by Cindy Bell
“That sounds like motive to me. Plus, he just got out of prison. Do you think it would be hard for him to find Bruce?”
“No. It’s not like Bruce was keeping a low profile. I’m sure Bruce still had some contact with people from his past that Dodge did, too. It was a fairly small and tight circle.”
“Then it won’t be hard for him to find you either.” Samantha’s cheeks grew red. “We need to make sure that you’re safe.”
“No, you don’t need to worry about me. But we need to find some proof that gets Dodge behind bars. He’s a very dangerous man.”
“A killer?” Samantha locked eyes with her.
“I didn’t think so when I was younger, but he threatened everyone in the circle when he was the only one who went to prison. As far as I know his intentions of getting revenge haven’t changed over the years.”
“I’ll get Chris to tip off Detective Rowan to look into him.” Eddy picked up his phone again.
“Don’t bother, I’ll handle this. I’ll speak to the detective myself.”
Jo was already out of the villa before Eddy could dial the first number on the phone.
“Jo!” He stood up just as the door swung shut behind her.
“Eddy, let her go. She needs to do this. This is all part of her letting go of her past.”
“Or walking right into a nightmare! Am I really supposed to stand by and watch her be this reckless?”
Samantha looked into his eyes. “I’ll tell you what, the first time she does something that you’ve never done, then you can speak up. I get that you’re being valiant, but it’s coming across as sexist. Jo is just as capable of keeping herself safe as you are. I am too. If you want her to believe that you trust her, you’re going to have to see her as an equal.”
“It’s not that I don’t, you know that, Samantha. It’s that there are very few people that I care about in this world, and I would like to keep all of them alive and well.”
“Aw, Eddy.” She patted his cheek with a light touch. “We’re not going anywhere.”
“Yes, just make fun of me.” He sighed.
“I’m not making fun of you. I feel the same way about you, Eddy. I’m sure Walt and Jo do, too. But that doesn’t change the fact that you have to let Jo be who she is and handle this the best she can. Okay?”
“Okay, if you say so. I’m going to go have a conversation with Robert Plathe.”
Chapter 12
When Jo reached the police station it was quite busy. She waited for some time to get the attention of the desk sergeant. Her heart pounded with the desire to turn around and leave. What sense did it make to walk right into the grasp of the police when she was their prime suspect? Still, she couldn’t risk Dodge being on the loose. She hoped that bringing the detective a better suspect might lessen his interest in her. When the desk sergeant finally called her up, she requested a meeting with Detective Rowan.
“He’s a little busy at the moment.”
“Just tell him who is asking and I’m sure he’ll see me.”
“All right, I’ll give it a shot.” The desk sergeant picked up a phone and pressed a button then waited. He gave Jo’s name, then nodded. When he hung up the phone he pointed down the hall towards one of the interrogation rooms. She swallowed hard at the thought of going back into one of those rooms. She walked towards it, but did not go inside. A few minutes later she heard the heavy footsteps of Detective Rowan approaching. She looked up as he paused in front of her.
“Shall we go inside?” He started to open the door.
“No.” She folded her arms.
“I thought you wanted to see me?”
“I do. But not in there. We can talk here.”
He studied her for a moment then nodded. “All right, if that’s what you want to do. It’s not going to change the fact that I have some questions for you.”
“I’m here to give you information, to help your investigation.”
“A confession?”
“No.” She narrowed her eyes. “As I said before, I had nothing to do with Bruce’s murder. I wouldn’t even be here except I want Bruce’s death to be solved. I want the man who did this to be behind bars.”
“Okay, we want the same thing. What information do you have for me?”
“I have reason to believe that Robert Plathe met with Bruce at the gallery before he was killed. He might have seen or heard something that can give you an idea of who was there. However, I am pretty certain I already know who it was. There’s a man who was just released from prison. Trent Dodge. He goes by Dodge. He went to prison because of a deal Bruce made with the police. If he’s out and Bruce is dead, then I bet he is the one who did it.”
“Trent Dodge.” He nodded. “And how did you find this out?”
“I’m trying to clear my name, Detective Rowan. I haven’t done anything wrong, and I don’t want to go back to prison. There’s no reason for me to lie to you.”
“And yet you started off this entire investigation by lying to an officer. You can understand why I don’t believe a word you say.” He raised an eyebrow and leaned against the wall.
“Believe it or don’t, there’s nothing I can do to convince you. But this is the man you should be looking into.”
“Do you know him?”
“Yes. We crossed paths in the distant past.”
“And you think he could be a killer?”
“When I knew him he wasn’t that ruthless, but I do know that he was furious with Bruce when he went to prison. Rumor was that he threatened several people including Bruce. Maybe he has changed and become violent.”
“And you? Have you changed?”
She frowned and looked away from him. “That was a different life.”
“So you keep saying, and yet your different life seems to be a big part of your present life. Maybe you came in to throw this guy under the bus because you’re afraid that I’m going to arrest you.”
“No, that’s not it. If I didn’t think that Trent could be the culprit, I wouldn’t be here.”
“If Trent is as dangerous as you say, aren’t you worried about him coming after you?”
“Maybe.” She frowned. “But I’m more concerned that he’s going to get away with murder because you’re too busy focusing on me.”
“Are you trying to tell me how to do my job?” Detective Rowan laughed.
“No of course not. I just thought that you would like the information and I am trying to do everything I can to help clear my name.”
“For your information, I already know about Trent Dodge. And you’re not the only suspect that I’m focused on. I’m also aware that Bruce had a meeting with Robert Plathe at his gallery before he was killed. He’s on camera entering and leaving the gallery before Bruce’s death. So, unless you have any actual new information, thanks for the insight, and enjoy the rest of your day.” He turned around and walked down the hallway.
Jo stared after him and wondered if she had misjudged him. Maybe she was the one who wasn’t a good investigator. After all, she had no idea Bruce was even in the gallery, or that Robert met with him, all of which happened while she watched from the parking lot. It was a relief to know that the detective was already aware of and looking into Dodge. The subtle reminder that she could be in danger too made her leave the police station with a little more caution.
The city streets flicked by as Eddy drove down a highway towards Robert’s gallery. His mind churned with a mixture of protective instincts and his desire to trust his friends. Perhaps if he’d had more friends as a younger man it would be easier. But his entire life was about solving crime when he was a police officer. He barely spent time with anyone outside of the police station.
Eddy parked and walked up to the gallery. It had glossy illuminated signs and a vast display window. When he stepped inside the walls were covered with paintings, far more than even Bruce’s gallery had on display. From the expansive layout and the numerous paintings it appeared as if Robert’s gallery was muc
h more successful than Lou’s, or Bruce’s.
“Welcome.” A tall man with a thick, brown mustache stepped around a counter to greet him. “How can I help you?”
“I’m looking for Robert Plathe, the owner.”
“I am the owner.” He held out his hand. “You’ve found me.”
“Robert, I’m Eddy.” He shook his hand, then released it. “I’m looking into the murder of a friend of mine. I thought you might be able to help me with that.”
“A death? I’m sorry, I deal in paintings.”
“I’m aware, so did he. It was Bruce Langhord.”
“I don’t know anything about that.”
“According to David Right, Bruce’s business partner, you were supposed to have had a meeting at your gallery with himself, you and Bruce. From what I understand, you had that meeting with Bruce at his gallery instead.”
“And you think I was somehow involved in Bruce’s murder?” He laughed. “The police have already cleared me. Yes, I stopped by the gallery for our meeting. I was there for about ten minutes, then Bruce said he had something he needed to take care of so I left before him, and met my girlfriend at the restaurant on the corner for a quick bite to eat.”
“Were you bothered when he cut short the meeting?” Eddy looked into his eyes and attempted to gauge his honesty.
“Honestly, I was annoyed. I’d been trying to work out a deal with him and David, then he wanted to leave David out of it. It seemed to me that his business and his life were a mess and I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to get involved with that after all.”
“Did Bruce mention why he had to run off?”
“No. I didn’t care much about it. I was glad to get some extra time with my girlfriend. The waiter saw me there and I have the receipt for dinner.”
“Was anyone else around the gallery when you left?”
“I didn’t see anyone. There was a car in the adjacent parking lot when I arrived and when I left, but I didn’t see anyone else. Maybe whoever was in the car had something to do with it.”
“You didn’t see anyone else?”
“No, like I said, I left to go see my girlfriend. Now, if you don’t mind, I have some very important matters to attend to.”
“More important than the death of a friend?”
“He was not a friend, he was an associate, and if you want information about who killed him maybe you should look into his partner. He’s as crooked as they come.”
“Were you aware that paintings had gone missing from Bruce’s gallery?”
“Sure, I was.”
“You seem to have an abundance. Is business slow?”
“No, I just always have the best artwork available. People seek my gallery out because they know they will get quality paintings. I offered to show some of my paintings in Bruce’s gallery as he needed the business, and I needed the space.”
“I see. And did you ever transfer any of your paintings to Bruce’s gallery?”
“No. Once I realized that he suspected his partner of stealing paintings from his own gallery there was no way I was going to allow any of my paintings into that place.”
“Okay, thanks for the information and your time.” Eddy tipped his hat to him.
“Sure, next time you’re in the market for a painting, you know where I am.” He handed him a business card.
“Thanks.” Eddy tucked it into his wallet.
Chapter 13
On the drive back to Sage Gardens from the police station Jo watched the sidewalks for any sign of Dodge. Would he come after her? If he came after Bruce, he might. Even though she had nothing to do with him going to prison, Dodge knew her to be a friend of Bruce’s and that might be enough for him to want revenge. She parked near the community center instead of near her villa. If Dodge was watching her place, he’d be thrown off if he didn’t see her car parked there. As she walked towards her villa she noticed a figure walking towards her. To her relief, it was Walt.
“Jo, hi.” Walt smiled as he walked up to her.
“Hi.” She turned to look at him. “Were you looking for me?”
“No, just a happy coincidence I suppose. Unless of course, you were looking for me?”
“No. I just got back from the police station.”
“Eddy told me about that fellow, Trent Dodge. Are you concerned about him?”
“Not really. Maybe just a little bit.” She frowned. “I’m not sure if killing Bruce is going to satisfy him. He might come after me because I worked with Bruce. I doubt it, but who knows.”
“It would probably be best if we discussed a plan, just in case.” He smiled at her.
“My plan is to sleep with one eye open.” She laughed.
“Or, you could stay with a friend, in the spare bedroom.” He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “With me.”
“Really?” She smiled. “I wouldn’t want to invade your fortress of tidiness.” Although Jo felt like she could take care of herself she felt like the company. She also knew that safety came in numbers, and if Dodge knew that Walt had been helping her investigate the murder he might come after him as well.
“Nonsense. It would be a pleasure to tidy up after you. Besides, your other options are Eddy, who will likely lock you in a cage of some kind, or Samantha, who will chat you ear off all night. Unless of course, you don’t think I can keep you safe.”
“No, I don’t doubt that for a second, Walt. I appreciate the offer, and I accept. If you regret it, you can always send me packing to Samantha’s.”
“Not Eddy’s?” He grinned.
“I picture Eddy’s hospitality being somewhat undesirable.” She laughed. “I’m sure it would make him just as uncomfortable to have me under his roof.”
“Then it’s settled. You can stay with me until we are sure that this Dodge fellow is off the streets.”
“Or I end up behind bars.”
“No.” His tone grew firm. “Never that.”
“I agree. I’ll just go pack up a few of my things and meet you at your place. All right?”
“Yes, I’ll make sure you have fresh sheets.” He smiled at her as he turned away. Jo continued towards her villa. It seemed odd to bunk with Walt, but she did think he was the better choice compared to her two other friends. Samantha, as much as she loved her, would never let her rest with her questions, and Eddy was a bit too overprotective. As if her thoughts summoned him, she nearly bumped into him beside one of the picnic tables.
“Jo, there you are. I saw your car in the parking lot by the community center and couldn’t find you anywhere.”
“I’m sorry that I worried you. I parked it there to try to throw off Dodge, in case he comes looking for me.”
“Because you gave the police his name?” Eddy frowned. “You shouldn’t have gone in there without me. You know I would have gone with you if you just asked me.”
“Yes, I’m sure that you would have, but I didn’t want you to, Eddy. I don’t want any of you more involved than you already are. This is my problem to fix.”
“No, it’s our problem. We’re here to help you, I’m here to help you.”
“I get that, Eddy. But the more you get familiar with my past, the more you’re going to change your mind about me. I’d like to handle this myself so that I can keep some things private.” She frowned. “Can’t you understand that?”
“I can, but I can’t believe that you still think I would think less of you.”
“It’s nothing personal, Eddy, I know that. You’ve spent your life putting people like me in prison, why would I expect you to accept me as I am now?”
“I haven’t spent my life putting people like you away in prison, Jo. You’re a completely different person now. And who is to say that if I caught you then I would have put you away? Maybe I would have seen you for who you really are and done my best to help you turn your life around? Maybe the reason you ended up in prison isn’t so much the choices you made as it is that you didn’t have the right kind of friends.”
> “Let’s not play that game, Eddy. I know what I did, and I did my time for it. I turned myself into the police so I could put that part of my life behind me. But you don’t have to go through all of this with me. I would like that part of my life to stay in my past, and if you know every little detail about it, then it’s not going to stay that way. Please just try to understand that this isn’t me being ungrateful for your help. This is me trying to own up to my mistakes, and do what I can to make them right without dragging everyone I care about into it.”
Eddy sighed and pulled off his hat. He ran his hand back through his hair and smoothed it back against his scalp. “That’s the thing, Jo, we do care about you. I care about you, and this is not something that you should be going through alone, no matter what you tell yourself.”
“I’m not alone. I have you if I need you, when I need you. Right now, I’m just trying to keep my focus on what’s right. This guy from my past, he’s not the kindest soul. He’s unpredictable, violent, and very likely a murderer. I don’t want any of you getting tangled up with him. Until he’s behind bars, he’s going to come after everyone that tries to put him there.”
“Then let me stay with you, so that I’ll know you’re safe.”
“That much I can agree to, only I already accepted Walt’s offer. I’m just getting some things from my place, then I’m heading over to his. You should probably think about staying with Samantha so that none of us are alone, just in case.”
“That’s a good idea.” He nodded. “I’m sorry for being so heavy-handed about this. When it comes to these kinds of things I like to be in control.”
“I know that.” She laughed. “Unfortunately, so do I. One of us has to give.”
“You’re right, it’s your past, and your life. I will help you in any way that I can, but I will also do my best to respect your privacy.”
“Thank you for that, Eddy, it means more to me than you realize.”
“I’ll be at Samantha’s if you need me.” He turned and walked back towards Samantha’s villa. Jo walked up the path to her villa to pack a bag. Once she had a few things tucked into her bag she locked up the villa and began down the long path towards Walt’s villa. The sunset had begun and splayed the world around her with rich oranges and pinks. She admired the sight with the same reverence she paid it after being released from prison. It was simple things like sunsets and walks in the park that she missed the most while she did her time. Her heart fluttered at the idea of losing those things again. She pushed the fear down, determined to have a positive attitude.