“They found Rene four days later in a warehouse three blocks from your bar,” Julia said.
“Yeah. That’s when the two detectives took over the case. They were so damn sure I was the one who killed her. But when they told me she was strung up by her neck and bound in ropes . . . shit. That was pure evil.”
“Whatever happened to Rita? Did you tell the cops about her?”
Tanner shook his head. “Yeah, I told the detectives. At first, one of ’em thought I was making up the Rita story. They wouldn’t quit. Kept asking me what I really did with my wife. But I kept telling them to ask Rita.”
“And did they?” Novak asked.
“They said they did. They told me Rita lost track of Rene after that night.”
There was no mention of any interview with a Rita or similar person in the notes. Ken didn’t remember Rita, but that didn’t mean he’d not known her.
“I never hated cops until then,” Tanner said.
Novak ran his hand along his tie. “They established fairly quickly that you had an alibi when the second victim was found.”
“Yeah. They told me I shouldn’t leave town, but that was bullshit. I took off with a couple of buddies, and we went to Atlantic City to blow off steam for the weekend. That’s when the second woman vanished and was found. I was off the hook.” Tanner’s eyes narrowed. “I saw your badges, but I didn’t catch your names.”
“Detective Tobias Novak, Richmond City Police.”
“Julia Vargas. Virginia State Police.”
Tanner cocked his head. “Vargas. Shit. I thought you looked familiar. There can’t be too many of you running around. How did you know the detective?”
“He was my father.”
Tanner shook his head. “Well, if you want me to make nice about the guy, I won’t. He was a real son of a bitch. I didn’t like him during the murder investigation or before.”
“Before?” Novak asked.
“He worked in narcotics as an undercover in this area. I didn’t recognize him at first when he and his sidekick interviewed me about Rene. He was all clean-shaven and wearing a suit. But when he spoke, I recognized the voice. Sounded like gravel.” He cocked his head as he studied Julia with newfound interest. “You have his eyes. How old were you when he offed himself?”
“Young.”
Novak heard the sharp tension in her response and sensed she needed a second to process. “So Jim Vargas was around the bar a lot before Rene died?” Novak asked.
“Yeah. I mentioned I’d seen him before, but he and his partner shrugged it off. Your old man was too wrapped up in the investigation. He pressed me hard to confess, and was relentless. It was like he was looking for a way to deflect the attention from himself.”
“What did he do when he came by Stella’s before Rene died?” Julia asked.
“Sat at one of the corner tables and drank. Guy could pound the booze. People would come by and meet with him. They’d talk in low voices so no one would hear. I knew he was up to some shit, but he didn’t bother my customers, so I let it go. Not my business.”
“Did Jim Vargas know Rene?”
“Sure. She served him drinks. And a couple of times I saw him chatting her up. He could make her laugh, which was a rare sight.”
“You ever think something was going on between them?” Novak asked. Tension rolled off Julia, but she understood no question was off the table.
“I never had proof,” Tanner said. “But Rene could keep her secrets.”
“What kind?”
“If I knew that, then they wouldn’t be secret.” He shook his head. “Look, I don’t want to speak against her. She’s been gone twenty-five years, and she was my wife. I still did love her.” He looked at Julia. “And sorry for what I said about your old man. I thought all those old emotions were dead and buried, but I guess they’re still there. You were a kid. None of it was your fault.”
Julia’s smile held little warmth. “Convenient for you to be in Atlantic City when Tamara Brown was murdered.”
“What’s that mean?” Tanner asked.
“What’s it, a five-hour drive?” Julia asked.
“Sure, without traffic, which is never,” Tanner said.
“A small plane could do the trick,” Julia said.
“That’s enough,” Tanner said.
“Tamara Brown’s bindings were not as intricate as Rene’s,” she added. “Cops assumed the killer was in a rush.”
Tanner jabbed a fat finger at her. “I’m trying to be nice, but I’ve had enough. I’m not doing this again.”
“What?” she asked.
“Being strung up for a crime I didn’t do.”
“Did I hit a nerve?” Julia asked.
“I’m calling my attorney.”
“Bad idea,” she said. “No statute of limitations on murder even with the best lawyer.”
Tanner cursed. “You need to leave now.”
Novak didn’t move. He sensed Julia wanted a pound of flesh. She wanted to find the Hangman so badly; he bet she could almost taste it. He’d had cases that had done the same to him. But at this stage it was better they both back off and regroup. “If we have more questions, we’ll be back, Mr. Tanner.”
Julia turned to leave, and he followed her along the hallway and through the empty bar. Outside, she stopped and stood staring at the bright sky. He sensed her irritation.
“What do you think?” he asked.
She shoved out a breath. “Other than the bombshell that Rene knew Rita? Hell if I know. His story checked out twenty-five years ago.”
“That comment you made about Tamara Brown. That wasn’t true. Her bindings were more intricate than Rene’s.”
“I know.” A smile tugged at the edge of her lips. “But I was betting Tanner didn’t have the full case details. Thought I’d throw a line in the water.”
Novak grinned. “Interesting Rita was the last person Rene was seen with. Do you believe Tanner told Jim and Ken about her?”
“I didn’t see Rita mentioned once in the files. And I made a careful list of witness names for Shield. No Rita on the list. What would the motive be for Tanner to now introduce Rita?”
“Maybe he told Jim and Ken about her during the initial investigation. Maybe Jim kept her out of the files intentionally. If she’d been a CI, he might have wanted her involvement and connection to him kept quiet.”
“Sure, it’s possible.” She looked up at him. “Rita died within weeks of the other Hangman victims. We know she knew at least one of them. The Hangman could have been very aware of Rita, who fit his victim profile. Maybe he saw her with Rene that last night.”
“Why hit Rita over the head? Why hide her body and not display it like the others?” he asked.
“Maybe she knew who he was. If he saw her with Rene, she might have also seen him. Maybe her relationship with Jim was also known. She could have been a loose end.”
“All good theories now.”
Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at the display before holding the phone to her ear. “Say again,” she said into it after listening a moment.
After she hung up, he said, “What’s going on?”