Voodoo Daddy (A Virgil Jones Mystery) Read Online Free PDF Page A

she could answer, I yelled to the EMTs: “Can I get a fucking medic over here?”
    Sandy shook her head. “The hell if I know.”
    “Are you sure you’re not hurt?”
    “I don’t know. I hit my head getting Burns out of the car.” She blew a deep breath out of her mouth. “Jesus, Jonesy, half his head is gone. I mean it’s Barney. Who’d have ever thought something like this could happen to Barney?”
    “I know, I know, but listen, it’s alright, okay? You did good. Did everything you could. Do you have anything? Anything at all?”
    “Nothing really. I saw a white cargo van just turning west bound from the south corner as I came out of the gate. Couldn’t get the plate. Couldn’t even tell you the make of the van. Chevy, maybe? Or GMC. It had the tall taillights at the top. It was just a glimpse. They were already gone, you know?”
    “Okay. But it was a van? You’re sure of that?”
    “Yeah. White cargo van. Like a delivery van or something.”
    “Okay. Sit still. I’m going to get the medics to look you over.”
    “Aw, jeez, I don’t need that. Let me work this with you.”
    “It’s not a request, Sandy. They’re going to look at you.” I stood up. “I’ll be right back.”
    I went to grab my phone from my pocket but realized it was still in the truck. I jogged back down to where I’d parked a few minutes ago and the phone was ringing when I got there. The caller ID showed a blocked number. I hit the button. “Jonesy.”
    “Uh, Detective Jones? This is Cauliffer, up at the house? The Governor’s? He gave me your number.”
    “Yeah, Cauliffer, what is it?”
    “Well, you think you could come up here for a minute?”
    “Why?”
    “It’s, um, the Governor. He’s pretty pissed that I won’t let him out of the house.”
    I could hear the Governor in the background. Cauliffer was right. He sounded pissed. “Alright. Just sit on him for a minute. I’ll be right there.” I pressed the end button then hit the speed dial for my boss, Cora.
    She answered immediately. “What the hell’s happening, Jonesy?”
    “Aw, we’ve got a hell of a mess is what’s happening. You better get out here. Be nice if you could handle the politics for me.”
    “Turn around, Slick.”
    I turned and saw Cora walking toward me. I hit the end button and stuck the phone in my pocket. At fifty-two years old, Cora stands little more than five feet tall, carries about twenty extra pounds, is dark skinned, and keeps her salt and pepper hair high and tight like a man. She began her career as an Indianapolis Metro patrol cop, and the stories of her days on a foot beat are legendary. She once found herself cornered by three gangbangers jacked on meth in an abandoned warehouse. When they closed ranks to take her down, she left her gun in its holster and instead took her nightstick from the chrome loop on her belt and proceeded to offer a free demonstration on the quality of hand to hand combat training offered by the Indiana Police Academy. When it was over she shook a cigarette out of her pack, lit up, and stood over them, the ashes from her cigarette scattered around their broken limbs and bloodied faces. She finished her smoke before she called for EMS on the radio. No one messed with Cora LaRue more than once, and only then at their own peril.
    She walked up and put her hands on her hips. “Jesus Christ. I heard it’s Barney Burns.”
    “Yeah,” I said. “I don’t believe it.”
    “Alright, I’m going to go up and talk to the Governor. Get this scene locked down, then come up and join me, will you?”
    “You bet.”

    “Jesus Christ,” Cora said again. “Barney Burns. Who’d have ever thought…”

 
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
     
    The Sids sat across from each other at their kitchen table, Senior lost in thought, Junior amped from the adrenaline rush.
    “I still think we could do them all,” Junior said. “I want to do them all.”
    “We’ve been over this before. It’s too risky.”
    Junior’s hand