CRIME OF RETRIBUTION: A Gripping Crime Mystery Full of Twists Page 23

  “Was anyone else there who could back your story?”

  He thought for a moment. “As a matter of fact, I ran into Dottie on the stairs and complained to her. She offered to get me another escort but I was already late. She told me she would take care of the girl. I left and went to the party by myself.”

  Dan stood to leave. “If I find out you’re lying, you’ll be repeating this story to the police.”

  On his way out, he saw the young couple signing papers at the salesman’s desk.

  “You’d be smart to stay out of debt,” he advised as he walked by, earning a dirty look from the salesman.

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  Dan broke into the congressman’s office to confront him.

  “You’re developing a bad habit of showing up uninvited,” Richard complained. “I gave instructions about my preferred method of communication with you.”

  “I don’t have time for good manners or following orders.”

  “I have a few minutes to spare,” Richard said, appearing resigned. “Tell me what brought you.”

  Without bothering to take a seat, Dan leaned over the desk. “We tried to get Carl to name the person running the drug operation at the ranch.”

  Richard smiled smugly. “He obviously didn’t point the finger at me or I would have been arrested.”

  “You’re not the person his silence is protecting. It’s your wife who is running the show.”

  The man slumped in his chair. “Carl is not the only one. I’ve been protecting her as well.”

  Dan’s voice trembled with anger. “Have you been aware of her guilt the whole time?”

  “A while ago, I had my own suspicion concerning illegal activity at the ranch but I believed Carl was responsible. Later, seeing my wife’s reaction to the discovery of my mistress, I realized she might be guilty as well. When you came hounding me with accusations, I decided the prudent move would be to hire you to find evidence against Carl. It was also my way of knowing exactly how close Dottie was to being caught. You may not believe this, but I would do anything to prevent her from getting into trouble.”

  “We thought you were trying to control the investigation so you could distract our attention and steer the scrutiny away from yourself.”

  “It’s my wife I wanted to protect. I feel responsible for the person she’s become since she found out about the woman I live with in Washington.”

  “Dottie could have made the choice to divorce if being married to you pulled her down.”

  “That’s the sad part. She loves me too much to leave. I don’t deserve that level of devotion.”

  “You’ll get no argument from me,” Dan agreed acidly. “But if it makes you feel better, I think she stays more for the moneyed lifestyle than out of devotion to you.”

  The congressman bristled but made no reply.

  “If you were concerned for your wife’s welfare, why didn’t you break off the affair?”

  He lowered his eyes. “I did the one thing my wife couldn’t abide. I fell in love with my mistress. We plan to marry. I’m going to leave Dottie.”

  “Is your wife aware of your plans to divorce her and remarry?”

  His voice sounded weary when he responded. “I told her after my last return from Washington. I’ve been living in a hotel ever since.”

  “That was probably her motivation to frame you.”

  Richard looked shocked. “What are you saying?”

  “Your wife made it clear you’re solely responsible for all activities at the ranch. She specified dealings which take place after hours. That would include the illegal drug business.”

  Richard’s sympathy turned to dismay. “She’s pointing the finger at me after all I’ve done to protect her?” he yelled.

  “Calm down. She’s the one making innuendos, not me.”

  “I swear I have nothing to do with any illegal activity.”

  “Here’s your chance to prove it. Call Carl. Tell him you and I are coming to the ranch.”

  “Now? I’m hardly prepared—”

  Dan walked around the desk and pulled Richard to his feet.

  “You heard me.”

  • • •

  Dottie answered the door. “If you’re here to see my husband, he’s not here. He’s off somewhere preparing for another of his frequent trips to Washington.”

  Lea was relieved to hear of Richard’s absence. “You’re the one I came to see. I have something to tell you about those trips your husband makes.”

  “I suppose you better come in.”

  Lea took a place beside Dottie on the sofa. “I’m not sure how to start.”

  Dottie reached over and patted her visitor’s knee. “Let me put you out of your misery. If you came to inform me of my husband’s mistress, I’ve known of her existence for some time.”

  “I’m glad.”

  Dottie looked startled. “You are?”

  Lea gulped. “I don’t mean I’m glad your husband has a mistress. I’m glad I wasn’t the one to tell you.”

  Dottie assumed a comfortable pose against a cushion. “Richard flies away, leaving me to keep the home fires burning. To compensate, he brings jewelry or expensive pieces of art when he returns.” She chuckled callously as she fingered a gold bracelet on her wrist. “I know the level of guilt he’s feeling by the price of the gift.”

  “How did you learn of his affair?”

  “I made a surprise visit to Washington on our anniversary. In all the years we’ve been married, he never remembers the date unless I remind him. I bought him an expensive wool sweater to keep him warm in the blustery weather and planned to prepare a home-cooked meal.” The rigid smile on Dottie’s face masked her anger. “When I got to the building, the doorman told me Richard was out. I inquired where I could find him. Sensing his reluctance, I handed him a hundred-dollar bill. His loyalty to my husband vanished. ‘I believe he’s at his other residence this evening, Madam,’ he said. ‘The one he shares with Miss Andrea.’”

  Dottie’s voice remained calm but hatred smoldered in her eyes.

  “He asked if I wanted the address but I had no desire to observe their little love nest. I went straight to the airport and took the first plane back. On the way home, I dumped his anniversary gift in a donation barrel for homeless people.”

  “If his behavior concerns you, why don’t you accompany him to Washington?”

  Her thoughts seemed to turn inward. “I’d rather stay here alone than put up with the pretentious people in his world.”

  Before Lea could respond, she continued in a brittle voice. “But Richard’s naïve to think I don’t know about his affair. I resent his smugness in believing he’s getting away with something.”

  She looked up suddenly with a radiant smile. “I’m being rude by not offering refreshment. Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?”

  The woman’s mood swings took Lea by surprise. “Nothing for me, thanks.”

  Dottie picked up her previous train of thought. “If he’d been honest with me, he would have found I don’t care if he goes to another woman for sex. That part of our marriage waned years ago. All I would have required is for him to be discreet. But he was afraid to tell the truth and I enjoyed watching him suffer for fear I’d find out. That all changed, of course, when I learned of his plans with his mistress.”

  The coldness of the statement shocked Lea into silence.

  Dottie moved to end the conversation. “If that’s all you came to say, I assume we’re finished.”

  “There’s another matter I’m here to discuss. We’re tracking rumors of the ranch being used to distribute drugs,” Lea said, carefully gauging the woman’s reaction.

  Dottie's forehead wrinkled in concentration. “As I recall, the former head of security dabbled in drugs.”

  “Ronnie Sims.”

  The hostess looked surprised. “You know Ronnie?”

  “We met at the prison where he’s incarcerated.”

  “Ah, yes. Poor man. I heard h
e ran into a string of bad luck after they sacked him.”

  “More than bad luck, I’d say. He’s currently in the hospital fighting for his life.”

  “I’ll be sure to let Richard know. He and Ronnie were close during Ronnie’s time at the ranch.”

  “Your statement sounds like another attempt to throw suspicion on your husband,” Lea said harshly, taking the other woman by surprise.

  “My dear, I can’t imagine what you’re implying.”

  “Like the other clue you planted which you hoped I would fall for.”

  “I don’t care for your tone of voice. Explain yourself.”

  “You intentionally visited my sister’s store to throw me off track by planting the tidbit that Richard is solely responsible for night operations. Once you figured out Maddy’s identity, she became an obvious means for you to plant such misinformation.”

  “Why would I take such devious action against my husband?”

  “To divert us from investigating you.”

  Dottie laughed shrilly. “What a vivid imagination you have. Unfortunately, I’m no longer willing to put up with your—”

  A beep interrupted their conversation. Dottie pulled a phone from her pocket.

  “I must take this call,” she said crossly before walking into the hall.

  Lea jumped from the sofa and ran behind the door to listen.

  “It doesn’t matter if Richard is on his way. Stay calm and do as I say,” Dottie hissed. “Don’t lose your nerve now. It’s almost over.”

  Lea held her breath, waiting for Dottie to resume her side of the conversation.

  “Without proof, we’re in the clear. Get the last load out and burn the warehouse. Don’t leave any evidence behind.”

  Hearing those words, Lea ran into the hall. “Who are you talking to?” she demanded.

  When Dottie merely snickered, Lea snatched the phone. “Who is this?” she cried.

  The line went dead. Lea pressed the button to display the identification of the last call received. Using Dottie’s phone, she called Dan.

  “Father was right about Dottie. She instructed Carl to take the last truckload of drugs and get rid of the evidence so we won’t have proof against them.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll catch him. Richard and I are almost at the ranch.”

  “What should I do with Dottie?”

  “I called Tom as a precaution. He’s on his way to you now.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  Carl ended the call with Dottie and yelled at the guards. “Finish loading the truck. I’m driving this shipment myself.”

  As soon as the crates were packed, Carl sent everyone away.

  Next, he walked into the warehouse, grabbed a can of kerosene, and doused the interior. After taking a last look around, he flicked open his lighter and threw it onto a pile of rags.

  Then he put a suitcase in the back of the truck with the produce and drove away.

  • • •

  “Lea is with your wife,” Dan told Richard. “She called to warn me your call to the manager worked exactly as we hoped. Dottie instructed Carl to take the last shipment of drugs himself. We need to head him off to get our hands on the evidence.”

  Before they reached the ranch, they saw plumes of smoke spiraling into the air.

  “Don’t tell me there’s another brush fire,” Richard moaned.

  “If Lea heard correctly, that’s no wildfire. Your wife told Carl to burn the warehouse.”

  Richard looked alarmed. “I had no idea my wife was capable of such treachery. What can she be thinking? She’s putting lives at risk.”

  A tall man stood in front of the burning building shouting orders to workers carrying buckets of water.

  “That’s my partner,” Dan explained. “You need to help him with the fire.”

  “What’s he doing here?”

  “Hopefully, he captured everything on film.” Dan pushed Richard out of the car. “Go on. I’ve got to catch Carl.”

  Warren ran over and leaned in the window. “The blaze is under control and I got pictures of the manager starting the fire.”

  “Good. I’m going after him. Call Tom and tell him to put out an alert on the truck in case I’m not able to catch him.” He raced after the swirling cloud of dust created by the vehicle speeding down the dirt road.

  At the security gate, he screeched to a stop. Pointing toward the truck, he yelled at the guard. “Did he say where he is going?”

  The man shrugged. “Not a word. Just sped past.”

  Dan floored the gas and his car lurched forward. After minutes of driving at dangerously high speeds, he pulled behind the truck and flashed his lights.

  When Carl refused to pull over, Dan moved alongside into the second lane of the two-lane roadway. In the distance, he saw a jeep driving toward him in the same lane.

  “Are you crazy?” Carl yelled out his window. “You’ll crash head on with that car or be forced into the ditch.”

  “Pull to the side of the road, Jensen. It’s over. You can’t get away.”

  Dan waited until the last possible second before moving from the lane of the approaching vehicle. Carl increased his speed and widened the distance between them.

  The two vehicles raced through the curvy hills of Blood Alley at breakneck speeds. Dan weaved in and out, trying to force the truck to the side of the road.

  “You maniac,” Carl shouted, refusing to slow down. “You’ll kill us both.”

  When they began their ascent to the top of the ridge, both drivers were speeding well over the limit. The turn known as Dead Man’s Curve loomed ahead of them.

  Dan was making a final desperate attempt to stop the fleeing vehicle when the truck swerved crazily and careened off the side of the road and over the cliff.

  The last thing he witnessed was fruit flying through the air and splattering across the hillside.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  Dan and Richard arrived at the police station in time to see the lieutenant escorting Dottie to an interrogation room.

  “What happened out there, Archer?” Tom asked. “I hear the truck you were pursuing went off Dead Man’s Curve.”

  Dottie turned when she heard Tom’s comment. Spotting Richard, she lunged at him.

  “What have you done?” she screamed. “You killed Carl.”

  Dan pulled her away. “He’s not dead, ma’am. When we left the scene, a rescue team was extracting him from the wreckage.”

  He looked at Tom. “It was literally snowing out there. They’re using police dogs to locate the cocaine spewed over the hillside.”

  Before he turned back, Dottie launched a vitriolic attack on her husband. “This is all your fault, Richard.”

  “What are you saying?” he exclaimed. “You’re the one suspected of taking over the drug business after Carl fired Ronnie Sims.”

  “The cartel told me you laundered money for them. They threatened to ruin your reputation if I didn’t allow them to continue to use the farm to transport drugs.”

  Richard threw up his hands. “They were bluffing. Those hoodlums have no hold over me.”

  “But they said—”

  “I admit I got in deep with them when we had financial problems. I agreed to launder their dirty money in exchange for cash to pay our debts and make the business profitable. But I settled that debt years ago.”

  “If only I’d known,” the woman wailed.

  Lea stepped in to cut her off. “Sorry, Dottie, I’m not buying what you’re dishing out and neither should anyone else. You didn’t get involved with the drug business to save Richard, but to destroy him. Your dirty dealings were retribution for the way he mistreated you and a source of income in case the divorce left you high and dry.”

  Richard intervened. “How does she claim I mistreated her?”

  “Leaving her behind while you conducted your glamorous life on the East Coast.”

  He stared at his wife. “You always claimed to hate Washington. I thought our arrang
ement was satisfactory to you.”

  “It was for a time.” Her lips thinned in a hard line. “But, stupid man, falling in love at your age. That was laughable enough. To suggest ending our marriage was unthinkable.”

  “I don’t understand, Dottie. You told me our divorce could be amicable.”

  “You’re a fool to believe such things happen,” she said icily. “Or that I would so easily give up my comfortable life and the perks of being married to a congressman.”

  “What she wanted was revenge,” Lea told him. “Your wife put in motion a plan to make herself independently wealthy and destroy you in the process.”

  Tom stepped up to question Dottie. “Were you responsible for the attempt to kill Ronnie in prison?”

  “I imagine that was the cartel’s doing to make sure he didn’t rat them out.”

  “But he was your initial contact with the cartel, wasn’t he?” Dan asked.

  “The matter was brought to my attention during Richard’s absence.” She talked like her husband was no longer present. “When Carl discovered what Ronnie was doing, I told him to fire the man. After some thought, I realized the drug business was the solution I needed. Not only to ensure my wealth in case the divorce settlement didn’t work to my advantage but to ruin Richard by getting him blamed for illegal drugs.”

  “How convenient,” Tom noted sarcastically. “Double payback for your perceived mistreatment.”

  “Retribution for leaving me for some two-bit floozy,” she snarled.

  Richard fired back. “Don’t you dare call Andrea a—”

  Tom raised his hand. “Let her finish.”

  Smiling maliciously, Dottie continued. “Carl and I spent a drunken night together during which we developed a plan to enlarge Ronnie’s little drug running scheme into a serious money-making operation. Carl took over as Ronnie’s contact with the Mexican cartel to distribute their product once it crossed the border and we were on our way.”

  “So taking over the drug business wasn’t Carl’s idea?” Dan asked.

  She aimed her next comment at her husband. “No, but there’s nothing that sweet man won’t do for me.”