Salvation in death

Ripples, Eve thought. “Okay. So you heard Lino and Pe

“Yeah, like I said, it was a big place, lots of rooms, and corridors. I was heading for the war room. I was up, and I wanted in on the retaliation. Hell, I wanted to lead the charge. But I passed one of the flop rooms, and I heard them talking about how it worked. How planting the boomer at the dance got the community-that’s how Lino put it-the community involved. How they’d hit the Skulls now, and everyone would cheer. The Soldados would be heroes because everybody thought the Skulls attacked, the Skulls brought blood to neutral territory. And Pe

He looked down at his hands, then lifted his gaze back to Eve’s. Tears glazed it. “She said that. Said how Lino should’ve built a bigger boomer so there’d be more dead instead of just that little bitch Ro

He reached for his wife’s hand. “Can I get some water? I think I could use some water.”

Peabody rose, walked over to fill a paper cup. “Take your time, Mr. Inez,” she told him.

“I couldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe they’d do that. To our own. Chaz Polaro was in the hospital, and they didn’t know if he was going to make it. And they’re in there, laughing. They’re the ones who did it, and they’re laughing.

“It could’ve been me that night, dead or maybe dying. It could have been any of us, and he’d done it. They’d done it. I went in, so pissed off. They were on this old mattress we had down there, and she was mostly naked. I said, ‘What the fuck, Lino.’ I’m sorry, Co

Joe began to talk quickly now, pushing the words out, pushing the memories. “I said, ‘You fucking bastard, you set that boomer on us.’ He started telling me to chill, frost it up. How it was strategy, for the good of the gang, and all this bullshit. I told him to get fucked, and I walked out. He came after me. We had a lot of words-and Co

“I kept my mouth shut. I kept it shut and the next day Lino and Chávez took off. I kept it shut when Pe

“Hold it there a second,” Eve told him. “Did Pe

“Hell, they bragged on it all the time. How they’d diced up Nick Soto. How they made their mark together.”

“Okay. Keep going.”

“I guess there’s not much more. A couple days after Lino left, the bomb hit the diner. And I kept it shut. I didn’t say anything to anybody, and five people died.”

“You knew about the second bomb beforehand?”

“Yeah, I knew.” He crushed the water cup in his hand. “I didn’t know the when and where, but I knew they were going to do it. I knew people would die, because Pe

“When did you last see Lino Martinez?”

“The day we had it out. I kept waiting for him to come back, but he never did. Chávez neither. Pe

“Okay, Joe, let’s go over some of the finer points again.”

Eve worked him through it, then punched details. When she thought she’d run him dry, she nodded. “I want to thank you for coming in today. You’ve been a big help.”

He stared up at her when she rose. “That’s all?”

“Unless you have something to add.”

“No, but… am I under arrest?”

“For what?”

“For, I don’t know, withholding evidence or… accessory or something.”

“No, Joe, you’re clear. You may be called on to testify in court as to the statements you’ve made today. If so, will you testify in court as to the facts?”

“We’ve got three kids. I have to show them how to do the right thing.”

“That’s all I need for now. Go home.”

Eve stepped out, wound her way to Observation and Reo.

“He’s clear,” Reo said, “but if you think we can make and win a case against Pe

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll get you more. I’ll get you plenty. The next on our lineup is Juanita Turner, the mother of one of the bodies Pe

“Today you’re a cop, lawyer, and shrink.” Sarcasm coated each word. “How do you do it?”

“You’re going to put her away, Reo, but if after the interview you want to put her away for first, I’ll send you on an all-expense paid vacation to Portafino.”

“I’ve always wanted to go there.”

Eve fueled up with a coffee, then turned to Peabody. “Ready?”

“Yeah.”

“Take the lead.”

“What? What?” Peabody jogged after Eve. “Did you say I should take the lead?”

For an answer, Eve stepped into the interview room. She sat, said nothing.

“Ah, record on,” Peabody began and recited the salients. “Mrs. Turner, have you been read your rights?”

“Yes.”

“And do you understand those rights and obligations?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Mrs. Turner, are you a member of St. Cristóbal’s Catholic Church?”

“Yes.”

“And were you acquainted with Father Miguel Flores?”

“No.” Juanita lifted her head now, and her dark eyes smoldered. “Because Father Flores never came to St. Cristóbal’s. A liar and a murderer came with his face. He’s probably dead, this Father Flores. Probably murdered. What do you think about that? What are you doing about that?”

Peabody kept her voice clipped, cool-and whatever her thought might have been, they were boxed outside the room. “Do you know the identity of the man who posed as Father Flores?”

“Lino Martinez. A murderer.”

“How did you come to be aware of his identity?”

“I figured it out.” She shrugged, looked away.

First lie, Eve thought.

“How?” Eve demanded. “Just how did you figure it out?”

“Things he said, how he acted, certain looks. What does it matter?”

“You worked with him at the youth center for over five years,” Eve added. “Went to the church. How long had you known who he really was?”

“I knew what I knew.” She folded her arms, stared hard at the wall. But the gestures of defiance lost impact with the quick, light shudders that worked through her. “It doesn’t matter how long.”

“Mrs. Turner, isn’t it true you were told his identity?” Peabody drew Juanita’s attention back to her. “You didn’t figure it out. You were told.” Peabody’s voice softened, into that confide-in-me tone Eve considered one of her partner’s finest tools. “Has Pe

“Why would she?”

“To ensure your silence. To make sure you take the fall for Lino Martinez’s murder alone. You did kill Lino Martinez, didn’t you?”

“I don’t have to tell you anything.”

“Bullshit.” Eve stood so abruptly, her chair flew back. “You want to play, Juanita, let’s play. Pe