Send Out The Clowns (Frank River Series) (25 page)

When Rankin was escorted into the room, Frank was the only
officer waiting. The old man looked totally defeated. Cedric Stiles followed
him in, also looking dejected. The lawyer's suit was mussed and his eyes were
rimmed in red. No one had had a restful night.

When Rankin and Stiles were seated, Frank looked at them
both, and settled his stare on Reuben. "Do you want to stick with the
confession you made yesterday?"

Rankin couldn't hold Frank's penetrating stare. He looked at
the tabletop. "Yes," he said. "No matter what you found out
since we last met, I'm responsible for what my family does. If any of them are
guilty, it's my fault for not providing the proper guidance. I'm the head of
the family."

Frank reached out and activated the recording he had from
Gerry's apartment. It might be cruel for this man to hear his family rake him
over the coals, but he needed to know.

The interviewing team decided to discuss the morning's
disclosures over lunch. They went through the cafeteria line and sat at a long
table in a private room. Molly Shapiro was the first to speak.

"We have a strong case on all of them. The tape is
inadmissible in court because it was gained from an illegal surveillance
system. It would be best if Detective Gardner could testify, but we have enough
to get convictions without her."

"I think we should cut Gretchen Sullivan and Rankin
loose," Frank suggested.

Everyone looked at him. "I can understand the
daughter-in-law," Shapiro nodded. "She seems to have been completely
out of the loop, although I think she was aware of more than she admitted to.
But why let Rankin off the hook? We can get him on conspiracy, and as an
accessory at the very least."

"I agree," Frank replied, "but I don't think
there's anything to be served by holding his feet to the fire. Regardless of
complicity, he was only trying to protect his family. He had no idea his
daughter or Gus was involved until I pointed out the oil spot in his
garage."

"What about harboring those deadly plants in his
house?"

"None of them are restricted. It may have been a
macabre hobby, but anything that came from there could have been gathered from
a lot of yards elsewhere in the city. We might release him under some sort of
probation with the condition that he destroy the plants."

"I agree with Frank," Holloman uttered.
"Rankin has been through hell, and will suffer more than the average
citizen locked up in Huntsville. There's no justice in pressing indictments
against Rankin, only a sort of revenge."

"I'll talk with his lawyer," Shapiro offered.
"But, I'm not enthusiastic about turning him loose."

"What about Sheridan?" Frank asked.

"I've ordered an investigation by Internal
Affairs," Holloman replied. "I think she's clean of any major
misdoing, but I don't want it to look like we tried to cover anything up."

"She's a good cop," Frank agreed. "She
apprehended her own sister when she wasn't even protected by a badge."

"That will bring some interesting questions from the
defense," Shapiro volunteered.

Holloman looked back and forth between the detective and the
assistant District Attorney. Once he was convinced neither had more to say on
the subject, he reported, "I talked with her. She wants to clear up the IA
investigation and remain retired. She said she had more than she could handle
looking after her father."

No one responded.

"Okay," Holloman continued. "If I have this
right, we go for multiple counts of murder one and abduction with Sheera Rankin
and Gus Sullivan, conspiracy and wanton endangerment on Samuel Sullivan, and
move to release Reuben Rankin and Gretchen Sullivan. Anything else?"

After a moment Frank replied, "I plan to assign Chad
Sherman to follow up on the cases of death by peyote from outside the city.
He's leaving the department in a month or so, and there's no need to put him
back in a patrol car. And, since I'm now lieutenant, we need a detective to
replace me. I recommend Roger Harrington."

"Has he taken the exam?" Holloman asked.

"Yes. Some time ago. He passed, but will need
supervision for a while."

"You don't plan to team him up with Gardner when she
gets back on duty?"

Frank smiled. "No. That would be a mistake. I thought
Aaron Fox and Gardner would work well together. Arnold Grisham is a veteran.
He'll work well with Harrington."

"Well, Frank," Holloman smiled, pushing his chair
back from the table and grabbing his tray of dirty dishes. "You've done
excellent work on this. You need sleep. Take the rest of the day to recover,
and we'll get everything started. I'll need your help in the morning." The
rest rose and walked together to the trash bins.

Ten minutes later, Frank was in his car, driving west. He
was tired, but he didn't relish the idea of going to his apartment and trying
to sleep. There was nothing there except reminders of Pauley. Tomorrow he'd be
back on the edge, glancing right and left, trying not to take that rueful step
in the wrong direction. He would deal with tomorrow, tomorrow. Today was the
immediate concern. He hoped he wouldn't stop at the convenience store on his
way home, but he knew he was going to.