Page 64 of Killer Honeymoon
“Mob ties?” Chesterfield asked.
“Big time,” the mayor replied.
Royce whipped out his phone and googled the name, knowing his research would get him answers quicker than Leighton would dole them out. “He started as their accountant and worked his way higher up the ladder.” Royce studied the photo and recognized a few characteristics from the man he met, but it was evident to Royce that Gary’s face had been intimately acquainted with a plastic surgeon’s skilled hands. He handed his phone to Sawyer so he could see too.
“Bobby Vegas became like a concierge but for the mafia,” Leighton added. “Whatever his bosses needed, he provided. We’re talking everything from the finest escorts to tickets to the best events in town. He got greedy and stole from the crime family who let him in.”
Chesterfield blew out a whistle. “That’s a death sentence.”
Sawyer handed the phone back to Royce. “You got all of this information from the envelope?” he asked.
“Most of it, yeah,” Leighton replied. “I might’ve looked him up.”
“Lester knew Gary’s true identity, and he’s dead,” Chesterfield said. “As Lester’s bodyguard, Todd likely knew the truth.”
“And he’s dead too,” Royce said.
“So Gary is silencing people who’ve learned the truth,” Sawyer said. “Or looking into Bobby Vegas’s background tipped the mob off about his whereabouts.”
“I think the first option is the strongest,” Royce said after considering the options. “The mob would only be concerned about taking out Gary. There’d be no need to kill Lester Moore or Todd. Hell, they’d probably reward them.”
Sawyer straightened in his chair. “That’s the threat Moore was holding over Gary’s head.”
“Has to be,” Royce said. “He probably threatened to turn him over to the mob.”
“Gary couldn’t take the chance that Moore would follow through,” Chesterfield said.
“And Todd was a risk he couldn’t afford either,” Sawyer said. “The man got pretty gabby when he drank, and Gary couldn’t risk Todd blabbing about his real identity.”
“I think Gary was more concerned Todd would betray his location to the mob for a payday,” Royce said.
Chesterfield scrubbed a hand over his face. “What a damn mess. We could have mafia enforcers on their way to our island.”
Sawyer shook his head. “I think finding Gary is your bigger concern, Chief.”
“I’ve looked everywhere I can think of,” Chesterfield said. “Hell, I even went down in the caves to see if he was hiding there.” He turned to the mayor. “Is there anyone you can think of who might be protecting Gary. A lady friend, perhaps?”
Leighton shook his head. “Not that I’m aware of, Patrick.”
“What about someone Moore might’ve confided in besides Todd?” Sawyer asked.
Leighton pursed his lips. “Not that I—” His eyes widened. “Wait. His son’s friend is on the island. I think his name is Ethan or something.”
“Evan!” Royce and Sawyer said.
“Yeah, that’s it,” Leighton replied. “I went to the club to meet Lester for drinks and saw him talking to this dark-haired guy in his early twenties. The conversation looked intense but mostly jovial, so I replied to a few emails on my phone until they finished talking. Once Lester was by himself, I asked who the kid was, and he said it was someone his son knew. He said Evan and a few friends were staying on the island for the week.”
“Do you know if Gary has met Evan?” Chesterfield asked the mayor.
“Gary managed all Lester’s rental properties on the island, so it’s safe to say they’ve met,” Leighton said.
Royce shook his head and sighed. “Evan’s life might be in danger.”
“And now we need to ride to the little douchebag’s rescue,” Sawyer added.
The first thing Chief Chesterfield did was make sure Leighton was as safe and comfortable as he could be in the holding cell. Frank was stretched out on the bottom bunk, reading a book, but he bolted up when he saw Chesterfield leading the mayor into the jail cell next to his.
“What’shein for?” Frank asked in a surly voice. Then he noticed Sawyer and Royce had accompanied the mayor and chief. “What’s going on?”