have no stake in any of this except satisfying my curiosity.”
“Don’t give me that, Charlie. It’s not just curiosity. I’m sure you are curious, but I think you want to impress DeVries again. I’m sure that’s what this is all really about.”
They both laughed and got up to leave. In the car Charlie admitted to himself that Kate was partly right. He’d gotten a big kick out of his success in the Wilson case and he’d very much like to have a similar success regarding Kelsey and McDermott. He relished the idea that this time success would be even more impressive since DeVries and Matson obviously thought they’d already wrapped up the case.
Charlie would take Kate’s advice and contact Berger the next day. And if she agreed to meet, he’d be straightforward about his suspicions and make it clear that what most concerned him was determining whether there was in fact someone else involved in what Kelsey and McDermott had been doing. If Berger wasn’t involved and felt that she was under suspicion of being the mysterious third party, she might well put some real effort into helping Charlie. He’d call or email her and arrange a meeting.
Chapter 17
The Third Monday
Charlie was at his office by eight-thirty and the first thing he did was email Berger. He thought calling might be pushing it. What he suggested, keeping it cool, was that she contact him as to when they might have lunch. Charlie sent the email and went off to his nine o’clock seminar.
As usual, the seminar went well and Charlie forgot all about Berger and the case while talking with his students. At noon he returned to his office to put away his books and checked his email. There were a number of messages but the one that got his attention was from Berger. In the message she said she couldn’t make lunch that day, but that she’d be happy to meet Charlie for coffee that afternoon if four-thirty wasn’t too late. Charlie immediately responded, saying he would see her at the Club at four-thirty. He then went to lunch, thinking that the markets closed at four, so Berger wasn’t going to hang around Raymond, Teller for long.
The Club table was sparsely populated, as was normal for a Monday, and Charlie was deprived of his favorite interlocutors. However, as luck would have it, Sommers appeared at the main door and seemed to be alone. Charlie knew she wasn’t a Club table fan, so he got up and went over to ask if she’d like some company. She gave him a big smile and they went to a table for two. Charlie said he’d be a moment and went to rescue his sandwich and glass of wine from the Club table. Once seated with Sommers he explained he was anticipating seeing Berger that afternoon.
“You still think she might be involved in the Kelsey and McDermott business?”
“I’m trying to sort that out. I thought some frank questions might do it.”
Charlie then gave Sommers an edited account of what he’d learned from DeVries and explained he wasn’t sure things were as neat as DeVries and Matson seemed to think.
“Of course, they want it simple and wrapped up, but that doesn’t mean they’re wrong. Have you anything solid to make you think otherwise?”
“The money is missing, but it’s mainly whoever tipped off McDermott’s killer.”
“As far as the money is concerned, I’ve read about millions going missing in laundering schemes and complicated arrangements for dodging taxes. Big bucks get transferred over and over till they vanish in a mare’s nest of electronic bank transactions, but you’re right about mysterious tipster.”
Neither had any bright ideas so Charlie and Sommers talked about the latest gaffe on the part of the University provost and how the local rag had made it into big news. Charlie offered Sommers dessert or an after-lunch drink, but she said she had to get back and both left the Club. Back in his office, Charlie checked his email and found confirmation from Berger that she’d meet him that
“Don’t give me that, Charlie. It’s not just curiosity. I’m sure you are curious, but I think you want to impress DeVries again. I’m sure that’s what this is all really about.”
They both laughed and got up to leave. In the car Charlie admitted to himself that Kate was partly right. He’d gotten a big kick out of his success in the Wilson case and he’d very much like to have a similar success regarding Kelsey and McDermott. He relished the idea that this time success would be even more impressive since DeVries and Matson obviously thought they’d already wrapped up the case.
Charlie would take Kate’s advice and contact Berger the next day. And if she agreed to meet, he’d be straightforward about his suspicions and make it clear that what most concerned him was determining whether there was in fact someone else involved in what Kelsey and McDermott had been doing. If Berger wasn’t involved and felt that she was under suspicion of being the mysterious third party, she might well put some real effort into helping Charlie. He’d call or email her and arrange a meeting.
Chapter 17
The Third Monday
Charlie was at his office by eight-thirty and the first thing he did was email Berger. He thought calling might be pushing it. What he suggested, keeping it cool, was that she contact him as to when they might have lunch. Charlie sent the email and went off to his nine o’clock seminar.
As usual, the seminar went well and Charlie forgot all about Berger and the case while talking with his students. At noon he returned to his office to put away his books and checked his email. There were a number of messages but the one that got his attention was from Berger. In the message she said she couldn’t make lunch that day, but that she’d be happy to meet Charlie for coffee that afternoon if four-thirty wasn’t too late. Charlie immediately responded, saying he would see her at the Club at four-thirty. He then went to lunch, thinking that the markets closed at four, so Berger wasn’t going to hang around Raymond, Teller for long.
The Club table was sparsely populated, as was normal for a Monday, and Charlie was deprived of his favorite interlocutors. However, as luck would have it, Sommers appeared at the main door and seemed to be alone. Charlie knew she wasn’t a Club table fan, so he got up and went over to ask if she’d like some company. She gave him a big smile and they went to a table for two. Charlie said he’d be a moment and went to rescue his sandwich and glass of wine from the Club table. Once seated with Sommers he explained he was anticipating seeing Berger that afternoon.
“You still think she might be involved in the Kelsey and McDermott business?”
“I’m trying to sort that out. I thought some frank questions might do it.”
Charlie then gave Sommers an edited account of what he’d learned from DeVries and explained he wasn’t sure things were as neat as DeVries and Matson seemed to think.
“Of course, they want it simple and wrapped up, but that doesn’t mean they’re wrong. Have you anything solid to make you think otherwise?”
“The money is missing, but it’s mainly whoever tipped off McDermott’s killer.”
“As far as the money is concerned, I’ve read about millions going missing in laundering schemes and complicated arrangements for dodging taxes. Big bucks get transferred over and over till they vanish in a mare’s nest of electronic bank transactions, but you’re right about mysterious tipster.”
Neither had any bright ideas so Charlie and Sommers talked about the latest gaffe on the part of the University provost and how the local rag had made it into big news. Charlie offered Sommers dessert or an after-lunch drink, but she said she had to get back and both left the Club. Back in his office, Charlie checked his email and found confirmation from Berger that she’d meet him that
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