Then he called his friend Ernie and told him about the article. “I expect this is connected in some way to my client, but I’m sure the cops here won’t give me anything. It’s bad enough that I’m a private investigator, but I’m also from California. That’s two strikes against me in this part of the woods. I don’t want to talk to them yet because if they don’t like me sticking my nose into their business, I’ll burn my bridges right off and I may need their help later.”
“Of course. I’ll see what I can get for you. Also, I have quite a bit of info for you on those six guys. I just e-mailed you what I have so far.”
“Thanks. Oh, and could you check on a woman named Gina Basham? I couldn’t find anything on her. Her birthday is July 6th, but I don’t know the year. I’ve been told she looks between thirty and thirty-five.”
JP hung up, checked his email, and found thirty or forty pages of rap sheets. He decided to sort it out later when he had more time. Right now he was going to The Affordable Inn. He grabbed his coat and his Stetson and left.
***
Nothing about The Affordable Inn looked unusual when JP arrived. The front of the hotel was close to the sidewalk and faced the street. He drove around to the back and into the parking lot. The hotel formed an L shape around the parking area. There were only two cars in the lot. JP wondered how many guests the hotel had prior to the shooting in their front yard.
He walked around but saw no crime scene tape, no blood, and no evidence at all that a crime had taken place there two days ago. He went inside and spoke with the desk clerk, a woman JP guessed to be in her late sixties. He asked about vacancies.
“Yes, how long will you be staying?” she asked.
“Just one night, but first I have a few questions.”
“Go ahead.”
“I heard there was a shooting at this hotel a couple of nights ago. Is that right?”
“Yes, it happened right out front. I feel awful about what happened, but I can assure you this is a very safe place. I’ve worked here for ten years and we’ve never had a problem.”
“Were you on duty that night?”
“No, I don’t come in until 6:00 in the morning and this happened about 2:00. The cops were still here when I got here, but I think they had taken the body away in an ambulance.” She seemed to be enjoying the company. JP guessed that she didn’t get that many guests.
“Was the victim a guest of the hotel?”
“No, sir. And I heard someone say that he didn’t have any ID on him. I’m not sure they know who he is. I read the article in the paper this morning, but there was no name listed.”
“Really? Do you know if they found a gun?”
“I don’t think so. One of the guests told me that he saw the police come and he watched them the rest of the night. He never saw the cops pick up a gun. Maybe the victim was just walking by and it was one of those drive-bys that we hear about all the time in Los Angeles. That kind of stuff just doesn’t happen around here. Too many people from California are moving up this way. That’s what I think.”
“Yeah, that’s not good,” JP humored her. “Is that guest still here?”
“No, he left yesterday. He had to go back to Minneapolis.”
“It’s a shame someone died, but this must be kind of exciting—being part of all this, I mean.”
“I feel a little like Angela Lansbury. You know, she was on that old TV series.”
“Murder, She Wrote?” JP asked.
“Yes, that’s the one. Everywhere she went there was a murder. Of course, I won’t be the one solving it like she did.”
“So, did this guest tell you anything else? Like, did he hear the gunshots?”
“Yes, they woke him up. He said that right after the first shot, he heard a car speed off, burning rubber, then a second shot, and then a third one, but he said the third sounded different than the first two.”
“Different how?”
“He didn’t say.”
JP tipped his hat to the woman and said, “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Did you want that room?”
“Thank you, but not today.” He smiled at her and walked out.
***
Back at his hotel, JP used the printer downstairs in the lobby to print out the rap sheets and other information he had received from Ernie. Paul Kaplan had the longest record, but he had only served hard time once before he was sent to the Federal Correctional Complex in Beaumont, Texas, thanks to Ron Brown. Prior to that he served six months in the county jail in Houston and had seventeen other arrests—one in Atlanta, one in Wichita, and the rest in different parts of Texas—all dismissed. He had no record since his release from FCC Beaumont two years ago.
JP called Paul Kaplan’s federal probation officer, Tony Banach, only to learn that Kaplan was dead.
“How did he die?” JP asked.
“One shot to the chest. It was late at night and he had just left a bar. He was only a few steps from his vehicle when he was hit.”
“Did they find the shooter?”
“Nope. But Kaplan had a long history of gang connections and this sure looked like a hit. The Sarasota PD is still investigating, but I doubt if it will ever be solved.”
“Sarasota? Florida?”
“Yup.”
“Was he living there?”
“No,” Banach said. “He was supposed to be in Dallas. He violated his supervised release from FCC in Beaumont. He had about another year and a half on his release before he could leave the state. Apparently, he had something more important to do in Florida. I expect he was back at his old work habits.”
“Do you have the date when he was shot?”
“Let me look.” Banach was silent for a few moments. “Here it is. March 29th of last year.”
JP thanked him and hung up. He crossed Kaplan off his list.
He called the number Ron had given him for Morris & Son Title Company in Coeur d’Alene and asked for Gina Basham. She came to the phone and just as she said, “This is Gina,” JP hung up. She was working, so apparently she wasn’t missing like Ron had feared.
***
Parking in the lot at the fast food Mexican restaurant, El Zapato, gave JP a direct view of Morris & Son Title Company. He would see anyone coming and going. Hopefully, he would recognize Gina from Ron’s description when she exited the building. He checked his watch. It read 10:23 a.m.
After about ten minutes a woman came out of the building carrying a baby. Then two men came out and an older couple. Several other people went inside and came back out while JP waited. Nearly an hour and a half later, JP saw a woman about 5’ 7” tall with dark, wavy hair. She was wearing a red scarf and a navy blue pea coat like the one Ron had described. She walked toward the Mexican food restaurant. JP stepped out of his car and followed her. By the time she reached the restaurant he was right behind her. He reached for the door. “Let me get that for you, ma’am,” JP said in a heavier than usual Texas accent.
“Thank you,” she said with a smile that lit up her face.
“You’re welcome.” He smiled back at her. “Has anyone ever told you what a beautiful smile you have?”
“Thank you,” she said. JP thought he saw her cheeks redden a little.
They both walked up to the line to order their food. Four customers were in front of them. “Have you eaten here before?” JP asked.
“Many times.”
“So, I guess you like it then.” She nodded. JP looked up at the large menu. “This is my first time. Do you think you could recommend somethin’ for me?”
“Most everything is good, but some of their burritos are exceptional. Do you like your food spicy?”
“Not too spicy.”
“Their “Special Burrito” is really good, but ask for it mild. Even mild has some kick.”
“Thank you. I’ll try it.”
After they ordered, they got their drinks and JP started to walk toward one of the few empty tables. He turned to her and said, “Would you
like to join me? It seems a shame to take up a whole table when the place is so busy. Besides, I don’t care much for eatin’ alone.” She looked around the small, crowded room. JP extended his hand, “I’m JP, by the way.”
She reciprocated. “Gina,” she said. She removed her coat and scarf, placed them on the seat, and sat down with him. “Where are you from?”
“Killeen, Texas.”
“Ft. Hood?” Gina asked.
“The base is near there, but I’m not military. You know Ft. Hood?”
“I was raised a marine brat. I know every military base in the nation and a few outside,” she said. “What do you do there?”
“I drive truck, ma’am, cross country.” He left it at that. She could assume that’s why he was here. He learned a long time ago the less he had to lie about things, the easier it was to keep the lies straight. “I guess we’ve both seen a lot of this country. How did you end up here?”
“I came here for work.”
“What do you do?”
“I work right across the parking lot at a title company.”
“That could be interesting. Do you like what you do?”
“Most of the time.”
A clerk shouted, “Number eighty-nine. Number ninety.”
JP looked at his stub. “That’s us.” Gina started to get up, but JP was already standing. “I’ll get it.”
When he returned, Gina was staring out the window. “Everything okay?” JP asked.
She shook her head and shoulders just slightly as if to shake off whatever she was thinking about. “Sure. It’s all good.”
They were both silent for a few minutes while they began to eat. Then JP asked a few more questions to show an interest in her life, but he tried not to appear intrusive or creepy. He needed her to be comfortable enough to see him again.
They chatted for about ten minutes after they finished eating. “I’d better get back to work,” Gina said as she stood up. JP stood up as well.
“It was a pleasure visitin’ with you, ma’am. Thanks for joinin’ me.”
“My pleasure,” she said and put on her coat and scarf.
JP walked with her out of the restaurant. “Do you eat here every day?”
“Most days,” Gina said. “It has the best food around within walking distance.”
“I don’t mean to be forward or anything, but I have another day or two here while I have a little work done on my truck. Would you mind terribly if I joined you tomorrow for lunch again? Truck drivin’ is a lonely business.” When Gina hesitated, JP added, “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not askin’ for a date or anything. For all I know you may be married or engaged or whatever. I’d just like a little company for lunch with a friendly face and I don’t know anyone else here.”
“Sure,” she said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Chapter 10
The snow finally let up after twelve hours of constant flurries. When Ron opened the door, the white powder pushed its way into the cabin.
“There’s a shovel on the floor behind the woodbox,” Tuper said.
Ron put on his boots and jacket, retrieved the tool, and shoveled a pathway out the door about six feet long and three feet wide. The gray sky remained like a shadow over the mountain. Ron longed for San Diego sunshine.
Back inside, Ron checked his cell phone but found no reception. “I need to drive down the mountain to check my messages and make a phone call.”
Tuper picked up his rifle. “Come with me,” he said. “I’ll take you to a Montana phone booth.”
Ron placed his phone in his pocket and followed him outside. “Why the gun?”
“The bears use it too.”
Tuper turned to the right and walked up the mountain away from the road through the fir and lodgepole pine trees, leaving tracks a foot deep in some places.
“A lot of these trees look dead.”
“They are. The mountain pine beetles got them a few years back. Killed half the mountain.”
“That’s awf….”
“Shh,” Tuper murmured, reaching his arm across Ron’s chest and stopping his movement forward. “Look.” He pointed to his right.
About forty yards away in a little clearing stood a big bull elk. “He’s beautiful.”
“Yeah, he is for sure.” Tuper raised his rifle and aimed it at the proud animal.
“Are you going to shoot him?” Ron gulped.
Tuper waited a moment, then slowly lowered his gun and cradled it in his left arm. “Naw, just seeing if I could. No need to kill him. Too much of him would go to waste.” He paused. “There’s room for both of us on this mountain.”
Ron found himself sighing with relief but at the same time he felt a little hypocritical. He wasn’t a vegetarian so he ate meat all the time, and someone had to kill those animals for him to consume those steaks and hamburgers and drumsticks. But he knew he didn’t want to watch one get shot any more than he wanted to spend some time in a slaughterhouse.
They watched the elk for a good minute before he bounded away in long, beautiful strides into the forest.
They continued forward for about a quarter mile. The forest opened up and they stepped into a long, narrow clearing about the size of half a football field. Tuper continued forward for about twenty feet. “Here, if you face west you’ll get reception…most of the time.”
Ron had two missed calls: one from JP and one from Sabre. He called Sabre first.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“I’m fine. Are you?”
“Yes, I’m just going stir crazy. There’s nothing to do here. I hate just sitting around waiting. And why didn’t you answer the phone? I was afraid something had happened to you.”
Ron laughed at her impatience. Some things never change. “I don’t get cell reception where I’m staying, so all I can do is call you when I have coverage. I’ll try to check twice a day for your calls.”
“Why don’t I just go there? We can figure this out together.”
“No,” he said emphatically. “There’s no place for you to sleep here and it’s really cold. You’d freeze.”
“Where are you?”
“Oh no, I’m not telling you because the next thing I’d know, you’d be showing up.”
“Okay,” she sighed. “I just worry about you and you’ve been gone so long. I want to see my big brother.”
“It’ll all work out, Sis,” he said with confidence, even though he wasn’t feeling it. “It’s cold out here and I still need to call JP, so I’d better go. We’ll talk soon.”
Without the trees to block the wind Ron received the full force of it. At least it wasn’t snowing at the moment. He shivered as he made the next phone call.
“Hello,” JP said.
“You called?”
“Yes. A couple of things. First, I saw Gina. She seems to be fine. A little preoccupied, but that could be anything. She’s working, so it could have been something related to that.”
“Does she know who you are?”
“No, I set it up to accidentally meet her at lunch. I’m going back there tomorrow to see what else I can learn.”
“And she wasn’t suspicious?”
“She had no reason to be. She thinks I’m a truck driver waiting for my truck to be repaired.”
“Good. That’s a relief.”
“Ron, you said you lived in Florida for a while, correct? Did that happen to be Sarasota?”
“Yes, why?”
“And that’s where you were when someone came into your home and tore it up, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know the exact date?”
“It was March 29th. I remember because it was my mother’s birthday. What did you find out?”
“Paul Kaplan was murdered on March 29th in Sarasota.”
Ron had trouble talking because he was so cold. He was sure JP could hear his teeth chatter. “Paul Kaplan? The same Paul Kaplan that I sent to prison?”
“That’s the one.”
<
br /> “What does it mean?”
“I don’t know, but I’m sure it’s not a coincidence.”
Chapter 11
Going for a run sounded like a great idea until Sabre went outside into her aunt’s backyard and felt the heat. The aroma of sage and lavender filled her nostrils and the hot sun beat down onto her face. She wished she could send a little heat Ron’s way. He was experiencing the cold winter weather and she had so much heat to spare.
Sabre went back inside. Everyone in the household was napping. She guessed that’s what people do in this kind of weather. She walked into Gary’s office and turned on his computer. She could no longer stand the torture of being kept in the dark. It was too difficult to communicate and she was certain she could help. Besides, she missed JP.
Fifteen minutes later, Sabre called Bob and asked him to book an airline ticket and put the charge on his credit card.
“I’ll pay you for everything as soon as I get home.”
“I know, Sobs.”
“If for some reason I don’t make it home, you can have all my Dependency cases. That’ll more than cover what I owe you.”
“Thanks, you’re a real peach.”
The ticket was for a flight on Great Lake Airlines, the only airline that flew out of Kingman, as best she could tell. It left there at 4:50 p.m. and flew to Los Angeles where she would transfer to Delta and fly to Spokane.
She went into her room to pack and realized she had nothing for the cold weather. She would have to go shopping, one of her least favorite things to do. And to top that, she was quite certain her store selection in Kingman was limited. An online search told her she had three choices: J.C. Penney, Target, or Walmart. She chose Penney’s.
Everyone was still asleep so she slipped out with her suitcase and drove downtown. At the store she quickly purchased the warmest jacket they had, a couple of shirts and pants that she could layer, a wool scarf, and a wool hat. She stopped in the shoe department and bought the only pair of warm boots in her size. When she returned to her car, she packed the things in her suitcase, except for her coat and scarf which she left loose in the trunk. Within an hour and a half from the time she left, Sabre was back at the house.
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