every inch of Southwest Copper after accusations arose that the new well they dug had contaminated the water supply. You know about that, of course.”
“Yes, it’s the primary reason we’re handling this investigation quietly.”
“Not only were John and his people cleared, but the original accusation was anonymous—and that really angered a lot of people here. Southwest Copper is the largest employer. Half the people in this town work for the company or are married to someone who works for the company. The other half are split between those who retired from Southwest, or own a small business here—where their customers are Southwest employees. They consider them family.”
“I get it.”
“Why are you asking about Shelley? She doesn’t live here, and she doesn’t work for Southwest officially.”
“She’s John’s niece?”
“Technically, she’s Clare and Helen’s niece. Their older brother’s kid. Gil was killed twelve, fifteen years ago? I don’t know the story. Her family is from Tucson. Shelley still lives there, works there. All I’ve heard is that John and Clare Brown met at U of A. John dropped out of college when he enlisted in the army near the end of the Vietnam War. They married after he served for three or four years. John bought Southwest Copper from the original owners, turned it into a bigger, more focused business.”
“I was under the impression he owned it with Barry.”
“No, not to my knowledge. John is the sole owner of the company. He brought Barry on ages ago—I couldn’t even tell you when. I remember hearing that Barry had lost his job, couldn’t find anything, and when John’s general manager retired, he hired Barry. Barry is invaluable, for sure—when Clare got cancer and John took her to Tucson for chemo, Barry pretty much took over. Why all the questions?”
“Michael reported that Shelley left the party immediately after those two strangers.”
“With them?”
“No. But the timing has me looking into her. Now, if those men really are vendors, and maybe she’s negotiating a contract or something, then fine. But I need to know.”
“Did you ask Joe?”
“No. I’d like to wait until I know exactly who they are, then talk to him.”
“You’re not thinking that Joe is involved with any of this?”
“No.” He hesitated. “Maybe. He was willing to cooperate at the beginning when I approached him. He provided valuable information, and I believe he’s very concerned about his dad’s reputation and company. But the last week he’s been off. I can’t explain it any other way. We ran him early on, before I approached him. He has great credit, no unusual expenses, no criminal record, he had a good job in Phoenix that he voluntarily left when he came here last year to help his family. So I was comfortable. Now I fear I made a mistake.”
Matt couldn’t help but remember that Kara hadn’t wanted to read Joe into the investigation.
“Would you have been this far along if you hadn’t brought him in?”
“No. Michael would have had to be the one to obtain the A-Line contracts and schedule for us, and that would have more risky, and possibly taken much longer.”
“Then don’t second-guess yourself. This situation is sensitive. But we might want to talk to John Molina, now that we know that David and his brother-in-law owned A-Line. He has a right to know. If he doesn’t already.”
“You’re right, but let me think how I want to approach it, okay?”
“Your call. I have to follow up on a report anyway, preferably this afternoon. When do you want to talk to Tanya?”
“I want to read through the financial information that my agent sent me to make sure I understand exactly how the operation was set up. Two, three hours?”
“Is five p.m. too late?”
“That’s perfect. I’ll meet you outside Tanya’s house. Thanks, Wyatt.” Matt shook his hand and left.
Chapter 22
HECTOR LISTENED TO HIS cousin explain that the authorities had found their most recent camp.
“But,” Dominick continued, “we were long gone. They didn’t find anything important.”
“What did you do with the bodies?”
“What do you mean?”
“Did you take them? Bury them?”
“Vultures were taking care of Vince.”
“And the girl you left behind?”
“She was dead.”
Sometimes Hector had a difficult time believing that he shared blood with this man. His father and Dominick’s father, brothers and friends, had run an empire for three decades. And yet, now Hector was the only one who seemed to have any sense of business and self-preservation.
“So,” he said slowly for even the idiot to understand, “the authorities have her body.”
“Um, yeah?”
“Is that a question? Do you not