One thing is clear, according to every person we have interviewed. If ever there was a bitch on wheels, it is—make that was—Jia Yanlin.”
Titus eyed his youngest daughter and blew out an audible sigh. “As much as I dislike speaking ill of the dead—particularly a woman who was brutally murdered, I have to agree, Tanya.”
Before Titus could continue, Ryker concurred. “Yeah, Tanya is right. Clearly, the Yanlin woman was universally disliked. Which makes our job even more challenging. Particularly when we try to discern who hated her enough to kill her.” He added with a sigh that equaled Titus’s, “Or . . . who was angry enough with her to kill her.”
“And therein lies the rub. We all know where the arrows are pointing.” Titus didn’t hide his concern. “The only thing all of our witnesses agree on, from the lowest secretary to his goddamn attorney, is that Griffin was angry. The question before us is was he angry enough to kill the woman who took off after the woman he loved?”
Ryker pushed back. “Look, let’s admit that none of us three believe that Griffin killed her—even if all the signs point that way. But let’s look at this as impartially as we would in any other murder investigation. Assume for the moment that we don’t know Griffin personally. Like the other witnesses, we also heard him express his fury about what Jia said to Tara. After he left last night, we only have his word that he went directly home. And according to you and Tanya, Sheriff, he was clearly shocked to hear that Yanlin had been murdered. Again, assume that may be our bias. What do those who worked with him think?”
“I can answer that,” Tanya said. “I’ve now interviewed all the Black Enterprises employees. The response was universal. Griffin is considered to be a good boss. Most of them indicated that he is arrogant, a loner, but on a personal level, he is professional and unfailingly polite. I even interviewed a couple former employees who Black essentially fired. Even they said that they weren’t surprised when he indicated they would need to leave, that he didn’t think they were a good fit with the company culture. All three of them said they’d agreed. That the pace was too fast, too intense for them. However, Black even gave each of them a month’s severance pay, which their contract didn’t require.”
“There’s also the fact only Jia was closer to Griffin than Magnus was. Tara teasingly called Armstrong ‘Griffin’s consigliere.’ ” Tanya added, “I don’t know what the heck they called Jia, maybe his ‘attack dog.’ At least there wasn’t a person on Griffin’s staff—woman or man—who didn’t admit that they did their best to stay out of her line of fire.”
Titus finished filling his pipe, then took a couple of puffs on it, blowing the fragrant smoke into the air. Finally, he shook his head and said reflectively, “Let’s look at the murder itself. First, the victim was found in Griffin’s office. In fact, at his desk. A strange position to say the least.”
“Dad, are you asking why Griffin would leave her in his chair if he had done it?”
Ryker laughed. “A good question, Tanya. Among others. For example, the ME indicated that Ms. Yanlin was strangled to death. There was no evidence of drugs, or even alcohol, in her bloodstream. That means that someone was able to strangle her even when she was presumably in control of all of her faculties. At the very least, that means that she knew the person who killed her well enough to be alone with him.”
Tanya posited on his theory. “Which tends to throw the blame back on Griffin or means that the killer either has to be Griffin or someone on their team. On that point, someone who could be expected to be in Griffin’s office late at night.”
Adding to the analysis, Titus noted, “In addition, even though she is a tiny woman and would have been powerless against a much stronger assailant, at the very least she must have struggled. Which would mean that her killer would or should have scratches or marks of some kind on his hands or arms. Griffin had none. I specifically looked for them. Moreover, there were no signs of a rope or any kind of a garrote. Again, according to the ME, whoever strangled her did it barehanded. Finally, there were no signs of a break-in. The door was unlocked.” He rubbed at his chin thoughtfully, then murmured, “A fucking Gordian knot if I ever saw one.”
“Do we know who had keys to the office besides Griffin, of course?”
“That’s a good question, Tanya. One that we need to ask.” Ryker added, “If you two don’t mind, I’m going to put on my FBI hat. As you know, we Fibbies always try to make every case we have as complicated as possible. I guess to justify our involvement. Given that, I always look for the why, the rationale for the crime in every case. If we agree that Griffin killed her, the rationale for Ms. Yanlin’s murder is simple. He did it out of anger. But let’s assume he’s not the killer and look for other rationale.”
Titus nodded. “I agree that you Fibbies do like to complicate matters. I, on the other hand, tend to simplify. In the absence of anger, I’ve decided that ninety-nine percent of the murders committed are the result of one of two things.”
Ryker held up his hand and said with a grin, “Let me, Titus. I was a cop before I joined the bureau. The answer is either sex or money, or both.”
****
Griffin glanced at his cell phone and grimaced. “Hell, that took them even less time than I thought it would.” Seeing Tara’s concern, he said flatly, “This is from Fitzpatrick, my New York attorney. Apparently, Charles Mason didn’t waste any time. He filed a motion insisting that the judge revisit his recommendations given that I’m apparently the prime suspect in the murder of Jia Yanlin.”
“Oh my God, Griffin. Please tell me that doesn’t mean that the judge might change his recommendations? Surely it will only postpone the decision.”
Griffin put up his hands in defeat. “I don’t know, Tara. Obviously, the judge will have to review the motion. My only question is how the hell did the news of the murder get to Mason this quickly? Christ, they just found Jia’s body four and a half hours ago.” He shook his head, a despondent gesture. “I don’t know what to say, Tara. Two days ago, I was flying over the moon. It truly looked as though I was going to get custody of my children. Even more important, you and I declared in words and actions that we are crazy in love with each other. I don’t know how my life could have gotten any better.”
He was quiet for a moment and then faced her. “What is so challenging, Tara, is how helpless I feel. Hell, make that how helpless I am. I can’t do a goddamned thing to prove a negative. And even I have to admit if anyone looks guilty of the murder, it’s me. Damn, even my own attorney and partner, Magnus Armstrong, is warning me that half the people in the company overheard my angry threats. He added that the problem is the only person who had a reason to kill her was me. Damn, everyone disliked her. I knew that and probably for that reason alone should have fired her years ago.” He tugged at his hair, tousling it even more than usual. “It was just that she was so damned efficient. And, hell, when it came to finances, she knew as much as Magnus and I did. She did the work of three people in half the time. And she would do anything I asked her to.”
Tara was horrified when the words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. “Including buying clothes for your women?” She put up her hands and appealed to him. “Oh God, Griffin, I’m sorry. I . . . I didn’t know how close to the surface my hurt was. Please forgive me.”
Griffin snorted. “It’s okay, Tara. It’s like I told your father, Jia can even spread grief from the grave.” He added with a grimace, “All I can say is that I’ve never depended on anyone in my entire life more than I am on your father. I hope like hell that he will come through.” He shoved out a hard sigh. “I gotta tell you, it’s a horseshit place for an arrogant asshole like me, who thinks he can control anything that comes his way.”
Tara brushed at her tears and then stepped up to Griffin and reached for his face, holding it between her hands. “Please, Griffin, keep being that arrogant asshole. That is how you . . . we . . . are going to beat this horrible thing. You know that you didn’t kill Jia. And I do. And from what my father said, he doesn’t, nor Tanya nor Ryker—for that matter. You are correct. The team on your side is as powerful an advocacy clutch as you could have.” Swiping at an errant tear, she said with a teary smile, “And don’t forget me. I’ve taken on damn imposing powerful adversaries. Hell, I even planned to take down that arrogant Black guy. And we both know how powerful he is!”
****
“Hmm, I didn’t realize that five hours into a murder case, I’d already be visited by the Sierra Vista DA. What’s the matter, Zane, I’m not moving fast enough for you? Think I should already have the perpetrator in chains and fastened to the floor braces in our dungeon?”
District Attorney Zane Wilder smiled, the grin lighting his handsome face. “Now, now, Titus. Give me a break. Yes, I’ll admit, I like racking up the convictions as much as any district attorney does.”
Tanya snorted. “Especially a DA who plans on unseating the current governor in next year’s election.”
Wilder smiled at the fierce deputy. “Whoo-eee, it’s one thing to get on the bad side of the fearsome sheriff, but the deputy sheriff? His daughter, no less? I’ve got to check my balls—to be sure that they are securely in place.” He grinned at Ryker in greeting. “And as if the Trouble law enforcement team isn’t intimidating enough, you’ve brought in a former Delta Force Fibbie.” He winked at Ryker. “I can forgive your working for the Bureau, but damn, buddy, to this Navy Seal, a Delta Force operator is one bridge too far.”
Ryker smiled. “Guess the only thing we can do, friend, is to keep trying to sort it out over porn star martinis at the B n’ T.”
Titus waited until the two former special operatives finished sparring, then returned to Wilder. As Tanya implied, the tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed district attorney was the poster boy for a successful politician on the move. Titus conceded with a snort that he was also a hell of a good district attorney. Keeping his tone civil, Titus said, “I’m always pleased to see you, Zane, but like my suspicious deputy, it is a bit of a coincidence that you dropped in on us today. Could it be because we are dealing with a vicious murder of a beautiful woman? That publicity opportunity aside, to up the ante further, the prime suspect is as close to a Hollywood heartthrob as we’ve ever had in our cross hairs. And of course it doesn’t hurt that Mr. Black is also a wealthy guy who’s known for his arrogance and commanding personality.” Titus allowed his smile to widen to a sly grin. “Hell, Zane, he’s almost as much of a media star as you are.”
Wilder continued to smile but didn’t hide the edge in his voice. “In addition to all the attributes you mentioned, I understand Black also has a surprising relationship with one of the three most beautiful women this town has ever produced.”
With an effort, Titus responded evenly. “If you are referring to my oldest daughter, you are correct. Both about the fact that Tara and Griffin Black are involved and that their relationship makes our investigation even more challenging than it already was.”
When the district attorney started to reply, Titus held up his hand, stopping him. His voice was as cool as his expression was firm. “If you are concerned, Mr. Wilder, that my daughter’s relationship will in any way prevent my office from investigating this murder case as vigorously as we always do, your concerns are unwarranted.”
Wilder met the stern sheriff’s gaze and said softly, “My concern isn’t that you won’t pursue the investigation as vigorously as you always do, Titus. Au contraire. My concern is that your attempt to appear unbiased will compromise your judgment.”
Seeing the sheriff’s expression harden, Wilder sat back in his chair and thoughtfully stroked his chin. After a strained silence, he said, “To be specific, Sheriff Trouble, I’m here to suggest you might want to advise your ‘prime suspect’ that he would be wise to get himself a new personal attorney.”