She brought out a bucket and placed it on the pavement. Irises, roses, daisies, bird of paradise and dried poppies filled it. She pulled out another bucket. That one was the same, except it held more poppies.
Hudson fingered one and lifted it out. The tan-colored dehydrated stem and seed head crumbled in his hand. “Oh, my.”
“What?”
“This is how they’re getting the drugs into the country. They’re using florist’s vans filled with dried poppy straw.”
“Is that illegal?”
“It’s a gray area. There are certain regulations that need to be followed. It appears the florist is disguising the dried poppy straw so people will think they’re just part of a floral arrangement, but the pods are crushed into a powder to produce doda. It all looks perfectly legal, but someone is obviously using it for illegal purposes.”
“How are they ingested?”
“The powder is used to make tea or simply stirred into a glass of water or drink.”
She stiffened her arms at her sides. “We need to talk to that driver. Now.”
“My guess is that’s why the other van was torched. They didn’t want us to see these.”
Kaylin felt a familiar surge of adrenaline at finally getting a break in their case, till one niggling thought broke through. Who was behind it all?
* * *
Hudson returned to his replacement cruiser and opened his laptop. He wanted to do a check on Bart Hardy to see if he had any priors and do a search on the gun. He typed in the van driver’s name and waited.
Kaylin sat in the passenger seat and stared out the window.
“What are you thinking?” Hudson now knew that pensive look. She seemed to be in a quandary.
“Just feeling angry they’re getting this drug across the border right under our noses. I wonder how many florist vans I’ve let go by without doing a thorough search.” She rubbed her neck muscles. Over and over.
He touched her arm, ignoring the spark igniting between them. Did she feel it, too? He pulled his hand away. Now wasn’t the time to think of the beautiful woman beside him. “It’s not your fault, Kaylin. They cleverly disguised the plant and would have had the proper certificates, so they sailed across the borders.”
“I suppose. Have we heard of anyone overdosing on this drug?”
“No, it doesn’t normally kill, but is highly addictive.”
She tilted her head and looked at him with an odd expression on her face.
“What?”
“Look at us getting along. I remember how we fought back and forth about Jake’s case. Almost to the point of sabotaging everything.”
He looked up from his laptop. “I know. I was so self-absorbed back then. I was getting over Rebecca and took my feelings out on you. I was bossy. Can you ever forgive me?”
“I appreciate you saying that. I’m just glad we were able to wrap the case up and book him.” She paused. “And of course I forgive you. As they say, it’s water under the bridge.”
His laptop dinged. He looked down to see a rap sheet appear on his screen, and whistled. “Looks like Bart has been in trouble with the law. Drug arrests, armed robbery and an assault. Seems like the Olivers only hire thugs to bring their flowers across the border. Interesting.”
“We need to get a warrant and talk to those owners again. See what’s in their back room.”
He grabbed the door handle. “Agreed, but for now let’s go have a chat with Mr. Hardy.”
They stepped out of the cruiser and made their way back into the building.
Kaylin stopped at the vending machine and purchased a snack.
Hudson followed her into the interrogation room. She plunked a water and granola bar on the table in front of the driver. Smart thinking. He was probably hungry from being there for over five hours. The woman knew how to get on his good side.
Bart Hardy grunted. The wiry redheaded twenty-five-year-old slouched in his chair. He chewed his fingernails on one hand and reached for the granola bar with the other.
Why didn’t this kid look scared at being detained? Did he care at all? Right now they had him for possessing an unlicensed gun, suspicious pictures that could connect him with the attempted abduction and poppies that could very well be turned into doda. Either he didn’t have a clue what he was transporting or he had a good poker face.
Hudson shoved the gun in front of Bart. “This yours?”
The kid’s eyes bulged. “Where did that come from?”
“Your glove compartment.”
“I didn’t put it there. It ain’t mine.” He opened his water and drank.
Kaylin folded her hands. “You expect us to believe you came all the way across the border and didn’t know you were carrying a gun? I find that hard to fathom.”
“I’m telling the truth, man. I’m just a driver for DJ’s Florist.”
Hadn’t they heard the same thing from Akio? “How many runs do you make in a month?” Hudson pulled out his notebook. He always took notes the old-fashioned way.
“Two to three. Or sometimes more depending on when the boss wants me to go.”
Hudson watched the man’s body movements, looking for signs of deceit. “You mean Lyle Oliver?”
“Yes. He and his wife hired me.”
“How long have you been working with them?” Kaylin leaned back in her chair.
“Four months now.” He unwrapped the granola bar and took a bite.
Hudson tapped his pen on the table. “Do you know Blaine Ridley?”
“Who?”
“Blaine Ridley,” Hudson said. “He was a passenger in another DJ’s Florist van that was torched.”
“I don’t know anything about that and I don’t know the man.” The kid took a drink of water.
Either Bart was a good actor or he clearly didn’t know anything. Nothing in his body language showed he was lying. Uninterested, maybe. Hudson decided to try a new tactic. One that should get this kid’s attention. “Did you know the last driver that crossed the border was killed by a sniper?”
Bart spat out the water, spraying it over the table. “What? Am I in danger?”
His reaction told Hudson he really didn’t know anything. “Tell me about your prior arrests.”
“Just some dumb things I did in college. I assure you I’m clean now.”
Kaylin tapped the table with her thumb. “What were you supposed to do with the delivery once you brought it across the border?”
“Deliver it to DJ’s Florist, of course. What else do you think I’d do with flowers? Sell them on eBay?” He bit into his granola bar.
Hudson was tired of his cocky attitude. “Is that all? What do they do with the dried poppy straw?”
“How do I know? Put it in arrangements, I suspect.”
“They never told you anything else about their business?” Hudson stood and leaned against the wall, hooking his thumbs in his belt loops.
“No. Like I said, I only deliver the flowers. Nothing else.”
Again, the kid’s facial expressions didn’t reveal any hidden secrets. Hudson picked up the bag with the pictures and plunked it on the table in front of Bart. “Are these yours?”
“What are they?”
Kaylin removed the pictures from the bag and spread them out. “What does it look like?”
Her cynical words revealed her mood. Seemed she was getting tired of this useless interview.
Hudson, too, was getting annoyed. “We found them taped underneath the passenger seat. You’re telling me you didn’t know they were there?”
Bart picked up the picture of Kaylin and turned it over. “That’s exactly what I’m telling you.” He glanced at Kaylin. “This is you.”
“Yes, are you targeting me?” Kaylin asked.
“No! I’m innocent. When are you going to let me go? I ain
’t got nothing more I can tell you.” He finished the bar and crumpled up the wrapper. “Should I be calling a lawyer?”
What more could they hold him on? Nothing about his behavior seemed suspicious. They needed to talk to the Olivers and get the scoop on their real business. Clearly there was more going on at DJ’s Florist than they let on.
Hudson had one more question for the kid. “You ever hear the name Valentino?”
Bart flinched and looked at his fingers.
Now they were getting somewhere.
Hudson returned to his seat. “Tell me about him.”
Bart’s face contorted and he rubbed his hands together. “Never met the man.”
“But you’ve heard of him,” Hudson said.
“Yes.”
Kaylin gathered the pictures and put them back in the bag. “You’re in a lot of trouble here. Tell us what you know and perhaps that will help your case.” She stood and circled the table.
Bart slumped in his chair. “You have to believe me. I don’t do drugs anymore, but when I was back in college, everyone in the business heard of Valentino.”
Why hadn’t they? The police had many leads on different drug dealers, so how had Valentino stayed under the radar for so long? Obviously, he was good at hiding. Or had well-placed connections. “Did you deal with him?”
“No one did. He was the big dog and everyone feared him.”
“In what way?” Kaylin asked.
“Anyone that tried to skim off the top ended up dead. He has no mercy and he’s always watching.”
Hudson glanced at Kaylin.
She stopped pacing, eyes widening. Concern crinkled her brow.
Could Valentino be the one targeting her and the chief? If so, why? His need to protect her washed over him again. He would not let anyone hurt her.
Kaylin sat down. “Do you know where we can find him?”
Bart shook his head. “He’s everywhere. No one knows.”
“How can we get in touch with him?” Hudson tugged at the collar of his gray uniform shirt.
“You don’t. He contacts you.”
That didn’t do them any good. How could they set up a sting without being able to get in touch with him? They needed to find Blaine Ridley. “Do you know anyone else in his organization?”
“He has goons do his dirty work, but I don’t know their names.” He leaned forward. “Be careful. Word on the street is he’s infiltrated the police force.”
Hudson’s muscles tensed as a thought struck him hard and fast.
Could Valentino be a cop?
Whom could Hudson trust now?
ELEVEN
Kaylin sat across from Hudson and his boss, Sergeant Peter Miller, at the local police detachment. They’d booked Bart with possession of an unlicensed handgun. They’d confiscated the poppy straw and would be paying the owners of DJ’s Florist a visit as soon as they could get a warrant. They had enough evidence against them now to do a thorough search of their premises.
Hudson had also handed over her cell phone to Forensics. They should know soon if the number of whoever sent the text could be traced. She didn’t have high hopes. Sergeant Miller passed them copies of the composite sketch of Blaine Ridley. It wasn’t much to go on but was all they had.
The excitement of this case fueled her adrenaline and Kaylin’s knee bounced in anticipation of the events to come as they planned their next move.
Hudson posted a photo of a dark silhouette on the peg board with the name Valentino beneath it.
Who was this man? Was he part of a local law enforcement agency? Kaylin glanced at Hudson. She knew it couldn’t be him. He didn’t have an evil bone in his body. Since when had she let go and decided to trust a man? This man?
What about his boss?
The heavyset sergeant in his late fifties looked at the board, his bushy eyebrows knit. He seemed genuinely stumped about the identity of the drug ringleader. “I did a search on Valentino. Nothing came up. Why haven’t we heard of him before?”
Hudson shrugged. “Not sure. From what Bart told us, the entire drug gang community is scared of him. Says people would be stupid to cross the man.” He groaned. “We need to talk to some dealers. Pressure them. But who?”
Kaylin gasped as someone came to her mind.
She gripped the sides of the table, her knuckles whitening. Past betrayal slammed her in the gut. The thought of having to see the man again turned her stomach, but she knew he might be able to help. She’d set aside her feelings for the sake of the case. She looked up at Hudson. “Jake Shepherd.”
Hudson cocked his head. “Are you sure you want to go there again?”
No, but we have to.
“He may know something.” She turned to Sergeant Miller. “Jake was my fiancé and a drug dealer. He’s in the South West Detention Centre.”
Peter Miller stood. “I’ll call the warden and let them know you’re coming. See what you can find out.” He left the room.
Hudson grabbed her hand. “I’ll be right there with you.”
His kind blue eyes stared at her while he caressed the back of her hand with his thumb. His touch soothed the trepidation setting in. She could let him hold her hand all day, but she knew they had a job to do. She pulled away, not letting him see how this simple act had affected her. She stood. “Let’s get this over with.”
Twenty minutes later, they sat in a small visitation room and waited for Jake to arrive. The guards at the South West Detention Centre had searched them and taken their weapons to be locked up. The vein in her neck pulsed. She needed her gun for comfort. She rarely used it, but knowing she had it when seeing Jake would have set her at ease.
Perspiration formed on her upper lip as spots danced in her vision. She couldn’t hyperventilate now, but neither could she forget Jake’s last words before the bailiff took him away to jail. “I will get you for this. Just wait and see.” She placed her hand on her pulsating heart, willing it to slow down.
She hadn’t seen him since that day. In fact, she made a point of sending his letters back. No, Kaylin didn’t want to have anything to do with Jake after the heartache he’d caused.
The door opened, leaving her thoughts of past hurts behind. The guard entered with a muscular tattooed man trailing behind. The bald inmate plunked himself in the chair across from them.
“Ja-Jake?” Kaylin stuttered out his name. She had to clamp her mouth shut to keep her jaw from dropping. Gone was the innocent-looking man she remembered. He’d been replaced by a hardened hulk of a human.
He sneered, revealing his crooked teeth. “My love.” He reached for her.
She recoiled.
Hudson grabbed Jake’s arm and squeezed. “Do that again and I’ll have you thrown in solitary.”
Jake pulled away, eyes glaring. “Don’t touch me, Constable Steeves. I know my rights.”
“Calm down. We only want to talk to you.” Kaylin took out her notebook. How could she have been attracted to this man? His repulsive look shocked her.
“You with him now?” Jake pointed to Hudson.
“We’re working together.” She paused. Did she wish for more? No, Hudson would never go for a woman with baggage and she had ample, including the man in front of them.
“What do you want from me? Haven’t you created enough problems in my life? If word gets out I’m talking to the cops, I’ll have a price on my head.”
Like she cared. She kept her thoughts to herself and grabbed a pen from her vest pocket. “Tell us what you know about a man named Valentino.”
He jerked back in his chair. “I’ve only heard of him through other inmates, but he’s bad news. Why should I help you?”
Hudson hunched forward, his gaze focusing in on the prisoner. “We might be able to get you more privileges around here.”
“Like I want your help, Stee
ves.”
“Come on, Jake. What do you have to lose?” Kaylin would have to appeal to his good side. If he had one.
His jaw twitched. “You don’t know Valentino. His clutches run deep. Even in here.”
Could this brute of a man be scared of the drug leader? What hold did Valentino have on him? His drug dealings must reach further than they thought. “Anything you can tell us will help.”
“Will you visit me?” The prisoner winked.
“That’s not negotiable. Answer us or we’ll let it leak that you snitched on your fellow inmates,” Hudson replied.
Jake flexed his muscles. “I don’t know a lot. Just that he’s the drug world’s bigwig.”
“How big?”
“The top. Has gangs across Canada and into Michigan.”
Hudson squinted, his disbelief evident. “How come we never heard of him until now?”
“He’s kept his identity secret for years,” Jake said. “I’ve heard he always uses a middle man in his dealings. Never shows his face.”
Kaylin shuddered. This man must be good at hiding to have evaded the police radar all these years. “Did you deal with him?”
“No.” Jake twiddled his thumbs as if bored of the conversation.
“What type of drugs does Valentino traffic?” Kaylin asked him.
“Heroin, fentanyl. More recently doda. You name it, he’s dealt it.”
“Have you heard of anyone working for him?” Hudson shifted in his chair.
“Word out on the street is there is a man who deals closely with him.”
“Who?” Kaylin held her breath. Would they get a lead?
“Blaine Ridley.”
Kaylin glanced at Hudson. Why did this man’s name keep coming up?
They had to find him and fast. He could be the key to this doda puzzle.
* * *
Hudson holstered his 9 mm after returning from the interrogation with Jake and walked through the prison doors into the heat of the day. He put on his police-issued cap and led Kaylin to his cruiser. Their meeting with Jake solidified the need to find Valentino before he infiltrated the streets with more drugs. His cell phone rang as he opened his car door. He pulled it out of his pocket and glanced at the screen. Peter Miller.
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