Grave Consequences Read Free Page A

in the past, more so in the first year stateside, but never any unjustified anger or aggression. I’m not depressed, and I pretty much get along with my friends and family. Lately, it’s just a bad dream once in a while. I’m good.” Charlie shrugged.
    â€œOkay, so now I’m going to record your interview.” DuPree reached into his pocket and brought out a digital recorder the size of a pack of cigarettes. “First interview with Charles Henry, owner of the FOB Pawn shop,” the detective announced, then gave the date and time. “Start from the beginning, Charlie.”
    Charlie nodded. “Yesterday, a Navajo woman in her mid-twenties came in and pawned an expensive squash blossom necklace. I handled the transaction and obtained a copy of the woman’s driver’s license. After the customer left I took a photo of the necklace and faxed a copy to the APD stolen property division, then put the paperwork on file. It’s standard practice here. Then Jake, one of my employees, locked away the necklace.”
    â€œI’ll need a copy of those records, and her name. Go on.”
    â€œThis morning, a Navajo man in his late teens or early twenties came in and asked for the necklace, offering to pay interest and whatever Lola—the woman—owed,” Charlie continued. “The guy said Lola was his girlfriend and she needed the necklace back, but couldn’t come in herself. He didn’t have the claim ticket so I told him I couldn’t hand it over. That’s our policy.”
    DuPree nodded. “Then what?”
    â€œHe got pissed, backed down when I gave him the look, then took off.”
    â€œWhat happened this afternoon?”
    â€œThe same man came back with two armed men about his age. They were wearing ski masks and packing handguns and that Bushmaster. We saw what was coming via the outside camera. By then, Gordon and I were armed.”
    â€œThey walked into an ambush?”
    â€œIt didn’t have to turn out that way. When the man with the rifle brought it out, his finger on the trigger, Gordon yelled for them to put down their weapons. That’s when the guy started shooting. We immediately returned fire and the rifleman went down. Shots were exchanged and I hit one of the other shooters. One of them picked up the rifle and pinned us down long enough for them to make it back outside. They fled down the sidewalk toward the grocery, grabbing a woman hostage who just happened to be in their path. We followed. The woman managed to break free and the two fled into the laundry at the end of the street. I pursued and Gordon covered the outside, but they managed to get away.”
    â€œOkay, now that I have the framework, let’s get to the details,” DuPree said, leaning back in his chair.
    *   *   *
    DuPree was a competent detective, and over an hour had passed since Charlie had been interviewed the first time. Through the clear partition of the office, Charlie could see the crime scene people and the medical investigator going through their routine. Ruth and Jake had already been allowed to leave for the day, and Gordon was in the storage room, nearby but out of the way.
    â€œSo, Charlie, now that I’ve got a clear view from everyone regarding the sequence of events after the three men entered the shop, tell me again about their first visit. The Navajo guy, the one you saw face-to-face, was alone, right?” DuPree reminded.
    â€œAt least he came into the shop alone. We never checked back at the outside camera feed, though you’ll want to verify that when you survey the surveillance coverage. I was working the front counter alone when he stepped inside, looked around for a moment, then came over. He gave me a name, Lola Tso, and said the young lady was his girlfriend. Said she’d pawned a turquoise squash blossom yesterday and that she’d asked him to come over, pay the loan fee and interest, and