While visiting with Vanessa, Deirdre puts together how Troy was always able to get out of jail. It turns out that Sue, the secretary, is his aunt. Still, she needed help. Who could that be?
“Enter Jim Butcher,” Deirdre said, pulling another photo from the pile. “Dishonorably discharged, after less than a year, from the Marines, for Conduct Unbecoming,” she said.
Jasper’s lip snarled in disgust. He’d been a Marine himself, and that charge was the lowest possible, in his mind. “You need this boy brought in? I can make that happen,” he told Vanessa.
“I’d love for you to. News of Sue’s arrest will filter down quickly.”
Jasper picked up the phone and dialed. “Hiya, Butch, it’s Sgt. Waters. Yeah, I f**ked something up again, buddy. I need your magic touch.”
He’d put the phone on speaker, so they all heard Jim’s voice when he replied. “What this time, my man? You have the worst luck with computers.”
“Yeah, I dunno, I spilled my Coke on the keyboard and it’s not responding.”
“Probably just fried the keys. Got an extra anywhere?”
“You f**king kidding? In this place?”
“I’ll be by in ten with a new one. I’ve got a spare on my truck. We’ll take a look and make sure you didn’t short anything else.”
“Thanks, man. You take good care of me. I’ll put on a pot, and we’ll get after this.”
“No worries, got my Bull. See you shortly.” Jim hung up.
“I gather you do this a lot?” Eoin said with a smirk.
“I’m incapable of interfacing with computers. I hate them, they hate me. Women, on the other hand, no difficulty.”
“Only now, you’re married,” Vanessa reminded him.
“I know. Doesn’t mean I can’t be friendly. If I step outta line, my wife can kill me.” He shrugged.
Eoin looked puzzled, but Jasper laughed.
“I’ll introduce you sometime.”
Jim Butcher arrived nine and a half minutes later. He had a messenger bag over his shoulders, carrying an open can of Red Bull and a boxed keyboard. Jasper met him at the door, ushering him in, spewing lively nonsense as they walked into the office.
“Why are we going to Detective Weinstein’s office?”
“Oh, it was her keyboard I baptized. She’s ready to kill me. Come on in.” He let Jim precede him, closing the door in his wake.
“What’s going on?” Jim asked when he Vanessa and Scott waiting for him.
Jasper blocked the door when he tried to leave.
“James Butcher, you’re under arrest for Obstruction of Justice, and tampering with legal documents,” Scott said quietly, sounding deadly. “You have the right to remain silent….”
Strangely, he didn’t stay any quieter than Sue. They put him in a cell opposite her. The two of them yelled back and forth, blaming one another for past misdeeds. Jasper had both cells monitored, recording everything they said. Neither of them had asked for a lawyer, nor were they exercising their right to silence. They let quite a few juicy bits drop, including Eoin’s beating.
“Thanks to his caffeine addiction, we have his DNA,” Jasper said, bagging the can of Red Bull. “I hate to say it, but I have a feeling he’s another contributor to the manky deposits.”
“He always had a sick obsession with Wendy,” Eoin said sadly. “Perverted, twisted bastard.”
“What do you know about Bullock?” Vanessa asked suddenly.
“Coach Bullock? More than I’d like, why?”
“You missed what the girls had to say yesterday,” Jasper told him.
“Rather not know,” Eoin remarked abruptly, holding up his hand. “As to all that, not something I want Deirdre involved in it at all.”
“I’m a big girl,” Deirdre protested.
“As I’m aware. I wouldn’t tell my own mum, dreadful as she is. You do not need to be a party to this.” He shook his head. “It will come out at trial, that’s soon enough.”
Jasper nodded, conceding Eoin’s decision. Deirdre wasn’t pleased, but he was adamant.
“Honestly, I wish I didn’t know myself,” Vanessa said softly. “Okay. Deirdre, you’ve given me so much. Thank you. Now, to unravel the rest.”
“I can help,” Deirdre offered.
“No. This will get ugly. You’re not a cop, I’m not dragging you into this any deeper.”
“But you’ll let me know how it turns out?”
“I will. You and your son are as deeply invested in the outcome as I am.”
As they were walking to the front door, Deirdre paused.
“Is there any way to find out about my granddaughter?”
“I’m afraid not. Those records are sealed by the court. I know you’d like to contact the parents, but would it be fair to the baby?”
“I don’t mean to take her away,” Deirdre said. “She’s their daughter, as much as if they’d given her life. But I would like to know her. I understand, though. If there is any way to give them the information, about us. So, if she wants to meet Aiden when she’s older, she can.”
© 2018 Dellani Oakes
Dellani Oakes 