Chapter Eleven
"Uh, well, he was up for a promotion. Vice president of the company, I think. Pretty big position if y'ask me, but you know. I'm just a lowlife."
Tara nodded, suppressing a grin. "Mr. Adams," she said, continuing to address the man, "do you happen to know who was running against Miguel Vega?"
"Not running against," Adams corrected, "They were both up for it."
Tara nodded, wishing Bobby was there with her. But she had to do this on her own. "Sorry."
"That's alright. Uh, his name is…" Adams furrowed his brow in thought. "Lewis. James Lewis."
/\\/\\/\\/\\
Bobby casually leaned against the doorframe, yet his piercing gaze nearly drilled a hole through the man's skull. "So."
The much younger man seemed to visibly shrink under his stare. "I don't- I don't know anything, honest! I liked Mr. Miguel. He was nice to me."
"Whoa, easy there, mate." Bobby stopped his tirade by simply raising his left hand, palm out. "What's your name?"
"W- Wyatt," the kid stumbled. "Wyatt Hawkesbury. I'm an- an aide."
"Okay Wyatt," Bobby started, "I need some info from you, a'right?"
"Whatever you want," Wyatt answered immediately.
"I need you to tell me who was up for this big promotion that everyone seems to be talking about," Bobby ordered.
"Done. James Lewis, Miguel Vega, and Heather Callahan." At Bobby's questioning look, Wyatt added, "but Heather suddenly quit and moved to California or something. Everyone thought it was a little odd, but no one around here does a thing." He scoffed in disgust. "As soon as I can, I'm outta here." He winced. "Anyway, after Heather quit, it was down to Lewis and Miguel; but after Miguel died… I guess Lewis'll get it."
Bobby's brow rose. "I doubt it," he muttered.
"What?" Wyatt asked.
"Never mind. Listen, this doesn't leave the room, alright mate?"
"Uh-huh."
/\\/\\/\\
"James Lewis."
Tara laughed at her and Bobby's perfectly chorused statement. "I see you found the same thing I did."
Bobby chuckled. "I guess so. We need to find this James Lewis. Two people mysteriously disappearing after an offer of promotion… that's past coincidental already."
"I agree. Let's go talk to Demetrius."
/\\/\\/\\
"So… Lewis." Jack leaned forward on the table, deliberately invading Lewis's personal space. "Care to tell us anything?"
Lewis smiled smugly. "Like what?"
Jack scowled. "You know what. Heather Callahan, Miguel Vega… you finish."
Lewis scowled right back. "What makes you think that I have anything to do with it?"
Jack rolled his eyes. "Well, let's see," he said sarcastically. "Maybe you explain to us why Heather and Miguel both ended up gone, leaving you with a clear spot for the promotion."
"And the money," Bobby added, glaring at him.
Lewis scoffed at them. "This is pointless. Heather left because she was offered a better job in California, and Vega got in a car accident. What're you hounding me for?"
Tara rolled her eyes in exasperation from her position on the other side of the one-way interrogation glass. "This is pathetic." Before Sue could stop her, she stormed purposefully out into the interrogation room and pulled up a chair right beside Lewis. "You blackmailed her, didn't you?" she demanded. "You blackmailed Heather into leaving and toyed with Vega's car."
"I didn't blackmail anybody," Lewis defended angrily. "And I didn't cut the brake line on Vega's car."
Tara's heart thumped triumphantly. "I didn't say you cut the brake line," she smirked, "I just said you toyed with the car." She turned to Bobby and Jack, who were staring at her. "Did you?"
Lewis rushed to cover his tracks. "It was all over the news!"
"Funny," Bobby cocked his head, "I heard all about it and read all about it, and it didn't say a thing about a brake line being cut. Isn't that odd? Don't ya think, mate?" he asked, raising his eyebrows at Jack.
Jack furrowed his brow. "It seems kinda fishy to me," he replied, playing along. Tara grinned.
"Do you have anything to say, Lewis?"
Lewis folded his arms across his chest defiantly and glared at them. "I want a lawyer."