Page 52 of Highball Rush
“And it also means he has a lot to lose,” Nadine said.
“Exactly,” Harlan said. “Which is why I’m glad y’all kept Callie’s identity quiet. We don’t want this to get out too soon. Believe me, I’ll do everything in my power to get the right people involved.”
Flashes ran through my mind. Old memories, long since locked away. Things I hadn’t thought about in years. “Judge Kendall was involved with some terrible people. I think you should assume he still is.”
“What kind of people?” Cassidy asked, her voice gentle.
“Organized crime type of people,” I said, searching those old memories for meaning. “I heard things sometimes that I wasn’t supposed to. He had agreements in place. He’d make sure their people went free or received reduced sentences. I think in exchange for money, or sometimes favors.”
“Could you identify any of those people?” Harlan asked.
“I’m not sure. It’s been a long time. A lot of my memories are… fuzzy. But if I saw them, I think I could.”
Harlan smoothed his mustache with his thumb and forefinger. “I see. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Here’s what I don’t understand,” Cassidy said. “Your parents always claimed you were depressed. Your mother even showed me a photo of the cuts on your arms, claiming it was self-harm. Did she know that it wasn’t? Is that why she didn’t show it to the authorities at first?”
“Maybe that was a cry for help,” Nadine said. “She’s been married to that monster for a long time. Maybe she was hoping you wouldn’t believe Callie had done it to herself, and that you’d uncover the truth.”
“That’s possible, I suppose,” Cassidy said, her expression pensive. “Callie, do you think your father was abusing your mother as well?”
A rush of anxiety hit me like a truck. The box in my mind howled and shook, banging against the floor. Memories pushed at the edge of my consciousness, but when I tried to bring them forward, there was nothing but darkness and mist. I could almost feel the pain in my arms—the scars I’d covered with ink, red and bleeding. But I couldn’t remember it happening. I’d locked it away too deep.
“Hey,” Gibson said, putting an arm around my shoulders. “You all right?”
I nodded. “I’m sorry. Some things are just so hard to remember. But I don’t think I ever saw him do anything to hurt her.”
“I know it’s been a long time, but if there’s anything else you can tell us, maybe it’ll lead us to the proof we need,” Harlan said.
“I wish I could remember more specifics,” I said. “I know I heard him threaten people. And he talked about bribes and blackmail. Once in a while that was dinner conversation. I don’t remember what my mother had to say about that.”
I paused again, reaching back. There was so much more, I could feel it.
“You’re doing good,” Gibson whispered.
His soft encouragement helped. “I always had the sense that my father was like a spider, with a big web of contacts and associates. A lot of them were political, but some were criminals, and he was at the center, directing all of it.”
“People working for him, probably with degrees of separation,” Harlan said.
“Keeping his hands clean,” Cassidy added.
Harlan nodded. “One thing I’m certain about, he doesn’t want his daughter turning up, especially now. I suspect he has concerns about how much incriminating evidence you have against him. And they’re still watching our investigation.”
I blew out a frustrated breath. I had no doubt the judge was worried about what I’d tell the authorities. Deep inside, I knew the reason for the scars on my arms had something to do with punishing me into silence. I’d heard things he didn’t want me to tell. But there was still a piece missing.
“They’re still watching?” Cassidy asked. “How do you know?”
“Their lawyer called the station this morning. He said he’d gotten word that we might have discovered a new witness. He was clearly referring to Gibson.”
Gibson made a low noise in this throat. A sick feeling spread through my stomach and I took a sip of water to wash down the taste of bile.
“The whole town knows you brought him in, and why,” Cassidy said. “They could have heard it from anyone.”
“They could have,” Harlan said. “But it’s a reminder that we need to tread carefully. This is a man who’s avoided the law for a very long time. We might only get one shot at him. That’s why I don’t think we should have Callie come forward yet. Child abuse is serious, but after all this time, it’ll be hard to prove. Especially against a man like him, who knows how to work the system.”
“So what do we do?” I asked.
“For now, we keep your secret,” he said. “You’re Maya Davis. You keep doing what you’re doing, and we’ll keep doing our job, looking for enough evidence to get the right people involved.”
