“We know. And you gave us the documentation.” Brian pulled out his computer from his bag and booted it up. “We got the security tapes from the bank, and we have a few pictures that we hope you’ll recognize.” He worked for a few minutes and then turned the screen around. “Do you recognize any of these people?”
Eddie had already seen the images, so he watched Marty, who put his hand to his face. “That’s Vicky.” He blinked and finally lowered his hand. “She’s one of the ladies in the office. She does a number of things, including act as Bryce’s and Mr. Haver’s assistant… of sorts. They ask her to run errands and stuff for them. I can’t believe that she would be involved in something like this.”
“Yeah… well. It looks like she takes the bags they give her, and she drops them in the night drop before leaving. And it seems she does this at three to four banks each night. So, if she had no idea what she’s doing, then….” Brian’s words trailed off as Marty’s look grew murderous.
ChapterFive
“You definitelyrecognize her?” Eddie asked, surprised it could be that easy.
“Yeah, I do. I think she’s a cousin of some type to Mr. Haver. Vicky is really special. She’s kind and trusting. In a less enlightened time, we might use a word to describe her that I will not say. At best you might say she’s slow. But she works hard and always does what she’s asked to the very best of her ability. She’s also the kind of person who thinks everyone is nice, and she doesn’t see the bad side of anyone, if you know what I mean.”
“In other words, she is someone who would do whatever her bosses ask her to because she would assume that they were right and good,” Brian said.
“Exactly. There is nothing nefarious or bad about her. Everyone in the office helps look out for her. Vicky lives alone, but from what she’s said, she has someone who comes in to help her a few times a week.” Marty lowered his gaze to the floor and shook his head. “I swear that if either of them is using her to do their dirty work…. I’d like to kick Mr. Haver all the way to hell, find a voodoo priest, and bring him and Bryce back so I could kill them both again. There is a special place in hell for people like that.”
“I agree,” Eddie said, taking Marty’s hand.
“The thing is, we need to talk to her to find out what is happening. If they are using her, then she’s an accessory.”
“Not if she has no idea what she’s doing is wrong,” Marty said, looking at both of them. “There is no intent here. She is following the orders of her boss, and she lacks the basis to question them. Plus, if you bring her in, she might tell you a few things, but… you have to understand. Vicky isn’t a secret-keeper.Mr. Haver will find out, because it’s very possible that he’s her guardian.”
“Oh, shit,” Brian breathed.
“Why don’t we all try to talk to her? She already knows him, and Marty could ask the questions for us in a way that isn’t going to spook her.”
“But where do we do it?”
“That’s easy. Vicky has lunch every day at the Ranier Diner just down the street from the office. They let her bring her own sandwich, and she has a milkshake and a salad. So I figure we can find her there, and we can talk to her.” Marty lifted his gaze. “But you gotta be gentle and nice to her. If she knows anything, she’ll tell you, because that’s the kind of person she is. Especially if you tell her that she’s being helpful. Okay? Do you promise?”
Eddie was about to answer, but Brian’s expression softened. “Of course. We have a murder that we have to solve.”
“And she is going to be ripped apart because Bryce is gone. She’s protective of the people in her life. Vicky does not have a wide circle of friends. So as long as you’re kind, then I can help you.” Marty sighed. “Can I ask how many banks she’s been making deposits at?”
“We aren’t sure yet. We’ve found four of them so far, but I suspect there are more. That’s one of the things that we need her to tell us. She might also know some things about her cousin that could help us.”
“Yes. That’s possible. But you are going to have to help her. She isn’t going to make the connections that other people might. Things that you might find out of the ordinary, she could simply overlook.”
Eddie patted his hand. “I understand, and so does Brian. We aren’t going to do anything other than talk to her.”
The fight returned to Marty’s eyes. “And what are you going to do if she has no information to give you? What if she knowsnothing?” Eddie liked that Marty was willing to stand up for Vicky. It showed that the depth of character Marty always had was still intact.
“We’ll be gentle,” Eddie said again.
Marty nodded and then yawned.
“I should get us some dinner,” Eddie told the two of them, and then stood. “Do you want to stay?”
“No. I need to get home before Kerry forgets what I look like.” He stood and headed for the door. “I’ll see you both tomorrow.” Brian left, and Eddie locked the door and went to the kitchen to start dinner.
“I have pasta, or I can heat up some soup. It’s not from a can or anything. I got it premade at the store. I know it’s nothing like what your mom made when we were kids, but it isn’t too bad.”
Marty chuckled. “That’s fine.” He sat down in the living room, and Eddie started heating up the soup and making some salad. He also pulled out some bread and put some slices in the toaster. Once the toaster popped, he spread on a little garlic butter. The soup was done, so he got a couple of bowls and called Marty in.
They sat across the table from each other. “This was one hell of a day.”
“Uh-huh….”
“Hopefully tomorrow will be better.” Eddie really needed it to be, and he figured Marty was the same.
