LITMIR.BIZ

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murders were publicized. Any buyer who wants Coyote Ranch would know what went on.”

      “Still, there’s no sense in being obvious.”

      “I’ll try to be timely,” Decker reiterated.

      But Grant didn’t appear to hear him. “On the other hand, the murders may attract other kinds of buyers. Lots of ghouls out there. You wouldn’t believe the phone calls that have been screened by my secretaries. We’re hounded by the press! All of them want details: about the crime, about Gil’s progress, about our business, about Mom and Dad’s will for God’s sakes. What is wrong with this world!”

      Decker shrugged. “We’re living in a time of instant everything, courtesy of the electronic highway. It creates a community of toddlers. When they don’t get immediate gratification, they get petulant and sulky.”

      “Amen to that,” Grant agreed.

      The man didn’t realize that Decker’s pointed comments had included him in the petulant and sulky category. That was probably a good thing.

      Driving northward toward L.A., Decker was happy that Rina was in a talkative mood, telling him about the paintings she saw and liked, what she might want to trade, and how much she thought they could get for some of their premium artworks. Even Decker raised an eyebrow. “Maybe it’ll cover a year’s tuition at college for Hannah.”

      “Stop pleading poverty, Lieutenant, we’re doing fine. How did your day go?”

      “It went as anticipated. Nothing illuminating, but I didn’t come down with expectations.”

      “So why did you come down?”

      “To be on the open road with you.”

      “That’s very sweet.” She leaned over and gave Decker a kiss. “I had a good time. I’m sorry it didn’t go well.”

      “It’s not that.” He thought a moment. “You don’t talk to these guys with the idea of getting a confession. And I certainly didn’t get that.”

      Rina studied his face. “You look bothered.”

      “I need to interview Mace Kaffey alone, but he’s leaving tomorrow night for home, which is back east. I’ve got to be quick. I should have arranged something, but I didn’t want to do it in front of Grant.”

      Decker recounted his interview of the previous night with Milfred Connors. He also went on to explain all the embezzling charges leveled against Mace, the lawsuit between the brothers and how everything was eventually settled, but with Mace Kaffey getting demoted.

      “It’s a movie starring Mace as Robin Hood,” Rina said. “Stealing from the rich to give to the poor.”

      “And taking a little for himself,” Decker said.

      “And that’s what caused the lawsuit between the brothers?”

      “I’m still not sure about that,” Decker said. “This is the problem. Connors claims that he wrote phony checks for about two hundred grand, and Mace returned around one hundred and twenty grand. That leaves eighty grand in Mace’s pocket. It’s a lot of buckaroos, but it’s a far cry from five million.”

      “But it’s not eighty grand, Peter, it’s two hundred grand.”

      “Yeah, you’re right. But even if Mace did the same thing with every accountant there, it would be maximum four million, not five. And honestly I doubt that Mace pulled the same stunt with everyone in accounting.”

      “So what are you thinking?”

      “That Mace was telling the truth when he said that Guy also skimmed off the top. When the IRS opened the books, Guy was just as vulnerable as Mace.” Decker paused. “I’m just wondering if the entire lawsuit was a screen.”

      “What do you mean?”

      “It was primarily Guy’s business. What if he was doing the majority of the skimming and he got caught, owing a big fat bill to the IRS plus fines and jail time? I could see Guy promising Mace something if Mace would take the heat for the embezzlement.”

      “But Mace didn’t take the heat. You just told me that the case was settled between the brothers, with the IRS, and then Mace was demoted big time.”

      “Making Mace look guilty.”

      “He was guilty,” Rina said.

      “But maybe not as guilty as Guy. Think of it, Rina. Mace is accused of embezzling yet Guy keeps him on and transfers him to the East Coast and gives him Greenridge, one of the biggest projects ever handled by Kaffey Industries. Is that really a demotion?”

      “Isn’t Grant in charge of Greenridge?”

      “He was, but with Guy Kaffey gone, Grant is here and Mace is handling Greenridge all alone.”

      “You’re saying that Mace killed his brother and his sister-in-law and tried to kill his nephew so he could be put in charge of Greenridge?”

      “What if Guy was going to pull the plug on Greenridge. Where would that leave Mace?”

      “Except that if Mace took the fall for Guy, then that would imply that Mace had dirt on his brother. Then why would Guy deliberately rile up Mace?”

      “I don’t have the answers, just the questions.” Rina laughed and so did Decker. “Lots of questions, and no leads except for Harriman’s eavesdropping. I’ll check out the guys you IDed. But even if one of them took part in the murders, I’m sure he was just a hired hand.”

      “You think Mace set everything up?”

      “I don’t know, Rina. You always look at the family and who has what to gain. Mace may have gotten Greenridge for helping out Guy with his IRS problems, but if the parents die, it’s the sons who will inherit. Grant is already talking about selling the ranch to pay estate taxes. They’re still number one on my list.”

      “But Gil was seriously shot. How could you suspect him?”

      “True. The bullet took out some of his liver and that’s a nasty injury. But he didn’t die, whereas the others were slaughtered. Even if what Harriman said is true, that José ran out of bullets, there had to be someone else there with a spare piece of lead to shoot into Gil’s brain. What if Gil set himself up to look innocent and the shooter accidentally nicked a vital organ?”

      Rina said, “I’ve seen that on Forensic Files. How common is that?”

      “Not common, but I’ve seen it before. So why did I come down besides wanting to be with you?” He thought a moment. “It’s this way. You never let up. You don’t badger anyone, but you keep coming back. A phone call, a surprise visit, an e-mail, one more question. If you do it long enough to someone who’s involved, you start making the guilty party antsy. The person makes a phone call or two. The person starts receiving a phone call or two. People act impulsively and things get flushed out. Big cases like this one … you almost never start at the top dog even if the top dog is guilty.”

      “Too many layers of protection.”

      “Exactly,” Decker said. “You start with the lowlifes who did the shooting. It’s easier to get a bead on them because they’re almost always involved in something illegal. You pull them in for drugs and then you bring up the murder. Next thing you know, someone starts rolling and you slowly work your way up until you get to the top.” A pause. “If they’re involved. It could be that they’re innocent.”

      “I’m not putting your statement in the paper,” Rina said. “You don’t have to qualify yourself.”

      Decker laughed. “Force of habit.” They drove for a while in silence. “You know, I keep saying that the boys stand to inherit. As of right now, that’s not a forgone conclusion. The will hasn’t been executed yet.”

      “So the sons really don’t know what

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