MURDER AT THE PIER (A Sister Sleuths Mystery Book 1) (10 page)

Liz folded and refolded the napkin beside her coffee cup as
she spoke. Lea wondered if it was still the strain of the week's events.

"No, he never came to Harold asking for advice or
discussing his job. But he was more than willing to come to his father when he
needed a little something to tide him over between paychecks or when he
overextended his credit lines. Harold was always willing to open his checkbook
for Neal. I think it made him feel useful; like he had something to offer his
son. Of course, the so-called loans were hardly loans because they were never
repaid but Harold didn't seem to mind."

"Did you notice your son-in-law acting differently in
any way lately?"

Liz hesitated, placing her elbows on the arms of the chair
and tilting her hands in a pyramid under her chin. "As a matter of fact, I
did think something was going on with Neal the last several weeks. Something
other than the negative feedback he was getting for the way he ended his
engagement."

"What made you think so?"

"He called one evening late. We had listened to the
news and were ready for bed. Harold and Neal had a brief conversation. It
finished abruptly and Harold was visibly upset. When I asked him about it, he
was reluctant to share the details. Neal was still at work, apparently worried
about something to do with one of his projects. Harold was asking how he could
help when Neal interrupted to say someone was coming into his office. He told
his father to disregard the call. He would work it out and didn't need any
help."

"Did he hear any more about it from Neal?"

"Not a word. My husband called Neal several times the
next day but the calls went to voice mail each time. Harold started to worry
something might have happened to Neal but he finally got a call back around
dinnertime. Neal sounded happy and relaxed. Told his father everything was fine
and he was on his way to a concert. It's the last time Harold spoke to Neal
before. . ." Liz choked, her eyes tearing. "Not a meaningful exchange
for a final conversation with his son."

Maddy reached across the table placing her hands over those
of the distraught woman to quiet the fingers folding and unfolding the napkin.
"It will take time, dear, but Harold has you and Joan."

"I should get back to him now. Let's go to the store
so I can get my car." Turning to Lea, she apologized. "Sorry, I'm not
myself today but hopefully, we'll see each other again soon under better
circumstances."

"Of course," Lea responded, retrieving her
package as she stood. "Talk to you tomorrow, Maddy."

Watching the two women walk away, Lea reflected:
Does
Tom know about the late hour visitor to Neal's office the night before he was
murdered? Had that person offered a resolution to Neal's problem, the source of
Neal's good mood the next day?

She considered the bigger question.
How can I pass this
information on to Tom without Paul finding out what Maddy and I have been up
to?

Tom was at his desk when
a call from the Chief of Police was patched through to him. The smile on his
face told the other detectives it was good news. He called them over to his
desk. "They caught two of the brothers at the entrance to the border
crossing. I called a couple of days ago to confirm the border patrol had
received the APB on the brothers since Mexico was their most likely
destination. Sure enough, they showed up ready to walk across the border and
the authorities took them into custody."

He pointed out two officers leaning against the wall.
"Nelson and Jones in the Burglary Unit are going to get them and bring
them back here, but we’ll get a crack at them in interrogation to find out what
they know about the Henderson murder."

"Where's the third brother?"

"The brothers weren't cooperating with the officers
who detained them but initial questioning indicates he never left the County.
He told his brothers not to worry; he'd get his hands on money and anything
else they needed, and meet them in Mexico. The other supplies he mentioned may
refer to weapons so we need to include an armed and dangerous alert on the
APB."

"Any ideas on where he's headed for money and
supplies, sir?"

"I want to make sure we cover all the bases. I've
divided the Unit into pairs covering all the possible places he might go. You
can get your assignments on the way out.

One team will go to the last known address where the
brothers were living and visit their family. Another team will check with the
brother's parole officer to determine when that officer last had contact with
Roberto. Be sure to get any addresses and contact numbers the parole board has
on file. I'll go back to the vic's office and condominium in case the brother
left something in Neal's possession he wants to retrieve."

Tom walked briskly toward the door. "Hopefully, the
APB will result in the third brother's arrest before the day's over. If not,
let's meet back here before the end of shift to coordinate our findings. Stay
safe out there. Remember, this guy could be armed by now. He's headed back to
prison once he's caught so he's got nothing to lose."

* * *

Maddy was scheduled for the evening hours at the furniture
store. She had plenty of time for an aerobics class after her dental
appointment.

"I shouldn't stop at Maria's on the way. Her donuts
will offset all my hard work at class. On the other hand," she
rationalized, "a little reward is good motivation."

Entering the shop, she encountered a visibly distraught
Maria muttering under her breath as she put a tray of pastry dough into the
oven.

"Maria, you look angry. What's wrong?"

"I've got no patience with men who show no
respect," she explained, waving her hands in the air.

"Who's been showing you no respect?"

"Roberto Ramirez came in this morning and he sure
wasn't here to buy no donuts. He was ranting about how his brother Miguel saw
me talking to the police. He wanted to know why the police came around and what
I told them. I asked him why he was so worried about the police. Then I told
him what I said or didn't say was none of his business."

"Wow. Did that make him mad?"

"You bet," she grinned, "but that bad temper
of his has never scared me. He wanted to know if the cops asked about him and
his brothers. Or if I told the cops where they live."

"Did they? And did you?" Maddy asked,
breathlessly.

"I don't even know where the brothers live. That's
what I told Roberto. Those boys have shifted from one place to another ever
since their uncle kicked them out when he discovered they were selling
drugs."

"Maria, do you know the police are looking for all
three of the brothers? They're suspected of being the ones who have been doing
all the burglaries. There was a blurb on the news last night saying anyone
having any information about them should call the police but to avoid contact
with them at all costs."

Maria's eyes widened and she swallowed hard. "I never
have time to watch the news. Maybe I shouldn't have been so cheeky with
Roberto. Should I call the police?"

"Yes, right away. I've got to go." Maddy hurried
toward the door. "Call the police now, Maria."

"Don't you want a donut?"

"No time. I'll come by tomorrow."

Maddy felt guilty skipping her exercise class but she had
other plans. Hitting a number on her cell phone, she waited impatiently for Lea
to answer. Relieved the call hadn't gone to voice mail, Maddy broke in before
Lea could say hello. "He's in town."

"Who's in town? What are you talking about?"

"The oldest of the burglary brothers. The one who got
out of prison. I know Tom told Paul he thought the brothers were headed for
Mexico but I was just at Maria's. Roberto was in her shop earlier this
morning."

"What were you doing in the donut shop?" Lea
interrupted. "I thought you gave up sweets."

"Never mind about that." Then, as if she was
stating the obvious: "We've got to do something."

"Whoa, what do you mean we've got to do something?
Maria's the only one who needs to do something. She needs to call the police
right away and tell them exactly what Roberto said."

"I know, I know. She's probably on the phone to them
already, but Tom's got his hands full with everything else. We could at least
take a drive by the place where the brothers are staying to see if Roberto is
around."

"Are you crazy?" Lea responded incredulously.
"Didn't you pay attention to the newscast last night? The brothers are
considered to be possibly armed and dangerous. Besides, no one knows their whereabouts
or the police would have arrested them already."

"I'm sure Roberto wouldn't be crazy enough to go back
to where he and his brothers were holed up, although he does sound more than a
little crazy. But if we could eliminate that spot for Tom, he wouldn’t have to
use his resources checking it out."

"There's still the problem of not knowing where the
brothers are."

"Actually, that's not a problem. Maria told Roberto
she didn't tell the police where he lives because she doesn't know, but she
wasn't being entirely truthful."

"Oh, oh. I don't like the sound of this."

"You remember the rancher we met at Maria's. The good
looking one who looks like a model for Stetson hats?"

"The one Maria called Scott."

"He told Maria the Ramirez brothers may have been
camped in the flat area of land next to the river which flooded last year when
we had the heavy rains."

"How does he know?"

"The flat land is adjacent to his property. He scouts
the property to make sure partying teenagers or drug addicts haven't left food
to attract coyotes or other animals that cross onto his property. He saw tents
that were obviously for more than over-nighters. He hasn't reported it to the
police because he hasn't seen any sign of the black Ford truck the Ramirez
brothers drive. He'd recognize the truck if it had been there. The brothers
painted red flames on it to make it stand out."

"If they're driving a truck painted with red flames,
it will stand out to the officers responding to the APB, too."

"That's what I'm thinking. I told Maria to get hold of
the rancher to make sure he calls the police with the information about the
campsite and the truck if he hasn't already. In the meantime, I think we should
drive by the campsite to see if they're still there."

"Don't bother. Paul got off the phone with Tom half an
hour ago. They caught two of the brothers at the border. The only brother still
on the loose is Roberto. You said Maria is calling the police about his visit
today. Given the information the rancher supplies about the campsite, the
police will be sure to check it out."

Lea's reasoning skills surfaced. "Besides, it seems
unlikely Roberto would have reason to return to the campsite with his brothers
gone. It sounds like he's after something other than their camping supplies.
It's doubtful they would have left money at a campsite. He must have a
different target in mind."

In the ensuing silence, Lea could almost hear Maddy's brain
churning. She was relieved to hear her sister concur with her reasoning.
"You're right, Lea. It's none of our business. If I hurry, I'll still make
my exercise class. Talk to you later."

Lea was right,
she thought. But looking at her
watch, she elected to follow her own intuition.
There’s
no way I can
get to class on time. The instructor hates it when someone disrupts the warm-up
routine by walking in late. Missing class gives me more than enough time to
take a little detour before I have to go to work. I'll just take the long way
home by driving past the river instead of on the freeway.

Maddy exited the freeway onto the unpaved
frontage road that ran along the river. The river carried water from the
mountains all the way to the ocean after flowing across the plains, making them
fertile with silt and providing the basis for the rich agriculture of the area.
There were few homes in this area because of the likelihood of flooding from
the river during the rainy season, but flooding was of no concern to Maddy at
this time of year. Typically bare through early spring, the river bed itself
was only now beginning to show signs of vegetation.

Not far from the exit, Maddy passed the RV campground. She
observed a few spots occupied but in another month, the entire campground would
be full and booked through the summer.

As the road narrowed, she was surrounded on either side by
large groves of willows, cottonwoods, and alders, ideal spots for picnics or
camping. Springtime rendered perfect weather for camping increasing Maddy's
hopes of finding signs the brothers had a campsite along the river.

Lowering her window as she drove past thickets of wild rose
and blackberry, she heard the warbling of multiple bird species common to the
area. But it was the sounds of campers she was listening for.

Her hopes diminished as she realized she was getting closer
to the State Park. It was unlikely the brothers would have stayed there since
they would be required to register, furnish identification, and pay daily fees.

She was contenting herself with a 'nothing ventured,
nothing gained' attitude when she spotted it. A black truck with trailing red
and orange flames painted on the side.

It was parked under a huge oak tree next to a wooden picnic
table at the top of the riverbank. There were no tents or other camping
paraphernalia visible but a nearby grove of willow trees could be shielding a
campsite. She turned onto the graveled road leading to the picnic table to get
a better look.

Won't Lea be surprised? Not only have I probably found
the brothers' campsite but Roberto could be at the camp this very moment.
Dialing Lea's number, she muttered.
Darn it. I'm not getting cell phone
reception; I must be out of the coverage area. I'll have to drive back closer
to town until I can get a signal.

Before turning around to return to the frontage road, Maddy
decided to snap a couple of pictures.
I'll email these to the police so they
can pinpoint the exact location.

She stepped out of her car and studied her cell phone,
trying to adjust it to camera mode. The unexpected sound of a gruff male voice
caused her to jump. "Bird watching, Miss?"

The words sent shivers along the fine hairs on her arms and
the back of her neck. Turning abruptly, Maddy knew she was looking into the
eyes of none other than Roberto Ramirez.

There was no question the
man standing in front of her was the older brother of the two men she and Lea
had seen at Maria's donut shop. He had the same dark hair, black goatee and
mustache, and tattoos covering his arms from neck to wrists. A scar in the
pattern of tiny railroad tracks jagged from the tip of his right ear down his
cheek to the corner of his mouth. This older version of the Ramirez boys was
more muscular. There were age lines etched in his face.
Maybe from hard time
in prison
, Maddy thought.

She quickly collected her thoughts, hoping her voice
wouldn't reflect the terror she was feeling. "Oh, hi. I'm looking for a
great spot for a picnic. My family is having a reunion in June. They want me to
find the perfect place. If I don't take pictures and label the different
locations I'm scouting, I can't remember which spots I like best. Have you
camped around here? Can you recommend something?"

Roberto scanned the woman's face suspiciously. "No, I
come here to do a little fishing. How did you find this spot? It's pretty far
off the freeway."

She reminded herself not to underestimate him. "The
way I always find great places for a picnic. I turn my car onto a back road and
go until I see something I like."

His lips drew back in a snarl. "So you're out here all
alone?"

Maddy's heart skipped a beat. The palms of her hands were moist.
She made a show of looking at her watch.

"I had no idea I'd been here so long. I've got to get
going or I'll be late for work." She turned quickly hoping she sounded
more convincing to him than she did to herself.

She was fumbling with her keys to unlock the car door when
she felt a rough, hairy hand on top of hers. She trembled. He grinned broadly
from ear to ear.

"You know, lady, you’re about to learn the hard way
you shouldn't drive back roads by yourself. So this may not be your lucky day,
but it could be mine." He grabbed her cell phone, pulling her roughly down
the path toward his truck. "I think I just found me a get out of town
card."

Realizing his intention,
Maddy knew she had to get away before he got her in his truck. Her lies had
obviously not distracted him. It was time to lay out the facts.

"Hold on, Roberto. I know who you are." Her lower
lip trembled but she kept her voice calm.