by Rayna Morgan
Color drained from Carl’s face.
“I’m sure you’re familiar with the place,” Dan continued. “A man with your taste for gambling.”
“I’ve been there a time or two.” Perspiration dotted his upper lip. He tried to pass the issue off lightly. “Must admit, I never came out a winner.”
“Neither do the girls forced to prostitute themselves with customers.”
Carl pretended outrage. “I’ve never hired an escort there.”
“I didn’t suggest you did.”
The manager relaxed.
“We believe you’re the one who procures the girls.”
Carl leaped from his chair. “I’m not listening to any more of this garbage. C’mon, Scout. We’re leaving.”
Dan grabbed the man’s sleeve. “It’s in your best interest to finish this conversation. We have witnesses willing to testify about both the drugs and the pandering activities you’re involved in. And we haven’t yet discussed the dead body found at the ranch.”
Carl’s eyes widened with alarm. “That has nothing to do with me. The police arrested the person responsible.”
“The person questioned was released based on insufficient evidence.” Dan noticed a twitch in the man’s eye upon hearing the news. “The young woman’s death is still under investigation.”
While Carl reluctantly resumed his seat, the only sound in the room came from the dogs’ panting.
“Your only chance is to tell the truth,” Lea told him. “Otherwise, you’ll take the blame for all of it. Drugs, pandering, and mistreatment of farmworkers.”
“Which may prove to be the least of your worries if you’re an accomplice to murder,” Dan added, walking to the window.
“Listen to what she’s saying,” Warren advised. “If you don’t implicate your boss, he’ll hang you out to dry. You’ll be charged with everything. The whole shebang.”
Carl shook his head. “You’re wasting your breath. Nothing you say will convince me to talk.”
Dan focused on what he was seeing. “Is that your truck parked in the street in front of our office?”
“What of it?” Carl responded gruffly.
“Come here, Lea. Isn’t that the truck that nearly ran me over in San Verde?”
She hurried to the window. “Sure enough. That’s the one.”
Their visitor laughed. “There are dozens of white trucks in the county. And I know you didn’t get the number on the plate.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because I covered it up.”
“Covering the number on a license plate is a violation.”
“You can’t prove that any more than you can prove I tried to run you over.”
Dan leaned over Carl angrily. “How would you like to face a charge of hit-and-run?”
“For that to stick, you need to show intent. For your own information, I had no interest in harming you. I was merely warning you off from further snooping at the ranch.”
“You may think twice about your chances in court when you learn who you’ll be up against.” Dan pressed a button on the intercom. “Come in and join us, friend.”
He smiled with pleasure when the tall white-haired man strolled in from the room next door. “Besides facing a prosecutor in criminal court, let me introduce you to the lawyer who will represent the plaintiffs in civil actions they plan to file.”
“No need for introductions,” the manager snarled. “I know who Whitey is.”
Without shaking hands, the attorney took a seat across the table from the manager to emphasize his adversarial position.
“This changes things,” Carl admitted reluctantly.
Dan smiled. “I figured it might.”
Warren asked what he hoped was a rhetorical question. “Do you choose to face Whitey in court or to tell us what we want to know?”
But the manager stubbornly maintained his refusal to talk. “Hate to disappoint you but I’ll take my chances in court.”
Warren chuckled as he stood to say goodbye. “May the best man win.”
Dan walked their visitor to his truck. “I advise you to reconsider. You still have time to make things better for yourself. Once we move against Richard, you’ll have no chance to plea bargain.”
“You got my answer. Nothing is going to change.”
Carl got in the truck and Dan slammed the door angrily. “One more thing. Stop leaving me notes or when we bring you down, I’ll add another charge for making threats.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The note you left on my windshield and the one I found in a bottle on my boat.”
The other man laughed harshly. “Neither of those was my doing. I don’t make idle threats.”
He drove off leaving Dan standing on the street clenching his fists.
Back in the conference room, he expressed his frustration to the others. “I underestimated Carl. I was sure he’d give in when he saw Whitey.”
“Time for you and Lea to confront the congressman,” Warren said. “Apply as much pressure as you can.”
Whitey rubbed his forehead. “Unless you have better results than you had with Carl, I’ll be dusting off my law books.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
The congressman’s office was on a top floor of the only high-rise building in town which afforded expansive views of the ocean.
The detectives checked in at the reception desk and took a seat in the lobby. The atmosphere was busy with ringing phones and people bustling back and forth between partitioned cubicles.
Several minutes later, a young woman wearing a tailored suit and three-inch heels conducted them into Richard Wolf’s inner sanctum.
He stood at the floor-to-ceiling window viewing cars whizzing by on the freeway below as though the fate of the commuters rested on his shoulders.
The centerpiece of his office was an oversized desk carved in oak with an antique walnut finish. One wall boasted pictures of the congressman with famous people from various walks of life. The remaining walls were covered with expensive paintings or black-and-white photos depicting the history of the family ranch.
The room was designed to enhance Wolf’s larger-than-life appearance and create an impression of his having the upper hand.
He returned to his desk and waited while his assistant made introductions. He was a tall, solidly-built man with a full head of trimmed gray hair, icy blue eyes, and a reddish complexion resulting from too much sun during years of farming or too much alcohol during years of politicking.
“Please, call me Richard,” he said, after the visitors were seated in front of him. “Can Ellen bring you something to drink? Coffee, perhaps, or bottled water?”
“No, thank you. We’re fine,” Lea responded.
Richard dismissed his assistant with a brief nod of his head.
The reception was intended to be cordial but their host had an air of detachment that came across as arrogance. Dan had a nose for pretentious superiority. With the legislator, he felt he was facing it in spades. He decided to play into the man’s vanity.
“This is a beautiful piece of furniture, sir,” he said, running his finger along the edge of the desk. “The craftsmanship is superb.”
Richard’s chest swelled with pride. “This desk has been in my family for three generations. Passed on to me by my father and his father before him. Originally built for use on a plantation during the Civil War.”
Lea pointed to the artwork on the wall. “Are those pictures of Rancho Hidalgo?” she asked with interest.
He pointed to various photos as he recited a brief history of the farm. Then he sat erect and folded his arms across his chest. “Now how may I be of service?”
“We've actually come to discuss activities taking place at your ranch.”
The geniality vanished. “I was told you are potential donors with a desire to contribute to my next campaign.”
“I’m sorry if your assistant misunderstood.” Lea appeared chagrined. “I told her w
e’re interested in the financial aspect of your business with an eye toward investment.”
“She assumed you meant investing in my political future. I don’t have partners in my farming operation.”
“I hate to differ with you, sir.” Dan maintained a casual tone while zeroing in on the purpose of their visit. “Your manager seems to be running the show. Although that doesn’t entitle him to partnership status, he may see things differently.”
“Are you aware of conditions at the farm?” Lea asked pointedly.
Richard looked perplexed. “I receive monthly financial reports which I review.”
“I’m not referring to profit and loss but to the state of affairs of the farmworkers you employ.”
The comment caught Wolf by surprise. “What do you know about the status of our employees?”
“From the look on your face, I’d say we are more aware than you,” Dan replied.
Richard’s temper flared. “I resent your implication. Before I got into politics, I was a hands-on supervisor familiar with every facet of the business from the ground up.”
Dan dismissed the protest. “As you say, that was before your second career got underway.”
“Politics leaves little time for farming,” Richard grudgingly admitted. “That’s why I rely so heavily on my manager.”
“Forgive me for saying, but it appears your manager is overstepping his authority.”
Wolf’s brow knitted in a frown. “Please be more specific.”
“It looks as if Carl has developed sidelines for making money of his own. We have reason to believe he’s transporting drugs under the guise of shipping produce.”
“That’s preposterous,” Richard sputtered. “I would know if such activity was going on.”
“What can you tell us about the dead woman found at the ranch?” Lea asked, switching gears.
The congressman shook his head gravely. “A terrible situation. My manager informed me the police arrested the young man responsible for her murder.”
“Your manager misinformed you. No one has been formally accused. The investigation is ongoing.”
Richard looked surprised but quickly regained his composure. “We’ll leave the matter in the capable hands of the authorities to find the person or persons responsible.”
Without letting up, Dan moved on to the next matter. “Are you familiar with the Sterling Club?”
The other man’s eye twitched. “I’ve heard the name.”
“You have no first-hand knowledge of the establishment?”
He studied his buffered nails, giving himself a moment to gain composure. “From what I hear, it’s obviously no place for a man of my position.”
“Not obvious to me,” Dan replied impertinently.
Wolf flinched. “I don’t care for your attitude or your insinuation.”
A vein popped out on Dan’s forehead as he gripped the arms of his chair. “And I don’t care for men who bully women into acting against their will.”
“How dare you!” The congressman’s face reddened as he rose from his desk.
“Let’s take a moment, gentlemen,” Lea suggested. She waited while Dan took a deep breath and their host resumed his seat. “Let me explain what my partner is referring to, sir. Your manager attempted to coerce a worker on your farm into selling sexual services at the club in exchange for paying off her father’s debt.”
“Get out!” he screamed with indignation. “I don’t believe a word of what you say. You’re wasting my time with baseless and defamatory accusations.”
His hand trembled as he pressed the button on the intercom. “Ellen, my visitors are leaving. If they haven’t exited the building within three minutes, call security.”
He turned his back on them, his voice thundering with scorn. “Leave at once or I’ll have you thrown out.”
“Look into your affairs, Mr. Wolf,” Dan suggested as he stood to leave. “Or your next unexpected visitors may come with a warrant for your arrest.”
“I’ve never been guilty of wrongdoing,” Richard replied, breathing heavily.
“There are rumors of money laundering in your past,” Lea pointed out.
“Nothing more than ludicrous attempts to smear my name. That happened long ago and there was never proof.”
“It hardly matters. Any association with illegal activity now will raise enough questions in the minds of the voters to taint your reputation. But feel free to keep sticking your head in the sand. It’s your funeral.”
Before they reached the door, he called them back. “Wait, you may be right.”
When his assistant came to escort the visitors from the premises, he waved her off. “It’s all right, Ellen. My guests and I got off on the wrong foot but we’ve decided to continue our conversation.”
Looking perplexed, the woman backed from the room and closed the door.
Richard straightened the knot in his tie while Lea and Dan resumed their seats. “I see now it may be in my best interest to cooperate. Let me clear up your misconception of what’s going on at the ranch to eradicate rumors before they get started.”
“Does that mean you’re willing to answer our questions?” Lea asked eagerly.
“I’ll go further than that.” He smiled but his voice had an edge that belied goodwill. “First, tell me who hired you to investigate the ranch.”
Lea and Dan looked briefly at each other.
“We weren’t hired to investigate Rancho Hidalgo,” Lea admitted. “Our job was to locate a missing person employed as a laborer there.”
“Which employee?”
“We’re not at liberty to divulge the person’s name.” She hurried on without being more specific. “What is relevant to you is what we discovered during the course of our search.”
He held up his hand to interrupt. “If you weren’t hired to investigate the ranch, I can retain your services without creating a conflict of interest.”
“I suppose.” Lea was clearly perplexed. “To what end would you employ us?”
“I can see you’re a worthy opponent. I’d rather you work for me than against me.”
“In what capacity?”
“To dispel any notions of irregularity before my reputation is damaged. The press could destroy me with even a hint of scandal. I need to determine how susceptible I am to charges of wrongdoing.”
“In other words,” Dan concluded, “you want us to prove you innocent before someone else proves you guilty.”
A smile crossed Richard’s face. “That’s one way of putting it.”
“You know whether or not you’re guilty. Having us prove things one way or the other won’t change the facts.”
“I need the party’s support for re-election. If anything ugly surfaces, they won’t take my word. I want to have third party verification to back me up.”
Lea squirmed. “Such an approach is irregular, to say the least. We need to consult with our partner before taking on such an assignment.”
Dan waved aside Lea’s objection. “That won’t be a problem. I’m sure our partner will agree. I applaud your action, congressman. By giving us access, you’ve taken a big step toward proving your innocence.”
• • •
Lea vented her frustration during the elevator ride to the lobby. “Surely you don’t believe his claims of innocence.”
“Not for a minute but it’s better to let him think we’re on his side. And in the unlikely event he is innocent, I’m happy to be paid to prove it. Besides, it’s a way for us to feed him information.”
“What kind of information?”
“We’ll tell him we’ve found evidence to prove illegal activities are being conducted at the ranch.”
“Except we don’t have proof other than what we can’t use because we were trespassing.”
“But Wolf doesn’t know that. I intend to drop hints about our progress so he becomes nervous enough to make a mistake.”
“Being able to hear his conversations with Carl would
be a big step toward proving their guilt or innocence.”
“I provided a way for us to do that,” he bragged.
She put her hands over her ears. “I’m afraid to hear.”
“While you were admiring his pictures and he gave you a history of the ranch, I planted a recording device on the lamp on his desk.”
“You didn’t!”
“I just told you I did.”
“I meant to say you shouldn’t have.”
“It’s too late. The bug is in play.”
“You gave me no chance to object before you did it,” she sputtered.
“Quit griping. Don’t you want to hear the conversation when Richard repeats our accusations to Carl?”
“Of course, but you could have told me before you did it. You planned to plant the device before we came.”
“Let’s say I prepared for the opportunity in case it arose. What are you going to do, shoot me?”
“There are already other people trying to do that.”
“Very funny.”
Inside the car, Dan dialed the number stored on the listening device. Within seconds, Wolf’s voice was heard calling his manager.
“We need to talk.”
“Sure, boss. What can I help you with?”
“I’m uncomfortable discussing these matters on the phone. I’ll come out there tonight. Meet me in the main building at nine o’clock.”
“I’ll be there. But can you give me an idea of what this is about?”
“I had visitors in my office making accusations about activities taking place out there.”
“What activities?”
A woman’s voice could be heard in the background. “Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Wolf, but your major donor is calling.”
“All right, Ellen. I’ll finish the call I’m on and be right with him.”
“He’s going to end the conversation,” Lea hissed.
Dan held a finger to his lips.
“There’s an incoming call I need to take,” Wolf continued. “We’ll talk tonight.”
“Fine by me, but I assure you there are no problems.”
“There better not be.”
After determining the subsequent call to be of no consequence, Dan disconnected. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “To what should we attribute his unwillingness to speak with Carl on the phone? Our bad luck or his cunningness?”
