“You shouldn’t have butted into this. From the very start you didn’t want to be friends.” She raised the gun until it pointed directly at Sandy’s head. “Sorry, old friend.”
“Abby, put the gun down. You may have a story ready about shooting Toby out there, but you can’t explain shooting me in your kitchen.”
“You shouldn’t have forced your way in here. Being sort of dark and all, I assumed it was the prowler, your Honor.”
“I can see you fine. Better not shoot. A sheriff’s detective is standing right behind me.”
Abby could then hear the crackling of a police radio outside. She lowered the gun and turned on the lights. “I wasn’t certain it was really you, Sandy. I would never have shot you. I thought I heard someone outside.”
“You did. Your partner, Toby, is out there trying to stay alive and is explaining to a cop why he shouldn’t go to prison. And then it’s your turn. It’s over Abby. The police know the entire story.” Sandy knew they didn’t know anything yet.
“No, I thought it was our abuser Bruce Banks out there. He’s been threatening me.” She placed the gun on the kitchen table.
“Bruce Banks? How did he get into this? Sounds like a phony story you made up so you could shoot Toby. Your Internet panty business was just a front for child porn sales wasn’t it?”
Abby slumped into a chair. Then her head snapped up as she realized what Sandy had said. “What’d you say? I’m doing what?”
“You came up with this scheme to get rid of Toby.”
“After that, you said something about porno?”
“Don’t even try denying it, Abby. The entire setup is obvious and the hard evidence shouldn’t be difficult to find. Your slimy operation will be shut down and you’ll go to jail.”
Abby shook her head. “You are out of your fucking mind!”
Sandy pushed the gun on the table farther away. “Tonight’s shooting should be enough probable cause for a judge to issue a warrant to search your house and computer, and Toby’s house and his computer. After that, we trace the money and call in the Feds. It’s all over.”
“I’m not in business with Toby. I’ve never been involved in porn, don’t want to be, and never will be. I don’t know how you came up with such craziness.”
Sandy could hear the slamming of car doors and the yelling of police outside. The high-low wail of an ambulance siren got louder.
“You better hope Toby doesn’t die or you can add a murder charge to your problems. I don’t know how you even came close to hitting him in the dark.”
“I’m telling you, you’ve got this wrong.”
“Tell it to the judge. For your daughter’s sake here’s what you should do. Shut up now until you get a lawyer and then agree to testify against Toby and everyone else involved. Unless you’ve been into some other heavy junk the last few years, you’ll get probation for cooperating and bringing down the operation. Let me know how I can help with Jamie.”
“Sandy, I swear to you on Jamie’s life. I’ve never been involved in porn.”
Detective Pomar came in with his gun drawn. When he saw Abby sitting talking to Sandy, he put the gun away and took out the handcuffs. “Maybe the medics can revive him, but I think that man out there is dead.”
Chapter Six
Within minutes, house lights and porch lights in the neighborhood popped on, one by one, alerted by the gunshot. The intensity of excited voices increased as gapers and gawkers were now gathering in the street, in the gravel driveway, and some even closer, standing on the lawn of Abby Olin’s house. More sheriffs’ vehicles with flashing lights and crackling radios descended and parked at odd angles around the corner lot.
As secondary officers arrived, they were able to secure the immediate area near the house with yellow barrier tape. Everyone present, whether standing in the street, in the driveway, or on the lawn, was surprised when asked to remain inside the tape. The officers then questioned each to determine if they were a suspect, a witness or merely a bystander. All were found to be bystanders and were excused. The officers then checked all vehicles parked within 500 feet of the house for ownership. The area rapidly became a full-blown crime scene.
A bulky man wearing a black suede jacket stood by his unmarked Crown Vic and motioned Sandy over. He introduced himself as Detective Triney from the sheriff’s office. He needed her statement. He was broad and built close to the ground like an army tank. His crew-cut salt-and-pepper hair matched the gunmetal frames on his police-style sunglasses. He also had gorgeous white teeth, Sandy noted.
His appearance didn’t intimidate her. She had stood toe to toe arguing with menacing Philadelphia cops hiding their eyes behind dark sunglasses. If you can do that without losing your nerve, you can doubtless conquer the world. At least you can face a sheriff’s detective in Florida with no fear.
He slid into his vehicle and motioned her to the front seat beside him. He appeared remarkably comfortable behind the steering wheel. Nature had sculptured him for such a place in law enforcement. He’d been positioned there, off and on, for twenty years.
“Is it Sergeant or Lieutenant?”
“Lieutenant,” he said without looking up from his notes.
“Right, nice to meet you Detective Lieutenant Triney. A lieutenant no doubt supervises other detectives. I’m impressed,” she said honestly. “Now first, I wonder if I can make a phone call.”
“You’re not under arrest, Miss.”
“I know.” She checked her watch. “But I need to make a call before it gets too late, I need to get word to a little girl down the street who’s no doubt wondering what all the sirens are about.”
“No phone calls just yet.”
“Where’s Detective Pomar?”
“Let’s talk about you just now, Miss.”
Her phone rang. She glanced over at the detective who nodded okay. “Oh, hi, Chip. No, I’m all right.” She noticed the detective had removed his sunglasses and his eyes had widened slightly when he heard the name. “I’ll explain it to you later. I might need a ride back to where I parked my car. Ok, I’ll call you.” She snapped her phone shut.
The detective said, “That was Chip Goddard, wasn’t it? So you’re
“I had help.”
“From what I hear, you helped Detective Goddard more than he helped you. He put his job on the line for you. You know, State Attorney Moran’s never forgiven either of you for getting the best of him. You know what the people in law enforcement say about you? ‘Don’t make eye contact with her and if she attacks play dead.’”
She shrugged. “Yeah, I heard that one.”
“Did you really work for Philly PD.?”
“No, I did grunt work in the field for a defense law firm up there. My job was to find dirty little secrets hidden in records and reports, locate witnesses, and talk with cops when possible. Usually we were on different sides because our firm was defending someone the police were accusing. But sometimes it was to our mutual advantage to help each other. Like you and me, Lieutenant. We’re going to be buddy-buddy aren’t we?”
He ignored the offer. “You ever think of going into law enforcement? We could use you here in the county at the sheriff’s office. I suppose since Goddard is a city detective you might want to work in there.”
“Either way I’d be working in State Attorney Moran’s judicial district and we don’t get along.”
“Think about it. With your law degree you wouldn’t start at the bottom.”
“Don’t have my degree yet. I prefer to defend people instead of prosecute them. You and I are on different sides.”
The detective smiled. “I’m on the side of justice. Which side are you on?”
“Touche. Lieutenant, we’re going to get along just fine.”
“Goddard is quite a detective, I hear. Don’t get to interact much with him since we’re on different forces.
