by Rena Burgess
As they arrived, Detective Turner was immediately motioned to the side by one of his officers. After a few minutes of deliberation, he came back to speak to Paula.
“We may have a potential lead,” he said. “Senator Clay recently proposed some controversial legislation in the state senate. Apparently, Governor Clark has been hiding nearly all his correspondence and other documents behind a public records exemption. Senator Clay wanted to limit that exemption to allow public access to those files.”
“I can’t imagine the governor was too happy about that,” Paula observed.
“Not at all,” Turner replied. “His chief of staff, Linda Spencer, was actively campaigning against the passage of the bill. The senator was gaining a lot of support for it though. I heard the governor was getting worried.”
“Sounds like we need to have a talk with Ms. Spencer,” Paula replied.
“I agree. I just got word she’s here at the game. I have some of my men setting up an interview room as we speak.”
“I need to lead the interview,” Paula said.
“That’s fine. We should be ready in about ten minutes.”
At least he doesn’t seem so grumpy about me being here anymore.
Another detective approached. “Uh, Turner, we’ve got another situation.”
“What is it now?” The detective frowned in obvious exasperation.
“Apparently, the waiter who had been hired to serve the food and drinks in this suite has disappeared as well. Neither Mrs. Clay, nor Senator Patin have seen him since Senator Clay disappeared.”
“So, do we think he’s another victim, or the perp?” Detective Turner asked.
“We don’t know. No one noticed anything unusual about him throughout the evening.”
“What’s his name?” Paula asked. “I’ll have my office run a background check on him and dump his phone records.”
“Leroy Burton.”
Paula grabbed her phone and dialed the field office computer tech. “Michaels, I need you to run a check on a Leroy Burton. He’s a Superdome employee who may be connected to the senator’s disappearance.”
“I’m on it. I’ll let you know as soon as I find something out.”
“Thanks.” Paula shoved the phone back in her pocket and looked at the detective. “Let’s go see what Ms. Spencer has to say.”
Detective Turner followed her into the room. “Thanks for joining us, Ms. Spencer. I’m Agent Paula Davenport, and this is Detective Nolan Turner. We have a few questions for you.”
“What’s this about?” the woman huffed. “I’m missing the game.”
“Well, considering you paid absolutely nothing for your luxury box seat, I don’t feel bad about that,” the detective replied.
The chief of staff’s brow furrowed in anger. “I came up here of my own free will as a favor to you. I don’t have to stand for these insults. Now tell me why I’m here, or I’m leaving!”
“Ms. Spencer, how well do you know Senator Davis Clay?” Paula asked.
The woman frowned. “I see him around the Capital every once in a while. We don’t talk often. What does that have to do with anything?”
“Is it fair to say that you don’t like Senator Clay much?”
“No, it’s not fair to say that. I have nothing against the man—”
“But you have something against his proposed legislation,” Detective Turner interrupted.
“It’s a foolish bill. What’s your point? I don’t see why I was pulled away from the game to talk politics.”
“Senator Clay is missing,” Paula said. “He disappeared during the power outage.”
“Missing?” Ms. Spencer asked. “And you think I have something to do with it?”
“There’s talk that his bill was gaining momentum and was going to pass,” the detective said.
“That’s ridiculous. He didn’t have enough support to pass that thing. There was no cause for concern in the governor’s office.”
“Still, if he disappeared, the legislation would disappear along with him.”
“That’s preposterous!” the woman exclaimed. “Governor Clark’s office is not in the business of kidnapping our political opponents. I am insulted that you would even insinuate that. Believe me, Detective Turner, your superiors will hear a complaint directly from the Governor’s office about your baseless accusations.”
Paula could see the interview was heading nowhere. “Thank you for your time, Ms. Spencer. We’ll contact you if we have any more questions.”
The woman stood up and stormed out of the room.
“What now?” the detective asked Paula.
“Let me check with Michaels to see if he’s found anything on the waiter.”