A Voice from the Field (22 page)

Ben cocked an eyebrow at Tia. Getting his unspoken message, she went silent. “Go on,” Ben said to Stahl.

“As I was saying, we've been working Kane for a number of years and learned that he has stepped up into a leadership role in the NAF. He has made a number of illegal firearms transactions. Some of those purchases included weapons stolen from the U.S. military. Our sources have learned that for the past several months, Kane has been attempting to negotiate a major arms deal.

“He's trying to purchase a cache of automatic weapons and ammunition. If successful, he'd be able to go toe to toe with your department.” Stahl paused, studying Tia. “He'd probably win.”

Tia chimed in, “So we need Uncle Sam to come save the day?”

Now it was Ben's turn to ignore Tia's aggressive comment. He spoke to Stahl. “So you mean to tell me there's a man walking the streets of Waukesha County, buying up military weaponry, and no one bothered to tell local law enforcement?” Ben glanced at Sheriff Solo, hoping the other local lawman would speak up, but Solo remained impassive. When Stahl answered, Ben picked up on a trace of defensiveness.

“So far Kane's dealings have been low-level, single-gun transactions. We've maintained good intelligence on all Kane's associates and we've kept track of the weapons. When the time comes to round people up for possession of stolen property or whatever other charge we deem appropriate”—Stahl flipped his hand through the air—“we'll be more than happy to hand off much of that work to the locals.

“The headlines should look good for both your agencies. But Kane is ours.”

Ben shook his head. “I'm not really interested in headlines. I'm still stuck on the fact that we've got stolen guns hitting the streets.” Ben hooked a thumb at the sheriff but kept his eyes on Stahl. “
Our
streets.”

Stahl waved off the comment. “This is a federal case and Kane is a major target. We believe he has every intention of purchasing a large number of automatic weapons and distributing those weapons among the membership of a known hate group operating out of your jurisdiction. I would think you'd appreciate our efforts here and see how this case needs to take precedence over what amounts to a prostitution ring being run out of a strip joint.”

Tia stepped toward Stahl. “Prostitution ring? Is that what you call it? A woman being auctioned off to the highest bidder? Another woman, probably a teenager, kidnapped and tied up in the back of a van?”

“Chief, if I may interject.” Graham sounded like she was in a courtroom. “Based on what has come to light this evening, it may very well be that we have underestimated the seriousness of Mr. Tanner's criminal association with Gunther Kane. It would appear the manner in which Mr. Kane has been financing his illegal weapons purchases has been a very serious crime in and of itself. But that is a discussion for another time. We need to get out of here.”

Tia looked around the yard and dilapidated house. “I'm not going anywhere until we search this property.”

Graham looked only at Ben. “There will be no search, Chief. There is a corpse inside that shed. A very important federal investigation is at risk of being derailed. We need your detective to start cooperating or face very serious consequences.”

The challenge in Tia's voice was unmistakable. “Bring it, lady.”

Graham rolled her eyes and finally looked at Tia.
“
Detective, can you try to understand the gravity of what we are dealing with? We have an opportunity to take down the entire network of a subversive organization.”

“You had your shot at Kane and you let him walk on an abduction case. With his history, you could've locked him away for the next ten to twenty years. Instead you all get in bed with Tanner … and, big surprise, he pissed backward all over you. Well, that's too bad, because now he belongs to me.”

The mention of the hooker detail reminded Ben about his conversation with Graham. “Ms. Graham, I remember something you said on the phone. Something about surveillance tape from the night Detective Suarez had her run-in with Kane. What exactly was that about?”

Tia's head swiveled between Graham and her boss. “What surveillance tape?”

Graham squirmed and looked at Stahl, who didn't try to hide his frustration with the lawyer, who had apparently said too much. Stahl took a deep breath and spoke up.

“Well, as I'm sure you've already figured out, Jessup Tanner is a registered federal informant. His activities that evening in Milwaukee were being monitored. That of course is absolutely confidential.”

“You watched?” Tia said. “You watched those sons of bitches try to drag me into that van?”

Neither Stahl nor Graham said a word.

“You let him drive away? Did you hear the radio traffic? I broadcast an abduction in progress.”

Stahl directed his attention to Ben. “Look, Chief, we monitored the situation. We stayed on point until the officers took Kane into custody. We have since reconnected with our informant. We admonished him for the activity.”

Ben narrowed his eyes. “
Admonished
him?”

Stahl blew out a breath as if he was growing tired of explaining himself to the low level of local authority. “According to Tanner, Kane decided to finance the weapons purchases through prostitution. Apparently, Kane thinks it's less risky than dealing in dope. We've directed Tanner to do whatever he can to keep that activity to a minimum. But I can assure you we've debriefed Tanner thoroughly. All the players involved are strippers, prostitutes, or border-jumping illegals.”

“So just a bunch of people not worth your effort.” Tia fumed.

“Chief, we have significant security concerns,” Stahl said. “We are highly exposed here. Kane is due to take delivery of the automatic weapons in less than twenty-four hours. We need to reinsert Tanner so he can orchestrate Kane's purchase of the weapons. Then we'll have him.

“That will be the act in furtherance of a major conspiracy. With that, plus the two years of intelligence we've collected, we can take down every major player in the NAF. We will cripple the organization in one fell swoop. Now please. Order your detective to turn Tanner over to us or, I guarantee, her actions this evening will be investigated by the federal government. I don't think she wants that; do you?”

Ben knew exactly what Stahl meant. If Tia had been involved in a fatal shooting that was the least bit controversial, she was already highly exposed. If the federal prosecutor got involved, anything was possible. He knew the shit storm that Tia might be walking into.

“If you want my detective to cooperate with federal authorities, there are conditions,” he began.

Tia cut him off, “Hang on, Chief. I don't care what they threaten me with. I'm not letting them take him.”

Ben ignored her and Stahl blew out a deep breath. “Such as?”

“First off, nothing that went on here tonight is subject to federal prosecution.”

“Fine,” Stahl said through gritted teeth.

“You get Tanner for twelve hours. After that, he will be turned back over to Newberg PD for prosecution on state charges and we will pursue the original abduction case.”

Stahl and Graham exchanged a glance.

“And from this point forward, your investigation is a joint operation. I am assigning Detective Suarez as my liaison to your team.” Ben looked at Sheriff Solo. “If the county doesn't want to play, that's their business, but Newberg PD is not sitting this out.”

Stahl leaned toward Graham, but she put up her hand, stopping him. She spoke directly to Ben. “That's fine. I've got no interest in Suarez's actions here tonight becoming part of an official federal record and I really don't care what becomes of Jessup Tanner.”

Ben focused on Tia. “Twelve hours, Tia. Then the feds get Kane and we take Tanner. You've got my word, we'll come back and search every square inch of this place.”

Tia looked around the compound and surrounding cornfield. Ben could feel her angst and was tempted to tell the feds to get lost. At last she turned back and gave him a single nod.

“He's yours, Stahl,” Ben said. “After that, he's ours. If you can't wrap this thing up by then, you'll have to do it without Tanner.”

 

TWENTY-EIGHT

Kane awoke with a start at the sound of a key in the door. The wall clock with the picture of the PBR Bear read 7:02
A
.
M
. He'd dozed off in his office several hours earlier. Moving quickly, Kane swung his feet off the desk, leaned forward, and pulled a forty-five from the center drawer. He raised the gun to eye level, squeezing off the slack, as the door opened. Jessup Tanner took a single step inside and froze in place, his ruddy complexion instantly draining to ghost white. Tanner lifted a hand in front of his face and turned away, as if somehow that would stop a bullet. His voice came out in a thin, high-pitched whine.

“Jesus, boss. It's just me.”

Kane held the nickel-plated handgun steady as he looked at Tanner over the top sight. “Where the hell you been, Jessup?”

He risked a quick glance at the closed-circuit TV monitors and saw that the bar and parking lot were empty except for Tanner's vehicle.
Good.
In three hours they were scheduled to meet Curtis Bell to take possession of one hundred M4 machine guns and fifty thousand rounds of ammunition, and Kane didn't want any spectators.

With a thud, Jessup dropped a backpack onto the grimy floor of the office. He stammered, “L-l-listen, boss. It was a hell of a night, but we got it done. Just like you said. We're up twenty grand. It's all right here.”

The barrel of the forty-five didn't twitch as Kane gazed at the bag. “Twenty grand, huh?” he said, staring at Tanner.

Tanner nodded, his eyes stuck on the gun like he was waiting for the lead to come out.

Kane watched him closely. “So you did all right then, huh, Jessup? Got us covered?”

Tanner swallowed—Kane could see his Adam's apple fall and rise in his throat—and nodded. “Yeah, boss. We're good.”

“So what's the story?”

“The story, boss?” Tanner seemed mesmerized by the gun.

“Yeah. I want to hear it. Start talking.”

“All right. All right. Relax, boss. Here's how it went.

“I did like you said. I put the word out to the high rollers. Set up a red-light auction. Just like you figured, Pepper blew it up. Couple of those old boys got into a full-on bidding war. We pulled down fifteen thousand. Hong Kong Pete took top prize. He kicked in another five g's for me to transport her down to his high-rise in Chi-town. I just got back.”

“Twenty grand?” Kane said with mild surprise. “That's a high-dollar night.”

Tanner nodded again, robotically, still staring at the gun. “Anyway. That's the story. We're good, boss. We're up twenty K.”

“So you couldn't check in? Make a damn call?”

Tanner blinked a few times and went on the defense. “You told me never use the cell when we're holding product. I turned it off like just like you said. Pulled out the battery. You're the one who told me they track that shit.”

Kane nodded, more impressed with Tanner than usual. “So we're good.”

“We're fucking great. It went off without a hitch.” Tanner nodded toward the end of the gun. “Boss? You mind?”

Kane held Tanner's gaze for a few seconds more, then dropped the gun to his side and eased his finger off the trigger. Tanner took a deep breath and blew it out in relief. Kane set the gun on the desk, keeping his hand on the grip, and watched as Tanner's eyes refocused on the weapon. Smiling to himself, Kane used one foot to push a chair toward his second in command and signaled the man to take a seat. He gave Tanner another moment to settle his nerves, then started back in.

“So, that's the story they gave you?”

“Yeah, boss.” Tanner sounded like a whipped dog. “That's it.”

“You ain't leaving nothing out, are you, Jessup?”

“Hell no, boss. That's it. That's all they gave me.”

“All right then.” Kane released the weapon and leaned back in his chair, not taking his eyes off the face of the man who sat before him. “Now. Forget all the federal bullshit. Tell me what really happened.”

Tanner hung his head and spoke each word slowly, as if each syllable was causing great pain. “Things got pretty screwed up, boss.”

“How so?”

“I was going to run the auction like you said, score as much as I could, capital-wise. Figured after that, I'd wait to hear from the feds so they could tell me when to set up the meet. Everything was going great.…” Jessup dropped his head and his voice drifted.

“What?” Kane's eyes flicked back to the monitors. Still clear.

Tanner shook his head as if he knew the next piece of information spelled trouble for him. “That damn Suarez showed up. Came blasting in. That fella from Chicago, she took his ass
out
. Shot him dead where he stood. I mean he dropped to the floor, DRT. He was dead right there, boss. She looked like Annie Oakley or some shit. Like she was on some kind of mission.”

Suarez.
Kane felt the slow boil of anger start in his chest. He'd had about all he could take of this small-town cop. From what he'd gotten out of Tanner, it didn't make any sense that Suarez would be mixed up in the investigation.

“What are you saying?” Kane couldn't keep the anxiety out of his voice. “Is she working with the feds?”

“No way, boss. That bitch was freelancing. The way they were all going at it, I'm sure of it. Yelling at each other and all. But I won't lie to you, she caught me flat-footed and I gave it up.”

Kane sat forward, his voice louder. “What do you mean? Gave up what?”

“That I was working with the feds. I could tell that blew her mind. She didn't know nothing about it.”