Michael McGarity - Serpent Gate

"That's absurd," Bucky said.

"Did Amanda leave with De Leon after the O'Keeffe benefit?"

Bucky's eyes widened.

"They both left about the same time." kbrney caught a night's sleep at a Cerrillos Road budget motel. In the morning, he found the construction crew working on Fletcher's house. A laborer scrubbed away at the bloodstains in the garage. The ruined dining room carpet had been pulled up and dumped on the porch, where a workman was hanging a temporary front door.

The man nodded and stepped aside to let Kerney pass. He found Fletcher on his knees cleaning out the kitchen pantry. Many of the cans, bottles, and containers had been raked by gunfire, resulting in a gummy mess.

Pletcher dumped a gooey container in a wastebasket, wiped his sticky hands on his trousers, and got to his feet.

"You came back," Kerney said.

"Better to face what happened than hide from it," Pletcher said.

"I'm glad you feel that way."

"I didn't expect to find my home already under repair. Thank you for arranging it."

"It was the least I could do."

"You gave the contractor a sizable deposit. I want to reimburse you."

"We can talk about that later."

"Let me show you something," Fletcher said. He went to the kitchen counter, where the Peter Hurd lithographs, removed from their shattered frames, were laid out.

Kerney stepped over and looked. The lithographs were heavily damaged, peppered with holes from Rasmussen's shotgun blast. They appeared un salvageable "Can they be repaired?" Kerney asked.

"I don't think so, but that's not the point," Fletcher said.

"Once, I valued these inordinately. Art can enlarge life, but it can't replace it. I'm just happy to be alive. The loss of the lithographs pales in comparison. I must find a way to thank that young officer for saving my life."

"I'm sure you'll think of something unique."

"Have you gone to visit her?"

"Not yet, but she's going to be fine."

He scrutinized Kerney carefully.

"You have a dangerous look about you, Kevin."

"I'm not in a very good mood."

"There's more to it than that," Fletcher said.

Kerney nodded his head in the direction of the pantry.

"I guess we each have our messes to clean up."

"Let me write you a check and pay you back for the deposit. My insurance is going to cover everything."

"No, Fletcher, I don't want the money. Use it, if you like, to replace one of the Hurd lithographs."

"As you wish," Pletcher said.

"The door to the guest quarters has been replaced. I'll expect you back after work. We'll have a nice dinner together."

"I'd like that."

"I need the company," Fletcher added.

"I still can't stop thinking about Gilbert."

"I can't either," Kerney said. the governor's receptionist announced Andy's arrival, and Vance Howell came out of the inner sanctum to escort him to Springer's office. Other than a greeting, Howell had nothing more to say. In the hallway, workers on ladders strung wires for a new closed circuit television security system.

Another example of locking the barn door after the horses got out, Andy thought glumly.

Howell left, and Andy knocked and entered to find Harper Springer at his desk conferring with his chief of staff. The man glanced at Andy, gave him a tight smile, whispered something to Springer, and retired through the side door to his office.

New paintings had been hung on the walls, and the glass display cases on either side of Springer's desk held Indian pots and some small cowboy sculptures. Fewer pieces of lesser value had been used to redecorate the office.

The governor rose and gestured at the couch as he came around his desk.

"Have a seat. Chief Baca."

Andy's antenna went up; Springer was usually much less formal with his senior staff.

"We haven't talked in a while," Harper said as he sank into a chair and crossed his legs.

"I know you've been busy."

"That's true. Governor."

"Finding the stolen art was good work. Real good work. But the museum people aren't happy that the Lady of Guadalupe bulto wasn't recovered."

"I know that."

"Any chances of getting it back?"

"We'll do our best," Andy answered.

Springer nodded.

"I visited with your officer at the hospital. That's one brave young lady. I think she deserves a citation, don't you?"

"It's in the works. Governor. Would you be available to present it?"

"Set it up with my press secretary. And I want to attend Sergeant Martinez's funeral service."

"I've given that information to your administrative assistant."

"Good. I'm still waiting for arrests. Chief Baca. We can't let these cop killers get away."

"I agree."

"I want closure. Chief."

"We'll push a little harder. Governor."

"I know you will. Get something out to the media on it. Let them know the manhunt is continuing. Now, tell me about these charges against Bucky Watson. How solid are they?"

"They're very substantial."

"Do your people have their facts straight?"

"Yes, they do."

"He was a heavy contributor to my reelection campaign."

Andy chose not to respond.

"Will Watson's arrest affect anyone else?"

"Watson has implicated your nephew and Sherman Cobb in a money laundering scheme."

No surprise registered on Springer's face. It was clear that Vance Howell had kept the governor well informed.

"I find that hard to believe, Chief Baca."

"It does create an uncomfortable situation," Andy noted.

"How are we going to handle it?" Springer asked.

"I plan to keep working the case, Governor."

"Let's think this through. I don't want any political fallout to occur because a member of my family may be accused of a crime."

"The situation will get the public's attention," Andy said.

"That's why we need a flexible strategy here. I think the investigation has to be completely separated from my administration.

What if I asked the attorney general to step in?"

"I'm not sure such an abrupt change in the investigation would be wise," Andy said.

"I understand that. But the attorney general is a Democrat who holds an elective office completely removed from my administration. If he agreed to appoint a special independent prosecutor for the case, that would erase any doubts of political interference on my part."

"I'd rather not see the investigation slowed down."

"I'm sure the attorney general can act quickly," Springer said.

Andy gave up arguing and got to his feet. Springer was telling him what was going to happen, not asking.

"I'll give the attorney general my full cooperation."

Springer flashed a winning smile.

"That's the kind of talk I like to hear, Andy."

"This must be hard on you. Governor."

"It cuts deep, Andy. But we'll get through it. I've been talking to the legislative leadership about that budget expansion request you want for new equipment.

If you can cut costs a little bit more, I'm sure we can get you that appropriation."

"I'll work up some new figures."

"Good." Springer stood, pumped Andy's hand, and showed him to the door.

"Hold up any further action on this Watson mess until we've got the attorney general in the loop."

On his way back to the office, Andy stewed over his meeting with Governor Springer. It made no sense, except as political face-saving bullshit. Springer wanted him to catch cop killers, yet he had just pulled the plug on the only investigation that could possibly lead to an arrest and conviction of the murderers. And when Springer pledged his support for new money for the department, it made Andy feel like a co-conspirator in a cover-up. He didn't like the taste of it at all.

Two officers had given their lives and a third had been wounded.

Turning over the case to the attorney general would be a slap in the department's face. The case belonged to the department and nowhere else.