“No. I remember asking him at the time if they didn't like me. I think I said something like ‘maybe they don't approve of our marriage, because I'm twenty years younger than you are.’ He told me that had nothing to do with it. He said at their age they preferred to stay home and take care of the farm. It seemed a little odd to me, but maybe it’s the truth. I don't know, and I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable asking his sisters. I don't think they're dealing drugs, but I sure wouldn't be surprised if they were using them. It's pretty sad when you think about it.”
“I couldn't agree more. Is there anything I can do for you?”
“The best thing you could do for me is find out who killed Laura. I know that guests are supposed to give a newlywed couple like you and Roger a present, but in this case, if you could find out who killed Laura, you'd be giving me the best present I could ever have.”
After ending her phone call with Renee, Liz spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon with Roger and their four children, Jonah, Brittany, Cole, and Jake. Cole was taking the other three to the San Francisco airport so they could catch their various flights that afternoon and early evening.
Hugs, kisses, and best wishes abounded. Finally, all four doors were closed on Cole's car, and everyone waved as the car made its way down the lane to the highway that led to San Francisco.
When the car could no longer be seen, Roger put his arms around Liz and said, “Well, I’ve said it before, it's just us now, you and me in our new life.” Winston barked as if to say, wrong! I'm here and I'm part of this new life you're talking about. He tried to slip between the two of them, but Roger was holding Liz as close as he could, and Winston couldn’t squeeze in. He looked forlornly up at Roger, not sure what his role was going to be with this new relationship.
CHAPTER 14
When Roger walked into Bob’s law office that afternoon at five o’clock, Bob said, “You're prompt Roger, but you always were. Come on in. I've got a secretary, but she only works here in the mornings. She's really good, and I wanted to take her with me, so she's at my supervisor's office in the afternoons. Have a seat, and let's get started. Renee's doing better, but I don't want to leave her alone for long, although now that her mother's with her, I think it will help. The downside is that her mother is grieving as much as Renee, although Renee also has a huge sense of guilt. She feels if we hadn't hired Laura to take care of Celia, she'd still be alive.” He shrugged his shoulders. “She might be right.”
“As I mentioned to you on the phone this morning, Bob, I'm very curious why you decided to drop out of the supervisor's race with only a couple of weeks to go given your interest in politics and the fact that you were kind of the fair-haired boy. I know you hate to hear it, but I think it’s safe to say you were also the Republican’s token Mexican. Can you tell me why you dropped out?”
Bob stood up, walked over to the window, and stood looking out of it for several long moments. Finally he started speaking to Roger, and from the tone of his voice Roger could tell this was a very painful subject for him to talk about.
“I received an anonymous phone call in the early afternoon of the day I dropped out of the race. The person told me he was sending a courier over to my office that would be there momentarily with proof that my parents were illegal immigrants, and he would make sure they were exposed and sent back to Mexico. The courier came with a manila envelope while I was on the phone with the caller. My secretary signed for it and brought it to me.
“The man on the phone told me to open the envelope and look at the contents. He had solid documentation that my parents were illegals along with their photographs, photos of their farm, and a lot of other personal information about my family and parents. He told me if I didn't drop out of the race that very day, there would be an expose of the information in the papers the next morning about my parents as well as negative information about my brothers and sisters.”
“Bob, let me interrupt. From what you're saying, I'm assuming that your parents are illegal immigrants. Is that true?”
“Yes. Over the years I tried to get them to become American citizens, particularly when I became involved in politics. I know people, and there are ways those things can be expedited. Unfortunately, I never could convince my parents to do it. They were sure they’d be sent back to Mexico. That was the excuse they used. Between you and me, I think they were afraid that everyone would know about my brothers and sisters. I’m almost certain they wouldn't do it because of that.”
“Do you think your parents would have been sent back to Mexico?”
“If they’d done it the way I wanted them to I could have guaranteed them they wouldn't be sent to Mexico. The anonymous caller told me he had people who would gladly make sure they were sent back to Mexico when they were exposed as being in the country illegally. Roger, I couldn't risk that. My parents supported and encouraged me from the time I was a little boy to make more of my life than they had. I know I wouldn't be where I am today if it hadn't been for them. I could not and would not allow myself to be the cause of their being deported. It’s as simple as that. I called a press conference late that afternoon and dropped out of the race.”
“How did Renee feel about it?”
“As much as it pained me and as close as we are, I didn't tell her. I knew she’d urge me to continue on with the race. She probably would have told me my parents would want me to stay in the race and not want to stand in the way of my becoming an important political figure in the state.”
“That had to be a very tough decision you had to make, Bob. I admire you for doing it. What did you think when the numbers came in on election night, and you learned you won by a landslide?”
“Quite frankly, I couldn't believe it. The numbers were far greater than the campaign consultants I'd hired before I dropped out had predicted. Let me answer the next question I'm sure you're going to ask. You want to know why I decided to accept the position even though I'd dropped out of the race.”
“Yes, that's exactly where I was headed. Why did you do it?”
“I'm kind of an old-fashioned politician. I never got into politics to feed my ego. I really want to help people, and I particularly want to help my fellow Mexicans. I decided if there was that much of an overwhelming mandate for me to become a county supervisor, then I would bow to the will of the people and accept the position. I felt I owed it to the people who had both supported me and voted for me.”
“Have to ask you again, Bob, what did Renee think of your decision?”
“She's such a wonderful understanding woman. I told her just what I told you about the will of the people of Dillon County. I didn't hear anything more from the anonymous caller, and I assumed that with my win and my acceptance of the seat there would be no more threats against my parents. After all, I’d done what the caller had demanded by dropping out of the race.”
"So you think there’s a good chance that Laura’s murder was politically motivated?”
“Of course, wouldn't you?”
“Yes, I probably would. We both know your expertise in law is in estate planning and taxes, and as you know, mine’s in criminal law. I always look to see who has the most to gain when a crime is committed. In your case, regarding the phone call, it would have been your opponent, the Reverend Lou Jacobs, who had the most to gain. Do you think he was behind it?”
“You can't even begin to imagine how many times I've asked myself that very question. Yes, he could have been behind it, but he wasn't the one on the phone. I’m certain of that. But Roger, here's the thing I keep struggling with. What does this have to do with Laura's death? I can't believe the reverend, a man of God, would have anything to do with her death. I heard he was furious that I'd won, and he'd lost again, but I just can't see him hiring someone to kill her, so he could, in some strange way, retaliate against me.”
“Bob, you're a smart man. All you need to do is take a look at history and see how many wars were fought in the name of religion. And I hate to play th
e race card, but it's well-known that the reverend's church caters to the most conservative of the conservatives. Don't think a lot of those people would be real happy about having a Mexican represent them."
“Yes, I suppose there is some truth to that. The problem is it could be anyone associated with the reverend or his church. If it’s someone he knows, they could have murdered Laura as a vendetta against me, but there's a good chance the reverend knows nothing about it. As a matter of fact, I had a very nice voicemail from him today expressing his condolences. He said something about although we've certainly had our differences, he wouldn't wish these circumstances on anyone. I thought that was a nice gesture.”
“That may be all it is, Bob, a nice gesture attempting to divert your thinking. I know I sound very cold-hearted, but in my practice I’ve come to learn that most unsavory people don’t usually decide to do good things out of the kindness of their hearts. Anyway, I want to switch to another topic. When I was on the phone with you this morning I asked you about relationships you had prior to Renee.”
“Roger, I don't think that's very important. Sure, there were a few, but they were kind of meaningless.”
“You may have considered them meaningless, but that doesn't mean they weren't meaningful to someone else. Who comes to mind?”
Bob took a deep breath and avoided looking directly at Roger.
CHAPTER 15
Bob sat at his desk, the index fingers on his hands steepled with his forehead resting on them. He took a deep breath. “Roger, you have to believe me when I tell you that Candy really meant nothing to me. You're a man of the world. Sometimes a man gets caught up by a woman, and she holds him in her net, refusing to release him.”
“Am I to understand that Candy was one of those women?”
“Yes.” He looked at Bob and said, “I met Candy when I was working in San Francisco. I went to a bar after work one night, and she was there with friends. There was an instant attraction, and from that time on we saw each other a couple of times a week until I moved to Dillon and met Renee.”
“Bob, I think you can do a little better with the description of the relationship than what you’ve told me. Try again, and I especially need to know more about Candy. Please, don’t hold back. It’s just too important for you to do that.”
He stood up and began pacing the floor. “Candy was from an Italian family that owned a couple of restaurants located on one of the piers in San Francisco. She was the stereotypical Italian woman, a dark-haired passionate beauty with a temper to match. Even though I'm no longer tangled up in her net, I have to say she was a fascinating woman.”
“How did you end the relationship?” Roger asked.
“The same way it started. Even though I’d moved to the city of Dillon and opened my law practice there, I had to go back to San Francisco now and then to take care of some loose ends. I'd met Renee and knew that I wanted her to be my wife. You see, there was a big difference between the two women. I loved Renee, and I was infatuated with Candy. Unfortunately, Candy didn't understand the difference. When we met for drinks that night, I told her I thought she was one of the most fascinating women I'd ever met, but I had found someone else I wanted to spend my life with. You can imagine how well that went over.”
“What did she say?”
“You have to understand the background of her family. These were hot-blooded Italians who were very well-known in San Francisco. They were used to taking whatever they wanted from their restaurants on the pier to buying politicians to do their bidding. Losing was not an option for them, and that’s exactly what Candy told me. Her brothers were involved in some things I always thought it was better that I not know about. Candy told me they had told her they would have preferred that she find an Italian rather than a Mexican, but at least I was someone they wouldn't have to be embarrassed about. She told me they'd be furious when they learned I had broken up with her.”
“Was she emotional about it when you told her?”
“That might be the understatement of the year. I remember trying to quiet her down, because she was screaming so loudly that everyone in the cocktail lounge had stopped talking and was listening to her. It was not my finest moment.”
“I can well imagine. How did it end?”
“Not well. I realized she was never going to understand why I preferred someone else to her, so I got up, put some money on the table, and told her goodbye. That was pretty much it.” He stopped talking, looked down, and twisted his wedding ring around his finger.
“Bob, I hope you understand that I'm not trying to push you, but if I'm going to help you, I need to know everything, and I have a feeling you're deliberately leaving something out.”
“Yeah, and I suppose that's what makes you such a good lawyer. Well, I might as well tell you. The last words Candy screamed at me were ‘You better watch your back, and whoever the woman is who stole you from me better watch hers as well.’ At the time I didn't think much of it, figuring it was just a passionate outburst. Those words have been haunting me ever since Laura was murdered. I know Candy would never commit murder, but her brothers had a number of associates who were clearly capable of it and more than willing to do it in order to please them."
“Do you know what's happened to her? Has she found someone else? If she's happily married to some Italian guy that the family loves, maybe that's all it was - words uttered in a passionate moment.”
“No, I haven't seen her or talked to her since that night. I have no idea where she is or who she's with.”
“You may remember that the law firm has a great investigator I've used over the years by the name of Sean. I'll give him a call and see what he can find out. When he's finished we'll know everything about her from the moment you stopped seeing her to the moment he stops investigating her. By the way, what's her last name? Sean will need that.”
“Poncinello.”
“Are you kidding me? Bob, everyone in San Francisco knows that name. It's rather infamous. You certainly picked someone with a checkered family past. As I recall, there was some scandal years ago about a Mafia murder taking place at one of their restaurants. No one was ever arrested and the scandal died a natural death. I guess you’re right, with the kind of money I’ve read they spend on supporting politicians they can pretty much do whatever they want. Is there anything else I should know? And does Renee know anything about Candy?”
“Renee knows I was seeing someone in San Francisco, and I ended it when I fell in love with her. Beyond that, there was no reason for her to know. Think about it Roger, I was forty-eight when I fell in love with Renee. She was twenty-eight. Neither of us were children. I know she was engaged to a rancher, Mitch Warren, when we met, and she knew I'd had a number of relationships over the years. At my age, you're going to bring a little baggage to the church on your wedding day. As much in love as we were and still are, neither one of us cared about the other's past relationships. It simply wasn't important.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Bob looked at Roger intently. “Roger, I know Renee feels she might have been the cause of Laura's death, but I’m concerned it might have been because of me, not her, that Laura was killed. It very easily could have been a political vendetta or, on the other hand, it could have had something to do with my spurning Candy. In both of those situations, I could be the cause of Laura's death. If I was, I'm not sure I’ll ever be able to forgive myself, and I don't know if Renee will be able to forgive me. Please help me.”
“I'll do everything I can. I know it sounds simplistic, but try not to worry. Renee and Celia really need you now. You have to be there for them. I'll let you know the minute I find something out.”
“Roger, thanks. I feel better knowing you're looking into it. From what you told me about the local police chief, Seth Williams, it doesn't sound like he'd ever be able to find out who did it.”
“Bob, much as I hate to admit it, Liz is probably better at this than I am. She’s solved several other murders, in
cluding one that took place in one of her cottages out at the spa. Then there was the murder of a young man who was interning for her in the kitchen of the lodge, and the last one she solved was the murder of Seth's deputy. I gave her advice, but she was the one who solved the cases. So look at it this way. You're getting two sleuths for the price of one. I may have a few credentials after my name, but Liz has the nose of a bloodhound. She calls it her niggle.” He put his hand out to shake Bob's. “I'll be talking to you soon.”
CHAPTER 16
Roger could smell the garlic before he even opened the door to the lodge. “What are you fixing for dinner? It smells wonderful, but before you tell me, first I need a hug and a kiss from my wife,” he said taking Liz in his arms. Winston stood next to her and looked up at Roger. He'd learned it was probably a good thing if he didn't try to get between them when they were doing whatever it was humans did when they stood close together like they were right now.
After a moment, Liz stepped back and looked up at Roger. “I figured we both needed some comfort food after the events of last night. We're having a mixture of mussels, clams, and shrimp in an herb broth served in a big bowl along with a crusty loaf of sourdough bread and a mixed green salad with a light vinaigrette dressing? How does that sound?”
“Absolutely fabulous. If I was in a restaurant that's probably what I'd order, plus it looks like it's going to rain. I think I'll start a fire, and we'll curl up on the couch for the evening, but first I'll open that bottle of sauvignon blanc I saw in the refrigerator this morning. That should be perfect with the meal. Okay with you?”
“Sounds great. I've prepped dinner as much as I can, and I'd really like to hear what Bob told you, plus I learned some interesting things from Renee that I'm going to follow up on tomorrow. You want to go first or do you want me to?”
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