CRIME OF RETRIBUTION: A Gripping Crime Mystery Full of Twists Page 20

  “I understand wanting to be absent when the fire occurred,” Lea said, “But why control what time the blaze would start?”

  “I think I know the answer.” Dan stared at the remains of the blackened curtains. “The arsonist watched the whole thing from a position near the office. As soon as I arrived, he set off the incendiary device to start the fire.”

  “Why did he wait for you to arrive? That almost ensured the flames would be extinguished before significant damage occurred.”

  “Exactly. The arsonist had no intention to destroy the building. He arranged this whole thing so I’d be here to see. This fire was meant as a warning.”

  “A warning of what?”

  “He got to me personally on previous occasions,” Dan said disgustedly. “Now he’s showing how easily he can get to the people around me.”

  “What are we going to do?” Lea asked.

  “I’ve had enough.” He clenched his jaw with determination. “We’re going to flush the scumbag out and end this.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  The detectives started the day discussing the previous night’s fire and deciding on a course of action.

  “We need to keep putting pressure on Wolf,” Warren declared. “If we’re going to take a run at him, we’ll have to break that confident facade of his.”

  “Even if the congressman is guilty, he’s insulated by both his position and his wealth,” Lea complained.

  “He won’t be protected indefinitely. The rich cronies who got him into office will be less eager to be linked to him once accusations of wrongdoing surface.”

  “We’ve been feeding him hints we’re getting closer to the truth,” Dan reported. “With luck, our misinformation may push him to a breaking point.”

  Warren nodded. “In the meantime, we need to find more individuals willing to speak up. If only one person testifies, his attorneys are likely to prevent a conviction. The more people who stand up against him, the better chance we have of putting him away.”

  “Pedro and Adriana are trying to talk other workers into stepping up but there are no guarantees. They are easily intimidated by fear of losing their jobs and not being able to support their families.”

  “Or worse, being sent back to Mexico and separated from their loved ones,” Lea added.

  “I may have found someone else for you to question to unravel what’s happening at the ranch.”

  Lea perked up. “That’s good news. Who is it?”

  “I asked Tom to run a check for any employees with a criminal record.”

  “Who did he come up with?”

  “The former head of security was arrested for selling drugs six months after being terminated at the ranch.”

  “Do you think the events are related?” Dan asked.

  “If dealing in drugs is his stock-in-trade, he may have been active in those activities during his employ.”

  “He’s the one most likely to have connections to the cartel supplying the cocaine,” Dan said. “Where is he now?”

  “Doing four years in Valley State Prison. Drive up to talk with him. You might get lucky and convince him to help with our investigation.”

  “What reason would he have to cooperate?”

  “He’s had time to become sick of prison life. Getting out early should sound good to him. Check with Tom. He may be able to obtain a get-out-of-jail ticket for this loser in exchange for providing information on drug operations at the ranch.”

  Dan stood up. “I’m on my way. I can’t wait to see the look on the congressman’s face if I succeed and he learns his former employee will testify against him.”

  Warren wished him luck. “Hopefully that will rattle Wolf’s cage enough to cause him to confess or to give Tom grounds for an arrest.”

  Lea grabbed her purse. “I’m going with you.”

  Dan held up a hand to stop her. “A prison is no place for—”

  She stomped her foot. “I won’t listen to any objections. You wouldn’t have stopped your former partner from accompanying you.”

  “That’s different. She was a trained policeman.”

  Lea crossed her arms defiantly. “We’ll flip a coin. Heads, I go. Tails, I stay behind.”

  She picked up her purse but Dan stopped her. “Let’s have your father flip the coin.”

  She glared at him. “Whatever makes you comfortable.”

  Warren pulled a coin from his pocket and flipped it. “Looks like you’ll have company, Dan.”

  Lea beamed with pleasure. “I’ll grab my things and meet you in the car.”

  Warren walked Dan to the door. “Don’t worry, she’ll be fine. Under her amiable exterior, she’s tough as nails.”

  • • •

  After signing in at the prison, Dan and Lea were escorted to a bleak room with a table and chairs and told to wait until a guard brought the prisoner.

  At the sound of the door clanking shut, Lea’s pulse raced. Appearing calm, she tried to open it. It was locked from the outside.

  One look at the barred window and she began to pace the floor. She felt lightheaded. For an instant, she feared she might faint.

  “What’s the matter?” Dan asked. “You’re as white as a ghost.”

  “I’m claustrophobic. Don’t like confined spaces.”

  “Sit down. Put your head between your knees and breathe deeply.”

  “I know how to handle anxiety attacks,” she replied tersely. But she did as he instructed.

  “I advised you not to come. I knew this place wouldn’t appeal to you.”

  After a moment, she felt better until he expounded on the subject.

  “Control freaks are prone to panic attacks,” he pointed out. “They feel if they aren’t in charge, things won’t turn out how they want. Maybe that’s why you insisted on coming. You didn’t trust me to handle this the way you would.”

  She raised her head. “Don’t be ridiculous. My anxiety has nothing to do with any unconscious need to be in control. Being in a locked room bothers me, that’s all.”

  “I don’t blame you. I’m not crazy about confined spaces myself. It gives me reason to stay on the right side of the law. I’d never survive being imprisoned in a cell.”

  “Let’s hope Ronnie Sims shares your feelings enough to make him cooperate.”

  A key turning in the lock ended their conversation. They remained silent as a handcuffed man in an orange jumpsuit was led into the room.

  The guard walked the prisoner to a chair. “You okay with me removing his cuffs?”

  “Sure. Just don’t go too far away in case we need you.”

  Dan introduced himself and Lea slid a card across the table. “Thanks for agreeing to see us, Mr. Sims.”

  “It’s alright with me if you call me Ronnie. This place ain’t formal.”

  The man had chin stubble, unkempt hair, and tobacco-stained fingers, plus a habit of drawing air through his teeth which produced a sucking sound.

  “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” he asked sarcastically.

  “We’re interested in getting information about Rancho Hidalgo. We understand you worked there as head of security.”

  Dan’s mention of the ranch got an unfavorable reaction from the prisoner. “I didn’t deserve to get sacked. I was only carrying out orders.”

  “Whose orders are you referring to?”

  Ronnie’s eyes narrowed. “What’s your interest in that place?”

  “We believe illegal acts are being conducted there.”

  He made the obnoxious sucking sound. “Why come to me?”

  “You’re in prison for possession and distribution of drugs. Since your arrest occurred shortly after your termination, we figured you were continuing the same activities you were involved in at the ranch.”

  “Activity for which I wasn’t fully compensated. They expected me to handle the goods without being sufficiently rewarded.”

  Lea’s heart raced hearing confirmation of their suspicions. “How di
d you end up getting fired?”

  “When I suggested I deserved a bigger slice of the pie, they canned me. So I went into business for myself,” he cackled.

  Dan surveyed the room. “Your current residence indicates self employment doesn’t suit you.”

  Ronnie looked deflated. “How could I succeed? I didn’t have their resources or connections.”

  “Give us a detailed description of what you did for them.”

  He leaned back, eyeing them closely. “What’s in it for me?”

  “Quid pro quo. Is that it, Ronnie?” Dan glared at the inmate. “You’ll scratch our backs if we scratch yours.”

  “What’s wrong with that? It’s the American way.”

  “A concept your former boss didn’t understand. What makes you think we’ll agree?”

  He grinned devilishly. “Because I got something you want.”

  Dan grew impatient with Ronnie’s belief he held the upper hand. “We saw with our own eyes how the operation works. They’re hiding drugs in crates of produce and trucking the product to other parts of the state for distribution.”

  Ronnie leaned back, sucking air through his teeth. “If you got it all figured out, why come to me?”

  “We need the identity of the person at the top pulling the strings. Is it the manager, Carl Jensen, or Richard Wolf, the owner? Answer that question and we’ll see what we can do to get you early parole.”

  “I’m not stupid. I ain’t giving out names until I know you’ll spring me.”

  “We have connections with the district attorney’s office but we need time to find out what he’s willing to do,” Lea explained.

  He folded his arms across his chest. “Call me when you have his answer. When I get what I want, you’ll get what you want.”

  “That’s not how it works, Ronnie. The DA won’t consider early parole unless he knows you have the information we need to bring down the outfit running drugs.”

  “How do I know you’ll plead my case after I give you the goods?”

  “You’ll have to trust us.”

  “That don’t sit well with me. I’m running short in the trust department.”

  Dan dropped a card on the table and stood up. “Then we have nothing more to discuss. We do this on our terms or not at all. Think it over and give us a call.”

  Lea walked to the door and called the guard. “Thankfully, we’re done here.”

  • • •

  Several hours after his visitors left, Ronnie was taken to the exercise yard where he got in a fight with another inmate.

  “I need to get out of this place,” he grumbled as he nursed his bleeding chin.

  After being returned to his cell, he retrieved an item from under his pillow.

  “Call the number on this card,” he told the guard. “Tell these people to come back. I’m ready to talk.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  The women were in the storeroom unpacking merchandise when the bell at the front of the store alerted them to a visitor.

  “My goodness, look who’s come in,” Barbara exclaimed. “Congressman Wolf’s wife. I recognize her from pictures in the paper.”

  Maddy spun around to see a woman impeccably dressed in tailored trousers with a double-breasted jacket and leather ankle boots.

  “Let’s go meet her,” her mother urged.

  Maddy pulled back. “You go, Mom. I’ll finish unpacking the new arrivals.”

  Barbara pushed her daughter forward. “Nonsense. A person of her stature deserves to be greeted by the owner.”

  Reluctantly, she presented herself. “Welcome to Maddy’s on Main. I’m Maddy. This is my mother, Barbara.”

  “Nice to meet you. I’m Dottie Wolf.”

  Barbara eagerly extended her hand. “We know who you are, Mrs. Wolf. I voted for your husband in the last election.”

  “How nice.” The woman smiled indulgently. “My husband always says every vote counts.”

  “It must be exciting being married to a congressman,” Barbara gushed on. “But isn’t it difficult with him spending so much time clear across the country in Washington?”

  “We work things out,” Dottie responded. “I have my charity work here at home which is as important to me as politics is to him.”

  “Let’s not waste our guest’s time plying her with questions,” Maddy said in a strained voice. “Is there something in particular I can help you with, Mrs. Wolf?”

  The visitor turned to face her, eyes bright with intensity. “As a matter of fact, it’s a question of my own which brought me here. I was curious to meet the woman who visited my husband’s office under false pretenses.”

  Maddy’s heart stopped beating.

  Her mother looked perplexed. “What were you doing there, dear?”

  Maddy gestured toward the back room. “I’ll take care of this, Mom. You finish unpacking the shipment.”

  Barbara dismissed her daughter’s suggestion. “We have time to do that later. I’m interested to hear how Mrs. Wolf found out about your store.”

  “I’d heard of a new interior decorating shop in town owned by a female proprietor. After Richard told me the story of his visitor, I put two and two together and came to satisfy my curiosity.”

  Barbara gently reprimanded her daughter. “You didn’t tell me you had such a distinguished customer.”

  Maddy offered a weak explanation. “I went to his office by mistake. My client was on a different floor in the building.”

  Her mother giggled. “That must have been embarrassing.”

  Maddy stared daggers at her mother, eager for the conversation to end.

  “There’s no reason for your daughter to be embarrassed, Mrs. Conley.” She ran a finger along an antique wood table and leaned over to inspect the carving. “Judging by the quality of items in this store, I’d say she’s an enterprising woman. And I agree that Richard’s office could stand a redo.”

  Barbara beamed with pride. “Oh, yes, my daughter is creative in many ways.”

  “I can imagine.”

  “My other daughter is equally industrious,” Barbara gushed. “She’s a—”

  Maddy hastened to interrupt. “You’re a business woman in your own right, Mrs. Wolf. You and your husband are the owners of Rancho Hidalgo.”

  Dottie acknowledged the compliment modestly. “My involvement is minimal these days. I leave the business to my husband while I focus on charity work. I sometimes visit the ranch during the day but never at night. In fact, the night operation is hush-hush to everyone except Richard. No matter, I’m often involved with fundraisers during the evening.”

  Before Maddy could offer to show the visitor around, Dottie glanced at her watch. “Oh, dear. It’s nearly noon and I have a luncheon engagement.”

  “We have a new shipment of Tiffany lamps,” Barbara suggested, stepping forward.

  “I’ll return when I have time to browse,” the woman assured them. “I’ve enjoyed meeting you both. Have a nice day.”

  “How interesting,” Barbara exclaimed after the congressman’s wife left.

  “More interesting than you imagine.”

  Maddy couldn’t wait to call her sister.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  When Dan arrived at the Whale’s Tail, Stacy was sitting at the bar drinking coffee. He took the stool next to her.

  “You on your break?” he asked.

  She nodded. “I’m glad you came. I was afraid I freaked you out with our weird late night stroll.”

  He placed his arm on the back of her chair. “It will take more than that for you to get rid of me.”

  Catching Ingrid’s attention, he pointed to a bottle of bourbon on the shelf behind the bar.

  When Ingrid brought his drink, she asked, “Did Maddy deliver her package to you, Dan? Hope you don’t mind that I told her where to find you two.”

  “What package?” Dan looked confused. “Maddy didn’t come to the Lobster Barrel.”

  Stacy squinted. “Maybe she did. Remember
the noise that scared me?”

  “If that was Maddy, why didn’t she talk to us?”

  She leaned back to observe him more closely. “Perhaps her being seen wasn’t your intent.”

  He frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Did you arrange for Maddy to follow me?”

  Hearing the anger in Stacy’s voice, Ingrid moved away.

  “Why in the world would you think that?” Dan asked.

  “You implied someone’s been trying to kill you. Were you afraid I’d pull a gun and shoot you?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous!”

  “Who else would have been there?”

  “How should I know? It could have been a homeless person. And you said yourself that your ex might have you followed.”

  She brushed his arm away from her chair and stood to leave.

  “I had nothing to do with Maddy’s actions,” he repeated. “You believe me, don’t you?”

  “If you say so.”

  But the look on her face told him she didn’t. He gave her a moment to reconsider.

  Her parting words were as painful as a slap. “I think it best we not see each other again.”

  Without giving him time to respond, she hurried across the room and took her place at the piano.

  He looked over his shoulder to see who might have heard Stacy’s tirade. The only two people within earshot were too absorbed in each other to notice.

  He turned back to the bar and lifted his glass.

  I don’t know what Stacy was talking about but I sure as heck am going to find out.

  A slow burn worked its way up his neck. He downed his drink in one gulp.

  And I know where to go for answers.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  When Dan entered the detective agency the next morning, Maddy was in Lea’s office. She held up a box of pastries. “I stopped at the bakery on the way to my store and decided to treat you guys.”

  “She feels guilty consuming all those calories,” Lea told him. “She wants someone to share her guilt.”

  “Speaking of guilt, I’m glad to find you two together.” His voice hardened as he spoke. “I have a bone to pick with you.”