Justice (13 page)

“
How did you get over it?
”

I shake my head.
“
I didn’t. Not really. It’s always there. But time and people who loved me helped. They didn’t give up on me. That’s about as good as it gets.
”

“
I don’t know what to say to them. Everything just becomes a battle,
”
Kelly says.

“
They’re angry, and rightly so. They’re mad at Alkaline, they’re mad at you, they’re even mad at your husband. It’s not fair, but it is what it is.
”

Kelly contemplates this, saddened even more. My heart goes out to this woman, it really does. Her husband has been murdered, her kids are a wreck, the press is hounding her, and now she’s stuck in a police station. Just one of those things could send a person over the edge. And it’s not her fault.
She’s
not the one who took a bribe from a convicted murderer. She’s not the one who killed him either, but she’s the one who has to clean up the mess. I more than know how that is.
“
I think I’m just still in shock. I’ve been going through the motions. With everything. My mom’s helping out.
”

“
That’s good.
”
I smile sympathetically. I pause.
“
So, you’re probably wondering why you’re here.
”

“
Yeah. I thought maybe you caught him or something, but…
”

“
Sorry. Not yet, but you may be able to help us on that end.
”

“
How?
”

I glance down at the file, scanning it while she watches.
“
Who handles the finances in your family?
”

“
I pay the bills. Why?
”

“
Do you know anything about an account in Switzerland? Have you ever set one up for your son Michael?
”

“
A what?
”
she asks.

I pass her the file. There’s account information in her son’s name, social security number, and several deposits totaling $250,000, the last one the day before the escape. She reads it, confused as hell.
“
I take it you knew nothing about this,
”
I say.

The widow looks up, eyes bugging out of her head.
“
$250,000? What? How?
”
Her voice is so desperate I can’t help but believe her.
“
I—I’ve never seen this before in my life.
”

“
Could your husband have?
”

She gazes back down at the file and it dawns on her. The realization seems to begin at her eyes which grow again, then moving to her mouth which shrinks, then down her back which straightens. From the look she gives me, I believe the mouse is about to roar.
“
Absolutely not. I know what you’re implying, and how dare you? My husband was the best man I ever knew,
”
she says, her voice breaking.
“
He was proud of his job. Proud he was helping to keep us all safe. You said it yourself, it cost him his life. There is no way in
hell
he would help that psychopath. Not even for a million dollars.
”
She shoves the file back at me.

“
Then how do you explain the account? And the fact that the other C.O., Logan Dodd, said your husband was the only one in the room when Ryder was let out?
”

“
He’s lying!
”

“
Mrs. Moore, you have to see this from our point of view. A limited number of people had access to James Ryder. Of those, only two were there the night he escaped, and only one of those has a secret account with hundreds of thousands of dollars.
”
I lean back in my chair.
“
Now, I know you loved your husband and what I’m suggesting is unthinkable, but you have to face facts. This,
”
I say, pointing to the file,
“
is the only lead we have right now. So
anything
suspicious, anything you might know or suspect, no matter how small, might be the key to finding him. Did he act out of the ordinary at all? Buy extravagant gifts?
”

“
No, because he didn’t do anything.
”

“
There’s nothing? Not a single moment when you thought, ‘There’s something wrong,’ or just a feeling?
”

“
No, and I am done with this.
”
She bolts up.

Ah, love. You always make my job such a pain in the ass.
“
Mrs. Moore, you should know we have a search warrant for your home.
”

“
What? You can’t—
”

I stand up too, closing the file.
“
I’m sorry. I’ll have a patrol car take you home.
”
I leave as she calls me nasty names and return to the control room. Mirabelle and Kowalski smirk and cluck their tongues.
“
Shut up.
”

“
You two going to have a sleepover and braid each other’s hair?
”
Kowalski asks.

“
Like you could have done any better,
”
I say.
“
She doesn’t know a damn thing.
”

“
You don’t think she’s lying?
”
Mirabelle asks.

“
No way.
”

“
I agree,
”
Kowalski says.

“
Then let’s hope we have more luck with the warrant,
”
I say.

“
We’re going there right now.
You
have a date with the press,
”
Kowalski says.

“
Sure you wouldn’t rather do it? Lotte would love to see your handsome face on the screen.
”

“
No, thanks,
”
Kowalski says.
“
Besides, I don’t think that woman will want you anywhere near her house.
”
He glances at his partner.
“
You either. I’ll take Cam.
”

“
We’re sure he’s our guy?
”
I ask.

“
Seems like it,
”
Mirabelle says.

“
Then I might actually have something to feed to the jackals.
”

On my way out I peek into Harry’s office, but he’s not there. I need to know whether or not to release this information. We should probably wait for final confirmation. There’s always tomorrow. I’ll play it by ear. After a quick hair and make-up fix in the ladies room, I grab the prepared statement and walk out.

About two thirds of the usual lot are not there. V is front and center, but I only recognize a few others. Guess the big guns are onto better things. I read off the bland account of our progress, and few even bother to take notes. Going through the motions, I open it to questions.

“
Can you comment on—
”
V begins.

Out of nowhere Mrs. Moore, with Cam and Kowalski close behind, saddle up to me. Her rage is palpable enough for the reporters to perk up. I’m too shocked in that moment I can’t think of a thing to say. Kelly Moore doesn’t have this problem.

“
My name is Kelly Moore. My husband was Corrections Officer Stuart Moore, who was brutally murdered four days ago by the man who calls himself Alkaline.
”
She looks down at her sneakers.
“
My husband worked at Xavier for over five years. He was a good man. He was active in AA, sponsoring three people. He coached our youngest son’s Little League. He provided for me, for our children, and kept this city safe by watching over criminals like Alkaline. He’s dead because of it.
”
She gazes at me, hate brimming through the tears.
“
And the Galilee police department, instead of searching this city for my husband’s killer like they have promised numerous times, is instead wasting their time and the taxpayer’s money slandering my husband’s good name.
”
Her gaze returns to the salivating journalists.
“
My husband died protecting all of you. He’s a hero. He did nothing wrong.
”

She walks away, the reporters shouting questions which she ignores. Cam and Kowalski both give me a pitying look before they follow her. A few reporters chase after her, but the rest stay, unleashing their questions on me.

“
Is Stuart Moore a suspect?
”

“
How long has he been a suspect?
”

“
What evidence have you found to link him to the escape?
”

“
Are any of the other C.O.’s involved?
”

A cacophony of the same question phrased differently assaults me. V’s mouth moves, but I can’t hear her over the others. I hesitate, the wheels in my head turning. I have no idea what to say, what they would want me to say. Probably nothing, but I’m trapped.

“
One at a time,
”
I shout. I point to the WHEN reporter, an intern judging by her age.
“
You.
”

“
Is Stuart Moore a suspect?
”

“
At this time, he is a person of interest. Veronica?
”

“
Why is he a person of interest?
”

“
Through the course of our investigation, we discovered a large sum of money in one of Mr. Moore’s accounts. How it came to be in there has yet to be determined.
”

“
Do you think he was murdered to silence him?
”
another reporter asks.

“
We will have to ask James Ryder that when we arrest him.
”

“
And you’re still confident you will find him?
”

“
I stand by my promise to this city. We are doing everything in our power to find him.
”

“
What about reports that Alkaline had a shrine to Justice? Can you substantiate those claims?
”

I glance at V who takes notes.
“
I would not use the word ‘shrine,’ but yes he did have multiple news clippings on Justice. What that means, once again, we will ask Ryder when we apprehend him. And we will.
”

“
It’s been four days. Only one arrest has been made. Are you sure he is still even in the city?
”

“
No, but no matter where he is, we will find him. If it takes years, if he’s on the moon, we will find him and drag his butt back here to face justice for the heinous crimes he has committed, including the death of Stuart Moore,
”
I say passionately.
“
Whether he was complicit in the escape or not, he is still a victim. He and his family deserve justice. We will get it for them, of that I have no doubt. James Ryder will not win. He
cannot
win. You have my personal guarantee that he will not.
”

“
Have you found any evidence as to what he might have planned?
”
V asks.
“
Potential victims, if any? If he is in the city, could it have something to do with Justice and his obsession?
”

“
We have uncovered no evidence that Ryder’s plans extended beyond his escape. But once again, if he does, we will stop him. We did once, we will do it again. That’s all for today. Thank you.
”

I spin around as the reporters shout more questions that I won’t answer. Harry waits outside his office, arms folded, none too thrilled with me. He doesn’t have to say a word. I walk straight into his office, sitting myself in the naughty chair. He shuts the door.

“
What the hell was that?
”
he asks.

“
I couldn’t stop her. I was just as surprised as you were.
”

He sits at his desk.
“
You should have shut it down the moment you saw her.
”

“
How? Tackle the widow of a murder victim?
”

“
We’re going to be back in the spotlight now, you know that right? They’ll be hounding Moore, rooting around in his background.
”

“
I know! But Harry, what the hell could I have done? Tell me! Because, under the circumstances, I think I did a pretty damn good job turning things around.
”

He shakes his head.
“
The mayor’s pissed.
”

“
So what else is new?
”
I mutter.

“
You’re off press duty.
”

“
Oh, thank God.
”

“
You’re also in tip duty today, and you’re not allowed to even look at a reporter, let alone talk to one. That includes your cousin.
”

“
Tip duty?
”
I whine.
“
We haven’t had one in hours. I’ll have nothing to do all day.
”

“
Exactly.
”
His phone rings.
“
Dismissed.
”

I leave the office feeling like a chastised child as he starts talking to the Chief of Detectives, probably feeling the same way. Me and my big mouth, getting us all in trouble. I should be used to it by now, but I do hate disappointing people and dragging them down with me. Justin’s lost more than a few acquaintances because of me. I sit at my desk with a sigh. I’ve been grounded by my boyfriend.

As I begin typing my millionth report this week, a familiar swish of air pulls me away from the monotony. Normally, Justice works at night, as he most likely has a day job to keep up appearances, so having him here in full regalia is a surprise. As I am trying to be more accepting—and he gave me an awesome coat—I will call this a pleasant surprise, though the office stops working and starts gawking.