She’s not as stupid as I thought. She’s not going to admit that she’s so obsessed with me that she was trying to kill me so no one else could have me. We have to find her gun!
Holly stuck her head in the room. “Sheriff, I hate to interrupt, but you have a visitor who’s insistent on seeing you; an Agent Rossi?”
Dana, damn it! I just don’t need this right now. “Put her in my office. She can cool her heels in there for a few minutes.”
“Not to get into your business Me… Sheriff, but she’s hopping mad about something. You might not want to keep her waiting too long.”
I shook my head, got up and followed Holly out. She tried to hide a smirk.
Here goes nothing!
I walked into my office and I jumped right in before Dana could speak. “You, you didn’t have to come down here. We can certainly handle security ourselves Dana. It’s not necessary now anyway. We caught Sally. Everything is under control now. She’s admitted to stalking me.”
Dana shook her head and sneered at me. “Did she admit to attempted murder?”
“Not yet, but we’ll get her.”
“Did you find the gun?”
Damn her! “No. Not yet. We executed a vehicle search when we took her into custody. A warrant is being executed on her residence.”
“Mel, listen to me. You’re not going to find anything there but cameras and photographs. Pictures are the only things she’s shooting. She’s not the one you want.”
“You’re awful sure of yourself. What have you got to prove that she isn’t the shooter?”
Dana sighed. “Look, let’s drop the hostilities. I’m very sorry about the other day and, if you like, later we can talk about that. Right now, if we can, I’d like to try and put our personal feelings aside and focus on work.”
I blew out a breath and started at her for several seconds. My gut told me she might be right about Sally. “Okay.”
“You told me on the phone that your counterfeiting case may be tied to my smuggling case. If that’s true, you may have had a shooter gunning to murder you who is related to our cases. Kris being shot probably has nothing to do with Sally.”
I shook my head. “You may be right.”
“So, fill me in. What do you have?”
“I’ve already given you the basics.”
“Humor me, please.”
“We arrested three guys here; a local and the two Chicago gangbangers I mentioned on the phone. The local guy was getting counterfeit cash to spread around from the gang. We don’t know how the local; a white, small town, small time dealer is tied to a predominately black, urban gang, the Gangster Demons. Maybe he’s their local connection for everything, but that doesn’t seem very likely.
“I’m not an expert on gang make up and culture but I do know some things about them. They’re one gang that’s a little bit different from what you typically think of as a “street” gang.”
“Well, then maybe our local’s involvement really is possible. Who knows! Anyway, the Secret Service staged raids on the residences of all three men. At the home of one of the Chicago gangbangers, DeWayne Dawes, they found a lot of high print quality, counterfeit money. He’s definitely involved in that whole investigation.”
“The other Chicago man, Bryant Quinn, didn’t have any money or other counterfeiting evidence at his residence. The Service though has been able to establish with the Chicago Gang Task Force that he works as a truck driver for a front company for the Demons.”
Dana leaned forward, all ears. “I can see where this is going. He could be transporting money, merchandise…” She trailed off.
“It gets better. Dawes has a younger brother that’s an inmate at Stateville, DeShawn.”
“Lots of Chicago area gangbangers are inmates at Stateville.”
“DeShawn Dawes also drove a truck for the same front company that Quinn does.”
“Oh, wow… Small world…”
“Isn’t it?”
Dana sat back, thinking. “So, DeShawn could be the inmate who passed the hit order to Vincent, who killed the other inmate.”
“It’s possible. Did you ever get a hold of that lawyer?”
“No. He’s not returning my calls. I think it’s time that I pay him a visit and follow that lead wherever it takes me, for one.”
“Well, while you’re in Chicago, what do you say to a chat with a man locked up at Stateville?”
“What, and help the Secret Service with their case? I’m sure that idea is their doing.”
“And possibly help yourself, with yours. Webb thinks DeWayne will talk to help out his baby brother with his time. Maybe little brother will do some talking too if he thinks it will help his big brother.”
It was quiet for a long time as we both sat, lost in thought, pondering the whole mess of this case. Finally, Dana leaned forward in her chair and said, very quietly, “We need to talk, but not here.” She read the expression on my face and, realizing I thought she meant about something personal, she quickly added, “It’s about the case.”
I played dumb to test her. “Which case?”
“Ours. They’re the same Mel. They have to be. Where can we go where we’ll be out of harm’s way?” She was still whispering.
Realizing that she was very serious, I got up and moved around the desk. I crouched beside her chair and whispered, “I know just the place. Let me do a couple of things here. What are you driving?”
“My car. I drove down from Cleveland.”
“Where’s it parked?”
“In a visitor’s spot in your lot.”
“Go down to your car and hang out, looking busy for a few minutes. Watch for a small, green Ford Ranger pickup to go by the lot with a man in a ball cap driving. Pull out and follow it. I’ll be along not long after.”
Dana looked skeptical.
“Trust me. I’ll get out of here okay and we’ll be safe to talk where we’re going.”
“Okay.”
Once Dana was out of my office, I called my dad’s cell. As I suspected, he and mom were at the hospital sitting with Kris. The kids were in school.
“Hi dad. How’s she doing?”
“Better.”
My dad was a man of few words. He only had a cell because mom wanted to be able to get a hold of him if she needed to.
“Has the doctor been in yet?”
“Yup.”
“And?”
“Got a therapist comin’ in, in a little bit.”
“A physical therapist?”
“That’s what I said.”
There wasn’t any point in arguing the point with him. “Any word on her release?”
“Maybe tonight.”
“Dad, I need a small favor.” I already knew he would do it. “Will you go out and get in the Ranger and drive it by the station and then out to the farm? Someone will follow you there from the lot at the station. I’ll be not far behind.”
“You want me to leave now?”
“That would be best dad.”
“Okay.” He didn’t ask any other questions. I knew he wouldn’t.
“Thanks dad. See you in a bit.”
He hung up.
Chapter 14 – A Meeting of the Minds
Sometimes I go right from work to a ball game or school event for the kids. I try to keep a couple of changes of clothes in my closet at work. The practice served me well now as I quickly changed out of my uniform and put on jeans and a T-shirt. I added a ball cap that was in there gathering dust since I rarely wear a hat when I’m off duty.
I told Holly I needed to do some undercover recon work and I borrowed her truck. She knew I’d take good care of it and, like my dad, she
didn’t ask questions either.
I knew the route my unassuming father would take to lead Dana to get back to the farm from Zanesville; the most direct one. That was fine with me. Dana didn’t seem to be a target… so far. On the other hand, I was beginning to believe I really was. To keep suspicion off of dad and Dana, in case my “disguise” and vehicle switch didn’t fool anyone, I decided to go a different, slightly longer route than dad would take, cross country.
It was overcast by the time I walked back out of the station. We needed a little rain but wishing for that in Ohio was like dancing with the devil. The usual torrential rains of spring would begin soon enough. There wasn’t any need to hurry them along.
I guided Holly’s truck out of the staff lot. I was careful to not even go by the other lot or to look in that direction. Genesis Medical Center is about 10 minutes away from the station. Dad would be getting close to his drive by swing. I picked my own way through town and then took a series of twisting, turning, rolling back country roads to the farm. I looped around a couple of times to make sure I wasn’t followed. Any Chicago gangbangers trying to follow me were sure to be lost or ill or both by now. If they had a local watching me, my disguise must have worked. The last few miles, there wasn’t another vehicle anywhere in sight.
The farm house was set back from the road. Once I got up the drive, I could see that the ranger and Dana’s little Chevy were sitting out in front of the house. Dad and Dana were nowhere in sight. I hustled inside through the kitchen door. I could hear voices from what my mom still called the “front room.” Dad was always unfailingly polite and chatty with strangers and he was being nice to Dana, as a result. He just didn’t have much to say otherwise.
I put a smile on my face and stepped into the room. “Thanks so much for your help dad. I appreciate it.”
“I best be getting back to your mother and sister so I’ll leave you and the Agent here to talk.” He paused and thought for a second. “Beth and Cole will be along soon.”
“Right. Thanks for reminding me. I’m sure they’ll be hungry. Dana and I can have our chat in the kitchen while I fix them something.”
“Okay then.” He left.
“Your dad is so sweet.”
We walked back through to the kitchen. “He’s a good man. He’s not usually so talkative. How did he know you’re an agent?”
“I didn’t know what you’d told him so I just introduced myself and told the truth; I’m a federal agent working on a case that ties into a case you’re working on and we needed a more private place to talk than the sheriff’s office. He didn’t ask any questions.”
“He wouldn’t.” I opened the fridge and dug around for sandwich fixings. “Are you hungry?”
“I could eat. Would you like some help?”
“No, I’ve got it. The kids are staying here while Kris is laid up and… well, you know. They’re at school. The bus should be dropping them off any minute. They’re teenagers so they’re always hungry.”
Dana laughed. “I remember those days! Actually, I don’t think I really outgrew them.”
I grinned back at her. “You wear your lust for food well Ms. Rossi!”
“That’s because I’m always on the move.”
“I hear that. I also hear the school bus or, rather, I hear our old farm dog, Bear, barking because she hears the bus. Would you look in that cupboard over there and see if there are any chips?”
“Gotcha.” Dana moved to the cupboard where mom stocked the snacks. While she was digging in there, Cole and Beth tumbled through the door, fighting to be first. Cole screamed, “Hands in the air!” but neither Dana or I moved. We were expecting them.
Realizing it was me and someone that I must know in their grandparents’ house, rather than someone out to do them harm, they settled down pretty quickly.
Beth came over and hugged me. “Aunt Mel, I’m so glad you’re here. When we saw that strange truck and the strange car, we didn’t know who was here.”
“I wasn’t scared,” Cole said, “but Beth was. Bear wasn’t barking at anything but the bus, like usual.”
“I was not!” Beth smacked his shoulder.
“Were too!”
“Whatever.”
“Okay, that’s enough! I made you two some sandwiches and there’s chips. That ought to hold you over till grandma gets back.”
Cole asked, “Is mom still in the hospital?” while Beth eyeballed Dana.
“Yes, but she’s doing a lot better. Grandpa said they might let her come home tonight. We’ll have to wait and see.”
“I don’t want her to come home,” Beth said. “Not until you catch whoever did this to her.”
“She’ll come and stay here with you guys and grandma and grandpa. You’re all safe here. Agent Rossi here and I are working on catching the person who did this. We need to talk. We’ll be in the front room. You guys go up to do your homework after you eat.”
Both kids grumbled but lost their attitudes when I set their food down in front of them. We picked up our own plates and headed back into the front room.
The room had originally been intended as a more formal parlor in the old farm house my parents owned. It had a door to close it off like the den in a more modern home with an open floor plan would have. I closed it now to give us some privacy from curious young ears.
Dana looked around again and then chose a seat on the sofa, placing her plate on the coffee table in front of her. “Should we be eating in here?”
“We’re grown women… just don’t spill!”
She laughed. Her laugh was contagious and I caught it too. It felt good to relieve the tension that had been building inside me since she asked back at the station to talk somewhere privately. Dana, on the other hand, looked pensive. She took a bite of her food and then stared off into space while she chewed. I started to eat my sandwich.
In between bites, Dana asked, “Mel, how well did you know Sheriff Carter?”
“Sheriff’ is usually an elected position around here. He was elected a few years before I got on the force and then re-elected every election cycle after that. He was a politician more than he was a lawman.”
“In what ways?”
“He was always campaigning or making moves that made him look good politically even if they weren’t the best moves for the department. He was all about Caden Carter, not about what was best for Muskingum County.”
“Couldn’t people see that?”
“He was a “good” politician Dana. He had the ultra-conservative community around here eating out of the palm of his hand.”
“Were you two friends or did you socialize with him?”
“I went to official functions out of a sense of duty but I never socialized with him off duty. We’re from completely different backgrounds. I was raised in the country life in this county and I enjoy it. He was raised here in the county too but he’s from one of our more, shall I say, prominent families. He and people like him didn’t mingle with the rank and file much. Why all the questions about him?”
“I need to know what you really know about him because something you might be able to put your finger on could be the key that unlocks this case.”
I sat back in my arm chair and stared at her for a minute. “Tell me what’s really going on.”
“I’ll get to that, I promise. Just a few more questions?”
I drew in a deep breath. I was getting nervous for reasons I couldn’t explain. If what she was about to tell me involved my department, I didn’t know what I would do. I blew the breath out. “Okay. Go on.”
“Did it seem like Sheriff Carter lived above his means?”
I thought about that for a minute. “I mean, don’t we all, to some extent?”
Dan
a shrugged.
“Sheriffs don’t make a fortune but he was from a, quote, “good” family. They had a little money. It’s always been a mystery to me why he chose law enforcement over practicing law or over going into politics, outright. I’ve wondered what his family thought about his choice.”
“Did they financially back his political campaigns for Sheriff?”
“I can’t answer that with anything but speculation. I’m just not into local politics. Too much backstabbing. I’m sorry.”
“Mel, do you think he was corrupt?”
That question didn’t surprise me. There’d been rumors for a few years. “I don’t honestly know. I’m aware that there were rumors that he was on the take, that he was being paid off to turn a blind eye to certain things, but I never saw evidence of that and I was never a party to anything underhanded.”
“Please don’t get defensive.”
“I’m not. I’m trying to objectively answer your questions but you’re not telling me the whole story here. So, let me just ask; are you trying to say that Sheriff Carter was involved in the smuggling operation you’re investigating?”
Dana’s eyes met mine. “He was. We’re always intercepting shipments of things coming across our borders that are illegal or illegal to ship, distribute or sell here in the states even though they might be legal elsewhere. We seize a lot of things on the spot. Other times, with shipments which aren’t harmful, when we have prior intelligence…” She trailed off.
“You let them pass through and you follow them.”
“Exactly. We want to find out where they’re going and who’s paying the freight. We want to find all the connections and stem the tide between those players whenever we can.”
“So you think he was giving goods safe passage through Muskingum County for a payoff? It’s not like we’re on the border here…”
“You’re right. There wouldn’t be any reason for him to stop trucks for anything on a normal basis. We think it’s more involved than that. We watched him for a while. Stuff would come into this county and disappear. It’s not being sold here but it’s not leaving the county on the same trucks it entered on, either. It’s getting split for distribution here somewhere that we weren’t able to pinpoint and then it’s leaving somehow.”