Midnight Crossing (Josie Gray Mysteries #5)(60)

At quarter after five Selena turned the dead bolt on the salon door and opened it for Otto to enter. When he introduced himself she smiled pleasantly and said that, yes, she knew him and she hoped everything was okay.

She closed the door and turned back to him. “Would you like coffee or tea?”

“No, no,” he said, feeling nervous talking to this woman with long legs and big brown eyes and a bright white smile. For a brief moment he couldn’t remember why he had thought it important to visit her.

They sat in the waiting room and Otto cleared his throat, organizing his thoughts.

“Chief Gray came by and talked to you a few days ago about the woman who was murdered.”

“Yes.”

“She suggested that you have a good feel for what’s going on in town. And that you have some knowledge of the trafficking industry.” He paused and she frowned, but nodded once to acknowledge the statement.

“Things have gotten complicated since she last spoke with you. I’d like to talk with you in confidence about the case. Can you give me your word that you won’t talk about the case with anyone?”

Her expression altered somewhat, her eyes focused and brightened. She was getting interested now. “You have my word.”

“Good,” he said, settling into the conversation. “Did you hear today that Chief Gray has been suspended due to breach of contract?”

“We heard it on the radio this afternoon. I couldn’t believe it.”

“You won’t share this information with your coworkers?” Otto asked. If she did, it wouldn’t put the case in jeopardy, but he preferred to keep the information quiet as long as possible.

“Just because I hear gossip doesn’t mean I spread it,” she said.

“Good enough. Chief Gray’s suspension is tied to the trafficking case. There are some things that make us believe Caroline Moss may be connected to a trafficking ring. That she may have set up the transport of the women who came here from Guatemala.”

She shook her head slowly and murmured, “Unbelievable. The Citizen of the Year.”

“Remember. She’s not been arrested. This is conjecture.”

“I know, I know. You made that clear.” Selena squinted at Otto as if she were putting the pieces together. “I also heard they picked up Josh Mooney for driving the van. The word around here is that Josh kidnapped the woman at the trauma center, but he was arrested before he could get her delivered.”

Otto put a hand in the air and wavered it. “Something like that.”

“Now you think the mayor’s wife got Josh to drive the women from Guatemala up north?” Her eyes widened and she placed a hand across her heart. “It was that bastard mayor who suspended Josie, wasn’t it?”

Otto pursed his lips and decided to avoid that part of the conversation as best he could. “Something like that. But here’s my question for you. We suspect Caroline’s involvement, but we have little to go on. I’m wondering if you’ve heard anything about her being involved in any kind of transporting of illegal immigrants.”

She stretched her legs out in front of her and slumped back into her chair. “No, just the opposite. I thought she helped people in trouble, especially women. Did you talk to the women who Josh was transporting?”

Otto explained that the police had spoken with Isabella and the other three women, but that they’d learned little new information.

Selena stood. “I’ll help you. Chief Gray stood by me when people were questioning my business. She didn’t allow a bunch of gossips to ruin me. So I’ll stand by her now.”

Otto stood too, having no idea where this woman thought they were headed. “How do you propose to help?”

“Who do you think those women want to talk to right now? The police?” She made a face. “They don’t trust you any more than they trust the men who brought them here. They want you to save them, but they don’t trust that you will.”

Otto started to speak and she stopped him with a hand in the air.

“Don’t get defensive. I know what these women are thinking. It’s exactly the way I felt.” She considered him for a moment. “It’s because there’s this mixed message we get. Sometimes the media loves the immigrants and wants to do everything they can to help people like those women. Other times the media says, ‘Send them all home. We don’t want them!’”

Otto crossed his arms and tried not to look skeptical.

“Go home tonight and turn on your TV. Watch one channel and you’ll hear about the illegals ruining the country. Taking all the jobs, committing crimes, running the country broke, turning to terrorism. Watch another channel and the immigrants are hardworking people wanting better for their families. Some towns help us settle and find work. Other towns throw us in jail the first chance they get. It’s no wonder we don’t trust anyone!”

He hadn’t considered this angle, but she had a point.

“Then this woman, Isabella, comes to the U.S. to find work and is raped and humiliated and the police say they’ll help her find safety. And then she’s kidnapped by the man who attacked her and maybe even murdered her friend. She doesn’t want to talk to you.”

Otto studied her for a moment. “You said she was raped. That’s not public knowledge.”