Alex Harris 00 - Poisoned

at the contrast between developer and the things he developed.
    “You sound so surprised.”
    “Well, I guess I didn’t expect him to be involved in anything real. He looks like such a big phony.”
    “As far as we can tell, he truly wants that land for exactly what he claims he wants it for. Now the question is does he want the land enough to kill for it?”
    “I know he certainly plans on getting it.” I realized my slip and tried to look away.
    “How do you know this?” John asked, though with more amusement than annoyance.
    “Okay…” I placed my hands on the table. “I stopped by his office. And before you go getting mad, he invited me. He wanted to show me the plans.”
    “Did you get a chance to see them or did your investigation get in the way?”
    As long as John still had a smile on his face, I decided to come clean. “The plans are quite good. Though I’d hate to see the land torn up like that. Do not let spacious plans for a new world divert your energies from saving what is left of the old ,” I quoted, haughtily pointing a finger at John as if he were the enemy. “I’m all for progress but it just sickens me to see that area torn up, though if something has to go there, his designs are as good as any, maybe better. And if you can believe this, he still plans on putting pressure on Mrs. Brissart.”
    “Yes, I can believe it.” John poured a bit of wine into his glass and asked if I wanted any.
    “No. I’m too tired. I’d like to stay awake at least long enough to eat my dinner.”
    On cue, our plates arrived and we ate in silence for a few minutes savoring our dishes.
    “A thought occurred to me…” I reached across the table and poked a fork into an al dente penne lathered in Gorgonzola. “You know, if Mrs. Brissart died, God forbid, wouldn’t her portion of the land go to her son? Because I doubt he would sign it away either. Maybe we should be keeping an eye on his safety.”
    “As a matter of fact, no, the land would not go to Kenneth. It would revert to the surviving sisters. And the last to go gets to give it to her family or the local cat shelter if so inclined. Kind of odd, but that’s how Mrs. Brissart’s father left it.” John sighed and took another sip of his wine.
    “So another good reason for getting rid of Mrs. Brissart surfaces. With her dead, not only could they sell it but those two sisters would get to keep all the profits to themselves and not have to share with Kenneth and Lillian. I say this definitely gets Mrs. Brissart off the hook.”
    “Alex.”
    “I’m sorry. It just makes it seem all the more likely it had to be May or June or one of their children hoping to get something in the end.” John conceded and nodded his agreement. “I wonder if J.T. knows about this arrangement. If he does, that would put him at the top of my list.”
    “If it makes you happy, I am not concentrating all my efforts on Mrs. Brissart,” John said.
    “No? Who else is on your list?” I asked hopefully.
    “No one and everyone at the moment.” John paused to signal the waiter for a glass of water. “We’re checking into the finances of the family. Seems Mrs. Doliveck took out a second mortgage on her home.”
    “Do tell.” I smiled, remembering how shabby the back yard looked and the peeling wallpaper. As for the rest of the house, I chose not to think about it while eating.
    “And, she let her housekeeper go about six months ago. Seems to indicate she’s financially strapped.” John took another sip of wine.
    “Yes, it does, doesn’t it?” I reflected. “That explains a lot.”
    “Like what?”
    “Huh? Oh, nothing. Just thinking to myself.” It was time to change the subject. “How’s Jim doing?”
    “Fine. He seems very bright. Quiet, though. Doesn’t say much. When he does, he’s very soft spoken, gentle. I would have never fingered him for police work.”
    I only had contact with the new detective a few times but my impression was much the same. He seemed too tender to make this his life career. John possessed a bit of an edge to him, a confidence, and the absolute certainty he was one of the good guys.
    I looked in the breadbasket and took the last piece. “Maybe he’s just too new to everything. A few more days with this bunch should make him jaded enough. He’ll be fine. Or he’ll decide this isn’t what he’s cut out to do and go into something else. Maybe kindergarten teaching. He seems like he’d be good with kids, very