Michael McGarrity - The big gamble

Kalsen held up a photograph of the second unsigned note. Down at the bottom were the indentations of Anna Marie's signature. "It's identical to the standard you gave me," he said.

For the first time, Kerney had a bonafide suspect. Surely, as a newly elected state senator, Tyler Norvell might have had reason to silence a woman who had knowledge of his prior criminal activities. But proving that would be a whole different matter.

Still the information made Kerney smile. "Excellent," he said. "Thanks, Stan."

"Anytime, Chief."

His cell phone rang as he left the lab. Helen Muiz reported that Detective Pino was on her way back to Santa Fe with an APD vice sergeant in tow, Sal Molina had just returned to the office looking to speak with him, and a sheriff's sergeant had dropped off an envelope for him.

"I'm on my way," Kerney said. "Anything else?"

"As always, we're in complete disarray without you," Helen said. She hung up before Kerney could think of a comeback.

To save money, a new police headquarters had been built some years before on city-owned land near the outskirts of Santa Fe, which of course made it inconvenient for everybody except south-side and some west-side residents.

During the prior administration, two community policing substations-one in a closet-size space in the downtown library, the other in a building that looked like a large tool shed in a city park-had been established.

Kerney had shut them both down. The city needed a real substation to serve the north and east sides, not cops on duty standing behind a counter fielding chamber-of-commerce-type questions, Monday through Friday, nine to five.

He was hoping that if the city ever got around to demolishing the old downtown high school gym next to city hall-it now served as a woefully inadequate convention center-he could put a real substation on the site in at least part of the space. That would alleviate the cramped conditions at headquarters and reduce patrol response times on the east and north sides of the city.

Kerney doubted it would happen on his watch, but he'd started the planning process anyway in hopes that the concept would survive and eventually come to fruition.

In the first-floor headquarters conference room, he met with Sal Molina, Ramona Pino, and Jeff Vialpando, the APD sergeant, and Helen Muiz, who was present to take notes. Detective Pino summarized the information she'd gained about Cassie Bedlow, Sally Greer, Thomas Deacon, and Adam Tully.

Vialpando explained why Tully's club was a target of investigation, and made a pitch to let him use Pino on a temporary undercover assignment. Kerney tabled the request until later in the meeting.

Molina added some preliminary information about Norvell's Colorado business dealings. Then Kerney went over what he'd learned from Mark Shuler and the anonymous letters.

"Maybe we've got a hard target," Molina said.

"Maybe that and a whole lot more," Kerney said. "Let's back up and outline everything we now know." He moved to the easel at the end of the table and flipped open a newsprint pad. He wrote:

NORVELL AND TULLY — BOTH FROM LINCOLN COUNTY,WHERE MONTOYA'S BODY FOUND.

COLLEGE YEARS- NORVELL AND TULLY RUN GIRLS,SELL DRUGS,ETC.

MONTOYA ACCUSES NORVELL OF DRUGGING AND SEDUCING COUSIN FOR SEX TRADE PURPOSES.

NORVELL AND TULLY BOTH MOVE TO DENVER AFTER COLLEGE.TULLY OPENS PLAYERS CLUB, NORVELL START A MEDIA ESCORT AND

SECURITY SERVICE.

MONTOYA KILLED AFTER NORVELL RETURNS TO NM; IS ELECTED TO STATE SENATE.

Kerney stopped writing and turned to Sal Molina. "Fill us in a bit more on Norvell's Colorado years."

"Like I said, Norvell's company supplied cars and drivers for celebrities who were in town for concerts, book signings, media events, and movie and television productions. He also provided private security for them, as well as for concert promoters and film companies shooting on location."

Molina pulled a piece of paper out of a file. "It was incorporated in Colorado as Five Partners Enterprises, solely owned by Norvell. That's all I have, so far."

"That doesn't sound like a way to make a fortune," Kerney said.

"But the company name is interesting," Ramona said. "Tully's business in Albuquerque is incorporated as Five Players."

"A coincidence, I'm sure," Kerney said.

"Add one more," Jeff Vialpando said. "Cassie Bedlow's agency is on the books as Five Stars Enterprises."

"Hold on," Sal Molina said as he quickly flipped through his notes from the Denver PD. "Here it is. Belinda Louise Nieto was murdered outside The Players Club in Denver."

"Surely, it's just an unrelated circumstance," Kerney said, writing it down.

MONTOYA COUSIN KILLED OUTSIDE DENVER CLUB OUNED BY TULLY.

"Three different companies incorporated as Five Players, Five Stars, and Five Partners," Kerney said. He tore off the sheet of newsprint and taped it to the wall. "Tully, Bedlow, and Norvell. Who are the other two?"

"Silva and Barrett attended Tully's grand opening in Albuquerque," Vialpando said.

"Okay, they're possibles," Kerney said.

"And what about Luis Rojas, the ex-college jock?" Ramona asked.

"We know nothing about him yet," Kerney said, shifting his gaze to Helen Muiz. "Let's start a things-to-do list, Helen. Personal and business background checks on Silva and Barrett. Locate Rojas and do the same."

He returned to his chair while the officers stared at the list on the wall.

"If Norvell killed Montoya to keep her from exposing him, you've got motive, Chief," Vialpando said. "But what about opportunity? Can you place him in Santa Fe at the time of the murder?"

"Or at Tully's Denver club, the night Belinda Nieto was killed?" Ramona added.

"That's two more things to do," Kerney said, nodding at Helen, who was already writing them down.

"I'll ask Denver PD for their crime-scene witness list," Molina said.

"I'll check Norvell's travel reimbursement records with the state," Kerney said. "Can you free up a detective to run down information on Barrett's and Silva's businesses?" he asked Molina.

"Can do," Molina replied, "and I'll cover Luis Rojas."

"Okay," Kerney said. "From what Detective Pino and Sergeant Vialpando have said, I'm inclined to assume that Norvell, Tully, and Bedlow have been operating a vice ring for the last twenty years. It's likely they have at least two more partners. We've got potential informants in the Greer woman and the photographer, Deacon."

Kerney stared at Pino and Vialpando. "How do you two want to proceed with them?" he asked.

"I've made a date with Greer for tonight through her Web site," Vialpando said. "We've got a room booked at an expensive hotel. We'll videotape the transaction, bust her, and see where it takes us."

"Don't have too much fun before the bust," Ramona said.

Vialpando leaned close to Pino and gave her a big smile. "I wouldn't think of it."

Ramona grinned back.

"And Deacon?" Kerney asked, interrupting the by-play.

"He's mine," Ramona said, turning off her smile. "I called and asked him to make some enlargements of the pictures he took. I'm picking them up this evening. Maybe he'll be stoned enough to let down his guard."

"I'd like to see those pictures," Vialpando said.

"Not a chance," Ramona replied.

"Can you give Detective Pino backup at Deacon's?" Kerney asked Vialpando.

"It's already arranged."

"Very good," Kerney said.

"I'd like to use Detective Pino undercover at Tully's club, Chief," Vialpando said.

"I haven't forgotten your request, Sergeant, and I'm willing to go along with it, if needed. You've been very helpful to us, and I appreciate it. But let's see how far we get before Ramona has to start her new job."

Kerney pushed his chair back. "I want reports from everybody ASAP. I'll be at home tonight. Call me there."