Read Silenced Justice: A Josh Williams Novel for Free Online

not ostentatious. No marble statues of nymphs peeing in the pool or lions guarding the driveway. It is a Victorian style mansion, secluded by surrounding woodlands along the Turner reservoir. Equipped with better security than the White House, the house was a virtual fortress.
    Josh pulled up to the security camera at the front gate and pushed the call button. The camera zoomed in on him and, a moment later, the gate swung open. No need to ask why I'm here . This guy is a piece of work.
    Pulling up to the covered portico, Josh saw Fatso, and his bodyguard, waiting on the front steps.
    Josh got out of the car.
    "Sergeant Williams, how are you?" Bellofatto asked.
    "It's Lieutenant now, Mr. Bellofatto," Josh answered. "I am well. And you?"
    "Lieutenant, ah, a well-deserved promotion. Please, call me Gino. We are among friends here, I hope." Trying to gauge Josh's behavior and body language, Bellofatto was cautious but charming.
    "Gino, I was hoping to speak with you in private for a moment," eyeing the muscle, who was staring him down.
    "This is as private as it gets, Lieutenant. Speak freely."
    Josh gave the bodyguard one last look, "I was hoping I could test your memory. In 1972, while you were in the ACI, they brought a guy in, a black guy, on a rape and murder beef. Two inmates beat him to death a few days later. Do you recall the incident?"
    Bellofatto made a slight motion with his head and the muscle walked inside the home. "Is this of an investigative nature? That would affect my memory," Bellofatto smiled.
    "This is off the record." Josh answered. “I am asking for a friend. They tried and convicted the inmates responsible. It's not about you. Just looking for background info." He saw the bodyguard watching from the front window.
    "In that case, yeah I remember when they killed the mulignan. Bastard deserved it," Bellofatto replied.
    "The what?"
    "Mulignan, it's Italian slang for eggplant. A nicer form of nigger if you will," smiling at Josh.
    "Ah. So, did you hear anything about why an inmate held for trial was in the general population, especially a rapist?"
    Bellofatto paused a moment, studying Josh. "Let's just say none of the guards worried too much about following procedures," Bellofatto said, "or what would happen to the guy," folding his arms and smiling. "I heard someone in the State Police put the arm on the warden to make it happen. We all have our ways. You have yours and we have ours. You have to remember, those were different times."
    Josh listened, taking in the information. "So you think it was intentional?"
    "What I think doesn't matter. They put the guy out there and let nature take its course. Far as I can see, it worked. Son-of-a-bitch raped a bunch of white women and killed one," hesitating a moment, eyes narrowing. "Or he didn't and you're out to find out who did."
    "Something like that."
    "If you did your research, then you'd know the rapes stopped after the guy was caught. The cops made a big deal out of it. They acted as if they caught the Boston Strangler. You're sure he wasn't the one?"
    "Let's just say there is some doubt. About a month after they arrested Grey, Massachusetts State Police made an arrest in Seekonk. They grabbed a guy in an attempted rape at the Ramada Inn. The guy matched the description of the suspect in the RI cases."
    "Well," Bellofatto smiled, "you know them mulignans all look alike."
    Josh shook his head. "Thanks, Mr. Bello…ah, Gino. I appreciate the information."
    Bellofatto nodded, "Look, no one appreciates the cops looking to help an innocent guy more than me. If the mulignan," pausing a moment, "sorry, force of habit. If the guy didn't do it then I hope you can help out whoever you're doing this for."
    "It's his daughter," Josh answered. "She'd like to know he wasn't a rapist and murderer."
    Bellofatto nodded and motioned for the bodyguard to open the security gate, the conversation was over.
    Josh went back to his car and headed out. As he pulled onto the roadway,