“No, but -— ”
“It’s not enough,” Horton said.
Landeta stepped forward. “Louis...”
“Chief, I know there’s something going on out there,” Louis said. “I can feel it.”
“Then feel your way toward some solid evidence, Kincaid,” Horton said.
“Chief, let us just try for a warrant.”
“No!” Horton leaned into Louis. “I’m not going to a judge with some shit about Roman soldiers and werewolves.”
Louis fell silent. Horton was right. He was absolutely right. He looked over at Landeta, suddenly aware that he had been quiet for the last few minutes. He seemed to be staring off toward the river.
“Get the hell out of here,” Horton said. “If you want to pursue this island angle, bring me back something I can use. Not paintings and wolf tits.”
Horton walked away, the little dog dragging him toward a flock of pigeons at a fountain.
Louis let out a breath. “He’s right.”
Landeta was still silent, his face slack.
“Mel, we’ll get more evidence.”
“From where?” Landeta said. “All the evidence is on that fucking island. Behind that fucking fence.”
“We’ll dig deeper,” Louis said. “We’ll find someone who knows the family, find someone who knew Frank in 1952. We’ll find something that will get us a warrant to search that island.”
Landeta shook his head. It was getting late and the afternoon light was fading. Landeta took a few cautious steps away from Louis, turning his back. He seemed to be staring out at the river again, even though Louis knew he couldn’t see it clearly.
Landeta turned back. He hesitated then reached inside his black jacket. He pulled out a small leather holder and flipped it open.
Louis saw the glint of the gold badge in the fading light. Landeta was just standing there, running a thumb over the embossing.
“Where’d Horton go?” Landeta asked.
Louis froze. He knew what Landeta was thinking.
“Mel, no,” he said.
“I said, where’s Horton?”
“Over there by the fountain.”
Louis watched as Landeta followed the sound of the water over to the fountain. He watched as Landeta touched Horton’s shoulder and said something. Horton looked down at Landeta’s hand, but he didn’t move.
The two men talked for several more minutes. Finally, Horton took the gold shield.
Horton walked away, the dog tugging him toward the parking lot. Landeta was just standing there. Louis knew he couldn’t see him so he went over to him.
“Why did you do that?” Louis asked.
“It was time.” Landeta was still looking off in the direction that Horton had gone. There was something different about Landeta suddenly. It was small but Louis could see it there in the slight drop of his shoulders, the laxity in his face. It was as if the damn gold badge had been the only thing holding him upright.
“Mel, look, I know —- ” Louis began.
Landeta’s eyes came back to Louis. He smiled slightly. “Come on. I’ll buy you a beer.”
CHAPTER 37
Landeta looked at him from across the table, his long fingers wrapped around the glass of Diet Coke. They had driven to O’Sullivan’s in silence, Louis leaving Landeta to his thoughts. But they had been here for five minutes and the man still hadn’t spoken.
“Mel, we need to talk about this,” Louis said.
“It was my decision. Don’t feel sorry for me.”
“I wasn’t.” Louis stopped. Truth was, he was feeling sorry for Landeta.
“I’m concerned,” Louis said.
“I’m not Frank Woods, Kincaid. I won’t jump into the sound on you.”
“What will you do then? Go back to Miami?” Louis asked.
Landeta shrugged, his gaze wandering over to the two off-duty cops sitting at the bar. He twirled the ice in his glass. “Do you remember that day in my office, when you stopped by to get the baby skull?”
Louis nodded.
“I asked you how long it took before you didn’t miss being a cop anymore,” Landeta said. “Do you remember?”
“I didn’t really answer you,” Louis said.
“You didn’t have to. I already knew. I knew the answer that day back in the mangroves when we found Shelly Umber’s body.”
Louis waited until Landeta took a drink and set the glass down on the cocktail napkin.
“You knelt there, down by Shelly Umber’s body, and told me what you saw even though you were choking on the damn smell,” Landeta said.
Louis shrugged. “Yeah, well, I guess you never stop wanting to be a part of it. Even the bad parts.”