All bets were off. Once he had the cash he was outta here. Too much had happened for him to stay around South Florida. He leaned back in the Acura he’d picked up and laid his .357 revolver across his lap, and the .380 he had found in the glove compartment was still in his pocket. He’d know when it was time to act.
SLAYDA “Mac” Nmir, second-generation American, four-year veteran of the FBI, was in the first situation in his whole life where he had gone outside the rules. He had failed to notify anyone at the Bureau that they might have a bad agent. His supervisor didn’t know what he was up to, and in the FBI, control was a big thing. And lastly he had no idea what he was doing. If Tina pulled a gun, he didn’t know what to do. If she admitted to everything, he wasn’t sure how to handle it. And when this was all over, he’d have to explain it to someone and that wouldn’t be pretty. He’d be reviewing wiretap transcripts for another two years if things didn’t happen to fall his way. How did he ever get so far in over his head?
He lingered by the eastern mall entrance, looking across the small courtyard, relieved that there weren’t more patrons.
As he was about to make a short walk around the nearby stores to avoid looking like some kind of stalker, he caught a car out of the corner of his eye. He could just see the Buick and maybe someone moving inside through the back window. It looked like Dooley’s car, but he didn’t see why he’d be here. He had no way of knowing about this meeting. Mac had a twinge in his stomach and wondered if this was what real cops felt when they had a hunch.
TWENTY FIVE
DERRICK Sutter had managed to make it to the table without raising Tina’s suspicions by saying he had saved a table. Then he remembered to sit on the correct side of the napkin holder, all while maintaining his friendly, easygoing smile. This was going to be tough and he knew it. One wrong word and everyone and their brother would know he had the money.
Tina slid in and faced him across the clean table.
The waitress, Shelly, came up. “Can I get you something to drink?”
Tina looked up and said curtly, “Just water for now.”
The waitress wandered off as she muttered, “Figures.”
Sutter tried to look Tina right in the eyes. She was a fine-looking woman. Not as fly as her sister, but nice.
Sutter said, “Why’d you have to check me for a wire? What have you got to hide?”
“I know you took our money, but I don’t know why. Could be profit, maybe it’s something else.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sutter answered, staying calm.
“You see, you’re smart and cold. You could be laying a defense for later.” Her dark eyes cut around the room once, then fell, sharply, back onto Sutter.
Sutter smiled. “I’ll take smart, but cold? No way.”
Tina shook her head. “You broke Jeanie’s heart and I’m pissed about it. But if you give me back our money, I think we can all be friends again.”
“I’m not saying I know what you’re talking about or not, but I’m not clear how you had so much money to lose.” He eyed the napkin holder even though his mind said keep looking into those dark brown eyes.
“That was easy. Men have a weakness for Jeanie. Once the FBI guy, Dooley, saw her, he forgot about leaving the cash in his car.”
“How’d you know Dooley had the cash?”
“This is why I know you’re full of shit. Billy Tasker told me that you thought he had the money in temporary evidence at the task force. A couple of days’ surveillance and he comes out with a plastic bag. We took a chance and it worked. If it’d been something else in the bag, we were gonna hire one of the girls that dance with Jeanie to distract him the next time and keep doing it until we had the money.”
“What if he caught on?”
“Men never think that pretty women are a setup. They always think that women are just attracted to them.”
Sutter nodded, knowing he had enough on tape and that he was safe. He flinched when she reached for a napkin from her side of the holder. She patted her lips then dipped the napkin in her water, splashing a little on the table. She immediately reached for some more napkins. Sutter stayed cool and watched, then, without warning she pulled out the last napkin on her side and with one fluid motion turned the holder around so the hidden recorder faced her. She pulled out a couple more napkins and mopped up the spill.
Tina looked up. “So what’s the verdict? You gonna play ball or do things get ugly?”
Sutter’s eyes reflexively shifted from her to the napkin holder. “It sounds like fat boy Dooley found you out and took it back.”
She hesitated and Sutter caught it.
“What is it?” asked Sutter.
She still paused, then took out another napkin and patted her forehead.
Sutter held his breath. The recorder had to be nearly visible by now.
Tina said, “He knows something, ’cause I had a run-in with him yesterday.”
“What kind of run-in?”
“A nasty one.” She reached for another napkin.
Before Sutter could think of something to say, the waitress walked up. “You guys ready yet?”
Tina answered, “No, still thinking.”
The waitress looked at Sutter. “You’re gonna have to leave if you don’t order soon. I mean, this is a prime table and you and the other two tied it up for almost an hour, now this.”
Sutter nodded. “Yeah, yeah, I know, thanks.”
Tina stared at the waitress, then at Sutter. “What other two? You got partners? Is this a setup?” She reached in her purse and kept her right hand in there. “Don’t move, Derrick. You know what’s in here.”
He nodded slowly.
“Now we’re gonna walk outside and figure this whole thing out.”
“Okay with me,” said Sutter.
DOOLEY watched as Sutter walked out with the girl right beside him. This was it. He had to act while they were together. Hash it all out right now. If they didn’t pay, they could worry about him talking. He knew he couldn’t shoot it out with both of them, but he was ready if someone drew.
He hopped out of the car and started across the lot toward them.
TASKER saw Sutter and Tina come out the front door but immediately knew something was wrong. Sutter didn’t have his normal strut and he looked around like he expected someone else. Then, as Tasker reasoned this out, Sutter raised both his hands like he was being robbed. Something was up. Tasker opened the car door but hesitated. He couldn’t believe Tina would be holding a gun on him. He paused until he noticed someone heading toward them from the parking lot farther south. It took him a second to recognize Tom Dooley, before he realized he had to act and act fast. He raced across the lot, pulling his pistol from his waist.
SUTTER felt his heart race as he raised his hands. He knew it would only last a second but hoped someone caught on to his problem.
Tina said, “Put your hands down, I’m not robbing you.”
“Habit when someone holds a gun on me.”
Tina stayed calm. “Break the habit. We’re in public.”
“What’s the plan now?” Sutter asked as he lowered his hands.
“We go get my money and you explain who your friends were in the restaurant.”
“What if I told you it was Billy?”
“And who else?”
“The FBI agent Mac Nmir.”
“You’re full of shit. Billy wouldn’t come out on this.”
“You know, you’re the cold one. You’d let Billy go to jail to keep that money.”
“He’s not involved. They wouldn’t even take him to trial. Now level with me, who was in the restaurant?”
Before Sutter could formulate an answer, he heard someone else’s voice.
“Look at the two lovebirds. I shoulda figured.” It was Tom Dooley coming up onto the sidewalk.
Sutter still didn’t answer when a black guy behind Dooley said, “Do these young people have my money, Agent Dooley?”
Do
oley twisted as the black guy pulled out a big revolver and leveled it at him.
Sutter felt Tina step away and bring the small .380 out of her purse. As he moved toward the street, she popped off two quick rounds at the black guy. The noise almost deafened Sutter as he dove for the curb and what little cover it offered. He heard Dooley yell, “Hodges, you son-of-a-bitch turd.” Then Dooley had a revolver out, too. Sutter now recognized the black guy as Cole Hodges and knew exactly what was going down.
From the mall side, Mac Nmir came running with a small automatic in his hand.
The noise of the shots seemed to blend into one another as fire came from at least three weapons. He could see the others spread out to find cover, then from the other side of the street he saw Bill Tasker coming toward him, firing on the run at Dooley, trying to cover Sutter as well as he could.
This shit was getting thick.
TASKER didn’t feel anger as he yanked the trigger of his pistol, causing every round to miss the fat profile of Tom Dooley; he just wanted Sutter to get to safety. By the time he reached the sidewalk, everyone had backed to a neutral corner and was firing from behind cover. Tasker closed on Sutter.
“You okay? You okay?” Tasker asked, crouching toward the prone Sutter.
“Yeah.”
Tasker grabbed Sutter’s belt at the rear of his pants, lifted the thin detective to a crouch and said, “Let’s get outta here. Over to the bench.”
They scrambled to a heavy cement bench and turned it on its side. Now Sutter fumbled for his own pistol on his ankle. Tasker could see the civilians racing away from their location. Most Miamians knew what to do in a gunfight and usually had their own gun, but these rich people didn’t move as fast. He prayed no innocent people had been hit.
Tasker looked over and saw the black guy who had started this whole thing against the wall to the east mall entrance. He looked like he’d been hit and was done shooting for now.
Tasker leaned behind the bench again and asked Sutter, “Who the hell is that guy?”
“Cole Hodges.”
“I told you he’s involved!”
Sutter nodded.
“Here for his own cash. I knew he was a crook.”
Sutter said, “You and everyone else.”
“How’d he know who had it?”
Sutter turned to him. “How the fuck does anyone know anything around here? Right now I just don’t want to be shot.”
Tasker nodded his agreement, then he heard Mac’s voice.
“This is the FBI. Throw down your weapons and surrender.”
This brought fire from at least two positions.
Sutter rolled his eyes. “He’s not serious, is he?”
Tasker leaned up again and saw Tina, now bent over but running toward the injured Hodges.
“No, Tina,” Tasker yelled, standing and charging in the same direction. No one fired and he realized he had no idea where Dooley was holed up. He could see Mac come from the entrance as he ran, and heard Sutter following behind him. He turned the corner Tina had just disappeared behind and found her with her pistol on Hodges. Tasker raised his gun.
“Please don’t, Tina.” His voice cracked.
She looked at him. “I’m sorry, Billy,” she said without lowering her gun.
He shuffled closer with his pistol now only four feet from her head. “Drop the gun, Tina.”
Hodges crouched on the ground with his hands over his head.
She didn’t move and Tasker tightened his finger on the trigger.
From behind him, Sutter said, “Drop it, bitch, or you’re dead meat.”
Now Tina looked up at the two guns and the angry black face and let the gun fall from her hand.
Tasker slid forward to kick it out of the way and noticed the blood spreading on the ground from Hodges.
As Mac came racing up, Sutter said, “Get fire rescue now.”
TWENTY SIX
TASKER fell into Mac as the ambulance took the corner toward North Miami Regional Hospital. The young surfer-looking driver leaned back and asked, “Is everyone still alive?” Mac grunted, “Yes,” and pulled himself back onto the small bench next to Tasker. As soon as the Aventura cops had arrived at the mall, Mac flashed his badge and left Sutter to explain things. Tasker knew they were in the ambulance not only to get Cole Hodges’s statement, but to avoid detention by other FBI men when they arrived. Mac was coming around.
Mac said, “Your girlfriend looked pissed in the back of that patrol car.”
Tasker ignored him.
Mac looked down at Hodges as the attendant checked the IV drip. Mac said, “Mr. Hodges, you know what’s going on. I’m an FBI agent and you’re screwed.”
Hodges turned his head slightly. “Dooley’s FBI, too. I’m not impressed.”
Mac nodded. “Touché, Mr. Hodges, but you’ve got a lot of explaining to do.”
Tasker could see this wasn’t getting through to the guy. “Look, Cole, what my formal friend here is saying is that you’ve got one chance to jump on board and make a statement or you get no consideration when the indictments start to fly. If you haven’t started talking by the time this ambulance pulls into the hospital, you won’t get another chance. Understood?” Tasker waited for it to sink into this guy’s head.
Hodges lay silently, looking at Tasker. “Well stated, young man. However, I’m a victim.” He looked across to Mac, then back and asked, “Am I under arrest?” He maintained the same calm, slow, clear speech.
“Yes,” answered both Mac and Tasker at the same time.
“May I inquire as to the charge?” He gave a faint smile.
Mac paused as Tasker jumped in. “Aggravated assault with a firearm. Attempted robbery and related charges from your little gun battle at the most exclusive mall in the county.”
Hodges nodded. “Oh yes. That unfortunate incident. I shall claim self-defense. You will not overcome this defense. In fact, I am already considering a civil rights suit against you should you detain or question me further.”
Mac appeared horrified at the threat. Tasker looked at the older black man more reclining than lying in the stretcher. He really didn’t seem concerned. Was that the lawyer in him or something else? Tasker looked closely at his face, searching for something to unnerve him. As Tasker turned in his seat, he bumped an IV running down to Hodges’s arm, causing the tape on his arm to come up slightly.
“Sorry,” Tasker mumbled, as he leaned down to smooth out the tape. When he held Hodges’s arm, he noticed a significant old scar on the lawyer’s right arm. Tasker thought back to the list of possible identities he’d been given the week before. He patted his shirt pockets, knowing he still had it on him, then reached in his rear pocket and pulled out the single sheet. The eighth name down, Luther Williams, had a description that included a scar on his elbow from an attack received at the Missouri State Penitentiary. Tasker figured it was probably a shiv stuck in him while he took a shower. Could this be the scar from a sharpened metal stick years ago?
Mac looked at Hodges. “So what’s it going to be?”
Hodges let out a sharp laugh. “I’ve already explained it. You have nothing and you never will.” He turned his head in the other direction for effect. He was saying that the interview was over and it looked like Mac accepted that.
Tasker couldn’t let it end like this; he had nothing to lose. He leaned closer to Hodges, but tapped Mac on the arm so he’d pay attention.
“Okay, let’s cut the shit.” He waited for Hodges to slowly turn his head toward him, showing he was barely interested. Tasker continued. “We’re not all the idiots you think we are.”
Hodges grunted, “You couldn’t be as stupid as I think you are. No one could.”
“Tell me, did you develop this attitude while you were in the Missouri pen?”
Hodges reacted. His head jerked before he could try to compose himself.
Tasker touched his scar. “That’s right, I know about the fight in the shower, I know it all.”
&n
bsp; Now Mac looked confused, but he saw Hodges’s obvious reaction and jumped in. “That’s right, we know exactly what’s going on.”
Tasker kept it up. “So, Mr. Williams, or do you prefer to be called Luther? What’s it going to be? You with us or not?”
Hodges considered this. “So I am in custody regardless.”
“You are.”
Hodges nodded to himself, then with a surprisingly strong voice asked, “What’s the deal?”
Mac said, “Just consideration. We’ll speak on your behalf and you get to tell your side first.”
The ambulance took another corner and tossed everyone except Hodges to the rear. He took a moment to reflect. The expressions on his face passed through determination to doubt to resignation, then he said in a quick, sharp tone, “Okay, gentlemen, here’s the thumbnail sketch of the situation.”
Mac and Tasker sat, spellbound.
“Reverend Al Watson apparently withheld some cash from the CCR. Shortly after he retrieved it, Mr. Dooley stole it and the good reverend vanished. I’ll let you look into that. It was my intent to recover the cash from Dooley when all this unpleasantness took place.”
Tasker said, “And you expect us to believe that?”
“For now, yes.”
Mac asked, “Who took the cash from the bank?”
“I assume Reverend Watson.”
Mac kept it up. “And he killed the manager?”
“That would not be out of his character.”
“Did you see any of the news reports about the investigation into the robbery?”
“I heard a few where some cop was a suspect. I know nothing of this. Mr. Dooley had clearly been interested in the cash for some time and we knew it. It wasn’t hard to figure out who took it.”
The ambulance bumped over the entrance to the hospital.
Walking Money Page 22
