Chasing The Dead (An Alex Stone Thriller)

by Joel Goldman

  Alex laughed.

  “You are something else, Grace, you know that?”

  “I’m just glad to see you smiling.” She paused. “Did Bonnie get ahold of you?”

  Alex sat at her desk. “We ran into each other yesterday.”

  “And?”

  “What are you? My investigator or my mother?”

  “What difference does it make? You need both.”

  Alex sighed. “I suppose you’re right. We talked. Actually, Bonnie talked and I listened, and then she . . . she left.”

  “So are you two going to get back together?”

  Alex pointed to the file Grace had in her hand. “I’d rather talk about whatever is in that file.”

  “Soon as you answer my question.”

  Alex scowled at her. “Grace . . .”

  “Don’t Grace me. Are you two getting back together?”

  Alex sighed again. “We’ll see.”

  Grace lit up. “Well, that’s better than yesterday’s ‘never.’ I served a subpoena on Fresh Start like you asked me. They told me that it takes a month to get copies of medical records and that they need a release signed by the patient. I told them they’d have to settle for a subpoena since the patient is dead and that I was going to haunt them every minute of every day it took to get those records, and they said we’d have them by tomorrow.”

  “I’m glad you’re on my side. What about the rest?”

  “I had one of my church ladies who’s doing the street outreach go with me last night to talk to some of those girls since none of them know me. One girl, name of Chantelle, told us that Joanie did have a special friend, the way she put it.”

  “Did she have the special friend’s name?”

  “No. Only thing she knew was that this guy has been helping Joanie a long time.”

  “Helping her? Like something besides paying her for sex?”

  “That’s right. She said it wasn’t a sex thing at all. More like a father thing.”

  “Did she know anything about Joanie meeting this guy the night she was killed?”

  “Maybe. She said Joanie had trouble with a john earlier that day. Said the guy hurt her the way he . . .”

  “Fucked her?”

  “I wasn’t going to use that language, but yes. Anyway, Joanie came crying to Chantelle and Chantelle told her it goes with the territory and Joanie said not for much longer ’cause she was getting off the street. Chantelle didn’t think much of that because all the girls talk that way.”

  “Go back to Chantelle and see if we can get a line on this john. If he hurt her, that could explain the vaginal bruising the coroner found.”

  “I’ll go back down there tonight. And I checked Joanie’s arrest record. Most of the time, the judge let her go on her own recognizance. When she did have to post bond, she had enough cash that she didn’t need help.”

  “How many prostitutes can post their own bond?”

  “Just the ones that are making enough money and keeping it from their pimps.”

  “Do we know if Joanie had a pimp?”

  “Chantelle said Joanie didn’t have one as far as she knew.”

  “So Joanie’s arrest records are a dead end.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. The first time she was arrested was eleven years ago. It was for possession with intent to sell.”

  “Which court was she in?”

  “Clay County, up in Liberty. That’s where she grew up. The prosecutors up there like to ask for shock jail time for first offenders and the judges are known for going along with that. Only Joanie got put in a diversion program over the prosecutor’s objection.”

  “She must have had a good lawyer.”

  “That’s the funny thing. She didn’t have a lawyer.”

  “How could she be put in a diversion program without having a lawyer?”

  “According to the court file, she entered a guilty plea at her arraignment and the judge put her in the diversion program. She stayed out of trouble for two years until she was arrested in Jackson County for prostitution.”

  “Who was the judge who put her in diversion?”

  Grace opened her file, flipping through the pages. “Judge Anthony Steele. He moved up to the Court of Appeals not too long ago.”

  “Hmm. I wonder why he did that.”

  “You can ask him.”

  “Maybe I will. I’ll call his office and see if I can get an appointment for today or tomorrow.”

  “You won’t need an appointment.”

  “Why not?”

  “Girl, don’t you read your e-mail? Our big boss in the state capital decided she wanted to have a get-together honoring Robin’s memory. It’s this afternoon at four.”

  “Where?”

  “Judge West’s courtroom. And Judge Steele is going to speak. Meg Adler says we all got to be there.”

  “I wouldn’t miss it.”

  Chapter Forty-Three

  ALEX WALKED DOWN THE HALL to Robin’s office. Meg Adler was there, packing up Robin’s personal possessions, depositing her photographs of family and friends into a cardboard box. Buried on Sunday. Expunged on Tuesday. She cringed at how swiftly the world left the dead behind.

  “What are you doing?”

  Though it was obvious and Alex knew it had to be done, she had to ask, registering a small protest with her question, clinging to Robin however she could.

  Meg looked up. “We need this office. I called Robin’s oldest, Donny. He seems to be the one handling things for the family. I asked him what he wanted us to do with Robin’s things and he said to box them up and send them to the house.”

  Alex nodded. “I can drop them off.”

  “That would be great. Have a seat. There’s something I want to talk with you about.”

  Alex took a chair across from Robin’s desk. “What’s up?”

  “They want me back in St. Louis next Monday.”

  “Okay. Is the director sending in another interim?”

  “She’d like to avoid that. We’re short staffed in every office as it is. But she has to conduct a search to fill the position and that’s going to take some time.”

  “So what’s the plan?”

  Meg smiled. “The director would like you to be the interim.”

  Alex’s jaw dropped. “Me? Are you kidding? I’m a trial lawyer, not an administrator.”

  “So was Robin before she started running this office. Turns out that Robin was planning on retiring at the end of the year and she’d already recommended you as her replacement. I’ve talked to everyone around here, and they’d like to see you in the job.”

  Meg’s offer came at Alex faster than she could process it, as if she was hearing part of the discussion instead of getting the big picture. She was flattered but didn’t like that Meg had floated her name without her permission, making her feel like she was trapped.

  “You asked them before you asked me if I was even interested? What if I’m not? If I say no, everyone will think I let them down, and if the new boss is a jerk, they’ll blame me for not taking the job.”

  “It wasn’t like that at all. My first day here, I said I was going to talk to everyone to get a feel for the office. I asked them what kind of person they wanted to run the show and whether there was anyone they’d recommend. I never suggested you because I didn’t want to bias what they told me, but you were the clear favorite. I would have asked you too, but you’ve been pretty scarce.”

  Alex stood and looked out the window, past the office towers, past the Missouri River, past the horizon. Her life had never been more unsettled, and Meg’s offer had knocked one more pin out from under her.

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  Meg joined her at the window, putting her hand on Alex’s shoulder. “Say that you’ll do it. And say that you’ll apply for the permanent position. That will make the search go a lot faster and reassure the lawyers and the staff.”

  Alex forced a weak smile. More pressure, just what she needed.

&
nbsp; “Can I think about it for a few days?”

  “Of course. Let me know by Friday. If you’re not interested, I have to tell St. Louis that I’m staying and then I have to go buy more underwear. And you might as well take that box. I’m done with it.”

  Chapter Forty-Four

  JUDGE WEST’S COURTROOM WAS CROWDED, a few bodies shy of shoulder to shoulder, a testament to how well liked and respected Robin was. From the number of lawyers and judges milling around, Alex figured the wheels of justice had ground to a halt.

  Off to one side, she saw Kalena Greene and her boss, Tommy Bradshaw, chatting with Lee Goldberg, who ran the local Innocence Project. Goldberg was his usual histrionic self, arms flapping as he spoke. Kalena caught Alex’s attention, rolling her eyes at Goldberg, and Alex pointed to a vacant spot at the back of the courtroom, gesturing to Kalena to join her. Kalena mouthed a thank-you and broke away.

  “You rescued me,” Kalena said. “As far as Goldberg is concerned, the jails are filled with innocent people.”

  “Including Jared Bell.”

  “You’re worse than Goldberg. That case is tight.”

  “The only reason it’s tight is that Rossi didn’t look past Jared.”

  “You mean he didn’t look past your client after he confessed and after he was found in possession of a crucifix the victim was wearing when she was murdered and after the coroner found evidence of rape and after your client admitted having sex with her.”

  “Consensual sex. He paid her with the crucifix, which I admit sounds creepy, and he took it back after he found her body because he intended to give it to Mathew Woodrell’s daughter, which I admit sounds even creepier.”

  “Or crazy and crazier. Was Woodrell telling the truth about what happened to his daughter?”

  “Let me put it this way. Jared told me the same story the army told Woodrell, and I believe Jared. He’s so fucked-up from the war he thought Joanie was Ali Woodrell. He was in love with Ali and never would have hurt her.”

  “So what are you going to do? Use a post-traumatic stress disorder defense?”

  “Only if I have to. He didn’t rape or kill Joanie Sutherland, which is why you’re going to end up dismissing the charges.”

  Kalena laughed. “I think I was better off listening to Goldberg.”

  “Laugh all you want now, because you won’t be laughing when I get your case tossed out at the preliminary hearing.”

  “And why will Judge West, of all judges, toss my case?”

  Alex preferred not to share her theories or her evidence with the prosecutor any sooner than she had to because that would only give the other side more time to blow up her defense. But she wanted to plant a seed of doubt in Kalena’s mind, especially about Rossi’s investigation.

  “Here’s what Rossi missed. Someone was looking out for Joanie Sutherland, someone she’d known for a long time. This person was giving her money but not for sex, probably because he thought he could turn her life around. He even paid for a private drug rehab stay.”

  “And then decided to kill her? Really? That’s the best you can do? Why would he do that?”

  “Because Professor Henry Higgins didn’t like it when Eliza Doolittle turned out to be a blackmailer.”

  Kalena smirked. “And who’s Henry Higgins in this fairy tale?”

  Alex’s attention was drawn away from Kalena when she saw Judge West and Judge Steele and a blond woman she didn’t recognize emerge from Judge West’s chambers.

  “I’ll let you know.”

  Alex wound her way through the crowd. Judge West saw her coming and motioned for her to join them.

  “Alex Stone, say hello to Judge Anthony Steele and his bride, Sonia. Alex is one of the public defender’s best and brightest.”

  Alex shook both their hands.

  “I was at the state bar convention last spring when you presented a service award to Robin,” she said to Judge Steele, not mentioning the photograph of them Robin had kept in her office.

  “She deserved it,” he said. “Her death is a terrible loss. She was a good friend.”

  “Our dearest friend,” Sonia added.

  “Alex was almost the last person to talk with Robin,” Judge West said.

  “Almost?” Sonia asked.

  “Your Honor,” Alex said, “I’m not sure we should be talking about that since there’s an ongoing investigation.”

  The judge dismissed her hesitation. “Nonsense. Tony and I are judges, and Sonia, like all judicial wives, is an even higher authority. One of the few perks we get is being able to talk about things no one else can. According to the police, Robin called Alex’s cell phone a second or two before her accident, but Alex didn’t hear the phone ring.”

  “Oh, my,” Sonia said, her hand covering her mouth. “Did Robin leave you a message?”

  “I’d rather not talk about it, if you don’t mind.”

  “Hell,” West said, “she didn’t even tell me what was in the message, so it must be pretty important.”

  Sonia squeezed Alex’s arm. “You’re absolutely right not to say anything. Don’t let him bully you. Let the police do their job without us gossiping about it. Robin deserves at least that much.” She glanced past Alex and turned to her husband. “That’s Paul Levine standing all by himself in a corner. I’ve got to talk with him. He’s stalling on an agreement my client needs signed.”

  “And I’ve got to find my bailiff,” Judge West said, both of them walking away, leaving Alex alone with Judge Steele.

  “Despite what my good friend Bill West says, you’re right not to discuss that phone call. Not when there’s a pending investigation.”

  “Thank you, Your Honor. When in doubt, keep your mouth shut, right?”

  He laughed, and when he did, Alex saw the same twinkle in his eye that she’d seen in the photograph of him and Robin. He had an easygoing manner that invited you in, nothing like the stiff, aloof style of so many who wore a black robe.

  “It’s funny, you and I running into each other,” Alex said.

  “And why’s that?”

  “Your name came up earlier today in one of my cases.”

  “Do you have an appeal pending?”

  “No. This goes back to when you were on the trial bench in Clay County.”

  “So it’s an appeal of one my old cases?”

  “No, but it does involve one of your cases from more than ten years ago. A young woman was arraigned in your court and pled guilty, and you put her in a diversion program.”

  Judge Steele smiled. “That happened more times than I can remember. Used to drive the prosecutors crazy that I gave kids a second chance, but it made the defense lawyers pretty happy.”

  Alex chuckled. “And not too many judges are known for doing that. Only this young woman didn’t have a lawyer.”

  Steele’s eyes clouded for a moment. “Well, that’s a bit unusual, but I imagine it happened from time to time. That’s all so long ago, I’m afraid I don’t remember the case.”

  “Don’t worry. It’s probably more interesting than it is important. Unfortunately, she didn’t take advantage of the second chance you gave her, because a couple of years later she was turning tricks on Independence Avenue and last week she was murdered. I’m defending the man accused of raping and killing her.”

  Steele arched his eyebrows. “Is that the woman whose body was found in the creek? I read about that in the paper.”

  “Yes, that’s the woman. I was going over her arrest records this morning and saw the case you had with her.”

  “Well, it’s a small world. And a sad one at times, like today.”

  “At least there are people like you who give people like her second chances. In fact, you weren’t the only one who did. She had a drug problem and someone paid for her to go to Fresh Start, you know, that private rehab facility up north.”

  He cleared his throat. “That was very generous.”

  “We’ve subpoenaed her medical records from Fresh Start. I imagine th
e name of whoever paid for her treatment will be in her file.”

  Alex was fishing, not knowing whether Steele would bite.

  “Is that relevant to your case?”

  “It could be.”

  “How?”

  “I shouldn’t say. If my client is convicted, you may be one of the judges to hear his appeal, and I’d hate for you to have to recuse yourself because of our conversation.”

  “I wish all lawyers exercised as much discretion. It was nice talking to you.”

  Alex shook his hand, holding him there for a moment, looking him in the eye. “The woman’s name was Joanie Sutherland, if that means anything to you.”

  He pulled his hand away, pressing his lips together, opening them just enough to answer.

  “No. Nothing at all.”

  Chapter Forty-Five

  ROSSI MET WHEELER on the window side of the two-way mirror into the interrogation room where Ted Norris was sitting, rolling a soda can between his hands, a wadded-up sandwich wrapper from Subway and an empty bag of chips strewn on the table. He put the can down, fingered his nose, and stuck his hand down his pants, rearranging his package.

  Wheeler said, “I talked to the detective who brought him lunch. He told me Norris bitched and moaned until he got something to eat. Since then, he quit complaining but he’s been doing a lot of squirming.”

  “You think he’s more worried about us or Richie the Vig?” Rossi said.

  “We still need to find out if Norris is blowing smoke about Richie, but if he’s telling the truth, he’s more worried about us if he’s got a lick of sense. Richie might break his legs, but he could get the needle for killing his ex.”

  “Was it his car?”

  “The damage to the front end of the Camry matches up nice and neat to the back end of Robin’s car.”

  “You’re sure about it, even with the damage from when Norris hit Robin’s car in the parking lot?”

  “Yeah. The nature and extent of the damage depends on how much force there was and what part of the vehicle absorbed the impact. The parking lot hit was low speed and the impact was bumper to bumper. The collision on Barry Road was at a high speed. The Camry had a license plate on the front end and one of the bolts holding it in place gouged the rear of Robin’s car above the bumper. I found traces of paint on the bolt that matched the paint from Robin’s car. So, yeah, it was the Camry. No doubt about that.”