Read Shades of Murder (The Mac Faraday Mysteries) for Free Online

too.” Bogie was nodding his head so fast that it resembled a bobble.
    Mac was studying the canvas that took up the length of his dining room table. “If he represented such a great artist, then his bread and butter were his connections in the art world. He couldn’t just drop off the face of the earth and still survive.”
    “That’s what you’d think,” Bogie said. “As big as Ilysa was in Europe before marrying Hathaway, Gruskonov didn’t need anyone else. Everyone knows he’s wanted for this murder, and everyone has been on the lookout for him.”
    David told them, “According to his passport, he was in Germany at the time of the murder, but no one saw him since days before Ilysa was killed.”
    “We’ve had a BOLO out for him, but no hits,” Bogie said, “which is why this case went cold.”
    “Now it’s hot again,” Mac said.
    Chapter Three
    SCI Greene, Maximum Security PrisonWaynesburg, Pennsylvania
    Joshua Thornton hated pat downs.
    While he was aware that some of the most violent men in the state were locked up on the other side of the security gate through which he was passing, Joshua felt violated when the guard ran his thick palms up and down his body in search of anything that could be used as a weapon.
    “Joshua…” The slightly built, blond haired man waiting on the other side of the entrance greeted him with a hug and a slap on the back. “Thank you so much for coming. I knew I could count on you.”
    “Only because you asked, Reverend Brody.” Joshua clasped his hand into both of his. “If it was anybody else …” He slipped his watch back on his wrist, and put his wallet and cell phone in the inside breast pocket of his sports coat. “Like I told you, my contract with Hancock County forbids me from taking on private clients—”
    “This isn’t about handling Oliver Cartwright’s appeal. He’s not looking for his conviction and sentence to be overturned. He’d confessed to killing those women and he’s made his peace with God.” Reverend Body gestured at the cold block walls. “You’d be surprised how many people turn to God when they end up here. For many, it’s only by the grace of God that some of them are able to survive.”
    “I’m a small town prosecutor. What can I possibly do for a monster like Oliver Cartwright?” Out of respect for the church reverend, Joshua refrained from spitting out the name of the man who had confessed to abducting, raping, and killing six women during a murder spree the decade before.
    “He was a monster.” Reverend Brody escorted him down the corridor to where they were to meet with the prisoner. “He’s also a man and still is.”
    “Tell that to the families of his victims,” Joshua told him. “I’m sorry. Have you forgotten that I’m the father of two girls who are now around the age of his victims?”
    “I totally understand,” the pastor replied. “Cartwright truly appreciates you coming to see him. We don’t have much time. They’re only allowing us fifteen minutes.” He led Joshua down a barren concrete hallway and past a series of metal doors until they reached one with two guards standing outside.
    “This is Joshua Thornton,” Reverend Brody said to one of the guards. “He’s on the visitor list.”
    One of the guards checked his clipboard before nodding to his partner to unlock the door and Reverend Brody led him into the visitor’s room.
    Joshua regretted his grandmother teaching him to have the utmost respect for those people of authority, especially the clergy. To deny a request made by a reverend or priest was like saying no to God—something you never want to do.
    What could a serial killer not fighting for an appeal of his conviction possibly want from me? What’s listening to Grandmomma getting me into now?
    From what Joshua had learned about Oliver Cartwright, that was the one thing the two men had in common. They had both been raised by their grandmothers, who were strong-willed women. Firm on