29
Julia left the interview room shaken, her thoughts in utter turmoil as she followed the cop down the hall.
She’d just made a promise to Courtney that she had to keep, but she didn’t know how.
She flashed on a time back in college that Courtney had done her the solid of the century, for which Julia would owe her forever.
It was a chit that Courtney would never call in, but one that Julia would never forget.
They’d been studying in their dorm room when someone had knocked on the door. Who is it? Courtney called out, rising.
Campus police, answered an authoritative male voice.
They’d exchanged looks, and Courtney crossed to the door and opened it to find a campus cop standing with two men in suits and ties.
We’re here to speak with Julia Pritzker. I’m Officer Jefferson and these are Detectives Ryers and Backe.
I’m Julia, she said, already on her feet.
We need to speak with you about someone. Do you know this man? The campus cop pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and showed it to Julia, who was alarmed to see it was a photo of her crush, Matt Winger.
Oh yes. His name is Matt Winger. I met him at the library and just saw him again at a party.
When was the party?
Sunday night. Julia still felt cranky at Courtney for making her leave.
Where was the party?
Off-campus.
And what happened between you and Winger at the party?
We talked a little, that’s all.
What about?
He asked me to leave with him, but I didn’t. Julia glanced at Courtney. Then I went back in, but he was already leaving with another girl.
Can you describe her?
She was pretty, with long red hair.
Courtney interjected, Officer, what’s this about?
The campus cop pursed his lips, folding up the photo. Matt Winger is not this man’s real name.
What is? Julia asked, confused.
I can’t divulge that information. He uses several aliases. He’s posing as a student at the business school, but he’s not registered there.
Julia felt shocked. Why are you looking for him?
We have reason to believe he sexually assaulted a woman that night, a redhead at the same party.
Julia gasped. Courtney looked over, stricken.
Ms. Pritzker, would you come with us to make a statement? It would be what you just told me, nothing more. We’d also like to show you a photo of the victim and see if you can identify her.
Of course. Julia realized that she’d had a near-miss that night. If not for Courtney’s making her leave, she could have been assaulted.
Courtney grabbed her coat. I’m coming with.
Thanks. Julia caught Courtney’s eye. Really, thank you for everything. I owe you, big-time.
Nah. Courtney smiled, softly. I got you, girl.
Julia’s throat caught at the memory, as she headed for the exit door. She never found out if Winger went to jail because she was never called to testify against him, but she owed Courtney so much for saving her that night.
Julia felt the weight of her promise to Courtney and, at the same time, realized that she’d come to a turning point.
Maybe she wasn’t an experienced medium who could summon a vision or conjure up a soul, but she knew now that she had some psychic ability.
She just had to figure out how to wield that power to free Courtney.
Julia pushed through the door, entered the waiting room, and paused to text Susan about the funeral, then left the station. She was hurrying down the steps to her car when she noticed Alex hustling toward her, his forehead creased with concern.
Julia’s heart lifted at the sight of him, knowing how much he cared about Courtney and grateful to have an ally. She flagged him down, and they met at her car. “Alex, thanks for coming.”
“Of course, sorry it took me so long. The kids were upset. I heard you got in to see her.”
Julia blinked, surprised. “Yes, how do you know?”
“A friend on the force, Tim Pavalka. How is she?”
“Not good. Sorry you can’t get in to see her.”
“Me, too, but I knew I couldn’t. I came here for you. Tim told me you were here and that the cops found a ghost gun in her room.”
“Yes, I think they planted it to frame her.”
“Of course they did.” Alex set his jaw. “They’re corrupt as shit.” He glanced over his shoulder, his wary gaze following a cruiser passing through the fenced gate. “They don’t want her to keep asking questions about Kay’s murder.”
“That’s what I think, too.” Julia felt validated, which was somehow worse. “Or they could have been worried that Courtney found out what the missing piece was, after we met with Glushenko.”
“True. They know she went to Samuel’s and found the stalker photos, but they don’t know what else she learned there.”
“Or we could have gone to the grocery store where Kay shopped that last time. We told Glushenko to task Kowalski with that.”
“Right, so that could be it, too. By framing Courtney, they get her out of the way and they discredit her.”
“So who do you think is doing this, and why?”
Alex leaned over, lowering his voice. “Tim says there are white supremacists on the Buckley force. Like, neo-Nazis.”
“What?” Julia gasped.
“It’s not a big surprise if you grew up around here.
The fed and the state mishandled the mine fire, so nobody trusts the government here.
They never will. They lost their homes because of it, and their hometowns.
They’ll feel betrayed forever.” Alex shook his head.
“Believe me, I get it. I feel the same way.”
“So how does that get to be neo-Nazi? You’re not a neo-Nazi.”
“Some people pick up a gun, I picked up a shovel. I’m a science guy.
For a better answer, you’d have to ask a shrink.
” Alex shrugged. “All I know is Pennsylvania has the second most active neo-Nazi groups north of the Mason-Dixon line. We’re home to the Keystone United, a group of neo-Nazis founded in Harrisburg, the state capital.
They have branches in Carlisle, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and Pittsburgh. Philly, too.”
Julia recoiled. “They have branches, like a bank?”
“Yeah, they marched in Harrisburg a few years ago. They carried red and black flags, the Nazi colors, with an American pitbull in the center.” Alex moved a strand of long hair from a furrowed brow.
“Keystone United is Pennsylvania’s biggest neo-Nazi group and they’re growing.
I don’t know if the Buckley cops are Keystone United or any other group. ”
Julia shuddered. “Who do you think is a neo-Nazi? Is Glushenko?”
“Tim doesn’t know for sure and he can’t prove anything. I always hated Glushenko, and the feeling is mutual. He jokes about me being a Marxist, like he knows what it means.”
“Do you think that’s another reason they framed Courtney, because she’s Black?”
“I don’t know that, but it could be a factor.”
“What about Kay? Did you think race was a factor with her?”
“Maybe, but if so, why now?”
“Then the main reason is the missing piece from the basket, it has to be.” Julia tried to sort her thoughts, grateful for a sounding board. “So we’re really saying that the Buckley police killed Kay and are framing Courtney?”
“If they didn’t kill Kay, I can’t explain why they’d plant a gun on Courtney. So either they did it, or they know who did it and are protecting them.” Alex’s blue eyes hardened. “Tim was one of the arresting officers. Even he thinks the case is bogus.”
“Why’d he arrest her then?”
“He had no choice. Weaverton has to offer mutual aid when Buckley asks for the assist. Their only role is to help execute the arrest warrant. I called a lawyer I know to see if he’d represent her.”
“We got Bennie Rosato,” Julia told him, filling him in.
“That’s good. Also I came to tell you that I went to Samuel’s house this morning. He still wasn’t there. His car is gone but the horse is back, so he came back and swapped.”
“So he took his car. That suggests he wanted to go farther, right?”
Alex nodded begrudgingly. “There’s more. I went inside, and the photographs of Kay are gone, too.”
“Shit.” Julia tried to understand how Samuel fit in. “He was stalking Kay and he just removed the proof. That’s hiding evidence. He has to be trying to get away with murder. Somehow, he was in cahoots with the police.”
“That’s not possible.” Alex pursed his lips. “I told you, he’s in cahoots with nobody, least of all the Buckley cops. He hates cops. He’s Wavy Gravy, for God’s sake.”
“Why do you keep defending him?” Julia asked, mystified. “He’s running away for a reason. He might be gone for good.”
“But I know him. He’d never hurt Kay. He’d never hurt anything.” Alex shook his head. “Any stray animal we find on the clean-ups, he takes to the wildlife rescue, hours away.”
Julia couldn’t process it fast enough. “I don’t have all the answers, but I still think he’s involved. But I admit, an unrequited crush doesn’t square with my theory about the missing object.”
“Not at all.”
“We should go. Courtney wants the funeral to go ahead, so let’s go back.”
“Before we go, give me your contact information. This way we can talk without everybody seeing.” Alex glanced over his shoulder again. “You never know who’s watching.”