The Runaway Reporter (A Police Procedural Mystery Series of Crime and Suspense, Hyder Ali #3) (16 page)

“What’s going on?” he said, confused.

Veronica replied, “Tell him what you told me.”

Felix coughed.  “I went to the police department and did some digging of my own.  I found someone who was willing to talk, anonymously, of course, and they mentioned that they had heard a rumor in the department, and this rumor involved Captain Rudy Ross’s son.”

“What about him?” Hyder interjected.  “We already know he’s a victim.”

“He’s not only a victim. He’s also a suspect.”

Hyder’s mouth dropped.  “Are you saying he killed those two other people?”

“That’s what my source said.”

Hyder was shocked. “Maybe that was why they weren’t willing to reveal the names to the media.  They knew once we knew the names we would ask more questions.”

Felix nodded.

“This could be big,” Hyder said.

“Not only big, but very explosive,” Veronica replied.  “We’re not just talking about a captain’s son being a murderer, we are also talking about a police cover-up.”

Hyder nodded.  He could already see the headlines.

Veronica turned to Felix. “Tell him what else you told me.”

Felix looked down at his feet. “Um, I feel bad about what happened before. You know, about the story going to the
Franklin Herald.
  I know you’ve been really helpful to me, showing me the ropes, introducing me to everyone, and so… I want
you
to have the scoop.’

Hyder was surprised. “But you worked on it, Felix.  It wouldn’t be right if I took it.  Plus, this could be a major story.  It could be your big break.”

“I know,” Felix said.  “But I think you might be in a better position than me to move it forward.”

“What do you mean?”

“The story, in its current form, is unsubstantiated.” Veronica replied.  “We can’t print it without confirming if what we know is the truth.  It could be labelled as hearsay and not as fact.”

“So, where do I come into this?” Hyder asked.

“You can confirm it with your contacts in the force.”

Hyder understood.  Veronica was again referring to Nolan.  He hated being put in this position, but he knew there was no other way.  Nolan was his friend, and who else could Hyder ask but him?

But Hyder also knew, if the force wasn’t divulging this information then there was a reason for it.  Plus, he was aware that Nolan respected Captain Ross too much.  So asking him to confirm this information would not be easy.

“What about the anonymous source?” Hyder said.  “We could use them.”

Veronica shook her head.  “I think we need a name attached to the story for it to be credible, preferably someone who is working on the case.”

Hyder knew she was right.

FIFTY-FIVE

Nolan was at his desk, going over the file again.  He hoped he had missed something, but so far nothing made sense.  The crime looked senseless and without any provocation whatsoever.  Everyone they had interviewed had said Rudy Jr. got along well with Irma and Brendan.  They had never seen them quarrel or even have any disagreements.

Then what happened?
Nolan thought. 
What made Rudy Jr. suddenly get up and brutally murder his friends and neighbors?

Was it money? Was Rudy having financial difficulties where he couldn’t pay his rent? Did he fight his neighbors because they couldn’t pay
their
rent?

But that wasn’t the case.  Their bank accounts had enough funds to pay the rent for several months.

Nolan leaned back and closed his eyes.

What was Rudy Jr. thinking when he killed his friends?  He must have thought of something.  He did, after all, consciously grab a knife from the kitchen and to stab his neighbors.

Was it a crime of passion? Was he angry or irate to the point where he could no longer control himself?

The more he thought about the case, the more flabbergasted he became.

The ringing of his cell phone broke his reverie.

He answered it.  “Nolan speaking,” he said. “Hyder, how are you? I’m good… I was hoping we could talk, I felt bad about… you want to talk too?  Great… Privately? Sure, why not.  Why don’t you drop by the house later tonight? Ok… Sounds good… See you then… Bye.”

Nolan looked at his watch.  He still had some time.  He put the file away and left the department.

FIFTY-SIX

Hyder hung up the phone and felt good about calling Nolan.  He would explain the position he was in, and, knowing Nolan, he was certain he would go on the record to confirm that Captain Ross’s son was the suspect in the Riverfield Massacre.

Hyder was so confident in his belief that he started typing up the story immediately. All he would have to do later would be to make some slight changes and then submit it for Veronica’s approval.  If all went well, it might make it on the front page of the next issue of the
Daily Times
.

As Hyder worked on the story, he realized what a bombshell it would be.  Did the department know the suspect was Ross’s son from the very beginning? If so, then why weren’t they releasing this information? Were the other victims’ families aware of this information? If not, then why were they not being told about it?

What about the captain?  Did he know, and if he did, then why wasn’t he coming forward himself?

Hyder’s thoughts turned to Nolan.  If there was a cover up, then was Nolan involved in it too?

Hyder didn’t know, but it was his duty to ask the tough questions, even if the answers weren’t all that pleasant.

He had already lost a story to the
Franklin Herald.
He would not lose another.

When done, he did a quick read through of his latest masterpiece.  He was careful not to make any direct accusations. All he was doing was laying out the facts and letting the readers make up their minds for themselves.

His eyes moved to where the newspaper clipping about Francine’s death was.

It was not on the wall.

A few times a week a cleaning lady came by to dust and clean the cubicles, as well as vacuum the carpets. 
She must have inadvertently hit the clipping with a sweeper
, Hyder thought.

On several occasions he had found items and other objects not in their original position.  The telephone shoved a little to the left, the stapler moved to another spot, even the keyboard was pushed back sometimes.

He never minded it, because the cleaning lady was just doing her job.  Plus, the place always looked and smelled nicer than before.

It must have fallen underneath the desk
, he thought.

He leaned down and began searching for it.

There were quite a lot of boxes and other items stuffed underneath, After a few minutes he realized his search was futile.

Why was he looking for it anyways? Maybe to remind himself that there was a story there, but what?

He didn’t know.

He looked at his watch and decided to leave.

FIFTY-SEVEN

The boat was docked in Franklin Harbor. It was a twenty-footer, with a tiny cabin and a full mast.

It was named
Mowgli
, after the character from the
Jungle Book
.  Captain Rudyard Ross had been named after its author, Rudyard Kipling, so he figured it would be a nice touch to name the boat after one of Kipling’s beloved characters.

Nolan approached the boat, saw Ross get up from where he was sitting.

“Thanks for coming, Tom,” Ross said.  “Come in.”

Nolan got on board.  He had promised Ross that he would keep him updated on the case.  Today, it meant visiting him on his boat.

It took Nolan a minute to realize this was the first time he had seen Ross without a suit on.  Right now he was wearing a red track suit.

“Have you been drinking, sir?” Nolan asked.

Nolan knew all too well that he was.  His eyes were bloodshot and his speech was slightly slurred.  Plus, the foul odor reminded Nolan of why he wanted to quit in the first place.

“Just a little,” Ross replied with a smile.

The death of his son had taken a toll on him.  He couldn’t keep it together in front of his family, so he had taken refuge on his boat.

“I had to console the grieving families, knowing that it was
my
son who had taken their children away.” Ross continued.

Pain crossed his face. He quickly took a drink from his glass.

“It won’t make it go away,” Nolan said, referring to the alcohol.

“But it will help numb it.”

“It does, only for a little while, until it begins to consume every aspect of your life.  Before you know it, you will become numb toward even those you cared for.  All you would think about is the end.”

Ross looked at him and then put his face in his hands.  “I don’t know what to do.  I’m so lost.”

“I was too, sir,” Nolan said.  “But, lucky for me, I had a great captain who cared for me enough to bring me back to the life I knew.”  It was Ross who had pushed Nolan to return to his job as a detective.  Had he not done that, Nolan would have surely drunk himself to death.

Ross took a deep breath, nodded.  “Thanks for keeping Rudy’s name out of the papers.  I really appreciate what you have done for us, Tom.”

“I can only keep it out for so long,” Nolan said.  “Halton is on my heels.”

“I know,” Ross said. “I just haven’t had the courage to tell Vivien yet.  I know what her response would be: Why did he do it?” Ross paused.  “Tom, I want to have an answer for her.”

“I’ll have it for you, sir.”

Nolan looked at his watch.  It was almost time to meet Hyder.  He left.

FIFTY-EIGHT

Hyder pulled the car up and saw Naveed sitting in the bus shelter.

He spotted Hyder and quickly came over.

Naveed was wearing a T-shirt with Arabic written on it.  He was sporting a short beard and he had a prayer cap over his head.

Hyder noticed that he looked much better than the last time he had picked him up.  Whereas before he was anxious and intoxicated, now he looked calm and sober.  Even the studs in his ears were no longer there.

After saying their greetings, Hyder said, “So, where do you want to go?”

“We don’t have to go anywhere,” Naveed said.  “We can talk right here.”

“Um, don’t you want to go to a restaurant?” Hyder was thinking of taking Naveed someplace to talk and eat.

“Nah.” Naveed shook his head.  “I’m fasting.”
Hyder was surprised.  “Really?”

“Yeah, I figured Ramadan only comes once a year. Might as well make the best of it before it’s gone.”

Hyder smiled.  “I’m really happy to hear that, Naveed.  What does your dad think about this?”

“I’m not doing it for him. I’m doing this for myself.”

Hyder’s smile widened even more.  “Good to hear that.  Is he still giving you a hard time?”

“Not really,” Naveed said with a shrug. “He’s backed off, but our relationship is still strained, you know.”

“It’ll get better in time.”

“Thanks for helping me out,
Bhai
,” Naveed said.

“Hey, that’s what older cousins are for,” Hyder said.  “Apart from beating you in basketball.”

“You never beat me,” Naveed said, getting excited.  “I let you score those points.”

“I hit eight three pointers in that game, and you were guarding me, so I think that counts as beating you.”

“Yeah, but I was going through a lot and my mind was messed up.  If we play now, I guarantee you won’t be open to hit even a single shot.”

“Once Ramadan is over, we are hitting the courts.”

“You’re on.”

They both laughed.

When he had dropped Naveed off, Hyder looked at his watch.  It was time to meet Nolan.

FIFTY-NINE

Lopez headed home to a house she shared with her younger sister, but she had it to herself more often than not.  Angela was usually away, either for a stage production or on some movie set miles away.

Lopez’s family had come to the US from Mexico.  She was only six when they had crossed the border.  Her parents had left when her older brother, Eduardo, was killed in a shootout between two rival drug gangs.  He was coming back from school, and had somehow gotten caught in the crossfire.

When they had found his body, it was riddled with over a dozen bullets.  In his hand was a report card.  He had scored the highest in his class and was eager to show it to his parents.

Maybe that was why, years later, Lopez had wanted to be a police officer.  Maybe she could right the wrong that had happened to her older brother.  She had initially thought about joining the Drug Enforcement Agency.  She wanted to go after the dealers and the cartels who were responsible for the deaths of countless children just like her brother.  But her mother feared losing another child, and she begged Lopez to try another profession.  Become a lawyer, a doctor, anything other than law enforcement.  But Lopez was stubborn.  She was only interested in becoming a cop. Soon a compromise was brokered.  Lopez would become a city police officer, with the intent of making detective.  This way she wasn’t directly involved in preventing a crime, but would still be involved in solving it.