Gone, but Not Forgotten by Phillip Margolin

Author:Phillip Margolin
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Thrillers, Legal, Fiction
ISBN: 9780061575228
Publisher: Harper
Published: 2008-04-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen.

International Exports was on the twenty-second floor of the Firs t Interstate Bank Tower in a small suite of offices tucked away in a corner next to an insurance company. A middle-aged Hispanic woman looke d up from her word processor when Reggie Stewart opened the door. Sh e looked surprised, as if visitors were an uncommon sight.

Moments later, Stewart was seated across the desk from Manuel Ochoa, a well-dressed, heavy-set Mexican with a swarthy complexion and a bushy , salt-and-pepper mustache.

"This business with Martin is so terrible. Your district attorney mus t be insane to arrest someone so prominent. Certainly there is no evidenc e against him?" Ochoa said as be offered Stewart a slender cigarillo.

Stewart raised his hand, declining the smoke.

"Frankly, we don't know what Alan Page has. He's playing his cards clos e to the vest. That's why I'm talking to people who know Mr. Darius. We'r e trying to figure out what in the world Page is thinking."

Ochoa shook his head sympathetically. "I'll do anything I can to help , Mr. Stewart."

"Why don't you explain your relationship to Darius."

"We are business partners. He wanted to build a shopping mall nea r Medford and the banks would not finance it, so he came to me."

"How's the venture going?"

"Not well, I'm afraid. Martin has been having trouble lately. There i s the unfortunate business with the site where the bodies were discovered.

He has a lot of money tied up in the town house project. His debts ar e mounting. Our venture has also been stalled."

"How serious is Darius's financial situation?"

Ochoa blew a stream of smoke at the ceiling. "Serious. I am concerne d for my investment, but, of course, I am protected."

"If Mr. Darius stays in jail or is convicted, what will happen to hi s business?"

"I can't say. Martin is the genius behind his firm, but he does hav e competent men working for him.

"How friendly are you with Mr. Darius?" ochoa took a long drag on hi s cigarillo.

"Until recently, you could say we were friends, but not close friends.

Business acquaintances would be more accurate. I have had Martin to m y home, we socialized occasionally. However, business pressures hav e strained our relationship."

Stewart laid photographs of the three women and a sheet of paper wit h the dates of their disappearances on the blotter.

"Were you with Mr. Darius on any of these dates?"

"I don't believe so."

"What about the photographs? Have you ever seen Mr. Darius with any o f these women?" Ochoa studied the photos, then shook his head. "No, but I h ave seen Martin with other women." Stewart took out a pad. "I have a large house and I live alone. I enjoy getting together with friends.

Some of these friends are attractive, single women."

"Do you want to spell this out for me, Mr. Ochoa?"

Ochoa laughed. "Martin likes young women, but he is always discreet. I h ave guest bedrooms for my friends."

"Did Mr. Darius use drugs?"

Ochoa eyed Stewart curiously. "What does that have to do with your case , Mr.

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