Goddess of Justice by Dwayne Clayden (mobi ebook reader TXT) 📕

Archer’s head rose, and he glanced at Jackson and paused before answering. “I’m sure you’re heartbroken. When your guys got to Annie’s apartment building, Coulter’s car was there, but he wasn’t. Then Annie showed up at the farm. Lobo was curious about the trunk of her car. RCMP ERT popped the trunk, but he wasn’t there either. I don’t suppose you’ve got any ideas of where he’d go.”

Jackson shrugged. “Those would be the first two places I’d check. Maybe the cemetery.”

“I’ve got Griffin heading there with a few guys,” Archer said. “But if Coulter’s car is at Annie’s, then how is he getting around?”

“Beats me.”

Archer stood and paced the room. “This is a nightmare. How did the press get a hold of this so fast? We’re in a pile of shit.”

“For which part? That Coulter may be the killer or that we don’t have a clue where he is?”

Archer groaned and sat. He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a bottle of Scotch. He poured two glasses and slid one over to Jackson.

“I’m confused,” Jackson said. “Are we drinking, hoping we find Coulter or celebrating that he’s out there solving the case?”

Archer glared at Jackson and downed his drink.

Griffin followed K9 through the darkening cemetery. He had police cruisers blocking all the exits. Behind him, six uniformed officers followed. They stopped, and he glanced at the map again, then pointed. K9 led the way.

They came to a fork in the road, and Griffin split the team in half. Each team worked their way opposite the row where Maggie’s grave lay. On Griffin’s command, they lit their flashlights and yelled, “Police.”

The shouts echoed throughout the cemetery, but no one answered. Griffin glanced to the K9 dog straining at his leash.

Griffin stepped next to the handler. “So?”

“He has Coulter’s scent from that disgusting T-shirt you brought, and he tracked it here. But there are no new footprints. The heavy snow of the last few hours covered any tracks. I’d say if Coulter was here, it was before the heavy snow. My dog will turn around and track right back to our cars. Coulter has been and gone.”

“Shit.” Griffin absently rubbed his neck. This was the second fucking time he’d been searching for Coulter. The guy was a pain in the ass. Coulter could frame it however he wants, he’s running and that makes him guilty. He’s made us all look stupid. Griffin grimaced and felt his stomach churn. He hated bad cops.

Chapter Thirty-Four

The CFCN News van stopped close to the ditch at the lane to Brad’s farm. From here, the farmhouse couldn’t be seen because of a thick stand of trees, darkness, low clouds, and the heavy falling snow. A dark SUV blocked the lane. A Mountie in gray tactical gear including balaclava strode over. “No one gets in.”

“On whose orders?” Sadie asked.

“RCMP business. This farm is off limits.”

Sadie lifted her mic higher. “What’s happening?”

“Ma’am, please leave.”

“I’m here to see Brad Coulter.”

He leaned into the window, his rifle pressing against the van, and pushed the microphone down. “I don’t care if you’re here to confess to the Pope. You don’t get in.”

“He invited me.”

“How pleasant. You two will have to have tea another day.” He stepped back and waved his hand down the road. “Move along.”

Sadie nodded to her cameraman. They drove down the road about a half-mile and parked. The cameraman set up his tripod and attached the camera.

“Get some video of the RCMP at the entrance.” Sadie slid out of the van and straightened her parka. She used the truck’s side mirror to check her makeup, add red lipstick, and adjusted her black pom beanie. She did a mic check with the station, then faced the camera. The cameraman nodded, then the bright lights lit up the road.

“This is Sadie Andrus, CFCN News. I am reporting from Detective Brad Coulter’s farmhouse just outside the city limits. Earlier, I received information from an unidentified police source that Coulter was wanted by his own police department for murder, and that a city-wide manhunt was underway.”

The screen switched to black SUVs blocking the lane into Brad’s house with the audio of Sadie’s confrontation with the RCMP.

“We were confronted by members of the RCMP ERT in full tactical gear, including balaclavas. They denied us entry to the house and refused to tell us what was happening. They hustled us away from the scene.”

The video switched to Sadie, with members of ERT a hundred yards behind her.

The door to Archer’s office burst open. His secretary pointed to the TV.

“You need to turn on the evening news, sir. Channel 4.”

Archer set his drink on the table, then switched on the TV.

“This is Sadie Andrus, CFCN News. I am reporting from Detective Brad Coulter’s farmhouse just outside the city limits. Earlier, I received information from an unidentified police source that Coulter was wanted by his own police department for murder, and that a city-wide manhunt was underway.”

The screen switched to black SUVs blocking the lane into Brad’s house with the audio of Sadie’s confrontation with the RCMP.

“We were confronted by members of the RCMP ERT in full tactical gear, including balaclavas. They denied us entry to the house and refused to tell us what was happening. They hustled us away from the scene.”

The video switched to Sadie, with members of ERT a hundred yards behind her.

Jackson stood and stared at the TV. “This is not good.”

Archer grabbed his phone and dialed. “Dispatch. Contact RCMP dispatch and order the ERT at Coulter’s house to shut down that TV broadcast. Now!”

The camera focused on the outline of a house in the darkness. A single light illuminated the yard. Several interior lights were on.

The scene swung from the yard back to Sadie. “We have attempted to talk to the occupants of the house, especially Detective Coulter, but ERT has blocked our entry. When questioned, they would not give us a reason.