Double Trouble Read online

  “And I’m perfectly okay with that. Hell, I could never have wrapped up the McPherson case if it hadn’t been for you. And since you wouldn’t accept any of the proceeds, the very least I can do is help you out with this.”

  “You’re so sweet—I can’t thank you enough,” she said, and gave him a big kiss.

  Afterwards he said, “You already have—that just did it.”

  * * *

  Two days later, Alan and Amanda were heading south on Route 23 en route to Milldale, Ohio. It was a beautiful early summer morning with the slightest chill in the air.

  “So tell me about Nick Wilburn,” Alan said, lowering the volume on his car stereo.

  “Well, I’ve known Nick for as long as I can remember. Our mothers were good friends and the Wilburns lived a few doors down from us. We were both in this little neighborhood clique including Sherry Lynn Rase—my very best girlfriend—her cousin Martha and Martha’s brother, Jimmy. We were sort of an odd group, now that I think about it, since little boys and girls didn’t play together so much back then. But we all got along really well in spite of the gender gap and grew pretty close over the years.”

  Alan chuckled. “About the only time my friends and I played with girls was when we’d tease them or terrorize their little tea parties. So what kind of guy is Nick?”

  “A real sweetheart—always nice and very funny. He had big dreams as a child. I remember him wanting to be a fireman when he grew up—not that every other young boy wants to be something cool like that—but it went beyond just being an exciting career choice for Nick. Before making up his mind, he’d already seriously considered the dangers involved, the inevitable boring downtime at the firehouse waiting around for an alarm, the training involved—stuff that most kids that young wouldn’t even consider. But that was Nick—very organized and mature for his age.”

  “So the next question would be, did he end up becoming a fireman?”

  Amanda laughed. “Nope. Ended up being a used car salesman.”

  “So much for childhood dreams, eh? You mentioned that Nick and Jodi had been a couple since middle school. When did they get married?”

  “The summer right after high school graduation. Everybody advised them to wait a few years to get settled into the real world before tying the knot so young but they wouldn’t hear of it. The funny thing is that their respective parents were supportive of their union despite their age, and gave Nick and Jodi their blessings. And wouldn’t you know, they actually did very well starting out. Nick had a good job at a local car dealership and Jodi worked at a beauty salon. They weren’t rich, but they were both responsible wage earners and managed to afford a decent apartment to live in. They later bought a house out in the country and seemed to be on top of the world. Until the shit hit the fan.”

  “When Nick got caught screwing around.”

  Amanda nodded. “Keep in mind that I had long since moved out of Milldale before the end of high school so I may not have all the facts straight. My mother has been filling me in with the latest news over the years and the last time I saw either Nick or Jodi was at their wedding.”

  “Not quite the same as being there.”

  “Of course not. So maybe I do have an inflated opinion of Nick Wilburn and his marriage. But I can say with one hundred percent certainty that he did not murder Jodi, no matter how bad things may have become between them.”

  Alan said, “The bottom line is that we need to find out what all he’s been up to since the breakup from his wife. I wonder if he got back with the girl who had caused all the trouble. Do you happen to know?”

  “I have no idea. All I know about this girl is that she was quite a bit younger and lived out of town.”

  “Not by any chance in the same town Nick lives in now?”

  “Don’t know the answer to that, either. I do know that he’s been living somewhere in Indiana and that he still sells cars. Mom’s never mentioned where the girl lives.”

  “A lot of holes to be filled in. What did your uncle have to say when you called him?”

  “He told me I’d have to wait until we got in town before he’d discuss anything about the case.”

  “What did he think of your dragging me along?”

  “He was thrilled! He’s heard of you and is familiar with the two big cases you’ve worked on. You might say he’s a fan.”

  “Jesus, I didn’t know I was that notorious.”

  “See, you’re getting a name for yourself. I was going to wait to tell you this, but Uncle Ken hinted that he’s considering hiring you to investigate this case if you’d be willing to accept. So there may be money to be made after all.”

  “He would be hiring us, you mean. That would be my only stipulation.”

  Amanda smiled. “If you insist.”

  “Just wondering, why would your uncle be willing to pay a private investigator for this case? Does he have some personal connection with Nick Wilburn, or is he just feeling generous?”

  “Uncle Ken is a one of a kind guy. He became a defense lawyer because he really resents the injustices in our legal system and wants to do something about it. He’s so pissed off at the absurd outcomes of cases like the OJ trial that he’s become a man with a mission. In fact, most of the cases he takes are pro bono—cases that he feels warrant decent representation for innocent folks who really need it. He’s tired of the way the rich hire high-powered lawyers that get their clients off scot free while those without the means so often get screwed by the system.”

  “I admire his cause,” Alan said. “But how does he afford to work for free? I mean, how does he make a living?”

  “To be blunt, Uncle Ken is very well off so he can afford to do it. Several years ago, he invented some gizmo that increases the efficiency of producing electric power from solar energy and had it patented. The thing has brought him in a small fortune. My uncle is one of those guys who can do just about anything and tinkering around with electronic devices happens to be one of them. He went into law rather late in life because of his interest in the justice system but his first love has always been mechanical engineering.”

  “Hmm, interesting. I’m looking forward to meeting this guy.”

  “I think the feeling’s mutual,” Amanda said.

  They fell silent and Alan stared out at the scenery, thinking of the woman sitting beside him and how comfortable he felt being with her. It had been awkward several months ago when he’d first taken her out for a drink while working the McPherson case. The devastating loss of his wife and the guilt he’d felt socializing with her old college roommate had kept his inner emotions at bay. He knew his love for Julie would never die and the last thing on his mind had been starting a relationship with anybody, ever—much less a close friend of his beloved wife.

  But as time went by, he’d allowed himself to embrace the possibility of having a romantic relationship with Amanda. There were even times he could imagine Julie looking down on him, giving him and Amanda her blessing, wanting him to move on with his life. Those were the times he would admit to himself he was falling hard for Amanda and that was how it was supposed to be.

  Now they were about to take on a case involving an old friend of hers. When she had first mentioned Jodi Wilburn’s murder, he suddenly realized how little he knew about Amanda Linville and her past. He’d always assumed she was from Mansfield, not some tiny dot on the map in southern Ohio. She showed a capacity for loyalty and conviction that he admired and respected. Here was some guy she hadn’t seen for years that she felt obliged to help out—from out of the clear blue, no less. How many people did he know who would be willing to go out on a limb to help an old childhood friend like that?

  Damn few, if any.

  Alan started thinking ahead, wondering if it was possible to take on Amanda as a partner in his business and be in love with her at the same time. That was the other fly in the ointment in his burgeoning relationship with Amanda. They worked well together—he had discovered in his last case—and he wa
s impressed with how Amanda’s remarkable insight complemented his own line of thinking. She’d been able to fill in the blanks and compel him to see things from another perspective. He’d been so impressed by her input that he could only imagine what a great investigative team they would make.

  But at what price? Would he be jeopardizing a romantic future with Amanda by making her an associate? He didn’t know.

  The only thing he knew for sure was that this case would help answer that question, and he was looking forward to seeing how it panned out.

  He glanced over to find that Amanda appeared to be deep in thought as well, staring out the passenger window at the landscape. What he wouldn’t give to know what she was thinking at that moment.

  CHAPTER 3

  “What’s the population of this place?” Alan asked. They had just passed a battered, washed-out sign saying, “Welcome to Milldale: A Great Place to Work and Play!”

  “About fourteen thousand and falling fast,” Amanda replied drily.

  “Something tells me you don’t miss the place so much.”

  “And you couldn’t be more correct. In another couple of blocks, take a left.”

  Alan observed two gas stations, a carryout, a Wendy’s and a run down bar all just inside the city limits and he could already sense the vibe of a town that was headed swiftly for the skids. He’d been here before several years ago on his way south to Florida and he could see that little had changed, except perhaps for the worse.

  “Here,” Amanda said.

  Alan swung a left and saw that they were in a residential area of town. The houses were large and well kept, in stark contrast to the shabby vista that had greeted them only a moment ago. He wondered if whoever ran the town had ever considered making the place look a bit more inviting to folks passing through.

  “This looks like a pretty nice neighborhood,” he noted.

  “It is a nice neighborhood, actually. The whole town is quite beautiful in fact for the most part. The trouble is how it’s been run through the years and how nobody ever tries to move into the future. It’s like a time warp here, as you will soon see. Clothes, hairstyles, fads, and so on—at least five years behind the rest of the country.”

  “Surely it’s not all that bad.”

  “Oh yeah it is, you’ll see.”

  Traffic was light as they drove along a main drag and Alan saw homeowners mowing lawns and sitting on their porches. The place was neat and clean as far as he could see.

  “Take a right at the next intersection.”

  Alan turned onto a street that eventually curved upward and cut along a hill. The houses became larger and more luxurious the further he drove and it didn’t take a business degree to see that this was one of the more affluent areas of Milldale. Amanda pointed to a gated driveway.

  “Pull over there.”

  Alan pulled up to the gate and stopped. “You’re shitting me, right?”

  She smiled. “This is where he lives.”

  “I think I’m in the wrong line of work.”

  All of a sudden the electric gate swung open as Alan noticed a three-story stone house jutting above the trees further up the drive. He pulled ahead and thought of how surreal it seemed—this obviously high-end estate sticking out so prominently amidst this financially strapped hamlet in southern Ohio.

  He remained silent as they rounded the driveway and pulled up to a three-car garage. A tall, thin middle-aged man with hair graying at the temples emerged from a side door and walked toward the car as they climbed out of the Pilot.

  Amanda ran over to him.

  “Hi, Uncle Ken!”

  The man embraced Amanda. “Hi honey, how was your trip?”

  “Fine. I’d like you to meet Alan Swansea.”

  He shook Alan’s hand. “Ken Barker, Alan.”

  “Nice to meet you.”

  They followed Ken inside and were immediately greeted by a frisky golden doodle that jumped up onto Amanda.

  “You must be Tilda,” she said, accepting a big kiss from the friendly dog. “I’ve heard all about you.”

  “She’s still got some manners to learn,” Ken said, looking at Alan. “Dumber than a box of rocks but makes up for it with her overzealous love for humans.”

  “Pretty dog,” Alan said.

  “Let’s go into the family room—you guys must be thirsty. What can I get you?”

  “I’d just like some ice water,” Amanda said.

  “Me, too—thanks,” said Alan.

  “I’ll be there in a minute,” Ken said.

  Amanda led the way through the beautifully appointed kitchen to her uncle’s family room. Alan looked the place over, impressed with the decor of the spacious yet homey room.

  “Jesus, what an awesome place.”

  Amanda nodded. “Uncle Ken’s been living here for about ten years now. You’d be surprised how cheap he got it for,” she added under her breath.

  “Cheap?”

  “Dirt cheap. As you can imagine, this town is a real buyers’ market. What would cost several million in Columbus sells for a fraction in this little burg.”

  Ken entered the room carrying a couple of glasses of ice water. He handed them to Alan and Amanda, motioned for them to sit down on the sectional sofa and sat across from them in a luxurious leather recliner chair.

  “So how long has it been since I last saw you?” he asked Amanda. “Must be over a year ago.”

  “It was almost exactly two years ago. You had stopped in to see Mom on your way back from Cleveland.”

  “That’s right—I’d been up there checking up on a client’s brother. And how long has it been since you’ve been in Milldale?”

  “Gee, at least five or six years, I guess.”

  “Much too long! I know you don’t like this place but it wouldn’t kill you to come down and see your uncle every now and then,” he smiled mock accusingly. “Your mom’s apparently not too thrilled with your visiting practices either.”

  “I know, and I’ve apologized to her. Like I told you, it’s been pretty crazy up in Columbus and kind of hard to get away. I promised Mom I’d go see her very soon, though.”

  “So tell me Alan, what’s the latest on the Chloe McPherson case? I’ve been following that one closely, especially after finding out that Mandy was involved. Kudos for a job well done, by the way. Any idea when it’s going to trial?”

  “Early next year, the last I heard. Markham’s also going to be tried in Philadelphia for the other murder he committed.”

  “Hope they fry him. Anybody who would murder a child should be tortured and put to death very slowly. Although I’m a defense lawyer, I’m not against the death penalty for scum like that.”

  “I hear you.”

  Ken leaned forward in the chair. “I’m sure both of you are wanting to learn more about Nick Wilburn so I’ll get right to it. As you already know, Nick is suspected of murdering his ex-wife. And to put it mildly, there is substantial evidence suggesting he’s guilty, according to the authorities. For one thing, Nick is purportedly one of the very few who knew of Jodi’s sizable inheritance and that she had stashed it away in a hidden safe he had installed in their basement a while back. According to Jodi’s father, she didn’t trust banks and therefore kept everything of value in that safe. Her father is pretty certain that only Jodi, Nick and the immediate family knew of this eccentric quirk of hers.

  “Adding more fuel to the fire is this: Nick has been living in Richmond, Indiana for the past year but had traveled to Milldale on the very same day Jodi was murdered. This would seem of little importance except for the fact that the last time Nick was known to be in Milldale was over six months ago. So it seems more than a little coincidental that Nick shows up in town on the same day his wife is murdered after being away for such a long period of time.”

  “Does he have an alibi?” Alan asked.

  “Sort of, but it’s uncorroborated. He claims that he drove to town to visit his parents, take care of some business and pick
up a few personal items to take back to Richmond. Only problem is that nobody can verify where he was within the time frame they believe Jodi was killed. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The cops also discovered some incriminating evidence in Nick’s car.”

  “What was that?”

  “A metal box filled with old gold and silver coins. Those coins had belonged to Jodi’s grandmother and were part of the inheritance she’d left her.”

  “Oh Lord,” Amanda said. “What does Nick have to say about that?”

  “Claims that Jodi gave him those coins the last time he was in town. I guess he’s been an avid coin collector for years and had known of Jodi’s grandmother’s stash of old coins while they were still married. He had asked Jodi one day if he could have those coins after she passed and Jodi promised him he could. So Jodi was simply keeping her promise.”

  “That’s sort of hard to swallow, don’t you think?” Alan said. “From what Amanda has told me, Jodi didn’t want a thing to do with Nick once she found out he’d been cheating on her. Yet she turns the other cheek and gives him a bunch of valuable coins just because she’d promised them to him back in better times?”

  Ken shook his head. “I know—it seems pretty hard to fathom. But like Mandy, I truly don’t believe that Nick murdered Jodi so I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt. I just think the poor man was in the wrong place at the wrong time and has rotten luck.”

  “But even if Nick were lying about the coins, I don’t see how that necessarily implicates him for Jodi’s murder. I mean, why would he keep just the coins and none of the rest of the loot in his car? I’m assuming the coins were all they found.”

  “The police believe that Nick stashed the loot somewhere, but for some reason didn’t include the coins. Not an unreasonable theory, really.”

  “But why would Nick have the coins in his car if he didn’t steal them? Seems like an odd thing to have just lying around.”