Rollover (21 page)

“So it's okay to screw over insurance companies? And put my job in jeopardy? This is one hell of a way to say you love me.” The sheriff paused and turned to Dan. “So what happens now? Will your company press charges?”

“Pressing charges will fall to the insured. It will be up to Gertrude Kennedy. She has several options. Press charges, sue to get the three-hundred-thousand back, or simply take a loss on the money and insure the necklace at its current, lesser value exonerating United Life & Casualty of any claims. She may have a case with the bank because of their president's involvement. I can't speak for her but I will meet with her in the morning And then, the Feds may have a say about prosecuting because of the bank involvement—hiding money taken from an account without the owner's permission or knowledge for an out-of-country transfer and deposit.” Dan put the recorder and binder back in his briefcase. “I'll keep you posted.”

He left the house hearing Penny entreating the sheriff to just listen to her, give her a chance. Dan doubted that would happen. His grandmother used to say “there's no fool like an old fool,” and he knew the sheriff didn't relish being duped.

Chapter Nineteen

Dan turned the Cherokee toward town. Questions. Just when he thought he might be getting closer to answers. For starters, he was convinced that pretending to find the necklace was a mistake. Penny should have just left that part alone. But when he wouldn't leave town, she had to try something else. “Finding” the necklace was her ace. She counted on UL&C recalling their agent. Yet, Penny and the necklace were only one part of the puzzle. It didn't explain Amber's call to check Dan's itinerary so that Chet Echols could put him out of commission. And it didn't explain Amber's death and the bank president's death—somehow that was tied to the ricin. But why was he so sure of that? And, if so, how were they connected? And locking up Elaine? How did that fit in?

“You're quiet. Are you okay?” He realized Elaine was staring at him.

A half glance in her direction, then full attention back on the road. Nothing like a rollover to improve your driving habits.

“Still too many unanswered questions.”

“And here's something else. I remembered something this afternoon. I can't make sense out of it, but I know it happened. I'd forgotten about it until now.”

Dan waited. Was that all? “Want to share?”

“You'll think this is crazy but what if I told you I think Penny was one of my captors?”

“Why do you say that?”

“The one who put an ice pack on my ankle had a tattoo. I thought it was a trunk—”

“A chest of some sort?”

“No, no, like a tree—a tree trunk. Only now I know it was a stem, the bottom part of a four-leafed clover.”

“Penny has a tattoo?”

“Yeah, and not a little one either. It's about the size of a silver dollar.”

“I never noticed.”

“How could you? She always wears long sleeves. She only rolled her sleeve back today when she got scalded.”

Now it was Dan's turn to be silent. What part would Penny play in abducting and hiding Elaine? And who was her accomplice—or the other way around?

“You didn't hear their voices?”

Elaine shook her head, “No one said anything.”

“You were blindfolded, possibly drugged—certainly suffering a twisted ankle and in pain…not good indicators for making your memory foolproof.”

“I know. I'm even doubting myself.”

“Tell me again what you do remember.”

“Well, just before I fell I heard a scream—not just one, more like a series of frantic cries. You know, like someone was terrified.”

“Guess we can assume that it was Amber and she was afraid for her life.”

“I don't think abducting me had anything to do with men unloading a truck. It probably
was
a load of fertilizer and feed. I think someone thought I saw something else—something happen to Amber.”

“Bound, gagged, stripped, thrown into a car that was set on fire—what had she done? What could warrant a death so brutal?”

“It smacks of anger. Whoever did it didn't like her very much. Why do you think they used my car?”

“Maybe for no other reason than to buy time. Didn't think the body would be identified so quickly—wanted me to think it was you. Or, hey, maybe just because it was handy.”

“And maybe they thought you would leave. That killing me would be the last straw.”

“Didn't know me, did they?”

“Dan this is all so dangerous. Solving the necklace's disappearance is such a small part of it. The bad guys are still out there.”

He didn't want to tell her he was thinking the same thing. He wasn't sure they were any closer to a solution than they had been this morning.

“Are you sure this is the business you want to get into?”

“Yes, I'm beginning to like the danger…a little.”

“Well, you have a front-row seat and plenty of time to decide.”

“Are you up for stopping by Gert's? I'd rather do it now and not wait.”

“This won't be easy.”

***

Gert met them at the door and didn't invite them in. “It was Penny, wasn't it?” She looked tired, Dan thought. All eighty-five years seemed etched in wrinkles around her eyes. “I'm afraid I haven't confronted her. I've waited on more evidence…something concrete.”

“I understand. Apparently, she didn't act alone. Lawrence Woods was a part of this.”

“That ninny. He wasn't right for this town. Stood out like a sore thumb. Not hard to believe he'd be on the take.”

“But she did it for love…I'm not sure that makes a difference but she was trying to help the man she loves.” Elaine offered.

“I don't think he needed money. Certainly not now.”

“With the medical bills from his wife's illness? I think they were exorbitant and him being so close to retirement.” Elaine added.

Gert looked perplexed. “Who are you talking about?”

“Sheriff Howard, of course.”

“That was over thirty years ago. He dumped Penny to marry that snippy little Emma Waites. Penny was devastated. She'd had a dress picked out. They were engaged, you know.”

Elaine just stared, then glanced at Dan. He looked as lost as she was.

“But you seemed to indicate that Penny does have a boyfriend.”

“Used to, anyway. And with benefits, I'm sure. Isn't that what they call it today? You'll excuse me talking about my own daughter this way, but Penny was never good at keeping her knickers up.”

“Who would this boyfriend be?” Dan finally found his voice.

“The bank president, of course. God rest his soul.”

“Lawrence Woods?” Incredulous. Dan just stared. It was shock enough to think of Penny as a biker babe, but a cougar? Why, there had to have been fifteen years difference in their ages.

“One and the same. Started last year right after he moved to town. She had lots of free time and a place to meet. She pretty much runs that laboratory out there by herself. Doc Jenkins travels a week out of every month and she keeps things going. There were plenty of overnights, I can tell you that. No, there was no way she stole from me to pay some poor man's debt. I'm afraid it was just plain avarice. I think that bank president saw a way to get quick money. I'm just positive it was his idea, his pressure for her to act. I don't think their romance would have ever amounted to anything. So, to Penny's way of thinking she was just dipping into her inheritance—the fact is, I'm not dying quickly enough.”

Gert paused. “I don't think they knew that I'd guessed what was going on. But there were too many whispered phone conversations when she thought I was asleep on the couch. I might be from a different generation but there are some things that don't change. And, Mr. Mahoney? It's not Alzheimer's. I'll keep in touch. Insure the necklace with the remaining stones. I won't register a claim. I'm just so sorry that a member of my family had to cause so much heartache for you.”

***

“Do you think the second person in the walk-in cooler could have been Doc Jenkins? Five eleven, slightly built, a stoop to his shoulders?” Things still weren't adding up, Dan thought.

Elaine put a cup of hot chocolate on the table and pulled out a chair. “I've been wondering about that and I don't think so. The other person seemed young, bigger, bulkier—I don't think that's how you're describing the Doc. But I'm not sure. There was just something about how the person moved—bent down placing the food on the floor. Quicker movements, less deliberate than an older person would make. Of course, I could only see shadows.”

“Damn. Once again, if there's an answer, it only turns into another question.”

***

This wasn't a night for sleep. Dan covered his insomnia by pleading some alone time to complete the paperwork on the necklace. And then just sat there and watched Elaine as she slept. He was a lucky man. He didn't need to remind himself that there could have been a much different outcome. And it made him angry—not so much that he still had aches and pains where he didn't before but that someone had the audacity to endanger the innocent.

The necklace was accounted for—a headache for UL&C, but there was an end to his involvement. It was difficult to see Penny with Lawrence Woods in a romantic way but it made sense that the president could have taken advantage of her. Maybe even suggested a way to get easy money. No wonder a visit to the bank meant wearing makeup.

But he was ducking the real meaning of solving the theft—he could leave. There wasn't a reason to stay. Other than a big part of him needed to see justice done. And ego wouldn't let him leave the outcome to the Feds. More importantly, he bet he knew someone else who felt the same—someone who also had a stake in the outcome.

Chapter Twenty

He knocked on the door to the sheriff's office at eight-twenty. He hadn't shaved, but a shower and clean clothes made a sleepless night less apparent. Dan stepped through the door after a gruff “Come in” and could see the sheriff wasn't in much better shape.

“Good time to talk?”

“Look, about yesterday—”

“No explanation needed. I'm just looking for a second opinion.” Dan moved to stand in front of the sheriff. “I'm assuming you haven't gone to the Feds, or am I wrong?”

“You have to ask?” The laugh Dan got said it all—Sheriff Howard wasn't any more enamored of letting someone else call all the shots in his own backyard than Dan was. “Pull up a chair. How can I help?”

“Probably not do more than just listen.”

“You got it. Shoot.”

“Some of this might tread on sensitive issues—”

“Nothing sensitive here and I mean that. But before we start I just want to say thank you.”

“Thank you? For what?”

“Not telling the Feds the whole truth about the necklace. If they'd gotten ahold of Penny, that story about stealing for me—for our future together…well, I don't have to tell you I'd be fodder for a review board. And it's a little late in the game for that.”

“Some things best go unsaid. No need for anyone to know who doesn't have a need.”

“I appreciate it. Just want you to know that.”

Dan nodded, then reiterated how Gert thought the boyfriend was none other than the late bank president, and how Elaine had seen Penny's tattoo earlier while she was locked up. Making it look very much like Penny knew more about the abduction than she'd reported—maybe even knowing something about Amber's death.

“Let me interrupt here to say the boyfriend
was
Woods. Penny came clean yesterday—seems Woods had a wife somewhere and he didn't want to be put in the position of getting cleaned out. But it was going to cost him to get free. I was a good cover. Sort of one boyfriend stand in for another. I never suspected.” The sheriff stopped and cleared his throat. “Penny and I had had a relationship at one time but I married someone else—I'm not proud of what I did but I guess vindictiveness knows no limits. As I just said, a hint that I'd been in on the theft and my career would be over—pension and all. I think she planned to hold that over my head in case she got caught with the necklace. The whole thing could have been Woods' idea. I really don't know. And tattoos? She's got more than that single four-leaf clover.”

Dan watched as red crept up the sheriff's neck. Dan would just bet he had first-hand knowledge of Penny, probably not restricted to the forearm.

“But the Clovers are a gal's group of riders. More than one Clover in the community or, at least, there used to be. A good clue but doesn't necessarily point a finger at only Penny.”

“Any way we could get a list of names?”

“I doubt the group keeps a roster.”

Another dead end. Dan looked at his notes. “But the ricin, what do you make of that? Obviously, it was important enough to keep in the bank. I'm willing to say it was the reason for the tunnel—and maybe the reason Lawrence Woods was killed.”

“Could be. Black market toxins fetch pretty good prices—at least that's what I'm told. It doesn't take a lot to make the stuff, it's just so dangerous to handle. Few are willing to take it on. Head to toe body protection and I've still heard of people getting sick. Small doses are lethal—a hand full of castor beans and you're in business.”

“Castor beans? Ricin comes from castor beans?” Dan wasn't sure he'd heard correctly.

“Yeah. Why?”

“Because I know where there's at least one plant.” He quickly explained that Doc had given him a tour of the greenhouses. Said something about using the castor bean in research.

“Interesting. Remember how last August several government agencies received packets of ricin in the mail? It was pretty much a nationwide scare aimed at those who were most likely to vote yes for a bill allowing fracking in the southwestern United States.”

“Any evidence that the bill targeted New Mexico?”

“No, none that I remember reading about, but a fracking operation would more than disrupt the lesser prairie grasslands—pretty much put Doc out of business.”

“I don't remember that any group took responsibility.”

“Don't think anyone did. Of course, it was treated as an act of terrorism. Wouldn't that be something if ol' Doc Jenkins was sending out packets from Wagon Mound, New Mexico?”

“He had the operation in place for it. They send seed worldwide.”

“You up for a chat with the good Doc? I'd like to question him, not just throw him to the wolves. He's been a top supporter of this community. I want to hear what he has to say.”

Dan was more than up for a chat. For the first time he felt like answers were right in front of him—maybe not clear quite yet, but there.

“I'm assuming you carry a little fire-power?”

Dan figured that would include the .38 strapped to his calf. “Yeah.”

“Tell you what, if you're going to cover my back I'd like to know there's a chance you could do some damage. Let me make a copy of your permit and driver's license and you stick this in your belt.” The sheriff unlocked a drawer and slid a 9mm across the desk.

***

Penny opened the door and, if looks could kill, as the saying goes, there'd be a couple bodies on the porch, Dan thought. Frosty didn't begin to describe the atmosphere.

“Hello, Penny, is the Doc in?”

Dan had to hand it to him, the sheriff was cool and business-like. And just when it looked like Penny was going to refuse them entrance, Doc Jenkins came down the hall.

“Hi, boys, what can I do for you? I just bottled a fresh batch of brew, a couple longnecks have got your names on 'em.”

Somehow drinking before noon meant nothing to this man and remembering the coffee, Dan allowed as how beer would be his beverage of choice—regardless of time of day. “I'll take one.”

Once again, in less than twenty-four hours, they were seated around the same oak table. Dan deferred to the sheriff to get things going.

“Just want you to know this visit is unofficial. Just friend to friend.”

“Anything I can do to help. Just name it.”

Dan wondered if the Doc was aware of Penny's transgressions. Somehow, he thought not. And there didn't seem to be any reason to enlighten him.

“Guess there's no good place to start.” The sheriff paused. Collecting his thoughts? Dan thought so. “I lost a deputy last week from ricin poisoning. Seems like a cache of it was being kept in the bank—safe deposit box. He came in contact with the powder when he was lifting prints.”

“Whew. That's powerful stuff. Deadly, as you know, and not something the public knows much about.” Dan noticed the Doc looked genuinely concerned as he spoke.

The sheriff nodded in Dan's direction and he leaned forward, elbows on the table. “When I took a tour of your greenhouses, you mentioned doing research on the castor bean—coming up with a new feed?”

“Yes, but it wasn't worth following through with the plan. That stuff is just too dangerous to work with. And it doesn't take much to have a lethal dose.”

“But you were raising plants here.”

“A few but I didn't have the room to grow them to maturity. I did what everyone else does—I ordered beans online.”

“There are on-line suppliers?”

“Mr. Mahoney, castor beans are not a controlled substance. If you don't alter them, they're as safe as can be. They're a naturally occurring lectin—a carbohydrate-binding protein. I'd say there're a few hundred growers—all legit—who'd be glad to send you a packet or two.”

“Just out of curiosity, what kind of investment are we talking?”

“You can get more than you'd need to do some damage for twenty bucks. It only takes a few grains the size of table salt to take out a full grown man.”

“You know I'm going to have to give this information to the Feds.”

“Not a problem, sheriff. I have nothing to hide. My failure at producing a viable feed is well documented. Taxpayers are always looking at ways to cut the ‘pork' out of special projects and our government was hoping I could come up with a cheap alternative to grains and alfalfa. Those chicks can put away the calories.”

“What kind of set up does it take to make ricin?” Dan was curious.

“Initially, just stuff you'd have in the kitchen. Coffee grinder, filters, a blender. You could walk right into the middle of a lab and not know what you were looking at. Purifying it causes a bit more of a problem, but a liter of manganese heptoxide will purify the ricin from eighteen castor beans.”

“Tough to get this manganese heptoxide?”

“Not if you have access to a bunch of depleted car batteries.”

Car batteries. Dan sat forward. Who did he know with a yard full of old cars? Someone who had to sleep in the garage and hadn't gone into the house—not for any sentimental reasons involving his grandfather's death but maybe because the place was toxic. Probably couldn't even go in without full protective gear.

“Sheriff, could I talk to you for just a minute?” Dan pushed back from the table and walked to the front door. When they were out of earshot, he told the sheriff of his suspicions. “Tim Echols fits the profile. And Emily could be in it with him. Or maybe that's why she moved out…he could have set up the excavation of the tunnel—he was a guard. And he had reason to scare me away and someone who could do it.”

“Worth looking into.” The sheriff ducked back into the dining room and offered their apologies, then followed Dan to the cruiser. “ I think you're on to something. Sure won't hurt to look around out at his place.”

The sheriff deftly guided the cruiser back to the highway and they rode several miles in silence. Something was eating at the sheriff, Dan just didn't have a clue as to what.

“Something wrong?” Might as well ask, Dan decided.

“Yeah…well, maybe…if your suspicions pan out, then I have myself to blame—for a lot.”

“How so?”

“I lost sight of being a good cop. I always treated Tim Echols as if he were my own. I was blinded by trying to help a home-grown kid. It was my recommendation that got him into the police academy. I don't have any kids so supporting a local boy…well, ol' Chet was a friend of my father's. My family came from around here before we moved up the road to Las Vegas. Chet took Tim in as a youngster—his daughter was an unwed mother with more problems than she could handle without trying to raise a baby, too. And Chet did a good job—with some help from the community. Whoever said ‘it takes a village' got that right.”

A couple more miles of silence, then—“Ol' Chet was a pillar of the community. Minor celebrity and all that. Sure, we'd all heard the Hollywood stories one or one thousand times, but to do what he tried to do to you…well, looks like he was just trying to help his own. I guess blood's thicker than water.”

“What do you think went wrong?”

“Whatever goes wrong today for young as well as older folks—greed—get rich, get what you think is owed to you.” Dan knew the sheriff was thinking of Penny. “And they all think they can get by with it. Never get caught. As long as I live, the arrogance of the criminal mind will always astound me.”

“So how'd Tim get mixed up in it all?”

“Can't tell you that. Connections are made electronically today that could've never happened just a few years back. The tunnel could have been his work. The cutting tools? Laser cutters and blowtorches? All part of a good car repairer's inventory. Tim would have had access, but I'm wondering if the tunnel hadn't outlived its usefulness. That as a drop it wasn't finished.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Well, and I know what you're going to think, that I'm trying to make excuses for Penny…but I wouldn't put it past that snake of a bank president to seize an opportunity to line his own pocket, set up a robbery and talk Penny into declaring the necklace stolen. There wouldn't have been any good reason to uncover that tunnel otherwise. It could have been there for years. But an extra few hundred thousand? And knowing the tunnel operation was coming to a halt, he had the time to loot the necklace before using it as a decoy and going for the whole banana. Problem was, they didn't count on you.”

“I gotta say you're making sense.”

“Yeah, and it wouldn't have taken much romancing to turn Penny's head. She wasn't getting any younger. They don't call 'em the weaker sex for nothing.”

Dan silently thanked his lucky stars that Elaine wasn't with them. That way of thinking could get a guy in real trouble nowadays. And nothing was farther from the truth.

“I gotta feeling that Lawrence Woods got crosswise with whoever was behind the tunnel operation. Don't think his double-dipping was appreciated especially after it put Wagon Mound in the spotlight. I'd hate to think Tim did Woods in…but it's a real possibility.”

***

The obligatory junkyard dogs still on chains bayed a chorus of warnings as Dan and the sheriff got out of the car.

“No knocking on the front door unless you don't value your extremities.” The sheriff unsnapped his holster.

“Tim lives and works in the back. I'll see if he's there.” Dan was headed in that direction when the first shot rang out. And it was from something big. His guess was an AK-47.

“Dammit. Grab some cover.” The sheriff was already prone wiggling his way underneath the bed of a rusted out truck. “No heroics. Let's see who it is and what he wants. I'm calling for backup.”

Dan slid down between a panel truck and a flat bed with one wheel turned on its side. He couldn't see the sheriff and only pinpointed his position by voice. Backup had a really nice ring to it. He eased the 9mm out of his belt and held it steady. If there was some way he could work his way around to the side, get a bead on Tim without him knowing it. It was going to be tough, Dan dropped to one knee still afraid to give his location away.