“For the reason you just gave,” Fitzgibbon said. “If Fat Sal had put a hit on this guy, the police and family would have known it was a hit. This would have brought law enforcement into Sal’s business, but if one of his enemies happens to die after being stabbed by a scorned lover?”
“Fingers aren’t pointed at Sal or the family,” Ten said. “I hate to say it, but that’s ingenious. How many men were allegedly killed by Hatpin Hattie?”
“Six,” Jude answered.
“Oh no,” Ten said, shaking his head. “No, that’s not possible.”
“What’s not possible, Ten?” Ronan reached for his husband’s hand. Ten’s reaction was scaring him.
“I saw six unnamed male spirits appear by Maria’s bed the other day. Are you trying to say that Maria was Hatpin Hattie?” Ten shook his head.
“I’m not saying anything. You’re the one connecting the dots.” Jude paused, tapping his phone again. “Does this guy look familiar?”
Ten’s hand flew to cover his mouth. He silently nodded his head.
“How about these guys?” Jude flipped through five more pictures.
“Those are the men that I saw the other day, minus the duct tape and fancy suits.” Ten sighed. “It doesn’t mean Maria killed them all. These men could have been friends of her father’s or guys she dated or…” Ten’s mouth hung open.
“All six of these men worked for rival families,” Jude said gently. “They were killed between 1979 and 1991.”
“Six men over twelve years,” Ronan said. The ramifications were horrifying. “Hattie had to befriend and seduce each of these men in order to get close enough to kill them. Not only did she stick them, but had to wait around for them to die. How traumatizing must that have been for her?”
Ten wiped tears from his eyes. “Jude, we need to be gentle with this woman. She’s been through so much. I don’t want to cause her one more ounce of pain.”
Jude nodded. “Yeah, I agree.”
“It’s possible Maria might be ready to confess,” Fitz said. “If you tell her what you know about her medical condition, she might be more willing to talk.”
“When I was with Maria the other day, I saw that she only had a week or two left, Fitz. What are you going to do if she confesses to the murders of these six men?”
Fitz sighed. “I don’t know, Ten. If she confesses, then that starts the wheels in motion.”
“You need to stay out of the room,” Ten said. “Or we need to offer her some kind of immunity.”
“Even if she killed these men in cold blood?” Fitz asked. “You’re sitting here assuming that these murders were committed by an innocent woman being controlled by her husband, father, or both. What if that’s not the case? What if she enjoyed killing? Or sought out hit jobs? Or just killed them on her own. If she couldn’t have the man she wanted, she’d kill all the rest.”
Ronan held a hand up. “That’s enough, Fitz. We get what you’re trying to say. Let’s take this interview as it comes. Get as much information as we can and make decisions after. Ten, what do you think?”
“I’ve worked a lot of cases with you all over the years. You’ve never known me to shy away from speaking with potential killers, or giving you information I know will see them convicted. This case is different. Maria is different.”
“I get where you’re coming from, Ten. I really do.” Fitz set a hand over his heart. “Like Ronan said, let’s see what happens and we’ll make decisions together as a team. My vote won’t count any more than yours. Deal?”
Ten nodded. “Deal.” He got out of his seat and headed for the door. “I need a few minutes before we leave.” Without another word, Ten left the office, shutting the door behind him.
“Is he going to be okay?” Fitzgibbon asked.
“Yeah, he’ll be fine.” Ronan had never seen Ten act like this before. He knew Ten led with his heart. What they were going to have to do was temper that with stone-cold facts. Was it awful that Maria was on her deathbed? Yes. Did that mean she shouldn’t be held accountable for the crimes she committed in life? No.
Ronan, Fitz, and Jude swore an oath to protect and defend. Nothing would stop them from seeking justice if indeed Maria was Hatpin Hattie.
14
Tennyson
As Fitzgibbon drove across town to the North Shore Rehab, Ten went over his list of names. Albert Congili. Vincenzo Rossi. Tony Bonaducci. Carlo Ricci. Joey DiPietro. Mario “The Hacksaw” Greco. Six dead men. Each with a small hole in their chest who bled to death. All enemies of Fat Sal Marino. Did Maria kill them? If so, by force or her own whim?
“Ten, are you good?” Fitzgibbon asked, as he parked the SUV.
