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“Burlington, Ohio. Rust Belt town like this one.”
“Indeed. And have you been reading into the town’s history and my family’s culpability in its demise?”
“A little.”
“It’s partly true, youknow. The town was created because my ancestor, after whom I’m named, discovered a particularly rich vein of coal. Much of it went to Pittsburgh for the blast furnaces in the steel mills. That was why he built coal and coke plants too. And after that he built textile mills. And then he discovered natural gas. He also ran many other businesses and actually owned much of Baronville. In fact, most ofthe town was in his employ back then. A regular Energizer Bunny of an entrepreneur, with far more luck and capitalistic drive than his family has experienced since.”
“I heard about all the businesses he built. But I hadn’t heard about the steel component.”
Baron nodded. “The coke used in making steel is derived from coal after it undergoes a distillation process. And back thencoal was abundant and relatively cheap. Steel magnates flourished, and so did those who supplied their enterprises. In that regard John Baron Sr. was following a tried-and-true formula. He was a ruthless man, so I understand. He crushed unions, paid off corrupt politicians, polluted rivers and the air and the ground. He paid his workers as little as he possibly could and treated people in generalas badly as he could. He made an immense fortune and his descendants sponged off that accomplishment.”
“But then it all came tumbling down?”
“It almost always comes tumbling down. America, in general, doesn’t like economic dynasties. Families like the Rockefellers are the exception rather than the rule. We each pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. Or at least that’s howthe theory is supposed to work. I guess there are enough people on the Forbes List who inherited their money to lay waste to that supposition.”
“But your family still had money?”
“Some. At least for a time.”
“Did you know any of the people murdered?”
Baron looked over at him with a curious expression. “That’s quite an abrupt segue. Why do you ask?”
“I’m a cop. I ask questions in the hope of solving crimes.”
“Who were the victims again?”
Decker told him. “The last two have not been identified yet.”
“I can’t say that I know any of them.”
However, Decker noticed the man’s hesitation.
“You sure about that?”
Baron held up his drink. “I’m hardly ever sure of anything. Especiallyin the Mercury Bar.”
Decker glanced at the bartender, who was listening intently to their conversation while pretending to wipe down the bar. She was quite beautiful, with shoulder-length blonde hair and a tall, lean figure outfitted in black jeans and a sleeveless blouse revealing wiry tanned arms.
Decker looked back at Baron. “You really come here once a week?”
“There’s hardly any other place to go.” He glanced at the bartender. “And I prefer the company here.”
The woman smiled at this, caught Decker staring at her, and quickly turned her attention to putting dirty glasses into a dishwasher behind the bar.
“Can I get your address?”
“Why?” asked Baron.
“I may want to talk to you again.”
“Why?”
“I already told you. I’m a cop trying to solve a crime.”
“Well, then look to the highest spot in town and you will see the biggest, ugliest home. FYI, the doorbell does not work and I don’t get up early.”
Baron drained his glass and inclined his head at the bartender and slid some cash across to pay for the drinks. “Thank you, Cindi. See you next time.” He patted Decker on theshoulder. “And thank you, Mr. Decker, for saving my ass.”
He walked unsteadily away.
“Hey, are you okay to drive?” Decker called after him.
Baron turned, gave a low bow, and held up a hand. “I am absolutely not okay to drive, but I will make a valiant attempt regardless, considering the odds are very good that whatever I might hit will have my family’s name engravedupon it, which will lessen my legal liability.”
Decker watched him go for a few moments and then turned back to the bartender.
Only she was gone too.
