Page 142 of State of Denial

“Take a look at this,” Gonzo said an hour after they’d started.

Sam and Freddie stood, walked around the conference room table and leaned over to read a Facebook post from three months ago by a man named Robert Cauley, the husband of Misty Cauley, one of the four women attached to the lawsuit.When powerful people take advantage of others, when someone chasing a dream becomes a victim, when something is so wrong, someone must make it right. Whatever it takes.

He’d included a photo of a raised fist with the post.

“That makes him a person of interest,” Freddie said.

“I had a feeling you might say that,” Gonzo said.

“What do we know about him?” Sam asked.

Gonzo scanned the report Detective Charles had put together on each of the parties involved in the suit and their immediate families. “He works as an engineer for NASA at the Greenbelt, Maryland, facility.”

“It might be difficult to get in to see him there.”

“Difficult, but not impossible,” Gonzo said. “Let’s give it a whirl.”

“I’ll stay here and keep digging,” Sam said. “I want to look closer at Liliana. We’ve spent a lot of time focused on Marcel. Maybe we’re looking in the wrong place.”

Freddie updated her on what they’d learned from Liliana’s friend Keenan.

“So we were right that she was deeply upset about the lawsuit and thinking of leaving him,” Sam said. “Not sure how that plays with the other stuff we know, but I’ll take a look.”

“See you when we get back,” Freddie said.

He and Gonzo headed for Gonzo’s car.

“Where are you in buying a new ride?” Gonzo asked him.

“I’m paralyzed with indecision. I want something cool but functional.”

“Get one of these,” Gonzo said of his Charger.

“I can’t afford it.”

“Yes, you can.”

“Elin and I are saving up to buy a townhouse, so I can’t swing a big car payment right now.”

“Ah, I see. That’s a good goal.”

“We figure within a couple of years, we’ll have enough for the down payment.”

“That’s great. We’ll be renting forever at the rate we’re going. My illness put us seriously behind the eight ball financially. Rehab ain’t cheap.”

“But it was worth every dime.”

“It was, but it was a lot of dimes. Christina being back to work full time helps, but it’ll take a few years for us to dig our way out of the hole I put us in.”

“You’ll get there.”

“One of these years.” Gonzo shrugged as he drove out of the lot and headed for the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. “Like you said, though, what choice did we have? I’m thankful every day for my sobriety, but we paid a mighty price for it in every way.”

“You and Christina are solid, though, right?”

“We are, but sometimes I still catch her watching me warily, as if she’s worried I’m going to slip up again. Who can blame her? I put her through hell. I put everyone who loves me through hell.”

“That’s not our first thought when we look at you now,” Freddie said. “I see a man who’s fought for his life, his career, his family and friends and come out on top. I see a man who works hard every day to keep himself healthy so he can be there for his loved ones and colleagues.”

---