51
Red hat with wide floppy brim. Check.
Oversize I conquered Safari Surf T-shirt. Check.
White sunglasses, round and hiding half her face. Check.
Same neon green flip-flops she’d worn into the park. Check.
“That’s the last video,” Amara said. “If you don’t count the blacked-out areas, proof that Haley went from the lockers to Day’s End Cove to Aqua Attack. No question it’s her, but hopefully she used the same credit card to buy the stuff. Never hurts to have more evidence.”
Sanchez nodded. “And simple enough to ditch the shirt, glasses, and hat once she’s at the final spot.” He paused. “Care to venture any guesses as to what’s in the water bottle? Clearly she wanted to conceal the fact she had it. Otherwise, why take the tote bag? Easier just to grab the bottle and go. No need to return to the locker.”
“No guesses,” she said. Water or alcohol and whatever killed Coleman. Good luck proving that. If the tox report came back with any hits, at least she could show a means of delivery. “We’re not finished. Not until we repeat this process with the other two teenagers.”
“Thought as much,” he said. “Want to grab a quick snack before we start?”
“I’m fine, thanks.”
He pulled a pack of peanut butter crackers from his desk. “Me too.”
It took nearly two hours to go through the videos again, this time with a focus on Liam, then Matias. If Haley was charged with murder, her defense attorney couldn’t claim either of the boys was near the scene of the killing. The timing just didn’t work. Unless they had a jetpack hidden in the park somewhere, they couldn’t have been there when Coleman died. Didn’t mean they weren’t involved, but that could be worked out later.
“Pretty thorough,” Sanchez said. “Only one problem as I see it.”
She nodded. “None of this proves anything other than she could’ve done it. That’s a long way from a murder conviction.” But close enough to put a target on Haley Bricker. The girl had some serious explaining to do. Not yet though.
Amara stood and shook hands with Sanchez. “Thanks for your afternoon. Sorry it took longer than I expected.”
“I’d say our time was productive, wouldn’t you?”
“I would,” she said. “And I’ll be sure the park gets credit when the time comes.”
“Thank you. And don’t forget, Detective. When this is over, perhaps we can meet for dinner?”
Oof. Hate this stuff. “I’m flattered, Mr. Sanchez, but I’m seeing someone.” I think.
“Oh? My apologies. You did not mention that before.”
She paused, decided not to respond, and turned and left the office.
Amara scanned the physical therapy clinic’s waiting room while she stood in line at the reception desk. Knee brace, walking boot, no idea, bandage-wrapped arm, oooh, another knee brace. The woman in front of her shuffled to an open seat and Amara stepped forward. Goodie. Same guy as last time. Eyes still bloodshot, cheek still stubbly, blond highlights could use some touching up.
“Darryl, right?”
He nodded. “Yes, ma’am. How can I . . . oh.”
“Yep. I’m the cop. Wanna go tell Ms. Walker I need to speak with her again? Only take a second.”
He leaned to the side to see the man in line behind her. “I’ll be right back, sir. Thank you for your patience.”
The man grumbled. “Why even make appointments? Doesn’t do any good. They’re never on time.”
She smiled and glanced over her shoulder. “Tell me about it. You know what it is? Rude. No respect for your time.”
“Exactly. Every week, same thing. You’d think they’d figure it out, but no. Let me show up five minutes late and they’ll be sending me a bill.”
She chuckled. “Can’t win, can we?”
The door opened and Darryl motioned her to come back.
The man behind her grunted. “How come she gets to skip the waiting room?”
Darryl ignored him and pointed. “Second room on the left. Same as before. She’s coming now.”
Amara stepped into the room with Ms. Walker right behind. The woman closed the door and leaned against it.
“I told you, Detective. Liam had nothing to do with that boy’s death.”
“Yes, ma’am. And I believe you. Doesn’t mean your son isn’t involved in other illegal activity though. He most certainly is. But I didn’t come here to discuss all that. You’ll see Liam later today?”
Wrinkles creased her forehead and she checked her watch. “I suppose. I’ll be home in about an hour. If he’s not there, he usually shows up in time for supper. Why?”
“I need you to give him a message. I’d do it myself, but honestly, I want you to see how he reacts.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” she said.
“No record of a Mr. Walker,” Amara said. “At least not recently. I didn’t do the research, but I’m guessing you’re a single mom? Raised Liam pretty much on your own?”
The woman shrugged but remained silent.
“Don’t let all that work go to waste. You know your son, Ms. Walker. You can’t protect him from what he’s done. He’ll have to pay. But there are ways to mitigate the cost.” She sighed and frowned. What she said next would devastate this woman’s world. “It’s Monday afternoon. By the end of this week, if not much sooner, charges will be filed against Liam. I can’t tell you anything else. Probably shouldn’t have told you that.”
Ms. Walker’s palms pressed against the door and she struggled to speak. “Charges? For what?”
Amara handed her another business card. “The message, ma’am. Just give him this message. Tell him Mighty Mouse is about to take a nasty fall. If he wants to talk, I’ll be at the Quarry shopping center. South parking lot, between six-thirty and seven-thirty. Last chance.”
“Mighty Mouse? Like the cartoon?”
“He’ll know. Seven-thirty, Ms. Walker. No later.”
Amara fiddled with her newly purchased digital recorder. A hundred bucks for the thing. The store had cheaper units, but she didn’t want to chance getting something that didn’t work. The sales guy said this was the one most people got. Sure. He probably worked on commission.
Straight up seven o’clock. Parking in the center of the lot, Whole Foods to her left, Bed Bath & Beyond to her right, made her antsy. Like there was no way to put her back against a wall. She rested her hand atop the Glock in her lap.
Most other vehicles clustered much closer to the stores. She didn’t blame them. Who wanted to walk across asphalt in this heat? She’d done her environmental duty and turned the car off when she arrived. For about three minutes. She couldn’t do her part to save the planet if she died of heatstroke. At least she had a decent view of any approaching cars. Whatever that was worth. Liam’s SUV, other than its vanity tags, looked like a gazillion other SUVs.
Near the lot’s entrance, a sedan—copper? bronze?—cruised up one row and down the next, getting closer with each pass. Could be Ms. Walker’s car. Maybe Liam didn’t want to risk being spotted. It wasn’t paranoia if it was true. Six more up-and-downs and the sedan slowed in front of Amara. She lowered her window and leaned so her face was clearly visible. The vehicle stopped, backed up, and swung into the spot beside her.
She gripped her weapon but kept it out of sight as the sedan’s driver-side window came down. Ms. Walker. So Liam was a no-show. The woman’s eyes were puffy and her nose red. She knew her son was in trouble.
“Good evening, Ms. Walker.”
“Detective Alvarez, I wonder if we could, uh, if we could go for a drive? There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
Liam or someone else? “That wasn’t the deal.” She tightened her grip on the Glock. “But I’d be happy to follow you.”
The woman reached to the passenger side of her car.
“Please,” Amara said. “Keep your hands on the steering wheel.”
Ms. Walker straightened and slowly raised her right hand
to show a tissue. “Been going through a lot of these in the last hour. The, uh, person I’m taking you to see says they can help, um, help you catch the mouse.” She blew her nose and tossed the Kleenex to the side, then cut her eyes toward the back seat several times.
So Liam did come. Amara raised her window, shut off her car, and stepped into the heat. She made no attempt to hide the gun in her hand as she walked around Ms. Walker’s vehicle, opened the passenger door, and peeked into the back seat before holstering the Glock and sitting. A pile of used tissues sat at her feet and she nudged them aside. “Hello, Liam.”
The boy remained on the floor. “I’m here because of my mom.”
“Your mother’s a smart woman. Where are we going?”
Ms. Walker pulled out of the parking spot. “Nowhere specific. Just driving and talking. That okay?”
“Works for me,” Amara said. “Might want to make sure your tank is full. We’ve got a lot to discuss.”
52
By the time they exited the Quarry’s parking lot, Liam was in the seat behind his mother. Amara angled herself so she could make eye contact. “I’m recording this conversation. If there’s a problem with that, take me back to my car now. And you understand you’re not under arrest?”
The teen brushed hair out of his eyes. “Yeah. I get it. But you gotta go first. Tell me what you know. Only way this happens.”
Amara chuckled. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to laugh but, come on. You can’t seriously think I’d do that? Lay out my case for you?”
He used his T-shirt to wipe sweat off his face. Could count his ribs. Almost see his backbone. Kid needed to eat better. Unless he was like Starsky. Quantity and quality of food had no bearing on weight. Not natural.
“Don’t gotta tell me everything,” he said. “Enough so I’ll know you’re not fishing.”
The fact that she knew about MM12 wasn’t enough? Fine. “You’re into ransomware. Got a nice little stash of money somewhere. Cash, Bitcoin, whatever. Had a good thing going right up until Zachary died. Now you’re in a bad way because Mighty Mouse 12 knows who you are. As Haley put it, he owns you.”
“What else did she tell you?”
“Less than you think,” Amara said. More than you know. “What’s the deal with her dog?”
“Insurance,” the boy said. “We knew she’d talked to you. She said she didn’t tell you anything, but Matias and me figured we’d make sure she kept her mouth shut. Nothing means more to her than that stupid dog. Why’d you bring him back? She tell you to?”
“Yes,” Amara said. “Afraid you’d hurt him.”
“Nah. What would that accomplish? Better to take him to the middle of nowhere and turn him loose. Let her believe we have him hidden somewhere. If she thinks he’s dead, we lose control over her.”
Kid has no idea who’s actually controlling who. “Sounds like you thought it through.”
Ms. Walker glanced over. “Does that girl have a deal with you?”
Uh-uh. The questions come from me. “Liam, you want to know anything else, you’re going to start answering some questions. If not, we have nothing to discuss.”
The boy made eye contact with his mother in the rearview and she nodded.
“Sorry about calling,” he said. “Only wanted to, I dunno, scare you, I guess. Stupid, I know.”
“Calling me? What are you talking . . . that was you?” The anonymous caller who’d hacked into her home internet. She clamped her mouth shut and glared.
“Yeah, I did it. You should really do more to protect your network. Didn’t take me very long.”
Is he bragging? “My bank accounts? Shutting off my power? You did all that too?”
He nodded. “Didn’t steal anything though. Could’ve.” He turned away and stared out his window. “Sorry about your mom. Cancer sucks.”
Ms. Walker braked hard as a light changed to red. “Liam’s dad died of lung cancer eleven years ago. Never smoked a day in his life.”
“I’m sorry,” Amara said. But this wasn’t turning into a personal conversation. “Why were you at the water park the day Zachary died?”
“We were shutting the place down. Biggest payday yet and wanted to see it for ourselves.” He shifted in his seat and leaned against the door. “MM12 was supposed to trigger the attack. Didn’t work out that way.”
Same thing Haley said. “No, it didn’t. Has there been any contact with MM12 since then?”
He shook his head. “Once to say sorry about Zach and let him know when we were ready to go again. Surprised he hasn’t messaged us. Never got the impression he was the patient type, you know?”
When he found out who MM12 really was, his world would be rocked. A valuable life lesson she still struggled with. Not quite the trust no one mantra of Starsky. More along the lines of you never truly know people. Not like you think you do. Her ex was proof enough of that.
For the next forty-five minutes, they cruised the streets of San Antonio while Amara grilled the boy. Very little of what he said was new to her, but it did match what she’d already learned. While he wouldn’t confirm either the amount or whereabouts of his money, he did admit his involvement.
“Anything you haven’t told me?” Amara asked. “Now’s the time.”
“No,” Ms. Walker said. “It’s not. I don’t understand half of what you two are talking about, but I know Liam’s in serious trouble. If you want more answers, we need to get an attorney involved.”
“Like I said earlier, your son is not under arrest. He’s free to stop talking anytime he wants.”
“I think now is good,” the woman said. “I have to make some calls. Find us a lawyer. Then we can meet again. This time at our house.”
“Mom,” Liam said, “that’s not a good idea. If the others see cops at the house, I, uh, I don’t know.”
“What?” Ms. Walker said. “If they see cops, what? Detective, you’ve been to the homes of the others, I assume?”
“I have,” Amara said. “I’ll taxi to your place. Kinda getting used to that anyway. I have to remind you time is short. I’m not waiting for you.”
“Nine o’clock tomorrow morning,” Ms. Walker said. “My house. Bring whoever you want, but I’d appreciate it if a bunch of uniformed officers didn’t swarm our neighborhood.”
Nine o’clock? Did she have a lawyer on retainer already? No. But she knew where to get the cash to pay for one. “I’ll be there. Depending on a few things, I may bring another detective with me. No one else.” Unless something happened between now and then to change the situation.
The lights of the Quarry shopping area were within sight now. “May I remind you of something?” Ms. Walker said. “Liam says he can build a mousetrap. Granted, a lot of this is beyond me, but that seems like something you’d want. Something you’d have a hard time doing yourself.” She turned on her blinker to enter the parking lot. “In fact, I doubt the SAPD could handle it. Is that correct, Liam?”
The teen grinned. “FBI maybe. On a good day. SAPD? Nah.” He held up one finger. “I can give you what you want.”
“And what is that?” Amara asked.
“You want in the game.”
Did he mean the game as in the reality of what was happening or the game as in Tango Murked? She needed no help on the first.
His mother nodded. “A mousetrap like that has got to be worth a lot. When you come in the morning, please bring a document from the district attorney confirming my son will not be charged as an adult. Oh, and all the stuff he did to you, the personal things I mean, you won’t pursue.”
Was that all? “Ma’am, I appreciate what you’re saying, but—”
“I think I am in a position to make demands,” she said. “That’s what you were going to say, isn’t it?” She pulled into the spot next to Amara’s car. “My boy had nothing to do with his friend’s death. You’re Homicide, aren’t you? If you want to catch the murderer, you need Liam’s help. If I’ve misjudged things, I expect I won’t be seeing you in the morning.
”
Amara flexed her fingers. Misjudged things? Yep. Her tolerance level. “Ms. Walker, this is not a negotiation.” She unbuckled her seat belt and stared at the woman. “Regardless, here’s my counteroffer. Your son has been somewhat cooperative. If he’s been honest with all he said, I’ll ask the DA not to prosecute Liam for his personal attacks on me. Put in a good word for him. In exchange, he will continue his cooperation by arranging a meeting with the others who are involved in his criminal activity.”
“Not good enough,” the woman said. “We’ll get a lawyer and take our chances.”
“Getting a lawyer is an excellent idea. The retainers can be outrageous, especially for a good one. You are getting a good one, right? Mmm. That puts you in quite a predicament, doesn’t it?”
“We can afford it,” Liam said.
“I bet you can,” Amara said. “But, see, here’s where things get complicated. I can arrest you right now.”
Liam leaned forward. “You said I wasn’t under arrest.”
“You weren’t. But you could be now.”
“I’m not an idiot,” the teen said. “You didn’t read me my rights.”
Amara shrugged. “Didn’t have to. You weren’t under arrest.”
“You have a warrant?” Ms. Walker asked.
“Don’t need one. Your son confessed to multiple felonies. Texas says that’s good enough. So I take him in now. No phone. No computer. No way to access certain online accounts. Of course, I could be completely mistaken. Maybe he’s got mountains of cash in the house. Tough to explain where that came from though. Or he could’ve put all his money in a bank. Have to be eighteen to get an account, so you would have had to be on there with him, in which case you surely would be aware of the balance. If Liam’s money is there, that would raise a lot of questions about your involvement too.”
The woman pulled another tissue from the box and dabbed her eyes.
Amara shook her head. “No, I don’t think Liam would put you in that position. So his money’s online somewhere, but he won’t be able to touch it. Not unless he tells you how to do it, and whoops, there we are again. You’re an accomplice.”
Network of Deceit Page 28