by Mary Burton
Novak made the introductions. “We’d like to see Lana Ortega’s room. My partner should be here any minute with a search warrant.”
“Yes, I’ve spoken to Detective Riggs. Let me go ahead and escort you upstairs. As he requested, we have not cleaned the room.”
“Good.”
They rode the elevator to the fifth floor, and Mr. Young hurried to room 521. He unlocked the door. “Would you like me to stay?”
“It’s not necessary.”
“I’ll wait in the lobby for your partner.”
“Thank you.”
Novak and Julia watched him glance back at them before he stepped on the elevator.
“The manager was anxious to get us out of the lobby,” Julia said. “Cops aren’t good for business, I suppose.”
“I look like a cop,” he said as he pulled on gloves. “You do not.”
She pulled latex gloves from her leather coat pocket. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
He studied the rumpled bed. Lace underwear and a silk slip were tossed carelessly on the floor next to a pair of sparkling Louboutin high heels. A half-dozen dresses hung in the closet. “She liked the nice things,” he said, studying a red dress that still had a $2,000 price tag.
“She was always dressed well. Benny expected her to look her best. One time she wore a sweatshirt and jeans, and Benny hit her. Never again, he told her.”
“How long was Lana with Benny?”
“At least three years. She was eighteen when she met him. Came from a poor family. She was the oldest of six. Her catching Benny’s attention was a coup for her family. The drug dealer and the girl from the projects, a gangster Cinderella story.”
He crouched by the closet and studied the neat line of shoes. “You spend a lot of time with Lana?”
“Some. When she was upset she would sit at the bar and drink her pink cosmos. She wasn’t smart enough to know she shouldn’t have been talking to me or anyone about Benny. I mostly listened.”
“What can you tell me about Lana?”
“She loved Benny, though I wouldn’t describe it as a healthy relationship. He basically bought her from her family and considered her chattel. When a business deal or life wasn’t going well, he liked to hit her. Even Lana didn’t deserve that.”
“What was your relationship with her like?”
“She liked me, believe it or not. She said I was a good listener and understood her problems.”
“Ever consider Benny sent her to test you?”
“I did. I assumed every moment of that assignment was a test. I was so careful. I parsed every word I spoke.” She picked up a silver watch on the nightstand and inspected it before replacing it. “I listened to her when she talked about her hopes and dreams. She always talked about going to school. She wanted respect, and there were moments when I thought if I found the magic words, she’d leave him and go back home to her family. But, of course, that wouldn’t have helped my investigation much, would it? So the loving and beating continued on.”
“Was she involved in his business?”
“No, but she wanted to be. She thought Benny would value her more if she could help him with his business. She was always bugging him about doing more.” She frowned. “She would have done anything for Benny. Loyal to the end.”
“Do you think he blames her for all his troubles?”
“Of course. Benny is a coward and a bully. He doesn’t have the guts to put any of his troubles on himself.”
“And he’d kill her?”
“Benny would boil his own mother in oil if he thought it would benefit him. It would be like Benny to have someone string her up to send a message to me.”
Novak moved into the bathroom, staring at the counter littered with all kinds of beauty products. Bella always had her share of girl crap, but he’d taken it in stride. He’d counted the days until her bathroom wasn’t an ongoing mess. Now that it was sparkling clean, he found the uncluttered counters, polished mirrors, and folded towels lonely and sad. Hard to believe one kid could eat up so much of his life.
“Look what I have here,” Julia said from the other room.
He found her standing by an expensive suitcase, holding up a kilo bag filled with white powder. “Cocaine.”
“Think she was distributing drugs for Benny while he’s away?” Novak asked.
“She wanted to be a part of his business. This was her opportunity to prove herself to him. Show she loved him unconditionally.”
“How would he react to that?”
She set the bag back in the suitcase. “If she didn’t have his permission, not well. With his paranoia, he would see it as betrayal.”
The hotel room door opened, and they found Riggs, dressed in a navy-blue suit, polished black shoes, and a dark silk tie. Riggs smiled as he extended his hand to Julia. “Julia, good to see you again. Any luck on the Hangman case?”
“Just getting into the case when Lana was murdered,” she said. The ease in her tone evaporated as she spoke to his partner. She wasn’t rude, but there was a layer of ice there that he’d heard when she spoke to everyone but her aunt and sometimes him.
“I saw the crime-scene photos,” Riggs said. “Looks like the same guy, but makes no sense why he’d go dark for twenty-five years. Novak, I did get information on Alexi Popov. The old file hit my desk an hour ago,” Riggs said.
“And?” Novak asked.
“Popov really was a nasty son of a bitch. He was convicted of drug trafficking, and thanks to Jim Vargas, the guy was sentenced to life in prison. He would have been looking at a death sentence, but the key witness refused to testify.”
Julia straightened. “Who was it?”
“Rene Tanner,” Riggs said.
Novak felt a rush as the pieces of a case fell into place. “Were the names Vicky Wayne, Tamara Brown, or Rita Gallagher mentioned in the files at all?”
“I haven’t had time to read the entire file, but I don’t remember any other Hangman victims on Popov’s witness list,” Riggs said.
“We have reason to believe Rene and Tamara were confidential informants for Jim Vargas,” Novak said. “Rita worked at Billy’s and was Rene’s friend. The only one without a direct connection to Jim Vargas is Vicky Wayne.”
“Popov was in jail at the time of the Hangman murders,” Julia said. “He died in his sleep ten years later in his prison cell.”
“Guy like that had a long reach,” Riggs said. “So after Rene decides not to testify, Popov decides to have her killed?”
“If he wanted to make a public statement, it was the way to do it. Anyone thinking about testifying would think twice,” Novak said.
“The Hangman murders also were an opportunity to pull in Jim, who’d transferred to homicide. They all occurred in his jurisdiction,” Julia said.
“Logical,” Novak said. “But why Lana?”
“I don’t know. Maybe Benny took a page from Popov’s playbook and is killing two birds with one stone,” Julia said.
“When you were undercover, did you ever find a connection between Benny and Popov’s family operation?” Novak asked.
“No, but I know the Popov family still controls a large part of the drug trade. Benny wasn’t the big fish. I was just using him to get up the food chain.”
Riggs nodded. “Benny kills a potential witness and also sends a message to Agent Vargas that he’s not forgotten her.”
“It’s time I paid Benny a visit,” Novak said.
Novak kept a tight hold on his emotions as he and Julia showed their badges to the guard at the front desk of the Richmond Correctional Facility. They crossed from the carpeted reception area through the double doors that led onto tile floor, a clear signal they were now on the incarceration side. Standing in front of a set of small lockers, Novak opened one of the doors and stowed his gun inside. Julia did the same.
“I’m talking to Benny alone,” Novak said.
Julia hesitated. “I’m not afraid to face him. And I can keep my temp
er in check.”
“I didn’t say you were afraid or unable to control yourself. But you’ll be a distraction. Better I’m alone. He doesn’t know me, and that might throw him off.”
Her jaw tensed. “I’ll wait.”
He moved down the hallway and into a small visiting room furnished with one table and two simple chairs. He selected the seat away from the door and sat with his back to the wall.
He leaned back and unbuttoned his coat as he watched the door and waited for Benny Santiago to enter. He was struggling with his temper. This guy had hurt Julia. She’d dodged Novak’s rape question when he’d asked her straight up, but he’d seen the tension rippling through her body. He knew exactly what had happened to her. And it now was his personal mission to make sure this animal never walked the streets again.
Outside the room, he heard the rattle of cuffs mingle with footsteps before a deputy opened the door. Benny was dressed in a loose-fitting jumpsuit that hung on his lean frame. His dark hair was slicked back, and a stubbled beard covered his face.
As another deputy stood behind him, Benny raised his gaze, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Novak. He waited while the deputy sat him in the chair across from Novak and cuffed his hands to the table. The deputy motioned for his partner to shut the door while he took several steps back.
“Who are you?” Benny asked.
“Detective Novak,” he said.
Benny looked bored. “I don’t know you. What do you want with me?”
Ignoring the statement, Novak addressed Benny’s question. “Wanted to see what you look like.” He let the answer soak in while he stared with no expression.
A nervous smirk lifted the corner of Benny’s mouth. “Why the fuck would you care what I look like?”
“Like to know who I’m going to be coming after.” His voice was calm, no hint of anger.
Benny slouched back in his seat. “You’re really scaring me, Detective. Really. Why do I suddenly deserve your attention, Detective Novak? If you haven’t heard, I’m headed to prison for a long time.”
“When’s the last time you saw your girlfriend?”
Benny grinned. “Which one? I got about five or six of ’em right now.”
“Lana Ortega.”
“Who?”
“When’s the last time you saw Lana?”
Hearing Lana’s name didn’t seem to register with him. “I don’t know.”
“In the courthouse on Monday?”
“I couldn’t say. There was a lot going on that day.”
“Lana is a real pain in your ass, isn’t she? She made a big scene that day. An important guy like you doesn’t like big scenes. You like to fly below the radar. Thank God she’s loyal to you, which is good considering how much she knows about your operation.”
“Is she talking?”
Did he not know that Lana was dead, or was he playing some kind of game? Novak could play along for now. “She’s friends now with the commonwealth’s attorney and getting some nice gifts and favors.”
Benny sniffed and glanced at his nails. “You going to tell me if there’s a point to all this?”
“Why would a big shot like you need a woman like that as a punching bag?” he asked.
Benny leaned in. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Novak grinned. “You lost your shit thinking Lana betrayed you when it actually was the cop.” He baited the hook. “And the funniest part is you could have taken off and not been caught with all that coke in the trunk of your car.”
Benny’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Novak. “You’ve been talking to Lana?”
“Lana says I’m a good listener.” The lie tumbled over his tongue like the gospel truth. Lying to a guy like Benny was all part of the job. “And as it turns out, she can be pretty chatty when you treat her right. She’s a good-looking woman.”
Benny’s lips pursed, and he mumbled an oath under his breath. “She wouldn’t be stupid enough to talk to a cop.”
Novak tapped his index finger on the table. “She did it before.”
He tensed. “Lana has shit for brains, but she’s loyal. She loves me. She wouldn’t betray me.”
“You beat her up pretty bad. Think that wins you long-term loyalty?”
His brown eyes narrowed. “What are you saying?”
“Maybe Lana is a lot smarter than she lets on.”
“It was that cop that was spying on me.”
“Correct, Benny. Lana had your back until you beat her up that night. After that, she cut a deal with the cops. I think Lana’s show of loyalty to you at the courthouse deserves an Oscar.”
“Fuck you.”
“No, pal, but that’s exactly what Lana is doing to you now.”
Benny sat back, the chains of his handcuffs rattling. “You think I didn’t know about Lana?”
“You didn’t have a clue,” Novak said.
“I’ve known all along she’d turn on me.”
Novak leaned forward, his fists resting on the edge of the table. “Is that why you had her killed, Benny?”
Benny stared at him. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
Novak hesitated, letting him squirm in the silence. “I thought you would have heard. Lana is dead.”
Benny shook his head. “The hell she is. I just saw her in court. You’re jerking my chain. What the hell kind of game is this?”
Novak reached in his breast pocket and pulled out several pictures taken at the crime scene of her face. He laid them faceup, one at a time, like playing cards. At first Benny didn’t look, but as the prisoner seemed to sense the detective’s unwavering confidence, he looked down.
Benny simply stared. He swallowed. Finally, he reached for a picture. His cuffs prevented him from touching it.
Novak gently pushed the picture within Benny’s reach.
Benny’s gaze scanned the photo, but he didn’t touch the image at first. Then he picked up the picture that featured Lana’s pale drawn face, blue lips, and partly open eyes. He shoved the image away. “This is some kind of trick.”
“No trick. I came here today to find out what you really thought about Lana and if you hated her enough to kill her.”
He dropped the picture and leaned back. “I didn’t kill her.”
Novak gathered the pictures and slowly and carefully stacked them into a neat pile. He tucked them back into his breast pocket. “Now, because of Lana’s murder, I’m wondering if your boss is coming after you next. I’m not sure you have the connections in prison to stay safe.”
Benny drew in a breath, all traces of arrogance gone from his eyes.
“Now, if you say you didn’t hang Lana, maybe Popov’s crew was in on it?”
“Popov? Fuck.” He sat up straight. “I don’t associate with that crazy Russian family. Ever.”
“So you know the family?”
“Who doesn’t?”
“It might take me time, but I’ll prove that you had her killed or knew she was going to be killed. And then your slick attorney won’t be scrambling to get an appeal to keep you out of prison. She’ll be fighting to keep you off death row.”
“This is bullshit,” Benny hissed. “I didn’t kill her.”
Novak rose, wondering now if Benny’s righteous anger was real or another act. The dealer was smart. “Next time I see you it’ll be in court, and the commonwealth’s attorney will be filing first-degree murder charges.” He leaned forward, knowing Benny was a cockroach whose number-one goal was survival. “What do you think Popov’s family will do when they hear you’ve been copycatting a play from their game book?”
“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.” Benny tried to stand, but the cuffs kept him in place. “You can’t go spreading shit that I’m challenging Popov. This is bullshit.”
“I can do whatever I want.”
Benny’s frustrated curses followed Novak out into the hallway. Novak smiled.
The door closed, and Novak turned to the deputy in the
hallway. “He’s going to want to call his attorney. Can you keep him in isolation?”
“Sure, how long do you want him to stew?”
“Let him stew for a day. And when he does meet with her, let me know, would you?”
“Will do.”
Novak thanked the deputy and walked the hallway to the guard station. Both he and Julia collected their guns and headed straight to his car without saying a word. In his car, he started the engine as she stared out at large white clouds.
“How did it go?” she asked.
“I showed him a picture of Lana’s face right after she was cut down. I certainly rattled his cage.”
She tipped her face toward the sun. “Did he look surprised?”
“His face drained instantly. Not even a great actor could pull that off.”
“Novak, he can fake it well enough when he wants to. Benny can also be charming when it suits. Above all, he’s cunning. Though I’ll say he’s not very creative. And I don’t remember him having an obsession with ropes.” She rubbed her thumb against a silver ring on her index finger.
“He wasn’t faking.”
“Are the guards going to let him simmer for a while before he gets a phone call to his lawyer?”
“They said they’d keep him in isolation until tomorrow.”
“Perfect. He hates being by himself. His paranoia and doubts will work on him.”
Novak sat back, enjoying sitting alone with her. When she was around, he felt more alive.
“If not Benny, then who? Killing Lana wasn’t random.”
“No, it wasn’t. We need to dig deeper into your father’s case. Solve that one and we might get a double out of it.”
“Even better.”
His phone rang and displayed his partner’s number. “Riggs.”
“I found Rita Gallagher’s brother, Brad. He works in Southside at a construction site.” He gave the address. Novak thanked Riggs and pulled out, turning south to head across the river. “Brad Gallagher’s been found.”
“This should be interesting.”
The drive took less than a half hour, and it was four thirty when they pulled into the gravel parking lot. By the looks of things, the construction company was renovating an older building, giving it a face-lift to fit the style of the new owner.
