Read Online Silenced Justice: A Josh Williams Novel by Joe Broadmeadow - Free Book Online
Authors: Joe Broadmeadow
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up too much of your time."
"I see Ms. Atwell has impressed the demands of my schedule on you. In reality, I had planned to read over briefs this afternoon, as I have been doing all day. This is a welcome break," the judge smiled. "Now, sit please," pointing to the conference table. "What can I do for you?"
Chris looked at Josh. "Why don't you explain things, Josh."
Josh gave the Judge the background of the case and the reason for their meeting. He left out the part about the retired Providence sergeant and Fatso Bellofatto.
The judge studied the two for a moment. "Sad to say, I am familiar with this case. I was the original special assistant AG assigned."
This caused Josh and Chris to exchange glances.
"Your friend Robert Collucci," nodding at Josh, "took the case over before the defendant died in prison. I was unable to pursue the matter at the time. There is not much more I can tell you."
Josh pulled the lineup report from the file and handed it to the Judge.
"Do you recognize those initials next to the space for the supervising prosecutor?"
Tucker looked at the document, the rage at his impotence flooding back. He put the document on the desk. "They appear to be my initials," folding his hands, "but they are a poor attempt to forge them."
* * *
"Well,” Chris said as they left the courthouse, "that proved rather interesting, didn't it?"
"Forged initials aren't all that startling," Josh replied. "Most AG's I know have fixed documents. Somebody must have noticed them missing and added them in. I doubt the document would even get a second look in discovery."
Josh stopped a moment, looking back at the court. "Unless..."
"Unless what?"
"Unless he knows who forged them."
"Why wouldn't he tell us?" Chris asked.
"You heard what he said. He couldn't pursue the matter at the time," Josh said. "Maybe, he's hoping we will," looking at Chris. "It just seemed odd he'd remember the case so well from so long ago."
"Jeez, talk about conspiracy theory. I have known the judge for a long time. There’s no reason to lie to us. I think he remembered the case because he couldn't do anything about it. Looks like we've got some traction on this one."
Josh headed to his car; Chris wanted to walk back to her office. On the drive back, he mulled things over.
Dead defendant, forged lineup reports, the cop who arrested Grey eating his gun, and Robert Collucci.
Josh needed no motivation for seeing this through, nothing more persuasive than Collucci's involvement.
Collucci's indictment and trial of Josh three years ago on the Civil Rights violations had not endeared him to Josh. He never thought he'd get an opportunity to return the favor.
Now he had one. A good one.
* * *
"You want to interview who?" Chief Brennan asked, wide-eyed, incredulous.
"Collucci," Josh answered. "He was Deputy AG of the Criminal Division."
"Hamlin is right, I must need hearing aids. You can't mean United States Senator Robert Collucci," Brennan said. "Tell me the name is a coincidence."
"Nope, one in the same," Josh replied with a smile.
Brennan closed his eyes, massaged his forehead, opened them to look at Josh, and then continued rubbing. "Is this necessary?"
"Yup."
Brennan sat back in his chair. "Refresh my memory. This is to ease a daughter's memory of her dead father, correct?"
"Well," Josh answered, "it started out like that. But with what I've learned, we have to see this through. I'm not convinced Grey isn't the bad guy. But there is serious doubt."
Josh moved to the window, watching the passing traffic. "Look, Collucci is not on my favorites list. But this isn’t about revenge," turning back to face Brennan. "I'm not gonna lie to you. I may enjoy the look in his eyes, assuming he meets with me, but I am just following the trail."
Brennan walked over to stand next to Josh. "Go talk to the son-of-a-bitch. I'd go with you if I could, but it would be too obvious."
"Obvious?" Josh
"I see Ms. Atwell has impressed the demands of my schedule on you. In reality, I had planned to read over briefs this afternoon, as I have been doing all day. This is a welcome break," the judge smiled. "Now, sit please," pointing to the conference table. "What can I do for you?"
Chris looked at Josh. "Why don't you explain things, Josh."
Josh gave the Judge the background of the case and the reason for their meeting. He left out the part about the retired Providence sergeant and Fatso Bellofatto.
The judge studied the two for a moment. "Sad to say, I am familiar with this case. I was the original special assistant AG assigned."
This caused Josh and Chris to exchange glances.
"Your friend Robert Collucci," nodding at Josh, "took the case over before the defendant died in prison. I was unable to pursue the matter at the time. There is not much more I can tell you."
Josh pulled the lineup report from the file and handed it to the Judge.
"Do you recognize those initials next to the space for the supervising prosecutor?"
Tucker looked at the document, the rage at his impotence flooding back. He put the document on the desk. "They appear to be my initials," folding his hands, "but they are a poor attempt to forge them."
* * *
"Well,” Chris said as they left the courthouse, "that proved rather interesting, didn't it?"
"Forged initials aren't all that startling," Josh replied. "Most AG's I know have fixed documents. Somebody must have noticed them missing and added them in. I doubt the document would even get a second look in discovery."
Josh stopped a moment, looking back at the court. "Unless..."
"Unless what?"
"Unless he knows who forged them."
"Why wouldn't he tell us?" Chris asked.
"You heard what he said. He couldn't pursue the matter at the time," Josh said. "Maybe, he's hoping we will," looking at Chris. "It just seemed odd he'd remember the case so well from so long ago."
"Jeez, talk about conspiracy theory. I have known the judge for a long time. There’s no reason to lie to us. I think he remembered the case because he couldn't do anything about it. Looks like we've got some traction on this one."
Josh headed to his car; Chris wanted to walk back to her office. On the drive back, he mulled things over.
Dead defendant, forged lineup reports, the cop who arrested Grey eating his gun, and Robert Collucci.
Josh needed no motivation for seeing this through, nothing more persuasive than Collucci's involvement.
Collucci's indictment and trial of Josh three years ago on the Civil Rights violations had not endeared him to Josh. He never thought he'd get an opportunity to return the favor.
Now he had one. A good one.
* * *
"You want to interview who?" Chief Brennan asked, wide-eyed, incredulous.
"Collucci," Josh answered. "He was Deputy AG of the Criminal Division."
"Hamlin is right, I must need hearing aids. You can't mean United States Senator Robert Collucci," Brennan said. "Tell me the name is a coincidence."
"Nope, one in the same," Josh replied with a smile.
Brennan closed his eyes, massaged his forehead, opened them to look at Josh, and then continued rubbing. "Is this necessary?"
"Yup."
Brennan sat back in his chair. "Refresh my memory. This is to ease a daughter's memory of her dead father, correct?"
"Well," Josh answered, "it started out like that. But with what I've learned, we have to see this through. I'm not convinced Grey isn't the bad guy. But there is serious doubt."
Josh moved to the window, watching the passing traffic. "Look, Collucci is not on my favorites list. But this isn’t about revenge," turning back to face Brennan. "I'm not gonna lie to you. I may enjoy the look in his eyes, assuming he meets with me, but I am just following the trail."
Brennan walked over to stand next to Josh. "Go talk to the son-of-a-bitch. I'd go with you if I could, but it would be too obvious."
"Obvious?" Josh
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