The Guilty - Jason Pinter [94]
"Then you probably recall notable criminal investigations
during that time."
"I have a mind like an eagle, son. What are you getting at?"
"Well, Mr. Eagle, sir, then you'll remember the deaths of
John Roberts, his family, and Pastor Mark Rheingold just a
few years ago."
I heard a sharp intake of breath on the other end. And I
knew I'd just pulled a big, dangling thread. I waited thirty
seconds for a response. Waverly was still on the other end,
but it was clear he wasn't dying to talk about the fire.
"Justice Waverly, are you still there?"
"Yes, Mr. Parker, I'm here."
"So you do remember those deaths?"
"I didn't say that."
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Jason Pinter
"So you don't remember the alleged electrical fire that
killed five people, including the most famous pastor in the
state of Texas."
"I didn't say that, either."
"Justice Waverly, I'm not the police," I said. "I'm a reporter
trying to find out why four people have been murdered and
how they might be connected to a fire that killed five people
several years ago."
"I don't know how any of your murders are my concern,
Mr. Parker. Now if you'll excuse me I have a meeting in just
ten minutes and I still haven't had my coffee."
"Fine by me," I said. "Because my next call is to the FBI. I
know Mike Sellers down at the Houston branch pretty well.
And one thing he hates is red tape and bureaucratic doublespeak. So I hope you're not stringing any of that tape up for
me."
I had spoken to Deputy Michael Sellers once, over e-mail.
He had given me a terse no comment, though complimented
me on a previous story about the treatment of prisoners at
Rikers Island. I figured that brief correspondence was as good
an opportunity as any to name-drop.
I heard a pounding sound, like something hitting wood.
Sounded like Justice Waverly was getting frustrated and
taking it out on his poor desk.
"No, now I wouldn't want that," Waverly said. "I'll answer
any appropriate questions in order to help whatever story you're
writing. But I won't go into tangential matters that are none of
your business. So to answer your question, yes, I do remember
the deaths of the Roberts family and the tragic passing of Pastor
Rheingold. He was a pillar of this community."
"Would you say the Roberts family was a pillar of the
community?"
The Guilty
273
"Shoot," he said. "John Roberts just moved his family
down to Hico a few years back. He had some relatives down
here got along pretty good, but I can't say they had as much
influence as Pastor Mark."
"I read the news reports of the fire. You're sure it was
electrical?"
"Goddamn right I am," Waverly said. "And I hope God's
green ears don't hear you insinuating we didn't give that fire
a thorough investigation."
"No, I'm saying you're awfully defensive."
There was silence on the other end again. Then Waverly
spoke.
"We turned that house inside out. There was nothing left.
Not a doll, not a picture album, nothing. An entire family was
destroyed in one night, I assure you it was a monumental
tragedy. We didn't find any reason or need to pry more than
we already had."
"So you're admitting the investigation wasn't handled as
thoroughly as it could have been."
"I'm saying injury was bad enough without adding insult."
"Unless the insult and injury would have been to your
town."
"I'm sorry, Parker, you've lost me there."
"Let's see if you can follow--at the Roberts's funeral, the
priest made a statement making it clear there were remains
unaccounted for. That one or more of the coffins the Roberts
family was buried in wasn't full. Do you follow that?"
"I have nothing to say about such idiotic rumors. And if
you don't mind me saying, I don't see how this has any relevance to your murders in New Yawk. "
"I'll get to that," I said. "Now whose remains were never
found?"
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"This has nothing to do with you," said Waverly.
"Whose remains, Justice? I can be on the phone to Mike
Sellers in thirty seconds, and based on your lack of cooperation he can have those graves dug up in less time than it takes