Stone Cold

Chapter Forty-Five

Rossi was in his car parked across the street from the public defender’s office. It had been eight hours since he’d gotten off the witness stand, and he was beginning to wonder if Grace Canfield was going to spend the night at her desk. He opened his phone and called Gardiner Harris.

“Anything happening at your end?” he asked.

“Nothing. I sent Trumbo inside a couple of hours ago. He said Blues was tending bar. He hung around for a few minutes and left.”

“Which door did you take?”

“The alley. There’s only one car parked there, so I figure it’s got to be his. The guy is staying put. How about you?”

“Same here. It doesn’t make sense.”

“What doesn’t make sense?” Harris asked.

“I’m sure Blues and Grace Canfield are working together on this Gloria Temple thing. First I see them coming out of Chouteau Courts together and then I see them talking on the street. She writes something down, probably the address where she’s stashed Gloria, and gives it to Blues. So why isn’t one of them babysitting her?”

“You mean instead of keeping our asses nailed down while we wait for them to do something or go somewhere?”

Rossi slammed his hand on the steering wheel. “Motherfucker! How could I be so fucking stupid? That’s exactly what they’re doing!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Blues knows we’re looking for Gloria. Grace Canfield must have found her. Blues saw me outside Chouteau Courts and again outside the courthouse today. He probably made you and Trumbo and told Grace to look out for me. He figures that we’re waiting for Grace or him to lead us to Gloria, so they hole up while someone else takes care of her and we sit here with our thumbs up our butts.”

“Who?”

“My guess? Lou Mason, the disbarred member of the defense team. Shit!”

“What do you want to do?”

“Let’s work this out. My CI said he saw Gloria at a crack house. If Grace Canfield found Gloria, she wouldn’t leave her there and she wouldn’t take her back to Virginia Sprague.”

“Because she knows we’re watching the apartment.”

“Right. So she has to put Gloria someplace where she’s not only safe but will stay put. How many places does that leave?”

“Hell if I know,” Harris said.

“Not many, and I’ll bet one of them is Grace Canfield’s house.”

“Why?”

“I checked her out. Her husband is a retired firefighter. Got a couple of medals for running into burning buildings and saving lives. Guy like that would tie Gloria down if that’s what it took.”

“Sounds like he’s the perfect babysitter,” Harris said.

**

Frank Canfield met Mason at the bottom of the stairs.

“Here’s your spy kit,” he said. “Did she tell you anything?”

Mason shook his head. “Maybe Grace can get something out of her.”

“I doubt it.”

“Why? Grace got her to come here.”

“Only ’cause she spent the money Virginia Sprague gave her and it beats the hell out of sleeping on the street or turning tricks for a hot meal, but that doesn’t mean she trusts Grace enough to talk to her, at least not yet. How long can you wait to find out what she knows?”

“Not long enough if the cops find her.”

“How are they going to get her to talk if you or Grace can’t?”

“Depends on whether they’ve got leverage we don’t.”

“Like what?”

“Like serious jail time. If the cops come for her, let me know.”

“You may not have to wait,” Frank said, pointing to the sedan pulling up in front of his house, watching the driver step out.

“Shit.”

“You know him?”

“Yeah. Hank Rossi. Homicide cop. He’s been chasing Gloria too.”

“What should I do if he asks if Gloria is here?”

“Let him in. No reason for you to get in any trouble over this. You’ve done enough and I appreciate it.”

He walked past Rossi to his car without stopping. “Evening, Detective.”

“Counselor,” Rossi said.

Frank Canfield stood outside his door. “Can I help you?” he asked Rossi.

Rossi flashed his badge. “I’m looking for a woman named Gloria Temple.”

Frank opened the door. “In the kitchen.”