“Yeah, I remember that show!” Martinez said.
“The one where the wagon train stopped in Laredo, Texas,” Decker added.
“That’s the one!” Oliver said, bringing his hands to a clap. “God, that brings back memories. Man, wind was whooshing all over the place. And there was Walter—aka Cattle Foreman Kirk Brown—riding high in the saddle, barking orders, doing a jig with his horse, trying to bring in all those raging dogies while a tornado was blowing everything to shit.”
Marge said, “Maybe we could get back to the business at hand?”
The men stared miserably at her. Decker held back a smile. “So Walter was also a member of Greenvale?”
“Yes. A founding member,” Marge said. “Both he and his companion were murdered in their seats.” She looked at Decker. “Their table was right next to the Garrisons’.”
“Ah, interesting.” Decker took notes. “I haven’t gone over their entrance and exit wounds. Be interesting to see if it matches the patterns of the Garrisons.”
“Skinner and his companion …” Webster paused. “As opposed to a wife. By any chance, is there a wife?”
Marge said. “Yes, there is. Adelaide Skinner. I haven’t talked to her yet.”
The room went quiet.
Oliver grinned. “So the old goat was stepping out on her.”
“It doesn’t mean he deserved to die,” Marge said.
“Certainly I don’t think so. But his wife may have had other ideas.”
“So she hired someone to whack him by shooting up a restaurant?” Webster made a face. “How old is she anyway?”
“Seventy-seven,” Marge answered.
“Y’all picture a little seventy-seven-year-old lady telling someone to massacre thirteen innocent people just to get to her old man?”
“Maybe she hired out without knowing what the killers were going to do,” Oliver said.
Martinez said, “So they decided to execute the hit by attacking an entire restaurant? Pretty clumsy.”
“Worked in the past for the Mafia,” Oliver said.
Martinez added, “Then, for a topper, one of them decides to whack the other?”
“More money for himself,” Oliver said. “Plus someone to pin the blame on.”
Webster said, “Is Walter’s wife a member of Greenvale?”
“Yes, of course,” Marge said.
“Let’s slow it down,” Decker said. “We’re getting wild with our speculations. Any other connection, Marge?”
“Linda and Ray Garrison. From the people I’ve talked to, it’s clear that the couple was worth beaucoup bucks.”
“So who inherits the estate?”
“Don’t know for sure, but they have two adult children, a son and a daughter. David Garrison is twenty-six. And guess what? He has a record. Drug arrests. First time was probation. Second time, he served two years. He’s now out on parole. I’ve got a call in to his officer.”
“Good going, Dunn,” Webster said.
“Daughter Jeanine is completely different. Twenty-eight. A patron of the arts and theater and ballet. Very big in society events … raising money for charities. Now get this, guys! She specifically raises charity money with tennis matches.”
Oliver said, “Didn’t you say that Harlan taught tennis at Greenvale?”
“Yes, I did.” Decker’s intercom rang. He excused himself, took the call. A rape. Everyone from Sex Crimes was busy in the field. Did he want to send down someone from CAPs? Decker turned to Marge. The woman had been a top-notch Sex Crimes detective for six years. He had almost felt guilty when he pulled her away from the detail to follow him into Homicide. After the call was completed, he looked at Marge. “I need someone with experience, Detective Dunn.”
Marge checked her watch. “Sure, I can catch it.”
“Thanks.”
“Are we done here?”
“For the most part,” Decker answered. “Just let me get a couple of assignments out. Bert, you remember Walter Skinner as Walter Skinner the actor. Why don’t you go out to his house and feel out the wife?”
“Feel her up?” Oliver said. “Feel who up?”
“Out,” Decker said. “Feel her out. What are you doing now, Scotty?”
“I got a court case in a half hour. Meryl Tobias.”
Martinez groaned. “Mr. ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry.’ What a stupid shit!”
“At least he was sorry,” Marge said.
“Don’t help Mrs. Tobias.”
Decker said, “What’s the DA going for?”
“Man one.”
“Cut-and-dried case?”
“Should be.”
“So when you’re finished, go over to Ashman/Reynard. Find out what business they were conducting at Estelle’s. While you’re there, check out the other agents, see if any of them had had prior contact with Harlan.” He turned to Webster. “You’re the youngest of the bunch, Tommy. You take on David Garrison.”
Oliver grinned. “Two young, good-looking white boys mentally duking it out.”
Marge said, “How do you know David Garrison’s good-looking?”
“I don’t know that he is,” Oliver said. “He just sounds good-looking. Aristocratic. Like he should have a ‘the third’ after his name.”
Webster said, “What about Jeanine Garrison, Loo?”
“You want to take her, Marge?”
“You mean after I catch the rape call?”
“That’s right. I’m going senile.” Decker glanced at the clock. “No, catch the call, then meet up with Scotty at Ashman/Reynard. I’ve got an open lunch hour. I’ll take Jeanine myself.”
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