Yaritza returned to the police
station at noon to type out her report on the interview with Tika Sanchez. So
far, she had drawn a blank on definite motive for Robertson’s murder. There
were a few iffy motives, and Tika had provided a few. The woman was angry at
the man, even after his death. Yaritza would keep her as a possible suspect,
but there was not a reason yet to keep her from leaving town.
There were other possibilities to investigate, for sure; however,
Yaritza had a sinking feeling that the time element was against her. The murder
had taken place at such a remote location, and obviously some days before she
and Vince Gerben got a chance to see the crime scene. She looked on her
computer at the possible suspects list. Robertson’s ex-wife was next, followed
by Mr. and Mrs. Plank, owners of the house that Robertson had broken into.
Esteban hoped that at least the ex-wife would prove to be or have a
solid lead to the case. She knew that until the body was fully examined by the Clark County
An hour later, Yaritza arrived in southeastern Henderson , where Nikea Robertson lived. She
was an attractive woman with dirty blonde hair, a few inches taller than
Yaritza. She wore a white t-shirt and black jeans, which wore tight on her
rear. The woman seemed wary, as if she suspected anyone who came to her door.
“Yes?” she asked hesitantly.
“Las Vegas Police, ma’am. Are you Nikea Robertson, ex-wife of Mark?”
“I think you know I am. Why are you here?”
“Your ex was the victim of a shooting and castration some days ago.
We’re just spreading the news, so to speak.”
Nikea nodded. No shock registered yet. “And to get suspects, right?”
Yaritza shrugged. “I’ll settle for coffee if you have it.”
Nikea smiled a little. “Come in.”
The house was a small ranch, and the kitchen almost reminded Yaritza of
the one-bedroom she used to have, not much walking or sitting space. It was not
much bigger than Tika Sanchez’s mobile home. Yaritza took a stool next to the
breakfast table. “When was the last time you saw your ex?”
“About five or six weeks ago,” Nikea said as she poured coffee from an
instant coffee jar.
“How did he seem to you?”
“Resigned.”
“To what?”
“To the way things are.”
“And what is that way?”
“That way is a life without me or Reggie. Reggie is our son.”
Yaritza nodded. “From what I’ve gathered, he wasn’t all that faithful.”
“For the most part he was. We had three very good years together, the
third being Reggie’s first year of life.”
“And then?”
“And then came Celestina Plank,” Nikea said with a bit of iciness.
“Tell me about Mark and Celestina.”
Nikea looked at the counter for a minute, seemingly lost in a memory, a
bitter one. She didn’t want to remember, but it was there again, and this cop
was forcing it on her. However, Yaritza wasn’t being pushy about it, not rude
like the cops who had originally questioned her about the affair. “I suppose I
should. Have you talked to Mrs. Plank yet?”
“Not yet. I’m hoping you can get me to first base.”
Nikea gave Yaritza the coffee after nuking it. “Celestina Plank was a
regular at the casino where Mark worked. Her husband, who is an attorney, was out of town a lot, going to San Francisco , I think.
It started out very innocently, and Mark told me about the times Celestina came
to his bar after a round of slots or video poker or even craps. It went on for
a few weeks, the flirting. Then he stopped telling me, and I assumed it wasn’t
happening anymore. I asked a bit later if she was still coming to him, but he
just shook his head, not saying anything.”
Yaritza looked at Nikea for a moment, reading her eyes. “That’s when you
suspected, right?”
“I suspected, but not what you think. Mark never talked when he felt
guilty. I didn’t suspect anything sexual, but I sensed he was falling for that
woman.”
“Were you right?”
“I was, but then I learned about the sex. I don’t know what was worse.
He felt that he could love two women, but I knew one had to have a stronger
pull. I didn’t know who was stronger, and then the housebreaking told me it
wasn’t me.”
“How did that come about?”
“She left him hanging. The encounters, the words she spoke to him, all
of it led him to a cliff he couldn’t walk away from. She was a player, pure and
simple. One night he went to their house, intending on telling her how he felt.
All the doors were locked, and she was keeping him out intentionally. Her
husband was just getting home as Mark smashed his way in, and that’s how he got
caught.”
“The husband called the police?”
“Yes. Mark didn’t fight. Seeing the husband took the fight out of him,
and he was lost.”
Yaritza let the silent moment hang a bit before continuing. “Why were
the charges dropped?”
“Didn’t you read the report?”
“I’ve been on this case about 24 hours or so.”
“Oh. Celestina kept Mark out because her new boy toy was in the house
already.”
“She had a new one so soon?”
“I think she kept a few around while she fucked with Mark. An older
woman like that just liked the younger men, who were at least 10 years
younger.”
“How old was she?”
“I think about 41 or 42.”
“And the husband found out about the others?”
“He found out about Mark and the one she had in the bed that night. The
husband dropped the charges against Mark, even paid his bail. The irony was
that Celestina wanted to press charges just to keep Mark away. The husband
flat-out told her the new reality, I guess.”
“Are they still married?”
Nikea scowled. “Yes, but I think she’s on a tight leash.”
“But you divorced Mark.”
“We tried for a little while, but I knew I’d lost him. We split three
months after the break-in.”
“And he wanted to get back together?”
“Not right away. He knew not to push. He got involved for a bit with a
cocktail waitress at the casino, but that was all sex, nothing more.”
“Tika Sanchez?”
“Yeah.”
“I talked to her.”
“I never met her, Detective….what is your name?”
“Detective Esteban, but you can call me Yaritza.”
“Yaritza, I never met any of the affairs he had after we split.”
“Did you meet Celestina Plank?”
“Yes.”
“What did you think of her?”
“I thought she was a beautiful older woman. She just had one of those
bodies that men chase, and she showed it off. Very low-cut blouses, short
skirts that showed off some cheek. Never saw a thong look so good. Her attitude
was another matter. She didn’t care who I was or how I’d been hurt.”
“Where did you meet her?”
“At the police station. I wanted to rip her apart, but her husband told
me he’d do it in his own way, and that I’d be satisfied.”
“You’re not.”
“I’m not. And now you tell me Mark is dead.”
“He is, and we don’t know why.”
“But you know how.”
“We’ll know more once he’s been examined by the corner. Another question,
if you don’t mind.”
“Go ahead.”
“How did Mark and Reggie get along?”
Nikea smiled sadly. “He was Mark’s salvation. No matter how much Mark
screwed up, he made sure he was good to his son. He was a good father.” Tears
formed in her eyes. “How do I tell him?”
“In your own way and in your own time.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning that I’m no closer to first base than I was before drinking
coffee. You’re a good person, Nikea. I don’t think you have an aggressive bone
in your body…and that concerns me.”
“Why?”
“You keep all that anger inside of you, I saw your eyes when you started
to talk about Mark and Celestina. I just don’t want you to explode.”
“I won’t.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
“Just for the record, can you account for the last week or so?”
“Until Sunday, I was in Winnemucca with Reggie, my parents live there.
Want their number?”
“Please. Just because I believe you doesn’t mean my boss does.”
Nikea gave her the number, and led Yaritza to the door. “Are you going
to talk to Celestina?”
“Yes.”
“Tell her she finally shut him out for good.”
“Oh?”
“He still loved her. See if that even dents her attitude.” With that,
Nikea closed the door. Yaritza stared at the door for a minute. Something was
too calm about Nikea Robertson, it was all too matter-of-fact for her liking.
She almost hoped that the alibi didn’t pan out….or that it did! Though she was
tired, Yaritza remembered something: in a way, the ET highway was close to the
route to Winnemucca!
She looked in her car trunk and saw her camera. It was a sightseeing
camera, one of those disposable ones, but it would have to do. She grabbed it,
and went back to the front door and knocked. Nikea opened the door. She looked
like she was about to cry. “What now?” she demanded.
“Nikea, I hate to bother you again, but I almost forgot my boss also
told me to grab a picture of your car, particularly your tires.”
“Why?”
“Well, there were some tire marks on that road where Mark was killed.
Once we see the marks didn’t come from yours, then he’ll say Nikea Robertson is
without a doubt the most innocent person we know. I already know that, but he
doesn’t.” Yaritza had a way of making possible suspects feel very comfortable.
Nikea shrugged. “I’ll open the garage for you.” She went back inside and
seconds later the garage door opened. Inside was a red Volkswagen Jetta.
Yaritza smiled. “Nice car, what year is it?”
“It’s a ’99 I think. Yeah, because the old owner said it was 3 years old
when I bought it from him; or rather, when Mark got it.”
“Does
it drive well?”
“It gets me where I need to go, but that’s about it.”
Yaritza nodded and started snapping pictures. As she got around to the
right rear side, she noticed the tire was smaller, a donut. “You have a flat
recently?”
“Three days ago. I haven’t been able to go fix it, no money for it until
the paycheck arrives.”
“Can’t use a credit card?”
“I want those things out of my life.”
“I hear you there. So was it a nail?”
“I’m not really sure. Listen, Detective…”
“Call me Yaritza.”
“Yaritza, all of this is just too much for me.”
“I know. Just a couple more shots and I’m out of your hair for good.”
“Fine, but…you don’t have to stay away.”
Yaritza looked up, surprised. “What?”
“I mean, I don’t know what I mean.”
Yaritza smiled. Her charm had obviously worked. “I understand.”
As she was ready to take the last shot, she noticed something on the
left side of the car, a splatter mark, but not brown like mud. It was almost
like paint or…blood. Yaritza checked her pocket and found her pack of tissues.
She pulled one out as she faked a sneeze directed at the car.
“Bless you.”
“Thanks.” Yaritza pulled out the tissue and wiped her ‘snot’ off the
car. Sure enough, a little red came off. “Sorry about that.”
“The car needs a washing anyway. We finished?”
“We are.” Yaritza put the camera away and smiled at Nikea. “Sorry for
intruding further.”
Nikea shrugged. ‘Well, it’s for your boss, right?”
“Exactly.” Yaritza looked at the woman for a moment. She wasn’t exactly smiling,
but there was a glint in her eye, something Yartiza couldn’t place, and it made
her slightly uncomfortable. “And with that, I’m going to lunch.”
“You want to eat here?”
Another curve ball. “That’s nice of you, Nikea, but we have a delivery
at the station that I don’t want to miss.”
“Oh?”
“It’s Arby’s day, and I never miss it.”
“Another time?”
“I’ll keep you in mind for the near future, I promise.”
Nikea nodded, smiled, then walked back to her house. Seconds later, the
garage door closed. Yaritza once again stood looking at the door, baffled. A
few seconds later, she hurried to her car and sped away.
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