Page 12 of Homicide in Water Creek

Jacks 0

Chapter Six

As King walked out of his office, Cass was staring at him, his mouth slightly agape.

“What was that about?” he asked, pointing at the door. “Did you piss off Jacks?”

“No, I didn’t piss her off.”

He’d kissed her senseless. She’d liked it, too. Up until she didn’t and stormed out of the building.

“I question your reality. Her hair was on fire, man. That girl has more sass than a rattlesnake protecting her eggs. She’s always been full of it.”

King ran his hand through his hair as he stood there, staring at the door. “The sass is an act.”

Maverick’s loud bark of laughter echoed through the quiet building. “Dude, have you met Jackson Miles? Everything she does is sass. She oozes sass with every step.”

“Correction. She hides behind it.”

“A defense mechanism?”

King tipped his head in agreement, but he had to get his mind off Jacks Miles before he did something he’d regret. Like chasing her down and repeating that kiss. “Where are we on Vonita’s case?”

“Vonita? Is that what we’re calling her now?”

“That’s her name, Maverick. I don’t want anyone calling her my mother. We need to keep this investigation impartial. She was a damn Hollywood star, for heaven’s sake. This can’t get out before we have a handle on it.”

Maverick shook his head in disbelief. “Sheriff, she was your mother. That alone implies prejudice. We just don’t have a choice. There’s no one else to work this case.”

King tucked his hands into his back pockets. “You’re right. I called the district attorney to discuss it. He’s not convinced we need a special investigator. Vonita was the victim, not the perpetrator. Since I’m not grief-stricken by her death, he has no problem with us taking the lead. Wausau is working on the car, so that provides a bit of oversight as well. He did suggest we record every last detail on paper and on body cam. Got it?”

Maverick saluted him then did the sign of the cross in some strange two-handed jive. “Without question. I’m still waiting for the information from Boone. Have you heard from him?”

“Hang on. I have it. Jacks brought it over. I got distracted by her statement.”

King pretended he didn’t hear Maverick mutter, ‘Sure, that’s why you were distracted.’ Once he had the file, he sat on the edge of the reception desk to open it and read the information. Maverick made the out with it motion.

“The Porsche’s original owner was from LA. He died in the car on the freeway.”

Maverick grimaced. “I had that figured out when I noticed that all that was left was the trunk.”

“Right. After it was cleared and the insurance payout was received, the Porsche and 10 other cars were sold to Boone. He didn’t want the Porsche because there was nothing left, but it came in a lot, so he didn’t have a choice. He told me he planned to sell the trunk lid or the springs.”

“Not anymore,” Maverick said.

“Anyway,” King said pointedly, “they were shipped to Water Creek via a transport hauler from LA. The hauler stopped in several other towns, including Vegas, to drop off and pick up other cars.”

“Okay, but we know the Porsche was put on the hauler in LA. She had to be in the trunk already for this to make sense, King.”

“Not necessarily,” King said, leaning against a desk with his backside. Exhaustion plagued him, but he knew he wouldn’t get a good night’s sleep until his mother’s killer was found and she faded from the memory of Water Creek once again. “Vonita could have been dumped in that trunk anywhere along the way. Those haulers stop all over the place en route, and they don’t always stay with the truck.”

“You mean like to sleep?”

“Sleep, eat, shower,” King agreed. “The guy running this one has a sleeper cab, so for all we know, someone dumped Vonita in the Porsche while he was asleep.”

Maverick leaned back in his chair with his hands splayed across his belly. “Damn, that’s a big crime scene.”

“Over one thousand miles,” King agreed.