Save Your Breath (Morgan Dane #6) - Melinda Leigh Page 0,47
to come down there and talk to the press?”
Valerie paused, as if thinking it over. “Not unless you think it will help find Olivia.”
“The police chief is holding a press conference later,” Sharp said. “He’s going to give the public a tip line to call. I don’t see how stressing your mom and dad out with a horde of reporters is going to accomplish anything.”
“Then we’ll sit tight and ignore them,” Valerie said.
“If you change your mind, Morgan can set up your own press conference. For now, we have a few leads to follow up on this morning.” Sharp didn’t want to get their hopes up with specifics. Nor did he want to give them information in case a reporter got to them. “I’ll call you if I have any news.”
He ended the call and turned to Morgan. “Are the reporters giving any real information?”
“Not really.” Morgan shook her head. “Feels more like entertainment than news, but they are showing her picture and encouraging anyone with information to call the SFPD.”
Stella sat in a chair facing his desk. “I want to interview the former manager of Olander Dairy. His name is Ronald Alexander. He was fired a few months ago when the farm went belly-up.”
Sharp shifted forward, his fingers curled around the arms of his chair. “Why do we want to talk to Ronald?”
“Because I have questions about the Olander dairy farm, and I want to ask someone besides Kennett Olander.” Stella pulled her chair forward and rested her forearms on his desk. “Kennett and Lena Olander married in Iowa in 1982. Lena was sixteen. Kennett was twenty-three. Erik was born in Iowa. Kennett Olander has no criminal record in the state of New York or in the National Crime Information Center, which is normal. But get this. He also has no employment record with Social Security prior to 1994. He didn’t file a tax return before moving to Scarlet Falls.”
The National Crime Information Center, or NCIC, was an FBI database that tracked crime at the national level.
“What about Lena?” Morgan asked.
Stella shook her head. “There are barely any records for Lena at all, even here and now. She isn’t listed on the deed of the farm. Kennett’s name is the only one on the property tax records or recent mortgage. Lena Olander had a driver’s license, but no vehicles are registered in her name. She had no credit cards. The couple had one joint bank account. The rest of the accounts are in his name only. The gun she used to commit suicide is registered to Kennett. His license on the weapon was for on-premises only. He didn’t apply for concealed carry.”
“So Lena, who married very young, had no assets, no credit, and no income separate from her husband.” Morgan leaned on the corner of the desk. “When she came here to speak with me, she acted anxious.”
Abusive men often maintained control of their wives by making sure they did not have access to money. Financial dependence could be a heavy chain.
“Hopefully, Ronald is a disgruntled former employee and will tell us all about his former boss.” Stella rose.
Sharp stood. “Do you have a current address for this Ronald Alexander?”
“I do.” Stella nodded.
Sharp grabbed his keys. “Let’s go talk to him. Maybe he can tell us what official reports won’t. We can drive out to Joe Franklin’s place too.”
“OK.” Stella held up a hand in a stop gesture. “I’ll let you come with me on one condition.”
“I’m not sure I can make promises. I’m going to do whatever it takes to find Olivia.” Sharp was prepared to work around, over, or through any obstacles. “If you don’t want me along on the interview, I can always catch up with Alexander when you’re done with him.”
He was being a dick, but he couldn’t help it.
Stella gave him a look. “Or you could play nice. I have enormous respect for you as a detective. You helped train me when I was a rookie. With Brody on vacation, I could use a second set of ears and eyes. Your experience is invaluable.”
“What do you want me to do?” Sharp grumbled.
“Not break any more laws,” Stella said. “At least not when you’re with me.”
“All right.” If necessary, Sharp could ditch her and circumvent the law afterward. “Let’s go.”
“Morgan and I are headed for the DA’s office,” Lance said. “Let us know what happens in the interview.”
Sharp grabbed his jacket and led the way into the hall.
Stella zipped her jacket and followed him. “Unlike