JP hesitated. “I don’t think that would be appropriate.”
“Just sayin’. It might be a good distraction for her. And she might want to add something to your class book.”
“Did her brother go to school in Fontana?” JP was trying any angle. Maybe there were others that knew something, or maybe Maryanne confided in someone. Then he remembered the teacher said Maryanne was concerned about her little brother when she broke up with Rob. He wondered if it was the same little brother.
“He went there as a kid, but he never made it to real high school. Spent the little time he did in continuation school. He was a real screw-up.”
“When’s the funeral?” JP asked, as he covered Louie’s mouth to keep him from biting. “ Maybe I can catch up with her before she leaves town.”
“It’s Friday at St. Joseph’s in Fontana. That’s if the coroner released the body.”
“The coroner? How did he die?” JP was frustrated at Louie, but reached down and picked him up to keep him from growling or barking.
“The poor sap was beat to death. That kid just couldn’t catch a break. But the truth be told Scottie brought most of it on himself.”
Louie started licking JP’s face. He moved his head quickly to the side and almost missed what Steve was saying. “Scottie? His name was Scottie Miconi?”
“Scottie Jamison. He was her brother by another father, but the party line from the family is that they were always very tight.”
38
Bob and Sabre had just completed their last hearing in Department Four, but before they left the courtroom Judge Hekman spoke to them. “Brown and Clark, Judge Shirkoff wants to see you in his chambers.”
“Right now?” Bob asked.
“Right now.”
“You can go this way,” Judge Hekman said, as she moved her head in the direction of the back hallway.
They picked up their files and walked through the back door of the courtroom and into the hallway. They turned right and walked toward Department One. As they passed the sheriff’s office, they both nodded at the sergeant.
“What do you suppose Judge Jerk-off wants with us?” Bob asked.
“I don’t know, but when the presiding judge asks to see you in his chambers, you go to his chambers,” Sabre said. “I feel like a kid being sent to the principal’s office.”
“Did that happen a lot?”
“Not often. Mostly I was in trouble for talking too much.”
“Now there’s a surprise.”
“How about you?”
“I went a few times in high school. Once for smoking in the bathroom. Another time for drilling a hole between the girls and boys PE locker rooms.”
Sabre shook her head. “Maybe Shirkoff found out you’ve been stealing information on the ritual cases,” Sabre said in a whisper. They passed Attorney Jerry Leahy on his way to see a client in the holding tank and exchanged greetings.
“So why call you in, too?”
“Guilty by association?”
“Naw,” Bob said. “He’s not that smart.”
When they reached the end of the hallway, they stuck their heads in Judge Shirkoff’s chambers.
“Come on in,” the judge said.
“Hello, Your Honor,” Bob and Sabre both said at almost the same time.
“Have a seat,” he said. “I’ll get right to the point. As you know, there’s been a rash of unusual cases filed here at Meadowlark. I also know that you two are on several of them and that you have your pulse on the happenings here at court.”
“I don’t know about that, Your Honor,” Bob said.
“Don’t be modest. You two know more about what’s going on around here than anyone I know.” He looked from Bob to Sabre and back again. “But here’s the thing. I just want to hear your take on what’s happening. I realize it’s just your opinion and what you tell me stays here, but do you think there’s a satanic movement afoot?” He looked directly at Bob.
“Personally, I don’t think so. I think it’s a series of misunderstandings, some overzealousness perhaps on the behalf of a few people.”
Judge Shirkoff turned toward Sabre. “And you?”
Sabre chose her words carefully. “I agree with Bob. Something has obviously happened in this city, as evidenced by the so-called ‘Devil House’ they featured on the news. I know there were filings before that, but I think the news item sparked even more. My investigations on some of my cases are proving to have fewer demons than they first appeared to have.”
“In your investigation have you discovered who might be behind the rituals?”
“No. I’m sorry, Your Honor.”
“Are the attorneys panicking?”
Sabre said, “Not at all. There are a couple who seem more than a little concerned, but for the most part everyone is just trying to figure out what’s going on.”
Judge Shirkoff thanked them for their input and dismissed them. As soon as they left his chambers and were out of earshot of the judge, Sabre said, “What was that?”
Bob shook his head. “Beats me, but it was weird.”
“I think he knows you stole the reports,” Sabre teased. “And you better be nice to me or I’m going to squeal.”
“I think he’s under pressure from downtown. This is an election year, you know.”
“Of course.”
Sabre left Bob at the courthouse and drove to the hospital to see Mama T, silencing her phone before she entered. It was just past noon and she figured Mama T would probably be eating. At least she would have clean food while she stayed there. Sabre parked her car in the lot and walked inside. She went directly to the room she was housed in last night. When she arrived, she discovered her bed empty. Sabre felt a knot in the pit of her stomach. She approached the nurse’s stand, gave her name, and asked for Jane Doe in Room 312B.
“I’m afraid she’s gone.”
“What do you mean gone?”
“She left AMA.”
“AMA?”
“Against Medical Advice. She left on her own. We tried to persuade her to at least sign a release, but she didn’t seem to understand. She simply refused to stay and walked out.”
“When?”
“A couple of hours ago. Shortly after breakfast. I tried talking to her, but she just wouldn’t listen.”
“Why wasn’t I called?” Sabre asked, irritation evident in her voice.
The nurse looked at the records. “I’m sorry, ma’am but there’s no one listed as a contact.”
Sabre apologized for her behavior and hustled out the door, down the steps, and out to the parking lot. She was on the phone to JP before she reached her car.
“I’m going to drive back to the park and watch for her along the way. I’ll call if I find her. If I don’t find her, I’d like you to go with me back under the bridge where we first found her living, if you don’t mind. But first I have an appointment with Hayden’s foster mother at 1:30 and since he’s close by, maybe we could meet in the park around two-ish.”
“That’ll work. And, Sabre, don’t go to the bridge without me,” he said sternly.
Sabre drove slowly looking back and forth and in and out of alleys watching for Mama T. She knew it was hopeless. There were so many different routes she could’ve taken and she may not even know the way. She could be anywhere. Sabre noticed she had missed a message on her cell. She turned the ringer back on and checked. It was from her mother.
“Sabre, sorry I missed your call earlier. Are you coming this weekend? Beverly’s bridge partner is out of town and she wanted me to fill in, so please let me know. I’d much rather see you, of course, but if you’re not coming then I may as well help her out. I have a Soroptimist meeting shortly. I’ll talk to you later. I miss you, darling.”
Sabre felt her muscles tighten. For a fleeting second she felt like a four-year-old. She needed her mother but she wasn’t there for her. She dismissed the thoughts as quickly as they came.
Sabre called back and reached the voice mail. “Go ahead and play bridge with Beverly. Things at work are real crazy right now. I’ll call later. Love you.” Sabre hung up. She had too much to do anyway. She was even busier than her mother.
Sabre continued her search until she approached the park and it was time for her appointment. She made one last trip around the perimeter of the park before she drove the three blocks to Hayden’s house.
Once inside, the foster mother offered Sabre something to drink and then sat down on the sofa with her. “The reason I called is because Hayden has been acting a little strange.”
“In what way?”
“A couple of days ago, I saw him putting extra chips in his lunch bag. And I’ve noticed other food supplies are dropping quickly.” The foster mother waved her right hand. “That didn’t sound right. What I mean is that I wouldn’t care if he took extra food for himself to eat, but I don’t think he’s eating it. This morning he asked for an extra sandwich, and when I put it in his backpack I noticed he also had three bananas in there.”
“You know he didn’t have enough food at home, right? Maybe he’s just making sure he has plenty.”
“That’s what I thought at first, but this morning I asked him why he needed the extra sandwich and he said it was for Cole.”
“For Cole? What else did he say?”
“I didn’t question him any further. I thought it was best if you did. He’ll be here any second now and you can ask him yourself.”
“Thanks. How is he doing otherwise?”
“He’s all boy, but very sweet. Even though he’s constantly into everything and wrestles with the other kids, he’s always so loving when he gets too rough. If he makes someone cry, it breaks his heart and he’s quick with hugs and apologies.”
“I heard he had a visit with his siblings and his mom yesterday. How did that go?”
“I’ve never seen a kid so excited to see someone. He ran to his mother and jumped on her lap. He wouldn’t leave her side for a long time and he’s not one to sit still very long. Then he finally started playing with his brothers and sisters.”
“Did you stay there?”
“The visit took place at a park in El Cajon and I didn’t want to drive home and come back, so I walked a ways away and sat on a bench reading my book.”
“Did you observe Mom’s reaction to the children?”
“What I saw certainly seemed appropriate. She hugged them all a lot but not in a smothering kind of way. I’ve seen parents hold on to their children when they wanted to leave. It wasn’t like that. They were just as starved for her attention as she was theirs.”
“Did Hayden talk about the visit afterwards?”
“Non-stop all the way home and most of the evening. He felt pretty down about having to leave them and devastated that Cole wasn’t there.”
The front door swung open and Hayden dashed into the house. He tossed his backpack on the floor. “Hayden,” the foster mother said. Hayden looked up at her, picked up the backpack, and tossed it onto a chair. She just smiled. “Come over here, honey.”
“Hi, Hayden,” Sabre said.
Hayden walked over to the sofa. “Do you remember Ms. Brown, your attorney?”
Hayden nodded his head.
“She’d like to talk with you for a minute. Sit down here and I’ll go fix you a snack.”
Sabre questioned Hayden about school, his home visit, and anything else Hayden wanted to talk about. His comments about Cole not being at the park in El Cajon made a nice segue into the food issue.
“Your foster mother says you’re taking food for Cole. Is that true?”
Hayden nodded his head. “Uh huh.”
“Have you seen him?”
“Nope.” Hayden squirmed.
Sabre put her hand on his shoulder to comfort him. “It’s okay. We just need to know what you’ve been doing with the extra food.”
“I just leave it for him.”
“Where do you leave it?”
“At the fence. There’s a hole I put it through.”
“Did Cole tell you to do that?” Hayden shook his head from side to side. “So, why do you leave the food?” Sabre asked.
“Because that day when I saw him he said he was hungry, and we have plenty of food here.”
Sabre wanted to reach out and hug this sweet little boy. Her heart ached for him. “Does he pick up the food you leave?”
“At first he didn’t, but now it’s always gone when I go back the next day.”
39
Being on a stakeout wasn’t exactly the way Sabre had intended to spend the rest of her day, but JP wouldn’t have it any other way. She could’ve returned to her office, but she still needed to check on Mama T and JP was adamant she not go under the bridge alone. Besides, she hoped the stakeout would culminate by finding Cole. So there she sat with JP in the park under a tree across the street from Hayden’s school. The chain link fence at the end of the playground came to a corner near an intersection. Directly across the street was the outer edge of the park. Sometimes the cars blocked their view, but anywhere else they sat would’ve been too visible. Before they settled in, JP confirmed that the bag Hayden had left earlier was still there.
They had arrived a little after 2:00 p.m. and it was now almost 4:30. The students from the school had disbursed and there was little activity on that corner. The occasional pedestrian crossed the street toward the park. Sabre and JP leaned up against the tree like two lovers enjoying each other’s company.