| |
Stacy marched off the elevator onto the first floor of police headquarters. Her heavy footfalls startled Marty, who turned around from the front desk just in time to watch her pass by.
“Has Maria Hernandez been arraigned yet?”
Gavin bent his arm and checked his watch, the silver and glass-plated face twinkling under the overhead lights. “She’s due in court in about ninety minutes.”
“We need her to contact Brian Dowdy.”
Gavin pushed the door and held it open for Stacy. He clutched an evidence bag containing Maria Fernandez’s laptop near his chest with the other hand.
“There’s no guarantee that she will.”
Stacy stopped walking and turned on her heel. Gavin kept walking for a moment but stopped in time to walk back to where Stacy had stopped. The wash of the early morning sunlight brought Gavin’s smooth skin and sharp blue eyes into focus. A sky that had merged into neon pink and peach by the rising sun framed his physique.
“That’s why I need a favor.”
Gavin eyed her suspiciously. “What type of favor?”
“A deal.”
“Excuse me?”
“I need you to offer Maria Hernandez a deal for her cooperation.”
Gavin made a face. “After what happened with you and Brandon Deerfield, I have to get that cleared with my boss.”
Stacy looked down at the parking lot and shuffled her feet. “Then do it. Please.”
Gavin switched the evidence bag to the other arm. “Stacy, her actions led to the attempted murder of two senior detectives within the Cleveland Police Department, not to mention bank fraud, and who in God’s name knows what else connected to the disappearance of Colton DeVito.” He looked side to side and then leaned close to her. “The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office is not going to want to go soft on her, especially in light of her charges. I want Maria remanded until trial.”
Stacy bit down on her lip for a moment. “I’m not saying that the deal has to do anything substantial to reduce the charges. Anything that will make her think she’s helping herself by helping us will do.”
Gavin let out a long breath and looked away. “I’m not sure I have enough goodwill or clout left to pull this off.”
“Gavin, please.”
“And you think Brian Dowdy is the mastermind?”
“I do,” Stacy said, turning and walking over to her car. Gavin trailed behind her. “He was best friends with Colton. He likely knew that Colton had money and that his parents were putting money into his account regularly. Brian refused to implicate Colton in the murder of Jesse Williams. But that doesn’t mean that Brian was fine with what happened. Revenge and anger can simmer for a long time.”
She opened the door to the Camry and turned around to face Gavin. “Dowdy works off the coast on an oil rig for Exxon. It gives him the perfect cover. Austin is checking on his whereabouts.”
Gavin cocked his head to the side. “But, Stacy, these murders connected to Colton DeVito are the trademark work of a serial killer.”
Stacy leaned into the gap in the open door and folded her arms. “And we both know that serial killers are like bees. Serial killers commit crimes close enough to home, but far enough away that neighbors don’t get suspicious. Bees collect their pollen close to the hive, but far enough away that predators can’t find it.”
Gavin shook his head. “I’m not following.”
“If Brian Dowdy is the killer, and he knows where Colton is, then Maria Fernandez and anyone else involved don’t know what’s going on other than they are stealing money from Colton’s bank account. They can’t connect him to anything else. And even if Maria knows that Brian kidnapped or killed Colton, she doesn’t seem to know anything about Miguel Olivo’s death or the death of George and Monica DeVito. All of that happened close to home for Colton, but far enough away that nobody else can follow the connections.”
Gavin rubbed his chin. “That’s one hell of a theory, and if it’s right, it is also pretty sick.”
“I agree.” Stacy folded herself into the driver’s seat and then leaned out. “Please see what you can do. And meet me at the county jail. I won’t go inside without you. Promise.”
"Fine," Gavin said dejectedly. "What's the plan?"
“Convince Maria to lure Brian Dowdy out of hiding with a final call.”