Luke Murphy - Dead Man's Hand

Dale’s shoulders sagged.

Baxter would never undergo a civilian court trial for homicide. As bad as it seemed, Dale couldn’t help but smile at the poetic justice. Having Watters turn Baxter into a one-legged man, some justice had been served.

Dale and Jimmy watched Hughes turn and leave.

“Wow, he thinks his shit don’t stink.”

“Yeah, an asshole. But we have to let him take Baxter.”

“What do we do now?”

Dale would keep investigating the cop killing in hopes of finding evidence that he could give to the Marines and perhaps make their court-martial and sentencing more severe. But at the same time, he knew that he’d already found the real killer, so there was no cop-killer on the loose to search for, only potential evidence—a very slim hope at best.

“Back to square one, Jimmy. Grant’s original murder investigation. At least we have hearsay testimony through the colonel that Sanders hired Baxter. Of course we can’t use it because Baxter will be gone. That still doesn’t link Sanders to the first three murders, but it does strengthen his motives. Why would he want Watters dead, if it’s not because he knows too much about the murders?”

Baxter might have escaped civilian justice, but to Dale, Watters’ form of justice had been much greater and much more devastating. And he also realized that the military could be vindictive with those who betray their uniform and country.

“Let’s go tell Watters.”

“What the fuck do you mean he’s leaving?” Calvin squeezed out, his throat constricted from emotion. He couldn’t believe what the detectives were telling him. He and Rachel had just spent four days locked up, hiding from both the police and a hired killer. Their lives had changed beyond recall. His body hurt, his girlfriend was in hiding and he had to sit and listen as the dicks on the job let Baxter go.

“I know how you must be feeling, but our hands are tied. The Marines wanted Baxter long before we did and they have dibs on him before the Vegas Police,” Dale said.

“This is bullshit!” Calvin tried to stand, but the pain won over. “Give me a hand, will ya?”

The detectives helped him to sit up on the edge of the bed. He knew that he shouldn’t be blaming them. They’d done all they could. But Calvin was feeling the aftereffects of the last four days and he needed someone to take his frustrations out on.

“How are your injuries?” Dale asked.

“Better.”

“Want some?” The detective held out a tin of Skoal but he declined. Dale jammed in a chunk. “I thought all you athletes did this?”

Calvin smiled but said nothing. He put his good hand on the bed railing and placed all his weight on it, pushing himself to his feet. He still had trouble with balance.

“I need to get out of this stuffy room.”

“How about a walk?” Detective Mason spoke for the first time since the introductions.

Calvin hobbled on stiff legs across the room. The detectives opened the door just as Baxter was being wheeled past. He was uncovered, which revealed his bandaged, shortened left leg.

He wore a hospital-issued, sleeveless gown and Calvin saw a tattoo of two eagles flying head-to-head and the letters USMC printed under them on Baxter’s right arm.

Like Calvin, he had substantial bruising and scratches to his face and arms. Calvin’s and Baxter’s eyes met before Baxter looked away.

Dale spoke. “I think for the first time in his life, he feels defeated.”

“Where are they taking him?”

“Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, which is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps. It’s in San Diego County. Hughes is organizing Baxter’s probable court-martial for whatever he did that resulted in that special high-priority warrant. He’s Baxter’s defense attorney.”

The three men watched Baxter being wheeled down the hall and into a cordoned-off wing. They exited the room and walked in the opposite direction.

“What now?” Calvin asked, his eyes shifting between detectives.

“I thought I would have an opportunity to interrogate Baxter. All we can do now is focus on the first three murders. Here’s what we have.” Dale scratched the stubble on his chin. “Baxter’s confession is more evidence against Sanders, but it’s only hearsay, not admissible in court.”

“Fuck the court. We need to—”

Dale grasped Calvin by the arm. “If you’re going to work with Jimmy and me, you have to think like a cop, not a bone breaker.”

Calvin nodded, but he didn’t like it. “Sorry, go ahead.”

“Baxter’s direct confession advances the investigation in understanding the person we’re pursuing. Sanders could have done the other murders himself or used another hired hand. Willing to pay to have you killed is only one mental and psychological step away from personally committing homicide. We now know that Sanders fits the profile of the very rare and small number of people who are capable of deliberately committing murder, when the vast majority could never cross that line, even in life or death self-defense.”

“What’s his next move?”

The detective smiled. “Once Sanders discovers his hit man has failed, he’ll worry about what Baxter might say to us. And then what you might say to us. So he has to act fast. But with Sanders’ range of contacts, we have to factor in the possibility that he’s already learned about Baxter’s arrest. That should shake him even more.”

“If he knows that, then in all likelihood he knows I’m in custody too,” Calvin said.

“That’s what we’re thinking.”

Jimmy cut in. “He’s got to be sweating. We’re not sure he won’t try to get you even while you’re in the hospital. At this point, we’re not sure what Sanders is capable of.”

Calvin added. “I have direct confirmation from Shawn Grant that Sanders and Linda Grant were having an affair. He’ll want to squelch that.”

“But will they pick up their affair? We’re still not allowed to touch Sanders and the order is stronger than ever,” Jimmy said.

They continued walking, this time in silence. Each detective cradled an arm to help Calvin move with less discomfort.

They were almost back at Calvin’s room when Dale said, “Our only hope is that Sanders’ rush to action will force him to make a mistake. We’re still not allowed to touch Sanders, but I have an idea.” Dale looked Calvin in the eye. “Do you think you feel ready to leave?”

He didn’t need to think about it. “Hell, yeah.”

“We’ll talk with the doctor and make sure it’s okay.”

They entered the room and Jimmy said. “I’ll go see the doc. If we get the green light, I’ll sign the release forms.”

Calvin saw his blood-stained shirt hanging from the back of a chair. A new, clean one was folded and piled on a pair of pants on the seat.

“Rachel picked them out,” Dale said.

The nurse came in to change Calvin’s bandages. With his arm in a sling, all movement was awkward, so Dale had to help him get his shirt over his head and pulled down.

Calvin said, “I want to stay on this case.”

“What do you mean?”

“Since the ‘Baxter’ problem has been eliminated, I assumed I would be expendable.”

“Calvin, you’ve already been an essential part of this case. You’re the reason we have Baxter and we have confirmation that Sanders is behind these murders. I realize your vested interest in this case.”

Calvin just smiled.

Jimmy returned with the forms. “Everything is taken care of.” He handed Calvin a piece of paper. “This is your prescription. They said they also added Tylenol 3, a brief, self-limited course of Tylenol and codeine. We’re good to go.”

“Good, because I know exactly what we’re going to do,” Dale said.