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It indicated a sea change in her mother’s attitude, and that was pretty damned wonderful, too.
CHAPTER 27
That morning the phone calls and messages that came to Joa
The messages included expressions of sympathy, concern, and outrage. There were offers of replacement furniture and appliances, offers to do free repairs and painting, to say nothing of offers of places to stay while the repairs were being made. The outpouring of sympathy was similar to the ones that had occurred when Andy died. The difference was, at the time of her husband’s death, Joa
Between calls and while she waited for Frank Montoya to return to the Justice Complex with Lucy Ridder, Joa
“What’s happening, Ernie? Any luck tracking the witness-protection offer?”
“Not so far, but we’re working on the problem. It would help if everyone I asked didn’t think I was pulling some kind of April Fool’s stunt.”
“Keep after it,” Joa
About eleven-thirty, Frank Montoya called her on her private line.
“We stopped for lunch on the way, but we’re driving into the parking lot right now,” he said. “How about if we use your private entrance so we don’t have to drag Lucy and Big Red in through the front lobby?”
“Are you telling me you brought the bird along?” Joa
“He’s wearing his hood,” Frank said. “Lucy refused to come without him.”
“Okay, then,” Joa
“Yes.”
A minute or so later, Frank ushered Lucy Ridder, Sister Celeste, and Big Red into Joa
“Mr. Montoya told us what happened to your house,” Lucy Ridder said, stopping beside Joa
“Thanks,” Joa
“Yes.”
“And that later on, after the interview is over, we’ll have an artist help you create a composite sketch of the man who killed your mother?”
“Yes, he told me that, too.” Lucy turned and surveyed the room. “Will my grandmother be with me when I talk to the detectives?”
Joa
“I thought she’d be here by now, but she isn’t,” Joa
Lucy nodded, then she brightened. “Since Grandma’s not here, can Sister Celeste come in with me? I’d feel better if she did.”
Joa
As soon as Frank took his charges and left for the conference room, Joa
“Who’s on duty at Catherine Yates’ house over by Pearce?” she asked.
Several seconds passed while Joa
“Has he checked in lately?”
“Not for an hour or two. Why?”
“He’s supposed to be keeping an eye on Catherine Yates, and I expected her to show up here by now. See if you can raise him by radio and find out what’s going on.”
Once Joa
The phone rang. “Yes.”
“This is odd,” Larry Kendrick said. “I’ve tried raising Deputy Galloway several times, but he doesn’t answer.”
“I don’t like the sound of that,” Joa
“Me neither,” Kendrick returned. “Deputy Pakin is over near the airport in Douglas right now. I’ve dispatched him to go to Pearce and check things out.”
Before Joa
Who the hell is Jerry Reed? Joa
Shaking her head, she bit back her sudden attack of irritation. “Send him in,” Joa
The man Kristin showed into Joa
“Pleased to meet you, Sheriff Brady,” he said, extending his hand. “My name is Jerry Reed. I’m a special investigator for the Attorney General’s office.”
“Which one?” Joa
He laughed. “The Attorney General,” he said, reaching into a pocket and extracting his ID. “The U.S. Attorney General.”
Joa
Jerry Reed eased himself into one of Joa
Jerry Reed’s tone of voice-his very attitude-put Joa
“And what would that be?” she asked, leaning back in her own chair and wishing she were wearing something more businesslike and tidy than yesterday’s somewhat grubby clothing.