sorry, Judge.’
‘Thanks. Anything else of note with Mr Gilbert?’
‘No – just that it was a very brutal attack. Mrs Tran was shot to death, a 45-caliber. I think they shot her because the shovel
broke, so she probably died after Mr Gilbert. She has defensive wounds on her hands and arms. Splinters from the handle. DPS
can probably identify the handle manufacturer from the wood traces, the resins.’ She cleared her throat. ‘DPS also did fingernailswipes on them both – you may bear fruit with Mrs Tran. More likely that she scratched or grabbed at the killers during the
assault.’
‘Killers? Plural?’
Liz Contreras steepled her fingers. ‘It just seems more likely. Let’s say Gilbert gets attacked first and it’s a surprise.
Whoever killed him either didn’t have the gun or didn’t have time to draw before deciding to attack Mr Gilbert. Mrs Tran’s
got bruising on her upper arms. Maybe one attacker held her while another attacker killed Mr Gilbert. Then, with the shovel
broken and their composure regained, they shot her.’
‘So they were digging, one might assume’ – Whit gave David a stare – ‘and Patch and Thuy surprised them?’
‘Maybe the killers were camping?’ Liz said. ‘Camping illegally. Campers sometimes carry shovels.’
‘No signs of a campsite, but there were heavy truck tracks,’ Whit said. ‘So let’s say there’s noise from the truck, and they
don’t hear Patch and Thuy approach until it’s too late. The two of them were supposed to be over in Port Aransas.’
‘But they weren’t. So maybe the killers knew their plans, expected them to be gone,’ Liz said.
Knew their plans.
So who knew about them going to Port Aransas? Hell, Patch might have told any of a thousand people in town what his plans
were. Not a shy man. Or maybe not. Assume not. So Whit knew. Lucy. Suzanne and therefore Roy. Thuy’s family. ‘If you’re right,
the killers wouldn’t have been worried about making noise.’
‘Noise?’ Liz said. ‘I mean, you’re saying noise above and beyond a regular truck, right?’
‘Maybe the truck was doing more than revving its engines. Maybe it was loading something,’ Whit said.
‘Loading what? Out in the middle of nowhere?’ Liz asked.
‘Judge,’ David said.
Liz glanced at the two of them, gauging the tension. Whit stayed quiet. ‘I won’t ask. You’ve got my report. The families can
have the bodies back tomorrow.’
They walked into the parking lot, got into David’s police cruiser. David started the engine but didn’t shift into drive. ‘The
treasure idea. It’s interesting, but until I see something more it’s not relevant.’
‘You can’t ignore those relics.’
‘I’m more interested in modern-day motives.’
‘The killers had shovels and trucks, David. Do you think they were digging for oil?’
‘I’m not jumping to a whacked-out conclusion, Judge. The skeletons could be old Gilbert family members. That seems far more
likely than buried treasure in my mind. Surely you see that.’ David eased out into Corpus Christi traffic, headed for the
Harbor Bridge. ‘I mean, I understand this treasure idea’s interesting to you because it takes Lucy out of the equation. She’s
got the prime motive for the murder. She benefits the most.’ He clicked his tongue against his teeth.
‘Lucy had nothing to do with this. She didn’t even know about the will.’
‘You one hundred percent sure she didn’t?’
‘I am.’
‘Certainty’s a nice thing. You don’t see it often. You want to grab dinner?’ The unexpected olive branch made Whit suspicious.
‘Why?’
‘Christ, that’s nice. We work together. I’m making an effort here.’
‘Make the effort by not accusing Lucy.’
‘We’ll talk about it. You eat barbecue?’
There was a nasty calculation, Whit thought, in the smile, and he wanted to know what was behind it. ‘Sure I do. Let’s go.’
14
Gar carried Claudia out
‘Thanks. Anything else of note with Mr Gilbert?’
‘No – just that it was a very brutal attack. Mrs Tran was shot to death, a 45-caliber. I think they shot her because the shovel
broke, so she probably died after Mr Gilbert. She has defensive wounds on her hands and arms. Splinters from the handle. DPS
can probably identify the handle manufacturer from the wood traces, the resins.’ She cleared her throat. ‘DPS also did fingernailswipes on them both – you may bear fruit with Mrs Tran. More likely that she scratched or grabbed at the killers during the
assault.’
‘Killers? Plural?’
Liz Contreras steepled her fingers. ‘It just seems more likely. Let’s say Gilbert gets attacked first and it’s a surprise.
Whoever killed him either didn’t have the gun or didn’t have time to draw before deciding to attack Mr Gilbert. Mrs Tran’s
got bruising on her upper arms. Maybe one attacker held her while another attacker killed Mr Gilbert. Then, with the shovel
broken and their composure regained, they shot her.’
‘So they were digging, one might assume’ – Whit gave David a stare – ‘and Patch and Thuy surprised them?’
‘Maybe the killers were camping?’ Liz said. ‘Camping illegally. Campers sometimes carry shovels.’
‘No signs of a campsite, but there were heavy truck tracks,’ Whit said. ‘So let’s say there’s noise from the truck, and they
don’t hear Patch and Thuy approach until it’s too late. The two of them were supposed to be over in Port Aransas.’
‘But they weren’t. So maybe the killers knew their plans, expected them to be gone,’ Liz said.
Knew their plans.
So who knew about them going to Port Aransas? Hell, Patch might have told any of a thousand people in town what his plans
were. Not a shy man. Or maybe not. Assume not. So Whit knew. Lucy. Suzanne and therefore Roy. Thuy’s family. ‘If you’re right,
the killers wouldn’t have been worried about making noise.’
‘Noise?’ Liz said. ‘I mean, you’re saying noise above and beyond a regular truck, right?’
‘Maybe the truck was doing more than revving its engines. Maybe it was loading something,’ Whit said.
‘Loading what? Out in the middle of nowhere?’ Liz asked.
‘Judge,’ David said.
Liz glanced at the two of them, gauging the tension. Whit stayed quiet. ‘I won’t ask. You’ve got my report. The families can
have the bodies back tomorrow.’
They walked into the parking lot, got into David’s police cruiser. David started the engine but didn’t shift into drive. ‘The
treasure idea. It’s interesting, but until I see something more it’s not relevant.’
‘You can’t ignore those relics.’
‘I’m more interested in modern-day motives.’
‘The killers had shovels and trucks, David. Do you think they were digging for oil?’
‘I’m not jumping to a whacked-out conclusion, Judge. The skeletons could be old Gilbert family members. That seems far more
likely than buried treasure in my mind. Surely you see that.’ David eased out into Corpus Christi traffic, headed for the
Harbor Bridge. ‘I mean, I understand this treasure idea’s interesting to you because it takes Lucy out of the equation. She’s
got the prime motive for the murder. She benefits the most.’ He clicked his tongue against his teeth.
‘Lucy had nothing to do with this. She didn’t even know about the will.’
‘You one hundred percent sure she didn’t?’
‘I am.’
‘Certainty’s a nice thing. You don’t see it often. You want to grab dinner?’ The unexpected olive branch made Whit suspicious.
‘Why?’
‘Christ, that’s nice. We work together. I’m making an effort here.’
‘Make the effort by not accusing Lucy.’
‘We’ll talk about it. You eat barbecue?’
There was a nasty calculation, Whit thought, in the smile, and he wanted to know what was behind it. ‘Sure I do. Let’s go.’
14
Gar carried Claudia out
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