Page 69 of Operation: Reckless Angel

“Right,” Penny scoffed and then brushed past them. “Leave me alone!”

Whiskey

Jackson and Roth got back into the car and drove east, to Augusta, for the last stop they’d make before returning to the hotel and Briana. However, based on the conversation with Penny Weston, they decided it would be best to have Briana talk with her. They both suspected she was the friend who was supposed to make a police report to draw Darren Elsworth away from Amanda’s side when Briana was to pick her up and get her out of town. They were sure that Briana could get through to her.

They arrived at the Sheriff’s office just as the full file came through to them from BT. The cell phone overlays confirmed that Amanda and Penny spent a great deal of time together. That, combined with the credit card statements, showed how limited Amanda’s life had been by her husband. She only went a few places each month without him. And she spent a great deal of time alone at home. They discussed their plan before they entered the building. Because of Elsworth’s age and title, Jackson would take the lead and be the most forceful during the meeting. They didn’t believe the Sheriff would respect the younger Roth.

When they entered the office, Sheriff Darren Elsworth was waiting for them. After confirming their credentials, he ushered them into his office and closed the door. It was clear someone had tipped him off that they’d been asking questions about Amanda. “My sister left the other day for Boston,” he said. “I’d like to know why the DEA is asking questions about her.”

He came across with authority. It was obvious that he thought he would run this interview. Both Jackson and Roth found that comical.

“Sister,” Jackson said, shaking his head. “Try again. We know she is your wife.” He pulled up a copy of their marriage license on his phone and showed it to him.

“You can lie to everyone in this county regarding your relationship, but with us, the truth matters,” Roth added.

“It’s not that we’ve lied, per se,” Elsworth said. “Our marriage ended prior to moving here from Boston. But she didn’t want to be alone, and with her fragile mental state, I couldn’t leave her to fend for herself. We discussed it and agreed that passing ourselves off as brother and sister was the best of both worlds.”

Both Roth and Jackson doubted that.

“Fragile mental state?” Roth repeated. “Please explain.”

“My wife had a complete mental breakdown,” Elsworth said. “She couldn’t handle being married to a big-city police officer. She worried incessantly. She got to the point that she was afraid to leave our home because of the crime. That was why I moved us up here, but beforehand, we both realized we couldn’t carry on as married. We hadn’t even had sex in years by that point. She hated me for the work I did and wanted a divorce, but as I said, she didn’t want to be alone either. I knew she just needed to get out of Boston to feel safe. There is very little crime up here. I thought she would improve mentally, but she hasn’t much. And she refuses to see a counselor or get help. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.”

“So how and why did she go back to Boston then?” Roth asked. The Sheriff was about to be caught in his own lies.

“One of my deputies, a friend of ours, drove her right after the storm lifted this morning. And as to the why, she finally agreed to go back and see one of her doctors.”

“Why didn’t you drive her?” Roth pressed.

“I simply couldn’t take the time away.” He paused and flashed them both a confident and charming smile. “I guarantee there is nothing nefarious going on. Now I must ask again, why is the DEA asking around town about Amanda? And why wasn’t I your first stop?”

“Which doctor?” Jackson asked. The expression on his face shouted that they’d be checking the name out.

“Without more of an explanation from you, I will not violate Amanda’s right to privacy any further,” Elsworth said defiantly. “Why is the DEA interested in her?”

“We can’t answer that beyond stating that she is a material witness,” Roth said. “We need to conduct an interview to see if her testimony has merit.”

Elsworth laughed. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but she’s a mental patient. There is no merit and the only thing she’s a witness to is her own mental delusions. I’m sorry she has wasted your time.” He stood, indicating the conversation was over.

Neither Roth nor Jackson moved. “The doctor’s name in Boston,” Jackson pushed.

“Because of HIPPA regulations, he won’t even be able to confirm or deny she is a patient. You realize that.”

Neither men acknowledged his statement. They sat, waiting.

“Fine, Doctor Ira Levin.”

Jackson and Roth stood. “Thank you, Sheriff,” Roth said. “By the way, is that deputy back yet? We’d like to talk to him, too.”

“No, he has family in a hospital there that he is visiting for a few days,” the Sheriff said.

“We’re going to need his name too,” Jackson said.

“Give me one of your cards. I’ll have him call you,” the Sheriff offered.

Jackson handed his card toward the Sheriff, with simply his name and a phone number, no title, no company name. He didn’t release it though when Elsworth grabbed it. “His name,” Jackson repeated.

“Henderson, and I’ll pass your number on to him for him to call you at his convenience.”

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