Chasing The Dead

Chapter Forty-Two

Grace Canfield was waiting in Alex’s office when she arrived Tuesday morning.

“I’d say that you looked like something the cat dragged in, but you’d probably think it was a compliment,” Grace said. “When are you going to get some sleep and comb your hair?”

Alex ran her fingers along her scalp. “Best I can do.”

“You could put something on nicer than that army surplus you’re wearing.”

“These are cargo pants, not army surplus.”

“Why can’t you be one of those lipstick lesbians that dress nice, like Bonnie does?”

“Bonnie wears pants.”

“Men’s pants?”

“If you think all lesbians should look alike, why don’t you look like Oprah Winfrey?”

“’Cause I don’t have a hundred million dollars to help me get dressed every day, that’s why.”

Alex laughed.

“You are something else, Grace, you know that?”

“I’m just glad to see you smiling.” She paused. “Did Bonnie get ahold of you?”

Alex sat at her desk. “We ran into each other yesterday.”

“And?”

“What are you? My investigator or my mother?”

“What difference does it make? You need both.”

Alex sighed. “I suppose you’re right. We talked. Actually, Bonnie talked and I listened, and then she. . she left.”

“So are you two going to get back together?”

Alex pointed to the file Grace had in her hand. “I’d rather talk about whatever is in that file.”

“Soon as you answer my question.”

Alex scowled at her. “Grace. .”

“Don’t Grace me. Are you two getting back together?”

Alex sighed again. “We’ll see.”

Grace lit up. “Well, that’s better than yesterday’s ‘never.’ I served a subpoena on Fresh Start like you asked me. They told me that it takes a month to get copies of medical records and that they need a release signed by the patient. I told them they’d have to settle for a subpoena since the patient is dead and that I was going to haunt them every minute of every day it took to get those records, and they said we’d have them by tomorrow.”

“I’m glad you’re on my side. What about the rest?”

“I had one of my church ladies who’s doing the street outreach go with me last night to talk to some of those girls since none of them know me. One girl, name of Chantelle, told us that Joanie did have a special friend, the way she put it.”

“Did she have the special friend’s name?”

“No. Only thing she knew was that this guy has been helping Joanie a long time.”

“Helping her? Like something besides paying her for sex?”

“That’s right. She said it wasn’t a sex thing at all. More like a father thing.”

“Did she know anything about Joanie meeting this guy the night she was killed?”

“Maybe. She said Joanie had trouble with a john earlier that day. Said the guy hurt her the way he. .”

“Fucked her?”

“I wasn’t going to use that language, but yes. Anyway, Joanie came crying to Chantelle and Chantelle told her it goes with the territory and Joanie said not for much longer ’cause she was getting off the street. Chantelle didn’t think much of that because all the girls talk that way.”

“Go back to Chantelle and see if we can get a line on this john. If he hurt her, that could explain the vaginal bruising the coroner found.”

“I’ll go back down there tonight. And I checked Joanie’s arrest record. Most of the time, the judge let her go on her own recognizance. When she did have to post bond, she had enough cash that she didn’t need help.”

“How many prostitutes can post their own bond?”

“Just the ones that are making enough money and keeping it from their pimps.”

“Do we know if Joanie had a pimp?”

“Chantelle said Joanie didn’t have one as far as she knew.”

“So Joanie’s arrest records are a dead end.”

“Maybe, maybe not. The first time she was arrested was eleven years ago. It was for possession with intent to sell.”

“Which court was she in?”

“Clay County, up in Liberty. That’s where she grew up. The prosecutors up there like to ask for shock jail time for first offenders and the judges are known for going along with that. Only Joanie got put in a diversion program over the prosecutor’s objection.”

“She must have had a good lawyer.”

“That’s the funny thing. She didn’t have a lawyer.”

“How could she be put in a diversion program without having a lawyer?”

“According to the court file, she entered a guilty plea at her arraignment and the judge put her in the diversion program. She stayed out of trouble for two years until she was arrested in Jackson County for prostitution.”

“Who was the judge who put her in diversion?”

Grace opened her file, flipping through the pages. “Judge Anthony Steele. He moved up to the Court of Appeals not too long ago.”

“Hmm. I wonder why he did that.”

“You can ask him.”

“Maybe I will. I’ll call his office and see if I can get an appointment for today or tomorrow.”

“You won’t need an appointment.”

“Why not?”

“Girl, don’t you read your e-mail? Our big boss in the state capital decided she wanted to have a get-together honoring Robin’s memory. It’s this afternoon at four.”

“Where?”

“Judge West’s courtroom. And Judge Steele is going to speak. Meg Adler says we all got to be there.”

“I wouldn’t miss it.”