Read Online Between HeVan and Hell by Lucy Kelly - Free Book Online Page B

Marta came over with the cookies and some
coffee for the officers, she waved her over and whispered in her
ear. Then she took out a pad and pencil and started
drawing.
    Marta put the tray on the table and
went into the back. A few minutes later, she came out with a flat
box. Sitting down with the officers, she shrugged and opened the
box.
    “These are all excellent birthday
gifts and they are also good for anniversaries and graduations. All
the pieces in this box are under a hundred dollars,” said
Marta.
    She looked at them when they stared at
her in shock.
    “Don’t ask, she always knows. One of
you is having an anniversary soon? Or a birthday?” she
asked.
    “Damn, Ryan, she’s right. Isn’t your
anniversary next month? And didn’t you forget last year? Oh, man,
the lady’s got you pegged, alright. It seems like she’s saving your
bacon.”
    “Well, what about you, O’Grady? You’ve
got kids. Do you have any birthdays coming up? You’d better call
your wife.”
    So while Gilda drew, Marta steered the
two officers towards gifts that would be appropriate for a wedding
anniversary and a sweet sixteenth birthday. Officer Ryan got a
vintage lapel watch with marcasite and small diamonds. Officer
O’Grady bought a vintage oval-shaped gold locket with an ivory
cameo on the front. They had both made arrangements to pay when
Gilda spoke up.
    “Done. This is what that nasty man
looks like.” And she held out the paper.
    Officer Ryan picked up the paper. “Oh,
shit. Excuse my French.”
    And he handed the picture to Officer
O’Grady.
    “Ma’am, this is a very bad man. He and
his grandfather are very well connected. We’ve been trying to put
them away for a very long time.”
    “Well, now you have me!” said
Gilda.
    “Yes, we do. And some of the jury will
believe you even though he’ll have twenty other people to say he
was somewhere else at the time you were being battered. That’s if
you make it to the trial. Witnesses against him tend to
disappear.”
    “I’m an old woman; I’m willing to take
the risk. He is a monster and monsters should be stood up to, we’ve
learned that lesson. But I’m not going to risk my granddaughter. I
have to make sure she is someplace safe.”
    She looked at them closely. “How much
time can you give me before you file that report? Since I’m
injured, will I need to come in and sign a statement, or can you
fill it out now?
    “I’m asking these questions because I
have a place to disappear to, but if the bad guys find out I’m
coming in, they might follow me. I watch cop shows on TV; I know
what could happen,” she said.
    “Our shift is up at nine thirty;
that’s in four hours. We’ll turn in the paperwork then. You come in
right at nine and sign-off on the report. The bruises on your face
will be very colorful by then and we’ll have one of the female
police officers take pictures of your injuries for the file. Give
us this picture when you come in, that way we won’t ‘officially’
know who the perp is. That will give you time to stash your
granddaughter. I can tell you now, our Sergeant is going to be mad,
but a certain Captain will be very happy.
    “The Assistant State’s Attorney
assigned to the case is going to need to depose you or at least
question you before trial. Get some of those throw away phones. Use
a different one each time you call in. Always call from a busy
place and don’t stay on the phone longer than ten minutes. Take out
the SIM card and the battery and throw the phone away each time you
use it and then get a new one. It’s the best way to make sure
you’re not traced,” said Officer Ryan.
    “And throw the phones away in a
separate location from where you made the call. They will have
officers looking for the phones to track where you bought them,”
said Officer O’Grady.
    “I sure wish I knew you were going to
be alright,” he added.
    “Don’t you worry about me; I’m a tough
old broad. I’ll be just fine. You go on now,