Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Cain made sure to stay within earshot of the conversation going on between Mr. Crestfall and Betsy.
Considering the insightful meeting with JB this morning, and everything that had happened yesterday, nothing about this case was normal.
Robberies normally could be categorized, but first of all, this hadn’t been a robbery.
Second, his gut told him this was more than just an outside job, so he’d keep watching for signs of an inside connection.
Who, how and why were still the top questions on his list.
“Is Mr. Millerton still your service center manager,” the insurance agent asked.
Professional to the core, she looked Mr. Crestfall in the eye with every answer she gave. “He’s still on disability. I’ve promoted Derek Johnson to that position. Should I call him in to help, also?”
The insurance agent glanced around the building. “Why don’t we see how far we get today? We also need to examine the showroom and administrative offices, right?”
“Yes. I have a whole different set of MOR paperwork on that.”
“Good. Will Papa Carrington be joining us today?”
“No, he’s still in the hospital. In fact, I just stopped by to see him this morning.” She looked in Cain’s direction. “Mr. Millerton was there visiting. And a couple of other men I didn’t know.”
The insurance agent made a note, then checked a text that had just binged. “Did you get the idea he would be able to join us tomorrow?”
Betsy straightened and shot a stone-cold serious stare in Mr. Crestfall’s direction. “Are you insinuating you’d rather speak with Papa C than me? Because I’m the controlling shareholder in this business. Or is it because I’m a woman?”
“No. No, not at all.” Mr. Crestfall fidgeted. Stuttered with his answer. Sucked in a shoulder-raising breath, then blew out loudly before he glanced at Cain. “It’s just…”
Cain turned away from the adjuster he’d been assisting and moved a bit closer to Betsy’s conversation. Being sure to take the iPad with him. “It’s just what?” he asked.
Mr. Crestfall faced Betsy head on. His expression a mix of respect and compassion and a little bit of I’m-caught-in-the-middle nerves.
“You know me. You know I would never demean you, or any other woman,” the insurance agent said.
“The thing is that, besides the two adjusters with me today, the regional office is sending a couple of senior adjusters to look at this case. They plan to meet with you and the police. And they’ve requested a conversation with Papa Carrington, also. ”
“Why?” she asked.
Cain wanted to ask the same question, only in a totally different way. One that involved a whole different set of legal and law enforcement questions than what Betsy would ask. But he’d wait.
Mr. Crestfall motioned toward the back door, then whistled to the two adjusters working in the service center. “You all keep working on this. When you’re finished here, head over to the offices and showroom.”
Turning back to Betsy and Cain, the insurance agent glanced back and forth between them once, twice, three times. Finally, he lifted his arm in the direction of the squeaky door. “How about the three of us take a walk outside? Get a little fresh air before we start in your office.”
Cain had been involved in a lot of walk-and-talk conversations in his career. Most times it gave everyone a chance to relax. Hopefully that’s what this was about. Betsy needed something good happening after the past few days.
For a few minutes the three of them walked casually around the perimeter of the Peyton’s lot.
A break in the clouds gave them a chance to enjoy the warmth of the winter sun for a moment.
And for once in the past twenty-four hours, the wind had died down to an occasional breeze.
Any other time, this would have been a perfect time to take Betsy’s hand.
Right now, this was still about business, so he followed the insurance agent and Betsy’s lead.
Gradually Mr. Crestfall slowed. “You asked why the main office wants to speak with Papa Carrington?”
Betsy nodded as they stepped inside the showroom. The police had already scanned for fingerprints, clothing fibers, hair, and other clues in both buildings. “Yes. I get the feeling there’s something I don’t know. What would that be?”
Motioning everyone to the customer waiting area, she grabbed bottled water for each of them from the free vending machine she’d had installed. This area was one of the few sections of the building that had been overlooked, deliberately or not, by the intruders.
Mr. Crestfall settled at one of the mostly clean tables and opened his briefcase. “My guess is that it has to do with the three large claims previously filed by the dealership.”
She frowned. “Sure, we’ve had a few claims through the years. Nothing out of line, though. Nothing major, that I can recall.”
“Two of these would have been before your ownership happened. In fact, they both occurred within a year of each other, over twenty years ago.”
Cain cleared his throat. “So that would have been back when the place was called Carrington & Son New and Used Cars?”
“Yes.” The insurance agent sorted through some papers he’d laid on the table, then opened his laptop and started typing. “My agency has handled all the dealership’s insurance business since it originally opened. The claims have stayed with the ongoing policy.”
Cain moved away from the wall and stepped closer. “Betsy, I remember you said you kept the same policy because of the cheaper premiums. Right?”
“Yes, I was advised to keep the same policy,” she said, starting to pace.
“Who told you to do that?”
“Papa Carrington.” She pointed at Mr. Crestfall. “He said he’d checked everything out with you before he transferred ninety-five percent of the business to me. Said you told him that would be the cheapest way to go for insurance.”
The insurance agent checked something on his computer.
Took a moment to read whatever had come up on his screen.
“Yes, Mr. Carrington and I met about a month before Phillip and your wedding. Papa C gave me an overview of how he planned to give you majority ownership of the business. I compiled some options to consider on the insurance needs and premiums. In fact, a couple of the plans would have been a cheaper premium than what Papa C ended up choosing.”
“Then why did you recommend staying with the same policy?”
“I didn’t.” Mr. Crestfall adamantly shook his head.
“As a matter of fact, I showed him all the paperwork that would need new signatures. He said he’d need to talk to his partners and get back to me the next day.
I even printed a packet out for him to take home for consideration.
I assumed he’d be talking with you also. ”
Questions were being answered, but the answers were only leading to other questions.
“I need some coffee,” Betsy said as she moved to the individual coffee maker in the customer service waiting area. “How about you two?”
Thankful for a moment to let the tension in the room ease, Cain made a strong black coffee for himself. As did Mr. Crestfall. Making herself a second cup of coffee, she poured both into her coffee tumbler. Added a few creamers and a couple sugar packets. She looked tired.
Mr. Crestfall’s phone rang, and he told the adjusters, who were just finishing up in the service center, to leave for the day once they were done in that building. Said they’d finish in the showroom and administrative offices tomorrow morning.
“Okay, back to the questions,” Betsy said. “I assume the partners were Phillip and”—she shrugged—“Who? Did Shorestone keep a partial ownership?”
“Oh no, when Mr. Shorestone left to run for office, he sold out entirely. Mr. Carrington was never overly forthcoming about his new investors.” The insurance agent shut down his computer and closed the lid.
“The few times I tried to get an answer, he said the group was a private partnership between a few people who wished to remain anonymous. Made it appear they were people familiar with Crayton, who wanted nothing more than to give back to the community. My guess is he pays them an agreed amount out of his share of the business.”
She shot Cain a look. Raised her eyebrows. “Going back to the new policy conversation, when did Papa C call back with his answer?”
Cain was proud of her. She was staying on top of everything being discussed and not flinching a bit at what was being thrown at her. He was also impressed by the way Mr. Crestfall was handling this conversation. As far as he could tell, the insurance agent was being forthcoming and honest.
“Bright and early the next morning. And I mean he woke me from a sound sleep at four thirty a.m.” Mr. Crestfall quirked the side of his mouth.
“You know, I receive a lot of calls at all times of the night. But that’s the only time I can recall someone calling that early when it wasn’t a matter of life and death.
Or some kind of catastrophic loss. I remember, he sounded like the whole world depended on me knowing ASAP. ”
Betsy looked thoughtful. “I know what you mean. Sometimes Papa C can be on edge for no reason. Especially when a big decision is needed.”
Mr. Crestfall shoved his laptop into his briefcase.
“Well, in this case, his answer was no. Leave everything the way it was, except add your name as controlling owner at ninety-five percent, and he was reduced to five percent ownership. He also added Phillip as an employee which was the first time his son had been officially added as anything in the business. Papa C changed the business name on the policy to Peyton’s.
Plus, added you and Phillip to the business partner life insurance. ”
Cain had a gut reaction. One that said ask the next question, but Betsy didn’t ask. Probably didn’t know what that question would automatically be in a criminal case.
“I’m sure Betsy would like to make sure the correct people are on the business partner life insurance,” Cain said in a nonchalant way. “Maybe you could send her a list.”
“Sure. I’ll send you an email.” Mr. Crestfall entered a voice note in his phone to do that. “But I can tell you right now, it’s just a few people. Betsy, Papa Carrington, Earl Millerton, Steven Millerton and Cain Connery.”
“Cain? Why?” she asked.
“Papa C called the day after you put Mr. Connery on the regular company liability insurance. Said to put a two-million-dollar business life policy on him.” Mr. Crestfall looked up another note on his phone. “Said you had approved it personally, Betsy.”
She jumped to her feet, shivering with rage. “How could I approve adding someone to a list I know nothing about?”
The back of Cain’s neck tensed. Icy cold chills raced across his shoulders. Target flashed through his mind. Whose cage had he rattled? How? When?
He pointed back and forth between the insurance agent and Betsy. “Take my name off that damn policy. Right now!”