“I have an appointment to tour the sanctuary tomorrow at eleven,” Decker told Marge. He was at his desk with his feet propped up; she was sitting on a chair and paging through her notes. “You can come if you’d like.”
“I’d love to come with you, but Sabrina Talbot called back. Oliver and I are meeting her in Santa Barbara tomorrow at eleven in the morning.”
“That’s fine. If I get a weird feeling about the place, we’ll do a return visit.”
“Have you looked up the organization yet?”
“Just the Web site. It began with a woman named Fern Robeson, who bought some acreage in the San Bernardino Mountains in 1975. According to the bio, she started taking in wild animals because there was no other refuge for them. One thing led to another, and now her place is a way station for all sorts of wild animals.”
“What kind of animals?”
“Anything—lions, tigers, bears, snakes, apes, chimps, crocs. She has her own private zoo.”
“Is she licensed to do that?”
“Now she is. The place was almost shut down thirty years ago. Fern persevered, went on a massive fund-raising campaign, and received over a million dollars for the cause. Eventually she managed to secure a license to house wild animals. Fern died three years ago at seventy-two. There is some money in her foundation to care for the animals, but it is quickly running out. When I talked to the acting director—a woman named Vignette Garrison—she wasn’t sure that Global Earth would last more than a year without Penny’s support. I don’t know how much he gave, but it must be sizable. Exotic animals are expensive to feed.”
“Penny’s son said the old man was giving about a hundred gees a year.”
“Well, that is sizable.”
“You know, you just can’t put all those animals together,” Marge said. “They live in different environments. The place must be large.”
“I’ll find out tomorrow.”
“Know anything about Vignette Garrison?”
“She’s thirty-seven, unmarried, and has devoted her life to saving wild animals. She worked as an assistant in a vet’s office before becoming involved with Global Earth. She’s been there for fifteen years.”
“Do you have a picture of her?”
“Not on me. I can pull up the web site.”
“Let me guess,” Marge said. “She’s tall and stick thin with stringy blond hair and no makeup.”
“I don’t know how tall she is, but she looks very thin.” Decker pushed a button and printed out her picture from the sanctuary’s web site. He gave it to Marge. “She was Fern Robeson’s protégée. She asked me about Penny’s will when I spoke to her.”
“Really,” Marge said. “That’s not only crass, but it also says to me that she has something to gain by his death.”
“Penny was giving her money while he was alive,” Decker said. “Unless she expects a windfall once he dies, why knock him off? And that brings up another question. Penny was old. Why kill him at all? Makes more sense to just wait it out and let nature take its course.”
Marge said, “Darius Penny said his old man was mercurial. If the old guy was about to change his will and leave you nothing, you might want him dead before he has a chance to make the change.”
“How would Vignette Garrison know if he was about to change his will?”
“Maybe she pissed him off,” Marge said. “Maybe he told her.”
“Why would he tell her?”
“To manipulate her or maybe just to be mean,” Marge said. “Darius said his father had made a lot of enemies. He was a mean guy, especially when he drank.” She thought a moment. “I don’t remember seeing alcohol bottles around. I’ll ask Scott about that.”
Decker ran his fingers through gray hairs streaked with youthful red. “If Darius Penny’s firm handled the estate, he would know if his dad was changing the will.”
“He doesn’t seem like a good prospect for the murder. He’s rich in his own right. Plus for the last two months, Darius has been at work from seven in the morning to midnight.”
“And you’ve verified that?”
“Not yet, but something like that would be easily verifiable. He works in a skyscraper near the Battery. Those buildings have video cameras everywhere.” Marge gave him a smile. “If you want to send me to New York for verification, I’m willing.”
“I bet you are.” Decker laughed. “Look, sister, I’ve put in for meals and gas money for your upcoming trip to Santa Barbara. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. All you’ll find there is bad breath.”
Arriving home by seven in the evening, Decker was surprised to find the house dimly lit with no aromas wafting from the kitchen. He flipped on additional living room lamps and called out Rina’s name, but received no answer. It was unlike his wife to be a no-show without explanation. Maybe it was time to check his phone message. Then Gabe came out of his room.
Decker said, “Any idea where my wife is?”
“Your wife had a school meeting. She said she’d be home around nine.”
“Fabulous.”
“There are some leftover cold cuts and potato salad in the fridge.”
“Sounds real yummy.”
Gabe smiled. “Wanna go out? I wouldn’t mind a steak. I’ll even pay. My bank account is flush.”
“Steak is fine with me, and I’m not yet destitute.”
“Want me to drive?”
Decker held up a finger as he listened to his phone message, then stowed his phone in his pocket. “Uh, how about we take the Porsche?”
“That’s fine. I can drive a stick.”
“You can, but you won’t.” Decker went over to a desk drawer and fished out the ignition key. “I’ll get the car and meet you out front. Put on the alarm.”
Five minutes later, Gabe hopped into the passenger seat of Decker’s silver 911 Targa. He was wearing a black T-shirt and a pair of jeans two sizes too big. He wasn’t making a fashion statement with his pants. Of late the kid hadn’t eaten enough to maintain his weight. “Thanks for rescuing me from starvation.”
“I was working all day. What is your excuse for not eating?”
“I dunno. It took me a long time to settle down.”
“From the news about Dylan Lashay.”
“Yeah. Wow, what a relief! I’ve been a basket case this last month just thinking about testifying. God, I’m glad it’s over! Maybe I can finally move forward.”
“Maybe you can put on a couple of pounds. I’ve heard that Manhattan has one or two good restaurants. Take my daughter out and the check is on me. When are you going back?”
“Tuesday.”
Decker was taken aback. “You’re staying through the weekend?”
“Yeah, like I explained to Rina, I just want to unwind a little bit.”
Decker threw him a look, and Gabe blushed. “So when are you meeting her?”
“What?”