wanted opinions, she’d ask.
FOURTEEN
Wednesday 9:58 A.M.
A few moments later Achtenberg returned. She, Veronica, Scott, and I ensconced ourselves in the dead-animal den.
Veronica said, “This is a nightmare.”
Achtenberg said, “I’m sorry for how awful this has been for you.”
Veronica turned to all of us. “I don’t understand what is going on.”
I said, “The cops are acting oddly. The attorney for the Grums consulted with the police about their investigation?”
Achtenberg nodded. “That’s certainly the impression I got from all that.”
Scott asked, “The Grums have that much power in this community?”
Achtenberg raised an eyebrow. “Are you kidding? Murder and politics in this county? They don’t have “that much power” as you so quaintly put it. They have all the power.”
Scott asked, “To actually cover up a murder, to direct a police investigation?”
Achtenberg said, “I talked to my one contact in the sheriff’s department as I was driving over. He was terrified to talk to me. Terrified. Something is not right. All I got from him was that the murder happened at the campaign headquarters, and that it was a single gunshot to the head.”
Veronica gasped.
I asked, “Do you want us to stop talking about this?”
Veronica wiped her tissue over her forehead, got another one from the box on the desk, pressed it to her face. When she finally looked at us, she said, “I just want to get through this. I want to know what is going on. Are you saying they…they…that sounds like an execution.”
Achtenberg took her friend’s hands. “When I was out in the hall with the cops they were oddly aggressive about your movements, Veronica. I mean, yeah, the wife is always a suspect, but there just seemed something off kilter about it to me. At the same time they seemed awfully deferential to the Grum family.”
“Could they have enough influence to steer a murder investigation?” I asked.
Achtenberg said, “Yes.”
Veronica said, “They wouldn’t do that.”
I wanted to shout, yes they would, don’t you get it yet? What I did say was, “We need to examine every possibility. We don’t want false accusations starting.”
The thought struck me that maybe the family had started making accusations, had already tainted the cops, the investigation, or leaked bizarre nonsense to the media. I had no doubt they’d accuse Veronica if it served their interests.
Veronica stood up. “I have to get to the kids. I don’t have much money.”
I handed her all the cash in my wallet.
I said, “We found at least one bank that Edgar had funds in. The account had both your names on it.” I dug out the statements we’d found from First State Bank of Harrison County. She glanced over them. I asked, “Do you have the check book for that, an ATM card?”
She shook her head.
“Scott and I will look for them.”
Veronica put her hands to her face. “I can’t handle any more of this. You guys handle all that money stuff, please. I’ve got to be with the kids.” She stood up, squared her shoulders, marched to the door, opened it, paused, turned to us, and said, “I want the Grums out of my house.”
“We’ll help,” I said.
Achtenberg said, “Let me handle it.”
At the door, we met my mom and dad and the kids. Mom said, “We were just coming to see what was going on.”
Veronica said, “We’re for sure staying here.”
I said, “We’re going to invite the Grums to leave.”
My mother said, “Good.”
For her a very strong comment.
But when we got to the living room, all the Grums, their lawyer, and the detectives had departed. The same or similar lone cop car sat in the driveway.
Veronica, my mom and dad, and the kids headed to the kitchen.
Achtenberg, Scott, and I returned to the office.
FIFTEEN
Wednesday 10:00
FOURTEEN
Wednesday 9:58 A.M.
A few moments later Achtenberg returned. She, Veronica, Scott, and I ensconced ourselves in the dead-animal den.
Veronica said, “This is a nightmare.”
Achtenberg said, “I’m sorry for how awful this has been for you.”
Veronica turned to all of us. “I don’t understand what is going on.”
I said, “The cops are acting oddly. The attorney for the Grums consulted with the police about their investigation?”
Achtenberg nodded. “That’s certainly the impression I got from all that.”
Scott asked, “The Grums have that much power in this community?”
Achtenberg raised an eyebrow. “Are you kidding? Murder and politics in this county? They don’t have “that much power” as you so quaintly put it. They have all the power.”
Scott asked, “To actually cover up a murder, to direct a police investigation?”
Achtenberg said, “I talked to my one contact in the sheriff’s department as I was driving over. He was terrified to talk to me. Terrified. Something is not right. All I got from him was that the murder happened at the campaign headquarters, and that it was a single gunshot to the head.”
Veronica gasped.
I asked, “Do you want us to stop talking about this?”
Veronica wiped her tissue over her forehead, got another one from the box on the desk, pressed it to her face. When she finally looked at us, she said, “I just want to get through this. I want to know what is going on. Are you saying they…they…that sounds like an execution.”
Achtenberg took her friend’s hands. “When I was out in the hall with the cops they were oddly aggressive about your movements, Veronica. I mean, yeah, the wife is always a suspect, but there just seemed something off kilter about it to me. At the same time they seemed awfully deferential to the Grum family.”
“Could they have enough influence to steer a murder investigation?” I asked.
Achtenberg said, “Yes.”
Veronica said, “They wouldn’t do that.”
I wanted to shout, yes they would, don’t you get it yet? What I did say was, “We need to examine every possibility. We don’t want false accusations starting.”
The thought struck me that maybe the family had started making accusations, had already tainted the cops, the investigation, or leaked bizarre nonsense to the media. I had no doubt they’d accuse Veronica if it served their interests.
Veronica stood up. “I have to get to the kids. I don’t have much money.”
I handed her all the cash in my wallet.
I said, “We found at least one bank that Edgar had funds in. The account had both your names on it.” I dug out the statements we’d found from First State Bank of Harrison County. She glanced over them. I asked, “Do you have the check book for that, an ATM card?”
She shook her head.
“Scott and I will look for them.”
Veronica put her hands to her face. “I can’t handle any more of this. You guys handle all that money stuff, please. I’ve got to be with the kids.” She stood up, squared her shoulders, marched to the door, opened it, paused, turned to us, and said, “I want the Grums out of my house.”
“We’ll help,” I said.
Achtenberg said, “Let me handle it.”
At the door, we met my mom and dad and the kids. Mom said, “We were just coming to see what was going on.”
Veronica said, “We’re for sure staying here.”
I said, “We’re going to invite the Grums to leave.”
My mother said, “Good.”
For her a very strong comment.
But when we got to the living room, all the Grums, their lawyer, and the detectives had departed. The same or similar lone cop car sat in the driveway.
Veronica, my mom and dad, and the kids headed to the kitchen.
Achtenberg, Scott, and I returned to the office.
FIFTEEN
Wednesday 10:00
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