Silenced Justice: A Josh Williams Novel

by Joe Broadmeadow

  Brennan rubbed his chin, "Keep me in the loop before, and I mean before, any more shit hits the fan."

  Josh and Tommy left the office.

  "Tommy, trace the P. O. Box. I am going to go talk to Chris about her friend the Judge. See what she thinks. I'll meet you back here later. When Kennedy gets here, bring him up to speed on this."

  * * *

  Chris Hamlin drove down Metropolitan Park drive. She pulled into Haines Park at the Barrington/East Providence city line. Spotting Josh's car near the boat ramp, she pulled up next to him.

  Josh waited, arms folded, leaning on the hood of the unmarked unit.

  "So, what's with all the secret-squirrel stuff?" Chris asked.

  Josh stood and handed her a piece of paper. Chris looked it over.

  "And this is important because?" looking up. "Wait a minute," looking back at the paper. "These calls are to Maggie's cell. What the hell is this Josh?"

  "Those are call records from an office complex on Waterman Street. The number is a main trunk feed, not a published number, and she called it. Just before we met with Collucci…," looking out at the water. "The Feds didn't want me to say anything to her. But I had to tell you."

  Chris smiled. "Ah, that explains the spy vs spy stuff. Okay, what do you think?"

  "I don't know. My instinct says there's an explanation and to just ask her,” Josh spun his car keys around his fingers. “This whole mess you got me into has taken on new dimensions. Chris, this is more than an old case. There are Russian mob guys with composite weapons, MS-13 gang bangers, shit that is not supposed to happen here."

  "Russian mob guys?" Chris looked concerned. "Composite weapons? What are you talking about? Wasn't this a gang banger thing? Are you keeping shit from me?"

  "Let's go get a coffee," Josh answered. "I have much more to tell you, my friend. Some of it I just found out. Most of which you will not believe. I am finding it hard to believe myself."

  As they sat in the booth at the Kent Corners Dunkin' Donuts, Josh laid it out for Chris. The latest information on the attempt on Keira, the intelligence from the Feds, everything. Looking outside Josh said, "Speak of the devil, here's the hero himself," nodding his head towards the front parking lot.

  Chubby White pulled into the lot. His shiny, repainted, and unblemished tow truck glistened in the morning sun.

  Chubby came in and saw Josh and Chris. Walking over, he smiled. "Hey Lieutenant and used to be Lieutenant. How are you?"

  "Great Chubby, thanks to you. Let me get you a coffee," Josh said.

  "No, no, that's okay. I got a D&D gift card for $100 from the manager after he heard the story. I'm good."

  "$100 gift card, that should last you, what, a day or so?" Chris joked.

  "Well it would," Chubby answered, "but people keep buying my stuff for me, they recognize me from the news," rubbing his enormous gut. "But I am starting at the gym on Monday. I'll be ready for the agility test this time, Brennan said I have supervisor material in me," waddling over to the counter.

  "Boy is determined isn't he?" Chris said.

  "And delusional, but I do owe him one. A big one," Josh replied, watching as Chubby picked out two dozen donuts.

  "I saw his performance on the news," Chris chuckled. "They had to use a wide angle lens to fit him and Brennan in at the same time."

  Josh laughed, "I'll make sure I tell him you said that."

  Chubby White came back over carrying his donut haul and a giant coffee. "You guys got a minute? I want to show you something on my truck."

  Josh glanced at Chris, "Sure, Chubby. Lead on."

  Chubby led them to the parking lot. Opening the driver's door, he gently loaded the pallet of pastry, closed the door, and motioned them over.

  Painted on the side of the truck was an image of a motorcycle, body flying off, with circle around it and line through it.

  "I saw it on the History Channel. Fighter pilots painted their planes when they shot someone down. Nice, huh?" beaming an infectious grin.

  "Four more and you'll be an Ace," Chris laughed.

  "Let's not try too hard for that Chubby, okay?" Josh added.

  Chubby laughed and climbed into the cab. Grabbing a donut with one hand, his coffee in the other, he pulled out of the lot.

  "Steering with his knee I bet," Chris said, chuckling. "He is one happy man."

  "Yes he is," Josh agreed.

  "Where do we go from here?"

  "Like I said, my gut is telling me there's an explanation. I'd prefer to just ask her, but we need the Federal resources on this. If they find out I went behind their backs, they'll pull out."

  Chris thought a moment. "I'm not comfortable treating her like a suspect. I know there's an explanation. But, I suppose a few more days won't hurt."

  "Give me some time to work on Kennedy. He's a good guy, not in the usual Federal mold. I think I can convince him to let us talk to her. I'll call you in a few days. Meanwhile, if you decide to do anything else about the Grey case, keep in mind there is some serious shit going on here. We don't have any idea what it is."

  Chris nodded, "Thanks, Dad. Not to worry. I can take care of myself," getting into her car.

  Josh started to open his door, "Hey," he yelled, motioning for Chris to open her window. "One more thing, I'm sure those copies of the original line-up reports came from Tucker. Should I go talk to him?"

  Chris thought a moment. "Yeah, call him. I know there is no way he had anything to do with Grey ending up where he did. Tucker is too honest for any of it. I'd ask him. I am sure he had his reasons."

  Josh watched her leave the lot. As he opened the door to his car, Chief Brennan pulled up next to him.

  "Lieutenant, is it safe to assume this was just a friendly visit, nothing official like a briefing or anything?"

  "Of course, Chief. I was just checking in with her."

  "Make sure while you're checking in with her, the Feds don't find out. We need their help in this."

  Watching Brennan drive away, Josh wondered how the man was always a step ahead of him.

  * * *

  Driving back from his meeting with Chris, Josh considered the risks. Follow where this goes, whomever it involves, but at what cost? Someone came after me once; there's nothing to stop them from doing it again. What if they get to Keira because of something I do? I'd never forgive myself. I could just let it go. But, I can't. What are the chances we'll find anything to clear Grey's name anyway? The victims are dead, right? Wait a minute. Are they?

  Josh had his answer.

  Pulling into the police station parking lot, Josh spotted Captain Charland walking out the back door. Charland saw Josh and headed towards him.

  "Shit," Josh muttered. Grabbing his cell, he pretended to be on a call. Charland stood waiting at the side of the car, arms folded, tapping his foot.

  Josh put the window down, tilting the phone away from his ear, “Hey Captain, this might take a while. The AG's office called me."

  Charland smiled. "Fine, Lieutenant. I'll wait," turning and leaning on the hood.

  Josh continued with his one-sided, imaginary conversation, hoping Charland would grow tired of waiting. No such luck. Putting the cell phone away, he got out of the car.

  "What's up, Captain?"

  "I've completed my review of your case files," a smirk growing on his face. "I've left a list of incomplete or incorrect files with the secretary. Please see that you resubmit them by Friday morning. I need to report the findings to the Chief. Is that clear, Lieutenant?"

  "Friday?" Josh argued, "Captain, it's Wednesday. I do have current cases that need immediate attention. There's no way--"

  "Lieutenant," Charland interrupted, raising his hand. "I am aware of what day it is. If cases aren't properly prepared, we lose them. These are just as important as anything you may be working on now. I trust you understand this is not a request. It is an order. See you follow it as such," turning and striding away.

  Josh stood shaking his head. Grabbing his file from
the car, he slammed the door and headed into the office.

  Tommy was waiting for him, trying to conceal a smile.

  "What the hell are you laughing at?" Josh asked, throwing the file on the desk.

  "I was in the Detective Captain's office. He had some info on the stolen safe case from Amadeus Jewelry and wanted to run it by us. We saw the Charland encounter. It looked pleasant. Did you bond well?"

  "Fuck you. That idiot wants me to fix cases from three years ago because they weren't organized to his standards." Grabbing the phone, dialing the Chief's office. "Did he, in his whole freaking career, ever arrest anybody? Mother--. Oops, sorry Donna. Is the Chief in? Great, I will be right over. What? Oh, okay."

  Josh hung up, "Brennan's coming over here, wonder what that's about?"

  "What do you think?" Tommy smiled.

  "Charland talked to him first. Damn it. Brennan is gonna let him torture me forever isn't he?" Josh said, slumping into his chair.

  The door opened and Chief Brennan walked in.

  "Good afternoon, sir. How are you this fine day? Might I get you a coffee?" Tommy grinned.

  "No thank you," Brennan said, taking a seat at one of the empty desks. "I see you're training him in the same mold, aren't you, Lieutenant?"

  "I know why you're here, I know. Captain Charland told me about the files. I'll get to them, I will," Josh said.

  "Let me worry about Captain Charland. Something else occurred to me. We should locate the other victims. I was looking over our files and the statement from our other victim is missing, as is the original case report. I told Captain Charland to find the missing reports. That's what got him all excited. I don't know why I didn't think about this earlier."

  Josh smiled. "Brilliant minds think alike, Boss. I thought of the same thing on the way over here. I was coming to tell you when Charland grabbed me in the lot. With all due respect, Chief, the guy is a pain in my ass. Was he ever a real cop? What does he have, like four hundred years on the job? Retire for Christ's sake."

  Looking at Tommy, "Would you excuse the Lieutenant and I for a moment? Go enjoy your coffee," gesturing to the door, "somewhere else."

  Tommy, bowing his head, slouched out the door, and left the office.

  Brennan waited for the door to close, and then looked at Josh. "Let me tell you something, Josh. Something most people around here don't know. Charland was a cop in Boston for a few years. A group of radicals ambushed him and his partner back in the 70s. They shot Charland twice, his partner four times. Charland pulled the partner to safety, and then killed two of the bad guys."

  Josh was stunned, not sure he was hearing this right.

  "He left Boston PD because his wife was terrified he'd get killed. She was pregnant at the time. But he missed the job. He came here because his parents lived in the city. He was born here. He was a good street cop. As soon as he could, to keep his wife happy, he transferred into a records slot and made himself invaluable. Do not sell the guy short. I know he's a bit anal about things. I think it's how he copes with being inside."

  "How is it no one knows this?" Josh asked.

  "He never told anybody. I found out in a lecture I heard at the FBI Academy. It was about domestic terrorism and the old anti-war groups who turned to bombing and shooting at cops. The agent told the story of the Boston incident. When I spoke to Charland about it, he asked me to keep it to myself."

  "Holy shit," Josh said.

  "Look, he can be as big a pain in the ass for me as well as you, but he does his job right. If he had been in Records back then we wouldn't be hunting around for these files." Brennan rose and walked to the door. "I'll put him on looking for the old case records. If anyone can find them, he will. You just keep what I told you between us. Now go find those other victims."

  Tommy came back into the office after seeing Brennan leave. "So, what's up? You in some shit?"

  "Nope, Brennan's got it covered. He'll calm Charland down. We need to find the other victims in the rape cases."

  Tommy walked to his desk. "I traced the P O Box listed on the return address from those line-up reports. Comes back to a company listed as JTS Management, LLC. The address listed is for a business that does corporation filings for other businesses. We can go talk to them, the office is downtown."

  A short time later, Josh and Tommy walked into the offices of Corporate Services, Inc. on Washington Street in Providence. They spoke to the receptionist, she asked them to wait while she obtained the information for JTS Management.

  "Here you go. The business is a property management firm. They list one company officer, a Ms. Jennifer Sorin, and an address of 141 Waterman Street, Suite 24, Providence, RI."

  Josh looked at Tommy and back at the receptionist. "Did you say 141 Waterman Street?"

  The woman looked at the screen again and nodded. "Yes, 141 Waterman Street, Suite 24. Will there be anything else?"

  "Is there a phone number listed?" Tommy asked.

  As she relayed the number, Tommy wrote it down. "Thanks. Can we get a copy of the file please?"

  "Of course," printing out a copy and handing it to them.

  "Thanks for your help." Josh said.

  As they got in the car, Josh said, "I'll buy one coincidence with the gang banger calling, maybe even two with Fleming, but three connections to the same address? We gotta spend more time finding out who is behind that place." Josh pulled out of the lot, onto Washington Street, "And the name, Sorin, Sorin. I've heard it somewhere… Just can't put my finger on it."

  Tommy nodded, "I am willing to bet this JTS Management is just a front for something, or somebody. When we get back, I'll do some more digging. See what I can find."

  Josh nodded, already on the phone. "Zach, Josh Williams. You coming to my office today? Okay, cool. Got a few things to run by you. See you there." Putting the cell down, he said, "Kennedy's going to meet us there. Said he has some information as well."

  Josh's cell phone rang. Looking at the caller ID Josh smiled, "Ah, my contact from the Golden Palace. Our friends in Scituate must have taken an interest.” Answering the call, he said, “Hey, Jeff, what's up?"

  Josh listened a moment and said, "Okay, thanks. I appreciate the heads up. Stop by Bovi's next time you're around, we usually go there on Fridays. Thanks again."

  "So?" Tommy asked.

  "Seems the powers that be detect a big case brewing and they want in, especially since we lit a fire under one of their retired Majors. I bet he tipped them off to the conversation we had. And, as we expected, Halloran called them as well."

  "Jeez, they spend more time worrying about their damn reputation. If this were their case they'd be screaming if we tried to get involved."

  "Not all of them, my friend. Most of 'em are good guys, there’s a few with egos the size of the planet. You never know, they might be helpful," Josh said. "I'll give Brennan a call when we get back, he's got contacts everywhere."

  Josh and Tommy grabbed some lunch, and then made it back to the office. Tommy went to work on his computer, Josh called Brennan.

  As Josh was making the call, Zach Kennedy came in the back door. "Hey boys, what's up?"

  Josh motioned for him to wait a moment, "Hey Chief. Listen, I just got a call from Jeff Morris from the State Police. Seems we have sparked an interest with them. Yeah, yeah, I bet the Major called them. Can you see if you can work your magic?" listening for a moment. "Okay, great thanks."

  Hanging up the phone, Josh said, "Brennan's gonna call the Colonel and see what he can do. My guess is we'll end up with a couple of troopers assigned. Hopefully, they'll be some of the good ones."

  "What is it with Rhode Island?" Kennedy asked.

  "Stick with us, Zach. You'll get used to it. We're the littlest state with the biggest egos. Not enough good cases to go around," Josh answered.

  * * *

  Friday morning, Josh walked into the SIU office. There was a knock on the door. Josh opened it and found himself facing Captain Charland. The Captain, holding severa
l file folders, smiled.

  "Morning, Captain. Ah, I am sure you're here about those files."

  "Yes, Lieutenant, I am. I must say I was--"

  "Excuse me, sir. But I can explain," Josh interrupted.

  Charland handed Josh the file folders. "No need, those files were to my satisfaction. As I tried to say, I found them completed and in the report review file for my approval."

  No more surprised than I am. "Yes, well. I wanted to make sure they were, ah, complete."

  Charland nodded. "Thank you for doing that, Lieutenant. I know you think those cases are less important than what you are working on, but they still need to be completed properly. Thank you for doing that." He handed Josh another set of folders. "These files are the ones that were missing from the cold case you've reopened. Chief Brennan asked me to locate them. It underscores my point of organization and thoroughness. If these files were properly stored, I wouldn't have to waste time looking for them."

  Josh closed the door and sat at his desk. There was another knock on the door. Oh shit, he just realized I had no idea about those files. Opening the door, Tommy Moore and Kathy Lawrence, a records clerk, stood there smiling.

  "You owe us lunch and then drinks after work," Tommy said.

  "You two? You did the files?"

  "Well, truth is it was Kathy who did the work. I just asked for help," Tommy answered.

  Kathy smiled. "Doesn't have to be a big lunch, as long as it doesn't involve a drive-up window."

  "Thanks, man. Thanks a lot. Anywhere you want to go, just name it. And after work, same thing."

  "How about something simple, Gregg's restaurant works for me," Tommy said.

  "Not you, smart ass. She did the work. She gets an open bar; you get one beer. I shouldn't even do that since you let me hang out there knowing Charland would come looking for me."

  "Nobody appreciates me around here," Tommy said, slumping into the chair at his desk.

  Kathy laughed. "Josh, if my Captain comes looking for more stuff just let me know. I can handle him for you."

  "I will, Kathy. Thanks again," watching as she left the office and headed back to the records division.