with an adorable little face, hiding a full set of gleaming, flesh-ripping teeth.
Chapter Eleven
At his desk in the squad room, Doug scrolls through electronic files, absorbing the criminal blueprint of the Malalinda family. In a separate window, he assembles notes to email to his partner Leone.
Alejandro Malalinda's record stretches all the way back to the late 80s, associated with notorious operatives in Operation Pelican Drop. The day is getting on, the Captain is touchy about overtime, but Doug really needs to get this in perspective. He stretches his legs under the desk and keeps reading.
Notes from the Special Services Unit, California Department of Corrections suggests Malalinda is a "people person" in a world of mafiosos, a talented organizer of men, a productive drug dealer and a ruthless, efficient killer. One weapons charge cites a Universal mini-14 rifle, a military-style AK-15 assault rifle, and an M-1 carbine stashed in his truck. He carried that kind of armory just to run personal errands.
Over the years, Alejandro served time at Pelican Bay, Lancaster, Corcoran and finally, LA County Men's Central, where he met his end at the age of 43. Doug rests his eyes a moment. Friends and family most likely took up the slack during Alejandro's time away, dutifully following his commands from behind bars and conducting business in his place. A smart boss like Alejandro could still command a battalion while incarcerated. Doug's educated conjecture is that after his death, Orella, Luis and Mateo Malalinda took over the business and began operating the drug trafficking and money laundering.
Jpeg photos are attached to the file. Doug clicks one and a naked-torso shot of Mateo reveals a full-chest tattoo of San Judas Todeo, patron saint of hopeless causes. A soft chuckle from Doug. A third son, by the name of Ambrose, has no criminal record, and seems to be distanced from the others.
Doug leans back in his chair, lacing his hands behind his head, and lets the information sink in.
So far they have nothing on the mother and son who sold their ID to Orella and Ambrose. They are ghosts. If he does find Orella Malalinda, what will he charge her with? Body snatching? She's still the real mother with a right to claim the body. He taps his forehead wondering why the thought didn't occur earlier. Orella Malalinda sent her son back to Mexico. She'll have to go back to bury him, won't she?
Doug pulls up a search screen on the computer, finds the number for feds in Sinaloa and dials. He's a little worried about his Spanish but there's no need because the answering officer speaks perfect English. "I was wondering if you could check with customs and find out which funeria claimed the body of Hector Stamos," Doug explains.
"Sure. I'll pass along your request to Detective Lanzoa and have him get back to you."
Doug digs into some paperwork, figuring he'll hear back in a few days, when his cell rings. It's a Mexican area code. Doug picks up. "Detective Lanzoa?"
"The body was claimed by Funeria Celzuna, but it was released to another place which turned out to be bogus."
"Ahhhh dang."
"What do you want him for?"
"I want his mother. You might've heard of her. Orella Malalinda."
Lanzoa clicked his teeth. "What do you want her on?"
"This time around: fraud."
"Fraud? She's drug cartel."
"Yeah, but right now it's just fraud."
"I can't put a watch on the airport and every funeral home in Sinaloa because of a fraud charge…I thought you were homicide."
"Come on, sometimes it's complicated."
Lanzoa sighs. "Yes, I know."
"Thanks for getting back to me. I'll call you if I get a hit."
Finishing up notes for Leone, Doug adds, "Hope your tooth feels better." He attaches the document to an email and pushes "Send."
***
At the house in Cerritos, Mateo labors to end another call explaining why his mother is not taking visitors, and wanders into the front room just in time to see her pull up in front of the house. He leans in closer to
Chapter Eleven
At his desk in the squad room, Doug scrolls through electronic files, absorbing the criminal blueprint of the Malalinda family. In a separate window, he assembles notes to email to his partner Leone.
Alejandro Malalinda's record stretches all the way back to the late 80s, associated with notorious operatives in Operation Pelican Drop. The day is getting on, the Captain is touchy about overtime, but Doug really needs to get this in perspective. He stretches his legs under the desk and keeps reading.
Notes from the Special Services Unit, California Department of Corrections suggests Malalinda is a "people person" in a world of mafiosos, a talented organizer of men, a productive drug dealer and a ruthless, efficient killer. One weapons charge cites a Universal mini-14 rifle, a military-style AK-15 assault rifle, and an M-1 carbine stashed in his truck. He carried that kind of armory just to run personal errands.
Over the years, Alejandro served time at Pelican Bay, Lancaster, Corcoran and finally, LA County Men's Central, where he met his end at the age of 43. Doug rests his eyes a moment. Friends and family most likely took up the slack during Alejandro's time away, dutifully following his commands from behind bars and conducting business in his place. A smart boss like Alejandro could still command a battalion while incarcerated. Doug's educated conjecture is that after his death, Orella, Luis and Mateo Malalinda took over the business and began operating the drug trafficking and money laundering.
Jpeg photos are attached to the file. Doug clicks one and a naked-torso shot of Mateo reveals a full-chest tattoo of San Judas Todeo, patron saint of hopeless causes. A soft chuckle from Doug. A third son, by the name of Ambrose, has no criminal record, and seems to be distanced from the others.
Doug leans back in his chair, lacing his hands behind his head, and lets the information sink in.
So far they have nothing on the mother and son who sold their ID to Orella and Ambrose. They are ghosts. If he does find Orella Malalinda, what will he charge her with? Body snatching? She's still the real mother with a right to claim the body. He taps his forehead wondering why the thought didn't occur earlier. Orella Malalinda sent her son back to Mexico. She'll have to go back to bury him, won't she?
Doug pulls up a search screen on the computer, finds the number for feds in Sinaloa and dials. He's a little worried about his Spanish but there's no need because the answering officer speaks perfect English. "I was wondering if you could check with customs and find out which funeria claimed the body of Hector Stamos," Doug explains.
"Sure. I'll pass along your request to Detective Lanzoa and have him get back to you."
Doug digs into some paperwork, figuring he'll hear back in a few days, when his cell rings. It's a Mexican area code. Doug picks up. "Detective Lanzoa?"
"The body was claimed by Funeria Celzuna, but it was released to another place which turned out to be bogus."
"Ahhhh dang."
"What do you want him for?"
"I want his mother. You might've heard of her. Orella Malalinda."
Lanzoa clicked his teeth. "What do you want her on?"
"This time around: fraud."
"Fraud? She's drug cartel."
"Yeah, but right now it's just fraud."
"I can't put a watch on the airport and every funeral home in Sinaloa because of a fraud charge…I thought you were homicide."
"Come on, sometimes it's complicated."
Lanzoa sighs. "Yes, I know."
"Thanks for getting back to me. I'll call you if I get a hit."
Finishing up notes for Leone, Doug adds, "Hope your tooth feels better." He attaches the document to an email and pushes "Send."
***
At the house in Cerritos, Mateo labors to end another call explaining why his mother is not taking visitors, and wanders into the front room just in time to see her pull up in front of the house. He leans in closer to
Similar Books
