“I’d rather be on the team serving the warrant,” Gibson complained.
“Learn what’s important and where you’re needed,” Chambers told him. “Charlie needs that info so she can interrogate Grenway.”
“I’ll head over to the teen shelter,” Ford said, standing and grabbing his suit jacket. “See if I can find anyone who can link some of the pieces.”
“Maybe working on a team isn’t so bad,” I said as I walked out.
Chapter Forty-Six
CHARLIE
Wednesday, 11:27 a.m.
In the movies, the detectives lead the SWAT team into the house, wearing maybe a bullet proof vest, as the SWAT guys fan out around them in full body armor. In the real world, the detectives sit in their car down the block and drink coffee as the specialized team bears down on their target, charging into the home in a synchronized assault. It was fun to watch, but it would be a lot more fun to be part of the kick the door in team.
My phone rang and I answered it, knowing it was Crater, lead SWAT officer on the raid. “Talk to me.”
“We’ve got your guy, but he’s not going anywhere. You’ve got a green light to come inside. The house is clear.”
I hung up and opened my car door, shutting it after Beast leapt out. I puzzled about what Crater meant as I walked down the sidewalk, then across the yard. At the front door, I motioned for Beast to stay before I stepped inside. The team was huddled together at the entrance to what was likely the living room. “What’ve we got?”
Crater looked over his shoulder at me. “He’s a cop, right?”
“I can’t discuss the case.”
“Can you assure us that he deserved this at least?” he asked as he and his team stepped back to let me see into the room.
“Damn…” I said as I walked past them. At first, I wasn’t sure what I was seeing was real. It was so bizarre. But my brain finally caught up with my vision, and sure enough, Stuart Grenway was duct taped to a chair in his living room, his throat slashed, an oversized red ribbon tied around his waist fashioned into a bow near where his belly button would be. The note taped to his chest simply said: Merry Christmas.
I took a step back, then to the right a few steps, centering myself in front of the body. Taking another step back, I bumped into something. I looked over my shoulder to see a recliner. Glancing back and forth, I realized that if sitting in the recliner, the Grenway’s killer could’ve admired his work.
“I need forensics.”
“I already called in for a team,” Crater said. “So? Should we be feeling bad for him? Being he was a cop an all?”
I looked up at Crater and his team. “If you ask me, looks like he died too quickly. I would’ve preferred a few broken fingers or cigarette burns. Even just a little bit of torture. Instead, the killer severed his artery. Grenway would’ve bled out within a minute or two.”
“Man,” one of the guys I didn’t recognize said. “Remind me never to piss you off, lady.”
“Watch your tongue, Tailor. Until you know Detective Harrison better, I suggest you shut it,” Crater said to the guy before turning back to me. “You good here?”
I glanced around the room, then out the front picture window. Beast was lying in the grass in the front yard, rolling around on his back. I pulled my gun, keeping it held downward. “Yeah. Sure thing. Thanks for the help.”
“Uh, we cleared the house,” Randol, Crater’s second in command, said. “There ain’t anybody in here.”
“I’m just being careful. I’ve had a few close calls this week. I’m pretty sure the guy who did this,” I nodded toward Grenway’s body, “is the same guy who tried to kidnap me.”
“Tried to kidnap you?” Crater said, his voice turning cold.
I didn’t respond.
“Fan out,” Crater ordered his men. “Set up a full perimeter. Two guys inside, the rest outside.” The men disappeared in different directions as Crater walked over to me. “Holster your weapon. We’ve got your back while you work the scene.”
“Thanks,” I said, nesting my gun back into the holster. “You sure you don’t have to be somewhere, though?”
“We get maybe three calls a week. Unless another call comes in, we’ve got the time. No worries.” He nudged my shoulder to get me to look up. “You need more protection after this?”
“No. I’ve got a security team, but I left them at home. I forgot to call someone when I left the precinct.”
“Call them now. Have them meet you over here.”
“I will.” I studied the look on Grenway’s face. He looked almost peaceful for a deranged serial killer.
“Now, Kid. Call your security team.”
“Okay. Okay. Geesh.” I pulled my phone from my bag and called Bones.
“Yo,” Bones answered.
“I’ve been ordered to call my bodyguards.”
Bones chuckled. “Quille?”
“No. Crater.” I glanced over my shoulder at Crater. “He’s much scarier than Quille. He’s team lead for SWAT.”
“I’m guessing you left the police station again without backup. Give me your location,” Bones said as he continued to chuckle.
I gave him the address and was about to hang up when Crater took my phone from me. “Hey, dumbass, this is Crater,” he said into my phone. “What kind of bodyguard lets his clients ditch them?” Crater was quiet for a few minutes as he listened to Bones’ reply, then Crater disconnected.
I laughed at the expression on Crater’s face. “You’re the biggest badass I know in Miami,” I said, patting his shoulder. “But Bones, well, he’s the biggest badass I’ve ever met. You might want to make yourself scarce when he gets here.”
Crater looked a little nervous. “Is this guy big?”
“Bones is ex-military
