They walked around the back and went into Julia’s studio. Bill and Sandy were their names. They were obviously now in homicide instead of vice. When they came out, the medical examiner went in. Bill went over to talk to Mark. Sandy came and sat down on the grass next to me.
“You look familiar. Have we met before?” She asked.
“When I was sixteen, I was arrested for prostitution at Dave Boudreau’s house. You and that officer over there questioned me.”
“Oh yeah, I remember you now. That Dave is now doing some wonderful work. He’s done a complete one eighty. Have you seen him lately?”
“Not since we were all arrested, but Jesse is the nanny for my young cousin. She just started today.”
“Right. One of Dave’s reforms. Vicky, you want to tell me what happened here tonight?”
“My name’s Judith. It’s a long story. Mark and I were going to stay here at Julia’s for a few days and then we found him. We just got here from Houston.”
“And Julia is who?”
“She’s my twin sister. Our last name is McCain. She’s in the hospital in Houston.”
“Oh, now I remember reading about this in the paper about ten years ago. You and you sister had been the victims of the famous kidnapping case, and you were able to bring the perpetrators to justice. Does this have anything to do with that? Do you know who that man in there is?”
“Yes and Yes. His name is Mackey Broleen. He was one of the kidnappers. He’s the one that the judge told us had been beaten to death while in jail.”
“Woo. Unbelievable,” she said. “But how did he come to be here, dead?”
“I don’t know,” I said. I knew she was going to guess I was holding something back.
“You’re holding something back,” she said.
Just then they wheeled the gurney out with the body in a body bag and the medical examiner followed snapping off his latex gloves.
“Hey Carl, over here,” Sandy called.
He came over and sat down on the grass next to her.
They didn’t seem to be interested in introducing me and that was fine. I needed some answers.
It was amazing how he could fold his legs into a lotus position. He must have weighed about three hundred and fifty pounds and his hair was gray. I wondered if he ever thought about his lifestyle when he autopsied someone who had died of heart failure.
“I would estimate the time of death about ten-twelve hours ago. It looks like a twenty two caliber but they haven’t found any casings yet. Also, there’s a pile of puke in the bushes over there.”
“That’s mine,” I said. “When I saw the body, I lost it.”
He turned towards me and studied me for what seemed like a full minute. Without another word he struggled to his feet and lumbered off.
We watched him and then Sandy turned to me. “What time did your plane arrive in New Orleans?”
“Our plane landed at 7:20. That’s easy to check out.”
“Yes it is. So, this Mackey Broleen kidnaps you and your sister when you’re three years old. During the trial, after his testimony, he is beaten to death in the shower, in Raiford, or so you’re told.
“Now, ten or so years later, he turns up murdered in your sister’s condo and she ends up in the hospital. Is it a psychiatric hospital by any chance? And what did Mackey say on the witness stand?”
When I hesitated, she gave a deep sigh. “I can easily look up all of this information. I can get the court transcript from the trial and I can call around to all the psychiatric hospitals in Houston. All of that will take time, so you might as well tell all, Judith.”
“When Mackey was on the witness stand, he alluded to a pedophile ring involving a judge and some of the older men who take in foster kids. He said that this was taking place in both New Orleans and St. Augustine. Julia is in Westpark Psychiatric Center in Houston.”
“Excuse me a minute,” she said as she got up and started walking towards Bill.
Bill and Mark had been standing just outside the studio talking and it looked like Bill was getting frustrated. Mark must not have been cooperating. When Sandy walked up Bill broke off and listened to her.
As she talked, she used her hands as if to demonstrate. At one point he glanced over at me and then back to her but then she said something that made him turn and openly stare at me. He broke into a grin and waved to me.
I could feel my face turning red as I remembered myself, as a sixteen year old, trying to get the money up front from this man I thought was a john. He would have been my first. He had slapped handcuffs on my wrists and hauled me downtown along with Dave and the other girls.
At one point I saw him hold his hand out as if to slow Sandy down, then they all three walked over to me.
As they sat down he smiled and said, “You look like you grew up real well. Mark tells me you are now a Psychologist. Tell me, did Mackey give the name of the judge when he testified?”
“No, I think he was afraid to name any names or maybe he wanted to hold something back as a major bargaining chip.”
He looked over at Sandy and she gave a slight nod. “I’m going to ask you a question and no matter how you answer it, you have to swear you won’t mention I even asked it. Both of you agree to this?”
After we both agreed he continued. “Do either of you know anything about Judge Renfroe?”
Mark and I looked at each other and I said, “He’s the judge who placed me in foster care with the Lessiters.”
Bill smoothed his few hairs over his balding head. “I tried to keep track of you for awhile after I arrested you at Dave’s. I thought you had potential. If I remember correctly, you were placed with the Lessiter’s and disappeared from there. Mr. Lessiter came down to the station and filed a missing person report but never followed up on that.”
I really felt I could trust these two and told Mark so. He agreed and we decided to tell them everything. I told them all about Mr. Lessiter coming into my room and trying to rape me, about me hitting him over the head, and about my escape.
I told them about working as a dancer in a nightclub, about finding my grandmother, about finding Julia, and meeting Tracy in the home of the Reynolds’. I told them about finding Julia and rescuing her and then Mark took over.
“They murdered my wife. She was trying to investigate and she was staying at Julia’s beach house in St. Augustine. They set fire the house and killed her.”
He had tears in his eyes. I felt so bad for him. I felt the tears gather in my eyes also.
“I’m so sorry,” said Sandy as she put her arms around him. Her bottom lip was trembling as if she too was going to cry. I looked at Bill and he looked teary eyed too.
After Mark finished telling his part of the story, Sandy asked where we were planning to stay since we obviously couldn’t stay at Julia’s condo. It was now a crime scene.
Mark and I looked at each other and Sandy said, “I would offer to let you come to my house but I have a house full of relatives staying with me right now. And Bill only has a bachelor pad.” She poked him in the ribs.
We left shortly after that and agreed to meet them for breakfast the next morning.
CHAPTER 20
Mark and I took a suite at the Hyatt Regency, on the twentieth floor, overlooking the Mississippi River. After checking in, we decided to eat downstairs at Georgie Porgies. Julia had introduced me to this restaurant on one of my visits. They have delicious seafood omelets.
We ordered the omelet and coffee. Neither of us had an appetite but we ate anyway. I enjoyed the chicory coffee with the boiled milk poured into it. We were lost I our own thoughts. I think we were in shock. Then we both started talking at once. Mark motioned for me to go ahead.
“I was just thinking that we have some people we can trust now, Judge Gadsby, and now Bill and Sandy.”
“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I think we ought to talk to Bill and Sandy about getting a search warrant to search the Lessiter’s house. Maybe they could fi
nd some clue to help them find him.”
I looked at my watch, “We’d better get some sleep if we’re going to meet them bright and early in the morning.”
CHAPTER 21
Sandy called my room the next morning just as I was finishing my hair. I had gotten it cut into a short bob recently. All I had to do was wash and blow dry.
Sandy said she, Mark and Bill were downstairs at Georgie Porgies. When I got down there they were all seated at a table with coffee.
Mark grinned at me. “I thought I would let you sleep as long as possible. I know you’re not a morning person. Sit here by me.”
“Mark was just telling us about your idea about getting a search warrant from Judge Gadsby. The problem is that Judges Gadsby and Renfroe go back a long way. They’ve been friends since college. They play golf together…”
“And neither one has ever had any kids,” Bill interrupted.
“But Judge Gadsby started this wonderful program to give hookers a fresh start!” I said.
Bill actually laughed at this statement. “Some people do good works to make themselves look good, right?”
I had to admit he was right.
“How are we going to know who to trust?” I asked. “I know you can’t answer that, but Mark and I felt right away we could trust you two. I think I knew the night you arrested me, Bill, and you helped with the questioning, Sandy, that I could trust both of you.”
Bill and Sandy looked at each other. “Judge Meadows,” they said in unison.
Sandy rolled her eyes. “Judge Meadows is a small black woman. She might weigh ninety eight pounds soak-n-wet. She’s cute as a button, but don’t let that fool you. She’s tough and has no patience with criminals.”
“You’ve seen Judge Judy on TV?” Bill asked. “Well she looks like a pussy cat compared to Judge Meadows. Our report to our boss is sketchy so far, but if we can get in to see Judge Meadows, in private, we can definitely trust her and definitely get her help.”
Mark had been silent for quite awhile but now he spoke up. “How are you going to approach her and can we all see her?”
“We need to see her first,” Sandy said. She looked at Bill. “I think you should see her by yourself. She’s always seemed to like you. I think she actually has a crush on you,” she teased.
“It’s the body,” he said as he pushed his chest out.
Suddenly Sandy looked at her watch. “Yikes how can it be that late? Come on partner, we’re out of here.”
I told them I had the check and they thanked me and promised to call later.
CHAPTER 22
I told Mark that I wanted to go see Dave. He did too. We decided to walk. This was the time of year when the Mardi gras parades were going on and we didn’t have a schedule. We didn’t want to get caught in any of them.
I called Dave from my room and he told us to come on over. We were lost in our own thoughts walking over to Dave’s. I was remembering the first time I had met him at the bus station the day I arrived in New Orleans.
He had a cockiness I had mistaken in my fifteen year old brain for confidence. But he had been good to me and protected me. I had arrived in town scared and confused, but I had felt safe with him.
When he opened the door, he grabbed me and lifted me off my feet, kissing me on the mouth. He then grabbed Mark in a bear hug.
“God it’s good to see you guys. Vicky, you look even prettier than you did back then.”
“It’s Judith now, Dave.”
“Oh yeah, I heard about that. Mark you don’t look so good yourself. What happened? Did a truck run over you?” He laughed the same laugh I remembered, sounding like a motor trying to start.
“Mark just lost his wife, Dave.”
“Oh God, man, I’m sorry. Me and my big mouth. What happened, man?”
Mark and I looked at each other and silently decided between us to tell Dave everything. It was beginning to be a long story.
Dave said, “I think we need to have a tall glass of iced tea. Let me go tell Delilah. You remember her Judith? Come on in here and say hello.”
Delilah came over and hugged me. “I’ve thought about you so much over the years, child. Do you remember when I told you that you had another half of yourself? That must have been your twin.”
We had a joyful reunion and ended up sitting at the kitchen table. Mark and I finished telling our stories.
Dave looked at Delilah. “What do you think about all this? You have that third eye in the middle of your forehead.”
“I believe this shit has been going on a long time and affecting a lot of other things.”
Dave winked at us, “Sometimes Delilah is helpful but sometimes she talks in riddles. What in the fuck are you talking about woman?”
“Don’t you dare cuss at me, young man. I used to change your diaper.”
He grinned at us. “She’s right. She was my wet nurse and nanny. What did you mean by what you just said woman?”
“Well, I don’t know exactly. I do know this covers a big area and a lot of people. There have been a lot of kids hurt by this here. I’m mad as hell, me.”
“Now look who’s cussing.”
“I ain’t cussing at you and I have a good excuse.”
They argued back and forth like this for awhile until Dave finally laughed and asked, “How can we help you with this?”
“We need to see what this judge tells Bill first,” I said, “and then I’m sure you will be able to help. You always helped me, didn’t you Dave?”
“I tried Vicky, I mean Judith, but back then I was so messed up myself. Looks like you turned out all right though.”
CHAPTER 23
We stopped by the hospital, where Rosa was having her baby. We talked to John and Trudy in the waiting room. John said they were giving Rosa a bath.
“It’s a little girl, seven pounds, eight ounces. She’s beautiful, just like Rosa.” John puffed out his chest.
Trudy shyly asked if we would like to see the baby. After introducing Trudy to Mark, we headed for the nursery. The baby was lying there screaming her head off. Her face was red and, with her head full of black hair, she looked like an American Indian. John made kissing noises and told her not to cry. When we headed back to Rosa’s room, John gave out chocolate cigars.
One of the nurses said, “You’ve already given me two, Agent Shepherd.”
Rosa looked beautiful sitting up in bed brushing her wet hair. She reached to hug all of us in a group hug.
After we were seated, she looked at me and said, “Judith, you’ve got to do this. It’s the highest high I’ve ever had. I have never been this happy. Don’t forget your biological clock is ticking away. Ben is liable to find someone else, if you keep putting him off. No more lecturing. By the way, can I still borrow Trudy? She has been so much help to me, and I could use her now more than ever.”
When Rosa noticed Trudy sitting with her head down she added, “Trudy, I’m sorry. It must have sounded to you like I just wanted you around for your help. No, I like having you around, period.”
Rosa turned to us, “This is one sweet kid, once you get past the BS. John helped with that.”
“I just love these guys,” Trudy said. “John said he’d help put Mr. Lessiter away.”
After filling them all in on what had happened since I last talked to them, I said, “We have to be careful. After Bill meets with Judge Meadows, we’re going to come up with a plan together. We’ll probably need your help John, off the record of course. And we’ll definitely need yours, Trudy.”
She looked excited, “WOW, just like in the movies. I can’t wait to help.”
Teenagers think they’re invincible, I’ve learned while working with them. We were chuckling over her enthusiasm when the nurse came in. “Everyone out. She needs her rest.”
CHAPTER 24
We met at three o’clock at John and Rosa’s house, in the Garden district, not far from Dave’s. John and Rosa had bought this house when Rosa found out she was pregnan
t.
They had managed to save quite a bit of money while living in Rosa’s small townhouse, where I had lived with her when she and I were working as dancers. Rosa had taken me under her wing and helped me in my search to find out who I was, and what had happened to me when I was three years old. That was how Rosa had met John. He was the FBI agent who had come to our apartment to hypnotize me.
We thought this was a good place to meet because John scanned the entire house, for bugs, on a regular basis. Trudy was very intrigued by this. John was her hero.
Trudy made some snacks. I was amazed at her cooking abilities. She had made some sort of sausage-cheese balls, some Rumaki, and an assortment of chips and dips. John opened a bottle of wine and Trudy fixed herself a coke.
After all the introductions were made, and all questions asked and answered, and after we were all settled in with our food, Bill spoke up.
“Okay, first of all, the judge wants to talk to Judith and Trudy in her chambers. She wants to meet at 4:30 p.m.”
He laughed, “I always knew she was obsessive/compulsive. It’s one of her best qualities for what she does. Tomorrow morning, at 7:30 sharp, she wants to see all of us but I don’t know about you, John.”
“That’s all right. I think it’s best for me to stay in the background for now. Does the judge know I’m involved?”
“She does. You have quite a reputation. She’s totally okay with you being involved with this. But she didn’t mention you when she told me who she wanted at the meetings.
“One other thing. She alluded to the fact that there are past cases of accusations, involving some of the judges, but nothing could be proven. It was always a juvenile justice kid’s word against a judge.”
After getting all the serious stuff out of the way, we laid back and enjoyed the rest of our time until it was time to go to the judge’s chambers. Trudy looked worried, but I reassured her she wasn’t going to be on trial and I would protect her.
When the time came, Bill drove Trudy and me to the courthouse. He parked in the back. When we got out, he looked around like he was trying to see if anyone was watching us. We went into the back of the courthouse. I was surprised. I didn’t know there were back doors. Bill took a key out of his pocket.
Peggy Holloway - Judith McCain 02 - Portrait on Wicker Page 6