“That’s what I’m referring to.”
“This case involves a cop, who’s investigating a mayor’s wife, who may be peripherally involved in a murder.”
Ernie raised his eyebrows.
“The cop is now suspended by the mayor.”
“Let me guess. The cop’s a friend. So you’re here asking favors.”
“That’s about it.”
Ernie sighed heavily. “Us old-timers have to stick together. What do you need?”
“A few things. First, latent prints and DNA from the gun.” He held up a plastic bag with the pistol. “I’m after one clear chain of evidence from the scene of the crime to your lab. The police officer in question never touched any of this, so we’re looking at good evidence. I don’t want any reason for someone to cry foul later.”
Ernie waved it off. “No problem. I understand. What else?”
Otto held up another plastic bag, this one holding a bullet and casing. “I need to know if the bullet found inside the woman’s body, and the casing found at the crime scene, match the gun found at the crime scene.”
“All right. Unless I run into problems, I’ll get you an answer by tomorrow.”
Otto smiled and then laughed, feeling a huge sense of relief. He’d expected at least a two-week turnaround. “Next time I make it up this way, I’ll buy you a steak dinner.”
Ernie patted Otto on the back and told him there might not be a next time, that retirement was indeed looming. But Ernie had been saying that for a decade, and still kept showing up at the microscope.
*
As Otto drove back to Artemis he saw that it was just after five o’clock and decided he had one more stop for the day: Selena Rocha. He knew Josie liked her and valued her input, and Otto thought she might be able to offer some additional piece of information. Through the years, he had discovered that hairdressers, garbage collectors, and mail carriers were some of the best sources for information in a small town.
At quarter after five Selena turned the dead bolt on the salon door and opened it for Otto to enter. When he introduced himself she smiled pleasantly and said that, yes, she knew him and she hoped everything was okay.
She closed the door and turned back to him. “Would you like coffee or tea?”
“No, no,” he said, feeling nervous talking to this woman with long legs and big brown eyes and a bright white smile. For a brief moment he couldn’t remember why he had thought it important to visit her.
They sat in the waiting room and Otto cleared his throat, organizing his thoughts.
“Chief Gray came by and talked to you a few days ago about the woman who was murdered.”
“Yes.”
“She suggested that you have a good feel for what’s going on in town. And that you have some knowledge of the trafficking industry.” He paused and she frowned, but nodded once to acknowledge the statement.
“Things have gotten complicated since she last spoke with you. I’d like to talk with you in confidence about the case. Can you give me your word that you won’t talk about the case with anyone?”
Her expression altered somewhat, her eyes focused and brightened. She was getting interested now. “You have my word.”
“Good,” he said, settling into the conversation. “Did you hear today that Chief Gray has been suspended due to breach of contract?”
“We heard it on the radio this afternoon. I couldn’t believe it.”
“You won’t share this information with your coworkers?” Otto asked. If she did, it wouldn’t put the case in jeopardy, but he preferred to keep the information quiet as long as possible.
“Just because I hear gossip doesn’t mean I spread it,” she said.
“Good enough. Chief Gray’s suspension is tied to the trafficking case. There are some things that make us believe Caroline Moss may be connected to a trafficking ring. That she may have set up the transport of the women who came here from Guatemala.”
She shook her head slowly and murmured, “Unbelievable. The Citizen of the Year.”
“Remember. She’s not been arrested. This is conjecture.”
“I know, I know. You made that clear.” Selena squinted at Otto as if she were putting the pieces together. “I also heard they picked up Josh Mooney for driving the van. The word around here is that Josh kidnapped the woman at the trauma center, but he was arrested before he could get her delivered.”
Otto put a hand in the air and wavered it. “Something like that.”
“Now you think the mayor’s wife got Josh to drive the women from Guatemala up north?” Her eyes widened and she placed a hand across her heart. “It was that bastard mayor who suspended Josie, wasn’t it?”