Chapter 110

Chapter 110
Chapter Title: Two Steps Ahead

Kathy

I sighed. Things weren't always that simple.

That was something I had learned the hard way in this investigation. Every time we thought we had finally caught up, whoever was behind this had already anticipated our next move.

I stood from my chair as Lena slipped her phone out from her pocket. "Lena, don't message Theo just yet. Do it while we get the warrant."

She looked at me, brow furrowed. "Why?"

"If someone is watching Reynolds and me and Theo suddenly starts taking photographs while we're still here, it'll make him a target," I explained. "Let the killer believe we're focused on Benny."

Reynolds nodded slowly. "She's right. Plus, there might be cameras in that man cave. While I was in the security room, I saw a huge monitor. Every room was being watched."

"Every room?" Lena asked.

"That's what it looked like."

That settled it. I couldn't let these good people become names on our killer's list.

I turned toward Lena. "Tomorrow will be the last day of preparations for the Senator's birthday. Hank will be there. Have Theo go to Hank personally for the photographs. This way, it won't raise suspicion."

Lena nodded, placing her phone on her desk, clearly stunned by how quickly everything had become complicated. "All right. I'll talk to Theo when he gets home later."

I looked at Reynolds. "Once we step outside, call Tate about the warrant."

"I took the liberty of messaging Judge Ruben earlier," Lena said. "He's still at the courthouse."

"Tomorrow, then," Reynolds sighed. "Thanks, Lena. Make sure you turn on the alarm when we leave."

We stepped outside. Behind us, we heard Lena speak.

"Alexa, turn on the security system."

A moment later, a loud beep sounded.

And just as I asked, Reynolds pulled out his phone.

"We got the affidavit. We're heading to the courthouse." He paused, then glanced at his watch. "We'll be there in twenty minutes." He ended the call. "Tate says they're locked and loaded. Just waiting for the warrant."

I followed him to the Mustang.

The courthouse was quiet when we arrived.

Inside the judge's chambers, I immediately recognized Judge Ruben. He was one of the older gentlemen I'd seen at the yacht club auction.

He looked up as we entered. "Detective Reynolds."

"Judge." Reynolds handed him the affidavit.

I stood beside him as Ruben began reading. The longer he read, the more concerned I became.

If he refused to sign, we'd lose valuable time. And somehow, I couldn't shake the feeling that time was exactly what our killer wanted.

Ruben finally looked up. "Fingerprint on the whiskey bottle?"

"On the cap, Your Honor," Reynolds said. "CSU lifted it from the bottle recovered at Earl Lincoln's crime scene."

"And you're telling me that's enough to establish probable cause for an arrest?"

"Not by itself."

The judge leaned back. "Good. Because a fingerprint on a bottle doesn't tell me when Benny Reed touched it. Defense counsel will argue he handled that bottle weeks or months before Earl Lincoln died."

"They can argue that," Reynolds said. "But the circumstances surrounding the fingerprint give it significance."

"Then give me those circumstances."

Reynolds stepped closer to the desk. "Earl Lincoln was found dead with a bottle of his favorite whiskey beside him. CSU found Benny Reed's fingerprint on the cap."

Ruben raised a hand. "Again, Detective. You're asking me to infer too much from one fingerprint."

"Then let's add the financial evidence." Reynolds pulled out his phone and brought up the bank records.

I sighed in relief. Reynolds had come prepared.

"Three days before Lincoln's death, ten thousand dollars was deposited into his account through a shell company."

Ruben studied the screen. "And you have evidence that the shell company belongs to Reed?"

"Not yet."

The judge looked up. "Then what connects Reed to the payment?"

"We have CCTV footage showing one of Reed's men meeting Lincoln for a drop-off shortly after the deposit."

"What was exchanged?"

"We can't see clearly enough to identify the object."

Ruben leaned back again. "Then how does that establish probable cause?"

"Because the timing isn't isolated." Reynolds tapped his phone. "Money goes into Lincoln's account. One of Reed's men meets him. A few days later, Lincoln is dead from cyanide poisoning. And Reed's fingerprint is on the cap of the whiskey bottle found beside his body."

The judge was silent.

Reynolds continued. "I'm not asking you to find Benny Reed guilty, Judge. I'm asking you to determine whether there's probable cause to believe he was involved in Lincoln's murder."

"Probable cause requires more than suspicion."

"Agreed."

"And right now, you're giving me a fingerprint, a payment from an unidentified shell account, and an ambiguous meeting."

"Together, those facts establish a reasonable basis to believe Reed had contact with Lincoln shortly before his death and may have supplied the poisoned whiskey."

Ruben looked back down at the affidavit. "You don't have motive."

"We have the bottle."

"You don't have a confession."

"No."

"You don't have an eyewitness who saw Reed poison it."

"No, sir."

The judge looked up again. "Then why should I sign this?"

Reynolds didn't hesitate. "Because if we wait until we have enough evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, we'll never get the chance to question him. And if Benny Reed knows what happened to Earl Lincoln, he's going to know exactly how to destroy whatever evidence remains."

Ruben studied him. "You're asking me to trust your investigation."

"I'm asking you to let us continue it."

The judge sighed. Then he reached for his pen. He signed the warrant. "Don't make me regret this, Detective Reynolds."

Reynolds took the document. "You won't, Judge."

Ruben leaned back. "Tell your grandfather I'll see him at the Senator's birthday. And tell him Divine had Lizzie include one of his favorites."

Reynolds paused. Then he grinned. "I'll most certainly tell him. Thank you."

As we hurried out of the office, Reynolds looked at me. "Seems like I'll be going to a birthday party."

"Grandfather's plus-one?"

"Yep." He slipped the warrant into his jacket. "While you'll be going undercover as a server with Elizabeth Ruben's catering service." His smile widened. "I like it when things fall into place."

We climbed into the Mustang.

"I just need to figure out if my tux has been dry-cleaned," Reynolds said as he started the engine.

I glanced at him. "Seems like you're used to being part of high society."

"I used to like it when I was young. Comes with a lot of perks." He pulled away from the courthouse. "Then I got older and realized they were a bunch of snobs."

I laughed.

We left the glittering waterfront of Crisfield behind and headed toward West Crisfield.

The difference was almost immediate.

The manicured lawns and waterfront mansions disappeared behind us, replaced by aging buildings, cracked sidewalks, and dimly lit streets.

By the time we reached the alley infront of T&A, Crisfield SWAT was already in position.

"Finally," Tate said as she handed Reynolds a bulletproof vest. "I thought I'd have to break into the joint and violate a whole bunch of laws."

Reynolds slipped on the vest and secured the straps. "Good thing you didn't. This is our one chance to put Papa Benny in the slammer... for good. We can't afford to screw this up." Then he looked at me. "Stay here. Let us handle this."

I opened my mouth to argue. He gave me a look.

I sighed. "Fine."

Tate turned toward the SWAT team. "Jam the cameras. We need those mofos blind. And wait for my signal before you breach."

The officers moved into position.

I watched from behind the Mustang as SWAT secured the front and rear of the building. Tate and Reynolds drew their weapons. Then they ran across the street.

"Benny Reed!" Tate shouted. "We have a warrant for your arrest!"

She gave the signal. SWAT breached the building.
Then all hell broke loose.

Gunfire erupted from inside. Glass shattered. People screamed. The sharp cracks of automatic gunfire echoed through the building.

Half-dressed women came running out of the front entrance, some screaming, others clutching towels or whatever clothes they could grab. Patrons stumbled after them with their hands raised as SWAT officers shouted for them to get on the ground.

After what seemed like an eternity, the gunfire finally stopped. One by one, people were brought outside in handcuffs.

But none of them were Benny Reed.

I waited until the scene was secure before flashing my FBI badge and entering the building.

The air smelled of gunpowder, sweat, and spilled alcohol. Bodies lay where they'd fallen.

I pushed deeper into the building until I reached the back office. Tate stood outside the doorway, shaking her head in frustration.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Look for yourself."

She stepped aside, and I entered.

Reynolds was on his phone with Dr. Healy. He glanced at me and gestured behind him.

Papa Benny sat behind his desk, his head fallen back against the backrest of his chair, his eyes wide open. Blood soaked through the front of his shirt.

Dead.

I stared at him.

After everything we'd done to get that warrant, we'd arrived too late.

"Who shot him?" I asked.

Tate stepped beside me. "Not us."

My stomach tightened. Someone had beaten us here.

Again.