by Alex Harris
Chapter 5
Oriole and Fred were pouring over the reports as Monday wound down into hum-drum grunt work. “Looks like Worthington played both women. We got CHPs, Blythe, DPS and the Mohave Sheriff on the alert for him. Wonder if Stutz knew about Skanky?” Fred was chuckling as he posed the question.
“Carla. Carla West.”
“She’ll always be Skanky to me. It’s not my fault-I put a name on ‘em and that’s what sticks. I think we need to expand our horizons here, Oriole. We need to look at other options for Stutz’s untimely death. Who else stood to benefit, who else did he cross, who else could be involved? Let’s go in that direction while we wait to hear on Worthington.”
“Ok, he was separated from his wife, who still lives over in California. Apparently, the will is the same one from years ago. All three inherit. He had a life insurance policy for $250,000. Both kids were beneficiaries. In this report, it says Stutz was in business with some guy in Prescott Valley years ago, Bob Turnball. There is a note here they had a falling out. Doesn’t say what about. Turnball is still in PV. So we could divide and conquer. You take PV and daughter. I’ll follow up on the phone with the son and wife. Let’s meet back at the Ranch and I’ll feed you so you don’t have to eat anymore of that garbage you call your home cooking. Say 6:30 for dinner. If you get done early, come on by and Chalcey can take you for a ride.”
They separated the reports and worked their individual assignments. Oriole called Marlene to get her brother’s phone number and address and asked about the wife/Marlene’s mother’s location. The information provided resulted in four phone calls to various parts to finally track down Jeremy Stutz, living in Tucson with his new bride.
“Mr. Stutz, this is Detective Wolfe, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office up in Prescott. Can I ask you some questions about your father?”
“I still can’t believe it. I’m hoping I wake up and it was all a bad dream. But I guess that won’t be happening, huh? Go ahead, what do you need to know about Dad?”
“First of all my condolences. I know this is hard and certainly difficult for you over the phone. Are you going to be up here any time soon?”
“Jennifer and I will be up this weekend to help make arrangements. Do you want to meet then or talk now? Either way isOK with me.”
“This weekend is fine. Can you tell me how to get ahold of your mother?”
“Oh, she and Dad have been separated for years. Gosh, maybe 15 years. She still lives over in Riverside. She’s coming in this weekend too, even though they weren’t together. They had a good relationship and remained friends. It’s really been hard on everyone. Here’s her number. You gonna call her or do you want to see all of us this weekend?”
“I’ll call her now and plan on seeing her this weekend too. Can you think of anyone who would want to harm your father?”
“I’ve been thinking about that. I guess you do when there’s a senseless death. Marlene’s boyfriend of course rises to the top of the list. You know about the life insurance, but neither of us would harm Dad for anything. Mom gets everything else. Is it possible he was in the wrong place at the wrong time?”
“Jeremy, that’s always a possibility.” Oriole didn’t say what was going through her head, always look at family first. “What time would you all be arriving on Saturday?”
“I’m picking Mom up in Phoenix about 10:00, so we should be in Prescott about noon. I’ll call you when we get to the condo.”
Oriole checked in with Fred and discovered he had pretty much struck out. She decided to work on some other open cases and let Stutz simmer until the weekend meeting.
Fred arrived at the Ranch about 5:30 to the delight of Chalcey. “Mom said you’d be coming for dinner, but she said you and I might go for a ride together. Can we?”
“If you’re waiting on me you’re backing up. Come on. I hear you got a special place up on Knob Hill to show me.” They saddled up, her on Red and Fred on Popeye. The ride was slow and easy and Fred talked about family, life, and what Chalcey was doing in school. They returned just in time to brush down the horses, feed the critters and get washed up for supper.
Marlowe watched Fred and her granddaughter as they crossed the yard to the backdoor again awed by his compassion and genuine caring for Chalcey.