Identity Crisis (Sam McRae Mystery 1)

“What was Tom like?”

“Kind of arrogant, you ask me. One of those ever-so-charming types who get by with a smile and a few well-chosen words.” The corner of his mouth turned up in a wry manner. “But he came down a few pegs.”

“What do you mean?”

“Something was really eating at him toward the end. Before he was, you know ... found.” He paused, taking a drag on his cigarette. “When he started the job, he was cocky, sure of himself. One day he just changed. I don’t know, maybe it was his situation at home. He was ... distracted. S

hort with everyone. Where it really took a toll was his friendship with Bruce.”

“Really? I thought Bruce and Tom were close until Tom died.”

“They were, but I guess even strong friendships can break down. Bruce hired Tom to work on the computers here. Only gave him the job because he was a friend.” Skip jerked his cigarette hand in a derisive gesture. “Like this place needs a computer consultant.”

“Why would Bruce hire him if he wasn’t needed?”

“To help him out, I think. I heard Tom and he were old friends, and Tom had just come back to Maryland after spending a long time out of state.”

“I understand he created the club’s website, too.”

“Yeah. It’s not like he didn’t do anything, but I don’t think he was all that essential either.”

“You’d think the owner would object.”

“Owner doesn’t really care. Bruce pretty much runs the place. I guess as long as he doesn’t run it into the ground, whatever he does is fine.”

“So what’s Bruce like?”

“All right. I guess he feels like he’s got a good thing going here or something. He doesn’t seem to have any other ambitions.” He shrugged. “Mind you, I’m just speculating. I don’t really know him well.”

“How do you know their relationship was deteriorating then?”

“Their loud arguments.”

“Here? In front of customers?”

“No, no, always in the office. I could hear them through the door when I went back for a case of beer or something. You could hear them over the music, that’s how loud they were.”

“What did they say?”

“All I heard were voices, not what they said. Then there was this time they were in there going over spreadsheets. They looked kind of worried and were talking low, although no one could have heard them anyway. It caught my eye, so I stood there a moment, watching them.”

And no doubt listening, I thought.

“I was going to say something,” he said, “when Bruce saw me and got this weird look on his face, like I shouldn’t have been there. I figured maybe I should go about my business. So I went into the back room for more beer. On the way out, I noticed the door closed, and they were at it again. Yelling, that is.”

“What do think that could have been about?”

“Could have been arguing over his bill, maybe. Seemed funny, though. Don’t know why Tom would have been looking at spreadsheets with Bruce.”

“Maybe it was something that had to be entered into the computer?”

“Maybe, though I thought he was pretty much done with setting up the computer at that point.”

“When was this?”

“Not too long before his, you know.” He looked away. “His death.”

“It bothers you to talk about it?”