“I wonder how many murder cases the sheriff’s department gets here.” Drake voiced his thought to Melody.
They were back in his room following several hours of confusion and trauma while the San Luis Obispo County sheriff’s department carried out their initial investigation. It had taken some time for a detective and other specialized personnel to arrive on the scene following the arrival of the sheriff’s officer. They were in a rural part of the county, some distance from the populated area surrounding the city of San Luis Obispo. The staff appeared to be doing a competent job. The initial finding was that Grace had been shot at point-blank range with a bullet from a small caliber gun.
Fred, Peaches, and the runners had been notified. They all reacted with shock and disbelief. Fred immediately cancelled the day’s run and booked them for another night at the motel. The other guests were more or less inconvenienced, depending on how close their cars were parked to the murder scene. Some were temporarily blocked by police vehicles. The cars on either side of Grace’s body were checked for blood and other evidence.
Melody said, “We need to catch our breath for a minute. I told the detective all I know, which, unfortunately, isn’t much.”
“I told him something that I also need to tell you.”
Drake hesitated then blurted it out. “Grace and I were together last night.”
To his surprise, Melody didn’t show much of a reaction. “I suspected it. She refused to go out with me. She was gone when I returned. She came back a few minutes after me looking…well, looking like a cat who’s been in the catnip. She’s had her eye on you since day one.”
“I figured the autopsy would show it, so I didn’t want there to be any question. I also gave the detective the gun we got from Sterling. It hasn’t been fired, so there shouldn’t be a problem. I didn’t want it to be found in a search.”
“One reason I immediately ran to your room was because I had an irrational fear that you might have done it. But when I saw you, I knew better.”
“I had no reason-”
“I know; I said it was irrational. You don’t kill the cow that gives you cream.”
“It was the first time…”
“And only, unfortunately.”
They sat in silence for a minute. Drake tried to organize his thoughts. “The detective talked about a possible mugging. I don’t think-”
“I told him several times that she was meeting somebody. She had no money on her. Her clothes weren’t messed up. It wasn’t a rape attempt or anything like that.”
“The last time she went out early she met Sterling.”
“Sterling’s consorting with the girl from Ipanema.”
“Which leaves him out of the picture. What about Fred?”
“What about Fred?”
“She had information that could get him fired.”
Melody thought about that. “Possible motive. I don’t think we want the local authorities looking into that.”
“No. It’s out of their jurisdiction. Maybe now’s the time for us to talk to Casey.” Drake had a pang of guilt. “Maybe we should have talked to him before.”
“ If Fred did it, we couldn’t have foreseen it. Casey’s on his way. He’ll be here this afternoon. Fred told me that.”
“Meanwhile, I’m going to call Blade and fill him in. I don’t think the Las Vegas mob had anything to do with Grace’s death, but since he’s involved in the betting and also the Malibu incident, I want to keep him informed.”
Casey was eating dinner with Drake and Melody in a restaurant a few miles from the motel so the other runners weren’t apt to show up. He had suggested dinner when the two had requested an audience alone with him.
He talked to all the runners, giving his usual speech about how sorry he was, sounding sincere. It turned into a sort of memorial service; he said some nice things about Grace, and others did too. Melody spoke, but Drake couldn’t bring himself to say anything.
Casey mentioned that he had talked to her parents who were, of course, shocked, but apparently they had been fearful ever since their daughter had decamped for the wickedness of California. They lived in New England and wouldn’t get her body for some time because of the pending autopsy.
Casey had talked to the sheriff who would not try to keep any of them in town. The run would continue tomorrow. As he listened to Casey talk, Drake had to admire the fact that he took care of everything. Maybe he would make a good senator.
Casey read the wine list and selected the most expensive bottle. Melody agreed to drink some, a rarity for her. He turned to Drake. “Will you join Melody and me in enjoying this California wine, or would you rather have beer?”
“I’m sure the wine is exquisite, but I think I’ll stick to beer.”
“A man of conviction. This race has been marred by tragedy. That makes me very sad. I’m hoping that the rest of it will come off without a hitch. I was in L.A. at a convention when I heard about Grace. Actually, I was at an early breakfast meeting and didn’t get the word until sometime after it happened. My first thought was, ‘Oh no, not again.’ As I was driving up here, I tried to think whether better planning could have prevented either Grace or Harrison from dying, but the circumstances were so unforeseen.”
“Grace is partly who we need to talk to you about.”
Drake launched into his story, starting from the time when he had received the first letter. He had copies of the letters with him, which he showed to Casey. Casey paid close attention and asked an occasional question. Drake continued speaking off and on when not interrupted by the waitress, through the salad course and into the main course. He told about having a “friend in the service” who had helped with fingerprints and identified Sterling.
Melody talked about the threat to her mother and questioned whether Sterling knew anything about her mother. Casey agreed with that thinking.
Drake told about finding Sterling without mentioning the part played by Peaches. He said that Grace had admitted that she delivered the letters to the motels, at Fred’s request. He didn’t mention that Grace had accused Fred of sexual harassment. When he stopped talking, Casey took a sip of wine.
“I wish you had told me all this before. Of course, if wishes were horses… If I may try to net this out-Fred was apparently involved in a scheme to bet on the race. He may have a motive to kill Grace. Both of the people who can implicate him-Sterling and Grace-are gone. Your friends are taking care of the Las Vegas contingent, which eliminates the threat to my runners.”
Casey took another sip of wine. “I will certainly speak to Fred, but not tonight because it’s been a long day and I’m dead tired. I’m staying at the motel. I’ll go back to L.A. tomorrow. It’s going to be difficult to prove anything against Fred. I don’t think Fred’s the type to kill anyone, but you never know. Tell me immediately if you come up with any more evidence.”
There was nothing more to be said on that subject. Drake asked Casey whether he had heard anything new about the Malibu incident.
“I have a feeling that something is going to turn up soon. Something that will make us realize that we can’t just sit on our hands, fat, dumb, and happy, and let America be overthrown.”
Drake and Melody asked him a few questions about what he meant, but he didn’t come up with anything more except vague generalities.
