Code of Deceit: A Mystery/Detective novel (David Mason series)

by John Foxjohn

  He tried the knob with no luck, but it opened to the inside, and he shook his head. Entrance doors should always open out, he thought. The police department even failed in the small security measures. He took his wallet out and pulled out his driver’s license, and a minute later, the door opened.

  He was in a world of trouble if he got caught. Unlocked file cabinets lined the wall on the left. He didn’t care about the contents, but did pull a couple and they slid open. Yep. The shooter could have gotten the picture this way. David left, making sure he locked the door behind him.

  ***

  David stopped at Pete’s Tire Store, located at Airport Road and Montrose. His stop had nothing to do with his tires, but an employee who worked there. Pete’s long, flat building faced Montrose. Left of the entrance was an open bay where they did minor repairs. On the right, hubcaps covered the wall.

  When he entered, a secretary greeted him from behind a battered, cluttered desk.

  “I need to speak Raymond.”

  “He’s in the back fixing flats.”

  David strolled around to the back, and steel on steel greeted him before he reached the tire repair area. Raymond Henderson bent over a tire, trying to hammer the rubber back on the rim. David stood without speaking for several minutes watching the skinny white male work. In his mid-twenties with shabby brown hair, Raymond had on an old shirt and faded Levi jeans.

  When Raymond straightened and turned, his hammer dropped from his hand.

  “Hello, Raymond. Long time no see.”

  “And we need to keep it that way. Listen, I’ve been out of the joint two years and I’m clean. You don’t need to hassle me.”

  “Not here to hassle you. I’m here to ask you a few questions.”

  “I ain’t done anything, man.”

  David smiled. “What you mean is you haven’t been caught, don’t you?”

  “No man. I’m telling you. I ain’t going back to the joint.”

  He bent and picked up the hammer, strolled over to a tool shelf and laid it down.

  “Raymond, I’m sure you heard about the person who shot me.”

  “Yeah man. I heard. I felt bad about it.”

  David cocked his head and smiled. “Sure you did, Raymond.”

  “Hey, I did. It isn’t cool shooting a pig—I mean policeman.”

  “Who did the shooting?”

  He blinked several times and his large Adam’s apple bobbed while he gulped. “I don’t know nothing, man.”

  “Would you tell me if you did?”

  “I ain’t no snitch man, and I ain’t fixin’ to be, either.”

  With a fake concerned expression, David tapped his cheek with his index finger. “Let me see. Who’s your parole officer?”

  “Why’d you need to know?”

  David drifted over to the tool shelf and looked around where all the tools lay. He looked into the small room beside the shelf, with Raymond following, nervous and agitated.

  “I thought I might go by and have a talk with him,” David said at last.

  “What fer?”

  “To talk. See how he’s doing. Talk about parolees he needs to pay more attention to, and the ones he doesn’t.”

  “Hey, listen, now.” He held both hands out with palms facing David. “I ain’t heard anything about the shooting. I’ll talk to a few people and see if they have and let you know. I don’t think anybody has heard anything.”

  “Why’d you say that?”

  “Man, this stuff gets around quick. If anyone’s going to talk, they’d already done it.”

  “Let me know what you hear, Raymond.”

  “Yeah, man. I’ll do that. You’re going to stay away from my parole man, right?”

  “Are you on parole, Raymond?”

  When David left, he felt bad about squeezing Raymond. He was a small time burglar without sense enough not to get caught, but he heard everything. It wasn’t the first time David had squeezed and not the last. He didn’t like doing it to ones like Raymond. He liked getting shot less, though.

  ***

  Ronny Hemes had worked the night shift, slept most of the day, but his wife woke him at five to go to their son’s football game. His fifteen-year-old boy played halfback for the freshman high school team. Ronny was proud, but his mind was on other things today. Long ago memories tugged at his subconscious, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t bring them to the surface.

  His wife interrupted his thoughts, talking about David and his girl friend, but he half listened. She asked him what was wrong, but he couldn’t tell her because he didn’t know himself. It had to do with David and their discussion about Andrew Carlin.

  At last, he decided to leave it alone, and it would come to him.

  He didn’t see the blue Impala following him.

  Chapter 21

  Main and Wiltshire in downtown had a unique Houston restaurant, The Crab Palace. John Delacroix, a Cajun from Louisiana, built the restaurant’s main dining area behind an old shrimp boat, and patrons entered the boat to get to the restaurant.

  Creosote posts buried in concrete lined the walkway leading to the entrance, and ropes as big as a man’s wrist draped through holes at the top, bordering flowerbeds.

  Beth and David arrived early and waited in the bar, and Henry and Patty arrived thirty minutes late, a normal occurrence for Patty, which drove Henry crazy. Short and plump, Patty had short blonde hair with black roots. David loved her like the sister he never had.

  When the hostess led them to their table and Henry introduced Beth to Patty, the two women hit it off right away. They chatted until their food arrived. Beth sat, looking into her large shrimp salad while she moved the lettuce around with her fork.

  “Is there something wrong with your salad?” Henry asked.

  “No, but I shouldn’t have ordered the shrimp salad. I hope I don’t find David in here.”

  Everyone burst out laughing.

  “Hey,” David protested. “I can go anywhere to be insulted.”

  “I like this one, David. You’d better hang on to her. Heck, I bet she can even count,” Patty said.

  “See, I told you,” Henry said.

  “Yep, looks like you were right about this one,” Patty said.

  “Are you two about to give me the, ‘He’s a great guy’ speech?” Beth asked.

  “Nope,” Patty told her. “You’ll have to beat David into shape.”

  “Well, in that case, it’s fortunate I have a big paddle.”

  David leaned back and rubbed his hands together. “This is sounding better all the time. I like the paddle idea.”

  Several hours passed while they drank beer and talked. Patty and Beth exchanged phone numbers and planned to get together without David and Henry to talk more. Henry and David exchanged doubtful looks.

  Beth and David went to a dancehall after they left the restaurant. They danced for awhile before going back to his apartment.

  Incessant knocking woke David from a sound sleep. He staggered, putting his robe on. Who was knocking on the door at this time? Darn well better be important.

  He tripped and stubbed his toe. When he looked through the peephole, his heart thundered. Henry stood, about to knock again.

  He jerked the door open. “What’re you doing here? Is Patty Okay?”

  “Yeah, she’s fine. Inspector Patterson called me and told me to get you.”

  David’s pulsed raced. Something was wrong. Patterson had never sent anyone to get him. They called. “Why? We aren’t on call.”

  Henry entered when David stepped aside.

  “David, a police officer has been shot and killed on duty.”

  “Have a seat and let me get dressed. This is the fourth shooting of an officer this year. Where’d it happen?”

  “Third precinct.”

  If it is one of the older ones, he probably knew him. He took a deep breath. His hands shook. “Give me a minute.”

  Minutes later, David rushed out, dressed and ready to
go. “Let’s go.”

  Henry didn’t budge from his seat, and a chill sped up David’s spine. His head throbbed, and his chest tightened. Something’s bad wrong. He sat on the sofa. “Henry—what’s the matter?”

  Henry’s head dropped. He stared at the carpet. Strained moments passed. At last, he looked up. “David—Ronny Hemes is dead.”

  David blinked rapidly. For a long time, his world stopped. Everything moved like a slide show, one frame after another. He couldn’t speak. His hands shook. He’d never in his life experienced these emotions flooding through him: shock, disbelief, and rage. His words sizzled out. “What are you talking about, Henry?”

  “All I know is he was shot and killed tonight while on duty. I don’t have any more. Inspector Patterson wants us to get to his office.”

  “Let’s go.”

  Henry didn’t reply. Ronny had meant a lot to David.

  David’s apartment door vibrated as he slammed it shut. Henry had to run to keep up with David’s stride.

  David and Henry arrived at the inspector’s office and found Spinks already there, sitting with his back to them. Patterson had his phone to his ear and motioned for them to sit. Henry took a seat, but David remained standing and paced like a caged lion.

  “Yes, sir,” Patterson said. “We will. They’re here, now. Yes, sir, I’ll get with you in the morning.”

  “Chief Pores,” Patterson said. “David, did Henry fill you in?”

  “He didn’t know much,” David said.

  “Sit down, David.”

  “I’d rather stand, sir.”

  “And I’d rather you have a seat.”

  On the edge of his seat, David couldn’t find anything to do with his hands. Henry wouldn’t lie to him, but Ronny couldn’t be dead. He was too careful, too cautious.

  “I didn’t know much when I called Henry,” Patterson said.

  David stood. “Is the shooter in custody? Was Ronny on a call? Do we—”

  Patterson held his hand up to stop David. “We know a patrol officer found Ronny’s body beside his car in a parking lot beside Save-U-A-Lot grocery store on West Hawkins. He hadn’t checked out. As a matter of fact, there is no radio traffic from him for more than an hour before they found his body.”

  “Who found him?” Henry asked.

  Patterson checked his notes and said, “Patrolman Paul Benton.”

  “How did he come about finding Ronny?” David asked.

  “He was driving east on West Hawkins on his way to a call and saw a police vehicle parked in the lot, close to the building when he passed by. He didn’t give it much thought. Patrol sergeants and lieutenants often park to see if the patrolmen are doing their jobs. He drove back through about forty-five minutes later, and the car was still there, so he decided to drive in and talk to him. Benton pulled up and his headlights hit the body lying by the vehicle. He called it in, ran, and checked for a pulse. Didn’t find one.”

  David sat, listening to the inspector, and rage boiled inside.

  “What do you want us to do?” Henry asked.

  “I’ll want you to take control of the crime scene. They’ve already moved the body and cordoned off the entire area. In the morning, I want you to turn over all files you have on any active or pending cases. As of this moment, and this comes from me and the chief, you have one case. You’re to find Sgt. Hemes’ killer. I don’t care how long it takes. If you need anything, you’re to come to me. If anyone gets in the way, or doesn’t cooperate to the fullest, you come to me and I’ll get them out of the way. Do you have anything to say, or any questions?”

  “No sir,” Henry said.

  David stood, pacing the office for several minutes, and then he stopped. “Inspector, has Gail been told?”

  “I’m going to do that when you two leave.”

  Spinks spoke for the first time. “Mason, I want it on the record I’m not in favor of giving you this assignment. I think you’re the wrong one for it. This needs someone with more rank and more experience than you have. I think you’ll mess it up. But inspector and chief won’t listen to me.”

  David sprang from his seat. Henry had foreseen this and stepped between them, straining to hold David back. Surprised, Spinks stepped back.

  David’s eyes narrowed to slits and through clenched teeth he said, “I’ll tell you what I’ll mess up. I’ll mess you up if you get in my way.”

  Spinks backed against the wall as if David’s eyes pinned him to it. No one in the room doubted he meant what he said.

  Before Spinks said anything else, Patterson held up his hand. “David, there’s something you should know. Ronny called my office yesterday and talked to Susan. He wanted to see me right away.”

  David frowned. “What’d he want to talk to you about?”

  “I don’t know. I’d left for the day. I had a long meeting with the chief and had to go to a police benefit. I didn’t talk to him. Susan made an appointment for nine this morning. I do know this—Ronny Hemes wouldn’t have called me unless he believed it urgent.”

  “I agree, sir. I wonder why he didn’t call me.”

  Patterson frowned and rubbed his hair. He did this when confused about something. “This is a guess, but I think it might have had something to do with your shooting. Ronny would try to protect you.”

  As they marched out, the two detectives heard Patterson tell Spinks, “When are you going to learn to keep your stupid mouth shut.”

  ***

  Red and blue strobe lights led them to the scene. When they pulled into the large parking lot, it was almost too small to hold all the emergency vehicles. Like inhabitants of a stomped-on anthill, cops swarmed all over the place. Henry parked close to the entrance, and David stopped and looked around. Something crawled in his stomach. Ronny’s words knifed through him from the past, “Never park in unlighted parking lots,” and now David had to investigate his death in an unlit parking lot.

  Ronny’s patrol unit still had the motor running, lights off, driver’s door open, and interior light on. As they approached, a lieutenant stopped them.

  “We’ve been waiting for you. Where have you been?”

  “Downtown police department talking to Inspector Patterson and the chief,” Henry said.

  With a heavy chest, David’s body trembled, and he fought to hold tears back. All eyes fastened on him when the lieutenant led them through the milling crowd.

  “Who’s the first officer to arrive here besides the patrolman who found the body?” David asked.

  “Sergeant Hal Parker.” He pointed over by a police car.

  David nodded. “Okay, we’ll talk to him first.”

  “There’s something wrong here,” David said as they strolled over to talk to the sergeant.

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Ronny never parked in an unlit lot in his life.”

  “I remember you saying that.”

  Henry almost had to run to keep up with David. They found Sergeant Parker talking to a captain they didn’t know. David and Henry pulled their badges and identified themselves.

  “I know who you are, Mason. Ronny talked about you all the time,” Parker said.

  “I’m heading this investigation,” David said.

  “Good. I’m glad.”

  “Why’d they assign a sergeant to investigate a police officer’s murder?” the captain asked.

  David, with hands on hips, asked, “Who might you be, sir?”

  “I’m Captain Henson of the third precinct, and you’ll report to me. Is that understood, Sergeant?”

  David wiped his mouth. “I don’t think so.”

  “You don’t think you understand, or you don’t think you’ll report to me?”

  “I’m not reporting to you or anyone else around this little circus you have going on here. We just came from downtown police headquarters. Someone with more rank than your told us we’re to report to him.”

  “Who might that be?”

  David took a deep breath and let it
out, and another. “Chief Pores. If you have any questions, you need to talk to him. In the meantime, I want all nonessential people out of here. Do I make myself clear, Captain?”

  “This is my precinct, sergeant, and one of my men is dead.”

  “All true, Captain, but this is my crime scene and my investigation, and you’re interfering with both. If I have to call and wake the chief up again to tell him I have a precinct captain who’s interfering with my investigation, I’m guessing he’s not going to be happy.”

  “Okay, Sergeant, but you’d better not be lying about the chief.”

  “Why don’t you call my boss, Inspector Patterson?”

  “Oh, I plan on talking to Patterson.” He spun and marched away.

  Clenching his teeth, David stared at the scene. Flashing lights illuminated the area as patrol cars sped up and down the street. It looked like every law enforcement agency in Texas responded, even game wardens.

  “Hey, partner. Take a deep breath and settle down,” Henry said.

  “I’m glad they sent some real investigators, instead of desk jockey bureaucrats,” Parker said.

  “Tell me what you found when you got here,” David said.

  Parker gave them a brief run down on what he saw and did when he arrived. First, he had the area sealed off and had several units do a search for pedestrians, and others recorded all vehicle license plates parked within a five block radius.

  David pictured the scene while the sergeant talked. “Did you look inside the car?”

  “I did, but not right away; too much to do at the moment.”

  “Was the body cold when you checked his pulse?”

  “No, but it had cooled.”

  “Where’s Officer Benton?” Henry asked.

  “Captain’s already sent him back on patrol.”

  David and Henry looked at him open mouthed for a moment.

  “He did what?” Henry asked.

  “Captain sent him back on patrol.”

  David’s anger, riding close to the surface, was about to boil over. Henry reached over and caught his arm, his grip firm on David’s biceps. David took a deep breath. He couldn’t believe the incompetence at this crime scene. “Hal, I want him at my office in an hour.”