‘We’re not at liberty to discuss that. Judge.’ Grimes added the title with an embarrassed smile, like it was an afterthought. Like they even knew for sure.
‘Claudia Salazar’s an old friend of mine. We work homicides together. I wouldn’t take it well if Stoney knew she was in danger and didn’t help her.’
The G Men smiled politely. What he took well mattered not a bit.
‘But there had already been a suspect identified in this double homicide, right?’ Gordell said. ‘A suicide.’
‘As coroner, I haven’t officially ruled that death a suicide yet,’ Whit said.
‘And you just decided, what, the sheriff’s office was wrong and you’d keep pressing other angles?’ Gordell said. ‘A little presumptuous, wouldn’t you say?’
David must have poured on the charm. ‘I don’t believe I have to justify my actions to you, sir,’ Whit said politely.
‘Excuse me?’ Gordell said. Grimes glanced up from jotting on a legal pad, his face blank.
‘Excuse me… Your Honor,’ Whit corrected. He smiled.
‘Your Honor,’ Gordell amended. He didn’t look repentant for one second. ‘No offense meant.’
‘Meant. Taken. Whatever,’ Whit said. ‘If I feel additional information is warranted for an inquest, I go get that information.’
‘You’re not a lawyer, are you? I mean, you’re not one of those judges that’s required to be formally trained in the law,’ Gordell said with polite snideness.
‘No, I’m not a lawyer. I’m an elected official.’
An unpleasant light glinted in the back of Gordell’s eyes. ‘I’m sure the voters might take offense at you not cooperating with the FBI.’
‘How have I not cooperated?’
‘Cocky. You don’t see that much in politicians,’ Gordell said.
‘Jim,’ Grimes said, a little weary.
‘You didn’t answer my question,’ Whit said.
‘Let’s not get into a turf war, Judge Mosley. You’ll lose and lose badly. We ask the questions. You answer them.’
Whit counted to ten. ‘It’s good I came here yesterday, as I can tell you Stoney Vaughn was alive and well then. If he’s been kidnapped since then, or he’s run off, at least I’ve narrowed the time frame considerably for you.’
‘Thank you,’ Grimes said.
‘What I’d like to know is why,’ Whit said.
‘Why what?’ Gordell said.
‘Why were Ben and Claudia kidnapped?’
‘Mr Vaughn is a wealthy man.’
‘Mr Stoney Vaughn is. Mr Ben Vaughn isn’t.’
‘They thought Stoney was aboard.’
‘Why did they think that? They knew his schedule?’
‘We don’t know yet, Judge.’ Grimes cleared his throat. ‘Quite possible the perps had been watching the house, waiting for his boat to go out. Maybe they just assumed his boat’s out, he’s out on it.’
‘So. Stoney Vaughn has a vague connection to my murder case, and he gets smack-dab in the middle of a kidnapping. Now he’s gone. It just doesn’t seem coincidence to me.’
‘You’re the one on this buried treasure kick, right?’ Gordell said.
‘I prefer to think of it as archaeological relics,’ Whit said. ‘This whacked-out supposed treasure hunter, Albert Exley or Allen Eck or Alex, I want y’all to find out who this guy is.’
Grimes’s lips tightened. ‘We’re appreciative of the information you gave Officer Salazar and to the other local authorities. But please understand, these various threads that may tie to a case, those are for us to sort out and prioritize, Your Honor.’
‘Let me tell you why this matters. This Alex, this certifiable nutcase, was in New Orleans when Danny Laffite’s cousin got murdered. He put a poor woman through a window because she might have heard someone telling him he “got” the wrong guy. I think Danny Laffite had been in touch with Stoney Vaughn in the weeks before, trying to cut a deal to finance a dig for this treasure. But Stoney got greedy and sent Alex to steal Danny’s evidence about the treasure and kill him. Only Alex killed the wrong person at Danny’s house. Danny must have phoned Stoney after the New Orleans break-in, and Stoney freaked at the thought Danny was still alive.’ He stopped, looked at the two agents. ‘So if I were you, I’d be looking really hard at Stoney Vaughn’s phone records. See if he called the Bayou Mee Motel in New Orleans. See if he had incoming calls from New Orleans or from South Carolina, where Danny Laffite was when his cousin got killed.’
‘We’ve heard this is your style,’ Gordell said. ‘Not sticking to your judicial duties.’ But Grimes was looking at him, head tilted slightly, with interest.
‘You shouldn’t listen to rumors,’ Whit said. ‘Has there been a ransom demand made for Stoney?’
‘Thank you for coming by, Judge Mosley.’ Gordell stood, didn’t offer a hand to shake.
‘I’m thinking Stoney didn’t want to pay five million. Did he not have it? Maybe y’all are checking his finances, finding some holes… I could see him taking off.’
‘Judge-’ Grimes blinked at him, like he couldn’t believe the words.
‘I wouldn’t buy a single share of a penny stock from that guy. And he had someone in the house here with him, I’m pretty sure.’
‘Did you see someone?’ Gordell asked.
‘No. But I felt watched. Stoney didn’t want me in the house. I asked him to lend me a book and he said no, he didn’t have one, looked back three times at the windows in a twenty-second period.’
‘But you didn’t see anyone.’
‘No, I didn’t. But there was a beige van here that’s not here anymore. A Chrysler, I think. I didn’t notice the license plates.’ And that made him feel stupid, that if he’d been so suspicious he should have made a note of it. ‘I don’t think Stoney Vaughn has acted alone in this, and I think this Alex guy may be helping him. We have a description of him. We want people to be looking for him, too.’
‘That’s fine,’ Grimes said. ‘Give us the info, we’ll see if there’s anything to it.’
‘Thank you, Judge,’ Gordell said. ‘We’ll call you if-’
‘Since I’ve answered your questions while you’ve looked at me like I was a urine sample,’ Whit said, ‘maybe you’ll defrost slightly and help me. I’d like to speak with Ben Vaughn, and I’m guessing he’s under your protection at the moment.’
‘Speak with him why?’
‘For the inquest into the Gilbert/Tran murders.’
‘He’s recuperating. Probably not up to questioning,’ Gordell said. He stood, signaling the interview was complete. ‘And we have certainly not treated you like a urine sample, sir.’ He gave Grimes a glance: This is a judge?
‘I just need five minutes with him.’
‘We’ll ask him for you,’ Grimes said after a moment’s hesitation.
‘Thank you,’ Whit said and stood.
‘Judge Mosley,’ Gordell said, ‘I Understand you’re a big fish in a little pond here. But we think for a second you’re interfering or fucking around with us, you’ll be the small-town magistrate in front of a federal magistrate. You understand me, sir?’
‘I understand you, sir,’ Whit said. ‘And if you don’t take me seriously and follow up on this Alex guy, I’m going to call every television station in Corpus Christi, Houston, and San Antonio and tell them that the FBI is purposely ignoring findings presented by the Encina County coroner. Me.’ Whit smiled. ‘It may only be news for a few minutes. But it’ll be news.’
Gordell’s mouth worked like he had a bee lodged in his gums.
29
Claudia saw Ben Saturday morning, after the FBI and the police had questioned, him further. A guard stood outside his door, watching the nurses. She came into his room and he opened his eyes. He looked pale, a thick bruise on his face, his dark hair little-boy tousled on the pillow.
Thank God,’ Ben said and she came to the bed, crawled in next to him, hugged him. He hugged back, winced a little.
‘Are you hurt? They said you were okay…’
‘The ribs, a little, but not bad.’ His voice was throaty. ‘Face hurts. Jesus, I’m glad you’re okay. Gar said he was going to-’
‘He didn’t. Danny shot him.’