Neither of them moved lying face-to-face in coarse grass, one of his legs over hers, Kathy listening. There were no sounds now, not even insects. She tried to concentrate and picture exactly what she saw in the window as the second pane of glass exploded: a glimpse of movement that could have been a man, there for part of a moment and gone.
She heard the judge say, Jesus Christ, in a whisper and saw the stunned expression in his eyes. Somebody's trying to kill me.
What Elvin did was lose his concentration for a minute sipping the Jim Beam, comparing it to what he used to drink at Starke, the shine they called buck and wasn't any stronger than wine, about fourteen percent, tasted awful but did the job. That recalled the smells and noise living in a cellblock, the same dirty walls in your face all the time, and he stepped to the kitchen window not thinking till he saw them outside, right there, through his own reflection and the glass broke, Jesus, as he looked at it, woke up and ducked aside as the glass kept breaking, glass flying, Jesus, somebody shooting at him!
Elvin left the way he had come, ran down the gravel drive crunching under his boots to Dale's pickup and drove out of there, none of it making sense till he was back on familiar ground, on Southern Boulevard heading east and had time to think.
To realize, no, it couldn't have been the judge shooting, it was somebody else back in the yard shooting at the judge, not him. And thought of what he'd said to Dr. Tommy about having to get in line. Like a Canal Point turkey shoot, load up and wait your turn.
And if all the shots did was hit the window, then the judge was still game. That was a relief.
Coming to Military Trail, Elvin saw the lights of the Polo Lounge off to the left. Last time he was in there it was called Flounders. He bet though they'd still pour you a Jim Beam if you asked.
Chapter 14
All Kathy had to tell the 911 operator, it was Judge Gibbs's house and the first green-and-white arrived within five minutes. After that they kept coming, more green-and-whites at first and a road patrol sergeant who spoke to Kathy and told her to stick around. The judge wasn't saying much at this point, still dazed, having another drink. Pretty soon unmarked cars began arriving, the recognizable ones from the Detective Division and Technical Services, then different makes and models, people from TAC, some Sheriff's Office brass and the sheriff himself, Gene B. Givens, a man about fifty with a slight build. He wore a straw cattleman's hat and seemed quiet, nodding as detectives told him what had happened. By now every light in the house was on, the backyard was bright with squad-car headlights and spots and farther out flashlights were moving around in the dark. In the kitchen evidence techs were looking for the bullets. Kathy noticed the pizza carton and thought it strange they'd bring food with them.
She settled into a lawn chair on the porch, she thought out of the way. But now the judge came out with his drink, Sheriff Gene Givens, who looked like a sheriff, and a heavyset middle-aged guy wearing glasses they called Bill or Colonel McKenna. The judge had phoned him directly. They were followed by four detectives, one of them Gary Hammond in his navy-blue suit and tie but still no haircut. Kathy waited for him to notice her. He smiled, turning it on and off, standing with the others as Gibbs, McKenna, and Sheriff Gene Givens sat down at the round metal table. She saw Lou Falco now. With him was another guy from TAC she had met at the Polo Lounge. Falco looked over and nodded. He said something to the guy with him and he glanced over as they went outside.
Get a look at the girl who was with the judge. They'd all been doing that. Another point of interest, the hole the alligator had made.
A deputy came in with the glasses they'd dropped in the yard, holding them upside down, his fingers inside. Gibbs said, All you'll get off of them are my prints. And hers, Ms. Baker's. Acknowledging Kathy for the first time.
McKenna said, You were outside?
I've been trying to tell you, the guy was shooting at the house, not at me.
Changing his tune. Lying flat on the ground he believed someone was trying to kill him. But since then he'd had a few more drinks.
Sheriff Gene Givens said, Bob might have a point.
Some nut trying to scare me, Gibbs said. Ms. Baker and I were talking about people like that earlier. She came out to discuss a probation violator she's been having trouble with. Boy I sentenced the other day to five years. Dale Crowe, that name familiar?
Gary Hammond said, Judge, he threatened you, didn't he, in court?
That got everyone's attention. McKenna asked what exactly Dale Crowe had said. Kathy watched Gary Hammond stare at the wall to get the words right in his mind. He looked over at her and she stared back at him. He gave it a try then. I think Dale said, I'm gonna see about this deal.' And, You're not through with me yet.' Something like that.
He said, If you think you're through with me,''' Kathy said, and they were all looking at her again, you're full of shit.'
They kept looking at her till McKenna said to Gibbs, He's out? You didn't cite him for contempt?
I didn't hear it as a threat.
Or maybe, Kathy was thinking, he didn't hear it at all.
What else is it, McKenna said, I'm not through with you,' but a threat? And you let him off on a bond?
I gave him seven days to settle his affairs.
I think you're one of em he plans to settle, McKenna said. This guy's a Crowe? Lives out in Belle Glade?
Kathy listened to them putting two and two together, seeing a nexus in shots fired at the house and the alligator brought here the other night, by people who would know how to do it. No question about it now, the gator was brought here, a live ten-footer, and when it didn't do the job then Dale or one of the other Crowes came with a gun. Not to scare you, Judge, to kill you. This would go down as an attempted homicide. The first thing they had to do was locate Dale Crowe Junior. They all looked over at Kathy again as McKenna asked when she had last seen him.
Two nights ago.
I recall, Gibbs said, he was suppose to report to you every day.
He didn't, Kathy said, and I don't know where he is. Sounding dumb, but what else could she say.
You checked his house?
Kathy nodded. And I've been looking for him.
So you came out here, McKenna said, to get a warrant signed? That's all you can do, have him picked up.
Kathy watched McKenna turn to his detectives now, finished with her. He told one of them to call Belle Glade, have Dale picked up, his dad and any other Crowes that might be around. He said to the table, I think we have a chance to close this one before it's barely open. Save us going to the computer for suspects.
Gary Hammond said, Colonel? and Kathy thought he was going to mention papering the walls with names. He didn't, he said, Dale Crowe lives in Delray Beach with his uncle, Elvin Crowe. Ms. Baker was going over there this evening, I believe. Looking at her again.
Elvin was there, Kathy said. I asked him where Dale was, he said he was around someplace.
Elvin Crowe, Sheriff Gene Givens said. I haven't heard that name in a while. If I was making up a list I'd put Elvin Crowe right at the top.
Well, let's get started, McKenna said. Crimes Persons has the investigation. We'll have TAC surveil the suspect's house, starting with Dale Junior. And, Big, McKenna said, turning to Gibbs, you're gonna be in TAC's care till we close this one.
Sheriff Gene Givens said, You'll have to change your routine, Judge.
You won't be going to the Helen Wilkes after work every day, McKenna said. It's gonna play hell with your social life, Big, but you'll just have to put up with it, a while anyway.
Kathy watched Gibbs. He didn't seem too happy. Sends his wife away, he's free to fool around all he wants, and now he'll have TAC living with him, driving him to the courthouse. She began thinking, What if he planned to send her away?
McKenna was saying this would go in the log and become public knowledge. In other words the newspaper and TV people are gonna come after you. You'll be glad to have TAC around to keep them off your back
.
Sheriff Gene Givens said, The trouble with this kind of case, once it's known, it can bring out the copycats. Give people ideas. That's why we want to close it fast.
Before the lunatics get into it and somebody sends you a letter bomb, McKenna said. We'd keep it under our hat, but you can't hide dignitary protection, the news people will find out. The advantage, it'll be talked about and maybe one of our informants will hear something.
I'm not opening any mail, Bob Gibbs said.
Looking to get a laugh, maybe beginning to like the attention. Kathy wasn't sure. Or he was feeling no pain, all he had to drink.
We'll check your mail, McKenna said, and most likely put a wire on your phone, here and at court.
An evidence tech came out from the living room holding up a glass that rattled as he shook it. He said, Sheriff, four .22 longs, placing the glass on the table. They went through two of the cupboard doors and were in the wall, inside.
McKenna said to Gibbs, Is that how many you heard, four shots?
I believe so.
Gibbs looked over and Kathy hesitated. She said, There were five, but only four hit the window.
That got them looking at her again, McKenna saying, You sure?
I heard five.
From how far away, would you guess?
Somewhere in the back part of the yard.
Were the shots hurried or evenly spaced?
Kathy paused. She could hear the rifle shots and saw the window again, a glass pane shattering and a glimpse of someone or something in that part of a moment. Thinking she should tell them. But what did she see? She was certain of the five shots, evenly spaced. Tell them that. But now Gibbs was talking.
Ms. Baker was pretty scared, as you can imagine. I believe I threw her down and might've been a little rough. Looking right at her as he said it with a grin, her hero. Listen to him. He said, I hope I didn't hurt you.
There was nothing she could say to him, nothing, in front of these people. He was finished with her anyway, looking at McKenna now.
You want to put TAC on me, huh?
I'm gonna insist on it, Big.
I guess if you have to.
Lou Falco came in saying, Five .22 casings, out by the pump house. The guy fired from less than fifty meters and broke a window, if that tells you anything. You can check the casings for latents, but I doubt you'll get any prints. They were in the mud where it's damp there. The guy walked all over them.
We have a place to start, McKenna said, getting up as the sheriff rose from the table. How do you want to handle security here?
Four outside and two in the house, Falco said.
That's what I need, Gibbs said, some boarders. Lou, how much can I charge you?
Every one of them, Kathy noticed, smiled or laughed out loud in deference to this asshole who happened to be a judge. Even Gary, though he didn't give it much. She saw the detective who had gone to call the Belle Glade station coming out on the porch.
He said, Sheriff, Dale Crowe Senior's in the hospital. He was at a dance in Clewiston the other night, got in a fight and some guy broke his jaw. The detective telling it with a grin. No one's seen Dale Junior yet.
Sheriff Gene Givens started to walk away. He stopped and said, I seem to recall old Dale has an artificial leg.
Got bit by a gator, McKenna said. Gangrene set in and they had to take it off at the knee.
Sheriff Gene Givens said, I guess my question is, how's a one-legged man do the Texas Two-Step? He seemed about to leave again.
Kathy watched him as the boys on the porch all had another good laugh. Gene Givens turned and looked back at the hole in the screen, stared at it for several moments before telling everyone present, The connection with the alligator is what's gonna solve this case.
It made an impression on Kathy, the man not saying much, but then making that point. She believed it herself, a feeling she had.
They were all leaving the porch now, going outside or into the house, all except Gary Hammond. As soon as he was standing by himself he came over to her.
Something I was wondering about. What were you doing outside?
Looking at flowers.
In the dark?
You think it was my idea?
He said, Well, it must've been pretty frightening, getting shot at.
Kathy nodded, looking up at him from the lawn chair. It was, but I don't think he was shooting at us.
That's what the judge said. Why didn't you back him up?
No one asked me.
You were in front of the window, the light was on
No, we weren't even that close to it. How could he see us? He's way back in the trees.
Why shoot at the house?
Why put an alligator in the yard? You heard Givens, he thinks there's a connection. I'll tell you one thing, no, two, Kathy said. Gibbs didn't throw me down, he froze. And I didn't come to see him about Dale. He called, said he wanted to talk about his wife. She's supposed to be in Orlando, but I don't believe it.
Why would he want to talk to you about his wife?
He uses it as a way What he wants is to go to bed with me. It's the only reason.
Gary said, Oh, giving that one some thought. You mean he says things like his wife doesn't understand him? They don't get along?
Yeah, only there's more to it. She thinks she's a little black girl who died a long time ago. Gary was giving her a funny look. Or the little girl speaks through Leanne and it drives the judge crazy.
I heard her, Gary said, the little girl. I heard her voice. We were standing in the yard
Come on, you did? What'd she say?
Gary hesitated but kept looking at her. We could have a lot to talk about.
Kathy said, I think so, with the feeling, now this one was using the judge's wife as an excuse. She hoped so.
He said, You want to have a drink somewhere?
She said, You mind if I ask, are you married?
He looked surprised. No, I'm not.
You have kids?
I've never been married.
She thought of asking why not, but said, Okay, where?
Chapter 15
Something about when he was in the judge's house bothered Elvin, sipping bourbon at the Polo Lounge as he retraced each step of the way in and out. The hell was it? Taking a big sip as he remembered, Jesus, the pizza box, and started coughing.
Now something else was bothering him. A little girl with curly blond hair and big seashell earrings next to him at the bar saying, What's wrong, sugar? and patting him on the back. Elvin recovered, took another sip and it went down okay. But now the curly-haired girl was saying, I haven't seen you before. You with TAC, working undercover? I love your getup. Elvin looked at her with the pizza box on his mind and told her to hit the road. She said, Well, pardon me all to hell, and slid off the stool.
Two more Jim Beams and the pizza box was nothing to worry about. Only a matter of seeing how others would look at it, cops going in the kitchen, what would they see? An empty pizza box sitting on the counter was all. If the shooter was outside he couldn't have put it there. By now one of the cops had most likely thrown it in the trash. That out of the way, Elvin wished the cops luck in getting the son of a bitch who'd done the shooting.
Under its other name this place had been popular with cops and Elvin, looking around, believed still was. Cops and guys throwing darts at three boards out in the front part of the room where you came in. The cops were the ones in the suits and ties, dinks from the Sheriff's Office that wasn't too far from here. It made Elvin think of his brother Roland's suits he'd stored in a trunk with mothballs. Maybe he ought to get them out. There were girls liked you looking spiffy and ones that went for the mean and dirty style of dress. Like the little curly-haired blonde or she wouldn't have come over when he started coughing before.
Elvin had a view of the whole place from where he sat at the back end of the oblong bar, stools on all four sides, a barmaid in the middle, a friendly woman who pou
red a good drink. It was kind of dark in here. He could see the curly-haired girl though, no trouble, down at the other end with her girlfriend. Elvin waited for her to look this way. When she did, he touched the brim of his hat. That was all it took. Here she came.
I had something on my mind there before was giving me a hard time.
Your job, the girl said, working her butt up onto the stool. I understand, sugar, and know what you mean. You married?
I was, you might say, the same as married for ten years. Actually to different ones, but I'm free as a bird now.
You work undercover, huh?
Elvin gave her his dirty grin. I'll work under your covers anytime you say.
Hey, whoa. You might start a little slower if you don't mind. Since I don't even know your name.
Yeah, but I'm hot to go. I haven't had none in so long I'm like a young virgin.
You are weird. You just got done telling me you were like married. What is your problem?
I been away.
She said, Uh-oh. You mean you were in jail?
Jail, shit, the big time. Honey I was up at Starke. He got her by the arm before she could swivel off the stool and hunched in close, his hat brim touching her curly head, his eyes on her great big ones, saying, How'd you like a convict hasn't done it face-to-face in ten years? Huh, does it sound good to you? He let go of her arm before she screamed or had a fit and that girl was gone, back to tell the other one her experience. Copfucker's all she was. That kind, they only went for the mean and dirty look if they knew it was fake.
Maybe her girlfriend was different. Elvin tipped his hat down on his eyes and kept staring, waiting for her to look over, this one kind of red-haired, a mess of it piled on her head. Just then he heard loud voices from out where the guys were throwing darts, some yelling like one of them must've hit the bull's-eye.
Elvin sat up to look, that part of the room lit brighter than in here by the bar. He saw the dart throwers and the heads of people sitting at a few tables out there. He saw a dark-haired girl that looked like Jesus, it didn't look like her, it was. It was the little probation officer sitting with a guy wearing a suit, another one of them, except he didn't look like a cop, he looked like a dink state attorney.