Page 49 of Break Away
“The girl wouldn’t corroborate the story, sono charges were filed.” Brad shook his head. “Clearly, Clauson is aslick bastard. He picks his victims carefully, knows lawenforcement, and uses all that to stay out of prison. His victimsare almost always vulnerable women, and he knows the weaknesses ofthe system and plays it against them.
“That said, there was another teenage girlwho accused him of assault, and this time he slipped up because itwas a suburban teenager from a wealthy family on the way home fromhigh school soccer practice. The girl got away from him much likeZoey had, and when there wasn’t enough evidence for the DA to bringcriminal charges, her parents sued the police department. Theysettled, and while the details are confidential, it must have costthem plenty. That’s when the department pushed Clauson intoretirement. They knew they had a predator cop in their departmentand didn’t want any more negative publicity.”
“That’s chickenshit. They took the easy wayout.”
“Without a doubt. Do some digging, and findout where he is now.”
Levi remained seated, and Brad raised a brow.“Something else?”
“Zoey and I are in a relationship.”
Brad gave what Levi thought of as hisbigbrotherlook, the same look he’d been getting all of his life.“Since I’ve got eyes in my head and saw you two together at Mom’sbarbecue and at the team pizza thing last night, I figured thatout, bro.”
“We’re still kind of circling around exactlywhat being in a relationship means, but I’m leaning towardserious.”
Brad grinned. “Good to know. I like Zoey.Watch out, or Mom will be talking weddings and babies.” This timeBrad laughed full out. “Gotcha. You’ve gone pale. You going tofaint on me? Should I get smelling salts?”
“Fuck off. Mom’s got her own wedding to planso I think she’ll leave me alone.”
“Don’t count on it. But seriously, Zoey willbe good for you.”
“She’s already good for me. I wanted to be upfront about it since you gave me her case.”
“Do you want me to give it to Jack orMonica?”
“Hell no.”
“Good. I trust you to do this right, Levi.Now go figure out where the fucker is hiding.”
It didn’t take long. Within the hour Levi wasback at Brad’s door.
“Clauson’s back in Hangman’s Loss.” Levi allbut spat out the words.
Seated behind his desk, Brad threw down thepen he’d been holding. “You’re shitting me.”
“He’s in that older development on the otherside of the lake called Alpine Meadows. He’s unmarried, is late onhis property taxes, and owns a Chevy Tahoe that’s about a decadeold. There have been a couple of complaints from a neighbor about,and I quote, ‘very loud, very shitty country music.’ Nocitations.”
“Pay Clauson a visit and rattle his cage.Find out what he’s been up to, what color his Chevy Tahoe is. Youcan use the noise complaints as a pretext.” Brad frowned. “Damn it,I’d like to go with you but I’ve got a meeting with the mayor in anhour. Take Monica in case he gets testy.”
“Testy? That’s what they’re calling it thesedays?”
“Yeah, that’s what they’re calling it. He mayratchet up to disagreeable or argumentative. Practice all thede-escalation techniques you have, because I don’t want this visitto go sideways and become something bigger than it has to be.”
Levi nodded. “I’ll let you know how itgoes.”
***
Two hours later, Levi returned to thestation, this time going in through the sally port. He kept a lidon his temper when he pulled the cuffed Clauson from the back ofthe cruiser, Officer Monica Valdez taking one arm, Levi theother.
Clauson had been uncooperative from themoment he’d opened his door, and had remained a pain in the ass.Walking in, he was resisting enough to show everyone he was pissedwithout going far enough to incite a physical response. “You sonsof bitches take these cuffs off.”
“Yeah, that’s going to happen,” Monicamuttered.
They brought him through the door to thebooking room. Since leaving law enforcement, Clauson appeared tohave forsaken the trimming of body hair. What was left of the hairon his head grew long enough to be tied back with a rubber bandinto a scraggly ponytail, the beard creeping down his chest stillheld what looked like crumbs from his last meal, and his eyebrowsand the hair sprouting out of his ears were bushy enough that Leviwondered if his hearing or vision was impeded. The tank top he worerevealed more hair on Clauson’s back than Levi had on hischest.
The department wasn’t big enough for adesignated booking officer, so Levi did the honors.
“Full name?”
