by P. Thompson
“I had planned on doing just that as soon as I have a minute. Let’s go talk with the priest for now.”
The sheriff came in with a bag of donuts in hand and you know I just have to have one, or maybe two. Lemon filled or my favorite and he had several of them in the bag. While munching on the donuts I told him of my phone message and he said the same thing as Bo, ‘give it to Max.’ Duh!!!
We got in my Jeep and headed to The Table to ask to borrow the truck. Ralph was busy in the kitchen while Sammy was doing short orders on the grill. Sammy makes the best pancakes in town.
“Hey Ralph, can I borrow your truck? I need a vehicle that’s not recognizable to drive out to the Catholic Church.”
“Not a problem.” As he dug in his pocket and tossed me the keys.
“Here are the keys to my Jeep if you have the need to go somewhere before I get back.” I laid my keys on the counter and Bo and I left. Both of us chewing on a piece of crispy fried bacon.
We headed out on county route eighty-two for the church. Traffic was light except for a few farmers doing God only knows what on a cold October day. The church lay off the road and back in a bunch of oak trees. The lawn was beginning to turn brown as the weather changed from fall into early winter. The playground with its swings and slides lay quiet this early Friday morning. The rectory was behind the church and to the right in a clump of trees. We saw a light inside and movement going by the windows.
“Well I think someone’s at home,” I said.
We pulled up the gravel drive way to the church and got out of the truck.
“I’m going to walk around the other side of the church; you go ahead and see the priest.” Bo told me.
Bo left me standing by the truck and I watched him make his way around the left side of the church. I walked back to the rectory and knocked on the door. A very well rounded priest opened the door with a smile on his face, till he saw me standing there with my ID in hand.
“I’ve been expecting you. Come in, it’s cold out there. Would you like a cup of coffee, I’ve just made a fresh pot?” He asked.
“That would be nice, thank you.”
The coffee smelled good and he poured a mug full of it along with setting out fresh made biscuit and what looked like Miss Massie’s strawberry jam.
“Is this some of Miss Massie’s jam?” I asked, taking a seat at his table with coffee mug in hand.
“How did you guess?” He looked surprised.
“She’s a very special lady to me and we have herbal tea, made from her garden herbs, and bread and jam quite often.
“Please, help yourself to the biscuits and jam.”
“Thanks, but the coffee is all I need.” It tasted smooth and strong at the same time. I took it black with a little sugar.
“How can I help you this morning?” He asked.
“I’m here about the Alvarez’ and Mercy Garcia. I need to speak with them.
“In regards to what, may I ask?”
“I think you know in regard to what. Raymond and Diego Martinez have been raising havoc in the neighborhood and people are shutting up their doors and window to police. We need to be able to do our job, but we need help. We need to get these guys off the streets and in jail. I think Mr. Alvarez has information that will help us do that.” I told him.
“This church is a sanctuary and they have taken refuse here to stay safe. I can’t in all good conscience allow you inside without first talking with them. I’ll do that right after Morning Mass this morning and call you. Will that work?”
“I guess it will have to. I can’t say that I’m happy about that. If Raymond finds out they are here, how are you going to protect them then?”
He reached in the kitchen drawer and pulled out a Smith and Wesson thirty-eight revolver.
“Before the priesthood, I was in Nam. I’m a pretty good shot and I’m not afraid to use it either. I wouldn’t want to take a life, but my people come first.”
I believed him, one hundred percent.
I gave him my card and wrote my cell number on the back.
“Call me anytime on the cell and I’ll answer. No matter what, day or night, especially if you get into trouble out here. You’re a long ways from town and set back off the highway so no one can see or hear you. The first sign of trouble, call don’t wait.” I told him.
With that I finished off the mug of coffee and said my good-byes.
Bo was sitting in the truck when I got back out there.
“What did you find around the back of the church?” I asked.
“Not much. The windows have curtains pulled across them and all the doors are locked. I’m thinking of going to Mass this morning and maybe the confessional and see who shows up. It should start in about thirty minutes if you want to come back in an hour and pick me up.”
“That’s fine with me. Stay safe and I’ll see you in an hour.”
“Hey what did you learn in there from Father Salazar?
I told Bo all that we had discussed and he nodded his head in approval.
Bo got out of the truck and headed for the front door of the church just as the door swung open to welcome him. I pulled on out and left him to do his thing.
******
I headed back to The Table to return Ralph’s truck and pick up my Jeep then off to the office to wait out my hour. Then I realized I needed to go back and get Bo so I had better keep Ralph’s truck till this was over. The office was quiet and Loraine was reading a book on country life. Good for her she’s really getting into this new life her and Roy will have together. We chatted for a few minutes and then I went into the conference room and to the murder board. I added Mercy Garcia and Father Salazar’s name to the list of people up there.
Loraine called back, “Carl Harris is on the phone and would like to talk to you.”
I picked up the extension back here and said, “Hey Mr. Harris what can I do for you?”
“I just wanted to let you know that Lisa’s funeral is on Monday. Doc Simpson released her body to the funeral home this morning. Viewing is Sunday from three to six if you’re able to come.”
‘I’ll try to make it. We are getting nearer to closing in on Raymond and Diego and I’m staying close to the office, but if all is quiet I’ll be there. Which funeral home are you using?” I asked him.
He told me and we hung up. I made a mental note to remember to at least try to get to the viewing if not the funeral.
My cell rang and it was Max’s number that came up on the caller ID.
“Hey what’s up” I asked him.
“I heard you had a message on your machine that I need to take a look at. Are you busy right now?”
“No, now is good for me. I’ll meet you at the house.” I told Loraine where I was off to and why and jumped into my Ralph’s truck and headed out.
As I came through the door Ming looked at me as if to say, “what are you doing home in the middle of the day?’ I gave her a pat on the head and a rub on her belly and waited for Max.
There was a knock on the door and I called out come on in. A strange Hispanic man came through the door. Ming took off for the bedroom, one scared cat.
“Who are you and can I help you?” I asked him.
He looked around and came toward me pulling a knife as he came. I pulled my Glock from the shoulder holster and said, “Don’t come any closer or I’ll shoot.”
He stopped, looked at me then raised the knife to throw it when Max came through the door. He wasn’t expecting to see me holding a gun on someone and it took him back a step. He then realized that there was trouble and he pulled his own gun from a holster in the back of his pants. We had the man trapped between us and he looked scared to death. He lay down the knife and put up his hands.
I holstered my gun and had Max keep an eye on him. I cuffed him and read him his rights and called Lyle and Dean to come pick him up. I then called Bo.
“Hey darlin’ what can I do for you?”
“I have a guy here in my house
that has pulled a knife on me. I’ve called Lyle and Dean to pick him up. Can you talk to him when they get him in? He’s scared to death and I don’t think he speaks much English.”
“I can do that in just a bit, as you are supposed to be picking me up at the church and you are late.”
“Damn, I’m sorry too much going on. Be there as soon as Lyle and Dean get here.”
I took out my gun and pointed it at the guy, then I told Max where the answering machine was and for him to take what he needed.
“You do live a charmed life don’t you?” He said taking the recording out of the machine placing it in his tape machine and recording on his unit. He put mine back in the answering machine and sat on the couch as we waited for the officers to arrive.
Dean came through the door first and looked at the guy, “Hey I know you, and you work at my uncle’s horse barn. What’s going on?”
I explained everything to both Dean and Lyle and they took him out the door.
“Max I got to go and get Bo I’ve left him at the church and I’m late.” I gave him a fast kiss and went out telling him to lock up when he left.
******
Bo was sitting on the swings with a little girl in his lap swinging back and forth talking to her. It was a sweet moment if not for all the trouble the family seem to be having.
I walked on back and Bo introduced me to Rosa, Mr. Alvarez’ daughter. She was seven years old and the prettiest little thing. She had fine features like her mother. He brother was nowhere in sight. I sat in the swing next to Rosa and I asked Bo what was going on.
“Oh nothing much, I’m just letting her swing and giving her some protection while she does it.”
“Did you find out anything in church this morning?”
“Mr. Alvarez was threatened and his family also. After what happened to Tonya Rojas he wasn’t taking any chances and moved his family and his sister out of the house and Father Salazar offered them sanctuary here in the church. Seem Father Salazar has had run-ins with Raymond in the past so he could understand the situation when Mr. Alvarez came to him.”
“I think we should get the FBI in on this and get protection for both Father Salazar and the Alvarez family. We can’t do it all and they need more than just a drive by every now and again.” I told him.
“I think you’re right on that. You have a better connection with them than I do. You and Lonnie get along okay since Jerry left?” He asked.
“Pretty much, she was a bit bossy at the Diego slash Harris duplex when all this went down. I’m not sure she’s going to be happy we are messing back in this situation, but I’ll get her on the horn and see what’s what and if she can help out here.”
With that Bo took Rosa back to the back door of the church and a woman reached out for her quickly and brought her inside.
Bo returned and we headed back to The Table to get my Jeep. By then it was lunch time and The Table doesn’t do lunch, just breakfast and dinner, or as the locals call it, supper. I turned over the keys to Ralph’s truck to him and gathered mine and we were off to find lunch.
“How about some Italian food? Mama Leoni’s serve a mean spaghetti and meat balls plus she makes really good coffee just as good if not better than Star Bucks’.”
“Oh yeah! Have you ever had her Italian ice cream? It’s to die for and then some. Let go and it’s my treat.” Bo said.
The place was packed I guessed word had spread about the great food here. Mostly I saw a bunch from the courthouse and some from different lawyer’s offices. She spied us as we came through the door and was on top of us within seconds.
“Come, come I’ve got a nice table near the back. We are crazy here today.” She led the way and then asked, “How is you poppa?”
“He’s doing much better since mama doesn’t have cancer. The last I talked with him he was pruning his roses and getting ready for Halloween. All the Trick or Treater’s knows he put on a real spread for them. He can’t just put out candy, no, he has to do candied apples and caramel apples plus the candy and he doesn’t just buy the small candy bars in the Halloween bags, he gets the regular size bars to give out. Cost him plenty last year. And Lord only knows what he has up his sleeve for this year.” I told her.
Mama Leoni laughed. “Sounds just like you poppa. He really gets into Halloween and he always has. Even in his office back when he was a judge. My girl will be with you in a moment, we are having a very busy noon time rush. Can I get you something to drink while you wait?”
“Yes ma’am, coffee would be great.” I told her and Bo nodded the same.
Bo got his cellphone out and call Loraine to tell her we were having lunch at Mama Leoni’s and was there anything going on we needed to know about.
“No, nothing going on at this time, but you can bring me a pasta salad back from there and a fruit tea if you would,” she said.
“Not a problem. The place is jammed packed so we may be a while.” He told her, and hung up.
“Anything going on at the office?” I asked him.
“Nothing right now, but Loraine wants a pasta salad and a fruit tea, so don’t let me forget,” he replied.
Mama Leoni’s girl came, I think her name was Sandy, and she took our order. I added Loraine’s pasta salad and fruit tea when she brought the check.
“I’ll call Lonnie when we get back to the office and see about setting up someone to guard the Alvarez’s. I’m hoping she’ll go along with this. Jerry had a way of getting whatever he wanted, but Lonnie, being a woman, has to struggle to get things done. That doesn’t seem quite right. I don’t have that problem here.” I told Bo as we sipped our noontime coffees. Our lunch came and it was as good as dad had told me it always was back in the day.
We took Loraine’s pasta salad and fruit tea back to the office went to the conference room. I made some notations in my murder book and some on the murder board.
Bubba came in about that time and said, “That kid from your place, he has clammed up and won’t even look at me. I can’t get his name or who sent him or nothing. Maybe Bo can talk with him some. God, you guys smell of garlic and sauce. Did you have lunch at Mama Leoni’s?”
We laughed; guess the smell said it all. Bo left to go see what he could do. He didn’t hold out much hope at this time. I called Lonnie at the FBI. She wasn’t there, but her partner Tom Turnbull was, I told him what we needed and he said he would pass it on.
The rest of the day went with no excitement and I reviewed what info we had on the case. By five o’clock I was ready to call it a day. I hadn’t heard from anybody including Bo as to how he faired with my knife carrying intruder. So I packed up and said goodnight to Cindy, who had come on in place of Loraine, and left.
******
I was still pretty full from lunch, but a drink at The Table sounded pretty good after a long day. I found Sophie tending the bar and busy as a bee. I took a seat at the far end a waited my turn. Sophie had decorated the bar in a Halloween fashion and it looked really nice. She had a big web behind her just above the bottles and hand craved Jack-o-lanterns set out everywhere plus orange candles burning on all the tables. She was dressed as a witch with a big old wart on her nose. I had to laugh at her she was playing the part right down to the cackle. She finally got down to me and I ordered my usual, Drambuie on the rocks, a double shot sounded about right.
As she brought me my drink I asked her, “How much did all this cost us? I love it so it doesn’t matter, only wish the tables out front looked as good.”
“I can do those to if you want. Most of the stuff I had at home and there’s still more in the attic. I always was a Halloween nut and since I won’t be home to decorate I decided to do it here.”
“That would be great!, If you need anything else just pick it up and give me the receipt and I’ll pay you back. I just want the tables out front to look as good as in here. Thanks you have done a great job.” She nodded and went to refill glasses further down the bar.
I finished my drink and headed
for home. It was still early, but the darkness had settled in and the cold was biting into my body as I left my jacket in the Jeep. There was an unfamiliar car in my drive when I got there. As I pulled in the door opened and Lonnie stepped out. I waved her up on the deck and opened the door and flipped on the inside lights. She gave me a quick hugs and took off her coat.
“I didn’t expect to see you here. I left a message with Tom about some help we needed.” I told her.
“That’s why I’m here and not responding to your phone call. I’m going to give you my personal cellphone number and all calls to me should come to this number.”
I looked at her with a curious tilt to my head as if to ask why. She soon explained it all to me.
“I’m having some problem with people undermining me at work. Tom is the worse. He thought when Jerry left that he would be the one to get the promotion and when he didn’t get it he has done things behind my back to make me look bad. He’s not alone in doing this. He has some butt buddies that just don’t like women even being here little lone in the position and weight I carry in this job. So please use my personal cellphone number to keep in touch with me. By accident I found where you had called. Do you remember Lucy?”
I nodded my head.
“Well because of all that’s going on she has kept tabs on all the phone calls coming in and when she saw your call she listened in. Not nice I know, but this is war. She was the one to tell me what you said to Tom.”
“Hell, I’m sorry to hear this. Have you gone to your superiors with all of this?” I poured her a glass of wine and I made coffee while she talked.
“Yes, but they think things will settle down when they see that I’m not going anywhere any time soon. Its hell to try and work under these conditions on a good day, but to have your very own people go against you is exhausting.”
Lonnie drank the wine and I sipped on coffee. I told her where we were at on our case and how we needed someone to keep an eye on the church. We just didn’t have the man power for around the clock surveillance. The best we could was a drive by, which we had been doing the last twenty-four hours.