Page 126 of Nightshade

“Possibly,” Juarez said. “But this goes way above my head. I have to take this downtown and see how they want to play it.”

“When?”

“I have no court today. I can go as soon as we cut him loose.”

“What will you tell them?”

“That this guy came in with solid evidence that the mayor of Avalon is corrupt and probably commissioned a hit on a witness in a developing case against him. I’ll say our live witness is a criminal himself but he’ll share compelling and incontrovertible evidence, including recordings, that outweighs his own crimes.”

Stilwell just nodded. He wasn’t happy, but this was how most cases went. People made deals, shredded their loyalties to save their own skin. There was never complete justice. But if Baby Head got his golden parachute and remained in business and on the island, Stilwell knew that he would get another shot at him somewhere down the line. And then true justice would be served.

44

ONCE HE WASback on the island, Stilwell attempted to call Tash, but she didn’t pick up. He assumed she was either still angry or outside cellular range. Or both. She had left his house and returned to her own the night before after Stilwell told her about his appointment the next morning at the Long Beach courthouse. They had just finished eating her homemade chili and grilled cheese sandwiches. She got up from the table, dropped her plate and bowl in the sink, and went into the bedroom to grab her suitcase. Her last words as she went out the door were that she was going camping without him and that if he really wanted to, he could join her later. He called after her that he would.

Stilwell did want to join her but there was work to be done first. After checking in at the sub and deflecting questions about whether he was back on duty, he took the John Deere up to the Sandtrap to see if Leslie Sneed was working. It was the middle of the lunch rush, but he didn’t see her waiting tables. He finally asked a passing waitress whether she was on duty and she said Sneed was off on Tuesdays.

Ten minutes later he knocked on the door of Sneed’s apartment and found her at home. When she opened the door, a waft ofmarijuana drifted out, prompting Stilwell to remember her claim that she’d been sober since moving to the island. Maybe to her, smoking pot didn’t count.

“Congratulations,” she said.

Stilwell was puzzled.

“For what?” he asked.

“You solved the case,” Sneed said. “I saw it on the news.”

“Uh, actually, that’s what I’m here for. The whole story isn’t out there and I wanted to ask if you’d help me with the investigation.”

“Well, they said that guy who did it killed himself.”

“That’s not the full story, Leslie. If I can come in, I’d like to explain what you could do to help with the case.”

Sneed looked behind her into the apartment and seemed to hesitate. Stilwell spoke quickly.

“I don’t know if you heard, but the Black Marlin Club matched the reward money. So now it’s up to twenty thousand. It’s a pretty good chunk of cash.”

“Well, shit, that is a lot.”

“And I have an idea about how you could get the whole thing.”

She stepped back to let him inside. They moved into the tiny living room.

“What do I have to do?” Sneed asked.

“I want you to send a text and set up a meeting with somebody.”

“And where do I go for the meeting?”

“The Zane Grey.”

“Am I, like, bait?”

“Yes, but I’ll be there and you’ll be safe. If he shows up, I’ll take him down.”

“And if I do this, you’ll put me in for the full reward?”

“That’s the deal. If this goes the way I think it will, you’ll get it all.”