He gave her a sideways grin. “Thanks for letting me know. It may turn out to be nothing, but at least it’s something. Right now I’m at a standstill.”
“So, Harbaugh is off your list?”
“Not off, but farther down. Everything he said, and you said about him, checked out. Unless he killed Thacker while on the clock…” he shrugged.
“Who do you think did it?”
He smiled again. “I couldn’t tell you even if I knew. But to be honest, I don’t have any idea. There isn’t anyone I can point to and say ‘I think it’s him, I just have to prove it.’ Nobody seems like a good suspect. Now, about the tests?”
“Nothing,” she replied, her tone saying more than the word.
“Nothing?”
“Nothing. Not one thing looks out of whack to me.”
“You know that doesn’t help me at all, right?”
She grinned. “Sorry. The numbers are what they are.”
He slowly scratched at the side of his face as he thought. “Okay, thanks. Can you keep it up for a little while longer? It’s only been a week.”
“Sure, but for how long? My lab crew is griping about the extra work.”
“I don’t know. At least another few weeks.”
She rolled her eyes. “We’ll do it, but you realize it’s a lot of extra work for us, right?”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I’ll bring in a couple dozen doughnuts tomorrow as a thank you. Will that help?”
She giggled. “It couldn’t hurt. Make some of them chocolate glazed.”
“Chocolate glazed. Got it,” he said. “Tell them thanks for me. They’re helping, even if it doesn’t seem like it.”
“Throw in some of those junior detective badge things, and I think they’ll get over it.”
“Two dozen chocolate glazed doughnuts and a stack of junior detective badges. Anything else?”
She giggled again. “Nope! That ought to do it.”
“Jeez… you’re bankrupting me,” he muttered in a dramatic stage whisper, and then grinned.
Eighteen
“Sean,” he said after picking up the handset of his phone.
“Chief, Mayor Klinger is here to see you,” Terri said.
“Send him back.”
He wondered what the mayor wanted. After the spat over the stew festival, and then the suspension of Danny, Rudy hadn’t bothered him much.
“Chief McGhee, why are you questioning Steve Locoste?” Rudy asked the moment he stepped into Sean’s office.
“What are you talking about?”
“Today, at the wastewater treatment plant. Why were you questioning him?”
“Slow down, mayor. I wasn’t questioning him. I was at the plant to talk to Maggie about some tests she’s running for me. I saw Steve was there and I stopped to say hello. Did he say I was questioning him?”
“Not exactly, but you made him uncomfortable with all your questions. Steve is a member of the city council for Christ sake!”
“All I was doing was talking to him. I asked him about his truck, and a little bit about what he made, and how often he dumped. That’s it. I don’t know why he would be upset about that.”
“I’m telling you, Steve didn’t have anything to do with Thacker’s death.”
“I didn’t say he did.”
“Then why are you questioning him?”
“I just told you I wasn’t. Is there something going on here I need to know about?”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. You tell me. Why are you so defensive?”
“I’m not!”
Sean’s right eyebrow tried to crawl into his hair. “You’re not? Then why are you in my office questioning me?”
“I don’t understand why you are wasting your time on Steve. Almost since you got here, it’s like you’re trying to prove something.”
“I am trying to prove something. I’m trying to find out and prove who killed Boyd Thacker.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
“What are you talking about then?”
“First you didn’t take care of the protestors like I asked. Then—”
“They were within their legal right to protest if they wanted to,” Sean interrupted. “I’m not going to start arresting people on some bullshit, trumped up charge, just because you don’t like what they have to say. There’s this thing called the First Amendment. I can get you a copy if you need to see it.”
“This is what I’m talking about!”
“What?”
“You seem to be going out of your way to stir up trouble!”
“By refusing to harass people who are not breaking the law, I’m stirring up trouble? Are you serious?”
“It’s not just that. You refused to do anything to help get the town out of the news, and—”
“By refusing to arrest a woman with no evidence of wrongdoing? That’s what you’re talking about?”
“And now you’re harassing a member of the city council!”
“You do realize Steve Locoste and Kevin Harbaugh are the only people we’ve been able to find with opportunity to dump the body in the ditch, right?”
“And Maggie!”
“No, Maggie may have had motive, but no opportunity.”
“Well it had to be Harbaugh then,” Rudy said, his voice firm.
“His story checked out, just like Steve’s.”
“So, you were questioning him?”
“Not today, but yes, I’ve talked to him. I went to his plant and he showed me around.”
“And?”
“And nothing.”
“So why are you still harassing him?”
Sean took a moment to collect himself. He was just about fed up with Mayor Rudy Klinger’s meddling. He stood up from behind his desk so he could look Rudy in the eye.
“I’m going to say this one last time, mayor, so listen good. So long as I’m the head of this department, my officers and I are going to go where the evidence takes us, no matter where that is. If the evidence leads to Kevin Harbaugh, then that’s where I’m going to go. If it leads to Steve Locoste, then that’s where I’ll go. Do I make myself clear?”
“Investigating a member of the city council on a murder charge is bad shit, Sean! Can’t you see that? We’ll be in all the newspapers and on the news!”
“To be honest, mayor, I really don’t care. If Steve is Boyd Thacker’s murderer, I have absolutely no qualms about throwing his ass in jail. My question is, how would anyone know who I’m investigating? I haven’t talked to the press. Have you?”
“No, but that’s beside the point.”
“No, that’s exactly the point. I don’t talk about active cases. That seems to be what you do.”
Rudy flinched. “I made a mistake. It won’t happen again.”
“Then what are you worried about?”
“I don’t like you questioning members of the city council. Are you going to be questioning the other council members next? Do you think I did it? I don’t understand why you aren’t out looking for the real killer.”
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“Sean, look, I know you’re from a big department in a big city,” Rudy began in a placating tone. “Maybe things work differently where you come from. But this is Brunswick, North Carolina. City council members don’t go around killing people. That’s all I’m saying.”
“You’re implying Boston council members do?”
“I didn’t say that! Why do you keep putting words in my mouth?”
“I’m trying to figure out why you’re always in my office, or on my phone, trying to tell me how to do my job. You want to be the chief? You know how to make that happen.”
“This is what I’m talking about!”
“What?”
“You’re always so confrontational!”
“You’re saying I should just try to get along?”
“Yes!”
“And not worry about where
the evidence points?”
“No! Dammit, Sean. Do you have an axe to grind with me?”
“No. But I’m not going to let you tell me how to run this investigation, either. Having you in here trying to warn me off Steve only makes me wonder what you know that I don’t.”
“You think I’m covering for him?” Rudy asked, his eyes opening wide.
“I don’t know. Are you?”
“No!”
“So, you have no problem with me arresting Steve if he turns out to be guilty?”
“I’m telling you, he didn’t do it!”
“But if I find evidence he did, are you going to be in my office telling me to cover it up?”
“No!”
“That’s all I wanted to hear. I don’t care if the murderer is someone who works at the wastewater plant, is on the city council, or someone else. Eventually we’ll find and apprehend him, and if you try to interfere with that process, you’re going find yourself sitting in a cell alongside them. Have I made myself abundantly clear?”
Rudy gaped at him a moment. “Are you threatening me?”
“Not at all. I’m simply stating that anyone who interferes with a police investigation is going to face the consequences, no matter who they are.”
Rudy glared at Sean a moment. “I think we have an understanding,” he growled before he pivoted on his toe and stomped out.
Sean sat down and leaned back in his chair with a deep sigh, wondering what he’d gotten himself into. He’d never had to deal with stuff like this before. In Boston, his captain had acted as a buffer between himself, the politicians, and the press.
He glanced at the clock on the computer screen and sighed again. It was only four, but Rudy had spoiled any desire to work in the office. He picked up the keys to Danny’s cruiser. He was using a regular patrol car instead of his own unmarked car, for higher visibility when on patrol, and walked out to start his shift.
-oOo-
Officer Limbrose requesting assistance with a 10-73 at the Shell station on Main, Paul’s voice came over the radio.
“McGhee responding,” Sean said into the mic, flipping on the strobes and putting his foot down, the Dodge Charger roaring as it accelerated.
He hadn’t learned all the codes for the city yet, but having Paul call for help was all he needed to hear. He gave the siren a yelp, and then weaved around traffic at a stoplight as he turned onto Main, the Dodge bellowing as it once again strained for speed. He could see the emergency beacons on Paul’s car flashing in the road ahead.
He pulled into the parking lot of the Shell station, leaving his strobes flashing as he stepped out of the car. Paul was talking to a disheveled man with long greasy gray hair. Blood was oozing from a cut on his chin, and the man kept putting his hands up in a warding off gesture as he slowly backed away from Paul.
“What seems to be the problem here,” Sean said, using his cop voice as he stepped out of his cruiser.
“Where’s my dog?” the man asked, still slowly backing away, his hands out in front of him, one of them bleeding from scratches on the palm.
The man was gaunt, and badly in need of a shower and shave. His clothes were faded, dirty, mismatched, and ill fitting, and his red sneakers had seen better days.
“Take it easy, okay?” Sean said, softening his voice slightly. “Nobody’s going to hurt you.” He turned to Paul. “What’s the story?”
“He was walking down the middle of the road. Not only was he causing problems with traffic, but I was afraid he was going to get run over in the dark. When I pulled up behind him, he ran over here.”
“Why’s he bleeding?”
“He fell. Tripped over the curb or something. I didn’t see what caused it. He’s almost completely nonresponsive. He wasn’t hurting anyone but I don’t think he’s all there either.”
“Hey, buddy” Sean said in a less confrontational tone. “What’s your name? Are you on something?”
“I want my dog!” the man cried, his voice grating and slurred.
“Where’s your dog?”
“I’m looking for him.”
“Did you see a dog?” Sean asked Paul.
“No. Before he was looking for his sister.”
Sean pulled on a pair of black leather gloves then reached for the derelict.
“What’s your name? You have some ID on you? Anything sharp in your pockets I should know about?”
“Don’t touch me!” the man said, jerking away.
“Is there someone I can call to come get you?”
“My sister.”
“What’s your sister’s name?”
“Magnolia.”
“Magnolia? That’s a pretty name. What’s her last name?”
“She don’t have no last name.”
Sean’s lips thinned. This wasn’t going to be easy.
“Get an ambulance rolling,” Sean said to his fellow officer. “He’s either on something or, you’re right, he’s not all there.”
Sean turned his attention back to the derelict as Paul talked into the radio on his shoulder.
“Hey, old timer. I want you to come sit on the curb over here a minute, okay? You got any ID? Can you tell me your name?” Sean asked as he reached for the man’s arm again.
“Don’t touch!” the old man said as he recoiled. “I have to find my dog.”
“We’ll find your dog for you. I want you to sit down.”
“I have to go,” the man said as he turned and started walking away.
“Hey, old timer,” Sean said as he took the man by the arm. “I need—”
The man shrieked in fear or rage as Sean took his arm, whirling on Sean and taking a swing at him. Sean was prepared for that and ducked back out of range. He released the man and backed off, not wanting to escalate the situation if he didn’t have to.
“I need for you to show me some ID, if you have it. I also want you to come over here sit down the curb. I want you to do it now,” Sean said, his tone controlled but brooking no argument.
“I have to go!” the man screamed, backing away again.
“Get ready to tase him,” Sean said softly.
Paul pulled his Taser and pointed it at the man. “Are you sure about this? We have an audience,” he said softly.
Sean glanced at the mini-mart. There were three people standing outside the door, along with another at a gas pump, watching the drama unfold.
“If he doesn’t comply this time, zap him. Less chance of hurting him than fighting with him.” Sean returned his attention to the old man. “Pops, this is about to get bad for you. I want you to come sit on the curb, now, or I’m going to have Officer Limbrose tase you for your own protection. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“I’m going! I’ve got to find my sister!” The man turned and started walking back toward the street.
“Light him up,” Sean ordered.
Paul fired, the two darts hitting the man in the back as the Taser chattered, pumping high voltage electricity into his body.
As the electrical pulses disrupted his nervous system, the old man went stiff before crumpling to the ground, bellowing into the night as he kicked his legs, and then relaxed as the electrical discharge that had immobilized him ceased. The officers moved in and quickly restrained the man, pulling his hands behind his back and slapping on the cuffs before he could recover. As the man lay face down on the ground, Sean patted him down but found nothing, not even a wallet.
“Dammit. Why couldn’t you listen?” Paul muttered as they rolled the man over and sat him up.
“Hey, old timer! You okay?” Sean asked. When the man didn’t respond, he looked to Paul. “Hand me your light.”
Sean could hear the distant wail of the approaching ambulance as Paul unclipped his penlight and handed it over. He opened the man’s eyes with his fingers and looked into them. The pupils were dilated and didn’t respond much when he shined the light into one eye then the other. He wasn’t a doctor, but that was a sure sign something wa
s going on other than the man was just being difficult.
“Do you have some disposable cuffs?” Sean asked.
“In the car.”
“Danny’s car is closer. See if there are some in it. I have a feeling pops here isn’t going to want to go with the paramedics.”
The old man was starting to come around, the effects of the taser and his fall wearing off.
“We’re going to get you some help, okay?” Sean said, rising to his feet but keeping his hand on the old man’s shoulder in case he decided to try to get up.
Paul rose and trotted to Danny’s car, opened the trunk, and after rummaging a moment, returned with four sets of plastic binders. The cuffs looked like extra-wide zip ties that formed two loops when the ends looped back through a central locking mechanism.
Sean took them and dropped them on the ground nearby in case he needed them as Paul went to direct the ambulance to their location.
After the big orange and white rig rocked to a stop, its orange, white and red lights flashing, a man and woman stepped out.
“What’ve you got?” the woman asked.
“We found him wandering in the road. He’s not responsive to commands, his speech is slightly slurred, and he’s not steady on his feet. No ID or narcotics found on his person. His pupils are dilated and sluggish, and he’s combative. We tased him when he started to go back into the road so we didn’t have to wrestle him down,” Sean explained.
Sean stepped back and watched the medical team go to work. The man was just as argumentative with them, thrashing and kicking, as they tried to look him over.
“I would say he’s definitely on something, and has been for a long time,” the woman said as she stood. “Did you see his teeth?”
The geezer had nubs for most of his teeth, and what few teeth he did have were black and rotted looking.
“Yeah. Meth.”
“That’s my guess. He needs to see a doctor.”
“This isn’t going to go easy.”
The woman smiled, but there was no humor in it. “It never is.”
Sean crouched in front of the man. “Hey, old timer. We’re going to send you to the hospital, okay? You going to help us out with that?”
“Don’t want to go to no doctor.”
“Sorry, buddy. The nice lady said you needed to go. If I take the cuffs off, are you going to cooperate?”
Deadly Waters (A Sean McGhee Mystery Book 1) Page 16
