client happened to be at the Tyler house last night and
saw a picture of Rachel. I have to tell you it’s difficult for me
to believe the story since I saw no sign of a struggle when I
searched that townhouse. But my client is a very credible
witness.”
“Have you checked with the Michigan City
police?”
“I thought it would be rather awkward for me
since they’d probably drag my ass in for questioning. However,”
Dagger grinned, “you are in a better position to pick their
collective brains.”
“Sounds like a plan. And I’ll fax them these
pictures.” He placed the earring on the table.
“Just make sure the press doesn’t get wind of
this. Don’t mention the earring to the Michigan City cops, and, god
forbid, don’t mention my name. Sara and I are attending another
party at the Tylers tonight. We’ll slip in a few delicate
questions, maybe drop a few not-too-delicate time bombs.”
Padre held the cold glass to his forehead.
“Damn, you keep it warm in here.” He pushed wisps of wet hair off
his forehead and thumbed through the case file again. “According to
this report, Harbor Rentals provides boats and crew members for
charter cruises. Tyler hired two men to pilot his boat the night of
Rachel’s disappearance. At the last minute, Tyler was called away
on business so Rachel went by herself. The reports detail where
everyone was that night and the testimonies from Pete Foster and
Grant Oakley, the crew members. And there’s also an extensive
background check on Rachel.”
Dagger jotted notes in the margins of his
copy. “So, where and why would a young woman hide out for five
years?”
Sara returned carrying freshly washed
vegetables in a bowl. She slid open the two doors and entered the
aviary. She filled one of the food bowls and stood in the doorway
watching the macaw.
“What about Robert Tyler? Was he a suspect?”
Dagger asked.
Padre replied, “No. He was madly in love with
his wife, according to all these notes. Some of her modeling
friends agreed that Rachel was treated like a queen by Robert
Tyler.”
“But did she love him?” Dagger asked.
“Supposedly.”
Padre closed the file folder. “If it were a
kidnapping, and believe me a kidnapper could have gotten a lot of
money out of old man Tyler, there was never a ransom note.”
Einstein flew back into the living room and
perched near Dagger’s desk. “AWK, DUNES RESORT, DUNES RESORT.”
Einstein fanned his colorful wings as if circulating the room
air.
Dagger rose from the couch, his brows forming
a straight line. “Wait a minute. Einstein might have something
there.” He sat down at his computer and accessed America
On-Line.
“What are you doing?” Padre walked over to
the desk and leaned his arms on the ledge, weight shifted. He
jammed a fist just under his scar.
Sara cradled Einstein, kissed the top of his
head. “Be good.”
Dagger said, “I’m checking all the holdings
of Tyler International.”
“AWWWKK, DUNES RESORT, AWK.” Einstein craned
his neck to see the monitor.
Padre returned to the couch. “So, Sara, how
long have you been working for Dagger Investigations?” He watched
her fold herself gracefully onto the floor in front of the coffee
table, her long hair touching the floor.
“Just a few months.” Sara studied her hands
nervously.
“GOTCHA!” Dagger leaped from the chair.
“Einstein, you are a genius.”
“What did you find?” Padre asked.
Dagger showed Padre the printout. “Tyler
International owns the Dunes Resort. It was acquired three years
before Rachel died, the first time.”
“Interesting.” Padre studied the printout,
then glanced at Einstein. “How did your bird know that?”
“I vaguely remember talking to Simon some
time last year about good stocks to get into. Tyler International
was one of them. I must have listed some of the resorts Tyler owns
and Einstein associated the name Tyler with the Dunes Resort.”
Dagger puffed up like a proud father.
Sara squirted
saw a picture of Rachel. I have to tell you it’s difficult for me
to believe the story since I saw no sign of a struggle when I
searched that townhouse. But my client is a very credible
witness.”
“Have you checked with the Michigan City
police?”
“I thought it would be rather awkward for me
since they’d probably drag my ass in for questioning. However,”
Dagger grinned, “you are in a better position to pick their
collective brains.”
“Sounds like a plan. And I’ll fax them these
pictures.” He placed the earring on the table.
“Just make sure the press doesn’t get wind of
this. Don’t mention the earring to the Michigan City cops, and, god
forbid, don’t mention my name. Sara and I are attending another
party at the Tylers tonight. We’ll slip in a few delicate
questions, maybe drop a few not-too-delicate time bombs.”
Padre held the cold glass to his forehead.
“Damn, you keep it warm in here.” He pushed wisps of wet hair off
his forehead and thumbed through the case file again. “According to
this report, Harbor Rentals provides boats and crew members for
charter cruises. Tyler hired two men to pilot his boat the night of
Rachel’s disappearance. At the last minute, Tyler was called away
on business so Rachel went by herself. The reports detail where
everyone was that night and the testimonies from Pete Foster and
Grant Oakley, the crew members. And there’s also an extensive
background check on Rachel.”
Dagger jotted notes in the margins of his
copy. “So, where and why would a young woman hide out for five
years?”
Sara returned carrying freshly washed
vegetables in a bowl. She slid open the two doors and entered the
aviary. She filled one of the food bowls and stood in the doorway
watching the macaw.
“What about Robert Tyler? Was he a suspect?”
Dagger asked.
Padre replied, “No. He was madly in love with
his wife, according to all these notes. Some of her modeling
friends agreed that Rachel was treated like a queen by Robert
Tyler.”
“But did she love him?” Dagger asked.
“Supposedly.”
Padre closed the file folder. “If it were a
kidnapping, and believe me a kidnapper could have gotten a lot of
money out of old man Tyler, there was never a ransom note.”
Einstein flew back into the living room and
perched near Dagger’s desk. “AWK, DUNES RESORT, DUNES RESORT.”
Einstein fanned his colorful wings as if circulating the room
air.
Dagger rose from the couch, his brows forming
a straight line. “Wait a minute. Einstein might have something
there.” He sat down at his computer and accessed America
On-Line.
“What are you doing?” Padre walked over to
the desk and leaned his arms on the ledge, weight shifted. He
jammed a fist just under his scar.
Sara cradled Einstein, kissed the top of his
head. “Be good.”
Dagger said, “I’m checking all the holdings
of Tyler International.”
“AWWWKK, DUNES RESORT, AWK.” Einstein craned
his neck to see the monitor.
Padre returned to the couch. “So, Sara, how
long have you been working for Dagger Investigations?” He watched
her fold herself gracefully onto the floor in front of the coffee
table, her long hair touching the floor.
“Just a few months.” Sara studied her hands
nervously.
“GOTCHA!” Dagger leaped from the chair.
“Einstein, you are a genius.”
“What did you find?” Padre asked.
Dagger showed Padre the printout. “Tyler
International owns the Dunes Resort. It was acquired three years
before Rachel died, the first time.”
“Interesting.” Padre studied the printout,
then glanced at Einstein. “How did your bird know that?”
“I vaguely remember talking to Simon some
time last year about good stocks to get into. Tyler International
was one of them. I must have listed some of the resorts Tyler owns
and Einstein associated the name Tyler with the Dunes Resort.”
Dagger puffed up like a proud father.
Sara squirted
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