[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
himself. That s how mad he is at having to pay me so much.
The pleasurable thought comforted him to the point that sometime before dawn he fell into the deep
sleep that normally lasted till eightA.M . But on Thursday morning, his phone rang at six. It was Detective
Barrott wanting to know where Howard Altman was. He hadn t returned to his apartment all night.
Am I his babysitter? Olsen demanded querulously. You wake me up to ask me where he is? How do
I know? I don t socialize with him. He works for me.
What kind of car does Howard drive? Barrott asked.
When he drives me, he drives my SUV. I don t think he has a car of his own. I don t care.
Does he ever take your SUV in the evening?
Not that I know of. He better not. It s a Mercedes.
What color is it?
Black. At my age do you think I want a red one?
Mr. Olsen, we really need to talk about Howard, Barrott said. What do you know about his personal
life?
I know nothing. I want to know nothing. He s been working for me nearly ten years. He s done a good
enough job.
Did you check his references when you hired him?
He was recommended by an impeccable source, my financial advisor Elliott Wallace.
Thank you, Mr. Olsen. Have a good day.
You ruined most of it for me. I ll be tired all day. Derek Olsen slammed down the receiver. But not all
of it, he thought as he envisioned the wrecking ball striking a bull s-eye on his piggy bank.
At the other end of the phone, Barrott, unable to conceal his exultation, said, Elliott Wallace
recommended him for the job.
It ties in with Lucas Reeves s theory, Ahearn agreed. But we have to go easy. Wallace is a big shot
on Wall Street.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Yes, but he wouldn t be the first executor who dipped into his client s funds, if that s the way it plays,
Barrott said. Any result on the fingerprints?
Not yet. We can t be sure the ones we lifted from the outer door of Howard s apartment are absolutely
his, but we re running them anyway. I d swear that guy has a prior record, Gaylor said.
Barrott checked his watch. The security guard at Wallace s building said he normally gets in at eight
thirty. We ll be waiting for him.
72
Once again, Carolyn was not answering her cell phone. Nick phoned her at eight o clock on Thursday
morning with the idea of taking her out for breakfast. He wanted to see her. Ineed to see her, he thought.
On the late news, he had watched the clip of her on television, passionately defending Mack.
He wanted to know how she had made out on the visit to her mother. He knew how hurt she had been
by her mother s refusal to see her.
At least her cell phone was on. It was ringing. It had been turned off Monday afternoon and all day
Tuesday. A gnawing sense that something was wrong made Nick decide to stop at Sutton Place, and
make sure that she was home.
The morning concierge had just come on duty. I don t think she s back yet, he said, when Nick asked
for Carolyn. I understand she had an emergency message at about threeA.M . and went rushing out.
Whoever handed the note to her doorman said it was a matter of life or death. I hope everything is all
right.
Everythingisn t all right, Nick thought frantically. He began to dial the now familiar number of Detective
Barrott.
73
Thank you for seeing us, Mr. Wallace, Barrott said politely.
That s all right. Is there any news of Mack? Elliott asked.
No, I m afraid there isn t but we do have a few matters you can help us clear up.
Of course. He gestured for the detectives to take a seat.
You know Howard Altman?
Yes, I do. He is the employee of my client Derek Olsen.
Didn t you actually recommend Altman to Mr. Olsen ten years ago?
I believe I did.
How did you happen to know Mr. Altman?
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
I m not really sure. As I recall, a former client had sold some real estate and was looking to place him.
Elliott s expression was blank.
Who was that client?
I m not even sure I can remember. I dealt with him only briefly. But it was one of those coincidences.
Olsen had been in and mentioned he was having a terrible time getting good help, and I passed Altman s
name along to him.
I see. We d certainly appreciate having that client s name, and I m sure you d want to find him. Altman
may be a suspect in the abduction of Leesey Andrews, which of course would clear the name of Mack
MacKenzie.
Anything that would clear Mack s name would be priceless to me, Elliott told Barrott, his voice
shaking with emotion.
Barrott studied him, taking in the beautifully tailored suit, the crisp white shirt, the handsome blue and red
tie. He watched as Wallace took off his glasses, polished them, then put them back on. What is it about
this guy that I m seeing, he asked himself. It s the eyes and the forehead. They looked familiar. Then he
wondered:Is it possible? My God, he resembles Altman. He signaled to Gaylor to take over the
questioning.
Mr. Wallace, isn t it a fact that you are the executor of Mack MacKenzie s estate?
I am the executor of all the MacKenzie family trusts.
Thesole executor?
Yes.
What are the terms of Mack s trust?
It was set up by his grandfather. He was not to receive income from it until he reached the age of forty.
In the meantime, of course, it continues to grow.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]