Page 69 of The Girl from Devil's Lake
Tica nodded as her fingers clicked on her keyboard. “What’s up? It’s been really quiet out there.”
Joanna had asked her people to maintain radio silence, and they had obliged. She was starting to give Tica a briefing, when Garth Raymond’s voice came through the computer’s speaker. “We’ve got movement,” he shouted. “Our subject just left his residence, heading east on Country Club Drive in Marliss Shackleford’s RAV4.”
“Can I talk to Garth?” Joanna asked.
Nodding, Tica plugged a handheld microphone into her computer and handed the mic to Joanna.
“Is Marliss with him?” Joanna asked.
“No, he left the residence alone, but he was carrying two pieces of luggage.”
Alone, Joanna thought.That’s not good news. And if Marliss had a police scanner, it probably wasn’t in her RAV4.
“Jaime,” she said aloud. “Are you hearing this?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you?”
“Parked just south of Green Brush Draw. I’ll be able to see him when he pulls out of Country Club Drive onto Naco Highway.”
“Everybody else, listen up,” Joanna said. “Wait for Jaime to clue us in on his direction before you make a move.”
With the microphone still in her left hand, Joanna used her right to extract her cell phone. Chief Alvin Bernard’s name and number were at the top of her recent calls list. She punched that.
He answered before the first ring ended. “Is it a go?” he asked.
“It is,” Joanna replied. “Shut her down. He’s driving a banged-up white RAV4.”
Jaime spoke again. “He’s headed northbound on Naco Highway.”
Chief Bernard came back on the line. “I gave the word to Chief Flowers. He’s moving his fire trucks into position to block all Traffic Circle entrances and exits except for the entrance from Highway 92.”
“Good-o,” Joanna said. “All units, be aware that the Bisbee Fire Department is deploying trucks to block entrances and exits to the Traffic Circle. If he takes Highway 92 eastbound at Don Luis, once he’s inside the Traffic Circle, Bisbee PD will block that entrance and exit, too, so he won’t be able to get back out.”
Tica was still sitting in front of her monitor, looking up at her boss in dismay. “If you’re running Dispatch, what am I supposed to do?”
“Go to the conference room. Tell the people there to put on their body armor and mount up. The Arrest Team should head for the Traffic Circle and the Search Warrant Team should head for Stephen Roper’s residence on Country Club Drive in Naco. There’s going to be a hell of a traffic jam in town in just a few minutes. Tell the Search Warrant crew to drive to Naco via Bisbee Junction.”
Tica stood up to do as she’d been told, but she paused for a moment. “Stephen Roper? The guy who used to teach at Bisbee High School?”
“The very one,” Joanna said grimly.
Just then Jaime Carbajal spoke again. “Okay, everybody. The subject just turned right on Highway 92 in Don Luis.”
“Are you still following him?” Joanna asked.
“Yes, I am,” Jaime answered, “but far enough back that I doubt he can make out this is a cop car.”
“Stay behind him long enough to make sure he doesn’t turn off on School Terrace Road. That’s his last possible exit. If he drives past that, we’ve got him,” Joanna said. Then, after taking a breath, she added. “Deputy Nuñez?”
“I’m here,” he said.
“Leave your post and follow Jaime toward the Traffic Circle to provide backup.”
“Will do,” he responded.
Deb Howell’s voice was next. “We’re at the residence. No one is answering the door.”
