"Aside from Ruth Pino and this Chuck Beasly, did Bernardo talk to anyone else?"
"Not as far as I know. Chief. He may have when he was in the bar."
"He didn't stop to take a piss or make a phone call?"
Art Garda asked.
"No, Sergeant."
"So, Bernardo went directly from the hardware store to the ranch supply store, to the mesa, and then met with Beasly at the apartment," Gabe said.
"That's right. Lieutenant."
"Did he buy anything at the hardware store?" Gabe asked.
"I didn't see him walk out carrying anything," Russell said.
"That's strange," Kerney said.
"How long was Bernardo waiting for the hardware store to open?"
"Ten, fifteen minutes."
"You don't wait for a store to open, go in, and buy nothing," Art Garda said.
"Maybe they didn't have what he needed," Russell suggested.
"Maybe," Gabe said.
Kerney looked at Gabe.
"We'll follow up with Beasly and the hardware store."
Gabe nodded.
"That's all, Thorpe," Garduno said.
Russell stood up.
"Where do you want me. Captain?"
"Out looking for Bernardo."
"Don't leave until I talk to you, Thorpe," Kerney said flatly.
"I'll just be a few minutes."
"Yes, sir."
Kerney waited to speak until the door closed behind Thorpe.
"Do we have anything from the field?" he asked Garduno.
"With the exception of Gabe, the teller at the bank, and the burger joint manager, so far nobody has seen or talked to Orlando since yesterday morning."
"What about the student who called and asked to borrow Orlando's class notes?"
Garduno consulted his paperwork.
"We've talked to every student enrolled in Orlando's classes. No one admitted to making any such call."
"So the only verified early-morning call to Orlando we've got is from Bernardo."
"That's right. Chief."
"Do we have Kerri Crombie covered?"
"We've got her buttoned down," Garduno said.
"The ADA has been calling. She wants a meeting with Gabe ASAP.
Otherwise she's going to release Santistevan and Aland."
"Let them walk," Gabe said.
"We can arrest them again later."
Kerney switched his attention to Art Garda.
"Can you handle the meeting with the ADA?"
"No problem. Chief."
Kerney got to his feet and looked at Gabe.
"I'll meet you at your unit."
Til be there."
Outside the conference room, Kerney found a nervous Russell Thorpe waiting for him. He led the young man to Garduno's office, closed the door, and searched Thorpe's face.
"You fell asleep on duty, didn't you?"
Russell blushed and nodded.
"I tried not to."