Herb arrived at the observation post and parked well away from the tactical vehicles that were readying for departure.
"How did it go Jerry?" Herb asked.
"Not the worst, the shotgun was a new twist. But she only had one door rigged. The rear slider was inaccessible from outside, we came through the front window and one of the bedrooms," Jerry replied. "The boss really headed off a disaster. Just a little lesson about complacency and treating females as less dangerous."
"Well he's been around a bit and he's seen a lot. Where's the shotgun?" Herb asked.
"In front of the front door. It had an electronic trigger rigged to the door. That's one thing the boss didn't count on, no mail slots, that's a warm climate thing and he's from California," Jerry chuckled." Anyway it's unloaded and the action is blocked open for safety until it's printed."
"So where did you stick the camera in?" Herb asked.
"We drilled a hole in the front door, just big enough for the fiber to go through and then we reassessed," Jerry grinned.
"We swept the house and released it to your guys and the techs. Our search dog alerted to the basement floor. It looks like fresh concrete work and I'm sure you'll find something objectionable under that slab. It looks like the whole basement has been freshly painted say within the last couple months. Paint's still outgassing. Our basement stunk for three months after I epoxied the floor. I had to ban the kids until it dried completely," Jerry apprised Herb.
"That's good to know, we'll get Bruce's army in there after we do the rest of the house. I don't want a crew exposed to decomp odor while they're trying to process the house, and I'll check to see if I need to get the warrant amended. It might explain what happened to Louis Hobart, I think Marina could pass for Luis and may have done," Herb speculated quietly.
"Well we're ready to return to base so I'll see you later, let me know what you find re: bodies or contraband. The dog can only tell us that there's something interesting down there, he just gets a scent and parks on the spot until relieved," Jerry shared.
"Well give him an extra treat and tell him it's from me will you?" Herb smiled.
"You got it," Jerry laughed and disappeared inside the armored vehicle.
Herb walked through the front door after donning his booties. He paused to inspect the door and eyeballed the hall effect sensor wired to a small transmitter which was paired to the receiver for the trigger solenoid on the shotgun.
"What a ratbag," Herb thought to himself.
Herb watched the tech who was systematically dusting the weapon for prints. He had already swabbed for DNA on the sharper angles of the metal, that's where people snag themselves and leave a sample.
"Serial number intact Keith?" Herb asked the Tech.
No sir, ground off but we might be able to etch for it and there might be another on the weapon under the forearm.
"Okay, let me know what you find. Any other weapons discovered in the house?" Herb asked.
"There was an old cap and ball rifle in a closet in the back. Not likely to have been used for a long time, and there's no nipple for the percussion cap," but I'll give it a good examination when I finish with this beast," Keith answered dividing his attention only because Herb was one of the good ones.
Herb made his way to the basement and found Audrey Fuller laying scales and marking tape around the suspect slab. She appeared to be setting up some sort of expensive gear. The basement itself was thick with the fumes of concrete sealant paint.
"Oh hello Herb, Audrey chirped pleasantly, You're just in time to watch me get a subterranean air sample, I've drilled a hole in the joint and I've got a tube in position. This is a portable gas chromatograph with a few special features. It's specifically for decomp and hazmat like meth precursors. They get poured out on the ground pretty regularly. The sample will be collected in this vacuum vial and then I'll move the vial to the second tier where I'll get an indication. Then we can officially say 'good doggy'," Audrey chuckled. "Just to let you know, based on what I sniffed through my mask after I drilled, we're looking at decomp."
"You'll take multiple samples though?" Herb asked.
"Oh yeah, I'll want to run at least one through the big machine at the lab probably more, and we always save back three for lawyer bait," Audrey grinned behind her mask. "I'll seal the sample holes with resin so it won't stink until the recovery team goes to work."
Audrey continued to do her thing and then sat back looking satisfied. "Bingo decomp! and judging by the makeup it's human, I'll fill my holes as soon as I get the other vials filled. Will you have to get another warrant for the floor?"
"I don't know, but I'll sic the D.A. on it and see what I find out. Thanks Audrey, I'm pretty sure we have an answer to a question about the suspect's spouse. I could be wrong though," Herb said cheerfully.
Herb walked across to the rented observation post.
"So all this time you were cops keeping an eye on that crazy bitch eh?"
"Well, we could hardly put out a sign now could we?" Herb countered. "And who are you if I might ask?"
"I'm Palmer, Palmer Rudt and Louis ran off with some of my tools, I'm only interested in one, it's a damn family heirloom."
"Well give me a description, if it's in the inventory of the house and garage, I'll see you get it back unless it's ruled evidence," Herb promised.
"Okay, I will, in fact I can do better. I have a photo of it on my phone. This is my son Ed and that big beast is the scraper, it's over a hundred years old. It's very heavy and I use it for scraping ice, the new ones don't have the heft to do the job proper you know?" Palmer finished.
"Okay then, here's my card, email me the photo and we'll check the inventory, how does that sound?" Herb offered.
"It sounds good, thank you, and if you do find it, be careful. I always kept it razor sharp, it's the weight and the edge that do the job you know?" Palmer finished.
"Okay Mr. Rudt, I need to get on with my investigation so I'll let you know," Herb excused himself.
"Oh hi Ted, sorry for all the noise and lights. It should quiet down soon now that the entry team has left," Herb greeted the neighbor of the O.P.
"Don't worry about it, I knew you weren't missionaries from the get go. You investigated a burglary at my business once. I figured you were watching someone but I kept it to myself, I didn't even tell the Angie, she can't keep anything to herself," Ted grinned.
"Well I appreciate your discretion Ted. Do you remember the last day you saw Louis Hobart in person?"
"Yeah, day after Memorial day, he stomped out, chucked a bunch of stuff in the truck and peeled out. Last I saw of him and nobody else has told me any different. Did Marina whack him? I kinda wondered. See back when they were a normal couple they came to a block Halloween party dressed as each other. It was kind of spooky how well they interchanged. Hey maybe you have Louis in custody and Marina's a corpse. Eh? Ted laughed nervously.
"I'm sure we'll find out when she's booked in, they don't let them in without stripping, searching and a paper jumpsuit, I have to admit I hadn't considered the possibility. But I will follow up on it, thanks Ted and thanks for your patience. Our team will remain to watch the scene until all our tech people have had their fun. I'm sorry but you'll probably be inundated with TV vans, but they'll lose interest when we go away which should be by Tuesday if not sooner," Herb apologized.
"We'll cope, If I don't see you here again Herb, thanks for the entertainment. It's been a hoot," Ted remarked and left to answer his wife's summons.
Herb chatted a bit with the other detectives when something that had been at the back of his mind made itself known. He ambled across the street and walked back in, once again donning Tyvek booties. He walked to the bedroom and looked at Marina's dresser and didn't see what he was looking for. He suddenly remembered an aunt in England that had a bottle of very expensive cologne which she kept in the refrigerator to make it last as long as possible. He found his way to the kitchen and asked if the fridge had been processed. He was told no but they would get to it eventually.
Herb snatched a fresh pair of gloves from the kit on the table and looked in the fridge, behind the milk eight little rectangular blue packages sat in a row. Seven were still sealed in cellophane. Herb removed the open box and looked inside. A small spray bottle that was nearly empty was in the box.
"Okay, I need one of you to bag this and get it to Dr. Singh, I need him to compare it to results he already has on file in this case. What time does he arrive in the lab?"
The tech looked at his phone and said, "three hours, he's always in early on Monday cos stuff piles up on the weekends."
"Well let's make sure this is waiting for him when he arrives and that he knows it's there, can you do that?" Herb asked.
"Sure I'll bag it right now and send it with the next truck that's headed in, maybe Audrey can take it. She works with Singh," the tech vowed.
"Excellent, um, what is your name?"
"Kevin sir, I'm new."
"Okay, thanks Kevin, I appreciate your help," Herb said as he made his way out of the kitchen.
"Oh Audrey, Kevin has something for you in the kitchen, well actually Dr. Singh but it's high priority," Herb stressed.
"I'm headed that way now and then I'm going to the lab," It's covered Herb."
"Okay thanks, I'm headed for the office so we can interview our suspect," Herb declared.
Herb may have pushed the speed limit just a bit on the way back to the bureau.
"Hi Mike, any surprises? Marina isn't Louis by any chance?" Herb prattled.
"What? Where did you come up with that. Anyway I'm sure they would have told me by now if our suspect was not female," Mike replied quizzically.
"Sorry Mike, just something Ted said, he's one of the neighbors. He said Louis and Marina came to a costume party dressed as each other. Ted said it was really weird how well they interchanged. Then he asked me if we were sure it was Marina we had. I'm embarrassed to say it never occurred to me," Herb admitted.
"Well I never considered it either, but we know Marina is female, she's had a cavity search to prevent suicide and a court ordered blood and dna kit done, we've been letting her stew for a while and we'll interview her in a few. I'd like a psychologist handy to observe on the monitor.
On another matter, I contacted Casey Rasmussen and told her to stand down. We couldn't get her into position at the time. However I did ask her to drop by Tuesday morning for an interview. She's off that day and if she's as good as you say, it will show and that will be one more problem solved," Mike explained.
"I'm sure she'll make the cut Mike. Not a bad trade, a zero like Harris for a solid officer like Casey," Herb smiled.
"Well it's not a done deal yet, her current boss might claim that she's essential to the operation. In which case I'll speak to him or her," Mike illustrated.
"The same toad that's kept her from advancing for five years? I hope you can be persuasive Mike, Wixtable is thick as treacle," Herb contributed.
"I'll tell him we're scraping the bottom of the barrel, he can't very well give her poor reviews and claim she's a top performer, I've played this game before Herb, and I may not have to do anything," Mike counseled.
"You must be completely shattered Herb, I've never heard you sound this much like a Brit," Mike teased.
"I've not had a surplus of sleep lately, so I suppose it's within the realm of possibility," Herb conceded.
"Well Marina's had enough beauty sleep so let's get her to interview #1 and see what we can learn. I doubt she'll confess and I'd rather we had a few more things to toss at her than a stolen van and the testimony of her potential victim. There's an Asst. DA and a PD that will sit in plus the Doc and Toni Putnam since the first body was on her turf," Mike decided.
"Sounds good, she's been a lot of help, she might be up for a lateral if the wrong guy gets command of the unit up there," Herb shared.
"A suit with a smile? Their bureau isn't big enough to support one of those useless slugs. That's too bad. Well, their loss is our gain," Mike indicated.
Herb just laughed.
The obligatory handshakes were done and the observers filed into one room as Herb, Mike, Dr. Hastings and the two attorneys joined Marina Hobart in the interview room.
Herb advised all parties that the entire interview would be recorded on video and audio.
Introductions were made to the prisoner and Mike began.
"Good evening Ms. Hobart,+"
"It's Mrs. Hobart, I'm still married," Marina shouted, out of proportion to the conversation.
"Very well then, Mrs. Hobart, can you explain the series of events that led you to be in possession of a stolen van, in the company of Ms. Carstairs ? By the way she prefers Ms.
Marina glared at Mike and began the first of many fanciful tales she would tell that morning.
After the third attempt Mike asked if it would help her to know that she had been observed stealing the van and driving it to the abandoned commercial building and that she was recorded painting over the logo that was on the van in question.
She railed about her rights to privacy and that this was a fascist frame up and she would have her revenge.
After two hours of explaining that she did not have the right to steal vans in the middle of the night or abduct prostitutes for the purpose of murdering them, it was decided that nothing useful could be accomplished and the prisoner would be transported to the county jail and kept in seclusion at least until arraignment pending further interviews.
"The clock starts ticking when she reaches intake, after that we've got seventy-two hours to pull the evidence together that links her to our victims," Mike informed his team. Let's go home, get some sleep and let the lab people do their thing. I have confidence that her murder kit will have trace from all the victims."
Mike and Caelan walked toward the elevator and Herb followed them.
Sorry Mike, I got sidetracked before I could tell you, It's highly likely that there's a body in the basement under a fairly fresh section of concrete. Audrey Fuller ran some tests and it looks positive for human decomp, maybe Louis or maybe someone else, but the recovery team will be there tomorrow morning. They'll tent the house as soon as the last of the other techs leave and start digging. And one last little thing, guess what I found in her refrigerator?" Herb tantalized.
"The head of Alfredo Garcia? I have no idea and I'm not inclined to guess," Mike replied, the fatigue showed in his voice.
"Sorry Mike, I found eight bottles of Revlon Charlie Blue, dated nineteen seventy-three and four. If you remember, Dr. Singh said he could trace the stuff back to the factory, well we only need him to trace it back to the open bottle in the fridge, that pegs her for two of the murders, Pierce county didn't test for residue aerosols, I'm not even sure they can," Herb finished.
"A slow grin registered on Mike's face, now that's the way to end this day Herb. We should hear very soon, I'm told Singh is an early riser, "Mike grinned radiantly. "Now go home and rest, we're going to need our stamina to get through this phase and the media will be here in herds."
*****
Dad and Grampa arrived home and we all sat in the kitchen and listened to the story and how the arrest went off like clockwork. Dad was too excited to sleep and he was sure it was the right suspect, by the time the evidence techs did their magic Marina Hobart would be bought and paid for. She was transported to the central jail facility for booking DNA, Blood and Psych evaluation. She would receive a medical examination and be held for arraignment. They booked her on possession of a stolen vehicle, Vehicle theft and false imprisonment. She had tried to prevent her passenger from leaving the van by force. The passenger had a really good reason to assist with the prosecution, she had known Lois Lopez and wanted to see this murderer locked up.
Finally Dad wound down enough to hit the sack for a few hours before returning to see what news had come forth.
The Videos taken by Tawny Jarvis were already airing on the three major networks and also the local stations. Dad figured it was a major payday for Tawny.
I saw a quick pan that caught a shot of Grampa standing there admiring his son. The pride in his expression was palpable.
I had started the DVR because I expected the video coverage.
By now the phones were ringing off the hook and news organizations were being told to wait for a call as to when the next press conference would be. Dad had left those orders and actually it was Scott's call when the next one would take place. He would want the D.A. and the prosecutor on hand.
Dad made his way upstairs and Chase and I busied ourselves quietly in the back of the garage. I mounted a plate between roof joists with lag bolts to mount the heavy bag. When Art was available we would lift it and Chase could hook the chains to the plate. We mounted the adjustable bracket for the speed bag into studs in the wall and attached the bag. The punch pad was just a matter of some screws and a 4x4 post. We decided not to try it out because it might be heard in the house. Instead we checked out with Mom and wandered over to the Mooks to kill some time.
"Man, your dad is something else. I can't imagine how hard it was to get all that stuff coordinated and all the laws and science stuff to worry about, I can see why you're proud of him," Chase observed.
"Yes, I am proud of him. Bad enough he took over a bureau with serious confidence issues but getting a serial murder case dumped on him almost immediately, that was a lot to start with. But he just jumped in and handled it. It's what he does. He's really good at judging talent and personality. He knew he had some house cleaning to do and then he had to bring the remaining cops back to the fold I guess. He might have more work to do on that problem but he's got a lot on his plate right now," I explained.
"I never knew anyone in police work before, and the way he handled Bressini was perfect. I'm kind of glad I was the one that caused him to get fired. He was really mean, he hurt me like that a lot and I hated it. I should have told my dad but I had no witnesses," Chase shared.
"And now you do, and if anybody ever does anything like that, tell someone right away. I think Jeff was hurt a little because you didn't tell him. I know you didn't want to add to his troubles but he's your dad, that's kind of what he's there for," I counselled.
"We talked about it and I think we're good. I will definitely tell somebody if anything ever happens again. And we'll be there soon. Just a couple of weeks and summer is gone.
"You're right, I hope the weather stays nice so we can do more riding and stuff outside. But I guess it will be what it is and we can't change that. It will be okay as long as you're there," Chase smiled sweetly.
We goofed around a bit longer and went back to my house. Jeff was there waiting for Chase, he wanted to take the boys shopping and dinner out. I gave Chase a smooch and we went up for Carter.
After Carter was in his arms I asked how he had liked the duck the evening before. I explained that I didn't last long after dinner.
"Yes we know, I decided to let Chase stay over rather than wake either of you, you had quite a day yesterday," Jeff acknowledged.
I watched them cross the street and stepped back inside.