Alex Barclay - Time of Death

‘After that, there was no way Domenica could pass herself off as this shrewd “business” woman. She wouldn’t be as respected or trusted as much. There’s been a massive power shift. And like any relationship with a power shift, it either falls apart or it takes time to get back on track. Domenica realized she could never be the big boss again after that whole mess, but she could still be very useful to the right kind of people, providing many different kinds of services. But…only if she could put her trust in something and someone more powerful, which, let’s face it, along the border, means something or someone that could be potentially lethal to her — those jaws could snap down on her any time. But what can Domenica do right now, except take the risk?’

The guys nodded.

‘All we need to find out now,’ said Ren, ‘is who is the crocodile?’

‘I guess we have two choices with Domenica,’ said Colin. ‘We find Gavino and work our way up to Domenica, or we find this possible new boss of hers and work our way down.’

‘The boss could be the better route,’ said Ren. ‘I would say he is an angry man now that she’s turned high profile again with our list.’

‘Well,’ said Cliff. ‘Her next high-profile moment will be her arrest.’

‘You bet,’ said Robbie.

‘I’m going to get on to Nogales and see what I can find out about some of the big players,’ said Ren. ‘And while I’m at it, I’ll find out the latest on Erubiel Diaz.’

An hour later, Ren got off the phone and called everyone in for a briefing.

‘OK,’ she said, ‘the authorities in Nogales still have Erubiel Diaz down as collateral damage in the Puente cartel’s bloodbath. The interesting part is that the original arrest of the Puente second-in-command that set the whole thing off happened because of a tip-off, believed to have come from a man known as “El Coyote Panzón”.’

‘El Coyote Panzón,’ said Colin. ‘The fat coyote?’

Ren nodded. ‘I’m presuming the coyote in question is one of the guys who helps people cross the border.’

‘That’s what they’re called — coyotes?’ said Robbie.

‘Yup,’ said Ren. ‘But…it’s a little weird. If I were trying to get across the border as fast as my illegal legs could carry me, I wouldn’t be putting my hand up for the fat coyote’s team.’

‘Is El Coyote Panzón with one of the cartels? Is he a boss?’ said Cliff.

‘No one knows,’ said Ren. ‘All we know is that he has seriously pissed the Puente cartel off. And somehow Erubiel Diaz was part of the mix.’

‘Could Domenica Val Pando be the coyote?’ said Robbie.

Ren laughed. ‘Domenica would be far too vain to allow herself to be called fat anything.’

‘Is there anything more on this coyote?’ said Colin.

‘I’ve put the word out with Border Control,’ said Ren. ‘If there is any more information, they’ll be the ones to find it.’

Everyone went back to their desks and continued to work in silence. It was as if they were all suffering the after-effects of a bad night. There was no small talk, no group lunch. When Ren came back into the office at two, Colin looked up from his computer.

‘Did you hear about this?’ he said. He quoted the headline. ‘Trudie Hammond Murder Inquiry Re-opened’.’

What? ‘Where did you hear that?’

‘The Post .’ Colin scanned down the screen.

‘What are they saying?’

‘A lot of nothing.’

‘But there’s no mention that Hammond’s death was homicide,’ said Ren.

‘No.’

‘It won’t take a genius to work out that someone is suspicious. After all these years, around the same time as the husband dies in an “accident”, his wife’s murder inquiry is being looked at again?’ Shit. Shit. Shit . ‘But, why now?’ Ren’s heart was pounding. ‘And who’s quoted? Where did this come from?’

She got her answer about who the suspicious party was with the ping of her Inbox. As if by magic. It was an email from Janine Hooks: Subject: Ha/Ho.

This is not good.

Ren opened the email:‘H-A…goes before H-O…’Regards,Janine Hooks

Oh, Billy, you didn’t.

Billy arrived at Annie’s that evening wondering what it was that could be so urgent — again. Ren slumped down on the sofa. ‘Billy…’

‘What happened?’ he said, sitting beside her.

‘Oh, Billy,’ said Ren. ‘You put the file back in the wrong place.’

‘What?’

‘You put the Hammond file behind the “H-O” file.’

He put his head in his hands. Then he looked back up. ‘Are you sure?’

‘I got an email from Janine Hooks. She’s reopening the case.’

‘Is that not a good thing?’

‘No,’ said Ren. ‘Not on any level.’

‘Shit. I’m…so sorry. That is not the kind of mistake I make. Are you screwed?’

‘I don’t know. But what a fucking mess. There’s no telling what she’s going to do.’

‘Will she talk to Gary Dettling?’ said Billy.

‘She better not,’ said Ren.

‘Thank you for not blaming me,’ said Billy, taking her hand.

Oh, I am. I am blaming you. But it was an accident. So I can’t say it out loud. Or maybe I will. Don’t do it. I can’t help it…

‘You have no idea what you’ve done,’ said Ren. The volume was rising. ‘My whole career-’

Billy let go of her hand. ‘I’ve heard the “my whole career” line before.’

Ren looked up. ‘Well, thanks for ignoring that and screwing up anyway.’ Her eyes were lit with anger.

‘It was because of that line,’ said Billy, ‘that I helped you out. I’m not expecting a thank you here.’ He stood up. ‘All I wanted to do was to protect the “whole career” you love. And protect the person who loves it.’

‘Sit down,’ said Ren. ‘Please. I’m sorry.’

He sat down. ‘ I’m sorry.’

‘I know you are. I know. I just…I’m scared.’

‘I feel that my very existence jeopardizes your job,’ said Billy.

‘My job is not your responsibility,’ said Ren. Her tone was gentle.

‘I guess I felt it was my responsibility before…when we got together-’

‘Even then, it wasn’t…I could definitely hold your ass responsible for that, though.’

‘We went through a lot,’ said Billy ‘ You did. You fought hard. So I’m not going to let anyone take that away from you. If I have to take the rap, I will.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ said Ren. She hung her head. ‘Billy, what am I going to do with you?’

‘Not be mad at me.’

‘Jesus, how could I be mad?’ said Ren. ‘I mean, taking the file for me was amazing. The putting it back part — not so much. Your fuck-up could be the biggest fuck-up I’ve ever made. But it all started with me. So, it’ll all end with me.’

‘No one will find out,’ said Billy. ‘And if they do, no one will find me. Do you have any idea how long you motherfuckers were tracking me back in the day — until you caught up with me?’

Ren laughed.

Billy stood up in front of her and held her head between his hands. He kissed her on the top of the head three times: ‘Do. Not. Worry.’

Ren stood up and hugged him tight. ‘You crazy, crazy bitch.’

‘The world is not closing in on you,’ said Billy. ‘Look at it like this — there’s a way out of every maze-’

‘Noo,’ said Ren. ‘Not mazes. Do not speak of them.’

‘Listen to me. Mazes are usually made of hedges, right? So what you’re afraid of is some pruned shrubbery. Which doesn’t sound too scary, right? In fact, it sounds a little harmless…and, if you have the right chainsaw, you can rip right through it.’