Justice Lost (Darren Street #3)(33)
“Do you have any contact with him?”
“He comes every summer. I stay in touch by calling, but it’s difficult to get past his mother sometimes. She’s not exactly what I would describe as a kind person.”
“I want to extend my condolences for the death of your mother and for what happened recently with Miss Alexander and your daughter. That was a terrible thing, from what I understand.”
“Thank you, and, yes, it was terrible. The doctor had some serious substance-abuse issues that people were aware of prior to that day. He had no business practicing medicine.”
“I’ve been told that he’s gone. Nobody has heard from him in a couple of weeks.”
“That’s what I hear.”
“What’s your theory on his disappearance?” Senator Tate said.
“My theory? I don’t really have one, but if I did, it would probably be along the lines of he knew a huge lawsuit would be coming down the pike and that the medical licensing board would be taking a close look at him, so he ran away to avoid the beating he knew he was about to take.”
“So you don’t think any harm has come to him?”
“I don’t know, Senator, but if harm did come to him, it couldn’t have come to a more deserving person.”
“So Elizabeth tells me you’d like to be the next district attorney general in Knoxville,” Senator Tate said. “Tell me, if you don’t mind, why you would want such a dirty job.”
He spoke with a slow mountain drawl, a baritone that was almost mesmerizing. It was the kind of voice that could hypnotize an unsuspecting person into believing damned near anything he said. I was certain that his voice had played a major role in his political success. It was a voice of persuasion.
I wondered briefly whether I should give him some flowery bullshit answer to the question he’d just asked me or just tell him the truth. Then I thought about how many times he’d probably asked people questions just like the one he’d asked me. Thousands, I guessed. No point in trying to dress it up. I looked him in the eye.
“Because I can’t stand Stephen Morris. He’s gutless, and he doesn’t deserve the job. Because I think I can help Granny and her family in certain ways. Because the system has let me down more than once, and I’m hoping maybe I can do better. And maybe I think I might be able to atone for some things I’ve done in the past, set some things right, at least in my own mind.”
“You’re trying to forgive yourself for the killings you’ve done,” he said.
“If I ever killed anyone, sir, and I’m not saying I have, they deserved it.”
“Sometimes the system fails us,” Senator Tate said. “It failed you by allowing you to be locked up for a crime you didn’t commit and subjected you to things I can’t even begin to imagine, and it failed you when your mother was killed. Although, to be perfectly frank, I don’t believe you gave the system much of a chance when your mother was killed. You acted hastily.”
“I don’t really remember how I acted, sir,” I said. “I have very little recollection of that time in my life.”
“You were far more methodical with Ben Clancy,” he said.
“With all due respect, sir, I’d rather not discuss Ben Clancy.”
“I’ll discuss him,” Granny said. “He was a psychopath in a suit with the power of the federal government behind him. We did the world a favor when we got rid of him.”
“We?” Senator Tate said.
“I’ve never lied to you, Roger. We’re old enough now that there isn’t really any point in starting. We hanged him in my barn and fed him to my pigs. Darren was there. He played a major role in Clancy’s death, as he should have. There isn’t a trace left of Clancy, and I’m not the least bit ashamed of it.”
I felt a sudden wave of nausea run over me as I listened to the words coming out of Granny’s mouth. I couldn’t believe she’d just admitted murdering a former assistant US attorney to a US senator. I looked at Senator Tate. He just smiled and shook his head.
“I’ve always admired your candor, Elizabeth,” he said. “So good riddance to Mr. Clancy, and don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”
“As is yours with me,” she said with a wink.
The senator cringed, and his face flushed. It was the only time that day I saw him lose his composure, even though it was only for a second.
“Yes, and I appreciate that more than you know, Elizabeth,” he said. “Now, down to business. I’m prepared to do what it takes to get Darren elected to the office. Claire has already started setting up an organization. We’re calling in favors from old friends, and believe me, because of my position on the appropriations committee, I have plenty of old friends. Money won’t be a problem. We’ll outspend Morris ten to one if we have to, absolutely drown him. You’ll have to do the dog-and-pony shows, the rubber-chicken circuit. You’ll have to speak to Ruritan Clubs and veterans’ organizations and neighborhood associations. You’ll have to speak to the press, but only under tightly controlled circumstances. Claire will advise you on all that. I don’t even think we’ll have to do a smear campaign on Morris. I hate doing that, for one thing, but he just seems to have done such a poor job, I think we can beat him without it. We can keep him busy putting out fires, start rumors and things like that, so he won’t have time to pay much attention to you. Originally, I would have done these things just for Elizabeth, but something has happened, and I want your word that you’ll do everything you can to investigate and, if a crime was committed, hold those responsible accountable, including the sheriff of Knox County.”