Characters in The Outsider

The Alec in question was Alec Pelley, a retired State Police detective who now worked exclusively for lawyers defending criminal cases. He was expensive, and good at his job. Once, over drinks, Ralph had asked Pelley why he had gone over to the Dark Side.

… autopsy report (performed July 11th, by myself, with Dr Alvin Barkland assisting), there can be no doubt that the immediate cause of death was exsanguination (i.e., massive loss of blood). Teeth marks were found on the remains of Peterson’s face, throat, shoulder, chest, right side, and torso. The injuries, coupled …

Then, on April 25th, front page headline screamed that Amber and Jolene Howard, the missing Trotwood girls, had been found dead and mutilated in a ravine not far from their home. An unnamed police source said ‘those little girls were subjected to acts of unbelievable savagery.’

Howard had put himself through college, then helped to do the same for Eddie. He took care of his parents in their retirement (Andrew Gold had saved nary a nickel), and had plenty left over. He was a member of Rotary and the Rolling Hills Country Club.

Drop the bullshit and confess. Do it for Fred and Arlene Peterson, who’ve lost their son in the worst way imaginable. You’ll feel better.’ Terry did not draw back, as Samuels might have expected.

Three o’clock, Ralph thought. Almost the same time that Arlene Stanhope claimed to have seen Terry putting Frank Peterson’s bicycle into the back of the stolen white van, and then riding away with the boy in the passenger seat. No, not even almost.

I used to know an Augustin Sablo when I lived way down south, before I was married. He drove a bread truck in Laredo and Nuevo Laredo. When he came by t’house, my sisters and I used to clamor for churro éclairs. No relation to him, I suppose?’

Avery Rudolph, State Police Post 7 Det. Ralph Anderson, Flint City PD From: Det. Lieutenant Yunel Sablo, State Police Post 7 Date: July 13th Subject: Vogel Transportation Center, Dubrow As per request of DA Samuels and Detective Anderson, I arrived at the Vogel Transportation …

The crowd rose to its feet as Baibir Patel, the Dragons’ tying run at third, jinked a few steps down the line. They settled back with a groan as the ball bounced into the catcher’s mitt.

Barbara Nearing, her name is. Hers are much older, which lets her out of any part in the Peterson murder.’ ‘Okay, but we still need DNA. He refused the swabs.’ Unlike fingerprints, DNA cheek swabs were considered invasive in this state.

… in lockstep down the third base line, past Barry Houlihan, who was coaching there. ‘Time, time!’ the home plate umpire bellowed, stopping the Bears pitcher just as he went into his wind-up. Trevor Michaels stepped out of the batter’s box, and with an expression of relief, Terry thought. The crowd …

Betsy Riggins, who should have been on maternity leave, would be assisting the State Police with another aspect of this evening’s work. He hoped to God they weren’t going too fast.

‘Perfectly all right,’ Holly said. ‘I spoke with Captain Bill Darwin of the Dayton Police Department, and Sergeant George Highsmith of the Trotwood PD.

… so maybe the delivery was going faster than Billy Riggins, a nervous novice at this, had expected. Ralph buttonholed a nurse and asked her to tell Betsy that he wished her all the best. ‘I will when I get the chance,’ the nurse said, ‘but right now she’s very busy.

Carl and Calvin Jamieson. Couple of pint-sizers lookin for trouble, and they sure found it. They were with the party that went into Snake’s Belly, right behind their ma and pa at the end of the line, but not with em when they came out.

… suites, paying especially close attention to Maitland’s, because Cam Melinsky said he saw Heath coming out of there. Cam’s a janitor. He noticed Heath especially because he – Cam, I mean – was washing the hall floor, and Heath took a slip and went on his ass.’ ‘You’re sure of …

‘I’m Candy Wilson.’ ‘It’s nice to meet you.’ ‘Uh-huh, that’s good, but if I’m going to put my job on the line for you, it will cost two hundred.’ She paused, then added: ‘And fifty.’ ‘All right,’ Holly said.

‘Only they weren’t too small for the twins,’ Ralph guessed. ‘That’s the nail, sir, and you hit it on the head. Carl and Calvin Jamieson. Couple of pint-sizers lookin for trouble, and they sure found it.

‘It belonged to a part-time carpenter and handyman named Carl Jellison, who lives in Spuytenkill, New York, a little town between Poughkeepsie and New Paltz. He took his keys, but there was a spare in a little magnetic box under the rear bumper.

Detective Anderson: I understand you were seeing them with Carla Jeppeson, known as Pixie Dreamboat when she’s working. Bolton: You should know, since she came back in the cruiser with me. She also appreciated the ride, by the way. Said it beat the hell out of Trailways.

He tried to escape by way of a convenient ladder. Carlotta grabbed him by the back of his billowing robe and tossed him over her shoulder. He did a midair flip and landed on his backside.

… 8 Statement of Mr Carlton Scowcroft [July 12th, 9:30 PM, interviewed by Detective Ralph Anderson] Scowcroft: Will this take long, Detective? Because I usually go to bed early. I work maintenance on the railroad, and if I don’t clock in by seven, I’ll be in dutch. Detective Anderson: I’ll …

Marcy gave him a wan smile. ‘Lukesh and Chandra Patel volunteered. Their son was on Terry’s team. In fact, Baibir was on third base when ...’ She looked at Detective Anderson. ‘When your men arrested him. Baibir was heartbroken. He didn’t understand.’ Anderson crossed his arms and said nothing.

Charlie Borton was chief then. Our fathers got us out, but I was grounded for the whole summer. Detective Anderson: Well, we appreciate you coming in. Tell me where were you at seven PM on the night of July 10th.

‘Yes. Here is Chief Ahiga in 1926, two years before he died. By then he’d changed his name to Thomas Higgins.’ She showed him a second picture. ‘Holy shit!’ Ralph exclaimed. ‘I’d say he went native, but this is more like the opposite.’

And still, he was relieved. He called his daddy. Clark Elfman answered on the second ring. ‘Were those cans out there in that barn?’ ‘Yuh,’ Dougie said. ‘I got two dozen, but they’ll have to be warshed out. Still smell like clabbered milk.’ ‘What about the hoss-tack?’ ‘All gone, Daddy.’

… 16 Statement of Mr Claude Bolton [July 13th, 4:30 PM, interviewed by Detective Ralph Anderson] Detective Anderson: Well, Claude, it must be nice for you to be here when you’re not in trouble. Refreshing. Bolton: You know, it kind of is. And to get a ride in the front of …

According to Mr Clinton Ellenquist, the Flint City Cab Company dispatcher who was on duty on the night of July 10th, driver Willow Rainwater called in at 9:30 PM to report she had delivered her fare.

… who worked the night shift – Cody, his name was – always had a good supply of little white pills. Cody sold them to the truckers either highballing north to Chicago or down south to Texas. For Jack Hoskins of the Flint City PD, there would be …

… Dave is our beagle. He has his evening meal at five. My wife and I eat at five thirty. By six, Dave is ready to take care of his business – Number One and Number Two, I mean. I walk him while Sandy – my wife – does up the …

… ‘My uncle Dave. In the fields, mostly. I’m a good driver. Standard or automatic, makes no difference. My uncle Dave, he had a heart attack and died.’

‘What’s first on your list?’ ‘Checking with that other teacher, Deborah Grant. Just a t to cross. I have no doubt she’ll confirm that Terry was on the trip to Cap City, although there’s always a chance that she noticed something off about him that Roundhill and Quade missed.

The only place I can think of to go is my sister’s in Michigan, and that wouldn’t be fair to Debra and Sam. They’ve got two kids of their own, and the house is small.

‘Who pays?’ ‘Insurance. Peter Maitland had very good insurance. Dolores insisted. Peter was a heavy smoker all his life, and she probably thought she’d inherit a bundle when he went. But she went first.

‘Kid named Douglas Elfman found the discarded clothes late yesterday afternoon. Recognized the horse’s head belt buckle from a news report. Called his dad, who got in touch with the SP right away. I got there with the crime van around quarter to six.

Other than slightly elevated weight and cholesterol, Dr Elway had pronounced him fine and fit. He glanced at the clock and saw it was quarter to four. He lay back, looking up at the ceiling.

… Only a telltale stiffness behind her left knee after the post-funeral gathering at the Petersons’ next door, but she knew the signs and begged Dr Richland for an oxycodone prescription, which he had reluctantly written.

I am drinking Boost to try and put on a little weight, because Dr Stonefield says I’m too thin. I don’t like it, but each can has two hundred and forty calories, according to the label. I’m taking my Lexapro, and I’m not smoking.

… the Southwest in an Airstream trailer with his wife and two sons, Howard and Edward. Howard had put himself through college, then helped to do the same for Eddie. He took care of his parents in their retirement (Andrew Gold had saved nary a nickel), and had plenty left over.

… Lieutenant Yunel Sablo District Attorney William Samuels From: Dr Edward Bogan Date: July 14th Subject: Blood Typing and DNA Blood: Several items were tested for blood type. The first was the branch used to sodomize the victim, Frank Peterson, a white male child, 11 years of age. This branch was …

… families, too, and I’ll have to talk to Elaine Gold after I leave here. That’s going to be awful. Yune has been hurt, and my husband risked his life. I know you’re in pain, but this part is not about you. Ralph needs your help. So do the others. So …

These samples were conveyed to me by Sgts Elmer Stanton and Richard Spencer of the State Criminalistics Division, and I therefore state that the chain of evidence remains intact.

I went with Everett Roundhill, Billy Quade, and Debbie Grant. The entire Flint High School English Department, in other words. My Expedition was in the shop because the air conditioner died, so we took Ev’s car. He’s the department chairman, and he’s got a BMW. Plenty of room.

… over, everyone in the neighborhood, plus well-wishers from other parts of town, not to mention Father Brixton and his various hangers-on (his groupies, Fred thought) from St Anthony’s. On and on they had come, a stream of mourners and gawkers. Fred …

We all saw it. Later, Father Joaquim said it was just wet rust from under the eaves running down her face, but we all knew better. Father did, too.

… at those crime scene pictures, and think about Felicity Ackerman’s autopsy addendum. Guys like this never stop at one.’ Color began to mount in Samuels’s cheeks. ‘You think I haven’t? Christ, Ralph, I was the one who called him a fucking cannibal, on the record.’ Ralph slid a palm up …

… 5:45 PM, interviewed by Detective Ralph Anderson, Mrs Francine Morris in attendance] Detective Anderson: Thank you for bringing your daughter down to the station, Mrs Morris. June, how’s that soda? June Morris: It’s good. Am I in trouble? Detective Anderson: Not at all. I just want to ask you a …

… As Jeanette Anderson was rubbing her husband’s back, Fred Peterson and his older son (now, with Frankie gone, his only son) were picking up dishes and setting the living room and the den to rights. And although it had been a remembrance gathering, the remains were pretty much the same …

Baibir didn’t. The next pitch was wide, but Trevor flailed at it, anyway. ‘Strike him out, Fritz!’ a leather-lung shouted from high up in the bleachers – almost surely the fireballer’s father, from the way the kid snapped his head in that direction. ‘Strike him owwwwwt!’

Ten feet away, Gabriela Sablo was exhorting her boys to leave papi alone, or they would break his arm all over again. ‘What does Derek know about this?’ Ralph asked his wife. ‘He knows that his dad was in a shootout down in Texas, and that you’re all right.

Gavin Frick, Terry’s assistant coach, paced up and down in front of the boys on the bench, the scorebook rolled up in one hand (how many times had Terry asked him not to do that?), and his XXL Golden Dragons tee-shirt straining over his belly, which was XXXL at …

I goddam doubt it. His brother put the notion in his head. No greater fool than Roger Bolton ever walked the earth, but George thought their fortunes was made. Roger moved down here with his family and the two of em went partners.

… 12 Statement of Mr George Czerny [July 13th, 8:15 AM, interviewed by Officer Ronald Wilberforce] Officer Wilberforce: Thank you for coming in, Mr Czerny— Czerny: You say it ‘Zurny.’ C-Z-E-R-N-Y. The C is silent. Officer Wilberforce: Uh-huh, thanks, I’ll make a note of that. Detective …

… Darwin of the Dayton Police Department, and Sergeant George Highsmith of the Trotwood PD. When I told them we had a similar case, possibly connected by a stolen van that had been near both their crime scene and ours, they were willing to help, and thanks to the magic of …

… McGill was handling the incoming, and would until Gerry Malden arrived at eleven. For the time being, her job was simple, if repetitive: The Flint City Police Department has no comment at this time. The investigation is ongoing. Meanwhile, Ralph had been working his own phone. Now he put it …

Against the older girl’s shoulder, Grace Maitland’s head went back and forth in a gesture of negation. ‘Not after dark, hon,’ Jamie Mattingly said. And not tonight, Alec thought. Not for many nights to come. Days, either. ‘Come on, girls,’ Tom said with manufactured (and rather ghoulish) good cheer.

… ‘Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm welcome to today’s guest speaker, Mr Harlan Coben!’ From the wings strode a bald gentleman so tall that when he bent to shake hands with Ms McDermott, he looked like a guy greeting a child in a grown-up’s dress.

‘I’ve got a note from Harley Bright – he’s the boss – saying all the stuff you just looked at is supposed to be saved for a lawyer named Howard Gold.’ ‘I don’t care what you do with it,’ Ralph said.

The boys brushed past Jeannie (one of them, a husky preteen named Hector, almost knocked her off her feet) and bolted for their father, whose arm was in a cast and a sling.

Francine Morris: Since she turned nine, we’ve let her go down the street by herself to see her friend Helen. As long as it’s daylight. We don’t believe in being helicopter parents. I won’t after this, you can be sure of that.

… type, as confirmed by Frank Peterson’s family doctor, Horace Connolly. There are many other traces of O+ on the branch, caused by a phenomenon called ‘splashback’ or ‘sudsing.’ These likely flew up as the victim was sexually violated, and it is fair to assume that the perpetrator also sustained splashback …

… while he drank his iced tea, then called Horace Kinney of the Texas Highway Patrol. Kinney was now a captain, mostly riding a desk, but Ralph had worked with him several times on interstate cases when the man had been a trooper, logging ninety thousand miles a year in north …

His name is Howard Gold. When he gets here, I’ll want to talk to him privately. I assume that’s my right? Since I’m presumed innocent until proven guilty?’ Quick recovery, Ralph thought. A career criminal couldn’t have done it better. ‘It is indeed,’ Samuels said.

Jamie Mattingly, a neighbor, had stepped up and taken Sarah and Grace to her house. Both girls had been crying. Jamie had been, too. ‘Terry, what are they doing? What should I be doing?’ He twisted momentarily free of Yates, who had him by the arm. ‘Call Howie!’

… 4 As Jeanette Anderson was rubbing her husband’s back, Fred Peterson and his older son (now, with Frankie gone, his only son) were picking up dishes and setting the living room and the den to rights. And although it had been a remembrance gathering, the remains were pretty …

Jack remembered a huge black mole (growing, always growing) on his uncle Jim’s cheek; he remembered the raw sores on his mother’s breastbone and eating into her left arm.

These samples were conveyed to me by Trooper John Koryta (Post 7) and Sgt Spencer of the SCD, and I therefore state that the chain of evidence remains intact. No AB+ blood has been found in the Subaru Outback as of this report.

John Zellman isn’t a total asshole, and that town line titty-bar of his needs a new license to operate every year. That might incline him to be helpful. I’ll call you back if I strike out. If it goes the way I think it will, he’ll call you.’ ‘Thanks, Betsy.’

… ‘Johnny, he’s my hubby, wanted to paper the neighborhood a week before, but I told him that was no good, people would forget, so we did it the day before. We hired a kid, and printed enough menus for him to cover a nine-block area.’

… His kid brother, Johnny, three years younger, had not been much good when it came to hide-and-seek. Many times he’d just run into his bedroom and throw the covers over his head, apparently thinking that if he couldn’t see Ralphie, Ralphie couldn’t see him.

Then, on April 25th, front page headline screamed that Amber and Jolene Howard, the missing Trotwood girls, had been found dead and mutilated in a ravine not far from their home. An unnamed police source said ‘those little girls were subjected to acts of unbelievable savagery.’

… 2 Statement of Mr Jonathan Ritz [July 10th, 9:30 PM, interviewed by Detective Ralph Anderson] Detective Anderson: I know you’re upset, Mr Ritz, it’s understandable, but I need to know exactly what you saw earlier this evening. Ritz: I’ll never get it out of my mind. Never. I think …

He stood up. ‘I better get the rest of those clothes off the line. Then I want to go over to Jorge’s and ask if I can help him out tomorrow. He’s roofin.’ ‘You’re a good boy, Claude.’

Ralph brought the video up to full screen. ‘Hello, everybody! Welcome! I’m Josephine McDermott, this year’s president of the Tri-State Teachers of English. I’m so happy to be here, and to officially welcome you to our yearly meeting of the minds. Plus, of course, a few adult beverages.’

… ‘Not much, not really, but as it so happens, I do have a warrant, and it was executed by Judge Carter before you made the arrest. It should be sitting in your fax machine right now.

You’re going to be arraigned tomorrow at nine o’clock, Terry, in front of Judge Horton. You will be looking reet and complete in the nice suit your wife brought, which is now hanging in the prisoner storage closet.

‘How did he manage that?’ Ralph asked. ‘He didn’t. I did. Well, I managed half of it. Judge Martinez is in the hospital with a perforated ulcer, and that was God’s doing. Or maybe just too much hot sauce.

When the lady in charge – Mrs June Kelly – asked him what he was doing there during his vacation, he said he had to get something out of his locker, and he thought he’d check on a couple of patients while he was there.

… June Morris: Old people are forgetful, that’s what my grandpa says. Francine Morris: Junie, that’s impolite. Detective Anderson: It’s okay. Your grandpa sounds like a wise man, June.

… was from Kinderman, in State Police Computer Forensics. Ralph pulled over at once and called back. Kinderman answered on the first ring. ‘Don’t you guys take Sunday night off?’ Ralph asked. ‘What can I say, we’re geeks.’ In the background, Ralph …

In the newsstand, Lorette Levelle was once more rearranging her bits of jewelry. Alec’s visit there was brief. He went back outside, leaned against his Explorer, and called Howie Gold. ‘I beat Anderson to the security footage – plus the TV tape – but he beat me to the book.

Ain’t that a good one? Lovie Ann Bolton.’ Ralph thanked him and hung up. ‘Well?’ Jeannie asked. ‘Hang on,’ Ralph said. ‘Notice I’ve got my think-face on.’ ‘Ah, so you do. Could you use an iced tea while you think?’ She was smiling. It looked good on her, that smile.

Gavin Frick, Barry Houlihan, and Lukesh Patel – Baibir’s father – practiced the boys both days.’ For a moment there was silence in the car, not even interrupted by the radio, which had been turned off.

She stopped and powered down her window. ‘Are you Marcia Maitland, ma’am?’ ‘Yes. I can’t get into my garage with those vehicles in my driveway.’ ‘Park at the curb there,’ he said, pointing behind one of the cruisers.

Carlotta, Maria, and Rosita were strong, and brave, always helping the poor and downtrodden.

It was a fighter’s stance. ‘I don’t have any kids. Marie couldn’t.

Based on interview w/ co-owner MARY HOLLISTER, I am confident this date is correct. Such being the case, we can be sure it was the date MERLIN CASSIDY abandoned the van in nearby parking lot. Note that MAITLAND FAMILY arrived Dayton around noon on Saturday, April 21st.

Thank God our own girl is away at camp. We were only at the game tonight because Sarah and Maureen are best buds.’ At the mention of her friend, Sarah Maitland also began to cry, and that got her sister cranked up again.

… this cemetery, perhaps even before the deaths of Mavis Holmes and her son. Holly thought (she knew it might only be a fancy) she could smell its presence. Brady Hartsfield had had that same smell about him, the stink of the unnatural. Bill had known it; the nurses who had …

Howie looked at Marcy and shrugged. Up to you. ‘Terry was Peter and Melinda’s only child,’ Marcy said. ‘He grew up here in Flint City, as you know, and lived here all his life, except for four years at OSU.’ ‘Where you met him?’ Ralph asked.

I told you about the kid – Merlin Cassidy’s his name, by the way – and I can see you don’t want to listen to anything else.’ ‘No, wait, sit back down a minute,’ Ralph said. ‘You told me one, now I’m going to tell you one.

… the security office, where I was met by Michael Camp, Vogel’s Security Director. He was ready for me. Surveillance footage is kept for 30 days, and the whole operation is computerized, so I was able to review everything from the night of July 10th, as seen from a total of …

He invited one of the kids – Misty Trenton, it had been, she of the deliciously short skirts – up to the front of the room and asked her to take a sip. She had done so.

‘Hey, Mitchell,’ Terry said. The guard who had monitored Terry’s shave, making sure the prisoner did not try to cut his throat with a single-blade Bic, raised his eyebrows but didn’t unfold his arms.

… about the other place,’ Marcy went on, ‘of course I did, but I never thought of mentioning it to Mr Donelli. Terry took me there once, but it’s so far out of town ... and so lonely ...’ ‘What other place would that have been?’ Holly asked. A …

They had been studying pollution. Mr Greer had produced a bottle of Poland Spring water and poured it into a glass.

She was on her tenth breath, and feeling decidedly woozy, when Mr Jagger from across the street joined her and tapped her on one bony shoulder. ‘Is he dead?’ ‘Not if I can help it,’ said Mrs Gibson.

They could hear the boys callin from all the openins leadin off from the Snake’s Belly, and they knew exactly which one they went into, because when one of the guides shone his flashlight, they could see a little plastic Chief Ahiga Mr Jamieson bought one of the boys in …

… to my daddy’s baseball shirt with the golden dragon on it, then it turned into white, like what Mrs Gerson wears when she does my mom’s hair.’ Ralph glanced at Marcy, who said, ‘I think she means a smock top.’ ‘Yes,’ Grace said. ‘That. But then …

‘You saved him, June! You saved that poor bugger’s life!’ Wiping warm spittle from her chin – a mixture of hers and Peterson’s – Mrs Gibson said, ‘Maybe so. And maybe it would have been better if I hadn’t.’

Rolf Jacobs got one on the playground last year when he fell down, and it didn’t scare me. I was going to give him my handkerchief, but Mrs Grisha took him to the nurse’s office before I could. Detective Anderson: How close were you? June Morris: Gee, I don’t know.

Detective Anderson: This would have been at what time, Mom? Francine Morris: The local news was on when Junie left. Norm was watching while I did the dishes. So, between six and six thirty. Probably quarter past, because I think the weather was on.

‘Above your pay grade, Officer Keene.’ Ralph sat down on one side of the table and waited to see if Terry would agree to make an appearance. No porn on Terry’s computers, and no stashes of porn in the house, at least that they had found so far.

Following a refreshingly brief interval on hold, an Officer Linden came on the line and asked how he could help her. Holly found this delightful. A polite policeman always brightened her day.

She considered this for a moment, then said: ‘Oliver Peterson is dead because you and that sonofabitch Samuels had to put on your circus. And you killed him, didn’t you, Detective Anderson? Shot him in the head. Got your man. Excuse me, your boy.’

‘His name was Owen Sipe. Corporal Owen Sipe.’ ‘Okay. You tell Claude and his momma – which is the same thing as telling the outsider, if he really can get inside Claude’s head – that you got a call from Corporal Sipe saying that a man roughly matching Claude’s description …

… on the nursing staff is a woman named Penny Prudhomme, and she heard one of the cops talking on his phone after they searched B-5. He said they found hair in the room, and it was blond. What do you think of that?’ ‘I think they must have run a …

‘The deal is Peter Maitland is suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s disease,’ Marcy said. ‘He’s in the Heisman Memory Unit. It’s part of the Kindred Hospital complex.’ ‘So. Tough for Terry to go see him, I guess.’ ‘Very tough,’ Marcy agreed. She was warming up a little now.

… The child-stealer flipped his cloak over the little girl and fled, but not before a fellow emerging from one of the street’s many bars hailed him in another hideous Speedy Gonzales accent: ‘Hey Professor Espinoza, where you go’een? Let me buy you a dreenk!’

… Attorney William Samuels Flint City Chief of Police Rodney Geller Flint County Sheriff Richard Doolin Capt. Avery Rudolph, State Police Post 7 Det. Ralph Anderson, Flint City PD From: Det. Lieutenant Yunel Sablo, State Police Post 7 Date: July 13th Subject: Vogel Transportation Center, Dubrow As per request of DA …

These samples were conveyed to me by Sgts Elmer Stanton and Richard Spencer of the State Criminalistics Division, and I therefore state that the chain of evidence remains intact.

Gavin said, hustling up (and almost tripping over Richie Gallant’s discarded first baseman’s mitt). ‘We’ve got a game to finish here!’ Yates pushed him back, shaking his head. The crowd was dead silent now. The Bears had abandoned their tense defensive postures and were just watching, their gloves dangling.

‘I’m not running for re-election.’ ‘No?’ ‘No. Let that lazy asshole Richmond have the job, and see how people like him when he refuses to prosecute eighty per cent of the cases that land on his desk.

Behind Shorty’s Pub. Scowcroft: Yeah, me and Riley Franklin. I ran into him there, and we ate together. Out back, that’s where people go to smoke. Down the hall between the restrooms and out the back door. There’s an ash bucket and everything.

… Attorney William Samuels Flint City Chief of Police Rodney Geller Flint County Sheriff Richard Doolin Capt. Avery Rudolph, State Police Post 7 Det. Ralph Anderson, Flint City PD From: Det. Lieutenant Yunel Sablo, State Police Post 7 Date: July 13th Subject: Vogel Transportation Center, Dubrow As per request of DA …

His brother put the notion in his head. No greater fool than Roger Bolton ever walked the earth, but George thought their fortunes was made. Roger moved down here with his family and the two of em went partners. Anyway, the goldendoodle pups died, just like the alpacas.

Rolf Jacobs got one on the playground last year when he fell down, and it didn’t scare me. I was going to give him my handkerchief, but Mrs Grisha took him to the nurse’s office before I could. Detective Anderson: How close were you? June Morris: Gee, I don’t know.

… George Czerny [July 13th, 8:15 AM, interviewed by Officer Ronald Wilberforce] Officer Wilberforce: Thank you for coming in, Mr Czerny— Czerny: You say it ‘Zurny.’ C-Z-E-R-N-Y. The C is silent. Officer Wilberforce: Uh-huh, thanks, I’ll make a note of that. Detective Ralph Anderson will also want to talk to you, …

Not Academy Award material, but interesting, just the same.’ ‘That was one of the ones Rosita Muñoz was in,’ Lovie said. ‘The cholita luchadora. We all wanted to be her, me and my friends. I even dressed up like her one Halloween.

… place I can think of to go is my sister’s in Michigan, and that wouldn’t be fair to Debra and Sam. They’ve got two kids of their own, and the house is small. It would mean starting all over again for me, and I feel too tired to do that.

I walk him while Sandy – my wife – does up the dishes. It’s a fair division of labor. A fair division of labor is very important in a marriage, especially after the children have grown up …

All four buttons on Ralph’s desk phone were lit up, but Sandy McGill was handling the incoming, and would until Gerry Malden arrived at eleven. For the time being, her job was simple, if repetitive: The Flint City Police Department has no comment at this time. The investigation is ongoing.

Although Alec had no kids himself, he liked them fine, and Sarah Maitland’s instinctive gesture hurt his heart: a child protecting a child. He stood in the middle of the room, hands clasped before him. ‘Sarah? I’m a friend of Howie Gold’s. You know him, don’t you?’ ‘Yes.

… ’s never seen me before, although I went to just about every one of the Pop Warner games Stevie and Stanley played in, and told him about how to run a double reverse, which he never did because he said it was too complex for little kids. Although …

… Samuels had been joined by Troy Ramage and Stephanie Gould, a patrolwoman who had come on duty at eight. She had a DNA kit, still in its plastic bag. Ignoring Howie’s oy vey, big trouble comment, Ralph asked the lawyer if he and his client would okay a DNA swab.

… like he’s never seen me before, although I went to just about every one of the Pop Warner games Stevie and Stanley played in, and told him about how to run a double reverse, which he never did because he said it was too complex for little …

‘Doing well so far,’ the outsider said. ‘Walk close to the wall, that might be safest.’ Afest ... est ... est ... Ralph reached the bottom. The outsider stood motionless near his strangely domestic lamp.

‘Tom Mattingly.’ Alec shook with him, prepared for a strong grip. He was not disappointed. ‘I’m not normally suspicious, this is a nice quiet neighborhood, but I told Jamie that we had to be super careful while we’ve got Sarah and Grace under our roof.

Try the handicap spaces.’ From the shotgun seat, Officer Tom Yates said, ‘Two-hundred-dollar fine for that, boss.’ ‘I think we’ll get a pass this time,’ Ralph said. ‘I was joking.’ Ralph, in no mood for cop repartee, made no reply. ‘Crip spaces ahoy,’ Ramage said. ‘And I see two empties.’

… ‘You’ve got a boy yourself – Tommy, right? Isn’t that why you started coaching Pop Warner with Terry, because Tommy was playing? He had his hands on your son, too. And now you’re going to defend him?’

Bolton: Was it Tony Ross told you me and Carla went to Cap City? Detective Anderson: Yes. Bolton: We got a rate at that motel because Tony’s uncle owns it. Tony was also on duty Tuesday night, that’s when I asked him to call his unc.

The crowd was clapping, stamping the metal bleachers, and cheering as little Trevor Michaels stepped into the lefthand batter’s box. His batting helmet was the smallest one they had, but it still shaded his eyes and he had to keep pushing it up.

Troy Ramage, a twenty-year veteran, was behind the wheel of the unmarked. As he cruised up one packed row and down another, he said, ‘Whenever I come here, I always wonder who the hell Estelle Barga was, anyway.’ Ralph made no reply.

Terry Maitland stood with Howie at his side. Facing them were County Sheriff Dick Doolin, Ralph Anderson, and Vernon Gilstrap, the assistant district attorney. Samuels would already be at the county courthouse, awaiting their arrival. Sheriff Doolin continued to hold out the bulletproof vest, saying nothing.

… He was able to confirm that Maitland and William Quade had stayed in room 644 on Tuesday night, and the hotel manager was able to show him the bill, but it was Quade’s signature.

… Flint County district attorney William Samuels strode to the podium in the courthouse conference room with a slim folder in one hand.

… duty on the night of July 10th, driver Willow Rainwater called in at 9:30 PM to report she had delivered her fare. The Southern Limited, which Ms Rainwater has stated is the train the subject under investigation meant to take, pulled into the Vogel at 9:50 PM. Passengers disembarked at …

… by Detective Ralph Anderson (Flint City PD) and Trooper Yunel Sablo (State Police Post 7). I therefore state that the chain of evidence remains intact. The blood on the last 5 ̋ of this piece of branch is O+, which is the victim’s type, as confirmed by Frank Peterson’s family …