Page 90 of Puzzle for Two

So, who’s therealsuccess?

Rusty detested Alton, of that, Zach had no doubt. But dislike, even hatred wouldn’t be enough to convince a pragmatist like Rusty to risk everything by committing murder.

“He could be our guy,” Zach admitted. “But I think we need a lot more than we have now before we go to the police. I’m still wondering about Chico. He certainly had opportunity. Who had better access to Alton’s car? And he’d be in position to clean up all the evidence. His alibi is awfully convenient. And, depending on his relationship with Zora, maybe he does have a strong motive.”

Brooke looked thoughtful. “True.”

“Okay.” Flint grinned. “The day is young, partners. Let’s go find our proof.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

In fact, the day wasnotyoung.

The afternoon was fading fast and so were a lot of the county and state officials who they tried to reach. After hitting onehas-left-for-the-dayafter another, Flint lost patience and departed to go work the “Galileo” angle. Brooke turned to her banking contacts, i.e., Mary Ann Spenser at Del Sello Savings and Loan, while Zach followed the long and winding road through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners database.

In crime fiction and mystery films, the emphasis was usually on a victim’s last will and testament, but in Zach’s experience, insurance money was an equally big incentivizer.

Founded in 1871, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners “provided expertise, data, and analysis for insurance commissioners to effectively regulate the industry and protect consumers.” For the average consumer, the NAIC provided information on different types of insurance, claims processes, tracking complaints, and so on.

It could also be used by potential beneficiaries to find unclaimed insurance policies or locate a copy of missing paperwork.

Neither of those was likely to apply in this case. Zach was working a hunch that someone might have taken out a policy on Alton without Alton’s knowledge. That was illegal, of course, but there were ways around it. Forgery was easier to prove. Once someone was dead, it was harder to make the case that they hadn’t understood what they were signing.

But Alton hadn’t been old or doddery. Zach had watched him in action at Spanish Bay, and Alton had gone over every contract, every report, hell, everymenuput in front of him with a fine-toothed comb. No way had he been conned or tricked into signing anything he didn’t intend to sign.

So maybe not a policy Alton hadn’t knowingly signed. Maybe a policy Alton had forgotten about? Or a policy he believed to be canceled?

Something like that. Zach was sure of it.

Except…there didn’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary.

Both Alton and Zora had life insurance policies naming the other as their sole beneficiary. Alton was insured for 1.3 million and Zora was insured for 2.9. If Zora had killed Alton, it hadn’t been for the money.

Since Ransford wasn’t listed on Alton’s insurance policy, it gave him one less possible motive, but if he figured prominently in Alton’s will, that might be enough to convince investigators he was their guy.

What am I missing?

“Two dicks and a dame,” Brooke called from her desk in the front office.

“Say what?”

“Our new company name. Two dicks and a dame.”

“Pop would roll over in his grave.”

It occurred to Zach that for the first time ever, he could think of Pop without a pang of fear that he was failing to live up to his father’s expectations. Things weren’t working out the way Pop had expected, but all Pop had really wanted was for his kids to be happy, healthy, and doing well.

“What’s your idea then?” Brooke answered.

Zach said at random, “Davies, Davies, and Carey.”

“It sounds like a personal injury law firm.”

Zach started to reply, but the idea of personal injury claims started him thinking.

Jordan was unlikely to pop up in Alton’s will or have any share in his life insurance, but what if there was something else? The two men had known each other since college. They had even gone into the same industry.

In fact, hadn’t Alton mentioned in passing that at one time he and Rusty had considered going into business together?

---