Page 33 of Fatal Strike
“Let’s find out what Judge Mendez was working on and his ruling on cases during the last three years. Everson was vague about connection points between the three, but he could have assumed we’d be investigating that aspect with our resources.”
“He’s grieving and wanting to solve this himself, but he could be held for obstructing justice if he’s concealing evidence.”
“I’ll make the request.” Leah typed into her phone, then scrolled through emails. She saw intel on Father Gabriel. “We’re on a roll. We have the background on Father Gabriel’s nephew. Xavier Sanchez—must be a namesake—was his sister’s son. In and out of juvie. Later convicted of selling drugs to a DEA agent. A member of the Texas mafia. Killed in a gang fight.”
“Every gang member is his nephew, his weak spot,” Jon said.
“A priest who failed at saving a member of his family. Big-time guilt.” She stared up at the blue sky, her thoughts on Father Gabriel. “He sees his nephew in every face that breaks the law.”
22
LEAH NEEDED THINK-TIME.Her stomach growled, but she wanted to talk through her and Jon’s day before making inquiries at the Hotel Galvez about Dylan. She asked Jon to stop for cold drinks before driving to the eastern side of the island. She shed her professional jacket and left it in the truck, then kicked off her sensible shoes and rolled up the legs of her navy-blue slacks. The breeze off the ocean cooled their faces in the ninety-plus-degree temps.
“Too bad we’re processing a murder.” Jon slipped out of his shoes and socks. “If I have to take out after a bad guy in my bare feet, you’re going with me.” He shrugged off his jacket and tossed it on the truck seat.
“Yes, sir. But I’d outrun you.”
“Fat chance. If you’re lucky, you might taste my dust.” Hetossed his shoes and socks into the truck alongside hers before shutting the door.
His words swirled through her. Made her sorta tingly.Watch it, girl. Partners are hands off.“I inherited fast-running genes. Did the whole track and basketball thing. You’d better hope I don’t have to show you up.”
“Check my stats.” He adjusted his sunglasses.
The light bantering helped to unlock the tightness in her shoulders. With no one else around, she breathed in the salty air and listened to crying seagulls. Frothy waves gently lifted and fell. For a precious few moments, she let the hypnotizing rhythm flood her spirit before diving into a discussion about the investigation. She and Jon strolled along where the sea met the shore and lapped water onto their feet and ankles.
“We started the day with Father Gabriel,” she said. “On to Rachel Mendez, Chief of Police Zachary Everson, Aaron Michaels, and Judge Mendez’s staff.”
“And the one person who could fill in a lot of the blanks is hiding out.”
“As in guilty?”
“Haven’t seen otherwise. Why would an innocent man evade the law?”
“Or are we headed in the wrong direction? Those closest to Dylan are unwavering in their support.”
“Maybe he has them fooled,” Jon said. “Somebody in the prison system could have educated him in the art of crime.”
“Rachel Mendez had nothing derogatory to say.” A question hit the surface of her thoughts. “Do we have the details on Dylan’s original arrest?”
“I looked it up while you were texting earlier. The arresting officer is familiar: Ian Greer.”
“Interesting to find out if Trevelle prosecuted.”
“Anything’s possible.”
She watched three egrets tiptoe over the sand on spindly legs. They never roamed far from each other. “I agree with what you said earlier. Greer, Trevelle, and the judge were onto something that would bring the Venenos down.” She stopped to wiggle her toes in the sand.
Leah and Jon spent the next fifteen minutes alongside the shore before heading back to his truck. At the truck, they wiped the sand from their bare feet and slipped into their shoes before climbing inside.
She grabbed her phone. “I’m calling Elena James again. Ayoung woman sneaking around seeing a bad boy? You betcha she monitored what he was doing.”
“Schedule an interview before leaving Galveston.”
She pressed in Elena’s number. The call went to voice mail, and Leah left a message. She checked the young woman’s address while Jon started up the engine. “Elena lives with her parents. Shall we stop by later?”
“Put it on the list. While you have your phone out, why not talk to Lucinda Serrano? She’s worked a long time for Father Gabriel.”
Leah found the number for Father Gabriel’s secretary. When the woman answered, Leah explained why she’d called.
