“The business said they will let us know if he returns or calls in.”
“So how did Trujillo get to Key West?” Alex asked.
Sharkey shrugged “I assumed he flew in from Miami.”
“I’ll check the rental cars here,” Alex said. “Maybe someone will remember him. Where’s Webber?”
“A seminar in Miami. Critical material we’re told. It’s just me handling the investigation. The Chief gave me a uniformed officer to help. Glad to have you on board. The Chief is good with this. It’s all hands on deck. The turnout of volunteers is amazing.”
“How did the woman get to Key West?”
“We have flight information on Susan Abbott. She got into town on the seven o’clock flight Friday morning. She was killed just after midnight that night. Her mother and Susan’s estranged husband are in town. You might want to talk to them. The mother is a piece of work. She’s blaming Harris for everything.”
“Sounds like a charmer. Is the information worth the pain?”
“Doesn’t like foreigners,” Sharkey chuckled.
Alex laughed. “I should be okay then, but I bet I have some characteristics that she’s not going to like. I’ve been warned, so I’ll try not to be wounded by a sharp look. Can you get me a picture of Javier Trujillo?”
“I’ll call and get the company to email me one. The Miami Police found a picture of Susan and a tall Hispanic man on her dresser. Let me see if it’s in the package they sent us. Maybe I can get a copy for you.”
Sharkey pulled up the file and printed out a picture of Susan standing close to a tall Hispanic man. It matched the picture on his business card that was in one of the desk drawers. He printed that card too.
“Great,” Alex said. “I’m gonna get started on this,” Alex said, smiling and heading for the door.
Sharkey’s phone rang and he waved and picked up the phone.
* * *
“Detective Sharkey, how may I help you?”
“Sharkey, it’s Mckenzie Jones. How long are you going to keep putting me off?”
“Mckenzie, this is a very delicate case. It involves the woman that was found dead. Bottom line is I can’t give you any more information. We have a case of pending life and death here. I’m asking you to be patient with me. You need to be discreet and find something else to concentrate the news on for a short period. When it’s all over, I’ll give you exclusive information and the story. God only knows how long this might drag out. We really don’t want to put an official gag order on the paper.”
“I got it. Anything that Connor and I can do to help, just say the word. We’ll stay off the record until further notice.”
“Thanks a million, Mckenzie. I’ll let you know if there’s something specific we can share.”
“We’ll be here at the other end of the phone. Good luck.”
Mckenzie looked over at Connor and Barney who were listening in on the conversation.
“Shit,” Barney said, his face pinched into a rodent like look. “Okay. This must be bigger than we thought. Keep the lid on it. That’s an order.”
* * *
Alex called Carl Abbott who agreed to speak to him. Stephanie was busy calling relatives to bring them up to date on the murder investigation. Alex and Carl met down in the lounge area of the hotel.
“Thanks for meeting with me, Mr. Abbott. I have been hired by Mr. Harris to help find the children and hopefully, your wife’s killer. I have a long history of finding people who don’t want to be found.”
Carl was looking closely at Alex to see why they picked him to help. He noticed a lot of scars and a serious attitude. “Yeah, I don’t think I would want you coming after me.”
“Do you have any information on where Javier Trujillo is? I have some information on him but could really use your help. What contact did you have with him?”
“Not much. I was mostly concerned with the way he treated my kid. He seemed to get along with him. Bought him toys. Tyler said he was pretty cool. Of course, being seven doesn’t give him deep introspection.”
“How was Susan the last time you spoke with her?”
“Strapped for money. He wasn’t paying her any support. I told her I was not going to support all of her mistakes. I just can’t. But I sent her enough to make it through the end of the month.”
“When was your last conversation with her?”
“A week ago.”
“Have any idea why she would come to Key West with the children?”
“Bringing the kids seemed strange to me. She was a good mother to the boys. But she left them alone in the motel. That really pissed me off. It must have been a money thing. That’s the only thing I can think of that would possess her to do that. She must have had a last desperate plan to extract some payments from Javier. I don’t know what it was, but it must have got her killed. A desperate plan,” he said mostly to himself.
Alex jotted down notes in his little book.
“Thanks for your help. I know this is a very stressful time for you, but just know that every policeman has a picture of your son and the police have numerous volunteers looking for him.”
“Thanks,” Carl said with a sigh. “You’re looking for Javier too?”
“Yes, I am.”
“I’m keeping an eye out for him too,” said Carl. “I think he killed Susan and has the kids.”
“Please, Mr. Abbott, leave the investigation and finding Javier to the authorities. This is a very dangerous situation for the boys. We don’t know who has them and we don’t want to spook them.”
“Right.”
Alex had
