The Big Gamble - Michael Mcgarrity [101]
Kerney arrived promptly on time at the Lincoln County courthouse to find Paul Hewitt and Clayton waiting for him in the sheriff’s office. After greetings, handshakes, and some small talk with Hewitt, they got down to business. Kerney kicked it off by detailing the breadth of the task force’s mission, maintaining an equal amount of eye contact with both men so as not to give Clayton any reason to feel slighted.
When Kerney finished, Hewitt pulled at his chin in a failed attempt to hide a smile. “This could blow the roof off the state capitol, and put the good citizens of Lincoln County into an uproar. I wonder if Norvell and his political pals traded a week with a whore for votes from their legislative buddies.”
“There’s no telling,” Kerney said as he handed out material on Sally Greer, Stacy Fowler, and Helen Pearson, who was described only as a confidential informant. “But discovering who their clients are will prove interesting. What I’ve just given you includes statements from three different women with personal knowledge about the operation, which has direct bearing on the Montoya case and Deputy Istee’s homicide investigation. This is fresh information, gentlemen, gathered in the last thirty-six hours. You’ll get full task-force packets as soon as they’re completed.”
Kerney watched as Hewitt and Clayton worked their way through the reports. The further Hewitt read, the more appalled he looked. Clayton seemed thoughtful and sober. He finished first.
“So Sally Greer was the woman with Ulibarri at the cabin,” Clayton said, “and Fidel Narvaiz was nearby to keep an eye on her because Ulibarri was her first trick.”
“That’s what Greer says,” Kerney replied.
“Did she witness the homicide?”
“No. Ulibarri paid in advance for twenty-four hours with Greer. When he went to the racetrack, Narvaiz checked on Greer and found her badly beaten. He got her out of there, took her to a motel room, and called Cassie Bedlow, who came and picked Greer up.”
“I don’t see that in these reports,” Clayton said, tapping the pages with a finger.
“Greer’s interviews were videotaped by APD vice officers,” Kerney said. “The transcription of the second session wasn’t completed by the time I left to come here. Greer did say, however, that Narvaiz left her with Bedlow at about eleven o’clock in the morning.”
“Ulibarri was killed several hours later,” Clayton said, “so Narvaiz had opportunity.”
“What do you know about him?” Kerney asked.
“He lives on the Rojas estate and supposedly serves as a personal assistant to Rojas. The Debbie that Greer mentioned is Deborah Shea. According to an El Paso hotel security guy, she’s a hooker. He also identified seven other prostitutes who probably work for Rojas. Initially, Shea alibied Rojas when I talked to both of them. Said she’d flown up to Ruidoso with him on his plane. Turns out that was BS.”
“Tell me about it,” Kerney said.
Clayton filled Kerney in on his inspection of Rojas’s vacation cabin, which had exposed Shea’s false statements.
Impressed with Clayton’s good work, Kerney held back any praise and moved on to another subject. “And this Fidel Narvaiz, have you questioned him?”
“I’ve never met him,” Clayton said.
“That’s good,” Kerney said.
“What’s good about that?” Clayton asked. “At this point, he’s our prime murder suspect.”
“We need to work these cases without tipping our hand,” Kerney replied. “Narvaiz was most likely ordered to kill Ulibarri by Rojas, so putting a murder charge on Rojas is a distinct possibility, if we can prove it. Did you get any hard physical evidence at the crime scene?”
“Ulibarri was strangled,” Clayton said, “and we got some partial latents off the body around his throat that are good enough to make a match once we have something to match them to. And a few blond pubic hairs probably left behind by Sally Greer.”
“Those hairs can