Jeffrey said, “He was convicted of armed robbery.”
Lev nodded, saying, “That’s right. He was going to rob a convenience store. Someone turned him in. The judge didn’t take kindly to him. I’m sure Cole made his bed, just as I’m sure he lay in it for twentysome years. He’s a very different man from the one who helped plan that robbery.”
Jeffrey moved him along. “Did you go into Dale’s shop?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Dale Stanley. Did you go into his shop when you went out there to talk about the fence?”
“Yes. I’m not normally into cars-that’s not my thing-but it seemed polite to oblige.”
Lena asked, “Where was Cole during all of this?”
“He stayed in the car,” Lev told her. “I didn’t bring him for intimidation. I just wanted to make sure Dale knew I wasn’t alone.”
“Cole stayed in the car the whole time?” Jeffrey asked.
“Yes.”
“Even when you walked back across the fence line between your property and Dale’s?”
“It’s the church’s property, but yes.”
Jeffrey asked, “Have you ever used Cole for intimidation?”
Lev looked uncomfortable. He took his time answering. “Yes.”
“In what way?”
“Sometimes we have people who want to take advantage of the system. Cole talks to them. He takes it personally when people try to exploit the church. The family, really. He has an extraordinary loyalty to my father.”
“Does he ever get physical with them, these people who try to take advantage?”
“No,” Lev insisted. “Absolutely not.”
“Why are you so certain?”
“Because he’s aware of his problem.”
“What does that mean?”
“He has- had- a very bad temper.” Lev seemed to be remembering something. “I’m sure your wife told you about his outburst last night. Believe me, it’s simply a matter of him being passionate about his beliefs. I’ll be the first to admit that he went a little overboard, but I would have handled the situation if the need arose.”
Lena wondered what the hell he was talking about, but she knew better than to interrupt.
For his part, Jeffrey skipped it completely, asking, “How bad was Cole’s temper? You said he had a bad temper. How bad was it?”
“He used to get physical. Not when Papa knew him, but before.” Lev added, “He’s a very strong man. Very powerful.”
Jeffrey fished out some line. “I’m not trying to contradict you, Lev, but I had him in here yesterday. He looks like a pretty harmless guy to me.”
“He is harmless,” Lev said. “Now.”
“Now?”
“He was special ops in the army. He did a lot of bad things. You don’t start using a thousand dollars’ worth of heroin a week because you’re happy with your life.” He seemed to sense Jeffrey’s impatience. “The armed robbery,” Lev added. “He probably would have gotten a lighter sentence- he didn’t even make it into the store- but he resisted arrest. An officer was badly beaten, almost lost an eye.” Lev seemed troubled by the image. “Cole used his hands on him.”
Jeffrey sat up. “That wasn’t on his record.”
“I can’t tell you why,” Lev said. “I’ve never seen his records, of course, but he isn’t ashamed about admitting his past transgressions. He’s talked about it in front of the congregation as part of his Testament.”
Jeffrey was still on the edge of his seat. “You said he used his hands?”
“His fists,” Lev elaborated. “He made money from bare-knuckle boxing before he was thrown in jail. He did some serious damage to some people. It’s a part of his life he’s not proud of.”
Jeffrey took a moment to process that. “Cole Connolly’s head is shaved.”
Lev’s change in posture showed that was the last thing he was expecting. “Yes,” he said. “He shaved it last week. He used to keep it in a military cut.”
“Spiky?”
“I guess you could say that. Sometimes the sweat would dry and it stuck up a bit.” He smiled sadly. “Abby used to tease him about it.”
Jeffrey crossed his arms. “How would you describe Cole’s relationship with Abby?”
“Protective. Honorable. He’s good to all the kids on the farm. I would hardly say he singled Abby out for attention.” He added, “He watches Zeke for me all the time. I trust him completely.”
“Do you know a Chip Donner?”
Lev seemed surprised by the name. “He worked on the farm off and on for a few years. Cole told me he stole some money from petty cash. We asked him to leave.”
“You didn’t call the police?”
“We don’t normally involve the police in our affairs. I know that sounds bad-”
“Stop worrying about how things sound, Reverend Ward, and just tell us what happened.”
“Cole asked the Donner boy to leave. The next day he was gone.”
“Do you know where Cole is right now?”
“We all took the morning off because of Abby’s tribute. I imagine he’s in his apartment over the barn, getting ready.” Lev tried again, “Chief Tolliver, believe me, all of this is in his past. Cole is a gentle man. He’s like a brother to me. To all of us.”
“Like you said, Reverend Ward, we need to eliminate family first.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Jeffrey could feel Lena ’s excitement matching his own as they pulled up in front of the equipment barn where Cole Connolly lived. If solving a case was like a roller coaster, they were on the back end of the incline, heading ninety miles an hour towa rd the next loop. Lev Ward happened to carry a photograph of his family in his wallet. Patty O’Ryan had been her usual colorful self when she’d pointed out Cole Connolly as the cocksucking motherfucker who visited Chip at the Pink Kitty.
“The cut on his finger,” Lena said.
“What’s that?” Jeffrey asked, but then understood. Connolly had said the cut on his right index finger had come from working in the fields.
“You’d think that he’d have more than a little cut on the back of his hand, considering what Chip Donner looked like.” She allowed, “Of course, O. J. just had a cut on the back of his finger.”
“So did Jeffrey McDonald.”
“Who’s that?”
“Viciously stabbed his whole family to death- two kids and his pregnant wife.” He told her, “The only wound he didn’t give himself was a cut on the back of his finger.”
“Nice guy,” Lena remarked, then, “You think Cole took Rebecca?”
“I think we’re going to find out,” Jeffrey told her, hoping to God the girl had just run away, that she was somewhere safe and not buried underground, taking her last breaths as she prayed for someone to find her.
He turned the car onto the gravel drive they had taken to the farm last Monday. They had followed Lev Ward’s ancient Ford Festiva as the preacher closely observed the speed limit. Jeffrey had a feeling he would do this even without a cop following him. When Lev pulled into the drive to the barn, he actually used his turn signal.
Jeffrey put the car into park. “Here we go,” he told Lena as they both got out of the car.
Lev pointed to a stairway inside the barn. “He lives up there.”
Jeffrey glanced up, glad there were no windows at the front of the barn to give Connolly a warning. He told Lena, “Stay here,” making his way inside the barn. Lev started to follow but Jeffrey stopped him. “I need you to stay down here.”
Lev seemed ready to protest, but he said, “I think you’re way off base here, Chief Tolliver. Cole loved Abby. He’s not the sort of man to do something like this. I don’t know what kind of animal is capable, but Cole is not-”
Jeffrey told Lena, “Make sure no one interrupts me.” To Lev, he said, “I’d appreciate it if you stayed here until I came down.”
“I have to prepare my remarks,” the preacher said. “We’re putting Abby to rest today. The family is waiting on me.”