Page 18 of Gage
Gage shook his head. “No clue. I only met her a couple days ago, so I’m as in the dark as you are. Maybe we should have included her in this meeting, but I wanted to hear what you had to say, what you found out regarding the autopsy and death certificate. Honestly, there’s something about this whole case that stinks like two day old fish. Feels off, and I’m not just talking about the screw up with the mistakes on the autopsy. But thatcould just be me, reacting to Brandon McKinney swearing she’s innocent.”
Chance turned to Ranger. “You haven’t said much. What’s your gut telling you?”
Ranger looked down at his feet for a beat, then two, before looking up and meeting Chance’s gaze. “I don’t think she killed her husband. I don’t have enough facts to say that she didn’t have a hand in it somehow, but she didn’t hold the knife and plunge it into her husband’s chest, or slit his throat. Whether she hired somebody else to do the deed, I can’t say.”
“What’s your gut say?”
“I don’t think she did it. There’s a whole lot more going on that we don’t know about. Whether it’s related to money, power, jealousy, or greed, I don’t know, but if I was leading this investigation, I’d say we need to look into who else stands to gain from Dawkins’ death besides his lovely wife.”
“When I talked to her, Suzanna mentioned her husband’s business partner, Donald Blackthorn. The day before he died, Dawkins and Blackthorn had spent the day in talks with a potential partner, Sandoval Enterprises.” Ugh, even saying the company’s name left a bad taste in Gage’s mouth. He’d dealt with Sandoval Enterprises in the past, coming out on the losing end of that encounter. Their owner, Gustavo Sandoval, purported to be a successful businessman, with offices and employees around the globe, and was a respected businessman. He’d even made magazine covers, proclaiming him the new up and coming business leader whose generosity was helping to reinvigorate and reenergize flagging cities and communities.
Gage knew the truth though. He’d encountered Gustavo Sandoval more than once. Had watched him go from a poor street kid to one of the richest men on the planet. While everyone lauded him for his charitable works and business acumen, they didn’t know about his dirty back room deals or thefact that he was one of the most corrupt people Gage had ever encountered.
If Suzanna’s husband had planned to work with Sandoval, it made him question Dawkins own integrity. He also wondered what type of project Blackthorn and Dawkins planned, because Sandoval didn’t do anything that didn’t put large amounts of money into his bank accounts.
“Sandoval Enterprises, huh? All I know about them is what I read in the papers. Of course, I don’t trust anything I read from mainstream press and even less of what I see online.”
“Well, Chance, I can tell you that my dad refuses to have anything to do with anything Sandoval Enterprises is associated with, if that gives you a clue.”
“Tells me all I need to know. If Uncle Gator doesn’t trust them, I’d steer clear. You dad knows more about all the movers and shakers than I’ll ever know, especially all the dirt. I wonder how much Mrs. Dawkins knew about her husband’s dealings with Sandoval?”
“From what little she said, I’d wager she doesn’t know a lot. She said Blackthorn and his wife came by for dinner after her husband and his partner spent the day in talks with Sandoval Enterprises. She entertained the wife after dinner, while Dawkins and Blackthorn went into the study. Apparently she tended to keep the wives happy, while he talked with the husbands.”
“Gage, have you talked with the detective in charge of the Dawkins’ case?”
“Not yet. I’ve called a couple of times and he’s not responding. I heard he’s playing his cards close to the vest, because he’s planning on using this case as a career builder, and a stepping stone to move up the chain at DPD. I’m going to drive to Dallas and talk to him face-to-face. I’ll go over his head if necessary.”
Chance grinned and Ranger chuckled. “I have no doubt you’ve got the clout to open a few doors if need be. I do think it’s a good idea to talk with Suzanna. Gage, you know I can’t do anything officially on her case. It’s not in my jurisdiction, plus she needs a good defense attorney, not a prosecutor. I’ll help off the record in any way I can, but I’m afraid my hands are tied otherwise.”
“I understand. I don’t know if she’s got an attorney yet, but if not I’m going to suggest she hire Alexander Tedesco. He’s a shark and I bet he’ll be chomping at the bit to take on Suzanna’s case. Plus he owes me a favor.” And Gage had no trouble calling in that marker, because Suzanna needed to have somebody on her side that would pull out all the stops to defend her.
“I think rather than bringing her here for a formal interview, since I really can’t be seen to be officially involved in her case, Gage, there are a couple of questions you need to ask her.”
“I can do that. What are they?”
“Number one, she claims to have slept through her husband’s attack, even though she was in the bed with him when it happened. Did she take any sleeping medication or any other type of drug? Is it possible that she was drugged without her knowledge? That might account for her sleeping through his murder without hearing or seeing anything. Number two, is it possible somebody else was in the room besides her and her dead husband, before the maid arrived. I know she said she was awakened by the maid’s scream, but have her really think about it. Could she have heard or seen something and not realized what it was? Number three, does she have any idea about her husband’s dealings with Sandoval Enterprises? If her husband was planning on working with Sandoval, did she know in what respect that might be? We all know Sandoval is dirty, even if we can’t prove it. Does that mean her husband wasn’t as squeaky clean as she’d have us believe?”
“Those are a lot of questions, and I planned on asking some of them anyway. I’ll talk with Suzanna when I get back from Dallas. I’m heading up there as soon as I leave here, to talk with Detective Jansen. If I’m there in person, he can’t keep avoiding me.” Gage wanted to rub his hands together like a cartoon villain at the thought of confronting the detective. He hated cops like Jansen, the ones who laser focused in on one suspect and refused to look at any other evidence or person who didn’t fit their preconceived scenario, which felt like what he was doing to Suzanna.
Ranger stood, stretching his tall lean body, the joints actively popping and cracking. He dropped a hand on Gage’s shoulder, squeezing tight. “Why don’t we stop by the ranch long enough to let me switch out with Bas? You should take him with you. He’s good at getting people to open up. Something about his sarcastic wit either makes them want to talk willingly, or they’ll talk just to get him to shut up and leave. Either way, it’s a win-win. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt for you to have backup.”
Gage shook his head. “I’m better working alone.”
“It’s either take Bas or me. Dad said he didn’t think it was a good idea for you to work the case alone. And that was before we heard about the whole Sandoval angle. Want me to put him onto finding out what the connection is between Sandoval and Dawkins?”
“No,” said Gage.
“Yes,” Chance added, talking over Gage’s objection.
“Goodie, I get to be the tiebreaker,” Ranger smiled. “I vote yes. I’ll call my dad and put a bug in his ear. He’ll love getting to officially look into Sandoval.”
Gage sighed and stood. “How did one simple favor for a buddy I owed turn into an in-depth murder investigation?”
Chance grinned. “That’s what happens when you’re one of the good guys.”
“We better hope I can get Detective Jansen to spill his guts, because this case is more twisted than a basket of snakes.”
“I have no doubt you’ll figure it out. Now get out of my office, I’ve got work to do.” Chance made a shooing motion, grinning when Ranger made a bee line for the door. Gage followed more slowly, his mind already focused on dropping Ranger at the Big House and picking up Bas Boudreau. He fought the urge to skip out without taking the other man, but he had the feeling he’d have a tail following him straight to Dallas if he tried.
