Eve - Iris Johansen [52]
“Then we’ll go to the prison.”
“And two months after he was locked up, he was found dead in the prison laundry. Presumably an inmate decided he didn’t like him. They never found out which one.” He paused. “Cut Shipman’s throat.”
“Cut his throat?” She made the connection. “Paul Black’s threat. But it had to be coincidence. That was years later.”
“But it was only a few months after he turned informer. A curious coincidence. It interested me when I heard about it, but you were looking in another direction. Besides, Paul Black was still not to be found no matter how hard we tried.”
The timing had probably been no more than coincidence. The idea that Black had been hovering over Shipman all those years waiting for him to break his silence was far-fetched … and totally chilling.
“What’s Paul Black’s background?”
“He was orphaned at three and grew up in Macon, Georgia, in a church orphanage. He got a construction job at seventeen and went to Athens, Georgia. He got in trouble almost immediately and spent time in jail for robbery. After he was paroled, he worked as a fry cook, then was arrested again when he almost killed another cook with a butcher knife. Paroled again two years later and disappeared for a while. Next appearance was in the county jail when he talked to Shipman.”
“Do we have a picture of him?”
“Yes, I’ll send you his mug shot when we hang up. Pretty ordinary-looking guy. Any other questions?”
“No idea where he is?”
“Not a clue.”
“Another question. Did you ever hear of him working with anyone?”
A silence. “And that’s an odd question. Did you?”
“I need an answer, Montalvo.”
“As far as I know, he was a lone wolf. Obviously, he couldn’t even get along with the people he worked with.”
“Was he ever in the service?”
“No.”
“And he disappeared right after he told Shipman he’d killed Bonnie.”
“That’s right.” He paused. “You’re very intense. How far along are you on this hunt, Eve?”
“Not far enough. Thanks, Montalvo.”
“I’m dismissed? But I don’t want to be dismissed. I’ll keep on looking for information about Black until I find enough that will make you want to take me along for the ride. It sounds as if there’s something intriguing in the wind.”
And Montalvo will do it, she thought. She’d be lucky if he didn’t show up on her doorstep anyway. Montalvo was completely unpredictable. “Good-bye, Montalvo.”
“Good-bye, Eve. I’ll be in touch.” He hung up.
She was afraid he would be in touch. Again, if she moved fast enough, she might avoid Montalvo’s interference. She heard a ping and accessed the photo Montalvo had sent her.
The mug shot of Paul Black was not flattering. In the photo, he appeared to be in his late twenties, with dark, crew-cut hair and eyes that could be either brown or gray. His nose was long, and his mouth was wide and full. As Montalvo had said, very ordinary.
She put her phone away and stood for a moment looking out at the water.
Peaceful, soothing to the soul. She’d stay a moment, drink it in, and let it bring her that same peace. There was nothing serene about her own soul tonight. She was too lost in disturbing memories and intense worry about the future.
All of which were swirling around her like a tornado.
John Gallo was out there somewhere. Who was he now? What had he become during these many years? She could not imagine him a murderer.
Not even when she had seen how violent he could be?
But she could also be violent. She had found out that truth in the years of hunting Bonnie’s killer. There was no question at all in her mind that if she found that John Gallo was the murderer of her daughter, she’d kill him without a single qualm. Bonnie deserved her revenge.
She could feel the anger begin to sear through her and took a deep breath. So much for serenity and the search for peace. There would be no peace for her anytime soon.
It would be better not to think at all.
She would just try to be patient and wait for Catherine’s call.
* * *
“YOU’RE NEVER PATIENT, MAMA.”
Bonnie.
Eve looked over at the little girl sitting with her back against the porch rail. Dressed