Even though the sun hadn’t burnt through the morning fog, and the morning air held a chill, Jake sat out on the deck, drinking coffee from his travel mug, staring at the glass-like surface of the water. Maybe this was why he hadn’t moved out of his uncle’s place. The water, whether it was smooth or choppy, always gave him a sense of calm.
He’d been anything but calm since they’d found the dead body. He felt the need to redeem himself after Kim Vega and the mess he’d made. He wanted out of the doghouse he’d gotten himself in and solving this murder might be his way out. Sure, he was just a rookie still, but he’d been with Peculiar PD a year, so not really a newbie anymore. What a joke! He’d be the newbie until they hired another officer who actually stuck around.
“Good morning, Jake,” Uncle Tucker walked out to the deck.
“You got time to sit a spell?” Jake asked his uncle.
“Sit a spell? Who you been hanging out with lately, grandmas?” Tucker sat down.
“Don’t shoot me, but I’ve had a few meals at Ruby’s Diner.”
Tucker frowned, then said, “You can’t eat every meal at Lucien’s.”
“I feel like I’m cheating on you when I eat at another restaurant.” Jake sat his cup down on the table.
Tucker sat in the Adirondack chair next to his nephew. “Look, I’m friends with Bobby, and I eat at Ruby’s, too. There are plenty of people in town to patronize the great eating establishments. Now, if you’re patronizing the franchises, I’d have to ask you to move out.”
Jake looked at Tucker to make sure he was joking. Tucker smiled.
“I’ve been losing weight the last few days. My stomach is in knots over this latest murder. I feel like I need to solve it to redeem myself.” He stared off, looking at a ripple in the water.
“Redeem yourself for what? You’re a good cop. Gwilly says only nice things about you. And even Darby is nice. And you know she doesn’t sugarcoat anything.” Tucker leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his hands wrapped around his large coffee mug.
“Kim.”
Tucker laughed. “You still dwelling on that girl? She was long gone before you ever came back to Peculiar.”
Jake shook his head. “Not her so much as how I handled it. I embarrassed myself. Letting myself get too personally involved.”
“Get over it.” Tucker sipped his coffee. “Now tell me about this murder.”
Jake got his uncle up to date with the details he was allowed to share. “I’ve been taxed with finding her boyfriend, who is apparently a dealer.”
“That shouldn’t be too hard. You know all the places the druggies hang out. Make your rounds.”
Jake laughed. “Yeah, right Uncle Tucker, like they are just going to open up to cops. They hate us.”
Tucker leaned back in his chair and sighed. “Well, there’s that now, isn’t there? I’m so glad I’m a law-abiding citizen, and I actually like cops.”
“I’m glad too, because I get a cheap place to live.”
They both laughed.
“What would be a good in? You know, a way to get them talking that didn’t make it seem like you’re looking to nab this douche.” The lines in Tucker’s forehead deepened.
“When I talked to the people at the motel where she was found, I didn’t have a picture of the victim. I do now. I’m wondering if maybe they might know her, you know? Maybe she was in the passenger seat when Rudy stopped to make a deal.” Jake sighed. “I’m grasping at straws here.”
Tucker looked at his watch. “What the hell are you doing sitting here then? Get off your ass and go to the motel. Worst that can happen is you don’t get any answers. But I’ll bet you do. And instead of asking for this Rudy guy by name, use his photo. Ask if they know who he is. Use the approach of ignorance. People like to think they know more than the person asking questions.”
Jake jumped up. “Thanks, that’s brilliant. Instead of acting like I know these folks, which I really don’t, I’ll play dumb.”
Jake grabbed his coffee cup and jogged to his car, now eager to start his day.
“Keep me posted,” Tucker yelled after him.
Jake hated working days. Probably because Darby trained him. He had to laugh at that. He liked Darby, but she scared the shit out of him.
“Underwood,” Sergeant Gwilly greeted Jake at the door of the police station.
“Sir. Do you have a minute?” Jake said.
“What’s on your mind?” They walked outside.
“I’m thinking of going back to the motel again today. I haven’t had any luck tracking down Rudy, so I had an idea.”
Zane leaned against the wall, his leg bent and boot resting on the wall. “Well?”
“Maybe someone has a beef with Rudy. I show pictures of Allie and Rudy, say I just need to talk to them. I don’t have to admit Allie is dead yet. People like to know more than the person they are talking to, you know?”
Zane shrugged. “Yes, on showing the photos. Ask if they knew Allie. Maybe it wasn’t her first time at that motel. But don’t play stupid, you’ll just make yourself look ignorant. You know she’s dead and probably everyone else does, too.”
“I didn’t show her photo to anyone yet.”
“That’s not the point. Better to show her photo and say she’s the dead girl. People like to think they are a part of something. Share what you can about her being dead, but not about her being dragged to the field. See what people might know, now that time has passed.”
“Sure. What about Rudy?” Jake asked.
“Get a photo of him. Show it around. Like you said, he’s a dealer, he probably ripped someone off at some point.”
Jake nearly jumped out of his skin, excited to be given the go-ahead. “I’m on it. I just need to clock in.”
“Check in with me around noon, let me know what you’ve got. I have a few leads to follow up on, too.” Zane followed Jake into the building. “Good job so far, rookie.”
Jake grinned, even though he hated the word rookie.
“Before you show Allie’s photo, let me check with the chief. We already notified her mom, but I’m not sure where we are on the media right now. I don’t think we released her name.”
The morning briefing seemed to last hours, then Jake had to finish some paperwork before heading out. He was still waiting to hear back from his sergeant about showing the girl’s picture, and he didn’t want to be that guy, texting and asking. He’d just ask about Rudy for now, but showing both photos would be easier.
“You’re in a hurry,” Kate said, walking in step with him.
“I’m going back to the motel today. I’m going to show Allie’s picture around, maybe jog a memory or two. Once I get permission. Until then, I’m going to ask around about Rudy. No one seemed to know him as Rudy Neely, so maybe they’ll recognize his face.”
“I thought you already did that?” Kate said.
Jake’s phone buzzed. He looked at it. Yes! He had the go ahead on Allie’s picture, too.
“Nope. I had to wait for you to tell the next of kin, and then the chief didn’t want her name in the papers just yet. But I guess the media already caught wind, so I have the go ahead.”
He couldn’t get to the Longhorn fast enough. As he pulled in, he thought about stopping at the office, but decided he didn’t need any more lies from the guy. One of the maids he’d spoken to stood on the sidewalk outside one of the rooms, and he smiled and waved. She’d be as good a place to start as any. She spoke English.
Jake pulled his car into one of the parking spaces, grabbed the paper photos he’d printed off, and got out of the car. By the time he got out, the maid disappeared. But her cleaning cart stood outside a room, so he walked up to it.
The room door was cracked open. “Hello?” He pushed it a little.
The maid, whose name he didn’t recall, said, “Good morning. Still investigating?”
Jake nodded. He put the photos in front of her. She took them and looked. “Do you know either of these people? Recognize them?”
She handed the photos back. “No. But then, I don’t usually see guests. Not even the weekly renters, even though I know who they are. I only clean when they’re gone, or I just replace towels, and they clean. Not that they clean anything. You should see the filthy rooms after they finally check out or get kicked out.”
Jake took the pictures back. “You’re sure you’ve never seen them?”
She nodded. “You be asking around? Cuz they sleep in the day. These vampires stalk the streets at night. They no like daylight.”
“I’ve got to try.” Jake felt like he’d taken two steps backward from his one step forward.
“Good luck.” She went back to cleaning.
Jake thanked her for her time and knocked on the next door. No answer.
The maid came out of the room. “If you want, I tell you what rooms are empty. Save you time.”
Jake smiled. “That would be awesome. Thank you.”
She reached into her cart and pulled out a list. “You write this down.”
She told him the empty rooms. “The weekly people.” She rattled off a few more room numbers.
“This is great. I appreciate it,” Jake said and walked to the end of the sidewalk.
The first room on the list he’d visited before, not realizing the guy was a long-term resident: the big man with the numbers tattooed on his head. He dreaded even knocking on the door, but he did it anyway.
His heart raced a little as he expected a confrontation. The door flew open, like someone in a rage had opened it. Jake took another step sideways.
“You like me. You really like me,” the bald guy said.
Jake was afraid to smile. “You’re my fave.”
“Did you run my name or something?” He smirked. “Coming to arrest me?”
He had run his tattoo, but nothing came back. He didn’t even know the man’s name. “Sir, I’m sorry, but I don’t even know your name.”
“Hal. Hal Bundy. And if you say anything about serial killers or Married with Children, I’ll choke you.” He put out his massive hand.
Jake stopped breathing, as he thought about Allie being choked. Then his mind caught up with his adrenaline and he realized this man could have carried Allie easily. He didn’t need to drag her. His hands could easily have wrapped around Allie’s throat, but she hadn’t been choked in that sense. He shook his hand.
“I was just going to tell you my name again,” Jake said. “And ask you some questions.”
“Officer Jake Underwood. And I still didn’t hear anything the other night, so don’t waste your breath.”
Jake held out the photos. “New questions. Do you know either of these people?”
Hal reached out and took the photos rather gently, which surprised Jake.
“Want to come in?” Hal asked.
He didn’t, but Hal stepped away from the door, and Jake felt obligated.
The room looked clean, a suitcase on the bed closest to the bathroom, open, with folded clothes lying next to it. He saw a shaving bag on the sink counter, but nothing out other than the motel issue soap and lotions, along with plastic cups. The big guy either liked things neat, or he knew he might need to bug out in a hurry.
“Easier to see when the morning sun isn’t shining in my eyes.” He blinked and closed the door behind Jake. “Give me a minute for my eyes to adjust.”
Jake wondered if this guy had just smoked some weed, or what. He acted way too mellow for Jake’s liking. He didn’t want to disturb him, especially after seeing the oversized black dildo on the bed closest to the window. Right there in plain view. He stopped looking around, afraid of what other embarrassing things he might see. The cop in him knew he should be disturbed and wonder what illegal things might be in the room, but the man was cooperating and nice, why rock a boat he didn’t have the time for?
“That’s Lil Biggie.” He handed the photo of Rudy back to Jake. “Stupid fucking name, but apparently he likes it. Says it’s because he’s a little guy, but a big deal.”
Jake took the photo. “His name is Rudy Neely.”
Hal shrugged. “He’s the go to guy in these parts. You want it, he supplies it. But he really is just a little fish who thinks he’s a shark.”
“Little fish, in general, or in the drug trade?” Jake asked.
Hal put his index and thumb very close together. “Like a guppy. And both.”
“I don’t follow.” Jake hated sounding stupid, but he wasn’t about to leave without answers.
“He’s an idiot. Handsome, but stupid. And he runs drugs for Nazar, through Luis Jose Gonsalves, so he’s bottom of the ladder. If he were higher up, he’d be running the person who replaced him.”
“You mean, he’s the lowest in the drug ring? Like a dishwasher compared to a line cook?”
“Don’t be dissing dishwashers!” Hal snapped, then laughed. “Just joshing ya. Yeah, he’s entry level. Has been for years. Too stupid to move up.” He handed back the other photo. “And this is his latest girlfriend, Allie something, I think.”
Jake took the photo, trying not to let his excitement show. “What do you think of Rudy? Other than him being stupid?”
“Fancies himself a ladies’ man. And a man’s man. Guy goes both ways. Whatever it takes to make his quota. He’d fuck a lamppost if it bought his shit.”
“He has sex with his clientele?” Jake didn’t believe it.
“Dude is one freaky fuck. Not into dildos, though. Believe me, even high as a kite, he draws the line.” Hal smirked. “And before you ask, no, I don’t buy his shit. I have much better taste than this shithole motel makes it seem. Just down on my luck right now.”
Jake felt it, so he said, “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry that Lil Biggie doesn’t do dildos? Do you?” Hal winked at him.
Jake had the sudden urge to bolt from the room. He swallowed hard. “What about the girl? Know anything about her?”
“Why you asking about her?” Hal asked.
“She’s the dead girl we found. Don’t you watch the news?” Jake said.
“Allie? Wow, that sucks. I didn’t really know her, but she seemed nice enough. For a low-level dealer.” Hal handed the photos back.
“She was a dealer?” This didn’t make sense.
“I don’t know if dealer is even the right word. Flunky? She helped Lil Biggie peddle his wares. I think she got a cut, but I’m not sure. Cute little thing, so I’ll bet she expanded his territory. A pretty chick will sell more than a handsome dude.”
Jake tried to wrap his head around what Hal had just told him. Could that have been what got Allie killed?