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“I had nothing to do with the article, but the reporter is a friend of mine. Her aunt was killed, and the case had gone stone cold until I took it on. The murderer was the ex-husband, and I found enough evidence to prove he was guilty.” She sighed. “Chief Ramirez is going to be hopping mad today. It’s not the first time he’s faced accusations of incompetence. I don’t take any pleasure in it, but I also won’t apologize for doing my job.”
“All the more reason to keep a low profile when we talk to Dallas. Let me lead the conversation.”
She glanced at him, and for a moment, Eli thought Sienna would argue, but then she nodded. Minutes later, they pulled into the marina parking lot. Brine scented the air. Sienna gestured to a souped-up Toyota Tacoma on the far side of the lot. “That belongs to Dallas.”
Eli’s brows raised slightly. He drew closer to the truck, adding up the cost of the oversized tires, custom rims, and the special exhaust pipe. Those upgrades cost several thousand dollars. Interesting spending habits for a man who lived on a boat and offered excursions to tourists during the summer. Eli was tempted to look inside the vehicle, but it required standing on the running board. A step too far for a lawman working outside the boundaries of his jurisdiction.
Sienna had no such qualm. She grabbed a hold of the sideview mirror with one gloved hand and peeked inside the passenger side window. “It’s clean inside. Cleaner than your car, Eli, and that’s saying something.”
He glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one was watching them. The lot was empty.
Sienna peeked in the rear window of the extended cab. “He also has an expensive stereo system and top-of-the-line interior. This is one expensive truck for a man who only works part of the year as a tour guide.” She hopped down to the pavement. “No sign of Ruby, although that’s not saying much. It looks like the vehicle has been detailed inside. And recently. I can still see vacuum marks on the carpet.”
Eli had worked in law enforcement long enough to recognize patterns in individuals. A man willing to stalk and harass former girlfriends was a breath away from escalating to a more dangerous crime. Had Dallas set his sights on Ruby, and when she rejected him, took matters into his own hands? It was a strong possibility.
But was he smart enough to murder Albert and frame Sienna for the crime?
That wasn’t as clear. Eli grabbed Sienna’s hand and pulled her away from the truck. “We can’t jump to conclusions based on the man’s vehicle. Vacuuming the inside of your car isn’t a crime.”
“Obviously. Otherwise, you’d be in jail for life.”
He ignored her jab. “I can’t see what any of this has to do with Ruby’s disappearance. If she was nabbed, it was in her own car. There’s no reason for Dallas to use his truck to transport her.”
“Don’t you think it’s weird though? Where did Dallas get the money for the upgrades on his truck? Not to mention his yacht. It’s worth at least two hundred thousand.”
“Without a deep dive into his finances, there’s no way to know if the money he’s spending is unreasonable.” Since Eli wasn’t officially assigned to the case, he couldn’t obtain a warrant for those documents. In fact, any background check he conducted was limited to publicly available sources. “He could’ve inherited the money. Or lived frugally over the years. There are a thousand and one possible reasons why Dallas has the cash to afford both the yacht and his truck.”
The next hour was spent questioning individuals at the marina. Most had heard about Ruby’s disappearance and the murder of Albert. No one had valuable information to add. Several tried to question Sienna about her role in the crime, but she dodged the questions easily. Eli admired the friendly way she handled the pressure. Her smile and charm put most people at ease.
Boats bobbed in the water and seagulls screamed as they made their way to Dallas’s vessel. The forty-foot yacht had a sleek aerodynamic design with a fiberglass hull and teak accents. An outdoor table was sheltered from the sun by a canopy and mirrored sliding doors led to the interior. The gangway was extended, although there was a sign hanging across the ropes showing guests were not welcome.
“Hello?” Eli called out. “Anyone home?”
The mirrored doors swished open and a man emerged. Dallas Redding. Eli immediately recognized him from his company’s website. Tall, with a lean build, he was tanned from working outside all year. Dark stubble covered the bottom half of his face and a tattoo peeked out from the collar of his sweater. His gaze swept over Eli and Sienna, but curiosity didn’t flicker in the depths. “Sorry, guys, I don’t offer tours in the winter.”
Eli had the sense Dallas knew who they were and why they were there, but played along. He returned his amiable smile. “We’re not here for a tour. My name is Eli Goodwin and this is Sienna Evans. We were hoping to talk to you about Ruby Morales.”
“Ruby?” His eyebrows arched. “Are y’all cops?”
Eli had to be careful. He had no legal authority to work Ruby’s disappearance and therefore couldn’t use his status as a lawman to gain Dallas’s cooperation.
“I was hired by Ruby’s grandmother,” Sienna said smoothly. “She’s worried about her granddaughter, and it’s my understanding that you and Ruby knew each other. Any information you can provide would go a long way to helping us find her.”
Dallas hesitated and then unhooked the sign to join them on the dock. “I heard Ruby left town of her own accord.”
“It’s a possibility we’re pursuing.” Eli noticed the other man didn’t invite them onto the boat. It didn’t mean Dallas was hiding something, but it seemed odd. “Your yacht is gorgeous. Mind letting us on board? I’ve always been interested in purchasing something like this for myself.”
“Normally, I would, but I’m pressed for time today. Come back next week and I’ll be happy to give you the full tour.”
Sienna’s attention was locked on the mirrored doors leading to the interior cabin. She casually strolled down the dock toward the rear of the boat. Eli kept his gaze locked on Dallas. “When was the last time you saw Ruby?”
“You know, I’m not sure.” Dallas pulled a cell phone out of his pocket and shot off a text message. “Sorry. I’ve got meetings lined up this afternoon with potential business partners. I’m thinking of expanding the tour business.” He clicked the phone closed and arranged his features in an expression of concern. “Anyway, Ruby. She’s a real nice girl, but we weren’t close. I barely knew her.”
“Friends said y’all went on a date or two.”
“Yeah.” Dallas rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish look creeping across his features. “But you know how it is, man. Ruby was sweet, but things were casual from my end.”
Casual? Not according to her friends. Dallas was stalking Ruby, but accusing him of that would end the conversation quickly. “Were you surprised when she left town?”
