Chapter 1
He sat in his car watching a nearly empty parking lot, sipping on his second cup of coffee since he arrived shortly after roll call. Checking his watch, he realized it was well past lunch. His stomach growled its displeasure at being denied food. Shrugging off the hunger, he took another sip of his coffee.
“Taylor, if you keep drinking coffee like that, you’re going to have to pee sometime,” came the voice of McClendon over the wire. Domminc McClendon, newly minted detective of the Warrenton Police Department, was proving himself a valuable and much-needed addition to the investigations branch.
Reflexively, Taylor’s half-smile creased his face. “You worry about your own bladder McClendon. I’ve done this enough to know how much coffee I can drink on a stakeout.” It was more than just a moment of fun in a usually dull part of the job. For too long, the department was short-staffed, and McClendon’s presence brought relief to his mind.
“Sure, not like a couple of weeks ago when you had to excuse yourself from a meeting with the Chief and mayor,” Barnes added to the conversation. It was good to hear her engaging in the banter again. The last year or so was challenging for her, and Taylor thought she might leave the force for a time. Things began to turn around for her, and she even found time to fall in love again.
To almost no one’s surprise, she and Braydon Davis began a relationship several months back. She wouldn’t admit it, but the romance seemed to pull her back to reality. Taylor noticed a change in her since then. One for the better. She was happier, more lively than before. He was pleased for her not just on a personal level but professionally as well. She was good at her job, and Taylor was convinced that she might even be better than him one day. Of course, she won’t get there today, he thought to himself.
“Look, Barnes, I told you that stomach bugs don’t make appointments,” Taylor responded sarcastically. “You noticed that the Chief was out the next day. Just another reason for her not to like me.” Turning his attention back to the parking lot, Taylor spotted a man looking nervously. “Alright, look sharp, people; we may have a bite.”
“I see him. African-American man, red hoodie, and black shorts,” McClendon confidently radioed back.
“Nope, not our guy,” Taylor responded.
“You sure? He looks curious?” Barnes asked.
“One hundred percent positive. Our guy is wearing a green polo shirt with khaki pants. Watch him; he’s checking out the inside of the cars in the lot,” Taylor said as he observed the young man’s movements. “That’s it, take the nice white car with the unlocked doors,” he said as the man reached for the door handle. The young man looked around one last time to be sure no one was watching and opened the door.
“Guess you were right, Taylor,” McClendon said into his radio.
“Yeah, I know, I’m just that good. Alright, people, get ready. McClendon, you take the lead and follow him. Barnes, drop back in support, and I’ll back up McClendon. Everyone ready?”
“Ready,” Barnes responded as McClendon did likewise.
The young man seated himself behind the car wheel and shortly began to drive off. “Let’s move people,” Taylor said. The suspect took a left turn into traffic. Taylor watched as McClendon’s gray Accord followed a couple of cars behind the stolen vehicle. Following McClendon, Taylor fell in behind his fellow detective. Looking into his rearview mirror, he could see Barnes behind him. “Barnes, are you about ready?”
“I’m ready when you are. Just say the word.”
The white car stopped at a traffic light about three blocks from where they started. “Alright, Barnes, lock it down,” Taylor said as he stopped behind McClendon.
With several keystrokes, Barnes turned off the car’s entire drive system. “Taylor, the car is disabled. He’s all yours.”
“Move in, McClendon,” Taylor said into his radio.
McClendon sprang from his car, gun drawn as he moved toward the driver’s side of the now disabled vehicle. The young man inside seemed to panic as he tried vainly to restart the car. Cautiously, McClendon approached the vehicle, “Out of the car!. Hands up!” he shouted at the young man as he opened the driver’s door. The young man put his hands up and began to exit the vehicle. McClendon pushed the startled young man assertively against the car as he applied the cuffs while Taylor covered him.
“Come on, man, take it easy,” the young man said to McClendon. “What’s all this about?”
Taylor holstered his weapon. “What’s your name, my man?” Taylor asked the young man after McClendon finished searching him.
“Nate Bishop is my name. I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”
“Really? Well, that’s a relief, isn’t it, McClendon? Tell you what, you can tell us all about it when we get to the station.”
After arriving at the station, Bishop sat alone in the interrogation room, nervously waiting to be interviewed. Barnes and McClendon entered the interrogation room and sat across from the suspect. “I’m Detective Barnes, and you’ve already met Detective McClendon. We need to talk with you about this car of yours, Nate. Tell the truth, is it your car?”
“No, I was picking it up for a friend. He was out last night and drank too much, so I was getting his car for him.”
“Well, that’s nice of you. So, McClendon, you see, that explains everything,” Barnes said as she pulled out her cell phone. “Sorry, I need to check my phone for a second. You don’t mind, do you?”
“Uh, no, go ahead. Can I…”
“Hang on,” she said as she glanced at her screen. “Hey, that’s a good one there. What do you think, McClendon?”
“Not bad. That one of me and you is better, though.”
“You think so? I don’t know, I wasn’t ready for the picture, and I wasn’t looking at the camera.”
“Excuse me, officers…”
“Shhh. Hang on,” Barnes said as she continued to scroll through her pictures. “I think this one is the best.”
“Yeah, I like that one,” McClendon agreed.
“Tell me, what do you think?” she asked as she turned the phone toward Bishop. In the photograph was a picture of the car with Barnes and McClendon posing beside it outside the station earlier that morning. “You know, when we parked the car in that lot this morning, I didn’t think anyone would take it that quickly. What about you, McClendon?”
“You know he works fast. I was afraid we’d spend all day waiting for someone to come and take the car.”
Bishop exhaled loudly and put his head down. “Okay, fine. What do you want to know?”
“Where were you going to take the car, Nate?” she asked.
“It’s a small place on County Road 17, about ten miles outside town. It’s big enough for two cars at a time.”
“What were you going to do with the car when you got it there?” McClendon asked.
“We were going to chop it down and sell off the parts. The rest was going to be sold for scrap.”
“How many people are in this little operation?” asked Barnes.
“Me and three others. Tommy Veasey, Louis Brewster, and Kevin Shorter.”
“Okay, so who does what?” Barnes asked.
“Me and Tommy go out and find a car and then bring it in. Louis and Kevin chop them up and sell off the parts.”
“Who do they sell them to?” McClendon asked.
“I don’t know, man, whoever needs them, I guess. My job is to bring in the cars.”
“Are you expected back today?” Barnes asked.
“I told them I’d bring one in the next day or two.”
“Good, sit tight; we’ll be back,” she said, motioning for McClendon to follow her.
The two detectives found Taylor in his office, going through some paperwork on his desk. As they walked into the office, he asked them, “Well, what did you find out?”
“He was taking the vehicle to a place on County Road 17 outside town. From what I can see on my map app, it’s out of our jurisdiction,” Barnes told him.
“Well, it looks like we need to call the Sheriff’s Department and coordinate with them. Barnes, I’ll let you handle that, and I’ll get a warrant for the place. You got the names of any accomplices?”
“Right here,” she said as she handed him a piece of paper with the names written on it. “He said that they were expecting him later today or tomorrow.”
“Good, that buys us a little time. It will probably take an hour to get the warrant. Hopefully, the sheriff’s office will be in a cooperative mood. McClendon, get a few officers on standby to go out to the chop shop. Maybe we can catch them all there.”
“You got it,” McClendon said as he exited the office.
Barnes watched him go as she stayed behind. “Was there something else, Barnes?” he asked.
“Yeah, how did you know about that guy this morning?”
“Well, the black man McClendon spotted looked a little lost to me. He was on his phone, looking around like he was talking to someone. The guy in the interrogation room looked to me like he was checking out the inside of the cars. Kind of like he was trying to see which ones were locked and unlocked.”
“And?” she asked, not completely buying Taylor’s explanation.
“And, I got a tip that our car thieves might be in the area, and Bishop matched the description I received.”
“Who gave you a tip?”
“Sheriff’s deputy called me with the tip yesterday and gave me a description of a guy fitting Bishop’s description.”
“You didn’t think to share that with us?” she asked.
“Well, that would have taken all the fun out of it,” he said. “Now I’ve got to see the Chief.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
Taylor made his way over to Chief Vanderbeek’s office. She was finishing up a call as he knocked on the door. Vanderbeek motioned for him to enter and have a seat. Hanging up the phone, she leaned back in her chair. “That was Mayor Killian wanting to know when we were going to close the case on the stolen cars around town. I hope you have some good news.”
“We’ll need a warrant for a place outside of town. I’ve got Barnes calling to coordinate with the sheriff. McClendon is putting together a team to head out there as soon as we get the warrant.”
“Good, I’d like to wrap this up as soon as possible. Has McClendon made any progress on the burglaries from last week?”
“Nothing so far. We’re still looking into it.”
“That’s what you said about the car thefts.”
“Yes, Chief, but as you know it….”
“It what? You wanted three full-time investigators, and now you have them. What else do you need?”
“Time. It takes time to solve a case.”
“Detective Taylor, the people of this city do not want to hear about how much time it takes to close a case. They want to hear that their property is protected. They also want to know that if someone takes that property, the police will do everything they can to catch the thieves.”
“Chief, that’s what we are doing,” he said, trying to keep his temper in check. “We don’t have a lot to go on. Not to mention we’re still backlogged from back when we were short-handed. I promise you we are doing the best we can.”
“Detective Taylor, I’m sure you know the perception of police these days. That means we must be proactive in our approach to law enforcement and dealing with the public. We have to put forth the image of a police force that is active and purposeful in its duties. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
“I agree, ma’am, but we can’t close a case without evidence, suspects, and witnesses. So far, we have none of those factors.”
“So go out and investigate,” she said, clearly annoyed. “I’m not asking for a miracle, Taylor; just find those responsible.”
“Fine, okay. We’ll do our best.”
“Was there something else?” Vanderbeek asked.
“No, I guess not. I’ll get the warrant and head out as soon as possible.”
“Good. Get that done, and then concentrate on those burglaries. That’s all.”
Taylor angrily left Chief Vanderbeek’s office. He shook his head as he made his way back to his office. Taylor quickly sat behind his desk and made a call to the courthouse to start the process of getting the warrant for the location Bishop told them about. While on the phone, he began filling out the paperwork for the affidavit to present to the county clerk.
When he got to the courthouse, the county clerk had the warrant ready and prepared for him. He presented his affidavit and waited several minutes for the judge to sign off on the warrant. Several more minutes later, the clerk finally emerged with the warrant. Taylor thanked her and went back to the station.
Barnes was waiting for him by the time he got there. “The Sheriff’s office says they are ready and to give them a call when we head out.”
“Good, let’s get moving. Is McClendon ready?”
“I think so. He got Miller, Stamps, Paulson, and Varner ready to go.”
“Alright then, let’s move. I’ll call the sheriff on the way.”
