That was probably an invitation to enter. I nudged the door open and peeked around it to see him behind his desk. “Hey, Judge. I have a warrant for you to sign.”
“Alberto. Come in. Happy Monday to you.” He gestured me inside a spacious office with manila files and papers stacked around. The wall behind him was windows, while the two on the side were bookshelves stuffed full of legal periodicals. Today his gray hair was slicked back, and his eyes were sharp. He wore a ‘Hallenback’ Used Car lot shirt in a very mellow yellow along with what looked like tan-colored jeans. “What do you want?” He reached for a pair of reading glasses.
I set the papers in front of him and on top of several court briefs before taking a seat in a thick leather chair across from him. “A warrant to search a car and follow up on the GPS in order to maybe find a drug lab.” Then I waited.
He read through the application as well as my affidavit. “Did you walk over here?” he mused, looking over the top of the papers.
I blinked. “Yes. It’s a nice day.”
He shook his head. “I saw you in your convertible the other day. Thing doesn’t have airbags. You should get a new car.” He scrambled through the stack of papers and then handed over a business card for his brother. “We own a car lot, you know.”
“I do know that.” I really needed him to concentrate. “I like my car, Judge.”
“You can’t drive that vehicle in the winter.” He slapped the papers down.
I looked for a pen so he could sign. “No, your Honor. I have a SUV for the winter.” As did most people in the town. “Would you please sign the warrant for me?”
“What warrant?” he muttered, looking toward the bookshelf. “I have books. Do you have books?”
An executive style silver pen was on the floor, and I pounced on it, sliding it toward him. “How are you feeling, Judge? Maybe you should have a check-up or something?” I didn’t want to insult him, but the guy needed help. Maybe I could help him.
He lifted one fit shoulder. “Yeah, maybe. Sometimes I forget things.” He took the pen and signed the bottom of the warrant. “Though it has been pretty stressful lately. I miss seeing some of the older guys in the courtroom. The rest of you are just so young.”
“Sometimes I don’t feel young. Especially this week.” My whole body was one big bruise. I took the papers. “I could make an appointment with a doctor for you, if you’d like. My cousin, Wanda, might be a good place to start.”
He shook his head. “That’s okay. I have a doctor, and I have to see her every year for the insurance.”
Even so, I needed to follow up with him. If all the family he had was his brother, and his brother wasn’t helping any, then I would. “Okay. Thanks for this.” I backed toward the door, wanting to help him somehow. I felt like I was taking advantage of him with the warrant, and I really didn’t like that, but we needed to find that drug lab.
“Good luck, Alberto,” he said, kicking back in his chair and planting his bright green tennis shoes on the desk.
“You can call me Anna, Judge,” I said, opening the door and smiling when he nodded. Then I turned and all but ran down the stairs and outside, angling around the park for the police station to find Pierce. It was his job to execute the warrant, but I was going to be involved on this one.
We were close. I could just feel it.
I sat in the passenger side of Detective Pierce’s car, surrounded by his salty ocean-breeze scent as he parked across the street from Charles’ house. My gun was at the back of my waist, while his was strapped to his thigh. His looked way cooler.
Two patrol cars flanked the driveway, which still held Bud’s car.
I cranked my head to see. “Where’s Bud?”
Pierce peered out the front window. “Not at post.” He jumped out of the blue Buick. “Stay here.” The door slammed, and he jogged across the road to meet the two uniformed officers. One of them said something into the radio attached to his shoulder, waited, and then shook his head.
My stomach rolled over. Where was Bud? I looked toward the ladies’ home, but it was dark with the curtains drawn. They probably