The 5th Horseman

Chapter 123

AS I LEFT THE HOSPITAL with Jacobi, my mind flashed back and leaped forward.

Garza and Engstrom.

Garza and O’Mara.

Imagine the possibilities.

We got into the car, Jacobi taking the wheel, starting the engine. I was feeling the charge that comes when you’re this close to landing a big one. It’s like listening to a live concert and wanting to take to the stage and sing.

Only this was better.

“Cindy was at the trial when Garza was on the stand,” I told Jacobi. “O’Mara asked Garza if he had anything to do with the plaintiffs’ deaths. And get this, Jacobi. Garza took the Fifth Amendment.”

“That makes no sense,” Jacobi said, turning the car onto Leavenworth. “Garza wasn’t on trial.”

“Right. And Cindy’s reaction was ‘Wow. The guy was protecting himself from something.’ She told me that when he blurted that out, it was the turning point of the trial. He devastated the hospital’s defense.”

“So did O’Mara trip him up? Let him twist in the wind? Or did he do that all by himself?”

“Interesting question, Jacobi. I wonder who is letting who twist in the wind. Both of Garza’s girlfriends were involved in the case against Municipal.”

I grabbed the dash as Jacobi took a hard right onto Filbert Street.

“It’s all here, but I can’t quite see the whole picture. If Garza killed all of those people, where’s the connection?”

Jacobi parked in front of Garza’s creamy-yellow stucco house and turned off the ignition.

“Let’s go ask the doctor,” said Jacobi.