Michael McGarrity - Hermit_s Peak

"We do it my way, or you go home," Kerney said.

One block over from Jessica Varela's apartment, Bernardo waited in his truck until the lunch hour ended and students were hurrying out of their apartments headed to afternoon classes. He walked down the alley between the two streets, past the detached garages at the back of the lots. He stopped, pushed against the side door to the garage in Jessica's backyard, and stepped inside. Except for some old garden tools, a rusty green push lawn mower, and several cardboard boxes, the garage was empty. A small window facing the back porch of the house let in a shaft of light. The garage and the window would give Bernardo a perfect hiding place and vantage point.

He left the garage and continued down the alley, watching and listening for dogs. On his past visits he'd seen only one, a young puppy kept on a leash in the front yard at a corner house. It was far enough away from Jessica's apartment for Bernardo to easily avoid it. But he wanted to be completely sure he hadn't overlooked any other dogs that could draw attention to him. He heard no barking as he walked, and saw no evidence of animals kept in the yards.

The alley wasn't used much. Weeds, leaves, and small branches from backyard trees carpeted the lane and there was no evidence of recent tire tracks. Bernardo figured only meter readers and utility trucks used the alley.

He didn't see anybody outside, but a few backyard windows were open and he could hear the sounds of music every now and then. Since just about everybody in the neighborhood attended the university, Bernardo guessed some students were home studying or kicking back after morning classes.

He ran over his plan as he walked to the truck. The only access to Jessica's apartment was through the front door that led to the ground floor apartment and a staircase to the second story. He would have no trouble getting into the building. During his tour of the empty apartment with the property management dude, he'd unlocked the back door and unlatched a kitchen window.

Once inside, breaking into Jessica's apartment would be no sweat. Her apartment door had been hung with the hinges on the exterior side. All he had to do was pop off the hinges and he'd be in. Then he'd rehang the door and be waiting when Jessica got back from her night class.

Bernardo had given the man from the property management company a fictitious name and a story that he was moving to town from Santa Fe to attend summer school and looking for a place to rent. If the cops questioned him it would be enough to throw them off.

He lit a cigarette and drove away, wondering what he would do to Jessica after she got home. There were so many options to consider.

But he had all day to decide.

The thought struck him that Jessica's long blonde hair would be a trophy worth keeping.

Russell Thorpe stopped talking and sat on the edge of his chair in the conference room with his knees locked together, looking like an overgrown, burly schoolboy who'd been sent to the principal's office.

He didn't know which made him feel worse, blowing his assignment or lying about it with a lame story about how a beer delivery truck had blocked his view of the bar just long enough to allow Bernardo to leave unnoticed.

Russell kept his gaze fixed on the wall behind the four men sitting across the conference table and waited for the ax to fall.

Captain Garduno consulted the notes he'd made while Russell had been talking.

"What exactly happened at the vacant apartment?"

Russell blinked and met Garduno's hard stare.

"Uke I said, Bernardo met this man from a property management firm. They were inside the apartment for maybe five minutes. When they came out, they talked briefly, the man gave Bernardo his card, and then left.

Bernardo threw the card away. I guess he didn't like the place."

Kerney read the name on the business card.

"Aside from Ruth Pino and this Chuck Beasly, did Bernardo talk to anyone else?"

"Not as far as I know. Chief. He may have when he was in the bar."

"He didn't stop to take a piss or make a phone call?"

Art Garda asked.

"No, Sergeant."

"So, Bernardo went directly from the hardware store to the ranch supply store, to the mesa, and then met with Beasly at the apartment," Gabe said.

"That's right. Lieutenant."

"Did he buy anything at the hardware store?" Gabe asked.

"I didn't see him walk out carrying anything," Russell said.

"That's strange," Kerney said.

"How long was Bernardo waiting for the hardware store to open?"

"Ten, fifteen minutes."

"You don't wait for a store to open, go in, and buy nothing," Art Garda said.

"Maybe they didn't have what he needed," Russell suggested.

"Maybe," Gabe said.

Kerney looked at Gabe.

"We'll follow up with Beasly and the hardware store."

Gabe nodded.

"That's all, Thorpe," Garduno said.

Russell stood up.

"Where do you want me. Captain?"

"Out looking for Bernardo."

"Don't leave until I talk to you, Thorpe," Kerney said flatly.

"I'll just be a few minutes."

"Yes, sir."

Kerney waited to speak until the door closed behind Thorpe.

"Do we have anything from the field?" he asked Garduno.

"With the exception of Gabe, the teller at the bank, and the burger joint manager, so far nobody has seen or talked to Orlando since yesterday morning."

"What about the student who called and asked to borrow Orlando's class notes?"

Garduno consulted his paperwork.

"We've talked to every student enrolled in Orlando's classes. No one admitted to making any such call."

"So the only verified early-morning call to Orlando we've got is from Bernardo."

"That's right. Chief."

"Do we have Kerri Crombie covered?"

"We've got her buttoned down," Garduno said.

"The ADA has been calling. She wants a meeting with Gabe ASAP.

Otherwise she's going to release Santistevan and Aland."

"Let them walk," Gabe said.

"We can arrest them again later."

Kerney switched his attention to Art Garda.

"Can you handle the meeting with the ADA?"

"No problem. Chief."

Kerney got to his feet and looked at Gabe.

"I'll meet you at your unit."

Til be there."

Outside the conference room, Kerney found a nervous Russell Thorpe waiting for him. He led the young man to Garduno's office, closed the door, and searched Thorpe's face.

"You fell asleep on duty, didn't you?"

Russell blushed and nodded.

"I tried not to."

"It happens to every officer at least once," Kerney said.

"Most are lucky and don't get caught."

"Are you going to fire me, Chief?"

"No. But if you ever lie to me or any other supervisor again, you'll be driving that imaginary beer truck that stopped outside the bar. Do I make myself dear?"

Russell gulped.

"Yes, sir."

"Go to work."

Outside, Gabe's unit was missing from the parking lot. Kerney checked with the dispatcher, who said Gonzales wasn't on the air, and found Garduno in his office.

"Gabe took off," he said.

"I need a vehicle."

"Take my unit." Garduno tossed Kerney his keys.

"Go easy on him. Chief. He's a good man."

"I know that."

Chuck Beasly looked at the photograph. He wore a genial smile that seemed permanently fixed on his face.

He ran his hand through his thinning hair and nodded.

"That's the kid," he said to the state police lieutenant.

"He called yesterday to set up the appointment. I showed him the place this morning, but he didn't take it.

I don't know why, it's a nice unit. Maybe he couldn't afford it."

"Did he tell you anything about himself?" Gabe asked.

"Just that he was moving up from Santa Fe to go to summer school at the university."