The Territory (Josie Gray Mysteries #1)(40)
“I think Red was brokering guns, most likely to Mexicans. But I doubt he realized just how evil the people he was dealing with are. I imagine it was that ignorance as much as greed that killed him.”
*
After Josie logged off for the evening, Otto conducted interviews at the police department with three additional members of the Gunners. The goal was to get a better sense of the organization and its possible ties to either Medrano or La Bestia. His first interview, with Jimmy Johnson, took place in the upstairs office at the conference table where Otto had talked with Bloster and Fallow. Johnson worked at a body shop in town and still wore his blue mechanic’s uniform. Otto noted the black stains around his fingernails and on the front of his work shirt.
Otto left his stack of file folders and notes with Fallow’s and Bloster’s names on them in open view so that Johnson would see them. Otto also laid a file folder on the table with Johnson’s name written across the tab. He placed the folder so that it faced Johnson’s chair. Otto had shoved it full of paper he pulled from the recycling box so that it would look as if he already had significant information collected.
As Otto hoped, Johnson spent the first part of the interview glancing at the file folder with his name on it. He was an average-sized man with a significant potbelly and large square glasses that magnified watery blue eyes. He appeared confused and repeatedly squeezed his hands together into fists.
Johnson gave the same generic information that Otto had already heard about the Gunners. Finally, Otto pulled the Johnson folder in front of him, opened it, and rifled through the papers. Johnson asked, “So, what are you so interested in me for?”
Otto closed the folder again and took his time responding. He gave Johnson a stern look. “A good friend of yours, an associate you trade and sell guns with, has been murdered. It’s come to our attention that Red may have been trading and selling guns to Mexican drug cartels. We suspect you may be doing the same.”
Johnson’s eyes opened even wider and his jaw dropped. “Where the hell did you get that idea? I don’t even know any Mexicans to sell guns to!”
Otto smirked. “You don’t know any Mexicans?”
Johnson looked even more flustered. “Well, of course I know some. I mean, I don’t know anyone who I would sell guns to. I mean, I could sell guns to people. I just don’t know any cartel members to trade with. That’s what I meant.”
Johnson’s responses didn’t get any better. After another fifteen minutes, Otto cut him loose. He felt sorry for the man. He looked so worried standing at the door to leave that Otto tried to reassure him.
“Mr. Johnson, just go home tonight and think about our conversation. If you think of anything that might help us find Red’s killer, you give me a call. Even if it seems insignificant, call me anyway.”
Fred Grant arrived shortly after Johnson left. Grant owned a small cattle ranch north of town and drove a four-wheel-drive pickup with monster-sized wheels and no muffler. He strolled into the department wearing an untucked flannel shirt with the sleeves cut off, blue jeans, and dusty boots.
When Otto turned the questioning to Red’s involvement with the cartels, Grant raised his voice in anger. “I don’t know who’s feeding you that nonsense, but they’re flat-out lying. The Mexicans killed his dad! He formed the Gunners to protect our town. He would never turn on us like that.”
“Mr. Grant, I have invoices that show Red was selling guns south of the border.”
“So what? There’s a big difference between south of the border and selling to the cartels. I’d lay my life on the fact that Red Goff never did business with the cartels.”
“What do you know about Hack Bloster and Red selling guns together?”
He gave an exaggerated shrug. “And? Big deal! They sold guns.”
“We suspect they were selling guns to the Medrano cartel,” Otto said.
Grant looked away as if disgusted. “They sold guns to make money for the Gunners.” He looked back at Otto, his eyes squinted, shaking his head in disbelief. “Have you forgotten that Red was murdered? Don’t go trying to turn him into the bad guy because you can’t figure out who killed him.”
“Were you selling guns with them?”
“This is ridiculous. I’m through talking to you. You got anything else to ask, do it through my lawyer.”
Otto got nothing out of Grant. He suspected Grant had more to tell, but he also didn’t think involving an attorney at this point would garner any new information.
The last member of the Gunners he talked with was a truck driver named Jerry Irons. Otto had known Jerry for years, and he and Delores occasionally had dinner with Jerry and his wife, Sandy. Jerry was a level-headed man with right-wing political leanings that he kept to himself unless asked. He and his wife were transplants from Vermont who moved to the desert for the warmer climate.
After several minutes of small talk about the wives and weather, Otto asked Jerry to discuss his thoughts about Red’s murder.
“It’s scary, Otto. What’s happening to our town? I know Red had enemies. He was arrogant, and a lot of people didn’t like him, but murdered? Shot in the head?”
Otto nodded. He had his own fears about the safety of his family. “Jerry, can you give me anything? Any gossip, any worries you have about various members? Bad relationships Red had with someone that might have led to his death?”