“Like what? She’s a kid.”
Hall placed her palms on the table and leaned in close to Billy.
“She’s not a normal kid, is she?”
Billy made a face.
“She’s... different, yeah, but she’s a really good kid, and she’s already smarter than I’ll ever be.”
“Oh, we don’t doubt that she’s smart; what we want to know is how smart?”
“DA Hall,” Wentworth said. “Is there a point to this line of questioning?”
Hall and Tucci shared a look, and then Hall stood up straight.
“We’re just looking at all the angles.”
“Are you going to charge my client?”
“No, not at this time, but Mr. Ortiz, do not leave the state and be available for more questioning.”
“I can go?” Billy said, as he stood up with Wentworth.
“For now, but consider yourself a suspect,” Hall said.
“No, it’s like I told you. I was washing and waxing the limo. Samantha was with me, well, most of the time.”
“Say no more,” Wentworth said, and the two of them left the interrogation room.
Tucci’s partner, Carlyle, had been off running an errand. He walked past the departing Billy and into the room, shutting the door behind him.
“Five murders, and her parents died under what one fire investigator said was, ‘suspicious circumstances.’”
Hall stared at Carlyle.
“Say that again, five murders?”
“Five, and maybe her parents, an FBI agent named Robert Stevens was investigating the killings and became convinced it was the kid, as were Dr. White and a second psychiatrist, a Dr. Juliet Hamden. The DA there refused to go forward with it. The kid was only six then. At nine, in this day and age, a jury might convict her.”
Hall opened the door and began pacing in the corridor, her heels sending echoes off the walls. When she stopped in front of the open doorway, she stared in at Tucci.
“Get me more. Meanwhile, we’ll postpone interrogating the girl.”
Carlyle nodded.
“I’ll have Wentworth call the Whites and tell them to stay home.”
“No, have them come in. We won’t interrogate the child, but I will speak with Dr. White. She knows more about what happened back then than anyone else.”
Tucci chuckled.
“Kids killing their grandmothers, what a world.”
***
At the front door of an apartment building on a city street, Violet Poe’s twin sister, Viola, pushed an intercom button and waited to hear a response.
She knew that she was being viewed through hidden cameras, and so she stuck out her tongue, and then smiled.
“As you can see, it’s me.”
“Code word,” said a voice over the intercom.
“Seriously?”
“You have an identical twin. That’s why we use code words.”
“Boomerang, there, are you satisfied?”
“No. That’s the wrong code word.”
“It’s not! Today is—oh wait. I forgot it’s after midnight. That means today’s code word is pineapple.”
“Thank you, Viola, come on in.”
Viola entered a long hallway that had doors on either side of it. At the end of the hall was a staircase, and she bounced up it as if the effort meant nothing. As Viola had said, the time was after midnight, but Viola was just beginning her day and was full of energy. She had always been a night owl, while her sister, Violet, would often rise early.
As Violet’s twin, Viola shared her good looks, but unlike Violet, Viola flaunted hers. Her long dark hair flowed around her beautiful face, while her short skirt and tight top showcased her sexy body.
Once she reached the third floor, she walked down another hallway, while headed for the door on the left.
Her lover opened the door to the apartment before she could knock, and Viola looked into the eyes of Prophet.
“Hello baby, have I got news for you.”
They shared a kiss, and after entering the apartment and settling on a sofa, Prophet asked Viola a question.
“You’ve found those bitches from PREY?”
“No, but I saw them, two of them, along with my sister. It was Dr. Elena Colt and Dr. Jessica White. And oh, they killed Anthony Dalen.”
“I saw on the news that he was dead and that his victims’ bodies had been recovered, but they gave no details. About Dr. White, are you certain that she’s involved?”
“Absolutely, her and her husband. It was her husband that killed Numerical, remember?”
Prophet made a noise of disgust.
“Numerical, that bastard tried to take over, so he was going to die either way. But you’re right, Jessica White is a problem, and I still want your sister to join us.”
Viola smiled.
“I think I know a way to find her.”
“You followed them?”
“No, I was on foot and too far away from my car, but I have a plan. Do you want to hear it?”
Prophet reached over and began unbuttoning Viola’s blouse.
“After, we’ll talk after.”
Viola grinned.
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
CHAPTER 7
Michael actually whooped for joy when he learned that his brother and Jessica were planning on adopting Samantha. They had told him at the same time they put a video call in to Maggie, who was off at Harvard University.
Maggie was pleased as well, and she and Samantha already acted like family around each other.
After the call with Maggie ended, they ate breakfast, and then Jessica took Samantha shopping for clothes at the mall.
“I can’t believe you’ve outgrown most of the things in your closet here, but we’ll gather some things from your house once they allow you back inside.”
“Most of those clothes don’t fit well either, but Grandfather was so busy that I hadn’t gone shopping in a while.”
Jessica looked at her watch.
“We don’t have much time to shop today, but we’ll come back again soon.”
“Thank you, Jessica, and thank you for deciding to adopt me. I know Mr. White would do it, but I wasn’t sure how you felt about me.”
“Honey, I like you, I like you a lot, and I’ll be proud to have you as a daughter.”
“Even knowing... what you know... about what I did?”
“Yes, and as I said last night, you and I will talk about that.”
“Okay, but I don’t have to call you Mom, do I?”
“No, we’ll stick with things the way they are.”
“When will it be official?”
“That’s something we’ll have to discuss with Mr. Wentworth, although, we’ll be having someone else handle the adoption.”
***
While Jessica was shopping with Samantha, her husband was speaking to Reginald Carter.
Carter had spotted the two thugs who attacked Howard and his lawyer as they followed the men from the hospital.
Carter had been at the hospital as a favor to White. He was there to see to the remains of Brendan Ryan, whose body had to be shipped back to the United States for burial.
Carter had followed the men who were following Howard, and after realizing that they were there to kidnap Howard, he intervened.
“I called the police and they called the British Embassy. Now they’re trying to get to the bottom of things.”
“What do you think is going on?”
“I don’t know, but keep your eyes open. This mess might have something to do with Brendan Ryan too. The men who attacked Howard aren’t talking, but they’re both from Umgawai. If there is a connection to Ryan, the trouble might head your way.”
“It may already be here,” White said, and told Carter about the murder of Brendan Ryan’s wife.
Carter was stunned by the news, and agreed with White that the murder might be connected to whatever Thad Howard was involved in.
“I’ll get back t
o you as soon as I know more, White, and you do the same.”
“Right, Carter, and thank you for handling Ryan’s remains.”
***
Thad Howard was also making a phone call, and when his party answered, Howard shouted at him.
“You wanker! What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” the voice on the other end said. It was the same man that Howard had spoken to in the hospital, although his accented English had a silkier quality to it than it had displayed earlier. That quality came from the knowledge its owner had that he held the upper hand.
“Don’t play dumb. You sent those men after me.”
“Why would I do that when we had a deal?”
“Because you’re a bastard, that’s why.”
“Perhaps, but I’m the only bastard you know who can fence five million in diamonds.”
Howard made a noise in his throat that was half sigh, half grunt. When he spoke again, he sounded calmer.
“Will you stop sending men after me and stick to our original deal?”
“Yes, you need not worry about being attacked again. However, our deal is over.”
“Why?”
“Because, Mr. Howard, I have managed to find the hospital orderly whose mobile you used to call me. He’s a nice young man. For a small price, he let me look at the number of the other call you made.”
“Shit!”
Laughter came through the line and Howard tightened his grip on the phone.
“Listen, we can still deal. That other party is in the United States. I have contacts there.”
“As do I, and mine are cousins who I can trust. They will get the diamonds for me. Your services are no longer required.”
“No! I need this, I’m nearly broke and the damn British government wants to make an example out of me.”
“Goodbye, Mr. Howard.”
The phone went dead and Thad Howard squeezed his eyes shut. It was time to run.
He had a phony passport he kept in the safety deposit box of a Pretoria bank along with a debit card. The safety deposit box was also under an alias, and when morning came, he would go to the bank and gather the items.
He had to travel to America and get the diamonds, and only one man stood in his way.
That man was also a murderer, Howard knew he was. He had read the foreign papers and learned that Brendan Ryan’s wife had been killed and that the safe in their home had been emptied of its contents.
He would handle the man and take the diamonds away from him. Howard would do whatever it took to keep his freedom; even murder was on the table, and in fact, it would probably be best.
CHAPTER 8
Wentworth smiled when he heard that the doctor and her husband wanted to adopt Samantha.
They were gathered in his spacious office, which was lined with law books, awards, and framed photos.
Wentworth seemed relieved to know that Samantha would be with people her late grandfather had approved of.
“Brendan would have agreed with this. He spoke highly of both of you. Understand, this will take some time, but I anticipate no long delays. I’ll also do what I can to speed things up.”
Jessica smiled in appreciation, but then had news for Wentworth.
“We’ll take any help you can give us, but we have a lawyer already. We used her firm when we took custody of my husband’s younger sister.”
“Oh, what firm?” Wentworth asked.
When Jessica told him, Wentworth smiled.
“Jeff Roman’s firm, yes, they’re excellent, but aren’t they based in Boston?”
“They are, but we have a long association with them, and they’ve opened a satellite office in our area.”
“All right then, and they’re likely more experienced in adoption law than my own people, however, there is something you should be aware of.”
“What’s that?” Mr. White said.
Wentworth hesitated and looked at Samantha. He then held up a finger, indicating that he needed a moment. After buzzing his assistant on the intercom, he asked her to come inside his office.
“Yes sir?” the young lady said, as she stood in the open doorway. Her name was Annie, and she was a newlywed who still bore the tan from her Hawaiian Honeymoon.
“Annie, I need you to take Samantha into the outer office with you for a moment. There’s something I need to discuss with the doctor and her husband.”
Samantha frowned.
“Why can’t I stay?”
“I’d rather you didn’t, honey,” Wentworth said. “But I’ll leave it to the doctor and her husband to decide.”
Mr. White spoke up.
“Go with Annie. If we think you need to hear what we’re told by Mr. Wentworth, we’ll tell you about it later.”
Samantha stared at him for a moment but then she followed Annie out of the room.
“This sounds ominous,” Jessica said, after the door had shut.
Wentworth sent her a reassuring smile.
“It’s not, but a bit sensitive for the child, you see, there are people who might attempt to block your adoption of Samantha.”
“You told me last night that she had no other relatives,” White said.
“Actually, I said that she had none to speak of, and that remains true, but, let me explain from the beginning. Samantha’s mother had an affair. She never revealed the man’s name, but that man is Samantha’s true father. Brendan’s son, Thomas, he forgave his wife and raised Samantha as his own.”
Jessica opened her mouth in shock.
“Samantha wasn’t really Brendan Ryan’s granddaughter, and he was aware of this?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm, he was a better man than I knew. He doted on her.”
“Brendan told me that his son accepted her as his daughter and that he would do the same, and yes, he loved that child. I only wish he had made better provisions for her financially, as I often asked him to do.”
“She’ll be taken care of, but why would this affect the adoption,” White asked.
“The parents of Samantha’s mother are still living. They are Marvin and Alma Foster and they are horrible people, lowlifes. Samantha’s mother considered them dead to her. They will have to be handled, and by that, I mean that they’ll want money.”
“Mr. Ryan dealt with them?” Jessica asked.
“Brendan bought them a house. My guess is that they’ll want money this time.”
“Okay, we’ll do whatever it takes, but they won’t be getting Samantha,” Jessica said.
Wentworth looked relieved.
“I’m glad to hear you say that. That little girl does not belong with the Fosters.”
***
Annie escorted Samantha back into the room. When Samantha asked what they had discussed, Mr. White told her that he and Jessica would talk to her about it later.
“All right, but what about Billy?” Samantha said. “He’s not in jail, is he?”
“No dear,” Wentworth said. “But the police do consider him a suspect.”
“They’re wrong,” Jessica said. “We know Billy Ortiz; he’s not a murderer.”
Wentworth stood.
“We should go now; the DA will be there early if I know her type.”
***
Once they were at the police station in Samantha’s town, Hall hit them with a surprise.
“We’ll hold off on interviewing the child. Right now, I’d like to speak to Dr. White.”
“Why do you want to speak to me?” Jessica said.
“Because I have questions for you, Doctor.”
“Questions concerning the murder of Mrs. Ryan?”
“Yes, but indirectly, and it will be off the record as well.”
Wentworth bristled at that.
“You want to talk to her without a lawyer present. That’s what you mean by off the record, isn’t it, Miss Hall?”
“I could make it official. In fact, I could make it very official and tell the Press tha
t she’s a suspect. But I won’t do that; I really just want to talk to her alone.”
“I advise against this, Dr. White,” Wentworth said.
Jessica smiled at Wentworth.
“It’s all right. I’ll speak with Miss Hall in private. I’m curious as to her reasons for wanting to talk.”
The Office of the District Attorney was located in the same building as the main police station. Hall escorted Jessica upstairs and into her office.
After asking Jessica if she’d like coffee, and having the offer declined, Hall gestured to a leather sofa and settled beside her.
“Dr. White, when did you first meet Samantha Ryan?”
“Samantha? It was about three years ago in South Carolina; she was only six then.”
“Yes, but she was old enough to have been a suspect in five murders.”
As soon as Hall had mentioned Samantha, Jessica guessed what direction her questioning would take. If Hall wanted answers, she would have to work for them. Jessica remained silent and Hall sighed.
“You’ve nothing to say, Doctor?”
“Do you have a question?”
“Yes, I went over the evidence from that case involving the murders. Why wasn’t the child arrested? It seems obvious that she was a viable suspect.”
“As far as I know, those murders remain unsolved. Samantha wasn’t arrested because, despite the appearance that she was a possible suspect, after questioning her, she was ruled out. After all, she was just a young child.”
Hall pulled an index card out of the pocket of her skirt and read it.
“Did Dr. Juliet Hamden agree with that? And keep in mind, I’ll be contacting her soon, as well as the FBI agent in charge of the case.”
Jessica stared at Hall. Either her facts were severely lacking or she was very odd.
“I’m going to assume that you’re unaware that Juliet is deceased. Also, Agent Stevens committed suicide. At the time of his death, he was a fugitive and a suspect in Juliet’s murder.”
Hall appeared shocked by that news.
“I... was unaware, I’m sorry. Anyway, the case from South Carolina tells me that the child may be psychotic.”
“Samantha is not psychotic and she didn’t murder her grandmother.”
Hall smiled.
“There’s evidence that suggests otherwise.”
“What evidence?”
Taken! - Bedeviled (A Taken! Novel Book 17) Page 4
