Hit and Run
Page 5
“Mario Torres is the victim’s boyfriend. A fact which brings me to the bigger favor I need, but feel free to say no. I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
“Tell me what you want. I’ll tell you if I’m willing to do it.”
They stopped talking when two detectives entered the room. Deep in conversation of their own, the officers acknowledged Warren with a mere nod in his direction.
Warren leaned over Meg’s desk and lowered his voice. “I’d like to read the file on Cate Palmer’s accident.”
“I see what you mean. That request is a bit trickier. I'd have to bring it to you outside the station. You can’t be seen accessing it here.”
He held his breath while she considered options.
“Meet me at the Pancake House on First Street in an hour,” she said. “I’ll bring the file. You can look at it while I eat breakfast.”
“Thanks, Meg. I owe you.”
“Who do you think is paying for breakfast?”
• • •
Warren had time for another stop before his meeting with Meg. He drove to the Hall of Justice hoping to get a few minutes of the District Attorney’s time.
Shortly after arriving, he was escorted into the man’s office. After a brief exchange of cordialities, Warren explained the reason for his visit.
“Our neighbors lost their daughter recently in a hit-and-run accident.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“I wanted to get your read on what they might expect as far as getting justice.”
“As you know, absent a confession or someone who can identify the driver, proving a hit-and-run can be difficult. Obviously, time is important in any case. The further you get away from the actual crime, the harder it is to prove.”
“I’m familiar with the standard procedure,” Warren said. “I know the police will continue a search for the driver and the car. However, the victim’s brother believes the incident may have been more than an accident and hopes further investigation will be made.”
“It’s common for a victim’s loved ones to want to place blame. Does any evidence exist to controvert the coroner’s report of accidental death?”
“Not according to what the police told the victim’s family but I feel my neighbors are justifiably concerned.”
“If there was foul play as you imply, chances are the driver has scrapped the car and disappeared. In any event, the case will remain inactive unless new information surfaces.”
Warren hesitated to raise red flags regarding his interest in the case.
“That’s my read of the matter as well,” he concurred. “Your confirmation allows me to tell the young man to set aside his doubts and move on.”
“I appreciate the difficulty of your position but you can feel comfortable telling the young man his sister’s death was the result of a tragic accident.”
Warren thanked the District Attorney and returned to his car.
He didn’t for a minute share the opinion everything had been done to determine how Cate Palmer died.
Chapter 7
Lea turned into the entrance of Townsend Towers, a steel and glass skyscraper in the business district. A prominent fixture of the city’s skyline, the building occupied a full block with forty stories above ground and three levels of underground parking.
The name Denise gave her was listed on the directory as Suite 101. She breathed a sigh of relief, happy to avoid the exterior elevators whisking people skyward. She located the stairwell and made her way to Holly’s Party Staffing.
The first floor of executive suites was composed of private offices with shared services, a single receptionist, and a conference room. The small seating area of Suite 101 displayed pictures of attendants standing at buffet tables, bartenders mixing drinks, and smiling food and beverage servers.
A brown-haired woman in her mid thirties emerged from the office with a burst of energy and a broad smile. “Whatever you need for your next festive occasion, we do it all. We’ll do the work while you enjoy the party.”
“Are you Holly Hanson?” Lea asked.
The woman looked surprised. “Most people know me as Holly, the party woman. Few people know my last name.”
“Denise Palmer gave me your name. The Palmers live next door to my parents. I knew Cate when she was growing up.”
The woman’s expression changed from curiosity to sorrow. “The accident was a tragedy. I only met her mother once but Cate talked of her family frequently.”
“Grief is a process. They’re moving through it.”
“You mentioned Denise gave you my name. Are you in need of our services?”
“My visit is of a different nature. I’m looking for information on Cate. Your name came up as a friend of hers.”
“Come in.” The woman led the way to her office.
“How did you know Cate?” Lea asked, taking a seat.
“I take clients to the Wheelhouse for lunch. I met her when she started working there. We got to know each other and hit it off. She wanted to earn extra money. With her looks and personality, I knew she’d be a perfect cocktail server. When her schedule at the restaurant allowed, she served at parties I staffed.”
“As well as you knew her, I would have expected to see you at the memorial.”
Holly shuttered. “Funerals aren’t my thing. Denise invited me but I couldn’t work up the courage to attend.”
“I understand. My sister’s the same way. When she was eight and I was seven, our cat died. We held a funeral in the backyard. She swore that day she would never attend another.”
A man in a brown uniform and carrying a clipboard hurried into the office.
“Here’s your delivery, Holly. I just need your signature.”
She signed the form and shoved the package and receipt in a drawer.
“See you next week,” he said.
“Sure thing, Charlie.”
She waved him off and returned her attention to Lea.
“You said you wanted information about Cate.”
Lea maintained a casual tone but studied the woman closely. “I understand Cate had dinner with you the night of her accident. In fact, the accident occurred shortly after she left your house.”
“That’s right.”
“So you were the last person to see Cate alive?”
“As far as I know,” she said casually, inspecting the polish on her nails. “But why are you interested in her activities that night?”
“Cate’s brother believes there's more to the accident than police are saying. As a close family friend, he’s asked me to make inquiries.”
“He could be right, but what he learns may not be something he wants uncovered.”
“What do you mean?”
“From what I’ve heard, drunk driving was to blame. Unfortunately, the drunk driver may have been Cate herself.”
“What makes you say that?”
“It wouldn’t have been the first time Cate drove her car when she should have called a taxi.”
“Are you saying Cate was intoxicated when she left your house?”
“I wanted to fix coffee but she was eager to get home to Mario.”
An expression crossed Holly’s face which Lea could not interpret.
“So you know her boyfriend, Mario Torres?”
“Mario and I go back a long way. In fact, I was the one who introduced him to Cate.”
“Cate’s brother felt Mario may have been a bad influence on her, especially regarding drugs. What’s your opinion?”
“Cate was easily influenced by people around her. Still, I wouldn’t have introduced them if I had concerns.”
“You said Cate left to be with Mario. Her mother was under the impression Cate broke off that relationship.”
“She did, but it didn’t last long. One weekend in Ensenada and Cate was head over heels in love again. It was no surprise. Besides being charming and good looking, Mario is smart. It’s hard to imagine any woman saying no to him.”
“Tell me about the weekend in Ensenada.”
“Cate worked the party I staffed the Friday before her accident. It was a big bash at Ron Townsend’s home.”
“Any relation to the Townsend on this building?”
“One and the same. Ron is one of the biggest real estate developers in the county and one of my best clients. When he throws a party, it’s an A-list event.”
“Did you talk to Cate at the party?”
“We had a brief exchange when she signed in but the party kept her hopping. When we connected later, she asked to leave early. I couldn’t imagine why. The tips would have been great.”
“Did you find out her reason?”
“I called Saturday morning to ask. She said she and Mario had a blowout the night before.”
“Was her breaking up with him the cause of their argument?”
“I assumed so, but she was anxious to find him. He wasn’t answering calls and didn’t show up for the cruise he was scheduled to work.”
“If Cate was the one who broke off the relationship, why would she want to be in touch?”
“I asked if she intended to get back together.”
“Do you remember her response?”
“She only said she needed to see him and begged me to help her.”
“In what way?”
“She knew he went to visit a friend in Ensenada and asked me to go with her to find him. She was afraid to cross the border alone.”
“Did you agree to accompany her?”
Holly shrugged. “The next day was Sunday so I didn’t have to work. We left after her shift ended.”
“Where did you go?”
“To Punta Banda, a few miles south of Ensenada.”
“I’ve never heard of it.”
“Most people drive through it on their way to La Bufadora, the blow hole. A large part of Punta Banda is a sandbar with vacation homes surrounded on both sides by ocean.”
“Is that where you found Mario?”
“In one of the beach houses, sound asleep on his friend’s couch. I sat on the patio while Cate and Mario talked things over. Things got heated. They shouted at each other.”
“What were they arguing about?”
“A typical lover’s quarrel of he said, she said. I didn’t want to intrude. I went for a walk on the beach. By the time I got back, they were arm in arm. Happily, they had patched things up.”
“Did you return the same day to San Diego?”
“To avoid driving in Mexico after dark, we stayed the night. A surfer two doors down invited us to a party.” She smiled at the memory. “There was a mariachi band, roasted pig, and stacks of homemade tortillas. Tequila flowed and everyone danced.”
“You both returned the following day?”
“Cate’s plans changed. She and Mario decided to fly to Guadalajara to meet Mario’s family in Chapala.”
“Sounds like their relationship was heating up again. Not with angry words but in a good way.”
“I told her she was crazy. Things were moving too fast. She barely knew Mario.”
“How long were they together?”
“Not long enough for her to know him well. There was only an age difference of four years but Mario was street-wise beyond his years.”
“What about her job?”
“I reminded her of that. Cate said she'd straighten things out with her boss when she returned but being with Mario was more important.” Holly shrugged. “What could I do? I left the two of them in the parking lot at the Tijuana Airport and drove home alone.”
The phone rang. Lea waited impatiently as Holly described options for staffing an event.
After ending the call, Holly resumed her story. “The next day, I got an excited call from Cate. She and Mario were going to elope. She would fly home to get her things while he renewed his passport. Then they would meet in Cabo to be married.”
“Did you hear from her when she got back?”
Holly nodded. “She called while she was waiting for a taxi at the airport.”
“Did she tell you more about their plans?”
“She didn’t have time to give details. A friend suggested I invite her for dinner so she could tell us all about her upcoming nuptials.” Her forehead creased in a frown. “The dinner was a disaster. Cate got tipsy and left. My friend was late. By the time he arrived, the roast was dried out.”
She paused and her eyes teared. “That's the last time I saw Cate.”
Neither woman spoke for several moments before Lea reached for her bag. “I should go.”
“Do you intend to continue looking into Cate’s death?” Holly asked.
“The faster I prove her death was accidental, the sooner the family can put the tragedy behind them and move on. Do you know of anyone else with a connection to Cate?”
“You might try Cate's married lover from some months back before she broke up with him. She never mentioned his name but she talked of his being in politics. They met at a party I catered at Townsend’s house. Ron knows him.”
“Where I can find Mario? It’s important I speak with him.”
“We haven’t been in touch since Cate’s accident. I’ve left messages but I haven’t heard from him.”
“Doesn’t that concern you?”
“When he’s on a cruise, he’s busy. It’s not unusual for us to go weeks at a time with no contact.”
“Wouldn’t he want to talk about what’s happened?”
“He must have closer friends to commiserate with.”
Lea didn’t accept Holly’s explanation but she didn’t want to antagonize the woman. She reached into her purse and pulled out a card.
“If you hear from Mario, please ask him to call me. Thanks for your help. I’ll be in touch.”
She took the stairs to the underground parking.
Rather than eliminating doubts about Cate’s death, I’ve come away with more questions, she thought.
Sean felt his sister could not have been intoxicated. Is Holly telling the truth about Cate’s drinking or is she lying?
I’m also sure Holly has been in touch with Mario about Cate’s death. Is she contacting him now to inform him of my interest?
She stood in the middle of the parking garage and stared at rows of automobiles.
There’s a more pressing question I need to answer now. Where did I park my car?
Chapter 8
Warren walked into the Pancake House ten minutes late for his meeting with Meg.
He joined her in a back booth where she was making her way through a stack of pancakes dripping with syrup.
“I’m glad you didn’t wait to order,” he said.
“I’ve got to get back but I didn’t want you to lose the opportunity to buy me breakfast.”
Warren enjoyed their easy camaraderie. Even better, she was someone he could trust to keep what they discussed to herself.
A waitress carrying a pot of coffee approached the table.
“Would you like a menu, sir?” she asked.
“Just coffee, thanks.”
The server turned over an empty mug and filled it before topping Meg’s cup.
“Let me know if you change your mind,” she said, and moved away.
Meg slid a folded newspaper across the table.
“There’s a story in the morning edition you would be interested in reading.”
He glanced around the room before unfolding the paper enough to see a file tucked inside.
“Thanks. I’ll return it to the station when I’m finished.”
He leaned closer. “What did you find on Mario Torres?”
“As a teenager, he had several run-ins with the law. Disorderly conduct, assault, and possession of drugs. The police also responded to a domestic disturbance call.”
“How recent was the domestic disturbance?”
“He was barely out of his teens when that incident occurred. T
he victim refused to press charges.”
Warren shook his head. “Not much there.”
“There’s one other item.” Meg wiped her lips with a napkin. “He was picked up on suspicion of distributing drugs but no charges were made.”
“That’s interesting.”
“It’s also more recent. Two months ago.”
• • •
When Meg left, the only other people in the diner were an elderly couple and the waitress.
Warren wasted no time opening the newspaper and removing the file. The accident report was surprisingly brief. After jotting several items on a notepad, he called his daughter.
The waitress returned to refill his coffee as Lea brought him up to date on her conversation with Holly Hanson.
“What’s your overall impression of Cate’s friend?” he asked.
“She’s pleasant. Perhaps a bit evasive. Seems sincere in grieving Cate’s passing but didn’t hesitate to suggest Cate may have been at fault in the accident.”
“I’m often surprised how quickly people speak ill of the dead,” Warren said.
“I couldn’t get a clear read on her feelings about Mario. One minute, she praised his virtues. The next, she recited his faults.”
“Did she tell you where we can find him?”
“She saw him last at the airport in Tijuana.”
“Does she have any indication he returned to San Diego before Cate’s accident?”
“She claims she hasn’t heard from him.”
“It seems likely the two people closest to Cate besides her family would have been in touch about her accident.”
“I agree. Holly knows more than she’s telling. Were you able to get your hands on the accident report?”
“There wasn’t much in it.” Warren gave her a synopsis of the contents.
“Was Mario questioned about the hit-and-run?” Lea asked.
“He passed a polygraph test when interviewed by police days after his girlfriend’s death. That seems to be the point at which they closed the case.”
Lea’s voice conveyed disappointment. “It doesn’t give us much to go on. It appears minimal work was done.”
“The way the case was handled is a reflection of the officer in charge more than the department.”