Chapter 4

A broad-shouldered man with artificially tanned skin and bleached blond hair stood on the front step in a light-gray suit with a bright neon-blue tie. He carried an expensive leather briefcase and stood with a confidence that tried to claim command of the situation. Everything about him said criminal defense attorney. He was in his fifties, making his tan skin and too-blond hair look out of place.

He’s trying too hard, Barry thought.

When Barry looked into the man’s face, something about his expression suggested he’d never grown up. He had the aloofness of a perpetual bachelor or somebody who moved from divorce to divorce. Never staying with one woman long enough to form a real long-term attachment.

I’m one to talk. Barry’s last girlfriend, Janey, had ghosted him. Or maybe she thinks I ghosted her.

Was this who Mellicent Ventura had texted in the parking lot outside the bowling alley? Was he an associate of Chad Ventura’s?

Officer Carlson blocked the man’s way, clipboard in one hand and his other on his Taser.

Barry suppressed a grin. Carlson didn’t have a problem being an obstacle now since he wasn’t facing a bereaved woman with a hysterical child. Perhaps this was part of why he now stood so resolute.

“I want to talk to whoever’s in charge!” the man yelled.

“Sir, if you’d identify yourself and your purpose here—”

“Who’s running this fiasco? Tell me now! I’m getting tired of your belligerence and refusal to answer questions. You know what you’re doing? You’re making things easier for me down the road. You are on my client’s property, executing a search warrant, though I have my doubts that this is all you’re doing, now that I’ve seen your unwarranted and uncalled-for behavior. I have every right to be here while you’re here. Look, I reached out to Gregory Pope himself and told him I wanted to be on hand when the search took place—we go way back—and he promised I’d be notified.

“But surprise, surprise, I didn’t receive any notification. Now what do you have to say about that? How do you think the press will feel when I inform them? Makes me think you’re getting in here to hide something to frame my client. That’s what I’m going to tell the judge too when I get this before him. But you know what? That’s not the only thing, not by half. During my conversation with Mrs. Ventura earlier, I was shocked and appalled when I learned just how bad it got when she tried to see her deceased husband. A woman in mourning should never have been treated like that. I’ve never heard of its like, not in my whole life. Nobody showed her an inch of compassion. Not one single person in the lot of you. Nobody offered condolences. Her husband had just been brutally murdered, and you all were only concerned about interrogating her, instead of recognizing she was in the middle of a crisis!”

That’s not how it went down, Barry thought, keeping his face expressionless. He wanted to tell the loudmouth attorney he was wrong on a couple of important facts but didn’t see how that would help. And it didn’t make sense to give the guy information about what had happened when he was so far off in his assumptions. It might make for an interesting day in the courtroom if Mellicent is charged, and he tries to make a problem about it.

The outburst was so outlandish it struck Barry as insincere. The attorney was putting on a show, only there wasn’t an audience. It was calculated to allow him to bluff his way into the home.

Barry didn’t know Gregory Pope well, having only had a few conversations with him under tense circumstances, but he doubted this slimy mouthpiece would’ve reached out to Pope to ask for something like that. And he couldn’t see Pope agreeing.

Why give our quarry notice we’re on our way?

Officer Carlson, with some reluctance, took his hand from his Taser and put it on the doorjamb to keep the defense attorney from pushing past, something he seemed likely to try, judging from his fake frustrated expression. Carlson appeared cowed by the man’s belligerent attitude and blustering blather.

“Your name, sir?” Carlson’s tone held an undercurrent of anger. Maybe the reason he’d removed his hand from his Taser was so he’d be less likely to use it.

Barry glanced at Ramirez, who folded her arms and gave a small nod as if to say she’d handled the last crazy and it was his turn. Her eyes burned, and it seemed to take considerable effort for her to keep from lashing out. Maybe she didn’t trust herself to intervene.

“Stone Hudson. Don’t recognize me, huh? Looks like you’re a little green. Well, I doubt you’ll forget me now. Not after today. Not after I’m done with all of you.” He took in a deep breath. “I want you to get on the phone with Gregory Pope. Go ahead and tell him you didn’t let me in—”

“Mr. Hudson.” Barry stepped forward. Normally, he might’ve tried to offer his hand, but that wouldn’t work here. Quiet words were supposed to help defuse escalated situations but a thoughtful approach to contentious confrontations didn’t come naturally to Barry. He had to work at it.

But this man was putting on a show and didn’t actually feel the emotions he was projecting, so there was no need. He’d continue regardless of anything Barry said. He could almost hear the man thinking “the show must go on.” Judging from the man’s expression, Hudson thought he was accomplishing something important. Though what that might be, Barry couldn’t say.

Perhaps it’s enough he’s keeping us from doing our jobs. Getting under our skin, hoping we make mistakes he can benefit from later on.

“I’m Detective Barry Michaels.”

Hudson growled as he pushed past Carlson without glancing at the man. Carlson seemed to be thinking about his Taser again but offered no resistance. He gritted his teeth so much it was a wonder he didn’t crack one.

Somebody has to talk to Carlson. That’s twice now in one day.

“What do you have to say about your team’s behavior?” Hudson demanded.

“I’ll talk to you outside, Mr. Hudson.” Barry motioned for him to step back out. “Your behavior is encroaching on our investigation.” He avoided using the word “impeding” to keep the situation from escalating. “I’d recommend you not do that. I’m no lawyer, but I think you’d want to be careful not to overstep your bounds, seeing as how you’re well aware of the consequences.”

Barry also wanted to get the attorney outside to minimize the risk of him learning about the bag of fentanyl. He could learn about it through official channels.

Hudson let out a deep growl and looked around. “Stop this search right now. I have a duty to be here to make sure my client’s rights aren’t being violated. I was guaranteed that by the DA himself.”

“Something I’m happy to chat about if you’ll come outside,” Barry said as reasonably as he could.

Ramirez stepped up beside him, her eyes narrowing as she rested her hand on her pistol. Was it meant as a subtle threat? Had she had experience with this man before and was determined not to let him get to her again?

Barry reviewed his silent exchange with her a minute before and wondered if there was another reason she’d been hesitant to get involved.

“I’d be delighted to provide you with a copy of our warrant,” Barry reiterated. “But only if you come outside.”

Hudson scowled at Ramirez, acknowledging Barry’s words with a glance. “And the ever-obstinate Detective Ramirez makes her appearance. Should’ve known you’d be here, sneaking in a clandestine search of my client’s property without notifying me. I bet Pope called you with instructions to contact me, and you refused to do it. That’s your style.”

Barry stepped forward. “If you want to get Pope on the phone to have him confirm what you told us, I’ll take the call outside.”

It would be telling when the man refused to call Pope, but there was a part of Barry that was concerned by Hudson’s continued insistence that Pope had promised a heads-up. While he didn’t think it likely, what if there was something to it?

Hudson’s eyes narrowed. There was a glint in them, like he was scheming. “Why go outside when we’re already here? What have you guys found? I can’t imagine—”

Yodel appeared at the top of the stairs with her phone in hand. “Did you ask Mrs. Spencer about the drugs?” She looked down, and the color drained from her face as she realized her mistake.

Barry kept his expression from showing anything, not wanting to give Hudson the slightest reason to suspect he’d been hoping to keep this from coming out until it had to be disclosed. Hudson wouldn’t have a problem going to the press with his spin on things, while the detectives would be forced to remain quiet about the finer details of what they’d found.

Hudson went apocalyptic. “Drugs weren’t on the search warrant, I guarantee you that! Oh, you are in a heap of trouble! I’m going to get it excluded so fast.”

“Mr. Hudson, the evidence in question was found during the execution of a legal search that was within the scope of the warrant. I shouldn’t have to remind you your client has not been arrested or charged. We’re just here to figure out what happened to her husband.”

It doesn’t speak to her innocence that she sent you to get in the way.

“In addition to you walking all over my client’s rights, there’s not a shred of evidence that says those drugs belong to her. How do we know they aren’t her deceased husband’s?”

If there was a connection between Hudson and Chad Ventura, as Barry suspected, Hudson hadn’t hesitated to throw the man under the bus to protect his client. If Mellicent were charged, would that be a running theme throughout the proceedings?

“Where did you find them?” Hudson demanded.

Barry chose his words with care. “Mr. Hudson. While I’m satisfied you’re trying to represent the interests of your client, the way you’re acting makes me feel you’re trying to impede an official investigation. Now, if you come outside, perhaps I might be willing to accommodate your request to accompany us through the final phase.”

“Final phase! How long have you been here? What are you playing at? This is the most preposterous thing I’ve ever heard. The people of this city will hear about this. You’d better believe it! I’ll make sure the judge hears about it too. It’s horrible being promised one thing and then having somebody turn around and stab me in the back. It’s appalling. Unethical on every level.”

Barry’s teeth clenched. He was normally able to keep from getting worked up when dealing with difficult people, but Hudson was putting him to the test. “Mr. Hudson. I’m asking you one more time to comply with my request. I’d hate to escalate things.”

He didn’t make a specific threat because the next logical step would be to detain Hudson, and that wouldn’t do. The man was making such a spectacle Barry suspected this was what he wanted, and while he could charge Hudson, the optics wouldn’t look good.

Hudson looked like he was about to issue another lengthy diatribe when he shook his head. “Fine. Make it fast.”

He stepped outside and Barry did too.

Half a dozen people were on the sidewalk, something Barry hadn’t anticipated. Each had their phones out and were either snapping pictures or recording video. His eyes narrowed. He couldn’t help but think Hudson had notified the press.

There’s his audience. Everything about this guy is for show. I should’ve talked with him inside.

Hudson smirked smugly when he glanced at the cameras, turning to Barry with a triumphant grin.

Barry couldn’t say if they were actual reporters. He didn’t recognize them, and he’d made a point of remembering the faces of the press he’d interacted with in the past. They might’ve just been random people who saw something going on and wanted to take some pictures, but it didn’t matter. If anything interesting happened and they got it on camera, it would be reported in the news one way or another.

Barry had expected Ramirez to follow and was surprised she hadn’t. As the lead detective, it was curious she was letting him handle this. Her behavior continued to suggest a deeper history between Hudson and her than was first apparent. Barry searched his memory but couldn’t think of a connection between the two. Not that he’d known much about Stone Hudson before today.

“Let’s establish a few ground rules,” Barry said. “I—”

Hudson cut Barry off, turning to make sure the others could hear. “Ground rules? Let’s talk about rights. I insist on my client’s rights. I have every right to be here to observe this search, and you’re not stopping me.”

He spoke louder than necessary, obviously hoping the people with cameras were catching every word. Barry opened his mouth to respond but stopped when he noticed that Audrey Spencer had just pulled up and was heading toward them.