Luca sat back down. “Okay, okay. Look, Jimmy, you wanna get out of here, you gotta be honest with me. So tell me then, you steal to get your fix, right?”
The suspect shrugged, mumbling, “Only if there’s no work to be had.”
Luca threw his file on the desk. “You’ve got quite a record of breaking and entering.”
Johns shrugged and picked at his thumbnail.
“Did you break into Billy Wyatt’s house on the fifteenth of May?”
“No man, I told you all I was home.”
“You thought the house was empty, but Billy surprised you by coming in from the yard, and you whacked him in the head.”
“I don’t do it, man!”
“Yeah, what about Ron Briest and Lew Garp? You assaulted them with a bat, didn’t you?”
“No, man, you got it all wrong. They attacked me, and it was like self-defense and—”
“Yeah, right, self-defense, after you broke into their homes.”
A coughing Johns cupped his forehead with a hand and leaned on the table. “Look, man, nothing’s got to do with nothing.”
***
Luca was in the office rifling through files when Cremora entered. Luca asked, “How’s your pop?”
“Good, thank God. Doctors said just a flare-up of his herniated disk, not a heart attack.”
“Good, I was worried, the way it sounded.”
“Tell me about it. My mother was frigging hysterical. So how did it go with that creep, Johns?”
“You didn’t miss much. He denied everything, but I keep getting a bad vibe from him.” Luca shook his head and briefed Cremora on the interview.
“What a creep. So how you want to play it?”
“Well, I had our guys revisit the backyard neighbor, and he stuck to it being Johns there that night.”
“He’s tall, so it meshes with another neighbor’s sighting.”
“I know. I’m thinking he definitely was there that night. The question is, doing what?”
Cremora asked, “So what’s next?”
“Look, let’s nose around and lay on his sister a bit. She was forthright, but I’m sure she’s holding back something. He’s her brother, after all.”
“Blood’s thicker than water.”
Luca nodded. “Look, at the end of the day, this piece of shit needs to find a couple of hundred a day for his fix. And stealing and robbing are what he knows. Who knows? Could’ve been a robbery gone bad, real bad.”
Cremora volunteered, “I’ll take a run at his dealer on Third. You never know.”
Luca knocked the desk with his knuckles. “Before you go, take a ride with me. I wanna check something out.”
Chapter 19
Vinny trudged up the stairs just when Billy Wyatt got slammed on the head. Was I dreaming or in another trance? This time the episode was really vivid. Details of Wyatt’s house were exactly as they were. It felt so real that I began to panic. It couldn’t be a dream, could it? Holy shit, was it really me who hit him? I struggled to pull off my sweat-soaked shirt, and I hit the ground with a thud.
“You all right, Peter?”
The light came on as I pulled myself onto the bed.
“Yeah, I fell outta bed.”
“Geez, how’d you do that?”
The scene of Billy getting hit was replaying in my head, and I blinked.
Vinny studied me. “You sure you’re okay?”
I wanted to tell him about what was happening in my head, but I couldn’t. “Yeah, just having these, these scary thoughts and things.”
“Just nightmares, that’s all.”
“You’re probably right.”
“With all the shit you’re going through, who wouldn’t have nightmares?”
I hoped he was right. “Guess so.”
“Go to sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”
***
Luca cut the yellow crime scene tape and opened the door. He took a step in and stopped, causing Cremora to bump into him.
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing, just taking a fresh look. You never know.”
They circled around the marker outline of Wyatt’s body, trying to unlock clues, when Luca said, “Look, you go out front, and when I tell you, hit the doorbell nonstop.”
Luca made his way slowly through the kitchen and out the rear door. He closed the door and stood by the picnic table.
“Okay! Go ahead, JJ!”
Luca strained his ears but couldn’t hear the bell. He discarded his idea and trudged to the back door. Swinging it open, he could easily hear the bell chiming. Luca paused as a smile creased his face.
“JJ! Come on out back!”
Luca waved his partner over to the picnic table.
“We know Wyatt was here out back smoking and having a brew that night. So let’s say the killer rings the bell, and Wyatt goes to see who it is.”
“Could be why the back door was open.”
Luca nodded and said, “Or he may have left it open.”
“Yeah, could’ve been left open a lot. Remember, the neighbor out back said he could hear them fighting.”
“True, so it would seem Wyatt must have known who rang the bell or was fooled into letting in whoever did it.”
“Maybe, but we can’t rule out that it could be someone who was here already and was premeditated or provoked somehow.”
Luca nodded. “True.”
“Or even someone who had a key, like his girlfriend.”
Luca frowned. “Yeah, guess I’d fallen into a trap by focusing on Johns.”
“I donno about any trap, but there just doesn’t seem to be a connection between Wyatt and Johns.”
Luca nodded. “Yeah, guess you’re right. A streetwise guy like Wyatt wouldn’t let a character like Johns in his house. It’s just—”
“Why don’t we take a closer look at Mary and some of Wyatt’s friends?”
“Sure, anything we can do to confirm or eliminate someone gets us closer. Let’s check with any friends of Wyatt’s who visited. Mary can help there if she’s cleared.”
“You want me to lay off Johns’ dealer?”
Luca drummed his fingers on his chest. “Yeah, for now, anyway. Let’s get a move on. I wanna to go to Freehold. I know the prints we collected aren’t worth a shit, but I’d like to see if Franco can give me anything to work with.”
“Drop me at the station. I’ll check into Wyatt’s girl and any possible visitors.”
Luca dropped his partner off and was about to head to the Freehold lab when he made a sudden detour and took Route 35 into Route 36, turning east into Keansburg. He parked a block away from the asphalt boardwalk and eyed a corner where two guys were camped out in front of a dilapidated house. As he walked toward the corner, a rundown car pulled up, and one of the dirt bags in front of the house approached the car’s window.
The hood took cash from the passenger and handed it off to his partner. Luca crouched out of view as the man with the cash surveyed the area. Satisfied it was clear, he signaled his buddy, who lifted a plank from the porch, grabbed a packet, and stuck it in the car window. As the car pulled away, Luca popped out and flashed his badge, bringing the car to a halt. The corner dealers started to flee, but Luca knew them well and called for them to stop.
Luca took the bag of crystal meth from the car. “Now scram. I don’t want to see your ragged ass here again. I can guarantee you the next time you won’t get a pass.”
Luca ripped open the glassine envelope and shook out the contents as he approached the dealers. He pointed to the senior guy, who was casually lighting a Marlboro.
“Franklin, tell your boy to take a walk.”
The dealer hiked his head, and the hood walked off.
“Getting brazen, Franklin? It’s the middle of the day, for Christ sakes.”
“What you talkin’ ’bout, man?”
Luca smiled and shook his head. “Look, if I was here to bust you, your ass would be in a wagon already. I’m gonn
a give you a pass today, but you gotta give me something.”
The dealer took a step back and smiled. “What you want? Some candy?”
“Information on one of your buyers.”
He took a drag on his cigarette. “I can’t be talking to no coppers, man, it’d ruin my—”
“Your call, Franklin, I understand.” Luca beckoned with a wave. “Come on, then, let’s take a ride to the station.”
“Whoa now, who you be wanting to know about?”
“Jimmy Johns.”
“I ain’t know no Johns cat.”
Luca lied, “Look, we got photos of him buying.”
The dealer crushed his cigarette with his sneaker but kept quiet as Luca stepped closer.
“Look, I ain’t got time to play games. Put your hands behind your back.”
“Take it easy, man. This Johns, he a tall guy, granny-assed glasses, tattooed arms?”
“Yeah, that’s him. What can you tell me about him?”
“What’s to know? He’s a regular customer, that’s all.”
“I’m interested in a Friday, May fifteenth, to be specific.”
“Shit man, you think we keep fucking ledgers and shit?”
Luca smiled and said, “Well, then maybe you remember being arrested that night for dealing at Hiccups?”
Franklin spat on the sidewalk.
“You got that case coming up, and with another arrest today, I’m sure the judge would revoke your bail.”
“Man, what you want from me?”
“Any information about Jimmy Johns that night, May fifteenth.”
“I donno, but the motherfucker came asking for credit—like I’m running a fucking bank.”
“So did you give it?”
“What, you think I’m crazy, man?” He shook his head. “He’s a junkie, man.”
“So, you said no. Then what?”
“He told my boy he’d be back.”
“Did he?”
Franklin nodded.
“How long?”
“I donno, an hour?”
“What time was that?”
“I donno, man.”
“Come on, Franklin, think. I need a time.”
“Maybe eight, nine?”
“You know where he got the money?”
He smiled thinly. “Probably like everybody else—stealing and shit.”
Chapter 20
“How’d it go with Deb?”
Luca rolled his eyes. “I’m trying to crawl out of the dog house, but the warden’s making sure I serve the full sentence.”
Cremora burst out laughing and put his hand over his heart. “I feel your pain, bro.”
“Yeah, right. You get a hold of Foster?”
Cremora nodded as he settled into a chair. “A ton of moving parts, Luc. Basically, they don’t know a lot about traumatic brain injuries, like the one Peter Hill suffered. There are a whole slew of reactions and symptoms. Each case can be different, but memory loss and erratic behavior are hallmarks of the damage.”
“Erratic behavior.” Luca stroked his jaw. “What about violence?”
“Doc said it really varied, but that outbursts could definitely be attributed to the trauma. He said the damage caused the, um, the nerves to misfire.”
“Getting into the weeds here.”
“Trust me, you should have heard Foster blab away.”
“The doc say anything about old memories resurfacing?”
“You mean, like what went on years ago between him and Wyatt?”
Luca nodded. “Bingo.”
“It didn’t come up, but it’s a good point.” Cremora frowned. “Sorry, I didn’t think to ask.”
“That’s why I get the big bucks, J. Call him back, pronto.”
“They said the doc would have to call me back. They said he was,” Cremora fingered quotation marks, “indisposed at the moment. Who knows, maybe he’s got a loony on the couch?”
“All right, let’s talk this over. I don’t want to be barking up the wrong tree, and if you ask me, Hill’s not even a sapling.”
“Yeah, but Hill does have some history with Wyatt.”
“Make that ancient history, when they were just kids.”
“I know, but some people are funny. They hold a grudge like it’s a bag of fifties. Remember that Asian kid who waited ten years before he blew away that guy and dumped him in Island State Park?”
“Yeah, but the guy killed his mother drinking and driving.”
Cremora said, “Just saying it is possible.”
“Unlikely, but you’re right. We certainly can’t rule it out. Now, Hill did know Wyatt, and we know most victims are acquainted with their killers.”
“Hill’s got a car that meets the description of one at the scene that night, though his brother says he’s not able to drive alone.”
“Question is, in his condition, could he have driven under pressure?”
“Maybe he’s faking it. He was alone that night, kind of a large coincidence that he always had someone with him. Maybe he waited for an opportunity.”
Luca wagged his head. “No way, J. That makes no sense. The reason he’s a suspect is he found out about his girlfriend and Wyatt that night.”
“You’re right, but he still has no alibi.”
Luca nodded. “I know. Says he can’t recall. That’s the one thing that bothers the shit out of me.”
“I know, way too easy, if you ask me.”
“Yeah, it’s convenient, to say the least, but then again, the kid suffered a bad injury and—”
Cremora reached for the phone ringing on his desk. It was the county shrink returning his call. Cremora posed the question about whether old memories could resurface after a brain injury and had a conversation with the doctor before hanging up.
“Things are getting interesting.”
Luca leaned forward. “What did Foster have to say?”
“He said it was highly unlikely that Hill would have forgotten about the humiliation he suffered as a child. In fact, he believes that painful memories as a child influence you throughout your life.”
Luca cocked his head. “Makes sense to me.”
“But here’s where it gets interesting. Foster said that though it is disputed by most psychiatrists, there are some that believe memories can be displaced.”
“Like they didn’t happen?”
“No, no, get this. He said an old memory could be perceived to have just occurred, and a new memory can be pushed back in time.”
“That’s a crock of shit. It makes no sense. In this case, he was a damn kid. Don’t tell me that something that happened when he was ten he thinks happened like yesterday.”
“I’m only passing it on, Luc. It ain’t my theory.”
“Look, man, we ain’t got much on Hill, if you don’t count,” Luca reached for his ringing phone, “the voodoo bullshit.”
Luca slammed the phone down. “Motherfucker!”
“What’s up?”
“Fusco wants Hill brought in for questioning. He said they have a witness that could put Hill at the Wyatt house.”
Chapter 21
Vinny pulled into the parking lot and found a space on the second level. As he turned off the car, he said, “It’s gonna be all right, Petey. Don’t worry.”
“I don’t know. I wish you could come in the room with me.”
“Yeah, me too, but Edwards said to let him handle it. Come on, let’s get this over with.” Vinny swung open the driver’s door as I grabbed my cane and got out. We took the elevator up to the prosecutor’s office, where my lawyer, Eddie Edwards, sat reading a file in the reception area.
Edwards flipped the file closed and rammed it into his briefcase. “Hello boys.” Standing, he shook our hands. “Sit down, fellas.”
Edwards moved to a seat next to me. “You ready, Peter?”
I shrugged. “Guess so.”
“I don’t know about this, Mr. Edwards,” Vinny said.
“Don’t you worry, yo
ur brother’s in good hands.” Then Edwards turned to me. “There’s no need to be scared. There’s a couple of ground rules. You listen to me. If I say not to answer, don’t answer. And never offer any additional information. The shorter the answer, the better. You understand?”
I rubbed my ringing ear with a fingertip and nodded.
“Good. Now listen, if you’re unsure of a question, ask for it to be repeated. If you’re confused and want to talk something over with me before answering, just ask for a break. You got that?”
I nodded.
“Good, now they’ll try to pressure you, try to force you to make some mistakes.” Edwards put his hands on his knees. “But just stay calm. If you need a break, it’s no problem. We can take as many and as often as we want. Remember, I’m here to protect your rights.”
“Okay,” I said.
“Good.” Edwards rose. “Let’s go then.”
We followed him a few steps, and Edwards turned around, noticing I’d left my cane behind. The lawyer lowered his voice. “Peter, get your cane and use it. It’ll look better.” Edwards winked, then turned to Vinny. “This is likely to take some time. Why don’t you go for a walk or something and come back in, say, ninety minutes or so?”
Edwards and I were ushered into a windowless room furnished with a square table and six folding chairs. The table we sat around had a microphone attached to a recording console and a multi-buttoned intercom. I didn’t like being there without Vinny.
“When we need to talk, don’t say anything till I shut the mic off.” As Edwards pointed at the two ceiling-mounted cameras, the door swung open, and Luca, Cremora, and assistant DA Boyle stepped into the room.
Luca said, “Counselor, Mr. Hill.”
“Gentlemen.”
Luca and Boyle put down their coffees and files and settled into their chairs. The assistant DA and Edwards exchanged nods, and Boyle hit the intercom.
“Freddy, were set to begin.”
A beep startled Peter, and Luca offered, “Sorry, Mr. Hill. It’s just a warning that the room’s live.”
***
Cremora rapped a document on the door frame. “Let’s get moving. Bristol’s signature is still warm.”
Am I the Killer? - A Luca Mystery - Book 1 Page 13