Chapter 36
THIRTY-SIX
Sandra returned to the vehicle, grabbed a coffee from the alcove, and sat at the table. Neal came in and let out an enormous sigh.
“Would you two mind updating the rest of us?” Monica asked. “A signed statement?”
“Something I made up.” Sandra filled them all in as to why.
“Genius,” Donny said.
“We’ll see if it pays off.” She was keeping positive, despite relying on the rental company to have retained forms from over three decades ago.
“How did things go with Edward?” Neal asked Gibson while sitting across from Sandra.
Gibson went right into it. “The guy is arrogant, falling right in line with what one might expect of an entitled son of a—”
Neal held up his hand. “Without the colorful speech, preferably, Gibson.”
“If you insist. Well, he is in rough shape, and the paramedics wouldn’t let me hold them up. But Edward claims he didn’t know about a half-brother, let alone that it was Ryan Crawford.”
“And you believe him?” Monica spun her chair to face her colleague.
“Not a word from his mouth. Especially the bit where he said his father was a good, decent family man.”
The skin on the back of Sandra’s neck tightened. “He used those specific words? ‘Good, decent family man’?”
“Yes,” Gibson said slowly.
“Kramer just used the same ones to describe Timothy Hanson.”
“Did Timothy have everyone around him memorize the line?” Neal said.
“Monica, Donny, and Neal, we know from speaking with Ryan Crawford that Edward found several NDAs in his father’s home office. Gibson, now you do. And the names on most of these were women. Did Edward mention any of this to you?” Sandra asked.
“No, but he was being rushed off to the hospital. Partially delusional from pain and blood loss,” Gibson said. “But why would Edward tell Ryan about the NDAs? I doubt I have to remind anyone here of the prenuptial agreement that’s still in effect.”
Sandra could think of one reason. “He disclosed something to protect his family’s lives.”
“If so, my respect for Edward goes up a notch,” Monica put in.
Gibson turned to her. “Though we are just assuming he knows all that’s at stake. He might not have realized he risked sacrificing a chunk of cash.”
Monica shrugged.
The timer on Sandra’s phone caught her eye. Several minutes were left of the stipulated hour Ryan had given her. “My conversation with Kramer was insightful. While he was talking, he was also definitely holding back.”
“I would too if I caused an accident that killed a woman and came close to killing a kid,” Donny said.
Sandra’s mind had been puzzling over how to get Kramer to open up more about Timothy.
Maybe there was a reason Kramer was being tightlipped.
“An NDA.” Everyone looked at her. “If I were Timothy Hanson and worked hip to hip with Dale Kramer, I’d want to make sure I had him locked in on my side.
Especially if I had secrets I didn’t want getting out.
Even if Kramer isn’t responsible, he might know something. ”
“A copy of his NDA might be in the home library with the rest. If so, that at least gives me something to work with.” Neal took out his phone.
“We have the eyewitness statement, the description of the driver… It’s a reach, but a start anyway.
I’ll contact a judge buddy of mine, lay everything out and see if I can’t get that search warrant lined up for Timothy’s estate.
Then I’ll have Officer Moore head over there after she drops Kramer off at the hospital. ”
If Neal couldn’t work his magic with his “judge buddy,” Sandra was ready to call in a favor from an old friend of hers who sat on the bench.