فصل 27

Chapter 27: A Broken Clock

Chief Davis looked over as Officer Ridley opened the door to the chief’s car. He waited until Charles was seated to talk. “How’d it go?” Charles looked over at him. “Not well. She’s suffering. She’s afraid.” “I’m sorry,” Davis said. “Did she tell you anything?” “Nothing worth anything. She just kept saying that someone planted everything, and that someone is going to kill her.” Davis’s brow furrowed. “Who’s going to kill her?” “She wouldn’t say.”

“Does she need a psychiatric evaluation?”

“I don’t know. She seemed . . . normal.”

“Normal, huh? We just found blood spatters and a half million dollars of heroin in her car. Hardly normal.” “No, I meant, she didn’t sound crazy.”

“Paranoid schizophrenics can be very convincing.” “I just don’t get it. Julie’s always been solid. She’s as levelheaded a person as you’ll ever meet.” “What other explanation could there be?”

“I don’t know. I mean, the woman’s a Girl Scout. She yells at me if I go a mile over the speed limit. She once drove a mile back to the grocery store because the guy at the register gave her a quarter too much in change.” Charles shook his head. “It makes no sense. No sense at all. I don’t even think she would know what to do with the drugs they found.” “That could work in her favor, you know. If we could show that she was forced into this, the judge could show leniency. As long as she cooperates. She could lead us to some major dealers.” “She’s sticking to her claim that she knows nothing about where the drugs came from.” “What about your daughter?”

“Same thing. She says she knows nothing.”

“Do you believe her?”

“I don’t know what I believe anymore.”

The chief was silent for a moment, then said, “I’m sorry, this has got to be really tough on you.” “Nothing compared to how tough it is on her,” Charles said. “I just wish I could get her out of there. She’s a mother, not a convict.” “A lot of convicts are mothers,” Davis said. “I heard about the bail.” “A quarter million dollars,” Charles said, shaking his head. “That’s more than the equity we have in our home. I don’t know how I can get my hands on that much.” Davis anxiously eyed Charles. “You’re not going to try to raise it, are you?” “She’s my wife. I can’t let her just sit in jail.” “Until we figure out what’s going on, jail might be the best place for her. If she gets out, she may just run off to Mexico again.” Charles exhaled loudly. “I don’t know what’s happened to her, but I do know that I still love her. She’s my life. I just don’t know what to do.” He looked into the chief’s eyes. “If it was your wife, what would you do?” Davis shook his head. “I don’t know. We married for better or worse, right? Bottom line, it’s a man’s job to protect his wife. The real challenge is knowing how best to do that. You’ve been on the force for fifteen years; you know as well as anyone that sometimes we need to protect people from themselves.” Charles just sat quietly thinking. “Yeah, you’re right.” “Every now and then I’m right.” He smiled sadly. “Even a broken clock is right twice a day, huh?” He leaned forward and started the car. “Let me buy you some pie.” “Thanks, but it’s been a long day. I just want to go home.” “I understand,” Davis said. He pulled the car out of the jail’s parking lot and into traffic. Twenty minutes later they drove up into Charles’s driveway.

“Home sweet home,” Davis said.

“Not anymore. Not without her.” He looked at the chief. “I can’t help but feel guilty. I just feel like I should try to post bail.” “Chuck, listen to me here. I know you love Julie, which is why you need to be especially careful right now. Give her some time to get her head back on right, you know? If you post bail and she runs, then there’s no turning back for her. If she’s caught, no judge will let her out again. If she’s not caught, you’ll never see her again. It’s a no-win situation.” “Yeah.” He groaned. “You’re right. Again.” For a moment neither of them spoke. Then Charles said, “I’m going crazy just sitting at home. How long are you going to keep me suspended?” “At least until her first court date,” he said. “Look, heaven knows you can use the time off. Take a trip or something. Go see your boys. Or go up to Coeur d’Alene. There’s some great fishing up there. You’ve given your all to the force for fifteen years; you deserve the break.” Charles took a deep breath. “All right. Maybe I will.” He opened the car door. “Thanks for the ride.” “That’s what friends are for. See you.”

Charles saluted him, then got out of the car. He stepped back as the chief backed out of his driveway, then drove down the street.

As soon as he was down the road, Davis took out his phone and dialed a number.

“It’s me. We just left the jail. She didn’t tell him anything. He’s thinking about posting bail, but I’m pretty sure that I talked him out of it. . . . Yeah, I know. Don’t worry, it won’t happen. He’ll talk to me first. If he tries to post bail, we’ll arrest him, too. She’s not going anywhere. . . . Yes, sir. . . . We still have his place staked out, a man on both ends of the street. If anyone tries to visit him, I’ll let you know. If anything happens, I’ll call. And please thank Captain Marsden for the bottle of Scotch. No one knows Scotch like an Elgen.” Davis hung up his phone. “And no one pays like one either.”