The Morelville Mysteries Collection

by Anne Hagan

  “The opposite?”

  “Yeah. I should probably stay here so you can get some rest. It might be an up and down night for me.”

  “No, if things go as you expect, you’re going to need to work in a little rest where you can. Will you be flying with us?”

  “No, I’ll be driving in case I have to come back this way in a hurry. Should I text Ron that you’re on your way?”

  “Give me five minutes to get a patrol deputy in here. Give him an ETA of 15 minutes.”

  We spent longer preparing to go up and then, later, securing the chopper at the hanger in Cambridge than the actual flight took. By the time Ron and I headed for our rooms at the hotel, it was after 10:00 PM and I was bone tired.

  When I got into the room, Dana was already there. She was deep in conversation and pacing the floor. Paperwork was spread everywhere. When she saw me she gave me a half smile of apology as she waved her hand over her mess. I grinned and shook my head in response and then I headed for the shower.

  If she was up and down all night, I didn’t notice. I was asleep soon after my head touched the pillow.

  Chapter 29 – Crawl, Walk, Run

  Dana

  Jason and Phil hadn’t seen anything unusual overnight. They told me that daily operations on the dairy farm started around 4:00 AM though, well before the sun was up. The surveillance team that replaced them struggled to get into place over open pasture land before dawn rose and Jason and Phil struggled to make their covert retreat. I hoped we wouldn’t have to be trading surveillance in and out of there for very long.

  Gene reported that the copies of Delores’s financial logs had been turned over to him. Much of what they contained was coded. He’d sent them to forensic accounting for analysis. He also noted that the search warrant was being executed on Joseph’s Chicago offices at 6:30 AM local time before most gang-bangers would be out of bed. It was just before 8:00 AM now in lovely Zanesville, Ohio meaning the search team was now on site in Chicago, an hour behind my local time. I bit my lip and pondered whether they would find anything useful.

  “Hey boss?” It was Tim.

  “Yes?”

  “We got the subpoenas and also both of the warrants are signed. Do you want anything executed yet?”

  I didn’t hesitate. “No, not just yet. We’ll probably execute the financial subpoenas on the banks and the accounting firms today or tomorrow but I don’t want them to be too far ahead of the warrants. We want to catch them in the act of an unload for the farm warrant and we’ll execute the one on Delores at the same time, so there’s no forewarning.”

  “Gotcha. Do you think it will be soon?”

  “The day after tomorrow is the 21st. Don’t you think it has to be soon if this big score is still going down?”

  Tim shrugged. “We’ve been chasing our tails on this for so long...”

  I nodded. “I know. I hear that!”

  The day dragged on with no contributions of value to the investigation. Team 2 reported a truck offloading feed out in the lot in front of the main barns and milk trucks in and out to the milking operation but no activity in the target area. I was on pins and needles waiting for something I could really sink my teeth into.

  It came from an unexpected source – my source. Brice Buhler called me just after 3:00 PM and said he had some info but he needed something in return. Against my better judgment, I agreed to meet him in the same truck stop Hardee’s we’d met in the last time. I had no idea what he’d want in return for his information.

  I thought about taking someone to the meeting with me but Phil and Jason were catching some much needed rest, Ron was doing an aerial recon and Tim was just too busy. Taking a fully uniformed Mel, even if I could sneak her out of the station, was just too risky. I went alone.

  This time Buhler beat me to our meeting place. I got a diet soda and ambled to his table. I was trying to appear casual to him or to anyone else observing in the busy restaurant but something I couldn’t put my finger on just yet felt off.

  Buhler spied me and then waved me over to his table all the while acting like I was someone he knew that he hadn’t seen in a while.

  “Hey, nice to see you. How ya been?” His tone was borderline excited but his eyes didn’t match. He was nervous and I could tell.

  “Great, great. It’s been a long time! How are you?”

  “Doin’ fine.” He motioned for me to take a seat.

  “Just for a minute. I’ve been on the road and I need to keep going.” I pulled the chair out only slightly, leaving it somewhat sideways so my back wouldn’t be to the room. I perched on the edge trying to appear as though I was really just passing by and didn’t intend to stay. I looked around casually. No one nearby seemed to be interested in us.

  “So, how’s Bob?”

  Huh? Okay, I’ve had enough of this game. He needs to get to the point! “Fine, what’s up with you?” I eyeballed him pointedly.

  Buhler cleared his throat. In a barely audible voice he said, “Rumor has it, ATF is sniffing around.”

  “Around who? You?” I whispered back.

  “You tell me.”

  I was annoyed. “Bud, I don’t work with ATF unless I have to.” I leaned in, “What have you heard?”

  “Got a coupl’a contacts, say they’ve been snooping around and asking questions.”

  “Shine?”

  “Don’t think so. Ain’t been doin’ that. Ain’t time yet for it, but I don’t know.” He was still talking very low. He paused and then whispered, “Probably the stuff what’s goin’ on at Chappell’s.”

  “The dairy farm you work at?” I played dumb but he didn’t buy it. He’d already told me about his special work. It was his turn to eye me.

  “I was told there’d be a huge extra work assignment real late like tonight, early tomorrow morning. Told ‘em I wanted in.”

  “What’s the work?”

  “Dunno but I’m supposed to be on site around 1:00 AM. Truck’s expected around 1:30.”

  “You going?”

  “Don’t know... ATF ... that’s why I called you.”

  I nodded for him to continue.

  “If they’re after me, I don’t want to be there. If they’re after something there, I don’t want no part of it.”

  “I see. So, you think they know about the job tonight?”

  “Think so. Dunno for sure.”

  “What do you want from me?”

  “I go... to not look suspicious, I want protection from prosecution.”

  “You do realize that if you turn evidence to avoid prosecution, you’re going to be out the job anyway and probably railroaded out of this county? Do you honestly think they won’t figure it out when they’re all sitting in jail and you aren’t?”

  He sat back in his chair abruptly and stared at me. Apparently, he hadn’t put that much thought into his request. “You just put me between a rock and a hard place!” he spat.

  “No. You put yourself there. If you’re there tonight, I’ll see what I can do.” I stood. “It was nice seeing you again but I really do need to get back on the road.”

  He stood up. “Yeah, I better get going too. Take care.” He picked up his food tray and walked the opposite direction from the way I’d come in.

  I found the restroom and availed myself of the facilities and then I headed out to my car. As I was getting in, two casually dressed men approached me. Even dressed as they were, it was obvious that they were agents. They stood out so bad compared to others in this area that I could spot them a mile away.

  The taller of the two men, addressed me; “The man you were talking with in there, how do you know him?”

  “We’re old friends. Is there something I can help you gentlemen with?”

  “Who are you?”

  “Who wants to know?” I attempted to get into my car. Slim, the taller guy, grasped the door frame.

  “Look, we know who you are. We don’t know what you’re out and about doing but we think you’re probably interf
ering with a federal investigation.”

  “Ah, I see. You can tell Webb that I’m sorry I never called him back. Shit happens. I’m not mixed up in his counterfeiting operation so you can tell him he doesn’t need to have his goons follow me around.”

  Shorty spoke up for the first time, “Webb? Counterfeiting?” Slim shot him a look.

  Oh ho! So, not the Secret Service! They’re ATF! I steeled my expression. “Are we done here?

  Slim looked me up and down and then let go of my door frame. “This isn’t over. We’ve got our eyes on you.”

  I smiled brightly. “Have a nice day!” I drove away slowly but inside I was seething. ATF IS NOT going to get another one of my cases!

  ###

  Tim had the subpoenas executed for Chappell farm and Delores Chappell’s personal financials at 4:59 PM, just before banks closed for business for the day. The shipment was coming a day early and we had to beat ATF to whatever punch was coming. It was go time.

  We wouldn’t be switching out observation teams. Team 2 would stay put. We didn’t want to put anyone in jeopardy during a change over and we needed eyes constantly on operations at the farm. A four man team would serve the warrant on Delores’ residence as soon as word came via radio that another larger team was descending on the unloading operation at the farm.

  I was again on pins and needles. I went into Mel’s office.

  “I guess this is it?”

  “Yeah.” I sat down in her one visitor chair.

  “You’re nervous?”

  “Yes but not for the reason that you probably think.” I’d told the team about my conversation with Buhler. Now I quickly sketched for Mel my encounter with the ATF agents. I hadn’t told the team because the only dots I could connect led me back to Buhler’s own illegal activities.

  She took a deep breath and eyed me. Finally, she spoke, “Dana, I want to be involved in the take down at the farm.”

  I thought about that for a minute. “Is this some sort of vendetta thing? Evening the score, perhaps?”

  She gave me a harder stare than just moments before. “I can’t believe you would think that. Yes, I admit, Delores, Relic – whatever you want to call her – and crew deserve their day in court and I hope they never again see the outside of a jail cell, but I’m a professional. I’m not going to be gunning for anyone.”

  “So why do you feel you need to be there?”

  “Lots of reasons: First, as a representative of local law enforcement. Second, to follow up on the counterfeiting angle. If those guys that you tangled with were ATF, then we still owe the Service at least a look and a call if things pop up in their line of interest. I’m betting you’re going to be a little busy with customs stuff...” She trailed off.

  “Go on.”

  I’d caught her out. “Um, that’s it really... except, well, I could watch your back...”

  “We’ve been over this Mel. I’m a big girl too and a federal agent. I can take care of myself and I’ll have a team of agents to watch my back, so to speak.” I made air quotes to emphasize my point.

  She bristled at that. I looked at her face and I knew I was about to give in and be powerless to stop myself. “Have you ever been on a big bust before?”

  I could tell she came to a decision. “Look, Dana, I can hold my own but, if it makes you feel any better, I can hang back and only come in once your team is in full control. I don’t need to be on the bust team, per se. I can just be an observer.”

  I leaned back. She’s giving me an out; a way to pair her need to be there with my desire to keep her safe and sound, out of harm’s way...I’m guilty of the same line of thinking that she is! “Okay, okay. You can observe but you can’t interfere until and unless we find evidence of the counterfeiting operation there.”

  “Okay”.

  She didn’t look satisfied with our compromise but it was all I was willing to give on the matter.

  Chapter 30 - Rodeo

  Dana

  Mel’s second and third shift patrol units had been briefed to watch for outside the norm activity along Route 44. I had hesitated to do the brief but the department really did seem to have no involvement in shady dealings after the murder of Sheriff Carter.

  Beginning at nightfall, Tim and I, a team leader from the Columbus office and Mel as an observer, were in a tactical van about a mile up Route 44, past the farm. We’d move in, along with other team members staged nearby, when our surveillance reported we should move. Mel would roll with the other three of us but she had agreed to stay behind in the van until the all clear sounded.

  Mel had a radio to communicate with her patrol deputies. They were under radio silence in the area unless they saw something unusual. They would report to her and then she would report directly to me.

  Sometime after 10:00 PM, a milk tanker truck rumbled up the street past our van. The driver never even glanced about. He just went on about his business. A county cruiser passed minutes later. I turned to Mel. “How often do they patrol this road?”

  “There’s no set schedule but on 2nd and 3rd shift, two deputies work a lot of the area around here. They’re both likely to pass through once in a while. It wouldn’t be unusual.”

  “I’m going to hold you to that. I don’t want this op blown because your guys go cowboy.”

  “Roger, Special Agent.”

  Her tone was harsh. My stomach was already in a knot and now I had a cranky lover come County Sheriff on my hands. Not much I can do to placate her with the two other agents here... she’s just going to have to get over herself!

  My thoughts were interrupted by a hail from the radio. Ron was calling as he did aerial surveillance. He would be up and down throughout the night.

  “Unit four, unit one. Go.”

  “Unit one, be advised vehicle that last entered compound parked near target area. Also be advised; black, ¾ ton van moving east toward your location. Over.”

  “Roger.” I grinned inwardly. We were also in a black ¾ ton van... a well hidden one. I turned the already low radio down another notch even though I knew the van was virtually soundproof.

  “Unit four out.”

  “Were we made?” Tim asked.

  “I doubt it.”

  “Who then?”

  “Maybe their own guys looking out for the shipment or maybe a rival?” I shrugged. I really didn’t have an answer. We sat quietly for another few minutes. Ron hailed again jolting me from my “what if” swirl of thoughts.

  “Unit one, black van is taking up a covert position on the Amish farm. Over.”

  “Roger.” Interesting!

  “Unit four out.”

  I eyed Tim and the Columbus team leader, John. “Looks like we have company.” Tim pulled up a map and showed John the farm in question. Both men began radioing the field teams about the added danger.

  Mel looked at each of us. “I can move a deputy into position to block their exit if they start moving.”

  “That’s pretty risky Sheriff. We don’t know what they’d be getting into,” I told her.

  “They’re positioned closer than we are Rossi,” Tim addressed me more formally during an op. “If all hell breaks loose and they aren’t blocked, they may get up there first. We’d be walking into an ambush.”

  He’s right... what to do?

  “Well?” Mel asked.

  “Can you put a couple of patrol cruisers on standby in the nearby area? They may have to roll fast.”

  “I can put the whole force out there if you need them.”

  “Two will do. But, can you do it covertly? We don’t know what they’re monitoring now but I’d be willing to bet police radio traffic is a given.”

  Mel took out her personal cell and turned it on. After a series of calls and pass offs, the arrangements were made. When she was finished she turned the phone back off and nodded in my direction, a look of confidence on her face.

  “Thank you. When it’s time to move, you can, of course, use your radio or ours.”

&nb
sp; “Yeah. All bets will be off then!” was John’s response. A nervous grin was all I could muster.

  Another hour passed and then two. I checked the time... 12:41. This could go down any time... if it goes down.

  Several minutes later, a ground team began reporting separate pickup trucks and a car, all with single occupants, moving down 44 toward the farm. There was such low traffic on the road this late, I figured I could assume with near certainty that these were the hands reporting back to do the unload. Confirmation came from the two men staged with a view of the big barn with the loading dock. This will go down tonight!

  We got a quick observation report that several vehicles had entered the farm, parked in the target area and that individuals had entered the target barn. After that, the radios went silent. I was wound as tight as a spring now. Something was definitely brewing but the waiting game was grating on my nerves. I checked the time for probably the one hundredth time – 1:22 AM.

  The four of us sat staring at each other in the low light. Occasionally, I would stare at the radio, trying to will it to squawk to life. I watched as John dipped his head from side to side to stretch his neck. I rolled my own shoulders in an effort to release some of the building tension and the pain from sitting, waiting for so long.

  At 1:48 a field unit stationed near the turnoff for Route 44 reported a semi with the Demons owned company name on the door headed in our direction. We sprang to life.

  I turned first to Mel. “Instruct your units to roll, no lights, about a mile behind him and to block the entrance/exit out of the Amish farm.” She got on her radio and relayed the commands.

  Tim got on the tactical radio system and relayed that information to the search team, instructing them to roll forward following behind the dark Muskingum County Sheriff’s cruisers. Then, he turned radio control over to me, jumped in the driver’s seat and brought the van to life.

  I tried to hail the surveillance team. There was no response. A knot formed in the pit of my stomach. I looked at Tim. “They should be far enough out, shouldn’t they, that they can take a radio call with no one hearing them?”

  He wrinkled his brow as he thought about my question while picking his way with the van slowly out of our hiding spot. “I would think, yeah. They have been all along... Phil and Ron scouted all of that...”