Page 96 of Precise Justice

“Yes, of course, Ryan. We better get over there before he thinks it’s time for Happy Hour,” Melissa said while putting on her coat.

“I’m gonna call, make sure he’s in,” Lucy said.

A minute later, Melissa heard Lucy say, “Okay, thanks, we’ll be there in a few minutes.”

The Minneapolis Police Violent Crimes Unit is located across Fourth Avenue from the Government Center. Despite the cold, it was quicker for the two detectives to go outside and cross the street. In less than five minutes, they were at Judge Ryan’s chambers. Instead of finding Ryan, who had left out the back door to his chambers, they found another judge looking for him. Heather Bloom, possibly the most criminal friendly judge in the county.

“He was here,” Judge Ryan’s clerk told them.

At that moment, Judge Bloom came out of Ryan’s Chambers.

“What do you need, Detectives?” Bloom asked.

“Oh, it can wait,” Lucy replied. “We were looking for Judge Ryan.”

Bloom, of course, knew Ryan’s reputation for being cop friendly. “Let me see the warrant,” Bloom said holding out her hand.

“It can…”

“Let’s have it, Detective,” Bloom said only this time, she made it sound like an order.

Lucy handed the paperwork to her. Bloom sat down next to the clerk’s desk, put on the cheaters she had dangling around her neck and started reading. When she finished reading Dr. Brie’s affidavit, she looked at the detectives with a skeptical eye.

“Seems to me your support for the search warrant is a little thin. Some things a middle school psychologist believes from a patient she hasn’t seen in years. Convince me this is necessary,” Bloom said.

Melissa almost pushed Lucy out of her way to step up to the judge. “Your honor, there are multiple homicides here. Brutal murders where all of the victims have a common tie, Robbie Powell. We believe there is probable cause to issue a search warrant for the home. There is also the fact that it could eliminate Robbie Powell.

“If we find evidence, the trial judge will have opportunity to exclude that evidence if he or she decides the warrant was wrongfully issued. We need to do this. Lives are at stake.”

Bloom looked at the stern face of Melissa for several seconds. “Okay,” she finally said then signed the warrant.

“Thank you, your Honor,” Lucy said when Bloom handed her the paperwork.

“I’m not as unreasonable as the police believe, Detective,” Bloom said looking at Melissa.

Once they were on the elevator, Lucy broke the silence by asking, “What was that about?”

“I’ve had problems with her before,” Melissa said.

“Okay, let’s get a search team ready.”

“I already did. While you were working on the affidavit and warrant. They’re waiting for a phone call.”

“There’s no one inside,” said Sergeant Randall, the police officer in charge of the search team of four uniformed cops.

“Take it down,” Lucy said.

“Not so fast,” Randall said. “Joey, do your thing.”

One of the team members, Joey Lakowski, removed a leather holder from his back pocket. He opened it to reveal a set of lock picks. Kneeling at front of the door, less than thirty seconds later, Joey turned the doorknob and the door opened.

“How…” Lucy started to ask Joey.

“Don’t ask,” Randall answered for him.

“I just remembered something,” Melissa said. “I don’t think Robbie lives here. She’s at St. Kate’s across the river.”

“She’s living on campus?” Lucy asked while the crew entered the house.

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