Read Online Hounded by David Rosenfelt - Free Book Online Page B

got there, but they’re not Pete’s. And they’re not evidence of murder. If there were drugs in that house, they were planted there by someone other than Pete.”
    “One way or another, they’re getting in, Andy.”
    I know he’s right. The judge might not consider the discovery of the drugs admissible, but that won’t deter Richard. He’ll just add a charge of drug possession, and then the jury will hear all about it.
    I’m not going to get anywhere talking to Richard. Not only wouldn’t any arguments I make be productive, but if I want to make them effective, it’s best I not preview them to the opposition.
    I get off the phone and signal for Laurie to come into the kitchen, out of earshot of Ricky. I relate to her exactly what Richard said to me. She is stunned, but in typical Laurie fashion, does not waste time saying so. Her focus is on how we can counter this.
    “This changes things, Andy. We’ve been thinking too small.”
    “I know. It’s well-financed to the point that they’re willing to throw away a hundred grand worth of heroin to help build their case.”
    “And they’re smart; this has been planned and executed remarkably well. This is not a Tommy Haller–type operation; this is out of Tommy Haller’s league.”
    “And Diaz was in on it,” I say.
    “How can you be sure?”
    “Diaz informed on Pete for drug dealing, and then drugs were found in Pete’s apartment. The two have to be connected. Either Diaz was part of the frame on his own, or he had no choice.”
    Laurie nods. “And what he didn’t realize was that his own murder was going to be the clincher against Pete.”
    “I guess it’s time to hear what Pete thinks.”
    “Where is he?”
    I look at my cell phone to see what time it is. I used to wear a watch, but I’m a techie now. “Guards should be bringing him home right about now.”
    “He’s going to be upset.”
    “Yeah,” I say. “Maybe you should tell him.”
    She smiles. “You can handle it.”
    I head over to Pete’s house, which is about a ten-minute drive from mine. It’s a trip I am sure I’ll be making quite a few times, and it certainly beats driving to the jail.
    Pete is already home, and I find him sitting at the kitchen table with a uniformed officer, who I don’t recognize. Pete introduces him as Kevin Bogart, and Bogart gives me a smile and a big handshake.
    “Kevin’s going to be doing the eight-to-five shift,” Pete says.
    Kevin smiles again and says, “Easy duty.”
    “Where are you going to be stationed?” I ask.
    “Right outside the front door,” he says.
    “Would you mind going there now? I need to talk to my client.”
    “Sure,” Kevin says. “No problem.” He is one agreeable guy.
    Once he leaves, Pete asks, “What’s up?”
    “They searched this house yesterday.”
    He frowns. “I know. I’ll be straightening everything up for two days.”
    “You notice anything missing?”
    “Like what?”
    “Well, they walked out of here with about a hundred grand worth of heroin.”
    “That better be a joke,” he says.
    “I wish it was.”
    “Andy, this is nuts. Where did they say it was?”
    “I don’t know yet. I’m sure Wallace is going to add it to the list of charges, so he can get it admitted as motive evidence.”
    “Motive for what?”
    “Murder. Danny informed on you for drug dealing.”
    Pete just sits there for a few moments, a stunned look on his face. It’s the first time I’ve seen him appear overwhelmed by events. Finally, “I don’t know what to say.”
    “I can understand that. We are up against some wealthy, smart people who want nothing more than to put you in jail and leave you there for a long time.”
    “So we need to figure out who, and we need to figure out why.”
    “Right. And it all starts with Diaz. I want you to write out everything you know about him. Leave out nothing; email it to me.”
    “If he said I was a drug dealer, then I might not know anything about him at all.”
    “He may