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Sam nodded. “She was the one who approved my volunteering. She was level. No drama. The facility functioned and she never seemed to sweat the details. I didn’t know her well. I’m not even sure where she retired to.”
“We’ll dig up the details,” Connor said. “Do you know how Miss Evans was brought in? Did the facility’s board of directors do an interview process, or did she know someone?”
“I don’t know that,” Sam said. “I’m sorry.”
Navarro shook his head, returning to the chart. “Don’t be. McKittrick and Robinson will find out and I’m going to put an unmarked car on Evans. I don’t want her taking off if she is involved. Sergeant Ryland, I want you to go over Mr. Dreyfus’s room with a fine-toothed comb, especially around that empty safe. The thief might have left a hair or something. Dr. Batra, please call us with the results of Mr. Dreyfus’s blood tests as soon as you know them. I think that’s enough for now. Let’s get started.”
Everyone got up to leave, but Sam stopped them with an urgent “Wait.” All eyes turned to him. “What about the residents? What about Georgia and Eloise? They were friends with both Benny and Frankie. Someone might think they know something, even if they don’t. Will you give them protection?”
Navarro nodded. “Officer Stern’s been on-site since yesterday, so he’s familiar with the main staff. We’ll reassign him to security detail during the night on the floor where the women live and get another officer to stand watch in the office during Miss Evans’s work hours. I don’t want anything removed from the office, but the women might be in danger. We won’t be able to do this long term, but we can budget additional personnel for a few nights.”
“Thank you,” Sam said, clearly relieved.
Navarro smiled. “You’re welcome. Now, everyone go. Get to work. McKittrick and Robinson, please stay.”
Connor’s brows shot up. What did we do? he mouthed.
Kit shook her head. She had no idea.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Navarro said after closing his office door. “I just wanted to let you know that I personally drove to the hospice center where Frank’s ex-wife is…” He sighed. “You know.”
“Did you meet the son? Gerald White?”
“No, I didn’t speak to Gerald. He was sound asleep on a cot in his mother’s room. I did use his driver’s license photo to confirm that he was Gerald White. His mother was also asleep and I didn’t wake her, either. The nursing staff signed a statement saying that Gerald had been at his mother’s side since Friday at noon. Before that, he was there ninety-five percent of the time. They said they’d make a schedule of exactly when he’d been there and send it to me. I think you can eliminate him from your suspect list.”
“Thanks, boss,” Kit said. “At least we’ve got closure there. I didn’t want to think that Mr. Flynn’s own son could kill him.”
“Now you know. Go. Find that Adler guy. Even if he’s not guilty of anything, I want him to help IT break through the encryption on that server.”
Connor saluted. “Will do.”
La Jolla, San Diego, California
Tuesday, November 8, 3:25 p.m.
“Wow,” Kit said as Connor drove them into Mary Adler’s neighborhood. Archie Adler’s mother had begun renting this house less than two years ago. “Her background check said that her last residence was a low-rent apartment. This is quite an upgrade.”
They’d already been to Archie Adler’s apartment, but no one had answered once again. They were hopeful that his mother could help them locate her son.
Connor slowed to park at Mrs. Adler’s curb. “She’s a retired hairdresser. Divorced. Her husband hasn’t been in the picture for years. I wonder where she got the cash to rent this place. Not to mention the brand-new Mercedes in the driveway. That model starts at eighty thou.”
“Maybe from her son,” Kit said grimly. She’d spent their drive time reviewing background checks of Archie and his mother. There was no evidence to indicate that Adler was involved in Crawford’s scheme other than the fact that he also had access to Shady Oaks’s camera system. Adler’s access wasn’t as broad as Crawford’s—they’d learned from Jeff in IT that Adler could see the cameras remotely, but only Crawford could control them. Still, Kit hadn’t ruled Adler out. “The house is owned by a corporation that owns several homes in upscale neighborhoods and rents them out. It’s a new company, incorporated only two years ago. The president is listed as Chadwick Redford. Owns a house nearby.”
“We could ask him who’s paying the rent if we don’t get anywhere with Mrs. Adler,” Connor said.
“Sounds like a plan. How do we want to play this visit with Archie’s mother? Are we just looking for Archie to answer questions? Do we tell her that he might be in danger? We want her to tell us where he is, not try to hide him.”
“The danger angle could work. I mean, if she likes him and wants to protect him.” Connor’s tone turned hopeful. “But if he’s the family fuckup, she might be more than willing to throw him under our bus.”
“He’s not the family fuckup according to her Facebook page.” Kit turned her tablet so that Connor could see Mrs. Adler’s page. “She gushes about how proud she is of him, and there are photos of them having dinner together. Looks like a weekly event. I think Archie’s a mama’s boy.”
“But if we say that Archie’s in danger, what’s he in danger from? Kent Crawford’s death was supposed to be a suicide and Benny’s from a heart attack. Only Frankie’s death is a known homicide. I don’t want to give away that we suspect money shenanigans. She’ll clam up fast then.”
“True.” Kit bit her lip, turning the possibilities around in her mind. “What if we say that there were attempts to hack into Shady Oaks’s computer system to get information on Frankie Flynn before his death, because he was known to be a wealthy man. That there have been attempts to get information on the other residents, all of whom had to have money, or they wouldn’t be able to afford Shady Oaks to begin with. And that we’re worried about Archie, because only he knows the passwords. That whoever killed Mr. Flynn could be hunting the residents for their cash and Archie stands in their way?”
A Cheshire cat grin broke over Connor’s face. “You are very devious. I bow to you.”
“Thank you,” Kit said primly. “I don’t like the misrepresentation, but if Archie did steal money and she knows about it, she’ll be on her guard. If she thinks Archie is innocent, she’ll be angry if we suggest otherwise. This way, she can believe she’s keeping him safe. And maybe he is innocent. If that’s the case, whoever killed Kent Crawford could still be a danger to anyone associated with Shady Oaks.”
