Forgotten in Death(96)

“But, as Mother said, post-war was a complicated, chaotic time.” With a sorrowful smile, Singer spread his hands. “In the end, the South-West project simply wasn’t profitable enough to continue. We sold off a considerable portion of it and, again, focused on River Park and other projects.”

“But before you sold a portion of the property, this restaurant—which opened spring of 2025 as the Skyline—and several other buildings were completed.”

“Oh yes. Several of the commercial spaces were occupied, if memory serves, and several of the low-rise residential buildings as well when we sold.”

“Who was in charge of the restaurant’s construction? The job boss, the foreman? The mason and so on?”

“Oh my goodness.” With a half laugh, he sat back. “Nearly forty years? Longer than either of you have been alive and nearly half my own life? My memory isn’t nearly that good.”

Eve turned to Elinor. “How’s yours?”

“As I said, it was difficult to find and keep skilled labor at that time. J.B. and I struggled over that very issue. But I do recall we decided to promote Joe Kendall—a longtime employee—to foreman on several buildings on that site. You remember Joe Kendall, J.B.?”

“A blast from the past,” he said with a laugh. “Yes, I remember Joe. Big as a house, smoked like a chimney. He may have handled the restaurant—the one with the wine cellar. We had several buildings earmarked for restaurant use, I think. I know Joe took on a few of the commercial buildings.

“God, I haven’t thought of Big Joe in years.”

“He no longer works for Singer?”

“He’s been gone twenty years—or nearly. Smoked like a chimney, loved food—especially fried—and carried at least thirty extra pounds.”

“I remember him,” Marvinia murmured. “From the holiday parties. He had such a big laugh. He always called me Miss Marvinia. He had a wife and a couple of children. He wouldn’t have hurt anyone, Lieutenant.”

“That’s not for us to say,” Elinor corrected.

“There was a discrepancy in materials.”

“Of what sort?” Elinor demanded.

“The exterior walls are concrete and block—substandard.”

“Material was hard to come by, and there was considerable price gouging. The goal was quick, and with hopes updating would be done at some point. As it is being done now.”

“An interior wall was constructed about three feet inside that exterior wall. Brick. Good-quality brick and mortar were used. The ceiling—or the floor of the main restaurant over just this area—was formed and poured using good-quality concrete.”

“She was…” Marvinia rubbed a hand over her heart. “They walled her in? Her and the baby?”

“Yes. They had to access the brick—much higher quality than anything on that site at that time. Where would they access it, and so quickly? You had other projects.”

Singer held up a finger. “I see! Someone who worked on, or perhaps even a supervisor on that site could have—would have—known where we had a supply of brick. Either warehouses, or on another site. But, dear, if you’re asking me to try to remember missing material from that time, a shortfall? I couldn’t possibly.”

“That’s what they counted on.” Marvinia turned to him. “Darling, that’s what they counted on. Someone stole it, they’d say, or like with Alexei, they doctored an invoice, or amount. Oh, this is just so sad. Think of that girl’s family. What they’ve gone through. Not knowing. All these years.”

“Stop fancifying,” Elinor ordered. “For all you know she had no family. Or they booted her when she got pregnant.”

“If they did, shame on them,” she bit back, and from the look in Elinor’s eye, Marvinia didn’t bite often. “And that doesn’t change what happened. J.B., you have to think back, look back.”

“Of course I will, my sweet. But honestly, nearly four decades. Sketchy records, lost records, workers coming and going. And I confess, my focus was much more on River Park at that time. The other?”

He looked at Eve, lifted his hands. “It was get it up as best we could. Businesses, ours included, were bleeding money. So we took partners, did what we could to increase revenue while trying to build. To give people some normality again. We did our best in a difficult time.”

“I’m sure you did. But if you would think back and if you have any records from that time we’ve so far been unable to access, we need them.

“Peabody.”

“Yes, sir. We have a warrant for records, invoices, inventory lists. I’ll print that out for you now.”

“A warrant.” Singer held up his hands again. “Hardly necessary. We’re more than willing to cooperate.”

“Even so.” Eve rose as Peabody used her PPC to print out the warrant. “We expect to have the victim’s identity verified within the next forty-eight hours. Employee records are also included in the warrant. She was on your property when she was killed, so she may have had business there.”

“Or she was trespassing.”

Eve nodded at Elinor. “We’ll find out. Trust me. This case is as important as Alva Quirk’s. Thank you for your time, your cooperation, and the coffee.”