‘So you think because Tommy Lowell wants to buy a house he may be implicated in a series of jewelry store robberies, not one of which was committed within one hundred miles of here?’
‘Put like that, it sounds ridiculous.’ Mary glared at her nephew-in-law, Dan, who sat in her air-conditioned living room, tie loosened and shirt unbuttoned, sipping a beer. He grinned at her.
‘She didn’t mean it like that and you know it. And what makes you think he isn’t? He has enough money for a down payment and he didn’t get it working for his mother in the jewelry store.’ Ellen glared at her husband as well, picked back up her wine glass and sipped.
Mary had called Dan, asking him to drop by on his way home, and he had evidently phoned Ellen, who had shown up at around the same time, Morgan and Ranger with her. The three dogs lay in the middle of the room, seemingly listening to the conversation. All three heads were on their paws but all three sets of eyes were alert and all six ears were cocked.
She sighed and took a sip from her own glass. This wasn’t going the way she’d hoped. ‘Look, Dan. I’m not accusing Tommy, or Jerry for that matter. I’m exploring possibilities and trying to fit in some facts.’
‘What facts?’
‘The fact Mr Wilson was in town a couple of weeks ago and didn’t bother to tell anyone about it. We have two very reputable people who’ll swear to that. Three, actually.’
Dan leaned forward in his chair and set his beer on the table. ‘Mitch saw him in the alley; Glen helped him cash a check. Who’s the third one?’
‘Mo Black. That was the next thing I was going to tell you. It seems Mr Eric Wilson arrested Mo’s brother and sister-in-law about ten years ago – for robbing jewelry stores. According to Mo, he was sure then, and still is, that Mo and possibly David, his nephew, were somehow involved. David would have been around ten or twelve so I don’t see how he could have been, but maybe Mo … Although, that doesn’t seem likely. But we have jewelry stores again. I don’t like all these coincidences.’
Dan got very still as he stared at Mary. ‘Well, well. They do seem to be piling up, don’t they? Have you told Emma about this?’
‘Emma? No. Why should I?’
‘Just wondered.’
‘Why would Wilson suspect a young boy?’ Ellen looked not only horrified but almost angry. ‘How could he be involved?’
Dan looked unhappy. The sigh he heaved was deep and long. ‘It’s been known to happen. Kids get dragged into their parents’ criminal activity for lots of reasons. One is they’re small enough to fit into places the grown-ups can’t go. Small hands, small bodies, small spaces.’
‘Like the Artful Dodger.’
Ellen and Dan both looked at Mary. Then, suddenly, Ellen nodded. ‘Oliver.’
‘Oh.’ Dan smiled. ‘The musical.’
‘The book. And it was called Oliver Twist.’ There was the faintest trace of disgust in Mary’s voice but she immediately went on. ‘I suppose David could have somehow helped his parents but he was young. He would just have done what he was told. You could hardly blame him for that.’
‘Some people could, and would. Besides, if a child really is involved, CPS wants to know a lot more about the kid. They’d do a battery of psychological tests. Examine whoever was going to take the child thoroughly, do follow-up … all kinds of things.’
‘I don’t think Agent Wilson was doing the kind of follow-up you’re talking about.’ Mary added a little sniff for emphasis. ‘The way Mo described it, it sounded a lot more like harassment.’
‘What does that have to do with Tommy Lowell?’ Ellen got up and headed for the kitchen. She picked up Mary’s almost empty glass on the way. ‘Refill?’
Mary started to say no but nodded instead. That would be all for her tonight, but right now a little more sounded good. ‘I don’t think anything. I’m only trying to sort out who might have had a motive to murder Mr Miller.’
‘If we’re looking at motive, neither Tommy Lowell nor Mo and Dave Black have one. From what you say, the Blacks would be more likely to murder Wilson and if Tommy Lowell and his father are committing the robberies, why would they go after Miller?’
‘Because somehow Miller got on their trail?’ Ellen handed her aunt a full glass, Dan a fresh beer and set her own glass on the coffee table before stepping over the two large dogs who had moved over between the sofa and Mary’s chair, where Millie had joined Mary.
The beer can lid popped and Dan took a drink. ‘I don’t think so. I don’t think Miller was that close to anyone. From what I’ve learned so far, there aren’t any clues as to who these guys are. No fingerprints, no sightings of a suspicious car … well … maybe one.’
Ellen brightened up. ‘Oh, good. Finally. Something. What kind of car?’
‘Two reports of a white-paneled van seen in the vicinity of the jewelry stores about the right time. We wouldn’t have paid much attention to the first one but the same kind of van seen two times makes us at least take notice. Only …’
‘Only what? It’s something, isn’t it?’ There was an eager look on Ellen’s face that Mary didn’t think was justified but she waited to hear what Dan had to say.
‘There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of white-paneled vans on the road. Neither of the ones seen had anything to identify them, except they were white and paneled vans. The stores were in two different states and the robberies months apart. There is nothing to make us think they’re connected to the other robberies other than we don’t have anything else. The chances they were driven by the same driver and that driver was connected with the robberies is up there with winning the lottery.’
‘But, for now, it’s all you’ve got?’
‘It’s all the Bureau’s got. I’m not involved in solving the robberies, just in finding out who killed Miller. And I’m only on the fringe of that investigation.’ Dan didn’t sound too happy about that.
His cell phone rang.
‘Damn and blast.’ He leaned over on one hip and took it out of his pocket, looked at the dial and answered.
Ellen was muttering about another dinner ruined but Mary watched Dan’s face. His expression changed from mildly irritated to startled to rock hard.
‘You’re sure? OK. I’ll be right there. Any of the state boys still here besides Emma? Don’t let ’em touch a thing. Get our team over there, secure the scene and call the forensic guys in San Luis Obispo. Keep the family out of there. I’m on my way.’
Ellen had quit muttering. ‘What’s happened? Something bad – I can tell by the look on your face.’
‘It’s not good. Marlene just found Jerry in his workshop. Shot.’
Mary managed to set her glass down without dropping it. She didn’t think she could speak for a moment but finally managed. ‘Is he …?’
‘Dead? Yes.’
‘Can we help?’ Mary glanced at the dogs but they’d be fine where they were. She’d worry about their dinners later. ‘Is Marlene …’
‘I don’t know, but yes, you can help. Take Ellen’s car. Park behind the pet shop and walk over. I think having someone with her will help Marlene a lot. She doesn’t have any family here, except Tommy, and I don’t want anyone throwing a lot of questions at her. I want to talk to her first.’ He was on his feet, buttoning his shirt and pulling his tie back in place. ‘Tommy. I wonder where he is.’ The speculative look that thought brought passed and a hard, no-nonsense look took its place. ‘Don’t go past the yellow tape. Just wait for me. I’ll find out where she is and call Ellen. You two can stop her falling apart until I can get to her. Ellen, keep your cell handy.’
They watched him go out the front door, then Mary sighed. ‘I can’t believe this. Why would anyone want to shoot Jerry Lowell?’
‘Off the top of my head, I’d say it has something to do with Miller’s murder, but what I have no idea. Thank God that’s Dan’s job. Let’s go see if we can help Marlene. That poor woman.’ She looked around, gathered up her purse and turned to Mary. ‘Let’s go.’
‘Should we take the dogs?’ All three dogs were sitting in the middle of the room, looking anxious. The mood of the humans had changed quickly and they weren’t too sure what to make of it.
Ellen seemed to hesitate, then said resolutely, ‘No. I have no idea what we’re going to have to do or where we’ll be. I don’t want them staying in a hot car or us having to worry about them. If for some reason we can’t get back soon, I’ll call Pat.’
Mary nodded. ‘I’ll just lock the back door.’ She ran into the kitchen, threw the lock on the door, grabbed her keys off the key holder and stuck them in her purse. She called out to Millie as she passed by, ‘The sofa pillows are off limits,’ and followed Ellen out the front door.