Alex Kava Bundle - Alex Kava [526]
Now she watched as he offered his office’s guest chair while he took a seat on the front corner of his desk where he would tower over her. That was when Maggie decided there was something about Jacob Marley she didn’t like. What was worse, there was something about him she didn’t trust.
She remained standing, pretending to be interested in the black-and-white photos that took up one wall, photos of a small boy, presumably young Jacob, an only child, with his mother and father.
“What is it that I can help you with, Maggie? You don’t mind if I call you Maggie, do you?”
“Actually, when it’s official business I prefer Agent O’Dell, thank you.”
“Official business.” He attempted a laugh, but it ended up sounding like a nervous cough. “That sounds serious.”
Before she could bring up Joan Begley, he asked, “Is this about Steve Earlman?”
She had forgotten about the town butcher and only now realized Marley and Marley may have been the funeral home that hadn’t managed to bury him. Or at least, not keep him buried. She leaned against the wall, studying Mr. Jacob Marley. She guessed him to be in his early thirties, a plain-looking man with a weak chin and narrow eyes, but in the expensive black suit and sitting high on the corner of his desk, he looked in control and poised. And he was concerned about Steve Earlman.
“I know it hasn’t been released,” he continued, “but rumor is that Steve’s body showed up in one of those barrels. It’s true, isn’t it? That’s what you’re here to check on, right?”
He was fidgeting, swinging one foot. Marley didn’t look like the type of man who allowed himself to perspire, and yet if she wasn’t mistaken, there were beads of sweat forming on his upper lip. Now Maggie was curious. What exactly was Jacob Marley worried about?
“I really can’t go into any details,” she told him. “But if that were true, what explanation could there be for something like that happening?”
Maggie still believed the killer had access to the body before it made it out to the graveyard. Perhaps he had sneaked into the funeral home after hours. Had there been a break-in that Marley failed to report? Was that what had him worried?
“We buried him in a vault,” he said, then quickly added, “the family requested a vault. You can see for yourself.” He picked up a folder from his desk, handing it to her.
It was Steve Earlman’s file with copies of his funeral arrangements and an itemized invoice. Marley had pulled it. He had been waiting for this visit. He was worried about something and it wasn’t poor Steve Earl-man’s corpse.
She flipped through the file, not sure what she should be looking for. The charges looked standard. No extravagances stood out. And yes, there was a charge of $850 for a vault, not just a vault but something called a “Monticello vault.”
“Our vaults are sealed tight,” he continued. “They’re guaranteed against cracking or seepage.”
“Really? Has anyone ever complained?”
“Excuse me?”
“Has anyone ever asked for their money back?”
He stared at her then finally laughed, this time a loud, hearty, rehearsed one. “Oh, goodness, no. But that’s a good one, Maggie.”
“Agent O’Dell.”
“Excuse me?”
“I really would prefer if you called me Agent O’Dell, Mr. Marley.”
“Oh, sure, of course.”
Maggie searched the rest of the documents in Steve Earlman’s file.
“Actually, I was curious about another client of yours. I understand you worked with Joan Begley to make arrangements for her grandmother’s funeral. Is that right?”
“Joan Begley?”
This seemed to throw him off completely.
“Yes, of course, I worked with Joan last week. We finished the last of the paperwork on Saturday. Was there a problem?”
Jacob Marley seemed more surprised than concerned this time.
She wanted to ask about their dinner out at Fellini’s. She wanted to ask him if he knew she was missing. But the look on Marley’s face answered her questions. Whatever hope she had that Jacob Marley may have had something to do with Joan Begley’s disappearance, Maggie knew that hope was squelched by the look of total confusion and surprise. Jacob Marley was hiding