Daylight

Chapter 45

A few hours later Pine and Blum left the hospital and returned to Lineberry’s condo. Robert Puller had opted to stay at the hospital. Pine texted him her address. She planned to be back at the hospital later that day. Hopefully, they could see John Puller then.

An exhausted Pine slept until two in the afternoon, then sat in her bedroom and looked out the window. The day looked like it would be warmer than the previous ones had been, and free of rain. Her belly was empty, and she had a hunger headache, but she didn’t want to waste time eating right now. She felt terrible guilt for what had happened to Puller. She knew all about the company line — that it came with the territory — but still... she felt immense responsibility for the man’s nearly dying.

And with Sands dead, they really had no leads to pursue.

She phoned Robert Puller. He told her that his brother seemed to be doing as well as possible. She thanked him for the info and said she would come to the hospital later.

She showered and changed into fresh clothes. When she came out, Blum had a meal on the table.

“Carol, thank you, but you don’t have to do this. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

“It gives me something to do, Agent Pine. I don’t like feeling idle and useless.”

Pine’s phone buzzed. She didn’t recognize the number, but it was a New Jersey area code. She answered it.

The voice said, “Agent Pine, this is Norma Bailey, I’m the principal at Jerome Blake’s school.”

“Yes, Mrs. Bailey?”

“I wanted to let you know that I have the photos of the school employees ready for your review.”

“Can you email them to me?”

“Yes. I can do that right now. Have you made any progress on what happened to Jerome?”

“A little, but things are getting very complicated very fast.”

“I hope you find the truth. Jerome deserves that.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Pine gave her the email address. A minute later the photos were deposited in her inbox.

She looked at Blum. “I just got the photos of the school personnel from Norma Bailey at Jerome’s school.”

“Terrific. Now we just have to find that young man, what was his name again?”

“Peanut. But I have a shortcut that I hope will save us some time.”

They left New York and drove back to Trenton, arriving at Jerome Blake’s home about ninety minutes later. His mother answered their knocks.

“Have you found out who killed my boy?” she said.

“Not yet, but we’re still working on it,” replied Pine. “We met a friend of Jerome’s, he said his name was Peanut?”

Blake nodded, looking thoughtful. “Jerome and Peanut were real tight when they were younger, then they went their separate ways.”

“Do you know where we might find Peanut? And what’s his real name?”

“Donald Washington. His grandma lives on the next block over. What does he have to do with what happened to Jerome?”

“He told us he saw a man speaking to Jerome the day of the shooting, at school. He said Jerome looked really weird afterward. I’ve got some pictures of employees at the school to show him. To see if he recognizes the man. Can you give us Peanut’s address so I can do that?”

“Peanut don’t live at home anymore. Just his grandma there now, and she’s doing poorly.”

“So where might we find him?” asked Pine.

“He hangs out over at a gym on Broad Street. Calhoun’s.”

“Why a gym? Does he like to work out?”

“A few guys box there. But I don’t think most folks who go there care nothing ’bout working out. It’s just a safe place to go to and hang out. You find the guy who owns it. His name’s Gerald. He’s a good man.”

“But other business happens there?” said Pine.

Blake held up her hands. “Not in the gym, no. Gerald don’t allow for that. But outside? I ain’t getting in the middle of that. I got my Jewel to raise. She needs her momma.”

“How’s she doing?”

“Not good. Still crying her eyes out.”

“This must be so traumatizing for her. I... I know what it’s like to lose a sibling. If we can do anything, please let us know.”

They drove off and quickly found Calhoun’s. It was an old, dilapidated building with ancient boxing posters plastered across its front, many of them ripped or faded by the sun. Some young men were hanging around outside. The area was run-down, with boarded up storefronts and a general air of decay. She parked at the curb about a block down and told Blum to wait in the car and to get in the driver’s seat, which she did.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?”

“Very sure, Carol. And keep the doors locked and the engine running. Anything starts looking hinky just leave.”

“If you’re not out in twenty minutes, should I call the police?”

“I’ll be okay.”

Pine walked past the groups of young men who gave her long stares and some catcalls. But they otherwise ignored her. She went into Calhoun’s, which turned out to be built out like a warehouse. There were high, angled ceilings, industrial support columns, three boxing rings, and thousands of square feet of workout equipment that looked old and shabby. There were a few guys hoisting iron, and others expertly skipping rope and still others going after speed and heavy bags, but most were congregated around one of the boxing rings.

Pine walked over there and joined the crowd. Several young men tried to bar her way but a broad-shouldered man, with curly gray hair and wearing an old-fashioned three-piece suit and a brilliant red tie, said, “Show some respect, let the lady through.”

The men obeyed and Pine came to stand next to him.

“Thanks, Mr....?”

“Just call me Gerald. And you are?”

“Atlee Pine.”

“Had an aunt down in Alabama named Atlee, God rest her soul.”

“Quite the gym.”

“Really? Forgive me, but I thought you’d be one of them folks who like the juice bar and the Peloton and that yoga stuff.” Then he ran his eye over her, not in a sexual way, but in a way of a person experienced at gauging fitness. “But then again, looking at your shoulders, thighs, and core, I would be wrong about that, wouldn’t I?”

“I’m a powerlifter. The gym where I work out in Arizona has no AC, just a lot of iron and a lot of sweat and no juice bar need apply.” She looked around. “And from what I can see of this place, I think I’d fit right in.”

“Well, come back anytime to work up a sweat. Now, what can we do for you?”

“I’m looking for a young man named Peanut.”

“And why would you be doing that?”

Gerald’s tone was still very polite, but his smile and gaze had hardened just a bit.

“He told me he could help me on a case. I wanted him to look at some photos I just got.”

“A case?”

She showed him her FBI badge. “Jerome Blake’s death. Did you know him?”

Gerald took a moment to look at the throng of young men around them and said, “Hey, fellas, give us space so me and this lady can have a private talk, okay?”

The group fussed a bit over this directive, but they all moved away.

Gerald looked back at Pine. “I knew his brother, Willie. Would’ve made a fine light heavyweight.”

“His mother said she got him to move.”

“So she did. And Cee-Cee made the right call. He was heading down the wrong path.”

“Cee-Cee told me to look you up here. That you were a good man.”

“She’s a nice lady. Had a hard time, like a lot of folks around here.” He looked at the two men in the ring, both in their twenties, muscled, wearing head protection gear and bobbing and weaving as they danced around the ring. “Like those two right there. Maybe their mommas should get them outta here, too.”

“So what keeps them here? You?”

He put his hand on one of the ropes. “Lived here my whole life. Fought in the ring a lot in my day. Was pretty good. Marine Corps champion for my weight class. Served my time in Nam. Got a lungful of Agent Orange, which derailed any athletic career I might have been contemplating. I’m seventy-one years old and feel like I’m a hundred. You have days like that?”

“I think we all do, even without breathing in Agent Orange.”

“Anyway, I started this gym in 1977. Been running it ever since. Try to teach the young folks around here the art of pugilism. But really, I’m just trying to give them a safe space to go to. Learn some discipline. Learn about working hard, setting goals, getting together in groups without pursuing any illegal activity, if you get my point.”

“All good things. So, Peanut?”

“He’s usually around here this time of day. Let me go check.”

Gerald walked off and the situation changed immediately. She could sense the heightened tension, the more focused gazes of the men who had once more clustered around her.

The men in the ring stopped what they were doing and leaned over the ropes. One took out his mouthpiece and snarled, “What you doing here?”

“Just asking about someone.”

“You ain’t got the right to ask ’bout nobody,” barked the other man, spitting out his mouth guard. “You can’t come in here and ask nothing.”

“And why is that?”

“She’s a cop,” said one of the men in the crowd. “Saw her flash her badge.”

The first fighter said, “Then you ain’t welcome here. You just good for shooting us in the back.”

Pine sized him up. “I’ll make a deal with you. If you can kick my ass, I’ll leave. If I kick your ass, I stay and get my questions answered. Deal?”

The two fighters looked at each other and belly-laughed. The crowd of men behind her closed ranks and did likewise.

“You gonna get in this ring with me?” he said with an incredulous look that eased to a grin.

“Unless you want to come out here.”

“No, step right up. Which teeth you want to lose and which ones you want to keep? I’ll try to be accommodating.”

The other man split the ring ropes so Pine could duck under.

She stood to her full height and drew closer to the man she was about to combat. He looked a little surprised that she was taller than he was.

Pine took off her jacket, revealing the Glock in her belt holster.

“You want me to hold your piece for you, lady?” said one man in the crowd.

“That would be a no.” She looked at the man in the ring. “How much do you weigh?”

“One-sixty.”

“Wow, almost as much as me. I’m five pounds heavier, for the record.” Pine had on a short-sleeved shirt underneath, and her ropy, corded muscles were clearly visible. The man glanced over at his friend, who shrugged and looked a little nervous as he stepped out of the ring.

“Okay, what are the rules?” asked Pine.

“Shit, ain’t no rules in here,” the man laughed.

“Great.” In a blinding move, Pine slammed a foot into his gut, and when he doubled over, she laid her right leg against the side of his head with such stunning force that it knocked him right through the ropes, where he was caught by several of the onlookers below.

She walked over and looked down at him. “Okay, warm-up’s over. You want to start now? Or just answer my questions? Your call.”

They heard someone clapping and all turned to see Gerald walking back to the ring, alone. Gerald stopped next to the boxer Pine had laid out and knelt down. “Okay, Ty, remember what I keep telling you about disrespecting the women?”

Ty nodded dumbly. Gerald helped him to his feet and looked up at Pine.

“Peanut ain’t here.” He turned to the others. “Anybody here know where Peanut is?”

Pine looked over the crowd one by one until a young man around eighteen stepped forward.

“Seen him over at Duke’s,” said the man. “Before I come here.” Pine glanced at Gerald. “Duke’s?”

“When you leave here, go right, three blocks, then go left. It’s a... store.”

“What do they sell?” she asked.

“It depends,” said Gerald. “It just depends on what you want. But if I were you, I wouldn’t be buying.”