Moran leaned forward. “What’s this?”
“Goddard, stop it,” the chief said. “He wasn’t murdered. We've no evidence to support that.”
“Wait, let’s think about that,” Moran said. “The Cubans send the bad guy out to kill Towson. Towson's lover doesn’t like that so she kills the bad guy. That would be the Cuban Mafia connection.”
“Who said anything about a Cuban Mafia?” the chief asked.
“No one,” Goddard said. “As of right now, the Cuban-American involvement seems limited to a campaign dirty trick.”
“That’s because you’ve a small unimaginative mind. Get on that Cuban-American angle, Goddard.”
Goddard nodded although he had no idea how to do it. “This is new: I spoke to the insurance investigator for Concord Life, they insured Towson. The investigator needed copies of our reports for the claim. He had information from Towson’s attorney handling the estate.”
The chief broke in, “Most of the money and securities goes into a trust for some charity. Towson owned a condo in Palm Beach, and it goes to a lady friend down there. His place here and most of his personal property goes to his Nebraska brother, although he did make some special bequests for a few individuals. He left some antique dishes to Tammy Jerold. She says give them to charity as well.”
“You’re boring me. What about the life insurance?”
“Loraine is the beneficiary. When they divorced, she took out a huge policy on Towson for her support if the alimony stopped because of his death. The investigator wouldn’t say how much the policy would pay. I asked if it’s over a million and he said, oooh yeah!”
“So, you’re saying take another look at Loraine?”
“She has several million motives,” Goddard replied.
She wasn’t the big fish that Moran was hoping for, but would be someone to replace Reid. “What’s her alibi?”
Goddard answered, “She was seen at the museum by one guard around three and by a second guard around five, but we don’t know if she left in between, which happens to be the time of the murder. And she had the means. Remember Reid spoke of seeing a gun at the motel.”
“We’re going in circles here. Reid must have been involved. He ran all over town that day. Either he’s a hit man, or Loraine romanced him into shooting Towson.”
“A hit man wouldn’t show up at a sophisticated party and get involved with some woman,” Goddard explained. “And if Reid is in love why did he make accusations against Loraine from the start?”
The chief said, “I still say offer to let Reid out on bail if the sister agrees to stay out of the investigation and not talk to the media. Then we keep investigating both of them.”
Moran was silent for a moment and then slammed his fist on the table. “No! It’s not going to be that way. I’m not going into court with some penny-ante tale about a woman who shoots her ex for life insurance. It's corny and it's peanuts. The national media won’t even bother to cover it.”
“Could be it
“Reid is perfect.” Moran sat back with a self-satisfied smile. “There’s enough here to completely confuse the jurors. He’ll look pathetic on the stand. The jury pool around here hates him to start with. Should be easy to get a conviction. I’ve waited too long for a case like this. Keep digging. We’re going ahead with Reid.”
Goddard was astonished to hear Moran speak so bluntly in front of them. “This has nothing to do with justice. This isn’t why I became a cop.”
“What about the newspaper disclosures coming out?” the chief asked. “The media will tear us up. The phones will ring and the TV cameras will be back in town unless we come up with some way to counteract the new speculation.”
Moran said, “The sister is going back to the paper and retract everything. She’ll tell them she made it all up. They won’t dare print anything with that much uncertainty facing them. That will get this case back on track.”
“She’ll tell you to go to hell,” Goddard said, “and if you push her too hard, you’re setting fire to dynamite.”
“We’ll see about that. She’s just one little sister.”
“One deadly sister,” Goddard corrected.
“You don’t mean she’s armed?”
“I don’t know. Is a pit bull armed?”
“I want to see you outside.” The chief started to protest but Moran motioned him to stay where he was. In the hall Moran demanded, “Go drag that sister out of your bed and bring her to my office at one o’clock.”
“What are you doing? It’s Sunday.”
“Just do it. Go get her. Don’t tell her what for, make it seem mysterious, ominous. Tell her she isn’t technically under arrest, but had better show up. However you cops do it. Whatever it takes to unnerve her. I want her to sweat. I want to be face to face with the little bitch who’s out there screwing up my prosecution. That’ll be the end of her interference. You’re going to do this, Goddard, understand?”
“That’s about what you had Huress do and it backfired, remember? I won’t be a part of anything such as that.”
“I was right about you! I know you’ve been meeting with her. Just can’t keep your hands off that cute little body, huh.”
“I haven’t touched her. I’d never jeopardize the investigation.”
“Word is she’s letting you hit it.”
“Go to hell.”
“Huress is telling everyone she was bobbing pretty good in his truck before they were interrupted.”
Goddard’s hand struck out and grabbed Moran by the knot in his tie. When he twisted his fist, Moran’s mouth gaped open in a soundless choke, his eyes widened, and his face turned white. Goddard said, “You idiot, in another minute she would have handed Huress his head.” He let Moran go with a hard push against the wall, and walked away.
Moran yelled after him, “Your detective badge is going in the crapper. I hope you saved your uniforms because your ass is going back in a patrol car.”
Moran’s hands were still shaking, trying to straighten his tie, when the chief came out in the hall. “I just ordered Goddard to bring Sandy Reid to my office, and he refused. That’s insubordination, Chief, and I want him brought up on charges.”
“Okay, but you’ve got to live with him until this thing is over. Call Bobby Huress, he’s off duty but you can reach him.”
“Huress has gone crazy too. Told me he wants nothing to do with Sandy Reid. Is the police force under your command or not? Since she got here, the whole town is upside down. Get her to my office at one o'clock. Even if you must do it yourself.”
The chief phoned Sergeant Lewis at home. “Sergeant, excuse the Sunday call. I’m told you know how to reach Sandy Reid. Just why you’d know how to reach the suspect’s sister, I don’t understand, but that’s what I’m told.”
“Yeah, I can probably reach her. What do you want her for, Chief?”
“What do I want her for? None of your damn business what I want her for. Don’t question my orders, sergeant. Now find her and tell her Moran wants her in his conference room at the courthouse at one today. Okay?”
“What does Moran want her for?”
After an audible sigh, the chief begged, “Just do it, sergeant.”
***
Goddard phoned Sandy as soon as he was away from Moran. “Heads up. You’ve got big trouble.”
“You working on Sunday, huh. What’s happening?”
“Moran wants you brought to his office today. He wants you to retract everything you’ve told the paper. Don’t try to face him alone. Get Kagan to go with you. Watch your step, he’s tricky.”
She folded her phone just as it rang again. It was Linda.”
“Geez, Linda, is everyone working today? Can’t talk now, I have to meet with Moran.”
“Bad news, Sugar. The paper called a special editorial meeting last night and decided not to print any of your stuff. They’re scared to death of Moran. I’m so sorry.”
