Slow Kill - Michael Mcgarrity [74]
While Helen Muiz faxed documents to the agencies, Kerney decided to call Sara at the Pentagon. As a military police corps lieutenant colonel, perhaps she could tell him how to push things along with the Army.
“You rarely call me at work,” Sara said. “Are you missing me?”
“Badly,” Kerney said, “but this is business. What would it take to get expedited permission for me to exhume the body of a soldier buried at a national cemetery?”
“Well, that just wiped a cheery smile off my face,” Sara said crossly. “Start at the beginning and tell me why this is such an emergency.”
He gave her the full rundown on George Spalding and the very real possibility that there was a misidentified body in a military grave.
“Okay,” Sara said, “that’s serious and definitely needs to be looked into. But why the urgency?”
The question pulled Kerney up short. “You’re right. I’m being impatient.”
“You always get frustrated when you have to wait for other people to get things done,” Sara said. “I don’t know what I can do to help. I’ll look into it. Have Helen fax me copies of everything you have and I’ll call you back when I know something. You’re going to owe me for this one, Kerney.”
“What’s the price I’ll have to pay?”
“We can dicker about it once you’re here. I’ve got to run. Talk to you soon.”
Over the radio, he heard Ramona Pino and Matt Chacon announce their arrival at headquarters to dispatch. Within minutes, Pino poked her head inside his open door and moved briskly to the nearest chair, her back straight and shoulders squared. Kerney could tell she was steamed, and why not? Losing the chance at a slam dunk major felony conviction would piss off any good detective.
“You gave Mitch Griffin to Winslow,” she said, “and I’d like to know why.”
“I’m sure Agent Winslow told you what he could.”
“Not nearly enough,” Ramona said, “and he won’t give me access to Griffin.”
“To use an old cliche, Winslow has bigger fish to fry right now. If you’re concerned about not getting credit for the good work you’ve done, don’t be. I’m aware of the significant contribution you and your team have made. So is Winslow.”
Ramona blushed angrily. “That’s not what’s on my mind, Chief. Griffin made a deal with us, got major charges dropped because of it, and now he walks, free and clear courtesy of the DEA, with no commitment to testify against Dean on the murder one and trafficking charges. That weakens my case substantially.”
“The lab results from California pretty much confirm that Dean substituted Spalding’s thyroid medication.”
“That doesn’t get me any closer to filing charges against Claudia Spalding.”
“We’ve talked about this,” Kerney replied. “If Dean doesn’t crack, you’ll have to take a different route to implicate her.”
“That’s already under way,” Ramona said. “We’re checking to see if Claudia made overtures to other men to help murder her husband. Griffin told me a story about a guy who turned down such an invitation before Dean arrived on the scene. It may be a tall tale, but we’ve got a name and we’re trying to find him.”
“Establishing prior intent helps,” Kerney said. “But we haven’t nailed down a clear motive yet.”
“We know she stands to inherit a bundle of money,” Ramona said.
“It would be reasonable to assume that she was eager to get her hands on Clifford’s wealth. But why the hurry? Spalding indulged her. She lacked for nothing, including his permission to get her sexual needs met elsewhere.”
“Right now, I’m stymied, Chief,” Ramona said, “and losing Griffin as an informant and a witness doesn’t help matters.” She stopped short of saying more and took a deep breath.
“You’re angry because I kept you in the dark about Winslow.”
Ramona gave a tight nod of her head.
“Until now, except for me, no one in this department or any other local law enforcement agency knew about Agent Winslow’s undercover operation. I have full confidence that you and Detective Chacon