One Step At A Time

by Brenda Adcock

  “I’m an attorney and am assisting her with a legal matter. I think I will be more help if I understand where she’s coming from, so to speak, and she’s not very forthcoming,” Dani lied smoothly.

  “What do you want to know?” Cat huffed.

  “What kind of person was she?” Dani asked.

  “Nice enough, but confused from time to time. Personally, I thought she was looking for someone to replace her mother, but I’m not a shrink. Otherwise, why the hell would she hang around with that pervert, Shay No-Last-Name?”

  “Why do you think she was a pervert?” Dani challenged.

  “Because she was hanging all over a ‘girl’ twenty years her junior and pumping her full of drugs so she could control her and introduce her to all that kinky S&M bullshit she was into. I know Maddie didn’t like it, but allowed herself to be abused rather than lose Shay’s affection. Bitch dumped her anyway for a twelve-year-old who was a little more malleable. But the damage had already been done,” Cat said. “Maddie hopefully doesn’t still have all those disgusting piercings Shay insisted she get supposedly to heighten her pleasure,” she added sarcastically.

  “What damage?” Dani asked, jotting down notes furiously. “What piercings?”

  “The idea that real love wasn’t love unless it was...painful,” Cat sniffed. “Maddie was extremely confused and grew distrustful, even of her own band members, almost to the level of paranoia. I never saw her piercings, but she told me she had a couple of slave rings that were connected by a chain that Shay could jerk to make sure she had Maddie’s complete attention any time. Some seriously sick shit. Probably where the phrase about yanking someone’s chain came from. After Shay’s departure back to middle school, Maddie was always looking for someone who’d hurt her to prove they really, truly loved her. Finally, she picked up a roadie in Baton Rouge who turned out to be a younger version of Shay, only probably sicker.”

  “Do you remember her name?” Dani asked.

  “Courtney something. Pidge might know. Pretty sure Courtney hit on her when Maddie was sleeping off her last high.”

  “How did they hook up?”

  “Courtney started following us in Mobile, I think. Maddie didn’t notice her until after our Baton Rouge show. Pretty blonde roadie who was up for anything, damn promiscuous, and had access to a seemingly endless supply of drugs,” Cat told her.

  “Sounds like the perfect groupie,” Dani said.

  “She was a pushy and demanding bitch,” Cat said bitingly. “Demanded all of Maddie’s off-stage time. We couldn’t even find time to rehearse decently. From the way Maddie looked, I thought Courtney must have been a pretty rough lover, too, like Shay. I saw bruises and bite marks on Maddie’s body more than once. One time, at the beginning of a performance, Maddie could barely manage to get on stage. In my opinion, Courtney would get Maddie drugged up and sexually abuse her while she was too high to resist whatever was happening to her. But then again, I couldn’t prove anything and Maddie wouldn’t listen to anyone. We all thought it, but couldn’t really do anything to help her,” Cat said, ending her story.

  It was more than Dani wanted to know and she wasn’t sure she would be able to do anything to convince Maddie to trust her.

  “Do you know what happened to Courtney after Maddie dumped her?” Dani continued.

  “If we’re lucky, she walked in front of a bus,” Cat laughed. “Otherwise, I have no idea and don’t really care. She was a nobody. Probably still out there somewhere ruining someone else’s life.”

  “I appreciate the information. Thank you for speaking to me, Dr. Krupke,” Dani said.

  “You’re welcome. It was a turbulent time, but eventually led me to a more stable life,” Cat said. “Good luck with Maddie’s legal problem,” she added before disconnecting.

  EARLY THE NEXT morning while Dani was dressing for work, her cell phone buzzed.

  “Danielle Hunter,” she answered.

  “Morning,” a voice said. “Got a minute?”

  Dani smiled as she recognized the voice. “Good morning, Liam. How are you?”

  “Not bad, kid,” he answered. “I’ve got a little information for you. Can we meet for lunch?”

  “That shouldn’t be a problem. Will your information be helpful?” she asked.

  “If you’re the prosecution,” he said cryptically. “I’ll see you about twelve-thirty at the Longhorn Grill.”

  “Okay. Have a good day, Liam,” she said as the call ended.

  She spent most of the morning going through the evidence file for the case against Maddie, searching for any weaknesses and going over the newest lab reports from the examination of items collected at Oscar’s business. She should be able to introduce the tools, which were identified as Maddie’s. However, her fingerprints on the items were only partial prints. A decent defense attorney could certainly question them as rock-solid evidence. Because the items were listed as stolen items, whoever took them managed to rub off everything except a couple of partial prints. Plus the defense should have Oscar’s burglary report, which made it likely whoever took the tools was also a killer. She hoped Liam found something useful because so far the evidence seemed plausible. However, in her gut, Dani still couldn’t convince herself that Maddie was a ruthless killer.

  By twelve-thirty she was sitting at a table in the Longhorn Grill, anxiously watching for Liam’s arrival, her hands wrapped around a cup of hot coffee to warm them. Five minutes later, Liam strolled in and wove between the tables to join her. A waiter appeared quickly and offered him a cup of coffee as Liam removed his coat and hung it on the back of his chair after depositing a file on the table.

  “It’s pretty chilly out today,” he commented blandly as he sat.

  “It’s mostly because of the wind. Knife’s right through you,” Dani said. “Welcome to winter in Wichita Falls, Texas.”

  Liam flipped open the file folder as he sipped his coffee. Then he launched into his report, “I’ve interviewed the employees at the repair shop. The most potentially useful information came from Crew Faulkner, but a lot of what he told me amounted to speculation he thought would help the accused. Unclear how helpful it will actually be in the long run. Also had a guarded conversation with Jorge Suarez. He obviously didn’t want to accuse his partner of doing anything that might have been out-of-bounds legally, but might admit it if pressed when called to testify. Claims the accused was uncooperative and combative, which could have justified Detective Nolan’s actions. In my opinion, the helpfulness of Faulkner or Suarez is questionable at best. However, the information from Sand Ridge could be better for the accused,” he said with a slight smile.

  “I spoke to the warden, Christina Nolan,” he continued, holding a hand up to stop Dani from asking any questions. “I’ll answer your questions after I tell you everything.”

  “Okay,” Dani agreed softly.

  “By the way, Warden Nolan is the ex-wife of Detective Bart Nolan. From what I could gather, it was a somewhat contentious divorce and she admitted he has a very short temper. She voluntarily gave me a list of women her staff believed were involved, either voluntarily or coerced, into being in an inmate prostitution ring run by the decedent. Most are still incarcerated at Sand Ridge. Douglas and James were involved in an ongoing dispute, apparently caused by Douglas’s attempts to force James into her little ring. James aligned herself with another group of very undesirable women for protection. James still took a few knocks over it. Warden Nolan believed, but couldn’t prove, that Douglas was responsible for the stabbing of James during an altercation on the rec yard. The warden also rather reluctantly believed that some of her guards used Douglas’s group as enforcers occasionally against other inmates. One of those enforcers was a Selena Gutierrez. She became Douglas’s heir-apparent and took over the prostitution ring after Douglas was released. I requested an interview with Gutierrez and she agreed, if I could promise to get her sentence reduced. I told her I would look into it, but could
n’t promise anything. After that, the only thing she would admit was being involved in an assault on James ordered by Douglas as retaliation for her assault on a guard in which the guard was injured. No other specifics. Now, questions?”

  Dani exhaled loudly. “That’s a lot, but not really that much, Liam,” she said. “What did Crew actually tell you?”

  “He found James unconscious on the floor of her work bay when he came to work, but couldn’t remember the day. When she came to, he sent her home. We could check her time card to see when she left, I suppose. He thought she was preparing to leave because her coveralls were partially unzipped, fought with the burglars and lost, but believed that was how she could have injured her knuckles. Then the burglars probably grabbed what they could and ran, leaving her unconscious. Again, mostly speculation,” Liam answered.

  “We have the burglary report Melendez filed which was the same day Crew found Maddie. I’ll look it up,” Dani said. “I need to know more about the retaliation assault.”

  “Doubt you’ll get it from Gutierrez. She’s doing life for beating a man to death during a robbery. No deals to be made there and she won’t talk without a deal,” Liam said. “Maybe James will tell you.”

  “Unlikely,” Dani sighed. “Even if she did, it would only bolster her motive.”

  “Unless something unexpected turns up, James is pretty much screwed,” Liam admitted.

  “Can I get the records for these inmate prostitutes?” Dani asked, waving the list.

  “Probably, but unless any of them were released, it probably won’t do much good,” Liam shrugged.

  “When you have them, let me know,” Dani said.

  Liam nodded. “It’ll take a week or so. That okay?”

  “It’ll have to be, I guess. Thanks, Liam. Ready to order? I’m buying.”

  “Then let me check what kind of steaks are on the menu,” he said. “Why are you so interested in this case anyway? Looks like a loser to me, kiddo.”

  “I know the accused and find it hard to believe she would commit this crime, Liam,” Dani answered.

  “Why? The police have some pretty convincing evidence.”

  “It’s mostly circumstantial,” Dani rebutted.

  “Well, realistically, your suspect has already done ten years for another felony. It’s not too difficult to believe she might do it again,” Liam shrugged. “Prison changes people in ways you can’t imagine, Dani. This one may be a loser.”

  BY SEVEN THAT evening, Dani settled into her comfortable easy chair and glanced at her legal pad. She wasn’t sure the members of Maddie’s band were being very helpful other than helping her understand Maddie’s background. So far they’d all admitted they should have done something to keep Maddie from destroying her life, but hadn’t. But hadn’t she done the same thing? She should have confessed to being the driver when Bryan Melendez was killed. But she hadn’t, just like everyone else who’d let Maddie down. The least she could do now was not be too afraid to stand up for her.

  She picked up her phone and punched in the number for the James Gang’s back-up singer and keyboard player. Three rings later, a laughing woman answered, “Joe’s Pool Hall. You rack ’em, we sink ’em.”

  Dani smiled. “Is Patricia Davis there, please?” she asked.

  “Pidge! It’s some woman for you. Should I be jealous, baby?” the woman called out.

  “This is Pidge,” another woman said. “Stop it, Lynn. It’s your shot.”

  “Miss Davis, my name is Danielle Hunter. Were you a member of the James Gang?”

  “Wow! I haven’t heard that in forever, but I was back in the day.”

  Repeating her lie from the evening before, Dani said, “I’m an attorney and am helping Maddie James with a legal matter. Would you mind answering a few questions?”

  “I guess. Did she get out of jail?”

  “Yes. Her current situation is unrelated to her previous legal problem,” Dani said. “I’ve already spoken to Cat and Thumper and just need to verify a couple of things with you, if I could.”

  “No problem. How are they?” Pidge asked.

  “Fine apparently. And you?”

  “Workin’ every damn day in the studio band over at Paramount. Pay’s steady and covers the rent,” Pidge answered.

  “Do you remember a young woman associated with Maddie, named Courtney?” Dani asked.

  “Oh, hell,” Pidge muttered. “Unfortunately, I do. There were a few times I wanted to beat her to death.”

  “Who’re you talkin’ about?” a voice in the distance asked.

  “That bitch, Courtney, that Maddie picked up when we were on tour,” Pidge said.

  “Fuck her!” the voice yelled back.

  “What can you tell me about her?” Dani asked.

  “Came on to me a few times when Maddie was sleepin’ off her partyin’ from the night before. Claimed she was more woman than Maddie could handle or some bullshit like that, but I think Maddie was too nice for her. Maddie was a good kid, but not that worldly. When she wasn’t high, she thought every place we went was fascinatin’,” Pidge laughed. “Besides, I already had a good woman waitin’ for me at home and wasn’t gonna waste my time with a loser like Courtney.”

  “Do you happen to remember her last name?” Dani asked, crossing her fingers.

  “It was something weird, but started with a C. Wanted us to call her CeeCee, but no one did. I’ll think about it. Any other questions?”

  “Cat thought Courtney might have abused Maddie. Know anything about that?” Dani tried.

  “Chalayne. C-H-A-L-A-Y-N-E,” Pidge spelled out.

  “What?” Dani asked, confused

  “That was Courtney’s last name. Chalayne. Not sure about the abuse thing, but one time I had to help Maddie onto the stage. She whimpered somethin’ about Courtney bitin’ her on a very sensitive part of her body. I thought she was gonna pass out, but she pulled it together when the show started,” Pidge said. “You talk to Packie yet?”

  “She’s my next call,” Dani said.

  “Good luck. I heard she was teeterin’ close to the edge, doin’ a pretty good imitation of Maddie with the drugs and wild child life now. She was only around nineteen when she joined us, but a helluva guitarist. Couldn’t sing for shit though,” she chuckled. “Still managed to write our best songs. Hope she doesn’t throw her talent away like Maddie did. Okay, my wife is gettin’ antsy. It’s my shot,” Pidge said quickly.

  “Thanks for your—” Dani began as the call suddenly disconnected. “—help,” she finished to dead air.

  Chapter Twelve

  NEARLY A MONTH passed without much movement on Maddie’s case. She was released from the hospital and taken back to the county jail. The County Attorney began dropping not-so-subtle hints that the case should go to court no later than the beginning of January. While he appreciated the idea that Dani wanted to present a case that left zero wiggle room for the defense to sneak through, it wasn’t every day the State was handed a case where they could prove probable motive, means, and opportunity. It was a gift, for God’s sake and the taxpayers of Wichita County had every right to demand swift justice.

  “Just one more thing I need to check, Chief, to be thorough,” Dani promised, stalling as she waited for the files Liam had promised in a week, three weeks earlier. The minute the County Attorney left her office, she punched Liam’s number into her cell phone and nervously tapped her foot beneath her desk waiting for him to answer. “Pick up, pick up,” she hissed under her breath.

  “Hello,” Liam’s weak-sounding voice finally came on the line.

  “Hi, Liam. Where’s that file you promised to send me?” she asked hurriedly. “You told me it would be a week and now it’s three weeks later.”

  “I sent it. Didn’t you get it?” he coughed.

  “Obviously not,” she answered impatiently.

  “Check your spam,” he said.

  Dani clicked on her spam folder a
nd said, “Not there.”

  “Let me check my sent folder.” A few seconds later, he said, “Damn, looks like I goofed up the address. I came down with the flu and substituted a comma for a period. Must have been because I had a fever. Let me re-send it. I’ll stay on the line until I know you got it. Sorry about that, kid.”

  “Are you feeling better now, Liam?” she asked, feeling bad that she’d jumped on him. She should have checked sooner. As soon as the mail icon popped up, she clicked to make sure the file had arrived intact. “I got it. Go to bed and rest now, Liam, and thanks,” she said. “Sorry if I sounded irritable.”

  “Surprised you weren’t totally pissed. I would’ve been.” He tried to laugh, but broke into a coughing fit.

  “Get well soon,” Dani said before ending the call. She transferred the file onto a thumb drive and dropped it into her briefcase to print out at home.

  AS SOON AS her mother left after dinner, Dani took her legal pad and a pen from her briefcase and scanned the notes she’d made concerning the evidence against Maddie and her interviews with others who’d known her before her imprisonment. She circled a few things and scribbled a new set of notes about those particular items. Although there were no usable fingerprints, she was curious about a typed note found in the victim’s pocket.

  Other than confirming that blood on the paper belonged to the victim, the paper was generic notepaper available at any five-and-dime. The only significant thing was the lab technician’s opinion that the note was typed on a 1960’s model IBM Selectric with a changeable font. Without the machine, he couldn’t deduce more. But it definitely hadn’t been computer generated.

  Dani doubted that “Packie” Packard, the James Gang’s acoustical guitarist, would be able to tell her much more than the other band members already had. The only other person of interest was Courtney Chalayne. Cat said Maddie picked her up in Baton Rouge and they remained together until the Texas portion of the band’s tour ended in Wichita Falls. No matter how hard Dani tried, she barely remembered the young woman who walked out of the theater with Maddie that night. Only that she’d been wrapped around Maddie like a boa constrictor before Maddie suddenly shoved her away and walked into her throng of screaming fans.