****
Three hours later, Genie and Rafa exited the hospital. She inhaled deeply. “Sometimes I take fresh air for granted.”
“I’m starving.” Rafa placed a hand on his stomach. “I’m in the mood for a burger. You game?”
Genie scowled at her partner. “How can you think of flesh after an autopsy?”
Rafa dimpled. “It’s a mystery. But I do, every time.”
“We can stop on our way to the crime scene.”
“Fantastic.”
When they had passed through the drive-through, and Rafa had his fill of cow, they drove to the scene of the latest murder. At the apartment complex, Rafa’s brows bushed. No obvious gang activity. In fact, the area sported well-maintained lawns and even the potholes in the parking lots were filled. The difference between lower income areas in northern Virginia and California were startling. Some people would think this rich.
Rafa lifted the crime-scene tape for Genie to pass under. Maribol Canales had died from significant blood loss caused by internal hemorrhaging. Rafa frowned. It would be a few weeks before they received the toxicology results to verify drugs in Maribol’s system. If she used, then she might have been killed over drugs. The victim had to have done something perceived by the Snakes as seriously wrong in order for that level of punishment. Yet, Genie had said there were no established Latin gangs in Springfield — a few rough crowds maybe, but no organized packs. If their reach had extended to the East Coast, then the Snakes would be more powerful than he first knew.
As a youth, Rafa belonged to a rough crowd; he practically formed it himself in school. He smiled at the memory of the pack of riffraff he had belonged to. The boys were his family, especially after his father had left. Rafa's smile faded. What possessed him and his brothers to form a group with some of their friends was now beyond his understanding. How could they have been so stupid? They caused a lot of trouble in town: vandalizing businesses with spray paint, fighting rivals, even participating in a little bit of burglary. Their mother did all she could to keep him, Alejandro, and Ricardo out of trouble, but what the Santiago brothers needed was a father. Theirs had left not long after his baby brother Ricardo’s fifth birthday. As the years passed, the few memories Rafa had of his father faded. His mother didn’t speak of her husband but, to her credit, she never bad-mouthed him. Rafa knew if he had a father’s influence throughout his young life, things might have been different. He wouldn’t have caused his mother such pain and heartache. He and his brothers gave her no choice but to send them to different family members across the country.
After highschool, he packed his bags for cousin Enrique’s family in California. Alejandro had moved to Texas a couple of years before and when it was time for Ricardo to move out, he went to Florida. After time spent with the Snakes, Rafa had made a good life in California. He actually graduated from college in three years instead of four and made it through the police academy. More than once he contemplated moving back to Virginia. However, his obsession with fighting crime and guilt over his treatment of his mother kept him from returning home… until now.
Thanks to the Snakes.
“Now forensics has been through the scene, but it won’t be released without my order,” Genie said.
Rafa didn’t acknowledge her. He followed her up a short flight of steps until they came to a landing. A mixture of blood and formaldehyde arrested his senses. The cement slab at his feet drew his gaze. A recognizable bloodstain tarnished the texture of the faux marble and a smudged handprint traced down the length of the wall to the floor. Rafa’s jaw set as the scene came alive before him.
Genie stood near the stain. “She was attacked here. I’m thinking she was on her way up the stairs to her apartment, number 303. Someone from behind startled her, she turned around, was stabbed—”
“Then she placed a hand to the bloody wound, collapsed against the wall and turned towards the stairs, but couldn’t muster the strength to move forward.” Rafa moved closer to the bloody patch. “She slid down, where she was eventually stabbed four more times. Then she died in a pool of her own blood,” Rafa finished.
He heard Genie release a sigh. “Right. That’s how I pictured it as well.” Genie let out another breath and smoothed the top of her hair, styled in a simple ponytail. “I don’t know, Rafa. This could overwhelm us quickly if we don’t find out who’s committing these murders. One more like this and the press will be labeling this the work of a serial killer. We’ve never had one here in Springfield. The residents would go nuts, not to mention the amount of media coverage the department could expect. The potential for false leads to come in will increase exponentially, and as we drown in them, the perp will disappear.”
“Hey, hey…” Rafa placed his hand lightly on her shoulder. She fidgeted and Rafa could feel her slight trembling. Her eyes held genuine worry for the town she’d sworn to protect. “It hasn’t come to that yet. Let’s just focus on what we have and our leads. One crisis at a time.” He gave her shoulder a squeeze.
Genie nodded but stepped away from his touch. She leaned against the banister, her eyes questioning his. “Well? You’re the consultant. Consult. What do you think we're looking at here, besides a few murders?”
She’d retreated behind her shield, the moment of vulnerability gone. It struck him how quickly she could turn her emotions on and off. But more surprising was how easily he responded to her when she was troubled. He’d think about that later when he had more time.
He rested against the handrail opposite Genie and crossed his arms. His eyes met hers. “First off, the Snakes isn’t some petty street gang. They aren’t out to draw attention to themselves because of the drug trade. Any inquiring minds would bring undue suspicion on its members, which ultimately leads back to the restaurant.” Rafa crossed his legs and continued. “As you already know, the mark of the snake is ostentatious. They want no mistake about who is responsible for the murders.”
“But you just said they don’t need unwanted attention.”
“Right, but a punishment is worthless when you don’t know who is doing the punishing. The mark is for the community’s sake, to let them know who’s running things… who the people answer to.”
Strained lines crossed her features. “You said punishment. Punishment for what?”
“That’s part of the puzzle.” Rafa glanced down at the stain. “You said there weren’t any organizations here bearing the snake symbol and as far as I know, the group only operates in San Diego. But there’s no mistaking Canales’ wound. The sooner we figure out what she did to tick a member off, the better.”
Genie sucked in a breath, her eyes narrowing. “Are you blaming the victim?”
Rafa gave her a tired look. “Of course not. I’m giving the organization’s perspective, remember? A killing is justified for only a few reasons, such as lack of loyalty, disrespect, or mishandling of a large shipment of drugs with a substantial dollar sign attached.” Rafa squatted down near the ruddy blotch. “I’m saying whatever she did, or didn’t do, was grave. Life-and-death consequences,” he ended in a whisper.
“So what do you suggest?” her voice equally soft.
“We need to establish her connection to the Snakes.” He glanced up at the handprint on the wall. His eyes followed the bloody trail down. He shook his head. If the Snakes were forming another group in Springfield, the city would be looking at more drugs, violence, and killings. The residents wouldn’t have to just fear one killer now and then … a whole group of them would be sheer oppression.
A light groan escaped her lips. “I have yet to establish her connection to Alberto Gonzalez. Or Consuela Cruz. Or Mario Desanto for that matter. We know Alberto worked at the restaurant, but Maribol didn’t and neither did the others.”
Rafa stood and faced her. “We have to consider that their only connection may be they were all killed by a member of the Snakes. Canales may not be in any way related to the others.”
Genie nodded solemnly. “That would
make the killer even harder to identify. We’ve already canvassed the neighborhoods of all the victims. Some residents knew Gonzalez simply because they saw him at La Cocina Dulce, but none could verify a connection between him and Canales.”
“Well, that leaves us with only one option for Canales. She was somehow involved in the organization.”
Genie shook her head, her eyes full of doubt. “I find that option hard to believe.”
Rafa crossed his arms. “Why?”
“She’s an A-B student at the local community college, with no prior criminal record, and no one had a bad word to say about her. All in all, she was an upstanding citizen with a bright future ahead of her.”
“The Snakes had something to say, a point they were trying to make. And they said it with a knife.” Genie’s eyes narrowed at him, and Rafa sensed a serious argument coming.
“Say what you will about the victim, but it doesn’t add up.”
She was right, but he wouldn’t admit it. Her ego was large enough without the added endorsement. Instead, Rafa racked his brain for possible answers. When nothing made any sense, he let out a frustrated breath. “Well, did she have a boyfriend or someone she was seeing?”
“Who was a member of the Snakes? No. She had a boyfriend, but he hasn’t been located. I have an unmarked car at his residence, waiting for him to show. But according to neighbors, he hasn’t been seen in days.”
“Then we’ll return to the source.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have a list of contacts back in San Diego with connections to the…” He paused and put a finger to his lips. Genie went completely still. In the distance, faint footsteps approached. Both turned their heads to see a plump, elderly woman at the top of the second floor. She grasped the rail and slowly descended. “Do you need any help?” Rafa asked in Spanish. The older woman smiled, thanked him, and said no. “Are there other stairs you can take? A crime has been committed here,” he continued. The woman nodded, her eyes sad as she scanned the stairs, focusing on the blood spatters. She scrunched her nose in disgust and disappeared down the hall. When they heard the last clicks of her heels, Rafa continued. “Like I was saying, I’ll contact my guys back in San Diego and see if I can get a list of any of the members who’ve suddenly taken a trip.”
Genie nodded her head once. “Fine. Meanwhile, I’ll have a few uniforms interview some of her classmates. They may have spotted her with someone who wasn’t a usual associate.” Genie started down the steps. “I also want to speak to the gang unit again. Perhaps some new information has developed since last night.”
Rafa followed her. He doubted new facts existed. The Snakes usually left a trail of bodies, not witnesses. They spoke to no one outside the organization unless for business or if absolutely necessary. Rafa’s thoughts returned to his cousin Enrique. It had been necessary for him to call Rafa, but he didn’t give any explanation. Was he trying to warn him about the killers here? Nothing made any sense, but Rafa hoped his own sources in California could come through for him. “As you said, the sooner we find that link…”
Rafael (The Santiago Brothers Book One) Page 8