Shed heard about the information leaks that had dogged the investigation, seeming to give Boyd Perkinsthe man reputed to have killed mob boss Vincent Del Gardo, as well as the bureaus chief suspect in Agent Graingers murdera heads-up when to go into hiding or carry out another attack. How do you want me to direct my interrogation? Confirm the source of the security leak? Find out if Perkins is still in the area and pinpoint his location? Or should I concentrate on Watts himself, and tie him to Boyd Perkins and Agent Graingers murder so you can make an arrest?
Anything you can get out of him. I dont make him for premeditated murderId be surprised if he has the backbone for that. But I wouldnt put it past him to hurt someone if he felt threatened.
She didnt need to read the Kenner County Crime UnitKCCU, according to her mission briefreport to know his assessement of Sherman Watts was on the money. Drunk or soberif that ever happenedthe fifty-eight-year-old Indian was as dangerous and unpredictable as a badger. If he got cornered, he was just as likely to turn and attack as he was to skulk away into some hole. If he felt he was entitled to something, hed take itas long as he thought he could get away with it. And damn to anyone who tried to stop him.
You owe me, bitch.
With her face smashed down into the bed and his heavy weight on top of her, Joannas screams were muffled. The wool lint from the blankets filtered into her nose and mouth with each gasp, and she could scarcely breathe.
Hed hit her hard enough, too, to make the room spin. But the pain was clear, the humiliation intense. Oh, God, it hurt. Right down to her soul, it hurt.
Son of a bitch. Joanna jerked her mind back to the rain and the sheriff and the present, and forced herself to breathe. So she had a little extra insight into Sherman Watts and how his mind worked. Thats what criminal profiling was all about, right? Knowing the truth about the suspectknowing his secretscould only help her get this interview done more quickly and efficiently.
Joanna pried her fingers off the armrest to unbuckle her seat belt. She breathed deeply, clearly, in through her nose and out through her mouth, more determined than ever to leave the past in the past so she could help Martinez and his people deal with the present. Is there any hard evidence to connect Watts to Julie Graingers murder? Any motive?
Either unaware of her momentary discomfort, or politely ignoring it, the sheriff continued. We know that Agent Grainger was on the trail of fifty million dollars that crime boss Vincent Del Gardo hid in the area. If she found it, or had a clue on her that would lead to its location, then thats fifty million reasons why just about anybody would want to kill her. One of our lab teams found a leather necklace that we believe belonged to Watts at the site where her body was dumped. That puts him at the scenebefore or after her death, though, we dont know.
You think Watts has the fifty mil?
No. Someones still looking for it, or the attacks would have stopped. Martinez muttered a curse, clearly frustrated with the lack of closure on the case. His eyes were clear glacial-blue when they locked on to hers. Sherman Watts is a survivor. Hell do whatever it takes to stay alive and stay one step ahead of us. There was a time when Watts would pick a fight at one of the local bars, just so he could spend a warm night in jail. Now hes living in a new trailer on the rez and drinking name-brand booze. He claims his money is from an inheritance. I havent been able to prove otherwise.
You dont believe him.
He shook his head. Nicky Wayne and his family have laundered enough money that they could make it look as if Wattss income is from a legitimate source. If theyre funding him, Watts may be uncatchable right now.
Letting Watts get away with aiding and abetting, theft, murderor God knew whatwasnt going to happen. Never again. Ill get him in a room and get him to talk. Ill find out what he knows.
Martinez nodded, believing the strength of her words. Ive sent a couple of men out to the reservation to bring him in for questioning.
She waved aside the offer of an umbrella, retrieved her bag and followed him inside.
He nodded to the security guard reading a newspaper at the front desk and led Joanna past him to a reception area at the center of a suite of offices. Anybody home? Martinez hollered. He removed his hat and knocked it against his leg before brushing away the moisture beading on the shoulders of his black tux jacket. Elizabeth?
Joanna frowned, smoothing the damp hair around her face as she surveyed the executive office area and the hallways, elevator and doors branching off in either direction. I was led to believe this was a fully staffed facility. Where is everyone?
Like I said, we had a wedding this afternoon. Our chief forensic scientist, Dr. Calista MacBride, married Tom Ryan. Toms been with us as an FBI investigator almost from the day I first saw Julie Graingers body. I guess the two of them went through the academy togetherTom and Julie, that is. I think Tom and Callie were, uhfriends, if you know what I mean, even before the murder brought them back together. He turned toward the locker rooms and staff entrance at the end of the hall. Elizabeth? You here yet?
Joanna noted the name plate on the high front counter at the center of the carpeted waiting area. She dismissed the sudden chill of remembrance as the rain trickled down the back of her scalp. This Tom and Callie werent the only old friends to be reunited by this case. Elizabeth Reddawn is your receptionist?
The sheriff set his hat on the counter beside the nameplate. You know her?
Old friend wasnt exactly the right term. Joannas parents, Ralph and Naomi, had alienated most of the decent people she knew by the time theyd died in a drunk-driving accident when she was eighteen. And once Joanna had left for college and her career, shed never looked back. Until now. Yet there were bound to be harder memories to face than this one. She would handle them all. Supervisor Ortiz and her boss back in Washington, D.C., were counting on her. I grew up on the rez over in Mesa Ridge. Elizabeth worked for the reservation sheriff back then.
Elmer Watts?
Probably the man Martinez had replaced when the county and reservation units had merged. Sherman Wattss uncle. Joanna nodded.
Elizabeth had been the only one in that office whod really listened to Joanna when shed needed their help. But as a lowly secretary, Elizabeth Reddawn had been as powerless as Joanna had been. And the resulting pity shed offered had been no help at all.
Then this will be a reunion of sorts for you.
I suppose.
Martinez gestured toward the door marked Sheriff. Let me make a couple of calls to see where my people are. After setting her bag behind the reception counter, he turned back to Joanna. His smile faded and she caught a glimpse of the sharp, protective-of-his-own man in charge Supervisor Ortiz had described. Dont pass judgment on my team, Agent Rhodes. They can all use a break for one afternoon. This has been one twisted case and weve taken some personal hits that havent gone down real well. We lost crucial evidence during that blizzard back in March. Ive had a witness with amnesia and a crime boss who was killed before he could give me any answers. Our families have been attackedmy people tested in every way imaginable. The lab has gathered plenty of evidence and weve all got our suspicions, but we need to tie the pieces together and make it stick. We need somebody behind bars. Soon.