Complicated Matters Read online

  She returned the hammer to its rightful spot on the barn wall. “How long have you been up there?”

  He covered his undershirt with a hoodie, and donned his sneakers. “All night.”

  It was the middle of September. Nights were getting cooler. Taylor’s muscles ached from sleeping on the hard surface. They had to close this case soon. He took his time descending the rickety, homemade ladder.

  She met him at the bottom of the ladder. “Guess what my dad gave me this morning?”

  He tried to pass her, but she stepped in front of him and took a folded piece of paper from her back pocket. He looked at the paper. “Why don’t you enlighten me?”

  She unfolded the computer printout and stuck it in his face. “Why didn’t you tell me you used to be the top high school basketball player in the nation?”

  He moved the paper out of his face, and passed her. “Because it’s ancient history.”

  Farrah followed him. “Why did you quit?”

  He turned around and found himself face-to-face with her. “I got my girlfriend pregnant and her parents kicked her out of the house. Do you want to ask any more questions about things that are none of your business?”

  “Where’s your kid?” She looked him in the eyes.

  “Lianna miscarried before the sixth week.” He turned his back on her. “Are you ready to run with me?”

  She put her hand on his shoulder. “You really don’t like talking about the past, do you?”

  He opened the barn gate. “I’m a live-for-the-moment kind of guy.”

  “Live for the moment nothing.” She raised her voice. “You’re a liar. All you ever talk about is how lousy the timing is because of my damn future and your friggin’ job.”

  “That’s because you still have a future. Do you really want to waste it on someone like me, and spend the rest of your life wondering what if? Or do you want to go for it, and know for sure? And as for the other thing, I can’t afford to lose this job or blow this case. There’s a boatload of poison out there somewhere and it’s my job to find it.”

  Farrah looked down at the ground.

  “I’m still going to be there for you. Remember, I’m just a scream away.”

  “Tag, you’re it.” She took off running as if playing a friendly game of chase.

  They ran along the perimeter of the farm and were exhausted by the time they got back to the compound.

  “I’m helping out around here today.” Farrah informed him after their run. “You want to shoot some hoops later on this evening?”

  “Looking forward to it.” He watched her enter the house before going into the camper trailer to take his shower. Calm down, Taylor. It’s almost over.

  Morris entered the camper as Taylor was showering. “Are you enjoying your assignment, Taylor?”

  Taylor came out of the bathroom and put on some jeans and a sweat shirt. “Why are you asking?”

  “Because, you seem to be awfully close to that girl. The lust oozes out of every pore of your body.”

  Taylor put on his sneakers. “Would you like to train with her?”

  Morris started stammering as he shifted his feet against the trailer floor.

  “I didn’t think so. Are you done with this interrogation? Because we both have family members to shadow.”

  “Tara Mathews is--”

  “Getting in the truck with her husband.” Taylor pointed to the truck. “Better run.”

  Since the house was declared off limits, Taylor found a shady spot and kept the scene under surveillance. Meanwhile, Farrah’s activities kept her busy enough. Taylor Googled Brigadoon Charters of Coral Gables, Florida. Everything looked good so far, so he decided to call them up and see where Clancy went.

  “Brigadoon Charters, Conway speaking. How can I help you?”

  Conway? Something told Taylor, this guy wasn’t going to be of much help if he used the agent crap on him. He decided to go for a more friendly approach. “Yes, my name is Heath Taylor. I was supposed to meet up with a friend of mine, David Clancy. Could you tell me when his boat will be in?”

  Taylor could hear the plastic sound of computer keys being tapped upon. “I’m sorry, Mr. Taylor. Mr. Clancy’s boat docked last Thursday.”

  “Hmm, I could have sworn he told me to meet him in Coral Gables sometime this week. Now I’m worried. Can you please tell me where he went fishing?” Taylor held his breath, waiting for Conway to make up his mind about whether or not to give up that information.

  “I guess it’ll be okay since the boat has already docked.” More computer tapping, “He went to a place call Suwannee, Florida. It’s a little town on the west coast.”

  “I sure hope he caught the limit.” Taylor decided to keep the conversation going hoping the kid would say something else useful.

  “Nope. He didn’t catch a thing. At least, that’s what he said.”

  “Are you sure he went to Suwannee?”

  “According to Captain Berinski’s sailing plan, and the GPS records, he did.”

  Written records, that’s beautiful. “Thanks man, I appreciate your time.”

  “No problem, I hope you find your friend.”

  The line went dead.

  Taylor wasted no time. A quick computer search told him Suwannee was in Dixie County and was at the end of the Suwannee River. He called the Dixie County Sheriff’s Department. “Hello, this is Sheriff Taylor of Morgansville. Could I please speak to the sheriff over there?”

  “You’re talkin’ to him. What can I do for you, Sheriff?”

  A week or so ago a charter boat called The Fallen Lady was hanging around your coastline. Did anybody around there happen to notice it?”

  “Yeah, the bait and tackle guys were complaining about it just hangin’ around and not doing any fishin’. It’s not a good sign when a boat that big doesn’t even wet a line. Most people will think the fish aren’t biting and go elsewhere. You might want to say The Fallen Lady caused the bait and tackle guys a boat load of trouble.”

  A boat load of trouble might be a boat load of poison. “Did anybody happen to see what The Fallen Lady was doing?” Taylor wrote as fast as his fingers would move.

  “It rendezvoused with a house boat called The Marie Lavaeu,” the sheriff answered. We all thought it was kind of curious, a young couple hookin’ up with a retired couple like that.”

  “They spent that much time together, huh?”

  “A couple of days,” the sheriff answered. “You want to tell me what’s goin’ on?”

  “I’m hoping nothing, but I gotta cover all my bases. Is the Marie Lavaeu still out there?” Taylor hoped against hope, he was wrong.

  “Yeah.”

  “Can you get some help and search it?

  “Not a problem, me and the Coast Guard can be out there in about an hour. What am I lookin’ for?”

  “Drugs, cash, anything illegal. You know, the standard.” Taylor gave him, his number and waited. Please, God. Let me be wrong.

  “The Coast Guard boys will tell ‘em it’s a safety inspection,” said the Dixie County sheriff. “That’ll give ‘em access to every part of the boat.”

  Three hours later the Dixie County, sheriff called back. “Sheriff Taylor, your hunch was good. We found almost a hundred pounds of pure cocaine, and close to hundred thousand dollars, along with a few semi-automatic weapons. Who’d ever guess two sweet, little people like Mr. and Mrs. Monroe, would be involved with something like this? We impounded the boat and took the Monroes into custody. Now, what’s all this about?”

  Taylor felt like he had just been sucker punched in the stomach. “Congratulations, Sheriff. You just found the cache of drugs I’ve been looking for up here.”

  “You mean it’s all connected with those murders?”

  “Yes, sir. Could you do me a favor and not let The Monroes talk to anyone until you hear back from me? It won’t take more than an hour.”

  “We can do that.”

  “Thanks again, Sheriff.”

&nb
sp; Taylor hung up the phone and contacted Commander Phillips on the computer.

  “Phillips here.”

  “Commander, this is Taylor. I’ve located Daniels’ drugs, but we have a major problem.” He looked around making sure he was alone.

  “What’s the problem?”

  “The drugs are on a boat that has been seized by the Dixie County Sheriff’s Department--”

  “Fantastic news, Taylor,” Phillips interrupted him. “I’ll contact Special Agent LaBoe immediately.”

  “Sir, LaBoe is the problem.” Taylor felt sick. “The drugs were found on a houseboat registered in her name.”

  “Temporarily Assigned Special Agent Taylor, are you aware of what you are saying?”

  “I’m only aware of what the evidence supports, sir. Furthermore, LaBoe has around three-hundred thousand dollars in her savings account. I can also connect her to a former Miami cop named David Clancy whom she personally vouched for. He’s on his way up here to work as one of my deputies. I believe he’s mixed up in this. His charter boat, The Fallen Lady, rendezvoused with the Marie Lavaeu for a few days. The sheriff said it looked suspicious a boat like that going to a coastal town and not doing any fishing.” Taylor shook his head in disbelief.

  “How are they connected, Taylor?” Phillips was looking paler than usual on the computer monitor.

  “She and David Clancy graduated from the academy together, and they were partners for a few years. First partners, sir. And we both know you never forget your first love or your first partner.”

  There was nothing but dead air for a few minutes.

  “Would you like me to have her picked up and brought in, sir?”

  Phillips took a deep breath. “No, I want to make this arrest myself. You’d better be right, Temporarily Assigned Special Agent Taylor. Your job depends on it.”

  Taylor swallowed hard not for fear of losing his job, but because he’d come to like Flo. Her betrayal was cutting him up inside.

  “When’s Clancy due to report to you for duty?” Phillips’ voice boomed over the phone.

  Taylor flinched. “Tomorrow morning.”

  “Have Dixie County bring in the occupants if that boat tonight. Get some hard evidence against Clancy and you can arrest him when he reports for work in the morning. We’ll talk when I bring in LaBoe.”

  Taylor started calling in extra help in getting ready for the onslaught of suspects who would soon be on their way to his station.

  Shit, I forgot about Coral Gables. “Commander Phillips, this is Special Agent Taylor, I am requesting help in getting a search warrant for and searching the Fallen Lady of Brigadoon Charters in Coral Gables, and the car Clancy last rented at Vortex Motors of Miami. David Clancy and the boat docked last Thursday.”

  “Anything else I can do for you while I’m doing seventy on the interstate?”

  “Yes, sir. Depending on what they find in The Fallen Lady, I need someone to bring in the ship’s captain, Valerie Berinski, for questioning. I also need a warrant in order to get The Fallen Lady’s GPS records, and the sailing plan.”

  “You stay put and get ready to welcome our guests. I’ll get what you need. Better get the FBI in on this. That boat may have wandered over into Mexican waters. Phillips out.”

  Taylor called the Dixie County Sheriff’s department and asked if they could bring the Monroes to Morgansville.

  “Sure,” said the Dixie County sheriff. “I can’t wait to see how the big boys do it.”

  “I’m afraid you might be disappointed. I’m strictly small time. Please come to the back of the station. I want as few people as possible seeing your arrival.”

  Damn. What do I do with Farrah? He went out to the barn. “Farrah, I’ve got an emergency at the office. We need to go now.”

  “Now what? Did you find another traitor in the ranks?”

  “Something like that.” He called Alex and Jess’s agents and told them he had to get to town, so Farrah wouldn’t be there when they got home from school.

  Farrah talked all the way to the station.

  Too many thoughts converged on Taylor’s mind at once. Other than a poorly timed grunt or nod, he made no attempt to hold up his end of the conversation. Things were happening fast and all at once.

  They pulled into his parking space. “This is probably going to take all night.”

  “It’s okay. Work before pleasure.”

  They went into his office.

  Taylor started closing blinds, and locking file cabinets. “You can stay in here for a few hours.”

  “What is going on?”

  “You’re not in any danger.” He locked down his office computer, and grabbed the evidence box. “There’s some bad people coming here, and I don’t want them around you.”

  He went back into the lobby and put on some coffee. “Lil, I’m going to have to set up shop out here for a while, it’s going to be a long night.”

  Farrah stuck her head out his office door. “Mom called. She says she and Dad are on their way home. She wants to know if I’m going to be there in time for supper.”

  Taylor went inside his office. “Ask your mother for a ride home. No need for both of us to be awake all night.”

  Taylor texted Commander Phillips to bring Special Agent LaBoe around back. He said he’d explain later.

  Phillips called him. “They found cocaine residue in The Fallen Lady. Brigadoon Charters says it belongs to the ship’s captain, Valerie Berinski. They say she hires it out under their name in order to increase her business. When they arrested her, she rolled like a log.”

  There wasn’t much else to do but wait for the guests to arrive, so Taylor ordered a pizza and sat down.

  Farrah’s parents, and their agents, were the first to arrive.

  “What’s going on, Taylor?” Morris asked.

  “Right now, I need you, and the others, to escort these people home. Like the commander says, everything is need-to-know.” It felt good to see Morris not in charge for a change.

  Chapter 24

  With all the potential targets safely tucked away, Taylor took the evidence box back in his office and decided to monitor every member of his team, both state and local.

  His phone went off. “Taylor here.”

  “Phillips here. We’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  “I’ll be waiting in the back, sir.” Too many cops were the bad guys for Taylor’s taste. He double checked his weapon and locked his office door before going to the back of the station.

  There was a loud thump on the door.

  Taylor checked the monitor before letting anyone in.

  Flo attempted to shrug out of the grasp of the agent. “Taylor, what in the hell are you doing?”

  He saw no need to answer her. The arresting officer would have Mirandized her. He recognized Commander Phillips face from his laptop. “We don’t have any women’s holding facilities. The interview room is down the hall and to your right, gentlemen.” He extended his hand. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you in person, Commander.”

  “Same here.” Commander Phillips and another FDLE agent escorted Special Agent LaBoe to the interview room with Taylor following them.

  A guard was posted at the door and instructed not to let anyone near the door without Taylor escorting them, personally.

  Taylor led the way to the room where a surveillance specialist was monitoring Flo. “Gentlemen, there’s pizza and coffee in the observation room.”

  Commander Phillips helped himself to the fresh coffee. “Do you always treat your visitors this nice?”

  “I don’t think we ever had any visitors, Commander. Anyway, I haven’t eaten all day, and that’s why we have pizza.”

  “Good.” He sat down. “For a minute, I thought you were some sort of brown-noser.”

  “Not likely, sir.” Taylor laughed. “This is our Surveillance Specialist, Evan Evans.”

  Phillips studied the young man. “Your parents not like you, son?”

  Evans didn�
��t miss a beat, or look up from his monitor. “I understand it was a rough labor.”

  Taylor noticed the way the other agent was inhaling the pizza. “Commander, do you think I need to get some food in here? There are more teams on the way.”

  “You might want to do that,” Commander Phillips agreed. “There’s no telling how long it will take some of them to locate the suspects.”

  “I hope Subway’s still open.” He called the local Subway sandwich shop and ordered two sandwich platters, and a tray of cookies, and had them delivered. “Damn, this is killing my budget.”

  “Keep the receipts, Taylor. You’ll be reimbursed.” Phillips helped himself to the last of the pizza. “I don’t suppose we can get some Chinese food in here?”

  The surveillance specialist started laughing. “This ain’t Tallahassee or Miami, guys.”

  “He’s a real smartass,” Phillips commented.

  “Yeah, but he’s brilliant.” Taylor pointed to his laptop. “You are looking at every agent and deputy in the county.”

  Phillips stood behind Taylor drinking his coffee. “Any particular reason why you’re monitoring your own people?”

  “Daniels, Winthrop, Jones, and Edwards.” Taylor counted four fingers. “Add Flo to that list of reasons.”

  A buzzer went off. Evan put the camera’s feed on the corner monitor. Three deputies and a sheriff were escorting an older couple at the back door.

  “That’s the Dixie County Sheriff’s Department bringing in the Monroes,” said Taylor. “I’ll be right back.”

  Taylor went down the hall and let his guests in. “Sorry about all the cloak and dagger stuff, but after what we’ve learned the past couple of days. I thought it best to take a few extra precautions. Follow me to interview one.”

  Mr. Monroe was taken to a holding cell, and Mrs. Monroe was seated across from Special Agent LaBoe and handcuffed to her chair.

  “The worse they can do is yell at each other,” said Taylor. “Besides, they might say something useful. Come with me.”

  They followed Taylor to the observation room. “The coffee’s fresh and sandwiches are coming. Let’s watch the show. Make sure you get everything that’s being said, Evan.”