Shutter(69)

“No. I guess calling the people who want to kill me didn’t cross my mind.”

“How do you know it’s them?” Shanice turned in her seat. “Don’t you work for them?”

“Listen. I used to work for the police. They found out about me. That’s all.”

“What do you mean they found out about you?” Shanice hesitated. “You mean they know about the ghost thing?”

“The ghost thing? What the hell is that?” Philip rounded the corner.

“Kind of.” I looked out of the windows nervously.

“Jesus, Rita. The nosebleeds. I didn’t even think.”

“What is this ghost thing? Dammit. Someone tell me what in the hell is going on!”

“Nothing,” I said. “Just take me to the station. I’ll let you know more once I figure this out. If I don’t call you by tonight, something might have happened to me.”

THE STATION WAS quiet for an early morning. I walked in the front door like I always did. Angie was at her desk, on the phone. She hung up when she saw me and rose.

“Rita. What are you doing here?” She looked angry.

“Angie. I have to talk to you.”

“Garcia filed a warrant for you last night,” she said. “Obstruction of justice. He says you may have ruined an investigation that he’s been working for over three years.”

“He hasn’t been investigating anything. He’s been committing crime after crime in this town just to cover himself. He’s so involved in everything that I can’t begin to tell you where this starts.” I hoped that Angie wouldn’t have me locked up at the state hospital after this.

Angie crossed her arms. “Do you have any idea what you’re saying? The accusations you are making?”

“I understand,” I said. “He’s a murderer, a drug runner, and a liar. I’ve been watching him for a while. I spoke with Armenta and the ME. I’m piecing it all together. I already tried to turn some of this over to Internal Affairs.”

“Wait a minute. Are you investigating this? Rita, you’re not a police officer.”

“Please hear me out. Erma Singleton, Judge Winters—all of it is connected.”

Angie’s face was lit with fury. “Does this have to do with the fucking ghosts?”

“It’s all in your emails, Angie. You don’t have to take my word. Look for yourself—it’s all in there.”

“Rita. Am I going to need to take you into custody until we clear this all up?”

“Custody?” I looked at the door. “You can’t take me into custody. Garcia is going to kill me. You should see what he did to my apartment. He killed someone last night, Angie.” I felt my blood drop into my shoes and could only contemplate how many hours I had left before he or someone from the cartel had me buried in the desert.

“Having you here could be the safest thing for you.” Angie moved toward the door. “You stay here.”

As soon as Angie was out of earshot, Erma’s ghost took Angie’s chair. “That has got to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Why are you coming to the police? Aren’t they in on this?” Erma rocked in the chair.

“I’m doing this for you so you’ll leave me alone once and for all. You want justice? Then he needs to be thrown in jail.” I looked around, wondering if anyone heard how loud I was shouting. “I’m doing everything I can, Erma.”

“I didn’t say anything about throwing that bastard in jail.” Erma stood. “He can go straight into the ground—it would make me just as happy.”

Angie returned and sat at her desk, studying me silently for a moment, then dialed up a number and put the call on speakerphone. It rang twice.

“Detective Garcia here.”

Angie put her finger over her lips. Erma and I stayed quiet.





CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

f/22

“I NEED YOU to tell me what happened up at the Benavidez mansion last night,” Angie said.

“A lovely party, Sergeant.”

Erma and I looked at each other.

“You know what I’m talking about, Garcia. You’re accusing one of my specialists of obstructing justice. I need to know what happened.”

“You mean she’s back on duty? I thought you suspended her. I don’t see how she can be considered a part of this force. She’s delusional.”

“Whatever Specialist Todacheene needed to be put on leave for is none of your business. Now, explain to me these charges.”

“She was up at the Benavidez party last night and almost blew our cover on the Pino case. I want those photos.”

“She was working on non-police business last night,” Angie said. “What does that have to do with your investigation?”

“Well, I don’t know for sure until I see them. If she turns them over, I’ll drop it. She’s putting my cases in jeopardy.”

“I had a visit with IA yesterday about an investigation they’re starting. Do you know anything about that?”

A long silence. Then: “I have no idea.”

“I think we’re going to have to close the Pino investigation. Your case is—”

“That’s unnecessary,” Garcia interrupted her. “We’re close.”