He extended an olive branch to Frank because he needed his help—Frank had the technical expertise and knowledge, plus access to specialized testing. The last thing Matt wanted was to bring into this investigation yet another agency. “I need to be able to reach you, Frank, even while you’re gone. If we find the dump site, you should be there to lead the environmental investigation.”
“I’ll check my messages at least twice a day, since cell reception can be spotty.”
“Where are you going?”
“Haven’t decided yet. Somewhere in the Santa Ritas.”
He didn’t look Matt in the eye, which told Matt that Frank knew exactly where he planned to go and didn’t want to share the information.
He turned back to Ryder. “Michael. Is his cover still solid?”
They used Michael Harris’s real identity as a veteran navy SEAL when he was applying to work at Southwest but scrubbed his FBI credentials and created an assault charge that landed him in prison for a year. They knew John Molina made it a habit of hiring veterans, and he preferred veterans who were having a rough go of it.
Ryder nodded. “He’s adapted well and doesn’t believe anyone is suspicious.”
“Good.” Matt also wanted to ask about Kara, because her reports were almost nonexistent, but that would have to wait until he and Ryder were alone. Kara Quinn was an LAPD detective on loan to the mobile response team. Matt hadn’t told Frank or Wyatt yet about Kara’s undercover role as a local bartender. She was there to watch Michael’s back, pick up on town gossip and befriend Joe Molina to verify his trustworthiness; apparently, that had been going well.
“Christine, do you have anything to add?” Matt said, ready to wrap things up.
“My office finished the background checks on the Southwest staff, and there are two people we’re going to take a closer look at. Nothing that ties them with A-Line, but there’s some suspicious behavior in their pasts.”
“Send me their names, I’ll make sure Michael is aware.”
Christine made a note and continued. “Then there’s Tanya Hargrove, David’s wife.” She slid a file over to Matt. “We don’t have a warrant to obtain full financial records, but we have her credit reports. Tanya owns a small antiques business. Zack didn’t report on this before he left, but he and my analyst think that if there’s something wonky going on with the Hargroves, the wife’s business might be part of it.”
“This seems outside our investigative scope,” Matt said.
“Maybe,” Christine conceded, “but there were a couple of red flags. Small flags, but worth looking into. For example, Tanya’s company credit is outsized compared to similar businesses, yet it’s paid off regularly. She employs one employee, part-time. Hours are spotty.”
Matt knew what Christine was suggesting. Possible money laundering. “So if her husband, David, is getting kickbacks from A-Line, Tanya might be running that money through her business.”
“Bingo. It might be difficult to prove, but you should keep it in mind,” Christine said.
“Is your analyst still looking into it?”
“Time permitting, yes. If anything else comes up, I’ll let you know.”
They wrapped up a couple minor questions that arose, then Matt said he was done.
Frank left immediately, with a quick good-bye.
Christine turned to Wyatt and asked, “Lunch? Costa isn’t big on taking an hour, but I think I can convince him.” She grinned over at Matt. He didn’t have time for socializing, but he probably owed both Christine and Wyatt a lunch.
“Thanks, but I have plans with my girlfriend,” Wyatt said. “Between her schedule and mine, we rarely get to see each other these days, so we both made sure we had lunch free today.”
“Tell Lauren I said hi,” Christine said. She was grinning at Matt. Then it dawned on him.
Wyatt left, and he said to Christine, “Lauren Valera?”
“Sheriff Valera now, and yes.”
“You knew he was dating my ex-girlfriend?”
“Everyone knows. Except, apparently, you. Problem?”
“No.”
He and Lauren Valera hadn’t parted on the best of terms, but when he heard she’d been elected sheriff three years ago, he’d sent her flowers. Nothing romantic, just a spring bouquet. Since Tucson was in a different county from Patagonia, Matt hadn’t felt any need to reach out and discuss the case with her once he arrived in town. But had he known that one of the principal members of his investigation was dating her, he might have done so.
“So no lunch?” Christine said.
“I’ll owe you when this is all over, but for now let’s order in. My treat, you order. I need to call Tony and get started on the warrant for tracking A-Line’s truck.”
Chapter 2
Thursday afternoon
Tucson, Arizona
MATT OFTEN GOT LOST in work, and today was no exception. He ate lunch at his desk while working through logistical details with Ryder. Ryder wasn’t undercover per se, but he had rented a small apartment for the month in downtown Patagonia where he could be a resource for both Michael and Kara, plus keep an eye on the general situation. If anyone asked, he was a graduate student working on his thesis.
Matt himself wanted to be closer to the epicenter of this investigation, so he was working out a plan with Ryder to go down to Patagonia and stay there once he had the timeline for A-Line picking up the next slag shipment. He hadn’t heard from Joe Molina yet with the details from today’s meeting, but he wasn’t overly worried. He didn’t expect him to reach out until later this evening.
Once they worked out the logistics of where best for Matt to stay in Patagonia, he asked Ryder, “Any other problems?”
“No, sir.”
“I’ve noticed Kara’s reports have been...vague.”
“She’s sending them in regularly.”
Kara had been instrumental in establishing the protocols for this undercover investigation. Her knowledge in these matters was extensive. But from the beginning, they’d disagreed about how detailed her reports should be. She claimed she would check in regularly for safety reasons, but no information would mean there was no information.
I’m not doing bullshit paperwork.
He’d put his foot down, though he compromised on formalities. She’d written her report every day, dropping it off each morning at the diner where Ryder sat with his laptop computer. But each report was getting shorter and shorter.
“What does she mean here?” Matt pointed to one of three short sentences.