Page 50 of The Artist

Chapter14

Peter’s plane landed in Aspen at around three-thirty in the afternoon.He’d listened to the recording on the way over.He knew they had Beecher for the fire, if not the murder.An SUV with a driver was waiting for them as they exited the plane.

Once he and A.J.were buckled up, he sat forward.“Ron.Good to see you.Take us to the sheriff’s department…please.”

“Yes, sir.”He put the vehicle in gear and headed toward Aspen.

If the driver thought anything odd about the request, he didn’t mention it, but all of the Kincaid employees were used to somewhat eccentric behavior.

The driver pulled the SUV in front of the Pitkin County courthouse and killed the engine.The sheriff’s department was housed inside.

Peter stopped at the front desk in the sheriff’s office.“I’d like to see Sheriff Taylor.”

“May I tell him your name and what this is about?”

“Tell him it’s Peter Kincaid, and this is my associate, A.J.Watson.It’s in regard to the gallery fire.”He looked again at the deputy behind the desk.“You’re Miranda, Alexis’s friend, right?”

She grinned.“That’s right.With everything that was happening at that time, I’m surprised you remember me.Let me call back to the sheriff, then we can catch up or wait until after you’re done.”She placed the call.“He’ll see you shortly.”

“Sounds good.I just flew in.Alexis doesn’t know I’m here, and I’d like to keep it that way for a bit.I intend to contact her after I’ve talked to the sheriff.”

“Understood.Whatever it is must be pretty good.”

“Let’s just say there is no doubt about the cause of the fire and who was behind it.”

She pushed out a breath.“Boy, I hope you’re right.McNubbin has been pressuring the sheriff to arrest Alexis.The sheriff has been holding firm that there isn’t enough evidence.I hope you have evidence pointing at someone else.”She lowered her voice.“We all know who did it, but we can’t find anything to prove it.”

“What I have will change that.”

Her phone buzzed and she picked it up.“Yes, sir.I’ll show him right back.”She placed the phone back in its cradle.“Follow me, gentlemen.”

“Right behind you.”

They walked down the hallway to the door at the end.

She knocked.

“Come in.”A deep voice beckoned them.”

Miranda opened the door and then stood back so Peter could enter the room.

Sheriff Taylor stood and held out his right hand.“Glad you could come in, Mr.Kincaid.Mr.Watson.Won’t you both have a seat, please.”He pointed at the chairs in front of his desk.“I understand you have something for me.”

“I do.”He pulled the flash drive from his pocket and handed it to the sheriff.“Mr.Watson acquired this.”

He lifted a brow and lifted his chin a bit.“What’s this?”

“Horace Beecher has a habit of recording all his telephone communication.This is a copy of some of his recordings.If you plug it into your computer, you’ll see what I mean.”

The sheriff looked down at the flash drive.“How was this acquired?”

“Not in a way that it would be admissible in court,” replied Peter.

Sheriff Taylor nodded and plugged it into his computer, then turned his speakers up so they all could hear it.

“This is Beecher.”

“Mr.Beecher, this is Shaw.Avery and I did as you asked, but there was a complication.”