Silenced Justice: A Josh Williams Novel (11 page)

"Hello," McDaniel answered.

"Hey Joe, Josh Williams."

"Ah, I was wondering when you were going to get around to talking to me. What took you so long?"

"So you know what this is about?"

"I went to Jimmy Calise's wake and funeral. They brought him home from Florida for burial. Gotta tell ya' man, I got a fucking earful. You pissed off some people over there. Better find a way to make nice," McDaniel replied.

"Not sure if what we're doing is going to help," Josh said. "Can I stop by and talk to you?"

"Let's meet at Bovi's this afternoon. You can buy me a few beers and I'll calm the restless natives at Providence PD in exchange."

"Sounds good, see you there."

* * *

After hanging up with McDaniel, Josh logged into his computer to check his email. Then he searched for the Delaware Secretary of State Corporations Database.

"Hey," Zach said, turning his laptop to face Josh, “what's this look like to you?"

Josh looked at the screen. "What'd you find?"

"I was comparing calls from the main line at the office complex to every other number we have, looking for patterns or links. I found this match," tapping the screen.

Josh looked at the spreadsheet; Zach highlighted two inbound calls and one outbound call to the same number. "Okay, so whose number is it?"

"Maggie Fleming," Zach said.

Josh let out an involuntary laugh, "Yeah, right. Seriously, what'd you find?

"I am serious, Josh."

"Are you sure?"

"I checked it a couple of times. The calls are to and from her cell phone. I'd say that's a little suspicious," Zach answered, pointing again to the cells in the spreadsheet.

"There's no way," Josh insisted, disbelieving his own eyes.

"How well do you know her?" Zach asked.

Josh explained the covert help Fleming provided during the trial three years ago. "I mean, I don't know what would've happened if she hadn't tipped us to things. She resigned from the US Attorney's office because of what Collucci did. Took a lot of guts to do that," flopping back in his chair.

Staring at Zach, Josh struggled to get his mind around this. "What would she have to gain here? Why would she work with Chris? She would have no way of knowing any of their cases would get them access to SIU cases.” Josh held up his hand, “And before you even think it, I know there is no way Chris is involved in any shit. What made you check her number?"

Zach looked at Josh. "Look, I am not trying to build the paranoia level any higher than it is, but I worked counterintelligence for a long time. They have all sorts of methods to infiltrate law enforcement agencies. Doveryai no Proveryai," Zach said in perfect Russian. "Trust, but verify. Remember that. I checked everyone's number. Yours, your wife's, Chris, Tommy's, Brennan's, everybody. We need to look at everybody."

Josh walked back to his desk. "I just can't see her involved in this. Not with Collucci, doesn't make sense. She wasn't even part of the original discussion about the Grey case. She went with me to see Collucci and played him well."

"Or played you," Zach answered.

"Bullshit, I think we settle this now," grabbing his portable radio from the charger. "Come on; let's go have a chat with Fleming."

"I'd suggest we wait. If it's nothing, there's no harm. If there is something to it, better we know and she doesn't. Agreed?" Kennedy said.

Josh rubbed the back of his neck, he didn't feel comfortable about this, but it was the best course, for now.

Tommy Moore spoke up, "So are you guys all done with the scene from Russia with Love? Because, I think we have real police work to do rather than trying to act out bad spy movies."

Zach smiled and picked up the phone.

Josh plugged the radio back into the charger. He went back to researching the Delaware Corporations database.
Ah, Darnell what next? He thought. What next?

Moore went back to his computer, but he couldn't help but wonder if being in a nice safe marked police car was better than this insanity.

Chapter 19

Josh pulled into the small parking area off Taunton Avenue in front of Bovi's Tavern. The bar is one of the best-known gathering places in the City of East Providence.

The usual after work crowd stood or sat in their accustomed positions. Joe McDaniel stood at the bar talking to Vinny the plumber and Reggie Stone.

When Stone spotted Josh, he came over, wrapped him in his huge arms, and kissed him on the cheek. "Josh, my brother from another mother. I missed you, man. Where you been at?"

Stone had been a roofer for as long as anyone could remember. Even now, he could walk up ladders carrying two bundles of shingles all day long. He was the kind of guy wanted you on your side.

As a young officer, McDaniel had some run-ins with Stone, yet the two had grown to be friends. As McDaniel always said, the one difference between the people driving the police car and those riding in the caged back seat, is the ones in the back got caught.

Josh stood next to McDaniel. "So, what words of wisdom do you have for me, Joe?"

McDaniel nodded towards Stone, "There's who you should talk to. He's related to Grey."

Josh looked at Stone. "For real, Reg?"

"Josh, my man, this is Rhode Island. We all related somehow, 'specially the brothers," flashing a wide grin.

Josh laughed. "I should know by now, if I want to find out anything about this city, ask McDaniel or Stone. You guys should be a road show." Flagging down the bartender Josh said,” How about a round here?"

After the drinks arrived, Josh, Joe McDaniel, and Reggie gathered in a small circle.   

"So, how do you know Darnell Grey?" Josh asked.

"Darnell is, or was, my cousin. He lived on Summit Street when we were kids, then his father died and his mother, she was from Providence, moved back to the south side. Wiggins Village."

Josh listened as Stone told the story of Grey being a standout athlete at Central High. "He had a shot at a scholarship at URI for basketball, but he couldn't afford to go. He was working full-time to help his mother out. They couldn't survive without the money. Of course, there was the little incident," smiling at McDaniel.

Joe McDaniel picked up the story. "Smiley here," tipping his glass at Stone, "and his cousin got the brilliant idea to grab a bunch of old copper from the Rocha warehouse, near Watchemoket Square. One of the owners complained, even though the place was abandoned. We went down there and spotted these two. I chased Darnell, Reggie here fell and old Fatty Sousa landed on him," chuckling at the memory. "Forty years on the job, Fatty never caught anyone except Reggie."

Reggie laughed. "Fat bastard damn near killed me. I weighed about 120 pounds then."

"That was a long time ago," McDaniel said, patting Stone on his gut.

"No shit," Stone laughed.

"Anyway, I was pretty fast back then," McDaniel continued. "Grey had forty pounds of copper on him and I couldn't even get close to him. Last I saw, he was over the Red Bridge and gone. The only reason we got him later was we knew he and Reggie here were inseparable."

Josh looked at McDaniel, "So what happened."

"After we charged the two of them, I found out about Grey's shot at a scholarship. I got the AG's office to file the charges," glancing at Stone. "All they had to do was stay out of trouble for six months. Or at least, not get caught."

Stone picked up the story. "After I recovered from being turned into a black pancake by Tubbo the Cop, Darnell and I just hung around together. Then he got drafted and went to Vietnam," Stone took a drink, eyes watering. "He came back a different man, Josh. He was always starting fights and getting locked up. After he got married, it got worse. Every time I saw him he was pissed off about something."

Stone motioned for another round of drinks. "I'll tell you this though; he never, ever hit a woman. His wife would nag his ass to death, but he never raised a hand to her. He'd leave and get into fights just to release the tension. But I know this for a fact; he didn't rape or kill nobody."

McDaniel looked at Josh, then said, "Reggie, tell him about talking to the cops."

Stone's eyes grew narrow and dark. "After I heard Darnell got arrested, I went to the station in East Providence to talk to the detectives. I told them Darnell and I was at my house all day when that first rape happened. He helped me do some work in the basement. Then, he and I, his wife and my girlfriend, had a cookout. A bunch of other people were there too. Darnell and his wife even stayed over that night. Cops wouldn't listen."

"Who'd you talk to, Reggie?" Josh asked.

"I didn't know his name, big, fat white guy. He said I was trying to cover for my cousin and he would arrest me for lying to the cops. You know what he said. Right to my face that fat piece of shit said, ‘One nigger's word against a whole bunch of white people don't mean shit.’ "

Stone shook his head, looking into his drink. "A couple of weeks later, Darnell's wife called and told us he was dead. Said he got killed in the prison. Shit never should have happened, Josh. 'S not right. He didn't do those things. His wife up and left town. We heard she was pregnant, but we never saw her again."

Josh looked at McDaniel.   

"It was a different time then, Josh. The detective division was full of guys with a political hook, or they were drunks and they took them off the road. There were maybe five guys in the division who did all the work," McDaniel shook his head. "The Captain back then was an ex-Marine. Good guy. He used to say he was the highest paid babysitter in the city."

"Do you know who Reggie talked to?"

"Fat, white guy describes half the division. Not that it matters, nobody who worked detectives back then is still alive. Most of them never made it past two or three years after retiring."

"Looks like you're getting to be a fat white guy now McDaniel,” Reggie chimed in.

Patting his own gut, McDaniel laughed. "Might be, but I'll never be as big a fat ass as you."

Stone winked at him and took a long drink. "So, tell me Josh. Why the sudden interest in this?"

Josh explained the story. He left out the details, but told Reggie how they tried to kill Keira.

"No shit?" Stone said. "I find out who tried to hurt Keira, they won't live to see the next day. Soon as that girl comes to her senses and dumps you, she and I are riding off on my Harley. I'll show her some lovin' she'll never forget."

"She might take you up on it someday," Josh replied.

"Listen to me, Josh. You need something done about a problem, you talk to me." Patting Josh on the shoulder, tilting his head to McDaniel, "away from this dinosaur here."

"I will Reg, thanks," unsure how serious Reggie was.

"Can you get Darnell's daughter to come see me and my wife?" Reggie asked, with a slight tear in his eye.

"I don't see why not. She may not realize she has family here. I can have Vera Johnson arrange it. She's the girl's aunt. Well, sort of an adopted aunt."

"No shit, Vera? From the Library? What a small world," Reggie said.

"And how the hell do you know she worked in the library? I didn't think you could read," McDaniel joked.

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me, old man. A lot of things," nodding and draining the last of his drink. "Gotta run boys. I hope you find out who did those things back then. Clear my cousin's name. It would mean a lot to me, Josh."

Josh nodded, "I'll do what I can my friend, I'll do what I can."

Chapter 20             

Tommy Moore came into the SIU office, catching the tail end of Josh's phone conversation.

"Thanks, Vera. Reggie and his wife will appreciate it. What's that? Yeah, I know. Small world. Okay, talk to you later."

"What was that about?" Tommy asked.

"Turns out Grey's daughter is related to Reggie Stone. Vera's gonna bring her over to meet Reggie and his wife."

Tommy smiled, "Well, at least one good thing came out this."

"Yup, now let's see what else we can do."

Tommy headed toward the reception area, "Going for coffee, want one?"

"Yeah great, thanks."

A few moments later, Tommy returned with the coffee and the morning mail.   

"There's something for you, LT," handing Josh a large yellow envelope.

Josh looked it over. He didn't recognize the return address, just a post office box in Providence. Tearing open the flap, he pulled out two sheets of paper. "Holy shit, look at this."

Tommy came over to the desk.

Josh placed the pages next to each other on the desk. The heading on both were identical, Providence Police Department Line-up Report. Both forms were dated March 23, 1972. The time on one listed 21:00, 9:00 PM, in military format. The second listed 21:30, 9:30 PM.   

On the first report, the order of names in the line-up had Darnell Grey in the first position. In the second report, he was in the third position. Both forms list Detective George Weslyan as the investigating officer. On the first report, next to the initials for the Supervising Assistant Attorney General were the letters RC. On the second report, it was evident someone erased the original initials and wrote GT.

"Grab our file, there’s another copy of one of these in there. It's the one I showed Tucker when we spoke to him."

Tommy retrieved the file and found the report. Placing this copy next to the other two, they compared them.

Josh looked at Tommy. It was obvious the third report, the one from the Providence PD file was a poor copy of the one with the altered initials.

"Unbelievable, just freaking unbelievable."

Josh picked up the phone, "Donna, it's Josh, the Chief in?"

A few moments later, Josh placed the lineup reports on the Chief's desk.

"Where'd you get these?" Brennan asked.

"Came in the mail. P O Box for a return address. I'll bet they're from Tucker."

"Tucker?" Brennan said. "Why would he hold onto these for so long?"

"I don't know, but I am going to ask him."

"You sure they're from him? It wouldn't be helpful to accuse a State Supreme Court Justice of concealing evidence in a conspiracy without proof."

"Tommy's going to trace the P O Box, and then I'll go talk to Tucker. I'll be subtle," Josh replied.

"Subtle? There is nothing subtle about you, Lieutenant. At least try to be somewhat tactful. And,” pointing his finger at Josh, “don't do anything stupid like arrest him for God's sake. Come back and talk to me first. Understood?"

Josh nodded. "If he did send it, and I am pretty sure he did, I bet he wants to talk to us." He explained to Brennan what they thought transpired with the Providence line-up.

"So they did a second line-up and tried to alter the initials of the AG. We missed it in our file because the copy is so poor. I can see that. But why? I assume they fucked up when they left the first report in the file. That's evident. But why change the initials?" Brennan asked.

"A better question is who did it? Maybe the AG was aware of the two lineups and decided it would be better if he wasn’t involved.”

"Who is RC, anyway? Do you know?" Brennan asked.

Josh and Tommy broke into huge, shit-eating smiles.

Brennan looked at the detectives, back at the file, and then shook his head. "Oh, of course it is and GT is George Tucker. What was I thinking holding out hope it was somebody other than them. So explain this to me, again."

Josh pointed to the files. "The one on the left is the original. Just like Calise told me, there were two lineups. The one in the middle is the changed file with the same initials as the one on the left, RC. The one on the right is the one from the lineup they planned to use with the time changed and the altered initials, GT. Collucci must have smelled a rat and wanted to insulate himself from the fudged lineup report if things went south. If nobody noticed or--."

"Or if the guy got taken care of in the can. Case closed," Tommy interjected.

"Thanks Captain Obvious," Brennan replied. Turning to Josh, "Remind me again why I transferred him into SIU?"

"Nowhere else for him, too slow for anything complicated."

"Okay, okay. I was just thinking out loud," Tommy said.

"Stop it, son. You'll hurt yourself," Brennan added, patting Tommy on the back. "But we do face a rather frightening scenario. A United States Senator and a Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court complicit in murder. The murder of someone likely innocent of any crime. Perhaps, involved in framing him in the first place."

Josh shook his head. "I'd bet Tucker had nothing to do with it and Collucci's smarter than that. He didn't have to plan the murder, or even persuade someone to do it. The natural order of things in the prison has rapists just above child molesters. They are always held in protective custody. Take black defendant, white victims, and the racial conflicts of the era, hell, all they had to do is put the guy into the general population and let nature take its course." Josh picked up the file and looked at the original lineup report, "Collucci may have not had anything to do with the prison. Remember, one of our victims was a Trooper's daughter."

"Oh, I remember well the night it happened; I was working the next post. Once word got to Scituate... I didn't know there were that many Troopers in the state. They were all over the place looking for the guy."

"Can't blame 'em for that. We'd have done the same thing. It's what happened after that worries me. Won't be winning any popularity contests with them either," Josh said.

Brennan looked at Josh for a moment. "You know, in the course of just a few short weeks you've managed to piss off Providence PD and a United States Senator. Now you might piss off the State Police and drag Judge Tucker into this. Are you sure this is worth it?"

Josh hesitated a moment. "Chief, I need to see where this goes. Keep in mind they came after me and almost killed Keira. I am going to find out who it was, wherever it goes."

Brennan's eyes narrowed, "How does this fit in with the damn 007 spy shit you brought on yourself?"

"All I know is when we started looking at this case, we made someone nervous. I don't think Collucci had anything to do with them going after Keira. But, I am willing to bet it is something, or somebody, he's involved with." Josh picked up the files, "That's why we keep looking at this case."

Brennan rubbed his chin, "Keep me in the loop before, and I mean before, any more shit hits the fan."

Josh and Tommy left the office.

"Tommy, trace the P. O. Box. I am going to go talk to Chris about her friend the Judge. See what she thinks. I'll meet you back here later. When Kennedy gets here, bring him up to speed on this."

* * *

Chris Hamlin drove down Metropolitan Park drive. She pulled into Haines Park at the Barrington/East Providence city line. Spotting Josh's car near the boat ramp, she pulled up next to him.

Josh waited, arms folded, leaning on the hood of the unmarked unit.

"So, what's with all the secret-squirrel stuff?" Chris asked.

Josh stood and handed her a piece of paper. Chris looked it over.

"And this is important because?" looking up. "Wait a minute," looking back at the paper. "These calls are to Maggie's cell. What the hell is this Josh?"

"Those are call records from an office complex on Waterman Street. The number is a main trunk feed, not a published number, and she called it. Just before we met with Collucci…," looking out at the water. "The Feds didn't want me to say anything to her. But I had to tell you."

Chris smiled. "Ah, that explains the spy vs spy stuff. Okay, what do you think?"

"I don't know. My instinct says there's an explanation and to just ask her,” Josh spun his car keys around his fingers. “This whole mess you got me into has taken on new dimensions. Chris, this is more than an old case. There are Russian mob guys with composite weapons, MS-13 gang bangers, shit that is not supposed to happen here."

"Russian mob guys?" Chris looked concerned. "Composite weapons? What are you talking about? Wasn't this a gang banger thing? Are you keeping shit from me?"

"Let's go get a coffee," Josh answered. "I have much more to tell you, my friend. Some of it I just found out. Most of which you will not believe. I am finding it hard to believe myself."

As they sat in the booth at the Kent Corners Dunkin' Donuts, Josh laid it out for Chris. The latest information on the attempt on Keira, the intelligence from the Feds, everything. Looking outside Josh said, "Speak of the devil, here's the hero himself," nodding his head towards the front parking lot.

Chubby White pulled into the lot. His shiny, repainted, and unblemished tow truck glistened in the morning sun.

Chubby came in and saw Josh and Chris. Walking over, he smiled. "Hey Lieutenant and used to be Lieutenant. How are you?"

"Great Chubby, thanks to you. Let me get you a coffee," Josh said.

"No, no, that's okay. I got a D&D gift card for $100 from the manager after he heard the story. I'm good."

"$100 gift card, that should last you, what, a day or so?" Chris joked.

"Well it would," Chubby answered, "but people keep buying my stuff for me, they recognize me from the news," rubbing his enormous gut. "But I am starting at the gym on Monday. I'll be ready for the agility test this time, Brennan said I have supervisor material in me," waddling over to the counter.

"Boy is determined isn't he?" Chris said.

"And delusional, but I do owe him one. A big one," Josh replied, watching as Chubby picked out two dozen donuts.

"I saw his performance on the news," Chris chuckled. "They had to use a wide angle lens to fit him and Brennan in at the same time."

Josh laughed, "I'll make sure I tell him you said that."

Chubby White came back over carrying his donut haul and a giant coffee. "You guys got a minute? I want to show you something on my truck."

Josh glanced at Chris, "Sure, Chubby. Lead on."

Chubby led them to the parking lot. Opening the driver's door, he gently loaded the pallet of pastry, closed the door, and motioned them over.

Painted on the side of the truck was an image of a motorcycle, body flying off, with circle around it and line through it.

"I saw it on the
History Channel
. Fighter pilots painted their planes when they shot someone down. Nice, huh?" beaming an infectious grin.

"Four more and you'll be an Ace," Chris laughed.

"Let's not try too hard for that Chubby, okay?" Josh added.

Chubby laughed and climbed into the cab. Grabbing a donut with one hand, his coffee in the other, he pulled out of the lot.

"Steering with his knee I bet," Chris said, chuckling. "He is one happy man."

"Yes he is," Josh agreed.

"Where do we go from here?"   

"Like I said, my gut is telling me there's an explanation. I'd prefer to just ask her, but we need the Federal resources on this. If they find out I went behind their backs, they'll pull out."

Chris thought a moment. "I'm not comfortable treating her like a suspect. I know there's an explanation. But, I suppose a few more days won't hurt."

"Give me some time to work on Kennedy. He's a good guy, not in the usual Federal mold. I think I can convince him to let us talk to her. I'll call you in a few days. Meanwhile, if you decide to do anything else about the Grey case, keep in mind there is some serious shit going on here. We don't have any idea what it is."

Chris nodded, "Thanks, Dad. Not to worry. I can take care of myself," getting into her car.

Josh started to open his door, "Hey," he yelled, motioning for Chris to open her window. "One more thing, I'm sure those copies of the original line-up reports came from Tucker. Should I go talk to him?"

Chris thought a moment. "Yeah, call him. I know there is no way he had anything to do with Grey ending up where he did. Tucker is too honest for any of it. I'd ask him. I am sure he had his reasons."

Josh watched her leave the lot. As he opened the door to his car, Chief Brennan pulled up next to him.

"Lieutenant, is it safe to assume this was just a friendly visit, nothing official like a briefing or anything?"

"Of course, Chief. I was just checking in with her."

"Make sure while you're checking in with her, the Feds don't find out. We need their help in this."

Watching Brennan drive away, Josh wondered how the man was always a step ahead of him.