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“So? That has no impact on Sergio’s case. And even if his defense lawyer could prove he wasn’t part of the other robberies, it doesn’t mean he didn’t kill Rodriguez.”
“But if you compare the tapes and can determine based on height, weight, size, whatever that the shooter was also at the other robberies, then that might go a long way in proving Sergio’s innocence. I have a list of dates and times, and except for the Cactus Stop, all the crimes happened before 10:00 p.m.”
“It’s an outlier then, which doesn’t help Sergio. And I can’t do anything. I can’t even tell his defense attorney to check it out, George would have my ass.”
I could, I realized. I might have to. The idea of an innocent man in prison made my skin crawl as much as a killer walking free. Maybe more.
“Just see what you can find out,” I said. “Detective Tomas Villines is the investigating officer, out of the robbery squad.”
“What else? Because this is thin, Margo.”
I didn’t want to share, but felt I didn’t have much choice at this point. “I can’t prove this,” I said cautiously. “But I think Sergio is trying to protect his brother.”
“His brother is the shooter?”
“No. His brother lives with the shooter in foster care.”
“That doesn’t make any sense to me. Even if he was there at the store, getting the shooter off the street would protect Henry more than taking the blame for murder.”
“Unless there’s something else going on. I talked to Sophia Diaz today on her way home from school.”
“She’s a minor—”
“I’m not worried about that.” There was no crime in approaching the girl. “I think she’s scared of Javier. I only heard his first name in passing, so I don’t have much information about him. I gave her my card and I think she’ll call.” Okay, I didn’t really think she would call. I gave it about a twenty percent chance. But I wanted to sound optimistic for Andy as I continued to follow up on each fact I learned.
“For what it’s worth,” I continued, “I think Sergio is innocent and that he knows a lot more than he said. I don’t have the proof yet, but I believe Henry had Sergio’s hoodie at some point—that’s why there’s GSR in the pocket. Sergio doesn’t want his brother to get in trouble.”
I pulled up to the corner of West Campbell and 11th Avenue, parked.
“That’s shortsighted,” Andy said. “Especially if Henry isn’t the shooter.”
“He’s not. He’s too short. But he was probably there. Has anyone in your office or Phoenix PD done a deep dive into the victim, Rodriguez? Or the other clerk, Don Cruz?”
“I haven’t seen anything. Why?”
“I’m working on getting as much as I can, but one thing you should be asking yourself about is motive. A man as straight and narrow as Sergio will have a motive if he’s going to kill someone. I don’t buy his ‘I snapped’ line. If you told me that Rodriguez had molested his little sister? I might buy it. But to kill someone in cold blood for no reason except he got mad—when he has no history of violence—doesn’t work for me.”
I could hear Andy writing something down. I was glad he agreed with me.
“And while you’re at it, please check up on Henry’s foster home and the kid Javier. He has a look—I know, I know, you can’t arrest someone because they look like a bad kid. But it was his eyes.”
“Juvenile records will be hard to get.”
“Don’t tell me that. I know you and law enforcement can see if a kid has a record.”
“I mean, it’s going to take me a while to find out who’s in that home. Running arrests, probation is easy, but I need full names.”
“I have their address.” I rattled it off.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Andy said and ended the call.
I needed to find something to show Sergio how his confession would make Henry and Sophia’s lives worse.
Then, maybe he’d cooperate.
I was grateful that I had a beat-up car and it wouldn’t stand out. Henry’s neighborhood, though less than a mile south of Sophia’s, was ten times worse.
The houses were run-down, uncared for. I could see why Sophia liked her new place better. This house was large on a tiny lot. An old couch on the porch sagged with the weight of an older white guy smoking a cigarette. Was he one of the foster parents? He looked more like a grandfather than a dad.
