“Ember has a lot on her plate, she has Judge Watkins she wants to roll up on this week and she wants to check in with Andrew. I was thinking we could maybe pair up and each take something off her agenda.”
“Like what?” Travis asks as he takes a swig of his beer.
“Two of us need to continue to go through Rebecca’s things. Now, no offense Emmett but I was thinking you shouldn’t do it. Sometimes looking at shit like that as family will cloud your judgement.”
“You’re right.” He nods.
“So, I was thinking Travis and Adri could work on that.”
“Cool.” Travis nods. Travis has the most analytical brain besides Em in this group and I know he would catch something the rest of us would miss.
“What about you and me?” Emmett asks.
“Shay.”
“Wait, maybe I should talk to Shay.” Adri interjects. “She sees me as a friend.”
“Again, I think she would try to take advantage of that. Besides, I think Emmett and I can convince her to be straight up.” I tell her.
“Makes sense.” She murmurs. “You’re not going to hurt her, right?”
“No.” Emmett says.
“Not if she complies.” I answer at the same time.
Emmett grins-identical to Em’s-and slaps his hand to the table, “yes! I vote for waterboarding!”
“Emmett!” Adri hisses at him. “She could be a victim, too.”
“Or she wants people to believe that. Maybe her and Marlana both.” I tell her.
“Oh.” Her eyes widen, “do you think they are still up to something?”
“Only one way to find out.” I shrug.
7
I watch as Emmett and Vin leave the house to go speak to Shay at the gym. When he told me his plan-I will admit-I was relieved. I have so much on my plate right now and I was beginning to feel like I would never get to accomplish everything. Travis and Adri have taken every tote we have of my mother’s and grandfather’s things and set up a spot in the kitchen. Again, I am beyond grateful for that. Vin is right, they will have a more observant eye.
My job today is to go over everything I have collected on Judge Watkins in the last six months. I head off to my uncle Scott’s old office and now mine to set in stone what I will do. Walking through the door brings me some comfort knowing he used to spend a lot of time in here. I feel close to him when I sit in his big leather chair and pull up close to his mahogany oak desk. I miss his sarcastic humour and the way he would draw me out of myself.
I open up the folders on the desk and get to work.
Judge Joseph Watkins-Ontario’s provincial judge-has been on the job for nineteen years. Next year, he plans to retire to his cottage in the Kawarthas. Lavish I’m sure. He has been acclaimed in his position, people speak highly of him and call him fair.
I know differently.
Judge Watkins has set free rapists, murderers, child abusers, and drug dealers with rap sheets as long as the river Nile. How? He sets up evidence to be ‘lost’ with police chief Moore and the Toronto police chief, he has a few paid lawyers under his belt, and he has friends in Federal court. His pockets are fat and swollen with the money of very evil people. One of those people was Robert Greene.
I found out after exhaustive research, Robert was DNA tested for the multiple rape victims who came forward to police. His test results came back negative thanks to the work of Moore and Watkins. Dream team of motherfuckers.
His final court session ends at four in the afternoon tomorrow. Vin and I will be there to watch the proceedings. He has no wife or kids and I am relieved because I hate the prospect of dealing with the families of my victims. Our plan is to make the whole thing look like an accident. It fucking sucks because I would love nothing more than to sink my blade into him repeatedly, but I don’t have the Toronto police in my pocket.
After that, I need to spring a surprise visit to Andrew Cox-elementary school principal-also corrupt as hell. He made a promise to me a few weeks ago that he would turn in his resignation as principal and live a life free of child pornography as long as I don’t kill him. I’m hoping to find some shit so I can kill him. Two in one day, that will be a new record.
A knock comes through the office door and then I hear Travis, “E, you need to eat. You’ve been at it for hours now.” I look to the clock on the wall and see that he’s right, I’ve been in here for four hours.
I get up and open the door, “any word from Vin or Emmett?”
“Yeah, Emmett says they are waiting for her shift to end. Should be soon but they want to watch her to see if anyone comes by while she works.”
“Cool,” I close the office door and follow him to the kitchen. “I just hope she makes it easy for them. I’m tired of trying to dig for needles in haystacks.”
“Same. If Emmett can’t charm it out of her then I’m sure Vin can scare it out.” He says casually.
“True.” I agree and hug Adri as she stands at the stove. “Please tell me you didn’t cook. I’m actually hungry.”
“Fuck off.” She says with a chuckle. “Travis made this, I’m just stirring it.”
I look into the pot and see a beef stew, looks so fucking good.
We sit at the table and begin eating. I’m lost in my thoughts of our plan to kill off the judge when Travis calls out to me.
“Shit, sorry.” I shake out my head. “What’s up?”
“We gathered that your grandfather was definitely abusing your mother. All the signs are
