“Nice job,” he said with a warm smile.
“Bob, you just accused me of bad faith.”
“Yeah, and you outmaneuvered me. No hard feelings, okay, kid? You done good.” He squeezed her arm, heading off to shake hands with well-wishers in the courtroom. Gracias por nada, she thought. Thanks for nothing.
Bernadette and Mark Sonschein, the deputy chief of the Criminal Division, conferred with arms folded and heads together in the first row of spectator seats. Melanie approached them with her heart in her throat. In contrast to his happy name, Mark was grim-faced and sober, with a heavy five o’clock shadow. For some reason, Melanie had always believed he didn’t like her, and she felt nervous around him. But Mark and Bernadette both looked up with broad smiles on their faces.
“Nicely done,” Mark said.
“You think so?” Melanie asked, confused. “I lost the bail argument. If David Harris is the killer, he’s out on the street.”
“The judge granted bail,” Bernadette emphasized. “Whatever happens next, it’s not on us.”
14
Melanie was concerned with more than just avoiding blame if the Central Park Butcher struck again. She actually wanted to stop him. The FBI and NYPD were focused on surveilling David Harris. But if Harris wasn’t the killer, they were simply playing babysitter to her star witness. Melanie half believed Harris’s story about the male prostitute, and she thought there was a decent chance that the Butcher was still on the street. She planned to get her butt in gear and start identifying alternative targets.
The Nineteenth Precinct station house was on her way home. She’d called ahead, and the detective who’d been investigating the burglary at Suzanne Shepard’s apartment had agreed to stay late so Melanie could meet with her. Detective Pauline Estrada seemed like somebody Melanie might have known back in the day, in grammar school maybe, before she started getting into the advanced placement programs and magnet schools and leaving the block behind. Maybe they would have stayed in touch, or maybe their lives would have diverged, hard to say. Certainly they looked different on paper in the here and now. Pauline couldn’t have been much older than Melanie, but based on the pictures on her desk, she had teenage kids. Her hair was bigger than Melanie’s, her clothes more revealing, and her accent still resonant of the Bronx. But Melanie recognized a kindred spirit in her, somebody who gave a damn about the job, who cared about making things right. Lorraine Shepard had suggested the cops weren’t moving fast enough on the burglary in her apartment, but looking at this woman, Melanie found that difficult to believe.
“I’m glad you reached out to me. I was meaning to call you since I saw the murder in the paper. You want some?” Pauline asked. She stood at a small counter opposite her desk in the open detective’s squad area of the Nineteenth Precinct, pouring steaming coffee into a Styrofoam cup.
“Thanks. I’m really fading. I could use it.”
It was after seven o’clock, and Melanie’s brain was fried after a sleepless night and endless day. She sipped the coffee, which was blessedly strong. The caffeine kicked in immediately, and she could feel her batteries recharging, her energy level ramping up.
“The victim’s mother gave me your card. I need to figure out if your burglary has any connection to my murder,” Melanie said.
“Yeah, I was wondering the same thing.” Pauline shook her head. “Lorraine Shepard. What a piece of work, huh? Watch out for her.”
“Why do you say that?” Melanie asked.
“She called my boss on me three times already in two weeks. Why didn’t I arrest nobody yet, when am I gonna make a move, yada, yada, yada. I’m lucky, though. My boss is from God. He won’t listen to a word against me.”
“People have unrealistic expectations. Do you even have a viable suspect?”
“Oh, I do. But that doesn’t mean I can prove it.”
“I know how that goes,” Melanie said.
Melanie sat in a chair beside Pauline’s desk. Pauline leafed through a file. When she found what she was looking for, she yanked out the mug shot and slapped it down in front of Melanie. The man in the picture had a striking face. Handsome and cruel, with sharp cheekbones and dark, sunken eyes.
“Miles Ortiz, personal trainer at Flex Gym, and narcotics trafficker,” Pauline said.
“Your burglary suspect?” Melanie asked.
“Yep. Found his prints in Suzanne Shepard’s apartment. One of the files that got boosted had a whole lotta dirt on him which now won’t see the light of day.”
“Lorraine told me he was selling drugs to his clients.”
“Not was. Is.”
“He has priors?” Melanie asked, fingering the mug shot.
“Yep, and not for singing too loud in church, neither. Two criminal possessions of a controlled substance and an assault. I’m amazed this guy is walking the streets let alone teaching kickboxing to rich housewives.”
“It sounds like you have a lot on him,” Melanie said.
“Yes and no. I’m convinced he’s the one who broke in and took the files. Took some money and jewelry, too. But the fact that his prints are inside the apartment, unfortunately, he can explain that away.”
“You interviewed him already?”
“Yeah, but I’m not taking his word for nothing. I heard it from Suzanne Shepard. Before she died, she corroborated everything he said.”
“So what’s the explanation? Why was Miles in her apartment?”
“You heard of Drew Savitt?” Pauline asked.
“I’ve heard of a Kim Savitt. From Lorraine Shepard.”
“Right. Kim is Drew’s wife. Savitt’s a big mogul type. Runs a major real-estate development firm that’s buying up all this waterfront property in Jersey and building fancy condos.”
“Oh, sure. Now I remember.”
“Savitt owns the building where Suzanne Shepard lives. Lived, I mean. He’s separated from Kim, and he gave her an apartment there. Here’s Kim.”
Pauline laid down a picture that looked as if it had been ripped from a glossy magazine. It showed a group of five gorgeous, perfectly groomed women standing together, all in evening wear. The caption said the picture had been taken at a benefit for New York Hospital, and identified the woman in the center as Kim Savitt. She was taller and blonder than the rest, with more lavish cleavage, bigger diamonds, and a whiter smile. I’d be smiling, too, Melanie thought.
“It’s an ugly situation,” Pauline said. “Bitter custody battle over their little girl, lots of lurid allegations. Anyway, long story short, Kim Savitt belongs to Flex Gym, and her trainer is none other than our friend Miles Ortiz.”
“Really.”
“Mmm-hmm. And, Kim and Suzanne Shepard were friendly. Miles is a frequent visitor to Kim’s apartment. In-home training sessions, don’t you know. Kim brought Miles to see Suzanne on a couple of occasions. So that’s his cover.”
“Suzanne confirmed that?”
“Yes. Like I said, I wouldn’t take that lowlife’s word for nothing.”
“Have you interviewed Kim?” Melanie asked.
“No. I figured she’d just back Miles up and say they visited Suzanne socially.”
“I hate to sound cynical, but if Kim’s in a custody battle, the last thing she needs is police scrutiny,” Melanie pointed out. “Maybe she’d be willing to talk, just to keep a lid on things.”
“Good idea. Worth a try, anyway. I’ll make a note.”
“Where in Suzanne’s apartment were Miles’s fingerprints found?”
“Two locations. Hold on.”
Pauline pulled a fingerprint report from the file. Melanie took it, squinting, trying to locate the conclusion amid long paragraphs of bureaucratese.
“I find these things impossible to read,” she confessed.
“I know, right? Here,” Pauline said, running her finger along the text. “‘Latent print of value, yada, yada, lifted from right stainless-steel bar stool at kitchen island,’ and there’s a diagram, okay? Money was taken from that loc
ation, so makes sense, right? Now, ‘Analysis performed and identification effected with subject’s right forefinger.’ This is all crap about the whorl patterns, but here we go: ‘Latent print of value identified on top right drawer of desk in third bedroom and identification effected with subject’s right palm.’”
“Third bedroom? That’s Suzanne’s office, right?” Melanie asked.
“Yes. All of which means we can put him in the kitchen and at the desk in the back bedroom, both locations from which items were taken during the burglary.”
“So he didn’t wear gloves,” Melanie said.
“Doesn’t look like it.”
But the Butcher did, Melanie thought, remembering the talcum-powder marks on the wallet. What does that mean?
“Did Suzanne tell you whether Miles went into her office when he came to visit with Kim Savitt?” Melanie asked.
“She said he didn’t. Kitchen yes, office no. And even in the kitchen, his last social call was more than a week before the burglary. Their maid comes five days a week, and she always wipes down the bar stools with cleaning fluid, so those prints were fresh.”
Melanie paused, thinking. “Could Lorraine Shepard testify about Miles’s social visits?” she asked after a moment.
“She was there when they happened, yes.”
“And she’d say he never went in the office?”
“She’d say cows have wings if it would get somebody arrested. But yeah, I asked her, and she could testify he wasn’t in the office,” Pauline said.
Melanie pondered for another moment. “Well, there’s probably enough.”
“Enough to get a warrant?” Pauline asked.
“Close, but—”
Pauline broke into a huge grin. “Hallelujah. Now I see why guys love to take shit federal. I knew we had a case, but I just couldn’t make that cabrón of an A.D.A. understand.”
Melanie couldn’t help laughing.
“So I can go ahead and pop Miles now?” Pauline asked.
“I love your enthusiasm, but let’s not jump the gun. The burglary charge is pretty weak given his innocent explanation. If we got a warrant, it would only be to keep in our back pocket in case Miles decides to skip. We need to know more before we actually arrest him. Like where he was at the time Suzanne Shepard was murdered, for instance.”
“You think he’s the Butcher?” Pauline asked.
“I don’t know. If he knew she was planning to expose his drug operation, and he’s as ruthless as he looks, maybe. But I’m not convinced. Wasn’t there a second suspect in the burglary, anyway? A plastic surgeon named Benedict Welch? Lorraine mentioned him.”
“Files were stolen relating to Welch, but I never really considered him a suspect. There’s nothing that jumps up and bites you like with our boy Miles,” Pauline said.
“Why take his files, then? Is there some connection between Dr. Welch and Miles Ortiz?”
“Not that I know of, but I never really checked.” Pauline was frowning, but not like she minded being challenged. More like she was annoyed with herself for not covering every base.
“Can I see what you have on Welch? Lorraine said Suzanne was working on a big story on him. Something damaging. She seemed more concerned about Welch than about Ortiz, actually,” Melanie said.
“Surgeon. Butcher. Could be. You never know,” Pauline agreed.
She pulled out a sheaf of notes held together with a black binder clip and labeled Benedict Welch, MD in neat handwriting. The girl was organized, you had to give her that.
“Benedict Welch, M.D., PC,” Pauline said. “Fancy office on Park Avenue. High-powered clientele. Shows up in the society columns a lot. Sixty-four YOA. Caucasian male, blond hair, blue eyes. Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Married, no children. Board certified and licensed by the states of Oklahoma and New York in dermatology and plastic surgery. Two complaints on file with the Board of Medical Examiners, both investigated, one ruled without merit and dismissed, the other ruled inconclusive, no finding issued, allowed to lapse.” She looked up at Melanie uncertainly.
“What were the complaints for?” Melanie asked.
Pauline shuffled through the pile, pulling a couple of blurry photocopies from the bottom. “The one without merit, for inappropriate physical contact with a patient rendered unconscious due to anesthesia. Not to put too fine a point on it, he groped a lady when she was under. The inconclusive one, for, um, hold on a second. For the same thing. Groping a different lady while she was under. Sorry. I guess I never focused on this. I was so busy with the Miles Ortiz angle.”
“Suzanne was raped by her assailant,” Melanie pointed out.
“I didn’t know that,” Pauline said, her eyes widening. “It wasn’t in the paper.”
They were silent for a moment.
“We should take a closer look at this Dr. Welch and see what we can turn up,” Melanie said.
“Jesus. I hope I didn’t miss something,” Pauline said, looking upset.
15
Melanie called Dan O’Reilly’s cell phone as she hurried toward her apartment from the precinct and, when he didn’t pick up, left him a voice mail. She told herself she needed to fill him in on what she’d learned today and check whether the surveillance of David Harris had turned up anything of significance. She also needed to schedule a team meeting. All of that was true. But deep down, she knew she’d really called so she could hear his sexy-as-hell voice. And let him know how much seeing him across the courtroom this afternoon had steadied her. And, okay, maybe ask if he wanted to stop by after Maya was asleep, when the next shift of surveillance guys came on duty. She was dead tired, and she imagined he was, too. But all the way home, she was thinking about how good his body felt next to hers in bed at night.
When Dan hadn’t called her back by the time she’d let her babysitter go home and given Maya her bath, she tried him again, and got voice mail.
“Hey, it’s Melanie…Uh, it’s about eight-thirty and…um, I’m just wondering what’s going on with the surveillance. Give me a call.”
She was too tired to cook, so she nuked some macaroni and cheese left over from Maya’s dinner and ate it at the kitchen table with her daughter sitting in her lap, snuggling and sucking her pacifier, her eyelids growing heavy. Maya’s little body was warm and compact in soft cotton jammies. The weight of her calmed Melanie’s frayed nerves. By the time Melanie had finished eating, Maya was asleep. Melanie got up gingerly and carried her to her room, putting her nose to her daughter’s silky dark locks as she walked, drinking in the fragrance of baby shampoo.
The nursery had white furniture and a wallpaper border of pink bunnies, and already it seemed too babyish for Maya. Melanie lowered the little girl into the crib and stood there marveling at how long she was. When had that happened? Time to buy a real bed. The days are endless, the years fly by. She’d read that somewhere, and it felt too true. Maya was growing up, and between work and the divorce and everything else, Melanie was missing too much of it. The thought depressed the hell out of her. She had another vision of Charlie Shepard, of his grief this morning, of how his life with his mother had come to such a brutal and unexpected end. What if that happened to her? Would she look back and feel like she’d spent her time in the right places?
“Snap out of it,” she whispered, and hurried back to the kitchen, where she cleaned up her dishes and settled down with a pile of photocopies from Pauline Estrada’s burglary file.
But the fact that Dan hadn’t called her back was nagging at her enough that she couldn’t concentrate. He always jumped right on her messages. Maybe something had happened on the case? If so, she needed to know. After pretending to read for a few more minutes, she gave up and went into the foyer to get Julian Hay’s card from her handbag. She’d page Julian. Maybe he would call her back.
About fifteen minutes later, she was sitting at the table with the phone beside her when it finally rang. She grabbed it, eager to hear Dan’s voice.
“Hello?”
&nbs
p; “This is Detective Hay. Somebody page me?”
“Julian, it’s Melanie Vargas.”
“Hey, Melanie. What’s happening?”
“Are you still out on the Harris surveillance?”
“No, some guys doing the four-to-midnight tour relieved us a while ago. Everything was quiet. No news. Harris just went back to his apartment after court and didn’t come out. They’ll page me if anything unusual happens.”
“Okay, good. Where are you now?”
“Home. I was thinking about getting a little shuteye and coming in real early tomorrow, but if you got something important…?” He trailed off.
Come to think of it, here was an opportunity to put Suave Pierre’s special expertise to work. Bernadette had said Detective Hay was useless at the grunt work of regular investigations, but a genius at drug buys. Melanie decided to be a smart supervisor and utilize her staff strategically.
“Actually, there is something I need you to do, although it can wait till morning. Turns out there’s a drug angle on this case.”
“Gimme the skinny, sister. You know that’s my specialty.”
She filled him in on everything she’d learned about Miles Ortiz. Julian took notes on Miles’s birth date, Social Security number, last known address, and the dates of all his arrests.
“So you want to know what he’s selling, and who to?” Julian asked.
“That’s right. And anything else you can find out. Who supplies Miles? Is he a small-time guy, or does he play with the big boys? Where does he stash? Can you buy from him? If we can arrest him, maybe we can get him to talk, and tell us whatever he knows about the murder.”
“No problem. Pierre’s on it. I’ll have something back to you in no time.”
She smiled. “Great. Thanks…Oh, and Julian?”
“Yeah?”
She knew she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t stop herself. “You don’t happen to know where Dan O’Reilly is, do you?”
“He went to visit somebody in the hospital. Out on the Island, I think.”
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