Wrecked (Josie Gray Mysteries #3)(17)
They sat in a small but comfortable living room where Josie declined iced tea and coffee. They talked for a moment about Delores and Otto, and then Josie asked the woman the same series of questions she had asked her neighbors.
“Did you see anything yesterday, notice any vehicles that were new to the neighborhood?”
She nodded. “I did see a white van. About the same time you’re talking about, too. It was about suppertime. I remember looking out the window and seeing it drive on past the house. I thought maybe it was a van setting up cable or something for the two houses behind us. They’re both still empty.”
“Did you see the van leave?”
“No. That was it. I sat down with my dinner on the couch and forgot about it.” She looked upset, and pulled the cat closer to her chest.
“Did you notice a small sports car at any time yesterday?”
“No. I believe that van was the only car I saw. And I didn’t go anywhere yesterday. I left the house early this morning for about an hour, but didn’t see anyone then either. Just waved hello to the Andersons next door.”
“Can you describe the van?”
“It was just a white van. Not like a minivan.”
“A cargo van?”
“Yes, that’s it. I thought maybe it was a cable van, but there weren’t any words painted on it. But it was the same shape and size as the cable and satellite TV vans.”
Josie finally filled the woman in on the purpose of the visit and she moaned softly at the news of Christina’s death and tears welled in her eyes. She stroked her cat’s back and the cat purred loudly, oblivious to the woman’s distress.
“I just don’t feel safe anywhere anymore. When I left the city to move to the desert my husband convinced me we wouldn’t even have to lock our doors. He passed away ten years ago. He’d be shocked if he knew how things have changed.”
They finished talking and Josie stood to leave. “I appreciate your time. Your information gives us something to start on.”
The woman stopped Josie at the door. “Do you think I need a security system? Living out here on my own?”
“I don’t think you should panic, but I think a security system is never a bad idea. You call the office tomorrow and ask for Lou. She can recommend a few companies for you to talk with.”
*
Josie found Marta already in the police jeep and told her about the cargo van. Marta had talked with two married couples, both with kids, and neither family had noticed anyone new or strange in the neighborhood the day before.
Marta drove around the block to the two homes at the back of the oval. Both homes were obviously empty with no curtains in the windows, and the landscaping was minimal, with rocks and cactus in lieu of a lawn. Marta and Josie got out of the car and walked around the homes but found nothing out of the ordinary.
Back in the car, Josie called Otto and gave him a summary. “The van, the empty houses, the fact that none of the residents had an appointment with an accountant. This is a probable kidnapping.”
Otto said, “That makes sense with what we’re seeing. I don’t think Dillon was taken from his office. There was no indication of a fight there. The chair was overturned but it looks like it was done for effect. Nothing on the desk was knocked over, as it would have been if there was a disturbance. The only thing out of place appears to be the files and the overturned chair.”
“What about the files?”
“We can’t find any files for letters A through G. From the way the files are lying on the floor it looks as if a section of folders bearing last names that start with those letters was removed from the cabinets. Then, it looks as if additional files were just pulled and thrown to the floor. Maybe to mislead. Hard to tell.”
“How about a client list? Something to figure out who the missing files belong to?”
“Not yet.” Otto talked with someone in the background for several minutes, then finally returned with an apology. “We’ve put out a description of Dillon’s car to law enforcement agencies, including in Mexico.”
“Has Lou tracked down Christina’s parents’ phone number yet?” Josie asked.
“I talked with them just after you left. I tracked down an officer in St. Louis who went to their house while I informed them by phone. They were devastated, of course. They couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to hurt her. She had no enemies, loved working for Dillon. They’re flying into Odessa tomorrow to retrieve her body.” Otto paused. “I’ll call Dillon’s parents now. Tell them what we know.”
“I need to call them, Otto. This is my responsibility.”
Marta stepped out of the jeep, understanding Josie would need privacy. Josie closed her eyes for a moment, trying to gather up the courage she needed to make the call, to sound strong and confident for this couple who would be shattered. She had met Dillon’s parents on several occasions. Both in their late fifties, they were a sweet couple, entirely devoted to one another. Dillon’s dad, Steve, had owned a printing store in St. Louis and his mother, Eva, had worked as an elementary school secretary until they both retired just last year. They were incredibly proud of their only son, doting on him to the point of embarrassment. They were a close family, and Dillon thought the world of them.
Josie dialed their home number and pictured Dillon’s mom, a trim woman who dressed in the conservative Midwestern clothing that one would expect of a school secretary: slacks and shirts.