| |
Her mother and Grandfather Thunder were back in thirty minutes. Dela was still digging around on the internet when the front door opened and her mother called out.
Dela stood and carried her laptop into the kitchen as her mom started brewing a cup of coffee. “That was quick.”
“She wasn’t home,” Mom said.
“That woman goes out a lot,” Dela said, feeling as if she’d never get a chance to talk to Sadie Swan.
Grandfather Thunder shook his head, as he accepted the cup of coffee her mom handed him. “She is gone. When she wasn’t home, I called Ray’s wife. She is friends with Sadie. Ray’s wife said Sadie called her Thursday night and asked her to keep an eye on her plants for a couple of weeks. She, Sadie, was going to visit relatives in Idaho.”
Dela plunked her laptop down too hard and grimaced. “She’s left? Why? Because she lied to the police?” This had to be more than a coincidence.
She sat down at the table. “What can you tell me about Lora Murdoch’s death?”
Her mom placed a cup of coffee in front of Dela and took a seat.
“It’s no secret. She died of an overdose. While Levi worked hard at his grades and got a job at Yellowhawk, his sister battled her addiction. No one knows why she couldn’t or didn’t want to get off the drugs. I think there must be something from her childhood that tormented her as her father’s death tormented her mother.” Grandfather Thunder sipped his coffee.
“How close were the brother and sister?” Dela asked, wondering exactly how the young woman came by the drugs she used to overdose.
“I’m not sure. You could ask their Aunt Ruth or Levi,” Grandfather Thunder said.
“I don’t think Levi would talk to me. He got angry the day before yesterday when Heath and I talked to him. But the aunt... she didn’t mind talking to us.” Dela sipped her coffee and remembered her mother had been sitting silently through her conversation with Grandfather Thunder. “What are you thinking about Mom?”
Her mother’s blue gaze swept across Dela’s face. “It is sad when the traits of a parent manifest in a child.”
The sadness on her mom’s face scared Dela. What was she thinking about? Any trait she received from her mom was a blessing. Then it hit her. She knew nothing about her father. Had he had demons that could have been passed down to her? “Did my father have traits you worry about in me?”
Her mom shot a glance at Grandfather Thunder and shook her head. “No, I was thinking about some kids I taught.”
Studying Mom, Dela wasn’t sure she believed that. There had been a deeper sadness in her than that of a teacher and student.
“We must go,” Grandfather Thunder said, standing.
Mom laughed and said, “It’s time for his soap opera.”
Dela studied the elder. “Are you still watching that?” She remembered times when she was sick and stayed home from school her mom would take her over to Grandfather Thunder’s. She had to be quiet for the half-hour the soap opera was playing.
The man shrugged and grinned. “Their lives are more messed up than anyone who lives at Nixyáawii.”
Dela laughed as she saw her company out the front door. Her cell phone rang. She hurried to the kitchen to answer it. Heath.
“Hello?”
“Hey, it’s me. I can’t find Booth anywhere.”
“I hope my bringing him up to Sander last night didn’t get him killed.” Her mind went to the conversation. What had the drug dealer said about Booth? He hadn’t liked the man. And didn’t deny or admit he was buying from him after Paul’s death.
“I don’t see why he would knock off the person who was supplying him with meth now that Paul is gone. Booth could just be hiding from us. Especially, if Sander tipped him off you were asking about his involvement in the homicide.” Heath’s tone had calmed down.
“I’ll go to the casino and ask Jacee where Booth might be hiding.” She thought about all she’d learned this afternoon from Grandfather Thunder. “What time do you get off work?”
“I’m headed to the station now. Why?”
“You can either meet me at the casino to talk to Jacee or come here for dinner. I found out a lot from Grandfather Thunder today. And I did some digging online.” She headed to the back door to let Mugshot in.
“How about I do both? I’ll meet you at the casino and follow you home afterward.”
“I’ll see you in twenty.” She ended the call, smiling. For the millionth time since seeing Heath step out of the hotel room when a “Save The Fish” presenter was killed, she was glad he’d moved back and they had resumed their friendship. She hadn’t realized how lonely she’d been. Even with friends like Molly and Faith here.
She gathered up her purse and ushered Mugshot back out into the yard. She opened the gate to the pasture. “Now you two can visit.” Mugshot hopped out into the pasture, sniffing the ground. He would be happy nosing around while she was gone.
Once she was settled in the car, she decided to stop at the travel center on her way to the casino. She wanted to know more about the Murdoch siblings and their aunt was the only person she knew besides the grandmother who’d left.
At the travel center, Dela stood inside and to the right of the door, scanning the areas she could see. When the woman wasn’t visible, she began walking, peering down the short aisles of merchandise. Arriving at the other end of the store she hadn’t found the woman. She didn’t remember or hadn’t been told Ruth’s last name.
Dela walked up to a woman behind the counter. “Is Ruth here today?”
The woman looked her up and down and shook her head. “She stocks during the week.”
“Could you tell me where she lives?” Dela asked.
“We don’t give out employees’ addresses.” The woman motioned for the person behind Dela to move forward.
She’d have to ask Heath if he knew where Ruth lived. In her car, she backed out and headed to the casino. She started to pull around behind the building to the employee parking. Her security badge was in her purse but she felt funny using it when she was on leave.
Dela circled the building and parked in front. Walking through the mechanical doors, her name was called. She glanced to her right and smiled.
Alfred, the night valet, was waving her over.
“Hi, Alfred.” She stopped beside the elderly Umatilla man. His silver hair was always neatly braided and draped down the front of his western-cut shirt.
“I heard they put you on leave. What is wrong with Bernie? Sometimes I think he doesn’t use the good sense the Creator gave him.” The man shook his head as if he pitied the chairman of the casino board of trustees.
“I have to admit, it has been easier to dig up information not having to come in here to work.”
He smiled. “I knew you wouldn’t let anyone push you around. If I can be of help, you know where to find me.”
Dela thought about that. “Do you know Sadie Swan and her grandchildren?”
He studied her. “She’s a good woman. Took in those two grandkids when their parents died and their aunt couldn’t provide for them.”
“I’m not saying she isn’t a good woman. I’m just curious why she would say I killed Paul. If she watched the whole time from the window, she would know that he was still alive when I left. Heath saw him sitting up.” Her brain realized what she’d said after the words came out.
“Then why hasn’t he come forward to say so?” Alfred studied her.
“He’s afraid Detective Dick will think he’s just saying that to cover for me. Because when Heath saw Paul, he received a call. When he arrived at the address there wasn’t anything happening. We think the real killer was in the house, saw Heath drive up, and called nine-one-one to get him out of there.” She sighed. “But we haven’t told this to anyone because—”
“You don’t think they would believe you about any of it,” Alfred said.
“Yes.”
Heath walked into the casino. He saw them talking and strode over. “Hi, Alfred.”
The older man nodded. “Heath. I understand you’ve been pushed out of the investigation by Detective Jones. I hope you find the person who did it before him.”
“Me, too. The Chief of Police doesn’t care who makes the arrest, but I’m pretty sure if I don’t, I can kiss my chances of taking over Jones’s spot when he retires.” Heath’s gaze scanned the casino floor. “Shall we talk to Jacee?”
“Yeah.” Dela smiled at Alfred. “If you hear anything—”
“I’ll contact you.” The older man winked.
Dela pulled out her cell phone and called the phone in the head of surveillance office. Knowing Marty was on vacation she wanted to ask Farley to send Jacee down to the deli.
“Farley, here,” the younger man answered.
“Hi Farley, it’s Dela.”
“Hey, are you back to work?” he asked with enthusiasm.
“I wish. But, no. I’d like to talk to Jacee Bing, is she there?”
“Yeah. She’s on duty until eleven.”
“Could you fill in for her for about twenty minutes? I’d like you to send her out to the deli. Don’t tell her it’s me who wants to talk to her.” Dela knew she was asking a lot of Farley, but she feared Jacee would refuse to see her after the way she’d bolted out of the bar the other night. “Tell her Officer Seaver wants to talk to her.”
“Your dinner date? Sure.” He ended the call and she sighed. The young man had listened in on her conversation before with Heath and now Farley called Heath her dinner date.
“Come on, Farley is going to send Jacee to the deli to talk to you.” Dela took the table to the back of the eating area, with her back to the entrance. Her hair was hanging down loose, making her look less like her usual self with braided hair or a ponytail.
Heath walked over, purchased drinks, and then sat across from her. “Do you think she’s going to tell us anything?”
Dela shrugged. “She sure didn’t want to talk to me at the bar the other night. Hopefully, we can make her see she needs to tell us or Quinn what she might know.”
“Over here, Ms. Bing,” Heath said, raising his hand.
Dela didn’t turn to see if the woman hesitated.
When Jacee sat, her gaze landed on Dela. The woman straightened to her feet.
“Sit down unless you want me to take you to the police station to question,” Heath said, using his authoritative cop tone.
Jacee lowered onto the chair.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Dela offered.
The woman shook her head. “Why are you here?”
“I can’t find your boyfriend, Daniel Booth,” Heath said, pulling out a notebook.
“And I want to know if you knew that Paul and Daniel were cooking meth.” Dela peered into the woman’s face. The twisting of her features was a pretty good indication that she had known.
“I met Daniel a year ago at Paul and Ina’s. He was fun and liked to spend money on me.” She shrugged. “I didn’t figure out that he was helping Paul until six months ago. When Daniel started looking for a rundown piece of property to do his own cooking.”
“Do you use meth?” Dela didn’t think so, the woman appeared to be in good health.
“No. I told Daniel I didn’t like him making something that ruined so many lives. But he said it was the easiest way to make big bucks.” Jacee stared at the table and mumbled, “We both like money and nice things.”
“Did Daniel kill Paul to take over selling to Gus Sander?” Heath asked.
The woman’s head snapped up and she stared at Heath. “No! He didn’t kill Paul. He was happy Paul wasn’t cooking anymore. He had no reason to want to kill him.”
“Then why has he disappeared?” Heath asked.
“He called me last night and said the man you mentioned, Gus, told him to get out of town and not bring trouble to his door. Daniel was scared when he called. He said he’d stay away awhile until Gus simmered down.”
Dela smiled. Her visit with the drug dealer had made him nervous. Was that because he had Paul killed and didn’t want Dela sniffing around the people he couldn’t control? “Tell me about people who may have wanted Paul hurt or killed?”
Jacee stared at her. “How would I know?”
“If you met Daniel at your cousin’s house, I would think that means you spent a lot of time there.” Dela sipped her drink, watching the young woman. When Jacee didn’t say anything, she continued. “You told me you were glad I saved your cousin from her husband. Did Paul beat up other people?”
“When he drank too much or used that stuff he cooked, he would get mean. Real mean. No one wanted to be around him then. That’s why Ina sent Micah away.”
“Who has he beat up lately?” Heath asked.
“Besides my cousin and Dela?” Jacee asked.
Heath shot a glance at Dela. She understood. Jacee’s comment wasn’t something they wanted Detective Dick to hear.
“Yes,” Heath said.
“There was a guy, Daniel said, who tried to buy direct from Paul. When Paul wouldn’t sell to him because he didn’t want to make Gus mad, the man flew into a rage and Paul knocked him out. He told Daniel to take the man home and dump him out.”
“You have a name?” Heath asked.
“No. Daniel might know but he...”
“Left town. Anyone else?” Dela pressed.
“Daniel said Paul found a note on his door about four months ago accusing him of killing someone.” Jacee was staring at her clasped hands on the table.
“A note? And Paul didn’t report it?” Heath said.
Dela’s heart leaped. Here was a lead on someone who wanted the man dead.
“No. If he was being accused of killing someone, it was from the meth he was cooking. He wasn’t going to go to the tribals about that.” Jacee peered at Heath as if he had asked a dumb question.
“Do you think Daniel would know who?” Dela asked.
“I don’t know.” Jacee returned her gaze to her hands.
Heath pulled out a card and wrote his cell phone number on the back. “If he contacts you, have him call me. I just want to talk to him. Ask him the same questions I’ve been asking you.”
Jacee took the card. “Can I get back to work now?”
Dela glanced at Heath. He nodded. “Yes, and thank you for talking to us.”
The woman stood. She studied Dela. “I don’t think you killed Paul.” She said the words hastily and left the deli.
“We now have another suspect,” Heath said.
“And a scared drug dealer,” Dela added.
