“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.”
“Like the Domain?” Reese asked.
“Exactly like it,” Baz said from behind them. “One of those fancy shoppin’ venues that has both residential and office space built above the retail stores. They’ve got the details on their website.”
“Problem is,” Mathis continued, “the area’s made up of multimillion-dollar homes and a private country club.”
“Same club they belong to?” Reese asked.
“Correct.”
“I take it those members weren’t too happy about office and retail space encroachin’ on their fancy digs?” Brantley glanced at Reese. “Can’t say I blame ’em.”
“Not only the country club members,” the detective replied. “Also the residents, as well as the former owners of the land. They feel like they were duped.”
“When did the deal close?” Reese asked while JJ’s fingers flew over the keys on her laptop, clearly taking notes.
“June fourth. They’re set to break ground early next year.”
“Three and a half months ago?” Brantley wasn’t sure that tied well enough. Quite a lag. If someone wanted the partners dead because they were upset by the deal, probably would’ve made a move sooner. Back when tensions were highest. “Why do you think their deaths are related to the sale?”
“It’s only one of the things that tie them together,” Mathis said. “We’re pursuing other leads, but nothing’s popped yet.”
“It makes sense in a way,” Reese mused. “What better way to stop the project than kill off the men who now own the property?”
“That’s definitely motive,” Detective Mathis said, agreeing with Reese.
Brantley shot a look at Baz. “I want more about this company. Who’ll take control if all partners are eliminated?”
Baz nodded, turned toward his computer.
“Did you speak to Cedric Hawkins after his partners turned up dead?” Reese asked.
Mathis nodded. “Based on the notes, we did, yes.”
We, not I. Brantley wasn’t sure what help Mathis would be since he didn’t seem to be up to speed on the case.
“Did he think it was related to the sale?”
“No, he didn’t. He said they’d had some communications with the country club and some of the other local businesses. They were smoothing things out.”
“Doesn’t mean someone wasn’t still pissed,” Brantley told him.
“True. We haven’t ruled anyone out completely.”
“Any suspects? I mean, specific ones? Not the general public,” Reese inquired.
“Have you looked into those closest to them?” Brantley asked. “Spouses?”
“As usual, we look at the spouse first. The wives have solid alibis, as do Seth Jacobs’s grown children. Now we’re looking into those who’ve made threats, but that’s taking time.”
“There were a lot?”
“Dozens. Emails, letters, phone calls. Like I said, there were quite a few people upset by the reveal.”
“And Hawkins?” Brantley asked. “Were you lookin’ into him for the deaths of his partners?”
“Again, based on the notes, yes. Seemed logical since he was the last man standing. Couldn’t find anything to tie him. Not on the surface, anyway.”
“Was he worried he’d be next?”
Mathis was still skimming whatever was in front of him. “He didn’t seem to be, no.”
“You said his secretary called it in,” Reese stated. “Have you spoken to his wife yet?”
“I’ve got a patrol unit heading to her house now.”
“A patrol unit?” Brantley frowned. “Any reason you’re not out poundin’ pavement?”
“As I told you, Mr. Walker, I just took over these cases this morning. And right now, we can’t say for sure he’s missing.”
“You said you’re treatin’ this as high priority. Since when do you get a pass on doin’ the legwork?”
Reese stepped forward. “Detective, we’ll keep you looped in, and we expect the same in return. If you learn anything, contact Brantley or me.”
The detective’s eyes were narrowed, his anger evident. Brantley didn’t much care that he’d pissed the guy off. He didn’t believe in passing the buck, and this was one Mathis should’ve been dealing with personally.
He left Reese and JJ to end the call, turning to face the rest of the team.
“Our priority is to find Cedric Hawkins,” he informed them. “And we will not stop until we do.”
Chapter Seven
Reese knew by Brantley’s tone that he was serious. They would be focused on this case until Cedric Hawkins was located. And while he fully understood Brantley’s frustration with the detective, he knew they couldn’t risk stepping on toes when it came to working with law enforcement. Which was why he would make an effort to smooth things over with Detective Mathis by keeping him in the loop.
“We’re gonna need all investigators in the field for this,” Brantley added. “If you’re not up to it now, I need to know.”
A chorus of agreements came from everyone, with the exception of Allison Bogart. She seemed to be the holdout, but Reese watched until she finally nodded, giving in.
Reese wasn’t sure what to make of her yet, but he was doing his best to be impartial. Having been in the military, he was intimately familiar with the chain of command, and it wasn’t always easy to deal with those who believed it should be set up differently. For him, it wasn’t negotiable, but he didn’t think Allison was completely on board with that method. Despite the fact she’d been in law enforcement, which had its own rigorous chain of command, she seemed to enjoy going up against … well, everyone, really. Unfortunately, there’d only be so many times she could do that before Brantley snapped.
Reese didn’t want to be around when that happened.
“How do you want the teams set up since we’re still down one?” Brantley asked him.
Reese was surprised by the question, but he’d already given it some thought, so he answered easily. “Trey, you’ll team up with Evan. Baz, I want you to work with Allison, and Charlie, you’ll take Slade.”
Brantley turned to JJ. “JJ, you and Luca will be at the controls. We’ll look to you for additional information as you get it. I want to know everything there is to know about the company, the partners, their wives, kids. Plus, I want to know why the Lakeway PD passed these cases from one detective to another so quickly. There’s a reason there.”