Free Dust Up with the Detective by Danica Winters

why would someone want to kill him for it?”
    She picked up the financial papers. “Look at this. He’s been making money hand over fist. Maybe someone found out. Someone who wanted what he had. Money and love are the most common motivators in a murder.”
    He handed her back her phone, and she slipped it into her pocket. “Who issues a tax lien?”
    “In this case, it was the county. I think the county treasurer holds it until it’s paid or it goes to auction.”
    The blood drained from her face as she remembered the name of the treasurer.
    “What’s the matter?” Jeremy asked, taking her by the arm like he was afraid she would faint.
    “I...I know him.”
    “Who? The treasurer?”
    She nodded, her body stiff and numb with realization. “His name’s Roger Davy.”
    “Okay.” Jeremy frowned. “What does that mean?”
    “Roger Davy is the mayor’s brother-in-law. Detective Engelman is his brother...” She forced herself to take a breath. “What if the mayor has something to do with this?”
    She had to have it all wrong. Just because her leads pointed toward the Engelman family didn’t mean that a corrupt system was behind this murder. She had to be missing something.
    But if she was right, she was in over her head.
    Had this been what Captain Prather was hinting at? Why he’d wanted her to take the case—because he knew she didn’t have a connection to that family? Was he setting her up to take a fall or to find the truth?
    She had to sit down.
    “It’s possible...but why? What would the mayor want from my brother?” Jeremy’s eyes turned dark, and she could have sworn she saw a shadow of hatred in them.
    She shrugged. “I don’t know. But maybe they filed the lien and then had to keep Robert from paying it. He must have had enough money, or at least access to enough. If he couldn’t pay his tax lien, then anyone could buy his land. They could take the property for just a few thousand bucks.”
    “Does that give them the mineral rights, as well?”
    “I don’t know for sure,” Blake said. “But probably, if it’s all on the same deed.”
    “Just because these men are related doesn’t mean that they’re in it together. I mean, why would the mayor put himself into a compromising position?”
    “Most of these tax liens are bought out by holding or investment companies.”
    “So?”
    “The largest investment company in the county is Tartarus Environmental Investments. And who do you think the CEO is?”
    Jeremy shook his head.
    “The one and only Mayor John Engelman.”
    “This is still only circumstantial evidence. There’s nothing that directly ties the mayor to Robert’s death.”
    “Not yet, but I have a feeling if we just look hard enough, we’ll find what we’re looking for.”
    “Hold on.” Jeremy leaned against the back of the couch. “We need to proceed slowly. Let’s not jump to any conclusions.”
    Maybe Jeremy was right. She needed to slow down. If she had this wrong, there would be fallout.
    “We need to get this evidence back to the unit,” she said, staring at the papers strewn over the floor.
    “First we need to make sure we have pictures of everything. If what you are saying is true, there’s a good chance something could disappear.”
    She made sure to get a clear picture of every piece of paper she thought could be of any use in their investigation. Then they dropped the boxes of paperwork off with the evidence unit.
    As they drove away from the office, Blake called the captain.
    “West, how’s it going?” Captain Prather asked.
    She told him about the medical examiner’s findings and the connection between Engelman and Davy. The captain was silent for several moments.
    “Dang it,” he said finally in a muted whisper. “Do you have any direct evidence?”
    “No, sir.”
    “Then don’t you dare utter a word of this to anyone else. If you’re wrong, this could cost us both our jobs.”
    “I know, sir.” She paused, then, “Sir, do you have the