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“What I mean is, what do you need all that heavy equipment for, if you’re just digging a foundation for a restaurant? I mean, how much excavation is there to do? Most projects like that, there’s none. You just grade the property, lay your foundation, and build up from there. Hell, what they rented from me, they could’ve dug down to China, nearly.” He laughed. “China, get it?”
“And did you ever ask them why they’d rented so much equipment like that?” asked Decker.
Palmer gaped at him. “What, are you serious? ’Course not. It was more money to me. None of my business what he does, so long as he pays. And he did. I will tell you that the construction took longer than it should have. And they had to pay some additional fees to me because of it. I remember driving by some days and wondering when the hell they were going to finish up.”
“Why do you think it took extra time?” asked Lancaster.
“Not sure. But it did, that’s all I know.” He laughed. “I do remember one thing.”
“What?”
“When we got the equipment back, they’d washed it all. Clean as a whistle. Now, I can never remember that happening before. Most times it comes back all crapped up and we have to clean it up. But not that time. I could’ve eaten my lunch off the stuff.” He laughed heartily. “Eaten my lunch. Get it?”
“Yeah,” said Decker. “I get it.”
***
After leaving Palmer’s office Lancaster looked up at Decker. “So what did we just learn?”
“That David Katz undertook, apparently, the strangest construction project in the history of Burlington.”
“And what does that tell us?”
“That it’s time for us to find out who the hell David Katz really was.”
They were walking down the street when a car drove past and then stopped. The window came down.
“Amos Decker?”
Decker glanced over at the expensive car. Duncan Marks was sitting in the driver’s seat.
“Mr. Marks, how are you?”
“Well, I’m fine, but you look great. Lot different from the last time I saw you.”
“Yeah, things have looked up for me.”
“Heard you were back in town.”
“Yeah, for a bit.”
“Never forgot what you did for my daughter.”
“Hope she’s doing okay.”
“She is, actually. I think Jenny finally figured it out.”
“Good to know.”
“God, I heard what happened to Rachel Katz. That was awful. Is she going to be okay?”
“We hope so,” said Lancaster.
“We’ve done some projects together. She’s quite a businessperson. Very smart.”
Decker slowly nodded. “Would it be okay if we asked you a few questions about Katz? We’re trying to dig into who attempted to murder her, and you might be helpful.”
“Sure. Absolutely. Hey, come to dinner tonight at my house.” He looked at Lancaster. “Bring your friend here too.”
“You don’t have to do that,” said Decker.
“No, I insist. Least I could do after your help with Jenny. Say around seven?”
Decker nodded, and Marks drove off.
Lancaster looked over at him. “Might be an interesting dinner.”
“Let’s hope it’s something more than interesting.”
