Dog Gone Lies (Pacheco & Chino Mysteries Book 1) (23 page)

Thursday

“Ray, thank god I finally tracked you down. We’ve got a big problem. Clayton was arrested by the FBI and is in jail in Cruces. They’re looking for you, too.” Big Jack had spent several hours trying to find out where Ray and Tyee were. He’d called the last place he knew, which was Luke Jackson’s house, and had left a message, but no one had returned the call. Monica Jackson’s number was unlisted, and Big Jack didn’t have it. But while searching in Tyee’s notes, he’d found Betty Adams’ number. He’d explained that he was a friend of Ray’s and he thought Ray might be at Monica’s. Betty was concerned at first about giving out Monica’s number, but Big Jack convinced her it was the right thing to do.

“What! Arrested him for what?”

“Cindy told me it was for obstruction of justice—they claim he was interfering with an ongoing FBI-DEA investigation. She also said that they asked where you lived and said you’d be charged with the same thing. Nobody came by here, so I don’t know if they went to your cabin or not. Cindy said the guy in charge was an Agent Myers who acted like a complete asshole—yelling at everybody and treating Sheriff Martinez like he was a moron—of course, why shouldn’t he? Anyway she said she’s not a hundred percent sure, but for some reason she thinks they took him to the jail in Las Cruces. She heard Martinez say he didn’t want him locked up in T or C. What the hell’s happening Ray?”

“Well I’d say this is the shit hitting the fan. The problem is, I don’t know why. Look, Jack, I’m going to call an attorney I know in Las Cruces—his name is Jeff Young. I’m going to ask him to find out what happened with Clayton—where he is and what he’s been charged with. I’m going to leave your number with Jeff. If something comes up and he can’t get a hold of me, I’ll have him call you. I may head back to T or C later today or tomorrow. Still have some things that are not settled here, but I’ll let you know.”

Ray hung up and went to find Tyee to let him know what had happened. They had stayed the night at Monica’s and a Bernalillo County sheriff’s deputy had been stationed out front since yesterday. This morning a new deputy was in place. The deputy and Tyee were leaning against the patrol unit, chatting. Ray waved Tyee over to the front porch.

“Think that deputy knows what he’s doing?”

“Seems so Ray. He said his boss, the sheriff, made it clear he was on special duty and not to screw up. Seems like you have friends in high places.”

“Yeah, more like a friend of a friend. Just talked to Big Jack and there’s some bad news back home.”

Ray filled Tyee in on the latest developments. Tyee was beside himself.

“Do you think that Martinez had anything to do with this?”

“Seems odd that he could get the FBI to arrest a man just because he was losing an election. So, once again we have a situation that doesn’t make sense. I’m going to call an attorney in Las Cruces and let him see what he can find out. Also I’m going to call the sheriff in Dona Ana County and talk to him. Then I’m going to call Crawford. This whole thing with the FBI smells real bad. He may not tell me what’s going on, but if he doesn’t, then we sure the hell aren’t going to work for them.”

Tyee could tell Ray was about as pissed as he had ever seen him. Tyee was beginning to understand that it took a lot to make Ray angry, but once you did there was going to be hell to pay. Tyee was just fine being on his good side. Ray hurried inside to make his calls.

“Ray, good to hear from you. Are you in Las Cruces?”

“No, Jeff, I’m in Albuquerque. Something has happened in Cruces that I need your help with—and this will be on my account, so send me the bill. Yesterday, according to my sources, a deputy sheriff was arrested by the FBI on obstruction charges and he’s in the county jail in Las Cruces. I haven’t called the sheriff yet to confirm this, but I believe it to be true. The person arrested is a friend of my named Dan Clayton. He’s running for the sheriff’s job in Sierra County. I can’t believe the current acting sheriff up there has enough clout with the FBI to get his opponent arrested, but this is a strange coincidence since we’re so close to the election. I need you to find out what’s happening and how we can get Clayton released.”

Ray and Jeff talked further. Ray added more details and then gave Jeff the number at his current location, the number to his business line, and the main line to Big Jack’s. Jeff said he would get started immediately.

Ray’s next call was to the new sheriff in Dona Ana County, Sam Diaz. Sam had been a deputy when Ray was sheriff and was a very competent man. Ray was pleased when he won the election after Ray retired. Diaz wasn’t available, so Ray left a voice mail asking Sam to call him at one of several numbers.

Then Ray called Crawford. Expecting to leave a message, Ray was surprised when Ben Crawford answered.

“What the hell is going on Ben? The FBI has arrested a deputy in T or C on charges of obstruction and interfering in a FBI investigation, and they parked him in Las Cruces. This is a friend of mine who’s running for the sheriff’s position there, with the election in just a few weeks. What the hell’s the FBI doing?”

“Ray, I don’t know anything about this. This isn’t Sanchez is it?”

“No my understanding is that it’s Myers—and he was directing the current T or C sheriff like he owned him. Also, I’ve been told he was looking for me so he could arrest me at the same time. Is this guy on some kind of vendetta?”

“Give me some time. How can I reach you?”

Ray recited his list of contact numbers and they hung up. Ray couldn’t have been angrier. The phone rang, and without thinking Ray answered—immediately realizing this wasn’t his phone.

“Jackson residence.”

“Is this Ray Pacheco?”

“Sam, thanks for calling back so quickly. A friend of mine, a deputy from T or C, was arrested by the FBI and I was told you are holding him—his name is Clayton—is that true?”

“It is Ray. I’ve already talked to Jeff. Look, I have no idea what is going on, but Clayton is in his own cell and won’t have any contact with any other prisoners. He’s safe. My hands are tied as far as releasing him since this is a federal order to hold him. Jeff left here and headed to a federal judge in El Paso to force some kind of release—he was saying the documents they gave me to hold Clayton aren’t valid without a judge’s signature. Also I won’t release Clayton to anyone until I’ve heard from Jeff about the judge. If the FBI asshole who brought him in doesn’t like it, tough shit. Matter of fact, if that guy comes back here and acts the way he did when they brought Clayton in, I’ll throw his ass in jail and wait for orders from Washington or God.”

Ray’s kind of guy.

Ray found Tyee hanging out on the front porch and filled him in on what he’d found out.

“Think we should head back to T or C. I’m going to call the Bernalillo sheriff and make sure they can cover Monica for a few more days.”

“Fine with me, Ray—whatever’s needed.”

Ray found Monica in the yard working with one of her dogs. Not far away, Happy was lying on the ground watching intently.

“Looks like we’ll be headed back to T or C in a little while. I’m going to make sure the deputies stay around a few more days.”

“Ray, I don’t think I need any protection. Those people, whoever they are, can’t be so stupid as to think I have drug money or whatever it is—I think they just made a mistake and once they realized it, they went back to L.A. or Mexico or wherever.”

Ray knew that this wasn’t a rational response, but he’d seen this kind of wishful thinking before. She wanted the ordeal to be over right now and just go back to her normal life. If everyone would just leave her alone, she’d be fine. Of course, Ray knew that made no sense and was just Monica’s need for peace and quiet overriding her good sense.

“You know Monica you may be right, but let’s be on the safe side for a little while longer. The deputies will be out front for a couple more days and then we can decide what, if anything, needs to be done after that.”

“Of course, Ray. You remember, anytime you’re in my area, you and Tyee are always welcome guests in my house. I can’t tell you how much you’ve meant to Mike and me—we owe you a lot.”

Ray said she didn’t owe him anything. Then he changed the subject, asking her what she was doing with the dogs. She started talking about how she trained the dogs, and she was immediately more relaxed and happier than Ray had seen her. The dogs gave her meaning and purpose.

Sheriff Romero said he could leave a deputy out there for a couple more days. Ray could tell that he didn’t want to commit to anything beyond that, and he understood. There wasn’t a sheriff’s department anywhere that had extra men just sitting around. Ray thanked him and assured him he wouldn’t ask for anything further.

Ray and Tyee, along with Happy, headed back to T or C. Ray wasn’t sure about Happy. Monica had insisted that he go with Ray, but Ray was beginning to wonder if he wouldn’t be better off with Monica and all the other dogs. But for now, he decided not to argue with Monica about it—he knew it was her way of saying thank you.

“Tyee, there’s no question we’ve made an enemy of Sheriff Martinez. I was thinking about stopping in his office and talking to him face to face about what’s going on with Clayton—what do you think?”

“Indian may stay in car with dog.”

That was good for several miles of laughter. “No, really. What do you think?”

“Ray, Martinez is a bully. Everyone knows if you challenge a bully, he either backs down or pulls his revolver. The problem is you never know which he might do.”

“Good input. I think you’re right. If I back him into a corner, he could be dangerous. But I don’t see a good alternative. Something has to give here. We need to know how much of this is being caused by the stupid sheriff and how much is related to Monica and the killings. I think I’m going in with the attitude that if the dumb son-of-a-bitch pulls his gun, I’m shooting him. But I’m not going to let that happen. I don’t think he’ll pull his gun, and I think he’ll tell me something I need to know.”

“So let me see. You are going in armed to confront an armed, stupid sheriff about a possible criminal act the sheriff did—all because you are a good citizen.”

“Pretty much.”

“Looks like stupid is pretty common in the sheriff business.”

More miles of laughter. Ray thought Tyee was very funny—it was just that sometimes he couldn’t tell if he intended to be funny.

By the time they got to the T or C exit they’d regained their composure and were ready for business when they arrived at the sheriff’s office.

“Sheriff Pacheco, hello.” Cindy was very nervous.

“Hello, Cindy. Is Sheriff Martinez in?”

“Uh, I believe so. Just a minute.” Cindy dialed a number and said something and then hung up.

On impulse Ray went through the door into the back of the building. The sheriff was just leaving his office through his private back door.

“Hey, sheriff. We need to talk.”

“The FBI is looking for you asshole—now get the fuck out of this building.”

Ray had continued to walk towards Martinez as he made his little man speech. Now he reached up, grabbed his arm, and swung him around, pushing him into the wall. At the same time he removed his service revolver.

“What the hell are you doing? You stupid son-of-a-bitch you’ll go to jail—you just accosted a sheriff. Are you an idiot?”

Ray pushed him into the empty room next door and slammed the door.

“Shut up, Martinez. I’m working for the Attorney General of New Mexico, Tony Garcia, and it’s under his authority that I’m arresting you for abusing your office and for just being really goddamned annoying.”

Martinez was stunned. He wasn’t sure what to do or say. He was afraid of Ray, and now Ray seemed to have a legal right to do what he was doing. Martinez started to shake.

Ray stayed in the room with Martinez for some time. When he left, Martinez was handcuffed to the window frame.

“Cindy, I want you to call Sheriff Diaz of Dona Ana County and tell him that I’ve just arrested Sheriff Martinez for unspecified crimes on the authority of Attorney General Tony Garcia, and I’ll be bringing him to Las Cruces within the next hour or so.”

Cindy just stared. She didn’t seem able to move.

“Now, Cindy. Please call now.”

That got her going. She dialed the phone.

Ray went over and talked to Tyee. Tyee went into the back, brought Martinez out, and walked him to the Jeep. Tyee secured Martinez in the back and got in beside him. Happy moved to the front seat.

They drove to Las Cruces. At the sheriff’s office, they were met by Sheriff Diaz.

“Ray, do you know what you’re doing?”

Ray had handed Martinez over to one of the deputies standing next to Diaz, and Diaz directed the deputy to put him in an interrogation room.

“Sam, I’m not sure this is the right thing to do but there was too much going on, I had to take some action before someone else got hurt. My authority to do this is pretty weak, but I assure you that Martinez has been involved in several things that could put him in prison for life or get him the death penalty.”

“Ray, you know I want to believe you—do you have any proof?”

“He signed this confession about an hour ago.” Ray handed Sam the paper.

“I’ll need to talk to Martinez—without you in the room.”

Ray and Tyee went over and sat on a bench.

“Sure the hell hope you know what you’re doing Ray.”

Ray kind of grinned. It wasn’t a confident look—it was an expression that said “I sure the hell hope so too.”

“Ray, Martinez says you threatened him and that’s why he signed the confession.”

“Sam, I didn’t write the confession, he did. I didn’t tell him what to write, he just wrote it. My threats amounted to saying that he was in trouble and could go to jail—which is true.”

“He said you hit him.”

“I took his gun away from him. When doing that I grabbed his arm and pushed him into a wall. I never hit him.”

“What is this bullshit about the Attorney General?”

“Well, it’s not complete bullshit. I know he wants all citizens to take an active role in fighting crime.”

“Ray, I should lock you up for just saying that out loud. What I’m going to do is hold Martinez until we can figure out what’s going on with Clayton. But if you made all this shit up just to get back at Martinez because he was involved in Clayton’s arrest—even though there is no one I have more respect for, I’ll arrest you.”