Part 25 (1/2)
Jamie sat in the chair beside Was.h.i.+ngton and scanned the list. The names were numbered one to thirty. She recognized maybe a third of them-Tim, Scott Scanlan, David Marshall, Hailey's captain. ”Christ. How far back does this go?”
”Not as long as you'd think from looking at it,” Was.h.i.+ngton said.
”A couple of years, I think,” Hailey added.
”Who put it together?”
”Daniels.”
Jamie glanced at the list again. ”Well, at least he's not on there.”
Hailey didn't speak at first. When she did, her tone was sharp and acidic. ”Neither is Deputy Chief Scanlan. Doesn't mean he didn't screw her.”
”You think there are a lot of omissions?” Jamie asked.
”I'm sure IA was thorough,” Was.h.i.+ngton said. ”Surely Deputy Chief Scanlan was purposefully left off the list.”
”But they didn't leave Scott off.”
Was.h.i.+ngton nodded. ”But Scott isn't known for his discretion. And his job's not on the line either.”
”Not to mention that unlike Scanlan senior, Scott's not married.”
No one spoke as Jamie skimmed over the names. No Ben Jules. That was a relief, but like Hailey said, what did it mean? ”How did Daniels put this together?”
Hailey frowned. ”I guess one IA's unofficial projects is to follow this sort of activity, to watch that it doesn't cause conflict of interest, probably also to make sure the press doesn't get wind of it. Especially for the higher-ranked married guys.”
Jamie turned to Was.h.i.+ngton. ”Did you know they did this?”
He shook his head. ”I had no f.u.c.king clue.”
”David Marshall?”
Hailey nodded. ”Married. So are Ken Oliver, Paul Wyeth, Eric Rickens, O'Connell, White, Pilitzky...” She waved her hand. ”More than half.”
Jamie looked at the names again. ”Christ. In two years, she had a new guy every month.”
”And that's the ones they knew about.”
Was.h.i.+ngton stood up. ”I'm heading home unless you guys need me?”
”No,” Hailey said. ”Thanks for coming in.”
Was.h.i.+ngton left and Jamie shook her head. ”You have to a.s.sume there are more men like Deputy Chief Scanlan-ones they wouldn't write down. This is like the needle in the haystack-Devlin's haystack.”
Hailey found another paper and slid it across the table. ”I did get this.”
She looked down at a report from the lab. ”What is it?”
”Roger's cast of Worley's head. It looks like Tim was struck with something about an inch thick, made of a heavy polymer material. Rectangular in shape. He took one side in the skull. The corner just scratched the skin.”
Jamie frowned. ”Polymer? What the h.e.l.l was it?”
”I don't know. Roger was on his way back to Devlin's office to look for a match.”
”A letter holder or something?”
Hailey shook her head. ”Not heavy enough. Had to be three or four pounds. Paper weight, maybe?”
Just then, Jamie's cell phone rang. She recognized her home number. ”Hey.”
Tony's voice was breathless. ”Christ, Jamie. Thank G.o.d.”
She halted. ”What's wrong?”
”Marchek was here, Jamie. In the yard.”
Jamie stood from the table. ”Marchek? Are you sure?”
”Positive.”
”Are you okay? Is he gone?”
”I'm fine. Marchek's gone-took off in a white van, but there's a kid here. He was in your yard-he's hurt.”
She frowned, listening to the way Tony dragged his S's. ”Jesus, Tony, you've been drinking.”
”He's bleeding. For Christ sake, Jamie. He's hurt!”
”Is he breathing?”
”Yeah. He's breathing, but there's blood all over him and I can't find the source.”
”Call 911.”
”I already did, but I need you.”
Jamie turned and ran from the room. Hailey started to follow. ”I'll call you,” Jamie told her. To Tony, she asked, ”Where are his parents?”
”He looks homeless, Jamie. I think maybe he was living in your backyard.”
Homeless. Christ. ”How's his pulse?” She took the stairs, two at a time, running as fast as she could.
”Steady.”
She heard a whine in the background.