Page 24 of Lawman’s Witness

“Do you happen to remember the date he planned to see it?” he asked, practically holding his breath as the man gave the date of the murder.

“I remember because I had an offer on the house the day before and told him if he wanted it, he’d have to make an offer soon,” Johnstone said.

“Did he make an offer?”

“No, said it wasn’t quite what he was looking for.” The man shrugged. “I think he was looking for investment property. What’s this about a homicide?”

“I’m afraid I can’t say, but I appreciate your time.”

“I hope I was able to help,” Johnstone said.

“You were.”

As he left, Russ knew that this, too, wasn’t enough to get the chief to open an investigation. He needed more. He needed a body. He glanced toward the newest building coming up in the subdivision and recalled that it had been an empty hole in the ground the night of the murder. Now it would take quite a bit of excavation to dig up the concrete that had been poured looking for a body beneath it.

At every turn, he felt stymied. Bringing Jack Marshall to justice felt impossible. He feared he’d never be able to find hard evidence against the man.

Jack swore under his breath as he walked into his showroom and saw Detective Tate waiting for him yet again. Obviously, Milt hadn’t taken care of the problem.

“Mr. Marshall,” the detective said, rising to greet him.

“Detective Tate,” he said, ignoring the man’s outstretched hand as he walked past him to open his office door. “I thought I made myself clear the last time you were here. I’m not talking to you without my attorney present.”

“I just need a few minutes of your time,” the detective said, following him into the office. “But I’d be happy to wait while you call your attorney.”

Jack lowered himself into his big office chair in front of his massive desk and didn’t offer the cop a seat. “A few minutes is actually more than I have.”

“I’ll be brief. Are you familiar with Briarwood Estates?”

He frowned and shook his head. “I don’t understand what this—”

“It’s the name of the new addition where the eyewitness claims she saw a murder. Do you have a financial connection to Frank Johnstone or Thomas Armstrong or any others involved in Briarwood Estates?”

Jack glared at the cop. “Even if I did, I don’t see where it would be any of your business.”

“I’m sorry, is that a yes or no?”

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, warning himself to be helpful, not make this detective any more suspicious than he already was. “No, I have no financial interest in…what did you call it?”

“Briarwood Estates. What about the other investors? Do you know any of them?”

Jack sighed deeply. “Detective Tate, I know you’re just doing your job, though I have to wonder why you are continuing to ask me these questions. As I understand it, there wasn’t a murder, and as you know I was out of town all that weekend.”

“Sorry, but you didn’t answer my question.”

“I know Frank Johnstone and probably some of the other investors,” he snapped. “You seem to have forgotten who I am. I own the largest car dealership in the Northwest. I know a lot of people—many of them buy their vehicles from me because they do know me and have for years.”

“Oh, I haven’t forgotten who you are,” the detective said with a chuckle.

“Well, I have work to do.”

“Did you talk to Frank Johnstone about buying a house in the new subdivision?”

Jack stared at the detective. The man was relentless. “I have a beautiful home up by the rimrocks overlooking the city, Detective. I don’t need another home.”

“But you did talk to him about one of the houses.”

“I might have thought about buying one as an investment. I really can’t remember.”