Final Round

“Really? And-what could that be?” Slowly but surely, Spenser’s stoic resolve was eroding.

“It’s a report of a subcommittee of the board of directors. The financial oversight subcommittee, to be precise. John McCree was the chairman. They were trying to figure out why profits have been down of late. To that end, they had a comprehensive audit performed.”

“Do tell?” Spenser stammered. “I didn’t know of this.”

“I’ll bet you didn’t,” Te

“Okay,” Co

Te

“Fluid income?”

“Cash. Green fees, pro shop grosses, membership dues-which are not at all insignificant. He took everything he could get his hands on.”

“It wasn’t me,” Spenser pleaded. “There must be some mistake!”

“Please don’t insult my intelligence, Andrew. There’s no one else it could have been. All the club’s income flows through you.”

“Perhaps there was an error in the accounting-”

“The fact is, Mr. Spenser has pocketed an amount in the high six figures-in less than two years.”

Co

“I tell you, I didn’t do it!” Spenser protested.

Co

“I’m telling you, there was no conversation.”

“Don’t bother lying, Spenser. I’ve got an eyewitness.” Co

Spenser’s eyes widened with horror. “You’re crazy, I tell you! I haven’t done anything improper.”

Co

O’Brien nodded. “Covering up an extensive embezzling scheme. Pretty damn good motive for murder.”

“Murder?” Spenser said. “Murder?”

“Makes sense,” Co

“I-I-Well, I don’t remember exactly.”

“No alibi?”

“Alibi? I don’t need-“ He stopped suddenly. “That’s it. I refuse to say another word. I want an attorney.”

“The last refuge of a scoundrel.”

“Don’t think you’re going to hide behind some shyster’s coattails, Andrew,” Te

Spenser’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t stir up any trouble you can’t handle, Artemus.”

“Is that it, then? You think I won’t prosecute because I don’t want a scandal at the club.” He leaned forward ominously. “Don’t be so sure.”

Spenser backed away. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m leaving.” He headed rapidly toward the doors. “But let me warn you. I will not tolerate this unwarranted encroachment on my good name. I have a reputation in this community, and I will not stand idly by and see it sullied. If I learn that you have made any libelous accusations, I will instruct my attorneys to seek redress to the full extent of the law.” He skittered out the door and disappeared in the corridor.

“Well,” Co

“True,” O’Brien agreed. “But unfortunately, that doesn’t prove anything.”

“Maybe not, but he had a hell of a motive.”

“I’m begi

28

O’Brien glanced at her watch, then gave Co

Co

“I’m talking about the sewer tu

“Didn’t Liponsky’s dudes scour the tu

“Looking for a murderer, yes. Looking for clues, no.”

“And why would you want me along?”

“Because you’re my golf expert. What other reason could there be?”

They made their way to the rough on the north side of the eighteenth hole. After diligent searching, they found the manhole cover that blocked the access into the tu

“Looks dark,” Co

O’Brien pulled a pencil-thin flashlight out of her back pocket and tossed it to him. “Take this, Slick.”

Co

Advancing feet first, he lowered himself into the narrow passage. “Luckily I had a light breakfast.” Once he was in waist-deep, he kicked around, searching for something to hold onto. He found a rusted iron ladder descending the side of the tu

Cautiously, he placed one foot on the first rung of the ladder. It squeaked and wobbled, but held. The next foot followed. He could feel the strain on the metalwork, but the ladder didn’t break free.

“I’m going down,” he a

“I’ll alert the media,” O’Brien replied.

Co

“There’s some kind of recess down here,” Co

“Big enough to pass through?” O’Brien shouted back.

“Oh, yeah. But it won’t be fun. They’re maybe three feet in circumference, tops.”

“All right. Look out, I’m coming down.”

Co

Co

Co

“I have a brown belt in tae kwon do.”

“Who doesn’t?” He gri

“No, that was because I hate to get my fingers slimy.” O’Brien snagged her flashlight and sca

O’Brien crouched down, then duck-walked into the tu

“You’re the boss.” Co

Once they were five feet from the entrance, the tu

“No,” O’Brien admitted. “This is like something out of Edgar Allan Poe.”

“And then some. If I hear any bats, I’m leaving.”

O’Brien laughed softly. “Bats are okay. But if you hear rats, I’ll join you.”

“Rats? You think there might be rats?”

“Rats? In a sewer? What a crazy idea. Of course not.”

They continued trudging down the tu

“Wonderful imagery,” O’Brien commented. “Very Sisyphean. You read about Sisyphus in college, didn’t you?”