It was after 4:00 when Dean signed a receipt for the bulky expense folder. He also asked for and received Byrne's department personnel file. Mayer promised to send the full file with Byrne's picture from the now near-closing personnel office, located in another building. Dean passed out his business card to Mayer and a few of the other workers in case anything important came to mind. He stowed his recorder and descended to street level in an elevator packed tightly with exiting employees. From a pay phone in the lobby of the large building, he placed a call to the Parkside Police Department. He spoke to Harrigan, who was filling out a report on a daylight burglary. Lieutenant Anderson had already left, but wanted Dean to call him at home with an update. It had been a good day for DeLeo and Sackler. They had collared a suspect in their search for the pension check thief. Their case was weak, but they had a strong feeling they had the right man and with a little work could put it together.
Dean retrieved his car and fought his way out of town on roads thick with retreating commuters. It was an hour later when he pulled into an upscale tap house and while waiting for ribs and coffee, called Anderson. Anderson's wife Marian answered on the first ring.
"David? Quick, tell me. I've a bet with Leland-a night of unforgettable pleasure for him against a new golf outfit for me. Was it a skip, or wasn't it?"
Dean smiled. "Which did you pick, Marian?"
"The skip, naturally. Don't tell me you believe the jerk just drowned!" Dean could picture Marian Anderson standing there in a silk robe, cigarette holder in hand, looking every bit the wealthy socialite she was.
"Marian, it's too early for a definitive answer, but don't give away your old golf outfit just yet."
"Oh, you poop. You're just stalling. You know I'm right. But hurry up with an answer. I have to leave town. Do you know where Ouray, Colorado is?"
"No. Why?"
"I inherited property there from some uncle I never even met. I have to go check it out." Marian Anderson, with more money than a small city bank, was always inheriting something. "Oops, here's Leland," she added.
Dean filled in Lieutenant Leland Anderson on the happenings of the day, detailing his conversations with Cynthia Byrne and her husband's employer. When he had summed up his findings, Anderson agreed that the evidence gathered to date pointed to a simple accident.
"Norfolk called three times today. They're pretty anxious to put this thing to bed," Anderson stated. "They want to know if you could fly down and back for a day." Dean had mixed feelings. The trip would make for a 15-hour tour but it would certainly break up the usual routine. "Take tomorrow and check out the details, like the life insurance and that stuff and catch up on your paper work," Anderson continued. "Fly down on Friday and we can put this whole thing in a file cabinet by the weekend. This case is looking like a no-brainer." Dean agreed, and ended the conversation as dinner arrived. He hadn't even had time to do the teaser puzzles on the place mat.