Murmurs of Insanity by Gerrie Ferris Finger

Author:Gerrie Ferris Finger
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: murder, child abduction, drug dealers, female private eye, witness intimidation
Publisher: Bold Venture Press

16

The steady rain was my friend on the way to Atlanta. No cops were out clocking my ninety mile-an-hour haste. I had an appointment with Porsh while she was between cases and an hour to get there.

She didn’t say anything about my being ten minutes late, and I listened to her summation of the case. “Police say it looks like a kidnapping.” She hesitated a moment. “Although I wonder. Johndro’s no dummy.”

Portia melded into the elegance of the room, an elegance that was fine-lined rather than plush. Portia’s grace is born of her lithe frame, one that can wear a burlap sack with style. I’ve known her since first grade at Christ the King parochial school, and from that day to this, I admire the way she swans her dark head on a long neck and the way she sways her slender, delicate hands when speaking. Portia is not delicate, however. One look at her hawk-like nose and large brown eyes tells you that. Those two features also tell you she’s in possession of a brilliant mind.

“CPS fucked up,” she continued. “Because of the murder Johndro was no longer safe with his aunt and was supposed to be moved immediately after his statements to police—from police station to a house unknown to family and friends until the matter was resolved.” She moved forward in the chair and placed folded hands on the desk top. “By order of my court.”

“I’d hate to disobey that order.”

“Because of cutbacks, no family was available. So the idiots take him to the Eggers until they can find a place.” Portia fingered her cigarette holder. She doesn’t smoke any more (that I know of) but having the holder at hand reminded her of fonder days, those days in her grandmother’s Bentley when we sat in the back seat and sucked our lungs dry. The same Bentley now behind a security fence across from Lake’s loft.

“There’s a lot to be said for institutions,” Portia went on. “Safe homes for children, run by the state, but I’ve lost faith in the present foster care system. CPS and police took him home last night, left him unguarded, and this morning he was gone. He’d left his cell phone on his night stand. What kid leaves home without his cell phone?”

So true. If you can’t find a missing woman, but find her purse, it’s a good chance she didn’t leave it behind voluntarily. I said, “I’m off to see Mrs. Eggers, if she’ll speak to me.”

“Damn well better, if she wants to remain guardian of Johndro once this is over. I’ll send someone to pick her up.” She tapped her index finger on the cigarette holder as if it held a cigarette in need of de-ashing. I stood and told her I was off to the Eggers home. She said, “Lake and his minions can handle the neighborhood. Trashing your yard was one thing, trashing your head, I don’t want on mine.”

“You got my butt here to find Johndro. That means I’m going into that neighborhood.

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