Scent of Murder (23 page)

Hallett finished his sub first. He wanted to get back on the road to run down leads, but didn't want to rush the other two. Claire was sending a text to someone between bites.

Darren looked across the table and said, “What's wrong, Tim? Still trying to find a home for Sponge and Bob? I thought Josh was opposed to their adoption.”

“We're still negotiating. I have to admit they grow on you.” Hallett hadn't realized he'd been brooding.

“Then what's bothering you?”

“The goddamn Ludners. I know those assholes were holding. That compound just screams
grow house
, and I saw them put something in the Highlander. Why didn't the dogs alert?” Rocky walked over and sat next to Hallett away from the other dogs.

Claire set down her phone and said, “We'll get him. We just have to approach it from another angle. At least we got a decent look at the two of them.”

“But they saw us, too. And they saw the dogs. That could jeopardize something we might do in the future. They're not stupid. They know they have to be careful.” Hallett noticed Rocky sitting gingerly, almost the way he did in alert mode. “The two Ludner boys are like my stoner brother Rocky alerts on constantly.”

All three of the deputies laughed. They'd heard Hallett's stories about his brother.

Hallett noticed Rocky stand and walk in a circle, then sit down again like he was alerting. He dismissed it as some sort of game the dog was playing.

Hallett said, “Even an old homeless guy I met knew enough to be concerned about Rocky. He sort of admitted he was…” Hallett just stared at Rocky, unable to continue speaking.

Claire said, “Tim, what's wrong?”

“That's it.”

“What's it?”

Hallett stared off into space while he pieced it all together, or, more correctly, after Rocky had pieced it all together. Hallett said, “The homeless guy was holding meth. None of our dogs are trained to pick up on meth. But Rocky can smell pot from a block away.”

Claire snapped her fingers and said, “You're a genius.”

Darren looked between his partners and said, “I'm not following you guys.”

Hallett said, “The Ludners are making meth, not growing pot. That's why Rocky didn't alert.”

Darren said, “You need to thank your brother for the training tip.”

Hallett was excited to investigate his theory and was just about to say they should head out when his phone rang, and he was surprised to hear Lori Tate say, “Any chance you're free tonight?”

Claire saw his face and figured out who was calling. She said, “We need some down time. The dogs need rest. We can go after the Ludners tomorrow.”

Hallett smiled. That was a good partner.

*   *   *

Junior watched Michelle Swirsky step out of the dojo, now wearing shorts and a T-shirt with her gi bundled and tied tightly with her brown belt under one arm. She had on a pair of running shoes and started to jog away from the school, holding the rolled-up gi like a football. Wow, even after karate this girl wasn't satisfied with her fitness. Junior was bowled over.

Junior started the car but stayed in his parking spot and watched her run out onto Military Trail and turn right. She came back past him on the sidewalk, and he realized she was running home. It was only about a mile away. Quickly he checked the pistol in his belt. He even had a plan already if he needed it. He couldn't believe he was acting so rashly.

Could he do it? The idea itself was thrilling to the point of compulsion. He saw this kind of behavior every day at work and thought he was above it, but as he considered Michelle and the things he'd do with her, he couldn't stop himself.

Junior backed his car out, pulled out of the lot, and crossed two lanes of traffic on Military Trail so he could get ahead of Michelle. She was running along the sidewalk, and he kept his eyes open for the likely street she'd turn on. All of the blocks in her neighborhood crisscrossed, so he picked the next one, thinking she'd want to get off the main road as quickly as possible.

His heart pounded. He could see the pattern of blood vessels in his eyes with each beat, it was so powerful. His weight had caused him several problems, including high blood pressure, and for the first time he was worried the excitement might kill him. But what a way to go.

He pulled into the side lot of an auto parts store and killed the engine and lights. He could just see her on the sidewalk. If she didn't turn here he could always pull down another block or two, but he felt confident she'd make the turn. His plan was simple. Get out of the car, get next to her, and show her the gun when she came within arm's reach. He'd worry about everything else once she was in the passenger seat.

This made sense. She'd overcome so much in her background that she was too impressive a target to pass up. He felt like a cat stalking a bird as she jogged closer and closer. It would only be a minute or so. He swallowed even though his mouth was dry.

He realized this was the only thing he lived for now.

*   *   *

Tim Hallett sat across from Lori Tate at a casual seafood sports bar in Lake Worth. Like most other minor towns in South Florida, the small city Lake Worth had worked hard to upgrade its downtown and create an atmosphere that would attract tourists and locals with cash to spend. The problem was that most of the city was a shithole. Hallett had his Glock under his shirt and could see the Chevy Tahoe with Rocky in his compartment only a few feet away, parked directly in front of the restaurant.

Hallett said, “I'm sorry I didn't dress better. These are the extra clothes I keep in the work truck. It's too long a ride out to Belle Glade to change.”

Lori giggled and placed her hand over his on the table. She looked out the window at the Tahoe and said, “You look great, but is Rocky okay?”

Hallett smiled and said, “I have a portable DVD playing
Marley and Me.
He's content.” He often used the excuse of Rocky needing to eat or rest as a way of getting out of social commitments, but at this moment he was glad he'd gone through with the date. It had been a long time.

“This is nice,” he said. “The crime scene must've worn you out today.”

Lori said, “It took an hour to shower off the dirt and mud. It's probably the first time I ever got sunburned at work.”

“I saw one of the homicide guys is working with Fusco on the kidnapping case.”

“Danny Weil?”

“Yeah, that's him. Young guy, tall, good-looking.”

Lori said, “Sounds like something
he
would tell you.” They shared a laugh over that. Then Lori said, “He cut out early to see if he could get a jump on things.”

“Like what things?”

“He never tells us. He tends to rely on his good looks and personality to get things done.”

Hallett shrugged and said, “If it works for him.”

“It works on some girls, but not me.” She winked at him.

In addition to being pretty, this girl had a decent sense of humor. Hallett found himself starting to relax and really enjoying himself.

He said, “I'm hoping the sergeant lets me do more on the case.”

“Has she been keeping you from it?”

“She's limited my involvement with the suspects. On a big case like this there's always a lot to do, but I don't think the sergeant believes the dogs will come up with the information that would break this case.”

“I'd say Darren Mori and his Golden Retriever brought in quite a bit of information when they found the body at the canal.”

Hallett nodded, conceding that point. “I'm not sure she believes Rocky and I will break the case. Rocky is trained to find explosives and narcotics and apprehend suspects. Part of the grant money we got requires the dogs be trained in multiple disciplines. It's sort of an experiment and is really innovative.”

Lori leveled a stare at him and said, “If you had to do it all over again, would you change what happened with Arnold Ludner the first time you arrested him?”

Although he often thought about this, no one had ever directly asked him that question. He looked into Lori's pretty eyes and beautiful face as he thought about his answer—and he couldn't resist thinking about Crystal and her kiss at the same time. Finally, he said, “No, I wouldn't change how I dealt with Arnold Ludner. No matter what, I know that little girl is alive today at least in part because of what I did. There's sometimes a big difference between doing things by the book and doing things that are right. Anyone who ever looked at that little girl's face never criticized my actions.”

Lori let a big smile break across her face. “Do you keep in touch with the girl and her family?”

Now it was Hallett's turn to smile. “Every birthday and Christmas. And I hope it never ends.”

*   *   *

Junior saw Michelle turn down the street, so he placed his left hand on the door handle, preparing to slip out of the car quickly. He already had the Beretta in his right hand. He had evolved since the first girl he'd surprised more than two and a half years ago. It was a miracle he hadn't been caught in those early attempts. Although he knew everything he needed to about his targets, he had not prepared nearly as well. He didn't understand police investigative techniques, either. Now he had a much better handle on both the victims' mentality and the status of police investigations.

He slipped his hand off the handle and used it to mash the button to roll down his window. She didn't even notice him. No one ever did. It was almost time, and he felt the excitement surge through him. It made him feel young again. She crossed over to the sidewalk on his side of the street, still behind his car, which made his plan more awkward but not nearly impossible.

Just as he was about to pop out of the car, a set of headlights came around the corner and a yellow car slowed. He heard someone yell from the passenger seat as Michelle turned, smiled, and waved.

Now he saw that the car was a newer Mustang. He was helpless and had to sit there like a statue as the Mustang passed his car on one side and Michelle jogged past on the sidewalk. No one in the vehicle or Michelle paid any attention to the lonely man sitting in the parked car. Then the car pulled closer to the sidewalk as the passenger chatted with Michelle.

He had missed his chance and would have to wait. But the urge was so strong it physically hurt him. Now his only focus was to grab her as soon as possible.

 

25

Hallett liked the idea that they all started the shift as a team in the detective bureau. He didn't care if it was late afternoon instead of first thing in the morning. An added bonus was that John Fusco appeared to be frazzled to the point of exhaustion.

It was Sergeant Greene who brought order to the friendly gathering. She said, “The analysts have been working overtime and found out a boatload of information about the house where Arnold Ludner's sons live.”

Hallett, along with everyone else, picked up a pen to make notes. The criminal intelligence analysts at the sheriff's office, like most analysts in police departments, were one of the most valuable resources that never got any glory. Using computers and contacts, the analysts gathered information on suspects that no detective could ever uncover, from ancient court cases to links between telephone numbers. A good analyst was as valuable as five detectives.

The sergeant continued, “Both of the houses are owned by a corporation named New Deal Florida Development. The corporate office is the rear house on the property. One of the listed corporate officers is Joe Ludner, Arnold's son. You guys all remember the pain-in-the-ass attorney.”

Claire said, “You think the dad is in the rear house?”

Fusco stepped in. “I got the probation officer to agree to a thorough home visit in the morning. The rear house is not listed as a residence, but if we find something, we might be able to push it.” Fusco turned to Hallett and said, “Will the Canine Assist Team be able to help us? Can the dogs detect something in the rear house if we're at the front house?”

Hallett felt a stab of panic, wondering if Fusco or the sergeant somehow knew that he had made the vehicle stop and tried to get Rocky to alert on the Ludners' vehicle. After a moment, he said, “We can oblige, but if these idiots are making a chemical-based drug like ecstasy or meth, the dogs won't alert. We don't train them on it. It was a choice Ruben made. Too many extra scents, and he was worried about the harsh chemicals.”

Fusco said, “These assholes are pot and coke dealers. Why would you think it might be meth?”

Hallett shrugged and said, “Just a hunch.”

Sergeant Greene said, “What if we use some of the federal money that's being poured into your unit for surveillance of the compound tonight? We can get an idea of the activity at the place before Fusco arrives in the morning. Maybe we'll get lucky and see them doing something that will give us probable cause.” She looked around the table at the three K-9 officers, who all nodded their heads. No one would miss a chance at something like this.

As the meeting broke up and Fusco scooped folders and photographs into his arms, Darren Mori said, “What's wrong, Fusco? You seem rushed.”

The detective ran a shaky hand through his thinning black hair and said, “I got homicide breathing down my neck, and those assholes are waiting to swoop in.”

Sergeant Greene said to the three K-9 officers, “Go get 'em.”

Hallett smiled at the way she said it. It sounded like she was talking directly to the dogs.

*   *   *

Tim Hallett was sitting on the far edge of the vacant lot behind the compound where the Ludners lived. He'd been scanning the entire lot with a high-powered telescope the marine unit used at inlets to spy on smugglers. Rocky explored the area around them, sometimes pawing at the grass and sniffing out a queasy-making treasure like a dead snake and a half-eaten Twinkie. Hallett had to turn to him and say, “Don't you dare eat that.”