Wrenched

Wrenched Casey Morales Copyright Copyright ©2023 by Casey Morales. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. Contents DEDICATION 1. MIGUEL: The Call (Friday, June 5, 9:50 a.m.) 2. MIGUEL: First Contact (Friday, June 5, 11 a.m.) 3. MIGUEL: All Hands (Saturday, June 6, noon) 4. SAM: All in a Day’s Work (Saturday, June 6, 5:10 p.m.) 5. SAM: Sunday Funday (Sunday, June 7, 6:45 p.m.) 6. SAM: Friend Zone (Monday, June 8, 12:35 p.m.) 7. MIGUEL: The Purse (Tuesday, June 9, 10:23 a.m.) 8. MIGUEL: The Search (Wednesday, June 10, 1:15 p.m.) 9. SAM: A Second Visit (Thursday, June 11, 9:23 a.m.) 10. SAM: Batter Up (Thursday, June 11, 6:47 p.m.) 11. MIGUEL: Homeward Bound (Thursday, June 11, 10:17 p.m.) 12. SAM: Post-Game Report (Friday, June 12, 8:21 a.m.) 13. SAM: Round Two (Friday, June 12, 5:43 p.m.) 14. SAM – Office Meeting (Saturday, June 13, 8:40 a.m.) 15. MIGUEL – The Warrant (Monday, June 15, 9:52 a.m.) 16. SAM – Hat Trick (Tuesday, June 16, 2:47 p.m.) 17. MIGUEL – The Bright Light (Wednesday, June 17, 9:01 a.m.) 18. SAM – Turning Tables (Friday, June 19, 6:15 p.m.) 19. SAM – All-Day Affair (Saturday, June 20, 8:25 a.m.) 20. MIGUEL – Innocent Smiles (Monday, June 22, 9:17 a.m.) 21. MIGUEL – The Circle (Tuesday, June 23, 7:15 p.m.) 22. SAM: Open Arms (Tuesday, June 23, 10:35 p.m.) 23. MIGUEL – The Secret (Thursday, June 25, 4:17 p.m.) 24. MIGUEL – Scared Little Rabbit (Thursday, June 25, 6:15 p.m.) 25. SAM – Holy Newscast, Batman! (Thursday, June 25, 10:04 p.m.) 26. SAM – Broadway Birthday (Friday, June 26, 7:00 p.m.) 27. SAM – Pyramid (Tuesday, June 30, 8:15 p.m.) 28. MIGUEL – The Crankshaft (Thursday, August 1, 2:34 p.m.) 29. MIGUEL – Four of a Kind (Thursday, August 5, 6:45 p.m.) Also By Casey About Your Author DEDICATION To all the men and women who serve, and to those who support them. You are loved and appreciated. Thank you. Chapter one MIGUEL: The Call (Friday, June 5, 9:50 a.m.) Donna and I didn’t normally sit around the station with nothing to do. But for some reason, this morning had been pleasantly free of murder or other violent crimes. That made the coffee taste just a little better. Then Sergeant Brandt barked from his office doorway: “Nuñez, Frazier, my office, now.” Donna rose and looked back. “Come on, Smiley. Don’t want to keep the Grinch waiting.” “Shit,” I said, tossing down the last of my coffee and pushing back from my desk. Brandt was fiddling with his keyboard when we entered and didn’t look up. “Close the door and sit.” He was never one to mince words. As we sat, the recording of a phone call crackled through his speakers. A mechanical voice said, “Emergency operator call, Tuesday, June 5, 8:33 a.m.” “Nine-one-one, what is your emergency?” a female voice asked. A deep baritone trembled with each word. “My wife didn’t come home last night or this morning. She hasn’t called either.” “Your wife is missing?” “Yes. That’s what I just said,” the man snapped. “Please stay calm, sir. When did you see her last?” There was a brief pause. “Ten—no, eleven o’clock yesterday morning.” “Sir, we generally don’t record a person as missing before twenty-four hours have passed unless they are a minor, there is a break-in, or some other sign of foul play. Do you have any reason to believe your wife was the victim of a crime?” Another pause. “No. But she’s never disappeared like this without calling. This isn’t like her.” “I understand your concern, but why don’t we wait a few more hours and see if she turns up. That’s what happens ninety-nine percent of the time.” “And what about the other one percent? What if the hours we wait put her life at risk?” His voice was rising. “I don’t want to wait.” “Sir, I’ve made notes of your call, but until we’ve passed the twenty-four hours, or until you can provide some evidence of foul play, there’s nothing our investigators can do.” When the man didn’t respond, the operator said, “I get that you’re scared. Try to stay calm. Call her friends, anyone she might’ve stayed with last night. You can start asking around before we get involved.” “So, you want me to do your job? Is that it?” The man’s voice was white-hot now. “Fuckin’ waste of time.” Click. “That was three days ago, which means she’s been missing four. Husband went to Channel 4, so there’s heat on this now. The mayor’s pissed we didn’t jump on it sooner and tore the chief a new one early this morning. Never mind how many crank calls we get like this every day. You’re as downhill as the shit can roll, so congrats for catching it.” Brandt pushed his keyboard away, then shoved a thin file toward us. “House search?” Donna asked. “Husband consented over the phone. Ball’s in your court, just get the paperwork signed and coordinate with CSI.” “CSI?” I couldn’t hide my surprise. “You already think this is more than—” Brandt raised his palm. “I’m not saying anything, just that you need to get everybody in the boat, alright?” I sat back as an uneasy itch crawled up my neck. “I’ve already looped in the deputy chief in case we need detectives assigned. The morning brief put the wife’s face in front of every cop in the city. That should help. Come back to me with what you need, but find this one fast, alright?” “Yes, Sarge,” we said in unison. Brandt turned away from us and began pecking at his keyboard with the only two fingers he knew how to use. I resisted the easy joke, though it took an effort. Donna snatched the file and we strode back to our desks. “He’s all warm and fuzzy this