Mercy

CHAPTER 32

Julie arrived home a little after nine o’clock and parked her Prius in her designated space. She trudged to the apartment building entrance as if she was dragging a cinder block chained to her leg. The day had drained her completely. Jordan had invited Julie to stay for dinner, but she politely declined. Best that he and the girls managed the evening routine without her interruption.

The girls were delightful, and Julie was glad to get to know the Cobb family. She was also glad Trevor was out for the night. She needed her space, quiet, and time to collect her thoughts. Julie had white wine chilled in the fridge and a new Downton Abbey on the DVR to watch. Except for Winston, the guinea pig, the apartment was hers alone for the night.

Jordan had an incredibly time-consuming task ahead of him, but he was ready to get to work. He would have to sift through all the recent deaths at White, and look at echocardiograms and EKGs for any signs of takotsubo. A third case should be something Dr. Coffey could not so easily brush aside with his Twinkie theory.

As she neared the door, a shadow cut across Julie’s vision. She stopped walking to look in that direction. An uneasy feeling took hold as a figure emerged from the darkness, a silhouette on approach. The pounding of Julie’s heart was louder than her footsteps had been. Her throat closed up, but Julie’s fear morphed into confusion when William Colchester stepped under a light. He wore a beige trench coat over his suit and Julie took special notice of his hands encased in leather gloves.

She did not like the gloves.

“What are you doing here?” Julie’s voice carried a hard edge as she squeezed her hands into fists.

“We need to talk.”

“We did that already. This is harassment. I told you as much. I’ll call the police.”

“I want to make a deal.”

“A deal?”

“That’s all. I came here with an offer.”

“How the hell do you know where I live, anyway? And how long have you been waiting for me?”

Colchester gave a sideways smile. “Long enough. And let’s just say I have a lot of loyal constituents.”

“Yeah, I know all about them. They like to share my private conversations with you and shake me down at the river. What is it you want?”

“I want you to leave this Brandon Stahl business alone.”

“And why should I do that?”

Colchester made two sidelong glances, as if worried somebody might be watching or listening. A conspiratorial look came to his face.

“There are some legislative bills coming before the House that, if passed, are very favorable to White Memorial-taxes, zoning, matters of that nature. What’s good for White could be advantageous to you. I’d be happy to do a little lobbying if you stop trying to free my son’s killer.”

Julie’s mouth dropped open.

“Are you bribing me like the others?”

“Ugly words. I’d prefer to think of it as a mutually beneficial arrangement.”

Julie paused. Her heart continued to race from the scare, but anger also entered into the mix. “You have no business confronting me like this,” she said.

Colchester took in a ragged breath. He stepped forward. Under the harsh light, Julie could better see the pain in his eyes. Much of the color had drained from a face marred by desperation.

Without provocation, Colchester reached out with a fast hand and seized Julie by her wrist. He squeezed hard, but not so hard that it hurt. Reflexively, Julie jerked back her arm, but Colchester would not let go. He held on like a drowning man clinging to a rope.

“Brandon Stahl is a nightmare my family is trying to put behind us. I called my wife after you left my office, and told her what you said, and she’s been crying ever since. People are going to be hurt by your actions, and you’ll accomplish nothing. Please, just stop. I’m begging you to leave this alone!”

His last words came out almost as a hiss. Julie twisted her arm and ripped free of his grasp. She rubbed where he had touched her. Her eyes blazed with fury.

“Touch me again and I’ll have you arrested for assault. Show up here again and I’ll file formal harassment charges. You have no business telling me what to do.”

Colchester sank back into the shadows.

“People will be hurt by what you’re doing,” he said.

“What I’m doing is finding out the truth.”

Colchester lowered his head and dropped his shoulders in a look of defeat.

“Remember what I told you,” he said. “Just remember that.” He stuffed his hands in his coat pocket and trudged up the garage ramp to the street level.

Julie watched him go. She continued to watch even after he was out of sight. Back in her apartment, Julie almost cracked a smile as she poured herself a glass of wine. Colchester was the cap to what had been an utterly insane day. From the riverbank of western Massachusetts, to the State House, to the streets of Dorchester, the day’s events-some terrifying, some maddening, some truly baffling-played back in her mind like a disjointed dream.

After she fed Winston, Julie sank into the sofa and got three minutes into her show when her cell phone rang. She figured it might be Lucy wanting an update on her meeting with Jordan Cobb, but the caller ID came up as SHERRI PLATT.

Julie became animated. Her pulse quickened.

“Sherri, I’m so glad you called.”

Sherri made heavy breathing noises, and it sounded to Julie like she was crying.

“I want to talk,” Sherri said.

“Good. I want to know the truth.”

Sherri’s breathing remained uneven.

“I need some time… to make some arrangements first.” The young nurse was clearly distraught.

“When do you want to speak?”

“Tomorrow,” Sherri said.

“I get to work at eight,” Julie said.

“Meet me after my shift in the cafeteria. I get off at three. I’ll tell you what I know-what I did.”

“You lied in court. Didn’t you? Just tell me that?”

“Tomorrow. I’ll tell you everything.”