Silencing Salter (A Luca Mystery Book 7) by DAN PETROSINI

Author:DAN PETROSINI [Petrosini, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 28

“Are you shitting me? Sex with a minor? What happened with the charge?”

“The complaint was withdrawn. I pulled the file, and the mother said that her kid had been lying about what happened.”

“What’s the woman’s name?”

“Christina Matthews.”

“And this was seven years ago?”

“Yeah, December 11, 2012 was the date on the complaint.”

“We need to talk to this woman. Where is she living?”

“I’m tracking her down.”

“What, do these Salters have a genetic defect or something that attracts them to kids?”

“If this is true, it’s really fucked up.”

“I’m starting to wonder if the group that meets on the fifteenth revolves around some twisted sex thing with children.”

“You think so? That’s a lot of people, and all of them are prominent.”

“Up in Jersey we cracked a porn ring that had a couple of CEOs in it. One of them was on CNBC all the time giving advice. I’m telling you, the longer I’m on the planet, the more I’m convinced you never really know anyone.”

“You’re probably right, but with a couple of exclusions. I’m pretty sure I know you, Mary Ann, Lynn, and my parents, pretty much inside out.”

“I’ll give you that, but a lot of time people see troubling signs in others, and for whatever reason, push it aside. That’s why we have more mass shootings than we should.”

“We live in a world where anything is possible. Especially in our business.”

“As they say, life is stranger than fiction. Look, you stay on this Matthews woman. I’m going to visit Annabelle and see what she has to say about this.”

***

Annabelle was attending a luncheon at the Naples Grand Beach Resort. The hotel was at the end of Pine Ridge Road, next to the parking for Clam Pass Beach, where a body was discovered a couple of years ago. The details of the case passed through my mind until I remembered I’d been diagnosed with cancer in the middle of the investigation.

The lobby here felt swanky, like a New York City joint. I liked the open bar area that was anchored by a grand piano. I headed toward the ballroom area, stopping across from an entrance that read Save Our Turtles. Annabelle was spending her time on lesser-known charitable organizations.

A stream of women exited the affair. Annabelle’s red dress was hard to miss; it wasn’t flashy or sexy, but it shouted determined. Her smile disappeared when she saw me sitting in a club chair. She pecked the cheek of the lady she was talking to and nodded toward the lobby.

We settled into low-backed chairs whose comfortability was just above walking on hot coals. I didn’t want anything more than water. She ordered a club soda with lime and said, “I didn’t expect you so early.”

“You never know how much traffic is going to be on Pine Ridge. How was your lunch?”

“Good. We’re raising funds to expand our sea turtle program. Once you explain how important the mission is, people get on board.”

“You put the gating around the turtles’ beach nests?”

“Yes, that’s a good part of what we do.

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