Mystery_ An Alex Delaware Novel Part 14

"A clue would be great."

Lisa said, "Don't pay attention to them. No, sorry, Officer, it was empty and freshly painted. The guy from Zephyr said the last tenant had stiffed him for three months' rent."

"Boo on Steven Mermaid," said Armand.

"A pox on Steven Mermaid," said Sandy.

Lisa said, "Stop being a.s.sholes, guys. Both of you go shower."

The boys bowed and turned to leave.

Armand said, "The ba.s.s reigns supreme. In Paul McCartney we trust."

Leonid Caspar answered with a hoa.r.s.e, "Yeah?"

Milo filled him in.

Caspar said, "That one. No employment history to speak of, credit rating worse than the State of California. So why'd we rent to him? Because we're stupid. Plus, he gave us a year of rent up front and damage deposit."

"Once that ran out, he split."

"What can I say, Lieutenant."

"How many months did he stiff you for?"

"Two-no, says here three. Almost four, really, my son can't add. Oh, boy. So why'd we let him go that far? 'Cause we screwed up, let him slip through the cracks. We manage twenty-six buildings here and in Arizona and Nevada, all of them thirty units minimum, except for that dump on Russell. My wife inherited it from her grandfather, it was his first investment, helped him start up the company so it's like a family big-deal. Up to me, we'd sell it but she's sentimental."

"Did Muhrmann leave anything behind?"

"Let's see...says here just trash. Lots of trash, we had to pay for hauling. So technically, he owes us for that, too."

"Did you ever meet him, Mr. Caspar?"

"Never had the pleasure."

"How'd he connect with you?"

"We advertise in local papers, on Craigslist, other onlines. What'd he do, scam someone else?"

"Who in the company dealt with him?"

"You sound serious. More than a scam?" said Caspar. "He did something serious?"

"We'd just like to talk to him, sir."

"So would I. I put it out to collection but no one can find him."

"Was the year's worth in cash?" said Milo.

"That's what it says here. I know what you're thinking but it's not our responsibility to figure out how they come up with payment."

"Cash literally or a money order?"

"It's listed as cash."

"How much are we talking about?"

"Rental was eight a month, times thirteen is ten four, we rounded off the damage deposit to six, made it eleven even."

"Eleven thousand in cash," said Milo.

"You're trying to tell me he's a dope dealer?" said Caspar. "I get cash from all types. Unless someone tells me there's a problem, it's none of my business."

"To qualify he had to give you prior addresses. Could I have them, please?"

"We didn't bother with priors because he told us up front his credit was zero."

"What about references?"

"Let me check...yeah, there's one. C-as in cookie-Longellos." He spelled it. "Says here she confirmed he worked as personal a.s.sistant, was honest, faithful, true-blue."

"She," said Milo.

"My note says Ms. C. Longellos."

"How about her number, Mr. Caspar?"

Caspar read off a 310. "You find him, I wouldn't mind if you let me know."

"Happy to help," said Milo. "I'd be even happier if one of your employees actually met him face-to-face and called me by the end of today."

"Sure," said Caspar. "Quid pro whatchamacallit."

C. Longellos's number placed her in Pacific Palisades.

Not in service.

No current DMV records for that address existed but the data bank coughed up the two-year-old DUI conviction of a woman named Constance Rebecca Longellos. Forty years old, P.O.B. in Encino.

I said, "Another under-the-radar devotee. Maybe Harriet Muhrmann's instincts were right and alcoholic misery loved company."

He flipped through his pad. "Stevie's most recent rehab was about two and a half years ago, place called Awakenings, in Pasadena."

He consulted his Timex. "Traffic's gonna be unfriendly all the way east, but we could make it out there in maybe an hour, catch dinner before heading back. Remember that fish-and-chips joint on Colorado I was looking for last year when we worked the dry ice murder, turned into Thai, I was b.u.mmed? I've been back there and it's pretty good Thai. You game for driving?"

"Sure."

"Be sure to put in your gas voucher."

"You're into quaint rituals, huh?"

"What?"

"I haven't gotten reimbursed for the last three batches I sent in."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"It seemed petty," I said.

"s.h.i.+t. I was a.s.sured by the His Arrogance's office that you'd be fast-tracked." He snapped his phone open. "b.a.s.t.a.r.ds."

Before he could punch in the chief's speed-dial code, an incoming call was heralded by a few bars of Eine kleine Nachtmusik Eine kleine Nachtmusik. This year, cla.s.sical, last year, seventies rock.

"Sturgis."

A young male voice said, "You're a policeman?"

"Last time I checked."

"Oh...you're sure?"

"This is Lieutenant Sturgis, what can I do for you?"

"My name is Brandon Caspar, my father said I should call you about a tenant at our property on Russell."

"Steven Muhrmann," said Milo.

"Yes, sir."

"Appreciate the call, Brandon. What can you tell me about Mr. Muhrmann?"

"I only met him once," said Brandon. "When I gave him the key. That was almost a year and a half ago so I don't remember much, except he was a little...I don't want to say scary, more like not friendly. Kind of...trying to act like a tough guy."

"Act how, Brandon?"

"It's nothing I can put into words, know what I mean? He just s.n.a.t.c.hed the key out of my hand, didn't want me to give him the information about the unit we usually give. Where the circuit breaker is, the water main, the meter. He said he'd figure it out. When I tried to tell him I always explained to new tenants he said, 'Well, now you won't.' Not joking about it-like he could kick my b.u.t.t if he wanted, you know?"

"Hostile," said Milo.

"He could've could've kicked my b.u.t.t," said Brandon. "He was big-not fat, buffed, like he lifted. This big, big neck." kicked my b.u.t.t," said Brandon. "He was big-not fat, buffed, like he lifted. This big, big neck."

"Was he alone?"

"Yeah, in the house he was," said Brandon Caspar. "But later, when I left him with the key, I saw a girl in a car, parked in front. I wasn't sure she was with him but I thought maybe she was 'cause she seemed to be just waiting. So when I drove off I looked in my mirror and she got out and went into the house. Then I started wondering if we had something to worry about. The terms of his lease were pretty strict because it was a cash deal: solo residency, we didn't want to get into a crash-pad situation."

"Or a dope house."

No answer.

Milo said, "Your father was concerned Muhrmann might be a drug dealer because Muhrmann paid eleven thou up front in cash."

"I know, I'm the one took the money."

"He handed it to you?"

"No, it got dropped off at the office. But I found it in the mailbox."

"Dropped off by who?"

"We a.s.sumed him, I mean that kind of money you'd want to handle it yourself, right?"

"That kind of money I wouldn't drop it in the mailbox."

"It's a locked box," said Brandon. "Goes right into the office."

"What kind of car was the girl sitting in?"

"Some little compact, didn't notice the brand."

"What did she look like?"

"Hot."

"Could you be a little more specific?"

"Long blond hair, great body. Kind of like Scarlett Johanssen. Or another one, an old one Dad likes. Brigitte something."

"Bardot?"

"Yeah."

"Scarlett or Brigitte."

"Hot and blond," said Brandon. "I only saw her from a distance."

"But that was enough to know she was hot."

"Some girls, you know, they've just got the look, you can spot it from far away."

"If I fax you a picture would you be able to tell me if it's a match?"

"I don't know."

"Is there anything else you remember about this girl, Brandon?"

"Nope. Why?"

"We're curious about her. Nothing."