Fare Play by Barbara Paul Page B

Knowles frowned. “I’ll go see if he’s awake.” She left the room.
    The Knowleses lived well. From what Marian could see of their Fifth Avenue apartment, the architecturing biz was paying off handsomely for Austin Knowles. This whole family was used to having money. And if the money stayed in the family, maybe the motive behind the killing was something else.
    Austin Knowles came in looking haggard and grim, obviously hit hard by his father’s death. The manner of the old man’s dying was enough to rock anyone, but following so soon after his mother’s death … Marian felt a stab of sympathy for the architect. Since Mrs. Knowles had not returned with her husband, Marian once again introduced herself. Knowles sat down at the opposite end of the long white sofa.
    He was a slim, tense man in his forties who walked leaning forward … blue eyes, blond hair beginning to thin on top. In normal times he probably carried an air of authority. But in the midst of grieving for his father, Knowles seemed disoriented, uncertain. “Do you have a line on the killer yet?” he asked before Marian could start the interview.
    â€œNo,” Marian answered regretfully. “We’re not going to get any leads from those people on the bus, Mr. Knowles. They didn’t see anything. We’re going to have to look for whoever hired him.”
    Knowles rubbed a hand over his mouth. “Why? He was a harmless old man. Why would anyone want to kill him?”
    â€œThat’s what I was hoping you could tell me. Let’s get the unpleasant part out of the way first. Who inherits?”
    â€œI do. Trust funds set up for his secretary and his housekeeper, but I get the bulk of it.”
    â€œHow big are the trust funds?”
    â€œBig enough to give them both a comfortable income for the rest of their lives. But both Lucas—ah …”
    â€œLucas Novak and Mrs. Ellen Rudolph, yes.”
    Knowles nodded. “You know about them, right. But they’re family, Lieutenant. Lucas and Mrs. R and Dad had been living comfortably together for nearly twenty years. Well, Mrs. R has been there twenty years … I guess it’s more like fifteen for Lucas. But they were both protective of Dad. They took care of him. Neither one of them would want him dead.”
    â€œIsn’t that unusual, leaving trust funds for people who are, well …”
    â€œGetting along in years? Yes, it is. But Dad asked them whether they’d like a lump sum or a steady income, and they both opted for the latter.”
    â€œSo he talked about his will with them. When was this?”
    â€œOh, four or five years ago. Dad always took care of his people, and he always let them know where they stood. But even though Mrs. R and Lucas won’t have any financial worries, they are going to lose their home. That won’t be easy for them, after so many years.”
    â€œYou inherit the apartment? And you’re going to sell it?”
    â€œOh yes. It’s a valuable piece of real estate, Lieutenant. I’m not going to do anything about it until I’m sure Mrs. R and Lucas are settled somewhere, though. I haven’t had time to think about these things yet. But those two would never do anything that would cost them their home. It’s absurd even to consider it.”
    Marian reserved judgement, but the flat way Knowles had closed the subject told her there was no point in pursuing it now. Look elsewhere. “Did your father sell his business when he retired?”
    â€œNo, he still liked to drop into the office now and then. He could never bring himself to give up his toys.”
    â€œWho’s running the business now?”
    â€œA man named David Unger. Dave’s another one who’d been with Dad for a long time. Ten or twelve years, at least.”
    So Oliver Knowles had been a man who inspired loyalty … or else rewarded his employees so well that they had no