Chapter 18
“When the story hit about your sister, my boss asked me to come here and verify what happened.”
“Why?”
“It’s complicated. Why don’t you come to my room? I’ll explain what I can.”
She didn’t say anything for a few seconds. “What’s your room number?”
Ben told her.
“I’m on my way.”
He opened the door a few minutes later to an angry and frustrated Elaine Jensen. Her jaw was tight, and an angry red scrape blazed across it. He guessed that was from the car incident. She also looked as if she hadn’t slept in a while, and her hazel-green eyes were on fire.
“Please, Detective Jensen, come in.”
She walked past him and stopped. He stepped around her and pointed to the armchair he’d pulled up next to the desk. “Have a seat.”
She sat, arms folded tightly around her chest.
Ben took his own seat at the hotel desk and turned his laptop to face her. “I’ll start from the beginning. I’m sharing this information with you with the understanding you will not share anything with anyone else, not even your partner.”
He paused and Jensen nodded.
“Your brother-in-law has been in the background of a larger multi-state investigation. One of our targets is Dallas Vine.”
She eyes widened. “What on earth could Stan have to do with Dallas Vine?”
“Vine owns the car wash he manages. Every business associate or employee of Vine is on the periphery of our investigation.”
Her jaw dropped. There was no hiding the surprise on her face. “Stan works for Vine? How did I not know that?”
Ben nodded. “Vine’s ownership is hidden under layers of dummy corporations.
Most of his more lucrative endeavors are held under the banner of Quartz Enterprises.
Stan was not being investigated for any specific reason, but when his name came up in the news and we saw the life insurance policy, the situation needed to be checked out. ”
“What kind of life insurance policy?”
“Four million. Moffit filed to receive the proceeds about eight hours after your sister supposedly went missing.”
He watched as a cascade of emotions crossed her face—surprise, disbelief, anger. She stood and paced.
“I knew something was off here.” She took a breath and seemed to be gathering herself. “It’s painful to go there, to think about what might have happened. I’ve studied so many cold cases like this . . .” She faced him, hands on her hips. “What are you saying did happen?”
“I have a theory but no evidence.” He brought up the picture of Crystal Benton on his laptop. “Do you know this woman?”
Jensen stepped forward and peered down at the screen. “No, should I?”
“Not really. Her name is Crystal Benton. She’s Vine’s right-hand person. I saw her in the hotel lobby yesterday. And she fits the description of the woman who yelled shark when your sister allegedly went missing. I also think she might have been driving the Jeep that hit you yesterday.”
Surprise again flashed across her face. “How did you know about that?”
He hiked up a shoulder. “I drove by right after. Security was talking to you. I saw that you were scraped up a bit. I would have stopped if I thought you needed help, but I hadn’t put everything together yet.”
She nodded. “The kids said the car headed straight toward me. I’ve done my best to convince myself it was simply an accident. Is Benton involved with Stan?”
“I’m leaning that way.”
Jensen leaned forward and peered closer at the picture. “She could be that woman from the newsclip, yes. I didn’t have a good view of the Jeep’s driver.”
“Benton is at the car wash often. When I saw her in the lobby, she’d added red highlights to her hair.” He pulled up the two driver’s license comparisons.
Jensen studied them. “She almost looks like my sister.”
“I think she took advantage of that and flew here to masquerade as your sister.”