The Weeping Buddha by Heather Dune Macadam

Author:Heather Dune Macadam
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Akashic Books
Published: 2012-07-16T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

I have gained insight into my real nature once, that is enough.

—ZEN PHRASE

Loch and Gary got tired of waiting for Aileen to return. And it was already getting dark when they stopped by the largest house on Rysam Street to see if Gabe and Beka’s attorney was in. He was, and he was busy packing his Mercedes.

“Looks like they’re leaving town,” Gary surmised. “Nice to know Aileen’s information’s accurate.”

“Mr. Barry Goldstein?” The detectives flashed their badges and smiled in the friendliest way they could, considering they were dealing with a lawyer. “We understand you might have some information on the Sag Harbor Pilates Studio, and we need to ask you a few quick questions about ownership of the business.”

“This regarding Beka and Gabe’s deaths?” He did not look surprised.“Such a shame and a shock, of course my vacation would coincide with tragedy. What do you need to know?” He sighed with resignation.

“Did Ms. Imamura and Mr. Montebello have a will?” Loch began the questioning.

“They did.”

“There’s some question as to the circumstances around their deaths, sir. We’ll need to know who the recipients are.”

“Of course, there weren’t many. Just two in fact.”

“And who would they be?”

“Edilio Ferraro and Devon Halsey. Halsey is the executor.”

“Halsey?” Gary asked.

Loch tried not to shudder; if the press got hold of that information the department would really be tied to the whipping post. “How did it break down?” He chose to focus on their suspect.

“Ferraro gets the bulk of the estate with a stipulation for an arts foundation to be started in their names. Halsey gets a small percentage of the estate property. I am the executor.”

“Shit.” Loch, normally well in control of his emotions, cussed and kicked a rock down the driveway.

Goldstein leaned against the trunk of his car. “In the event that their heirs have predeceased them, there is a stipulation for the land to be preserved for wildlife. The buildings are to be used to house poor artists, who can apply for one-year residencies through a fellowship that will be administered by my law firm and funded by the sale of Gabe’s art.” He lit a cigar and chuckled. “Of course, they both wanted their names to come first, so Beka finally figured out a way to make that possible: The Montebello-Imamura Center for Art and Movement Exploration and the Imamura-Montebello Wildlife Preserve.”

“How much is the estate worth?” Gary asked, as he too kicked a stone across the driveway. “And are there any liens on it?”

Loch liked the question and looked at the lawyer closely—the motive for most murders was money. Where was the money?

“No liens. Property is worth much more than money out here, detective. The land itself is worth millions—not including his other properties and the sale of his art—who knows how much.”

“Jesus,” Gary cussed under his breath. “Excuse me.”

“Quite all right,” Mr. Goldstein said. “It’s a lot of money.”

“Quite a motive for murder,” Loch mused.

“Don’t get me wrong, detectives, I like Edilio Ferraro just fine, but if he inherits the estate, the provisions for the land are null and void.

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