Tracking Game Read online

  Mustang Outfitters advertised a ten-thousand-acre ranch with private access to BLM land, which matched the family’s information and was what Mattie expected. The site’s photos gave her a clearer picture of the ranch headquarters than what she’d glimpsed in the dark last night. Pictures of a string of saddled horses tied in front of a picturesque old wooden barn and campsites set in gorgeous forested high country suggested a dream vacation for those who wanted to see the Rockies from the back of a horse.

  She shut down the site and got up to fill her coffee mug with dark brew that sat on the burner in a half-full pot. Giving Robo a training challenge, she told him, “Let’s go find Stella.”

  Robo had been watching her every move, and he scrambled from his cushion and trotted out of the staff office. Carrying her cup of coffee and a notebook, Mattie trailed behind and observed him. He put his nose to the floor outside Stella’s office and then followed her scent trail to the briefing room. He scratched at the closed door, and confirmation that her dog had now learned the detective’s name left her shaking her head in admiration as she opened the briefing room door for him.

  “Come in, Robo,” Stella called from inside. She was setting up the whiteboard to record evidence for the case and had posted Nate’s photo at the top, after evidently grabbing the one Mattie had just seen from his website and printing it.

  Brody came into the room carrying his own mug of coffee—fuel for a long day after only a few hours of sleep. He looked bleary-eyed and grumpy, and his voice sounded raspy. “What do we have so far?”

  Mattie took a seat at the table nearest the whiteboard, and Robo settled in beside her. The briefing room was set up to be functional. Photos of the Timber Creek County courthouse and the Colorado state capitol building on the walls, the Colorado state flag standing in a corner of the room, and five long tables with aluminum-framed plastic chairs were the room’s only appointments.

  Stella replied to Brody’s prompt. “I’m going to drive over to the Byers County morgue to observe the autopsy later this afternoon, and I’d like to get as much done as we can before I go. We’ve got information we need to share with you, Brody, and then we need to coordinate and lay out a plan.”

  Stella went on to summarize the results of the family notification and the interview with Flint Thornton for Brody while she recorded salient bits on the whiteboard. “We have to look at wife and family when we ask who killed Nate Fletcher, but GSR swabs were negative for all of them. I think we can clear Lillian and Doyle, and we can accept the alibis for wife Kasey and sister-in-law Eve. Agreed, Mattie?”

  Mattie thought the reasoning was sound. “Agreed, but we have to talk to Kasey about finding trace cocaine in Nate’s van. I’m willing to bet she knows something about that.”

  “Okay, we’ll keep her on the Persons of Interest list.” Stella started a new heading on the board. “And brother-in-law Tyler. He needs to be on this list.”

  Mattie recalled Tyler’s lack of emotion about Nate’s death and wondered if he wouldn’t eventually turn into a full-blown suspect. But there were more people to consider. “Let’s add Flint Thornton to the list, too.”

  Stella added Flint and then wrote Jasmine Pierce. “I haven’t been able to reach Jasmine to confirm Tyler’s alibi. I’ll keep trying and hope to pin down that detail.”

  Mattie decided now was a good time to share the information she’d learned from Rainbow about the fishermen from California. After explaining the details, she added, “All I have at the moment is the name Ben Underwood and a friend. Ben was at the dance, but the unknown is unaccounted for. They’re staying at the Big Sky Motel.”

  “That’s good,” Brody said. “We need to get to them today before they leave on that fishing trip tomorrow with Tyler.”

  Mattie wasn’t sure it was the best idea to stand by and let most of their persons of interest leave town to go into the mountains for days. “Should we try to abort this fishing trip?”

  Brody’s brow creased as he thought about it. “I imagine they want to go forward with the trip for financial reasons, but you could try to find that out from Kasey when you talk to her. Unless we have a warrant for someone’s arrest, we can’t stop it.”

  “We’ll talk to this guy, Ben Underwood, and his friend about it, too,” Stella said, stepping up to the table to tap the keys of her laptop. “Let’s move on to review the evidence we’ve got. I received a report here from CBI lab. They were unable to determine a brand name from the tire prints, but they’re typical of those found on smaller sedans and lightweight trucks rather than SUVs or heavy-duty vehicles. They won’t be much help unless we can find a car that has an exact match.”

  Mattie found that news disappointing. “Any word on the glove?”

  “Yes,” Stella said, scanning the laptop screen. “They found gunshot residue on the exterior, and they’ve swabbed the interior for DNA. I’ve asked them to fast-track those results, but we’re looking at Thursday at the earliest.”

  That sounded more positive to Mattie. “We can still collect DNA samples from people of interest and get them into the lab for comparison as soon as possible. All we have to do is ask.”

  “And of course refusal always raises a red flag,” Stella said before turning back to the computer screen. “The glove is a Wells Lamont cowhide work glove with adjustable wrist, men’s size large, and I’ve got some photos of it that I’ll email to you for your phones.”

  Mattie’s phone beeped as the email came through, followed by an echo from Brody’s. She opened hers to download the photo. “What’s the status on that .38 Special Robo found?”

  “The registration number on it was clear as a bell, and I submitted it to the Tracing Center,” Stella said. “I hope to know its ownership within forty-eight hours.”

  That was better news than she thought they’d get. “Have we heard anything from the fire investigators yet?”

  “I talked to the lead investigator,” Brody said as he swiped and tapped his phone. “He’ll get a report to us when they’re done, but he shared some preliminary information. The gas cap was removed from the gas tank, making it more likely for it to ignite.”

  And showing intent to cause as much damage as possible, Mattie thought.

  “The Molotov cocktail contained diesel and cotton fabric similar to that found in a white cotton bed sheet,” Brody continued. “They’ll pin down the exact fabric in the lab, but this will at least give us something to look for. The accelerant used inside the van was also diesel. It’s common for an arsonist to burn a vehicle from the inside out, since the interior materials are flammable.”

  Mattie wanted to bring the conversation back to the cocaine inside the van’s door panel. “Cole, Flint, and Rainbow have all indicated that Nate Fletcher wasn’t the type to use drugs, and according to Flint, he wasn’t supplying narcotics to clients for parties in the mountains. But trace amounts of cocaine in the door panel begs the question—was Nate into drug running? Is that what got him killed?”

  Brody rolled his head, making his neck pop. “He’s got clients coming in from all over. Perfect setup for trafficking.”

  Mattie felt her excitement start to build. This was something she and Robo could sort through, which might lead them to Nate’s killer. “That could open up a whole new group of suspects. A drug ring? These two men from out of town? We need to find out what Kasey knows about this.”

  Stella frowned as she nodded. “This is important, Mattie. We’re going to have to see if we can search Nate and Kasey’s house for narcotics. I hate to put her through it, but we need to determine if she’s somehow involved in this as well.”

  Mattie agreed with Stella. So far, everything indicated that Kasey was a victim here as well as Nate, but maybe they would turn up something to indicate differently. “Right. It’s important to see what she has to say, and we can tread lightly. First, I’ll ask her permission to search.”

  “And if she refuses, we have enough that I can get a warrant,” Brody said. “It’s
a shame for the family, but in this case, we’ve got to dig into Nate’s past. That’s probably where we’ll find the person who killed him.”

  NINE

  Stella decided they should stop at the Big Sky Motel to meet the out-of-towners before driving out to the Redman Ranch. Mattie pulled into the motel and parked outside the office, marked clearly by a sign located on the outer left wing of the U-shaped building. The walls were painted turquoise with white trim, and boxes of newly planted petunias and geraniums adorned the sidewalk that ran along the front of the rooms. Two white metal lounge chairs sat outside each door.

  “I’ll find out what room they’re in,” Stella said as she opened her door and stepped out.

  The place had only about twelve rooms and there were no cars to be seen in the lot, making Mattie worry that the fishermen had already checked out. It took only a few minutes for Stella to return from the office.

  “Ben Underwood is in room eight,” Stella said. “He’s still checked in, but he and his friend drove away early this morning. Maid cleaned and their baggage is still there, so I expect they’ll be back and we can catch them later. We might as well go out to the ranch.”

  “All right. Did you get the vehicle info and license plate?”

  “I did.”

  “Let me call it in to Rainbow and let her run a registration check.”

  As Mattie pulled out onto the highway and headed west, she radioed dispatch. After giving Rainbow the information, she drove in silence while Stella gazed out the passenger window and brooded about the case, one of her habits that Mattie had grown used to over the past months.

  Within minutes, Rainbow called back. “The vehicle is a silver Cadillac Escalade, Luxury model SUV, registered to Zach Irving of Los Angeles, California. I ran a background on him: no priors, no warrants.”

  “Thanks, Rainbow.”

  When Mattie glanced at Stella, she nodded acknowledgment that she’d heard and was taking notes in her notebook.

  At about six miles outside town, Mattie turned into the entryway of the Redman Ranch and scanned the layout by the light of day. The headquarters for the place had been built near the actual stream called Timber Creek, and the buildings were surrounded by a leafy canopy of trees: cottonwoods, elms, even maples. Off to the left, a stand of flowering trees, some with rose-colored blossoms and some with white, suggested some kind of orchard.

  The white-painted homes were readily apparent, and it looked like there were two of them separated by an ancient barn. The barn was huge, its open door a darkened maw. It had been built of rough-cut lumber and log, weathered by decades of standing resolute out in the elements and the sun. A rusted tin roof covered the top.

  A log cabin sat off to the far right, which must be Tyler’s home, leaving the second white house as Kasey’s.

  Mattie took a narrow right fork in the road and followed the gravel path to the front of a boxy white stucco house that looked much smaller than that of her parents. There were two cars parked in front—a silver Honda Civic and a cherry-red Kia sedan—so she assumed Kasey might be at home.

  After parking, she told Robo to stay in the car, and she and Stella exited to walk a stone pathway. This home wasn’t graced with a cozy outdoor room like Lillian’s. Instead its porch consisted of a square slab of concrete with an awning.

  They went up onto the porch. Mattie opened the screen door and knocked on a solid wooden one that had been painted green to match the trim on the windows. When no one answered, she knocked harder, thinking she would try one more time before going to look for Kasey at her parents’ house.

  Kasey’s voice came from inside. “Just a minute.” A moment later, she opened the door, her eyes reddened and swollen from crying. She wore cotton pajamas beneath a knitted shawl that she clutched tightly around her shoulders with both hands.

  A brunette with long, curly hair, fully dressed in jeans and a teal blouse, stood behind Kasey, as if offering support. The way she hovered made Mattie think she must be a friend.

  “I’m sorry to bother you, Kasey, but Detective LoSasso and I have something we need to discuss with you,” Mattie said, looking pointedly at the unfamiliar woman.

  “Oh,” Kasey said, glancing behind her. “This is my friend, Jasmine Pierce.”

  Tyler’s alibi. Mattie introduced herself before turning to Stella. “And I believe Detective LoSasso has been trying to reach you.”

  Jasmine looked surprised. “Me?”

  “I need to talk to you about last night,” Stella said. “I’ve left messages for you to call me back.”

  Jasmine also appeared as if she’d been crying, and her red-rimmed eyes widened at Stella’s comment. “Kasey couldn’t sleep, so she called me, and I’ve been here since … I don’t know … about four this morning? I think my phone is in my purse. Let me check.”

  Sounded possible. The two looked like they could have been up all night.

  Jasmine disappeared for a few seconds before returning, her hand buried in a large, open handbag, “My phone isn’t here. I must’ve left it at home after hearing the news about Nate. I was in shock when I left.”

  “May we come in, Kasey?” Stella asked.

  “Sure.” Kasey opened the screen door wide. “But the place is a mess. I’ve been so busy helping with Dad the past few months, I’ve let everything go.”

  Emerald-tinted draperies covered the two front room windows, and Mattie’s eyes adjusted slowly to the dim light. The small living room was crowded with only a few pieces of large, overstuffed furniture: a floral upholstered sofa with wooden trim and two matching armchairs that looked like they could be antiques. A dark walnut coffee table sat against the wall and held a narrow television, and a closer look revealed framed photos on each side—one of the four members of the Redman family in better times when the kids might have been teenagers, the other a wedding picture of Kasey and Nate, smiling and happy as they posed in the traditional white gown and dark tux. Magazines and newspapers lay scattered about, the newspapers still rolled and unread.

  After stepping inside, Stella turned to Jasmine. “The reason I called was to find out where you were last night. It’s a routine question, and we’re asking all the family and close friends.”

  Jasmine placed her hand on her throat, looking worried despite the detective’s reassurance. “I was at the dance with Tyler until we left to go to my house.”

  “And what time was that?” Stella asked.

  “It was about a quarter to eleven. I checked my phone for text messages when we got out to the car, so I remember the time.”

  “And how long did Tyler stay at your house?”

  Jasmine looked as if she was thinking. “Until a little before two? I’m not exactly sure of that time, but we watched a movie and he left right after.”

  Though Jasmine had provided more detail, her time frames matched what Tyler had told them, and if she was being truthful, he now had an alibi. Although Jasmine appeared stressed, Mattie couldn’t read any obvious signs of deception.

  “Thank you, Jasmine,” Stella said. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we need to talk to Kasey privately for a few minutes. We won’t take very long.”

  Kasey clutched her shawl about herself tighter, as if for protection. “We’re best friends. There’s nothing about me that Jasmine doesn’t know. We can speak in front of her.”

  Jasmine put her arm around Kasey’s shoulders. “It’s okay, Kasey. I can wait outside.”

  Stella was quick to respond. “That would be best.”

  Mattie held the door while Jasmine went outside and headed toward the red Kia.

  Kasey sat on one of the chairs, while Stella sat on the other. Mattie took a seat on the couch.

  Stella opened the conversation. “Kasey, we’ve turned up some information that we need to tell you, and we hope you can clarify some things for us.”

  Kasey met Stella’s eyes with an unwavering gaze. “I’ll do anything I can to help.”

  “This is about what we found in
Nate’s van.” Stella paused for a few beats. “Our K-9 hit on narcotics in Nate’s van, and it turned out to be a trace of cocaine.”

  Kasey looked startled. “Nate didn’t use drugs. And anyway, I thought the van had burned.”

  “It did, but the driver’s side door had been opened, so the panel didn’t burn completely.” Stella leaned forward, her gaze intense. “Kasey, could Nate have been involved in the drug business in any way?”

  “Never. Nate liked to party, but beer was his choice,” Kasey said, her voice adamant, as if she had no reason to doubt her husband.

  Mattie studied Kasey while she spoke. It seemed like she was telling the truth, and her answers corroborated the information given by Rainbow, Cole, and even Flint.

  Stella continued to press. “Was he involved with the transportation or sale of drugs?”

  Kasey shook her head, her face filling with dismay. “I don’t understand. Nate is the victim here. Why are you searching for something to pin on him?”

  “That’s not what we’re trying to do,” Stella said. “We’re following up on evidence. We need to find Nate’s killer. If he was involved with the drug trade, that would give us a whole new direction to take our investigation and a different group of people we need to look at. Does that make sense?”

  Kasey stared at the black television screen, obviously trying to put the pieces together, her face tight with distress. A pang of sympathy for the grieving woman made Mattie’s thoughts go a different direction. “Kasey, how long have you owned that van?”

  “It’s fairly new to us. I think we bought it about four months ago.”

  Mattie exchanged glances with Stella, while the detective’s brow lowered in a frown.

  “Where did you buy it?” Stella asked.

  “At a used car dealership in Denver.”