Beneath Forbidden Ground (22 page)

Before heading upstairs for the meeting of the minds, Scallion had filled Murtaugh in on the Saturday night visit to the crime scene, and his sharing of information with the homicide officers.

“Wasn’t trying to short-circuit you, Denny. Just didn’t want to ruin both our weekends.”

“No sweat. I was kinda tied up all day Saturday myself.” Murtaugh offered no other details about his weekend, but Scallion judged it had something to do with the daughter. Whatever it was, it was clearly wearing away at the man.

Howorth was getting the meeting underway. “I think you all know Corrine. I’ve asked her to join us to try and keep our noses clean.” He nodded toward the woman.

She returned the nod, looking around the room at the detectives. “I appreciate the chance to be brought in. Mr. Whitlow’s already received two calls from Maurice Brand. So, we’re as anxious to solve Kevin Brand’s murder as you are. Let me know what I can do to help.” Whitlow was Brach Whitlow, the Harris County D. A.

Scallion sized-up the attractive young woman. He knew of her work, but had never met her. Five years removed from U T Law School, possessing medium height, brunette hair pulled back in a bun, with piercing blue eyes, she had gained a solid reputation for her courtroom prowess. He could admire and appreciate her work now, but he knew it wouldn’t last long. Private practice would soon be calling, as it did for any sharp attorney passing through the prosecutor’s office with skills in arguing cases. His admiration would then cease, as she would no doubt be battling just as hard to free the sort of people she was now so anxious to help put away. His mind wandered for a second to his future daughter-in-law, Lori.
This could be
her in a few short years
; it was a sobering thought.

The sheriff took his favorite position, leaning with his legs crossed against the front of his desk. “Let me start by giving an overview, Corrine. Denny and Pete here,” he said, nodding in their direction, “are working on a cold case dating back ten years or so. Four young women disappeared without a trace, their vehicles found scattered over an area west of town. Turns out—and we didn’t know this until recently—an excavation contractor from Austin County vanished in the same manner, on or about the same day. These guys have been able to put all five at a development out west named Cypress Bridge Acres on a Friday afternoon or early evening. It was the last place and time they were known to be alive. Unfortunately, no one, not friends, family, or anyone else was aware the women were going to Cypress Bridge for an apparent job interview.They all had various reasons, I suppose. If we’d known they were all there, we would’ve had a place to start.” He paused, collecting his thoughts. “Their theory is that all five were killed by someone at that site, and they’re leaning toward Luther Kritz, the developer.”

“Oh?” The woman raised her dark eyebrows, looking at Scallion, then at Murtaugh. “Why is that?”

The senior man was only too happy to let his partner speak for them, nodding in his direction.

Scallion turned to address the assistant D. A. “After interviews with Mr. Kritz himself, plus an employee of his, we’re sure he was the only person who had any interaction with the victims at the site.”

“What did Kritz say about his contact with them? I assume you asked him about that.”

“Right. As far as the women were concerned, they were being hired to sell lots in the development—it was just getting started then. He had discussed their duties with them, told them to report back Monday, and they all left at the same time. Said they were talking about meeting at a restaurant for drinks. He didn’t know which one.”

Baker pursed her lips, nodding. “Sounds reasonable. And the employee corroborated his story?”

“Not exactly. He simply repeated the same story told to him by Kritz. He never saw the women himself.”

“I see. And the man...the contractor?”

“Pretty much the same scenario. Kritz said he paid the man, whose name was William Lamb, in cash for the week’s work. Lamb was to pay his men sometime over the weekend. He left and never came back the following week. His theory, or rather his story, was that he was afraid Lamb had gone on a drinking binge with the money. In fact, the man’s truck
was
found parked at a bar eventually. Again, Carlos Valvez, the employee, could only say he had been told the same story by Kritz. He didn’t see the man leave himself.”

Corrine Baker scratched her chin with medium-length nails, painted red. “I can see why you might be suspicious. Two separate parties vanishing at the same time, from the same spot. And there were no other witnesses who saw them there? Or anywhere else in the area?”

“I can answer that,” Ladner chimed in. “I was part of a team that investigated the girls’ disappearances back then. We canvassed the entire western portion of Harris County, plus Austin, Waller, and Fort Bend counties, several times. Talked to everyone and anyone, especially restaurants. No one could recall them.”

Ladner paused, then added, “By the way, there’s no record of Kritz ever reporting the missing girls had been with him that Friday night...either to us or HPD.”

      Scallion jumped in, looking at the woman. “Plus, the fact no restaurants in the area could recall seeing them that night kinda debunks Kritz’s story about them headin’ to happy hour.”

She nodded slowly before asking another question. “The vehicles you mentioned. I assume they were wiped clean.”

“Yes. No prints, or any other pieces of evidence, only soil residue that could’ve come from anywhere in the Houston area,” Ladner answered.

“What about Mr. Lamb’s vehicle?”

Otto Howorth jumped in before anyone else could answer. “Same deal there, Corrine.” He cleared his throat. “This part’s a little embarrassing. There was a lack of communication between us and Austin County officials. Since we weren’t made aware of his vanishing back then, it wasn’t tied-in to our girls. According to Sheriff Amos over in Bellville, Lamb’s truck wasn’t found as soon as the others. So it was investigated as a single case under the previous sheriff’s jurisdiction. Not sure it would’ve made any difference, but looks bad now.”

The woman was listening intently, but seemed to be considering something. “Let me back up a minute. Since no one knew the girls were going out there, and there was no record of Mr. Kritz reporting he had seen them, how did you discover they had been there?”

Scallion spent a few minutes re-tracing his steps, starting with the tip from Chip Luna, then the trip to Staff Finders, followed by the mileage check on Laura French’s car. All of which led to the interviews with the developer and his employee.

Baker nodded slowly, absorbing it all. “I’m impressed. But I have to say, even though your suspicions seem reasonable, your case is weak on evidence, as well as motive.”

She was right, Scallion realized. Each time he told his story, or at least his half of it, the problems with it became more pronounced. Motive was a concern.

His thoughts were interrupted by the woman. “When do we get to the part about Mr. Brand?” She was addressing the sheriff.

Howorth folded his arms across his chest, focusing on Scallion, who seemed to be the spokesman for the Cold Case detectives. “I’m kinda anxious to hear this part myself.”

“Last Wednesday night, the same day Denny and I laid out our case on Kritz to you, Otto, I decided to attend a homeowners association meeting out at Cypress Bridge Acres.”

The sheriff’s eyes widened, his head tilted back, an expression clearly inferring, “Why?”.

Scallion read it. “Don’t ask me what made me decide to go. It was just one of those feelings I get from time to time, Otto. I had seen the notice for the meeting on an earlier visit out to the place. It indicated important business was to be covered, so my curiosity was aroused.” Feeling five sets of eyes staring, he paused for a second. “During the meeting, Kevin Brand made an appearance to give a presentation, one he had requested to give. He announced he was in talks with Kritz to form a partnership involving his interest in the development, plus new ones that are planned. But he strongly stressed his investment in the venture would be based on doing away with the lake near the entrance of Cypress Bridge, and replacing it with homes for sale.”

He paused to gauge the reaction of the others. “I think we’re all with you so far, Pete,” Howorth said. “Go on.”

“Kritz was there too. Maybe he attends all of them. Don’t really know about that. But Brand’s talk really upset him, made him take the floor himself to argue it down, seemed to see it as a threat of some sort. His point was the lake was an important part of the complex, and under no circumstances should it be tampered with.”

Evidently recalling Scallion’s theory from earlier in the week, Howorth seemed to grasp the significance, slowly nodding. The assistant D. A. and the two younger detectives held blank stares, waiting for more.

“How’d the homeowners take to the idea?” Howorth asked.

“Not so good at first. But I think several started turning when Brand spelled out a few financial advantages to the property owners. Lower assessments, reduced insurance costs, things like that. I think Kritz saw the mood changing. That’s when he really got upset, said he’d never let it happen, then stormed out of the meeting.”

“Hmm. I see what you’re getting at,” the sheriff said.

Wendell Ross, who had been sitting quietly for a longer period of time than normal, couldn’t resist. “Pardon me, Otto. But I don’t.” He looked at his old partner. “Pete, I think it makes good sense for the man to protect something he’s obviously attached to. What’s the big deal about a crummy lake?”

“That’s just it, Wendell. I don’t think he has any feelings for the lake. After the meeting ended, I hung around and talked to Brand about Kritz’s stance. He said the man has never let anything stand in his way of building more houses, making more money. It was totally against his nature. His reluctance had him mystified.”

“Then why the hell did he build it in the first place?”

“Most likely to attract the early buyers. It was a selling point at first.”

Murtaugh snapped out of his funk long enough to say, “I’ve had dealings with Luther Kritz in the past, Ross. Trust me, he’s not the sentimental type.”

Corrine Baker suddenly waved a hand. “Wait...wait a minute. Are you suggesting Mr. Kritz had Kevin Brand killed because he didn’t want the lake disturbed?”

They all looked at the woman, each surprised by the bluntness of the question, but for different reasons.

“I’ll take this one, Pete,” the sheriff said, raising his hand to stop the detective. “That’s precisely what he’s saying, Corrine. You see, the theory Pete and Denny are working with is that Kritz killed the four women and the contractor back in ninety-one, then buried them in the lake bottom. It was still just hollowed-out ground then. He finished dredging out the lake, probably using a new excavation company, then filled it in.” He paused, taking a read on the reactions of the others. “Now, cut to today. Kritz can’t afford to have the lake messed with. His crimes would most likely be unearthed. So it’s entirely possible he saw he had no choice in making sure Brand didn’t follow through with his idea.”

The office was silent, no one apparently knowing what to say. Scallion sat with a hand squeezing his lower jaw, waiting for objections. None came right away. He looked at Ross. “That’s why I asked you Saturday night if it appeared the killer could’ve been somebody who Brand knew.”

Ross didn’t respond, simply nodding.

“I’ve got a question,” Ladner said. “Since you were at the meeting when the two men got into it, wouldn’t it be risky for Kritz to act so soon after? He’d have to know you would suspect him.”

“But Kritz didn’t see me, didn’t know I was there. I’m sure of it. I managed to keep myself hidden from his view. And he was long-gone when I had my talk with Brand.”

Howorth looked at the woman. “What’s your honest opinion, Corrine?”

“Well, I’ll have to admit, if you could get enough evidence to prove either one of the cases, the other should fall into place. But, as of now, I don’t see the evidence. If I’ve got the facts right, all we really know is that the first five victims were with your suspect that Friday afternoon, which he admits to, and he’s reluctant to have a body of water tampered with. Am I missing something else?”

“No, you’re not,” Howorth said, pushing away from his desk, indicating the meeting would end soon. “Ross, you and Ladner had better get cracking on your case. See if you can find anyone else with a reason to kill Maurice Brand’s son, or else evidence that leans toward Kritz. Pete, don’t know what to say to you and Denny. You may be stymied until these guys finish their investigation, or unless you can pull a rabbit out of a ten year old hat.”

Scallion came close to bringing up his perceptions of the reactions of Carlos Valvez to his questions about the women and the contractor, and his own unexplainable but undeniable feelings about what lay on the lake bottom. But Baker was showing signs of skepticism already; he didn’t want her to completely write the case off.

When the others had risen to leave, Howorth asked Scallion to hang back for a minute. The sheriff closed the door after the others were gone. “Just a couple of things, Pete. First, how’s Marti doing? I know what she’s going through has been rough on both of you.”

“Thanks, Otto. She seems to be doing fine. She’s starting radiology Wednesday, so I may have to beg off a little...”

Howorth waved a hand, stopping him. “Whatever time you need, Pete. Just take it.” He smoothed his moustache with a hand, his face showing a frown. “The other thing is, I’m worried about Denny. I’m not liking what I see in him lately.”

“He’s had a lot on his mind.” Scallion hesitated, unsure if he should betray a confidence. It took only a second to realize he would be doing the poor guy a favor. “One of his kids is causing some problems.”

The sheriff nodded. “Yeah, Cindy. Someone in H P D tipped me off to his intervention in her arrest a couple of weeks ago. Don’t have any problems with it, personally. Might’ve done the same myself. But it’s got to be weighing the man down. I can see it in his face, the way he handles himself.” He squinted at the Cold Case detective. “How’s he been out in the field? Give me your honest opinion.”