Deadly Compromises by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview
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Chapter 23
William McKenna had been an insurance investigator most of his adult life. Now, at the age of 66, he was still working, out of choice and was continuing his rapid foot movements. He usually didn’t get much further than others of his ilk, as his short, stocky five foot six body was clustered up top, making him require two steps to equal an average man’s one. But, he relished the challenge. He spoke in machine gun bursts to the dismay of most. Some didn’t like the agitated feel and some couldn’t come up with a bright response at his pace. The most annoying thing, though, was that after 66 years of practice he rarely said anything wrong.
His long term wife died ten years ago, leaving him broken hearted, angry and jealous of those with the audacity to take a spouse for granted. Maybe due to his inability to slow down and focus, he never knew how much he loved her until she was gone.
The resulting passion to catch spouse killers was not diminished by the fact that he was also a religious Catholic for as long as he could recall.
The screeching brakes of the local school bus roused him for the millionth time and he got up early on a still dark Monday morning. In his efficient manner over breakfast he re-reviewed the dossier on his new case.
Insured: Alan Simburg, age 60. Beneficiary: Kelly, Alan’s wife, age 40. Married for five years. No children.
$5,000,000 Policy fully paid up five years ago, the time of Alan and Kelly’s marriage. Residence: 239 White Horse Lane, Castillo, NM. Home phone: 505/980-3215. There are no available photos. Kelly has long black hair, wears glasses, is five foot four, 120 pounds. Overview: At the time of the marriage Alan was a prominent local business owner and Kelly had no discernible assets. Police reports: No one yet charged with any crime. No suspects. In addition to local authorities, the case is also being handled by the state organized crime unit in Santa Fe, NM. The deceased is believed to have owed the mob four million dollars. The case has most of the earmarks of a professional hit. The murder happened at their residence.
Kelly’s alibi was that she was out aimlessly driving at the time and walking at the river. This has neither been confirmed nor refuted by evidence. Tapes of her interviews with authorities are available at the Castillo police station.
McKenna focused in on the phrase “most of the earmarks”, the unconfirmed alibi and the simple fact that Mr. Simburg’s demise came at a very convenient time for his younger wife, who still has a number of good years ahead. As usual, McKenna expected to take as much time as necessary to work on the case, despite his flat fee. He thought; “Sometimes the locals get clouded by knowledge of the people and sometimes the pros are just too bureaucratic. Besides, he didn’t know anything he’d rather be doing.”
He hastily departed his forty year residence; a mortgage-free, development, light brown aluminum sided (looks just like wood) “colonial” in almost status, Syosset, Long Island, New York and drove to the airport. He tapped his little fingers on the armrest the entirety of the trip to Albuquerque. He rented a Lincoln, as this was a deductible expense and headed out to Castillo.
He saw it as a pleasant place, but not exactly the domain of one wanting to live the high life. The flat roofs of the one and two story stucco Southwestern houses always amazed him in their seeming lack of efficiency, as they no doubt required more maintenance than the highly pitched varieties that dominate rational Syosset. He checked in at the motel now probably owned by Mrs. Simburg, but wasn’t lucky enough to be admitted by the
heiress to be. He walked to the nearby burger joint to see if he could stir up some conversation. He ordered coffee and took it to a table already occupied by two elderly gentlemen. He consciously slowed down his delivery of words, in an attempt to sound down homey. He smiled broadly and came close to drawling; “Mind if I join you?” He thought he also came close to biting his tongue.
The first gentleman smiled and leisurely said; “Please do.
We get so few sociable strangers here. Passing through?”
McKenna seated himself and evasively replied; “More or less. I’m enjoying the pretty scenery here.”
As laid back as the first the second gentleman said; “I always did, too. That’s a big reason why we stayed here. Peace and quiet.”
McKenna feigned surprise and in a “Gee whillickers” tone queried; “Somebody at the motel back there told me there was a murder a few months back.”
First gentleman: “Yeah, shocked everyone.”
Second gentleman: “I heard he owed a lot of money to the mob and couldn’t pay.”
McKenna: “Mob’s over here?”
First gentleman: “I don’t think so. He probably borrowed the money in Las Vegas or Los Angeles.”
McKenna shook his head to one side and said; “So nobody’s worried about a mad murderer running around here.”
First gentleman: “Of course not. I’ve been here thirty years and I don’t remember hearing about any other murder, except once when some guy shot his wife.”
Second gentleman: “You know the understandable, unavoidable stuff.” He made a small laugh and turned toward his friend, who did the same.
McKenna did his best to grin and hide his bristle. He said; “Being so quiet here, didn’t anyone hear or see anything unusual?”
Second gentleman: “No, not really. People sometimes stop over here on their way elsewhere. There were reports of strangers at the gas station and the motel, but none of them led anywhere, they say. The cops went through that right away.”
McKenna: “Is there anyone here who knows everybody’s business?”
Both gentlemen laughed and simultaneously said, “Mabel.”
First gentleman: “Why are you so interested in the murder?
You said you were here for the scenery.”
McKenna: “I should tell you the truth. I’m an insurance investigator. He was pretty heavily covered.”
First gentleman: “How much?”
McKenna: “I really shouldn’t say. You might call it substantial. Who’s this Mabel?”
Second gentleman: “Mabel Elliot. She’s the wife of one of the local cops. She has a knack for being around whenever something happens.”
First gentleman: “Or says she was.”
Second gentleman: “I’ll tell you one thing for certain.
If it wasn’t for her observations, Steve wouldn’t have his job.”
They both laughed, as did McKenna, though he had the further thought; “Doesn’t say much for the local gendarmes.
Maybe I can pick up something they missed.” McKenna stood to go and said; “Thanks, guys. Do you know where Mabel lives?”
First gentleman: “East Ella, first house.”