Hit and Run

by Rayna Morgan

  “Do you know the officer in charge?”

  “All too well. There’s no love lost between Mike Morris and me.”

  “For what reason?”

  “Let me pay the bill and get to my car. I’ll call you back and tell you the story.”

  • • •

  Warren called Lea on his hands-free car phone and explained his history with the detective.

  “I consulted with Mike on a couple of homicide cases when he worked Vice.”

  “What kind of cop is he?”

  “The kind who throws his weight around. Mike enjoys a reputation as a tough guy on the force. Comes down hard on suspects. Pushes the envelope with interrogation tactics. Hassles street people for leads. Brags about busts like a gunslinger displaying notches on his belt.”

  “Not your favorite kind of cop.”

  “Mike had aspirations of making captain. He saw promotion as proof of the esteem he sought from peers and higher-ups. Truth is, he was feared or despised by peers more than admired.

  “He prided himself on being a master interrogator. Most of his results came from pushing suspects to the brink. He had a way of cracking his knuckles to rattle the person he questioned.”

  “I remember him from visits to the station,” Lea said. “He always asked if I liked school or whether I had a boyfriend. As though it were any of his business. All the time he was grilling me, he cracked his knuckles. It used to give me the creeps.”

  “During my tenure as chief, there were allegations Mike planted evidence to force a confession. There wasn’t enough proof to suspend him but I had him transferred out of Vice to take the heat off the department. Mike considered the reassignment a demotion which hurt his chances.”

  “It sounds like heavy-handedness and cockiness caused Mike's lack of advancement. He wouldn't have been a good leader.”

  “A fact he never admitted, not even to himself. He grew bitter. Felt the system betrayed him.” Warren paused. “A guy on his former squad once asked if I thought Mike was on the take.”

  “Do you believe that?” Lea asked.

  “When cops stop being motivated to solve crime, they’re prone to be swayed by the very people they protect against. If Mike decided the system owed him something instead of the other way around, there’s no shortage of tempting opportunities.”

  “You mean from people engaged in illegal activities who want a dirty cop in their pocket,” Lea suggested.

  Warren drove into the parking lot at the police station.

  “That’s presenting a worst case picture. Still, Mike changed from being a zealous cop to putting in as little effort as possible.”

  “Are you suggesting Mike hasn’t given this case his best effort?”

  “I’m saying if the Palmers are looking for justice, they won't get it with Mike Morris.”

  “What’s our next move?” Lea asked.

  Warren picked up the newspaper, preparing to return the file Meg smuggled out.

  “Your mother has book club tonight. I’ll treat you to Mexican food and we’ll discuss strategy. In the meantime, go to the Wheelhouse and talk with Danny while you’re near Seaport Village.”

  “For what reason? You can’t imagine he had anything to do with Cate’s death.”

  “Anyone who knew Cate is a person of interest. Danny is more than an acquaintance. He had deep feelings for her.”

  “He’s an innocent kid, incapable of hurting anyone.”

  “We never know what a person may do under certain conditions. You mentioned Danny’s developmental disorder. His limits of right and wrong may be blurred.”

  “I don’t believe for one moment he’s guilty of wrong-doing.”

  “Then prove his innocence.”

  “How do I do that?”

  “By using a strategy of elimination.”

  “I get it. Consider means, motive, and opportunity. Then, prove one of those elements is missing where Danny is concerned.”

  “One thing I know already. You’ll have trouble eliminating a motive of unrequited love.”

  • • •

  Warren pushed through the front door of the station, nearly colliding with Mike Morris.

  “Two visits to headquarters in one day, Conley. You got something going on?”

  “What makes you think this isn’t a social call? Regardless of your feelings toward me, I still have friends here.”

  “Oh, I’ll give you that. You always had the right connections.”

  He glanced at the newspaper in Warren’s hand.

  “You gotta be the only person on the planet who reads the printed edition of the news.”

  Warren shuffled the paper behind his back. “No question. I’m a regular dinosaur.”

  He walked down the hall chuckling to himself.

  Chapter 9

  The smell of fish and chips at the Wheelhouse made Lea’s mouth water.

  She glanced at her watch. Dinner with her father was hours away. She decided to eat. But first, she needed to speak with the manager.

  The hostess pointed to a hallway off the entrance. “First room on the right. His door is always open.”

  She found a man studying an assortment of menus on his desk. After they exchanged cards, he passed his hand over the options in front of him.

  “Give me your opinion,” he said. “Which menu appeals the most and whets your appetite?”

  She leaned over the selections. “Everything looks good. My taste buds are already salivating.”

  “I truly value customers’ opinions.”

  “You’ve asked the right person. I’m a free-lance business writer. One of my specialties is promotional material for small businesses. I’ve prepared dozens of menus for local restaurants.”

  “Then it's my lucky day to be asking advice,” he said.

  Without further hesitation, she pointed to the middle option. “That one does the trick.”

  He placed her choice on top of the stack. “Now, what can I do for you? Are you soliciting business?”

  “I don’t live in San Diego. I’m in town to attend a funeral.”

  “Since you’re here to see me, I assume I know which funeral you’re talking about.”

  She nodded solemnly.

  He pointed to a chair. “Have a seat.”

  “What can you tell me about Cate?”

  “She was a good employee. Always on time, never called in sick, and rarely took a day off.”

  “I’m more interested in how she was viewed by peers and customers.”

  “There’s no question about her popularity with customers. She was talkative and friendly with them because it paid off in tips. With staff, she was less outgoing and more secretive about her personal life.”

  “She must have been nice to Danny. I’m told he had a crush on her.”

  “He idolized her. I feel sorry for the kid. He’s had a hard time dealing with her absence.”

  The manager opened a drawer on the side of his desk and pulled out a paper which he handed to Lea. Sketched on the sheet was a red heart surrounded by flowers. In childish handwriting at the bottom were the words ‘Love always, Danny’.

  Her chest constricted with pain.

  “That poor boy,” she said.

  “I’ve got a collection of similar notes the girls bring to me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He leaned back and folded his hands on top of his belly.

  “Danny falls in love with every new waitress under the age of forty. The girl got scared the first time it happened, afraid Danny would stalk her or something. I had a stern talk with him but there was no reason for concern. Once I assured the waitresses he’s harmless, they began to share. Each one who receives a note from Danny gets to join a club called Danny’s sweethearts.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “That seems cruel.”

  He leaned forward and retrieved the note. “They don’t mean anything by it. A girl feels flattered if Danny likes her. Besides, he brings them flowers and candy. The
y enjoy it as much as he does.”

  He shoved the paper in the drawer. His mood turned somber. “We probably won’t do it any longer.”

  Lea stood. “I’m about to have lunch but I’d like to arrange a time to speak with Danny.”

  “No problem.” He walked around his desk and escorted her to the door. “Tell the hostess to seat you on the patio. I’ll send Danny to your table.”

  As Lea waited to be seated, she considered what she had learned and felt better about Danny.

  I can tell Dad to scratch Danny off our list of suspects. The young man had crushes on other waitresses. None of them are dead. He doesn’t end up killing a woman he loves.

  • • •

  The busboy approached with a smile that deserved its reputation. “The boss told me to come to your table.”

  She indicated a chair across from her. “Please, Danny, sit down.”

  He leaned forward, eager with curiosity. “You know my name. Do I know you?”

  She handed him a card and pointed to the name across the top.

  “I’m Lea. You saw me talking with Tim and Sean last night.”

  He looked confused. “I don’t remember. Yesterday wasn’t a good day for me.”

  “It wasn’t a good day for any of Cate’s friends.”

  He rested his elbows on the table and dropped his head in his hands.

  “I know you’re hurting, Danny. Her accident was a terrible shock.”

  “Are you sure it was an accident?” he asked, voice husky with emotion.

  Does Danny have doubts as well as Sean or did he overhear our conversation? Lea wondered.

  Before she asked for clarification, Danny tucked her card in his pocket and pulled his chair closer.

  “Are you a friend of Cate’s?”

  “We lived next door to each other growing up. I looked after her and Sean when they were young.”

  He chuckled. “Funny to think of Sean as a little boy.”

  She smiled at his gentle nature.

  When the waitress placed a beverage in front of her, Lea asked, “Would you like something to eat or drink, Danny?”

  He looked pleased with the offer. “Lemonade would be nice.”

  “A drink for my friend, please,” Lea said.

  Danny beamed and the waitress smiled at him. “Lemonade for our favorite busboy, coming right up.”

  The young man waved at a couple several tables away.

  “I know most of our customers by name,” he boasted to Lea.

  “Tim told me how popular you are.”

  The young man blushed and looked down at his hands. “Being around people is the best part of my job.”

  “Your boss tells me you’re well liked by the staff as well.”

  His mouth widened into a broad smile. “I know about Danny’s sweethearts.”

  “Does that bother you?”

  He looked puzzled. “Why should it? They do it because they like me.”

  “I’m sure that’s true,” Lea said.

  The waitress brought a salad heaped with a generous serving of crab meat and a frosted glass of lemonade.

  As Lea picked up a fork, her eyes fixed on the young man. “I’m here to talk about Cate, Danny. I know she was a friend of yours.”

  His smile disappeared as quickly as sunlight blocked by clouds.

  “Cate was special.” He pulled his ear lobe. “Even nicer than the others.”

  “Special in what way?”

  His voice dropped to a whisper. “She understood me.”

  She sensed his need to talk. “I’m interested, Danny. Tell me about her.”

  “Most people go out of their way to be kind.” He squinted his eyes. “Except the bullies at school. They were mean. I’m glad I’m not in school any longer.”

  Lea offered a sympathetic smile. “Cate went out of her way to be nice to you, didn’t she?”

  “Not really.”

  Her fork stopped midway to her mouth. “Cate wasn’t nice?”

  “I mean, she didn’t go out of her way to treat me differently. To her, I was no different from anyone else.” His face lit up. “It made me feel equal to everyone.”

  “Did you ever see Cate outside work?”

  Startled by the question, his eyes opened wide. “I don’t socialize. I go straight to work and straight home like my Mom tells me.”

  “What about during breaks?”

  “Well, yeah. Sometimes, I saw her on the pier eating lunch. We would sit on a bench and throw bread crusts to the seagulls.” He stared out the window and sighed, overcome with emotion. “I loved those moments. Hearing her laugh. Seeing her hair blow in the wind. Smelling her perfume. It seemed we were the only people in the world.”

  Dismayed by the intensity of his feelings, she hesitated to upset him. But it was important to see his reaction to her next question.

  “Did you know Cate had a boyfriend?”

  He screwed his eyes shut. “I have girlfriends, too. Girls I send notes to. That doesn’t mean anything. What Cate and I had was different from other relationships.”

  “What was special about your friendship, Danny?”

  “We had an understanding.”

  “What kind of understanding?”

  “She kept my secret and I kept hers.”

  “What secret of yours did she keep?”

  He looked over his shoulder.

  Lea reached across the table and cupped her hand over his.

  “It’s all right. You can tell me.”

  He bit his lower lip. “Mom will get mad if she finds out.”

  “Your secret is as safe with me as it was with Cate.”

  “I told Cate I would take her out sometime. She laughed and asked where we could go since I don’t drive.” His eyes glistened with mischief. “That’s when I told her my secret.”

  A feeling of dread engulfed her. “What secret, Danny?”

  His chest puffed with pride. “I’m teaching myself to drive so I can get a license. After Mom goes to sleep, I practice by driving her car around the block.”

  She sucked in a steadying breath and asked another question. “Have you driven outside your neighborhood?”

  He smiled, reassuringly. “Don’t worry, I never drive on freeways. Only side roads.”

  Her stomach turned but not from the crab in the salad. Given this bit of information, her father wouldn’t agree to drop Danny as a suspect.

  With an increased sense of anxiety, she posed her last question. “What secret did Cate ask you to keep, Danny?”

  He shook his head stubbornly. “I won’t be keeping her secret if I tell.”

  “She’s gone,” Lea coaxed. “It no longer matters.”

  “What matters is her showing my note to the boss.” His face hardened and his voice lowered to an ominous pitch. “She shouldn’t have done that.”

  Chapter 10

  Lea was lucky enough to find a space on the street and avoid costly parking lots. With time to spare, she wandered through the shops of Old Town and listened to strolling musicians in native costume.

  She arrived at her destination, a Mexican restaurant where handmade tortillas were prepared in the front window. She was watching the women knead dough when her father joined her.

  “I see this place is packed, as usual,” he said. “I’ll put our name on the list.”

  They sat on a wooden bench on the sidewalk and waited to be called.

  “How did Paul feel about you extending your stay in San Diego?”

  “He wasn’t surprised. Before I came, I hinted about taking a few days for rest and relaxation.”

  “Does he know your trip has turned into another crime-solving venture?”

  “That didn’t surprise him either. I promised to tell him all about it when they come.”

  A smile spread across Warren’s face. “Are Paul and Jon coming?”

  “After checking with Mom, I invited them for the weekend.”

  “I hope they’re bringing the dogs.” />
  “Mother kindly agreed to watch Gracie and Spirit while the rest of us entertain ourselves.”

  “She likes nothing better than doting over her grandson and those canines.”

  The hostess called their name and they rose to go inside.

  “I’ll get tickets for a Padres game,” Warren said.

  “I was thinking more along the lines of Sea World.”

  “No problem,” her father told her. “We can do both.”

  “We’ll hardly have time.”

  “Then let’s get busy and wrap up this case before they come.”

  • • •

  Warren accepted a menu from the waiter but immediately set it aside.

  “You already know what you’re ordering, Dad?”

  He looked at the waiter. “The carnitas plate.”

  “Good choice, sir. It’s the house special,” the waiter said.

  “My favorite since the first time I came here. Bring two margaritas while my daughter decides,” he added.

  “I’m ready to order,” she told the waiter. “Make it two specials. My father’s never wrong when it comes to Mexican food.”

  Moments later, the waiter returned with drinks and a basket of warm tortilla chips. They sampled various dipping sauces while discussing the case.

  “I’ve had conflicting conversations with Sean and Holly on Cate’s alcohol consumption,” Lea said. “What did the coroner’s report say?”

  “It indicates the victim consumed alcohol but not enough to be legally intoxicated,” her father responded. “The police have given the boyfriend a pass but I think he warrants a closer look. I’ve asked Meg to check the record of his arrest a couple of months ago. I’m curious as to why a case wasn’t made.”

  “I agree there are unanswered questions about Mario but he seems to be blowing in the wind. According to Denise, they were no longer a couple. When she cleared out Cate’s apartment, she saw no sign of another person. If Mario lived there with Cate, he moved out before, or soon after, her accident.”

  “Surely, his friend heard from him after the accident.”

  Lea shook her head. “The last Holly knows of his whereabouts, he was in Chapala getting his passport renewed.”

  Warren loaded a chip with guacamole and shoved it in his mouth. “We need to talk with him to verify his location the night of the accident.”