Page 11 of Lost Without You
“Getting back to business, I connected with Lane Kedler. He’s the analyst I mentioned yesterday. After we finish with the PI, we’ll head over to Lane’s place so he can have a look at the disk. His place is in Jackson Heights.”
“Okay.”
“And please don’t mention the disk to Alfred.”
“You don’t need to tell me twice, Ethan. I heard you loud and clear yesterday.”
“Sorry.” He reached for his coffee again and took another sip. “I’m a bit of a control freak when it comes to my cases. I know that can be annoying.”
“It’s okay. We’re in a very intense situation and we’re bound to butt heads at some point. But trust me when I tell you I’m following your lead on this since you’re the expert. I’m listening to everything you say.”
“Better watch the compliments or my ego will grow as big as Wes’s.”
Rachel laughed out loud. “I don’t think anyone’s ego is as big as my brother-in-law’s. But he’s got a heart to match. I’ve never seen my brother so happy.”
“I guess they’re sappy in love, huh?”
“The honeymoon is definitely not over for those two, so be prepared.”
Ethan shrugged. “At least I won’t be the third wheel.”
“You are, but I’m the fourth. If they get too much with the PDA, feel free to start talking about crime scenes and that will do it.”
Rachel reached for her coffee and checked her phone, silently enjoying the rest of the drive to the port terminal. A short ferry ride later, they arrived at Staten Island. The quiet hum was in stark contrast to the frenetic noise of the congested city they’d left behind.
They pulled up to a two-story brick home surrounded by mature trees and a fenced in front yard. The front door opened to reveal a thin man in his sixties with glasses and a long, grey beard.
“Ethan, Rachel,” Alfred greeted them as he shook their hands. “Come on inside. It’s a pleasure to meet you in person.”
The foyer opened up to a spacious living room. Two enormous grey cats sat on a nearby couch but refused to acknowledge the visitors.
“The cats ignore me, too, so don’t be offended. The only person they like is my wife. Come in and have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink?”
“I’m good, Alfred, but thank you,” Rachel replied.
“I’m fine as well,” Ethan said as he placed his briefcase on the floor and reached in to grab his tablet.
“I wish there was more I could tell you about Walter Hoffman’s case. Given the note he left and the fact that I found no suspicious activity in his life, I assumed he left deliberately and of his own free will. Maybe he had a breakdown? I don’t know. I told Mrs. Hoffman, I mean your mother,” Alfred paused as he glanced at Rachel. “That was my best professional opinion.”
“When I was reviewing your case notes, I noticed that his work colleagues used the exact same words to describe him. Didn’t you find that unusual?” Ethan handed over the tablet with his highlights.
Alfred glanced at the screen and looked back up. “No. They were all in the room at the same time. I didn’t interview them individually. I was lucky they were allowed to speak to me at all given that I wasn’t there in any official capacity. All of them agreed with the first statement about his character and reiterated what was said.”
Shit, there went Ethan’s theory that Walter’s colleagues were coached.
“There was one thing I did notice that day, but I don’t think it’s useful or relevant.”
“What’s that?” Ethan asked.
“We were gathered in the CEO’s office. One of the VPs, Walter’s boss, June, was sweating like he’d run a marathon. Said he was sick from some flu bug, but he wasn’t coughing and he didn’t sound ill. I think he was lying. Whatever was wrong with him, he sure looked antsy.”
Ethan made a note with his stylus and nodded. “Thanks, Alfred. Was there anything else about the case that bothered you?”
“Just the fact that I couldn’t deliver any information to my client. It was a total mystery to me. Walter had no reason to disappear like that, but I didn’t see any red flags. And I had no clues to follow. I’m sorry.”
“You did what you could at the time,” Rachel replied. “My mother appreciated your efforts.”
After a few more questions, they left Alfred’s and headed back to the city to visit former FBI analyst and current programmer Lane Kedler. He lived on the top floor of a three-level walk-up in a busy section of Queens.