Run into Trouble

Without a Cause, and I suspect you liked Natalie Wood better than James Dean, but let’s get back on track. Are you saying that Casey could have driven from L.A. to San Luis Obispo, killed Grace at about five a.m., driven back to L.A. where he received the message about Grace’s death, and been able to claim that he hadn’t received it earlier because he had been at a breakfast meeting?”
    “Yes, and with time to stop for gas and coffee. It couldn’t be much more than two hundred miles from the L.A. Airport to the motel where we were staying. Driving back he wouldn’t have to slow down before Santa Barbara, which has approximately four traffic lights on one oh one. He would have gone through there during early rush hour. Then it would be clear sailing until he hit the Los Angeles commuter traffic.”
    “No wonder he fell asleep when he was driving us back from the restaurant. All right, you’ve convinced me. How do we prove it?”
    “We need to get hold of the record for the car he rented and find out how many miles he drove. It was from Avis, if I recall correctly. Although everybody is getting more and more automated these days, I suspect that each office has a handwritten copy of each rental agreement, including mileage. He would have rented it at the Avis office near the L.A. Airport.”
    “What are you going to do, call Blade and have his people look into it?”
    “No. Even Blade would have to jump through hoops to get permission or a search warrant on this one. I have to do it myself. Phil said he needs a day off. That means all the runners need a day off. We’re going to besiege Fred and get one tomorrow. We’ve got a good argument. There are only three running days left. We need a rest day so we’ll be ready for a big finish. I’m going to fly to L.A. for the day.”
    “I’ll go with you. You may have the beauty, but I have the brains.”
    “Fine. Let’s catch up to Phil and Brian and plot our strategy for dealing with Fred.”

    CHAPTER 32
    “How long have you worked for Giganticorp?” Melody asked Charles.
    Fred’s new assistant was driving the company car. He changed lanes to pass a truck. “It’ll be a year in October.”
    “How do you like working for Big G?”
    “It’s wonderful. Great place to work. Interesting jobs, lots of opportunity for advancement…”
    Since all the employees gave the same line, there must be some truth to it, Drake reflected. “How do you like Casey?”
    “Mr. Messinger? I haven’t had much contact with him, but when he sees me in the hall, he smiles at me and says hello. He must be a nice man.”
    Fred had volunteered to have Charles drive them to the San Jose Airport. After Fred agreed to give the runners the day off, he decided to send Charles to the corporate headquarters in San Jose on some errand, since they were so close, even though it was Saturday. This meant that Melody and Drake didn’t have to rent a car or find some other means of getting to the airport.
    Drake wondered whether they had exhausted Charles’ fund of information about Casey.
    “I guess Mr. Messinger travels a lot.”
    “I guess so. He seems to be gone most of the time.”
    “Are you aware of it when he’s on a trip?”
    “Naw. I work in another building. It’s not my job to watch him.” Charles laughed.
    ***
    They flew T&A Airlines to LAX, so called because the stewardesses dressed provocatively, including wearing hot pants. Drake knew the rule about not ogling other women when you were with one, but he snuck surreptitious glances at the sexy young ladies, even while a small area in the back of his brain that he usually tried to suppress asked whether this was the correct corporate culture for a public company.
    They had no luggage, so they walked off the plane directly into the Los Angeles summer sun. They boarded one of the Avis vans that circled the airport and arrived at the Avis lot a few blocks from the terminal within minutes. They wore their Running California jackets with the Giganticorp logos, thoughtfully provided by Big G. Drake wore a tie borrowed from Peaches. Melody wore a skirt, a blouse, and pantyhose. They strode confidently into the office.
    They waited in line for an available agent. When it was their turn, they went up to the counter. The agent was a woman, so per previous agreement, Drake addressed her with a big smile.
    “Good morning. We’re with Giganticorp, the L.A. office. Our president, Casey Messinger, recently rented a car here.