Paige was biting her lip thoughtfully. ‘Most of the ladies Stevie and I spoke to today said the marriage had issues. That it had been rocky ever since they’d known Patricia. She’d had affairs in the past, so they were used to that. It was the age of this young man that had them alarmed – and Patricia too, when she was sober. When she was sober – or less drunk, anyway – she feared her husband would find out and kill her. Her words, they said. They also said she wasn’t sober very often. She drank a lot, apparently. Maybe we can understand a little bit of the why behind that now.’
Beside him, Gwyn tensed, but Thorne wasn’t going to embarrass her by calling attention to it and fixed his gaze on the bulletin board with its photos and string, making himself focus on the case.
‘If Judge Segal knew about the boy, I suppose it’s possible that he set his wife up to be killed. He’d be too smart to kill her himself. Unless it was a crime of passion, of course, which this wasn’t. It was too planned. If the judge was involved, he somehow connects to Tavilla because Tavilla somehow got his hands on Patricia and that damn key ring. If the judge isn’t involved, we still need to know how Tavilla got to Patricia.’ He stared at the photo of Patricia, feeling a pained sympathy for the assaults she’d endured, both in her youth and prior to her death. ‘Can we get access to her cell phone records?’
JD looked uncomfortable. ‘Both Hyatt and Joseph have them. What would you be hoping to find?’
‘How she was lured out on Saturday night,’ Thorne said. ‘Was she called to meet someone, like I was? Or did someone slip something in her drink at a bar she went to voluntarily? I want to know how she was abducted.’
‘I’ll see if I can find out,’ JD promised. ‘Joseph has let a few things “slip” in front of me, like the details from Hinman’s house today. He’s trying to help us as much as he can.’
‘Which we appreciate,’ Clay said. ‘But we can’t ignore a possible connection to the judge, if for no other reason than that Patricia was afraid of what would happen if he found out. We need to know more about Segal and any possible connection he has to Tavilla. Paige, would Grayson be willing to do some digging for us? Perhaps see if there are any rumors about him?’
Paige’s husband, Grayson Smith, was the senior assistant state’s attorney, one of the highest positions in the prosecutor’s office. He and Joseph’s wife Daphne, also a prosecutor, had recused themselves, unwilling to jeopardize any case law enforcement was able to build by interfering with the investigation, but Grayson could still be a valuable resource.
‘I’ll ask him,’ Paige promised. ‘He has told me a few things, like that Segal’s post is an appointed one, so he doesn’t have to worry about pleasing an electorate. That can make him more vulnerable to rumor, though. He also said that Segal had a solid record against crime in the past, but that he’s made some odd rulings recently. I was planning to dig into that first thing in the morning.’
Because it was getting late, Thorne realized. ‘I’m sorry. I’ve kept you all up way past your bedtimes. We should wrap this up.’
Clay’s expression became one of rueful amusement. ‘The perfect segue if I ever heard one, because now it’s my turn. Thorne, we made up signs for you for this part. Everybody?’ Everyone in the room except Gwyn and Thorne reached for a piece of poster board they’d stored at their sides. Even Lucy and Jamie held them. ‘Turn ’em,’ Clay instructed.
All of them read IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT, THORNE! in various colors, scripts and fonts, and all were decorated with glitter and stars. At the bottom of Lucy’s sign, Thorne could see a small signature. Cordelia Maynard. Stevie’s ten-year-old daughter.
He had to swallow the sudden lump in his throat. ‘Glitter? Wow, you guys went all out.’
‘It kept Cordelia busy for hours,’ Clay said dryly. ‘I’m not ashamed to say that I’ll use glitter to my own advantage if necessary. So this is the deal, Thorne, and if you even look like you’re thinking that it’s your fault, we have other props.’
‘Water guns,’ Paige said with such unabashed delight that Thorne laughed.
Clay smiled at him. ‘So the consequences will be severe, just a heads-up.’ He rolled his shoulders, as if preparing for a fight. ‘Okay. We are postponing both the christening and the barbecue afterward, but have spread the word that the service is still on and that only friends and family will be attending.’
Thorne’s mouth fell open. No. No way. ‘But—’ he started, only to see half a dozen glitter-covered signs being waved at him. He looked at Gwyn helplessly. She looked back, her eyes bright with unshed tears, clearly appreciating this expression of support.
‘We’re sending moms and kids to Chicago,’ Clay went on. ‘My friends are there and they’ll take care of Stevie, Lucy, Paige and all our babies. Julie and Cordelia are also going, so we will only have adults in the house, and only adults who can handle a firearm.’
Thorne looked up at Lucy in shock. ‘You knew about this?’
She nodded, her eyes soft. ‘Yep.’
He checked with JD to find him nodding as well. ‘The signs were my idea,’ JD said with complete seriousness.
‘The water pistols were mine,’ Paige added smugly.
Thorne shook his head, unable to hold back his smile. ‘Of course they were.’
‘Wait,’ Gwyn said, her mouth bent in a sudden frown. ‘You’re sending a bunch of new mothers and babies to Chicago alone?’
Paige looked offended. ‘Bite your tongue, girl. We’re not just a bunch of “new mothers”. We are super-moms. Stevie and I can take care of ourselves. And Lucy can . . . well, she can hit any bad guys with her violin.’
Lucy feigned a shudder at the notion. ‘Bite your tongue, girl,’ she said, then smiled at Gwyn. ‘Don’t worry, Grandma. We’ll be fine.’
‘And anyway, we’re not going alone,’ Paige added. ‘Grayson’s going with us. He’s been chomping at the bit because he hasn’t been able to do anything else to help. He’s being watched like a hawk,’ she said apologetically. ‘Damn judicial politics.’
He’d done a lot to help, though, Thorne thought. The prosecutor had fully supported Paige’s involvement, even if it caused him political hardship later.
‘Plus, Taylor and Ford are going with them,’ Frederick said. ‘And Clay’s friend Ethan. It’s all arranged. We’ll go on with the appearance of a small event attended by family and friends, and we’ll make sure we’re a target that Cesar Tavilla cannot resist.’ He narrowed his eyes. ‘All of your people in one place. All armed and ready for the motherfucker.’
Thorne opened his mouth, then closed it, because he was truly overwhelmed. These people had disrupted their lives. Risked their lives. For me.
Lucy chuckled. ‘We have achieved the impossible. Thorne is speechless.’
Gwyn gripped his collar and gently pulled him down to kiss his cheek. ‘Say thank you, Thorne.’
Thorne shuddered out a breath. ‘Thank you,’ he whispered.
‘That’s all?’ Paige asked, pushing her lip out in a pout. ‘I was hoping you’d fight us.’
Alec nudged her with his foot. ‘You just want to use the water guns.’
‘Damn straight,’ she grumbled, making Thorne laugh again.
‘Thank you,’ he repeated, his voice finally steady. ‘Really. Thank you.’
Twenty
Annapolis, Maryland,
Tuesday 14 June, 11.00 P.M.
He lifted his gaze from his computer lazily, or at least it would appear so to his guest. He’d intentionally made the judge wait, stewing the arrogant man in his own juices.
‘Can I help you, Judge Segal?’ he inquired politely.
The judge took an angry step forward, but was halted by Patton’s grip on his arm. He attempted to shake Patton off. The two were well matched in terms of size and muscle, but Patton was twenty years younger and armed.
The judge was not armed. Patton had searched him thoroughly.
‘You may let him go,’ he told Patton.
The judge adjusted his suit coat with the air of a man who’d been wronged. ‘Who the fuck do you think you are?’ he hissed.
He folded his hands atop his desk. ‘Cesar Tavilla. President and CEO of Los Se?ores de la Tierra.’
Segal shook his head, like that didn’t matter. But it would matter. By the time this was done, it would matter a great deal.
By the time this is done, I will own the man.