“Chief Vaughn,” Ferguson said, standing up a little straighter.“I didn’t realize anyone had called you in for this one.I would have given you a report in the morning.”
Vaughn ignored Darwin and Katrina, regarding the detective like he thought Ferguson was an idiot.
“The Weber family are important members of our city, owners of one of the most profitable businesses in this part of California, and key contributors to the mayor’s campaign,” the chief said.“Of course, someone called me after a body had been discovered on their property.The only question I have is why you, the detective on scene, didn’t do it first?”
Darwin had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing.Having gotten yelled at a few times in BUDs until it practically made his ears bleed, he couldn’t help being amused when Ferguson’s face reddened at what could only be described as a mild dressing down.
“Fortunately, it turns out that the victim isn’t related to the Weber family or their vineyard,” the chief continued before Ferguson could say anything.“This was clearly a body dump.Arthur Davis was killed somewhere else and the body dumped in the vineyard.”
Ferguson stared at his boss, clearly stunned.
Darwin was right there with him.
“But Chief, we’re still looking at the connection between our murder victim and people at the resort,” the detective said.“We have witnesses that place him with several guests here for the wedding.”
Darwin expected Ferguson to tell his boss that he and Katrina were those witnesses, and that they’d seen Arthur Davis with both Jameson and Rhett.Maybe Ferguson wasn’t as dumb as he seemed.
“Arthur Davis was here, but he certainly wasn’t invited––or wanted,” Rhett said.“He came onto resort property without anyone knowing and tried to take part in various conversations he had no business in.I never talked to him personally, but when security confirmed his identity, they escorted him off the property.He was an unsavory type and not someone that should be at my sister’s wedding.”
As he finished speaking, Rhett pinned Darwin and Katrina with a hard look, like he was daring them to disagree with him.
“And considering the fact that he ended up dead from a gunshot wound, you were right,” Chief Vaughn said.“I have no doubt that when we do our background check on this guy, we’ll find a long criminal history.However, since Arthur Davis was found at the Weber Vineyards, I’ll be spearheading this investigation myself.Things like this aren’t good for business.”
Telling Ferguson to wrap up, Vaughn walked away with Jameson and Rhett, chatting with him about the various events planned this weekend as part of the wedding.
“What the heck just happened?”Katrina asked.
“They’re burying the case,” Darwin murmured, glancing at Ferguson, who was still standing there with a shocked expression on his face.“Is that something that happens frequently in this town?”
“No, it doesn’t,” Ferguson said quietly, more to himself than to them.“At least, I don’t think it does.Then again, I never would have expected the chief to lie about this being a body dump either.”
“So, it wasn’t a body dump?”Katrina asked, sounding confused as she looked back and forth between Darwin and the detective.
“No,” Darwin answered.“The dirt under the body was soaked with fresh blood––a lot of fresh blood.He bled out where he fell, probably less than an hour before we found him.And before you ask, Detective, yes, I’ve seen enough people bleed out from bullet wounds to know how fast blood dries.”
Beside Darwin, Katrina’s gaze went to where her father and brother were still standing with the police chief, a frown creasing her brow.
“What are you going to do, Detective?”she asked, turning back to the man.
“What can I do?”Ferguson said.“The chief of police has decided to lead this investigation personally.All I can do is collect the evidence and hope he’ll make use of it.”
Ferguson handed Darwin his card, then gave them a nod and headed toward the medical examiner’s van.The moment he walked away, Rhett hurried over.
“What the heck is going on?”Katrina demanded before her brother could say anything.“And I don’t want to hear that Arthur Davis was some random guy who showed up here uninvited.Darwin and I saw you talking to him, and while we might not know what you were discussing, it’s clear you knew him, and that you and Dad were probably working with him.”
Rhett pinned her with a look.“You need to forget everything you think you saw.You’re messing with things that could get you in serious trouble––or worse.So, for your own good, let it go, okay?”
Darwin tensed at the angry expression that suddenly crossed Rhett’s face, wondering if Katrina’s brother was about do something he was going to regret.But then, a second later, the man’s expression went from fierce to desperate, making Darwin think he was truly worried about his sister getting hurt.
Katrina, however, completely misinterpreted her brother’s concern.“Is that a threat?This Davis guy gets in the way of a potential profit, so he shows up dead with a bullet through his chest?If I keep poking around, am I going to end up with a bullet in me, too?”
Rhett recoiled as if she’d smacked him.“Don’t be stupid!I’m trying to protect you and the rest of our family, like Dad taught us.Stop involving yourself in stuff you don’t understand.Just turn your back on it.After all, isn’t that what you’re best at?”
Darwin took a step forward, ready to tell him to go to hell, but Rhett stormed off, striding past the group of people still gathered in front of the resort and disappearing inside with his fiancée.Darwin had met the quiet redhead at the meet-and-greet the other night, and while he didn’t know her well, he couldn’t mistake how worried she looked.
Sighing, Darwin turned to see Katrina standing there with a disappointed look on her face.
“You okay?”he asked softly, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her in for a hug.“You want me to track him down and thump him for you?”
