Detective Wade Jackson Mystery - 02 - Secrets to Die For Read Online Free PDF

Raina?”
     
    “Oh God. Don’t say ‘last time.’“ Martha started to weep. “First Desi, now Raina. I’ve got nobody left.”
     
    Jackson took a deep breath. He had to push her through this. “I know this is extremely painful, but I have to get some information from you. To find the person who killed her, I need to move quickly. I need your help. Right now.”
     
    “Why would someone kill Raina? She is the sweetest girl.” Martha rocked slowly in the chair, staring off over Jackson’s shoulder.
     
    “I hope to find that out. Who is Desi?”
     
    “My daughter, Raina’s mother.”
     
    “She died recently?”
     
    “Seven years ago. I’ve raised Raina since.” Martha shook her head. “I took care of Raina off and on before Desi died too.”
     
    Jackson was relieved that the mother-daughter deaths were not related. He tried again. “When was the last time you saw Raina?”
     
    “Yesterday morning before she left for school. She’s taking classes at Lane Community College.”
     
    Jackson noted her use of present tense. It would take Martha time to adjust, if ever. “Raina lived here with you, correct?”
     
    “Yes.”
     
    “Did she call anytime yesterday?”
     
    Martha nodded. “She left me a message in the afternoon, saying she was going to see Josh, then get together with Jamie.”
     
    Jackson jotted down both names. “Were you concerned when she didn’t come home last night?”
     
    “Not really. Her message said she didn’t know when she would be home. Raina is an adult. I don’t monitor her activities.” Martha’s tone held a bit of defensiveness.
     
    “Who’s Josh?”
     
    “He’s an eight-year-old boy who was in foster care. He just went back to his parents.” Martha clenched her hands. “Raina is a CSA volunteer. It’s a program that assigns people to be advocates for children who are in the system.”
     
    Jackson knew about CSA. It was a much-needed program. Paid child service caseworkers were notoriously overloaded and needed all the help they could get. “What’s Josh’s last name?”
     
    “I can’t remember.” The old woman slammed her fists together. “I didn’t want Raina to get involved in that program. I was afraid she would get hurt emotionally. You know?” Martha looked at him for understanding, tears rolling down her wrinkled cheeks. Jackson nodded, trying to make sense of her anger.
     
    “Josh’s parents are drug addicts,” Martha explained. “Which, of course, is why Raina wanted to help. Her mother was an addict. But I thought the whole thing was too close to her own experience.”
     
    “Do you know where Josh lives?”
     
    “No. Maybe. I can check. Raina is very organized.”
     
    Jackson followed her down the hall into a small bedroom. The narrow bed allowed room for a large desk with books stacked on one side. Martha picked up an address book and flipped to the middle. “Raina files people by first names. She forgets last names like I do. How can you find an address if you can’t remember the last name?” Martha read from a page, “Josh, Cindy, and Bruce Gorman. 28494 Pine Grove Road.”
     
    Pine Grove was only a few miles out from the gas station where Raina had stopped. Jackson reached for the little book. “Can I take it with me?”
     
    “Sure.” Martha let go and slammed her fists together again. “If that bastard killed Raina, I may shoot him. I don’t care if they put me in jail.”
     
    “Do you mean Bruce Gorman?”
     
    “He’s Josh’s father. When he’s using meth, he’s abusive. Raina hated him.” Martha looked grim. “Raina wasn’t supposed to talk about her CSA kids, but she worried about Josh so much.”
     
    A little pulse of excitement surged through Jackson’s veins. An abusive meth addict, a home visit from a social volunteer. Maybe this case would be a slam-dunk after all. “Excuse me, I need to make a call.” Jackson pressed speed-dial #4 and Schak picked up immediately.