Relentless

by Shawn Wilson

  Had she been tased? Brick knew he might never know for sure. The remote possibility of a second autopsy disappeared when Maria’s body was loaded on a plane bound for Guatemala. Brick set the autopsy report aside and read through the investigative files for Jose and Maria. Both were still fresh in his memory, but he needed to satisfy himself that he hadn’t missed something. Even something that seemed insignificant before could be important now, but nothing struck him as overlooked. He closed the files and thought about something Ron had said. At the time, Brick adamantly denied that pursuing this case wasn’t about discrediting Blancato. But was that part of his motivation on a subconscious level? How honest was he being with himself?

  Brick decided to take a break from his self-analysis. Given the empty shelves in his refrigerator, a trip to the Safeway was long overdue. He picked up his keys and headed toward the door but only made it halfway when his cellphone rang. Answer or ignore? Seeing who was calling made the decision easy.

  “Tracy, how’s it going?”

  “Got a minute?” she asked.

  Brick raised his voice so he could compete with the traffic noise at her end. “For you, I’ve got two.”

  “You didn’t hear this from me, our girl had … hang on … fire trucks.”

  For a several seconds, Brick held the phone away from his ear, impatiently waiting for the sirens to fade. Whatever Tracy had to say, he was anxious to hear.

  “Okay, according to the ME, our girl had bruises consistent with being tased. It didn’t kill her—cause of death was asphyxiation. It’s probably how the perp subdued her. Anyway, we’re deliberately keeping it quiet, but I thought you should know.”

  “I appreciate it and I understand. And something for your ears only, our crack evidence guys missed something.” Brick went on to tell her about the recovered taser dots.

  “Holy shit. What do you plan to do with them?”

  “I’ve already called in a favor and just waiting to get the serial number off the dots. Then I can track down the make and model of the taser, find out where they’re sold …”

  “Maybe get a lead on where Jimmy Hoffa’s buried.”

  Brick chuckled. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to bust your chops. That’s not going to be easy, but if anyone can do it—”

  “That’s more like it.”

  This time Tracy laughed. “If I hear anything else, I’ll let you know.”

  “Thanks,” Brick said. “I’ll do the same.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  ON MONDAY AT 7:55 a.m., Brick stood outside the Dupont Circle building where Lily Nguyen’s law office was located on the second floor. He pressed the button on the intercom next to Nguyen’s name. No response. Brick wasn’t surprised. Her office, like that of the CPA on the first floor, was dark. No signs of life. Brick shook his head. Had he always thought in terms of life and death or was that an occupational hazard from too many years on the job. But wouldn’t a normal person just see the office as being closed? Maybe in time Brick would think more along those lines, but he doubted he’d ever describe himself as normal. Then again, what is normal? Abnormal—that was easy. He saw evidence of it every day. No longer from the front-row seat most cops occupy; but all he had to do was watch the news or step outside his door. Normal, who the hell knows? Although since he wasn’t expressing these thoughts out loud, lacing them with expletives and shouting at passersby, he took that as a good sign.

  Brick glanced at his watch; ten minutes had passed. It wasn’t as if he had an actual appointment. Maybe Lily had gone directly to court. He’d give her a few more minutes. At 8:25 a.m., just as he was ready to walk away, Brick saw her turn the corner onto M Street. She stopped to get a newspaper before continuing down the street.

  “This is a surprise. I really didn’t expect you’d show up, Detec—or I guess it’s Mr. Kavanagh now.” She made no apologies for having kept him waiting.

  “Just call me Brick.”

  “How’s life as a civilian?”

  Brick picked up a hint of sarcasm in Lily’s question. “I’m adjusting.”

  She unlocked the outer door to the building, entered a code into the keypad on the wall, then proceeded up a flight of stairs to her office. Brick followed, enjoying the view.

  Lily’s IKEA-furnished office contrasted sharply with the no-expense-spared high-powered law firms located a few blocks away. Proof there’s a whole lot more money in lobbying than in representing indigent clients. But the District’s Criminal Justice Act ensured court-appointed attorneys would be assigned to take on overflow cases from the Public Defender Service. CJA attorneys, as they were commonly called, weren’t likely to get rich, but they could count on steady work. Lily sat down at her desk and motioned for Brick to take a seat in one of the chairs across from her.

  “Okay, so tell me, why are you here?”

  To say she was direct was an understatement, but Brick liked her no-nonsense style. He responded in kind. “Taser dots.”

  Lily knitted her brow. “Excuse me?”

  Brick briefly explained what happens when a taser is discharged before telling her about the discovery of dots attached to Jose’s soccer jersey. He had more to say, but Lily didn’t give him a chance.

  “Those could have been there for a long time.” Lily exhaled somewhat dramatically. “I don’t see any relevance.”

  It was the type of response Brick expected from an experienced defense attorney. “Maria’s autopsy showed she sustained an injury, which, I believe, was consistent with being tased.”

  “What does the Medical Examiner believe?”

  “He determined it was inconclusive.”

  Lily smirked. “But you know better.”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time.” He deliberately let her think about that for a moment. “There are things about this case that just don’t make sense.”

  “That could be said about a lot of cases.” Lily glanced at her watch. “Go on.”

  “Up until now, Lupe had a few minor run-ins with the law but no felony arrests.”

  “I’m aware of my client’s record. What’s your point?”

  “Supposedly, he went to the apartment to collect a debt. If Lupe wanted to intimidate Jose, why not tase him rather than beat him to death. With him dead, there was no way he’d collect whatever Jose owed. If, in fact, Jose owed him anything.”

  “You question that, too.”

  “Jose had saved a substantial amount of money.”

  “You know that for a fact?”

  “Yes. His employer was holding it for him. He didn’t need to borrow money from a gang member.”

  Lily pushed her chair back from her desk and started to get up. “Do I need to remind you my client pled guilty?”

  Brick sensed she was about to end their meeting. “Do I need to remind you, not every defendant who pleads guilty is guilty? It doesn’t happen often but it does happen.”

  “Did I really hear a cop—excuse me—ex-cop say that?” Lily rolled her eyes. “All right, do you have a theory as to what may have happened?”

  “Thoughts, yes … theory, no.”

  Lily laughed, but her expression told him she wasn’t amused. “What’s the deal—you’re retired a week or so and you become the caped crusader for the wrongly accused. If you have time on your hands, google the Centurion Ministries or some other innocents’ project. I’m sure they could use a volunteer.”

  Brick wasn’t sure how to respond. He didn’t have to.

  “That was uncalled for.” Lily tried to stifle a yawn. “Guess I’m a little burned out at the moment.”

  Brick waited but she didn’t elaborate. Still, he figured it was the Dragon Lady’s version of an apology. “Let me clarify my motivation—this isn’t about your client as much as it is about making sure justice has been served and the right person is behind bars for killing Jose and his sister. Lupe is the only person who can answer the questions I have.”

  “And I�
�m the gate keeper?”

  “Afraid so.”

  Lily picked up her calendar book and flipped a few pages. “High tech, right? I learned my lesson the hard way after my laptop was stolen … by one of my clients.” She stopped on a page and appeared to be studying the notations written next to specific dates and times. “I’m free until two this afternoon.”

  Brick wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip away. “I’d check my calendar, but I don’t have one.”

  Lily almost smiled. “All right then, next stop—D.C. Jail.”

  * * *

  All it took was approaching the Visitor’s Control Entrance and Brick was immediately reminded of his new former-cop status. He was subjected to the screening required of all civilians entering the jail. Although Lily simplified the process somewhat by listing Brick as her investigator on the access request form.

  “I’ll need your ID,” Lily said.

  Reluctantly Brick gave her his driver’s license. He felt self-conscious doing so and almost made a comment about it looking like a mug shot, but that would have only called more attention to the unflattering photo. He watched as Lily completed the form and turned it over along with his license to the guard on duty. The guard glanced at the paperwork and handed it back to Lily. Either he was adept at speed reading or he hadn’t bothered to read it at all. Brick suspected the latter.

  “Your ID and D.C. Bar card.” Lily handed them over. “Purpose of your visit?” he asked in the same rote monotone he’d used previously.

  “My investigator, Brian Kavanagh, and I are here to meet with my client, Guadalupe Cruz.”

  “Sign in. Put the date and time.” Lily signed first then handed the pen to Brick. As Brick signed his name, he wondered if the guard was competing for Bored Employee of the Month. If so, he probably stood a good chance of winning. “Give me your cellphones. Put your watches, keys, coins, other metal in the plastic bowl.” He pointed at Lily. “Briefcase goes on the conveyor belt. Walk through the metal detector.” She did as directed. The guard motioned for Brick to step through. A buzzer sounded.

  “You wearing a belt?”

  Brick nodded.

  The guard looked annoyed. “Take it off and walk through again.”

  This time Brick made it without tripping an alarm.

  Simultaneous pat-downs followed before they were each issued a numbered visitor pass by a female guard. “Make sure this is displayed at all times.” She pointed to a bench against the wall. “Take a seat over there. The next available officer will escort you to the inmate’s housing unit.”

  Brick sat down next to Lily and spoke softly. “I think I liked it better when I used to flash my badge and waltzed on through. No signing in, no questions asked.”

  Lily rolled her eyes. “Welcome to my world. One improvement though, same-sex guards conducting the pat-downs. Only took several complaints from female attorneys and threats to sue.”

  “Killjoy.” From the look on Lily’s face, Brick knew she wasn’t amused. He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Just kidding.” After that, Brick didn’t attempt to engage Lily in conversation as they waited to be escorted to the visiting hall of Southwest-2, the high-security block where Cruz was being held. Unlike family and friends restricted to video visitation, attorneys were permitted to meet face-to-face with inmates in a glass enclosure. Conversations were, for the most part, confidential unless the guard stationed outside was skilled in lip reading. After taking a seat, Brick checked under the table. He was pleased to find a panic button. Hopefully, they wouldn’t need it, but Brick always preferred working with a net.

  From his seat at the table Brick observed two guards escorting Guadalupe Cruz down the narrow hallway. Cruz was wearing an ill-fitting orange jumpsuit; his hands cuffed in front and secured to a waist chain. His legs weren’t shackled, but even so, his gait was uneven, favoring his left side.

  Lily stood as Cruz was brought into the confined area. “Thank you.” She nodded toward the guard just before he left, closing the door on his way out. “Good morning, Mr. Cruz.”

  The formality Lily used in addressing her client seemed dated given our casual culture, but Brick understood her reasoning. Familiarity, especially from an attractive female, could easily be misinterpreted.

  Cruz responded with a scowl before he spoke. “Who’s he?”

  Lily sat down and folded her hands on the table. “That’s Mr. Kavanagh. He works for me.”

  “He looks like a cop.”

  Brick laughed. “That’s very observant. I was a cop, but I’m not anymore. What happened to your leg?” It wasn’t the first question Brick planned to ask, but depending on Cruz’s response, it could be the only answer he needed.

  Cruz stared across the table at Brick. “You’d limp too if you got shot in the hip.”

  “I’m sure I would. When did that happen?”

  “I dunno, two or three years ago.”

  “Who shot you?”

  Cruz shrugged his shoulders.

  “You don’t know or you’re not saying?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Sure you didn’t shoot yourself?”

  “No, man, are you crazy?”

  “Hey, it happens all the time, even to cops. I had a partner who got up one morning, put his gun in its holster, and BAM, just like that, shot himself in the leg.”

  “The guy must have been stupid.”

  “Come to think of it, he wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer.” Brick smiled and leaned back in his chair. “Instead of a gun, they probably should have just issued him a taser, kind of like your weapon of choice.”

  “What?” Cruz looked confused, as if Brick had slipped from English into a foreign language.

  “A taser … oh, my mistake, you MS-13 guys are more inclined to use a machete, right?”

  Cruz looked over at Lily. “Why’d you bring this guy here?”

  “I think it’s in your best interest—”

  Cruz didn’t let Lily finish. He jumped to his feet. So did the guard seated outside the door. “I know what’s in my best interests—and it’s not talking to him.”

  “Guadalupe, please—”

  Cruz shook his head. “No, I’m done.”

  Lily gestured for the guard to enter. She waited until he escorted Cruz into the hallway before turning and glaring at Brick. “That’s it?” She sounded incredulous. “We spent a half hour getting into this place—”

  “Let’s talk outside,” Brick said.

  Lily picked up her briefcase and headed for the door. “I don’t think we have much to talk about.”

  “Trust me,” Brick implored even though he was sure that was the last thing she’d be willing to do.

  Brick and Lily turned in their visitor passes, collected their cellphones, and exited through the security checkpoint where they had entered. Outside the skies had turned gray, but even the heavy humid air was preferable to the stagnation inside the jail. A couple of cabs idled at the curb. Brick approached the first one in the queue and held the door for Lily. He slid in next to her and closed the door.

  “Where to?” The cabdriver interrupted the animated conversation he was having on his cellphone just long enough to hear their destination.

  “Dupont Circle,” Lily replied then glanced over at Brick. “So …”

  “If Cruz did it, which I don’t think he did, he didn’t act alone.”

  Lily sighed dramatically. “And you came to that conclusion—”

  “The minute I saw him limp.”

  “Why did that surprise you? Weren’t you at his arraignment?”

  “I was, but he was already seated at the defense table, and I left before the marshals stepped him back.” Brick lowered his voice, as the cabbie had concluded his call. “Lily, the guy who dumped Maria’s body was caught on a security tape. He’s taller than Cruz and didn’t walk with a limp.”

  “Are you sure?” Lily’s sarcasm had morphed into skepticism.

  “Positive. I watched it several times
.”

  “Cruz could be faking.”

  “Even if he’s faking the limp, he can’t fake his height.”

  “You’re right.” Lily seemed embarrassed. “Guess I was thinking out loud. Still, he could have been involved.”

  Brick shook his head. “You saw his reaction when I mentioned the taser.”

  “Clients lie all the time claiming they’re innocent, I’m used to that. But lying about being guilty, I don’t know.” Lily glanced at her watch before continuing. “It doesn’t make sense.”

  “Maybe not to you or me, but for whatever reason, it must make sense to Cruz.”

  Traffic was unusually heavy on Massachusetts Avenue. The second the light turned green, the cabbie laid on the horn. Several other drivers did the same. When the cacophony subsided, Lily instructed the cabbie to pull over at the next intersection. She turned in Brick’s direction.

  “I think we need do a little brainstorming, and we might as well walk from here; it’ll be faster.” Lily tucked a stand of hair behind her ear. “Besides, I need a cup of coffee. I feel a lack-of-caffeine headache brewing, no pun intended. There’s a Caribou on the corner of M Street.” Lily opened her briefcase and retrieved her wallet.

  When the cabdriver pulled over to the curb, Brick got out and held the door for Lily. He watched as she handed the driver a ten. He heard him ask if she wanted change.

  “No.” She got out and Brick closed the door. “I’m so glad the powers-that-be finally got smart and went to a metered cab system. Remember the old zone system? I never knew if I was overly generous or a cheapskate.”

  “No one did, but at the end of the day, I’m sure the universe gave the cabbies exactly what they deserve.”

  Lily didn’t look convinced. She slung the strap of her briefcase over her shoulder. “Next thing you’ll be telling me is you believe in karma.”