“Jake Caliber is worth ten of you.”
Pruitt laughed.
“You’ve tried him out too, hmm?”
“What?”
“You’ve slept with him, Jake?”
“No!”
“All right, calm down, knowing Caliber, I figured you two had tangled, that dude is a hound.”
“He’s engaged now.”
“Really, wow, the chick must be hot if he’s willing to give up every other chick for her.”
“You really are a pig, Pruitt.”
“More like a horse, if you know what I mean.”
Rayne rolled her eyes and went back to staring at the trailer.
“You really think there’s money here, Pruitt?”
“Let’s go have a look.”
Pruitt ducked under the red tape that was hung about and headed off into the desert.
“Hey,” Rayne called out, but then she followed him.
The terrain was uneven and full of rocks and brush. Cactus were plentiful and stuck out of the sandy soil on most of the land, but as they topped a rise, the land dipped and a field of boulders was revealed, many wider than a man and nearly as tall. Past the field of boulders, the land rose up into a steep bordering hill that was about thirty feet high.
Rayne was impressed by the enormity and stillness of the landscape.
“Gates must have known for certain that the money was hidden here, I can’t imagine he would even attempt to search all this alone on a hunch.”
“Maybe,” Pruitt said. “But probably not, since Gates looked over nearly the whole thing and didn’t find anything.”
Rayne studied the landscape, turning in a circle as she did so. When the epiphany struck her, she nearly laughed out loud, and was unable to hide her smile.
“What’s so funny?” Pruitt said.
“Peter Gates, he wasn’t very bright, was he?”
“You wouldn’t have run into him at any Mensa meetings, but so what?”
“Nothing,” Rayne said, but the smile stayed in place.
“Hey, listen, as long as you’re in a good mood, why don’t we go have that drink?”
“Fine, let’s do that, but it will be coffee. I want to hang out at the diner and see what we can learn about the townspeople, because one of them killed Peter Gates.”
“You mean we’re working a case together?”
“You could prove useful, because I’ll stand out less as part of a couple.”
“You and me, a couple, I like that.”
“Dream on, Pruitt.”
“Whatever you say, Madam X.”
“Don’t call me that again.”
“Whatever you say, Rayne”
“That’s Miss Carver, to you,” Rayne said, and then she headed for her car.
CHAPTER 17
Forest Hills, New York
Gail opened her front door before the old man could ring the doorbell, and then welcomed him and Maggie inside.
Afterwards, Jim Tate shook the old man’s hand as Gail and Maggie kissed each other on the cheek.
The four of them settled in the living room, where coffee and pastry waited.
“Have you heard anything?” Gail asked the old man.
“Jakey called while I was driving here. The blood expert out there says that Velma’s blouse marks her as the killer.”
“That’s not possible; I won’t believe that she killed that man.”
“It’s not over, there’s also proof that Velma was drugged, a needle mark, and now they’re waiting on the toxicology report.”
Gail stood up and paced, and then she looked down at the old man.
“Why didn’t you go to Texas?”
“For Jakey’s sake; he’s ready to run the agency, but as long as I’m there, he’ll always be second fiddle.”
“You’re thinking of retiring?”
“No, but I’m no longer needed, I know that. It’s time that Jakey knew it too.”
Gail let out a long breath.
“If he fails to clear Velma, not only will she be in serious trouble, but his confidence will be ruined.”
“I know, but that boy is ready. I’m Jake Caliber, Gail, but so is that boy, and he’s every bit as good as I ever was.”
Gail sat, and appeared to relax.
“He won’t fail.”
“Damn right,” the old man said, and Gail sent him a smile.
***
Pachaw, Texas
Rayne and Pruitt entered the diner and everyone turned to stare at them.
The diner was twice as long as it was wide and had booths along the right side, while a counter and several tables lined the wall on the left. The mirror behind the chrome counter reflected the sun that streamed through the glass windows, and the color scheme was red and white.
After taking seats across from each other in a booth, Rayne told Pruitt why they were there.
“I want to know as much about Peter Gates as I can, and some of these people grew up with him, so be friendly, talk up the waitress, and see what comes up.”
Pruitt laughed at her.
“Is that how you do it at Caliber?” Pruitt held up his phone. “Why not just Google him? That’s how I found out about the money.”
“That has limitations, and nothing beats talking to real people.”
“That’s crap, and if you want a suspect, I’ll give you one.”
Pruitt fooled around with his phone for over a minute, during which time the waitress came over and took their orders. Rayne tried speaking with her, but the woman was busy at the moment and couldn’t talk. When the waitress went off to get their coffee, Pruitt found what he was looking for, and turned his phone around so that Rayne could see his screen.
She squinted at it.
“That looks like Velma, is it?”
“That picture is from the town’s newspaper. She’s seventeen there, and the guy with the great hair standing next to her, that was Peter Gates, but it’s the woman in the right hand corner that I wanted you to see.”
“The screen is too small, wait, let me take out my tablet.”
Rayne loaded the website onto her tablet and studied the picture.
“Wow, look at that face, that look is pure venom. Who is she?”
“I don’t know, but I bet one of these hicks does.”
The photo showed a smiling young Velma with Peter Gates’ right arm around her. In the background was a woman glaring at the two of them with a look that could kill.
The waitress returned with the coffee, and Rayne showed her the picture.
“Excuse me, but do you recognize that woman in the background?”
The waitress squinted at the screen. Her nametag said that her name was Jeanne. She had gray hair cut short, and her eyes were blue.
“Oh, wow, she’s so young looking there, but oh yeah, I know her.”
“Who is she?” Rayne said.
“Oh, that’s the mayor, Mayor Penn.”
“So, I take it you know her?”
Jeanne smiled.
“Everybody knows the mayor, and she sticks her nose into everything.”
“A real busybody, hmm?”
“Well, it’s not so much that, as it is that she thinks everyone’s an idiot. She’s always correcting people, but don’t get me wrong, she’s a nice woman, just a little bossy.”
“Do you know if the mayor knew Peter Gates, the man that was killed?”
“Everyone knew Peter, the Gates used to be respectable before the father lost all his money, but Peter was living out there in that old trailer, and his brother was shot by the police after a robbery. Such a shame. I went to school with his mother. I’m glad Rhonda didn’t live to see what became of her boys.”
Another customer held up a coffee cup and Jeanne went off to give him a refill.
Pruitt smiled across the table.
“See, I’m useful.”
“Yeah, it could turn into something,” Rayne said.
“So, you’re grateful?”
“Yes.”
Pruitt reached over and took her hand.
“How grateful?”
The kick to his shin was hard enough to make him cry out, and he released her hand.
“You know, I don’t know who killed Gates, but I’m sure of one thing.”
“And what would that be, Mr. Pruitt?”
“It was a woman that did it, and a mean one like you.”
Rayne smiled, and then took a sip of her coffee.
***
Jake had studied the preliminary autopsy on Peter Gates, and had also taken a look at the photos Deputy West had taken of Velma’s injuries. He had then visited her in her cell and asked her about her visit to the trailer.
Before leaving, he took her in a hug and promised her that he would see her free.
Velma thanked him with tears in her eyes, and Jake felt the full force of his responsibility, a responsibility he had carried before for clients, but never for a friend.
Jake tapped on the sheriff’s door as the sheriff was preparing to leave for the day.
“I have a favor to ask before you go.”
“What’s that?”
“This blood expert of yours, he has a proper lab, correct?”
“Of course.”
“Please ask him to run another test, but this time ask him to search for skin cells inside the blouse.”
“Why?”
“You trust your expert. I checked his reputation online and found that you were right to do so, he’s one of the best. If his findings are correct, then, whoever was wearing that blouse killed Gates.”
“Ah, I see where you’re headed, you think someone put on that blouse once Miss Parker was unconscious, and then put it back on her to frame her.”
“Exactly.”
“Hmm, that would cover it, and it would also give them a reason to torch the trailer, because the other blood evidence would contradict the evidence on the blouse.”
“Yeah.”
Hennessy grinned at him.
“You didn’t just inherit the name Caliber, did you? You also got the smarts.”
“I sure as hell hope so, for Velma’s sake.”
Hennessy took off his hat.
“I’ll call Reese Brown and have him look into it, and then I’ll call my wife to tell her I’ll be late. I want to stay and wait for the results of that test.”
“And if he finds a second set of skin cells, what then?”
“That’s when I’ll start putting pressure on other people, because, once we have those skin cells, we’ll also have the key to the murderer’s DNA.”
“And will you let Velma out of that cage?”
“I’ll consider it, but not until morning when the toxicology is due to come back. If there’s anything weird in her blood work, then I’ll set her free.”
“Fair enough,” Jake said, and reached for the doorknob.
“Where are you headed, Caliber?”
“To find my brother, he could use a bit of hope.”
“He loves Velma Parker, doesn’t he?”
“He does, Sheriff, even more than he realizes.”
CHAPTER 18
9:44 p.m. Pachaw, Texas
One of Hennessy’s other female deputies opened Velma’s cell and Rayne entered and sent her a cautious smile, as the cell door clanged shut behind her.
“I see you’ve come to admire your handiwork,” Velma said.
“Excuse me?”
“I know you didn’t plan to have me framed for murder, but I can just imagine how happy you’ll be if I get convicted.”
“Shut up.”
“What?”
“You heard me, I said shut up. Yes, we both want Chris, and yes, I sent Gates to screw things up for you, but damn it, Velma, I’m not your enemy and I don’t hate you. I’m trying my best to get you out of here.”
“How do you expect me to trust you?”
“Ha, look who’s talking? You know why Gates worked so well to screw things up for you? It’s because you like your little secrets. Did you really expect to keep something as big as an ex-husband hidden forever?”
“I would have, if not for you, and Chris doesn’t love you, you know that, don’t you?”
“No, I don’t know that. I only know that he keeps coming back for more.”
Velma looked at her with disgust.
“Slut!”
Rayne sighed.
“I didn’t come here to fight, really, I came here for answers. How well do you know the mayor, Mayor Penn?”
“Mayor Penn? All I know about her is that she jumps to conclusions, but she claims to remember me from the time I visited Peter’s family here.”
Rayne took out a printed copy of the photo Pruitt had uncovered.
“That’s her on the right, and look at how she’s staring at you and Gates. That’s hatred.”
“Where did you get this?”
“Off the Internet, from the local newspaper’s archives, actually, it was a P.I. named Trace Pruitt that found it, he’s the man I hired to bring Gates to AC.”
Velma thought for a moment, and then asked a question.
“This Pruitt, was he on my flight?”
“Yes, but that wasn’t my doing; he came here for another reason.”
“He kept looking back at me during the flight as if he knew me, but I didn’t recognize him.”
“I’m not surprised you spotted him; he’s strictly third-rate.”
Velma held up the photo.
“Have you shown this to Jake?”
“I have, and the sheriff as well. I came here to get you free, Velma, and that’s just what I’m going to do, we all are, Chris, Jake, and me.”
Velma stared at Rayne for several seconds, and as she did so, her gaze softened.
“I believe you, and when I’m free, Chris has a decision to make.”
“You’ve given him an ultimatum, haven’t you?”
“Yes, and if he really wants you, then to hell with him.”
Rayne smiled.
“What’s that smile about?” Velma said.
“I love Chris, and if he chooses you, I’ll still love him, and see, that’s where we differ.”
“You’re a doormat, and I won’t be, not for any man.”
Rayne called for the deputy, but as she was leaving, she gave Velma something to think about.
“Just remember, you gave him an ultimatum, I didn’t, and I’ll be available whenever he wants.”
“Goodbye, Rayne.”
As Rayne walked off, Velma cursed the day that Chris met her.
***
Pruitt returned to his motel room and lay across the bed with his shirt and shoes off.
He was thinking about Rayne, and had been thinking of her ever since he met her.
Madam X is hot.
He then recalled the smile she wore while they were in the desert, smiling as if she had figured something out.
Before he could ponder the smile further, a knock came at the door. When Pruitt opened it, he found Deputy West staring up at him with her noncommittal gaze. She was out of uniform, but Pruitt still didn’t like seeing her on his doorstep.
“Uh, hey, what’s up? Don’t tell me the sheriff wants to hassle me again?”
“Sheriff Hennessy told me to keep an eye on you.”
“Yeah, so?”
West reached up and loosened her hair as she stepped into the room.
“I figured that I should watch you night and day. What do you think?”
Pruitt didn’t think much at all, he just picked up Deputy West and placed her atop the bed.
***
Jake was in a local bar with Chris as they discussed the newest report on Velma’s blouse.
“Doesn’t that prove she’s innocent?” Chris said. “I mean, why else would there be a second contributor of skin cells?”
“She could have borrowed the blouse, or a friend tried it on without her knowledge, but it’s much more likely that those cells belong to th
e person that framed her.”
“Hell yes it is, and thank God you thought to look for it.”
A loud rumble was heard, as over a dozen motorcycles roared by on the street outside. Jake waited for the sound to recede before speaking again.
“Rayne has come up with a suspect, the town’s mayor.”
“Why does she suspect him?”
Jake showed Chris a copy of the photo.
“It’s a woman.”
“What’s the sheriff say about her?”
“That’s she’s a pillar of the community. She owns the motel we’re staying at, and her husband is a veterinarian.”
“And so she would have access to the drugs?”
“Yes, but according to her husband’s records, none are missing.”
“Okay, but at least we have a suspect now.”
“We have two suspects. I asked around, spent a little money, and discovered that the sheriff wasn’t exactly telling the truth about his sister’s whereabouts. She was at the diner when the smoke was first spotted, but she had just arrived there, and Gates’ land isn’t that far a drive.”
Chris nodded in understanding.
“And she’s a doctor, but she did find the puncture mark on Velma.”
“Yeah, there’s that, but maybe she didn’t deny finding it because another doctor could have spotted it easily, and then we would be questioning why she didn’t find it.”
“So, can we trust this sheriff?”
“I think so, but he does have a blind spot where his sister is concerned.”
“Thanks, Jake, you’re doing a great job and I really don’t think that Granddad could do better.”
“Thank me when Velma is free.”
They left the bar and headed back to the motel on foot, as it was a short distance away. When they arrived, they saw that Rayne’s rental was parked outside her room.
“Chris?”
“Yeah?”
“Where are you sleeping tonight?”
“Not with Rayne, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“I was. I like her, Little Brother, and I think she loves you, but I don’t know if you’re right for each other.”
“And what about Velma?”
“Same thing, and I wouldn’t have said that before this week, but it’s your call.”
“I choose Velma, and I think Rayne knows that.”
“Things will be different when we get back. I don’t think that they’ll be able to work together.”
Caliber Detective Agency Box Set 2 Page 23
