that’s the way they both wanted it.”
“Right, but Diego’s position as a commissioner gave him lots of power, lots of ability to influence the commissioners regulating the ROGO.”
“Sounds like a lot of shenanigans could be afoot, right?”
“Key West politics are full of red neck shenanigans, good-old-boy-behind-the-scenes stuff that most citizens know nothing about. Most people don’t give a rat’s eyebrow about a ROGO decision unless it’s their building permit that’s being delayed.”
“So you’re saying that maybe Diego might have been using his influence to keep Brick’s name low on the ROGO.”
“I’m not saying that, but it could be true. Also, it could be true that Diego might use his influence to move Brick’s name forward on the ROGO and get the permit sooner if Brick would agree to hiring Diego to manage the hotel.”
“Did Jessie want to manage the hotel?”
“Brick said Jessie wanted anything that meant more money in his pocket.”
“Wonder if Jessie would settle for being chief dock master.”
Kane snorted. “The Jessie I know avoids hard labor and dock masters face a lot of that.”
“Kane, due to the building permit disagreement, Threnody and Jessie as well as Brick—all of them could be among the suspects in Diego’s death. We’re not the only ones.”
“I never said that.”
“You hinted that, Kane. You know you did.”
“And you promised to keep my hints top secret.”
“Of course. Depend on it. I keep my promises.” I stepped inside the wheel house and sat again in a deck chair. “Kane, even if I’m a suspect in this murder, I’d like to do some private investigating into Diego’s death.”
Chapter 7
(Still Sunday Morning)
For several moments Kane stared at the horizon before he growled a response, his voice so low I had to lean forward to hear his words.
“Don’t do it, Rafa. Don’t even consider it.”
Kane seldom gave orders—at least not to me. I hesitated before I met his gaze. “Why not, Kane. I can’t see any harm in doing a little investigating on the side. Why shouldn’t I?”
“Because at this point you’d be smart to keep out of any investigation. Because you’re the one who found Diego’s body and you’re a suspect in his murder. Because you’re a person of interest. Want to hear more? If you step forward and start your own investigation, you could damage both your present and your future writing career. You’d be smart to hang back for a while and see what happens.”
“You may be right.” I stood, facing him, our eyes almost meeting on a level. “I don’t intend to step forward. So far nobody has asked me to do that. And I’m guessing nobody will. But I don’t think I can live with myself if I don’t make an effort to help find Diego’s killer. I’ll never forget seeing his head bobbing in the water below that catwalk, never forget feeling that raging sea pounding his body—and mine. Kane, his eyes rolled back into his head like a death mask. Can you imagine that horror?”
Kane’s involuntary shudder spoke louder than words. “Let it alone, Rafa. Let Key West’s finest do their job without your help.”
“Diego was my friend, Kane. My good friend. I wish you’d tell me more about what you’ve heard about the murder so far. Let me in on what you know—or what people have said to you. I have a strong feeling you’re holding important information from me.”
“I’ve already told you all I know. Remember, I wasn’t out and about last night. I skipped the parade. Spent most of the evening aboard my boat tinkering with one of the motors before I heard the police broadcast and drove to the marina and then to the hospital. Not much chance to talk to anyone. And I’ve already told you what I know about Brick and Diego’s differences.”
“If Brick wanted to build a hotel, Threnody must have wanted that, too.”
“I vote yes on that one. Few wives wouldn’t welcome more money in the family till.
“Right, but Diego’s position as a commissioner gave him lots of power, lots of ability to influence the commissioners regulating the ROGO.”
“Sounds like a lot of shenanigans could be afoot, right?”
“Key West politics are full of red neck shenanigans, good-old-boy-behind-the-scenes stuff that most citizens know nothing about. Most people don’t give a rat’s eyebrow about a ROGO decision unless it’s their building permit that’s being delayed.”
“So you’re saying that maybe Diego might have been using his influence to keep Brick’s name low on the ROGO.”
“I’m not saying that, but it could be true. Also, it could be true that Diego might use his influence to move Brick’s name forward on the ROGO and get the permit sooner if Brick would agree to hiring Diego to manage the hotel.”
“Did Jessie want to manage the hotel?”
“Brick said Jessie wanted anything that meant more money in his pocket.”
“Wonder if Jessie would settle for being chief dock master.”
Kane snorted. “The Jessie I know avoids hard labor and dock masters face a lot of that.”
“Kane, due to the building permit disagreement, Threnody and Jessie as well as Brick—all of them could be among the suspects in Diego’s death. We’re not the only ones.”
“I never said that.”
“You hinted that, Kane. You know you did.”
“And you promised to keep my hints top secret.”
“Of course. Depend on it. I keep my promises.” I stepped inside the wheel house and sat again in a deck chair. “Kane, even if I’m a suspect in this murder, I’d like to do some private investigating into Diego’s death.”
Chapter 7
(Still Sunday Morning)
For several moments Kane stared at the horizon before he growled a response, his voice so low I had to lean forward to hear his words.
“Don’t do it, Rafa. Don’t even consider it.”
Kane seldom gave orders—at least not to me. I hesitated before I met his gaze. “Why not, Kane. I can’t see any harm in doing a little investigating on the side. Why shouldn’t I?”
“Because at this point you’d be smart to keep out of any investigation. Because you’re the one who found Diego’s body and you’re a suspect in his murder. Because you’re a person of interest. Want to hear more? If you step forward and start your own investigation, you could damage both your present and your future writing career. You’d be smart to hang back for a while and see what happens.”
“You may be right.” I stood, facing him, our eyes almost meeting on a level. “I don’t intend to step forward. So far nobody has asked me to do that. And I’m guessing nobody will. But I don’t think I can live with myself if I don’t make an effort to help find Diego’s killer. I’ll never forget seeing his head bobbing in the water below that catwalk, never forget feeling that raging sea pounding his body—and mine. Kane, his eyes rolled back into his head like a death mask. Can you imagine that horror?”
Kane’s involuntary shudder spoke louder than words. “Let it alone, Rafa. Let Key West’s finest do their job without your help.”
“Diego was my friend, Kane. My good friend. I wish you’d tell me more about what you’ve heard about the murder so far. Let me in on what you know—or what people have said to you. I have a strong feeling you’re holding important information from me.”
“I’ve already told you all I know. Remember, I wasn’t out and about last night. I skipped the parade. Spent most of the evening aboard my boat tinkering with one of the motors before I heard the police broadcast and drove to the marina and then to the hospital. Not much chance to talk to anyone. And I’ve already told you what I know about Brick and Diego’s differences.”
“If Brick wanted to build a hotel, Threnody must have wanted that, too.”
“I vote yes on that one. Few wives wouldn’t welcome more money in the family till.
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