Wrecked (Josie Gray Mysteries #3)(35)
She looked over at Marta. “I haven’t briefed Otto yet on the credit card information you found yesterday.”
Marta turned toward Otto. “Josie gave me access to Dillon’s log-ins and passwords that you used for the Sky Drop account. I found credit card information saved in his files. I checked both his MasterCard and Discover Card. He hasn’t made a purchase on either one in over a week.”
“If he was kidnapped for money, wouldn’t the kidnappers have tapped out the cards?” Otto said.
“They’re playing it safe. They don’t want any trace back to them,” Josie said.
“I also called Wally’s attorney using the contact information you took from Hector. No surprise he wouldn’t give me anything,” Marta continued. “And I called the bank. Wally banks here at Texas Trust. I talked with the bank manager and she wouldn’t give me specifics, but there were no red flags. I took that to mean no withdrawals. No need for a subpoena at this point. She also promised to monitor his account daily for us.”
“Good,” Otto said. “What about Christina’s accounts. Anything?”
Josie shook her head. “I talked with her parents again yesterday. They didn’t have any information about finances for her. We need to get into her apartment.”
“The judge approved the search warrant last night,” Otto replied. “That’s first on my list today. I’ll get her bank files, bring the paperwork back, and we’ll dissect it here.”
Otto paused a moment, seeming to collect his thoughts. “We have the ransom demand, but we have big issues yet to settle. Until I see compelling evidence, we continue to search all leads. Someone believes Josie has access to millions. At this point, I see three distinct possibilities. Medrano has the most obvious connection to Josie and thus Dillon, but Medrano knows Josie doesn’t have access to that kind of money. Beckwith makes sense as a client with access to millions of dollars, but there is a weak connection to Dillon and Josie. Then there’s Wally, who disappeared and has a clear connection to Dillon, and thus to Josie. His criminal enterprise is definitely worth examining.”
The three officers sat for a moment, thinking through Otto’s assessment.
“If we’re all in agreement, then Josie, I’d like you to follow up on the indictment,” Otto said. “Go back out and put some pressure on Hector. I think he knows more than he’s saying, and he’s terrified.”
Josie nodded. She agreed with Otto, but it was still difficult to suddenly begin taking orders.
He turned to Marta. “I’ve left the names of three of Dillon’s highest-grossing clients. See what you can find, but don’t contact them directly yet. Let’s talk before you do that. I’ll work on Julian Beckwith today. He’s the big-money client. I’ll also follow up on the Santa Muerte pendant today, too.”
Marta nodded.
“That’s good. We have a plan,” Otto said, folding his hands on the table in front of him, and taking a moment before continuing. “I’d like us to attend the memorial service this afternoon as a group. Brian said he’d fill in dispatch and Lou will come with us. We’ll leave here at twelve thirty. I’ll drive.”
Marta began discussing the dress uniform they would wear, and Josie felt her attention fade. She thought of meeting Christina’s family, paying last respects, and her heart swelled with pain.
ELEVEN
By 12:40 P.M., the parking lot by the Showalter Funeral Home was packed, and cars were parallel parked around the neighborhood for blocks. Otto pulled into the lot and took one of the spots reserved for police cars near the back entrance of the building. The three officers and Lou were all wearing their formal dress uniforms and black armbands. It took them forty minutes to make their way through the receiving line to Christina’s parents. Several of Christina’s close friends stood next to the Handleys to offer support to them. Josie listened as Otto and Marta made small talk with other people in line. Josie remained silent and instead focused on the butterfly print on the jacket of the woman in front of them, not allowing her thoughts to drift from making it through the moment.
Mrs. Handley bore a striking resemblance to her daughter, with the same impeccable style and petite features. Mr. Handley looked the part of the all-American father of a beautiful daughter and lovely wife. In addition to their beauty, the family appeared in every respect to be kind, good people. That had been Dillon’s description of Christina. “She’s good people.”
When Josie reached Mrs. Handley and introduced herself, the woman grasped Josie’s hand and patted it, rubbing her palm over Josie’s hand.
“I’m praying for you,” she said. “I’m praying that you find Dillon, and that he comes back home to you safely.” She pursed her lips, tears welling up again in her red eyes. “And I am praying you find the monster that did this to my daughter, and you put him in jail forever.”
Josie walked out of the funeral home heavy with the knowledge that this family was relying on her to provide justice for their daughter’s death. While the gravity of her job was with her in every case she worked, she had never felt so overwhelmed by the responsibility.
*
After the memorial service, Josie drove back to the department and changed into her regular duty uniform. Lucy Ramone, owner of the Hot Tamale, was standing in the front office talking with Otto and Marta when Josie came downstairs. Unable to face anyone outside of the department just yet, she left through the back door and walked around the block to enter her car unnoticed.