“It’s possible Mr. Hawkins is otherwise engaged, but there’s a big possibility this could be related to two homicides we’re working on, and until we can rule that out, we’re treating it as a high priority, as we’ve informed APD.”
“How do they connect?” Brantley asked.
“Like our two dead guys, Mr. Hawkins is a partner in HJW Investments. They’re a private investment group, officed in downtown Austin.”
Information about HJW Investments appeared on the other half of the screen, with an address in Austin.
“If HJW’s located in Austin, how’d these cases come to you?”
“The vics are residents here, as well as members of the Lone Star Country Club.”
JJ’s fingers flew over the keys, likely looking for details on the country club.
“Were their bodies found at their residences?”
“One was, yes. The other at the country club.”
“And HJW Investments?” Reese asked. “You believe their deaths are related to the company?”
“Considering their recent dealings, it’s a good possibility,” the detective stated.
Now they were getting somewhere.
“I’ve heard of ’em,” Reese said, glancing over at Brantley. “Big company buyin’ up a lot of real estate and flippin’ it to commercial.” Reese turned to the monitor again. “And the dead guys? Who’re they?”
“Brian Wright and Seth Jacobs, theotherpartners.”
Brantley spoke up. “When were they killed?”
“Last week. Our medical examiner puts Brian Wright’s death around eight thirty p.m. on September seventh at his home. Call came in from Annie Hawkins from Wright’s residence. And Seth Jacobs”—the pause was followed by the sound of rustling paper as Mathis glanced down—“was found on Friday the tenth in the locker room at the country club, but the time of death is determined to be two days prior.”
Killed on consecutive days?
Curious as to why he was reading this information, Brantley asked, “Were you the detective assigned to these cases?”
“Initially, no. I just took over today.”
“So you weren’t at the crime scenes.”
“I was not, no.”
Brantley wanted to know more, wanted to know why they’d passed the buck on two hot cases so quickly, but he didn’t get a chance before Reese pushed forward.
“There were no witnesses in either case?”
“None. Mrs. Wright had been out with friends when she came home to find her husband on the kitchen floor. I’ll get you the crime scene photos.”
“And Seth Jacobs?”
“I’ll provide what I have on him as well.”
“Any suspects?”
“Oh, you know, just a few … hundred.”
“Hundred?” Brantley grunted.
“HJW Investments recently purchased roughly two hundred seventy-five acres here in Lakeway to, as they claimed at the time, build a small master-planned community. However, once the sale was final, they revealed they had plans to develop a high-density office, retail, and residential center.”
