We methodically cleared each room before moving on to the next. Every drawer, closet, cabinet, and box was searched, and every piece of paper was read. We flipped mattresses, went through clothing pockets, and looked under rugs and behind hanging pictures.
We didn’t find his passports, which told me Cruz was probably heading south, but he wouldn’t get beyond Border Patrol.
The usual paperwork filled his three-drawer file cabinet, but it was nothing that concerned us. Three thousand dollars remained in his checking account, and if he didn’t want to leave a trail, he would stick to cash. I was sure the amount of money he had would keep him under the radar for a while. Our only hope was to catch him trying to get past TSA security, the border, or by using a credit card. I didn’t have faith that he’d be caught because of the BOLO on his vehicle. Criminal Handbook 101 instructed people on the run to always ditch their vehicle as soon as possible.
The only names we’d found written down belonged to Mauricio, Antonio, Conway, and Hal Morton, once again confirming that they were all connected. I tapped my finger on the scratch pad containing those names.
“Something on your mind, Jesse?” Lutz looked over my shoulder.
“Yeah, sort of, I guess. Conway is in jail, thanks to Frank connecting the dots and Maria’s list of names. Mauricio and Antonio are dead. So where does that leave Hal?”
Lutz rubbed his chin. “He was in jail, so maybe nowhere until we actually connect him to Tina’s murder. Maria is going to have to say he was involved in the plot, or he’ll remain a free man. Right now, it’s too circumstantial. We’ve only got one chance to make a conviction stick, and the district attorney won’t prosecute unless we have more.”
“Hal obviously knows all these players. Maybe I should pay him another visit and ask whatever I want now that he isn’t in jail and could lawyer up.”
“Sure, give it a shot and take Mills with you. I know he’s dying for a cigarette. I’ll probably head back to the station and let the crime lab and Don finish their work here. If the warrant for Conway’s apartment has arrived, I’ll send some officers that way. I’ll let you know, and you guys can swing over there when you’re done with Morton.”
Frank and I walked the driveway to the road then back to our cruiser. He was already on his second cigarette by the time we reached the car doors.
“Put that out before you get inside.”
He frowned at me. “I just lit it.”
I stood my ground, but he did too.
“Fine,” I said. “Let’s discuss the case outside until you’ve smoked that thing to the filter.”
He leaned against the front quarter panel and took a deep drag. “The Vasquez family is going to be pissed off and out for blood when they get the news. Three men from that family have died in the last twenty-four hours.”
I shrugged. “They’re a family of criminals. What else would they expect? Do you really think they’d want more bloodshed?”
Frank raised a brow. “Hell yeah. That’s what crime families do. An eye for an eye.”
I stared at Frank’s cigarette. “Come on. Let’s go, and make sure you’ve completely squashed that out before you walk away.”
He blew out the last puff of smoke, shredded the butt with the toe of his shoe, then climbed in behind the wheel. “Do you have the sister’s address?”
“Yep, right in my notepad.” I reached into my inner pocket, pulled it out, and flipped pages until I found the address for Carla Reed. “Here we go.” I programmed it into my phone’s GPS, and we took off.
“Wonder how the Morton kids are doing,” Frank said.
“I can’t even imagine. Being tender-aged children is bad enough, but to be the ones who found her? That image will haunt them forever.” I looked down at my phone. “Four more miles to go.”
We arrived at the Reed home ten minutes later. Frank turned in to the driveway and parked.
“Doesn’t look like Hal is here. Wouldn’t his car be in the driveway?” Frank asked.
“Guess we’re about to find out.” I led the way up the sidewalk, we reached the door, and I gave it several hard knocks. Seconds later, Carla Reed opened it.
“Detectives? How can I help you?”
I tipped my head. “Ma’am. Sorry to show up unannounced, but we need to speak with Hal.”
She huffed. “Well, so do I. He was supposed to help me with some projects in the backyard, but he up and disappeared over an hour ago.”
Frank’s brows lifted. “What exactly does that mean? He was released into your custody, and because of that, he wasn’t required to wear an ankle monitor. Hal is still a person of interest in Tina’s murder.”
She raised both palms. “I don’t know what to tell you, Detective Mills. The doorbell rang, Hal answered it, and I asked who it was. He said a coworker and then went outside. He never came back in, and now his car is gone.”
“Hal was let go,” I said. “He doesn’t have any coworkers.”
She shrugged. “Habits are hard to break. Maybe he meant to say a former coworker.”
“Was the person a man or a woman?”
“I didn’t get a chance to look. Hal went outside seconds after he answered the door. Through the blinds, I did see a large burgundy SUV sitting along the curb.”
I gave Frank a quick glance. “Have you tried Hal’s phone?”
“Yep, three times. I can’t believe he’s being such a jerk. How soon can he move back into his own house?”
I ignored the question. “Carla, didn’t the police department require you to put a tracking app on your phone for as long as Hal is staying with you? It’ll pick up his location no matter where he’s at.”
“Humph. I forgot about that, and honestly, I wouldn’t even know how to use it.”
“May I have your phone? I’ll check to see where he went.”
She ushered us toward her. “No sense in letting the flies in. Come inside and close the door.”
We did and stood in the foyer.
“I’ll get my phone.”
Carla disappeared around the corner, then Frank whispered his concern. “Why do you think Cruz stopped by?”
“Not sure, but I’m curious to know why Hal left with him.”
“Threats to his family?”
I shrugged just as Carla returned to the foyer and handed me her phone. “Here you go. Make that app do its magic.”
I pressed the tracking icon and saw that she hadn’t yet programmed Hal’s phone number into it. “What’s his number?”
Flustered, she asked for her phone back. “Nobody memorizes numbers, Detective. Now I have to look it up.” She scrolled through her contacts to Hal’s name. “Here it is.”
Frank snapped a picture of Hal’s number, and I went to the app screen and entered it. The map popped up with a red teardrop-shaped indicator that showed where Hal’s phone was located.
Scratching my head must have given away that something was off.
“What is it?” Carla asked.
“This map shows Hal’s phone is a half mile from here at the end of Connerton Street. It shows a green space in that area.”
“That’s where the park is.” She reached for the keys hanging on the hook by the door. “I’ll show you.”
I held up my hand. “No, you need to wait here. We’ll check it out and let you know. Maybe he left his phone in his car for some reason and drove away with that coworker.” I took a picture of the map on Carla’s phone, and we left. Two right-hand turns and one left would land us where Connerton Street dead-ended and the park took over. We arrived minutes later, and I pointed at the far end of the parking lot. “Back there. That’s Hal’s car.” Something was wrong. I felt it in my gut, and there was no sign of the Escalade anywhere in the area.
Frank pulled up next to Hal’s Toyota and parked, then we both exited the cruiser. I pressed my hands along my face at the driver’s window and peered in.
“Son of a bitch!”
Frank rushed to my side, grasped the handle with his sleeve, and pulled open the door. Slumped sideways over the console, with a bullet hole in his temple, lay the body of Hal Morton. Frank swore and pointed at Hal’s left hand resting on the edge of the seat. “Look, he’s holding a gun.”
I waved away Frank’s comment as I dialed Lutz. “You know damn well that was staged, and once again, Abraham Cruz is in the wind.”