Icy Betrayal: A Jack Keller Thriller

by David Keith

  “So, Mia, you believe that Lennox and Sullivan know each other and are both connected to this case. And I think all of us agree this was no accident and is most certainly a homicide, correct?” the captain asked.

  Both Mia and Keller nodded their agreement, but Keller spoke up.

  “It’s no accident. Lennox no doubt is behind it, he’s got a $2 million motive. Maybe Sullivan is involved too, I don’t know. But the evidence on her is flimsy. Any good defense attorney could have her off the hook in a New York minute.”

  Mia didn’t hold back. “Jack, you were with me when we interviewed her at her apartment. You saw the look on her face when I asked her about her sister. You saw the concert ticket on her refrigerator. I know it’s circumstantial, but the evidence seems pretty convincing to me. I don’t know exactly how it went down, but I really believe they are in this together, and it’s very likely they are involved romantically.”

  “Well, if that’s the case, we need to find some proof,” added Mick.

  Mia continued, “We can try to get a search warrant but that would tip them off. Right now, they think we’re considering this an accident and nothing more. But if we don’t do something, this thing will die on the vine.”

  “It’s not likely we can even get a warrant based on what we have now,” Keller replied, adding, “even if we could and it shows there’s a relationship between the two, it doesn’t prove anything. They’ll both lawyer up, and we’re screwed.”

  Mia refused to back down. “They’re amateurs. They’ll trip up, Jack. My bet is that Sullivan will crack first. She’s probably not the one who cooked this whole thing up. I’m guessing this was all Lennox’s idea.”

  “Lennox is up to his eyeballs in this without a doubt; it just seems a stretch that Sullivan is involved,” Keller explained. “There’s a distinct likelihood that when she hit Lombard that morning, he was already dead, and last time I checked, hitting a dead guy with your car is not a fucking crime.”

  A big part of Mick McCallister’s job was protecting his boss, and Jack Keller knew it. “We’ve got to step very carefully here. If we don’t play this just right, we could create one hell of a shit storm for the sheriff.”

  “Okay, okay,” Mick said. “Maybe a search warrant isn’t the best approach right now, but we might be able to get authorization for a wiretap. We tap Lennox and Sullivan’s phones for any communication between them. We can do it covertly and they are none the wiser, that’s a big advantage over a warrant.”

  “A wiretap is getting harder and harder to get these days. Good luck with that, Captain,” Keller said.

  “I’ll call the DA. I’ll outline what we know so far and see if he thinks we have a shot. He’ll know which judge might throw us a bone. I’ll let you know.”

  The captain stood up and the meeting was over.

  Back in the bullpen, Keller unlocked the top drawer of his desk and took out his burner phone.

  SEVENTEEN

  “Hey, Mick, how are you doing?”

  “I’m doing great, Dave, how are things in your shop?”

  “Busy as usual, but that’s okay. What can I do for you?”

  Dave Baxter was in his second four-year term as the Rocklin County District Attorney. He had narrowly won re-election three years earlier when he fought off a challenge from an opponent who had made millions suing drug companies in huge class action lawsuits. The fight had been a nasty one and left Baxter very wary of anything that could damage his public reputation. Mick knew it and thought it could help in his efforts in securing the DA’s assistance in getting the wiretap.

  “I’ve got a case that my people are working that at first appeared to be a relatively straight forward fatal traffic collision, but now we’re pretty convinced it was more than that. I’m looking for some help in securing a wiretap.”

  “Okay, Mick, what have you got?”

  The captain outlined the case.

  “So, you want me to try to convince a judge to authorize a wiretap based on a concert ticket? Is that what you’re asking me, Mick?”

  “With all due respect, Dave, I believe the case makes a lot of sense. The physical evidence doesn’t add up to an accident—clearly this was more than that. Someone killed our victim, and in all likelihood he was killed somewhere else altogether. The primary suspect is his business partner who certainly had plenty of financial motive to kill him or have him killed. There’s a likelihood that the woman who was involved in the accident has a romantic relationship with the primary suspect. And believe me, from what I’ve been told, the woman looks like some kind of movie star. A real head turner.”

  Mick continued, slightly lowering his voice. “And there’s something else. I can see this case making a huge splash in the media. All those national news shows—they are going to be lining up for this one. This case has all the elements the public loves. It could put us on the map, but I just want to make sure it comes out well, for all of us.”

  “Yeah, you’re right, Mick. This thing has sex, money, murder… the whole shebang. Okay, I’ll talk to Judge Green—he’s probably our best bet. I’ll call him when we finish here, and I’ll let you know what he says. Is that fair, Mick?”

  “That’s more than fair.”

  After he hung up, Mick texted Mia.

  “Can u come by my office?”

  “Come on in, and close the door behind you.”

  Mick got right down to business. “In our meeting today, I definitely picked up on that vibe from Keller. I’m starting to think it’s more than just Keller being Keller—there’s something going on.”

  “He sure gave me hell for my field trip to Big Pine the other day,” Mia added. “He was clearly upset with me for doing that without him, but I just chalked it up to his personality. But he seems to be going out of his way to deflect attention from Sullivan, and that concerns me.”

  “The strategy is pretty straight forward. I mean, any investigator would likely be thinking the same way. But he doesn’t seem to be fully on board. He even hedged on the wiretap.”

  “Do you think he could be drinking again?” asked Mia.

  “Possible, let’s keep an eye on him.”

  “Okay, Captain.”

  “Thanks, Mia.”

  “Are you free tonight?” Mick asked. “I could make us something for dinner at my place. It won’t be as good as your cooking, but I can manage something.”

  “The last time you cooked me dinner it was grilled cheese and fruit cocktail from a can.”

  “I’ve got a fresh loaf of bread and a new can opener. How about seven?”

  EIGHTEEN

  Keller left work after the meeting and headed to Rosebud. The enormity of the task ahead weighed heavily on Keller’s mind as he walked quickly towards Lisa’s apartment. He knew he had a chance to amend for his sins, to make things right and by doing so, gain the love and support of the little girl he had lost nearly thirty years earlier. He wanted to make good. Yet there was so much that could go wrong.

  Lisa let him in and offered coffee. She had been through the wringer and it showed. “I’m so scared,” she confessed. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “That’s why I’m here. I need you to do exactly as I say. Lisa, it’s very important we’re on the same page. The next few days will be critical.”

  Lisa gazed blankly at her coffee. She couldn’t quite fathom the mess her life had become.

  “They’re going to ask a judge for permission to tap your phones,” he explained. “Your home phone, work phone, and your cell will all be hot. We need to have a strategy for this. There are a couple of ways we can go, but first let me ask, have you had any contact with Scott Lennox since we met at the café?”

  “No, he said we shouldn’t talk until things blow over and the money’s in the bank.”

  “Okay, good. I need you to stay off the phone unless it’s for work or routine business. We can’t control what Lennox does, but if he doesn’t call, the wiretap won’t yield a thing.”


  “But what if he does call?”

  “Try not to answer any call until you know exactly who it is. If Lennox does reach out and leaves a message, we’ll have to deal with that as it comes. You and I only communicate on the burner phones, no matter what.”

  “Okay.” She began to see just how much her father was risking.

  “Now, we need to talk long term. First, your relationship with Scott.”

  Lisa looked down, ashamed.

  Keller glanced around the kitchen, and his eyes fell on the refrigerator. It had helped him discover his lost daughter and given Serrano deep suspicions about Lisa’s relationship with Lennox. Those suspicions could land her in prison.

  “ Look, Lisa, if the department cracks this case, both you and Scott are going to be held accountable. The way I see it, he’ll be charged with first-degree murder, and because he did it for financial gain and because it was pre-meditated, it qualifies for the death penalty. You were an accomplice, and that would probably get you a ten-year sentence. I’m not saying this to upset you or scare you; I just want to be straight with you so you can make the best decisions from this point forward. What we do now will set the wheels in motion and determine what’s going to happen to you. There are no easy answers, no easy outs. I can break down the consequences of whatever direction you choose, but ultimately the decision is yours. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”

  Lisa nodded as the tears welled up in her eyes.

  “Do you love him enough to stick by him, even if that means you both go to prison? And remember his term could very likely be life—or worse. Or do you want to cut your losses and let him go? If you go to the authorities now, before they come after you, you will be in a position to offer them something, essentially turning states evidence against Scott. In return, you would likely get some break on your sentence, maybe 3-5 years.”

  “What if I run? What if I leave the country and never return? How hard will they look for me? I mean, it’s Scott they want, right?”

  “They will want both of you. This story is a juicy one. It has all the elements the media likes, and they will run it to death. And not just locally, it will likely go national. Ever heard of Nancy Stein on cable TV? This is the kind of thing she likes to beat into the ground night after night. I’m not saying this to scare you; I just want you to know what you’re looking at. If this gets the media attention I think it will, then the RCSO and the DA will be more determined than ever to catch you. They don’t want to look bad and if you ‘escape,’ so to speak, it won’t look good for the sheriff or the DA.”

  “What if I change my identity and get a new life? I really don’t have anything else to keep me here without Scott. Mom is dead, and I have no other family. I mean, why not run?”

  “Well, that’s an option. But do you really want to be on the run all your life?”

  Neither spoke. Keller was surprised at her strength and resolve. The time was right for him to press the issue.

  “You said Scott planned on taking the insurance money and start a new life with you. That was part of the plan I assume, that he’d divorce his wife and marry you?”

  Lisa nodded.

  “Well, as I told you the other day, the policy was for $2 million, not $500,000. Now, that could mean a lot of things, so don’t jump to any conclusions about his motive for lying to you.”

  “I know,” she said. “And if he lied about the money maybe he never was going to leave his wife. He used me to kill his partner, and now I’m worried I could be next. I wish I could tell them everything I know and hang his ass for good. But he’s not worth going to prison for. You don’t think he’d come after me, do you?”

  “ I won’t let that happen,” Keller said.

  “I think I should take my chances and disappear.”

  It could work, Keller thought. But Lisa would need help.

  NINETEEN

  Mia arrived at Mick’s a few minutes after seven. As she pulled up the gravel driveway, the memories and emotions came rushing back. She loved this house and the man inside.

  Mia drove around to the back and saw the garage door was open for her arrival. A collection of wildflowers in a vase was sitting on the workbench inside. She pulled her car into the garage, picked up the vase of the flowers, and headed toward the house. Mick saw her coming up the walk and opened the door as she stepped up onto the porch.

  “They’re beautiful. Thank you so much, Mick.”

  Mick gave her a big smile and took her hand.

  “You’re welcome. I’m hoping the flowers make up for dinner.”

  They went through the den and into the kitchen.

  “The place looks great, Mick.”

  “Thanks, I’ve done a few things since you were here last. I put in some hardwood floors upstairs, and I put in an oversized shower in the master bedroom. Room for two,” he said with a smile.

  “Aren’t you handy?”

  “Can I get you a glass of wine? I’ve got a really good Pinot if you’re interested.”

  “That would be great, thanks.”

  Mick walked to the wine rack and pulled out a bottle of Parker Creek, a wine from a local winery.

  “I found this at a wine tasting a few months back. Hope you like it.”

  Mick popped the cork and poured two glasses. He handed one to Mia and lifted the other in a toast.

  “To the honorable Judge Don Green, who has authorized a wiretap for us on the Lombard case.”

  “Great news! So the DA agreed with the strategy?”

  “He took a little convincing, but it worked. We need to get one of our electronic surveillance guys with the DA’s people to get everything set up, but we should have things in place within the next couple days.”

  “So, if the wiretaps work, and we catch Sullivan and Lennox communicating, do you think that will give us enough to arrest and file on them both?” asked Mia.

  “It depends on the conversations. If they talk about the murder, we’re good. If they communicate but don’t directly implicate themselves, then we’d need to see what the DA thinks. Personally, I think we’d have enough, but you know how cautious prosecutors are—they want it to be airtight before they file, especially in a case like this with all the potential media attention. Think about it—this case has everything. We’ll have news media satellite trucks parked up and down the streets.”

  As they moved to the living room toward the large wood-burning fireplace, Mia worried about the possible fallout if the case went sideways. She couldn’t let that happen—not for George Lombard, not for the department and most importantly, not for Mick. If they couldn’t make a case, it could cost Mick the election. On the other hand, if Lennox and Sullivan were brought to justice, Mick could ride it to victory. The George Lombard murder case was rapidly becoming a pressure cooker, and Keller was a wild card.

  “I’m still concerned about Keller.”

  “Look, maybe we’re over thinking this whole thing,” Mick offered. I did a pretty in depth background on him and while the drinking was obviously a concern, there was nothing in his history that suggested he ever screwed with a case.”

  “Yeah, well, Lisa Sullivan is awfully pretty. I just hope he’s not somehow involved with her. Crazier things have happened.”

  “Really? You get that vibe from him?” he asked.

  “Maybe.”

  “God, I don’t even want to think about what that could do to the case and the department and reputations of all involved. It would be a pretty shitty way for Sheriff Connelly to wrap up an otherwise exemplary career with RCSO.”

  Mia answered, “Well, some women can be pretty conniving when they need to be.”

  “Geez, he’s like thirty years older than she is.”

  “Oh yeah, well that would never happen. An old man pursuing a beautiful young woman,” Mia replied sarcastically. Then smiled and added, “I mean, look at us. You are way older than me, and we both know I’m just after your money.”

  “Um, we are all of two yea
rs apart, young lady. And as far as my millions go—if you can find it, you can have it.”

  “Forget the millions. Where’s that grilled cheese you promised me?”

  “Bad news. Turns out my Velveeta expired. So you’re stuck with a little antipasto, lasagna, and fresh sourdough.”

  “No fruit cocktail?”

  “Maybe for desert,” he answered.

  “I’m very impressed, Mick. When did you learn to make lasagna?”

  “When I picked it up at Ferraro’s on the way home.”

  “Very clever, McCallister. Let’s eat, I’m starved.”

  TWENTY

  The bright sunshine beamed through the windows as the snow melted outside the Serrano house. Chuck was sitting down to breakfast. He loved Mia’s “Denver Scramble.”

  “Dad, you don’t have to do this if you are uncomfortable with it. I don’t mean to put you on the spot.”

  “I don’t mind, Mia. If I can be of help to you in the investigation, I’m happy to do it.”

  “Okay, well let’s leave as soon as we finish breakfast. I told Mick I’d be in a few minutes late today.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  Mia cleared the breakfast dishes and thought about her next move. She didn’t like involving her father in her work life, but she knew it was the safest way to determine what exactly Keller was up to. Sometimes, she thought, extreme measures were needed to get the job done. What she and her father were about to do was not technically illegal, but it was certainly pushing the envelope. She had weighed the unwritten rule of supporting your partner against her fear that Keller might be playing fast and loose with the rules. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time an investigator fell for a pretty suspect, but she’d be damned if she was going to let him muck up this investigation.

  She also felt a little guilty for not telling Mick. But, if things went bad, the blame needed to all fall on her, no one else. There was no way she would let this affect his career and his future run for sheriff.