“It is still Wednesday, Right?”
“Yup.”
“Let’s try again Friday.”
It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week we learned from Janice Rafferty that her husband was in South Lake Tahoe for a meeting with his boss Cortez. We also learned he was not much of a drinker. This came as a little surprise since Cortez did not mention anything about even being in South Lake Tahoe at the time of Rafferty’s demise. Let’s get back to the Rafferty house and see if there is anything else Mrs. Rafferty will tell us about her husband or this weird relationship with Cortez.
“So, Mr. Rafferty was meeting with Cortez. Do you know the nature of the meeting?”
“Again, I must interrupt.”
“Yes, Evon?”
“Mrs. Rafferty has no connection to Cortez so why would she know anything about a meeting between her husband and him?”
“You just said the magic word, ‘husband,’ Evon.”
“I don’t get what you mean.”
“When I traveled, I would call home to find out how things were going in my absence.”
“So?”
“My wife would ask how my day went, and I would unload all the situations of the day.”
“You are suggesting that Mr. Rafferty called home and told his wife what was going on at the meetings?”
“Exactly.”
“Janice?”
“Yes, Evon.”
“You don’t have to say anything about those meetings.”
“I understand Evon, but Alexis did let me know about them.”
“Detective, could you excuse us for a minute?”
“Sure, Evon. Come on Andrew we can step outside.”
*
“Close the door Andrew and come closer.”
“What’s up chief.”
“Don’t call me chief. The way you say chief it sounds like an insult.”
“Oh sorry, your highness.”
“Andrew.”
“What?”
“Focus. There is something going on with the lawyer being here and all. I think Mrs. Rafferty is up to her eyebrows in this thing and that is why she called in Evon.”
“I have the same feeling, Larry.”
“So how do we get to the bottom of what she knows?”
“You could call her a person of interest and get the DA to stand behind you.”
“She is already lawyered up. He will sit these and nix every question.”
“How about we just bide our time and see what the lawyer has figured out in terms of letting us know some information. I would also ask about the financial end of this situation.’
“What do you mean?”
“How come Mr. Rafferty was so well paid for his engineering services?”
“I think that would be a pretty big toe to step on, don’t you?”
“You may be right. I don’t think it would hurt to give it a try.”
“I guess I agree.”
“Gentlemen?”
“Yes, Evon.”
“Mrs. Rafferty is ready to continue. Follow me.”
“Thank you for continuing the conversation, Janice.”
“My pleasure detective. Please have a seat.”
“Thank you. Before our little break, you mentioned you were aware of what went on during the meetings.”
“Yes, I did. In fact, Alexis was complaining about Mr. Cortez’s attitude during them.”
“Attitude? How so?”
“He said Cortez was getting very upset with my husband’s unwillingness to falsify some test results for a machine that Cortez had bought.”
“Falsify? How?”
“Cortez wanted him to attest that the machine didn’t work.”
“Didn’t work?”
“Yes. My husband said the machine worked perfectly and refused.”
“I see. Do you think Cortez had anything to do with the accident?”
“That question is one my client will not answer, detective.”
“It’s okay Evon.”
“No, it isn’t Janice. You have no idea how trustworthy these two so-called public servants are. They could be on Cortez’s payroll. You don’t need anyone to believe you know any information at all about Cortez.”
“So, this is why you are here, Evon. To protect Mrs. Rafferty.”
“You have no idea about Cortez detective. Mrs. Rafferty does not need to be brought into a situation that could prove deadly.”
“How can we help?”
“Get Cortez behind bars.”
