He stepped closer to his cell bars, pressing his paunchy gut against them. Low voiced, he bragged, “You’d be surprised at what can happen with the right connections. We aren’t as dumb as the cops think.”
Narrowing my eyes, I asked, “Would I?”
“Never in a million years could you figure out who that person is. Our contact has been right in front of your nose and you never got wind of it.”
Okay, now he had my interest. I continued to play my role. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No, ’cause you’re the dumb one. Our work ain’t finished yet, there’s one more thing to take care of. Then we’ll be paid handsomely for our part in what’s been goin’ on.”
I sighed, pretended to pick at lint on my jeans. “Evelyn was nothing but a miserable blackmailer. She gathered secrets about people, important people, and used them to her own advantage. You know what I think? I think she might have been as miserable a soul as you are, Seamus.”
His eyes gleamed with malice as his expression turned cruel. “Her business meant nothing to us, and in the end she got what she had comin’ to her.”
“If it wasn’t you who killed her, then you probably don’t even know who did.” I shrugged a shoulder while taunting him, and said, “It doesn’t matter to me. Like you said, I’ll spend time behind bars for my part in this whole mess.”
His laughter rang out. “You behind bars is a dream come true. I never did see such a meddlin’ woman as you.”
“Hm, well, I’ve heard enough. Why don’t you just shut up now.”
“Ain’t you interested in our plans from here on out?”
“Not really.”
“You say that, but the look on your face says otherwise.”
Had I given myself away? Nah, I’d been nonchalant, and acted disinterested. Maybe too much so. I changed tactics and went to stand near the cell door.
“Okay, fine. Spit it out, you know you’re dying to brag about what you and Colin have on your agenda.”
“We’ll be paid in full for our part in Evelyn’s death. We’ll also blackmail the person who hired us for the rest of, uh, their life. While we are sun-nin’ ourselves on a beach in South America, the police won’t be able to touch us.”
He’d nearly slipped up but had caught himself in time. “Be realistic, do you think this person will continue to pay blackmail money once you two leave the country?”
“Yeah, ’cause otherwise I have information that goes to Sheriff Carver.”
“I can’t imagine anybody would be that stupid.”
“You were stupid enough to get caught, weren’t ya? What makes you so sure that wouldn’t happen to, uh, that person?”
“Maybe you’re right.” I shrugged a shoulder again and leaned against the bars.
Footsteps sounded on the stairs. Tom came into view and said to me, “Back away from the door. You’re going to see Judge Fowler.”
I gave him as rotten a look as I could summon and stepped back three or four paces. He opened the door, another officer entered the cell with him while I was handcuffed. Taken away, I listened to Seamus sing his version of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.”
At the top of the stairs, and far enough away from the jail cells to be out of sight and sound, Tom unlocked the handcuffs and escorted me to Jack’s office. His partner went off on his own.
Jack looked up when I entered the room, and I took a seat in front of his desk while Tom stood in front of the door.
“Tom tells me you got right into your role. Was it worth it?”
“I believe they’re being funded by a woman. I couldn’t get him to say as much, but every time Seamus spoke of their contact, he hesitated as if he struggled to keep the word ‘her’ from slipping off his tongue. He bragged about what was going to happen and how their life would be all roses and sunshine after they were freed during their transfer. They are being transferred, right? Seamus wasn’t playing me, was he?”
“No, he didn’t play you. A shuttle will carry them to the prisoner intake center in Concord. I don’t know how they got word to whoever will execute their escape, but I can tell you right now they won’t get away this time.”
“I see. Seamus is confident they’ll escape and spend their days on a beach in South America while continuing to blackmail this person. Sounds a bit wishful if you ask me.”
“Let’s have lunch before you go back and try to get more out of them.”
His enthusiasm didn’t sit well with me. After all, I was the one in a cell. “Is it necessary? I do have a farm to get back to. Jess is busy all day, which leaves Molly and Jason on their own.”
“Just for an hour, I promise. Tom, you’re dismissed.”
Adam arrived with sandwiches from a deli a block away from the station. He handed out the food, took a seat next to mine, and asked how I was doing.
Silent for a moment, I finally said, “How would you feel being locked up?”
“Be a sport about this, Juliette. We need your help. Our methods aren’t working, and I know you can get what we want from them.”
“Sure of yourselves, aren’t you?” I said around a mouthful of a ham and cheese grinder. “Seamus almost slipped when he mentioned their connection, but he won’t make the same mistake again. Colin might talk if we were alone.”
Sheriff Carver put his sandwich down, looked at Adam, and said, “When Juliette is returned to her cell, make arrangements to bring Seamus into the interrogation room.” Carver turned to me. “Now tell me why you wanted me to meet you after the birthday party on Saturday? We never did talk about that.”
Adam nodded, finished his own sandwich, and left Carver and me alone. It took several minutes to apprise him of what I’d overheard at Adelle’s house. Carver didn’t ask any questions, but took in all that I shared.
In an abrupt turn of conversation, Carver asked, “You like this kid Colin, don’t you?”
“Not so much like, as I feel sorry for him.”
Carver opened his mouth, I put my hand up and said, “He never thought he’d be in this position or that things would get to this point. He’s not a bright kid, but has a good heart. He was supposed to dispose of me, Jack, and he didn’t.”
His expression one of surprise, Jack discarded his lunch and leaned forward with his elbows perched on the desk. “You listen to me, this boy knew what he was doing was against the law and he did it anyway. He didn’t harm you because he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Had Seamus been there, Colin would have done it. He’s easily swayed and intimidated by Seamus. Don’t you feel sorry for him, no sirree.”
“Fine. I’ll do what I can to get him to talk. Since the cameras record all that happens in the cells, and someone watches what goes on, I’ll run my hands through my hair when I’ve gotten a confession. If, after a half an hour, there isn’t any progress, I’ll go sit on the cot and you can get me the heck out of there. I don’t have all day, Jack.”
“Fair enough. I appreciate your taking the time to help me. Like I said, we’ve done everything but beat the daylights out of those two, and that isn’t an option.”
“Good thing, they’d only sue the city for mistreatment.”
Adam returned, handcuffs in his hand, and asked if I was ready.
“About as ready as I would be to have a root canal.” I put my hands out and watched him snap the handcuffs onto my wrists. I glanced over my shoulder at Carver. “See you later.”
Gathering a bundle of paperwork, Jack nodded and walked down the corridor toward an interrogation room. I wondered how many there were and asked Adam.
“Three altogether. The other two are upstairs. An elevator and staircase lead to the second and third floors. By the way, don’t be nice when we get to the cells.”
“I know the drill.”
We took the flight of stairs down to the cells, and again I struggled against confinement. This had become old real fast. The ominous clang of the cell door closing tended to vibrate through my bones.
It left me uncomfortable and somewhat worried.
Tom entered the corridor to assist Adam in escorting Seamus out of the cell block. I leaned against the wall and stared at the burly man when he walked past. He sneered at me and was about to spit when he was pushed along. Things had gotten nastier. God help me, I had to make this work quickly.
I gazed at Colin. He stared at me and then began to turn away.
“Why didn’t you do as Seamus ordered you to?”
“You mean kill you?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t kill or maim people or animals, Jules. It isn’t right.”
But stealing is? I almost said the words. Instead, I said, “You don’t have to be part of this, you know. After you guys succeeded in the last getaway, the sheriff will double or triple security when you’re transferred so you won’t escape.”
Hesitant, he seemed to think things over. “How can I get out of this? I’ve broken the law. Sheriff Carver doesn’t have sympathy for people who do that. Isn’t that why you’re here? Because you broke the law?”
“You’re right, I did. But I didn’t kill anyone and haven’t been charged as an accessory to murder.”
Colin asked, “What were you arrested for?”
“Breaking and entering and resisting arrest. I broke into Evelyn’s looking for papers once too often. This last time, the police noticed my car and were waiting for me. Have you been in front of a judge yet?”
“Soon, that’s why the sheriff has us set up for transfer. We’re supposed to be held at a prison waitin’ for trial. I never killed Evelyn and didn’t have nothin’ to do with that neither. I don’t think Seamus killed her either.”
“How did you come to that conclusion? Seamus is violent.”
“He ain’t a killer.”
I stated the obvious. “Yet, he wanted you to kill me.”
“Only because he refused to do it.”
“Who ordered my death? I have a right to know.”
He stared at the floor. “I-I can’t tell you. Seamus would be mad, real mad.”
“I promise I won’t say a word to him. It’ll be our secret. Why should you be blamed for something you had no hand in. Prison isn’t like jail. It’s a harsh environment, where only the toughest survive.” I’d made it up, I had no idea what prison was really like and didn’t want to know. Though, I was aware it wasn’t a place for those faint-of-heart souls.
“You and the sheriff are friends, aren’t ya?”
I shook my head. “I wouldn’t say friends, more like he yells at me all the time for not minding my own business. Sheriff Carver isn’t capable of solving crimes, his officers do all the work and he takes the credit. Some sheriff, huh?”
With a tiny snicker, Colin nodded. “How long before you get taken away to a detention center for women?”
I lifted a shoulder and tried to appear stupid. It must have been easy to convince him because he admitted, “She’s planned the whole thing. If you’re in the same bus as us, maybe you can get away, too. Prison ain’t no place for you, Jules. Who’ll take care of your rabbits?”
“Good question. Poor Bun will be brokenhearted. Where will your escape take place?”
“Just before we hit the highway going north. There’s a wicked curve and an accident will block the road. It will look serious and the guards will get outta the bus. Somebody’s supposed to come on board and get us out.”
It sounded like a movie scene, a poorly scripted one. Who would deal with the bus driver? Would the guards leave the bus unattended? Not likely. Whoever was in charge had no intention of allowing these two men to escape. If nothing else, they’d rot in prison or be shot as they ran away. Maybe some hired henchmen would do their part, but the whole idea that the head honcho would assist in freeing them was ludicrous. While Colin mistakenly said the person was a female, I wasn’t quite convinced. Hadn’t I been assured they weren’t as dumb as the cops thought? Maybe Colin played me, or maybe he was telling the truth. If a woman was behind all of this, it certainly wasn’t Carina, but more than likely Adelle. I had seen her belligerence firsthand.
I’d had enough of trying to get one of these men to tell me who was behind Evelyn’s death. A confession wouldn’t happen, and I wasn’t the only one who thought so. I was about to sit on the bench as a sign that I wasn’t successful, when Tom entered the room followed by Adam. They escorted Colin out to who knows where and left me on my own.
I settled on the bench to wait for what came next. A few minutes passed before Sheriff Carver clomped down the stairs and stood outside the cell. “Looks like we had no luck. Sorry to have put you through this Juliette, but it was worth a try.” He unlocked the door and I joined him in the corridor.
“Where’s Seamus?”
“Judge Porter has arrived and their lawyer has, too. Then they’ll be transferred as soon as possible. You should go home.”
On our way to the front door, I repeated what Colin had said concerning the location where they would make their escape. Carver nodded, thanked me, and returned to his office while I went back to Bun and the farm.
On my way, I called Mora, and asked if I could stop by her office. She agreed.
“I’m nearly there. I’ll see you in a few minutes, Mora.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
I left the car near the front door of the Windermere Housing & Senior Center. The grounds were neat and well cared for, the shrubs manicured to a fault. The buildings were enormous, with apartments on three levels and a center attached to one end where elderly residents went for games, entertainment, luncheons, and all sorts of other get-togethers.
Impressive as it was, I never wanted to have to reside in a place such as this. No green hills, no forest, no privacy to speak of, and no rabbits to enjoy. But then, being young and healthy, I was far from needing someone to help look after me.
I wended my way along the brick walk to the wide double front doors. I was greeted by a woman at the reception desk, who smiled and asked how she could help me. I said Mora Lindsey was expecting me. The woman rang Mora’s office to let her know I’d arrived. Not long afterward, Mora came to the desk and together we walked through the wide hallway to her office. On our way we had passed through a large sitting area that held a lovely grand piano.
“That is beautiful. Who plays it?”
Mora glanced at the piano. “One of our staff entertains the residents and two of the residents can also play. One of them, Mr. Grayson, has talent and used to work as a professional. Mr. Bernard plays by ear.”
Her well-appointed office featured a mahogany desk, a leather chair, carved bookcases, a wide-screen computer, two high-backed elegant chairs with a dainty Queen Anne round table between them, and exquisite paintings on the walls. I took it all in, and before I could remark on how beautiful the office was, Mora handed me a cup of tea. She set a small, delicate dish of cookies on the table between us and sipped her tea. She set the teacup and saucer down and asked, “Is this visit about Jim Brody?”
Right to the point, that’s what I liked about Mora. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I heard about his difficulties just this morning. It’s unfortunate to have happened, don’t you think?”
“I agree with you. He should have been paying more attention to that end of his finances, though. You knew Evelyn Montgomery, didn’t you?”
I nodded and sipped from the teacup, nibbled a cookie to buy time, and wondered what on earth Evelyn Montgomery had to do with Jim Brody. I wanted to find out what I could about Jim’s financial business. I was unsure how it included Evelyn Montgomery. Or did it?
“We only knew each other through the rabbit competition. From what I gathered, Evelyn was well known on the rabbit show circuit.” Uncertain where the topic was headed, I kept my end of the conversation neutral.
“Jim should have known better, that’s all I can say, he and Evelyn had been friends for ages, why he didn’t see what she was up to is a mystery.” Mora leaned forward, then slid to the edge of her chair, and cons
piratorially said, “His family must be upset to learn she had cleaned out the grant coffers. Surely they’re aware of it now. I think all of Windermere knows.”
“Why would Brody allow a woman such as Evelyn to be involved in any part of his business?” How did I not know about it? Jack must know. Why hadn’t he mentioned it? Was he protecting Brody? The questions flew through my mind in the time it took to eat the remaining bit of my cookie.
I set the teacup down. “He and Evelyn knew each other, but from what I’ve heard about her, I didn’t think Evelyn had friends, not one.”
“His parents have great influence over Jim’s business practices and might have insisted he give Evelyn a job.”
With a light gasp, I stared at Mora. “They wanted Evelyn to work for Jim?” Could they have been aware of Evelyn’s connection to Paul, Jim, Carina, and Adrian? I couldn’t ask Mora, but I could, and would, ask Carina. How private did Paul, Jim and Carina keep Adrian’s conception? Again, I had more questions than answers.
Mora nodded. “I’m not certain, no one has admitted it as yet. Jim’s doing damage control and much of what’s now come to light had been kept hush-hush. You don’t think Jim had any inkling of what was going on with the account, do you?”
“I have no idea. But, I spend so much time at the farm, that I rarely get wind of gossip.”
“Come on, Jules, you must know what goes on around town. You’re in the perfect position to hear things. Women love to talk, and all parties are rampant with tittle-tattle, even those for children. The kiddies run around like little lunatics while their moms share the latest dirt on everyone.”
I’d always been so busy with the kids and my rabbits, that I’d heard nothing other than the disagreement between Carina and Evelyn. Mora wouldn’t believe me if I denied it, though. “I admit that I have heard some stuff, but nothing lately.”
“I know you have quite a workload, and keep a close eye on those bunnies of yours. Especially while those little demons race around and do as they please. You have enough to keep you occupied.”
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