Crush - Alan Jacobson [127]
“We just have some questions,” Vail said. “We’re hoping you can shed some light on a few things for us.”
Guevara spread his hands. “Ask away.” His eye caught Lugo, and his gaze lingered there.
Vail turned to face Lugo, then swiveled back to Guevara. Something’s going on. Do they recognize each other from somewhere?
“Why don’t you tell us about your company.”
Guevara stole a look at his watch. “Superior is the leading mobile bottling company in California. We bottle mostly in the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Healdsburg, and Mendocino, but if the price is right, we’ll also do Contra Costa and El Dorado Counties. We’ve got eight rigs, all state of the art. Nobody comes close to the services we offer, the quality of work we do. And no one can match our prices. Simply put, we’re the best.”
Vail added it up. There’s a lot of money tied up in those trailers.
“Now, what did you really come here to ask?”
Dixon lifted her chin. “We’ve been talking with the board of directors for the Georges Valley AVA. We know about the disagreement over renewing your contract. How has your relationship been with the board?”
Guevara’s eyes flicked over to an area behind them. To Lugo. His gaze returned to Dixon and he shrugged. “No problems. We show up, we bottle, box, and offload. Bottle, box, offload. Same every year. They have lots of wineries. We work good with all of ’em.”
“Any problems with any of the board members?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m thinking, like, Victoria Cameron?”
Guevara rubbed his hands on the rag. “No. No problems.”
“She was pretty much against you getting your contract renewed,” Vail said. “You’ve got a lot of money invested in your equipment. Be a tough loss, a financial hardship, if she got her way. Any idea why she was so determined not to renew the contract?”
“I don’t get involved in that stuff. That’s their business. My business is bottling.”
This guy is sharp—but guarded. Why? What’s he hiding? Is it related to the looks he keeps giving Ray?
“Where were you last Friday, around six?” Vail asked.
“Here, cleaning the corking machine.”
“How late did you stay?”
Guevara looked ceilingward. “About eight, I think.”
“Anyone else here with you?” Vail asked.
“Sandra left at five. I don’t know if anyone else was around. I’ll have to check.”
Not the kind of answer we like to hear. “Was there anyone here that you saw? Anyone who was scheduled to work?”
Guevara locked eyes with Vail. His jaw muscles tightened. “I’d have to check.”
“You have to check if you saw anyone? Either you did or you didn’t.”
“I don’t remember.”
This guy is beginning to piss me off. “Who sets the schedule for your employees?”
Guevara folded his arms across his chest. “Why is that important?”
“It’s important because I asked the question.”
Another firm stare from Guevara.
“Ray,” Dixon said. “How about you go have a chat with Sandra up front and see what she knows?”
“Do you have a warrant?” Guevara asked.
“For what?” Dixon said. “To ask questions?”
Guevara tossed the rag on the floor. “I don’t know. It sounds like you think we’ve done something wrong.”
Dixon shrugged. “We’re conducting an investigation, Mr. Guevara. Right now we don’t have reason to think anyone at Superior has done anything wrong. But you’re being evasive in your answers, and that does make us suspicious. Like you’re trying to hide something.”
Guevara spread his arms. “I got nothing to hide. I don’t remember seeing anyone here with me. But it’s a short list of people who might’ve been here. I promise you I’ll look into what you asked and call you back with the answers. Good?”
Not really. But it’s apparently the best we can get right now.
“What about Monday? Where were you from noon till four o’clock?”
“I’ll check that, too.”
“And Wednesday, around six?”
“I’ll have to get back to you.”
“When was the last time you were in Vallejo?” Vail asked.
Guevara shrugged. “I drive through there once a week.”
“Know anyone there, any family?”
“There’s a