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“I don’t know,” Reuben said grimly. “It was only Captain Holmes in the interview room with her. Captain Holmes’s commander and I were in the observation room. I’m not sure who was in the loop, but Holmes handled everything himself. At any rate, Miss Feldman was allowed to go.”
“Will she have protection?”
“She refused it. Said having cops following her around would ‘cramp her style.’ ”
“Did she say why this anonymous source chose her?”
“Nope. She was a wall.”
“Does NOPD still have eyes on Trevor Doyle?” They’d put surveillance on the director shortly after the man was released from his arraignment on his own recognizance. Kaj had tried to get him remanded to the jail, but he’d known it wasn’t going to happen, even though Doyle was a colossal flight risk. But the surveillance was not constant. There hadn’t been enough resources for that.
The bastard had temporarily moved from his lavish home in Hollywood, renting a plantation-style estate outside the city. He would wave to the police sitting outside his front gate, his smile always wide and confident.
“Oh yeah. I bumped it up to twenty-four-seven. But we know he slips past us. We don’t see him leave, but we see him return. He does that wave, the cocky bastard.”
“Bella’s sure that he’s behind the plan to have her killed on her way into the city,” Kaj said, “and I think she could be right. But finding out that someone wants to silence her made her even more determined to see him convicted, whether he’s behind it or not.”
“She’s a strong woman.”
Kaj thought of Val, standing up for herself after the military tried to get her to drop her accusations against the men who’d hurt her. “I gain new respect for these victims every day.”
“As do I,” Reuben said soberly. “What else can I do for you, J.P.? Are you coming into the office today? You don’t need to, but if you decide to, know that the lobby is filled with reporters right now. Word got out about the bodies y’all found in the bayou yesterday morning. I have a press conference scheduled for noon. If you come in, wait until two.”
“Got it. I actually did want to come in today, but it’s a more personal issue and I need to ask for a favor. I told you on Tuesday that I’d hired personal security for Elijah.”
“You did. Is that not working out?”
“I’m very happy with his bodyguard.” In more ways than one. “I hired Burke Broussard.”
Reuben didn’t look surprised. “He’s got a good reputation in this town. What does this have to do with me?”
“Well, the security that Burke assigned to Elijah had a personal knowledge of Dewey Talley and his Sixth Day organization.”
Reuben sighed. “Of course he did.”
“She, sir. Her name is Val Sorensen. Her brother was killed by Sixth Day four years ago. Burke felt she’d be the best choice to protect Elijah because she was familiar with a number of the major players during the Dewey Talley years, because of her brother’s murder. She’s been exemplary in her role as Elijah’s bodyguard.”
Another sigh. “I sense a huge ‘but’ coming.”
“Yeah, well... Miss Sorensen saw a photo of Sandra Springfield.”
“Aaron’s girlfriend.”
“Yes. She recognized the woman. Sandra was dating her brother until his death.”
“Sonofabitch, J.P. How many ways does this case interconnect?”
“A lot,” Kaj conceded. “We also found out yesterday that Sandra has been visiting with Val’s mother every month for the past four years. Val is naturally concerned, given the woman’s recent arrest. She wants to ask Sandra some questions not related to the Aaron Gates case. She’d like some information about her brother.”
Reuben went quiet. Too quiet. Kaj didn’t think that he’d agree, but his boss finally nodded. “I’ll be in the room with her. If Miss Sorensen even starts to stray to the Aaron Gates case, I’ll remove her myself.”
Kaj breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, sir.”
“Will you be joining her?”
“I didn’t think you’d allow that.”
“I won’t. But you can observe. I’ll get Springfield set up in an interview room if she’s amenable.”
