Justifiable

by Dianna Love

  Based on the gruesome killings so far – yes.

  “I’m telling you J. T., too many things point back to that church.”

  “I’m not disagreeing. My men are running down every possible lead, including a background check on the vic from this morning. In the meantime, I don’t have to worry about you leaking anything now, do I?”

  “You never did. Think I’d risk a killer snapping and using that kid to prove his point?” Riley didn’t give J. T. a chance to answer that question as he exited the elevator on Lehman’s floor. He tried for a quick shot at information. “So you got a full ID on Pia, huh?”

  “Little bit. Not much. Talk to you later.”

  Riley figured that question would get J. T. off the phone.

  Didn’t matter. He’d found out Pia’s father’s name and Biddy would check on it...once he got his wife back home. Or maybe Baby G or Romeo would come through.

  Lehman’s receptionist said Lehman was expecting Riley, and to go on in. He stepped into the office that spread across three hundred square feet, with a sofa and two comfy chairs in a more personal sitting area where coffee was usually served.

  Lehman turned around from hanging up his phone and pointed at one of the two office chairs facing his desk.

  Guess that meant no coffee. Riley sat down and propped his elbows on the chair arms, lacing his fingers at his chest.

  “Our ratings are sinking faster than a lead weight,” Lehman started. “The other stations have scooped us on every one of these killings. The board is livid after watching every station in the city – but us – covering you with that kid at the hospital. It’s clear you have an inside track on these killings.”

  Riley didn’t agree or disagree. He still couldn’t see where Lehman was headed, but so far the GM had laid out plenty of reason to cut him loose. Or to bring him back. Riley thought about Biddy with his wife in the hospital and mentally crossed his fingers, but kept his body and face calm and unmoved.

  “I don’t know what game you’re playing, Walker, but if you’re trying to make the board come to you with a deal, it’s working. They’ve authorized me to offer you a permanent contract. Two-year deal.”

  Now this was an interesting turn of events. Riley had wondered if his absence from the anchor chair and the subsequent crash in ratings might make the board think twice, but honestly, that had been a result of the other stations getting scoops that Riley had but couldn’t use. His presence on camera—or the lack thereof—likely hadn’t made a dime’s worth of difference.

  Who would have thought the crash in ratings would work in his favor? Riley could see the possibility of negotiating a sweet deal for him and Biddy both.

  But Lehman hadn’t delivered the punch line yet.

  “I’m listening.” Riley kept a blank face.

  “If you can wrap up an exclusive on these killings, something no other station has, we’ll work out the rest of the details.”

  Riley couldn’t believe how calm Lehman was being about having to tuck his tail to make this offer. This might work once the case was solved, but if Riley delivered what the board wanted now he’d go back on his word to J. T., Biddy and Kirsten. Worse, if he stepped behind a camera at the anchor desk he’d jeopardize Enrique for sure after that conversation with the killer.

  “I’ll think about it.” Riley pushed himself up.

  Lehman’s eyes gave him away before the smile. “You’ve got until tomorrow at noon to make up your mind. Their offer is contingent on you coming in then and delivering an exclusive story that will rock every station in town. If you can do it, the board will give you two years to rebuild ratings. If not, WNUZ’s crash will be laid at your feet alone. If that happens the only anchor position you’ll find will be in a town with one stop light.”

  Give the board of directors what they wanted to get his and Biddy’s job back so Biddy’s wife and baby had a fighting chance, or walk away and keep Enrique safe?

  Either way, it came down to a child for a child.

  Chapter 47

  “Janeen?” Lucinda walked in with the mail and dropped it on the counter in the kitchen. She couldn’t shake the bad feeling she’d had all day, not since this morning when Stan said he was planning a surprise.

  She didn’t need a surprise. She needed her life to stabilize, to be able to believe in her husband again. But nothing would get better until she knew what was going on with Kelsey.

  That’s why she’d spent the day at the library digging into books Dr. Ziegler had recommended on child abuse. She’d left angry and depressed, now more convinced than ever that someone had...touched her child. Most likely a male, based on what Dr. Ziegler had told her. But one thing the doctor had said kept playing over and over in Lucinda’s mind.

  Child abuse perpetrators are too often someone the child trusts, a family member…their own parent.

  Lucinda grabbed her chest, sure that her heart was ripping in half. The only male who spent time alone with Kelsey was Stan.

  Why now? The question had been running through her brain until she’d read that not every pedophile fit a specific pattern. She took a couple of deep breaths to stave off the anxiety attack waiting to strike. She finally dropped her hand and pulled herself together, determined to stay calm when her head was a chaotic minefield. Every thought about Stan and Kelsey threatened to destroy her sanity. But she had no proof and would not condemn any man without it. Still, until she knew for sure one way or another, he was not going to be alone with Kelsey no matter what Lucinda had to do to prevent it.

  She walked into the kitchen and tossed her keys on the built-in desk in an alcove they used as a small office center for the house. Her keys landed on a note. Janeen’s little boy had broken a tooth on the playground, but Janeen would be back in time to meet Kelsey’s bus.

  Lucinda checked the time. The bus wouldn’t arrive for another ten minutes. She laughed at herself. Maybe her motherly premonition had been for Janeen’s little boy.

  Of all the people Lucinda had tried out as a housekeeper, Janeen had proven to be the most competent and responsible. She’d been a Godsend in part because Kelsey loved her.

  Lucinda hoped Kelsey would open up to Dr. Ziegler soon so the doctor could start piecing together what had happened. Find out who hurt my child. She clutched her stomach at the wave of nausea that rushed up her throat over Dr. Ziegler’s initial reaction. Ziegler believed Kelsey had experienced inappropriate contact and felt so strongly about it that she’d gained permission from Lucinda to contact Kelsey’s school to inquire about any reported problems or charges of misconduct.

  The head of Kelsey’s exclusive private school had told Ziegler they reviewed the background of every teacher. All were above reproach and there had been no cases of inappropriate behavior reported or any hint of misconduct that would lead them to suspect a teacher.

  That pointed back to one place. Home.

  Lucinda sat down at the built-in desk off of the kitchen and dragged a hand through her hair. She loved Stan, but she was too strong a woman to give blind faith where Kelsey was concerned. She hit the button for the house phone voicemail and frowned when the ID came up for Kelsey’s school. They had Lucinda’s cell phone for any emergency.

  “This is Miss Johnson. Mr. Myers forgot to take Kelsey’s homework when he picked her up this morning. Kelsey was a little upset so I didn’t think to check before she left. I realize she’s only missing a day, but I don’t want Kelsey to fall behind.”

  Lucinda’s ears buzzed. She grabbed the edge of the desk to keep from losing her balance. Dear God.

  Stan had taken Kelsey.

  Chapter 48

  Where were they?

  Riley tapped the Tundra’s steering wheel, scanning the urban terrain for any sign of the marauding blackmailers. School had let out a couple of hours ago. Romeo and his bunch were usually here by five in the afternoon, regardless of temperatures dropping with the sun. They knew Riley’s truck and couldn’t miss it sitting next to the curb a stone’
s throw from the pitted parking lot edged in weeds and fast food debris they called a basketball court.

  If Riley didn’t figure out how to give WNUZ a story by noon tomorrow without putting Enrique at risk, hanging around long enough to sponsor this team would be a false promise. The least of his worries with Jasper’s eyesight failing. Riley couldn’t keep tabs on Jasper if he had to leave Philadelphia for a job in another state.

  If anyone would hire him after tomorrow.

  Jasper’s disability payments didn’t cover squat. Riley had no other expertise to fall back on if he had to find a new way to make money to pay his and Jasper’s bills.

  How could he possibly walk into WNUZ to report details he’d assured J. T. and Kirsten he wouldn’t share? Details that could push a maniac to hurt a child? On the other hand, how could he let down Biddy, who would end up out in the cold with a pregnant wife?

  Shit, he didn’t have answers, but he couldn’t walk away from this as long as there was a chance of getting Enrique back alive.

  A hand slapped the window next to him.

  Riley jumped at the noise then scowled at Romeo’s grinning face on the other side of the glass. Another trait of street kids was invisibility.

  He opened the door and stepped out to find all five draped along his truck bed, each wearing similar versions of ragged sweatpants and hooded jersey pullovers.

  “Looking for a game?” Tusk, the tallest at just over six feet, had the basketball Riley had given them tucked under his arm. His name came from the acronym Tall Ugly Skinny Kid. Only the height and bony frame fit. Tusk’s pale skin, straight brown hair and attractive hazel-green eyes rivaled Romeo’s much darker hip attraction.

  “No time for a game today,” Riley answered

  Baby G had his arms hooked over the top of the tailgate. “That must mean you’re here for another business transaction.”

  Arnie’s laugh came out something like a snort a donkey would make. Short, wiry body with squinty eyes behind a pair of black-rimmed glasses and wavy brown hair. He slapped the side of the truck, hooting at Baby G who frowned when Arnie snorted again.

  Boris studied the others with hazel eyes that spoke for him since he rarely used his voice. A few inches shorter than Tusk, but built a lot heavier, Boris played hard, took his licks quietly and acted disinterested even though he didn’t hesitate to back up the team if the others were threatened. With that body, he could probably bench press small cars.

  Riley nodded at Baby G. “I’m here to deal.”

  “Step into my office,” Romeo cut in then swaggered around the front of the truck, headed to where crates, cement blocks and a discarded car seat from an Impala served as their meeting space. The group followed with Riley bringing up the rear.

  Once everyone had knocked off the ice and residual snow, Romeo got down to business. “Whadda you want?”

  Nothing in trade first? Riley didn’t question his luck. Maybe Romeo had decided they’d hosed Riley enough for now. “Looking for anything on Bruno Parrick.”

  “The one got capped in the cemetery yesterday?” Romeo asked.

  Riley gave him a short nod. “That’s the one. I found out he worked construction and went by his job site. They wouldn’t tell me anything, but when I asked about his wife one guy said she just got out of the hospital.”

  Baby G sat on the Impala seat, a finger laid alongside his cheek. He looked over at Tusk who dribbled the basketball around his legs. “Your aunt should know something.”

  “Maybe.” Tusk never lost his concentration. “Got a phone?”

  Riley didn’t want to hand his over with the killer calling at any time. “Who’s his aunt?”

  “Does hair over on the west side. Big salon. They got television going all the time. All those women talk.”

  Romeo produced a banged up phone and tossed it to Tusk, who stopped dribbling and punched keys. Riley didn’t want to know if the phone was hot or not. While Tusk talked in a hushed voice to someone, Baby G shifted his almond shaped eyes at Riley. “What else?”

  “Any of you see the news on that little girl we found this morning? Pia?”

  They all nodded or murmured an affirmative answer.

  “Any of you know her or her family?”

  They all shook their heads.

  “What do you know about any of the other staff at St. Catherine’s besides Monsignor?”

  “You mean like Icky?” Romeo said.

  Arnie snorted another laugh. Baby G chortled and even Boris chuckled.

  This bunch had clearly been busy scavenging information to trade once Riley pointed them in the right direction. He smiled along with them. “Who’s Icky?”

  “Shoes.” Baby G said that and they all clammed up, even Tusk who closed the phone and flipped it back to Romeo.

  Riley squatted down to be eye level with the two negotiators, Baby G and Romeo. He should have known better than to think he’d get anything for free with this bunch. “What about shoes?”

  “Team needs socks and shoes. Five pairs of Nikes and three pairs of Adidas. Two pairs of socks each.”

  Riley saw his next paycheck disappearing faster than sand through an hourglass. “For all that, I want good intel on Icky, Bruno and Pia.”

  Romeo exchanged a loaded glance with everyone before he told Riley, “Hundred cash in advance for two out of three right now.”

  Riley would pay more than that, which was why he had to let the offer sit for a minute to cure properly. Otherwise next time he’d be paying double. He blew out a breath, making it sound like they had him by the short hairs. “Okay, what have you got?”

  Baby G cleared his throat. “Father Ickerson is the other priest at St. Catherine’s. Remember Titia?”

  Riley lifted his chin in a “yes.”

  “Titia said Father Ickerson is in charge of Philomena house, his personal project. He has an ex-con, Valdez something, doing electrical work and odd jobs around St. Catherine’s and at Philomena House. Deacon Grizzle works primarily with Father Ickerson, but he’s also the replacement deacon for the crook who got them in so much trouble. Titia said Grizzle comes to Philomena House sometimes, too, but that new lady assistant hasn’t been there.”

  “Margo Cortese?”

  “That sounds right.”

  “What about Monsignor? Does he have any contact with Philomena House?” Riley had learned years ago the tiny pieces of an investigation were what made the big ones fall into place.

  “Titia hasn’t met him. Don’t know if anyone else at Philomena has.”

  Riley pondered that a minute. “Who’s the other one you’ve got something on?”

  Tusk spoke up. “My aunt said one of the customers in her salon yesterday told everyone in the shop about the guy the police found in the cemetery. She said the customer’s a nurse who works at St. Jo’s and the police had to come there to tell Parrick’s wife he’d been killed. The Parrick woman was in being patched up for a broken arm and black eye. Had a run in with a door knob.”

  Not a surprised expression among the team at Tusk’s joking reference to the fact Bruno had probably put his wife in the hospital with his fists.

  And not one of them smiled at the joke, not even Arnie.

  “Okay, that’s two of the three.” Riley stood up. “Let me know if you get anything on Pia or Enrique.”

  Romeo had his hands hooked behind his head. “Why you still lookin’ for him? Kid goes missing this long don’t show up talking again.”

  “Let’s just say I have confirmation he’s still alive – ”

  Eyebrows shot up all around at that.

  Riley continued, “So anything you find on him or Sally is still important. Like why her body was dropped on a judge’s lawn?” He searched their faces. “Anybody know of someone with a beef against the judge?”

  “Ah, shit, everybody pissed at a judge.” Romeo shook his head. “That ain’t nothing. But nobody talkin’ trash about the judge. What about Mrs. Judge?”

  “Yeah,” Tusk broke in.
“My aunt says someone in her salon is always yammering about a rich-ass bitch who pissed them off. Maybe the judge’s wife got gambling debts – ”

  “ – or she ran over somebody’s dog with her car,” Arnie added.

  Then Baby G suggested, “ – or she’s sleeping with somebody’s...wife.” He grinned.

  Boris rolled his eyes and said nothing.

  Riley held up his hand before they had Berringer’s wife killing Sally. But they’d given him a reason to take a closer look at the entire Berringer household.

  He fished out his money clip and handed Romeo two fifties. Before heading to his truck, Riley told the group to text him with anything if they couldn’t reach him to talk. Riley’s cell phone rang as he climbed in. He cranked the engine and answered to find Kirsten calling.

  “Where’ve you been, Kirsten?” He smiled at her sigh and knew it was because he’d used her first name. “I called you half an hour ago.”

  “I’ve been busy. We’ve confirmed the identity of the body this morning and that the deceased is little Pia’s father, but he isn’t married to her mother. Philly PD is releasing his name to the press.”

  Ah, hell. The grandmother had bragged about Pia’s dad being a model father. But was that a mother’s opinion or the truth?

  “What’s his name?” Riley had found out the vic’s first name was Vance and that he was an electrician, but Officer Malone had returned before Riley got Pia’s grandmother to share her son’s last name.

  “Vance Montoya.”

  “Did you find out if he’s connected to St. Catherine’s in any way?”

  “That’s why I’m calling. I’m sure you recall the woman you spoke to in the hospital,” Kirsten added with a tinge of annoyance. “Pia’s grandmother is Vance’s mother. She said her son had been trying to work things out with Pia’s mother who is a drug addict living in New Jersey. The grandmother had tried to talk her son out of letting Pia stay with the child’s mother in Ludlow, because the grandmother didn’t believe Pia’s mother was ever going to stop doing drugs, but she says her son loved the woman.”