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“Hey, it’s okay,” he quickly assured her. “We know you’re doing your best.”
“We have street names too,” Joe said. “Carbo, Dillweed, and Parrott.”
“Parrott?” Harper’s eyes widened as she latched onto that name. “I may have seen his name on a text message. I assumed it was one of the guys working at the warehouse. But that was a long time ago.” She glanced at her rounded stomach, and added, “It’s been over seven months since I was with Jake.”
“It’s a connection,” Joe said. “I appreciate you letting us know.”
Just linking her ex-husband to one of the dead guys wasn’t really enough, but Steele agreed with Joe that every bit of intel counted. The ATF guys, Bryon Perkins or Steve Banner, could possibly use that information to get more out of Jake Feldman.
He was glad when Harper resumed eating. They ate in silence for a moment. Talking about dead guys and gunmen was something cops did without paying much attention, but not Harper. As if by tactic agreement, they let her finish her meal in peace.
When Joe’s phone rang, breaking the silence, she jumped. Then flushed with embarrassment.
“It’s Raelyn,” Joe said, before pressing the speaker button so they could all listen in. “What’s up?”
“We just got a report of a dead body in a dumpster,” Raelyn said. “Grayson and I decided to tag along since the location is three-quarters of a mile from the warehouse.”
Steele’s stomach clenched. “Who is it?”
“He’s been here for a while, but I’m pretty sure the vic is Ellis Starkey. He was shot execution style at close range to the back of his head.”
Harper gasped and paled. He exchanged a grim look with Joe and Brock. Was Tommy Grotto getting rid of loose ends?
And was that the reason they were coming after Harper?
CHAPTERFIVE
Ellis Starkey was dead. A chill snaked down her spine at the news. Harper knew his decision to buy and sell guns with Jake had been responsible for this outcome. Yet Ellis had always been decent to her. In some respects, he’d been nicer to her than Jake had been.
Especially toward the end of their marriage. It was as if Ellis felt bad for what Jake was putting her through. She remembered how he’d brought her a large blue vase, allegedly from the warehouse. There was a small chip on one side, which Starkey said was the reason they couldn’t sell it.
For some odd reason, she’d taken the vase with her to the apartment. Every morning she walked in Greenland Park before work, gathering wildflowers. Placing them in the vase every few days had brightened the otherwise dingy apartment. Looking back, she understood that Ellis and Jake must have sold some legitimate items, along with the guns.
Steele’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “Any other evidence, Rae?”
“Hang on, we’re checking.” There was a long pause with muted voices in the background. “Yes, looks like Starkey’s head was down, like with his chin to his chest, when he was shot. Appears as if the slug might still be inside the body. The ME just rolled up; we should know more in a few hours.”
“Okay, thanks for that and keep us in the loop.” Joe reached over to end the call.
Steele’s gaze searched her face. “Are you okay?”
She shrugged. “I know Ellis was a criminal, just like Jake. But he was always nice to me. I hate knowing he died with someone pressing a gun to the back of his head.”
“I understand.” Steele glanced at Joe and Brock. “Unfortunately, that’s the risk you take hanging out with criminals.”
“I don’t condone what he did.” She sighed and rubbed her hands over her stomach. “I just feel bad about his death. I always had the impression that Jake dragged Ellis into the illegal gun business.”
“Everyone has a choice,” Joe said quietly. “He could have refused, or he could have gone to the police.”
Joe and Steele were right. Logically she understood Ellis had made his choice. And paid for that decision with his life.
“You mentioned your ex may have dragged Starkey into a life of crime,” Brock said. “What exactly do you remember?”
She grimaced, wishing she’d just kept her mouth shut. “There was nothing specific. But the few times I saw them together, Jake came across as the leader. Ellis seemed to be along for the ride.”
“Did you ever visit their warehouses?” Joe asked.
“No, but I knew where they were.” Why did it suddenly feel like she was being interrogated again? “I told you I had no idea they were buying and selling guns. How could I? I honestly thought they were buying stuff wholesale and turning it around for a profit. It wasn’t as if Jake confided in me.” She hesitated, then added, “I will say that the last six months of our marriage were the worst. Maybe that’s when the gun business started. It almost seemed as if Jake wanted to get rid of me.”
