The Crucifix Killer(46)
Several silent seconds went by. ‘OK,’ she finally replied. ‘Give me just a second.’ Hunter heard the faint sound of pages turning. ‘I’ve got a few things coming up, but I could do a quick lunch tomorrow if that’s OK with you.’
‘Lunch tomorrow sounds fine,’ Hunter answered casually. ‘One o’clock OK?’
‘Yeah, that’s perfect.’
‘Since it sounds like you’re on a tight schedule maybe we could meet closer to where you work.’
‘Sure. I work at the University. Do you like Italian food?’
‘Yeah, Italian is tasty.’
‘I guess that’s one way of putting it.’ She giggled. ‘There’s a great little Italian restaurant called Pancetta in Weyburn Avenue, just a block away from the University. How about I meet you there at one o’clock?’
‘Looking forward to it.’ Hunter placed his cell phone back in his pocket. ‘Italian is tasty?’ he said out loud shaking his head. ‘What the hell was I thinking?’
Twenty-One
‘They do have a file on D-King and they said they’d be glad to share it with us on one condition,’ Garcia said as Hunter walked back into the office.
‘And what condition is that?’
‘That we do the same. We tell them whatever we find out about him.’
‘Well, that sounds easy enough.’
‘That’s what I thought, so I told them they had a deal and we’ll be dropping by to collect the file this afternoon.’
‘That’s fine.’
Hunter felt his cell phone vibrate once again followed by its ringtone.
‘Hello, Detective Hunter speaking.’
‘Hello Robert.’ Hunter’s throat knotted and he immediately snapped his fingers twice at his partner to get his attention. Garcia knew exactly who was on the other end of the line.
‘I’m gonna give you a chance to make a difference today.’
‘I’m listening.’
‘I’m sure you are. Are you a gambling man, Robert?’
‘Not if I can avoid it.’ Hunter sounded calm.
‘Well, I’m sure you’ll find someone to help you. Maybe your new partner.’
Hunter frowned. ‘How do you know I have a . . .’
The metallic voice cut Hunter short. ‘In about four minutes there will be a greyhound race starting at the Jefferson County Kennel Club. I want you to pick me the winner.’
‘Greyhounds?’
‘That’s right, Robert. I’m putting someone’s life in your hands. You pick the wrong dog and he dies.’
Hunter exchanged a tense and confused look with Garcia.
‘I will call you back twenty seconds before the race starts to get your selection . . . be ready.’
‘Wait!’ but the line had already gone dead.
‘What did he say?’ Garcia demanded anxiously even before Hunter had a chance to close his phone.
‘Do you understand anything about greyhound racing?’ There was a desperate tone in Hunter’s voice.
‘What?’
‘Dog racing . . . do you know anything about it, do you bet?’ he shouted nervously.
‘No, never have.’
‘Shit!’ Hunter scratched his forehead in thought for a moment. ‘We’ve gotta go downstairs.’ Hunter raced to the door, not a second to spare. Garcia followed him. They made it down the six flights of stairs that took them to the main detective floor in record time. The floor was almost empty, only Detective Lucas and Detective Maurice were at their desks.
‘Do you guys know anything about greyhound racing?’ Hunter shouted as soon as he was through the door. The puzzled look on the detectives’ faces was uniform.
No response.
‘Dog racing, does anyone in here bet on it?’ The desperation in Hunter’s voice was alarming.
‘Dog racing is illegal in California,’ Detective Lucas said calmly.
‘I don’t give a damn, I just wanna know if any of you two know anything about it. Do any of you two bet?’
‘What the hell is going on in here, Hunter?’ Captain Bolter had come out of his office to check what the yelling was all about.
‘No time to explain it now, Captain. I need to know if anyone bets on the dogs in here.’ Hunter noticed a slight uneasiness about Detective Lucas. ‘Lucas c’mon, talk to me,’ Hunter pressed.
‘I bet every now and then,’ Lucas said shyly.
All eyes were now on him. Hunter checked his watch. ‘In two and a half minutes there’s a dog race starting at the Jefferson County Kennel Club. I need you to pick me the winner.’
The puzzled look that had graced the detectives’ faces turned into laughter. ‘Well, if it was that simple I wouldn’t be working here, would I?’ Lucas replied.