Vengeance Road by Rick Mofina

ask—did she ever work downtown as a prostitute?”
    Anguish creased her face.
    She looked away to the window, then her focus returned to the photo album and the picture of Jolene at six in pigtails. Then she looked at the gold-framed photo on a bookshelf near the living room. It was Jolene smiling with Cody laughing in her arms.
    â€œMary?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œDid Jolene ever work as a prostitute?”
    â€œYes, to pay for drugs.”
    â€œDid she know Bernice Hogan?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œDid she know Karl Styebeck?”
    â€œI don’t know because she never talked about that part of her life. It was like she wanted to rip it out of her past and move on. She’d worked so hard to crawl out of the hell she was trapped in.”
    â€œShe must’ve known people with the Street Angels Outreach Society,” he said, “given that they bought the bus ticket for her.”
    â€œI didn’t know this. I thought she’d bought the ticket with money she’d saved. All I know is that she had some help from some groups.” Mary touched a tissue to her eyes. “Some things she wouldn’t talk about.”
    Mary’s knuckles whitened. She clasped her hands together as if to keep herself from coming apart.
    â€œI’m so scared. You found this ticket at the murder scene. I have to find my daughter! I have to find Jolene!”
    Mary stifled a sob with both hands.
    â€œI don’t know what to do. Help me, please!”
    â€œTake it easy, Mary. Try to think hard about my questions and listen to me again. I’m going to tell you what you should do, but I also need your help, okay?”
    She nodded as she regained her composure.
    â€œI’m going to leave the ticket with you in the envelope. Try not to touch it. I’m the only one who’s handled it. I’ve got a copy. I left details on how it was discovered and my card in the envelope. Call the FBI field office and also call Investigators Michael Brent and Roxanne Esko with the state police in Clarence. Then call the county sheriff’s office. Tell them about the ticket being found near the Hogan scene. It will get their attention.”
    Mary nodded as Gannon stood to leave.
    â€œThey’re going to be angry at me for not coming to them first. Let me worry about that, okay?”
    â€œAll right.”
    At the door, Gannon gave Mary another business card to ensure she had his cell and home numbers.
    â€œNow, I need you to promise me that whatever you learn from anyone on Jolene’s case, you’ll share with me and no other reporters. And I promise to share anything I find with you.”
    â€œYou’re the only reporter I trust.”
    Gannon nodded his thanks as his cell phone rang.
    â€œExcuse me, I’ll take this outside. I have to go.”
    Mary took his hand and shook it. “Thank you for helping me.”
    Gannon answered his call as he headed down the stairs.
    â€œGannon.”
    â€œHey, this is Lotta, from the diner.”
    â€œWhat’s up?”
    â€œGot a working girl who wants to talk to you.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œShe’s got information about Karl Styebeck that you should have.”
    â€œI’ll talk to her, tell me where and when.”
    â€œI’ll get back to you with the details. But Jack, you have to know something about her.”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œShe’s scared to death.”

20
    T he hooker’s name was Tuesday. And she wanted to meet Gannon at the Compassionate Virgin’s Redemption Church.
    He considered the irony.
    The location venerated purity and forgiveness. It was also a sanctuary, a smart choice for someone afraid of the secret they possessed. And given what was emerging, a church in the middle-class suburb of Tonawanda seemed like a safe place to reveal the truth.
    Especially if it was tied to Bernice Hogan’s murder.
    The fifty-year-old building had