The Big Gamble - Michael Mcgarrity [99]
The DA agreed to supply a prosecutor full-time to work with detectives on the arrest and search warrant affidavits. He’d coordinate the effort with the U.S. attorney and other state DAs to get necessary judicial sign-offs. SFPD would be the lead agency, with Deputy Chief Larry Otero in charge. Molina and his two detectives would run the task-force casebooks and assemble and coordinate all documentation.
“Stay focused, people,” Kerney said. “We’re going for racketeering, drug trafficking, tax evasion, prostitution, money laundering, and related federal charges right now.”
“What about the Montoya homicide?” Sal Molina asked, “and that murder Greer talked about in Ruidoso?”
“At present, Montoya is our weakest case,” the DA said. “I doubt you could convince a judge to approve an arrest warrant based on what you have, although it’s close.”
“Agreed,” Kerney said. “We need something that will connect Norvell to the crime scene where Montoya’s body was found.”
“That would do it for probable cause,” the DA said.
“I’ll handle the Montoya homicide follow-up,” Kerney said. “I’m going down to Lincoln County tonight. I’ll ask the sheriff and his investigator to join the task force and find out where they are with the Ulibarri homicide investigation.”
Kerney closed his file and gave it to Helen. “Mrs. Muiz and her staff will prepare comprehensive task-force packets on everything we’ve got so far and distribute them to you ASAP. We have to move fast but carefully, ladies and gentlemen. Let’s set a target date of one month from now to make our initial arrests. After that, we’ll continue to file charges as the facts roll in. IRS and the state police will probably need more time to nail down the tax-evasion and money-laundering parts of it.”
Kerney pushed back his chair and stood. “Everybody stay tight-lipped, and maintain a low profile. We don’t want to telegraph our intentions to our targets. Do whatever is necessary within the scope of your authority to keep them off guard. From now on, need-to-know communication is limited to task-force members only and their immediate superiors. If any word about the task force leaks out we’ll be facing a media circus and an army of defense attorneys. Good hunting, everyone.”
There were smiles and approving nods throughout the room. Everyone was pumped and ready to go, and not just because some dirty politicians were going to be brought down. If all went well, the task force would be a career-making opportunity for every law-enforcement official in the room.
Ramona Piño walked with a frowning Jeff Vialpando to his unit parked outside the SFPD headquarters.
“I didn’t want to bring it up during the meeting,” he said, “but we’ve got a slight problem.”
“Yeah, I know,” Ramona said. “We can’t keep Stacy Fowler under wraps for thirty days without raising suspicions.”
“So, what do we do about it?”
“Improvise,” Ramona replied as she watched the state police criminal investigation commander drive away. “Would a faked one-car traffic fatality work? Perhaps a rollover investigated by the state police?”
“Would your chief go for that?” Jeff asked.
Ramona laughed. “Didn’t you hear what he said about keeping the targets off guard? I think he’d be pissed if we didn’t do it.”
“Let’s set it up,” Vialpando said.
“Then I’ll buy you an early dinner.”
“Are you taking me on a date?” Jeff asked.
“That will have to wait until we’re no longer working together, Sergeant,” Ramona said, flashing a brilliant smile. “After all, I am the designated lead investigator now, which makes you my subordinate.”
Vialpando groaned. “Are you telling me I have to wait months before I can date you?”
Ramona patted Jeff’s arm. “You’ll just have to suffer through it.”
Paul Hewitt rolled a pencil on his desktop and thought hard before speaking. The last two hours had been spent listening to Clayton’s verbal report and reading through all his extensive documentation.
“I’m not saying your assumptions about Norvell are flawed, Deputy Istee. But proving them is a whole different matter. For now,