Chapter 33-34
33
RIVERA
During the drive to Pine Cove, Rivera was nagged by the idea that he had forgotten something. It wasn't that he hadn't reported where he was going; he had planned that. Until he had physical evidence that there was a serial killer in the area, he wasn't saying a word. But when he knocked on the Elliotts' front door and it swung open, he suddenly remembered that his bullet-proof vest was hanging in his locker back at the station.
He called into the house and waited for an answer. None came.
Only cops and vampires have to have an invitation to enter, he thought. But there is probable cause. The part of his mind that functioned like a district attorney kicked in.
"So, Sergeant Rivera," the lawyer said, "you entered a private residence based on a computer data base that could have been no more than a mailing list?"
"I believed that Effrom Elliott's name on the list represented a clear and present danger to a private citizen, so I entered the residence. "
Rivera drew his revolver and held it in his right hand while he held his badge out in his left.
"Mr. and Mrs. Elliott, this is Sergeant Rivera from the Sheriff's Department. I'm coming in the house. "
He moved from room to room announcing his presence before he entered. The bedroom door was closed. He saw the splintered bullet hole in the door and felt his adrenaline surge.
Should he call for backup?
The D. A. said: "And so you entered the house on what basis?"
Rivera came through the door low and rolled. He lay for a moment on the floor of the empty room, feeling stupid.
What now? He couldn't call in and report a bullet hole in a residence that he had probably entered illegally, especially when he hadn't reported that he was in Pine Cove in the first place.
One step at a time, he told himself.
Rivera returned to his unmarked car and reported that he was in Pine Cove.
"Sergeant Rivera," the dispatcher said, "there is a message for you from Technical Sergeant Nailsworth. He said to tell you that Robert Masterson is married to the granddaughter of Effrom Elliott. He said he doesn't know what it means, but he thought you should know. "
It meant that he had to find Robert Masterson. He acknowledged the message and signed off.
Fifteen minutes later he was at The Breeze's trailer. The old pickup was gone and no one answered the door. He radioed the station and requested a direct patch to the Spider.
"Nailgun, can you get me Masterson's wife's home address? He gave the trailer as residence when we brought him in. And give me the place where she works. "
"Hold on, it'll be just a second for her address. " Rivera lit a cigarette while he waited. Before he took the second drag, Nailsworth came back with the address and the shortest route from Rivera's location.
"It will take a little longer for the employer. I have to access the Social Security files. "
"How long?"
"Five, maybe ten minutes. "
"I'm on my way to the house. Maybe I won't need it. "
"Rivera, there was a fire call at that address this morning. That mean anything to you?"
"Nothing means anything to me anymore, Nailsworth. "
Five minutes later Rivera pulled up in front of Jenny's house. Everything was covered with a gummy gray goo, a mix of ashes, flour, and water from the fire hoses. As Rivera climbed out of the car, Nailsworth called back.
"Jennifer Masterson is currently employed at H. P. 's Cafe, off Cypress in Pine Cove. You want the phone number?"
"No," Rivera said. "If she's not here, I'll go over there. It's just a few doors down from my next stop. "
"You need anything else?" Nailsworth sounded as if he was holding something back.
"No," Rivera said. "I'll call if I do. "
"Rivera, don't forget about that other matter. "