“What were the charges?”
Hank scowled. “Shoplifting. And resisting arrest. She didn’t make bail, so she’s been in jail for ten days now, awaiting trial.”
“Resisting arrest?”
“Yes.” Hank looked disgusted as he drove off. “I talked to the arresting officer’s supervisor. When he and his partner confronted Vicky, she started screaming and waving her arms around. She wouldn’t let them search and cuff her. So, they had to subdue her. Sophie was with her.”
“Oh, no. Did they realize Vicky might be mentally challenged, and that Sophie is?”
“The supervisor admitted to me that they realize that now. They didn’t know it at the time. Thought she was probably on drugs.”
Tina closed her eyes and slumped into her seat. Then she suddenly sat up and looked to see where they were. “Where are we going?”
“To jail.”
Tina’s eyes widened. “Will they let us see her?”
“Maybe. I called Brandon. He’ll be there in about twenty minutes.”
“Lucky for Vicky we know a good lawyer.”
Hank smiled.
When they entered the police station and Hank told the officer at the front desk who they were, she scowled and told them to take a seat.
After about fifteen minutes, a man in civilian clothes approached them and introduced himself. “Captain Swanson.” He held out his hand to Tina first, then shook with Hank.
Hank introduced himself and Tina. “Brandon Young will be here shortly. He’s a lawyer from Newport.”
Swanson nodded. “I know him.”
Brandon walked in, briefcase in hand, cell phone to his ear. He looked so professional and no worse from the attacks. Relief washed over her as Tina looked at him.
Brandon put away his phone and greeted everyone.
“Come into my office,” Captain Swanson said. “We need to talk.”
Brandon nodded, and they followed the Captain to a corner office in the back of the building’s second floor. “Have a seat, everyone. Can I get you some coffee?”
No one wanted coffee, and after they were settled, the Captain said, “I need to talk to you before you see Mrs. Young.” He blinked and then stared at Brandon. “Brandon Young. You and she related?”
“We might be, by marriage. It’s not certain yet.”
Swanson quirked an eyebrow. “Really? How so?”
“It’s complicated. You probably know about the recent murder in Newport. The man has been tentatively identified as Joshua Young. No one in the family knows him, but my father is also named Joshua. We believe the murdered man may have been secretly placed in an institution in Massachusetts for the mentally challenged before my father was even born. He walked away one day, and they never found him. They’re checking DNA from him and my father. It appears he came to Newport and somehow stayed under the radar. Perhaps married Vicky, and they had a child named Sophie.”
“I see.” Captain Swanson took a few moments to process all that. “So Joshua Young was murdered after his wife Vicky was jailed for shoplifting and resisting arrest. Where’s the child?”
“It appears that’s what happened. The child was staying with a woman she called Auntie. That situation is under investigation now, and she’s been placed in a foster home here in Portsmouth.”
Tina realized that Joshua must have known what happened to his wife and been distraught. “Did a man claiming to be Vicky’s husband come to try to see her here?” she asked.
Swanson opened a file in front of him. “No.”
“Then he may not have known what happened to her. He must have been frantic. Where did the police take Sophie after they arrested her mother?”
Again, Swanson looked in the file. “To an address in Newport.”
“Well, you must have told whoever was there where her mother was.”
“Child Protective Services spoke to a Mrs. Hendricks. And yes, they would have told her where Vicky Young was.”
Hank frowned. “No one was there except Mrs. Hendricks?”
“No.”
“What was Sophie’s reaction to the news?”
“That I don’t know. You’d have to talk to Child Protective Services about that. I would assume there was no problem, or they wouldn’t have left the child there.”
“All right. I think you’re up to speed on what we know,” Brandon said. “Now tell us what happened to Vicky Young when she was arrested for being a suspected shoplifter.”
Captain Swanson sighed. “A clerk at the store thought she saw Mrs. Young place some lipsticks in her pocket, so she called us. When the officers approached her and asked her to show them what was in her pockets, she became agitated. She tried to walk away. One grabbed her by the arm, and she began to fight and yell. They had to subdue her or she would have gotten away. So, they did, and brought her in to be searched by a female officer.”
“And this officer found?”
“Four lipsticks in one of her pockets.”
“Oh.” Tina put her hand over her mouth.
“Yes.”
“So, she’d left the store with them without paying?” Brandon asked.
Swanson cleared his throat. “Not exactly. They arrested her inside.”
“What?” Brandon looked incredulous. Tina couldn’t tell if he was putting it on or not. “Did it occur to anyone that she simply put them in her pocket until she could get to the checkout counter? I bet she was holding Sophie’s hand. She’d need the other one to choose more items.”
“If that’s the case, she should have used a basket.”
“Maybe she forgot to get one when she walked inside. Maybe she was in a hurry. Do you know if she’s mentally challenged? We think she probably is since she apparently married a man who was.”
Swanson sighed again. “Somewhat, we think.”
“You did drug testing, of course.”
“Yes. Negative.”
Brandon scowled. “You know this is a publicity nightmare for you.”
“Yes.”
“You willing to have me talk to her?”
Swanson closed his eyes for a moment. Opened them. “Yes.”
Brandon stood up. “Good call. My assistant, Ms. Shaw, will come accompany me. Mr. Silver won’t be needed. Too many people can be intimidating, but in these circumstances, having a woman with me might be helpful.”
Swanson nodded and stood up. “This way.”
“I’ll go wait in the lobby.” Hank scooted out the door ahead of everyone else.
Feeling flustered, Tina grabbed her purse and followed the captain and Brandon. First she was a consultant, now she was an assistant. She did think Brandon was smart to have her along, though.
When they arrived at the jail on the first floor, the Captain told the officer at the desk to bring Vicky Young to one of the interview rooms. They stood waiting, not saying anything, until the man came back and said she was there.
Tina didn’t know what to expect when they stepped into the tiny room. Captain Swanson introduced everyone, then left. Vicky showed little reaction. She sat upright, hands clasped in front of her on the desk, wearing an orange jumpsuit. Tina could see her feet crossed at the ankles under the table. At least she wasn’t shackled or handcuffed. A striking blonde, she was petite and smooth faced. She looked early twenties, but since Sophie was ten, Tina figured she had to be late twenties or early thirties. And probably older since she apparently married a man at least in his fifties.
Brandon pulled the other two chairs away from the table so he and Tina could sit down. “Captain Swanson didn’t mention I’m a lawyer. I’d like to help you. The lady with me has become acquainted with Sophie, and she wants Sophie to be with her mom again.”
“Sophie.” Tears tickled down Vicky’s face. “She okay?”
“She’s fine.” Tina smiled. “And adorable.”
Vicky’s face lit up. She nodded. “She’s wonderful.” She wiped away the tears with her fingertips and sat up straighter. “You can get
me out of here?”
“I think so.” Brandon pulled a yellow pad and a pen out of his briefcase. “I need you to tell us exactly what happened in the store before the police came.”
Vicky bowed her head and wouldn’t look at Brandon. “I was in a hurry. Sophie wanted to go home. My friends all wanted lipsticks and asked me to buy some. Different colors. Different brands. I picked them out, and not thinking, stuck them in my pocket as I found each one. Suddenly, police were there. Yelling at me.”
“You were still inside the store when they came?”
“Yes.”
“Then what happened?”
“I was scared.” She kept looking down at the table. Tina thought she was ashamed. “I’ve never even talked to a policeman before. There were two of them.”
She stopped talking. Brandon waited.
“They told me empty my pockets. At first I couldn’t move. One reached into my pocket. I knew the lipsticks there, and I suddenly knew why the police had come. They thought I steal them. I never steal. I’m afraid to steal. I’m afraid I go to jail. Like now.”
She shook her head, over and over, and couldn’t seem to stop. Tina rested a hand on Vicky’s and squeezed. “We understand. It’s all right. They made a mistake.”
“Sophie was crying.” Her head still shook. “I had a tantrum. Like when I was little. I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t stop. They pushed me on floor. Sophie screamed and screamed. They tied my hands behind my back Took me to the car. Put me in a cage thing in back.”
Vicky was shaking all over now. Tina continued to squeeze her hand. “Calm. Be calm. That’s over now. We’ll help you.”
“I can go now? I want see Vicky and Joshua. I want go home.”
“Just a couple of questions,” Brandon said. He looked at Tina. She could tell he dreaded what would happen when they told her about Joshua. “Did you try to tell the police officers why you had the lipsticks in your pocket?”
“I wanted to. I couldn’t talk. I couldn’t form words. They were mean to me. Scared, so scared,” she whispered.
“I understand.” Brandon made a note. “After they brought you here, did you explain then?”
“No. No. A man came, he said he’s lawyer. He said bail me out, but nothing happened. No one else talk to me. Sophie’s all right? She and Joshua with Irene?”
“Sophie’s fine,” Tina said. “We do have some bad news about Joshua. Aren’t you surprised he didn’t come to see you?”
“No. No, he doesn’t talk to people. He hide away. Never come to police station. Afraid. Bad news? What? What?”
Tina took Vicky’s other hand in her own. “He passed away. The other night.”
“Passed away?” Vicky frowned. “That means…dead? Dead? No! Joshua not dead. Can’t be.”
No tears, just total shock. Vicky’s hands convulsed around Tina’s. “What happened? How?”
Tina swallowed hard. “He was on Kay Street. By his old house. Someone hit him too hard on the head.”
“No, no, no, no. Can’t be.” Her eyes were enormous, staring. “Joshua never hurt anyone. No one hurt Joshua. Good man. Can’t be.”
“Do you know the house I mean? Did the three of you maybe stay in a secret room there sometimes?”
“No, no, no, no. No secret room.” Vicky turned completely pale and jerked her hands away from Tina’s.
“It’s all right. We know about the secret room. You can tell us.”
“Irene get mad.”
“We already know quite a bit. Irene is in trouble. Irene is your sister?”
“Yes.”
“You gave her legal guardianship for Sophie?”
“Paper. Signed paper. In case something happen to me. Joshua. Joshua not dead. Can’t be dead.”
Tina realized Vicky was beginning to talk like Sophie the more agitated she became. Tina wanted to ask how Vicky and Joshua met, learn their whole backstory, but she knew it wasn’t the time or place for that.
When Tina and Brandon remained silent, Vicky, voice soft, said, “Irene in trouble? How?”
“We believe she’s helping illegals hide from the authorities.”
“Illegals? What are illegals?”
“People who come to America without the proper papers. They need papers to show who they are, like you have a birth certificate. They are sent back to their own countries if they don’t have those papers.”
Vicky looked totally baffled. “Why?”
Brandon and Tina exchanged a quick glance. How to answer that? “It’s the law.”
Vicky frowned. “No sense. I don’t understand. They hide, then?”
“Yes. People help them hide. Some people who do that are good people. Some people who do that are bad people.”
“Irene bad. Yes?”
“We think so.” Tina felt a headache coming on behind her eyes. She rubbed her forehead and looked at Brandon.
“Did Irene know about the secret room?” he asked.
Vicky nodded.
“How did she find out?”
“Sophie tell her.”
“How did you get in?” Tina asked.
“We waited until no one home. Joshua had key. Joshua. Not dead.”
“He had a key?” Tina couldn’t figure out how he had kept a key all those years.
“Hid under rock in back yard. Old key. He surprised it still worked.”
“Sophie didn’t have to climb in the basement window and open the cellar doors?”
Vicky looked horrified. “No. Never. Why would she do that?”
“Well, if someone wanted to get in and didn’t have a key.”
“Irene made Vicky do that?”
“We think so. Irene and the baby sitter.”
“Peter? Peter from next door?”
Tina looked at Brandon’s shocked face, sure hers was equally surprised. “You mean Peter Collier is Sophie’s babysitter?”
Vicky nodded. “Good to her. Give her candy, sometimes a dollar.”
Tina’s heart jumped. All she could hope was that she’d been right when she thought Sophie hadn’t been sexually abused. “You have a job, Vicky?” Tina asked.
Vicky nodded, looking proud. “Grocery store. I put things on shelves. Sometimes I do cash register when busy. I’m too slow, though.”
“Are you on Social Security disability?”
Vicky nodded. “Can only work a little so don’t lose.”
“Yes. Did Joshua have a job?”
“No.” Vicky stared at the table. “No papers. He afraid to try to get them. He work some in yards, mowing for neighbors. Do some construction.”
“Did you live with Irene, then?”
“Only sometimes. When money gone too fast. She move into new house last year.”
“You can drive?”
Vicky nodded. “Work hard to pass tests.”
Tina smiled. “That’s wonderful.”
“Can I go now?”
“Vicky,” Brandon asked, “did that man who said he’d help you meet you in a courtroom in front of a judge?”
Vicky put her hand over her mouth. “I forgot. Judge want me to pay a lota money to go home.” Tears welled. “I don’t have much money.”
Tina looked at Brandon. He stood up. “I’m going to see what I can do. Either way, I’ll let you know.”
They left Vicky and went to find Captain Swanson. He agreed to drop the charges and let Vicky go with them after Brandon implied he wouldn’t pursue a wrongful arrest case against the department. He also strongly recommended some sensitivity training for his officers.
They joined Hank in the lobby. As they waited for Vicky, Brandon said, “I just don’t think she could go through a court case about this arrest—it wouldn’t be worth it. This is better. Get her out of here and hope she forgets the whole incident.”
Tina agreed.
“The next hurdle will be getting Vicky and Sophie reunited. If Vicky can move away from Irene,” Hank said, “I’m not sure Social Services will want the child to live ther
e any longer.”
“You know what you need to do, Brandon,” Tina said. “Talk to you parents. Sophie is probably your father’s niece. I bet he’ll help her and Vicky out.”
Brandon smiled. “I’m not betting against that. I’m sure you’re right.”
Vicky finally came out, dressed in street clothes, carrying a battered purse. She smiled when she saw them.
“I’m going to take you to your sister’s now,” Brandon said. “We’ll find out what’s going on with her, and go from there. I didn’t tell you before, but Joshua is probably my uncle. We think my father is his brother. I’m going to talk to him about you and Sophie.”
“Oh. Oh. If only Joshua had known.”
“Yeah. Well, let’s go. Thanks, Tina. Hank. I hope we’re near the end of this nightmare now.”
Tina hugged him fiercely. “I hope so, too. Vicky, take care of yourself. It was nice meeting you.”
Vicky surprised Tina by hugging her. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“You’re welcome. I want to keep in touch with you and Sophie.”
Vicky pulled away and nodded. “Good.”
Tina and Hank watched them walk out of the police station. “I wonder what’s happening in Newport,” Tina said as they followed.
“Let’s go find out.” Hank took her hand.
CHAPTER 56
Brandon and Vicky arrived at his car before Tina and Hank reached his. After Hank unlocked it, someone called to him.
Tina looked up and saw the man who had been following them approach. She gasped. Up close, he looked even scarier than he had at a distance. The chiseled face. The burning eyes. .
“Darwin,” Hank said.
Tina gaped. The mole. The man Michele had entrapped.
“Hank, nothing is as it seems. We need to talk. I was framed.”
Slowly, Hank nodded. “Okay. You have a room somewhere?”
“A suite at the Viking.” He told Hank the room number.
“We’ll follow you.”
Darwin glanced at Tina. “You sure she should come along?”
“Yes.” Hank opened the door for Tina, and she got in. She didn’t know if she was more shocked by finding out the man was Darwin, or that Hank had decided to let her hear what he had to say.
She hadn’t been in the Viking, except in the dining room, for years. It was still as beautifully elegant as before it was sold to an exclusive chain.
Cluttered Attic Secrets (Tina Tales) Page 26