Page 81 - Labelle Gramercy, On the Case

Overtime

answered all the questions your colleagues could come up with, long
into Saturday afternoon. Is there anything additional I could tell
you?” I looked pointedly at my desk-blotter calendar. In fact, I had
no appointments until nine-thirty, but I was not going to be bullied in
my own office.
“Considerably more, Mr. Taper. An autopsy indicated the death of
Mr. Kates warranted an investigation of its circumstances.”
“You mean it wasn’t natural causes?” I was aghast.
“That depends on your definition of ‘natural.’ But let me explain
how I will conduct this inquiry. Unfortunately I was out of town
when the death was reported, and the first investigating officer did
not completely follow up on certain preliminary indications of foul
play. Had I been notified, I would have returned at once and sealed
the building. As I learned of the case only this morning, I have had
no more than one hour to catch up. Obviously the crime scene,
should a crime in fact have been committed, has been compromised
and corrupted. Much that could serve as physical evidence is
undoubtedly disturbed or destroyed, rendering it of little use. I will
have to take another tack: after I study all the relevant documentation
in the company’s files you will accompany me in holding preliminary
interviews with Mr. Kates’s coworkers. In order not to arouse
suspicions, you will introduce me as a new employee. I will leave the
details of a convincing cover story to you.”
She handed me a search warrant, the ink still wet on some half-
wakened judge’s signature. The day was not starting well. I
desperately wanted to call in Leah, to get another rational human
being on my side in the room. That wish, like others rashly made,
came true almost immediately.
“I will need to let one more person in on this—your secretary,
perhaps.”
“Great idea! I have an administrative assistant; you’ve got to be a
very senior vice president here to have your own secretary.” I pressed
the intercom button on my phone. “Leah: please come in here.”
Leah Racket opened the door cautiously. It was not my habit to
close it unless I had a private meeting in my office, and she knew I
had none scheduled at that hour. Then she saw the policewoman.
“I didn’t know you had a visitor, Mr. Taper.” Her cocked eyebrow
spoke volumes. She stood uncertainly between my desk and the guest

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