Shattered Virtue by Magda Alexander Read Free Book Online Page B

a number to reclaim our belongings when we’re ready to exit the jail.
    Once we pass through a myriad of security gates, we’re shown to an area where we will interview the inmate. We’ll be separated by Plexiglas and will talk to each other through a telephone.
    Willie shuffles in, dragging one foot. At 120 pounds, give or take, he’s been made a target by some of the other offenders. A couple of months back, he got into a fight with one of them. Although he received medical attention, his leg hasn’t been right ever since. Going by his dirty, shoulder-length hair, he appears not to have taken a shower for several days. Well, at least he doesn’t seem to have any fresh bruises on him.
    “Hey, Mr. Steele.”
    “Hi, Willie. This is my assistant, Ms. Berkeley.”
    “She sure is pretty.”
    Madrigal smiles at him. I should have warned her not to do that. Might put ideas in Willie’s head, like corresponding with her. At least she can’t talk to him. I have the telephone.
    “Willie, I’m going to go over the details of your arrest.”
    His gaze darts back to me from the object of his adoration. “Again? Told you everything I know already.”
    “Yes, but Ms. Berkeley hasn’t heard them. She may have a question or two.”
    “Okay.” He flashes her a smile that lacks a couple of teeth. The bicuspids were missing before he came to jail, so at least the tooth loss didn’t happen while incarcerated.
    “Now tell me what happened that night.”
    He scratches the back of his greasy head. “Well, like I said. Trixie.”
    “The murder victim?”
    He gulps. Hard. “Yes, sir. Earlier that night, I asked her if she wanted to see a movie. I’d saved enough money to take her, you see. But she laughed and said she wouldn’t go out with a loser like me. She could be cruel. But I loved her anyway.”
    I would never give my heart to a woman. My cock? Yes. My heart? Never. “So what did you do after you left her house?”
    “Went to the ABC store on Creedmore. Bought a bottle of Jack with the picture show money. And then I crawled into my van and got good and drunk. Didn’t even make it out of the parking lot. Next thing I know the cops are pounding on the back door and hauling me into their squad car.”
    “And then what happened?”
    “After I arrived at lockup where they took me, they told me they knew I’d done it. But I didn’t. I swear to you, Mr. Steele, I done none of it.”
    “What did you say to them?”
    “That I hadn’t done it. It wasn’t me.”
    “Did they read you your rights?”
    “Yeah, when I got to the county lockup.”
    “Now this is very important, Willie. Did you talk to them in the police car?”
    “Yeah. I asked them why they were taking me in. That I hadn’t done nothing. They said I’d killed Trixie. I blubbered like a baby. Told them I hadn’t done it. That I loved her. But they didn’t believe me. They said I’d gone and killed her. I told them I hadn’t, that she’d been alive when I left her house that night. After that, I’d been in the van the whole time.”
    “And were you?”
    “Yes, sir. As far as I can remember. I was. Except . . .”
    “Except?”
    “Something woke me up. A loud noise outside. I opened the back door of the van to investigate.”
    “And what did you see?”
    “Otis Wilson. My best friend. I said hey, but he didn’t say nothing back.”
    “What did you do then?”
    “I must have fallen asleep again. Didn’t know nothing else until the cops woke me.”
    “They found Trixie’s earring in your van. It had been torn from her ear. Incriminating evidence. Did they ask you about it?”
    “Yes, sir. But I told them I didn’t know how it got there.”
    “This is very important too, Willie. When did they ask you that question?”
    “In the police cruiser.”
    Madrigal makes a noise, but I grasp her knee. “Thank you, Willie. We’ll be in touch.”
    “You think I have a chance, Mr. Steele?”
    “I’ll do my best, Willie. My very best.”
    On