The Big Gamble - Michael Mcgarrity [78]
“I’ll ask Denver PD for their crime-scene witness list,” Molina said.
“I’ll check Norvell’s travel reimbursement records with the state,” Kerney said. “Can you free up a detective to run down information on Barrett’s and Silva’s businesses?” he asked Molina.
“Can do,” Molina replied, “and I’ll cover Luis Rojas.”
“Okay,” Kerney said. “From what Detective Piño and Sergeant Vialpando have said, I’m inclined to assume that Norvell, Tully, and Bedlow have been operating a vice ring for the last twenty years. It’s likely they have at least two more partners. We’ve got potential informants in the Greer woman and the photographer, Deacon.”
Kerney stared at Piño and Vialpando. “How do you two want to proceed with them?” he asked.
“I’ve made a date with Greer for tonight through her Web site,” Vialpando said. “We’ve got a room booked at an expensive hotel. We’ll videotape the transaction, bust her, and see where it takes us.”
“Don’t have too much fun before the bust,” Ramona said.
Vialpando leaned close to Piño and gave her a big smile. “I wouldn’t think of it.”
Ramona grinned back.
“And Deacon?” Kerney asked, interrupting the by-play.
“He’s mine,” Ramona said, turning off her smile. “I called and asked him to make some enlargements of the pictures he took. I’m picking them up this evening. Maybe he’ll be stoned enough to let down his guard.”
“I’d like to see those pictures,” Vialpando said.
“Not a chance,” Ramona replied.
“Can you give Detective Piño backup at Deacon’s?” Kerney asked Vialpando.
“It’s already arranged.”
“Very good,” Kerney said.
“I’d like to use Detective Piño undercover at Tully’s club, Chief,” Vialpando said.
“I haven’t forgotten your request, Sergeant, and I’m willing to go along with it, if needed. You’ve been very helpful to us, and I appreciate it. But let’s see how far we get before Ramona has to start her new job.”
Kerney pushed his chair back. “I want reports from everybody ASAP. I’ll be at home tonight. Call me there.”
All except Helen Muiz left the room. She stood up, handed Kerney the to-do list, and said, “I think those two young people like each other.”
“I noticed that,” Kerney replied.
“Well I hope they do a better job hiding it when they’re undercover.”
Helen left the room laughing.
Getting lost in El Paso put Clayton in a foul mood. What looked so easy to get to on a street map wound up being a series of false starts, wrong turns, and wasted time parked at the side of roads trying to figure out where in the hell he was. He did a lot better at finding his way in the mountains and forests on the rez than in the concrete and asphalt of cities.
Finally, he made it to the Upper Valley, a suburban strip of land on the west side of El Paso that bordered the Rio Grande. He drove through wide streets lined with shade trees, passing newer two-story homes, looking for the right turnoff. Here and there along the road were old farmhouses, some irrigation canals, and patches of agricultural land that had not yet given way to the sprawl.
Deborah Shea, the girlfriend who’d been so conveniently present at Rojas’s house, no longer lived at the address listed on her driver’s license. Clayton got the story from the current owner, an older, retired army major who actually thought cops were the good guys. He pulled out a mortgage settlement statement which showed that the seller of the house had been Big Five Trucking, Inc., Rojas’s company.
“I don’t know this woman you’re looking for,” the man said. “The house was vacant when we bought it.”
Clayton checked the closing date for the sale of the house against the issue date he’d recorded from Shea’s driver’s license. She’d used the address to renew her license six months after the new owner had moved in.
Clayton wondered if Deborah Shea had ever even lived in the house, and went looking for neighbors who might know. According to one woman, a home owner on the same street, the house had been built six years ago and a Hispanic family lived there prior to the retired army major moving in.
“Were there any other