“Ask him yourself,” Tinnerino said as a Crown Victoria screeched up to the curb, rocking on its suspension. A stocky man with white hair got out and, his radio in one beefy hand, strode up onto the sidewalk to where the trio was standing. His red golf jacket didn't cover the mother-of-pearl-handled, short-barreled Python in his side holster.
“What's happening, Detective?”
“Captain Suggs, we have the Porter girl cornered inside.”
“That's what I understood.” He stared suspiciously at Winter and Adams. “And?”
“These two are attempting to go inside against my orders. I was about to arrest them.”
“No, we weren't attempting anything,” Adams told him. “We were going inside. We have noted your detective's strong advice not to, but I think we'll be just fine.”
“Let's see some I.D.”
Winter and Adams opened their badge cases.
Winter saw Suggs's discomfort and uncertainty when he read his name.
“There isn't any federal crime here. We don't require, and I haven't requested, your involvement. To the contrary, I suggest you both stay back and let my men do their jobs,” Suggs said. “Tinnerino and Doyle will go in first.”
“Can we speak in private?” Winter asked.
Suggs followed Winter over beside his car. Adams stood behind Suggs, his back to Tin Man.
Winter spoke in a low voice so he wouldn't be overheard.
“I have known Faith Ann Porter and her family for years. My son and Faith Ann are close friends. Her uncle is a dear friend and was my boss.”
“You know who her next of kin is? We haven't notified them yet, because we didn't know specifics about the Porter family.” Winter read the lie in Suggs's eyes.
“You mean when Detectives Tinnerino and Doyle ransacked the Porter house, there were no letters, address books… phone records?” Adams said. “Now, I find that very strange that an attorney like her didn't keep records.”
“What do you mean ransack? Of course they searched the house for evidence. And they found plenty.”
“I'm at a disadvantage because I don't know what they found,” Winter lied. “I know only that Faith Ann Porter didn't kill anybody. Maybe you don't know that, but if you knew that little girl you would.”
“There's conclusive evidence that she is absolutely guilty.”
Adams said, “I'd be very sure of that-not only of the evidence's authenticity. I was you, I'd be sure it'll hold up under the scrutiny of our forensics people.”
“Very sure indeed,” Winter added. “What I believe is that whoever did it also ran down her aunt and uncle, Hank and Millie Trammel. You are familiar with the Trammel hit-and-run case? Last night, uptown. Vehicle dumped into the bayou with a stiff inside it. You have the vehicle impounded. There was an autopsy on the body.” Winter gave Suggs a suspicious look.
“Detective Manseur mentioned he spoke to you. He didn't say that the Trammels and the Porters were related.”
“I didn't tell him.”
Suggs's ears were turning red; beads of sweat gathered on his upper lip.
“I've been asking around,” Adams said. “I was told Manseur was primary on the Porter case but that he was pulled off before he could get into it good. What I find curious is that Manseur is an exemplary detective, with a clearance ratio above average, while Tinnerino's and Doyle's reputations are less than stellar.”
“There were extenuating circumstances. Michael's partner is out of town. It was a field decision I made because I wanted manpower in motion.”
Adams nodded. “You should reconsider that ‘field' decision, because it is highly suspect when viewed with certain evidence we've already obtained.”
“If she shoots…” Suggs started.
Winter said, “Your men chased her here directly from the aquarium, where she went through metal detectors going and coming. We have good reason to believe Faith Ann is in danger from someone on your force, which is why Agent Adams is here. Whoever killed the child's mother is still after her and is getting real-time police intelligence.
“Agent Adams and I are going in there, and we'll escort Faith Ann out. I will be accompanying her wherever she goes from here on out, and nobody is going to interrogate her without her legal counsel, C. Errol Cunningham, present.”
Suggs's eyes reflected that he was very familiar with the energetic New Orleans criminal defense attorney-a man with an unparalleled ability to make life a living hell for anyone who found themselves opposing one of his clients.
Suggs was trying to compose himself. Winter knew the wheels in his mind were spinning as he tried to figure out what to do. “My detectives are highly competent. They didn't make the connections, because you withheld next of kin information.”
“I've been gathering information, not giving it out,” Winter said. “I'll make this easy. I'm going in now. Unless we request your assistance, no officers will come inside.”
Adams keyed his radio. “This is Number One,” he said, knowing Nicky alone would be monitoring the radio. “Massey and I are going in. Watch the perimeter. Spot anything queer, let me know immediately.”
Suggs looked around, probably trying to spot whoever Adams was addressing.
66
Winter dialed Faith Ann's cell phone as soon as they were inside. She didn't pick up.
“I'll take the main ramp. Take the elevator to the top floor of the parking deck and come down. And be careful. That couple is probably in here.”
“Number One?” Nicky's voice said.
“Here,” Winter said into his radio.
“I have Mr. Fashion outside Brooks Brothers, talking on a cellular. Okay, he's moving. Turned the corner, I think he's heading back to their car. What do you want me to do?”
“Is he moving fast?”
“No.”
Winter couldn't be sure Suggs had informed him of their presence, but it would explain why he was retreating. “Then hold your position.”
He put the radio into his pocket and started up the ramp. “Faith Ann! It's Winter Massey!”
He heard nothing but the plaintive whistle of the ferry at the base of Canal Street.
It was impossible to predict whether Faith Ann would stay in the deck, maybe hide in or under a car, or if she had gone into the main complex, which was what he would have done. He didn't think the police could get her out of the building without Nicky seeing the activity, but he doubted Suggs would risk having the Feds catch them at it. Suggs was either going to be very cautious now, or act in the rash manner of a desperate man. Winter hoped the captain wasn't feeling desperate yet. But since he didn't know the man, nor how dirty Suggs's hands might be, there was no way to judge what he might do.
There were a lot of places for Faith Ann to hide, but if she tried to exit the building the cops would get her for sure.
On the first parking level, after he had yelled out several times, he spotted a backpack next to the stairwell door. There was nothing on its exterior to indicate that it belonged to Faith Ann, but he knew it was hers. As soon as he saw the dark red sweatshirt and zoo cap inside, he radioed to tell Adams and Nicky that Faith Ann had changed her clothes. He had no way of knowing why she'd abandoned the pack where it would be found, unless she'd decided that it had become part of the description of her that her pursuers were going by. He wondered if she had done it to lead her pursuers in the wrong direction. If she was older, more experienced, he would have assumed it was calculated misdirection.
There was nothing else in the backpack of help, and nothing to indicate that she had been lugging it for any reason other than to hold a change of clothes. He lifted out the new Walkman-the one whose packaging he had found under the porch. He opened the battery compartment and saw that the batteries were the same brand as the two she'd left behind under the house. He put it back. Before standing, he turned his head and spotted the earphones beneath a nearby car. He reached under and lifted them out. Why had Faith Ann thrown them there?