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Hunter thought, Now how did he know how much time it took? She said, “Light traffic. What’s on your mind?”
“I have information for you.”
“Okay, spill it.”
“Do you have something with which to write?”
“I’ve got a good memory, go ahead.”
“Call me when you have a pen and paper.” He hung up.
Hunter looked at her phone, then got out of her car and went inside the office. She’d arrived before Andre, so she retrieved two cups of coffee, placing one on his nearby desk and sipping on the other as she sat down, pulled out a lined yellow legal pad and clicked her ballpoint pen. Then she called Dessaline. “I’ve got a pen and paper, shoot.”
“I am a respected person in the Haitian community here, and was troubled by the tragedy surrounding the deaths of so many of my countrymen on the ship you are investigating, so I have had people ask questions, and I have something for you, but only you.”
“I’m not sure what we’re talking about here, you’re being kind of nebulous.”
Dessaline said, “Then I will be clear. I have the residence of Jean Claude Villard for you.”
“No good, Mr. Dessaline. We already have that, and have checked it out. He’s not there.”
“I don’t think we are talking about the same thing.”
Hunter said, “I’m not going to debate you on it, but I personally went there.”
“You went to the home in Pompano Beach?”
She thought, What is it with this guy? “Yes, the very one.”
“I thought so.” Dessaline let a pause fill several seconds, then said, “That is his rental house. One he rents out.”
Hunter sat up, “If you know something, how about telling me.”
“I am trying to, Agent Kincaid. I received a phone call from Jean Claude Villard this morning. He wishes to turn himself in, but only to someone he knows. He is afraid for his life.”
Andre walked into the office and Hunter motioned to his coffee. She pointed at her phone, giving him a thumbs-up sign. She said to Dessaline, “Okay, who does he want to surrender to? I’ll see if I can set it up.”
“Why, you, Agent Kincaid. He remembers you, very clearly.” Hunter thought he sounded like he was smiling while he talked.
“Have him come in.”
“He is afraid for his life. He wants to surrender to you at his residence.”
“And that’s not the Pompano Beach home.”
“No. His actual residence is in Pembroke Pines.”
Hunter said, “When we did property searches, he was only listed in Pompano Beach. Not in Pembroke Pines.”
“And for a reason. He told me that the Pembroke Pines home was one he purchased for his stepson several years ago, and when the stepson died last year, Jean Claude moved into the house. He is still grieving and hasn’t felt the desire to change the ownership papers to his name. The house is still under his stepson’s name.”
“What’s the address?”
Dessaline told her. “He said he will surrender only to you, but you can have your partner wait in the car. No one else or he will not give up.”
“You want to give me his number so I can call and tell him we’re coming?”
“I will tell him. Ring the doorbell and he will come out. If you knock on the door, he will not. That is how he will know I talked to you and we are in agreement. What time do you anticipate being at the address?”
