Madman on a Drum by David Housewright Read Free Book Online Page A

me, I’ll look in on him twice a week, maybe three times if I want to see more. Later it’s once every two weeks, sometimes once a month. I usually arrange for employers to contact me if an offender doesn’t show up for work, but they’re under no obligation. Thomforde is in a halfway house. If he doesn’t come back from work, the supervisor will let me know. It’s still early, though.” Karen looked at her watch. “Not even six thirty.”
    â€œThey don’t have to be back in their hole by a specific time?” Bobby asked.
    â€œThey don’t live in holes,” Karen said. “They live in a limbo between prison and real life, and we cut them slack when there’s slack to cut them. Scottie has been in compliance all the time I’ve had him. Never a problem. That earns him some leeway. We don’t freak out if he’s not back immediately after work. Maybe he stopped for coffee with his co-workers, maybe he’s visiting his mother, maybe he’s with a girl…”
    Bobby took a photograph off the wall and thrust it into Karen’s hands. “Maybe he’s with a twelve-year-old girl,” he said.
    Karen studied Victoria’s photograph and stole a quick look at Shelby, who was watching intently from her spot on the staircase. She shook her head. “No,” she said. “No. There’s nothing in his jacket that indicates sexual crimes.”
    â€œWe don’t think it’s a sex crime,” Honsa said. “It’s a kidnapping for ransom.”
    Karen said she didn’t believe it. Bobby told her she had better.
    â€œWhat do you want from me?” she said.
    â€œYou’re an officer of the court,” Honsa reminded her.
    â€œYou want me to take Scottie into custody? I don’t do that. If you want a warrant, I can call a judge. If we can’t find a judge, I’ll issue an apprehension and detention order myself. But I don’t arrest people. I work for the Minnesota Department of Corrections. We have rules.”
    â€œBend them,” said Bobby.
    â€œBend them?”
    â€œWhat do you do when an offender is in violation?” I asked.
    â€œI call the police and have them execute the warrant.”
    â€œMs. Studder,” Honsa said. When he had her full attention, he said, “Calm yourself.”
    â€œI am calm.”
    â€œMs. Studder, we do not wish to arrest Thomforde at this time. We merely wish, if possible, to learn his current location.”
    â€œYou want me to find him?”
    â€œYes, Ms. Studder. After that, we’ll take over.”
    â€œJust find him?”
    â€œYou do do that, don’t you?” Bobby said. “You do look in on your parolees?”
    â€œYes,” said Karen. “We call them home visits. Kind of like a pop inspection. We look in on them at home, at work, find out who they’re hanging with. I’ve done it twice with Scottie already.”
    â€œThen he won’t be suspicious if you do it again,” Bobby said. “I’ll go with you.”
    â€œNo,” said Honsa. His voice was combative, his reassuring smile gone. “We’ve discussed this before. Just the sight of you might cause Thomforde to panic. We’ll send one of my agents.”
    â€œYou don’t think seeing the FBI won’t make Scottie freak?” Bobby said.
    â€œI’m not going alone,” said Karen.
    This went on for about thirty seconds until Bobby conceded in a loud voice. “All right, send McKenzie.”
    Honsa shook his head.
    â€œMcKenzie knows the neighborhood,” Bobby said. “He knows more people than Larry King. He’ll know where to go when she”—he gestured with his thumb toward Karen—“runs out of ideas.”
    Honsa shook his head some more. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he said. His voice was suddenly neutral. “The man who took your daughter knows McKenzie