He nodded. “All copied for you.”
“Terrific.” And this left the sticky question of his rich-and-famous weekend guests. “How about the list of your houseguests?”
“I need to think about that.”
“What’s to think about?”
“Well, obviously, the names of these people are not everyone’s business.” He added, “Which I guess was why the government sent Mr. Muller here to get these names by… devious means. And now you want me to give you these names, voluntarily.”
I reminded him, “Harry Muller is dead, and this is now an investigation into his death.” I added, “You said this afternoon that you’d have those names for us.”
“I’m very aware of that, and I’ve called my attorney, who will get back to me tonight. If he tells me to turn over those names, I will give them to you tonight.”
Kate said, “If he doesn’t, we could subpoena that information.”
Madox replied, “That may be the best way for me to give you those names.” He explained, “That would take me off the hook with my guests.”
Basically, this was all bullshit to make us think he had some serious issues to consider. Meanwhile, all he was really thinking about was his ELF signal to Sandland, and how best to get Corey and Mayfield into the wood chipper.
He informed us, “My attorney tells me that the Federal government has no jurisdiction in a state homicide case.”
I let Kate handle that one, and she said, “Any murder charges that come out of this investigation will be brought by New York State. In the meantime, we’re investigating the disappearance of a Federal agent, and his possible kidnapping, which is a Federal crime, as well as a possible criminal assault on the deceased agent.” She asked Madox, “Would you like me to speak to your attorney?”
“No. I’m sure the United States government can find a Federal law to fit any crime these days, including jaywalking.”
Special Agent Mayfield replied, “I think this is a bit more serious than that.”
Madox let that slide, so I changed the subject to put everyone at ease. “Good scotch.”
“Thank you. Remind me to give you a bottle before you leave.” He said to Kate, “Not many women are single malt drinkers.”
“Around 26 Fed, I’m just one of the boys.”
He smiled at her, and responded, “I think they need eyeglasses at 26 Fed.”
Good old Bain. A man’s man, and a ladies’ man. A real sociopathic charmer.
Anyway, Madox figured we were finished with business and continued to charm Ms. Mayfield. “So, how was your yodeling class?”
Kate seemed a little confused by the question, so I said helpfully, “Yoga class.”
“Oh…” said Mr. Madox. “I thought you said yodeling class.” He chuckled and admitted to Kate, “My hearing is not what it used to be.”
Kate glanced at me. “It was a good class.”
Madox asked her, “How are you enjoying The Point?”
“It’s very nice.”
“I hope you’re staying for dinner. I promised Mr. Corey I could do better than Henri.”
Kate replied, “We’d planned to stay for dinner.”
“Good. In fact, since there’s no one here, and no one would know, you’re welcome to stay overnight.”
I didn’t know if that included me, but I replied, “We may take you up on that.”
“Good. It’s a long trip back to The Point-especially if you’ve been drinking, which you’re not doing enough of.” He smiled at me and expanded on the subject by saying, “Also, you’re not driving a vehicle that you’re familiar with.”
I didn’t reply.
He continued, “Let’s see-yesterday, you had a Taurus; this morning, you had a Hyundai; and tonight, you have Rudy’s van. Have you found something you like?”
I hate wiseasses, unless they’re me. I said to him, “I was just about to ask you to loan me a Jeep.”
He didn’t respond to that but inquired, “Why are you changing vehicles so often?”
To confuse him with the truth, I replied, “We’re on the run from the law.”
He grinned.
Kate said, “We’ve had problems with our two rental vehicles.”
“Ah. Well, I’m sure they would have given you another one-but that was good of Rudy to loan you his van.” He returned to the investigation. “I’ve made some inquiries, and this suspected homicide hasn’t even come to the attention of the sheriff’s office.” He informed us, “They’re still ruling it an accident.”
I noted, “This investigation is Federal and state, not local. What’s your point?”
“No point. Just an observation.”
“I think you should leave the jurisdictional aspects of this case to the law.”
He didn’t answer, and neither did he seem annoyed at the rebuke. Obviously, he wanted us to know that he knew more than he should know-including, possibly, that Detective Corey and FBI Agent Mayfield were not in close contact with their colleagues, and wanted to stay that way by switching vehicles every twelve hours.
I didn’t know if Bain Madox knew that for sure, but he definitely knew that we hadn’t made a cell-phone call within ten or fifteen miles of here.
So we sat in neutral for a minute-logs blazing, scotch and crystal glistening in the fire-then Madox said to Kate, “I expressed my condolences to Mr. Corey, and I’d like to do the same to you. Was Mr. Muller a friend of yours, also?”
Kate replied, “He was a close colleague.”
“Well, I’m truly sorry. And I’m very upset that Mr. Corey believes that one of my security staff may have been involved in Mr. Muller’s death.”
“I also believe that. And on the subject of upset, you can imagine how upset Detective Muller’s children are to learn that their father is not only dead but was probably murdered.” She stared at our host.
Madox returned the stare but did not respond.
Kate continued, “And the rest of his family, and his friends and colleagues. When it’s murder, the grief turns to anger very quickly.” She informed our host, “I’m damned angry.”
Madox nodded slowly. “I can understand that. And I sincerely hope that none of my security people were involved, but if they were, I also want to see this person brought to justice.”
Kate said, “He will be.”
I opened a new possibility and said, “It could even have been one of your house staff… or your houseguests.”
He reminded me, “You thought it was one of my security guards. Now, it sounds as though you’re on a fishing expedition.”
“A hunting expedition.”
“Whatever.” He asked me, “Can you be more specific about why you think one of my staff-or houseguests-was involved in what you believe is a homicide?”
I think we all knew that we really meant Bain Madox-and somehow, I didn’t think he really gave a shit.
Nevertheless, I thought that some inside information about the case might shake him up, so I said to him, “Okay, one, I have solid evidence that Detective Muller was actually on your property.”
I looked at Madox, but he had no reaction.
I continued, “Two, we believe through forensic evidence that Detective Muller was actually in this house.”
Again, no reaction.
Okay, asshole. “Three, we have to assume that Detective Muller was detained by your security people. We also have evidence that his camper was originally close to your property, then moved.” I explained all of that in detail.
Still no reaction, except a nod, as though this were interesting.
I outlined some of the case to Mr. Bain Madox, describing how the murder was done by at least two persons-one driving the victim’s camper, the other in a separate vehicle that I said could have been a Jeep, or an all-terrain vehicle, based on two separate sets of tire marks, which we actually didn’t find, but he wouldn’t know that for sure.
I lied that the initial toxicology report showed strong sedatives in the victim’s blood, then I described how I thought the actual murder took place with the victim drugged, and held in a kneeling position with the binocular strap, and so forth.