Murder at Tiger Eye

by Jim Riley

  Donna shrugged.

  "It was Dale. He would have never followed through. I wasn't worried."

  "If you didn't kill him, who did?" The detective asked.

  "I don't know," Donna answered. "Somebody is out to get everyone at Tiger Eye. At least, it seems that way."

  "You were close to all three of the victims?"

  "I worked with all three of them. If that is what you mean."

  "Going back to Mr. Blocker. Did he make offensive comments to anyone else in the office?"

  Donna shook her head. "I was the only girl there. All the other guys were men. He wouldn't have said anything to them. He wasn't that type of guy."

  "Did either of the other victims make offensive comments see you? Scott Wilson and Howard Jenkins?"

  "Mr. Wilson was a nice man. He liked it when I wore short dresses or skirts, but he never suggested anything that made me nervous. He liked to look, but so do most men."

  "Do you think most men are sexually stimulated by you?" The detective flashed the professional smile.

  "Yes, Sir."

  "Isn't that a broad condemnation of men? Not all men are like that," he said.

  "Forgive me for being frank, but you are."

  "What?" The professional smile disappeared.

  Donna's tears faded.

  "You’ve been looking at me and Niki like we were a pair of chocolate kisses since you've been here. You're not looking at my eyes when you ask a question. What are you looking at?"

  "I didn't. I don't know what you mean. I haven't said anything."

  Donna smiled.

  "You don't have to. What you're thinking is obvious. You don't have to say it."

  The detective turned to Niki.

  "Ms. Dupre, does your friend always misconstrue a man's actions like this?"

  "I don't think she has misconstrued anything." Niki laughed. "I had to make sure I was still wearing my clothes. The way you stared, I wasn't sure."

  The detective sneered. "You ladies are way too sensitive. You're overreacting to innocent behavior."

  Niki glared at the officer.

  "You can call it innocent behavior or whatever you want. You know, and we know what you were looking at. Only you know what you were thinking."

  The detective dropped his gaze.

  "You are mistaken. I’m only trying to get answers and find out what happened to Mr. Blocker. Nothing more."

  "Fine," Niki replied. "Donna has answered your questions. She has no idea who is responsible for Dale's death. She certainly isn't. She will answer no more questions without her attorney present. This interview is over."

  The detective turned back to Donna. "Miss Cross, is that your preference? Are you no longer willing to cooperate? I must warn you that failure to cooperate will not look good on my report."

  Donna met his gaze. "I have cooperated. I agree with Niki. I don't think continuing this conversation is in my best interest."

  "I think you're making a big mistake, but I can’t force you to talk to me. Have a good morning, ladies."

  Friday Morning

  Central

  The detective left the two young women staring at each other. They sat in silence for several minutes.

  Niki broke the silence. "Why don't we go grab some breakfast? I'm not that hungry, but I need to get out."

  Donna agreed, and the two ladies exited the townhome and walked to Niki's SUV. They stopped short when they spotted a tall black man standing by the driver side door.

  Niki pulled Donna behind her and kept one hand resting on the thirty-eight caliber revolver in the small of her back. She quickly scanned the area around the lot, but saw no other threats. She approached the black man.

  "You don't remember me, does you?" He asked.

  Niki looked around and still saw no one else. She nodded. "You’re Junior. I saw you at Jesse Ramirez’s office in Scotlandville. What brings you to Central?"

  "I's want to talk to the senator. I wants to tell him something." The man looked behind Niki at the hourglass blonde.

  "Senator Bridgestone is not here this morning. Is there anything I can do for you?" Niki looked back to make sure Donna had not moved.

  "I needs to talk to him." The man repeated.

  "You can talk to me. I'll pass along whatever you have to say to Senator Bridgestone." Niki was unsure if it was wise to prolong the conversation.

  "All right. You tell him. Okay?" Junior stayed by the SUV door, not moving.

  "No problem. What do you want me to tell the senator?"

  "It's about Mister Jess."

  Junior now had Niki's full attention.

  "I'm listening," she said.

  "Mr. Jess. He done some bad things. I know that."

  Niki nodded, but said nothing, wondering where Junior was headed with his thoughts.

  "Mr. Jess, he ain’t kilt nobody. I knows what you come down there for. He ain't did it." Junior smiled, having said the speech he had prepared.

  "How do you know Mr. Jesse did not kill Scott Wilson and Howard Jenkins? How can you be sure?"

  Junior rubbed his stubbled chin. “Mr. Jess. He don't get his own hands dirty. If he was fixin’ to kill a cracker, he gets one of the boys to do it. He wouldn't do it hisself. That ain't his style. Get me?"

  "I get you," Niki said. "You believe that Mr. Jesse would have ordered the deaths, but would not have done it himself."

  "That's right. That be what I mean."

  Niki focused on the tall man's demeanor, seeing nothing that would indicate deception.

  "How do you know that Mr. Jesse didn't get someone to commit the murders for him?"

  "I asked ʻem," Junior replied.

  "You asked whom?"

  "The boys. I asked the boys. None of them did it. That tells me if they does it. They didn't." Junior smiled.

  "I believe you, Junior. Why do you want Senator Bridgestone to know this?"

  "The senator, he be a good man. A real man. He talked to me like a man. I help him."

  "I’ll pass this on to the senator. I'm sure he’ll appreciate the information. Thank you, Junior."

  Niki once again glanced behind her and saw that Donna had not moved. When she turned back to Junior, the tall black man was gone. Niki searched the entire lot with her eyes, but he was nowhere to be seen.

  Friday Morning

  Frank's on Airline Highway

  Dalton met Niki and Donna at Frank's. The restaurant, locally renowned for its buttermilk biscuits, was almost full. The trio took a table in the rear of the dining area next to the fireplace, away from the majority of other diners.

  Niki passed on the brief conversation she had with Junior. They also talked about Dale Blocker's death, and Donna's interrogation by the detective.

  "You had a busy morning," Dalton understated.

  "You aren't lying. I'm ready for a break," Niki replied while holding her glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.

  "Get a double order of biscuits. Then you won't have a choice but to take a nap. One fills me up. I don't know why they serve two at a time." Dalton looked down at his plate, one huge biscuit already gone.

  “No, thanks," Niki replied. "I already feel like I'm too far behind to catch up. Now, with fewer suspects, I still don't have a clue. Not to mention the case with your nephew, and the other three open investigations I had going before last week.”

  Donna winked at Dalton before addressing Niki. "Sounds like to me you need an assistant. I happen to know someone that might be interested in the job."

  Niki shook her head.

  "I've already got another detective. Dirk has been a godsend. Without him, I'd be going crazy right now. He was instrumental in getting the other three cases closed."

  Donna did not back down. "Yeah, but he's another investigator. You need someone that works with you, not for you. Wouldn't it be nice to have a young mind to bounce your ideas off of when you get overwhelmed like you are right now?"

  "You're right. It would be very nice. I guess I ne
ed to put an ad in the paper and see if I can find someone like that."

  Donna threw her napkin at Niki, laughing all the while.

  "You guys are going to get us thrown out of here if you get into a food fight," Dalton admonished. "Besides that, it's too good to waste."

  Both of them threw something at him. Niki threw the extra napkins she held and Donna threw a packet of sweetener.

  "That's it," the senator held up its hands. "I know when I'm outnumbered."

  Donna turned back to Niki. "I really want to help you. So far, I haven't done anything but cause you trouble. I never thought going to Zachary to get a couple of chicken wings would create so much grief."

  Niki put her hand on Donna's arm.

  "Don't worry about it now. What's done is done. Somebody out there wants to pin the murders on you. We have to find out how to prevent that from happening."

  "How do you plan to do that, Miss super-duper investigator?" Dalton asked.

  She grinned. "Now that I've got one of the country’s most overpaid politicians helping me, that shouldn't be a problem. Donna and I will go get a manicure and a pedicure, and wait for him to come up with the answers."

  Dalton put his fork down.

  “If my brain is still working, you're making more every day from the government than me. You don't come cheap. That's not to mention the other case that I’m paying for or the other three cases that you're working. You won't have time to go to the spa because you’ll need it to count your money.”

  Niki winked at Donna.

  "Don't believe him. He forgets about all the perks he gets. I mean, the government doesn't furnish me with an office full of furniture, a full staff, a budget to brag about anything I do, or might do, and all the pleasure trips to anywhere in the world."

  "Some of us are willing to make that sacrifice for the good of the country," Dalton grinned. "You guys are lucky I have a sense of humor or I with think you were jealous. That wouldn't be too ladylike."

  Two more packets of sweetener hit him directly on his chin.

  "I give up. Tell me how you ladies intend to solve this case," Dalton settled back in his chair.

  "First, do you plan to eat that extra biscuit," Donna asked.

  "I don't have room," Dalton admitted.

  Donna stabbed it with her fork and transferred it to her plate. Dalton looked at the hourglass blonde. "Where do you put all that food and not gain weight?"

  "I don't know,” Donna answered. "I just know that I'm hungry all the time."

  Niki played with her fork. "The good thing is that our suspect list is getting shorter by the day, not necessarily the way I wanted. Scott, Howard Jenkins, and Dale Blocker are dead. Jesse Ramirez was in jail when Dale was killed, so he can't have done that."

  "He could have paid someone to do it," Dalton said.

  "That doesn't work either," Niki responded.

  "Why not? He has the influence in the Scotlandville community to get something done, even from jail."

  "Two reasons," the young investigator replied. "First, I believe Junior. You would have if you had been there. By the way, you really impressed him with your bravery and straight talk."

  "He probably wouldn't think so if he knew I was about to piss down both sides of my boxers when I was talking to him."

  "No, you weren't," Niki said. "Remember, I was there. Don't give me any of that humble politician talk. I know you."

  Dalton winked at Donna. "Ms. Dupre, you said you had two reasons. I hope the second one has a little more substance and a little less woman's intuition."

  Niki gave him a wry grin. "I think it does. It will come up to the male logic standard."

  "Don't make me guess. Get to it."

  "Think about it, Senator. The murder weapon was the replacement for the letter opener used to kill Scott. Ramirez could have taken the first opener, and even the scissors last Wednesday. Donna didn't use the scissors often and isn't sure when they came up missing. But she got the other letter opener from the office supply shop last Thursday. Ramirez hasn't been in the office since Wednesday, so he couldn't have taken it."

  Dalton thought about her logic for a minute.

  "Very good," he said. "But he could have gotten one of his friends in Scotlandville to get it for him."

  Niki burst out in laughter. "You aren't serious, are you? You’ve been to Tiger Eye. Do you really think one of the brothers could drop in there, and no one would notice? He would stick out like a dog turd in your glass of white milk."

  Donna added, "We aren't exactly a model of diversity, either among our staff or our clients. Miss Niki is right. Somebody would have noticed."

  "Imagine that," Dalton grinned. "You think Niki is right. I would have never imagined."

  "Hilarious, senator," Niki said. "Do you have any ideas? You know most of the people down there."

  "I've been thinking about it. I hadn't ruled out Ramirez before, but what you say makes sense. To me, that leaves Ashton, Sheila, Sam Gonzales, and the other client, David Phelps."

  "Why would Mr. Johnson kill this partners and two of his employees?” Donna asked. "That doesn't make any sense to me. And to blame me? I don't get it."

  "On the surface, it makes little sense to me either. Ashton is a partner in a brokerage company that is making millions of dollars every year. His partner, Scott, handled most of the daily operations and all his problem clients. All he had to do is sit back and wait for the money to roll in."

  "Are you making a case against him? To me, you just made a good argument for taking him off our list."

  "I haven't finished yet," Dalton replied. "A lot of his problems go away with the deaths of these three men."

  "Like what?" Niki asked.

  "You have established that Ashton and Sheila were involved with each other. With Scott gone, the only obstacle now is Johnson's wife. She may be hard to deal with, but it’ll be a lot easier than stealing away the wife of an angry partner. The business likely would not have survived that situation."

  Niki shook her head. "Sheila Wilson may be reconsidering her options with Scott's death. I get the sense that she isn’t as cooperative as Ashton had hoped. Sheila maybe throwing a wrinkle in his plans."

  “True,” Dalton nodded. “But he had no way of knowing she would act that way when Scott was killed. If you haven't noticed, women are unpredictable.”

  "Like men are the bastions of consistency," Niki blurted. "If they were, we wouldn't have one at the top of our suspect list. Anyway, let's agree that Ashton had a reason to kill Scott, but what about the other two? They weren’t standing in his way for Sheila."

  "They were problems for the company, however," Dalton responded. "Take Howard Jenkins first. The two clients that were on our suspect list, Ramirez and Phelps. Both of them had their records managed by him. Who knows how many other clients had their accounts mismanaged? One of the primary duties an investment advisory firm must perform is fiduciary responsibility. That means it must manage the client’s account in a reasonable manner to meet their financial objectives. One could argue that Mr. Jenkins had failed miserably in this regard, and was putting the firm's license in jeopardy."

  "I see," Niki said. "With John dead, Aston could blame those actions on a former employee that is no longer with the firm. That's a lot easier to explain."

  "You're right," Dalton agreed. "It also prevents future angry clients with Scott gone. Getting rid of Jenkins takes care of current and future problems, and protects the firm."

  "All of that makes sense, but it doesn't explain Dale," Niki said. "He didn't have any angry clients. In fact, he didn't have any clients."

  Dalton folded his arms across his lap. "That one is tougher to justify Ashton's involvement. On the surface, no reason is apparent. Who knows? He may not have wanted the liability of paying an agent who wasn't earning his pay when Ashton took over the daily operations. Over the long haul, that would have caused some discord with the other members of the staff."

  "Not to mention," Niki
added, "Dale Blocker was a sleazeball. I hate to talk bad about the dead, but in his case, I'll make an exception."

  Donna sat up in her chair.

  "I agree with you, Miss Niki. I didn't tell the detective everything Dale said to me. I was afraid it would just make him think I had an even stronger motive to kill Dale."

  "Wise thinking," Dalton smiled. "You're quick on your feet."

  "Thanks. You're not so bad yourself."

  Niki shoved her plate away. "We can keep Ashton at the top of the list for all the reasons you stated. He had the motive and the opportunity to kill all three of them."

  "Plus, he had the motive and opportunity to kill you," Dalton said. "He wasn't in the office when someone took a shot at you the sandwich shop, and he can't be thrilled with you exposing his relationship with Sheila."

  "I can see where he would take me off his Christmas list, but I'm not so sure about giving him a reason to murder me. That's a gigantic leap."

  "Not if he has already killed before. What is one more body along with the rest?" Dalton asked.

  "A lot if it happens to be my body. I'm kind of partial to it since it's the only one I've got."

  "I like your body, too," Dalton said. "But for different reasons."

  Niki threw her last napkin at the senator. "We don't need your crude remarks, especially in front of Donna."

  "My apologies. Can we get back to the suspects?"

  "How about Sheila Wilson?" Niki asked. "The reason for killing Scott is obvious, but not the other two she—"

  Niki was interrupted by the blare of a car alarm from the parking lot. All the other diners looked out of the windows. Niki jumped from her seat.

  Friday Morning

  Frank’s on Airline Highway

  "That's my car."

  The young investigator raced out of the restaurant. Dalton and Donna ran right behind her. When she got to the SUV, she cursed under her breath.

  "Somebody slashed a tire," she said as Dalton and Donna neared. All three looked around the lot, but saw no one suspicious.