Page 171 - Labelle Gramercy, On the Case

Jury-rigged

That kind of language would never offend Labelle Gramercy. Her
feminism consisted primarily of disbelieving disdain for any man
presuming she might in any way be physically or mentally inferior
based solely on gender. As for respecting the forms of political
correctness, her indifference was perilously close to non-compliance
with the rules. But not close enough to earn a reprimand.
“And his fiancée,” I went on, enjoying the story immensely, “who
had arrived that evening on a flight from Moscow, traveling first-class
on an air ticket paid for by Mr. Berbersky, did not resemble in any
significant detail the photographs supplied by Alexander’s
matrimonial service. The outraged suitor left his intended at the
airport at the mercy of immigration officials and returned home to
find the only contact phone number he had been using, Alexander’s.
He demanded his money back once he had the erstwhile marriage
broker on the phone. It seems Mr. Simulian had the idea that Philo
could be talked into reconciliation with the Russian lady. That
discussion took place in the Berbersky living room, ending with
Alexander’s hasty departure on foot. His host gave him a sendoff
with two barrels of buckshot from an old Remington shotgun. That
happened about eleven-thirty, just before our men arrived.”
“Was he hit?”
“One pellet did strike his left buttock, but the shell was as old as
the gun so there wasn’t much force in the impact. According to
Alexander, he had gone out without any money or a cell phone. That
was why, he said, he continued walking once safely out of Philo
Berbersky’s range. Taking side streets and keeping away from areas in
which he knew the Simulians were not welcome pedestrians at any
time of day or night, he finally limped home about five in the
morning. I took him in for a friendly tête-à-tête concerning the
fracas—this was well before we knew that Rea Rainger was dead—
but couldn’t pin anything on him. The poor woman he had exploited
went back to Russia economy class.”
“Therefore he was at large during the window of time in which the
murder occurred,” said Labelle. “And you have nothing but his word
that he was wandering alone through the city?”
“I’m afraid so. We tried all the cab and bus drivers anywhere near
that area in the early hours of April 15, but came up empty. Of
course, all he would need is a quarter to make a phone call to a friend

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