One Fell Swoop by David Linzee

Author:David Linzee [Linzee, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION / Mystery & Detective / FIC022040 - Women Sleuths, MUSIC / Genres & Styles / MUS028000 - Opera
ISBN: 9781603815789
Publisher: Coffeetown Press
Published: 2017-04-01T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

As they returned to the truck, Peter called Roger Merck, who said that Don still had not appeared. His lawyer and accountant were representing him, but it was vital that Don show up to sign the contracts and appear with the chancellor in the photo op, which was now only an hour away.

Peter clambered into the backseat of the truck, as before. Renata sat in the passenger seat looking at Hannah, who drove in silence. She looked more severe in profile, when you could not see her wide forehead and freckled cheeks, only her strong nose and jutting jaw. Renata tried to think of something friendly to say, something that would make her open up. But as they crossed the highway back to Parkdale, nothing had occurred to her, so she resorted to, “Well, Hannah, what do you think?”

“About Don saying the chancellor takes orders from him?”

“Yes. Can it be true?”

“Oh, you know, Don says things just because he likes the sound of them.”

Renata jumped.

Hannah gave her a sideways look. “Isn’t that one of your cheap shots?”

“Yes, it is. I wasn’t aware I’d said it to Don himself. “

“You agree with the très soigné professor. Don’s a lightweight. This is just a real estate speculation to him. He doesn’t care about saving Parkdale or the community gardens or anything but the money. And he’s done God-knows-what to get some kind of hold over Chancellor Reeve.”

“Hannah, enough,” said Peter. “You’re wrong.”

“That’s not what you think?”

“It’s what I think. To the letter. But Renata thinks Don’s trying to save the neighborhood. Only the man who’s putting up the money is lying to him and using him.” To Renata, he asked, “You do still think that, even after what Dean Carmichael said?”

“I’m even more sure,” Renata replied. “How could Don get … leverage over the chancellor of Adams University? No, it’s something this London billionaire—this murderer—has done.” She turned in her seat. “And allow me to point out, Peter, that Don has saved the neighborhood.”

They were back in Parkdale now, passing one of the buildings where a crew was painting the front door in Adams green and gray. Hannah gave her raucous laugh.

“Yeah. He did that, didn’t he?” She turned to Renata. She was smiling.

Renata smiled back. “Only we’re not making any progress in finding him.”

“Dean Carmichael thought he was going home when he left her,” Peter said. “Do you have the key to his apartment, Hannah?”

“Why do you ask?”

“We might find something that will give us a clue to his whereabouts.”

“So you’re going to search the place?”

“Yes.”

Hannah was silent as she pulled up in front of Don’s building. She didn’t turn off the engine. After thinking a moment, she reached for the carabineer on her belt loop. “I’ll give you the key. I have other stuff to do and … anyway, I don’t want to be around when you’re searching.”

She detached the key and Peter took it. Then she pulled out her phone. “Can I have your number, Renata? If I hear from Don, I’ll call.

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