Alex Kava Bundle - Alex Kava [652]
“Is there a problem here?” Pakula wanted to know, looking from Nick to Maggie.
“No problem,” she answered as if it were true. “Nick and I worked a case about four years ago out in Platte City.” Then she turned to Tony and put out her right hand, “Father Gallagher, I’m Maggie O’Dell, with the FBI.”
“Welcome to Our Lady of Sorrow High School,” Tony said as he shook her hand, but he glanced over at Nick with a knowing look as if to say “so this is Maggie.” And though Tony didn’t say it out loud Nick could almost feel the tips of his ears start to burn.
“Four years ago in Platte City?” Pakula was scratching his shaved head as if it would help him remember. “Ah, I remember. Gillick and Howard murdering those little boys.”
Yeah, that one, Nick wanted to say, but only nodded, waiting to see if Maggie would try to correct the record. She never did believe that Eddie Gillick and Ray Howard were murderers even though both men had been convicted and were serving life sentences. Maggie believed that Father Michael Keller, a handsome young priest who everyone in the community loved and adored, had chosen the boys because he thought they were being abused by their parents. She was convinced that Keller had been on a mission to save them and grant them eternal rest. It sounded as crazy now as it did then.
“Yes, that’s the case, Gillick and Howard,” Maggie said, her eyes meeting Nick’s.
But it wasn’t just the case, he wanted to tell her. There had been more between them, much more. Or at least there could have been if she had let it. But then she had made that decision all on her own without letting him have a say.
“Nick was the county sheriff at the time,” Tony added.
“Really? Maybe that’s where I remembered your name from,” Pakula said to Nick. “I’m usually pretty good with names. That was one helluva case.” Then Nick thought the detective’s eyes softened a bit. For a moment, perhaps, he was seeing Nick as a fellow lawman.
“I have four girls,” Pakula continued, “but it doesn’t matter when it’s kids. Every parent gets the jitters when something like that happens. One of my girls was about the age of those boys. She had a paper route, too. For weeks my wife and I took turns running her route with her. It was a scary time. Wasn’t there a little boy who got away?”
“Yeah,” Nick said. “My nephew, Timmy Hamilton.”
“Holy crap! How’s he doing?”
“He’s doing great,” Nick told Pakula, but he was still looking to Maggie as if his answer was for her, since she hadn’t even bothered to ask about Timmy. She seemed distracted, not even interested. “He’s starting here at Our Lady of Sorrow in the fall as a freshman.”
“That’s good. That’s great,” Pakula said, hands in his pockets, not knowing what else to do with them.
Nick could tell Pakula was sincere, but not so good at chitchat.
“Wow! Timmy’s going to be a freshman,” Maggie said, shaking her head. “How’s Christine?” she asked Nick.
“She’s good.” He shoved his hands in his jean pockets, too, following Pakula’s example, suddenly uncomfortable with Maggie asking personal questions about his sister, his family, his life, even though just seconds ago he was pissed that she hadn’t thought to ask about Timmy. “Why don’t we get started with your questions?” he suggested to Pakula, but looked at Tony as if to say, This is it. Let’s get it over with.
Nick offered Maggie the easy chair in the corner by the window and she slipped by him to take it without as much as a glance. He tried not to notice her scent, something fresh and exotic like coconut and lime. Probably her shampoo. He shook the thought away and retreated to the other side of the room to be close to Tony as his friend sat down behind his desk.
Pakula leaned