Michael McGarity - Serpent Gate

"Mabel tells me you've got a lot of product in there."

"She told you that?"

"She gets real exdted when she snifis out a big stash."

"That's not possible. You and Mabel were never here," Kerney said with a smile.

"I like your style. Chief," Alex said.

"Good luck catching the bad guys." at the office, Kerney called the city building code supervisor, woke him up, and asked to meet him in person as soon as possible. Morris Wadley grudgingly agreed, and Kerney drove the predawn empty streets to a small residential subdivision that bordered Cerrillos Road. Built soon after World War II, it was a respectable middle-class neighborhood of pueblo-style, flat-roofed houses on good-size lots. Like most post-war developments, many of the homes had been expanded with second stories and additions as the baby boom swept the country.

Wadley opened the door dressed in a robe and slippers.

A pale, short fellow with baby-fine blond hair, he had sleep-filled eyes and a prominent vein in his forehead that caught Kerney's attention.

In a dining area off the living room, Kerney joined Wadley at the table.

"You said on the phone that you needed some information immediately,"

Wadley said through a yawn.

"And perhaps your help," Kerney added.

"I want to take a look inside a building without violating anybody's constitutional rights."

"Is the building under construction or being renovated?"

"No, but I believe a basement has been added without benefit of a permit. Does your office accept anonymous complaints from citizens?"

"All the time. Most neighbors don't like to get in squabbles with each other. Let's say some guy is building a carport without a permit.

We'll get a call and go check it out."

"What about commercial remodeling and renovation?"

"We inspect every commercial project in the city."

"Do you have unrestricted access to the site?"

"You bet we do. The city ordinance gives code enforcement inspectors the authority to enter any structure for the purposes of determining compliance with building standards. It's part of the health, safety, and welfare laws."

"What if you're denied entry?"

"That happens a couple of times a year," Wadley replied.

"I usually refer the problem to the city attorney and let the lawyers fight it out. In the end, we always get inside."

"Have you ever asked for police assistance to enter a property?"

"Once, I had to. State statutes allow it. Any structure under construction or being remodeled must pass an inspection. Police officers can be called upon to render assistance."

"What if the construction or remodeling was completed sometime in the past?"

Wadley smiled for the first time.

"That doesn't matter.

We can still inspect, if it's brought to our attention."

"What kind of inspection do you do?" Kerney probed.

"We go through the skin, down to the studs, into the footings if we have to-you name it. We can check the composition of the concrete pour, the wiring, plumbing, heating, the rafters-whatever. We can even order a structure to be demolished if it's deemed unsafe for occupation. That's especially important in times of a natural disaster or catastrophe."

"Would you be willing to use a state police officer to assist in gaining entry to a building?"

"You want to take a look around, do you?"

"That's the idea."

"I don't see why we can't use your people. What building do you want to take a look at?"

Kerney filled Wadley in on the building's location.

Wadley nodded.

"That structure is in the Guadalupe Historic District. I know exactly where it is. I don't remember any review hearing for a building permit."

"You'd remember?"

"You bet I would. The code is strict when it comes to historic preservation. We're constantly battling owners who want the rules bent for old structures. We stay on top of those projects. Have to."

"I believe the passageway to the basement may be concealed."

"That sounds interesting," Wadley said with a smile.

"I may do this inspection myself. If it's there, I'll find it. You still haven't told me what you're looking for."

"Faulty wiring," Kerney answered with a grin.

Wadley laughed.

"When do you want to meet?"

"The business opens at nine o'clock. I'll have a patrol officer standing by to assist you. He'll be fully briefed."

"I'll be there with bells on." kernhy checked with his personnel before going to talk to Andy. Two agents were keeping tabs on Bucky Watson. As soon as Watson had settled into his Rancho Caballo house for the night, one agent had taken up a position at the gated entrance road, while the second kept close surveillance on Watson's house with nightvision goggles. Watson hadn't moved.

At the art crating shop, a patrol officer watched the premises from a discreet distance. Everything was quiet.

Kerney briefed Andy on the scheme.

"How many men do you want to use?" Andy asked.

"Just three," Kerney replied.

"Two agents stationed out of sight, and a uniformed officer to accompany Wadley into the premises."

"Narcotics agents?" Andy asked.

"No. I don't want the slightest hint to crop up that we expected to find drugs."

"This Wadley guy; he's willing to say the complaint was anonymous?"

"If everything goes right, he won't have to say anything."

"But if he's called as a witness in court, we can kiss the case against Watson good-bye."

"Do you have a better way to squeeze Bucky?"

"What about the money laundering angle?"

"Joe Valdez is working on it, but it could take time."

"What if all you find in the basement is some drug residue?"

"My friend Mabel the pig assures me there's more than residue inside.

I'll set up a meeting with Watson, tell him I need to ask him about Amanda Talley, and time it to coincide with the building inspection at the shop. If all goes well, I'll arrest him as soon as the drugs are uncovered."

"You have a lot of faith in Mabel."

"She's got a great nose."

Joe Valdez, looking decidedly rumpled and glassy eyed from his all-night stint at work, appeared in the doorway.

"Got a minute?" he asked.

"Sure, Joe," Andy said.

"What have you got?"

"I've located the insurance agent who handles Bucky Watson's commercial accounts. He's faxing me a list of all the Matador holdings insured by his company."

"Good work," Kerney said.

Joe nodded his thanks.

"This agent also insures Bucky's Rancho Caballo homes. Just as a matter of interest, I asked him if he insured any other Rancho Caballo homeowners. He carries one other policy in the subdivision, for a client Bucky referred to him. It's a Mexican corporation called Tortuga International."

"Tortuga?" Kerney said. The word meant "turtle" in Spanish, and De Leon Juarez casino was called the Little Turtle.

"That's right," Joe replied.

"Anyway, I asked a buddy who works at the corporation commission to go in early and do a search on Tortuga. It's a real estate holding company with an office in the southern part of the state. The CEO's name is Vicente Fuentes, aka Enrique De Leon "Do you have an address for the property?" Kerney asked.

"I wrote everything down," Valdez said, handing Kerney a piece of paper.

"That's damn good work, Joe," Kerney said.

"I just asked the right question, Chief. By the way, Watson controls two corporations: Matador and Magia.

I'd like to follow up to see if there's any connection to Tortuga. It may take me a while."

"Hit it as hard as you can," Andy said, "and keep Chief Kerney informed."

"Okay," Joe said as he cracked a tired smile and left the room.

Andy got out of his chair, walked to the front of the desk, and perched against it.

"I'm assuming you have everyone briefed and ready to go."