Gobble, Gobble Murder by Leslie Meier

Author:Leslie Meier [Meier, Leslie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2020-07-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 4

Ted didn’t greet Lucy when she arrived for work on Monday morning. He didn’t even look up from his computer. “Don’t bother to take off your coat,” he said. “I need you to go straight to District Court.”

“Okay,” said Lucy, casting a “what’s up?” glance toward Phyllis and getting an eye roll and a shrug in reply. “Mind telling me what this is all about?”

“The Downeast Drug Task Force made a big arrest last night. Three dealers. The arraignment is today.” He pulled a sheet of paper off the printer and handed it to her. “Here’s the press release with the names. Try to get photos, okay?”

“Will do,” said Lucy, scanning the brief announcement that Carlos Cabral, 19, Manuel Perez, 21, and Eufry Victorino, 22, all from Queens, had been arrested following a three-month investigation. The three were caught in a Route 1 motel room with 50 grams of heroin, 40 grams of powdered cocaine, $5,750 in cash and several firearms. The street value of the drugs was estimated to be $15,000.

“I’m going to follow up on the official side,” said Ted. “I’m sure the DA will want to get some credit, as will the Task Force.”

“I always wonder why these investigations take so long,” said Phyllis. “What were they doing for three months? It doesn’t take the buyers three months to find a dealer, does it?”

“That’s one of the questions I plan to ask Detective Lieutenant Cunningham, who heads the task force,” said Ted. “Now, go, Lucy. You’ve got to get over to Gilead by nine. Time’s a-wasting!”

“Trust me,” said Lucy, looping her purse strap over her shoulder. “They never start on time.”

Despite the fact that trials seemed quite dramatic when presented on the TV news, Lucy knew that was because they were skillfully highlighted and presented for maximum effect. In truth, trials were extremely tedious and took a very long time to establish the most basic facts. Even arraignments, which were brief, required reporters to sit through a long list of other more minor offenders. Nevertheless, she felt a certain sense of excitement as she followed the familiar route to Gilead, the county seat, to cover what was sure to be a big story.

As she expected, the parking lot in the courthouse complex was packed and there were several satellite trucks from various TV stations. The Boston stations were all there, as was the regional cable news. She had to park in an overflow lot, which meant a long hike back to the courthouse, and by the time she made her way through the metal detector and had her purse examined by a gloved officer she was running late. Court was already in session, all the seats were taken, and she had to elbow her way into a spot in the back.

Judge Irene Thaw was clearly not pleased at the sudden intense interest in the proceedings in her courtroom, and she wasn’t about to expedite matters for the benefit of the assembled members of the media. As

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