“Well, you guys work it out. If you’d like, I can have a trooper drive you to the morgue.”
He didn’t seem to know that we’d been there, done that. I said to him, “Look, Major, I understand this is your show, and you’re not happy about having a dead Federal agent on your hands, and you’ve probably heard more than you want to hear from New York, Albany, and maybe Washington. We’re not here to make your life more difficult- we’re here to help. And to exchange information.” I added, “I have a dead friend lying in the morgue.”
Schaeffer thought about that and said, “You look like you could use a cup of coffee. Follow me.”
We went down a long hallway and entered a large cafeteria. There were a dozen or so uniformed and civilian- attired men and women scattered around, and Schaeffer found an empty table in a corner.
We sat, and he said, “This is unofficial, in the open, coffee, courtesy, condolences, and no papers on the table.”
“Understood.”
Schaeffer seemed like a straight guy who would extend a professional courtesy, if for no other reason than to see what he could get in return.
I got right to the point. “Looks like an accident, smells like a homicide.”
He gave a slight nod, and asked me, “Who would want to kill this man?”
“I’m thinking Bain Madox. You know him?”
He looked appropriately shocked, then asked me, “Yeah… but why-?”
“You know that Detective Muller was here on assignment at the Custer Hill Club.”
“Yeah. I found out after he went missing and the Feds needed help finding him.” He advised both of us, “It would be nice if I knew about these things ahead of time. You know, sort of a courtesy. Like, this is
I replied, “I won’t argue with you about that.”
“Look, you’re not the people I need to complain to. But every time I get mixed up with the FBI”-he glanced at Kate and continued-“I feel like I’m getting snowed.”
“Right. Me, too. You understand that beneath my Federal credentials, I’m just a cop at heart.”
“Yeah, but let me tell you, the NYPD I’ve worked with are no treat either.”
My loyal wife smiled and said, “John and I are actually married, so I’ll second that.”
Schaeffer almost smiled back. “So, tell me what Harry Muller was supposed to be doing on the Custer Hill property.”
I replied, “Surveillance. There was a gathering there this weekend, and he was supposed to photograph arriving guests and get plate numbers.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. But I can tell you that the Justice Department is interested in Mr. Madox and his friends. Didn’t anyone tell you any of this?”
“Not much. I got the national security baloney.”
“Yeah? Like what?”
“I have no idea. And to be honest, this is what we call sensitive material, and unless you have a need to know, I can’t tell you.”
I wasn’t sure if he appreciated the honesty or not, so I blew a little snow at him and said, “I fully understand that your troop has a huge area to patrol-like eight thousand square miles-and that you’re pretty self-reliant and you need… minimum assistance from the outside-”
Kate kicked me under the table as I went on with my snow job, concluding, “We’re here to help if you need our help, which I don’t think you do. But we really need your help, your expertise, and your resources.”
I had more bullshit if I needed it, but Major Schaeffer seemed to sense that I was snowing him. Nevertheless, he said, “Okay. Coffee?”
“Sounds good.”
He motioned for us to stay seated and went off to the coffee bar.
Kate said to me, “You are
“That’s not true. I speak from the heart.”
“You speak from a public-relations handout that I just read to you, and that you made fun of.”
“Oh… is that where I heard that?”
She rolled her eyes, then said to me, “He doesn’t seem to know much, and if he does, he’s not sharing.”
“He’s just a little irritated because the FBI is snowing him. And by the way, he doesn’t swear, so watch your language.”
“
“Maybe he doesn’t swear in front of women. I have an idea-he might open up more without a lady FBI agent present. Why don’t you excuse yourself?”
“Why don’t
“Come on-”
Schaeffer returned to the table with a coffee tray and sat.
Kate stood reluctantly and said, “I need to make some calls. Be back in ten minutes.” She left.
Schaeffer poured two coffees from a steel pitcher into porcelain mugs. He said to me, “Okay, tell me why you think Bain Madox, a solid citizen with a billion bucks in the bank, and who is probably a registered Republican, killed a Federal agent.”
I sensed that Major Schaeffer did not share my suspicion. “Well, it’s just a hunch.”
“Can you do better than that?”
Not really. “I’m basing this suspicion on the fact that I believe Madox was the last person to see Harry alive.”
He informed me, “I was the last person to see my mother-in-law alive before she slipped on the ice and fractured her skull.”
I wanted to question him further about that, but I said, “I was a homicide detective, and you just develop a sense for these things.” I told him, “Kate and I went to the Custer Hill Club and spoke to this guy Madox.”
“Yeah? And?”
“He’s slick. Have you met him?”
“A few times. I actually went hunting with him once.”
“No kidding?”
“He wants to keep a good relationship with the state and local police. Like a lot of the rich people up here. Makes their lives easier and safer.”
“Right. But this guy’s got his own army.”
“Yeah. And he doesn’t hire any moonlighting or retired cops, which is what most of the rich do. His men are not local, and not involved in law enforcement, and this is a little unusual for somebody who wants to stay tight with the police.”
I nodded and said, “That whole place seems a little unusual.”
“Yeah… but they don’t cause us any problems and they keep to themselves. The local police get a few calls a year to pick up a trespasser or poacher who’s cut through the fence and been detained. But Madox has never pressed charges.”
“Nice guy.” Apropos of Harry, I said, “Maybe he kills people who see something they’re not supposed to see. Any missing persons? Suspicious accidents?”
“Are those serious questions?”
“Yeah.”
He considered his reply, then said, “Well, there are always missing persons, and hunting accidents that seem like they could have been something else… but nothing I know about to link to Madox or his club. I’ll have somebody check that.”
“Good.” I asked, “Did you get a search warrant for the Custer Hill property?”
“I did.”
“Let’s execute the warrant.”
