Soft Case: (Book 1 in the John Keegan Mystery Series)
Page 27
“He’s been arrested for the murder of Mullins, along with assault on a police officer.”
That was nice to hear.
“We have a case against him?”
“Of course. Jacob got the whole thing on tape.”
“Everything?”
“Everything. He said your transmitter kept working after you dropped it. He pretty much confessed, especially after he heard the tape.”
“Fantastic.”
“The uniforms I sent over to save your ass roughed him up pretty good, if you care to know.”
I did. “How bad?”
“He’s got more stitches than you do.”
“What about Agnelli?”
“Fired. Arrested for his involvement in your setup. The FBI is going to take a long look at his association with Chapman.”
“What about him?”
“Officially resigned from Techdata this morning.”
“Was the tape aired?”
“Well, while you were having your head flushed down the toilet, NBC interrupted the press conference with the footage you provided. Reporters questioned Agnelli right then and there. It was beautiful.”
That was a comforting image. The bastard had caused me unbelievable trouble. And Chapman deserved to rot in hell.
“That’s great news.”
“There’s more.”
“What?”
“Sondra Mullins admitted to knowing that Eckert killed her husband, but she says that he threatened her as well. The DA is not sure what they are going to do with her.”
“Serves her right.”
“It does. Unless what she says is true.”
“He was nailing her. That there is no doubt about that.”
“That you are right about, I’m sure.”
“Any hard evidence against Eckert?”
“I have our boys checking out the car. My guess is he did something to the brake lines. We might not get anything though.”
“If that bastard walks, I’ll kill him myself.”
“We’ll get him.”
So there it was. So you know, Eckert was convicted of Mullins’ murder. The FBI launched a complete investigation of Chapman, and he went to a federal prison for thirty years with no parole. Geiger was passed over for Agnelli’s position, and the Mayor, who I still have reservations about, brought someone in from out of state to fill the slot. Sondra Mullins was never charged with anything in her husband’s murder, and to this day, I still wonder about her. No, not sexually, just about whether she was involved with her husband’s death. In most homicides, there are questions left unanswered. Sure, we found the killer. But that killer was in love with Sondra, and would never give her up, even when facing life in prison. I’ve checked the visitation reports for Eckert. No Sondra Mullins ever showed up, but that’s inconclusive. I’ve read about her in the paper from time to time, but it’s only been the usual special interest crap. She took control of Techdata. The stock tanked. My father hates my guts for that.
More importantly, I called Roseanna from the hospital. She accepted my excuse of being laid up. We dated for three months, and I must tell you, it was one of the greatest dating experiences I have ever had in my life. It only ended because, as much as I don’t want to admit it, my body just couldn’t handle it. I told her I was in love with my ex-girlfriend. Which is a partial truth, but a completely different story.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
John Misak is the author of four mystery novels. He lives on Long Island with his wife, and teaches English at New York Institute of Technology.