Unseen (32 page)

“Come on, Adams,” Branson prompted. “Give it to me straight.”

Lena shrugged off the challenge. “Did you hear DeShawn’s getting divorced again?”

“And you think ’cause he’s black and I’m black that we’re a match made in heaven?”

“Please, he should be so lucky.” As hypocritical as it sounded, Lena told her, “I’m just saying that you can’t do both—be married to the job and married to a wife. What are you working for if you don’t have someone to come home to?”

Denise’s words were pointed. “You mean husband.”

The phone line was deadly silent. Denise Branson went to church every Sunday. She made the appropriate noises when a good-looking man walked by. But so had Lena’s sister, and Sibyl had been as gay as a three-dollar bill.

Denise was all business again. “Call me as soon as the meet’s over. If you can’t get Waller on tape, Lonnie’s gonna give us a come-to-Jesus talk. And I’m not gonna argue with him, because he’ll be right.”

“Denise, give me a break.”

“Don’t talk about break, girl, talk about broke. Do you know how much this is costing the department? Twenty-four-hour surveillance going on ten days. Overtime for everybody and their mother. We passed the half-million mark last weekend. I can’t
even do the math on where we are now. I’ve been waiting for this meet to pan out so when I take it to Lonnie, he doesn’t kick my ass out the door.”

“I know you’re taking heat for me.”

“Shit,” Denise muttered. “I wish it was heat. I’m standing in a damn ring of fire.”

Lena was almost to the van. She glanced around, making sure she wasn’t being watched. “I’ll get Waller. I promise.”

“You don’t, then get a newspaper. We’re gonna both need to start looking for new jobs.” She let the phone slam down in Lena’s ear.

Lena slipped her hand back into her pocket. She traced the edge of the ultrasound as she walked toward the white van with the AT&T logo on the side. As far as she knew, no one had bothered to get clearance from the phone company. Lena figured they should shut up and take the free advertising.

“Hey, boss.” DeShawn came around the side of the van. He was so big he cast her completely in shadow.

Lena’s hand went to her throat. “You sure move light for a Mack truck.”

“That’s what the ladies say.” He winked at her. “You doing all right?”

Lena felt her defenses go up. “Why?”

He shrugged and shook his head. “No reason.”

“You take yourself off the monitors and stand out here waiting for me for no reason?”

He had the grace to admit he’d been caught. “I know this whole Waller thing’s been weighing hard on you.”

“Why? Has Lonnie said something?” Lena knew that DeShawn was Gray’s eyes and ears, but she’d never thought of him as a tattletale. “What did he say?”

“Nothing, and I didn’t say anything to him.” DeShawn looked at her like she was paranoid for no reason. “Come on, gal. You know I’m on your team.”

“What’s going on?” Lena asked. Now that she was looking at him, he seemed on edge, like something else was going on. “Why are you acting weird?”

DeShawn gave a heavy sigh. “I just noticed you’ve been tired lately.”

“So? We’re all tired. We’ve been butts to nuts for weeks.”

He gave the sigh again. “I just wanted you to know that it’s okay by me if you decide to take a back seat on—”

“Fuck your back seat,” Lena snapped. “I’ve never taken a back seat on anything in my life.”

“All right.” He held up his hands. “Just worried about you, is all.”

“Worried about me why?”

His mouth twisted to the side, like he was debating whether or not to tell her something. Lena knew DeShawn’s sister had two girls. Maybe he’d figured out that Lena was pregnant. In which case, she had to shut this down fast.

She said, “Get your panties out of your cooch, Shawn. I appreciate your concern, but the best thing for both of us right now is for you to do your job and me to do mine. All right?”

He held up his hands in surrender again. “You’re the boss.”

She knocked on the side of the van. “It’s me.”

Eric Haigh cracked open the door. The whole gang was here. He told Lena, “We got a call from Waller’s tail. He’s about five minutes out.”

Paul couldn’t help but add, “I was right. He’s probably coming early to case the restaurant.”

Lena wasn’t interested in giving credit. She started to hold out her hand for help, then decided it would be better to show DeShawn she was capable of moving her own weight. Still, she groaned as she pulled herself up.

DeShawn vaulted in without assistance, probably to prove a point. He slammed the door shut behind him.

“Jesus Christ.” Lena clapped her hands over her face. The smell was disgusting. “What’ve you guys been doing in here?”

“Sorry,” Eric said. “I had Mexican for lunch.”

“Thanks a lot, dickslit.” Paul punched him in the arm. Eric rewarded him with the wettest-sounding fart Lena had ever heard.

“Oh, God.” She pinched her nose closed and breathed through her mouth. “Please tell me Snitch is still there.”

Paul provided, “Mr. Snitchy is on the bench looking at the kiddies.”

“Looking at them how?” Lena checked the monitor to see for herself. Snitch still had on his sunglasses. His arms were sprawled across the back of the bench. “Are you sure he’s not asleep?”

“Look at his foot.”

He was right. Snitch’s heel was hopping up and down so fast the camera barely registered the movement. Lena asked, “Where’s Mom?”

DeShawn was back in his chair. He pulled up the appropriate camera. The mother was still on the phone, stretched out in the booth as if she planned to stay there for a while.

“Good thing he’s not a pedophile,” Lena said. She motioned for Eric to get out of her chair.

Eric said, “The seat might be a little warm.”

Paul laughed again, and she slapped him on the back of the head. “Why is everyone in this van an asshole except for me?”

Paul asked, “You okay, boss?”

Lena scowled at him. “Since when am I the boss?”

“You’re in charge, right?” Paul indicated his empty chair. “What’s going on with you? Your face is all red.”

She put her hand to her cheek. The skin was hot. “It’s probably gas poisoning.”

“You sure about that?” He cocked an eyebrow at her, but he didn’t push it.

“All right, ladies and Lena.” DeShawn rubbed his hands together. “Mr. Waller has arrived.”

A red Corvette idled in the parking lot. The windows were down. Sid Waller circled the lot twice before parking in a space by the road. He’d brought weight with him. Diego Nuñez was in the passenger seat. He had his arm resting on the door. A cigarette dangled from his fingers.

Eric squinted at the monitor. “Is that a joint?”

DeShawn checked it out. “Looks like it.”

“Damn,” Paul said. “Chick-fil-A don’t like queers. What’re they gonna do with a spic toking a doobie?”

“Shut up,” Lena said. She tried to tune out their voices as she watched Sid Waller get out of the car. The metal chain on his wallet swung as he strutted across the parking lot. His long, skanky hair was pulled back in a ponytail. He wore ragged jeans and a flannel shirt with the sleeves ripped off. Tattoos covered both arms. Like Paul, he was incapable of just opening a door. He flung it open to announce his presence.

All four of them swiveled their heads in unison, watching the monitor that showed the lobby camera. Waller raised some eyebrows inside the restaurant, but this was Macon and it was hard to tell a harmless long-haired redneck from a violent one. The girls behind the counter figured it out quickly. Lena had always believed that women were better than men at spotting danger. It was why her gut wouldn’t let go of the bad feeling she had about Mr. Snitch.

The junkie in question had noticed Waller’s arrival. He sat up straight on the bench. His hand shot up in a wave. And then he kept waving, because Waller wouldn’t look his way. Finally, Snitch stood up and went to the door. Instead of going inside, he motioned for Waller to join him on the playground.

Lena checked on the woman in the booth. The mother’s jaw dropped when she saw Sid Waller.

DeShawn said, “Come on, Mama. Time to check on the kiddies.”

Waller jerked open the door. Lena startled when his voice blared from the speaker in the van. “What the fuck, dumbass?” Snitch nervously looked at the kids.

Thankfully, their mother had scrambled to the door on the other side of the playground. They heard her strident tone on Snitch’s concealed mic. “Britney. Randall. Now.”

The children didn’t have to be told twice. Sid Waller had a way of clearing a room.

“Move over,” Waller said, and Snitch slid down the bench. “What’re you doing here? I thought they didn’t let faggots in this place.”

Snitch chuckled like he was in on the joke.

“Shut up, pencil dick.” Waller took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He shook one out, fumbled for his lighter.

Snitch looked around, checking all the corners.

“You worried about something?” Waller asked. He held the open flame of the lighter a few inches from his cigarette.

Snitch shook his head.

“Take off those fucking glasses.”

Snitch took off his sunglasses.

Waller lit the cigarette. He inhaled half of it down before blowing out a long stream of smoke. “What are we doing here?”

“I got some more pills.” Snitch reached for his pocket.

Waller stopped him with a look. “I look like a drug dealer to you?”

Snitch froze, his hand halfway in his pocket. They’d told him to pass the pills so at the very least, they’d have Waller on taking stolen narcotics.

Inside the van, they all tensed.

Eric said, “Look at him. He’s freaking out.”

He was right. Snitch was panicking.

Waller stood up to leave.

“Come on,” Snitch said. “Don’t be that way.”

Instead of opening the door, Waller leaned against it. His arms crossed over his broad chest. The cigarette dangled from his mouth.

Lena held her breath. She watched the two men. They were having some kind of staring contest.

Unbelievably, Snitch won. Waller looked down as he tapped the ash off his cigarette.

Snitch said, “I wanna move up.”

Waller put the cigarette back in his mouth.

“I can get more product.”

“What makes you think I need it?”

Snitch stood up. He took off his ballcap and ran his fingers through his hair.

Lena asked, “Was that a signal?”

“I think he’s just sweating,” Paul said. “Look at the way he keeps pulling his pants away from his sac.”

He was right. Snitch couldn’t keep his hands off his crotch.

“Well?” Waller prompted. “You gonna make your case?”

Remarkably, Snitch remembered his lines. “I’ve gotta source at the hospital. I can get the good stuff. Name brand. Not that shit from China.”

Smoke wafted up into Waller’s eyes. He was thinking about it. Lena knew that he was thinking about it.

“Come on,” she begged. Everyone in the van edged closer to the monitors. This was the make-or-break moment—maybe their only chance to get him.

Waller turned around and opened the door.

“Fuck.” DeShawn banged his fist against the table. The monitors shook. “I can’t believe he blew it.”

Snitch seemed to be thinking the same thing. He took off his hat again. “You’re a dumbass.”

Waller stopped.

Eric whispered, “Holy shit.”

“Shut up,” Lena ordered.

Waller was turning around. He didn’t speak until the door had closed.

“What’d you just call me?”

“I said you’re a dumbass.”

Lena felt her heart stop beating. Waller was coiled like a snake. They would have to peel him off Snitch before he killed him.

“You think I’m a dumbass?” Waller asked, like he wanted to be absolutely clear.

Instead of backing down, Snitch said, “I offer to double my deliveries, to give you top-notch product, and you walk away from me?” He took a step toward Waller, seemingly blind to the fact that he was taking his own life into his hands. “I want to move up, Sid. I been a good soldier, but I want to be a general one day.”

Waller seemed amused. “That so?”

“Yeah, that’s so.” Snitch jammed his hat back on his head. “I think I’ve earned some respect.”

Waller took out his cigarette pack again. He lit a fresh one off the old one. “What do I get out of this?”

“You know I’m an earner,” Snitch said. “You know I can do the dirty work.”

“Seems to me you like the dirty work.”

“You wanna get me wet?”

Waller didn’t answer, but Lena shook her head. Snitch was pushing it too far. He was asking if Waller wanted him to murder someone.

Waller flicked the old cigarette into the sandpit. “Let’s stick with what you know how to do. Double the order. Bring it to the house off Redding. We got junkies clawing at the door.”

DeShawn offered silent high fives all around. The shooting gallery was the house off Redding. They had their probable cause.

Snitch wouldn’t leave well enough alone. “When do you want it?”

“Soon as you can. Shipment’s late this week.” Sid puffed his
cigarette. “We had a truck rolled in Miami. Cubans took two hundred K worth of Oxy.”

Snitch’s inner junkie took over. “I get payment on delivery. That’s the deal.”

Waller laughed. “Look at the big man giving orders.” He patted Snitch on the back so hard that Snitch almost fell into the swing set. “I go by the house at three every morning. Don’t be stupid and don’t be late.”

“Holy motherfucker.” Lena laughed incredulously as Sid Waller took his leave from the playground. “Ho-lee shit.”

Paul was laughing, too. “Grab your ankles, Waller. Get ready for the big pokey.”

Eric cut a bugle of a fart, which made the men laugh harder.

Lena groaned as she crawled past them to the front of the van. “You’re all disgusting.”

They were laughing too hard to hear her.

She plopped into the driver’s seat. She rolled down the window and filled her lungs with clean, fresh air. She prayed to God she wasn’t carrying a boy. Or worse, two boys. Twins ran in families. Dr. Benedict had told her they’d know for sure when he did the next ultrasound.