Read Online Casting Bones by Don Bruns - Free Book Online

far, Strand.’ The paunchy, balding detective walked out of the kitchen. ‘Kitchen, bath, standard fare.’
    Strand nodded.
    â€˜You?’
    â€˜I’m going to check the old man’s room. You give a thorough to Antoine’s room here.’
    â€˜Got it.’
    Fifteen seconds later, Strand heard Cassidy shout it out.
    â€˜Detective. We’ve got a gun.’
    Strand allowed himself a brief moment. In this city, in this department, a man had to do what a man had to do.
    They met in the boy’s room.
    â€˜Sig Sauer P290.’ He held the small pistol in his gloved hand. ‘Wrapped up in this handkerchief. I’m gonna bet it’s wiped clean.’
    Strand smiled. ‘This should hold him for a while. See what else there is.’
    An ex-con with a gun. That wouldn’t play well at all. He’d bought himself some time. But tying the gun to the murder of Judge David Lerner,
that
might be harder to do.
    Archer left the precinct and drove his Chevy downtown, the faulty air conditioner cranked to the max to combat the humidity. Not much relief. The car was a perk, but the department never guaranteed the quality of the vehicles. He was sweating profusely by the time he arrived. There was a story about the cops, after Katrina, looting citizens’ Cadillacs and patrolling in the ‘borrowed’ vehicles. Totally unacceptable, but anything was better than this beat-up Chevy.
    He found the four-story courthouse at 421 Loyola.
    Clearing the metal detector, he introduced himself at the front desk and told the receptionist his business. The older woman waved him to the elevators.
    â€˜Judge Lerner’s office is second floor,’ she said, ‘to the left, and it’s clearly marked. Very sad about the judge.’
    Her flat voice belied any sincerity.
    He found the office five doors down. Turning the handle, Archer walked in and glanced around the reception area. The actual office was in the back, the door wide open.
    The attractive woman sitting behind the judge’s desk looked up. The pile of papers in front of her must have been eight inches high.
    â€˜Yes? Can I help you?’
    Her voice was a little brusque, and she seemed somewhat perturbed that he’d interrupted.
    Palming his badge, he introduced himself.
    â€˜I’m obviously here to get as much information on Judge Lerner as possible.’
    â€˜Well of course,’ she said. ‘I’m Sue Waronker. I worked with the judge for twelve years. He was a tough judge, but a fair man, Detective. Most of the time.’ She paused, then glanced down at her desk. ‘Some of the time.’
    She sounded less than sincere.
    â€˜I’m sure he was, ma’am.’ The lady sounded like she had memorized the line. Tough but fair. As if she was used to defending him.
    â€˜I’ve been working with Traci next door.’ She brushed back her dark hair; she looked haggard.
    â€˜Traci?’
    â€˜Yes, Traci Hall. She’s a judge as well. We’ve been sorting out some of the immediate things that have to be done.’
    â€˜Everything is documented?’
    â€˜Not as well as I’d hoped. Or assumed. David was a very organized man, but there are some things that don’t seem to be where they should.’
    The dark-haired woman waved her hand at the computer monitor in front of her and the stack of papers and files.
    â€˜We’re only dealing with immediate issues. Court dates in the next week, obligations that he had to meet tomorrow and the next day. Even that is a bit overwhelming.’
    â€˜I’m going to need to talk with you. Is now a good time?’
    Shrugging her shoulders, she motioned for him to sit down. Archer took a seat across the desk, a seat that over a fifteen-year career had probably seen its share of attorneys, offenders and a whole cast of characters who influenced the justice meted out to young people.
    â€˜Twelve years? That’s a long