Page 115 of Cold Hard Cash

“I have a much better idea. How about you drop your little murder investigation, I get to keep Jimmy and continue doing whatever I want to him. In exchange, I don’t turn you into the authorities for tampering with evidence. I think that would be much more helpful to Jimmy, plus you get to avoid several felonies.”

“What evidence?” Augustus demanded. His eyes were wide, and Jimmy could see a twinkle of fear.

“Before I met Jimmy, I took the time to do my research,” Cold said carefully. “I never do anything without being fully prepared. Background check, known associates, the works. I also read the case file that’s currently on record with the SSPD for Eliza Poe’s murder. Read every detail. Funny, though. The official report says he was asleep at the time of his mother’s murder. Imagine my surprise when Jimmy told me he saw the whole thing. How curious.”

Sweat began to bead along Augustus’ brow, but he said nothing, so Cold continued.

“I’m sure you’ve heard of Geemaw,” Cold drawled. “Very lovely lady, fabulous baker. Did you know she made copies of every file she ever transcribed for the SSPD while she worked there? Wasn’t hard to get a copy of the original report. You know, the report that’s in your handwriting that includes Jimmy’s original testimony and eyewitness account of his mother’s tragic death.”

Augustus’ jaw was tight.

“And yet,” Cold gasped, clicking his tongue as he spread the file out across the table between them, “you went on and filed the report a second time, but this time your story had changed. All trace of Jimmy witnessing the crime had been removed.”

“I was trying to protect Jimmy,” Augustus said quietly, glaring harshly at Cold.

“Oh, one second,” Cold said, reaching down into the box next to him. “See, I thought you might say that.” He brought out a stack of files, a dozen at least, dropping them down on the table with a loud slam. “Were you trying to protect Jimmy when you altered all of these reports, too?”

“You motherfucker...” Augustus leaned back in his chair.

Cold looked triumphant, saying sweetly, “I decided to stop at nineteen, seemed like a good number.” He smiled over at Jimmy before turning his icy gaze back on Augustus. “In at least nineteen cases, I can prove that you altered evidence to make arrests.”

“Every single one of those men were guilty,” Augustus challenged passionately. “They were lowlife scumbags, just like you, who had managed to beat the system over and over again. Everything I did was to ensure justice would be served.”

“And David Poe? He was another scumbag? And you just had to make sure that justice would be carried out? Or did you have some additional motivation?”

“What are you implying?” Augustus snapped.

“Back in the day, the Luchesi family made several, hmmm, contributions to the Strassen Springs Police Department.” Cold chuckled fondly. “Some of the names in those files looked awfully familiar to me. I began to notice a rather distinct pattern.”

“Fuck you, Legrand.”

“I’ll pass, but how about you tell me about Eliza Poe. Did you or did you not receive compensation to tamper with the investigation?”

“Even if I did,” Augustus raged, “it wouldn’t change the facts. David murdered his wife, I know it.”

Jimmy squirmed, Augustus’ anger pulsing the very air in the room.

“How can you be so sure?” Cold pushed, never flinching.

“Because Eliza called me the night she was murdered.”

The oxygen all seemed to drain away, Jimmy left gasping as he stared at Augustus. “She... called you?” Not once in all these years had Augustus ever mentioned his mother calling him. Jimmy’s eyes began to sting with tears. “She called you! She called you, and you never told me?”

“You didn’t need to know,” Augustus said firmly even as his lip began to twitch.

“Oh, but I think he does,” Cold snarled. “If you don’t tell us right now, I will take this beautiful pile of evidence to the nearest news station. I’ll even be kind enough to take it to the one your daughter works at. I’m sure she would love that.”

Augustus tilted his head skyward, blinking back tears.

“Hmmm, ‘Detective Takes Mob Moolah To Make Unlawful Arrests,’” Cold suggested. “I think that’s a good headline, don’t you? Oh, well. I suppose we should let daughter dearest pick it out.”

“Fine,” Augustus hissed. He was trapped, speaking slowly and defining each syllable as he called on old memories, saying, “She called me from the house. Phone at the jewelry shop was out again. She started to complain about a customer who had been giving her a hard time...”

“I’ve seen the files. There was a robbery the same night she was murdered,” Cold interjected sharply. “Was it—”

“No, that was after Eliza was killed, and only one item was taken,” Augustus said, miffed at being interrupted.

Cold scowled, flicking his fingers in annoyance for Augustus to continue.