The Violinist by M J Kola

Author:M J Kola [Kola, M J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-03-30T22:00:00+00:00

NINETEEN

The white light on my desk phone lit up, and the internal bell rattled to life. I looked up from my notes on the history of the latest victim as the light flashed on and off.

“Sloan,” I said, lifting the receiver to my mouth.

“Detective Sloan, this is Raymond Howard, assistant DA for Fulton County District Attorney’s office. You might remember me, we worked the Edwards case together last October.”

“What can I do for you, Mr. Howard?”

“I understand your office is looking for Andre Mounier.”

“You would be correct.”

“I’ve arranged for Mr. Mounier to turn himself in to you this afternoon. He’s agreed to give you a statement on the Stone Mountain victim. But—”

“Hold on a moment, Ray. Before you say another word, are you calling me to say he’s cut a deal with the DA already? ‘Cause I know that can’t be why you’re calling. This man is at least a material witness in a murder case—if not connected to it. How do you cut a deal before we’ve even arrested him?”

“Frank, under normal circumstances, I’d let this man swing, but he’s involved in a very sensitive case that I can’t share too many details on at this point. He’s agreed to come in. He’ll be booked on the charge of aiding and abetting prostitution...”

“We’re arresting him for chauffeuring the women?”

“Yes. And based on the severity of the crime, the DA’s office will not be seeking to file charges.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I said. I stood up from my desk and raised my voice into the phone. “He’s a drug-pushing pimp and a suspect in a murder case. I don’t know if you saw the paper this morning, but—”

“Jesus Frank, I know. The only reason we’ll even put the A&A out there is that you have a witness that can put him at the scene. Look, he’s got an alibi, and it’s airtight.”

“Yeah, what is it? Was he too busy delivering hookers to The Governor’s Ball?”

“Frank, I can’t go into the details. But the AG’s involved, and he’s given me my marching orders. Simply put, the DA’s office won’t seek any charges greater than aiding and abetting.”

“Raymond, you can tell your boss and the Mayor that your office just harpooned my investigation. You took away whatever leverage I possibly had over this man. He’ll lie his ass off, and then he’s going to walk.”

“He’s agreed to give a sworn statement.”

“Great, so he’s going to swear it was Santa Claus, and he’s in the wind. I’ve read his case file. He’s a predator at a minimum and connected to a pair of homicides at the worst. This stinks, Raymond. This whole thing stinks to high hell, and your office might have just cost me this case.”

“Detective, Andre Mounier walks, end of story.”

“Christ,” I muttered and dropped the receiver back on the hook.

***

Less than twenty-four hours after the APB had been placed on Andre “Midnight” Mounier, the man walked into the precinct side by side with the civil rights lawyer, Wendell Dupree.

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