Chapter 3 – Cue it Up-2
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Oscar Stiers was actually relaxing at home and not working in his home office when I got a hold of him. I’d forgotten what it felt like to take a day off in the middle of the work week. Must be nice!
I decided to pay him a personal visit. Minutes later, when I pulled up in my county SUV and started to dismount, he walked out of the house and right up to me. He was dressed simply in shorts, a tee shirt and basic leather sandals. Even in the August heat, He looked rested and relaxed.
“Sheriff.” He nodded his head to me. “That was fast.”
“I was right downtown and, frankly, until JD died, it was a quiet week for me. Nobody gets up to much of anything when it’s this hot.”
Oscar smiled, “I know I prefer to be here than in the shop or out overseeing road projects this time of year if I can help it!” He looked me up and down in my full uniform. “You’re probably roasting because I know you have a vest on. Come on inside.”
“Thank you. It’s all part of the job but the dog days make it a little tougher.”
We headed into his nice but modest home. I knew he was a millionaire several times over, but he didn’t live like one here. Maybe his home in Florida was different. Somehow, I doubted it.
He led me right into the kitchen and indicated that I should take a seat at the island.
“Sweet tea Sheriff? It’s a weakness of mine.”
I nodded. “Thank you. That sounds great.”
He filled two glasses with ice and took a pitcher from the refrigerator. While he poured, I started my quest for information. “So, can you tell me, how long has JD Roberts worked for you?”
“As far as I know,” he slid a glass to me and took a quick sip of his own, “he started this summer and he hasn’t been with me previous to this.”
“Did you know him before you hired him?”
He shook his head no. “I don’t believe so. Road crew guys come and go. It pays well but it’s hot dirty work and it’s only seasonal here. If they find something full time in the off season, I usually don’t see them the next summer.”
“Do you also do paving work in Florida?”
“Not if I can help it!” he laughed. “Sometimes a contract is too good to pass up but the bulk of my equipment is up here and so is my only maintenance shop. It’s a pain to move everything down there – or anywhere – so the money has to be right.”
I switched topics, “We have your SUV impounded right now. We’ve done a cursory search of it but we didn’t turn up anything. We won’t do a deeper search of it unless we have probable cause.”
Oscar, still standing across the counter from me, flipped his hand back quickly. “It’s no big deal. Do what you need to do with it. I bought it down there in a bank repo sale to use up here for those times when I have to be here in the dead of winter.”
“Why did you lend it to JD?”
“Well, that’s just it. I didn’t lend it to him...not directly.” At my raised eyebrow, he continued, “He didn’t steal it or anything like that, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“My daughter Olivia actually called me a week or so ago whining that her car was in the shop again. She drives some overpriced foreign job; an A5. The only place around here that can fix it is the Toyota dealership, but they always have to wait for Audi to send them parts. Anyway, she wanted me to pay for a high-end rental. I lent her the Escalade instead.”
He drummed his fingers on the island, “I figured it would slow her down some by not having that sports car she usually drives to the breaking point and by having to keep the SUV in fuel. Olivia must have lent it to him.”
“Is there anything you can tell me about where he might have been or where he may have been headed while he was driving your vehicle? It would be really helpful.”
He shook his head again, “I’m sorry but I just didn’t know him that well. I didn’t even know she knew him but then, she’s pretty hard to keep tabs on now that she’s back in town with her mother gone and all. She just flits from guy to guy and spends her future inheritance like it’s endless. She’s been in and out of school and she works at this or that, only when the spirit moves her.”
“How would I get in touch with Olivia?”
“I’ll give you her number, but I wish you luck. I texted her right after you called me, but she hasn’t responded. She doesn’t usually talk to me unless she needs something.”
“JD was in work clothes last night when he showed up at the gas station where he died. Was he on a local job site?”
“I assume but I wasn’t out there. He’s assigned to a repaving project on I-70 with at least a dozen other guys. The foreman on the job would know for sure.” Stiers checked the time on his cell phone. “If we leave now, we can catch them as they break for lunch and talk to the lead and probably most of the crew. Someone may know something.”
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I-70 Road Repaving Site, East of Zanesville
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