Read Online Peggy Holloway - Judith McCain 02 - Portrait on Wicker by Peggy Holloway - Free Book Online Page A

and Yes. His name is Mackey Broleen. He was one of the kidnappers. He’s the one that the judge told us had been beaten to death while in jail.”
    “Woo. Unbelievable,” she said. “But how did he come to be here, dead?”
    “I don’t know,” I said. I knew she was going to guess I was holding something back.
    “ You’re holding something back,” she said.
    Just then they wheeled the gurney out with the body in a body bag and the medical examiner followed snapping off his latex gloves.
    “Hey Carl, over here,” Sandy called.
    He came over and sat down on the grass next to her.
    They didn’t seem to be interested in introducing me and that was fine. I needed some answers.
    It was amazing how he could fold his legs into a lotus position. He must have weighed about three hundred and fifty pounds and his hair was gray. I wondered if he ever thought about his lifestyle when he autopsied someone who had died of heart failure.
    “I would est imate the time of death about ten-twelve hours ago. It looks like a twenty two caliber but they haven’t found any casings yet. Also, there’s a pile of puke in the bushes over there.”
    “That’s mine,” I said. “When I saw the body, I lost it.”
    He turned towards me and studied me for what seemed like a full minute. Without another word he struggled to his feet and lumbered off.
    We watche d him and then Sandy turned to me. “What time did your plane arrive in New Orleans?”
    “Our plane landed at 7:20. That’s easy to check out.”
    “Yes it is. So, this Mackey Broleen kidnaps you and your sister when you’re three years old. During the trial, after his testimony, he is beaten to death in the shower, in Raiford, or so you’re told.
    “Now, ten or so years later, he turns up murdered in your sister’s condo and she ends up in the hospital. Is it a psychiatric hospital by any chance? And what did Mackey say on the witness stand?”
    When I hesitated, she gave a deep sigh. “I can easily look up all of this information. I can get the court transcript from the trial and I can call around to all the psychiatric hospitals in Houston. All of that will take time, so you might as well tell all, Judith.”
    “When Mackey was on the witness stand, he alluded to a pedophile ring involving a judge and some of the older men who take in foster kids. He said that this was taking place in both New Orleans and St. Augustine. Julia is in Westpark Psychiatric Center in Houston.”
    “Excuse me a minute,” she said as she got up and started walking towards Bill.
    Bill and Mark had been standing just outside the studio talking and it looked like Bill was getting frustrated. Mark must not have been cooperating. When Sandy walked up Bill broke off and listened to her.
    As she talked, she used her hands as if to demonstrate. At one point he glanced over at me and then back to her but then she said something that made him turn and openly stare at me. He broke into a grin and waved to me.
    I could feel my face turning re d as I remembered myself, as a sixteen year old, trying to get the money up front from this man I thought was a john. He would have been my first. He had slapped handcuffs on my wrists and hauled me downtown along with Dave and the other girls.
    At one point I saw him hold his hand out as if to slow Sandy down, then they all three walked over to me.
    As they sat down he smiled and said, “You look like you grew up real well. Mark tells me you are now a Psychologist. Tell me, did Mackey give the name of the judge when he testified?”
    “No, I think he was afraid to name any names or maybe he wanted to hold something back as a major bargaining chip.”
    He looked over at Sandy and she gave a slight nod. “I’m going to ask you a question and no matter how you answer it, you have to swear you won’t mention I even asked it. Both of you agree to this?”
    After we both agreed he continued. “Do either of you know anything about Judge Renfroe?”
    Mark and I