Scent of Murder

by James O. Born

  Junior backed his car out, pulled out of the lot, and crossed two lanes of traffic on Military Trail so he could get ahead of Michelle. She was running along the sidewalk, and he kept his eyes open for the likely street she’d turn on. All of the blocks in her neighborhood crisscrossed, so he picked the next one, thinking she’d want to get off the main road as quickly as possible.

  His heart pounded. He could see the pattern of blood vessels in his eyes with each beat, it was so powerful. His weight had caused him several problems, including high blood pressure, and for the first time he was worried the excitement might kill him. But what a way to go.

  He pulled into the side lot of an auto parts store and killed the engine and lights. He could just see her on the sidewalk. If she didn’t turn here he could always pull down another block or two, but he felt confident she’d make the turn. His plan was simple. Get out of the car, get next to her, and show her the gun when she came within arm’s reach. He’d worry about everything else once she was in the passenger seat.

  This made sense. She’d overcome so much in her background that she was too impressive a target to pass up. He felt like a cat stalking a bird as she jogged closer and closer. It would only be a minute or so. He swallowed even though his mouth was dry.

  He realized this was the only thing he lived for now.

  * * *

  Tim Hallett sat across from Lori Tate at a casual seafood sports bar in Lake Worth. Like most other minor towns in South Florida, the small city Lake Worth had worked hard to upgrade its downtown and create an atmosphere that would attract tourists and locals with cash to spend. The problem was that most of the city was a shithole. Hallett had his Glock under his shirt and could see the Chevy Tahoe with Rocky in his compartment only a few feet away, parked directly in front of the restaurant.

  Hallett said, “I’m sorry I didn’t dress better. These are the extra clothes I keep in the work truck. It’s too long a ride out to Belle Glade to change.”

  Lori giggled and placed her hand over his on the table. She looked out the window at the Tahoe and said, “You look great, but is Rocky okay?”

  Hallett smiled and said, “I have a portable DVD playing Marley and Me. He’s content.” He often used the excuse of Rocky needing to eat or rest as a way of getting out of social commitments, but at this moment he was glad he’d gone through with the date. It had been a long time.

  “This is nice,” he said. “The crime scene must’ve worn you out today.”

  Lori said, “It took an hour to shower off the dirt and mud. It’s probably the first time I ever got sunburned at work.”

  “I saw one of the homicide guys is working with Fusco on the kidnapping case.”

  “Danny Weil?”

  “Yeah, that’s him. Young guy, tall, good-looking.”

  Lori said, “Sounds like something he would tell you.” They shared a laugh over that. Then Lori said, “He cut out early to see if he could get a jump on things.”

  “Like what things?”

  “He never tells us. He tends to rely on his good looks and personality to get things done.”

  Hallett shrugged and said, “If it works for him.”

  “It works on some girls, but not me.” She winked at him.

  In addition to being pretty, this girl had a decent sense of humor. Hallett found himself starting to relax and really enjoying himself.

  He said, “I’m hoping the sergeant lets me do more on the case.”

  “Has she been keeping you from it?”

  “She’s limited my involvement with the suspects. On a big case like this there’s always a lot to do, but I don’t think the sergeant believes the dogs will come up with the information that would break this case.”

  “I’d say Darren Mori and his Golden Retriever brought in quite a bit of information when they found the body at the canal.”

  Hallett nodded, conceding that point. “I’m not sure she believes Rocky and I will break the case. Rocky is trained to find explosives and narcotics and apprehend suspects. Part of the grant money we got requires the dogs be trained in multiple disciplines. It’s sort of an experiment and is really innovative.”

  Lori leveled a stare at him and said, “If you had to do it all over again, would you change what happened with Arnold Ludner the first time you arrested him?”

  Although he often thought about this, no one had ever directly asked him that question. He looked into Lori’s pretty eyes and beautiful face as he thought about his answer—and he couldn’t resist thinking about Crystal and her kiss at the same time. Finally, he said, “No, I wouldn’t change how I dealt with Arnold Ludner. No matter what, I know that little girl is alive today at least in part because of what I did. There’s sometimes a big difference between doing things by the book and doing things that are right. Anyone who ever looked at that little girl’s face never criticized my actions.”

  Lori let a big smile break across her face. “Do you keep in touch with the girl and her family?”

  Now it was Hallett’s turn to smile. “Every birthday and Christmas. And I hope it never ends.”

  * * *

  Junior saw Michelle turn down the street, so he placed his left hand on the door handle, preparing to slip out of the car quickly. He already had the Beretta in his right hand. He had evolved since the first girl he’d surprised more than two and a half years ago. It was a miracle he hadn’t been caught in those early attempts. Although he knew everything he needed to about his targets, he had not prepared nearly as well. He didn’t understand police investigative techniques, either. Now he had a much better handle on both the victims’ mentality and the status of police investigations.

  He slipped his hand off the handle and used it to mash the button to roll down his window. She didn’t even notice him. No one ever did. It was almost time, and he felt the excitement surge through him. It made him feel young again. She crossed over to the sidewalk on his side of the street, still behind his car, which made his plan more awkward but not nearly impossible.

  Just as he was about to pop out of the car, a set of headlights came around the corner and a yellow car slowed. He heard someone yell from the passenger seat as Michelle turned, smiled, and waved.

  Now he saw that the car was a newer Mustang. He was helpless and had to sit there like a statue as the Mustang passed his car on one side and Michelle jogged past on the sidewalk. No one in the vehicle or Michelle paid any attention to the lonely man sitting in the parked car. Then the car pulled closer to the sidewalk as the passenger chatted with Michelle.

  He had missed his chance and would have to wait. But the urge was so strong it physically hurt him. Now his only focus was to grab her as soon as possible.

  25

  Hallett liked the idea that they all started the shift as a team in the detective bureau. He didn’t care if it was late afternoon instead of first thing in the morning. An added bonus was that John Fusco appeared to be frazzled to the point of exhaustion.

  It was Sergeant Greene who brought order to the friendly gathering. She said, “The analysts have been working overtime and found out a boatload of information about the house where Arnold Ludner’s sons live.”

  Hallett, along with everyone else, picked up a pen to make notes. The criminal intelligence analysts at the sheriff’s office, like most analysts in police departments, were one of the most valuable resources that never got any glory. Using computers and contacts, the analysts gathered information on suspects that no detective could ever uncover, from ancient court cases to links between telephone numbers. A good analyst was as valuable as five detectives.

  The sergeant continued, “Both of the houses are owned by a corporation named New Deal Florida Development. The corporate office is the rear house on the property. One of the listed corporate officers is Joe Ludner, Arnold’s son. You guys all remember the pain-in-the-ass attorney.”

  Claire said, “You think the dad is in the rear house?”

  Fusco stepped in. “I got the probat
ion officer to agree to a thorough home visit in the morning. The rear house is not listed as a residence, but if we find something, we might be able to push it.” Fusco turned to Hallett and said, “Will the Canine Assist Team be able to help us? Can the dogs detect something in the rear house if we’re at the front house?”

  Hallett felt a stab of panic, wondering if Fusco or the sergeant somehow knew that he had made the vehicle stop and tried to get Rocky to alert on the Ludners’ vehicle. After a moment, he said, “We can oblige, but if these idiots are making a chemical-based drug like ecstasy or meth, the dogs won’t alert. We don’t train them on it. It was a choice Ruben made. Too many extra scents, and he was worried about the harsh chemicals.”

  Fusco said, “These assholes are pot and coke dealers. Why would you think it might be meth?”

  Hallett shrugged and said, “Just a hunch.”

  Sergeant Greene said, “What if we use some of the federal money that’s being poured into your unit for surveillance of the compound tonight? We can get an idea of the activity at the place before Fusco arrives in the morning. Maybe we’ll get lucky and see them doing something that will give us probable cause.” She looked around the table at the three K-9 officers, who all nodded their heads. No one would miss a chance at something like this.

  As the meeting broke up and Fusco scooped folders and photographs into his arms, Darren Mori said, “What’s wrong, Fusco? You seem rushed.”

  The detective ran a shaky hand through his thinning black hair and said, “I got homicide breathing down my neck, and those assholes are waiting to swoop in.”

  Sergeant Greene said to the three K-9 officers, “Go get ’em.”

  Hallett smiled at the way she said it. It sounded like she was talking directly to the dogs.

  * * *

  Tim Hallett was sitting on the far edge of the vacant lot behind the compound where the Ludners lived. He’d been scanning the entire lot with a high-powered telescope the marine unit used at inlets to spy on smugglers. Rocky explored the area around them, sometimes pawing at the grass and sniffing out a queasy-making treasure like a dead snake and a half-eaten Twinkie. Hallett had to turn to him and say, “Don’t you dare eat that.”

  Rocky dropped the Twinkie and hung his head as he sat next to Hallett. It was clear the dog wanted to do something active. Hallett knew the feeling well. He felt like he had not accomplished anything in the last few days.

  Claire walked over from her Tahoe and said, “See anything at all?”

  Hallett didn’t remove his right eye from the high-powered telescope. “I think there’s an adult male near the rear house. I haven’t been able to get a good look at him because of the hedge and a low wall next to the house. He’s working on something in the grass.” He stepped aside so Claire could slip in and look through the telescope.

  After a few moments of focusing on the man in blue jeans she said, “He’s gardening, or pruning the bushes right next to the house. It looks like he could get up and go into the house without us seeing his face.”

  Hallett nodded and said, “That’s what I thought, too. If there was just some way we could make him stand up and look behind him, I could at least tell if it was Arnold Ludner or not.”

  Darren had been using binoculars to scan the front house. He said, “I see the sons by the other house. Do you suppose there’s a renter in the back?”

  “That’s something we should find out before Fusco goes in with the probation officers in the morning.”

  Claire scratched Rocky’s head and said to her partners, “Any ideas on how we could make the man stand and look behind him?”

  Rocky barked, hopped to his feet, and trotted around the three deputies.

  Darren said, “What’s gotten into him?”

  Hallett smiled and said, “He just had another brilliant idea. I swear to God Ruben is rubbing off on me. I now understand canine. Even when it has a Belgian accent.”

  * * *

  Junior had decided tonight was the night he would take action with Michelle Swirsky, no matter what happened. He had to relieve the urge that had built in him relentlessly since the moment he saw her jog down the street, chatting with someone in the slow-moving Mustang. The way he felt at this moment, he was almost sorry he didn’t shoot the driver of the Mustang and take Michelle anyway. But that wasn’t the way he operated. He liked to think he was too smart for that, but lately his basic instincts had been taking over instead.

  He was too late to catch her at school and wondered if she would be at the Publix tonight. The poor girl never seemed to take an evening off. It was time she learned about things other than karate and work. He liked to think he was going to let her go like he had some of the other girls, but something in his head told him the only chance he had to regain this feeling he constantly craved was to go all the way again.

  The fantasies he had about Tina Tictin revolved around choking her more than anything else he had done. The power that had surged through him lasted for days and her body proved he mattered in the world. He had the power of life and death. Junior would never forget the moment he saw life flicker out of Tina’s eyes.

  He knew he would have to do the same thing to Michelle Swirsky.

  * * *

  Darren Mori said, “That’s the craziest idea I have ever heard. The dogs aren’t trained for something like this.” He liked thinking outside of the box as much as the next guy, but he never wanted to put one of the dogs at risk needlessly.

  Tim Hallett grasped him by the shoulders and almost yelled, “I’m telling you, this is a great idea. We let one of the dogs run past the guy and he’ll jump up and look behind him. I’ll be able to see his face and tell whether it’s Arnold Ludner or not.”

  Darren knew Hallett wasn’t trying to be aggressive, but it was still intimidating to look up at his taller partner. He hadn’t seen this much passion in Hallett since they had started in the unit.

  Claire said, “It’s almost like the dog would be undercover.”

  “Exactly.” Hallett turned so he could make his argument to both his partners at once. “Ruben wants us to think differently, expect more. That’s all I’m trying to do. We really do have smart dogs and only use a fraction of their abilities.”

  Darren glanced quickly at Rocky, then Brutus, and then over to the Chevy Tahoe where Smarty was in his rear secure compartment. “But which dog do we use?”

  Claire shrugged and said, “Sorry, but I couldn’t promise Smarty wouldn’t bite him. Especially if he smells something else, like dope.”

  Darren said, “Brutus is a seeker. He loves to find stuff, but he wouldn’t go in without me. Maybe I could change clothes and wander through, acting lost.”

  Hallett shook his head and said, “That defeats the purpose of using the dog. I think if Claire went around the block and waited on the other side of the property, Rocky would run directly to her. I know he could do it.” Hallett turned and looked at his dog and said, “You can do it, can’t you, boy?”

  Rocky ran back and forth in a tight square, energized for the game. He looked ready to do anything. Hallett kneeled down and took off the dog’s harness, rubbing his hair so it all stood up in a uniform pattern.

  Hallett said, “I’m just afraid that if Ludner sees him later, he might recognize Rocky, or if the guy over there is one of the sons, he might remember Rocky from the vehicle stop. He is a memorable dog.”

  Then Darren Mori had his own brilliant idea. He looked at his partners and said, “Hang on a minute.” He hustled to the rear of his Tahoe and rifled through his personal equipment locker. He found what he was looking for and jogged back to his partners with Brutus right next to him the whole time. He held up the can and said, “He doesn’t have to be a mostly brown dog. We could give him all kinds of black patches.”

  Hallett looked at the can and said, “What in the hell is that?”

  Claire said, “It’s his stupid spray paint for his bald spot.”

  Darren protested, saying, “Technically
it’s spray-on hair. And Tim didn’t even realize I had a bald spot because of it.”

  Hallett looked at him and smiled. “I’m sorry, Darren, but I always noticed your bald spot. If you’re stuck directly in front of my nose, it’s all I see. I just never said anything about the spray paint.”

  Darren almost screamed, “It’s not freaking spray paint, it’s a special product for hair. Thank God for Ron Popeil.”

  Claire said, “Who’s that?”

  Darren said, “He’s the inventor. The guy is a genius. He’s invented everything from pocket fishing rods to slow-roasting ovens. But this weird invention of his can make Rocky look any way we want him to.” Darren kneeled down next to Rocky and sprayed a hand-sized black mark along his back and side. Then he sprayed half of his head and an ear. He stepped back to admire his work, saying, “Now, no one would recognize him.” He glanced over at Hallett in case his partner was about to punch him.

  26

  Tim Hallett didn’t want to admit how nervous he was letting Rocky go, but it was only for a few minutes, and Claire Perkins had driven around to the far side of the property, so, in theory, he would run directly to her and Smarty.

  Hallett kneeled down to stroke Rocky’s back. He was careful to avoid the black spot Darren had painted on him. Hallett had to admit it made him look entirely different. It probably wasn’t necessary, but it’d make for a good story later on. Hallett said in a low voice near Rocky’s ear, “Okay boy, just run to Claire and Smarty. Run and bark. Your two favorite things in the whole world.”

  He scratched his fingers down the dog’s spine the way Rocky liked, but just before he was about to let the dog run, Darren Mori said, “Hang on.”

  Hallett looked over his shoulder at his partner using binoculars.

  Darren said, “The Highlander is pulling out.”

  “Can you see who’s in it?”