Slow Kill - Michael Mcgarrity [35]
“Peelers,” Kerney said, grinning back, as he slid out of the booth. “It’s an Irish slang word for cops.”
Ten blocks from the diner, a city police cruiser with headlights flashing came up behind Kerney’s car. He pulled off the road and the cop car followed, slowing to a stop when he braked and killed the engine. With his eye on the rearview mirror, Kerney watched as the officer called dispatch by radio, trying to figure out exactly what traffic ordinance he’d violated. He rolled down the window as the officer approached, his driver’s license and badge case in hand.
The cop took the license, glanced at it, handed it back, and looked at the open badge case Kerney held out the window.
“Captain Chase would like to see you in his office, Chief Kerney,” the officer said politely. “If you’ll follow me, please, sir.”
“Certainly,” Kerney said, wondering what he might have done to draw Chase away from his all-day meeting and require an escort to headquarters.
At his office, Chase greeted Kerney with a big smile and a hearty handshake.
“Sergeant Lowrey tells me you’re off the hook as a possible suspect,” he said.
“The truth is a persuasive argument for innocence,” Kerney replied.
“That’s for sure,” Chase said, settling into his chair. “Jude Forester said you came by and looked over the Spalding materials.”
“I did,” Kerney said as he sat across from Chase.
“Well, he didn’t show you everything,” Chase said, sliding a slim file folder across the desk. “That’s my file I keep here in the office. Have a look.”
Kerney scanned the contents. It contained Chase’s brief handwritten notes of conversations and contacts he’d had with Clifford and Alice Spalding over the years.
“There’s not much here,” Kerney said.
Chase laughed as he took the folder back. “What did you expect?”
“I was hoping there would be a copy of that newspaper article and photograph about the interstate traffic accident that originally caught Alice Spalding’s attention,” Kerney said. “It wasn’t in Detective Forester ’s file, nor were the statements of the cop and the EMT on the scene who confirmed that the man in the photograph wasn’t George Spalding.”
“It’s not in Forester ’s case material?”
“I didn’t see it,” Kerney replied.
Chase shook his head apologetically, but his expression was wary. “I haven’t looked at that file in years, but it should be in there. Maybe it’s just misplaced.”
“Probably,” Kerney said with an easy smile. “I guess it really doesn’t matter, since Spalding, his ex-wife, and their dead son are no longer of any concern to me.”
“Lucky you,” Chase said with a laugh. “Did you get a chance to talk to Lou Ferry?”
“Yes, last night,” Kerney answered. “But he was in too much pain to tell me much, and now it doesn’t matter.”
“He died early this morning,” Chase said.
“Good for him,” Kerney said. “That’s what he said he wanted to do. Hopefully, he went out easy.”
“In his sleep,” Chase replied with a nod.
“The best way to go.” Kerney slapped his hands on his legs and stood. “Thanks, Captain, for your courtesy and understanding,” he said, hoping it didn’t sound as disingenuous as it felt.
“My pleasure, Chief.” Chase rose, walked around his desk, and put a hand on Kerney’s shoulder. “Call me the next time you’re in Santa Barbara, and I’ll stand you to a drink or two.”
“You’ve got a deal.”
With the afternoon sun in his face, Kerney drove out of the police parking lot. At the very least, it had been an interesting two days, nicely topped off by Chase’s sly gambit to probe Kerney’s intentions and do some subtle grilling about what he’d learned from Lou Ferry.
Kerney decided to drive to the beach later on and catch another sunset. He also decided to start a background check on the Spaldings—all three of them—and Debbie Calderwood when he got home to Santa Fe.
But first, he needed to find an electronics store, buy a tape recorder, and dictate everything he’d learned about the Spaldings, Debbie Calderwood, and Captain Dick Chase while it was still fresh in his mind.
Chapter 5
The next morning, Kerney’s flight took him over