Plum Island

'Right.' Mr. Tobin's view was to the north, across his acres of vineyards. A few farms and orchards within the vineyards created a sort of patchwork effect which was very nice. In the far distance, the land rose up into the glacial bluffs, and from this height, I could actually see over them to the Sound. I said, 'Do you have binoculars?'

He hesitated, then went to a credenza and fetched me a pair of binoculars.

'Thanks.' I focused on the Sound and commented, 'I can see the Connecticut coastline.'

'Yes.'

I craned to the left and focused on the bluff I thought might be Tom and Judy's. I said to Mr. Tobin, 'I just learned that the Gordons bought an acre of bluff out there. Did you know that?'

'No.'

That's not what Emma told me, Fredric. I said, 'They could have used some of your business sense. They paid twenty-five Gs for a parcel that couldn't be developed.'

'They should have known if the development rights had been sold to the county.'

I put down the binoculars and said, 'I didn't say anything about the development rights being sold to the county. I said they couldn't develop their parcel. That could be because of zoning, no well water, no electric service, or whatever. Why did you think the development rights had been sold on their land?'

He replied, 'Actually, I may have heard that.'

'Oh. Then you did know they bought a piece of.land.'

'I think someone mentioned it to me. I didn't know where the land was. Only that it came without development rights.'

'Right.' I turned back to the window and trained Tobin's binoculars on the bluffs again. To the west, the high ground dropped off where the Mattituck Inlet came through, and I could see the area known as Captain Kidd's Trees and Captain Kidd Estates. To the far right, the east, I could see clearly as far as Greenport and could also make out Orient Point and Plum Island. I said, 'This is better than the observation deck in the Empire State Building. Not as high, but-'

'How can I help you, Mr. Corey?'

I ignored his question and said, 'You know, you're on top of the world. I mean, look at all of this. Four hundred acres of prime real estate, a house on the water, a restaurant, a Porsche, and who knows what else. And you sit here in this five-story tower-what's on the fifth floor, by the way?'

'My apartment.'

'Wow. Wow. I mean, do the ladies like that or what?'

He didn't respond to that and said, 'I spoke to my attorney after I saw you yesterday.'

'Did you?'

'And he advised me not to speak to the police without counsel present.'

'That's your right. I told you that.'

'Further inquiries by my attorney turn up the fact that you are no longer employed by Chief Maxwell as a consultant in this case, and that, in fact, you were not employed by the township when you spoke to me.'

'Well, now, that's a debatable point.'

'Debatable or not, you have no official status here any longer.'

'Right. And since I'm not the police any longer, you can speak to me. That works.'

Fredric Tobin ignored this and said, 'My attorney promised to cooperate with the town police, until he discovered that Chief Maxwell doesn't need or want his or my cooperation. Chief Maxwell is annoyed that you came and questioned me. You have embarrassed me and him.' Mr. Tobin added, 'I am a generous contributor to key politicians here, and I've been very generous with time and money to renovate historic homes, put up historical markers, contribute to the hospital and other worthy charities, including the Police Benevolent Association. Do I make myself clear?'

'Oh, absolutely. About ten sentences ago. I just came here to see if I could take you to lunch.'

'I have a lunch date, thank you.'

'Okay, maybe some other time.'

He glanced at his watch and announced, 'I really have to go.'

'Sure. I'll go downstairs with you.'

He took a deep breath and nodded.

We left his office and went into the reception area. He said to his receptionist, 'Mr. Corey and I have concluded our business, and it will not be necessary for him to return again.'

Wow, talk about polite. This guy could slip you the greased weenie, and you wouldn't even feel it for a few days.

Mr. T put his key in the elevator lock, and it arrived in short order. We got in, and on the way down, to break the awkward silence, I said, 'You know that Merlot I bought? Well, it came in handy. This is really stupid, maybe funny, but I don't think you'll find it funny-I had to use the stuff to clean birdshit off my windshield.'

'What?'

The elevator door opened, and we walked out into the common area. I said, 'A big gull dive-bombed my windshield.' I explained. He glanced at his watch again. I concluded, 'The half I drank was very good. Not too forward.'

He said, 'That's a terrible waste of vintage wine.'

'I knew you'd say that.'

He went through the door that connected to the visitors' reception area. I walked with him.

Out in the parking field, I said, 'By the way, the lady who made you pop into my head-remember?'

'Yes.'

'She said she was a friend of yours. But a lot of people claim to be your friend, like the Gordons, but they're just acquaintances who want to bask in your reflected light.'

He didn't reply. It's hard to bait a man who's playing Lord of the Manor. Mr. Tobin was not going to lose his cool.

I said, 'Anyway, she said she was your friend. Do you know Emma Whitestone?'

He may have broken his stride a bit, then continued on and stopped at his car. He said, 'Yes, we dated about a year ago.'

'And you stayed friends?'

'Why not?'

'All my ex's want to murder me.'

'I can't imagine why.'

I chuckled at that one. I mean, it was odd that I still kinda liked this guy, even though I suspected that he'd murdered my friends. Don't get me wrong-if he really did it, I'd do my best to see him get the hot squat, or whatever this state decides to use when they dispatch the first condemned murderer. For now, if he was polite, I'd be polite.

The other thing that was so bizarre is that since the last time we'd spoken, we had developed something in common. I mean, we had both gone where few men had gone before… well, maybe more than a few. I wanted to kind of slap him on the back and say, 'Hey, Freddie, was it as good for you as it was for me?' or something like that. But gentlemen don't kiss and tell.

Fredric Tobin was saying, 'Mr. Corey, I sense that you think I know more than I'm telling you about the Gordons. I assure you I don't. However, if the county or town police wish to take a statement from me, I'll be happy to oblige. Meanwhile, you're welcome here as a customer, and you're welcome to my home as an invited guest. You are not welcome to my office, and you're not welcome to question me any further.'

'Sounds reasonable.'

'Good day.'

'Have a good lunch.'

He got into his Porsche and off he went.

I looked back at the Tobin tower flying the black Tobin flag. If Mr. Tobin had any physical evidence to hide, it might be at his waterfront home or perhaps in his apartment on the top floor of that tower. Obviously, a consent search was out of the question, and no judge was going to issue a search warrant, so it looked like I'd have to issue a midnight search warrant to myself.