Chasing Suspect Three Read online

  Chasing Suspect Three

  A Novel

  Rod Hoisington

  Smashwords Edition

  ISBN 978-1-301-08309-1

  Copyright 2012 Rod Hoisington

  Smashwords Edition License Notes

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to the online vendor and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.v11g06j13

  Cover design by Mark Hoisington

  markhoisington.com

  Editorial Assistance:

  Karen L. Hoisington

  For Vanna

  Sandy Reid Mystery Series

  by Rod Hoisington

  One Deadly Sister

  The Price of Candy

  Such Wicked Friends

  Chasing Suspect Three

  Alive After Friday

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Emily Dickenson

  Addenda

  Chapter One

  Were I with thee, Wild nights should be our luxury!~ Emily Dickinson

  The day of the Florida murder dawned bright and shiny. The woman didn’t notice. Her days dawned nearer to noon. Life was too complicated any earlier. Things that can’t wait until afternoon were usually obnoxious.

  Even so, on that particular morning, she opened her eyes earlier than usual and tried to jump-start her brain with coffee to tolerate her incredibly boring brother coming to her apartment. Actually a half-brother—same mother. They had grown up living in Florida with their mother; their fathers were God-knows-where. Did they see each other now as adults? Not much. Did she wish she were closer to him now? Not really. Did she realize what he told her that morning would take her to a dark place? Not until it was too late.

  He showed up late as usual. They took their coffee into the living room. She couldn’t believe she had prepared coffee for him, yet it was better than his messing around in her kitchen. Before she sat, she noticed a razor-thin shaft of morning sunlight thrown across the floor from one window. She adjusted the blinds to do away with the intolerable intrusion.

  She chose the orange leather armchair and motioned him to the couch. “You look worse than usual. Been up all night?”

  “Almost, just got in.”

  “So why did you phone?” she said almost nicely, meaning ‘spit it out and leave, so I can get on with my life.’ “I’m guessing you caused some disaster somewhere, but why don’t you go ahead and pleasantly surprise me.”

  “I didn’t cause a disaster.”

  “Why, are you slipping?”

  “Will you just listen? I can’t go back to my job in Miami.”

  “Oh yes, you’re a messenger boy at some embassy.”

  “It’s not an embassy. A consulate, the Salvadoran Consulate. And I’m not a messenger boy. I’m a diplomatic courier.”

  “That’s what I said, you’re a messenger boy.” She quickly aimed a manicured finger at him. “Watch it! You spill that coffee on my couch and you’ll be a dead messenger boy.”

  “I don’t dare go back,” he continued. “Vice Consul Ramirez got busted for trafficking in drugs using diplomatic couriers.”

  “What’s that got to do with you?”

  He stared hard at her.

  “Sonofabitch.”

  “Exactly.”

  She held up a hand. “Stop right there. I’m not touching anything going down with drugs. Don’t want it in my life. Don’t even want to hear about it. I’m a respected businesswoman here in Park Beach. So, end of story. Drink up, say goodbye, and I’ll go back to bed.”

  “I wasn’t carrying drugs. I was carrying cash. I was at the airport on my way to El Salvador to make the buy, when all hell broke loose, and the FBI busted Ramirez. They walked right passed me. I was left standing at the gate with cash in the diplomatic pouch.”

  “Are you saying you kept the diplomatic pouch full of money you were supposed to exchange for drugs?” That stopped her with the coffee cup half way to her lips. “So, the consulate, the feds, and probably a drug gang are looking for you.” She set the cup down and unconsciously scanned the room half expecting some wild-haired thug with a knife in his teeth to come crashing through her door. “I’m so proud of you, Bro, and all this time I thought you were a dumbass.”

  “What was I supposed to do? I wasn’t going to go ahead and get on the plane. Can’t take it back to the consulate. The place is crawling with feds. I guess I could have thrown it away.” He chuckled.

  “No, you’d have screwed up throwing it away. Cash would still be blowing everywhere around the airport, and you’d be on the evening news.”

  “I’ve decided to keep the money. No one knows I have it. The drug guys didn’t know the cash was on the way, the feds think it was already delivered, and Ramirez’s people think the feds took it at the airport.” He put his hands behind his neck and leaned back on the couch. “I’m telling you it’s perfect.”

  “The voices in your head tell you that?”

  “I know how these deals work. No one’s looking for me. The feds had their chance at the Miami airport.”

  “Wouldn’t those TSA people have found the money anyway?”

  He shook his head. “They can search me, but the consulate pouch has diplomatic immunity. Plus it’s lined with lead.”

  “And you want me to do what? Cover your tracks so you can disappear? You leave and I sit here with a large target on my back. Dodging a ripped off drug gang isn’t the excitement I’m looking for in my life.” She tucked some long blonde hair behind her ear and asked, “How much are we talking about here?”

  “Never mind.”

  From childhood, she knew whenever he said ‘never mind’ he held a winning hand. “No, it’s perfectly fine. I’ll help you.” She could always back out later. “Leave the money here with me, and go do your hiding thing. I’ll look after it until things cool down.” She expected him to burst out laughing.

  “You know, something tells me handing you three hundred thousand might not be a wise move.”

  Her eyes widened as she mouthed the words ‘three hundred thousand.’ “You walked off with three hundred grand in a little leather bag? Is that what you’re saying? Where is it?”

  He slowly shook his head. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of the money. You just cover me so I can disappear. Move into my condominium and act like everything’s normal. Make like I’ll be back at anytime. Don’t let the mail pile up, shit like that. Anyone asks make up some story. Say I went to South America to be with my father’s family.”

  “Where are you actually going?”

  “Better for you if you don’t know.

  No, better for him. Once he walks away wi
th the money, she’d never see him again. There must be a way to work this. Some way where he gets the grief, and she gets the money. Trying to sound cool she said, “You can’t wander around the world carrying that much cash in your back pocket. Take some, and leave the rest with me until you need more. That would be the smart way to do it. You can trust me. You trusted telling me your nefarious story. So trust me with holding the money for you. After all, I am your sister.” She wondered if he was dumb enough to go for it.

  “Half-sister, so I trust you only halfway.”

  “In any case, you are going to give me some, aren’t you?” Suddenly, she dropped her used-car-salesman smile and screeched, “Get your damn feet off my coffee table.”

  He straightened up. “Why should I give you anything?”

  “After all the times I’ve saved you?”

  “Name three.”

  “You say I haven’t helped you, but who do you come running to every time you screw up that so-called life of yours?”

  “Yeah, you step in, confuse everything, and then disappear!” He squirmed in his seat. “Telling you about the money wasn’t such a great idea.”

  “Cheer up. We have the money, and we’re going to make certain we keep it. I think we should split it.”

  “We, we, we. We think you should go screw yourself.”

  “Yeah, like you’re not worried about a gang of Miami goons running around shooting off automatic weapons. I certainly hope Ramirez’s people in Miami don’t find out you have their money?”

  He narrowed his eyes. “You wouldn’t rat me out.”

  “Of course not, you’re my loving, generous brother who always takes care of me.”

  “Do you ever discuss anything without making threats? Doesn’t being a bitch ever bother you?”

  “It’s the secret of my charm. I enjoy every minute of it. You’d better keep this bitch on your side.”

  He gave a shrug. “Okay, I’ll give you ten grand.”

  “That’s an insult. I want half.”

  “Only half? Anything else? Don’t you also want my left nut or something?”

  “Now that you mention it, I’d like a pony for my birthday.”

  “Screw you. When the bad guys get here, I’ll tell them you’ve got their money.”

  They stopped yelling and were quiet for a minute. Then she said, “I thought you had a pretty cushy job flying official papers back and forth down there. How long have you delivered money to El Salvador and brought drugs back in a diplomatic pouch?”

  He hesitated and looked down as though being scolded, “A couple of years.”

  She stared at him, shaking her head.

  “Hey, they have a very nice health plan.”

  “How did you keep all this from your ex-wife?”

  “We’re only separated. Anyhow, Margo knows what I was doing.”

  “What! She knows?”

  “I used to work three weeks on and three weeks off—same as all the couriers. After the drug stuff started, they’d call me in when they needed a run. Took her only two seconds to catch on. I haven’t seen her in weeks. At least she’s out of my condo now. I need to change the locks, but she’s out.”

  “You can’t leave it at that. You must do something about her. I’d be more worried about Margo than Ramirez, if I were you. When she figures out you took off with the money, she won’t call Ramirez and bring the drug gang down on her. She’ll call the feds. How much does she know?”

  “She kept a log of the exact dates and times I went down for each run and the amount of the bonus.”

  “Holy shit, that’s everything. Why was she keeping a log on you?”

  “She suspected I was seeing someone in Miami and spending money on her.” He turned so he didn’t have to face her. “I know, I know. That’s why I’m here. I need to disappear.”

  “No, Margo needs to disappear. You’d better get her out of your life fast. Drug gangs are pussycats compared to a divorcing wife. As long as she’s around, you can’t run fast enough or far enough.” She saw the look on his face and knew he got the message.

  He said aloud to himself. “Yeah, as long as she’s around.”

  She read his mind. “A hundred grand for me, and I’ll help you do it.”

  He was lost in thought. “Help me do what?”

  “Paint your condo, stupid. What the hell do you think we’re talking about? I’ll set her up for you nice and clean. You do the easy part and pull the trigger.”

  “I forgot there are people like you walking around loose.”

  “Get wise, it’s the only way to shut her up. You’ll be rid of her permanently. Think of it as a discount divorce except you’re the rare husband who keeps all the money. All except my hundred grand, of course.”

  He stared at her. She was serious. Still a hundred big ones to her was not going to happen. “How would we do it?”

  “First you have to say, yes.”

  “I’ll say yes to only fifty grand, and you get my condo.”

  “I get the condo?”

  “Yeah, I’m leaving. You can have my beautiful condo with the pool and all.” He raised his head and squinted at her. “And you do the shooting.”

  She frowned. “Not me...you have any idea what shooting a gun would do to my nails?”

  “Any other way you’ll hold it over my head and blackmail me for the rest of the money.”

  Of course, she’d blackmail him for the rest of the money. “All right, fifty grand, I get the condo, except you do the shooting. I’d never talk, since it would be obvious I had conspired with you.” She put on her most innocent face. “I’d be a fool to say anything.” She smiled reassuringly. He wasn’t buying it.

  “Do you have a gun, dear sister?”

  “Come on, you’ve got your own damn gun.”

  “Answer me. Do you have a gun?”

  She screwed up her face impatiently. “Yes, I have a gun, but I hardly ever shoot anyone with it.

  “What is it?”

  “A .38 Police Special.”

  “Oh really? How nice. Fifty thousand to you and I use your gun.”

  “Why my gun?”

  “In case something goes wrong, or you cause something to go wrong. The cops will find your gun, and you’ll be on the hook.”

  She shrugged her agreement.

  “So, it’s a deal. You plan it all out, where and when, and let me know.”

  “I can give it all to you right now. Margo does Yoga at the Community Center until seven tonight. There’s an overgrown lot next to the parking lot. Hide in there, and shoot her when she walks back to her car.”

  “What? That’s not a fifty grand plan. Not worth fifty cents.” He paused; maybe it’s not so bad. Fifty and he’s rid of her and gets dear sister off his back at the same time. Maybe plant the gun, so they blame dear sister for the murder. After considering a moment, he said, “Maybe it is that simple, if it goes down that easy. Tonight, huh? Yeah, that’s good. Get it over with. I’ll get her in the parking lot.”

  “I’ll phone her and make sure she’s going tonight.” She was thinking, no way would she phone someone who’s about to be killed and leave a record of her call somewhere for the police to find.

  “Where’s the gun?”

  “Where’s the fifty grand?” she asked.

  “First you give me the gun, and then I’ll go get the money and bring it back.”

  “I don’t like that. Where’s the money now, in your condo?” she asked, thinking he’d be foolish to give her the location.

  He hesitated too long.

  “How’s this?” she said. “I’ll get my gun and follow you in my car. You go in, bring out the money, and we’ll swap.” That sounded good. She’d keep the gun in her hand and follow him in. She wondered if three hundred grand would fit in her handbag. “You’re sure the money is in your condo?”

  “I’d hate to put you to all that trouble. You wait here. I’ll go get your money. When I come back I give you the fifty, and you give me the
gun.”

  “Wouldn’t it be easier if I—.”

  He reached over, grabbed her jaw between his fingers, and squeezed tightly smearing her lipstick and distorting her face into an oblique grimace. “Forget all your double-crossing thoughts. Let’s get serious. Here’s the deal my little half-sister all bitch. You set up Margo. I shoot her. But with your gun. If that doesn’t prove you’re the killer, it’s at least enough to prove you’re in on it. We’re going to play this my way, sister. So, none of your cute tricks.”

  She jerked away from his hand; her eyes were ablaze. She pushed her long blonde hair back off her face and rubbed her jaw thinking of all the ways she’d pay him back for that outburst. Yet, he’s talking fifty thousand for her, and he does the heavy part. She could set up an alibi for herself for the time of the killing and say he stole her gun. If in fact he does get away without being arrested, she’d definitely go back and blackmail him for more money. She’d own him for the rest of his life.

  “Okay, I’m out of here,” he said. “You sit here and wait for me.”

  After he went down to his car, she took the revolver from her nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed wiping the gun clear of fingerprints. She then made a phone call to Detective Chip Goddard of the Park Beach Police Department.

  Chapter Two

  The following morning, Sandy Reid stood in the front doorway of Chip Goddard’s house and watched as he waved and headed his brown unmarked Crown Vic out into balmy Florida. She came over the previous evening expecting him to have the morning off, expecting to be serenely in his bed at this hour drowsily waking beside his warm body. However, that morning they had called the city detective in on some newly discovered body. Now he was off into his mysterious land of miscreants and their misdeeds.

  She had met him over a year earlier, after he had arrested her brother on a murder charge, and she hurried down from her job and law studies in Philadelphia to the small Florida ocean side town to defend her brother. Some shameless flirting with the detective had led to a few sneaky meetings over coffee. She succeeded in convincing him to lose interest in her brother as a suspect and to gain interest in her as a lover. That trifling attraction had progressed to steady dating, frequent sleepovers, and leaving Philly behind. Recently, she finished her law studies and passed the bar exam in Florida.