Page 16 of Wolf's Whistle
“Mr. Edward Kellerman, Corporate Counsel for Garou Industries.”
“Can Mr. Kerrigan fly back to Chicago for questioning?”
Richard started to speak, “Det—”
“Mr. Kerrigan is getting ready to go to school for his master’s degree and in the meantime will be serving as an intern at Garou Industries. I’m afraid that it would be inconvenient. However, you are welcome to depose him in New York with his attorney present. I’ll have our lawyer prepare the depositions as to Mr. Kerrigan’s whereabouts from noon yesterday through today. Shall I have Mr. Kellerman send them to you in Chicago, or do you wish to come to New York?”
Stawski’s anger was evident in his voice. “Make sure Mr. Kerrigan keeps himself available for questioning.”
“He will be availablein New York with Mr. Kellerman.You may call Mr. Edward Kellerman, Esq. at his offices on Park Avenue South.”
“Is it true that Mr. Kasun accosted Mr. Kerrigan late yesterday afternoon at his apartment?” the detective persisted.
“As I’ve said, both Mr. Kerrigan and I are represented by Mr. Kellerman. You may make an appointment with him. Mr. Kerrigan has an airtight alibi. He was on a jet in the air at the time of the murder. Material witness, be damned. You’re searching to pin the murder on a patsy. Well, he was in an airplane at thirty thousand feet.”
“That doesn’t mean he couldn’t have arranged to have it done.”
“Richard worked two jobs, one as a grocery clerk and the other at Lutz’s establishment. He didn’t have the money to pay for his college loans, let alone a murder. Detective Stawski, you’re out of line.”
“I’ll get a subpoena,” the detective shouted.
“You’ll find that a bit difficult with sixty-four witnesses that counter your suspicions. Detective Stawski, we had a long day yesterday. I just made my formal proposal to my fiancé this morning before you called. So if you don’t mind, as I’ve repeatedly asked you, please either take your questions to Mr. Kellerman or make an appointment with Mr. Kellerman to speak to Mr. Kerrigan and myself here in New York, unless of course, you have an arrest warrant. Now I believe this conversation is over.”
“Mr. Kerrigan, Mr. Bellaire, I’ll be in touch.”
“Have a good day, Detective.” Julien pushed the button to disable the speakerphone.
“Julien, you just made me seem guilty.”
“Mon ange, you have an airtight alibi. As far as conspiring to murder Mr. Kasun, I’m sure that you know no one with whom to conspire. Nor did you have the funds to pay to get it done.”
“Why did you say we’re engaged?” Richard asked, his curiosity rampant.
“To protect you. The man was about to interrogate you over the phone. He’s being lazy and searching for an easy way to close this case. Since your boss told him that Kasun went over to your apartment in a murderous rage because you quit your job and were leaving town, the good detective thinks you were the last person to see Kasun yesterday, which makes you a suspect. Since you worked as a grocery clerk and a bartender, the detective figured you wouldn’t have the money to hire a good attorney, so you represented a chance to close the case immediately, instead of actually having to work it. I made sure he knew that Garou and I both had your back.”
Richard frowned. “I knew Kasun was going to be a problem if I stayed in Chicago, but now that he’s dead he’s more of a problem than he was when he was alive.”
“No worries. From yesterday at noon when Gilbert and Charles picked you up, you have never been alone, ergo, you couldn’t have killed Kasun unless you were able to fake a flight plan and persuade sixty some witnesses in addition to the Garou Industries’ Board of Directors to lie for you, but I had better call Armand and tell him what’s going on. Why don’t you get ready for brunch, and I’ll go to my study to notify Armand that we might need Edward?”
§ § §
Julien took the elevator down to his office which used to be a card room secreted in the back of the library. He entered Armand’s number into his landline. Damn Serbian bastard had to get himself killed.
“La Marche residence, Rene speaking.”
“Rene, this is Alpha Bellaire. May I speak to The Alpha, please.”
“Mate troubles?”
“How did you know?” Julien asked through a clenched jaw.
“As soon as a new one is found, trouble rears its head. I’ll see if he can come to the phone.”
Julien tapped his foot as he waited.
“Alpha Bellaire…”
“Good morning, Alpha. I’m sorry to bother you but Richard…so Kasun was murdered yesterday and even though I told the detective that Richard was on board a plane headed to New York, he persisted, suggesting some kind of conspiracy.”
