after decades of financial success. I decided he wasn’t equally successful as a human being.
“I am trying to get at the truth of your daughter’s death, Mr. Wozniak.”
“The truth is that her husband killed her. But that wasn’t enough for him. He took my only son, too.” His voice rose. “Go ahead and find Neil Brown, lady. I’ll see he never takes another breath outside a prison.” He took a step toward me, and I had to force myself not to retreat in the face of anger that pulsed like a force field around him. “Now leave this property before I have you arrested for trespassing. Eric, see Ms. Evans to her car.” His tone hinted that if I didn’t have an escort, they’d be less a ficus or two.
I was as angry as I’d been in years, but Wozniak held all the cards. Gathering as much dignity as I could muster, I left the room.
As I searched for the stairs, unwilling to wait for the elevator, DuBois caught up with me. Gently, he led me to the elevator and pressed the call button. “He had no right to be rude. I told him I intended to apologize.”
“I’ll bet he was thrilled.” The elevator doors opened with a muted chime and I stepped inside. DuBois followed. Neither of us said anything. He was apologetic; I wasn’t yet ready to accept. We both knew the person who should have offered the olive branch wouldn’t do so.
When the elevator doors opened, I headed for the exit. DuBois stayed beside me, and I had to give him credit for standing up to his boss, at least a little. I slowed my pace in recognition of his attempt at atonement. We left the building, stepping into a breezy but mild afternoon.
As I got out my keys and headed toward my parking space, DuBois whistled. “Nice car!” His tone was so boy-in-love-with-power that I had to smile as he opened the door for me. I answered the obligatory questions: what size the engine was, how much horsepower, how I’d kept it cherry. Once I was inside the car, DuBois bent down so that his face was level with mine. “Stan isn’t a bad guy, Ms. Evans. He’s just touchy on the subject of his children’s murders.”
“I guess a father would be,” I admitted grudgingly.
“I didn’t know he was coming in today or I’d have suggested we meet somewhere else.” He glanced back at the impressive building. “I also didn’t realize he’d get so upset.”
“I’m sorry if I got you in trouble.”
“Don’t worry. Stan’s tough, but he treats me like a—” He stopped, embarrassed. “When he lost Carson and Carina, I was just an office away. We do okay together.”
Probably because DuBois did everything Wozniak told him to. Stan would need a nice guy like Eric to smooth the feathers he ruffled. “Thanks for the information.”
Sweeping his wind-ruffled hair off his forehead, he hurried back into the building. I imagined his boss standing in the window of his office, watching to make certain I left. I imagined it because I refused to give Wozniak the satisfaction of looking up to find out for sure.
Chapter Ten
Retta
It took a while to figure out something else I could do to help Faye and Barbara. The call to the state police was good, but I wanted to show them I could find information as well as open doors. As I thought about the Wozniak case, it occurred to me that what I have and they don’t (well, one of the things) is connections in the community. Barbara was gone for decades and no longer has any idea who anybody is. Faye stuck to family and work her whole life. I know a lot of people, especially those on the higher social levels. Why couldn’t I use that to help them?
Questioning Faye until she used the word badgering , I refreshed my memory of the crimes. Using the file Detective Sparks had sent them at my request, she listed the people who’d been interviewed for background information about Neil and Carina Brown. When she got to John and Susie Mason, I knew I’d hit pay dirt. Susie I knew personally.
John Mason’s wife is a
“I am trying to get at the truth of your daughter’s death, Mr. Wozniak.”
“The truth is that her husband killed her. But that wasn’t enough for him. He took my only son, too.” His voice rose. “Go ahead and find Neil Brown, lady. I’ll see he never takes another breath outside a prison.” He took a step toward me, and I had to force myself not to retreat in the face of anger that pulsed like a force field around him. “Now leave this property before I have you arrested for trespassing. Eric, see Ms. Evans to her car.” His tone hinted that if I didn’t have an escort, they’d be less a ficus or two.
I was as angry as I’d been in years, but Wozniak held all the cards. Gathering as much dignity as I could muster, I left the room.
As I searched for the stairs, unwilling to wait for the elevator, DuBois caught up with me. Gently, he led me to the elevator and pressed the call button. “He had no right to be rude. I told him I intended to apologize.”
“I’ll bet he was thrilled.” The elevator doors opened with a muted chime and I stepped inside. DuBois followed. Neither of us said anything. He was apologetic; I wasn’t yet ready to accept. We both knew the person who should have offered the olive branch wouldn’t do so.
When the elevator doors opened, I headed for the exit. DuBois stayed beside me, and I had to give him credit for standing up to his boss, at least a little. I slowed my pace in recognition of his attempt at atonement. We left the building, stepping into a breezy but mild afternoon.
As I got out my keys and headed toward my parking space, DuBois whistled. “Nice car!” His tone was so boy-in-love-with-power that I had to smile as he opened the door for me. I answered the obligatory questions: what size the engine was, how much horsepower, how I’d kept it cherry. Once I was inside the car, DuBois bent down so that his face was level with mine. “Stan isn’t a bad guy, Ms. Evans. He’s just touchy on the subject of his children’s murders.”
“I guess a father would be,” I admitted grudgingly.
“I didn’t know he was coming in today or I’d have suggested we meet somewhere else.” He glanced back at the impressive building. “I also didn’t realize he’d get so upset.”
“I’m sorry if I got you in trouble.”
“Don’t worry. Stan’s tough, but he treats me like a—” He stopped, embarrassed. “When he lost Carson and Carina, I was just an office away. We do okay together.”
Probably because DuBois did everything Wozniak told him to. Stan would need a nice guy like Eric to smooth the feathers he ruffled. “Thanks for the information.”
Sweeping his wind-ruffled hair off his forehead, he hurried back into the building. I imagined his boss standing in the window of his office, watching to make certain I left. I imagined it because I refused to give Wozniak the satisfaction of looking up to find out for sure.
Chapter Ten
Retta
It took a while to figure out something else I could do to help Faye and Barbara. The call to the state police was good, but I wanted to show them I could find information as well as open doors. As I thought about the Wozniak case, it occurred to me that what I have and they don’t (well, one of the things) is connections in the community. Barbara was gone for decades and no longer has any idea who anybody is. Faye stuck to family and work her whole life. I know a lot of people, especially those on the higher social levels. Why couldn’t I use that to help them?
Questioning Faye until she used the word badgering , I refreshed my memory of the crimes. Using the file Detective Sparks had sent them at my request, she listed the people who’d been interviewed for background information about Neil and Carina Brown. When she got to John and Susie Mason, I knew I’d hit pay dirt. Susie I knew personally.
John Mason’s wife is a
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