AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No. Goats had nothing to do with it. I don’t think.”
7
On the way back to the Cities, they agreed that Lundgren probably couldn’t or wouldn’t help them, unless Lucas could figure out what he thought he’d heard, or deduced, from what she said.
“What about the Tom Burston guy, from Barnes and Blue? Worth a look?” Virgil asked.
“We should consult an expert,” Lucas said. He called up the phone app on the car’s video screen, and punched up the number for his adoptive daughter, Letty.
Virgil smiled: “Letty?”
“Master’s in economics with a bunch of courses in finance,” Lucas said.
“And she has a criminal mind. I always liked that about her,” Virgil said.
“As long as you don’t like it too much,” Lucas said, as Letty’s phone rang.
“Hey! I’m gonna get married... someday. I have twins.”
“Keep thinking about that,” Lucas said.
—
Letty came up:“Hey, Dad.”
“You busy right now?”
“Not this instant. What’s up?”
“I’m in the car with Virgil,” Lucas said. “We’re looking into the murder of a federal judge.”
“Alex Sand. I heard about that. You must be stuck, if you’re calling me.”
“Everybody’s stuck. We’ve been invited in, but late in the game. Anyway, Virgil’s going to tell you a story, and we want to hear your reaction.”
“Go ahead, Virgie.”
Virgil had taken his iPad out and called up a file on the B-Team’s investigation. He told her about Sand’s financial status, and about Burston: about the fact that Burston fit the physical profile of the killer, that he did not have an unimpeachable alibi for the night of the murders, and about the tension between Burston and Sand on the hundred-thousand-dollar investment.
He read through a dozen of the emails exchanged by the two men.
When he finished, there was a moment of silence, then Letty said, “Thatisodd. He certainly isn’t as deferential as most financial advisors would be. Here’s the thing: advisors advise—but the client makes the decision. Legally, anyway, unless the client gives theadvisor a power of attorney, to make the investments on his own. That doesn’t seem to be the case here.”
“It’s not,” Virgil said. “Sand was involved all the way through.”
“I agree that it’s not much money for a portfolio as big as you say Sand had,” Letty said. “A portfolio that size should kick off anywhere between seven and ten million dollars a year, if it’s carefully balanced and managed. So... a hundred thousand would only be a fraction of what they’d earn annually. A small fraction. A percent and a half, if they’re earning seven million. And half that if it’s a legitimate charity and the contribution is tax-deductible.”
“Burston plays tennis with Sand’s wife, they’re a doubles pair and apparently good at it,” Lucas said.
Letty: “Uh-oh. If—”
“She says he’s gay,” Virgil said.
“Is he?”
“We’ll ask around.”
“Do that,” Letty said. “Carefully. I don’t think I have any ideas that you two probably haven’t thought of, but I can give you my judgment, if you want it.”
