“Yes, but maybe they think we found out since then. Or they don’t want to take chances.”
“Then why frame Courtney in the first place? Why frame her, then kill her?”
“Maybe they couldn’t get to her before.” Julia was thinking aloud. “Or maybe they thought framing her would end her investigating Kay’s murder. She would have to deal with her own defense, and she would be her husband’s main concern. They’re trying everything they can to intimidate us, to shake us loose. I told you a black pickup hit me from behind tonight, and earlier, a Buckley police cruiser followed us. They thought we would give up. Instead, we showed we weren’t going anywhere. That meant they had to kill Courtney to silence her.”
“I want her out of prison,” Paul said abruptly, turning to Bennie. “Can’t we get her out now? She’s obviously not safe there.”
“I asked the assistant warden for a transfer, but he said no, so I requested ad seg, where they put prisoners at risk.”
Julia’s thoughts strayed to Alex, heartsick. “So what happened to Alex? How did he die?” She couldn’t even believe she was saying the words. She’d come to like and admire him. “What did the assistant warden say about him?”
“The assistant warden won’t officially call what happened a prison riot, but it was. There was a breakout by four male inmates, all members of an Aryan gang. They attacked the SWAT team, C.O.s, and Alex in the hallway.” Bennie paused, shaken. “Alex was killed by a blow to the head. He didn’t have the helmets, vests, or shields the others did. That’s why all the ambulances are coming. C.O.s and inmates were injured, some seriously.”
“Oh my God.” Julia felt sick to her stomach. She lost focus for a moment, mentally dropping out of the conversation. She flashed on how she’d experienced Alex’s soul departing his body, not wanting to leave his earthly life, maybe not wanting to leave Courtney. It wasn’t something she wanted to know, and there was nothing she could do about it except share his agony and anguish.
Paul was shaking his head. “Was the riot a part of the attempt on Courtney’s life or unrelated?”
“I asked the assistant warden, but he wouldn’t answer, and they can’t know yet. They won’t know until they investigate, but if you ask me, I think the answer is yes. I think the inmates conspired with the killer to murder Courtney and wanted to kill whoever came to help.” Bennie’s upper lip curled in disgust. “That’s the truly evil part. It’s likean arsonist who sets a fire and kills the first responders who come to put it out.”
“I agree with you.” Paul hung his head. “Jesus.”
Julia struggled to think through her emotions. “I think it was related, too. We know there’s white supremacists on the police force, so there must be some inside, right?”
Bennie nodded. “It’s likely. You know, the Aryan Nation began as a prison gang. The prison system is rife with gang activity, and inmates don’t give up their friends and connections on the outside when they’re behind bars. That’s why the system cracks down so hard on contraband cell phones. Connections to the outside can be used for too many things, not only gang activity but running drugs and other illegal businesses.”
Paul looked up. “So a crooked C.O. doesn’t care if other C.O.s get killed? What about loyalty?”
“Loyalty to what? To whom? I’ve met a bunch of C.O.s and they’re usually great people, but they don’t check their political or other beliefs at the door. If they’re white supremacists at home, that’s what they are at work, too. They factionalize like gangs. Whichever C.O. helped the inmates who rioted and tried to kill Courtney was fine with killing other C.O.s. Alex was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“Unless he was a target, too,” Julia said, as the thought entered her mind.
“How?” Bennie looked over. “He couldn’t have been. How would they have known he was here?”
“Alex said he had friends here. We saw the one C.O., Curtis, and Alex said he had a friend who tipped him off. The friend could have told another C.O. who wanted to harm him.”
“But nobody could have predicted Alex would try to get to Courtney.”
“They might have, or even if they didn’t, they could’ve seized the opportunity when he did.”
Bennie blinked. “You might be right.”
“I think she is.” Paul frowned. “We should tell the assistant warden.”
Bennie glanced away, distracted. “Look. This case is about to get bigger.”
Julia and Paul turned to the scene. Newsvans with multicolored logos and white microwave towers were arriving. They pulled into the visitors’ lot, and technicians jumped out and began setting up portable generators, klieg lights, and makeshift tents. Videographers hoisted cameras to their shoulders, and anchorpeople emerged from vans in fresh makeup, with paper towels still stuck into their collars.
Julia realized this was a sensational story for them, but her best friend was still inside, more scared than ever.
Paul put a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry I lost my temper earlier.”
Julia felt touched. “It’s okay, I get it. It drives me crazy too.”
“It isn’t easy, having a gift like that, is it?”
“No,” Julia had to admit. “But I have to get better at it.”
“If Courtney were here, she would say she loves you just the way you are.” Paul smiled warmly. “So do I.”
