The Territory (Josie Gray Mysteries #1)(34)

“We have questions we need answered. First, has either gang infiltrated Artemis? Any contact with those organizations, no matter how small, is too risky. We end it now. I talked with an ICE case agent who said there’s evidence the Medrano family has confirmed ties to both Houston and Atlanta. We knew they’d moved into Arizona, but they’re spreading out faster than I’d thought. I don’t think we’re anything more than a portal into the U.S. for either group, but they’re using us to get through. I hate to admit it, but Moss is right. We have to plug the hole.”

“How do you plug a hole that’s surrounded by a thousand guns?” Marta asked, her face still tense with worry.

“We gather information first. Marta, you make every contact you can tonight with anyone even slightly connected to the drug trade here in Artemis. Look for connections to the cartels. Otto, you concentrate on Red’s guns. Start checking with pawnshops and running the serial numbers from the Gunners’ policy manual.”

“You think Red’s death is connected to the cartels?” Otto asked. He stood from the table and stretched his back.

“Both groups are heavily involved in the gun trade, and Red had more money than a heavy equipment operator ought to have.” Josie pulled the photo of Red out of her folder and pitched it into the middle of the table. “We also have the photograph with Red standing next to a confirmed member of La Bestia.”

“I get he was involved, but what’s their motive for shooting him?” Marta asked.

“Almost three hundred guns.”

“I’d like to talk with Fallow again,” Otto said. “That guy wants to squeal to someone, but Bloster has him terrified.” Standing behind Josie, he reached over her shoulder and grabbed the photo of Red and the cartel members. He studied it, looking for missed details.

“Bloster is the one who has me worried,” Josie said. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to the sheriff yet. If he’s not connected to Red’s death in some way, I’ll be shocked. At the least, I think he knows who killed him.”

Marta pointed at Otto. “I think you’re right. Fallow is the weak link. Tell him about the beheading last week in Piedra Labrada. The police officer who was doing his job and had his head cut off for not accepting the payment offered by La Bestia. Ask Fallow what he thinks will happen to him with no protection from us.”

“I want all three of us back out at Winning’s tonight,” Josie said. “I want to reexamine the blood evidence at her trailer. I’ll try luminol to see if the blood traces match up with Winning’s story. Smear marks, drops of blood, shoe imprints, a fingerprint from a blood smear. I feel like we’re missing something there.”

Josie’s cell phone vibrated on the table. She picked it up, didn’t recognize the number, and set it back down again.

“Marta, I’d like you to take photos of the crime scene and look at them with a fresh eye. I’m going to take Red’s nude pictures of Winning and check the angle, establish where they were taken. I can’t figure why Red would keep the pictures down in the basement with his guns and ammunition. Wouldn’t you keep naked pictures in your bedroom?”

Marta broke in. “Maybe they’re blackmail pictures.”

Josie frowned. “She’s got nothing.”

“So, maybe Red was blackmailing her brother.” Marta winced. “With pictures of his sister.”

“Otto, I want you to spend some time at Red’s place, get more prints, dig through every drawer and envelope you can find. I’ve got Dillon going over his accounts. I’ll find out tonight some preliminary information on debt and assets.”

Otto grinned. “That’s good,” he said.

“What’s good?”

“Dillon Reece going over the accounts.”

“Don’t start with me, Otto.”

Marta put both hands in the air. “Wait a minute. Go back to Red’s connection with the cartels. You think he was selling them guns? That’s pretty bold. You don’t connect with them easily.”

“It makes sense. He got his money somehow. I’m guessing he was buying guns cheap and reselling to the Mexicans. With the feud between the Medranos and La Bestia, maybe Red got caught in the middle,” Josie said. “It makes sense with Fallow, too. I think he knows about a gun deal between Red and Bloster and the Mexicans, and he’s scared to death their lives are in jeopardy.”

“Ole Red’s guns are supporting a drug cartel south of the border. Wasn’t his shtick that he wanted to protect the women and children of Texas? Sure accomplished that, now, didn’t he?” Otto walked around the conference table again, scooted his chair out, and sat down grumbling about his back.

Josie looked doubtful. “Here’s what I can’t figure. The cartels have more guns and money than we can even imagine. Red’s three hundred guns would be nice, but let’s face it, not worth much effort on their part. And if they were killing him for his guns, why move the body? If they were just after the guns, wouldn’t they just shoot him and leave the body where it fell? Why take him into Pegasus’s trailer? I’m betting the cartels are involved, but what’s their angle?”





SEVEN


“Don’t look through the sights yet. Get used to raising the gun and shooting. If a lowlife draws, you think you’ll have time to stop and aim? Find the sights?”