She nodded. “Yes. We’re going to the vet and then shopping for a bed and food for Betty White. We’ll check on Snuffles and feed him dinner tonight.”
Good. “Okay. I’ll see you later.” I’d waited until the ladies had gotten into their car and driven away before looking at Bud. “Don’t argue with me, but you need to stay here and guard Charles’ car. I’ll have Detective Pierce execute the warrant as soon as I get it.”
Bud shook his head. “I go with you.”
“No. I’ll go straight to the office and then the courthouse, I promise.” I couldn’t let Spider get his hands on the car, if that’s why he had just ridden through the neighborhood. Were he and Aiden trying to tie off loose ends? “Trust me.”
Bud crossed his arms. “Fine, but you call me the second you get to the office. If you don’t, I’m coming after you.”
The sound of the motorcycles faded into the distance. “No problem.”
I had to hurry.
Chapter 36
The warrant and affidavit were on my desk the second I arrived at the office. I signed, had the receptionist notarize it, and then hustled back into the nice spring day.
The smell of flowers followed me from my office to the courthouse, and the sunshine helped my mood, even though fresh bruises were making themselves known. Soon I was going to be one big purple blob. I’d called Bud the second I’d arrived safely at my office, and he’d reported that the Lordes hadn’t driven by again. For now, I dodged up the stairs to the third floor, taking a left for the office area. Then I knocked on Judge Hallenback’s door. Hopefully he was in the office this morning.
“What?” he bellowed.
That was probably an invitation to enter. I nudged the door open and peeked around it to see him behind his desk. “Hey, Judge. I have a warrant for you to sign.”
“Alberto. Come in. Happy Monday to you.” He gestured me inside a spacious office with manila files and papers stacked around. The wall behind him was windows, while the two on the side were bookshelves stuffed full of legal periodicals. Today his gray hair was slicked back, and his eyes were sharp. He wore a ‘Hallenback’ Used Car lot shirt in a very mellow yellow along with what looked like tan-colored jeans. “What do you want?” He reached for a pair of reading glasses.
I set the papers in front of him and on top of several court briefs before taking a seat in a thick leather chair across from him. “A warrant to search a car and follow up on the GPS in order to maybe find a drug lab.” Then I waited.
He read through the application as well as my affidavit. “Did you walk over here?” he mused, looking over the top of the papers.
I blinked. “Yes. It’s a nice day.”
He shook his head. “I saw you in your convertible the other day. Thing doesn’t have airbags. You should get a new car.” He scrambled through the stack of papers and then handed over a business card for his brother. “We own a car lot, you know.”
“I do know that.” I really needed him to concentrate. “I like my car, Judge.”
“You can’t drive that vehicle in the winter.” He slapped the papers down.
I looked for a pen so he could sign. “No, your Honor. I have a SUV for the winter.” As did most people in the town. “Would you please sign the warrant for me?”
“What warrant?” he muttered, looking toward the bookshelf. “I have books. Do you have books?”
An executive style silver pen was on the floor, and I pounced on it, sliding it toward him. “How are you feeling, Judge? Maybe you should have a check-up or something?” I didn’t want to insult him, but the guy needed help. Maybe I could help him.
He lifted one fit shoulder. “Yeah, maybe. Sometimes I forget things.” He took the pen and signed the bottom of the warrant. “Though it has been pretty stressful lately. I miss seeing some of the older guys in the courtroom. The rest of you are just so young.”
“Sometimes I don’t feel young. Especially this week.” My whole body was one big bruise. I took the papers. “I could make an appointment with a doctor for you, if you’d like. My cousin, Wanda, might be a good place to start.”
He shook his head. “That’s okay. I have a doctor, and I have to see her every year for the insurance.”
Even so, I needed to follow up with him. If all the family he had was his brother, and his brother wasn’t helping any, then I would. “Okay. Thanks for this.” I backed toward the door, wanting to help him somehow. I felt like I was taking advantage of him with the warrant, and I really didn’t like that, but we needed to find that drug lab.
“Good luck, Alberto,” he said, kicking back in his chair and planting his bright green tennis shoes on the desk.
“You can call me Anna, Judge,” I said, opening the door and smiling when he nodded. Then I turned and all but ran down the stairs and outside, angling around the park for the police station to find Pierce. It was his job to execute the warrant, but I was going to be involved on this one.
We were close. I could just feel it.
* * *
