Razing Stakes by T.G. Wolff

Author:T.G. Wolff [Wolff, TG]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Lucille Anderson Wallace did not disappoint. She stood in the doorway to her office, her arms crossed, utterly inconvenienced as she assessed Manor. “Not surprising you need supervision, Detective. Ask your questions. You have five minutes.” She didn’t invite them into the large corner office behind her. She didn’t come out into the common area for the business development group.

“You’re on the board for the Shaker Heights library. When was the last time you were in Shaker?” Cruz asked.

“The last time we had a board meeting, the third Thursday in May. I’m on the board as a favor to a friend. I hate going to the east side. I get lost every time. What is wrong with having streets go straight?”

Cleveland was an east side–west side city. The Cuyahoga River physically separated the two, but the divide was much larger than the width of the river. Downtown was common ground, used by all in Greater Cleveland. But talk to someone from Bay Village about going to Beachwood, and they acted like they were crossing state lines. It was the same vice versa.

“You’re active in boating. Are you on boards for this, too?”

“Sailing,” she corrected, “and you know I am or you wouldn’t have asked. I have been sailing since I was old enough to walk. Sailing is my passion. My husband was a navy man, we shared a love for the water.”

“It’s odd a navy man went into the telecommunications business.”

“We started out as a military contractor. My brothers fronted the money. My husband had the connections. What does our ancient history have to do with anything?”

“Do you know Heath or Shari Owens?”

She rolled her eyes. “Do you have any idea how many people I know?” He waited. She glared. He waited. She huffed. “Fine. I’ll check my contacts.” Lucille made a production of retrieving her phone from her desk—still not inviting them in—and scrolling through the list. Her manicured finger flicked the screen up, and again, and again, and again.

Cruz waited patiently. Manor mimicked him.

“No. I don’t know anyone named Owens, Heath or otherwise. Any other questions?”

“Where were you last Wednesday between nine a.m. and three p.m.?”

She looked at her device again, finger pressing and swiping. “I had a business meeting that morning.”

“I’ll need the contact information for people you met with.”

She smirked. “I met with the officer in charge, US Coast Guard. I’m certain you’ll find her aboveboard. This discussion is over.” And the door closed in their faces.

Cruz led Manor to the finance wing where Benjamin Anderson was a refreshing counterpoint. “Do you take cream or sugar?” he asked.

“Both,” Cruz said and Manor agreed. “Can you help me understand, in a family-owned business like this, do your father, aunt, and uncle own equal amounts?”

Benjamin sat in the chair opposite them. “My aunt sold half of her shares to her brothers. She regrets it, I know she does, but that was over twenty years ago. Do you think there’s a connection between us and Colin’s death? Because I can’t imagine there is.

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