by D. A. Brown
A Chevy Caprice, favored by drug dealers, slowly circled the block. This was going to be a difficult location to surveil. The dealers were going to assume they were the targets, so they’d be scarce, or worse, they’d confront undercover detectives as they sat in their cars. The trick was not to tip off whoever was in the house. Surveillance savvy criminals studied patterns, just like cops. If the neighborhood suddenly became quiet, they’d be screwed. Thankfully, the narcs were good at setting up in these areas, blending in with their forfeiture seized Hondas and old SUV’s.
Sophia and Jess parked several blocks away in a shopping center parking lot. They were dead giveaways in their pool car with a radio antenna sticking out of the roof and their exempt license plates.
“We won’t be able to stay here for very long.” Jess looked out the window at the cliental hanging out in front of Starbucks. Groups of four to five young males clustered together, watching the parking lot and streets with more scrutiny than they did of each other. As soon as Sophia and Jess pulled in, heads were on a swivel.
“We can’t get too close to the house.” Sophia checked the rearview mirror.
“I know that, but Jesus, we’ll be lucky if we don’t on-view a drive-by.”
“We can’t get sidetracked. Put your blinders up.” Sophia needed some time to shift gears. She was worried about Tommy. She dialed him up.
“Hey, where are you?”
“On my way.” The radio blared in the background.
“We’re at 23 and Jack. Meet us up here and I’ll brief you.”
“Almost there.”
Sophia called Candy and arranged for Bodhi to spend the next couple of days with her. She asked her to give the mutt a few extra scratches.
Sophia was shocked by Tommy’s appearance despite the fact she’d seen him only a couple of hours ago. His face was drawn and pale and when he got out of the car, he moved like an old man.
“What the hell is happening to him?” Sophia said.
Jess sighed. “He looks exhausted.”
The spark was gone, as was the fight. It happened on the job. She’d seen it before with guys who stayed too long.
She knew this would be his last case, and she made a promise to herself that it would be the best.
“So what’s the plan?” Tommy lit a cigarette, leaned against the car and looked out into the parking lot.
“Narcs are up on the house as well as some intel guys. I just want to put lots of eyes on the place, see if anyone is coming and going.”
“And hopefully see our friend from IT.” Tommy took a long pull from the cigarette like he was smoking a joint, and then let it out in a thin stream.
“Take a look at the surveillance logs for me, will you? I haven’t read the latest.” Jess pulled out Sophia’s computer and logged in.
“Looks like two men either stay at the house or visit. They seemed to be putting in shifts at the residence. They’ve tailed them back to other houses and apartments, so I’m guessing they don’t live there. Looks like this may just be where they’re running the servers.”
“Or maybe it’s just a little clubhouse where they hang out, and one of them just shared his stash on that drive. More likely that Loveschild freak is running things at his crib.” Tommy flicked his cigarette to the asphalt.
“These guys are driving, right?”
“So far all of the plates are coming back with reports of sale on them. Tony and Jimmy are trying to run down the old owners to see if they have anything on the new buyers. We don’t know who these guys are.”
“How about a good old fashioned traffic stop?” Jess said.
“Can’t afford to spook them before we can get a warrant. If there’s evidence in that house, it’ll be gone like a fart in the wind.”
“We’ve got to get something for George to put in front of a judge, prove there’s enough to get a warrant.” Sophia slid her hands around the steering wheel.
A man shouted from across the parking lot. Two men fisted bumped a greeting and glanced in the direction of the three detectives. One of the men nodded to Tommy.
“Jesus, it’s like old home week up here. Every shit bird I ever arrested is camped out in this place.” Tommy lit another smoke.
“Take a break from the cancer sticks.”
“Today’s not a good day to give ‘em up, Soph.” He climbed into his car. “Let’s head over there. We’re gonna get shot or shoot someone if we stay here any longer. I’ll set up around back.”
“Sure thing. But why don’t you leave in an hour, Tommy. We can sit a couple of blocks out. There’s already a few cars close and someone has the eye.” Sophia started the car.
Tommy nodded and rolled out of the parking lot.
Sophia parked the car in front of an apartment building two blocks from the house and turned off the engine. She and Jess mulled over several scenarios as they sat in the car. If some guys were using the house without permission, that made things a little less complicated, because it would be hard for anyone to claim residency and might make it easier to get a warrant. But without more evidence that the house was headquarters to a child porn ring, most judges wouldn’t give them the green light to search the place.
“We need to identify these guys.”
“We will. They’ll make a mistake.”
Sophia released the seat as far back as it would go and stretched her legs. “You don’t have to stay all night. I just want to touch base with a couple of guys out here. Between you and me, I don’t trust everyone to track on this with the same level of dedication. A lot of these guys are just cashing in on the money train.”
“I’ll hang for a while. Nothing else going on for me right now.” Jess shifted in the seat. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Yep.”
“What’s the deal with Tommy?”
“What do you mean?”
“I haven’t been here very long, but in the last few weeks, he’s been really, I don’t know, really bi-polar.”
Sophia laughed. “That’s just Tommy. He’d like people to think he’s a complicated guy, but he isn’t really. He’s just a typical cop who’s nearing the end of his run. I don’t think he’s handling it very well, but what do I know?”
“I just hope he’s going to be OK.”
“You know something I don’t?”
“Guys were just talking about the dude who shot himself.”
“Are you saying people think Tommy shot him?”
“That’s the inference, I guess.”
“Well, that’s fucked up. Tommy is many things, but he’s not a killer.” Sophia looked Jess in the eye.
“Hey, I’m just repeating what I’ve heard. Not saying I agree with it. I just wanted to get your take on things, since he’s your his partner.”
“He’s got a lot going on, but killing some child molester? I don’t think so.”
Sophia squinted through the windshield at a man walking toward them with his head down. Heavyset, he wore a dark hoody and tan pants.
As the figure passed their car, he looked up in her direction and then quickly looked away.
Sophia turned on the car and pulled into the street.
“Who was that?”
“Our best evidence for a warrant. That, my friend, is Eldon Loveschild.”
Sophia jumped on the radio. “Guys, the male who’s walking up to the house is our main suspect. I don’t want him to make any of you, so stay low or out of the area.”
“Roger that,” came the replies.
“Yes, fucking, yes.” Sophia hit the side of steering wheel.
“Let’s drive around and take down some plates. He probably drove here.” Jess said.
Jess pulled out a note pad and started scribbling plates of parked cars.
“Hey, sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything earlier about Tommy.”
Sophia slowed the car to a crawl. “No big deal. Forget about it.”
The radio crackled. It was Vince Turbin, one of newer Narcotics sergeant
s. “We’ll stay out here until we get relief. You want us to follow that last guy home if he leaves?”
“Yeah, bed him down. I just want to confirm what I already have.” She hesitated. “But someone was supposed to be sitting on him. I’d like to know how he slipped past your guys.”
“I’ll take care of it. Won’t happen again.” Turbin said.
Sophia called George and gave him the information about Eldon. They’d have a warrant by the next afternoon.
Back at the office, she and Jess ran fifty plates, all parked within a two block radius of the house. Nothing showed up registered to Eldon Loveschild. But a battered old Subaru came back to a familiar name: Shirley Townsend.
Sophia had her man.
The following afternoon, Pierson call Tommy and Sophia into his office.
“Burton is supposedly out of town at a conference. He gets back in two days. I don’t know whether or not he has someone on the inside sniffing around, but if he does, I can guarantee we’ll all be back in patrol if this doesn’t pan out. Where are you on getting this warrant?”
“We’ll have it in a couple of hours,” Sophia said. Two guys are coming and going pretty consistently, and the main suspect showed up at the house last night. We’ve identified all of them. Mostly minor stuff on their records, but with the identification from Mr. Martins of Loveschild, we’re good.”
“The late Mr. Martins,” Pierson said and looked at Tommy.
“Hey, I didn’t shoot the guy.”
Pierson laughed. “So you say.”
“Look, I’m checking out when this whole thing is over, so you can insinuate all you want, Sarg. I wouldn’t waste lead on that piece of shit, even if the city bought it for me.” Tommy stood up and walked to the door.
“Put this thing on me if Burton starts squawking. Besides, what the hell is he going to say if we get in that place and we find a child porn ring? Let’s pretend it doesn’t exist? I don’t know if he’s just protecting a friend, or his own ass and if it’s the latter, I want to be the one who puts the bracelets on him.”
“Don’t fuck this up.” Pierson said. “And keep me in the loop. No more surprises.”
“I’ll ask Turbin to keep the narcs on the detail while we get an ops order in place. We’ll hit the house in the morning.”
“I want to be there. Get Anthony and Jimmy on the ops order and have them run it by me.”
Sophia followed Tommy out of Pierson’s office.
“And make sure Jess gets a piece of this,” Pierson yelled.
“Yes sir.”
Sophia met Tommy at his desk.
“Tommy.”
“Yes.”
“Go home and get some rest. You stayed out there all night, didn’t you?”
“I’m fine. I’ll meet up with George, get the warrant and coordinate with Jess and the guys.”
“Are you sure?” The idea of getting a run in with Bodhi and a good night’s sleep was so appealing.
“Yeah, partner I’m sure.” He looked at her, his eyes settling gently on her face. “You know, I’ve done this a time or two. Piece of cake.” Tommy turned back to his computer. “Take the rest of the day off.”
“I’m going to take you up on the offer.” Sophia picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. “And I should probably take advantage of an evening off. When you check out, I’ll have to actually work for a living.”
Tommy laughed. “Get out of here.”
Sophia swung by the Metropolitan Market and picked up some fresh vegetables and a chicken breast. While she was in the check out line, Shelly called. Sophia let the call go to voicemail.
In the car, Sophia listened to the voicemail.
“Hey Soph it’s me. Uh, I just got a really strange call from a blocked number with a tip about an investigation that might involve some prominent folks in the city. And the caller mentioned you. Call me.”
Son of a bitch. If Tommy called her, I’ll kill him.
She was so glad to see Bodhi’s face at the door that she forgot about Shelly’s voicemail. The pup’s tail and butt moved in unison.
“Hey girl, mama’s home.” She leaned down and let Bodhi slurp at her face. Changing into running clothes, she grabbed Bodhi’s leash and headed down to Alki.
The sun was deep in the sky, just about to settle on the Olympic mountain range. Sophia ran without her iPod, listening to her breath syncopate with the sound of her shoes again the pavement. Dodging people, dogs and bikes, she rounded the point, passed the Coast Guard station and lighthouse and headed for Beach Drive. She pushed herself up Admiral Way, willing her legs to stride longer. When she reached her house, she was soaked in sweat.
After a quick dinner, Sophia cuddled with Bodhi on the couch and tried not to think about David and the image of Azzo Martins lying in his own blood and brain matter in his beautifully appointed condo. But most of all, she wondered about Grace Halifax, a little girl she’d never even seen.
Bodhi watched Sophia, her deep brown eyes rarely wavering.
“I promise you a trip to the mountains or the beach or both. You’re such a good and patient girl.” Sophia leaned in to kiss Bodhi and laid her head against the dog’s chest.
At four AM, Sophia went straight to the briefing location, a church parking lot a half a mile from the target, to meet with the outgoing surveillance detectives. It was dark except for the lights of several vehicles, their engines softly churning. The air was unusually humid, and thick with the smell of damp plant life.
“Nothing new overnight,” Turbin reported, sipping from a venti Starbucks.
“Thanks. Can you keep a couple of guys on the house until we hit it?” Sophia said.
“The Gonzalez twins are sitting on it now,” Turbin said.
Sophia walked over to where Tommy, Jess, Jimmy and Anthony were huddled.
“I’m missing some serious beauty sleep right now,” Jess said.
“Me, too.” Jimmy took a long pull from a silver thermos cup.
“Too late for you, Paulson. No amount of sleep is going to improve that mug.” Tommy leaned against his car and tap a brand new pack of cigarettes. There was a soft breeze coming from behind Tommy.
“Jesus, Stinson. What the hell are you wearing? Some kind of chick perfume?” Jimmy fanned his face.
Sophia caught the scent and froze.
It was the same cologne she’d smelled at David’s apartment.
Sophia looked at Jess who seemed oblivious. Maybe she hadn’t noticed it at the scene. After all, she didn’t go all the way into the apartment, choosing to wait outside.
“Nah, just something my wife got for me. It’s one of those metrosexual colognes. Something men with good self-esteem can wear. You know, something you wouldn’t be able to pull off Jimmy.”
Sophia’s heart raced. She started gulping air.
Jess pulled her aside. “You OK?”
“I’m fine,” she murmured.
She walked back to the group, avoiding Tommy’s gaze. Maybe it was a coincidence but this was not the time to confront him.
“We’re going to hit the house this morning as planned.” Sophia pulled out a briefing packet.
“Yes m’am.” Tommy said.
Sophia ignored him and continued. “We also have guys set up on the other dipshits so SWAT will be taking them out at the same time we are taking the house.”
Jess piped up. “Pierson’s not insisting we have SWAT serve the warrant at the house?” She looked around the parking lot. “Where is he, anyway?”
“Fuck SWAT,” Tommy said. “We don’t need them for this. We know the house is empty. Narcs bedded them all down last night. I’d rather do this with our guys. At least I recognize them all. Half the guys in SWAT look fifteen years old.”
“We’ve got two robbery detectives sitting on the Halifax house. Those kids aren’t going anywhere without our guys on them. If it looks like he’s taking them somewhere…” Tommy spit. “We’ll take him out.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Sophia used to think she was a very lucky person. Usually that took the form of not taking chances, not setting herself up to fail. There was no explanation for her good fortune. Without a doubt, a day didn’t go by when she wondered when it would all end.
And then it did.
The detectives who sat on the house overnight reported no movement between midnight and three AM. They’d been up on the house for three days and the suspects had established a routine; the first suspect usually didn’t show up until after noon. All things remaining equal, the house would be vacant.
Pierson rolled in during the briefing. He waited for Sophia to finish.
“Everyone vest up. We don’t know what’s in there,” he said.
“Tommy, you and your partner will be point.” Pierson addressed each detective directly as he spoke. “Jess, Anthony, Jimmy and I will bring up the rear. Narcotics and ACT detectives will hold the corners and the backyard. Galloway from the South anti-crime team is gonna breach the door. It’s boarded up pretty tight so it’s bound to be as dark as the inside of Stinson’s ass in there. Make sure you have a light.”
Pierson looked at Sophia and then back at the rest. “And for fuck’s sake, be careful. I don’t want anyone getting hurt. Let’s mount up and go.”
Everyone climbed into a few cars and drove the three blocks to the house.
“God, I love this part of the job,” Jimmy said, pulling the velcro tighter on his kevlar vest.
“Kids.” Tommy gunned the car as they left the parking lot.
“Old man,” Anthony said.
The street in front of the house was quiet. Two blocks away, a dog walker headed toward them. Sophia got on the radio.
“See that woman with the dog? Turn her off.”
The squad headed up the walkway in a single line behind Galloway. Sophia held him by the back of his belt.
“On my count.” Sophia said. She took one last look behind, making sure that everyone was there. Tommy patted her on the shoulder.