by Karen Rose
Again Joseph was impressed with her quick thinking. But she was missing a puzzle piece. ‘I’m not sure that Bill Millhouse was involved in Ford’s abduction,’ he said, drawing protests from the other side of the phone. ‘Hear me out. When I mentioned Reggie’s stabbing of the deputy, Bill smirked. When I mentioned Marina shooting people, his smirk grew. When I gave him the opportunity to smirk about murdering Zacharias and abducting Ford, he didn’t react. He didn’t know what I was talking about. I’m wondering if someone else in his organization kidnapped Ford.’
‘Like Richard Odum,’ Bo said thoughtfully.
‘Possible,’ Grayson allowed. ‘Still need more than you have to get a warrant.’
Again, Joseph was not surprised. ‘We need one of the Millhouses to link Richard Odum’s spending to the defense fund. Who would you start with, Daphne?’
‘Cindy,’ she said. ‘She’s the most volatile. But you’ll have to get her mad enough to betray Bill. I saw the way Bill treated Marina during the trial – like she was spun glass. Cindy wasn’t so keen on the girl. If Cindy felt threatened, I don’t know, because maybe she believed that the father of Marina’s baby was Bill and not Reggie . . . That would ignite her temper. Especially since Cindy sacrificed her freedom for Bill’s scheme.’
Bo nodded. ‘If it doesn’t work with Cindy, we can try it on Reggie. To think his dad’s been poaching on his territory might make him even madder than Cindy.’
‘I’ll prepare the the warrants,’ Grayson said. ‘If you can’t get any of the Millhouses to tie Richard Odum to the defense money, I’ll try to get a judge to sign without it.’
‘It’s a plan,’ Joseph said. ‘I’ll contact you if—’
‘Wait,’ Daphne snapped. ‘I want to be there when you interview—’
‘No,’ Joseph snapped. ‘You’ll stay where you’re safe.’
Grayson winced and Bo looked up at the ceiling, his gray head wagging in pitying disbelief. The silence on the other end lasted so long that Grayson turned the speaker up. ‘Hello? You guys still there?’
‘Yeah, we’re here,’ Paige said. ‘I muted the phone. I didn’t think you’d want to hear Daphne’s true feelings about Joseph’s little pronouncement. Daphne’s coming down there, Joseph. Like it or not.’
‘She’s not safe here,’ Joseph gritted out.
‘You’re not her keeper,’ Hector said mildly. ‘Kate and I will accompany her.’
Grayson shot Joseph a sympathetic look. ‘Paige, you’ll stay with her, too?’
‘Of course. See you in about twenty minutes.’
The phone disconnected as Paige hung up.
‘Fuck,’ Joseph muttered.
‘Nobody knows the Millhouses like she does,’ Grayson said softly. ‘Do you believe Kate and Hector are good at their jobs?’
‘Yes. I just don’t want her to get hurt,’ Joseph said.
‘None of us do,’ Bo said. ‘But she’s one of our best resources right now, so we will use her. I’m more interested in your theory that Bill wasn’t involved in Ford’s abduction. If Bill didn’t know about Ford and Zacharias in the alley, why did he have pistols in his trunk that were stolen from the same Pennsylvania state trooper who owned the taser?’
Joseph shrugged. ‘If one of Bill’s followers wants to push him out, he might know where the tasers and pistols came from. Hell, the follower could even have been the one to steal them from the trooper to begin with.’ His cell buzzed and he checked his email. ‘It’s from Brodie. She and Drew Peterson examined the knife Reggie used in the courtroom. The blood types match Welch and Zacharias.’
Joseph’s phone buzzed again. ‘Peterson said they got a fingerprint match on that plastic strip Deacon and I found in the alley. George. They looked at photos of George. Every day in court he wore a wrist brace. When he was arrested, he didn’t have it on. CSU is looking for the brace in the courthouse.’ He looked up at the group. ‘The knife was smuggled in by George. Maybe George used it on Zacharias last night.’
‘George?’ Bo shook his head. ‘The son who’s not that bright? You said yourself that the person in the alley last night was a planner, a quick thinker. If George pulled off that abduction and murder, Bill had to have been involved.’
‘I don’t think so,’ Joseph said. ‘Bill didn’t know what I was talking about. But since George smuggled in the knife, I’ll start with him. If I don’t get what I need, I’ll move on to Cindy. By that time Daphne should be here.’
Tuesday, December 3, 5.00 P.M.
‘Have a brownie. They’re good for the soul.’
Daphne looked at the brownie Paige held in the palm of her hand, then turned back to watch the traffic they were passing easily on I-83 due to Agent Kate Coppola’s Formula One approach to driving. ‘No, thank you. I can’t eat.’
‘Then just sniff the chocolate,’ Paige said. ‘It’ll calm you down.’
‘Maybe I don’t want to be calm.’
‘But I do. Daphne, you are making me crazy.’ Paige forcibly stilled the foot Daphne couldn’t stop bobbing. ‘You’re going to kick yourself in the chin.’
‘She’s right,’ Coppola said. ‘You’re not doing yourself any favors, getting so upset.’
‘I’m not upset. I’m angry with Joseph and that’s canceling out the upset.’
Hector twisted in the front seat to look back at them. ‘That weirdly makes sense.’
‘Thanks. “You’ll stay”,’ Daphne mimicked. ‘I’m not a dog, to be told to stay or heel.’
‘Maybe you’d prefer he teach you to play dead,’ Paige said, an edge to her voice.
Daphne looked at her hands, twisted together in her lap. ‘Ford is my son, Paige.’
‘I know that. And he’ll be so happy to come home and find you dead.’
‘That’s not funny.’
Paige’s jaw tightened. ‘Nor was it meant to be.’
Paige is angrier than I am. At me. Which is unfair and just plain mean. ‘You think I should let Joseph Carter dictate my actions?’
Paige gave her an I’m-disappointed-in-you look. ‘I think “dictate my actions” is a slightly dressed up way of saying “you’re not the boss of me.” I also think you need to remember that Joseph already saved your life once today. Which I know he’d do again in a heartbeat. It just doesn’t seem fair to ask him to do so unnecessarily.’
Daphne sighed. ‘Now you make me feel like I’m being childish.’
‘Because you are. Look, Daphne, I get that being angry with Joseph is taking your mind off the hell I know you’re going through right now. Joseph would be happy to have you be angry with him – as long as you’re safe. You ramping up all that energy, all that’s going to do is muddle your mind. And the minds of everyone around you. If someone shoots at you now, your reflexes are slowed. So are mine.’
‘Mine aren’t,’ Coppola said smugly and Paige snorted back a surprised laugh.
‘So hers aren’t, which is good, because she’s seriously exceeding the speed limit.’ Paige sobered. ‘Be angry with Joseph. He’s insensitive and drags his knuckles. But don’t lose your head or you’ll get yourself killed. That won’t bring Ford home.’
Hector had been watching the entire exchange. ‘That makes more sense.’
‘Thank you,’ Paige told him.
Now Daphne really felt childish. ‘You think I should have stayed home?’
Paige shook her head. ‘No. But we’re headed back to the place where somebody tried to kill you today. Not ideal from a security standpoint. When we get there, you’d best be settled in your head. I mean it. No foot bobbing, prissy prancing, or hissy-fits.’
Daphne lifted her chin. ‘I do not prance, prissily or not.’
‘But you’re not denying the hissy-fits,’ Coppola said. ‘Just for the record.’
‘On that I’m taking the fifth. Okay, Paige. I hear you. I will be settled in my head before we arrive at BPD. And I’ll take that brownie. Thank you.’
Paige draped her arm over Daphne’s shoulders. �
�You’re welcome.’
As Daphne nibbled, she thought of Joseph’s heroics, leaping through the air to shield her from Marina’s bullets. All of a sudden he’d been there, larger than life. And he’d taken care of her. Even my hair. He’d been terrified, but not for himself. He was terrified for me. ‘Not insensitive,’ she murmured.
‘Hm?’ Paige studied her face. ‘What did you say?’
Daphne stared at the brownie, breaking off tiny pieces. ‘He’s not insensitive.’
Paige squeezed her shoulders. ‘His knuckles do drag the ground sometimes, though. It’s just how he rolls. He has a deep need to take care of people. I think once there was a— Wait, that’s my phone.’ She listened for a long time, her expression too smoothly serene. ‘Okay. Thanks.’ She hung up, studied the two agents sitting up front. ‘Clay just saw Stevie’s parents,’ she said to Daphne, all the while typing a text message. ‘They said that the doctor sounded hopeful that she’d make a full recovery.’
‘That’s wonderful,’ Daphne said. Then her phone buzzed and she found herself reading the text Paige had just sent her from the other side of the back seat.
Call was from Clay. Taser used at Z crime scene this morning. AFID tags trace to guns rept’d stolen from cop near Philly. 20 min from KMacG parents. C going to PA.
This was progress, Daphne thought, so why the cloak and dagger? She waited, because Paige was still typing.
‘I’m searching for the ICU visiting hours,’ Paige lied. ‘Do any of you know how late Stevie can receive visitors?’
‘They close for a few hours around breakfast and dinnertime,’ Hector said.
‘Thanks,’ Paige said. ‘I don’t suppose you can send flowers.’
Hector shook his head. ‘Not till she’s in a regular room.’
Paige put her phone away. ‘Hopefully that’ll be tomorrow. Grayson will want me to send flowers as soon as she’s able to receive them.’
Daphne read the second text. Don’t say where you got the taser–Philly link. C’ll get in trouble. Delete this message.
Feeling like Jim Phelps, Daphne deleted the message before it could self-destruct.
‘How are we planning to get Daphne to the interview rooms?’ Paige asked Hector.
Hector turned in the seat, his brows lifted. ‘I left instructions for our entry to the interview unit on a microfiche hidden in an envelope hidden under your seat. Better read it in a hurry, before the film goes up in smoke.’
Paige looked reluctantly impressed. ‘That text thing’s worked, like, so many times.’
‘I know,’ Hector said. ‘I use that technique often myself. What’s the secret?’
‘Busted,’ Paige muttered. ‘Oh, look, we’re here!’
Hector gave both Paige and Daphne a sharp look. ‘I’m serious.’
‘Truthfully,’ Paige said, ‘it’s all stuff you already know but haven’t told us.’
‘Uh-huh,’ Hector grunted. ‘We called ahead and have two uniformed officers waiting for us. At all times you stay within our circle. You’re still wearing your vest?’
‘Absolutely,’ Daphne said, pulling the collar of her turtleneck sweater to her collarbone to prove it. ‘Let’s go. I want to watch Joseph make Cindy Millhouse squirm.’
And when he’s done with that, I want to know what else he’s keeping from me.
Tuesday, December 3, 5.15 P.M.
George Millhouse didn’t look like a murderer. That was Joseph’s first impression after walking into the interview room where Bill’s son was being held. Despite his size, he looked like a lost boy who was waiting in the mall security office for his mother to come claim him. Could be why everyone thinks he’s not so bright.
Joseph took the seat at the far end of the table and waited for George to look up. After about ninety seconds of silence, he finally did. He had two black eyes and his nose had bled profusely at some point. Blood soaked the sleeve of his shirt. He’d probably used his shoulder to wipe the blood from his face as his hands were cuffed behind his back. His feet, however, were free.
While Reggie was enormously well muscled, George was, well, not muscled at all. But he was a big guy, maybe two-seventy-five.
Joseph wasn’t lulled into complacency by the young man’s physique. He’d played football in high school and some of the most effective offensive tackles were the big guys who just walked through the defensive line, steamrolling the other players. Usually they moved at little more than a stroll, but sometimes they were fast.
‘Are you fast, George?’ Joseph asked when he met his eyes.
George blinked, confused and in pain. And scared. Tears had run tracks through the grime and dried blood on his face. ‘I don’t think so. I don’t know. Why?’
Joseph shrugged. ‘Your dad took a flying leap at me. I wanted to know if I could expect the same from you.’
‘Why? Why did he do that?’
‘I guess I just got on his bad side. Do you know who I am?’
‘A cop?’
‘My name is Special Agent Carter. I’m with the FBI.’
‘I’m not going to tell you anything. You might as well give up and go.’
‘That’s not going to happen,’ Joseph said, ‘but I think you know that. I don’t think you’re as stupid as everyone seems to think you are.’ This earned him a narrow-eyed glare. As narrowed as George could manage with his eyes swollen.
‘If you think you’re going to insult me into telling you what you want to know . . .’
‘Yeah, yeah, you’re not going to tell me anything. And I have to wonder why. It could be loyalty. Maybe pride. Could be fear.’
‘Loyalty,’ George said in a low growl. ‘Not that you’d understand that.’
‘Frankly, you’re right. I don’t understand that. I mean, your family gives you all the dirty work while Reggie doesn’t lift a finger all day.’
George shook his head. ‘You’re just bullshitting me. Reggie’s in jail.’
‘So are you,’ Joseph pointed out cordially. ‘Because your family gave you the dirty work. An impossible mission that you accomplished. You smuggled a knife into the courtroom and didn’t get caught.’
Ah, there it was. The slight lifting of George’s chin. The gleam of pride.
‘No, I didn’t,’ George said. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
Joseph smiled. ‘You do remember the knife, right? The one that Reggie had in his hand? The one he used to stab a deputy?’
‘Yes,’ George said with disdain. ‘I saw it. Doesn’t mean I smuggled it in.’
‘Your fingerprints are all over it. Just sayin’.’
George’s mouth clamped shut.
‘We know how you did it, by the way. Pretty ingenious. Pretending to need a wrist brace, switching the supports at the last minute. You waltzed through security. Hit the men’s room, assembled the knife, walked into the courtroom – just in time for the verdict. You handed it to Cindy, who gave it to Reggie. Who blew it. All your work, all your risk . . . and your golden boy brother blows it. So here you are. That’s gotta chafe.’
George looked away.
‘Yours was the most dangerous part,’ Joseph went on. ‘You had to get the knife. If you made it, kudos. They might find a place for you in the workshop in prison.’ Joseph exaggerated a grimace. ‘Except they don’t let death row prisoners have jobs.’
George’s gaze came back around in slow motion, stunned at first, then disbelieving. ‘I didn’t kill anybody.’
Joseph shrugged again. ‘Reggie did.’
Fear flashed in his eyes. Fear and guilt. ‘The deputy . . . ?’
‘He died,’ Joseph lied harshly.
George wasn’t that stupid. And the boy seemed to have some thread of conscience. I can use that.
‘You brought Reggie the knife. Therefore you are as guilty as if you stabbed the deputy yourself.’
George’s reaction was the polar opposite of Bill’s. There was no glee. No smug joy. Just cold-blooded fear. ‘But I didn’t kill a
nybody,’ he insisted desperately. ‘I didn’t.’
Joseph thought of Isaac Zacharias and wanted to cause George great pain. He said nothing, though. Just watched as George thought through the possibilities.
‘I did not kill anyone. They can’t give me the death penalty for bringing the knife.’
Joseph wondered if George even realized he’d just confessed. ‘See, this is what I meant by the dirty work, George. Reggie gets himself jailed for murdering that couple on the side of the road. He’s found guilty by the jury. He has nothing to lose. What’s one more once you’ve killed already?’ He paused a moment, letting the statement hover. ‘You, on the other hand, you didn’t kill the couple on the side of the road. Yet now, here you sit. Because they gave you the dirty work. “Bring me the knife, George. Create a disturbance in the courtroom, George. Help your brother escape, George.”’
George sat silently, his massive chest moving up and down.
‘You might be right, George,’ Joseph said softly. ‘The jury might not give you the death penalty since you didn’t actually touch the deputy. But I can guarantee they’ll give you the death penalty for the murder of that DC cop.’
George’s swollen eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. ‘Wh-what? No. No. No fucking way. I did not kill anyone. I really didn’t kill a cop.’
Joseph took a photo of Zacharias’s body from his pocket and slid it down the table.
George paled. ‘They cut off his head. Oh my God. I don’t know him. I swear it.’
‘I can believe that,’ Joseph said. ‘You didn’t know he was there. He surprised you in the alley. I can believe you’d never seen him before.’
‘What? That guy was not in the alley. I would have noticed that.’
‘When were you in the alley, George?’ Joseph asked silkily.
George realized he’d said too much.
‘CSU found the dead cop’s blood on the knife Reggie used in the courtroom. He was killed last night. With the knife you had possession of this morning.’
‘You’re lying,’ George said, his body starting to rock. ‘You’re lying.’
‘No, I’m not. I found the cop’s body this morning. Long before the verdict was read. You smuggled the knife into the courtroom. You had it last night. You killed Officer Zacharias. You slit his throat.’