Chapter 19
Vee
“Detective Oldson,” I greeted as I entered my office. He was standing near the floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the outside practice field.
He turned in my direction. “Nice view.”
“Thank you,” I said tentatively. “Is there something new regarding my father’s accident or is this about my phone call a week ago?”
“I have a few questions for you.” He looked around. “It won’t take long. Can we talk a minute?”
I motioned toward the comfortable seating area, the same place Don and I sat in earlier this morning.
“I have a few minutes before my next meeting,” I said, sitting in one of the chairs.
The thought of the coach made me think of something else.
“My father had a standing meeting with our head coach every Monday at seven in the morning. Detective, my father was never late. His accident took place at 7:15 a.m. He should have been here in his office with Coach Tilson.”
Detective Oldson took the other chair. “I didn’t know that.”
“I’m sure Don Tilson could tell you more.”
He made a note on his phone. “Ms. Hubbard, can you tell me about what your father did?”
I tilted my head. “What he did? My father did a lot of things. Can you be more specific?”
“His job. What did it entail?”
“That’s something I’m learning more about each day.” A smile came to my lips. “I’m discovering that he did much more than any of us truly knew. He’s left quite a hole here in the Coopers organization. It seems to be taking multiple people to fill the gap.”
“Are you aware that your father had been working with donors and large corporations on an infrastructure initiative?”
“I am.”
“Did you know he had a meeting two days before his accident with Edward Clark from Meadow Farms?”
Preston’s father?
“Two days?” I furrowed my brow. “Saturday?”
“Saturday evening to be exact.” He pulled up a photo on his phone. “This is security footage from the Granddam Restaurant, in the Manchester Hotel. It’s a little dark, but you would agree that’s your father?”
I stared at the screen. The room was dark, but I recognized both men. “That’s my father. Is there a time stamp on the picture?”
“It reads 7:37 p.m.”
“That’s also Edward Clark.”
The detective looked up. “You know Mr. Clark?”
“I used to date his son Preston.”
“According to eyewitnesses, from what they can recall, their dinner was contentious.”
I shook my head, still staring at the picture. “I have no idea why my father would meet with Edward Clark. And my father wasn’t the contentious type.” I looked up from the picture. “Did you say this was about Dad’s infrastructure initiative?”
“According to Ms. Stanton, Mr. Clark pledged a significant amount of money to commission a hotel in conjunction with the privately owned hospitality firm of Coletti Companies.”
“I don’t know about this. My plan was to dig into Dad’s initiative in the postseason. As you know, the Coopers are still playing. And then we have the draft coming up. Dad truly juggled many balls at once.”
“Be careful, Ms. Hubbard, regarding Coletti Companies.”
“Be careful,” I repeated. “Are you insinuating that this hospitality company could be involved with what happened to Dad?”
“I can’t say. I can say that we’re trying to learn more. Since you dated…past tense?”
“Preston, yes, past tense.”
“Maybe you could reach out to son or father? They might be able to give you more information.”
I sat straighter. “I’ll put that on my to-do list. We are concentrating on the postseason right now.”
“About your phone call,” he said. “We questioned Mrs. Hubbard.”
“I heard.”
“Have you spoken to her?”
“Not since last Monday morning when we arrived back in Lexington.”
He sat back in the chair. “What do you know about their marriage?”
Rolling my eyes, I sighed. “Nothing. From where I stood, they were happy. They married when I was in middle school. I only spent about five years living with them before I left for college. I haven’t lived with them since.”
“You’ve been close to them.”
“I thought my father and I were close.” I inhaled and exhaled. “Since my father’s passing, I’ve learned things that I never suspected.”
“Ms. Stanton?”
“Yes, I mentioned their personal relationship when I called you.”
“How did you learn about it?” he asked.
“Bre told me after the accident.”
“Your father was worth a great deal of money.”
I lifted my hands and gestured about the room. “My father’s money and time is wrapped up in the Coopers, Detective.”
He stood. “Just so you’re prepared, we have asked for his financial information.”
I stood. “You’ll have to talk with our attorneys. I’m sure there’s a way it can all be handled.”
“One last thing. Do you recall the pillbox that was found in your father’s glove compartment?”
I nodded.
“When we were at your home, you mentioned that you had one similar.”
“I did.”
“Have you found yours?”
Shaking my head, I replied, “I haven’t. The night you came to my place, I’d been in a minor accident. I drove off the road. My bag very well could have spilled.”
“I suppose that’s possible.”
“Detective, if you’re trying to say something, say it.”
He inhaled. “Why would you give your father your pillbox?”
“I wouldn’t.”
Det. Oldson pressed his lips together and nodded.
“Do you truly believe Bre Stanton is responsible for my father’s death?”
“The prosecutor believed the evidence was sufficient to charge her with the crime.”
“Do you?” I asked again.
“My job is to gather all evidence no matter where it leads. I’m not on a witch hunt for Ms. Stanton.”
I narrowed my gaze. “You think it could be someone else or maybe simply a horrific accident?”
“I believe your father was targeted. Who and why is what I’m trying to learn.”
Targeted.
“Why would anyone target my father?”
“It’s what I plan to find out.”
“Thank you for following up with Daphne. I think there’s a lot I didn’t know about my father’s private life.” I recalled his warning about Coletti Companies. “And much more to learn about his professional life.”
Det. Oldson offered me his hand and we shook. “Thank you, Ms. Hubbard. I will be in touch.”
“Thank you.” I walked to the door and opened it.
“Good day,” he said as he left.
Jen looked at me with wide eyes.
I slowly shook my head. “I’m late for my meeting with Caleb.”
“I called him and told him you had a guest. He said he’s ready to Zoom when you are.”
“Thank you, Jen. You take care of me.”
She smiled and turned back to her computer screen.
My thoughts were all over the place. While I needed to get on the Zoom call, there were parts of my conversation with the detective that made me uneasy.
Why would Dad meet with Edward Clark?
And why doesn’t the timing feel right?
Lifting my palms to my temples, I inhaled and exhaled.
“Concentrate on postseason,” I told myself aloud. “Obsessing over Dad and whatever he was involved with won’t help get us the Lombardi Trophy.”
I brought my computer to life and found the Zoom link. Caleb Larsen’s face appeared. “I’m sorry for the delay,” I said.
“Not a problem, Vee. I’ve got the breakdown on the vendors for Friday night and Saturday.”
“Let’s hear it.”