Dead Wrong

Judge Tazewell’s only child, a daughter from a previous marriage, still resides in Sierra Vista.

“So,” Joa

Frank nodded. “Everything goes swimmingly until Bradley comes back, runs into Leslie Markham by accident, and then there’s trouble. If any of the old stuff comes out, then it’s bye-bye to Larry Tazewell’s next judicial appointment.”

Joa

“Hi, Sheriff Brady,” Debbie Howell said. “Wanted to let you know what’s going on. Jaime and I are still in Tucson. We’re still not having much luck tracking Tony Zavala and his friends. They all seem to have gone to ground. The media coverage probably has them scared.”

“So keep looking,” Joa

“We will,” Debbie agreed. “We’re particularly interested in talking to Tony’s girlfriend, the one with the city of Tucson dog-fighting citation. From everything we’re hearing on the street, she’s a ringleader. We did spend some time over at the Humane Society. According to the guy we spoke to there, Roostercomb pit bulls are legendary in dogfighting circles for being killers. They go for top dollar.”

“The O’Dwyers sell them?” Joa

“That’s right.”

“If all this is happening in my jurisdiction, why don’t I know about it?”

“It turns out there’s a lot we don’t know about the O’Dwyers,” Debbie answered. “Not only do they breed and sell the dogs, they also offer a venue for the fights and run a lucrative betting operation on the side.”

“Sounds like they’re a regular pair of entrepreneurs. I’m surprised someone hasn’t signed them up for the local chamber of commerce.”

“Right,” Debbie said. “The only question is figuring out which chamber of commerce applies.”

“What do you mean?”

“They’re pretending to operate out of New Mexico,” Debbie explained. “People who come to see the fights evidently use a road off I-10 that runs through New Mexico in order to gain access to Roostercomb Ranch through a back entrance. That way they don’t have to drive through San Simon, where extra traffic would be more noticeable.”

“Which also explains why the surveillance we set up in San Simon over the weekend came up empty,” Joa

“Exactly. As far as sales are concerned, the ke

“Until Jea

“Right,” Debbie agreed. “So is it time someone went over to Roostercomb Ranch and had a chat with them?”

“No,” Joa

“A bargaining chip?”

“You bet,” Joa

“We’ll keep plugging,” Debbie said. “We’re motivated.”

“I know you are,” Joa

“Don’t worry about Be

Frank waited until she ended the call. “Sounds like you could be venturing into the unauthorized-plea-bargain business,” he said. “Shouldn’t you clear that offer with the county attorney before you make it?”

“I’ll call Arlee Jones first thing in the morning and bring him into the loop, but I’m not particularly worried about it. He’s so lazy he’d rather do a plea bargain any day. Actually trying a case would require his getting off his dead rear end.”

“Don’t hold back,” Frank said with a grin. “Why don’t you say how you really feel?”

“But there is someone else I need to call,” she added. “Sheriff Randy Trotter.”

Through the years Joa

“Are you still working?” he asked once he knew who was calling. “I thought you’d be off having your baby by now. What can I do for you?”

“What would you think if I said the names Billy and Clarence O’Dwyer?” Joa

“I’d think I was glad Roostercomb Ranch is mostly on your side of the state line,” Randy Trotter answered. “Those two guys are mean as snakes, and the less my officers and I have to do with them the better. Why?”

“Because it looks like they’re operating a criminal enterprise that straddles the state line the same way their ranch used to.”

“I don’t think I want to hear this,” Randy said, “but I guess you’d better tell me.”

It was ten after four and Joa

“You never did say how we’re going to play this,” Frank observed as they walked up the sidewalk. “Are you going to tell her about Leslie Markham’s resemblance to her dead daughter?”

“Not if we don’t have to,” Joa

Fritz, the silky terrier mix, began barking the moment they stepped onto the porch. Through the door they could hear A

“Oh,” A

“This is my chief deputy, Frank Montoya,” Joa

“I’ve already told you everything I know about Bradley Evans,” A

“This is about your daughter,” Joa

“About Lisa?” A

“Do you mind if we sit?” Joa

“It’s okay, I suppose,” A

Joa

“What do you want to know?” A

“What can you tell us about your daughter’s marriage to Bradley Evans?” Joa

“I don’t see that it matters. I thought they were too young to be married. And I thought he was on the wild side and not ready to settle down. I thought he drank too much. Why? Why does any of this matter now?”

“Was Lisa unhappy with him?” Joa

“Are you kidding? She was head over heels in love with the guy. And she told us-Ke

“Did she ever threaten to leave him?”

“Never.”

“You don’t think it’s possible she tried to run away from him?”

“If she did, he stopped her, didn’t he. Murdering her would be one way to keep her from leaving.”

“Yes,” Joa