I decided to go out on a limb. If we were wrong I’d fix it later. “I believe you, Mrs. Ford. I think someone set him up to look bad. What we have to determine is who would want to do that, and why?”
She relaxed a little. “What do you need to know?”
“Did Joel gamble? Even if it seemed innocent, like on sports?”
She shook her head. “He barely even watched sports. He loved fiddling with engines and mechanical things. He had very little time for sports, or, for that matter, for television at all. As to drugs, he was cautious about anything. He didn’t even like taking his prescriptions. And he never took pills to stay awake like a lot of drivers do.”
“What did he like?” Tip asked.
She seemed to think for a moment, and then said, “He and his brother have been truckers all their lives, and he never seemed to want to do anything else. He sometimes complained about his back hurting, or being tired, but no more than any other person.”
“Was he happy?” I asked.
She sniffed a few tears and smiled. “Yes, Detective, he was happy. Of that I’m sure.” She looked at her watch and stood. “If you’ll excuse me, detectives, I have to get ready for my son. He was with his cousin up in Dallas when I heard about this. They’re bringing him home.”
Tip stood and said, “Of course, ma’am.”
I placed a business card on the table. I was going to shake her hand, but she looked as if she could use a hug. I let her head rest on my shoulder and then said, “Please call if you need anything.”
“I will,” she said. “Thank you.”
Tip was on the phone before we reached the car. “Buck, who the fuck did you send to the Ford’s house for notification?”
I could hear even though he didn’t have it on speaker.
“I told you, Harris County did it.”
“Well, they fucked up. I just came from there, and the wife didn’t even know it was a murder. She didn’t know there was a goddamn woman in the car with him either. And she still doesn’t know that the woman was naked. What the fuck is wrong—”
“Hold up, Denton. I’m sorry somebody got your ass in a bind, but it wasn’t me. Somebody in Harris County fucked up. Not us.”
Tip kicked at the grass a few times, and then he said, “All right, goddamnit.”
“All right my ass,” Buck said. “You better think before you bitch at someone.”
“I’m hanging up.”
Buck laughed. “Since I know that’s as close as I’m getting to an apology, I’ll say goodnight.”
I waited for Tip to hang up and put his phone back in his pocket. “Sounds like Buck knows you pretty well,” I said.
Tip opened the door and got in the driver’s seat. I climbed in the passenger side. “That pissed me off. They made us look like asses.”
“It won’t be the last time,” I said. “Besides, we learned something.”
“What?”
“We know that Tiffany didn’t kill these people. We don’t have proof yet, but we know it. There’s no way she was smart enough or experienced enough to plan those murders and clean up those scenes. If she was smart enough to do that, she sure as shit wouldn’t have killed herself.”
“That leaves us with the mystery woman,” Tip said.
As he pulled out onto Highway 6, I said, “Are we looking at a female serial killer? You know, there aren’t many of them.”
“I don’t know about her being a serial killer,” Tip said. “But we may be looking at a female hit man.”
Hit man. Every time I hear the words I think of Dominic.
“Tip, drop me off at my house. I’ve got a lot to do, and we need to get an early start on this.”
Chapter 29
Family Is Everything
Brooklyn, New York
Dominic was sitting at the kitchen table when his private cell number rang. “Pronto.”
“It’s Mazza.”
“What have you found?”
“We have the man who’s been asking questions. And we know who accessed the records from the hospital.”
“Has the man talked?”
“Nothing,” Mazza said. “Should I—”
Dominic got up from his chair and paced. “I’ll send someone,” he said, and then, “Who was responsible for accessing the hospital records?”
“Her name is Janice Quintana.”
Dominic remained silent.
“Do you want me to bring her to the warehouse?” Mazza asked.
“Blindfold her and don’t let her see anyone. Call me when she arrives.”
A few hours later, Mazza called again. “She’s here.”
“I’ll be there soon,” Dominic said. “Has the doctor arrived?”
“He’s with the other man.”
“Keep him alive. And find out what the woman knows.”
Dominic grabbed his coat from the closet, then put on his gloves and hat. He seldom left the house without his hat. He arrived at the warehouse thirty minutes later.
Mazza greeted Dominic as he entered the side door. “He talked. It only took twenty minutes.”
“And what did we learn?” Dominic asked.
“As you assumed, the orders came from Mexico. He said from a man named Tico, but Tico works for Carlos Cortes.”
Dominic nodded. “And what questions did the man ask about me or Maria?”
Mazza took a big sip of water. “He was asking about you and Maria in the old days. If you were…together.”
“What else?”
“He asked if anyone ever saw Maria with Tommy Gianelli. Or even knew of Tommy Gianelli.”
“And what report did he send?”
Mazza took a deep breath. “That no one from the neighborhood had ever heard of Tommy Gianelli, and that you and Maria were very good friends.”
Dominic closed his eyes and clenched his fists. “Tell the doctor he can do what he wants with the man.”
“And the woman?”
“Take me to see her.”
Mazza led the way to the back of the warehouse. A metal door opened into a small, rectangular room with three folding chairs and a small table. The floor and walls were concrete. Janice Quintana sat on one of the chairs, blindfolded, her hands bound by rope.
“She refuses to talk,” Mazza said.
Dominic moved a chair next to hers and sat. He motioned for Mazza to leave him alone. When the door closed, Dominic patted her leg gently. She jumped. And shivered.
“I don’t know anything,” she said.
“I don’t want to hurt anyone,” Dominic said. His voice was calm.
Janice shook. “I really don’t know anything. They told me to get those files. That’s all I know. I swear.”
“Who told you?” Dominic asked.
“I don’t know who they were.”
“Why would you do something illegal and risk losing your job for someone you don’t know?”
“They paid me a lot of money,” she said. “I know I shouldn’t have done it, but—”
Dominic stood and paced, the sound of his leather heels clicking and echoing on the concrete floor. “I don’t like being lied to.”
“I’m not lying. I swear.”
“You shouldn’t swear, Ms. Quintana.”
She tensed up when he said her name. “How do you…”
“Know your name?” Dominic smiled, though she couldn’t see him. “We know everything about you. We know about your children, your debts, and your no-good brother who deals drugs. I suspect you did this because of him.” Dominic moved closer and whispered. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
Janice trembled. “Don’t hurt my children. Please.”
Dominic kept his voice low. “I would never hurt a woman or a child. I won’t even threaten to hurt your children. But I need this information, because it concerns my family, and I would do anything for my family. Give me what I need, or I will make sure you lose your job. And I will make sure you never get another job in New York.” Dominic paused, then added, �
��In case you’re wondering, yes, I can do that.”
Janice shook her head and sighed. “It wasn’t the money. I would have never done it for money. They threatened my brother if I didn’t help. They said they’d kill him.”
“What did they ask you to do?”
“They wanted the records for three people. Maria, Tommy, and Concetta Gianelli. That’s it. After I got the records, I was supposed to send the information to an email address they gave me.”
Dominic reached down and untied her hands, and then he helped her stand. “I’ll have someone take you home. Please accept my apologies for putting you through this, but I had to know.”
“You’re letting me go?”
“You’re free to go. Give my friend the email address you sent the information to, and you’ll never hear from us again.”
Janice rubbed her wrists where the rope had been. “Thank you,” she said.
Dominic walked her to the door and signaled Mazza. “Make sure she gets home safely. Get the email address from her and then call me.”
“Did you find out what you needed?” Mazza asked.
“I’m certain that when we trace that email, we’ll find Carlos Cortes at the other end.”
“What are we going to do?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Dominic said. “But we will do something.”
Chapter 30
Followed
Ribs tried digesting what Rosalee said. “Followed? What do you mean?”
“I mean I’m being followed,” she said. “I drove Sandra to pick up her car, and noticed a black pickup was following me. Then I was on my way to the mall and it was there again, about three cars behind me.”
“There are a lot of black pickups in Houston. Are you sure—”
“Get out of cop mode, Ribs. I’m not an idiot. It’s a Chevy, and the last three numbers on the plate are four-seven-two.”
Son of a bitch. “Where are you now?”
“On 1960, heading East from 290. I just looked in the mirror. He’s still there, two cars behind me in the other lane.”
“Can you describe him?”
“There are two of them. I’m pretty sure they’re Latinos, but that’s as much as I can make out. They haven’t gotten up close.”
“Let me think,” he said.
“Do you want me to go home?” Rosalee asked. “Or over to Sissy’s house?”
“No. I don’t want them going there. We want it to be a place where we control the situation, if somebody’s following you.”
A short pause, and then Rosalee said, “There is no if. I told you, they’re following me.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m still thirty minutes away, so go to the Willowbrook Mall and park by the Sears entrance. Get as close as you can to the entrance, check to make sure they aren’t close by, and then go inside. Stay inside near people. Find a security guard, but don’t tell them the situation unless you have to. Give the guard my phone number in case he wants to call.”
“Why don’t you call another officer to come by?”
“Rosalee, listen to me. This is important. If we report this and the cops come out, all they’ll do is ask the driver if he was following you. He’ll deny it and go on his way. And the next time, he’ll be more careful. We’ll do this my way, amorcita. Trust me.”
“I do trust you, but hurry up. I’m only ten minutes from the mall.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll call when we get there. Te amo.”
“I love you too,” Rosalee said.
“What the hell was that all about?” Cruz asked when Ribs hung up.
Ribs put the siren on and hit the gas. On the way, he filled Cruz in on what Rosalee said.
“Son of a bitch! Do you think this has anything to do with the case?”
“I’m not thinking about that yet,” Ribs said. “Let’s wait until we get there.”
Twenty-five minutes later, Ribs pulled into the parking lot at the back of Sears, the side opposite of where he told Rosalee to go in. He called her cell.
“Where are you?” she asked.
“At the back of Sears. Where are you?”
“By the perfume.”
“Have you seen them?” Ribs asked.
“Not since I came in here.”
“Stay inside until I call. I’ll check the parking lot. You said the last three numbers are four-seven-two?”
“Yes. A black pickup and the plate ends in four-seven-two. Be careful.”
Ribs drove around the lot slowly, as if looking for a spot to park.
Cruz sat low in the passenger seat. “See anything?”
“Not yet.” Ribs reached the end of an aisle and turned right, going back down the other side.
“Don’t look now,” Cruz said, “but there’s a black Chevy truck near the end, sitting off by itself.”
“I see it. Get down so they can’t see you. I’ll drive by and verify the plate.”
Ribs swung around the corner, quickly glancing at the plate when he checked for oncoming traffic in the next lane. “It’s them,” he said. “Two, just like Rosalee said.”
“You’re going to owe Rosalee an apology for doubting her,” Cruz said.
“She’s gonna want a lot more than an apology,” Ribs said. “But I can’t worry about that now.”
“What do you think?” Cruz said. “Take them fast, or sneak up? I say we take ’em fast.”
“You got it,” Ribs said. “Duck down and be ready. I’ll swing around again.”
Cruz got low in the front seat and drew his gun. Ribs drove toward the truck, slowing as he got in front of it. “Now!” He jammed the car in park, and got out with his gun drawn, pointed at the driver. Cruz got out the other side, his gun pointed at the passenger in the truck. The passenger made a quick move. Cruz fired into the windshield.
“Police!” Ribs yelled. “Don’t move. You move, and I’ll fuckin’ kill you.”
Cruz took the passenger, Ribs the driver. “Get out,” Ribs shouted. “Hands on the hood of the truck. Now.”
Ribs found a gun on each of them and enough ice in the truck to keep a meth head high for a year. Cruz handcuffed them. “Why were you following my wife?”
The driver said, “No hablo inglés.”
“That’s all right. We speak Spanish, so pick your language, and answer the question.”
“Lawyer,” the driver said. “Is that clear enough for you?”
“Plenty clear,” Cruz said. “The way I figure it. we’ve got you for illegal firearms, and we’ve got enough ice here to charge you with possession and intent. That should put you away for a long time.”
The driver smirked. “We’ll be out by tomorrow.”
Ribs put his gun to the driver’s head.
“Not if you die tonight,” Cruz said. “My partner is a little nervous.”
Chapter 31
A Talk with Dominic
Brooklyn, New York
Dominic walked into his house, removed his gloves, and tossed them onto a chair in the foyer. He lay his coat over the arm of the chair and set his hat on top of the coat. The espresso pot called to him, but he poured a grappa instead. And then he poured another.
Despite all that he’d done in his life, he’d raised Concetta the best way he knew how. And now…this. If she found out what he’d done…who her father really was…He couldn’t let it happen. No matter what, he had to stop that.
He called for Zeppe, but no one answered. After downing another grappa, he decided to call Concetta. Depending on what Carlos did with this information, this could be the last time she spoke to Dominic. He used a disposable cell and dialed her number.
***
Tip had dropped me off at the house. I put water on for coffee and had just gotten Hotshot into the backyard when I heard the phone ring. I cautioned the cat to stay put and went for the phone. It showed no caller ID, which meant it could be a sales call or Uncle Dominic.
“Hello?”
“Concetta, I was almost ready to hang up.
”
“Uncle Dominic? What are you doing calling here?” I’m sure my voice changed from surprise to panic as a thousand thoughts raced through my mind. Is Zeppe okay? Is Dominic hurt? Is he locked up? “Is everything okay?”
“I’m fine,” Dominic said. “I thought I’d call my favorite person in the world and chat. How is your weather?”
“My weather? Uncle Dominic, are you sure everything’s okay? I’ve never heard you ask about the weather. Not once.”
“Someone…I think someone famous, said, ‘There is a first time for everything.’”
I laughed. “I’m glad you called. I’ve missed you.”
“Already? I think you miss the food more. Or my espresso.”
“You may be right about that. How are Zeppe and the family?”
“You know Zeppe. He is always all right. But enough news of here, tell me how Texas is treating you. What interesting cases are you working?”
A cold shiver ran up my spine. Instinct had me wondering, why is he asking that? But then I remembered that I was in Texas now, away from the suspicion in the department, and from his influence and the taint of his reputation.
I almost overcame my reluctance but decided to test it. “Why the sudden interest in my work, Uncle Dominic?”
He laughed. “Concetta, put your mind at ease. I have always been interested in your work, but while you were in New York, I couldn’t ask about it. Now that you’re in Texas, it presents no problem. So tell your uncle what you’re working on.”
I curled my legs up on the couch and relaxed. It was the first time in my life he’d ever shown an interest. “We caught a tough one, Uncle Dominic. It started out with a lawyer who we thought had a heart attack, and then a banker who drowned in his own hot tub, and now we have the murder/suicide of a trucker. We’re convinced they’re all murders, and that they’re connected, but we haven’t put it together yet. I’m going up to Tip’s house tonight to go over the files with him.”
Bullet From Dominic Page 16
