Board Stiff (An Elliott Lisbon Mystery) by Kendel Lynn Read Free Book Online

this all about, Lisbon?”
    “You’re my go-to guy at the station. I need someone with official access. A silent partner to liaise between crime and the Ballantyne. You sign my papers, Sully. Who’s going to advise me?”
    “Well, I hear this new fella is smart as a fox.”
    “He’s a fox, all right. And he doesn’t like to play with others. Already giving me a hard time and I haven’t even started.” I tried to put the clip back to its original state and ended up snapping off the ends.
    “He’ll come around. Contact Lillie Parker. She’s always liked you. By the book, but not afraid to get things done. Look, I gotta run. We’re going out for conch salad. Best I’ve ever had. Call me if you’re ever down this way.”
    “Sure, Sully, take care.” I hung up and spent a good five minutes brooding. I’d forgotten to beg. And ole smart as a fox Ransom was flat out not going to share his spoils with me. At least not the ones pertaining to the murder of Leo Hirschorn. I needed to outwit the fox in his own henhouse and sniff out my own spoils.
    I decided to make the next call an easy one. I dialed the number from memory: the Islander Post . Tate Keating answered on the first ring.
    “Hey Tate, it’s Elliott at the Ballantyne. Just returning your call. Mr. Ballantyne is in India, but he wanted me to tell you how much he admired Leo Hirschorn and his dedication to the community. He’ll be remembered as a champion for the underserved, and the entire Foundation family will miss him.”
    “What’s he say about his chairwoman being dragged out of the Big House by the cops for questioning? Why did she kill Leo? I heard it was brutal. Torrid affair, or to cover up a scandal at the Foundation?”
    I gripped the phone. “That’s ridiculous speculation and completely untrue. Jane was not dragged anywhere, and there’s nothing to cover up. You know you can’t print gossip.” I started pacing. So much for my grand delusion of a puff piece on Leo’s legacy at the Ballantyne.
    Traffic sounds floated through the earpiece. It sounded like a party. Loud music and horn-honking. “I’m just getting a feel for the story. I’ll fact check before we print. Can I quote you on any of that?”
    “Just the statement from Mr. Ballantyne. No comment on the rest.” I put a smile in my voice. “Come on, Tate. We’ve worked together for years. The Foundation does a lot of good for this community and doesn’t deserve scandalous press.”
    He chuckled. “It’s been only one year and the Foundation didn’t do any good for Leo. Gotta run. If you change your mind on the quote, call me.”
    I sank into my chair, slightly numb. Jane’s mortification would be legendary if the world thought she was boinking Leo. Mr. Ballantyne’s embarrassment would be categorical if his life’s work was reduced to a tacky tabloid scandal.
    The implications of Leo’s death and Jane’s involvement were beginning to make my stomach sink. Maybe I shouldn’t have antagonized Ransom; that second chest poke may have been unnecessary. I remembered something about catching more bees with honey rather than kicking a hornet’s nest or some such bee wisdom. Either way, I had a feeling I’d end up stung.
    I grabbed the phone and left a message with Jane’s assistant. I needed to speak with Jane immediately and said so. While she probably wouldn’t divulge her private attorney conversations, I needed to know what happened with Ransom. Why he singled out her for questioning. Other than everyone knew she hated Leo and half the party-goers heard her threaten him.
    I flipped through the pages in my spiral notebook, stopping at what I’d written regarding Leo’s ransacked house. I underlined the word “shambles” twice. The symphony of destruction in the kitchen was more than a ransack, it was pure rage. And where was Bebe? She makes plans for the night of the May Bash, a party specifically honoring the board members, and her husband also ends up murdered?