The Right Woman Read online

  “Where did you get that information?” Arnie pulled out a handkerchief and mopped his forehead. He was getting nervous. That was good, Daniel thought. Now maybe they could get some straight answers.

  “Does it matter?” Russ asked. “You’re in these rapes and murders up to your bugged-out eyes. Unless you want a cell next to Boyd’s, you’d better tell me who’s doing this.”

  Arnie mopped his forehead again. “I want an attorney.”

  “Really.” Russ raised an eyebrow. “Earlier you said you didn’t want one—that you could represent yourself.”

  “I’ve changed my mind.”

  “That’s your prerogative.” Russ stood. “All I want is a name. An A.D.A. is out in the hall and she might take the death penalty off the table if you cooperate.”

  “I didn’t kill anyone. You can’t scare me and you can’t prove a damn thing.”

  Russ moved away and nodded to Daniel.

  Daniel stepped forward. “If I were you, I’d be very scared, Arnie. In Texas it doesn’t matter if you committed the murders or not. All that matters is that you ordered them. Two young girls are dead and one’s in the hospital and another’s life has been threatened. Boyd’s signature is all over this. He’s ordering the rapes from prison through you, trying to finagle a new deal, trying to save his sorry ass. That’s not happening. Neither the D.A. nor the governor is dealing with Boyd. His execution is going forward and you’ll be left holding the bag. We’re being pressed to make an arrest and right now you’re our number one suspect.”

  “I want an attorney.”

  “Think about what we said.”

  Arnie raised his head, his eyes narrowed. “Maybe you should think about it, Garrett. If Boyd dies, a lot of innocent people will, too.”

  Daniel frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “Sarah Welch is very beautiful and Boyd’s not gonna let her live.” The words were meant to taunt and goad him. It worked.

  Before Daniel knew what he was doing, he’d jumped across the table and had Arnie by the neck. Russ pulled him off.

  “Now you’re really pissing me off, Arnie,” Russ said.

  “I’m filing charges against him for police brutality.” Arnie rubbed his throat.

  “File away, you slimeball,” Daniel said, getting himself under control. “Before this night is over, I’m going to nail your ass to the wall.”

  He could hear Arnie laughing as Russ ushered him into the hall.

  “That wasn’t very professional,” Hannah said to Daniel. “I expect that kind of behavior from Russ, but not from you, Daniel. Get your priorities straight.”

  “I’m sorry. I lost it. That creep knows what’s going on. He knows everything and he’s calling the shots.”

  “Still that doesn’t…”

  “Can it, Hannah,” Daniel shouted. “I’m not in a mood to listen to Arnie Bishop’s rights.”

  “Calm down,” Bill ordered. “Or I’ll take you off this case.”

  Daniel turned away, taking several deep breaths. The moment Arnie’d mentioned Sarah’s name he’d seen red and he’d wanted to shake the life out of him. That was the first time he’d lost it with a suspect. He was in too deep. He wasn’t being taken off this case, though. He had to apologize.

  Bill held up a hand, stopping him. “Get this case solved—today—without losing your temper.”

  “We’ll have to let him go by tonight,” Hannah said. “We don’t have anything to hold him on.”

  “Don’t you worry.” Russ spoke up. “I’ll find something—littering, his dog doesn’t have a leash, anything.”

  Hannah frowned. “I want real charges.”

  Russ bowed. “Yes, ma’am.”

  She ignored him and spoke to Bill and Charles. “Call me if you get anything.” Saying that, she strolled away, her high heels clicking on the floor.

  “Bitch,” Russ muttered.

  “Don’t start,” Charles warned.

  “The meeting’s in a few minutes,” Bill said. “Charles and I will see you in the conference room.” The two lieutenants walked down the hall.

  Russ patted Daniel on the back. “We’ve been around each other too long. You’re starting to act like me.”

  “Oh, God,” Daniel groaned.

  Russ grinned. “Don’t worry, it’ll pass.” His face became serious. “We’ve clashed a lot over the years because we do our jobs differently. You’re always calm, factual and methodical, but sometimes I have to be brusque and insensitive to stomach this job, or else it gets to me.”

  “Yeah,” Daniel agreed, seeing a side of Russ he thought he never would—his vulnerable side. “It takes a lot to stomach this job on a good day and vermin like Arnie just…”

  “We’ll get Arnie,” Russ vowed. “With a little more pressure, he’ll crack like a rotten watermelon.”

  “I hope so.” Daniel turned away. “I have to check on Sarah before the meeting.”

  Daniel found her reading through the files. Her red hair was pinned at the back of her head and several tendrils hung around her face, softening her features that were once so tight. She wore a white knit top and jeans, an outfit so unlike the business suits he was used to seeing her in. But then, their lives had changed drastically.

  She looked up and smiled. “Hi.”

  He smiled back. “How you doing?”

  “Better now that you’re here.”

  He sat beside her, his pulse quickening from her nearness. “The meeting’s in a few minutes. Chad’s outside the door and policemen are up and down the hall. That’s about as secure as it gets.”

  “Did Arnie Bishop say anything?”

  “No, but we’ll keep pressuring him. I’m just hoping for something to happen in this meeting.”

  She tapped a file. “All I see are hardworking cops with problems like everyone else.”

  “Whoever the snitch is has made sure that he’ll never be found. He’s covered all his tracks, but he’s going to slip up and I’m hoping today is his day.” He stood. “I’d better go.”

  At the door he stopped. “If you need anything, just tell Chad.”

  She looked into his eyes. “I don’t need anything but you. I need you.”

  He wavered slightly. “If I come over there, I’ll never leave this room.”

  “I know.” She tucked a tendril behind her ear. “I just wanted to tell you that.”

  He nodded and left the room.

  Sarah sat in silent wonder at the changes in her life. A few days ago she was suppressing her emotions and in complete denial. Today she was talking, sharing and loving, and maybe soon she and Daniel would be free to get on with their lives. They hadn’t talked about the future—they were too busy fighting to have one—but she knew their future would be together. First they had to stop Boyd.

  She heard voices and got up and went to the door. She opened it a crack and Chad immediately appeared.

  “Do you need anything, Ms. Welch?”

  “No. I was just wondering what the noise was.”

  “Officers summoned by Lieutenant Tolin and Lieutenant Bauer are filing into the big conference room for the meeting.”

  “Oh,” she murmured, seeing men in plain clothes and in uniforms making their way into a room down the hall. She didn’t see Daniel, but she saw Russ, Joel and a few other cops she was acquainted with. Then her breath lodged in her throat. She saw a gun in a holster she’d seen before. The holster was on a man’s hip and the leather was worn through from many years of use. She remembered it clearly and she knew exactly where she’d seen it.

  “Chad,” she said. “Get Daniel.”

  “They’re closing the doors and I can’t go in unless it’s an emergency.”

  “This is an emergency.”

  Chad seemed perplexed. “Ms. Welch…”

  “Do it—now.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Chad responded, and called down the hall. “Ray, come here.” A uniformed officer walked over.

  “What do you want?”

&
nbsp; “Guard this door until I get back.”

  “Where you going?”

  “Into the meeting.”

  “You’re not allowed in there.”

  “Guard the damn door. I’ll be back in a sec.”

  Sarah pushed the door to and leaned against it, her heart hammering wildly. Hurry, Daniel, hurry. I know who the snitch is.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  SARAH PACED BACK and forth. What was taking so long? She went back to the door and looked out again; the hall was empty except for the uniformed cop who was looking rather confused. She continued her pacing, her nerves ready to snap. Hurry, Daniel.

  The door opened and she swung around. Daniel walked toward her, wearing a worried frown.

  “What is it? Chad said it was an emergency.”

  She took a deep breath. “I think I know who the snitch is,” she said in a rush.

  “What! How? Did you find something in the files?”

  She took a gulp of air, feeling as if she’d run a marathon. “No. I glanced out the door and saw some men walking down the hall to the meeting. Who’s the tall man, almost bald, with nice starched clothes and a pistol on his hip that has a worn leather holster?”

  Daniel frowned. “That’s Tom Hudson. He’s been with me on narcotics for years.”

  “He could be the snitch.”

  Daniel seemed shocked. “No, he can’t…” He took her arm and led her to a chair. He sat facing her, holding both her hands. “Tell me how you know this?”

  “When Boyd was making me strip, there was always guards to escort me back to my room. I never looked at anyone’s face. I looked down, trying to pretend that I wasn’t there, but I remember seeing a gun on a man’s hip—the leather was really worn—just like Tom’s. He was talking to Boyd, so I assumed he was one of his henchmen. It’s the same holster and gun. I remember it.”

  “Was this man there every night?”

  “No. I only saw the holster a couple of times.”

  “Sarah, be very sure about this.”

  “I am.”

  He wanted to deny it—didn’t want to believe that Tom, his friend of many years, was the snitch. But Daniel saw that Sarah was dead serious.

  “We’ve all razzed him about that holster, but it belonged to his father, who was also a cop, and he didn’t want to get rid of it. He’s a family man with three kids. I’ve eaten at his and Carol’s house many times. His kids are in all kinds of sports and he coaches baseball. This is so out of character.”

  “Maybe he loaned his gun to someone?”

  Daniel shook his head. “No. He’d never let anyone have that gun.”

  “Maybe he was there pressuring Boyd to find out what happened to Greg.”

  He shook his head again. “I never ordered him or anyone to pressure Boyd. We were watching Boyd, hoping he’d slip up and lead us to Greg. There was no reason for him to be talking to Boyd late at night. No reason unless…” He couldn’t say the words, even as anger quickly overtook his shock.

  There was a tap at the door and Chad poked his head around. “The lieutenant wants you in the conference room—pronto.”

  “I’m on my way.” He got to his feet and stared down at Sarah. “I’ve been looking for something to link one of my guys to Boyd—I never thought it’d hurt so bad.”

  “There has to be a reason he’d do this.”

  “There’s not any reason on this earth good enough.” He walked to the door and didn’t look back. Tom had finally slipped up.

  As Daniel entered the room, Bill said, “Nice of you to grace us with your presence.”

  “Sorry, sir,” Daniel replied, taking his seat next to Bill, Russ and Lieutenant Bauer at the long table facing the men. “I had to take care of something.”

  Bill gave him one of those looks that said “get your act together,” then he got down to business. “As all of you know, we’re looking for a snitch in narcotics or homicide, someone who had information that was valuable to Rudy Boyd. This sticks in my craw like a wad of chewing tobacco and I’m here to tell you it ain’t no fun.” Bill glanced at Charles. “Lieutenant Bauer is here to support the men from his squads. This is an in-house investigation handled by myself and Detective Garrett.”

  Bill opened a big folder. “I’ll start with Daniel first. You’re all aware that Mr. Garrett was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and he traded it in for a badge. Most of us are looking for that easy lifestyle, but Daniel’s running from it. He lives off his detective’s salary and spends more hours in this police station than anyone I know. He’s loaned or given money to almost everyone in this room. If Daniel has a secret life, I didn’t find it.”

  “I think we need to contact the Pope and nominate Daniel for sainthood.” Russ spoke up.

  “I second that,” Will said and several more officers added their comments or jokes.

  Daniel was uncomfortable, but he’d started this investigation so he had to endure the digs.

  “Enough,” Bill ordered. “Let’s move on.” His words drummed on inside Daniel’s head as Bill went through the detectives and officers, each offering satisfactory answers to the questions Bill asked.

  All the while Daniel kept watching Tom. He sat on the end of the front row, right in front of Daniel, cool as a cucumber, not even breaking a sweat like Kevin, Jack and Lee. He thought he was home free. He thought his secret was safe.

  The past few years flashed through Daniel’s mind. He remembered Tom and Carol having financial problems. They’d bought a new home and with three kids they were having a hard time making the payments. Then suddenly things had changed—Daniel didn’t hear any more complaints about money. Carol’s mother had passed away and Tom said she’d left them some money. They’d bought a bigger house with a pool and went on expensive vacations. He should have been more astute and asked questions. But then, they were friends; he’d believed him.

  When Boyd was arrested, Bill appointed Tom as a liaison to aid Internal Affairs when needed. Bill believed, as Daniel did, that Tom was above reproach. Daniel had been busy with the trial and getting Sarah ready to testify. He’d checked in with Tom from time to time, but he’d never had anything substantial. Now Daniel knew why. He’d been protecting himself. Why hadn’t he delved deeper? Loyalty. Friendship. The cop bond. Everything was staring him in the face and it was a chilling truth. He should have known Tom couldn’t afford the new house, new vehicles and expensive trips. He’d bought it all with blood money—Greg’s blood and the blood of those two young girls.

  Tom sat with a smug expression on his face, knowing Bill had nothing on him. If not for Sarah, it would probably stay that way. Daniel felt a moment of failure in his job as a detective for not recognizing the signs. He had his eyes wide open now, though.

  “Daniel,” Bill said. “Do you want to add anything?”

  “Yes, sir,” Daniel replied, and got to his feet. He had a lot to say. He walked around to the front of the table and leaned back against it. “The lieutenant’s right. I’ve loaned or given money to almost every person in this room.” He gazed out at the men nodding their heads, then his gaze settled on Tom. “Everyone but you, Tom.”

  “You know I don’t like borrowing money.” He brushed the remark away.

  “Then how did you afford that big house and the BMW you just bought Carol?”

  “It’s no secret that Carol’s mother died and left us some money and I got a loan from the bank for the car.”

  Daniel folded his arms across his chest. “Really? The lieutenant just went through your expenses and I don’t remember hearing a note for a BMW.”

  “It’s a new car and it’s probably not on file yet.”

  Daniel nodded. “Yep. That could be it.” He stared directly at Tom. “But I don’t think so.”

  “If you have something to say, Daniel, spit it out,” Tom said, still cool, still thinking he had everyone fooled.

  “You’re very proud of that gun you wear.”

  “You know I am. It was my dad’s.
”

  “Not many like it, especially the holster with the leather worn through like that.”

  “Is that suppose to mean something?”

  “Yes. You see, I have Sarah Welch in a room down the hall.”

  “We’re all aware of that.”

  “But what you don’t know, Tom, is that she was watching everyone filing into this room and she noticed something familiar.”

  Tom didn’t answer and for the first time Daniel saw fear in his eyes. The room became very quiet and no one moved or spoke.

  “What the hell did she see?” Russ broke the silence.

  Daniel pointed to Tom’s gun. “She saw Tom’s gun.”

  “So?” Russ raised an eyebrow.

  “She also saw that holster at Teasers, the strip club where Boyd made her strip. The man wearing it was talking to Boyd.”

  The room became painfully quiet.

  “Were you at Teasers talking to Boyd after Greg was killed?” Daniel asked point blank.

  The fear in Tom’s eyes became vivid. “Okay.” He shifted uncomfortably. “I had a little visit with Boyd hoping he might slip up and mention Greg.”

  “Why? I specifically gave orders to stay away from him.”

  “I didn’t follow orders,” he snapped. “That’s not a crime.”

  “You’re lying your damn head off.”

  Tom didn’t say anything and avoided looking at Daniel.

  “Were you selling information to Boyd?” Daniel leaned in toward Tom.

  Tom still didn’t answer. He stared down at his shoes.

  “I asked you a question.”

  “Of course not,” Tom denied.

  Daniel took a controlled breath. “There wasn’t anything about an inheritance in your file, but I can find out how much money Carol’s mother left you or if she left you any at all. Do you want me to do that, Tom?”

  No response.

  “Did you sell information to Rudy Boyd?” Daniel shouted.

  “I—I—I—” Tom stammered.

  Will jumped out of his seat and made a dive for Tom, knocking him to the floor. Lee and Kevin pulled him off, but Will got in several punches.