Murder at Tiger Eye

by Jim Riley

  Dalton laughed.

  “Not nearly as interesting as yours. I sat for four hours listening to the great benefits of Wall Street arbiters. Now that was exciting." The sarcasm was more than evident in his tone.

  "At least you weren't pulling your hair out."

  "I was thinking I could be watching the grass grow in Tiger Stadium and have more fun. What have you gotten out of those great interviews?"

  "A lot of questions," Niki answered. "Not many answers."

  Dalton laughed.

  "And you said the kid was limited in his vocabulary. What was that?"

  "I'm sorry. I hope it's not catching. I found out that Tommy's girlfriend had more love of his potential bank account than for him. I found out that everybody in school knew about it except for Tommy. I found out the only opportunity to switch peanut butter sandwiches for the substitute ones was between the time the parents made him, and when the cheerleaders served them."

  "Not bad for two days on the job. How about Scott? Anything new on him?"

  "Only that it doesn't look like he wasn’t poking fun at Hugh Carter's daughter. They were arguing for a different reason."

  "Have you got a list of suspects yet?" Dalton asked.

  "Yeah. The only problem is that it keeps growing. And I haven't even talked to the clients yet. It seems like every person in Baton Rouge had a reason to kill Scott."

  "That doesn't sound good. I called to let you know I'm headed back to town tomorrow night. Is there any way I can help you while I'm there?"

  "I know just the thing. How do you feel about some public service volunteer work?"

  "Can I use it in my campaign advertisements?"

  "No, but it might help your sister."

  "Then I'm all for it. What did I just agree to?"

  "You and I are volunteering to help make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the playoff game Friday."

  "That sounds like a lot of fun. What's wrong? Did the grass quit growing in Tiger Stadium, or is the place sold out Friday night?"

  "We need to see for ourselves how it works. Some of these people are not telling the whole truth."

  "I know. I could be studying the effects of the Chinese devaluing the Yuen, how the economy will react to a federal interest rate hike, or throwing together peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."

  "Let me help you out. If you make the wrong decision, you're going to have a long, quiet weekend."

  "I can't wait to show you how to make a gourmet sandwich. Mine will put yours to shame."

  "Remember, we’re feeding football players, not restaurant critics. These guys will eat earthworms if you give them a little ketchup to go with them."

  "I'll be there."

  Tuesday Morning

  Central

  The killer watched Niki's SUV leaves the high school visitors' parking lot. Niki pulled into the local poboy shop. She brought her notepad and went inside.

  After ordering a combination of fried shrimp and fried oyster on French bread, she settled into a corner seat with her back to the wall. She listed the suspects in the Scott Wilson case. Ashton Johnston and Sheila Wilson both had strong motives to kill the broker. Niki jotted down the word 'demeanor'. She questioned if either had the mental makeup to kill another person.

  Sam Gonzalez has the wherewithal to kill his boss. He also had a strong motive. If fired from Tiger Eye, Sam would find employment difficult to obtain. With his criminal background, Niki moved him to the top of her list.

  Howard Jenkins was an egomaniac. Could he kill Scott Wilson? Yes. Particularly, if Wilson was threatening to expose his weaknesses. Niki could picture the bowling Tempest within Jenkins reaching a danger zone. Did the risk of exposure try the brash agent over the top? Niki put a question mark beside his name.

  The waiter delivered the fresh poboy. Niki sprinkled a liberal dose of Tabasco sauce before digging in. Then she turned her attention back to the list.

  Dale Blocker may or may not have had a powerful motive to kill Scott Wilson. Niki made a note to interview Hugh and Susie Carter for clarification. If Blocker truly thought his gravy train might get derailed, he might go to extreme measures to protect his lifestyle. Niki put to question marks next to his name to remind her of the two interviews required.

  Danny Mayfield was next on the list for consideration. Considering his attitude and concrete alibi, Niki moved him to the bottom. She put the words 'not likely' beside his name.

  When Niki picked up her poboy to take another bite, an oyster slipped out of from the bottom of the sandwich. She quickly bent trying to prevent the fried morsel from falling to the floor. The following crustacean saved her life.

  Just as she bent, the slug hit the wall behind her head, burrowing deep within the wooden structure. With the report of the rifle and the fracture of the wood painfully ringing in her ears, Niki continued her downward momentum all the way to the floor.

  Grabbing the Smith & Wesson, she peeked over the corner of the table. Across the wide lot of the outdoor shopping center, she saw a figure disappear from the roof of the local pharmacy.

  "Call nine one one," she shouted

  The other customers were torn between the desire to hide, and the urgency to flee. Most slid under the tables. One young girl, probably no more than nine years old, ran toward the door. Niki reached out, and grabbed her before she reached the exit. The young girl cried and frantically clawed at Niki. The investigator holstered her weapon and put both arms around the youngster. She tried to calm her fears while looking around for the parents. A young lady, not more than twenty-five years old, crawled over the two other children in tow. The mother pulled the young girl to her and tried to wrap her arms around all three kids.

  Niki heard the Sirens before she saw the flashing lights in the parking lot. She stood and walked out of the door.

  "Stop, or we will shoot," the lead policeman shouted. "Get on the ground. Now. Get on the ground."

  Niki obeyed the command, laying spread eagle outside the entrance to the poboy shop.

  "She's carrying. She's got a weapon. Keep your eyes on her while I get it."

  One officer stepped to her side, then dropped heavily on top of her, his knee planted firmly in the small of her back. He yanked her revolver from its holster and tossed it to his partner. The deputy on Niki's back grabbed her hands, and cuffed her wrists behind her back.

  Another squad car appeared. A female officer replaced the one on Niki's back. As the other three cops entered the shop with their weapons drawn, the female officer led Niki to the back of her squad car.

  "What happened in there?"

  Niki stayed calm and composed. "Someone took a shot at me through the window. He almost killed me."

  "Did you fire your weapon?"

  "No. I took it out after the shot, but I didn’t to fire it."

  "Where was the shooter?"

  Niki motioned with her head toward the pharmacy. "Over there. I saw someone on top of the building. He was going off the other side right after the shot."

  "You said 'he' before. Are you sure it was a man? Can you describe him?"

  Niki stretched her wrist down by the cost.

  “I think a lot better without these.”

  The female officer remove the still bracelets, and handed Niki the revolver.

  "Now, can you describe the man that shot at you?"

  Niki shook her head.

  "I'm not even sure it was a man. I guess that was my impression from the less than a second glance, but to be honest, I didn't get a good look at whoever it was."

  "How do you know the shooter was aiming at you?"

  Niki laughed.

  "If an oyster hadn’t fallen out of my poboy, and I reached down to catch it, you wouldn’t be talking to me right now. You'd be stuffing me in a body bag."

  The officer glanced at the building. "That close, huh?"

  She left Niki standing by her vehicle while she went inside. Then Niki heard another police car. Instead of pulling into the lot, th
e vehicle went to the other side of the pharmacy. In only a couple of minutes, Niki saw two deputies combing the top of the store for evidence. The female officer returned.

  "Your story checked out, but I knew it would before I went in there. Your weapon has not been fired, and the glass was penetrated from the outside."

  "Thanks," Niki nodded. "It's nice to be believed."

  "Who has a reason to kill you?"

  Niki ran both hands through her hair. "I've been trying to figure that out for the last thirty minutes."

  "Any ideas?"

  "I have a lot of them. But for now, I'll keep them to myself. Before I accuse somebody, I’d like to have more evidence."

  “Fair enough. But we can't help you if you refuse to cooperate. Our job is hard enough even if you did.”

  "I don't mind cooperating," Niki said. "I'm glad you guys showed up. But I don't want to spread random allegations. That wouldn't be fair."

  "We need to get you to sign a statement. If you change your mind about telling us who might be responsible, I'll give you my card."

  Tuesday

  Baton Rouge

  Niki drove back to Scotlandville to visit Jesse Ramirez, one of the two clients who visited Tiger Eye Investors the day of the murder. He and David Phelps were the only clients that had the opportunity to take the letter opener from Donna's desk after she opened the mail.

  The slim investigator drove down Plank Road and cut over to the old Scotlandville Highway. This section of Baton Rouge was referred to as 'the zero five' by the police and the politicians. The two numbers represented the last two digits in the ZIP Code. The police department dedicated more personnel and vehicles to this section of town than any other. Their focus on this rundown area, comprised of about ninety percent Blacks and ten percent Asians and Hispanics, had done little to quell the violence. Shots could be heard almost every night, many of them fatal. Any possession of value was locked up or stolen. Two gangs of thugs battled for territorial rights over the slum.

  Niki parked in front of a rundown, decaying building with a small shop off to the side. The entrance was fronted by a wooden ramp made from a sheet of plywood. When Niki step on the incline, it gave way almost to the ground. When she reached for the rail, it failed to support her and leaned away. She crow-hopped to the top of the ramp and let out a breath. Her knock on the door received no response.

  "Mr. Jesse ain't here."

  The voice came from behind. She turned to see two young black guys standing by her SUV. She had not seen them when she drove up, nor had heard them after she exited the vehicle.

  "Where is he?" She asked.

  "He be gone," the oldest boy answered.

  "Where did he go?" The investigator asked.

  "He go to the sto."

  "Do you know how long he will be gone?"

  "Ain't got no idea. He ain't told us nothing."

  An old Chevy pickup pulled into the yard and parked beside Niki's SUV. A short, pudgy, dark complected man in his fifties stepped down from the dilapidated truck, rust being the predominant cover on the vehicle.

  "Mr. Romero?" Niki said a little too loud.

  "I'm Jesse. Who are you?"

  "I'm Niki Dupre. I'm an investigator for the US Senate. I'm looking into the murder of Scott Wilson."

  "So why are you here?"

  Niki looked at the two boys still standing by the SUV.

  "I'd rather discuss that inside."

  Ramirez unlocked the door and motioned for Niki to follow.

  "That be five dallah, Missy," the older boy said.

  "Huh?"

  "We watch ya’ ca’ for five dallah. That ain’t a good place to park it."

  Ramirez turned back to face the young investigator. "You might want to pay them. Otherwise you won’t to have any hubcaps when you come back out. You may not have any tires left either."

  Niki pulled a five-dollar bill from her wallet and stretched her hand to the boys.

  "That's five dallah for both of us," the old boy pointed at himself and then at the younger boy.

  Niki pulled out another bill and stretched her hand again. The older youth grinned broadly, and grabbed the money, stuffing both bills in his grimy jeans. The boys sprinted out of the yard.

  Niki turned to Ramirez. "I thought they promised to watch my car. They ran off."

  The Hispanic man laughed.

  "You don't have to worry about your car. Nobody will bother it since you paid."

  Niki shook her head. "I don't understand. Why wouldn’t someone bother it if these boys aren't watching it?"

  "This is their street. Nobody does anything on this street unless they approve it. Ain't nobody dumb enough to go against them."

  "Sounds well organized."

  "It's not so hard. Everybody plays by the rules. If they don't know the rules, they learn them quickly."

  Niki glanced nervously out the window at her SUV.

  "How about somebody like me? I'm not from here, and I don't know any rules."

  Ramirez laughed hard. "Everybody knows you aren’t from here. You stand out like a marshmallow in a big batch of melted chocolate. They all know you're here, and before long, they'll know why you're here."

  Niki frowned. "How will they know unless you tell them?"

  Ramirez grand. "I'm part of this community. I do what I have to do to get along. I'm not stupid."

  "I never said you were. I'm trying to figure out what kind of business you’re running."

  The smile left Ramirez is face. "Let's say I'm in the retail business. I buy wholesale and sell retail. I provide a much-needed service to this neighborhood."

  Niki nodded knowingly. "And I suppose those two gentlemen that fleeced me for ten dollars are part of your sales team."

  "A good businessman uses the best local resources available. Those boys are good resources."

  "I'll make another guess. Almost all of your business is in cash and you have few receipts."

  Ramirez just smiled.

  "Mr. Jesse, you have an account with Tiger Eye Investors. Tell me about that."

  "Is it illegal to have an investment account?"

  "No, Sir. But you visited Tiger Eye on the day that a partner was murdered. I'm looking into his murder."

  "And you think I did it?" Ramirez facial expression did not change.

  Niki responded. "I'm not pointing fingers at anyone. After I get more facts, the outcome will become evident."

  "You are wasting your time in Scotlandville. That was a white boy killing. That's not how we do it down here."

  "What do you mean by that, Mr. Ramirez?"

  He poured himself a half cup of lukewarm coffee. Then he filled the cup from a flask in his desk drawer.

  "If we have something to settle with an idiot like Wilson, we ain't gonna stick him in the back. We would look him in the face when we did it."

  "From those comments, I assume you weren't fond of Scott Wilson. Why not?"

  Ramirez sneered. "Because he was an idiot. That's why."

  "What makes you come to that conclusion?"

  "His company is in the business of managing money. To do that, they need folks like me to bring them money. That's stubborn jackass said he didn't want any more of my money."

  "Is that why you went to visit him Wednesday? They refused to take cash from you?"

  "Yeah. How stupid is that? They want money, and I have money. But they won’t take it without reporting me to the feds."

  "Did you talk to Scott Wilson?"

  "It didn't do no good. I talked to Howard first, and he said Wilson went bonkers and told him to quit taking cash from me. I know the rules. I told Howard I could bring him less than ten thousand each time, and they wouldn’t have to report it, but he said Wilson wouldn’t go along with that. He said something about a pattern of deposits and said I needed to talk to Wilson. So I did."

  "I'm guessing that you didn’t change his mind during the meeting."

  “He told me that his investment company did not
need or want my kind of money. I told him my money was just as good as anyone else's.”

  "Were you upset?"

  Ramirez scoffed. "I should have killed him in his office. But I didn't. He was alive when I left that place."

  "Did you go back Wednesday night?"

  "Nope. A lot of my business is after dark. I need to be here to handle it."

  Niki nervously glanced at her SUV again.

  "Any witnesses see you here last Wednesday night?"

  Ramirez screen. "You met them earlier."

  "Those two boys that are protecting my truck?"

  Ramirez nodded. "They are my business associates. They helped me last Wednesday, and they can testify that I was here all night."

  "I guess they would testify that you were on a spaceship to Mars if you asked them to."

  "I am an important contributor to their people. Yes, they have my back. That is something you should remember if you come back with unfounded allegations."

  Niki bristled. "I’ll go where I need to go to get the answers I need. I'll talk to anyone I want."

  Ramirez wagged a finger. "Be careful. Talk like that in this neighborhood, you will punch yourself a one-way ticket to the pearly gates. If you don't want to jump on board that trip, you need to watch what you say."

  Ramirez flicked on a switch under his desk. Niki could see the reflections of a blinking light from the windshield of her SUV. The two boys she encountered earlier appeared beside the vehicle. Six other young boys joined them. Ramirez said something, then continued to smile at the strawberry blonde investigator.

  Niki turned back to the Hispanic drug dealer. "You and your friends don't scare me."

  "Then you are more of an idiot than Scott Wilson. I think it is time for you to leave."

  Niki stood.

  "I will go, but I may be back. Or I may get you to testify in court."

  Ramirez nodded. "Do what you have to do it, but remember what you do has consequences. Ask Scott Wilson."

  After a pause, Ramirez laughed. "Wait, you can't ask him, can you?"

  Niki stood and walked to her SUV. The group of young man blocked her path to the door of her vehicle. She looked back to see Ramirez standing in the doorway. Her hand moved to rest on the handle of her revolver. Ramirez gave an almost imperceptible nod, and the black boys parted, allowing Niki to get inside her SUV. She barely breathed until she was out of the ‘zero five zone’.