Page 32 of Flynn

“You don’t want it to get cold.”

*****

“We have turned up another witness.” Ryleigh was practically excited as she charged into the DA’s office.

Replacing the phone, Rosalyn looked up at her.

“I am sorry-”

“For interrupting my call? Don’t be. It was my ex-husband.”

“Which one?” Pulling up a chair, Ryleigh sat and crossed her legs.

“The first and the only one I can stand.” Rosalyn gestured to the folder in her hand. “You were saying?”

“Another witness.”

“I assume we are discussing the infamous and elusive Mr. Daley?”

Ryleigh nodded.

“We have been through this several times.”

“And we are obligated to do all we can to rid the city of men like him.”

Rosalyn eyed her for a few ticking seconds before reaching for the folder. “Who is this person, and what is his relevance to Daley?”

“It’s a she.” Ryleigh smiled at the surprised look on her boss’s face and waited for her to open the folder.

“It says here that this woman, this Sophia Miller, was involved with him.”

“Yes. Several years ago, they were in a relationship.”

“He did this to her?” Rosalyn frowned at the scars on the woman’s face and chest.

“Yes.”

“Did she file any reports?”

“She did. That’s the beauty of it. It’s all on record. The precinct did a lackluster investigation, but nothing came of it.”

“And she is willing to testify?”

“She is. Not only about the abuse but also the things she learned while she was with him. Damaging things that could end his reign of terror.”

“Maurice Daley is not a fool, or he wouldn’t have eluded the long arm of the law all these years. Why is this woman still alive? If she has such damaging information on him, why has he not done something about her?”

“He loves her.”

Rosalyn looked at her skeptically.

“It’s true. In his twisted way, he loves her and is weirdly protective where she is concerned. He still calls her to check in and has put up an invisible wall that keeps anyone from harming her.”

“So he is her kind of knight in shining armor. Why is she willing to testify?”

“Tom worked his charms on her.”

Rosalyn’s thin eyebrows shot up. “I was not aware he possessed any.”

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