The Oaths We Keep

Chapter 36

Barry Sherman's apartment complex was familiar to both Barnes and Taylor. The complex contained six red brick two-story buildings with four apartments each. The majority of the tenants that lived here were small, working-class families. Most wanted to go to work, come home, and relax after a hard day. However, for some residents, that relaxation came with alcohol or something more robust, which led to trouble. "I bet I've been to a dozen domestic calls out here," Barnes remarked as Taylor turned into the parking lot.

"I know," Taylor said as he pulled into a parking spot. "We've busted a couple of dealers here too. It's got its share of trouble."

As they crossed the parking lot, a couple of tenants glanced at them. Taylor noted that he'd dealt with one of the men staring at them before, although he couldn't remember why. He gave the man a casual wave as he walked toward Sherman's apartment. The man did not return the greeting.

Sherman's apartment was on the second floor. The detectives climbed the stairs and spotted the apartment number on the door to their left. "This is it," Barnes said as she retrieved Sherman's key. The lock gave way as Barnes opened the door. Barnes was surprised by how neat Sherman kept the place when she opened the door. "Well, this is a surprise," she said as she entered the living room.

"You know not all single men live like slobs," Taylor said as he followed her inside.

"If you say so, Taylor." Barnes surveyed the living space as she walked through the apartment. "He's not much for decorating, though. The notebook should be in his nightstand drawer in the bedroom."

"That's what he told us. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to look around."

"Nice of him to give us written consent to search," she remarked. "So besides the notebook, what are we looking for here?"

"Good question. I'll let you know if I find it," he responded. Taylor picked up the couch cushions and then put them back in place. He then examined a bookshelf near the open cabinet where the television sat. He flipped through several books before replacing them on the shelves. He then turned his attention to a small closet beside the couch.

Opening the closet, he spotted several jackets hanging inside. He looked on the top shelf but only found a pair of shoes and a feather duster. Taylor carefully reached into one of the pockets of an old khaki jacket. He didn't find anything, so he decided to look inside the other pocket. Reaching inside the pocket, Taylor felt a bundle of paper. Taylor removed the bundle, and it was just as he thought. "Hey, Barnes, look what I found," he said as he unfolded the bills.

"Looks like you found the money he was paid to keep tabs," she said.

"Yeah, and there's over four thousand dollars in hundreds here. I wonder if Barry has any more hiding spots?" Taylor said.

"He might. I'll get the notebook while you keep looking," Barnes said as Taylor began to dig through the closet again. Several minutes passed before Barnes finally returned to the living room. "I found the notebook, and look what else." She held a clear plastic bag with a large pistol inside.

"That's a .45 by the look of it. Ole Sherman wasn't playing around with that thing. On a related note, I have yet to find more cash in the closet. Do you want to check the bathroom while I search the kitchen?"

"Yeah, if it's all the same to you, I'll search the kitchen," she responded.

"Fine, suit yourself," Taylor said as he started to the bathroom. He looked around inside the medicine cabinet and the linen closet, but both areas were clean. Taylor was beginning to think they had found all they would find in the apartment.

"Hey, Taylor, come here," Barnes called for him from the kitchen. Taylor rushed out of the bathroom and into the small kitchen area. "Look at this," she said as he entered the kitchen. She held up a small wooden box. "Looks like a sugar box, doesn't it?" Barnes took a butter knife from a drawer and slid the blade underneath the lip of the container. "I noticed it moved when I picked it up and sat it back down. Lift on the lip, and you find a false bottom, and look what I found inside," Barnes said as she opened the bottom. Reaching inside, she pulled out several one-hundred-dollar bills. "Looks like Barry was more than a simple watchdog over Barbero's accounts."

"Looks like that's the case," he agreed. "Count it up and bag it. Then let's get back and have another talk with Barry."