The Marsh Madness

“What are you talking about?”


“We got a tip about you.”

“A tip about me? From who?”

“Anonymous.”

“Oh great. So some anonymous crackpot calls in a tip about me and you accept it without question and break—”

“Not me. I didn’t believe it. But Castellano and Stoddard were informed about it.”

“Informed?”

“The information about the tip came down from one of the higher-ups. I don’t know who passed it on. But Castellano and Stoddard were told to keep an eye. And then when Chadwick Kauffman was found murdered and the circumstances were similar to the tip—”

“What?” I knew I had to stop shouting “what?” but every step of this conversation made me want to bellow it. I also knew I was hyperventilating.

“Sit on the bed,” Tyler said. “Put your head down between your knees. I’ll find a paper bag for you to blow into.”

“Oh no,” I rasped, “don’t you leave this room so you can call for backup.”

“I don’t need backup for you, Jordan. I’m trying to tell you what’s going on and you’re freaking out.”

“Who wouldn’t freak out? Are you telling me that the tip came in before the murder?”

He nodded. “The tip specified the three of you—Vera, Kevin and you—were planning a theft of books and other valuables. It didn’t specify Summerlea.”

“But that means—” I had a bit of trouble with my breathing.

Tyler said, “Please, Jordan, sit down. Get it under control and we’ll talk.”

“It means that whoever sent that tip planned it.”

“Yes.”

“They planned the killing too.”

“I believe so.”

“That explains why Vera was told to bring Kev and me to Summerlea. They set it all up. And they planned to implicate us.”

“That’s what it means. I’m sure of it.”

“But why?”

“That’s the part we don’t know.”

“We? You and Castellano and Stoddard?”

“You and I are we. And we don’t know why.”

“Did they try to trace the tip or find out about the tipster?”

“Of course. They’re very good investigators. Especially Castellano. She’s going places. She’ll be chief here or somewhere else before too long.”

“Solving the Chadwick Kauffman case will make her get there faster.”

“You got that right.”

“Let’s not get sidetracked. Did they find out anything?”

“They didn’t confide fully in me, as I was still your boyfriend at the time. That’s why I—”

“Move on from that.”

“As far as I can figure, they’ve worked it out that it came from someone at the Country Club and Spa.”

“But I didn’t even know anyone there before—” I stopped myself from saying “before I dressed up as the auditor and swanned in and stole the photo.” After all, Tyler didn’t know about that escapade, even though I thought he may have spotted me. And I still wasn’t one hundred percent sure I could trust him. I didn’t plan on handing over details that might add to charges against me. “It doesn’t make sense. Someone was clearly setting us up to take the fall for their crime. Wouldn’t they have to check that out?”

“Castellano and Stoddard are convinced that one of you did it. They don’t care about the motive of the tipster.”

“They didn’t find the phone-in tip odd? Before the fact?”

He shrugged and blushed a much deeper shade of red.

“They think it’s a falling-out among, um, criminals.”

“Criminals?”

“Sorry. That’s what they believe.”

“But, I’m . . . I’m not a criminal.”

“I know that.”

“I’ve always gone straight. I don’t break the law.” I didn’t give a minute’s thought to any incidents with lock picks and trespassing or impersonation. They were always with good cause.”

“I know you’ve been framed. I knew that you were being set up as soon as that tip came in.”

“Did you talk to them about it?”