Waiting was not Bernie Tavalerio’s favorite pastime although waiting and watching was an integral part of all detective work.-Even so, he still didn’t like it.-It was July 21; ten days since they had gotten the phone tap approved.-So far there had been no incriminating phone calls.-Actually, there had been no calls of a personal nature for the sheriff at all—neither at the office nor at the apartment.-It was Bernie’s turn to sit with the headsets and do the monitoring.-They worked in four hour shifts and from four to eight tonight was his shift.-If the phone rang at either the sheriff’s office or apartment, it was their job to decide if the call should be recorded or not so constant vigilance was necessary.-
Sheriff Finkley was a worried man.-He knew if he didn’t come up with the identity of the informant, he would be severely punished.-He didn’t know that tomorrow was the absolute deadline or the big boss planned for his execution.-He just couldn’t figure out any way to get the information the boss needed.-Finkley didn’t dare call the boss; he had been warned repeatedly not to do that.-So, when the phone rang, he didn’t know whether to be relieved or even more concerned.-If it was the boss, the sheriff would just have to make him understand what a stone wall he was up against and get another extension on his time.
The sheriff got a deep breath, picked up the phone and cradled it against his ear.-“Hello.-Sheriff Finkley speaking.”
“Not for long, if I don’t get some answers.”-It was the big boss.-In the unmarked van outside, Bernie Tavalerio felt his pulse quicken and he immediately switched on the recorder.
“I’ve tried everything,” the sheriff almost whined.-He was suddenly sweating profusely as he looked around to make sure there was no one in the office to overhear what was being said.-“It’s just no use.-Whoever ratted out the smuggler’s plans is so far under the radar there’s no way to dig him out.-I’ll do whatever you want me to do, sir, if you’ll tell me how to go about getting the information you need.-But I’ve tried every avenue I can think of to track him down.”
“You don’t get points for trying; only for results.-You can be replaced you know.-I’ve already found a replacement for Carl Forrester and most of his underlings who were arrested.”
“Just give me a little more time, Boss.-I’ll get the info.-I swear I will.-I just need a little more time.-I—“
“Time enough for whoever the double-crosser is to figure out my involvement in this.-Time I don’t intend to waste.-If I make an example of you, maybe they’ll be a little less anxious to spill any other names.-My reliable sources tell me that Carl Forrester is ready to implicate you as we speak.-So, good-bye, Finkley.-I can’t take the chance that you might decide to name names, too.-Forrester doesn’t know my name, I don’t think; but it’s for damn sure, you do.”
“But, Boss, you know I wouldn’t bring you into anything and nobody in his right mind would figure you to be involved in something like this.-You need me, Boss, to run interference for you and to keep the legal hounds at bay while you run the drugs.-For five years, actually a little over five, I’ve made sure my men were somewhere else when your shipments were coming through.-You can’t turn your back on me now, Boss.”-Sheriff Finkley suddenly realized he was pleading for his very life—and losing miserably.
“As I said earlier, good-bye, Finkley.”-He was still begging when he finally realized he was talking to a dial tone.-Then he slowly lowered the phone to the handset on the desk and put his head on his arms and wept like a two-year-old.-This was the way Deputy Colton Keenan found him when he entered the office with Bernie Tavalerio and Agent Charles Harrington right behind him.-
They had determined earlier things would probably go more smoothly if they let the DEA claim the collar and take him into custody.-That way he would be a federal prisoner and not subject to local politics.-Harrington produced a set of handcuffs and read the sheriff his rights.-“You are under arrest, Lester Finkley, for collusion in the trafficking of narcotics among other things.-You have the right to remain silent, anything you do say can and will be held against you in a court of law.-You have the right to an attorney.-If you cannot afford an attorney—“
“Okay, okay.-I know that damn speech and have been reciting it longer than you’ve been alive.”-Harrington was hustling the sheriff out to the waiting Drug Enforcement Van and he continued to rant.-“There is no way you can substantiate these charges.-Besides, I have friends in high offices who can have these stupid allegations dismissed out of hand.-If you think for one minute—ohhhhh!”
“Down!-Where in the hell did that shot come from?”-Tavalerio could see that blood was flowing from a gunshot wound in the area of the sheriff’s right elbow.
“Thank god.-You’ve got to protect me, Boss.-I knew you’d come through for me.-Arghhhh!”-Another shot rang out as the sheriff had stood up to accept what he believed to be his reprieve.-Blood spurted from a wound in the region of the sheriff’s left shoulder and another bullet grazed his temple.-This time he fell to the ground and didn’t stir again.
After a significant period of time elapsed with no more shooting, the three men carefully placed the unmoving form that had been the sheriff into the back of the squad car and headed for the hospital.-It would be up to the emergency personnel to determine the time of death.
“Hey, speed it up, Harrington.-The sheriff is still alive.-His heart is still beating and the blood is still spurting from a damaged artery in the bullet wound.”-Bernie was in back with the barely breathing man.-When they reached the hospital, they grabbed a gurney and wheeled him into the emergency room.-Staff went to work on him and managed to stop the bleeding and get him stabilized.-Then they called for an air ambulance to take him to Dallas for special care.
Harrington asked to talk to the staff who had worked with Finkley.-“People, I appreciate the speedy and excellent work you did for Sheriff Finkley.-He has been the victim of a mob hit and I need to ask you in the interests of justice to let it be known that he was pronounced dead at six forty-five this evening.-If it is known that he is still alive, there will be more attempts on his life and although we would do everything in our power to protect him, the next effort could succeed.-I’m going to ask you now to send for the coroner’s wagon and put a gurney into the hearse with this gentleman covered on it,” he pointed to Bernie Tavalerio as being closer to the sheriff’s size, “so that if someone is watching, they will have every reason to believe the assassination was accomplished.-Your cooperation with the federal authorities will be most appreciated and you could truly be saving a life.-Can we count on you?”
Heads nodded and the documentation was completed and signed.-When the coroner’s van left with Bernie’s covered form on the gurney, they followed it back to the morgue and went through the same story there. The coroner’s cooperation was also requested and received.
Some time later, the big boss received a call.-“Everything is taken care of, sir.-I followed the hearse back to the morgue and watched them unload the sheriff’s body and take it inside.-The emergency room records show his time of death was six forty-five this evening……Thank you, sir……….Yes, sir, you can always count on me. ……….Yes, sir.”