Page 31 of Concrete Evidence
“Comes with having four daughters who have hormone-overloaded teenage boys knocking on the door. Has given this forty-five-year-old more than one gray hair.”
The lieutenant rubbed his balding head. “There are worse things than gray hair. Two of my three kids are girls. Other than making sure their dates see me cleaning my gun, I don’t have the build to scare them off. Agent Clement, what observations about the senator’s disappearance come to mind?”
“Has anyone questioned if he’s been killed?”
The thought had crossed Marc’s mind repeatedly. According to every report he’d read, Senator Elliott never moved an inch without a reason. The reason for his disappearance centered on his motive. As much as Marc wanted to jump into the discussion, he’d listen to Roden and the lieutenant’s conversation.
“We have a serious situation if a third body is found,” the lieutenant said. “I will take the lead here in investigating the senator’s whereabouts and looking into all three men’s financials. One of Elliott’s employees claims the senator drove to a church event and didn’t return. According to the pastor, the senator never made it. Neither has his truck been found. The drive to the church takes eighteen minutes on a county road. We’re searching in and around the area.”
“Who is the employee?”
“Craig Holcombe, foreman for the Brazos River Ranch and Elliott Construction.”
“Holcombe does both jobs?” Roden said.
“Apparently he’s efficient. Not married either.”
Roden swung his gaze to Marc, no doubt wondering why he hadn’t voiced his mind.
Marc’s silence ended. “I doubt the senator is a victim when he told his granddaughter he might need to disappear. Did he leave specific instructions to any of his employees, or do things appear business as usual?”
“The latter,” Shipley said. “According to our interviews, nothing prior to his leaving occurred out of the ordinary.”
“If Senator Elliott planned an escape, he wouldn’t have alerted anyone,” Marc said.
Shipley eyed him and twitched. “Are you the devil’s advocate here? Or looking to blame someone for your father’s heart attack?”
“Aren’t we partnering in this investigation to discover the truth? Two of the senator’s friends are dead, and the senator is now missing.Coincidences only lead to overlooking critical evidence.” Marc sensed Roden’s steel gaze warning him not to jump onto the caustic bandwagon. “Sir, we have too many unanswered questions to ignore any possibilities. Miss Elliott witnessed an unoccupied motorcycle before she found the body. She believes the same motorcycle followed her to Houston where she’s staying. Looks to me like the CID, Agent Clement, and I have our work cut out for us.”
“I agree. For the record, I’m the liaison between the FBI and CID. I worked for them years ago and have solid contacts there.” Shipley powered on the monitor to his desktop. “I’ll put together the interviews from Craig Holcombe and Mia Underly, the housekeeper. I’ll make sure they’re sent to you.”
“Thanks.” Marc made a mental note to run an MO on both of them as well as Avery’s parents. He also intended to find out the problems between the senator and his son. “Were those statements taken in person or by phone?”
Shipley eyed Marc as though he’d walked in from the field with dirt on his shoes. “I conducted those with a corps member.”
“Agent Clement and I request permission to conduct interviews with those living and working at the Brazos River Ranch as well as those representing Elliott Commercial Construction. Perhaps their answers might change.”
“Your time, Agent Wilkins.”
“Have you spoken to Avery QuinnJr. or his wife?”
“Yes, but go for it.”
“Lieutenant Shipley,” Roden began, “have you talked to Liam Zachary’s wife and his colleagues?”
“Mrs. Zachary and Liam’s secretary thus far. You’ll receive those transcripts too.”
“Any insight there?” Roden lifted his massive body from the chair and helped himself to the water dispenser near the door.
“Mrs. Zachary said her husband had been working long hours,sleeping little, and was grumpy. When she questioned him, he claimed the problem would be resolved soon.”
Marc digested every detail. Too many unknowns. “I’m assuming you searched his files and mirrored his devices?”
“We have.”
“Results?”
“Any conclusions are pending.”
