'Are you trying to push my buttons?'
'I've known a lot of Anglos who talk liberal and think racist.'
'Do you want to talk about racism or the killings?'
'Tell me about the murders.'
'I think they were premeditated, designed to look like a killing spree, with Langsford the real target. Somebody who doesn't want to get caught put a lot of thought into it.'
'Have you got physical evidence or witnesses to back that up?'
'Some evidence points in that direction.'
'Like what?'
Kerney laid out the facts of how Langsford's killing differed from the others.
Clayton relaxed a bit and listened. Hearing about cop stuff eased some of his tension.
'Maybe you're right,' he said, when Kerney finished. 'Are you working a suspect list?'
'That, and we're trying to nail down the motive.'
'Silas Kozine blew you off, didn't he?'
'Without blinking an eye.'
'That's his job. What were you hoping he'd let you do?'
'Review your department's files. Cross-check people who were employed at the tribal casino and resort at the time of Marsha Langsford's murder, to see if anyone can be associated with the judge.'
'Are you asking me for help?
'No.'
'That's good,' Clayton said. 'You seem to be pretty calm about finding out that you're my father.'
'I'm still digesting the information.'
'What my mother did wasn't wrong.'
'Judging from what I've seen of you and her, I'd say she's done just about everything right.'
Clayton stood up and walked to the door. 'Okay, now we've talked. What happens next?'
'That's up to you.'
'You haven't asked me much about myself.'
'Your mother gave me the impression that it would be best not to pry.'
'I'm married. My wife's name is Grace. We've got two kids, a boy and a girl, ages three and eighteen months. That makes you a grand father. I'll see you around.'
Clayton left, and Kerney stared at the closed door in stunned silence.
He'd discovered he was a father and now a grandfather in the space of one day. It was much too surreal. He went to the mirror and studied his face. Was he really that old? He didn't feel it inside. He could only wonder what Sara would say when he told her about the instantaneous family ties that had materialized in his life.
Dressed in sweats, Agent Robert Duran left his motel room for an early morning run, thinking that if everything fell into place, the Shockley investigation would be wrapped up and he could go home to Santa Fe in a day or two.
He settled into a five-minute-per-mile pace, turned off the main drag, and started a long gradual climb that would take him into the foothills of the Sacramento Mountains. The predawn streets were empty of all but an occasional car.
A mile into his run he spotted a slow-moving jogger with an awkward gait ahead of him. It was Chief Kerney. He drew even and slowed down.
'Morning, Chief.'
'Morning, Robert,' Kerney said. 'Don't let me hold you up.'
'I'm in no hurry. How's the case shaping up?'
'We're still digging into the minutiae. Lieutenant Sedillo is sending the team out to canvas gas stations, motels, restaurants, and convenience stores from here to Carrizozo.'
'Have any credit card charges surfaced on the victims' accounts?' Duran asked.
'Not a one, and none of the stolen items has been pawned or sold on the streets, as far as we know. How are you doing?'
'Getting close, Chief. Instead of using the rotating list of towing services like he was supposed to, Shockley favored a local company called Jake's. El Paso PD has been running undercover surveillance on an auto chop shop. Jake made a delivery last week-a top-of-the-line Chevy four-by-four, late model, extended cab pickup truck. The theft occurred at an Alamogordo motel parking lot during Shockley's shift.'
'Did our department take the call?' Kerney asked, trying to stay even with Duran, who had picked up his pace a bit. 'The city police handled it.'
'Can you tie Shockley to Jake?'
'Jake has an employee, a guy by the name of Martinez, who covers the late-night runs. About five or six times during the last year Jake unexpectedly gave Martinez the night off.'
'Let me guess,' Kerney said, slowing down, forcing Duran to do the same. 'The last time that happened was the night the Chevy was stolen.'
'After Jake took a call from Shockley.'
'Make the collar, and thanks,' Kerney said, dropping his pace to a walk.
'For what, Chief?'
'Giving me an idea. A couple of nights ago, I drove the route the killer used. There's hardly any late-night traffic once you get out of Alamogordo. I checked all the patrol logs-city, county, and our district office. There were no traffic stops or accidents on the night of the murders. But I didn't think to survey the tow truck operators.'
I'll let you know if Jake had a service call that night,' Duran said. 'Are you heading back?'
'Yeah,' Kerney said, trying hard to keep his breathing slow and even.
'You run pretty good on that bad knee,' Duran said.
'I do a great ten-minute mile,' Kerney said.
'At least you're still running. Look, Chief, if you want me to, I can ask around about the vandalism to your unit. I know some of the officers with the city, and Shockley had a couple of drinking buddies in our department.'
'If the problem persists, I might do that.'
'Just let me know.'
Kerney nodded and watched Duran take off in smooth, even strides before turning around and forcing his bum leg to move along in his customary choppy, sloppy gait.
In the motel parking lot Kerney saw Lee Sedillo with a flashlight in hand moving from unit to unit.
'Your vehicle got trashed,' Lee said, when Kerney joined up with him.
'None of the others were touched.'
'What did they do this time?'
'The headlights, taillights, and side view mirrors are smashed. I heard the noise about five minutes ago.'
Kerney circled his unit, inspecting the damage. 'Have Agent Duran look into it, Lee.'
'About time,' Lee grumbled. 'This could turn into some spooky shit, Chief.'
'Can you get me a replacement vehicle for the day?'
'Take mine. I'll put an agent on duty at the command trailer for a few hours until we can get your unit repaired.'
After showering and dressing, Kerney went to the command center. The agent Lee had pulled off the street because of the vehicle shuffle was busy at a computer. He nodded at the woman, went to the tiny office, called Andy Baca in Santa Fe, and updated him on the status of the investigation.
Then he started calling every towing service in the area-except Jake's. Halfway through the list, Kerney scored. A trucker had broken down on the highway in front of the Three Rivers turnoff.
