“Let me do a little more investigating then we’ll talk. Right now, I have a job that might help your situation. It could be dangerous. Are you interested?”
“I am plenty interested. Just tell me what to do.”
“It requires you to be a snitch.”
Wojo was quiet for a while, thinking. Then he looked Maude in the eye, “I’d rather be called a snitch than a raping murderer.”
“Okay, she said, refilling his coffee cup, “Here’s the deal. That big man in the cell across from you is a bad actor. I think he’s done some bad things lately but he seems to be real smart. He won’t slip up while he’s talking to lawmen, but he might start bragging to you. That is if you don’t act like you have any interest in his case. It has to be quick, before the press gets wind of your situation. Don’t give him any information he can use on you, do you understand how important that is?”
“Yes Ma’am, I do. What if he jumps on me?”
“We’ll do our best to see he doesn’t, but it could happen. That’s the dangerous part. You have to be willing to go all the way or it won’t work. You may even need to wear a wire. Could you handle that?”
“Umm, I think so. Never did it before, but I could try.”
“Wojo, if you mess up; this guy will kill you. You must understand that’s the kind of person we’re talking about.”
“He might try but maybe I can stay out of his way. I want to try.”
“We’ll set it up,” she told him.
Maude could hardly wait to relay the news to Joe, Ernest, and Jack. At last, maybe they had caught a break. She believed Wojo and knew that he was sincere. She feared for him, snitching on a man who might be an assassin, but it was a risk he was willing to take.
Jack made all the arrangements with the Highway Patrol to borrow the equipment from their stockpiles of technology. They would need a listening device and the recorder for Wojo to wear. Ernest and Joe put their heads together and with the help of the other night guards, worked up a plan to get the big man into the same cell with Wojo for a period of time.
All the involved officers knew the value of secrecy in the plan. Putting a prisoner’s life on the line and protecting him was difficult at best but the worst was unthinkable. The idea came from the sheriff who decided to paint the cells one at a time. He said there was an inspection coming from jail standards in about three weeks and he wanted to present a good picture. Jack broke the news to the deputies at the same time he told the people in holding.
The plan had to be put into place quickly before Leroy Thomas was arraigned. After that, he would no doubt have a lawyer show up to place his bond, releasing him from custody. The press hadn’t found out that the lab reports showed Wojohoitz to be the rapist of Jenny Marx, a situation that could become volatile at any time. That night after Wojo spoke to Maude she told him there would be no more contact between them until the sting was over. Any slip to Leroy would make him wary of Wojo and result in a bad situation.
The officers who worked in the building and had communication with the men in holding crabbed and moaned about the idea of fresh paint getting on their uniforms. Most of the complaints were legitimate, for there would be paint on everything there before it was over.
Leroy complained very little that night, content after his huge sack lunch to see what tomorrow might bring. He was confident that his release would be quick and painless. He slept well that night, speaking very little to anyone.
The next morning the holding area of Leroy Thomas had been designated as the first to be painted. Both inmates were assigned to the one cell which Wojo had previously had to himself. The big man was moved after having been told his room had first priority for new paint, and he smirked at Wojo, letting the smaller man know that he, Leroy, was being shown preferential treatment by having the chosen room for prettying-up. The man was a prideful narcissist who believed the world revolved around him and all who mattered should recognize his importance.
Wojo, on the other hand, was quick to oblige, having been fitted with the tiny transmitting recorder during the night before. He wanted to get it over with and get about doing his time for the crime he had committed. He also hoped to see Perla Suarez again very soon.
The next morning after Leroy was locked in with Wojo it became apparent to officers that the big man intended to bully Wojo, taking the best bunk, and gobbling part of the smaller man’s breakfast. Maude was set up to observe the behavior of the men even though they couldn’t see her.
She noticed the big man had begun making the cell rules, and expected Wojo to clean the trash away after the meal was done. He had also become talkative, trying to impress his roommate. Leroy believed that all who knew him, envied him, including the smaller man whose bunk he now used.
The relationship between the two was a picture of jail life in reality even though Wojo was playing a part. There were always the ones who used heavy-handed tactics to get what they wanted from smaller individuals.
Alienating the inmate was the next part of the plan, to make it appear to Leroy that the thief Wojohoitz was marked, and disliked by the staff. The deputies began making comments to the two men about Wojo smelling bad, and being a thief, therefore he must be a liar. They also insinuated he had mixed blood, and didn’t know his daddy.
During all the set-up, the remarks meant nothing to Wojo, but Maude knew too long an exposure to false information could influence falsely. In other words, too many insults and Wojo might start believing they were real.
Before long Leroy Thomas in his privileged position began to notice the way Wojo was being degraded by the officers and started a phony pep-talk to the smaller man, trying to cheer him, to gain his trust and loyalty. He began a soothing conversation, giving Wojo the benefit of some of his past experiences with screws, or jail guards. Leroy was in touch with the glorified man that was himself and never considered that he might be played.
Wojo showed disdain for the officers in front of Leroy, making snide comments about what he would like to do with them, especially the female that worked on the night shift. He admitted to Leroy that he had never done such a thing but he was really fed up with being treated badly.
The day went by and the night shift came on, with both men in lock-up insisting they should have heard the reasons they were in jail. The night guards responded courteously to Leroy but were surly to Wojo, adding insult to injury.
Maude returned from a long afternoon sleep at the motel, relieved Joe, and took up vigilance on the interchange between the two men behind bars. It was late at night and the female deputy had just checked on the men when Wojo made his first break through.
“Man,” he said. “I would like to slap her down and ram her from behind.”
Leroy Thomas, teacher of Wojo, spoke softly, “I’ve done that.”
“What? What do you mean?” Wojo whispered.
“I had me a little blonde honey, slapped her down and rode her hard.”
“Aw, you’re just trying to make me feel bad,” This from Wojo.
“No, for real,” Leroy said, stretching the significant muscles in his thighs.
“Yeah, for real”, he repeated. “A few days ago. Out on the lake.”
Maude sat up straight, making sure the equipment was functioning, and listened.
“What did you do?” Wojo sounded excited, admiring.
“Cut the shit out of her, but first I rode her hard. No woman can get away from me. You want this guard, we’ll get her.”
“What was she doing on the lake?” The small man was slavering, envious of Leroy, a thing that did not go unnoticed by the big man.
“Having a party with her doctor lover.” Leroy laughed, “She felt good, young, fresh. Got paid for it too.” He bragged. “Good money and got me a naked woman. Cut her and shut her up after, just like I was supposed to. For good.”
By this time the whispering was lower, the sound on the recorder still acceptable, but Maude could tell the big man was excited, remembering.
“I won’t get caught. Fixed it up with the help of a little Mex girl I know. Took a few bucks that she wanted to send to mama, but she saved me a present from her boyfriend. He’ll get burned for it, not me.”
“What kind of present? A knife?”
“No, you dumb mixed breed, a used rubber, a condom, you know. Didn’t you ever use one?”
At that point, Wojo wouldn’t hear any more. All that had been said up to that moment meant play acting, but the talk about his girlfriend and her betrayal become more than he could stand. He went to the bars and yelled for the guards “Come get me, I got to take a crap.”
The words, “Give it a rest, convict. We’ll get you when we get you,” came out of the front office from deputies playing their part, yet they realized that the small man might have been at his breaking point.
Maude intervened and told the officers, “Get Wojo now, he’s losing control.”
The door opened and one of the bigger deputies put his hands on Wojo’s arm, jumping back when the inmate struck out blindly with his hands.
“Hey inmate,” the officer said, “Are you trying to assault me?”
“Just get me out of here. I got to go right now.”
He was frantic. The man in the cell who was bragging about raping and killing a woman was guilty of the crime laid upon Wojo’s back. The big man and the cleaning girl together had framed him, transferring his semen from a used condom into the dead woman.
The laughable part, if there was one, was the braggart had confessed his crime to the person he had tried to frame. The idiot within Leroy Thomas had been fully awake and orating overtime.
Theopoles Wojohoitz was patted on the back by all the deputies who were pleased with his charade. At first he had a tough time getting over the betrayal by Perla Suarez, but forgave her when she later explained that Leroy Thomas had threatened her with a long knife.
Maude knew reasonably well that the girl had been very aware of what she was doing, and the big man had been telling the truth. She did it all for money.
The next morning the cell next to Leroy Thomas was empty, and Sheriff Jack Fuller along with Detective Maude Rogers began an interview with the big man. The inmate was hogtied during the interview, the wrist and ankle cuffs were connected around his waist by a strong chain. Usually the treatment was reserved for very aggressive escape risks.
Maude introduced herself to the big man, and explained his rights. He glared at her, enraged because she had the audacity to put chains and bracelets on an innocent man. At that moment, he had no idea why he had been delayed returning to Houston. The conversation with the inmate in the holding cell never crossed his mind.
“Why am I here? You can’t hold me old woman. My lawyer will have me out of here in two hours and slap a lawsuit on you and the whole Sheriff’s Office.”
“If you want a lawyer, Sir, you may definitely make the call before you talk to us. But keep in mind a proposal we are about to make to you.” Maude offered.
“Yeah, what’s that? Want me to love on you old woman?” The big man was in his element, bullying those he believed to be weak. He obviously did not know Maude Rogers.
“Mr. Thomas, Leroy if you prefer, the new and gentler Maude Rogers will ignore your rude insults and continue on with the proposal; however, if you continue to make the same type of comments, I guarantee that your decision will follow you to the needle.”
“Hey, wait a minute, what do you mean, needle?” She now had his attention.
“Well Leroy, we’re looking for a killing crew that slaughtered two fine people out on Edwards Bay, and it’s our hope that you can help us. You know the drill, tell us some things we don’t know and we’ll forget some that we do know.”
“I got no idea what you’re talking about.” The big man was sweating even though the room was cold.
“You see, we know you have some ideas, in fact we heard you talking about a few of them.”
“Hey, I ain’t said nothing.” Maude thought it strange that criminals reverted to poor grammar when they knew they were caught.
“Leroy, you ran your mouth for at least two hours last night, telling all of us about killing that woman.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You got nothing on me.” He was sullen, his braggadocio replaced with denial. “That was just inmates telling stories to each other.”
“Yes,” she said, ignoring his denial “I’m sure we have plenty. We have your confession on tape, all the parts about raping the girl, then cutting her. It was convenient for us that we were listening to your conversation from the next room. So we taped it. Here then is the proposal: you give us the other two on the crew and especially, the person who hired you, and we’ll talk to the District Attorney and keep you from the needle. You’ll go to prison for life but you should make out fine. You’re big and a bully; it won’t be long before you have at least one girlfriend and all the dope you want.”
Maude saw the big man was thinking and continued. “If you keep quiet and stand up for the man with the money and the other two, maybe they’ll come to watch when the man sticks in the needle.”
Leroy was panicking. How had this happened when he was so careful, planning it all, taking the risks, but covering his tracks each way? It must have been the woman that put them onto him. That twit with the big butt, cleaning rooms for a living. He had tossed her-gave her some strong loving, but he didn’t force her. She was money hungry. Taking care of the all those out of work, lazy bums in Mexico took all her money. So she played along, got him the juice he needed.
Now the bitch was telling tales, getting the cops to listen in on him. That squint-eyed, mixed-breed in the cell with him could get him out of this jam. It was all stories, he could say, just made-up crap that we knew the cops heard. Yeah, that would do it. They got nothing.
“I ain’t saying no more. I want my lawyer.” Leroy Thomas was standing his ground.
“Here’s the phone. Call one person you need, but remember this, the offer will withdraw when we get one of the others. And we will. My gut tells me that at least one of them will turn information. Probably the woman will fall.”
Leroy looked sharply at Maude, but only for a minute, affirming what she had believed from the first time she saw the small boot-print in the damp ground near the bank of the slip. The third person was a woman, possibly the dark-haired driver of the SUV who bought a bottle of water from Gandy after the slayings.
Chapter 19
Maude went home, finally, to her bed in the motel. The small room was the nearest place of comfort that she had. She really wanted to go home, but there was more to do before she could go. Jack took care of the details of the recording from Wojo’s conversation with Leroy Thomas, and Joe was picking up the cleaning girl from the resort. Maude realized she had to share the load.
Late that night, she tried to sleep, but the memories of that girl at the lake kept haunting her. The last cigarette of the day had been finished long ago, its unfiltered length smoked all the way. The gin bottle called her, reminding Maude of the new bottle that hadn’t been opened. It was waiting for her.
She rose from the bed sometime after midnight, and sat in the rickety chair off to the side of the bed. Gazing out the window for a moment she thought she saw raindrops wetting the ground. The next day would be a dreary day if her arthritis was reading the weather right, putting out streaks of pain beyond the reach of over-the-counter medications. She had good insurance; it would pay for any doctor’s ministrations, but the down time was always the deciding factor.
The main road that passed by the motel was wet with rain; she could see the blackness reflecting the lights above the street. The town was asleep but Maude Rogers was lost in her own reflections. The gin bottle had finally grown quiet as she fell into a restless sleep sitting in the straight backed chair.
The next morning came too quickly as always, the fuzz on her tongue an
d teeth a reminder that she missed her nightly brushing. She ran through the water of the shower, realizing it was already time to check her breasts for lumps. Each time she did it, a small thrill of fear hung out till the exam was over, and each time she gave thanks for not finding any. Grace would have been proud of her daughter’s weekly commitment.
Looking into the mirror of the small dimly lit bathroom Maude saw herself as she had so many times before. Old, gray, face relatively unlined, darkness from loss of sleep under her piercing blue eyes, and a normal sized nose took up the clean part of the mirror. The rest of the foggy outline made her look ghostly. At least she was alive and willing to work, she thought to herself, even with the clock and the calendar against her. She was feeling her years, ready to put the case to bed.
Jenny Marx’s killer used a long blade in the shape of a chisel, a carpenter’s tool. A longshoreman would possess such a tool also. Leroy Thomas must have thrown the weapon away. At least most people would get rid of it if the opportunity presented itself. The bay being very deep made an excellent hiding place for any kind of weapon, still, Leroy Thomas thought he was home free, and would never be caught.
She called Jack and could hardly wait for him to answer the phone.
“Jack,” she asked quickly, “Do you have a copy of the search list from Leroy Thomas’s van?”
“Good morning, Maude. Nice to hear from you. Yes, I slept well last night. Now what was it you were asking?”
“Sorry, Jack, but I have something on my mind. Could you read off the items of the vehicle search?”
“Sure Maude, I’m sorry too, I was just having a little fun with you.”
“Let’s see, here it is: spare tire, tire jack, aerosol can of tire inflate, red and white check blanket, pillow, tool box.”
“Jack, was the tool box inventoried?”
“No, it just says various tools.”
Murder on Edwards Bay (The Maude Rogers Crime Novels Book 2) Page 19