Warrants
Chapter forty-two
Alex
“We need to order more feather dusters. Frankie just used the last one. Get more lint rollers as well, you can never have too many. Oh, and disinfectant spray. There’s a bug going around, I want to make sure no one gets sick here.” Brandon bobs his head as he makes a note to order more supplies.
“No problemo, little dude,” he says.
“Thanks!”
Just then the front door creaks open, and I look over to see an older guy walking in.
Detective, judging by the suit and tie. The only thing that gives him away as a cop is the gun on his hip that I’m sure he thinks is hidden, and the constipated look on his face that’s going for threatening, but really just makes him look like he needs a snickers.
“Can I help you, officer?” I ask innocently, trying to look casual. In my head I’m running through a list of anything we might have done recently to invite suspicion.
“Hello, sir. I’m looking for the owner of this hotel.”
“I’m the manager, how can I help you?” I stick out a hand, and he shakes it. “Alex.”
“Detective Hollister. I’ve been working on a murder case involving this hotel. I have a witness, Ms. Kayla Danver, that has given evidence of multiple bodies being buried on this property. I have a warrant to exhume them.”
He hands me a piece of paper that I guess is a warrant. I’ve never actually seen one, so I have no idea if this thing is legit.
“If you’d like to read through it, it details the scope of our search. Right now we’re looking for remains buried on or around the warehouse located at the edge of the property,” he explains.
“By all means, if there are any bodies on this property, please dig them up and take them far away from here. We don’t need any more issues.” This is amazing news. Free body removal, meaning no chance of more ghosts popping up unexpectedly.
“Issues?”
I scratch my head, feigning confusion. “Huh?”
“You said you’ve had issues?” he asks, increasingly confused.
“No, I don’t think so… anyway, feel free to dig wherever you like.”
He gives me a nod. “Appreciate your cooperation. We’ll get an excavator out here, shouldn’t take more than a few days.”
“So, what’s gonna happen with Kayla? She’s been working here again since her release from jail, and honestly, she’s a pretty good employee. A little… odd, in a psycho way. But she works hard, so I can overlook it. Is she going back to jail?”
“Ms. Danver has received immunity in exchange for her testimony and turning over evidence leading to the closure of this case. Once we find the bodies she described, she’ll have fulfilled her obligations and will be free to do as she pleases.”
“How did she get immunity anyway? She killed multiple people, right? Normally you guys don’t just let killers walk free, unless—” No Alex, don’t go there in front of a cop! I clear my throat.
“I looked into her case personally. The cops that initially collected the evidence didn’t follow proper chain of command.
They also “lost” key surveillance footage.
Not much of a case after the judge gutted most of it.
In any event, we have bigger fish to fry.
We’re building a RICO case against Elder Covington and his associates.
Corruption in this department runs deep, but not all of us are on someone’s payroll. ”
“So you don’t mind that a potential murderer is going to be set free?”
“Not sure what you mean, kid. This looks like an open and shut case of gang related violence. One of the victims, Andrei Sarkovski, was known Russian mafia. Had a rap sheet longer than my arm and was wanted by Interpol before his… tragic death. Ms. Danver testified that she saw another Russian beat him to death with a paper weight, after Mr. Sarkovski killed her fiancé, Jake. I guess we’ll never know for sure, as that evidence went missing.
Point is, if the mafia want to take each other out, they can be my guest. We have more pressing matters to deal with.
I’m just here to dot some t’s and cross some I’s. ”
Fiancé? Kayla, you dog. I fail to keep a grin off my face. I can’t wait to tell Jake about that.
“Well, I appreciate your dedication to justice, Detective. Let me know if you need anything else,” I say.
He gives me a little mock salute and starts to head out, but before he gets to the door he turns. “You wouldn’t happen to know the whereabouts of Elder Covington, would you? We haven’t been able to locate him. I heard on the grapevine that the FBI may want to speak with him as well.”
Giving him a look that I hope comes off as genuine shock, I say, “No, I haven’t seen him in months. Maybe he fled the country? If I pissed off a bunch of rich people, that’s what I would do,” I say innocently.
He eyes me for a moment before nodding. “Maybe so, son. Thanks for your time.”
As he walks out the door, I look at Brandon in shock. “Her fucking fiancé, Brandon! Did you hear that? The audacity…”
He just shrugs. “She’s a sly one, that Kayla,” he says with a dopey grin on his face.
“Get back to work!” I screech in horror, slapping the desk.