The next morning Goddard stopped at his desk to pick up his messages and review the overnight Incident Report. A new item was listed: Accident-Fatal. In the space for victim: Abelando Pirro-a name Goddard had already memorized. He asked to see the Police Report. His aide said it was on the chief's desk.
"Chief, we've got an Abelando Pirro dead last night. May I see the report?"
"Only have the prelim, happened late. He fell from a fourth-floor condo balcony over on Banyon. They found his body impaled on the iron fence surrounding the pool. Draped over a sharp metal picket like a dead fish on a hook. M.E. said he probably lived for hours and just bled to death. Hellava way to go. Had been drinking. Why, do you know something about it?"
"I can tell you right now, it was murder."
"How do you know? You haven't even seen the report."
"He didn't fall. He was pushed. It's murder." Goddard started flipping through his notes. "Who's getting it?"
"Won't be you, your hands are full."
"It's connected, Chief," he pleaded, "part of my case. That's the address for Norma Martin. He's the bad guy who ran Sandy Reid off the road two nights ago. That's attempted murder. I was searching for him."
"This Pirro death happened on Sergeant Huress' watch," the chief said. "He investigated last night. Said it was a couple of drunken Cuban-Americans. Look at this, he got a nice statement from the girlfriend."
"Of course it's an absolutely perfect statement. She made it up."
"Huress did okay. I'm keeping him on it."
"He's not a detective, not qualified. Don't do this to me, Chief. This could be important. Damn. At least now I can stop looking for him."
Goddard read the report, then stepped outside the chief's office and called Sandy. "How do you feel this morning?"
"The doctor said my temporary leg numbness was stress and strain related. He had some big name for it. I'm being released this morning."
"Great, I'm very happy for you. And you can relax, Pirro won't bother you again."
"You caught him already? That was fast. But I didn't want him caught. I wanted him dead. Well, don't put him in with my brother."
"He is dead, Sandy. Found below Elena Duarte's balcony. She claims it was an accident. Want to hear her statement?"
"I'm listening."
Chip started reading, …We were such good friends. We had quite a few drinks and were making out on the couch. Then we danced a little. We were waiting for my mother to come over after the restaurant closed. Then he said he wanted to make Mentiritas. He just had to have Mentiritas. I told him I thought I was out of rum. I said I'd look again. When I came back out of the kitchen, he was gone. I assumed he had gone out to get the rum. That upset me terribly, because he was in no condition to drive. I was worried about him. I sat down and turned on the TV. Then I heard the sirens and saw all of the lights outside.