“So, what are you going to do?” Sabre asked.
“I need to find Gene. There’s way more to this story than anyone is saying. Something went down when we were kids that changed all of our lives forever. I can’t stand by and watch that happen to Conner.”
“What was it?” Sabre asked.
“I was eight years old, and I woke up in the middle of the night. Gene was getting dressed….” JP stopped talking when Morgan walked into the room. “We’ll talk about this later.”
“Right. Do you know where you’re going to start?”
“Yes, I’ll go see Conner. That’s if you’re sure you’re okay with the shopping thing.”
“Can I go?” Morgan asked.
“Not this time, Munchkin. I’m sorry, but it’s not visiting hours. They let me in because I’m working on his case.”
Morgan sighed. “Okay. Tell him I miss him.”
“I will.”
Sabre reached out her hand for Morgan. “Let’s go get some lunch and then go shopping. I’m starving.” Morgan clasped Sabre’s hand in hers, and they walked out together.
The sight made JP happy. But only for a moment. He had work to do. He sat down and studied the police report, this time reading every word, looking for clues that would help him find his brother and figure out what the family was hiding. He called and made an appointment to see Conner. There was a state inspection going on at the Hall, and they asked that he come in later. Since the visit wouldn’t take place for another two hours, he returned to the report and took some notes, making a list of every person mentioned and their addresses. His plan was to interrogate everyone he could until he got the information he needed, starting with Morgan’s grandmother.
JP got in his truck and drove to see her without calling first. He found he usually got more honest answers when he didn’t give someone time to anticipate and prepare for what he might ask.
The drive took less than five minutes. He couldn’t believe his brother lived so close to him, yet he’d had no idea he was there. Even though they weren’t on the best terms, it angered him that Gene hadn’t let him know.
JP parked at the curb and started toward the front door, then decided he would have a quick look in the backyard first. From what he could see, no one was out there.
JP knocked, but no one answered. He knocked again. This time, a forty-something sleepy woman in a bathrobe opened the door. Her bleached-blonde, ratted hair had not been combed and stuck out in spots, strands hanging over her eyes. She pushed the mess back and shaded her face from the sun.
“Damn, that’s bright,” she said. “What do you want?”
“Ma’am, I’m JP Torn, Gene’s brother.”
“Holy, moly! I never thought I’d see the day.” She stared at him for several seconds. “You ain’t bad looking, almost as good as your brother. Course he’s a little worse for wear.” Another slight pause. “You takin’ good care of my baby girl?”
“She’s moving in with me today, ma’am. I assure you I’ll take good care of her. And we’re doing everything we can to help Conner.”
“I’m Roxanne, your sister-in-law. You can call me Roxy, everyone does, except my mother. She refuses to call me anything but Roxanne. She says if she wanted my name to be Roxy, she would have named me that.”
“Roxy it is.”
She took a step backward into her living room. “Come on in. I’ll make us some coffee.”
“None for me, thanks.” JP followed her into the kitchen, past three empty beer cans sitting on an end table. The kitchen had a dirty skillet on the stove, a blender with an inch of liquid at the bottom, and numerous red solo cups and empty beer cans strewn about the counter.
“It looks like you had a party here last night,” JP said nonchalantly.
“Just had a few friends over.” Roxy told JP to sit, started a pot of coffee, then walked back to the small table. “Your brother says you’re a real jackass, but that you’ll do right by those kids. Is that true?”
“I’ve been called a jackass before, but he’s right, I’ll do my best for your children. Have you spoken to Gene lately?”
“Not since he left a week ago, but he’s had plenty to say about you over the years.”
JP wasn’t sure how he felt about Gene thinking and talking about him all those years. When they were young boys and their father had been arrested, it caused a rift between them, and they had fought constantly for years. Over time, he and Gene seemed to build a mutual hate for one another. Their mother had tried to smooth things over, but JP always felt like she favored Gene over him. His brother had left home when he was seventeen, and JP had only seen him twice after that. The visits were within a week of each other and took place in Norco Rehabilitation Center where Gene did his first stint in prison. When their mother passed away, JP returned to Texas for the funeral, but Gene was in prison at the time so they didn’t see one another.
“Do you have any idea where Gene is now?” JP asked.
“No.” She made a short, breathy hissing sound, showing her anger or frustration. “I thought he was in prison like everyone else did. Who the hell knows? Probably off with some cheap hussy somewhere. He comes home when he wants and leaves when he wants. He don’t come home for me anymore, except maybe to get laid. I know he only comes to see his kids.”
JP didn’t know what to make of all that, and he certainly didn’t know how to respond. “I’m here to investigate Conner’s case. I work for his attorney, Sabre Brown. Anything you can tell me might help us find who really killed Bullet?”
“You don’t think Conner did it?” Roxy asked.
“He says he didn’t. Do you have reason to think otherwise?”
“Conner don’t lie much, but I don’t really know what happened.” She paused. “They won’t do much to him, will they? I mean, him bein’ just a kid and all.”
“They can try him as an adult and he could get life.”
“Really? Well, that can’t happen.”
“But it can,” JP said. “When was the last time you saw Bullet?”
“I seen him the night before he left. We had a little party, nothin’ big, mind you. Me and Gene went to bed early.”
“I thought Gene had already left.”
“That’s right. I forgot. Gene was gone. I went to bed by myself that night. I had a migraine. That’s what it was.” She stood up and checked the coffee pot. It was still filling up.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course, I’m sure. I just got a little confused there for a minute.”
“Was anyone naked at the party?” JP asked.
“Now, why would you ask that?” Roxy tried to sound indignant.
“I’m not judging you. I don’t care what you do in the privacy of your home. I’m just trying to get the full picture.”
“It wasn’t that kind of party. We never had those when Gene was around.”
“But Gene wasn’t there, right?”
“No, he wasn’t, but he had just left. I didn’t know where he was.” She paused. “Still don’t.”
Roxy took two mugs out of the cupboard, removed the coffee pot, and stuck one mug under to catch the drip. She poured coffee into the other cup, then put the pot back after removing the partially filled cup. She poured in some half-and-half and added two heaping teaspoons of sugar.
“Sure you don’t want some coffee?”
“No, thank you,” JP said. “So, you saw Bullet at the party, but not the next day?”
“That’s right. I was sleeping when he left. Mom says Bullet and her had a fight, and he got mad and left. That’s about all I know.”
“Is your mother here? I’d like to talk to her.”
“I think she’s in her room. Wait here. I’ll get her. I need to get dressed anyway. I have an appointment this afternoon.”
“Does Gene have any friends he might be staying with?”
“Just Derek, but Derek told me he hasn’t seen Gene either.” Roxy started to walk away. “I’ll get Mom.
”
JP sat in the kitchen, waiting for Conner’s grandmother, hoping she’d be more forthcoming than the rest. He was certain Conner, Morgan, and now Roxy were all holding something back, and he was pretty sure his brother was the crux of it all.
Chapter 10
When Muriel Joy Roberts walked into the kitchen, JP was surprised by her appearance. He wasn’t sure what he expected, but it wasn’t this. She stood about five-five, with short brunette hair that framed a perfectly oval face. When she smiled, she had a twinkle in her eye. But upon further examination, there appeared to be a soft sadness behind the twinkle. Muriel wore a skirt and tailored blouse over her trim body and didn’t fit his typical grandmother image. He remembered from the report—where he’d learned her full name—that she was only fifty-eight, not that much older than he was. JP wondered what she was doing with a guy like Bullet.
“Roxanne said you wanted to speak to me,” Muriel said in a slight British accent, using proper English, unlike the way her daughter spoke.
“If you don’t mind. I’m trying to help your grandson out of this mess he’s in.”
“I really appreciate that. Conner is a good boy, and he doesn’t belong in jail even if he killed that man. Bullet was a terrible person who didn’t deserve to live.”
“Do you think Conner killed him?”
“I’m just saying whoever did should receive a medal, not a prison sentence.”
“Correct me if I’m wrong, ma’am, but wasn’t he your boyfriend?”
“He was at one time, but I tried to kick him out long ago. He just wouldn’t leave. He’d get mad and beat me up if I said too much to him.”
“Why didn’t you call the cops?”
She sighed and sat down across from JP. “I was afraid of what he’d do to the kids.”
“Did he threaten to hurt them?”
“All the time. He told me he would kidnap Morgan, and I’d never know where she was or what he did to her.” She stared at the wall for a second. “What’s going to happen to Conner?”
“We’re going to figure out who killed Bullet and get your grandson out of there. At least, that’s our plan.”
“What if you don’t? He’s so young and such a good boy.” She paused. “But he’s only fifteen, so he won’t go to prison, right?”
“If he’s tried as an adult, and convicted, he will.”
“But he’s just a kid.”
“That’s why we have to find the killer. So, if you could answer a few questions, it sure would help me.”
“Of course. What do you want to know?” She fidgeted with a loose thread on her blouse.
“Can you tell me what happened leading up to Bullet leaving?”
“He woke up grumpy and started slamming things around. I tried to stay out of his way, but he kept following me around the house. I went into the kitchen because he wanted me to make him some eggs and bacon. I made an egg scramble, but there was no bacon.” She looked pained. “When I gave him the eggs, he started yelling at me about not having any bacon. I walked away and poured him a cup of coffee. Just as I started toward him again, he threw his food at me, plate and all.”
“Did it hit you?”
“I ducked, but it hit my arm. I spilled most of the coffee. I reacted and threw the coffee cup at him. He flew out of his chair and started punching me. He knocked me against the cupboard, and I fell to the floor. That’s when Conner came in and starting yelling at Bullet.”
“Did Conner try to stop him?”
“He grabbed the wooden pepper shaker and started toward Bullet. I yelled at Conner to get out, and Bullet lurched for him. Conner darted, and Bullet missed him. That’s when I saw Morgan standing in the doorway, so I yelled at them both to run. Conner dropped the shaker, grabbed Morgan, and ran out.”
“So Conner never touched Bullet? Or vice versa?”
“No.”
“What happened after that?”
“Bullet left, but not before he kicked me a few times.” Muriel twirled the loose thread around her finger.
“He left the house or the kitchen?”
“The kitchen. I heard him slamming doors, but I didn’t want to get near him until he cooled down. I got up and washed my face in the kitchen sink. My nose was bleeding pretty badly. I got some kitchen towels, wrapped one in ice, and sat down with my head leaned back, trying to stop the bleeding. I was still sitting there when Bullet came back in. I remember cowering. He started laughing, called me names, then picked up his cigarettes and lighter and left.”
“Did he say anything about where he was going?”
“He just said he’d be back.’”
“You told the social worker and the cops Bullet went camping. Did he tell you that?”
“No, but I looked out the window and he had camping gear tied onto his Harley. Why else would he take it?”
“What do you know about the gun the cops found in Conner’s room?”
Muriel twitched. “Nothing.” A pause. “I don’t know anything about it.”
“Did you ever see it?”
“No.”
“Did you know the gun was there?”
“No.”
“Were you surprised they found a gun?”
“Yes.”
This was getting him nowhere. “And Conner never said anything about the gun?”
“No.” The thread Muriel was twisting broke loose, and it seemed to surprise her.
“Where do you think the gun came from?”
“I have no idea.”
“Did you ever see Gene with a gun?”
She shook her head.
“Did Gene ever mention a gun?”
She shook her head again, then sighed.
JP was pretty certain he wasn’t getting any more information on that subject. “Who was at the party the night before Bullet left?”
“What party?”
“Roxy said you had a party the night before. Who was there?”
“Oh that. It was just a few friends. It wasn’t really a party.”
“Okay. Who was there?”
“Roxanne, Judd, Derek, Andy, and me.”
“And Bullet?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Do you know the guys’ last names?”
“Judd’s last name is Soper. I don’t know the others. Judd and Andy were Bullet’s buddies. Those three went way back. They were real tight. When one showed up, so did the other. Derek was a friend of Gene’s.” She looked pensive. “I think Derek’s last name was Boom, no Bloome. That’s it, Bloome.”
“Any idea how to find any of them?”
“Not really.”
“Where were the kids?”
“They were here, but they usually stayed in their room when there was anything going on.”
“Was it a sex party?”
Muriel looked surprised. “Why would you ask that?”
“Because I know they’ve been going on in this house and the kids have been exposed to them.”
“That’s Roxanne’s thing, not mine. I’ve talked to her about it, and I’ve tried to keep the kids away from it, but she won’t stop.”
“This is your house, right?”
Muriel looked down at her feet. “Roxanne has had a rough life, most of which is my fault.”
“I’m sorry,” JP said. “I’m not judging, but it may be time to put out the fire and call in the dogs.”
Chapter 11
“Hey, Sobs,” Bob called to Sabre. He caught up with her as she reached the end of the hallway. “Come into Department Three with me. I have a case where the public defender is conflicting off. Judge Chino will appoint you if you’re in there.”
“What’s the case?”
“The children were removed from my client, the mother, for failure to protect her girls.”
“That’s pretty vague. What did she do, or not do?”
“Come with me. I’ll catch you up.”
Sabre was concerned because Bob was being vague. She hoped it wasn’
t something gruesome. She turned and walked back with Bob.
“Her boyfriend was drugging her kids,” Bob said. “Then taking nude photos and selling them online.”
“That’s sick. Has the boyfriend been arrested?”
“No.”
“Is he still with the mother?”
“He disappeared.”
“Is the mother using drugs?”
“No evidence of that.”
They stopped in front of Department Three. “So, what are you not telling me? Why can’t the mother protect the kids?”
“It’s not her first encounter with social services.”
“What was the last one for?”
“Same thing.”
Sabre shook her head and walked into the courtroom with Bob.
Judge Chino was on the bench. “Are you ready, Mr. Clark?” he asked.
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“Ms. Brown, the PD has a conflict on this case. Are you available for appointment for the minors?”
“Yes, Your Honor. I’ll just need a few minutes to look at the petition and the reports.”
“Will five minutes be enough?”
“It should be, Your Honor.”
The public defender handed Sabre a copy of the petitions and the two-page report. “It’s all yours. Have fun.” He smiled and walked out.
Sabre noted there were three petitions for the Standish family, one for each child, all girls: Riley, seven; Ella, five, and Avery, four. Each petition read the same:
The child has suffered, or there is substantial risk that the child will suffer, serious physical or emotional harm as a result of the failure or inability of his or her parent or legal guardian to supervise or protect the child adequately.
COUNT 1: On or about June 7, the mother’s live-in boyfriend took nude photos of the child. The photos were placed on the internet on a child porn site, causing the child to be at substantial risk of serious physical and emotional harm, and said child’s mother has failed and been unable to protect said child and said child is in need of the protection of the Juvenile Court.
Sabre scanned the details. She already hated this case. There was no way to ever get the photos down, so they were bound to haunt these girls all their lives. She couldn’t imagine how it would be to go through life knowing that perverts were getting off on your childhood photos.
The Advocate's Justice Page 4