Judges: The Avalanche by Michael Carroll

Author:Michael Carroll
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Publisher: Rebellion Publishing Ltd

CHAPTER TEN

“SHE DIDN’T EVEN make it back here,” Sergeant Stavros Leandros said to Judge Deacon.

Deacon was standing in what had once been Charlotte-Jane’s bedroom. Now it was piled high with cardboard boxes and plastic crates. A single mattress was propped up next to the window, leaving just about enough space on the floor to lay it down.

The sergeant was standing in the doorway, watching the Judge. “When she left for Boston, she told Mom that she could do what she liked with her room.” He shrugged. “CJ’s like me in that regard. We’re not sentimental about stuff. Ask my wife: a month after we tied the knot, she gave me hell when she caught me throwing out the wedding cards. Benny, now, he’s the sentimental one. Mom talked about redecorating his room—this was about four years ago—and Benny went nuts. Sulked for weeks. He moved out nine years ago.”

Deacon turned on the spot. No posters that he could see, no cute ornaments hanging from the ceiling or stickers on the back of the door. “Where’s all her stuff?”

“She gave most of it away before she left. Like I said, she wasn’t that kind of person. Didn’t hang onto things. Judge, what did you expect to find in here?”

“Nothing. But your mother and brother are still in shock and it’s important for them to believe that something is being done.” Deacon regarded Stavros for a moment. “You don’t seem to be in shock. Your only sister has been murdered. I’d expect more of a reaction.”

“I know... This is how I am. Ask anyone. It’ll hit me later. A few days, maybe. Same thing happened when Dad was killed. I’ll do what needs to be done and then I’ll grieve. I’m not going to go to pieces; it’s not going to help anyone.”

“Pragmatic,” Deacon said. “So, where would you start?”

The bedroom door was pushed open, and Detective Morrow entered. “Start right here in town. Sorry, I’ve been listening.”

Stavros said, “There was no one in town who had a problem with CJ. Not that I know of. All her life, she mostly did her own thing. A few friends, no one too close.”

“Boyfriends?” Morrow asked.

“Same thing. I don’t know, maybe it was their decision not to get close to her. That can happen when you’ve got three cops in your immediate family and five more among the aunts, uncles and cousins.” To Deacon, he added, “I guess you know that, too, right?”

Morrow raised an eyebrow. “You’ve got family on the force, Judge?”

“One of the others is his cousin,” Stavros said.

“This is not about me,” Deacon said, “but I acknowledge that you’re letting me know you checked me out.” He looked around the room once more. “Sergeant, we have almost nothing to go on here. No trace of DNA on her body, no murder weapon, no scene of death, no witnesses, and apparently no motive other than that she was a Judge. And even that’s not much more than an assumption.”

The detective asked, “Anything on the satellite feeds?”

“The trees at the scene obscure any overhead visuals.

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