CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
“What have you found out?” It was obvious to William that he’d found out plenty.
“Colin Becker has a brother. The brother’s name is Elmore Grier. His street name is Blue.”
“Wait a minute,” William said. “Where did I hear that name before?”
“You think you’ve heard it before?”
“Yes, I have. But I can’t recall in what context.”
“Well, Blue was found dead a few months back, allegedly because he owed drug dealers.”
“Okay.”
“But get this: Before he died, he told a cop who was working undercover in a drug sting operation that his brother Colin and his cousin were going to get paid four hundred grand apiece if they can take a bitch out – his words.”
“So they were being paid as hit men?”
“Right.”
“Do you know who the lady was that he was referring to?” William asked.
“According to this cop, Blue said it was his old lady’s daughter.”
William was still baffled. “And who’s his old lady?”
“A woman by the name of Juanita Lacey.”
William shook his head. That name didn’t ring a bell at all. “Okay,” he said, wanting more. “Is there supposed to be a connection here?”
“We just found out about Blue and his death because we decided to dig deeper in Bridell, Indiana.”
William hesitated. “And you found out what exactly?”
“Blue and Juanita Lacey were both born and raised in Bridell.”
William’s heart began to squeeze. “Please don’t tell me Juanita Lacey is Joy’s mother. Please don’t tell me that.”
“I wish I didn’t have to.”
“Gotdammit, Max! What are you saying?”
“Colin Becker was trying to kill Joy. You weren’t the target. She was the target all along.”
William had a sinking feeling. “But why? Who would pay somebody nearly half a million dollars to kill Joynetta?”
“We don’t know any of that yet, but that’s what Blue told that undercover cop.”
William immediately pressed his phone’s intercom button. “Rita?”
“Sir?”
“Tell Miss Johnson to get in my office right now.”
“She’s not here.” It was Cory’s voice in the background.
William didn’t quite hear him. “What was that?”
“Cory says she’s not here.”
William quickly stood up. Max was concerned too. “Get him in here,” William ordered, and Cory quickly came in.
“Where is she?” William asked anxiously.
“She told me she was going to the bus station to pick up Tess and her old man, and then she was going to take them to her apartment.”
William was about to call Joy’s cellphone.
“Wait a minute,” Max told him. “Who’s Tess?”
“She’s her best friend,” William said.
“And who is Tess’s old man?”
“How should I know his name?” William said with irritation in his voice.
“His name’s Tony,” Cory said.
William could see the change on Max’s face. “What is it?” he asked him.
“Blue said his brother Colin Becker and his cousin Tony were going to get paid that money to take her out.”
“Oh my Lord,” said a now panicking William.
Cory was baffled. “Who they trying to take out?” he asked them.
“Did Joy call Tess,” Max asked him, “or did Tess call Joy?”
“Joy said Tess called her and told her she was at the bus station,” Cory said. But before he could finish his sentence, William and Max were running out of that office so fast that Cory was still turning around to see where they were running. But they were already gone.