Haunted in Death Read Online Free PDF Page B

smile of greeting ready. It faded when he saw his daughter’s face.
    “Maeve? What’s the matter? Is there a problem?“
    “Daddy. Mr. Hopkins, he’s been murdered.“
    He gripped his daughter’s arm, and those quiet eyes skimmed from Roarke to Eve and back again. “Rad Hopkins?“
    “That’s right.“ Eve held out her badge.”I’m Lieutenant Dallas.You and Mr. Hopkins had business?“
    “Yes. Yes. My God, this is such a shock. Was it a burglary?“
    “Why would you ask?“
    “His collection. He had a very extensive collection of antique art.“
    “You bought a good chunk of that collection.“
    “Bits and pieces. Excellent bits and pieces.“ He rubbed his daughter’s shoulder and drew her down to the arm of the chair as he sat. The gesture seemed to help both of them compose themselves.
    “I was hoping to eventually do a complete appraisal and give him a bid on the whole of it. But he was…“ He pushed at his hair and smiled. “He was canny. Held me off, and whet my appetite with those bits.“
    “What do you know about Number Twelve?“
    “Number Twelve?“ He looked blank for a moment, then shook his head. “Sorry, I’m feeling muddled by all this. Urban legend. Haunted. Some say by Hop Hopkins’s ghost, others by Bobbie Bray’s. Others still say both, or any number of celebrities from that era. Bad luck building, though I admit I’m always on the lookout for something from its heyday that can be authenticated. Rad managed to acquire the building a few months ago, bring it back into his family.“
    “Do you know how it got out of his family?“
    “Ah, I think Rad told me it was sold off when he was a boy. His father inherited it when his grandfather died. Tragically, a drug overdose. And it was Rad’s plan to bring it back to its former glory, such as it was.“
    “He talked about it all the time,“ Maeve added. “Whenever he came in. Now he’ll never… It’s so sad.“
    “To be frank,“ Buchanan continued, “I think he might have overreached a bit. A huge undertaking, which is why he found it necessary – in my opinion – to sell some of his artwork and memorabilia. And because I have a number of contacts in the business who might have been helpful when and if he was ready to outfit the club, it was a good, symbiotic relationship. I’m sorry this happened.“
    “When was the last time you had contact with him?“
    “Just last week. I joined him for a drink, at his invitation. That would be…“ He closed his eyes a moment, held up a finger. “Wednesday. Wednesday evening of last week. I knew he was going to try to persuade me, again, to invest in this club of his. It’s just not the sort of thing I do, but he’s a good client, and we were friendly.“
    When he sighed, Maeve covered his hand with hers. “So I met with him. He was so excited. He told me he was ready to begin the rehab again, seriously this time. He projected opening next summer.“
    “But you turned him down, investmentwise.“
    “I did, but he took it well. To be frank again, I did a bit of research when he first approached me months ago. Nothing thrives in that building. Owners and backers go bankrupt or worse. I couldn’t see this being any different.“
    “True enough,“ Roarke confirmed. “The owners before Hopkins had plans for a small, exclusive spa with restaurant and retail. The buyer fell, broke both his legs while doing a run-through with the architect. His brother and cobuyer were brutally mugged just outside the building. Then his accountant ran off with his wife, taking the bulk of his portfolio.“
    “Bad luck happens,“ Eve said flatly. “Could you tell me where you were last night, between midnight and three?“
    “Are we suspects?“ Maeve’s eyes rounded. “Oh my God.“
    “It’s just information. The more I have, the more I have.“
    “I was out – a date – until about eleven.“
    “Eleven-fifteen,“ Buchanan said. “I heard you come in.“
    “Daddy…“ Maeve