He doesnt have a knife now, Dallas pointed out.
No. He wasnt holding it when I found him, she said. I looked around, and I didnt see a knife anywhere. But if you looked at his hand...
Yes, Dallas said. It does look as if hed been holding something. You touched the body. Are you sure you didnt move his hand? Even by accident?
No, I definitely didnt move his hand. I was kneeling on his other side, and I was still there when Officer Mann got here and told me to move away carefully so I didnt contaminate the crime scene. I did not touch his hand.
Dirk Mendini, the medical examiner down from the coroners office in Marathon, rose and walked over to them just then. He indicated his wish to speak with the detectives by angling his head.
Excuse us, Hannah, will you? Liam asked gently.
She nodded. Okay if I go inside and clean up? she asked.
She had the dead mans blood on her, and Dallas found himself wondering if she was compassionate or just stupid. Shed heard the man had been wielding a bowie knife, but still shed approached him before she was sure he was dead and not a threat.
He realized he was feeling bitter toward her, and he knew he was wrong. He wanted to blame her for the death, even though he knew he had no right to do so. He was frustrated and wanted to lash out, but he had to get himself under control.
Apparently he took too long to speak that time.
She stared at him and said, Ive already been photographed and swabbed for blood. Poked and prodded and questioned. The technician said he had everything he needed.
Dallas nodded curtly. He looked beyond her. It was just after seven in the morningridiculously early for a Key West morningbut even so, a few onlookers had gathered in the narrow alley. He let his eyes sweep over them. A tall, bald man who looked as if he had been a prizefighter at one time seemed to be watching Hannah with concern. A young woman with the light coloring and facial features of one of the Eastern European immigrants who made up so much of the Key West workforce was watching the bald man. A slim older woman was staring past the crime tape. A bike messenger was gaping, wide-eyed.
Naturally, the local news had somehow heard all about it already. A Barbie doll of a blonde with a microphone was trying to get somethinganythingfrom the stoic officers guarding the scene, a cameraman following her. When the police refused to cooperate she turned to the onlookers, but none of them seemed to want their fifteen minutes of fame. They replied to her with annoyance, as if she were a fly in the way of the television screen.
Hang on, Dirk, Dallas said to the M.E.
He walked over to the newswoman, who was trying to speak to the bald guy. Miss, so far we have nothing but a dead man. Out of respect, perhaps you could hold off until theres something to report? When the police have enough information to make a statement, they will.
And you are?
Not the police spokesman, Dallas said. I repeat. When they can give a statement, they will.
Wrap it up, Jake, she told the cameraman. Theyre blocking the body, anyway. Well get footage of the house from the street, show the proximity to Duval.... She turned and glared at Dallas. And well make sure our viewers know that the police are being extremely unhelpful.
Liam joined Dallas. Sunny Smith, right? he asked the blonde politely. When she nodded, he went on, Look, Sunny, we dont know anything yet. We found a body in an alley. Thats it.
Who found the body? Sunny Smith demanded.
We found a body, Liam repeated firmly. When theres news, well get it to you.
Who is the dead man? Sunny asked.
We dont know yet, Liam said.
How was he killed? Sunny demanded.
I didnt say that he was killed, Sunny, Liam told her.
Which one of these people found the body? The woman you were talking to? Sunny demanded.
Hey, Sunny, please, as soon as I have something, youll get it, Liam promised.
And right now youre taking up our time and hindering an investigation, Dallas said.
Well question the pretty woman with the blood on her, Sunny said, turning and speaking to her cameraman and then looking around for Hannah.
But Dallas was suddenly grateful to Hannah OBrien, who had taken advantage of the reporters intrusion and disappeared.
Frustrated, Sunny went on to the bike messenger.
You dont want to let any info out, see if it pulls anyone out of the woodwork? Liam asked him. Because were going to have to make a statement soon. Too many people know this has happened and have seen the body.
Dallas shook his head. We can give a statementjust carefully. Ill explain later.
He turned and rejoined Dirk near the body, and Liam went with him.
Dallas, what are you doing on a Key West murder? Dirk asked immediately, then turned to Liam. Is he taking the lead?
Were not sure whats up yet, Dirk, Liam said, then shifted his attention to Dallas. But Im assuming this has something to do with a Federal case.
Dallas shrugged. Yes, well, a Federal lead on a combined case.
He hadnt been assigned to the Key West FBI unit long. It was a small office, just as the U.S. Marshals office was small here. His headquarters were on the mainland, in Miami.
Oddly, though, despite the small size of the officeor perhaps because of ithis was in an interesting position. Agents here worked closely with the Coast Guard, the city police, the county sheriffs office and the U.S. Marshals Serviceall because of Key Wests location, accessibility and...unique nature, its strange atmosphere. It was a crazy place to call home, but it was his crazy place. The island had a long and checkered history. It had provided a stop for pirates, a haven for wreckers, a hard passage for Confederate blockade runners and now it offered access for smugglers bringing everything from illegal drugs to refugees into the country.
Hed grown up heregrown up most of the way, anyway. In his heart, it had always been home.
And now he was back.
Im taking on just about anything, Dirk, Dallas said. He glanced over at Liam. He was here now, and so quickly, thanks to Liam. When theyd been kids here on the island, theyd been best friends. Then Dallass father had been offered a civilian position with the FBI, and Dallas had only been back for a few nostalgic vacations now and then since those long-ago years.
But, he decided, for a pair of kids who had spent a few evil days torturing tourists on ghost tours and stealing beers from the unwary in a multitude of local bars, theyd turned out okay. And they were still friends who respected and trusted each other, something that was all-important right now.
We may have the best liaison system going just about anywhere, Liam said to Dirk. We have to. The islands so small that every agency is understaffed, so weve got to work with each other. No other choice, he said.
If you ask me, the Key West cops do a damned good job, Dirk said.
They do, Dallas agreed. But sometimes cases overlap.
Sure. I get it, Dirk said, nodding. The murder happened in Key West, but the victim could be from another state. He might have been smuggling drugs, or...hell, the U.S. Marshals Service might have had a warrant out on him.
Or, Dallas thoughtbecause he knewhe might have been an officer of the law. Either way, I intend to get his murderer.
He didnt say so, though. Not yet. So, are we looking at the obvious cause of death? he asked.
Throat slit. But the killer only nicked the major bleeder, Dirk told them. Thats why he didnt bleed out immediately. Im thinking that since he made an appearance in a yard at about 3:00 a.m. he must have been attacked a few minutes earlier. Body temp and rigor mortis agree with that timing. The blood loss would have disoriented him. I have tissue and blood samples out now for toxicology tests, so Ill be able to tell you more.
Damn idiot. Why was he stumbling around in that yard? Dallas asked, speaking to himself as much as to Liam and the M.E. If hed gotten help...
He immediately regretted the passion hed allowed to enter his voice. The M.E. looked at him strangely, as if aware there was more here than met the eye.
I dont think he could have been saved unless the damage had been done right smack in the middle of an emergency room, Dirk told him, setting a hand on his shoulder. For an M.E., he seemed to have a decent sense about the living. He asked quietly, You know him? The local boys were really good about protecting the crime scene, and they checked for identification first thing but came up empty. Well take fingerprints, of course, and run them through the system. If hes got a sheet of any kind, anywhere, well find him.
Youll match them, Dallas said, looking over at the body. The dead man was Jose Miguel Rodriguez. Dallas had met him briefly once or twice; hed been an extraordinary agent. Working undercover, hed done a great deal to stop drug traffic into the South Florida area. Dallas had been due to meet up with Rodriguez the next day on the beach by Fort Zachary Taylor. But not because of a rap sheet. And when you do ID him, make sure to keep his name and affiliation confidential among law enforcement agenciesthe truth cant leak to the news. This man was an agent working undercoverJose Rodriguez. You cant release anything Im telling you nowand nothing can get out at all except that an unidentified body was found in an alley, with all other information pending the medical examiners report. Some things the public cant get for a while, all right, Dirk?
Gotcha, Dirk said.
So hes one of ours? Liam asked, frowning.
FBI, Dallas said. He was working the Los Lobos case.
The wolves, Dirk said.
Dallas nodded. Were all working it, Dirk. Im not divulging any secretsyouve obviously heard about the Los Lobos gang, and everyone from the cops to the military has been alerted to keep an eye out for the members and their activities.
Dirk nodded. Who hasnt? When they started up, I had a few corpses up for autopsy at the morgue in Marathon. Seems theyre run by some big shot out of Colombiasupposedly an American expat. The members come in all colors and nationalitiesthe one thing is they have to swear absolute loyalty. The smallest betrayal means deathexecution style.
Thats why theyre doing so well, Dallas said grimly. No one knows who they are, and theyre all too scared to turn on the others. They know the islands. They slip in and out at night, moving from the Caribbean to the Keys.
But from what I understand, theyre not drug dealers, theyre smugglers, right? Dirk asked.
Dallas nodded. Museum pieces, looted artifacts. Theyve gotten into and out of a number of places here in the Keys, as well as in South America, Cuba, Jamaicatheyve pilfered Mayan artifacts from Mexico. They also smuggle people in and out of the country. Anyway, he added quietly, Jose had infiltrated them, he was the first man on the inside ever. He was just getting in deep with the field workers, who are at the beck and call of the headman. The thing about this gang is that many of them arent what youd expect. They arent tattooed, and they dont wear motorcycle jackets or lounge around like barflies. A lot of them look like upright and ordinary citizensbusinessmen, churchgoers, even cops and politicians.
They work like veins and arteries from a heart, Liam said. A very peculiar pyramid scheme. He glanced at Dallas. How many people do they think are involved all across the country?
Our best intelligence officersCIA, FBI, Homeland Securityestimate about a hundred and fifty scattered across the United States.
Dirk nodded, taking in their words. He was silent for a moment and then said, Odd.
Whats odd? Dallas asked.
Los Lobos...the bodies Ive had that the county officers think were members were done in true execution stylebullet to the back of the head. This is different, Dirk said. Im not an investigator, of course. I can only tell you what...what the dead can tell. But its something to think about, right?
Yes, it was.
Dallas hesitated before speaking. Different crimes call for different punishments. He hunkered down by the dead man. Look at his hand, Dirk. He was holding something, right? Something somebody pried out of his hand.
So it appears, Dirk agreed.
Like a knife, Dallas murmured.
Hard to tell. Ill have more for you after the autopsy. Traffic is going to be bad, so itll be an hour or so before we even have him on a table. He hesitated. Im sorry, Dallas.
I didnt know him well. I just know that he was one of the good guys, Dallas said. At least Dirk had done Rodriguez the mercy of closing his eyes.
Dallas set his fingers lightly on the dead mans shoulders as he studied him. For a moment he felt the fierce grip of pain and sorrow.
This scene was too familiar. Not that long ago theyd lost another agent. Not that long ago hed come upon a dead womanthat same agentin the same position, lying in the street on her back. He had been close to what was going on...close to finding the truth, to rounding up a bunch of greedy bastards who didnt care who they killed in their quest to amass more and more wealth.
They had made arrests. But he had suspected then, and he suspected now, that the real killerthe man giving the ordershad eluded him.
Jose Rodriguez had died on his back. His left hand was still curved and slightly twisted. His right hand lay in a puddle of blood.
Frowning, Dallas studied the puddle.
Jose had been trying to write something in his own blood.
Dallas took a moment to envision the scene and figure out how Rodriguez had managed to write something while lying on his back. Only one scenario made sense.
Jose had fallen forward, dying. Hed started to write something, but the killer had come up behind him before he finished, and wrenched him around so that he had landed on his backhis hand still in the pool of blood he had been using as ink.
Dallas looked over at Liam. Can you make that out?
Make what out? Its a pool of bloodoh! I see what youre saying.
They both bent closer, trying to read the dead mans message. That first letters a C, Liam murmured.
Yeah. I think youre right. Then...a U? Dallas asked.
Yeah, C-U-R, Liam agreed. Cur? Like a dog?
I dont think so. Can you get one of the photographers over here? Dallas asked.
Liam rose and motioned for a crime scene tech. The man hurried over, took pictures as Dallas indicated, and then moved back to the fence where hed been working.