Lawman Read Free

overlooked or held back from the file. I’ve tried to contact the police department in West Texas, at Palo Verde, where the last homicide occurred, but they don’t answer phone calls or e-mails. It’s a tiny little jurisdiction.”
    â€œGood idea. What do you want from us?”
    â€œA profile would be a good start,” he said. “My lieutenant won’t like it, but I’ll talk to our captain and see if he’ll make a formal request for assistance. He mentioned the profiling to me himself.”
    Garon smiled. “I’ll fill in one of our ASACs, so that he’ll expect it.”
    â€œNot the SAC?”
    â€œOur special agent in charge is in Washington, trying to appropriate funds for a new project we’re trying to get started, partnering with the local middle schools to discourage kids from using drugs.”
    â€œHe might need to ask somebody with more money than our government seems to have,” came the dry reply. “On a local level, our own budget is cut to the bone already. I had to buy a digital camera out of my pocket so that I could get my own crime scene photos.”
    Garon laughed shortly. “I know that feeling.”
    â€œIs it true, that a lot of cases never get listed on VICAP?” Marquez said.
    â€œYes. The forms are shorter than they once were, but it takes about an hour to fill them out. Some police departments just don’t have the time. If you could find a second case with a red ribbon involved, I might be able to help you convince your lieutenant that there’s a serial killer loose. Before he kills again,” he added somberly.
    â€œCan you spare us an agent, if we put together a task force to hunt this guy?”
    â€œWe can spare me. The rest of my squad is trying to run down a mob of bank robbers who use automatic weapons in holdups. I’m not essential personnel to them. My assistant can run the squad in my absence. I’ve worked serial murder cases, and I know agents in the Behavioral Science Unit I can call on for help. I’ll be glad to work with you.”
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œNo sweat. We’re all on the same team.”
    â€œDo you have a business card?”
    Garon took out his wallet and pulled out a simple white business card with black lettering. “My home phone is at the bottom, along with my cell phone number and my e-mail.”
    Marquez’s eyebrows lifted. “You live in Jacobsville?”
    â€œYes. I bought a ranch there.” He laughed. “We’re not supposed to be involved in any business outside the job, but I pulled strings. I live on the ranch. The manager takes care of the day-to-day operation, so I have no conflicts.”
    â€œI was born in Jacobsville,” Marquez said, smiling.
    â€œMy mother still lives there. She runs a café in town.”
    There was only one café in town. Garon had eaten there. “Barbara’s Café?” Garon asked.
    â€œThe same.”
    He frowned. He didn’t want to step on the man’s toes, but Barbara was a blonde.
    â€œYou’re thinking I don’t look like a man with a blond mother, right?” Marquez smiled. “My parents died in a botched robbery. They owned a small pawn shop in town. I was just six at the time. Barbara never married and had no family. I used to take mom and dad food from the café. After the funeral, Barbara came and got me out of state custody and adopted me. Quite a lady, Barbara.”
    â€œI’ve heard that.”
    Marquez checked his watch. “I have to run. I’ll phone you when I’ve talked to my captain.”
    â€œBetter make it an e-mail,” Garon replied. “I expect to be in meetings for most of today. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”
    â€œOkay. See you.”
    â€œSure.”
    Â 
    I T WAS A GOOD DAY , Garon thought as he drove himself back to Jacobsville. The squad was working witnesses at the last big bank