalked down the side hallway toward Irah’s office. Cole short-cut through the wall to be there when Flaxx banged in.

Irah stood at her desk pulling sun glasses out of her purse, clearly preparing to leave. Her brows rose. “Barging in without knocking is becoming- ”

“What the hell did you think you were you doing!” Flaxx slammed the door closed. “Need I remind you how