Chapter 35 #2
“Whatever you wish.” Gibson entered the vehicle.
Neal motioned to Officer Moore that she was dismissed. She headed toward a police cruiser, and Neal stood at the command vehicle’s door. Sandra tucked around the backside to talk with Kramer.
“Mr. Kramer, I’m Special Agent Sandra Vos with the FBI.” She held out her hand as she introduced herself.
He left her hand to hang there. “Yes, I remember from when I first got here.”
She drew back her arm while offering him a gentle smile. It was a challenge as she kept picturing Kramer behind the wheel of the cargo van running Susan Crawford off the road. “Sorry to have to talk with you out here. Inside the vehicle is quite a busy place.”
“I’d really prefer to catch up with Mr. Hanson at the hospital.”
“I can understand that, but he’s receiving urgent medical care. If you could just give me a few minutes of your time.”
“Yeah, sure, whatever I can do to help.”
Sandra couldn’t take his statement at face value when she suspected he was the reason Susan was dead.
He was selfishly motivated. “That’s kind of you.
We all want the rest of the Hanson family to come out of this uninjured.
” She desired the same for Ryan but didn’t mention him as that wouldn’t be Kramer’s concern.
“To start, I’m very sorry for your loss.
I understand that you and Timothy Hanson were close. You worked together for many years.”
“All my adult life. He was family to me.”
There was some small tell in his voice when he said the last sentence that had Sandra questioning its integrity. It felt like he said what she’d expected him to say. “It must have been challenging working for such a powerful man sometimes.”
Kramer met her eye. “It had its moments.”
“Such as?” she flipped back.
“As you said, he was powerful. He was used to getting his way.”
Sandra nodded. “Though, you were with him for a long time. Do you plan to continue working for the company now he’s gone?
” It didn’t seem to matter how many times she reminded him of the late Timothy, Kramer didn’t give her any sign that he was too broken up about his passing.
Was a part of him even pleased that Timothy’s reign was over?
And, if so, why? Had he felt forced into doing things that made him uncomfortable?
Had resentment built up in him over the years?
But his lack of grief only confirmed for Sandra he wasn’t here for the Hansons, but for himself, as she suspected before.
“I’m retiring the end of the month.”
“You’ve certainly earned it. But what a career. Working so closely with Timothy, you must have been privy to the personal life and affairs of such an influential man.”
Kramer blinked slowly at the word affairs but otherwise gave no physical cues. “Timothy was a good, decent family man. But, yes, I knew him well both professionally and personally.”
“Since you were that close, and your job was to look out for Timothy’s best interests, you must have heard the rumors about how he treated his female staff.”
“I’m not sure I like what you’re implying.”
“Not implying anything. We’ve heard that he hit on them and crossed the line, tapping them on the behind, offering compliments.” Aggressive fondling… possible rape…
“If you say so.” Kramer’s voice became tight, and his eyes narrowed. “Why are you asking about Timothy? The man’s dead. Can’t you let him rest in peace?”
Feeling as Sandra did about Kramer’s guilt, he wasn’t defending Timothy.
He feared what an investigation into Timothy would reveal about him and what those repercussions might be.
“I’m just trying to understand the entire picture.
What led a young man to come here today and hold Timothy’s family hostage.
He lost his mother in a car accident a long time ago, but he seems to believe that Timothy was responsible.
” She phrased it in a nonconfrontational manner to coax a response.
“Well, that’s just ludicrous.”
“He also believes that Timothy is his biological father.”
“Then he should get a DNA test, not do something like this.” Kramer flailed an arm in the house’s direction, while nearly hitting the side of the command vehicle.
Sandra angled her head. “Do you think it’s possible that he could be Timothy’s son?”
Kramer crossed his arms and looked away.
“Timothy is gone, Mr. Kramer. You’re retiring at the end of the month. You don’t owe this family any more of your loyalty. If there’s something you want to say, please say it.”
“No. There’s nothing.” He met her eyes. His were guarded.
“All right, then.” She offered another smile. “I hear you. It’s just that I used to work with this guy who was powerful like Timothy. He used his influence to get me to do things I wasn’t always comfortable with.” The story was a complete fabrication, but she spun it to entice Kramer to open up.
“Sorry for you, but I didn’t come to talk about Timothy. I came to help his son and his family.”
“Which you have.” Sandra offered another smile. “All of us appreciate you talking with me.”
“Does that mean I can leave?”
“Yes, but I’ll just need you to sign something before you do.
Just wait here for a minute.” Sandra left him there and popped around the corner to ask Neal to watch over Kramer while she stepped inside the vehicle.
She asked Monica to draft up a simple form.
“Just something that includes the date and time and says, ‘the statement I provided Special Agent Vos is accurate to my understanding.’ And leave a spot for him to sign.”
Monica nodded and got to work. Less than a minute later, the printer in the corner kicked out a piece of paper.
Sandra glanced it over. “This is perfect. Thanks.” She grabbed a pen and a clipboard on her way out of the vehicle and headed straight for Kramer. “Thank you for waiting.” She handed it all over to him. “Please just sign the bottom.”
Kramer took the pen from her and scribbled his signature.
“Thanks.”
“Uh-huh. So I can go now?” Kramer jacked a thumb over his shoulder.
“Yes, of course.” She took it back and looked at Kramer’s John Hancock. It was mostly a scribble aside from the distinct K of his surname. “Just excuse me a moment.”
Sandra walked over to Neal and spoke at a low volume.
“He’s hiding something. Whether it’s running Susan Crawford off the road, we’ll need to wait to find out.
But I have his signature.” She tapped the piece of paper on the clipboard.
“If Eric meets with luck at the rental company, he’ll have it to compare to the signature on file there. ”
“Smart thinking. Well, I’ll keep an officer on him. Better yet, I’ll save him a car service and have Officer Moore drive him to the hospital. That’s where he wants to go.” Neal left, and Sandra snapped a picture of Kramer’s signature with her phone and texted it to Eric.
In case it comes in handy. Belongs to Dale Kramer, head of security, HPD Inc.
It didn’t take long, and she had a response.
You’re amazing! Thx!
She hoped the results would match his enthusiasm and validate their suspicion. That being that Dale Kramer was responsible for Susan Crawford’s death.