Naked Frame Part 25

CHAPTER 41 - Wednesday, 1:59 a.m.

"I hope this doesn't take too long, because I am so hungry," said Gabby, driving away from the Smotherburn home, following the caravan of police cars to the station.

"Yeah, me too," said Rebecca. "But we'll have to hang around until they run out of questions."

"I know. But first, I've got some questions."

"Like what?"

"Like when you accused Phillipa of killing Carly. Did you really think she did it?"

"I wasn't sure. But I was hoping her reaction would give me a clue."

"You got a lot more than a clue," said Gabby.

"No kidding. But Harvey Hamstel was on our suspect list."

"Yeah, but I loved the way you tricked her into admitting she murdered Harvey."

"That wasn't a trick," said Rebecca. "I really thought the guard had killed Harvey. Sometimes you just get lucky. She was so angry with Kimberly, she didn't care what she said. Clearly, Kimberly was using Phillipa. Whether she also was in love with her...we'll never know."

"I'm not sure Kimberly was capable of loving anyone other than herself."

"But she was very good at making people think she loved them," said Rebecca. "I guess even Big Bill believed it when they first got married."

"What about Joey and Bobby? If Big Bill deleted the video of Calvin's murder, we don't have anything on them."

"Yes, we do. I can give the cops a detailed description of the Impala that was chasing us."

"The one we torpedoed with a piece of lumber?"

"Yeah. They should be able to track down the owner, who is probably dead. But hopefully, that will lead them to his two buddies."

Gabby hesitated. "And you think they'll give up Bobby?"

"Oh, yeah. And Bobby will give up Joey."

"But why did they want Calvin dead?"

"I suspect he was blackmailing Joey. He may have threatened to hit Cafe Nue with a civil suit for Big Bill's rape of his daughter. Because, remember-Big Bill required Megan to have s.e.x with him in order to get a job at Cafe Nue."

"But you're just guessing, right? You don't have anything to base that theory on."

"Actually, I do," said Rebecca. "Remember that brochure on Calvin's workbench?"

"Sure. The Porche brochure."

"Well, Calvin got very nervous when you found it."

"Yeah, I remember that," said Gabby. "So, you think he was planning on buying a Porche with his blackmail money?"

"Maybe. But he didn't know who he was messing with. Joey is not the kind of guy you want to be threatening."

"I'm glad the police are going to pick up Megan at the airport. She may need protection for a while."

"And she's gonna need a lot of counseling."

They rode in silence for a few moments.

Gabby smiled. "Wiley thought he was home free. He hadn't killed anyone. But when you told the detective you suspected he had burned down my shop, the expression on Wiley's face was priceless."

"Yeah. I feel sure they'll find some evidence to link him to the fire. I really didn't think he had done it at the time, since he was drunk when I left him at his house. I guess he's a pretty good actor after all. But I'm still not sure why he did it. Unless he was afraid we were about to discover the truth-that Big Bill was alive."

"We weren't even close to figuring that out," said Gabby.

"Wiley's not very bright. And I'll bet he didn't consult his dad before he did it."

"What makes me sick is that Big Bill is gonna get off scot-free. Once he realized Kimberly was plotting to kill him, he used Wiley against her, and then watched while she manipulated everybody else."

"Yeah, Big Bill was smart. He didn't kill anybody. He didn't even frame anybody. And I'll bet Wiley was the one who pulled out some of my hair and removed the pistol charm from my bracelet. Then he gave them to Kimberly. Harvey planted my hairs in Carly's hotel room, and Phillipa left my pistol charm at Harvey's house."

"Big Bill had you right where he wanted you-until we went to his house, and you used his own surveillance system to clear yourself."

"Yeah, that was fun." Rebecca thought for a moment. "I wonder if Big Bill has p.i.s.sed himself yet?"

They laughed.

Gabby said, "The cops should get there soon."

"Big Bill thinks he's free and clear. And I'm gonna let him think it for a few days."

"And then what? Are you going to file charges against him for breaking into your office?"

"No. I've got something much better than that," said Rebecca.

"What?"

"The video of Big Bill having s.e.x with Megan."

"But you don't have the video. You said you were sure Big Bill stole it from your office while you were pa.s.sed out."

"True. And he probably searched my car and my house, looking for copies. But what the big b.a.s.t.a.r.d didn't consider...is that I might have stored one at my bank-in a safety deposit box."

Gabby started laughing his head off.

Rebecca joined him. It felt like high school.

"So, once the police are done with us," said Gabby, "where do you want to go eat?"

"IHop. I want a tall, tall stack of pancakes-lathered with b.u.t.ter and maple syrup. I'm starving."

"You couldn't be as hungry as I am," said Gabby.

"I'll bet I can eat more pancakes than you can."

"Not this time, Baby."

"Ten bucks!"

"You're on!"

THE END.

Books by Robert Burton Robinson.

Greg Tenorly Suspense Series.

Bicycle Shop Murder.

Hideaway Hospital Murders.

Illusion of Luck.

Fly the Rain.

Sweet Ginger Poison - a whodunit mystery.

Cla.s.sical Revenge - Thirteen Short Stories.

Rebecca Ranghorn Mystery Series.

Naked Frame.

(Book 2 - coming in Feb. 2011).

(Book 3 - coming in May 2011).