"Maybe Bernardo made that part up."
Gabe kept his face averted and shook his head.
"You know he didn't."
"There was a lot of good in Orlando," Kerney said.
"He was my only son. My only child."
"I know."
"I raised him better than this."
"I know."
"What the fuck did I do wrong?" Gabe asked.
"You can't take the blame."
"Then who does. Chief?" Finally, Gabe turned toward Kerney.
"Tell me that. Who the fuck does?"
At the trench they found Orlando's body covered by a blanket. Kerney thanked Fullerton, guided Gabe to a unit, and put him inside. Garduno met Kerney at the front of the squad car.
"I'm taking him home," Kerney said.
"Is he okay?"
"How can he be? I want somebody with him all night and all day tomorrow. Maybe longer."
"Every off-duty officer in the district will volunteer."
"Have somebody standing by for us at Gabe's house."
"Consider it done," Garduno said.
"Gabe doesn't deserve this."
"Let's keep a close watch on him." Kerney glanced at Gabe. Through the windshield, Gabe stared back at Kerney with empty eyes.
"A real close watch."
"We'll stay on top of it, Chief."
Kerney looked up at the night sky. Venus dazzled like a pendant next to a three-quarter moon. He stared at it dumbly, numbed by all that had happened. He could only wonder what Gabe was going through. It had to be a thousand times worse.
"I'll take care of this," Garduno said, gesturing toward the body in the trench.
Kerney nodded, got behind the steering wheel, and drove Gabe away.
Kerney spent the next day in Las Vegas doing paperwork, dealing with the news media, and meeting with the ADA who had been assigned to prosecute Bernardo. Because Bernardo had lost some front teeth and sustained a broken nose, the lawyer hired by the Barelas was already making accusations of police brutality.
The ADA had questioned Kerney closely about the incidents leading up to the arrest. Without hesitating, Kerney lied about the facts. He told the ADA that Bernardo had entered Jessica's apartment armed with a deadly weapon and in the scuffle to disarm him, necessary force had been used. He knew full well he would have to perjure himself at trial, otherwise Bernardo's confession could be thrown out of court and the case dismissed.
Lying wasn't something Kerney enjoyed doing, or had ever done before in a criminal matter. But truth, in this instance, wouldn't serve justice.
The ADA seemed to buy Kerney's version of the facts, at least for the present. But Kerney needed to due Gabe in on the spin, just in case the ADA decided to call and take a preliminary statement from Gabe over the phone.
He parked his unit, stood on the sidewalk in front of Gabe's house, and looked around. It was the first time he'd seen the neighborhood in daylight. Behind him the Las Vegas Public Library, donated to the city by Andrew Carnegie, dominated a tree-lined park that covered a dry block. With its center dome, cross wings, and portico entrance, it looked like a miniature Monticello.
Gabe's house, lovingly cared for, stood directly behind the library. It was a two-and-a-half-story clapboard Victorian with a sloping mansard roof, an arched tower with circular windows, a widow's walk on the top level, and lead glass windows, Art Garcia, dressed in dwies, his eyes ringed with dark circles, came out to meet Kerney as he opened the gate to the walkway.
Art gave Kerney a tired smile.
"Chief."
"How is he?" Kerney asked.
"Sleeping. The doctor gave him a sedative. Gabe's got an appointment to see a shrink in the morning. I sent all the relatives away about two hours ago."
"Did his ex-wife come up from Albuquerque?"
"That was ugly," Art said with a nod.
"She made it sound like Gabe was responsible for Orlando's murder.
That nearly flipped him out."
"Is the ex-wife here now?"
"No. She checked into a motel with her boyfriend.
Do you need to see her?"
Kerney shook his head.
"Keep her away from Gabe if she acts up again. He doesn't need a guilt trip laid on him. He's carrying enough as it is."
"I'll let the troops know. You need to speak to Gabe? I can wake him up."
"Let him sleep. Tell him it's very important not to talk to the ADA until he speak with me."
"Wll do."
"Have the funeral services for Orlando been set?"