Read Online Everyone Dies by Michael McGarrity - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Michael McGarrity
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southward in the Rio Grande Valley, and over by Santa Rosa, along the Pecos River Valley.”
“Which definitely means it was brought here,” Sara said.
“Without a doubt,” Stoll said.
“Maybe it was a pet that was turned loose by its owner,” Tug said.
“That could be,” Stoll replied. “They’re relatively gentle and easily handled.”
“I’d like to know specifically what killed it,” Sara said, turning to Tug.
“It was undoubtedly poisoned,” Stoll said.
“Where can we have it tested?” Sara asked.
“There’s a lab in Albuquerque,” Tug replied.
“No need for that,” Stoll replied, smiling at Sara. “I’ve got a small lab at home. I’ll run some toxicology tests after dinner and give Tug a call.”
“I think it should be handled by a police lab,” Sara said.
Stoll laughed. “It would still come to me in any case. I do contract work for a number of law enforcement agencies. Don’t worry, I’ll enter it into evidence and preserve the chain of custody.”
“That will work,” Sara said.
Stoll strapped the box with the rat on a rack over the rear wheel of his motorcycle, waved goodbye, and roared off.
“Call me after you hear from Mr. Stoll,” Sara said as she walked Tug to his truck.
“I will,” he said. “I think you and Kerney need to be cautious for a while.”
Sara smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m armed and dangerous.”
Drenching rain beat down on the roof of the mobile command trailer as Kerney and the district attorney, Sid Larranaga, listened to Ramona Pino give her report. The thunderstorm had blown in just as the crime scene techs were finishing up at the shooting site, and the search-and-rescue team was carrying Larsen’s body down the mountain trail, accompanied by detectives and Kerney’s Internal Affairs commander.
“That’s all you got from the house search?” Larranaga asked when Detective Pino stopped talking.
“Yes, sir,” Ramona replied, pushing a strand of wet hair away from her face. She’d gotten soaked running from her unit to the command trailer, which only made her feel more miserable about the situation.
“I’m taking this to the grand jury,” Larranaga said, running a hand over the lapel of his suit jacket. He glanced hard at Kerney and nodded toward the door.
“You’re excused, Detective,” Kerney said. He waited for Pino to leave before addressing Larranaga. “That’s a premature call to make, Sid. Why not wait until you hear what my Internal Affairs commander has to say?”
Larranaga snorted and shifted his bulk in the chair. “It was stupid to call out SWAT and you know it. Even if your IA commander agrees with that assessment, the public is going to want an independent review made on this case. I’m charging the officers who shot Larsen with involuntary manslaughter. This was a lawful act, incautiously done, that resulted in the death of what clearly appears to be an innocent man. The grand jury can decide if it was justified or not.”
“Is that the way you intend to present it?” Kerney asked.
“I don’t know,” Larranaga replied. “But I will tell you this: I’ve got growing reservations about this big love affair cop shops have with special weapons and tactics units. This whole thing with the combat boots, military-style fatigues, automatic weapons, and all that high-tech stuff is getting to be a bit much. You’re supposed to police the community, not act like some sort of quasi-militia.”
“SWAT has a role to play in policing,” Kerney replied.
“Sometimes,” Larranaga said. “But not when a poor, unbalanced sucker who’s scared shitless is hiding in the woods because his deranged girlfriend has blown things all out of proportion.”
“Are you going to sacrifice my people to make your point?”
“Do you disagree with my analysis of the situation?” Larranaga shot back.
“No.”
Larranaga stood up. “Then make damn sure all the facts are available to present to the grand jury. The only
“Which definitely means it was brought here,” Sara said.
“Without a doubt,” Stoll said.
“Maybe it was a pet that was turned loose by its owner,” Tug said.
“That could be,” Stoll replied. “They’re relatively gentle and easily handled.”
“I’d like to know specifically what killed it,” Sara said, turning to Tug.
“It was undoubtedly poisoned,” Stoll said.
“Where can we have it tested?” Sara asked.
“There’s a lab in Albuquerque,” Tug replied.
“No need for that,” Stoll replied, smiling at Sara. “I’ve got a small lab at home. I’ll run some toxicology tests after dinner and give Tug a call.”
“I think it should be handled by a police lab,” Sara said.
Stoll laughed. “It would still come to me in any case. I do contract work for a number of law enforcement agencies. Don’t worry, I’ll enter it into evidence and preserve the chain of custody.”
“That will work,” Sara said.
Stoll strapped the box with the rat on a rack over the rear wheel of his motorcycle, waved goodbye, and roared off.
“Call me after you hear from Mr. Stoll,” Sara said as she walked Tug to his truck.
“I will,” he said. “I think you and Kerney need to be cautious for a while.”
Sara smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m armed and dangerous.”
Drenching rain beat down on the roof of the mobile command trailer as Kerney and the district attorney, Sid Larranaga, listened to Ramona Pino give her report. The thunderstorm had blown in just as the crime scene techs were finishing up at the shooting site, and the search-and-rescue team was carrying Larsen’s body down the mountain trail, accompanied by detectives and Kerney’s Internal Affairs commander.
“That’s all you got from the house search?” Larranaga asked when Detective Pino stopped talking.
“Yes, sir,” Ramona replied, pushing a strand of wet hair away from her face. She’d gotten soaked running from her unit to the command trailer, which only made her feel more miserable about the situation.
“I’m taking this to the grand jury,” Larranaga said, running a hand over the lapel of his suit jacket. He glanced hard at Kerney and nodded toward the door.
“You’re excused, Detective,” Kerney said. He waited for Pino to leave before addressing Larranaga. “That’s a premature call to make, Sid. Why not wait until you hear what my Internal Affairs commander has to say?”
Larranaga snorted and shifted his bulk in the chair. “It was stupid to call out SWAT and you know it. Even if your IA commander agrees with that assessment, the public is going to want an independent review made on this case. I’m charging the officers who shot Larsen with involuntary manslaughter. This was a lawful act, incautiously done, that resulted in the death of what clearly appears to be an innocent man. The grand jury can decide if it was justified or not.”
“Is that the way you intend to present it?” Kerney asked.
“I don’t know,” Larranaga replied. “But I will tell you this: I’ve got growing reservations about this big love affair cop shops have with special weapons and tactics units. This whole thing with the combat boots, military-style fatigues, automatic weapons, and all that high-tech stuff is getting to be a bit much. You’re supposed to police the community, not act like some sort of quasi-militia.”
“SWAT has a role to play in policing,” Kerney replied.
“Sometimes,” Larranaga said. “But not when a poor, unbalanced sucker who’s scared shitless is hiding in the woods because his deranged girlfriend has blown things all out of proportion.”
“Are you going to sacrifice my people to make your point?”
“Do you disagree with my analysis of the situation?” Larranaga shot back.
“No.”
Larranaga stood up. “Then make damn sure all the facts are available to present to the grand jury. The only
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