It was no problem getting past the guards this time. A call was made to verify the appointment of the two visitors from Coreyville, and Greg and Cynthia were on their way to the elevators.
Greg checked his watch as they walked toward Buford’s office. They were a couple of minutes early. He was nervous about what he would say to Buford.
Cynthia was not totally convinced Buford was connected to the Coreyville murders. But she trusted Greg.
The suite was very formal and impressive. Lawyers seem to think expensive offices convey their power, knowledge, and success. Greg wondered if the building had been engineered to handle the weight of so much mahogany and oak.
Millie offered them a seat, and said, “I’ll tell Mr. Bellowin you’re here.”
She walked to the end of the hallway, knocked, and entered Buford’s office. “Your mystery visitors from Coreyville are here. Shall I show them in?”
“Let me guess. It’s a leggy redhead and a balding, plain-looking guy.”
“Well, I don’t whether I would call him plain-looking.”
“But I’m right about the redhead?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Wait five minutes, and then bring them in. Oh—and, this is very important: don’t tell them I know who they are.”
Millie looked puzzled. “Okay.”
“We, uh—wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise.”
“I understand, Sir.”
After Millie had shut the door, Buford realized he had said too much. If anyone ever found out he was able to guess who was coming to see him from Coreyville, it would make him look highly suspicious. If he was not involved in the Coreyville trial and murders, why would he think Greg and Cynthia would be paying him a visit? It was their only possible connection.
Millie told Greg and Cynthia it would be just a few minutes. Greg decided to have a cup of coffee while they waited. He had taken only two or three sips when Millie walked over to where they were sitting.
“Okay. I will take you to Mr. Bellowin’s office now.” Greg dropped the cup in the trashcan as they followed her down the long hallway.
Buford looked surprised when Millie brought Greg and Cynthia into his office. “Millie told me that a couple of old friends were coming by to see me, but—I’m afraid I don’t know either of you.”
Cynthia noticed that Buford’s secretary seemed confused by his statement.
Greg said, “I’m sorry, Sir. We told your secretary that we were old friends because we thought it was the only way to get an appointment with you today.”
“I see. So, are you even from Coreyville?”
“Yes, Sir. That part is true. We have something really important to talk to you about. I hope you’ll give us a few minutes, even though we got in on false pretenses.”
“Well, you were resourceful—I’ll say that for you.” Buford laughed. “I’ve got to give you a few points for that. And, you are from my hometown. So, sure—I’ll hear what you have to say. Can you do it in ten minutes?”
“Yes, Sir. Thank you.” Greg couldn’t believe how much respect he was giving the apparent mastermind of a murderous rampage. “I’m Greg Tenorly and this is Cynthia Blockerman.”
Buford shook hands with his visitors, taking a long glance at Cynthia’s cleavage, and offered them a seat. Millie walked out and closed the door.
“So, what can I help you with today?” Buford sat down behind his desk.
If the executive desk was the yacht of desks, then Buford’s desk was a battleship. Cynthia wondered what Buford was trying to compensate for.
“I’m serving on a jury in a murder trial in Coreyville, and—”
“—wait. If this is about an ongoing trial, it would be illegal for me to discuss it with you.”
Great, Greg thought. Is this how he’s going to slither out of it? “No. Actually, I wanted to ask you about something not related to the trial.”
“Okay. But, be careful.”
We’ll never get anything out of this slimy snake, Cynthia thought, as she tried to maintain a pleasant demeanor.
“Yes, I will. I don’t know whether you’ve heard about it, but several people have been murdered in our town this week.”
“Wow. I’ve always thought of Coreyville as a safe, quiet little community. That’s pretty shocking.”
“So, I got a call from a woman yesterday. And while she was talking to me, somebody shot her.”
“You’re kidding me? Is she dead?”
“Yes. The killer shot her right after she told me who was behind all of the murders in Coreyville.”
Cynthia was watching Buford for even the slightest reaction.
Buford didn’t like where Greg was headed, but what could he do? He had to press on, showing interest, but no particular concern for himself. Besides, Marty was dead. Case solved. Maybe they hadn’t heard yet. “So, what did she say?”
“She said the person behind all of the murders was YOU.”
“What? That’s ridiculous. What’s the name of this woman who told you that?”
“Dorothy Spokane.”
It was slight, almost imperceptible—but Cynthia saw it. A quiver of the lip and the lower eyelids. Greg was right!
“Whoa. Now we’re talking about someone who’s involved in your trial, right? Isn’t that the trial for the murderer of Sam Spokane?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
“Because it’s in Coreyville. And I’m a lawyer.” He must regain control of himself, Buford thought. He must not appear to be nervous. “And I worked for Sam as a teenager. So, I knew Dorothy. I’m so sorry to hear about her. But I can’t talk about it anymore.”
“So, you don’t know why she would say that you’re involved in the murders?”
“I’m sorry, but you’ve got to leave now, before we cause a mistrial.”
Buford hurried Greg and Cynthia out the door. “Maybe we can visit some other time, when it doesn’t put a trial in jeopardy. Goodbye.”
**********
It was easy for John X to locate Greg’s big, red Bonneville in the parking garage. He knew he had the right car, even before he checked the license plate. He didn’t know whether Buford would want him to chase Greg and Cynthia, but he would be prepared. He took the box out of the paper bag and carefully, almost lovingly, removed the device from the box.
It was a fine piece of electronics—a GPS tracker, housed in a magnetic case, weighing only seven ounces. He inserted four AA batteries and turned it on. Then he placed it in an ideal spot on the undercarriage, where it couldn’t be seen without crawling under the vehicle.
Now, wherever the car traveled, he could easily track it over the internet with his PDA. If Buford didn’t order him to follow them, it was $400 down the drain. But it was just part of the cost of doing business.
He had set his cell phone ringer on vibrate, to avoid alerting anyone to his location. Buford was calling. “I’m ready,” he whispered.
“Good. Wait until they get out of town. And try to make it look like an accident. If you do, it will mean an additional ten for you.”
“So, that’s thirty-five altogether, right?”
“Right.” Yeah, whatever, Buford thought. He couldn’t afford to quibble over money when his career, and even his freedom, was at stake.
“I already have a tracker on his car, so there’s no way they can lose me.”
“I don’t want to know details. Just do it!”
John X heard people talking, and it sounded like they were walking toward him, so he hid on the other side of the truck that was next to Greg’s car. He soon realized, from their conversation, that it was definitely Greg and Cynthia.
“So, what was I saying when you saw him flinch?”
“It was when you told him it was Dorothy Spokane who said he was responsible for all the murders. Something funny happened with his lips and eyes. It wasn’t real obvious, but I saw it.
“Yeah. He’s definitely guilty of something.”
“But, of what? Hiring a killer? And, if so, how do we prove it?”
“I don’t know, but I’m starved. Let’s get some breakfast and talk about it.”
John X heard them shut their doors, and drive away. Now he would need to select a vehicle for following them. The extended cab Silverado truck he was standing beside would work. Greg and Cynthia were stopping for breakfast. He would have plenty of time to catch up with them on the road.
|