Trail of Secrets(35)

                “How did you do that?”

                “I went down to the center one day last week, and I told him. He thanked me and said he’d be careful. But I guess they got to him anyway. How is he?”

                Seth glanced at Callie, who still hadn’t spoken. “He’s in the hospital, but we’re hoping he makes it.”

                Melvin nodded. “I sure hope he does.”

                “Do you know who put out the hit on Dan?”

                “No, but I know who the shooter was. It was Carlos Allen.”

                Seth’s breath hitched in his throat at the mention of the name he’d heard off and on ever since he’d joined the police force. Carlos had been in and out of trouble in Memphis for years, but it had been mostly for gang activities. If he was now hiring out as a hit man, he must have acquired a new set of skills and spread his wings in the criminal community.

                “I know him. When I joined the police force, he was a gang member. I haven’t heard much from him lately, though. I thought maybe he’d left town.”

                Melvin shook his head. “No, he’s still around. Not into the gang scene so much anymore. He’s moved up in the world.”

                Seth thought for a moment before he asked the next question. “Any idea where I might find him?”

                “Yeah, one of two places. I heard he’s been doing a lot of community service time down at the Midtown Mission.”

                “That’s interesting,” Seth said. “And where else might I find him?”

                “At Sam’s Bar and Grill over on Highway 61.” Melvin glanced over his shoulder. “If that’s all, I need to get out of here. I don’t want nobody catching me talking to a cop. That ain’t healthy in this neighborhood.”

                Seth held up his hand to stop Melvin from leaving. “One more thing, Melvin. Did you tell Judge Lattimer where he might be able to find Carlos?”

                “Yeah.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I’ve told you all I know. Now I need to go.”

                “Okay, Melvin. I appreciate your help, and I’ll leave that money at Mr. Parson’s store. Take care of the baby. Being a father is a big responsibility. You need to make sure you do everything you can to give your son a good life.”

                Melvin didn’t say anything, just gave him one last look before he turned and walked away. When he’d rounded the corner and disappeared from view, Callie stepped forward. “Do you think he was telling the truth?”

                “He’s never lied to me before, and he’s right about Dan being respected in this neighborhood. At least now I have a name to start with. I haven’t thought of Carlos Allen in a long time, but being a hit man for somebody is the sort of thing he’d like. Besides that, the gang he belonged to made their members get a star tattooed on their necks. That goes along with the description you gave of Dan’s attacker at the hospital.”

                Callie’s mouth curled into a large smile. “Then all we have to do is go to this bar and grill and wait for him. Then you can arrest him.”

                Seth shook his head and waved his hands in dismissal. “We are not going to the bar. I will go with police backup. You are not going near that place.”

                Her eyes turned dark with anger. “You can’t do that. I thought we were going to work on this case together.”