Free Silenced Justice: A Josh Williams Novel by Joe Broadmeadow

"Lieutenant Williams."
    "Lieutenant, Chief Brennan here, are you and former Lieutenant Hamlin making any progress?"
    Josh knew better than to try to put anything past Brennan, "How do you know this? I thought you were hobnobbing with your brother wizards at the monthly Police Chief's pity party."
    "Funny Lieutenant, most amusing," Brennan answered. "I wasn't sure, but I had my suspicions she'd weasel her way in. You just confirmed it."
    Dammit, the bastard is freaking psychic .
    "Lieutenant, I have a little tidbit for you. Seems at the time Grey was in the prison, the acting warden was a major from the State Police. He was there on a temporary basis while the state sought a permanent warden. It may explain the lapse in protocol. Of course, he has long since retired. His name is William Church. Rumor has it he is still alive and living in a nursing home in Burrillville."
    "Thanks Chief, that's helpful."
    "Lieutenant," Brennan added, "please do me a favor. If you decide to go talk to the major, make sure he lives longer than a few hours after you leave. I do not want them pissed at us also. Try to stay out of trouble Lieutenant," ending the call.
    Josh explained what the Chief told him about the former warden. Chris held up a form from the pile. "There are notes in here from the Supervisory Corrections Officer the day Grey arrived. He listed Grey as a parole violator, which was not correct, committed to a six-month bid and ordered him sent to Medium Security."
    Josh took the paper and looked at it.
    "So it was either an innocent error, or convenient excuse. Either way they covered their asses. Even if the guard is alive I doubt he'd recall it," Chris said.
    "No shit," Josh replied. "Okay, look up where the nursing home is. We're gonna take a ride."
     
    * * *
     
    Josh walked back to his office. As he opened the door, Captain Charland appeared behind him. "Good morning, Captain. How can I help you?"
    "Why were you in the Chief's private conference room?"
    Josh continued into the SIU office, "Just placing some files in there as the Chief asked me to," trying closing the door, hoping the answer satisfied the Captain.
    Charland blocked the door. "Lieutenant, as you know, in the Chief's absence, as the senior Captain, I am the acting Chief. You must clear any access to his office through me."
    Josh started to answer when Chris came into the detective reception area. "Rubber Gun Charland, how are you Cap?"
    Charland turned, saw her, and looked back at Josh. "Lieutenant, why is a civilian walking around this police department without an escort?"
    Chris pushed past Charland and into the SIU office. "Now R G, if you insist on being a bastard about this I'll tell everybody about your little problem." Pointing her index finger in the air, smirking at Charland, and then drooping it down. “Remember? Half-mast and the moment past.”
    "Look Hamlin, you're no longer employed here. This is a violation of…"
    Chris smiled at the Captain. "Okay, you asked for it. See Josh, one day old R G here and a former auxiliary officer engaged in some, ah, field exercises--." Josh pushed her further into the office.
    Charland's face was crimson. "Chief Brennan will hear about this. Is that clear?"
    Josh tried to hide a smile. "Sorry Cap, you know she's just kidding," closing the door.
    Chris raised her voice, "So anyway, R G's knee keyed the mike and every radio in range got a blow-by-blow description of a…"
    "Stop," Josh said, holding his hands up. "The son-of-a-bitch is always looking for a reason to screw with me and you have to go let him see you're in here. Why couldn't you just stay out of sight like I asked?"
    Chris laughed, "Look Josh, old rubber gun got his name because he's crazy. Nobody listens to him. Well, that's not true. His political friends listen because he's their ear on the ground in here. Come on, you know this," taking a seat at Josh's desk. "He'll go back to his office, call one of his buddies, and whine about it. When I was