The Partners in Crime Collection, page 31
“She sounds like an amazing friend,” Jack said.
“Donna, Sophia, Maria, and Gabriella were thick as thieves from the time they met in school at age five. Now, Gabi is the only one left and she chose her hell. I pray for her daily because the only way she’ll ever get free from Reynardo Farraday is in a body bag. He’s so tight with Sean Donnegan, he won’t blink unless he gets Sean’s permission.”
“We should have come to speak to you days ago,” Jamie said, awe in his tone. “You’ve just solidified all of the ‘maybe’ questions we’ve been struggling with for the past week.”
“I’m invisible when it comes to the family. They forget I have ears when they get into their cups, and they assume that the veil covers an empty brain. I have a Ph.D. in Education and a Masters in Psychology.”
“Thank you for being so upfront with us,” Jack said. “I am so grateful you sat down with us and have helped our case so much.”
“If it’s okay with you both, I’d like to hang on to this picture for a day or so. I will list out all of the people in it and get it back to you.”
“That’s fine but let me give you my cell number and a secure email that doesn’t go through the station. We know that we’re being watched, so much of our time is spent away from the precinct,” Jamie said.
As they prepared to leave, Sister Robert gave them her card. “My cell number is on the back. Call me if you have any questions. I’d also like to ask if I could have Noah’s personal belongings when you’re done?”
“We were going to release them to Dr. McEwan. Perhaps we could have the two of you come pick them up and go through them together?” Jamie said.
“I’m sure we can work something out,” Sister Robert replied. “Seamus is one of the few educators that believes as I do when it comes to people who are different. Society has a responsibility to treat both differently abled and LGBTQ+ people with decency, kindness, and respect. Unfortunately, what seems obvious to you and me is not so to too many in positions of power. That has to change.”
Jack paused at the door and turned back to Sister Robert. “May I ask you another question?”
“Of course,” Sister Robert said.
“What are your beliefs in regard to ghosts?”
“The Bible teaches us…” Sister Robert started and Jack interrupted her.
“I know the Bible’s version, Sister. I want to know what you believe. I have had experiences that have proved to me that souls can linger past death and communicate with us before they move on. Do you believe that?”
Sister Robert met Jack’s gaze and gave her a faint smile. “What did Shakespeare say about ‘stranger things betwixt heaven and earth’? I think he knew more than he let on, old Will. I know that I have experienced things that would be considered improbable by biblical teachings – but my own experiences cannot be denied. Why do you ask?”
“Let me think on it a bit, and maybe I’ll explain more later, if that’s okay?”
“That’s fine with me. We’ll talk again soon. I’ll pray for you both.”
“Thank you, Sister Robert. Good afternoon.” Jack closed the door behind her and jogged to catch up with Jamie. “Let’s grab subs on the way to your place. I’m starved.”
“Only if I pay. I want the largest meatball sub I can find,” Jamie said.
“Funny, I was craving an Italian cold cut sub,” Jack said and they both laughed.
Dead Wrong: Chapter Twenty
Avery and Anson sprawled on the brick steps that led from a small landing outside the back door, down to a patio. A sitting area near a grill resided under a pergola with a canvas sail shelter from rain or sun. Nearby a circle of Adirondack-style chairs clustered around a flagstone fire pit, the path from the patio to the fire pit a curve of stone. A matched curve of stone wove through the yard around raised planter beds with vegetables and herbs to the concrete slab where Avery’s home would sit as of tomorrow. A faux rock covered the electric and water connectors for the slab so it all blended into the scenery. A fence of black steel with composite material as the slats gave the yard privacy and security without ever needing to paint the fence or worry about rot. A double door gate shielded a short gravel parking area large enough to maneuver the tiny home through. A remote would slide one side of it back to allow parking or leaving, but easy to close and attached to the alarm system for security purposes.
“This came out better than I pictured it in my head,” Avery said.
“I gotta hand it to you, kid. This is impressive. What made you think of using the composite for the fence?” Anson asked.
“You used it for that deck on that place in Long Island we worked on. I liked working with the stuff and really didn’t want to have to do fence maintenance next year. I picked a blue-grey that was close to the siding color, got it capped on both ends, then pre-drilled holes in the fence framing so it could be fastened as if it were going on a deck. No difference if it’s horizontal or vertical when it comes to the actual process, right?”
“Right,” Anson replied. “It’s brilliant and so obvious, I’m ashamed I didn’t think of it myself. I will be stealing this idea forthwith.”
“Steal away. I’m just glad you could come help out. I wanted the fencing and gates done before the house got delivered and we just made it.”
“Let’s go grab a couple of beers and those sandwiches I picked up and come back out. It’s cooler out here than in the house right now,” Anson said.
“I’ll go get them. You go ahead and find a seat,” Avery said as he got up and went inside. Moments later he was back outside and unloaded wrapped sandwiches, beer, and a bag of chips onto the table.
“The sail shade was a good idea. Just enough to protect someone seated out here but not so much to interrupt the view,” Anson said as he reached for his sandwich.
“Mom’s not one to pay attention to the weather when she’s deep into a case. I can see her out here, working on her laptop, and getting drenched without the sail.”
“How are you doing here with Jack?”
“We’re doing really well. I hated living on campus, but until Mom moved out here, I really didn’t see how I’d afford an off campus place. Dad offered to cover it all, but that’s not fair either. This is a great compromise on all our parts. Mom gets me close but not in her space, I get privacy and my own place, with expenses I can manage while still keeping my focus on class, and Dad feels like he’s still taking care of me, without having to be on tap every month.”
“Your mom is really good people. I’m glad you’re staying connected to her. I wish my brother weren’t such a dick, but we can’t pick family, can we?”
“Dad’s not too bad. He just doesn’t get outside his head enough to pay attention to the real world.”
“At least your parents are amenable with each other. Some divorces end up so acrimonious, the people can’t even speak to each other around the pain.”
“Like you and Josie?” Avery asked.
“Like me and Josie, yeah. The pain she caused me? I don’t know if I’ll ever fully heal from that. It’s made me not trust my judgement when it comes to people, romantically interested or otherwise. I’m wary and cautious when before I would trust first, let them show me otherwise after the fact. Now, trust has to be earned and it’s not always fair to the other person.”
“Do you hate her for what she did? Just dropping you like that and walking off with someone else?”
“No. Hate only hurts me and does nothing to Josie. I want her to find happiness, but I also worry about Christian. If he gets hurt or can’t perform the way she needs, he’ll end up getting dumped for the next person. She did it to Terrance before me, and then me when I nearly died from that construction accident, so it’s a pattern. Unless she gets help, she’ll do it to Christian. Besides, to be blunt, I don’t have to do anything. Karma works and what you put out into the world, comes back to you. Keep treating people’s hearts like they’re disposable and soon you’ll learn how that feels in a very real way.”
“That’s really…I don’t know, adult?” Avery said. “It’s unusual, I guess is what I mean.”
“Unusual? Maybe. But people who don’t keep their vows or oaths will learn the hard way that a person’s word really does matter. Making a promise and sticking with it? That’s not easy, nor is it meant to be – but the benefits are worthwhile. Loyalty and trust are precious things.”
“And I trust you, but not too many people beyond a handful, so I get that.”
“You’ve never let me down, Avery. That tells me you learned something of value from your mom. She’s never backed down from a fight, and she fought hard to keep your dad. He just didn’t want it as much as she did. Then again, he was always the one who’d flip the game board up in the air if he were losing so no one would win.”
They ate in silence for a bit, both lost in their thoughts. A swallow of beer and Anson looked over at Avery. “So, are you going to tell me why your mother had planned to take you to work with her this morning? I take it that’s not a normal event?”
Avery choked on his mouthful and washed it down with a swallow of beer. “Uh, well, this case is one of the worst I’ve known about.”
“She’s worked some hairy ones. I’ve heard of a few. What makes this one worse?”
“Well, two guys broke into the house the other night, and Mom and I took them down. We grabbed a couple of hours of sleep and I’d just got out of the shower when you showed up. We’d both forgotten you would be here in all of the drama.”
“Now I understand the elaborate alarm system,” Anson said. “You’re both okay?”
“Yeah, remember those training things Mom would have us do? Well, I snapped my zip cuffs and took my guy down, then she tossed me cuffs and I got him restrained. It happened fast and I didn’t have time to be scared until I sat in her office later and it hit me, we could’ve died. I got some sugar into me and focused on my work until we came home. She’s a brilliant detective and I’m so proud of her and the work she’s doing here.”
“What’s so risky about this case?”
“It started out about a dead foster kid and has become something between the Donnegan and Marino crime families, with politics and dirty cops and a rogue FBI agent….it’s like something out of one of those police crime dramas on TV.”
“Woah, that’s a lot.”
“And I knew the kid. Noah Riggs. I mean, we didn’t hang out together or anything, but he did investigative reporting for the same paper I do editing for on the side. He was good. Really good. Like Pulitzer quality work before he was twenty level of good. Mom and Jamie first thought he was killed because he was transgender. Then they thought maybe it was because of one of his articles. Now they’re trying to figure out who did it before someone else dies.”
“I’m glad I only have to deal with construction accidents and not bullets on the job,” Anson said with a shake of his head.
“Now you know why I want to go into space technology. No bullets there, either,” Avery said with a laugh.
“How about we shower and pick up the house, then you and I hit a movie or something? We’ll have more work tomorrow once the house gets here, but for now I think we deserve some down time,” Anson suggested.
“I’m all for that. I’ll text mom and let her know where we’re headed. It’s part of our agreement when she’s on hairy cases. I keep her informed about where I am and with whom so she doesn’t worry.”
“Fine, you start with the living room and I’ll do the kitchen. You shower first because I hog the hot water.”
“Deal. Thanks, Uncle Anson. I’m glad you’re here.”
“I’m glad I’m here too, kid.”
Noah raced into Jamie’s house and down the hall to the office, then shouted in frustration when the two detectives weren’t there.
“What’s wrong?” Mike yelled as he came down the stairs.
“Something’s going on at the group home and I can’t find Jack or Jamie.”
“What’s going on? What did you see?” Mike asked.
“The kids were all pissed off or crying and carrying their stuff in trash bags as they were loaded onto a school bus. The place was being emptied out and lots of people in FBI jackets were carrying boxes and computers and stuff out to a van.”
“Sounds like the place got raided. Don’t worry about the kids. They’ll get put in other group homes in the area. It’ll suck for a bit, but they’re not in any trouble. In fact, if the FBI raided it, then I’m betting they did find evidence of trafficking going on. That’s a good thing. Those kids are safer now that it’s being shut down.”
“Oh, yeah, that is a good thing. Sorry, but seeing all those little ones crying and dragging trash bags just hit me hard.”
“I’ll talk to Jamie about getting them duffel bag kits so they don’t have to use trash bags. We did that a couple of times when I was on the force. Duffel bags with the kids name on it, some toiletries and a new outfit so they felt more comfortable. Little things but it makes a big difference, right?”
“Yeah, it does. I got one of those kits. First new shoes I’d had in I don’t know how long. Plain black kicks, but they were clean, new, and mine. No one else had had them before.”
“I’m sorry life was so rough for you, kid. I’m just glad we’re helping you figure out what happened. Everyone deserves answers.”
“I am grateful, Mike. I really am. I just wish it wasn’t putting Jack and Jamie at risk. I thought about just staying gone, but they wouldn’t stop trying to find answers at this point, right?”
“No, they’re in it until it’s done now.” Mike paused and gave Noah a nod. “They’re pulling into the garage. Why don’t you ask them about the group home?”
Noah headed out to the kitchen to wait for the detectives to enter. “I need to ask you something,” Noah blurted out before Jamie had managed to turn the light on.
“Jeezus,” Jamie gasped. “You scared the piss out of me. At least wait until I turn the lights on before you start talking to me, okay? I’d hate to shoot a ghost and put another hole in my freshly repaired walls.”
“I’m sorry,” Noah sighed. “I just came from the group home and the kids were crying and getting loaded on a bus.”
Mike stepped up then. “I think the FBI raided the home and it upset Noah. Could you check and see where the kids are being taken and maybe do a duffel bag run for them like we did before?”
“Yeah, I’ll check what’s going on and set up the bags tomorrow. Sarge has been full out all day, and we’ve got some news to share ourselves, if you two want to come sit at the table with us while we eat?” Jamie said.
Jack put the bag on the table and left to use the bathroom to wash up before she came back and sat down. “Avery just texted that he and Anson were going to a movie at the Roxie and would text me when they got home.”
“I’ll get the drinks if you unload the bag,” Jamie said to Jack, then turned to Noah. “Your birth name was Sinead Mariana Donnegan. A little past your first birthday, you and your mom went into hiding with new names – and that’s when you became Noah Riggs. Noah is a gender neutral name, so I don’t know if she dressed you as a boy then, or later.”
“I asked for boy clothes when I was three. I remember having girl clothes before that. Dresses and bows – and I hated them. They felt wrong,” Noah said.
“Your grand aunt, Sister Robert Mary, was genuinely sad that you were gone. The Marino family had tried to help take care of you and your mother, but Sofie was terrified – rightfully so – that the Donnegans would find you if they kept taking assistance. Donna had just picked up the family’s monthly donation at the church when she realized she was being followed by Donnegan soldiers. She called the sister and said she was being followed – then the sister heard the crash on the phone. They didn’t know where you were and couldn’t find you.”
“But the Donnegans knew where you were all along. They left you in the system rather than have an illegitimate transgender child cause difficulties for Sean Donnegan’s political career,” Jack said.
“Sean Donnegan, the governor, is your father. Sister Robert Mary confirmed our suspicions. Your mother loved him, but he was too weak to fight for you and your mom. Once she’d died – and then Donna – they left you in the system because Sean was already married with kids and rising fast in politics,” Jamie said.
“Sister Robert is going to reach out to Dr. McEwan and help with your funeral and make sure the celebration of your life has some family in attendance,” Jack said. “I thought you might like to know that some of your family wanted you and tried to find you.”
“That’s kinda nice,” Noah said. “I just wish they’d found me before I was killed.”
“I do too, hon. I do too,” Jack said.
“What are your next steps then?” Noah asked.
“I’ll call Sarge in the morning and find out about the kids and the group home for you, then we have a visit to the Governor,” Jack said.
“Tomorrow, we go talk to Sean Donnegan. He can either talk to us in his office, or we’ll drag his ass down to the station and make a media circus out of it. Either way, we’ll get some answers,” Jamie said.
“Tonight, we put what we’ve learned today into the case files, then I go sleep for at least eight hours. I’m dragging ass after being up most of last night,” Jack said.
“I’ll take care of the case files. You eat and head home. Tomorrow’s going to be here bright and early. We have to hit the governor’s office before eight or we’ll get sidelined while he’s in meetings,” Jamie said.
“Come get me, then. I’ll have the coffee,” Jack said as she cleaned up her wrappers. “See you at seven?”
“I’ll be there with bells on,” Jamie said.
“Like a cat,” Noah teased.
