Becoming Forever (Waking Forever Series) (5 page)

“Yes, sir.” Ash stopped writing.

“You can’t mean to imply -” Thad stammered.

Ash shrugged. “I know it’s seems silly, but I just have to ask these questions.” Ash nodded toward her iPad.

“Well - I, of course.” Thad leaned forward and hit a button on his phone. “Emelda, can you please print my schedule for last Thursday and bring it in
, please?” Not waiting for a response, he released the call button.

“Any interoffice politics or conflicts between Mr. Garrett and other members of the firm?” Ash asked.

“Well, the business is competitive, and after the downturn in 2008, the pool got shallow. But Paul did well in spite of that. He was very competitive, and competent.” Thad smiled.

“Mr. Rooney, you didn’t answer my question.
Politics, conflicts with other team members?” Ash looked directly at Thad.

Shifting in his chair, Thad shook his head. “Not that I’m aware of.”

Ash nodded. “Any clients that were unhappy with Mr. Garrett?”

Thad looked up at the ceiling and contemplated. “No. He had a very clean book of business.”

Ash smiled. “Great. Now if you could show me to Delores Reed’s desk, and I’ll take that schedule from Emelda.”

Thad stood up quickly. “Of course. Follow me.”

Ash stood and waited for Thad to come around the desk. She followed him out his office door where he was greeted by a thin, forty-something redhead who, without speaking, handed him a sheet of paper.

Thad turned to Ash. “Detective
, my schedule. It includes contact information should you find it necessary to talk to any of the individuals listed.”

Ash thanked him
.  She followed him through several rows of cubicles and then back down a hallway lined on the left side with offices. At the end of the hall was a short, heavy-set Hispanic woman in her late fifties. She was sitting at a glass-topped desk with three computer monitors, and behind her was a metal shelf with numerous framed photos of children and adults. Ash assumed they were her family.

“Delores, this is Detective Haines. She is here about Paul,
so please help her with whatever she needs.” Thad smiled, and started to walk away but then turned back to Delores.

“If she should need any proprietary information, please let me review the request before
providing the detective with the documents.” Thad turned to Ash. “Standard procedure.”

Rooney had been relatively helpful so far, and it was because of that Ash decided not to point out to him all she would need to do was get a subpoena and his
approval
would be moot. “Of course.”

Thad Rooney smiled, the muscles in his jaw clenched. “Good day.”

“It’s terrible about Mr. Garrett. His family has been in my prayers.” Ash’s attention was brought back to the short woman behind the desk.

Ash nodded. “
I know. Were you close?”

Delores smiled
. “He was a very good boss.”

Ash squelched the urge to roll her eyes. It seemed at Pierce and Pierce the ability to answer
an actual question asked was a commodity neither the senior leadership nor the subordinates traded in. “Is this Mr. Garrett’s office?” Ash pointed to the closed door to Delores’ left.

“Yes. Would you like to see it?” Delores got up, and took a pair of keys from her file cabinet, and unlocked the door.

Ash followed her into the office, which was considerably smaller than Thad Rooney’s. With the large picture windows, though, the office had a decent view of the city’s skyline. “Has the office been locked since Mr. Garrett’s death?”

Delores walked toward the mahogany desk at the center of the room. “Yes, but the custodial staff has keys; so I can’t say if they have been going in and out at night.”

Ash nodded, and walked around the desk. She opened on several drawers, and was surprised none of them were locked. Then again, there wasn’t anything in the drawers except pens, and a few packs of Altoids. “Did you empty the desk?”

Delores shook her head. “No. Mr. Garrett was very tidy, and the company encourages a paperless environment.”

Ash shook her head. “So everything is on a server? Appointments, contacts?”

“Yes. I can get you his contact list and his appointments.” Delores pulled a small touchscreen phone out of her pocket, and began typing. “What’s your email address
, Detective Haines, and how far back would you like his calendar?”

Ash liked Delores Reed. She seemed efficient and genuinely distraught over Paul Garrett’s death. She had interacted with assistants in the past that struggled to hide their relief at their boss’ demise. Evidently, in spite of being wound a little tight to Ash’s way of thinking, Paul was a nice man. “Here’s my card with the email
address. Six months back will be fine.” Ash smiled at the older woman.

“How are Jonas and Evelyn holding up?” Delores asked as she took the card.

Ash wasn’t inclined to talk about other interested parties, but the question was asked innocently enough. “They are obviously upset.”

“And Sara?” Delores slipped the phone and card into her side pant pocket.

Ash shook her head. “I haven’t spoken with Ms. Glass yet, but since you bring her up, what was their relationship like?”

Ash sat in the chair behind Paul’s desk, and opened her iPad up. Stylus in hand, she looked intently at Delores who sat down in the chair across the desk. “Sara is a very warm woman. I have only met her a few times over the years at firm dinners, holiday parties - you know the usual events.”

Delores shifted in the narrow chair, her wide hips rubbing against the arms. “But I got the impression over the past few months they weren’t seeing much of each other, or at least not exclusively.”

Ash’s eyebrow shot up as she wrote. “Why do you say that?”

“Mr. Garrett had appointments on his calendar after hours with a woman named Michelle. I assumed they weren’t professional since they were for the Majestic Theatre and numerous restaurants.”

Ash nodded. “Can you please make sure Michelle’s contact information is included in the information you send me?”

“Mr. Garrett never input that information on his work phone or email list.” Delores said apologetically. “Another reason I assumed she was a personal acquaintance.”

Ash frowned, and wondered if Paul w
as cheating on Sara Glass. Maybe this was a love triangle with a horrific outcome. “Okay, Ms. Reed. I’ll look for the requested information by end of business today?” Ash got up and put her stylus back in her jacket pocket.

Delores stood. “I’ve already sent it to you
, detective.”

Very e
fficient.
“Thank you, Ms. Reed. Now I would like to talk with a few of Mr. Garrett’s co-workers. Who’s in the office across the hall, and the one next door?”

“Andrew Raymond is across the hall, and the office next door has been vacant for nearly a year.” Delores walked toward the door.

“Perfect. Can you have Mr. Raymond join me, please?” Ash asked.

Delores nodded, and left the office.
Ash leaned back in the chair and looked around the space. It was spotless, and had no touches of personalization that might give her insight into Paul’s attitudes or habits. Except the fact he spent his days in a room he hadn’t cared, or thought enough of to decorate with anything relevant to who he was, said a lot about the man.

“Detective Haines.” Ash looked up to see a short, broad shouldered Caucasian man
in a badly sized suit with thinning brown hair walking toward her. “I’m Andrew Raymond.” He reached across the desk and vigorously shook Ash’s outstretched hand. He then moved his eyes down to her breasts and then back up again quickly.

Ash
exhaled, and sat back down. “Have a seat, Mr. Raymond.”

“Please call me Andrew.” The short man crossed his legs as he sat.

Ash managed a weak smile. “Thank you. How closely did you work with Mr. Garrett?”

“Oh Paul and I were pretty good buddies. Nothing too involved, occasional Spurs game, drinks - that sort of thing.” Andrew
gave Ash an exaggerated smile, revealing overly white teeth.

“Any idea
who might have done this, Mr. Raymond?” Ash knew continuing to use his last name was petty, but she wasn’t interested in anything informal with this man.”

Andrew hesitated. “
Detective, please - Andrew.” Another cheesy grin. “I don’t have a clue, and can’t imagine it was anyone Paul or I would have known.”

Ash made a quick note on her iPad. “Did you ever meet Sara Glass?”

Andrew nodded, a smug look crossing his face. “I have had the pleasure. I think at last year’s Christmas party.” He shifted slightly in the chair. “Beautiful woman.”

Ash’s eyebrow arched as she looked up at Andrew. “
What about Michelle?”

The man
frowned. “Michelle? Hmmm.” He looked toward the ceiling. “Yes. I ran into her and Paul at the Palm downtown a few weeks ago.”

Ash was suddenly interested. “Do you happen to know her last name, or know where she works?”

Andrew shook his head. “Sorry. It was a brief exchange.”

“And where were you last Thursday?” Ash glanced up at the man.

“On a date, detective. My assistant can get you her info.” He winked at Ash.

Ash sighed, and exited out of her memo. “
Fine, Mr. Raymond. If you remember anything else, please give me a call.” She handed him her card.

Andrew took the card, and studied it for a few seconds. “Any objections to me calling you even if I can’t remember anything else?”

Ash forced a thin lipped grin. “The objections would be too numerous to count.”

The man’s exaggerated grin faded immediately, and Ash thought she might have heard his ego deflating. “Oh, I -”

Ash stood and walked around the desk toward the door. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Raymond.” Not waiting for a response, Ash left the office.

***

Like her boyfriend, it was clear Sara Glass made a comfortable living. After being asked twenty questions by the doorman, Ash had been permitted access to the resident’s elevator. The high rise the attorney lived in was notoriously expensive in a city where a new large four bedroom house only cost a quarter of a million dollars. The Broadway offered fantastic views of the city, and every amenity money could buy, but from what Ash had read in the local paper, a one bedroom could set you back nearly half a million dollars.

Ash had intentionally not called ahead to request an interview with Sara. She had found giving people little to no time to prepare their answers, or form preconceived notions about the interview process, provided for more candid answers.

The hallway from the elevator to Sara’s condominium was carpeted with thick, beige wool Berber style carpet. The pine colored trim that ran throughout the hall complimented the expensive carpet, as did the numerous prints and paintings strategically placed along the walls. Looking at the stainless steel and glass wall sconces, Ash was certain she couldn’t afford to live in Sara Glass’ hallway.

Ash pressed
the doorbell button, then straightened her gray jacket as she waited. The woman who opened the door was not what Ash had expected. Where the Broadway verged on pretentious by San Antonio standards, Sara Glass was entirely unassuming in her appearance. She was in her early thirties, with blonde hair pulled back in a loose knot at the base of her long neck. She had a slight tan, clear blue eyes, and was wearing a pair of faded Levi’s jeans and a gray scoop neck t-shirt.

Sara was attractive, and the genuine smile she offered Ash only added to her appeal.

“Ms. Sara Glass?” Ash asked as she reached for her badge and photo ID.

“Yes. Detective Haines?” Sara continued to smile as she glanced at Ash’s photo.

“May I come in? I was hoping to talk with you about Paul Garrett.” Ash clipped her badge back on her belt.

Sara stepped to the side. “Yes. Please come in.”

Ash walked past Sara. “I appreciate you taking the time. I won’t keep you too long.” The condominium had high ceilings with floor to ceiling windows that provided a perfect view of downtown San Antonio. The floors were brilliantly polished hardwood floors that were accented with a myriad of rugs.

Sara gestured toward the living room
, which was decorated with a casual overstuffed sofa and two chairs. “No trouble at all. Please have a seat. Can I get you something to drink?”

Shaking her head, Ash
walked toward the sofa. “I’m good. Thanks.” As she went to sit down, Ash saw movement out of the corner of her eye.

Turning her attentions toward the kitchen, her breath caught as a beautiful woman with chestnut brown hair, flawless skin and the most brilliant green eyes Ash had ever seen came around the corner.
The woman crossed the room toward Ash with her hand outstretched.

“Hello. I’m Rachel Collins.”
Ash took the woman’s hand, and immediately thought of Emma Atman. Rachel’s hand was unnaturally cold and smooth. Ash tilted her head and glanced down at Rachel’s hand.