“They were planning their cover-up. They can’t accept we out-policed them.”
“Didn’t Briscoe find Wolfe by accident?” Maggie asked.
“Like I said, good police work.” Brad grinned. “You have to be good to be lucky.”
“You hold on to that fiction. At least Annie is safe now.”
“I’ll keep my eye on her until after the trial. If this works out okay, she’ll never know she was in danger.”
“Tell me about Lobo.” Maggie pursed her lips and glared. “How did he just happen to be in your Firebird in the wee hours of the morning?”
Brad shuffled uncomfortably in his chair. “We’d been out with Steele. I didn’t want to leave him at home. I didn’t plan to use him, but it’s good I did. Wolfe was about to shoot me when Lobo pounced. Wolfe’s gun fired into the sky, then Lobo got his first real bite. He was great.”
Maggie shook her head. “I hope this isn’t a regular thing.”
“Probably not, but you know that over the past four years, he could have saved me a few injuries.”
“More like dozens of injuries.”
“I gotta get ready for court. You going to bed?”
“Not just yet. I have something new, red, and slinky.”
Maggie raced up the stairs with Brad close behind.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Shortly before 9:30 A.M., Brad rushed into the courtroom. He found Devlin seated in the first row, behind the prosecutor Jenni Blighe. He slid onto the bench.
“Nice of you to show up,” Devlin said.
“I was a little short on sleep last night—well, this morning.”
“You had as much time to sleep as I did. Oh, yeah, Maggie got off shift around seven. Now I get why you’re short on sleep.”
Brad grinned. “Have you talked to Blighe today?”
“Yup. They kept Wolfe sedated overnight. She doesn’t know if he has a lawyer. Not much is gonna happen today. This is his first appearance and the court clerk will read the charges.”
“Thank you for explaining the law to me,” Brad said. “I didn’t know any of that.”
“I just figured your mind was elsewhere and that you needed a refresher.”
“Ass.”
“Coulter.”
Brad stood and walked over to Blighe. “Good afternoon.”
“Good work,” Blighe said. “I understand that your dog made the arrest.”
“Yes, Lobo did.”
“Is he a trained K9?”
“Well, not really. I trained him myself.”
She pursed her lips for a moment. “That might be an issue. Not huge, but if Wolfe gets decent counsel they may go after that. Just be ready when we go to the preliminary hearing to answer why you had the dog and what his training is.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She smirked. “You’re going to ‘yes ma’am’ me?”
“Just being respectful.”
“You know that you could be standing in my place as the prosecutor?”
“I could, but then who would have arrested Wolfe?”
Blighe grinned. “Good point. They’ll bring Wolfe out in a few minutes. He was groggy until about seven, then started shouting, so expect an outburst from him when he sees you. He already spewed venom at me.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Brad said. “The sight of Wolfe in chains makes anything he says harmless.”
They turned as the back doors opened. Sergeant Stinson and two of his minions stepped in. Stinson glared at Brad, then pointed to seats on the back bench. Stinson’s eyes bored into Brad.
Then the court clerk opened the door to the side of the judge’s bench. “Order in the court. All rise. Judge Ethan Gray presiding,” the court clerk announced.
Brad knew Judge Gray—Maggie’s father—well. He’d pushed Brad for almost three years to write the bar exams. Brad should know soon if he passed.
Judge Gray took his place on the bench. “Be seated.”
The back door opened and a mid-forties man with a disheveled look sprinted to the front of the courtroom. “My apologies, Your Honor. I only now had access to my client. Kenny Bridge, representing”—he shuffled through papers he was holding—“Jeter Wolfe.”
“Welcome, Mr. Bridge.” Judge Gray nodded to the court clerk, who stood.
“Case 8011395, Crown versus Jeter Wolfe.”
Two court guards escorted Wolfe into the courtroom.
Brad turned as a door opened and the guards pushed Wolfe to the prisoner’s docket. He looked around, first glaring at Blighe, then he spotted Brad. Wolfe’s dark eyes blazed with fury. “You motherfucker!” He lunged toward Brad but was restrained by the guards.
“Mr. Bridge,” Judge Gray bellowed. “Get control of your client or we will proceed without him.”
“Yes, sir, I uh, I’m not sure what to do.”
Judge Gray glared at Bridge. “Mr. Wolfe. I will not tolerate outbursts in my courtroom. Now please take a seat and shut up.”
The guards shoved Wolfe onto a chair.
“Ms. Blighe,” Judge Gray said, “are you ready to proceed?”
“Yes, Your Honor, the crown is ready to proceed with the charges.”
“Very well. Madam clerk, please read the charges.”
The court clerk read the charges, starting with escaping lawful custody, then theft over times three, first-degree murder, attempted murder, two counts of rape, criminal negligence while operating a vehicle and assault with a deadly weapon.
As each charge was read, Wolfe’s grin grew wider.
“Mr. Wolfe,” Judge Gray said, “do you understand the charges as read?”
“I understand that Coulter is a pig and a dead man. I understand that the prosecutor is a slut and I will rape her until she’s dead.”
“That is enough, Mr. Wolfe,” Judge Gray said. “Guards, please remove him from my courtroom.”
Two more guards raced into the courtroom. Still, the four of them were barely able to push Wolfe through the door. His wild laughing echoed back from the hall.
Once the door closed the judge turned his attention to Bridge. “I understand that you have just met your client. If you continue to represent him, I’d suggest you figure out how to keep him under control. Are you prepared to enter a plea?”
Bridge stood and buttoned his jacket. “No, Your Honor, not at this time. We reserve our plea to a future date.”
“Very well, Mr. Bridge. We will reconvene in exactly two weeks at 9:30 A.M. to hear your client’s plea. Court adjourned.”
“All rise.”
They stood as Judge Gray exited.
Blighe turned to them. “Well, that was interesting. I’ll make sure he gets an evaluation for fitness for trial before we’re back here. I’ll start building my case. I’ll need to see you two in my office at 9 A.M. tomorrow. Good day, gentlemen.”
They watched Blighe leave.
“Is it wrong that I can hardly wait to meet with her tomorrow?” Devlin said.
“As long as it’s just about this case you should be okay.”
“What, you think she wouldn’t go to dinner with me?”
“Not if you were the last male on the planet,” Brad said.
“So, maybe?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Wednesday Late Afternoon
Brad stepped through the doorway of the boardroom. Griffin and Devlin were boxing the files while Tina pulled photos and notes off the walls.
“Let me give you a hand,” Brad said.
“An hour late and we’re almost done,” Griffin said. “But I’ll let you buy us beers.”
“Can do.” Brad leaned back in a chair, his hands behind his head, and put his feet on the table. “I love hard work. I could watch it all day.”
“Get your ass over here and take these boxes to records,” Tina said with a laugh.
“That’s a lot of boxes.”
“Better get at it right away,” Griffin said. “I’m thirsty for those beers you promised.”
“I think I said one beer.”
“Negatory, young Sherlock,” Griffin said. “It was definitely beers and you’re wasting time.”
Brad disappeared for a few minutes then returned with a two-wheeled dolly. He loaded five boxes and set off for records.
“He’s not as dumb as he looks,” Griffin said.
Devlin laughed. “Don’t sell him short.”
“Brad is doing a good job, you know.” Tina shrugged. “Wouldn’t kill you to tell him once in a while.”
“Now he’s got you sticking up for him,” Griffin asked.
Tina rolled her eyes and flicked a paperclip at him.
“Jeez, Tina,” Devlin said. “Coulter’s bulletproof. He gives as good as he gets.”
Tina nodded. “This was different. It was personal. He was beyond worried Wolfe would get Annie. Wolfe threatened Maggie, too.”
Devlin held out his hands. “Hey, he and his dog were awesome.”
“Tell him that, not me. And I just said once in a while—not like we want him getting a big head or anything, like you two.” She winked.
Tina shoved the last of the photos in a box and headed out the door.
“Aren’t you joining us for beers?” Griffin asked.
Tina grinned. “Not today. I’ve got other plans.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Thursday Morning
The next morning Brad and Devlin walked across the underground parking and waited for the elevator. Each held an extra-large cup of coffee. Neither looked like they’d slept much. They stepped out of the elevator on the eleventh floor and were blinded by the morning sun blazing through the floor-to-ceiling glass. Brad turned away from the sun and glanced to the south. He still felt a sense of awe when he saw the Calgary Tower. At six hundred and twenty-six feet, it was one of the tallest buildings in the world and the symbol of Calgary. They turned, backs to the sun, and headed down a hall. Brad led the way, weaving past offices, then an open area packed with desks. He stopped outside an office and said, “Good morning.”
Blighe looked up from her desk and pointed to chairs around a table. “Take a seat.” She slid her office chair over to join them. “I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you arrested Wolfe. He made several threats during his trial—very specific details on what he’d do to me. It was months before I got a good night’s sleep. When he escaped, the sleepless nights returned. I was paranoid, thinking I was being watched, especially at home.”
“He’s worse now,” Brad said. “The time in jail did something to him. He was always rough with women, but he’s changed.”
She laced her fingers together. “I know. Yesterday, as soon as Wolfe saw me, he started ranting. Little of it makes sense. He talks of violent sex, revenge, and killing.”
“Maybe he found religion in prison,” Devlin said.
“Yeah, Satan worship.” Brad shook his head.
“He gives me the creeps,” Blighe said. “I want him back in a secure facility as soon as possible. Once he pleads to these charges, we’ll return him to Edmonton Max.”
“That can’t happen soon enough,” Brad agreed. “Have you heard from the RCMP? I saw Sergeant Stinson and his henchmen in court yesterday.”
Blighe rolled her eyes. “Oh, yes. Many times. From the highest levels. I’m not sure what they want. They failed to capture Wolfe—you did. End of story. They have no further role.”
“That breaks my heart,” Brad said.
Blighe smiled. “I want to start work on Wolfe’s preliminary hearing for the murder and rapes.”
“We’re not anywhere close to having the evidence for a preliminary hearing,” Brad said. “We won’t get the blood typing results back for at least a week. Ident has a lot of evidence to sort through. Who knows when they’ll have fingerprint confirmation. We need to interview Wolfe, but we may never get a statement from him.”
Blighe nodded and looked at her notes. She flipped through several pages, then sat back with her hands in her lap. “There’s no good way to say this … I need to interview Annie.”
“No way in hell!” Brad yelled. “Not on your life. There’s no way I agree to that.”
“I know of your relationship with her, but she’s an adult now. She can make her own decision.”
“Don’t you dare ask her. She’s going to college and doing well. She has friends and can finally go out to public places. If she testifies, all that progress disappears. She’ll be right back to where she was two years ago. You can’t.”
“I hear you. One of Wolfe’s victims is dead, and the other in a coma. The evidence is circumstantial at best. Annie can testify to similar fact evidence.”
“Detective Davidson can corroborate the similar fact evidence,” Brad said. “We’ll interview Billy-Lou Hanlon as soon as she wakes. I found a hooker who can put Gail Wilson in a car with Wolfe the night Wilson was killed. We’ve got time to find other evidence. You don’t need Annie.”
Blighe sighed. “Maybe Billy-Lou will regain consciousness. Maybe you’ll find additional evidence. I can’t wait for maybes to become a reality. You know I need to use the best evidence. Which is better? Annie, a nineteen-year-old college student, or a hooker with a long list of soliciting charges? I’m building the case now and Annie is a key part of it. I’m interviewing her next Tuesday.”
“Call the chief prosecutor Vaughn Matson. I want to talk to him. He’ll back me.”
“I already talked to the chief crown prosecutor,” Blighe said. “Matson agrees with me.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Sunday
Brad and Sam were enjoying a beer on the back deck. Lobo slept at Brad’s feet. Then Lobo went from a sound sleep to fully alert and barking. The door to the deck opened and Annie stepped out. Lobo’s tail wagged rapidly as he licked Annie’s hand.
“I thought you were prepping me for my meeting with the prosecutor. Instead I find two drunks.”
“Grab a beer and join us,” Brad said.
Annie’s hand came out from behind her back, holding a beer. “I already did.”
“Are you legal drinking age?” Sam asked.
“Of course—weeks ago.” Annie smiled.
“Wait a minute … I thought you were nineteen then,” Brad said.
Annie laughed. “For a hot shot investor, your math sucks.”
“You and Maggie often share a bottle of wine.”
“True, but I never drove home those nights. Didn’t you wonder why I slept over?”
“I thought it was my charm and wit,” Brad said. Brad pointed to a chair. “Have a seat.”
Once Annie was seated, Lobo curled up at her feet. “What a good boy, Lobo.”
“What a traitor,” Brad said.
Annie turned the beer in her hands, then peeled the label with a fingernail. “Do I have to meet with the prosecutor Tuesday?”
“I’m afraid you do.”
“I don’t want to relive what Wolfe did to Sissy and me. It’s only since January that I’ve started to live again—to trust people and go out. Isn’t there another way?”
“I understand, Annie, but I don’t think there is,” Brad said.
“She interviewed me and questioned me in court two years ago. Isn’t that enough?”
Brad felt like crap for pushing Annie to do this. He’d seen the demons she’d fought. Too many times she’d sunk so low he and Maggie were worried she’d use drugs to numb the pain. A few times they thought Annie would commit suicide like Sissy. Officially it was deemed an unintentional overdose, but Brad didn’t believe that. During those darkest times, they convinced Annie to stay with them. When it was at its worst, they never left her alone. When Maggie was at work, Brad studied from home. On Maggie’s days off, she kept a close watch on Annie. Over time Annie had regained self-esteem and confidence and was exceling at college. There was a chance reliving Wolfe’s horror would push her back to the darkness.
Brad took a long drink. “Annie, Wolfe attacked two women after he escaped. You know that.
One is dead and the other is in a coma. Wolfe did things to you and Sissy that were his trademark. If the prosecutor can show the attacks on you and Sissy had the same MO, then you will be speaking for those two girls who can’t.”
“I don’t get it. Why does it matter? Wolfe doesn’t care. He’ll never show remorse. He’s already serving a life sentence. Send him to rot in jail.”
“That’s an option,” Brad said. “But the parents of those girls need closure and the best way for that to happen is for Wolfe to pay for those crimes. It won’t bring Gail back from the dead. Billy-Lou is still in a coma. If she wakes up, she’ll have a long road to recovery. Putting Wolfe back in prison and holding him responsible for the crimes he’s committed against these young women is the best we can offer those parents.”
“I’m scared.”
“I’ll be there,” Brad said.
“I don’t think the prosecutor will let you into the interview.”
“She won’t have a choice. She has to let me in.”
“Why?”
Brad smiled. “Because I’m your lawyer.”
Brad came back with fresh beers and handed one to Annie and Sam. Maggie and Emma, Sam’s wife, followed. They carried glass tumblers with ice and clear liquid. Maggie sat next to Brad and set her drink on the deck.
“Hitting the hard stuff today, Emma?” Brad asked. “I get it. After a shift with Sam, I need to deaden pain, too.”
Emma held the glass up. “Just Sprite.” She grinned at Maggie.
“She’s driving,” Sam said quickly. “She knows that if I’m with you I’ll drink a dozen beers.”
“Why is that on me,” Brad said. “I don’t twist your arm and force beer down your throat.”
“Really,” Emma said. “That’s what he tells me happens.”
Maggie and Sam laughed.
Brad shook his head. “So, what’s Zerr up to this weekend?”
Sam and Emma exchanged a glance.
“He’s, um, on a date,” Sam said.
“About time,” Brad said. “Anyone I know?” Brad took a drink of beer.
Wolfman is Back Page 10
