Chapter 29
In the conference room the next morning, Amanda laid nine files out on the table. "Okay, Francine. These are all the guards who work regular shifts in Brody's ward or in a place he frequents, the nurse he sees most often, and an inmate he interacts with other than his cellmate."
"Frequents? Sounds like he's hitting up the bar," Francine commented with a raised eyebrow.
"Not like a bar. More like the medical ward, the education room, and the library. Sometimes the exercise hall. Turns out, he has to sign in and out of everywhere he goes and it has to be approved by the guard on duty." Amanda pointed to a handwritten list. "I made notes of the places he goes most often."
Francine lifted the lined note paper and scanned the list of officers. She compared the names with the folders on the table. "Doesn't look like there's a common thread here. I mean, according to your notes, he barely leaves his cell. Maybe once or twice a week, other than the medical ward."
"I checked his medical records and he's on two different prescriptions which he takes daily but they are distributed in the cell block by the nurses themselves. One is for high blood pressure and the other is an aspirin for his heart." Amanda tapped one file. "This is the nurse who distributes the meds in the morning and this one…" She tapped a second file. "This is the librarian who brings him books several times a week."
Francine opened the nurse's folder first. She read a few lines and frowned. "I don't think Nurse Ratchet here is doing anything for him."
"What makes you say that?" Amanda peered over Francine's shoulder to study the photo clipped to the first page.
"Amanda, if she was getting paid on the sly from Brody, don't you think she would be able to afford a better place to live? Says here, her primary residence is in the most dangerous section of town." Francine rolled her eyes and turned the page. "And don't even get me started on the car she's driving. I don't even think I own a pair of shoes this old."
Amanda pinched the bridge of her nose and pressed her lips together tightly for a minute. She inhaled deeply before exhaling loudly. "What do you think of the librarian? He's incarcerated for embezzaling funds from the company he worked for."
Francine tossed the nurse's folder aside and reached for the second file. She skimmed the pages quickly. "He has promise. Anyone else?" She snapped the folder closed and glanced over the remaining files.
"The rest are all guards or the warden but I didn't see anything to raise a red flag." Amanda stacked the folders again and handed them to Francine as she suggested, "Maybe you and Lee should take another trip there to talk to them in person?"
"Maybe we should, but I can tell you right now, I'm driving. I will not be seen in that… orange walrus Leatherneck gave you." Francine shuddered at the thought.
Amanda grinned. "Aw, Francine, it's not that bad."
"Amanda. It's hideous." She laughed loudly before adding, "Worse than the station wagon."
Amanda folded her arms across her chest. "I happen to like my old station wagon."
"And I happen to like my red convertible but you wouldn't see me trading it in for something that looks like a paneled box on wheels, now would you?" Francine snarked back playfully.
Amanda relaxed, realizing Francine was only teasing. "Well, now that you mention it, the orange does kind of remind me of one of those traffic cones."
"Too bad it's only missing the reflective tape."
Together they laughed loudly until the door opened and Lee poked his head inside. "Sounds like I'm missing a party in here. Were you able to narrow down any suspects?"
"Grab your shovel, Scarecrow. We have some more digging to do," Francine announced. She traipsed by him, stopped at the door, and stared at him. "Let's go. We don't have all day."
"Go where?" Lee lifted his hand in the air, confused.
Amanda patted his shoulder lovingly and explained, "You and Francine are heading back to the prison to interview the few officers and the inmate I found."
"Well, why didn't you just say that in the first place?" Lee grunted.
"Because it's so much more fun to see the look on your face," Francine deadpanned. "Oh, and I'm driving."
"While you're at the prison, I am planning on going over all of our other reports to make sure we haven't missed anything. And I'll follow up with Marcus on those fingerprints to see if he found anything else." Amanda turned Lee and gently guided him toward the door.
In the bullpen, Amanda stopped near Francine's desk. "This is where we part ways. I'll let you know if I find anything."
"Oh, Amanda, when you see Mrs. Marston, let her know we'll bring the girls by on Friday. I sort of promised her on my way down we would." Lee grinned at his wife.
Amanda propped her hand on her hip and blinked at her husband. "And why would you do a silly thing like that, may I ask?"
Lee toyed with the edge of Francine's desk as he fumbled. "She was just saying how she hasn't seen them in almost a month and I know you have Friday off. I was just thinking you were going to have to drive me here anyway..."
"What's wrong with your car?" Amanda shifted her weight and folded her arms.
"My car will be getting a tune-up and an oil change. I have to drop it off Thursday night, remember?" Lee crossed his arms, mimicking his wife's stance.
Amanda relaxed and let her arms fall gently. "I did not remember. I'm sorry. I think I've been so wrapped up in needing to replace the Wagoneer, I completely forgot about the maintenance on yours."
"Philip convinced me to bring it by the shop and my contact over there said he'd take care of me while letting Philip do most of the work. He said Philip's doing a good job." Lee nodded.
"And he's been keeping his grades up. I don't know if I mentioned it or not, but I got a note from his math teacher who is so proud of him." Amanda beamed.
Lee smiled, his dimples deep. "You know, maybe getting a job was the best thing for him. He's showing more responsibility, his grades have been better, and he's really stepped up."
"You two better stop yapping about your family if you want to keep your jobs. Don't look now, but Dr. Smyth is heading this way," Francine warned quietly as she quickly handed Lee one of the files and spoke louder. "While Amanda focuses on the fingerprints and background checks, I think we should concentrate on this suspect first."
Lee glanced up quickly to see Dr. Smyth nearing them, his eyebrow raised with interest. "I agree. If we leave now, we can make it to the prison before lunch."
"Scarecrow. Ms. Desmond. Mrs. Stetson," he drawled. "I heard about your little run-in the other day with the Ambassador. We don't need to be ruffling any red-wattled lapwings, if you catch my drift."
"No ruffling going on here. Francine and I are just heading over to the prison to interview a few potential suspects. What happened with the Ambassador may have just been a coincidence. We were in the right place at the wrong time," Lee explained.
Dr. Smyth stared at him. He twisted his mouth several times before clicking his tongue once. "Let's just hope you're right, Scarecrow. I heard Brody's cellmate might know a few more secrets than he has disclosed in the past. And now that his precious Ambassador is here, he might want to share that information… for the right price."
Lee tilted his head as he demanded, "You want me to bribe an inmate?"
"Not bribe… barter." Dr. Smyth patted his jacket pocket before pulling out an envelope. "I have a pardon, signed by POTUS himself, if you can get the little birdie to sing."