Chapter 56
Monday late morning
The hall outside Department 1 was packed with the usual juvenile court traffic. Parents clutching paperwork they didn’t understand. Social workers balancing files and coffee. Attorneys standing against walls trying to negotiate settlements before judges got involved.
Sabre sat on the wooden bench outside the courtroom.
Beside her, Bob flipped through a file thick enough to injure somebody. “You know,” Bob muttered, “if dependency court wanted efficiency, they’d stop scheduling six contested matters at nine o’clock.”
Sabre smiled. “Then what would we complain about?”
“Fair point.”
The courtroom doors opened, and the bailiff stepped out holding a clipboard. “The Garcia matter,” he called.
Two attorneys stood and disappeared inside.
Bob checked his watch. “I’ve got to run before Judge Alvarez decides I’m dead.” He gathered his files and stood. “Try not to adopt any more homicidal teenagers before lunch.”
“No promises.”
Bob pointed at her with a file. “That’s the attitude that concerns me.”
Sabre laughed as he headed down the hallway.
A familiar voice came from behind her. “Bob’s still alive. That’s reassuring.”
Sabre looked up. Daniel Rourke stood a few feet away wearing a charcoal sport coat and the same easy expression as always.
“Rourke.”
He grinned. “You look exactly the same sitting outside court.”
“That’s depressing.”
“Comforting,” he corrected.
Sabre motioned toward the empty spot beside her. “What are you doing here?”
Rourke sat. “I was nearby. I thought I’d see if juvenile court still smelled like burned coffee and bad decisions.”
“It does.”
“Good. I’d hate for traditions to die.”
Sabre laughed softly despite herself. It was easy talking to him. It always had been.
“Do you have time for lunch?”
Sabre glanced down the crowded hallway. “Not unless court suddenly catches fire.”
“So, that’s a no.”
“That’s a very optimistic no.”
The bailiff came out again. “Anyone here on the Johnson case?” More movement down the hallway.
Rourke looked around at the courthouse traffic. “You know, I still miss this sometimes.”
Sabre looked at him sideways. “You miss sitting on hallway benches for two hours waiting on continuances?”
“No.” He grinned again. “I miss working with you.”
That caught her off guard just enough for him to notice.
“You were terrifying back then,” he added.
“I’m still terrifying.”
“I believe it.”
For a few moments they sat watching people move through the corridor.
Then Rourke said casually, “How’s that case going?”
Sabre looked over. “Which one?”
“The girl connected to the old Hannah situation.”
“Complicated,” Sabre answered carefully.
“I figured.”
“She’s talking some.”
“Enough to help?”
“Not really.”
Rourke shrugged. “I spent years wondering what happened to that little girl. And now suddenly there’s a homicide tied to a teenager connected to the case.” He shook his head. “You have to wonder.”
“Those cases are the toughest.”
“What’s your read?” he asked. “Do you think the girl is protecting somebody?”
“I think so, but she won’t give any names. I’m still not sure what her name is.”
Rourke nodded. “I hope I’m not overstepping. I’ve just never been able to shake that case. Old habits.”
“You’re still investigating even when you’re not investigating.”
“Probably.”
The bailiff stepped out again. “The Ellison case.”
Sabre ignored him.
Rourke lowered his voice. “Do the police think she acted alone?”
Sabre glanced at him. “I’m not sure where they’re going with this. Once they dig in on a suspect, they don’t usually look much further. But we’re still reviewing discovery. We have a few discrepancies in the case, but not enough for a good defense.”
Rourke nodded again. “I hope things improve.”
“Thanks for all your help on this, by the way.”
“I’m here if you need me.” Rourke’s voice dropped into serious mode. “There is one other thing. I did some checking on Marcus years ago.”
Sabre turned fully toward him. “Something not in your report.”
“It didn’t amount to enough at the time, and it was after we stopped working on it together.”
“Tell me.”
Rourke folded his hands loosely. “I got interested in Marcus’ side of the family after Hannah disappeared. Seemed worth looking at everyone who had access. I discovered that Marcus’ mother had a child living with her for a while. She was roughly Hannah’s age.”
Sabre stared at him. “What?”
“She said the girl was her granddaughter, but beyond that she wouldn’t tell me anything. I never saw the kid.”
“So, it could’ve been Hannah, or a child Marcus had with another woman. Or even Rochelle’s daughter.”
“I’m pretty certain she wasn’t Rochelle’s, although I suppose that’s possible. If Rochelle had her at a real young age, Grandma could’ve raised her.”
“So, you think it might’ve been Hannah?”
“It’s possible.” He shook his head. “The grandmother moved soon after I questioned her, and I lost the trail.”
“Why didn’t you tell me before?”
Rourke gave a helpless shrug. “Because I couldn’t prove enough to justify dragging everybody sideways. Then the grandmother disappeared right after I questioned her, and I got overloaded with other work.”
Sabre considered that. It was frustrating that he didn’t follow through, but it sounded like a long shot, and she knew he had other work to do. She just wished he had told JP sooner.
“Where was this?”
“East County.” He paused. “JP may want to take another look now that more pieces are surfacing.”
“I’ll get him right on it.”
The bailiff stepped into the hall again. “The Evans’ matter.”
Sabre stood, gathering her files. “That’s my case.”
Rourke stood too. “You still get that look,” he said. “The one where you’re already solving things before everybody else realizes there’s a problem.”
Sabre smiled. “That usually means I’m about to walk into a disaster.”
As she started toward the courtroom, he added casually, “Tell JP not to dismiss Marcus too fast. Parents surprise you. And, Sabre, if you change your mind about sharing a meal with me, dinner works too. I’m a phone call away.”
As the doors closed behind her, she felt surprised by his dinner invitation. Maybe JP was right, Rourke was more interested in her than the case. But either way, he had been helpful.