by C. M. Sutter
“You’re welcome, and you can leave the door open.”
Chapter 13
McKinley stomped out of his office to see how the dismantling was coming along. The sheet metal had already been removed from the Chevy, and all that remained was the glass, interior, frame, and engine block.
“Divide the car into quarters and take the parts to different junkyards to be crushed. Make sure there’s no VIN showing on anything you dispose of. Any parts with a VIN go directly into the incinerator. Understood?”
Derek responded for the group. “Yes, Mr. Moore.”
“Tomorrow, we’re attempting this trip again, and we’ll take the Alpina. Juan, I want you to go over every inch of the car and make sure it’s in flawless condition before we leave.”
Juan avoided eye contact with the boss he had been loyal to for years, but now McKinley Moore seemed to be going off the rails. “Yes, sir.”
McKinley retreated to his office and closed the door behind him. He opened the center desk drawer and pulled out the remote for the twenty-two-inch Samsung TV that sat on the shelving unit to his left. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d turned it on. He pressed the power button and waited for the TV to warm up and flicker to life. McKinley tipped his wrist and checked the time.
The news at noon should be starting any minute.
He hit the channel selector when the screen lit up, and he pressed the down arrow until he reached Fox 6 News. They were the TV station closest to the area where the officer was shot. If they caught wind of the shooting, they would definitely be the first news station to arrive at the scene. He poured himself a splash of Scotch then took his seat. His nerves were on edge, and he needed something to help him relax. McKinley leaned back in his leather chair, kept the volume low, and waited.
The second glance at his watch confirmed it—the news was beginning. He took in a deep breath and a large swallow. The Scotch warmed his throat as it went down. When the segment began, he stared at the TV without blinking.
“We have an update on the tragic police shooting that took place just over an hour ago on Milwaukee’s north side. Police Officer Randall Jacobs, a relatively new member of Milwaukee’s fourth district precinct—admittedly one of the most violent quadrants of Milwaukee—was gunned down during a routine traffic stop on Silver Spring Drive. It is reported that Officer Jacobs passed away at the scene. No one has been taken into custody, but eyewitness accounts report that a tan Chevy sedan, possibly six to ten years old, was speeding away from the scene.”
McKinley punched the desk with his fist. “Yes! I skated by on that one.” He clicked the TV off and poured himself another drink.
Chapter 14
We thanked Bill for his assistance with Charlie’s file and left the precinct. As we gathered at our cars, Clayton pulled up the old address on his phone and plugged it into his GPS.
“It looks like Charlie’s old neighborhood is less than ten minutes away. Just follow me.”
Jack nodded as he climbed in behind the wheel. “Good enough.”
I read Jade’s text aloud as Jack drove. “What do you make of that? I mean, the Secret Service would know, wouldn’t they? They’re the ones who take down counterfeiting rings, right?”
“Yeah, sure they are, but I’ll admit, that was the last thing that popped into my head when those dead men were found. We need solid evidence leading to that, or it’s just speculation. We don’t want to get tunnel vision on this and end up going in the wrong direction.” Jack stopped at the red light, behind Clayton. “Google it quick and see what comes up.”
“So, I should ask what?” I looked across the seat at Jack.
Kate spoke up. “Try asking something simple first, like ‘how to bleach paper money.’”
“Yeah, okay.” I spoke into my cell phone’s microphone and asked the question. “Crap, a million answers come up. I think I need to be more specific.” I restated my question and asked if acetone, bleach, and hydrogen peroxide were used in bleaching paper money. “Here we go. It says that’s one way of doing it, yet other articles mention using different ingredients.”
“We need to find Charlie’s current residence. If he was involved in counterfeiting, there may be evidence of that still there. Somebody in his old neighborhood must know where he moved to,” Jack said.
Five minutes later, we pulled to the curb and parked behind Clayton’s cruiser. The neighborhood looked sketchy, with houses that had seen better days and vehicles either up on blocks or sitting on tires that were flattened, apparently for years. We walked to the address listed in Charlie’s file.
“That’s the place,” Kate said as she pointed at a two-story house.
Two mailboxes nailed to the porch wall, along with two entry doors, told us it was a duplex convert. A curtain on the front-facing lower window was momentarily pulled aside then dropped back down. Seconds later, the front door opened, and an unkempt-looking man wearing a stained yellow T-shirt and jeans stepped out. With his arms crossed over his wide chest, he looked left and right down the street then stared at us. I was certain he could conclude who we were, looking as out of place as we did. If our appearance didn’t give it away, the two black cruisers parked along the curb fifty feet behind us surely did.
He jerked his chin at us suspiciously. “Need something?”
“How about information?” Jack asked.
“Yeah, what’s in it for me?”
“Being a good citizen who could possibly help law enforcement solve a double homicide.”
He laughed. “Hell, nobody has ever called me a good citizen.”
Jack lifted his sunglasses. “So what’s wrong with turning over a new leaf? We have a few questions about somebody who used to live here. That’s all. It’s nothing that’s too demanding.”
“Don’t know what you mean. I’ve lived in this shithole for thirteen years.” The man took a seat on the wooden step that led down to the sidewalk.
I looked at the second floor. “How about the upstairs tenant?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I see what you’re getting at.” He pointed at the step. “Grab a seat and tell me what you want to know.”
Jack and Clayton took the next step down from the man, who introduced himself as Payton Shields.
Jack pulled out his notepad. “So, Payton, you must remember Charlie Dupree.”
He smirked. “Uh-huh. Sure do. Man, that kid was a pain in the ass. Always making noise and stinking up the place with his concoctions.”
Jack gave me a quick glance.
“That smell would come through the heat vents, you know? I think he was making meth up there. He looked the part, always anxious and scratching his face. He had open sores.” Payton shook his head. “And then there was that bravado he tried to put on. A scrawny kid like him trying to act like tough shit. That’s a sure way to get yourself killed, especially in this neighborhood.”
“Did you know anyone who had a problem with Charlie?” Clayton asked.
Payton snickered with a nod. “Just about everyone, so he finally moved away. I haven’t seen his ugly face since.”
“Do you remember a woman named Denise Lockhart?” Jack asked.
“Ah, yes, I totally forgot about her. She was here now and then but stopped shining around a month or so before Charlie moved out. I was surprised when she called it quits on him since they were two peas from the same pod.”
“Meaning?” Billings asked.
“They were both big-time dopers. I’m not saying I’m perfect, but the cops were here more than I’d like to admit. I think Charlie roughed Denise up a few times, and that’s when she finally called it off. Have to say I don’t miss either one of them.”
“Do you have any idea where Charlie went?” I asked. “An address maybe or an area of town he mentioned moving to?”
“Nah.” Payton swatted the air as if something was buzzing around. “I was glad he left. Never talked to him again once I saw him pack up that moving van.”
“Do you remember
the moving company’s name?” Kate asked.
“Only that it was the one with the yellow trucks.” He jerked his head to the north. “Lila might know where he went.”
Jack’s forehead furrowed. “And who is Lila?”
“She lives up the street two houses. Charlie was pretty sweet on her after Denise cut him off, if you know what I mean. She’s another loser, but hey, when the lights are off, every woman looks the same.” He roared with laughter and slapped his knee.
I was ready to slap his face and gave him the eyeballs.
“What, no sense of humor, little woman?”
“If I wasn’t—”
Jack stood. “Okay, thanks, Payton. Here’s my card if you think of anything else. Meanwhile, we’ll pay Lila a visit.” He hooked his arm in mine and led me down the sidewalk.
I looked back and gave Payton another glare. “That SOB needs a swift kick to his nether region.”
Jack laughed. “What’s with the Monroe women? You’re both feisty as all hell. Come on. Let’s see if Lila is home.”
Clayton led the way to the house two doors north of Payton’s. The paint had long since peeled off the building, exposing the dried-out gray clapboard to the weather. Several windows looked cracked, and a threadbare sofa sat on the porch. A cat scampered off the couch and dove to the ground below when it saw us. Clayton rang the bell while we waited against the railing.
It took several minutes, but someone finally opened the door. Yelling sounded in the hallway, then a woman appeared and pushed the child aside. “I told you to never open the damn door. Now get back in there and watch TV.” She stared through the foot-wide gap and looked each of us up and down with one hand on her hip.
Jack began the conversation since it didn’t appear she had anything to say. “Ma’am, are you Lila?” It seemed that he suddenly realized Payton hadn’t told us her last name.
“I sure am, sugar, and who wants to know?”
I almost laughed when I saw Jack’s face go red.
He cleared his throat. “I’m Lieutenant Steele with the Washburn County Sheriff’s Office.” He pulled out a card from his inner pocket and handed it to her.
She looked at it then gave him a wink. “You’re a long way from home, Lieutenant.” She emphasized the word long.
I stared at the ground so she wouldn’t see my grin.
“Ma’am, do you know the whereabouts of Charlie Dupree? It’s urgent that we speak with him face-to-face.”
That was the first time I heard Jack hand somebody a line of BS.
“How did you know that I know Charlie?” She craned her neck around the door and looked to her right. Payton still sat on the step and was facing us. Lila flipped him the bird. The sound of his laughter resonated beyond the two houses.
“Ma’am, it’s very important, and I certainly would appreciate your help.”
She gave Jack another wink. “Since you asked so nicely, okay, give me a minute.” She backed into the house and closed the door behind her.
We let out a group laugh at Jack’s expense.
“I had no idea you were capable of lying or blushing.” I gave him an elbow to the side.
“It’s a means to an end. We need that address, and it looks like she may have it.”
“Right,” Billings said. “I think you were enjoying the attention.”
The door popped open again, and this time Lila stepped out. “Okay, here you go, sweetie. I wrote it down for you. Charlie moved just nine blocks away. He still stops by every few days. Why do you need to talk to him, anyway?”
I chimed in. “If we told you, we’d—”
Jack cut me off. “It’s a private matter, but we truly appreciate everything you helped us with today, Lila. You have my card if anything else springs to mind.”
She gave him a final look of approval and smiled. “There’s a lot that springs to mind, honey.”
We turned back to the sidewalk and headed to the cars.
Jack snarled in my ear. “You need to knock it off, Amber. I was trying to be serious back there.”
I chuckled. “I know, but she would have told you anything you wanted to hear. She was totally into you, Lieutenant Steele.”
Jack handed the slip of paper to Clayton. “Here, plug this address into your GPS. Let’s see what Charlie Dupree has been up to.”
Chapter 15
We reached Charlie’s address and parked the cars. The house, a small brick bungalow, was old and in need of repair, but it looked to be a single-family dwelling. If Charlie was up to no good, at least there wouldn’t be another tenant in the building to get in his way.
“Let’s see what’s inside.” Jack reached the door first and knocked. We waited, just to make sure that nobody answered. Jack twisted the knob back and forth. It was locked. “Billings, check to see if there’s a back door. If there is but it’s locked, one of the doors is getting pushed in.”
I watched as Billings rounded the house and slipped through the unlatched gate to the backyard. After a few minutes, he returned and waved us toward him.
“There was a locked patio slider, but I lifted it out of the track. Let’s go.”
“Smart thinking, Adam.” I followed at his back, and Clayton, Jack, and Kate took up the rear.
We stepped over the slider track and entered what looked like a hoarder’s house.
I groaned my disgust. “You can’t be serious. Where do we even start?”
Jack looked around. He appeared to be overwhelmed. He shrugged and reached into his pocket. “Slip on your gloves and spread out. I’m not quite sure what we’re even looking for.”
Each of us pulled out a pair of stretchy gloves we carried at all times and slipped them over our fingers. The house was littered with debris, mail, newspapers, and trash.
Jack continued. “From what I see in front of us, it looks like anything and everything illegal took place in this house. That in itself could be a motive for murder.”
“Then wouldn’t Charlie’s killer come back here and take whatever he wanted?” Kate lifted the lid of a shoebox and pointed at the stacks of banded cash inside. Drugs of every kind filled the room, and that was just the kitchen. Bagged pills, powder, and marijuana were spread out on the countertop, as if the kitchen was his workstation and sales department. We continued through the house.
Clayton called us over to the couch. “Check this out.” He tipped his head and lifted the foam seat. Several loaded .22 pistols lay hidden under the couch cushion.
Jack stopped the search for a minute. “This is a bit mind-boggling. It’s obvious that this is a drug house, and we’ll turn it over to the city PD, but there isn’t anything that’s telling us who killed Charlie or why.”
Billings looked around. “Drugs have to be the motive.”
“Possibly, but I don’t care about the obvious. Forget about the drugs, money, and weapons. Look for names written down somewhere. Search for calendars and address books since it’s doubtful we’ll find a cell phone. A scrap of paper, a notepad, or a laptop hidden under a bed—those are the types of things we need.”
I started down the hallway. “Got it. I’ll take the first bedroom on the right.”
We headed in different directions and looked specifically for names written down, ignoring everything else. I rifled through dresser drawers in search of a scrap of paper hidden under clothing. I checked the pockets in the stack of dirty clothes lying in the corner of the bedroom.
“I found something,” Kate yelled out. She stood in the larger of the two bedrooms with a stack of pornographic magazines in her hand.
Clayton’s eyes bulged when he saw them. “I’d say you found something.”
“Don’t be gross, Chad. Here, take a look.” Kate pointed at a name, location, date, and time written across the stomach of the nude model on the magazine’s cover. It was enough to give us a start. She handed the magazine to Jack, who read the words aloud.
“Joe, ten o’clock Thursday night, Dirty Deeds.”
&nbs
p; “That’s it?” Billings asked.
Kate flashed him a frown. “That’s plenty. Obviously, Dirty Deeds sounds like the name of a bar or strip club. Joe is the person we need to find. Today is Thursday, and they’re likely supposed to meet at ten tonight.”
“I don’t particularly want to stick around until ten o’clock, and we don’t know what Joe looks like, anyway.” I grabbed my phone, pressed the microphone icon, and spoke into it. “Dirty Deeds, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.” I watched the circle spin on the screen until the results popped up. “Here we go. Dirty Deeds is indeed a strip club that just happens to be four exits south of here on North Avenue and Fifteenth Street.”
“We need to check it out,” Kate said.
“Hold your horses. I have to think about this.” Jack stared at Kate and me.
“What are you thinking?” I asked.
“What a bad neighborhood that is. The guys and I will check out Dirty Deeds.”
I snickered. “Of course you will. You’re men.”
“Amber, knock it off. Like I said, we’ll go there alone. I guarantee you, that neighborhood is no joke. I’d like you ladies to go back to Lila’s house and ask her about Joe and where he lives, if she does know him. You need to follow up with Denise too. She might have an idea of who he is. Splitting up is the only way to accomplish what we need to do today.”
I relented. “Sorry, you’re right, and you are the boss. Okay, let’s head out, Kate. What are we going to do about this place?”
“Let it sit for the moment. I don’t want to turn it over to the PD quite yet in case this Joe lead turns out to be a dead end.”
We parted ways at the curb, where Kate and I climbed into the cruiser Clayton had been driving. I adjusted the seat slightly forward since Clayton had four inches of height on me. We headed back to Lila’s place, and I promised Jack we’d keep him updated. If Lila knew Joe and was willing to pass along his address, we could have him pinned down that very day.
Ten minutes later, I pulled to the curb in front of her house and parked. Kate and I headed up the steps. Lila opened the door before I even rang the bell.