“Get Ten and I added to the list of people who can visit Paul Stark. I want to be there when he wakes up. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”
“I’ll call the hospital on my way back to the station.” Without saying goodbye, Cisco turned and left the office.
“That was a fucking close shave,” Jude said.
“Yeah, we’re not out of the woods yet.” Fitzgibbon reached for the folder Paul Stark had given them the day before and slid it to Jude. “Find Mandy Patterson.”
“Ten, if you or Everly can reach Bash Stark, see if he knows the names of the guys who moved his body and left it on the fucking stairs. Jesus, I can’t believe they left him down there alone in the dark while they drank and partied upstairs and didn’t call the police until the next morning. I want to nail those little fuckers to the wall. Got it?”
Ten nodded. “I’ll do what I can.”
“I’ll be in my office pulling my hair out and trying to reach the DA in charge of prosecuting Paul Stark.”
“Be ready to go meet with Simon Westlake at half past twelve.”
“I can’t wait.” Fitzgibbon headed for his office, closing the door behind him.
“Let’s go talk to Everly,” Ten said.
With a sigh, Ronan got out of his chair and followed Ten out the door. As far as Ronan was concerned, his daughter had already done her bit. It wasn’t fair that they were going to question her again about Sebastian, but if he knew his little girl, Everly would be excited to help.
Again.
16
Tennyson
When Ten and Ronan got home, Kaye had a list of three names waiting for them. Everly had known what her daddies needed and asked her grandmother to write what she told her.
Ten felt marginally better about getting this kind of passive help from his daughter, but not by much. A quick Google search was able to locate two of the three men listed, Brent Jones and Andy Britton, but the third man, David Kellog, appeared to be in the wind. Ronan promised to run his name through the system when they got back to the office.
Unfortunately, Jude had been unable to locate Mandy Patterson. According to Ronan, all that mattered at the moment was cornering Simon Westlake into confessing.
At five minutes to one, Ronan and Ten joined Fitz and Jude in the lobby of Westlake’s office building. The tenth floor housed the regional members of the Massachusetts Sigma Chi chapter. Ronan found Westlake’s name in the directory beside the elevator. “You ready for this?” he asked Ten.
“I was born ready.” Over the years, Ten had a hand in apprehending a lot of murderers, but he knew this one would be the most satisfying,ifRonan and company could get Simon to confess. His gift wasn’t giving him any clues as to what was going to happen when they walked into the Sigma Chi offices.
Reaching into his suit jacket, Ronan pulled out his badge and hung it around his neck. Ten noticed Fitzgibbon and Jude were not wearing theirs. For that reason, Ten left his in his pocket. Ronan ushered everyone into the elevator and pressed the button for the tenth floor.
When the doors opened, Ten found himself facing the fraternity doors. They were full-length and glass with the Sigma Chi letters etched into each panel. Opening his gift wide, he found there was a little surprise in store for the detectives, Jude especially. “I found Mandy Patterson.”
“The hell you did!” Jude shot back. “All we did was ride the elevator, and I didn’t see her in the car.”
Ten’s grin deepened. He pointed to the reception desk, where a brunette with a very prominent baby bump stood, with both hands braced against her lower back. He didn’t need his gift to tell him the advanced state of pregnancy was wearing on the woman.
As Ronan opened the door, Ten couldn’t help but be struck by the fact that Mandy Patterson was going to jail. He remembered not wanting Destiny Craig to have her and Corny’s baby in jail and had to admit he wished the same for Mandy. Her innocent child didn’t deserve to pay the piper for its mother’s crimes. Unfortunately, the matter was out of Ten’s hands.
“Can I help you?” the receptionist asked. Her nameplate listed her as Amanda Westlake.
“Detective Ronan O’Mara. I have an appointment to meet with Simon Westlake about the Sebastian Stark case.”
Amanda’s eyes widened and moved to three men standing behind her. “And these people are?”
“Summer interns,” Ronan said quickly. “They’re here to observe, although the tall one seems to think he’s in charge. He’s not, but let’s let him think he is.” Ronan winked at the woman and chuckled.
Laughing along with Ronan, Amanda led them down the hall toward Simon’s office. Ten watched as Jude and Fitzgibbon pulled out their badges and hung the chain around their necks. Ten couldn’t help thinking how clever the move was not to reveal to Amanda they both were cops as well.
Knocking on the door, Amanda opened it, ushering them inside the office. “Simon, this is Detective O’Mara and his interns.” She offered Simon a confused look. “Let me know when you want me to walk them out.” Amanda turned to leave, but Ronan gently caught her by the elbow.
