Michael McGarrity - Hermit_s Peak

In eighteen months, Rudy had pulled more than fifty burglaries, many of them in upscale rural Santa Fe areas, a short hour's drive from Las Vegas.

Rudy's break-ins at the weekend cabins and vacation homes around San Geronimo had also been Joaquin's idea. He'd used his time living with Uncle Isaac to scope out the best places to rob. When the firewood season ended, he sent Rudy out to rip off the second homes and mountain retreats of baby boomers who'd built expensive hideaways in the cool foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Santistevan's truck came into view, followed shortly by Ben's unmarked unit.

"Block him when he stops in the driveway," Gabe said into his microphone as he pulled away from the curb.

"Affirmative. There's a hunting rifle in his rear window gun rack."

"You know the drill," Gabe said.

"Here we go again," Ben replied.

When Santistevan made the turn into his driveway, Gabe accelerated, veered across the street, pointed the nose of the unit at the side of the truck, and hit the brakes. He stopped six feet short of the truck.

He was out of the unit with his handgun drawn and leveled just as Santistevan reacted with a look over his shoulder.

Joaquin's right hand reached back for the rifle.

"Don't do it," Gabe said.

Joaquin's hand froze in midair.

"Check your rearview mirror," Gabe said.

Joaquin turned his head and glanced in the mirror.

Another cop had a shotgun pointed at him through the rear window.

"Put born your arms out the driver's window," Gabe ordered.

Santistevan did as he was told.

"Use the outside latch to open the door."

The door opened.

"Step out slowly with your hands in view."

Ben moved to the front of the truck, his shotgun leveled on Joaquin's back.

"What's this all about?" Joaquin asked as he dismounted the truck.

"On the ground, facedown, hands locked at the back of your head," Gabe said.

Santistevan assumed the position just as Debbie came rushing out of the house and down the porch steps.

"What are you doing?" she screamed.

"Let him go."

"Stop her," Gabe said to Ben as he moved in on Santistevan.

He ground his knee hard on Joaquin's check, bolstered his weapon, cuffed him, and pulled him to his feet.

"Why are you doing this?" Debbie yelled.

Ben had Debbie firmly in hand.

Gabe used a thumb lock to hold Santistevan still while he did a weapons pat down.

"Why are you doing this?" Debbie asked again, her voice filled with rage.

Gabe couldn't resist the impulse.

"Ask his girlfriend."

"I want a twenty-four-hour tail on Bernardo Barela, starting now,"

Kerney said.

Captain Garduno winced. Even with Russell Thorpe's recent assignment to the district, he was still four officers shy of a full complement.

"What have you got going, Chief?"

Kerney handed Garduno a microcassette tape.

"I have no proof that Barela is our murderer, but everything I've learned about him points in that direction. I think he may have targeted another victim, a woman named Kerri Crombie. She's a waitress at a bar he frequents.

Crombie's five-year-old daughter made a positive ID. She saw Barela near the family's residence. As far as I can tell, he had no legitimate reason to be in the neighborhood."

"I'll have the tape transcribed and give hard copies to the team."

Garduno said.

"Is Crombie at risk?"

"Barela may not think she's a good target. She's married and her husband is always home when she gets off work.. Bernardo may be just sniffing around, but you never know. I've warned her to be careful.

Now that Bernardo no longer thinks he's under suspicion, I want to see what he does."

Garduno ran down the district duty roster assignments in his head. He had three officers scheduled for court appearances, two attending advanced training courses in Santa Fe, and one on maternity leave.

"I'm strapped for manpower. Chief," he said.

"Can I get some help out of headquarters?"

"Not for a couple of days," Kerney replied.

"Have Ben Morfin take the lead. Aside from Gabe Gonzales, he's your most experienced investigator. Put two uniforms in plain domes to work with him."

"I'll have to assign Thorpe to the detail. I've got nobody else."

Kerney nodded his approval.

"Make sure he's brought up to speed on surveillance tactics by Morfin.

Have him ride along with Ben on the first shift."

"That means they both work double shifts."

"They can handle it. Tell Ben I don't want Barela spooked. Keep it low key all the way. Have the team use their personal vehicles, handheld radios, and cell phones.

All radio transmissions on secure undercover channels only. Restrict operational need to know to your senior commanders. I will personally fire any supervisor who leaks the operation to line staff."

Garduno nodded, wrote himself a note, and waited for more.

"If he goes near Crombie, I want to know about it immediately."

"If we get anything on Barela, do you want the collar?"

Garduno asked.

"I want him watched, not busted. Barela is to be picked up only if he poses a dear and present danger."

"Understood."

"Is Gabe Gonzales on his way back to the district?"

"It may be a while," Garduno answered.

"He's booking Santistevan into the county jail."

"Give him my compliments on a job well done, and my congratulations on his promotion."

"I'll do that." Garduno tapped his pendl on the desktop and gave Kerney a searching look.

"What's on your mind. Captain?"

Garduno smiled uneasily.

"That disciplinary report you asked me to write to Chief Baca-I'd like to forget about it. I'd rather not start my new second-in-command off with a reprimand."

"I ordered you to censure me for policy violation, not Lieutenant Gonzales."

"I know, but it would still smear egg on Gabe's face."

Kerney gave Garduno a tight smile.

"You can drop it.

A word of advice, Captain: When you have to chew butt, do it behind closed doors. Otherwise you humiliate your people, and it makes you look petty."

Garduno swallowed hard before replying.

"Thank you."

"Tell Morfin to stay in close contact with me."

Garduno watched Kerney limp out of his office.

Ouch, he thought to himself.

The dispatcher tapped on the glass partition to the radio room as Kerney walked by. He stuck his head inside and the woman gave him a pile of telephone messages He started scanning through them on his way to the outer office. About every third message was from Ruth Pino.

"You're a hard man to reach. Chief Kerney."

He looked up to find Professor Pino standing in front of him. Her tone carried a note of displeasure and her expression wasn't cheery. He waited for more.

"I've made an appointment for you to meet with Reese Carson at the Nature Conservancy tomorrow morning."

"That's not possible. Professor," Kerney said as he returned his attention to the phone messages to hide his irritation at her pushiness.

"Is the Nature Conservancy interested in the land?"

"Reese has been exploring options. Several possibilities have been discussed, including an initial purchase by the conservancy for resale to the Forest Service, or a joint purchase under the Natural Lands Protection Act."

"I'm not familiar with that law."

"It's a state statute that allows a nonprofit organization to purchase land with ninety percent public money.

The conservancy would pay the remaining ten percent and manage the preserve. Isn't there some way you can free up your schedule?"

"Not tomorrow."

"We must move quickly. Chief Kerney. There are many legal issues to be ironed out before probate is settled.

It is to your advantage to meet with Reese."