Michael Baden: Remains Silent

“Mycroft, Daddy’s complimenting you!”

Daddy? I’m now the dog’s daddy, Jake thought.

“What’ll happen to Markis when he gets unhandcuffed from that hospital bed- and to Elizabeth?”

“You’re the lawyer; you tell me.”

“With our testimony, Markis will be in the pen for the bombing and stabbing for years. Elizabeth is another story. It’ll be damn hard to prove she’s guilty of murder unless Markis dimes her out. So far, he’s not talking or can’t talk. Her political career’s finished, of course, but full justice- well, we’ll have to wait and see.”

“Don’t you want to go after her? After all, you’re well known in New Jersey now because of the Carramia case; any judge will be glad to hear you out again.”

“I lost that case, you turncoat!”

He grinned. “I know. But this time I’ll be your star witness.”

Manny parked at the mall site. State troopers were combing through the area while several people, including Ms. Crespy, stood to the side, watching. “They’ll use ground-penetrating radar to find the other victims,” Jake said. “Needless to say, the mall’s been postponed indefinitely.” He helped Manny out of the car. “See that fat fellow with the badge and the steam coming out of his ears? That’s Sheriff Fisk. Payoff Fisk, I like to call him.” He waved. “Sheriff!”

Fisk approached, a Rottweiler who’d gone without his breakfast. “Rosen,” he snarled. “You have some gall, being here.”

“And this woman with equal gall is Ms. Manfreda, my trusty associate. She’s a trial attorney, so watch what you say. She gets real mean when provoked.”

Manny studied the nails on her left hand. “Charmed.”

“Ms. Manfreda and I are upset,” Jake said. “Last time we were in Turner, you were downright ungracious. Knew we were there before I called you- probably the night watchman saw us at the hospital and alerted you. You refused to see us or even listen to what I had to say. Demanded we get out of town. But we’re forgiving folk.” He marched to within a foot of Fisk and stared into his eyes. “You can stay in Turner; it’s welcome to you. And you won’t go to jail like you should. But you’ll resign as sheriff as of this instant, you’ll sever all ties with Reynolds Construction and contribute to Baxter Community Hospital whatever moneys you accrued during that relationship, and you’ll issue a public apology to the citizens you used to serve.” He took Manny’s arm. “Come, Ms. Manfreda. You’re averse to maggots, I know, and I don’t want you exposed any more than necessary.” He turned back to Fisk. “I have complete documentation on all your dealings with Reynolds. So not a peep out of you. We’re straight, right? We understand each other, don’t we, Fisk?”

If Fisk were a balloon, all the air would go out of him. But he’s just as full of himself as ever. He staggered off, muttering, to join the others at the edge of the field.

“You were magnificent,” Manny told Jake. “It was the neatest evisceration I’ve seen since we shared that autopsy room.”

Marge Crespy, noticing them, blew them a kiss. A shout arose from the far side of the field, and a trooper ran toward them. “I found something!”

Jake and Manny hurried over. It was a bone. “A tibia,” Jake breathed. “And this one’s from a different part of the field.” He gazed in wonder at the dirt-covered object in the trooper’s hand. “There are other bodies, Manny, and we’re going to find them. Every family has the right to know what happened to their loved one.”

She remembered his enthusiasm the first time she saw him, jumping from the helicopter to look at Terrell’s body. The same intensity was in him now, electric and dynamic and- there was no other way to describe this dear cutter-up of corpses- full of life.

“If by we you mean you, me, and Mycroft, you’re right,” she promised. “Even if it takes a lifetime.”