Page 6 of 4th Silence (Schock Sisters Mystery #4)

Meg

“ R eally?” I ask, staring at my mother across the table in a small interview room at the jail. Matt says they don’t call them interrogation rooms. It’s apparently not a good look, so they opt for the more politically correct phrasing.

Mom, haughty indignance on full display, lifts her chin. “What was I supposed to do? Sit around and wait for justice?”

“Mom! Dad is beside himself. He got halfway here, and we told him to go home. The only reason they even let us see you is because JJ pulled strings. You owe him a thank you for that.”

At this, Mom scowls at me, then shifts her gaze to Charlie, sitting beside me. “He’s a good man. I’m sorry to aggravate him.”

“I feel a but coming,” Charlie says.

Mom nods. “He’s dragged his heels on this.”

Like a rogue wave building in front of me, a massive energy rises as Mom and Charlie glare at each other. The tension is thick enough to lock my shoulders up.

“Mom?” I say. “That’s not fair, and you know it. Keep this up, and we may leave you here.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Try me,” Charlie says. “And, oh, by the way, the lawyer I got you is on his way. But you might as well get comfortable in that cell because it’s probably too late to get you an arraignment today. Plan on spending the night.”

That thought literally sickens me. Our mother will be forced to stay with God knows what kind of lowlifes. Then again, she’ll probably befriend a hooker and crackhead.

If Mom is dejected by this information, she doesn’t show it.

In her mind, it’s good for her cause. A way to rile the public over the establishment forcing a retiree to sleep in a cell.

JJ called it. This is a full-blown shit show.

“What have you girls done on the case?”

Her tone is almost accusatory. As if we’ve nothing better to do than champion her cause.

At this, Charlie snorts. “Oh, not much.” She rolls her hand. “Other than getting JJ to agree to a quiet look at the case. We’re reviewing the evidence tonight.”

“Finally,” Mom huffs. “What about DNA testing?”

“Not yet,” I say. “We’ll get there.”

Mom rolls her eyes. “All right. Well, if I were you, I’d start with Mary Hartman. Go to the queen herself.”

“No.”

Charlie’s tone is so matter of fact, Mom’s head snaps back. “Pardon?”

“The family is off-limits.”

“Damn JJ.” Mom mutters. “Still pulling the strings.”

I grin at my mother. “He is the U.S. Attorney, Mom.”

She blows air through her lips. “I’ll figure something out there. But, I have to say, that’s ridiculous. How does he expect us to solve it if we can’t talk to them?”

Charlie pins our mother with a look. “You’ve created a political firestorm. And that was before you got arrested. The mayor himself stopped by to speak with JJ this morning. He has to see Helen at a fundraiser tonight and was none too happy.”

Curious, I cock my head. “What fundraiser?”

“I have no idea,” Charlie says.

Mom waves a hand. “It’s probably to support families in need during the holidays.

Mary is all about Christmas. This might be our shot at her.

She’ll be distracted and surrounded by people.

If ever there was a chance to catch her off guard, this is it.

Meg, call Audrey at The Ledger. She has a contact in the mayor’s office.

She knows who you are. Tell her I need to know where the mayor is going tonight. ”

Go, Mom . “Wow,” I say. “That’s impressive.”

“You may think I’m a zealot, pushing my ideas on you, but I get things done.”

“No,” Charlie states in that same definitive tone from a few minutes ago. “I’m not going.”

I swing to Charlie. “I could go. Maybe take Matt with me. We find Mary and…”

“Are you insane? JJ will kill me. Kill us! We’ve just gotten him to agree to this review, and now, on day one, you want to risk it?”

I sure do.

“We can say we bought the tickets before all this happened.”

“He’ll never believe that.”

“We can claim we purchased them yesterday, thinking it might be an opportunity to speak to the family. Since we had the tickets, we felt we might as well go. Even though we don’t—wink, wink—intend on speaking to the family.”

“And what about convening tonight? What am I supposed to tell him?”

“Charlize,” Mom says, “do what you do. The man is putty in your hands.”

Wait. What? Is our mother telling Charlie, her oldest daughter, to manipulate JJ with sex?

A gagging noise erupts from my throat. “Ew.”

“Oh, please.” Mom rolls her eyes. “Men are idiots when it comes to sex.”

“I really am not believing this,” Charlie says.

She rises from the table, adjusts the sleeves of her blazer, and sighs. “I’m not purposely manipulating JJ to get him to further our cause.”

“But—”

“No buts,” Charlie spits. “I’m not doing that to him. Mom, I love this man. I want a future with him. And setting him up to lose a job he’s passionate about is not happening.” Charlie peers down at me. “I’ll be outside. Take your time.”

Five minutes later, we’re walking to Charlie’s car when her phone rings.

“Speak of the devil.” She taps the screen. “Hi, JJ.” She halts in the middle of the parking garage and turns to me, eyes wide. “No problem,” she tells him. “I understand. Tomorrow night, then?”

What, I’m wondering, is this about?

Seconds later, she hangs up, tucking her device in her purse. “One problem solved.”

“What’s that?”

“He just got called for the AG’s advisory committee. When the Attorney General of the United States calls a meeting, you don’t say no.”

“What time is that?”

She clucks her tongue. “It’s a dinner meeting that will probably run late. We’re doing our evidence review tomorrow night.”

Which means we’re free tonight. Which means, Charlie doesn’t have to sacrifice her body—not that sex with JJ is a sacrifice for her because she has trouble keeping her hands off him. She also doesn’t need to manipulate him into allowing us access to Mary Hartman.

“Sooo,” I say, rocking back on my heels. “I could go to this fundraiser. We’ll leave you out of it. That way, you don’t have to lie to JJ.”

“No,” Charlie replies and resumes walking.

I scramble after her. “Charlie, this is an opportunity. I mean, what are the chances he’ll be called to a meeting on the very night we need him to be busy? If this isn’t the universe throwing open a door, I don’t know what is. We have to do this!”

“You’re going whether I agree to accompany you or not, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

My sister sighs as if I’m her burden to bear. “You could end up with Mom tonight.”

“It’ll be worth it if I can get something out of Mary.”

She twists her mouth in thought. I’m almost sure she’s about to budge off her high horse. She doesn’t. “We do nothing until tomorrow. I want your word.”

Her phone rings. I see her hesitation. “Who is it?”

“Unknown number.” She’s about to send it to voicemail.

“What if it’s Mom using a cell she conned from a guard?”

“Or one she made a deal with an inmate for.” She climbs into the driver’s seat and hits the accept button, putting it on speaker. “Charlie Schock.”

“Dr. Schock,” a woman’s shaky voice says. “My name is Mallory Rugers. I’m Gerald Hartman’s ex. We don’t know each other, but I was hoping to speak to you about my daughter’s case.”

Ms. Rugers has done her homework. No one calls Charlie by her title unless she’s on the stand and the prosecution needs to impress the jury with her credentials.

“I’m sorry for the pain my family is causing yours,” she says, not without genuine empathy, but apologizing has become a rote gesture for her today. “My mother can overstep common boundaries when it comes to finding justice. She’s passionate.“

“I’m so grateful for it,” Mallory says.

Charlie glances at me, confused. “You are?”

“I’ve begged the family to keep pressing the police, but my demands have been shoved under the rug.

Tiffany”—her voice hitches—“loved Christmas. Now, every year, I see blood instead of wrapping paper. The brutality of it. Have you seen the pictures? My precious baby, beaten to death at a family party.”

Mallory could be a gold mine of information. Charlie senses this, too. “Would you be willing to come to our office and speak to us tomorrow?” she asks.

“I’m in France,” Mallory says. “I can’t stand to be anywhere near the Hartmans, especially during the holidays.”

I pipe up. “What about a video chat?”

“My sister, Meg,” Charlie says. “You’re on speaker.”

“If Mary found out…” Mallory trails off.

“Let me think about it, all right? Just, please, dig into the case for me, will you? There’s something not right about that family.

I’ve always believed they know more than they’ve let on.

Especially Mary. The matriarch of the Hartman clan knows everything. Every skeleton, every dirty secret.”

“Does she have some kind of blackmail on you?” Charlie asks. “Is that why you’re reluctant to talk to us?”

A soft chuckle that turns into a barely there sniffle. “She owns all of us.”

“Owns you how?” I ask.

The line goes dead.

It’s all I can do not to say something. To prod my sister. We have to attend that gala tonight and track down Mary Hartman.

Charlie starts the car and cranks up the heat. “I know what you’re going to say.”

I bite my lip. I know when to push and when to let Charlie’s inner compass do it.

She drives out of the lot, and we hit the highway. I’m practically vibrating with the words backing up in my throat.

Finally, she says, “Fine. We’re both going.”

“What about?—”

“JJ? I’ll figure it out, Meg. I always do.”