Windy City Dying by Eleanor Taylor Bland

Author:Eleanor Taylor Bland
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

CHAPTER 7

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19

It was snowing when Marti left for work the next morning. Half an inch covered the driveway. She turned on the radio and caught the weather report. Two to three inches by nightfall. There were no school closings. By the time she reached the precinct and walked inside, she was wondering if the weatherman knew what he was talking about. There was at least an inch of new snow in the parking lot, but that could be because they were nearer the lake. She met up with Vik at roll call. Baby Dirkowitz was responding to treatment. She didn’t catch Sikich so much as glancing her way. Maybe despite the weather this wouldn’t be such a bad day.

Upstairs there was no sign of Slim or Cowboy, but the aroma of freshly made coffee wafted from their office. There was even a coffee cake with a little sign that said Way to Go, Big Mac!!!

“The things one has to do around here to gain a little recognition,” she said.

“When do we start terrorizing him today?” Vik asked, meaning Sikich.

“He wasn’t waiting for us when we got here and he hasn’t shown up yet. Maybe he’s decided to leave us alone.”

“Fat chance,” said Vik. “Nutcases like him just regroup. Our best hope is that the lieutenant comes in by Wednesday and relieves him. Chain of command is one of the few concepts Sikich understands.”

Marti called Denise at eight-fifteen. Denise had talked to José’s public defender and the woman had agreed to allow José two unsupervised visits, one with Padgett and one with Ramos.

“What’s the catch?” Marti asked.

“That no matter what he tells them we won’t try to use it in court.”

“Not even if he confesses?”

“Especially not if he confesses,” Denise said. “The way confessions are being thrown out of Illinois courts these days, sufficient evidence sounds much more reliable.”

“Then what do you think these visits will accomplish?” Marti asked.

“Probably nothing for the defense or the prosecution, but maybe something for José. He and Padgett went through some rough times together. And I think Ramos has a much bigger emotional investment in these foster kids than he’s willing to admit.”

Marti thought Denise might be right about that. “Have you gotten anywhere with the personnel records at the place where José and Graciela were warehoused together?”

“I’ve got someone working on it.”

Several phone calls later, Marti had three previous addresses for Reggie Garrett’s friend G.L. She had one address other than his mother’s for Garrett. That done, she reached for the stack of papers in her in-basket.

“Hey, Jessenovik, check out this forensic report on that home-invasion homicide. Looks like we’ve got some fiber matches with the guy who said he’d been to that house twice with deliveries.”

“So?” Vik said, flipping through his paperwork.

“So how do you get fibers from your jacket on a rope used for garroting someone if you’re just delivering pizzas?”

Vik read the report she was referring to, and said, “Bingo. Let’s get him in here.”

Two hours later, after being

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