SHADOWS IN THE GLASS -- Chapter 32 (3)

Tucson had managed to avoid the furious growth that transformed Phoenix. It retained much of its subdued charm and some of the feel of a small town despite its size.

The address led them to a post and ship business. Their apartment number was just a postal box. Before they went inside, Benny called the District Attorney's office to get a search warrant for the postal box.

Pimpled and gangly and named Brian, if you believed his name tag. The kid behind the counter didn't flinch when the detectives pulled their shields. He steadfastly refused to reveal any information.

Only the occasional squeak of his voice gave away any hint of nerves. "We have confidentiality contracts with our customers. We can't give, trade, sell, tell, or otherwise divulge any information about out customers. My boss would have my ass on a platter if I told you anything." The kid wasn't snotty about it. He was just more frightened of his boss than he was of them.

Benny told the kid. "Look I don't want to get you in trouble but I'm going to need that information. What if I had a search warrant? Would you help me then?"

Brian swallowed. Thought about it. "I guess I would call my boss then and ask him what to do."

Benny leaned over the counter at Brian "Then go call your boss. Tell him some detectives want information regarding the Roberto Rodriguez case. Have you heard of him, kid?"

Brian's eyes widened perceptibly. He nodded. Benny nodded also. "I thought you might have. Go call your boss."

Then the kid couldn't move quick enough. He was on the horn in eight seconds.

The proprietor was there less than ten minutes later. Mario Giovanni was stoutly built. His dark receding hair and neatly trimmed beard were streaked with gray. He hit the door running. Came in flushed and sweating. Obsequious as hell. Prepared to do back-flips to avoid any association with the notorious killer.

Giovanni asked them back to his office. He dug through a file drawer and produced the contract. "You got a warrant, right? I don't want to get caught up in a civil suit."

"And we don't want the evidence thrown out." Benny said. "We have a warrant coming. We can wait for it. They can fax it here."

After the warrant arrived. Giovanni made a copy for the drawer and gave the original to Lisa. Before she bagged it and tagged it, they read it. The rental agreement was signed by Liana Swan.

"Maybe she got married." Benny ventured.

"Or it's an alias." Lisa countered.

The agreement included a postal forwarding service. The repackaged mail was shipped to Nolan Lawsay up in Kingman, in northwest Arizona by Las Vegas.

"Do you remember this guy?" Benny asked.

Giovanni shook his head. "Couldn't have met him. This was from before I bought the joint. I got two of these places in town. Three apartment buildings. I just do the books and give the orders."

Brian had been there for eight months. He'd never seen either of them but he remembered packing and forwarding mail from the box. He did it once a month, per the agreement. There were never more than a handful of letters. Brian didn't look at the names or return addresses.

The detectives thanked them for their help and took their leave. Got on the freeway towards Phoenix. Benny phoned the station and had someone use the reverse directory to look up the phone number that went with the address in Kingman.

He rang up the number. A woman picked up on the other end. "Sorry Hun, call tomorrow. I'm closed." She disconnected before Benny said a word. 

He closed his cellphone. Turned to Lisa. "They say they're closed. What do you think?"

Without turning her head she said. "How much you want to bet it's another postage shop?"

"I wouldn't touch that bet with your money."