Destiny's Wrath (Destiny Series - Book 3) by Straight, Nancy (read full novel .txt) 📗

“Dakota? Why Dakota?”

“She’ll know what to do, and it won’t involve killing a police detective.”

“I just told Renny to bring the Council to our motel tomorrow morning.”

Max looked frustrated, “I don’t think that’s such a great idea. That Detective Ross didn’t ask for any of this. He’s still inside somewhere. Turning the Council loose on him puts his blood on our hands.”

“More than the other nine people that Jimmy killed?”

“Their blood isn’t on our hands. You heard Samael. The kid did the murders all on his own.”

“And you believe him?”

“Lauren, I don’t like him, but you heard him. If he were responsible he would have been bragging about it. There’s got to be a way to get him out of Detective Ross without killing the Detective. I think Dakota will help. I don’t think Renny will be willing to take the chance.”

“I want him destroyed.”

“I do, too, but not at the expense of another innocent. We should try to meet with Detective Ross, offer to help him.”

“Offer to help him? I only saw Samael. How do you think we make contact with the Detective?”

“We’ll figure it out.”

Chapter 17

Samael

“Detective Ross, is everything okay?” The rookie with the starched uniform was confused by what had just taken place.

“Everything is fine, officer.”

“Did you want us to tail them or anything? It’s kind of a slow night; I don’t mind.”

“Not necessary,” reading the rookie’s nametag, “Walowitz. I know exactly where the two are headed. They’ll be no trouble.”

I looked at my watch, “Looks like the graveyard shift is in full swing. Excuse me for a minute,” to no one in particular. I’d been through the police station enough the last couple days to know my way around. Let’s see, through the double doors, down two flights of steps, around the corner, and wa-la! I looked up at the yellowing sign on the caged area in the bowels of the basement, “Evidence Locker.”

A cheerful voice offered, “Hey, Bert, congrats on the murder wrap up! Haven’t seen a case closed that fast in twenty years.”

“Well, thanks. It helps when the suspect confesses at his first opportunity.”

“Yeah, did he really just ramble on about the whole thing?”

“Full confession, all evidence intact, even gave us all the information on the bomb he planned to make.”

“Well, congrats anyway. You should get a parking spot for that case.”

“Maybe. Now that’s wrapped up, we’re working on a drug sting. I’m going to need to sign for $50,000.”

“Uh,” the evidence custodian picked up a clipboard, “I’m not showing a sting on the sheet. Has the chief signed off on it?”

“Would I be here if he hadn’t?”

“Right, but Bert, there isn’t anything on my list. Do you have a requisition form?”

“Everything should be in order. Believe me, I wouldn’t need to be here at midnight to sign for some cash if there weren’t a sting going down. I’d much rather be home sleeping.”

“Bert, I understand, but with no requisition form and nothing on the property transfer register, I can’t get you the money. You know that.”

“Right. I thought the chief had cleared everything. Let me give him a call.”

“You’re going to call the chief, at midnight?”

“If he neglected to fill out the necessary forms, he’s putting my op at risk. I’ll just call and find out where he put the forms. Is tonight Thursday or Friday?”

“Thursday, why?”

“The chief has a standing appointment with a friend of his every Thursday. I’ll need to phone him at her place.”

I pulled Bert’s cell out of my pocket and scrolled through his contacts. I saw the chief’s number programmed in, but scrolled past it. I dialed Maggie’s phone instead. I’d better make this sound good. “Hello Maggie, I’m looking for the chief.” I knew she’d think I was talking about her precious Dennis, and this custodian wouldn’t bother to check my story if I could make it sound convincing enough.

“Hi, Bert, no, I dropped Dennis at the station over an hour ago.”

“No, he left shortly after, said he needed to get back to your house. He didn’t go back? Oh, well, do you know where I might find him?”

“Bert, I thought you called him in tonight?”

“No, sorry, it wasn’t me. Listen, he was supposed to fill out some paperwork before he left, and I am not sure where to find it. Could you ask him to call me as soon as you see him?”

“I doubt I’ll see him tonight. He probably went home.”

“Ah, I understand. I’ll try him at his house then. Thanks, Maggie.”

Disconnecting the phone, I looked back at the property manager. He had hung on every word and asked conspiratorially, “The chief has a girlfriend?”

I did my best to wear a clandestine look, “I never said that.”

“Sounds like you’re pretty chummy with her.”

“No, just tight with the chief. I’m surprised he neglected the paperwork. It really isn’t like him. He has always had meticulous attention to detail. Are you certain the off-going custodian didn’t file it in the wrong place? I don’t mind calling the chief at his house, but his wife can be rather difficult. She’s on to his Thursday night rendezvous. I’d hate for the chief to take it out on you if he sent the paperwork down and the property department lost it. Remember the last time he had the entire cage re-inventoried when the single bullet casing walked away?”

A look of nervousness appeared on the custodian. “I guess it would be okay, so long as you sign a hand receipt. I don’t want to be on the chief’s shit list for no reason.”

“Good call. I’d hate to report in tomorrow morning’s meeting that the sting didn’t go down because the money wasn’t available.”

The custodian went to the safe and pulled out five stacks of money. I wonder if I shouldn’t have requested $100,000. This was just too easy. The custodian had a very legible receipt and asked me to fill in the case number and sign. In ten minutes time, I had