Page 101 of Facing the Enemy
55
GAGE
Risa and I drove to Huntsville’s state prison, a minimum-security facility north of Houston. Dr. Alfred Zonner had been sentenced to a maximum of ten years for the buying and selling of babies. He’d pleaded not guilty. The FBI hadn’t met his approved visitor list, but he might be curiously tempted.
Having Risa beside me rattled my thoughts.Focus, Gage.
She scanned the closed case notes for the third time. “Jack and Luke worked this case, and we weren’t involved. Apparently Dr. Zonner managed his side business without the aid of others, which is ludicrous.” She tossed me an aggravated frown. “To sell a baby, he needed a buyer.”
“Buyers play for keeps. Most likely if Zonner survives his prison mates, he will be released early on good behavior, and he’s a free man.”
“His ex-wife and two young boys left him and now live in Arizona. Nothing to return to around here.” Risa stared at the highway. “He can’t practice medicine, but several thousands of dollars are stashed away somewhere. Getting caught educated him for his next big scheme, and who knows what he’s learned in prison. I can’t come up with strong enough motivation for him to help us. Sounds like Luke never gave up on Zonner concealing information.” She bouncedher thumb on her leg. “If Zonner is aware of Luke’s murder, he won’t tell us a thing.”
I had an idea. “This might work to our advantage. If he offers credible info about who killed Luke, we could offer a deal to shorten his sentence.”
Risa peered at my speedometer. “We’d get there a lot faster if you’d let me drive.”
I laughed. “It’s not even noon. What’s left for the day except running by the hospital and spending five minutes with Jack before getting you back into your apartment?” I knew she liked to drive, so I’d tease a little. “Riding with you means adding blood pressure meds to my pill regimen.”
“Good one, Gage. How long did it take you to come up with that? Since Carson and I dodged a semi?”
“Okay, you got me.” Now for the big serious question. “What about dinner Friday night?”
“What’s the occasion?”
“The shrink gave you a conditional report, and we’re together?”
“Reminds me of Kermit and Miss Piggy together again,” she said.
“I like green.”
A smile played on her lips. “Where?”
“Churrascos? Seven o’clock?”
“Oh, my favorite. I suppose you’re driving,” she said.
“Yep. I might even get a car wash.”
At the prison, Risa and I showed our credentials and requested to see Dr. Zonner. I pulled out the stops. “Tell him evidence has surfaced with the bureau about his not-guilty plea, and we’d like to ask him a few questions.”
We waited forty-five minutes before a guard escorted us to the interview area where Dr. Zonner sat at a small table. We took chairs opposite him, and I introduced myself and Risa.
Zonner’s salt-and-pepper hair hung past his ears, and he sported a bald spot on his crown. He swung a stoic glance at Risa, then me.“What could you have possibly discovered to support my not-guilty plea? I’ll give you five minutes.”
I took the lead. “We have an opportunity for you to get out of here sooner.”
“I’m listening.” Not a muscle moved on his stoic expression.
I showed him a pic of Peter Florakis. “Who is this man?”
Zonner’s eyes trailed to the man. “No one I know.” His index fingers rose slightly.
I scrolled to one of Emily Lock. “This woman?”
“No idea.”
I found Norman Peilman’s pic. “What about him?”
