On The Lam: A Margot Harris Mystery (Margot Harris Mystery Series Three Book 3) Read online

  Steven’s long arrest record didn’t help the law’s opinion of him. His rap sheet was heavy on breaking and entering and assault. Margot was surprised he’d managed to avoid long prison time. She guessed the missing person’s department came to the same conclusion. This didn’t make anyone eager to find him since there was a good chance he was off committing a crime.

  Margot knew she would have made the same assumption when she was a cop; she’d make the same assumption now as a private detective. The difference was, as a private detective, she would have the time to thoroughly investigate anyway. The police didn’t have that luxury. There were good citizens to look for and the fact was, they were going to take priority. She got a feeling no one had put much effort into finding Steven Armstrong initially.

  Mrs. Armstrong had come to the same conclusion after another week passed and had hired an unlicensed P.I. by the name of Mattis. Shortly after she’d hired Mattis, she’d found a small package left on her doorstep with her name on it.

  Inside was a human eyeball. Ms. Armstrong had confirmed the color matched. DNA tests weren’t done because Steven Armstrong wasn’t around to give a sample. The police started taking the missing person’s report more seriously after that.

  There was never a ransom note or any attempt at extortion, which pointed to a homicide. Even though the logical assumption would be that this was a murder, Margot was surprised to see homicide detectives were actually involved. They usually did their best to avoid getting stuck with cases where there wasn’t a body since they often had plenty where there was one. While mailing an eye to somebody made it much more than just a missing person’s case, any good detective could honestly argue a person could survive losing an eye.

  A couple of homicide cops named Stanford and Worth, both on the backside of their careers at the time, had caught the case. Margot didn’t know either one, and they’d moved on before she moved into the rank of detective.

  They’d interviewed a lot of people who knew Steven Armstrong but didn’t learn much. Several people believed his ‘secret job’ was for a local criminal named Stone. That was a name Margot knew better than she wished. She’d taken a job back before she worked for Shaw, back when she had more in common with an unlicensed shyster like Mattis than a legitimate private investigator. She’d been tasked by Stone with checking up on his young wife who he believed was being unfaithful. The case had led to her getting on the wrong side of both the police and organized crime.

  Detective Worth had put a question mark next to the claims about Stone. Stone was a well-known criminal so his name was an easy one to drop.

  Then, Stone himself had been interviewed. His entire statement was to say “No.” When asked if he knew Armstrong, that had been followed by, “Fuck off.”

  The case had ended there. No one had ever found a lead. If anyone knew where Steven Armstrong went on a Saturday afternoon, they weren’t saying.

  The only person they hadn’t interviewed during the initial investigation was Mattis, which was probably due to the fact he had some outstanding warrants, including an assault and battery charge, and did his best to make himself scarce.

  He’d been picked up about six months later. By then, the odd disappearance of Steven Armstrong was on the back burner. People kept committing other crimes that demanded more immediate attention.

  Mattis had refused to divulge what he knew about the disappearance unless the charges against him were dropped. Apparently, no one thought he had anything worth trading. No one dropped any charges but Mattis and his lawyer managed to get him probation. One of the conditions of his probation was that he never operate as a private detective.

  As far as Margot could tell, he’d lived up to the judge’s directives and had managed to keep a low profile in the ensuing decade.

  Cassie, however, had managed to find him. He seemed glad to share information with her in exchange for a shot at YouTube stardom.

  Margot would be coming along for the interview to help ask the right questions and examine any evidence he presented. She would also do her own interview where she would use her police experience to break down the reports.

  It was an easy gig. She figured Mattis likely didn’t have anything worth bothering with. If the detectives on the case, two good ones as far as she knew, thought he could help at all, they would have pushed the D.A., especially since Mattis didn’t do any time anyway.

  This was all Cassie wanted, but Margot was already looking up Stone. He might not tell her much, but he’d probably give her more than the three words he gave the detectives. She decided she wanted to talk to them too. If she was going to do this, she figured she might as well do it right.

  Since her status with the police was shaky at best, she called Radcliff first.

  “Do you know Detective Stanford and Detective Worth?”

  “No, they were out of homicide by the time I got here. I’ve heard the names in a few war stories, but they were more your time than mine.”

  “Yeah, which means they’re more likely to talk to you than me.”

  “What do you need to talk to them about?”

  “A case they worked back in the day, one that went unsolved.”

  “Do you think they messed up?”

  “No. In fact, I’d be surprised to learn they did. It was a stone-cold mystery, and I suppose it still is.”

  “Is it active?”

  “Last I checked, they don’t take homicides off the books, but it’s been ice cold for a while.”

  “I could reach out, which one is it?”

  “Steven Armstrong.”

  “Give me a second. I’ll pull it up on my computer.” After about a minute, Radcliff said, “Whoa, I can see why you’d be interested in this one. I’m surprised no one brought this up after Diaz.”

  “I think they’re still holding out hope that Diaz is not a homicide. A person can live without an eye.”

  “Still should have come up. Actually, why was this a homicide? Wouldn’t they have the same justification?”

  “That’s one of the things I would like to ask about.”

  “I have to say, as a homicide detective myself, I wouldn’t want it. I bet Stanford and Worth were thrilled to get such a loser.”

  “It looked like they did a good job anyway, at least on paper.”

  “You’re wondering if they only did the job on paper?”

  “I am, but mostly I want to know if there was something they didn’t write up.”

  “You think this might lead you to The Boog?”

  “It wouldn’t hurt my feelings, but I’m actually working for Cassandra Cole.”

  “Cassie? The YouTube girl?”

  “I’m a consultant on her new show. I’m even getting paid.”

  “Cool, but how does that happen?”

  “Apparently, I’m kind of hot and people like kind of hot people in their videos. Even true crime ones.”

  “I agree with the kind of hot part. You’re not going to go all Hollywood on me, are you?”

  “I’m still a long way from that. I think you’re safe.”

  “I don’t want to mess up your show, but I’m going to need to get this to the guys working the Diaz investigation. It doesn’t feel like a coincidence.”

  “How would that mess us up?”

  “Unsolved mysteries make good television or whatever they call YouTube shows. Solved mysteries aren’t as fun.”

  “If we can catch this guy, whether he’s the legendary ‘Boog’ or just your average nut job, I can sacrifice my future in Hollywood.”

  “On a completely different topic, are you going to bring your kind-of-hot self home for dinner?”

  “I am. The cool thing about this kind of work is regular hours.”

  “Nice.”

  Chapter 3

  “Hey, this is Tommy,” Cassie said as Margot arrived at the Motel Eight the next morning.

  The Motel Eight was the kind of hotel that would make one miss the luxury of a Motel 6. This was the
place Mattis had chosen to meet. Tommy, who looked like he should be starting his freshman year in high school but was apparently a college graduate with a degree in something film-related, would be doing the filming while Margot and Cassie did the talking.

  “Awesome to meet you,” Tommy told her.

  “Likewise. Sorry, I’m running a bit late.”

  “You’re not the only one.”

  “No Mattis?”

  “Nope. I’m going to call him.”

  Cassie picked up her phone and dialed Mattis.

  After an exchange of hellos, they heard Cassie say, “What do you mean you’ve changed your mind?”

  She took the phone outside. Through the window, Margot and Tommy watched her argue on the phone.

  “I guess this was a waste of time,” he said.

  Margot shrugged. “I’m still getting paid.”

  “You’re getting paid?”

  “Cassie convinced Shaw the publicity would be worth it. He might be fine getting paid in publicity, but I wanted cash.”

  “Yeah, me too. Hopefully, I'll get mine on the back end.”

  Before they could continue the conversation, Cassie came back in. She didn’t look happy.

  “I take it you couldn’t change his mind?” Margot asked.

  “Yes and no. He’ll talk to us but not on camera and he wants cash up front.”

  Tommy laughed. “I should have thought of that.”

  “It wouldn’t have mattered. I don’t have any cash on hand.”

  “Did you tell him that?” Margot asked.

  “Of course not. We’re meeting him at your favorite bar in a half-hour.”

  “Layla’s West?”

  “Yeah, he wanted somewhere public.”

  “Let’s go then.”

  “So, I’m out of luck?” Tommy said.

  “No, we’re doing a YouTube show, not a podcast. You’re just going to have to work on the sly.”

  “I won’t be able to get audio.”

  Margot took the digital recorder out of her purse. “I’ve got that covered.”

  “You can dub that in, right?” Cassie asked Tommy.

  “Of course.”

  “That might actually be cool if we do it right. Let’s go.”

  A short, broad-shouldered man in a cheap suit and tie was sitting at Margot’s usual table with his back against the wall. Cassie saw him and confirmed they were looking at Mattis. They’d got there ten minutes early, hoping to set things up, but judging by the volume of vodka and tonic in the glass in front of Mattis, he was either hitting it hard or had been there a few minutes.

  They sat across from him. Stan had seen Margot come in and poured her a glass of Maker’s Mark over ice. He had one of his waitresses bring it over and ask Cassie what she wanted.

  Cassie decided to be responsible and ordered a glass of water.

  “I take it you’re regular,” Mattis said to Margot as he motioned at her drink.

  “I’ve been here a few times.”

  “You’ve killed some people,” Mattis stated.

  “Thanks, I might have forgotten if you hadn’t brought it up.”

  “Sorry. I saw the segment on you on Cassie’s old show.”

  “No offense to Cassie, but that segment was pretty much bullshit, and I’m only saying pretty much because I’m trying to be a nicer person.”

  Mattis smiled. “Fair enough. Did you guys bring the money?”

  “You’re going to have to let us owe you,” Margot told him as Tommy took a seat at the bar and ordered a light beer.

  “Sorry, little lady, but that’s not the way I operate. Assurances were made.”

  “Like the one where you agreed to show up at a certain time and certain place and then didn’t show?”

  “I called.”

  “Actually, I called you,” Cassie corrected him.

  “And I’m telling you in person,” Margot said, “You’ll get paid, but from what I’ve gathered, no one in this business gets paid upfront and that includes you.”

  “In my business, little lady, cash talks, bullshit walks.”

  “Same in mine, but I need to see what I’m getting isn’t just bullshit before I front any cash.”

  “You saying I’m not on the level?”

  “I’m saying, I’m not taking your word for it.”

  “You don’t trust me?”

  “Nope.”

  “I don’t like that,” Mattis said as he leveled his gaze at Margot.

  Margot looked him in the eyes. “And I don’t like being called ‘little lady,’ but I’ve managed not to break your nose over it.”

  Mattis looked at Cassie. “You feel the same way?”

  “Yeah, I don’t like being called ‘little lady’ either.”

  “I mean, you want to risk losing what I’ve got to offer?”

  “Talk to me,” Margot said.

  “Last I checked, it was her show. You’re just what? A consultant?”

  “Yep, and right now I’m consulting.”

  “By telling her not to trust me?”

  “Payment on verification, you know how it works.”

  “For snitches, sure. I ain’t no snitch.”

  “Good for you. Doesn’t change how it works. If you’ve got something worthwhile, you’ll get paid.”

  He looked at Cassie again. “We had a deal—”

  “—You changed the terms not me,” Cassie interjected. “She may work in information and background, but I work in content and if you’re not appearing on video then you don’t really count as content, so you're back in her area.”

  “I thought you wanted to crack an old case and find a killer.”

  “I want to make an entertaining show that people will watch. That’d be a bonus, but I make videos, I don’t solve crimes. It’s not too late to go on camera.”

  “Nah, forget that. In fact, whatever happens, keep my name out of it.”

  “Why the change of attitude?” Cassie asked.

  “New information came to light.”

  “Which is?”

  “I guess you’ll never get to know.”

  “If it’s good and I can use it, you’ll get paid,” Cassie told him. “You trusted me before, did new information come to light there too?”

  Mattis leaned back. “Okay, I’ll give you taste, but for the real shit, you’re going to need to come correct. Maybe leave the attack dog home.”