"Thank you." Mac said the next morning smiling across the kitchen table at Loren. Loren didn't even have to ask why he was thanking him - he knew why and simply smiled back. "Are you ready for this morning?"
Loren gave Mac a confused look wondering what he meant until if dawned on him that he was talking about the impending visitors. "I guess so. Are you sure that's it one of them?"
Mac nodded his head that he did. "If you were to die would anyone benefit from your death?"
For many years Loren would have never considered facing his eventual mortality but when his parents died unexpectedly in a car accident a few years earlier he saw for the first time in his life that he did indeed need to protect him and his loved ones in the event anything ever happened to him. When his parents died, as their only child, he inherited everything propelling him from a comfortable life to that of the men surrounding him - the extremely wealthy. He found an attorney that had no connection to the people that always held their hand out to him and began the arduous task of figuring out what to do with the millions of dollars he held in investments, real estate holdings and liquid cash.
"I set up a trust for Shelby and left him the apartment it was enough to give him a comfortable life but not so much that he could boast he was rich. I had planned on calling my attorney today to change my will. There are some endowments to the various arts and the rest I left to my Uncle, if I preceded him in death. If he preceded me the estate was to be liquidated and the proceeds were to be donated to several charitable organizations." The talk of death depressed Loren but mainly grounded him, forcing him to face the reality that someone wanted him dead.
"Shall I tell you what my investigations have uncovered so far?" Mac asked. He could see how all this was impacting him, but he also needed to know that in his opinion one of the three men that were going to walk into his apartment in the next two hours was a killer.
"Please."
"I'll start with Shelby only because he's the most obvious. Of course he has the spotlight on him. His alibi of his whereabouts the night of the murder is stock full of holes, but then Standish came forward and told me that he had been with Shelby that evening but had left him giving Shelby ample opportunity to commit the crime. Shelby knew he had a lot to lose. If you ended the relationship his bank would be gone both in your life and in your death..."
"But he didn't know about the will." Loren said interrupting.
"Somehow he did know. Simpson found out that he contacted your attorney Saturday morning and made an appointment to meet with him later today."
Loren paled at Mac's revelation. "I know this is a tough pill, but we need to look at all three men. Next there is Sam. Your uncle is a very generous and kind man. He is quite the philanthropist...but to that point, he's begun to have to tighten his belt. The money his late wife left him is more than three quarters gone and if he doesn't cut back on his substantial spending he will be broke within the next couple of years. Since you gave him the name of your attorney in case anything befell you, he is quite aware he stands to inherit some, if not all, of your estate." Mac let his words sink in before he went on to Waldo. "As far as Waldo I don't believe that he has a monetary interest in wanting you dead, I think that he is just so in love with you and feels that if he can't have you, then no one should be able to. His proximity to your apartment and the fact that his alibi is about a six on the scale of ten gives me reason to want to keep him on my list."
"I can't believe that Waldo, with all of his civility would reduce himself to being a murderer. He abhors violence in any form. Well...I say that but he did enjoy the occasional foray into bondage and discipline. But when he saw the dungeon I built he actually thought I had gone too far." Mac nodded his head not commenting that those are the type of people that get away with committing the perfect murder.
"In the end...who do you think it is?" Loren asked.
"I want to believe that is Shelby. He's so sleazy it would give me ultimate pleasure to put the dirtbag away for the rest of his life. He'd make a perfect prison bitch." Mac said smiling.
"I hope so to, I would never want to think that my uncle or Waldo is capable of doing something like this." He was silent for a long time before standing and announcing he was going to get ready. "Thank you Detective, I appreciate everything you've done."
"Loren, after the meeting this morning I think it's best that we get you away from here for a few days, just until we can figure out who did this." Loren stopped and looked at Mac. There was that part of him that wanted to say something catty and sexually seductive but he knew that Mac was working very hard to keep him as safe as possible. He nodded his agreement. "You can't let anyone know that you are going away. Just act like its business as usual." Again he nodded that he understood. "This will be over soon enough."
"Yesterday I would have looked forward to that, but right now the thought of the case being over and you possibly leaving...well its rather disheartening."
"Regardless of the case or not you can always count on me if you ever need anything. I made that promise to Jessie and I'm making it to you also."
"Thank you." Loren whispered. He started to leave but turned back to Mac and said, "You can count on me also, a promise I intend to keep to you." He walked over to Mac, gave him a quick hug, and left the room.
*
Waldo arrived first. He didn't even bother to knock, just entered the apartment like he owned the place. Mac and Simpson were sitting in the living room when he entered with Loren quietly ensconced in the bedroom.
"Good morning detectives." Waldo said removing his hat and placing it on the hallway table. "I'm hoping you've invited us over to make your arrest and put that detestable Shelby Cantrell in jail once and for all." He said as a preamble to the conversation. Mac and Simpson remained silent. "By the way detective I mentioned to you the other day that several of the art items in the apartment belong to me. I would very much like to make arrangements to have them returned."
Mac raised his eyebrows. Why was Waldo so concerned about a few lousy items of artwork? The man lived in a museum and as far as he could tell there wasn't anything in this apartment that had more value than what Waldo had in his place.
"Mr. Liebacker, it's my understanding that Loren's uncle will be the executor his estate. You will have to file a claim through him to get whatever belongs to you."
"Yes, yes, yes...it's just that pieces like that sculpture," he pointed to one of the pieces adorning the fireplace, "the fireplace screen and...um...oh yes the Grandfather clock - they are sentimental items to me. I lent them to Loren out of my love for him. I want them back to always remember him by."
"I understand that Mr. Liebacker. Mr. Sedwick will be here shortly, you can talk to him."
As if on cue the door bell rang. Simpson answered the door and ushered Sam and Shelby into the apartment. Liebacker showed his disdain for Shelby by turning his back on him and refusing to acknowledge his presence in the room.
"Gentlemen I've invited you here to give you an update on the case." Mac began after they had settled down. "As you probably are all aware yesterday Mr. Bill Wallace committed suicide after leaving a note that he was the one the murdered Mr. Blunt. As far as the police are concerned the case was closed. But last night there was another twist to the case..."
"Twist Detective?" Liebacker asked.
