Page 47 of Once Broken
“Weston Black,” Ann Marie repeated, looking up from her notes.“He directedThe Night Walker,the film where Roberta played the poisoned nightclub singer.”
Hartley nodded eagerly.“Yes.That film was released just before Roberta testified.After she named him to the committee, Black was blacklisted.His career was effectively over.”
“And the others?”Riley pressed.“What became of them?”
“Various fates,” Hartley replied, the words tumbling out faster now, as if he’d been waiting years for someone to ask these questions.“Some left the country.Some worked under pseudonyms.Some never worked in film again.A few committed suicide.”His voice took on a bitter edge.“But Roberta Rimes went on to become an even bigger star, carefully cultivating her image as America’s sweetheart.”
Hartley leaned back in the chair, his eyes bright with the satisfaction of sharing his expertise.“If you want to know more, you should talk to Lucy Morgan atThe Atlanta Chronicle.She’s the arts and culture editor.About ten years ago, she wrote a series of feature articles called ‘Bad Blood Reckoning’ that exposed a lot of this history.She helped me obtain Roberta’s testimony list for my research.”
“Lucy Morgan,” Riley repeated, committing the name to memory.
Hartley nodded.“She might know more about who else might have had a grudge against Roberta—and by extension, Veronica.”
Ewing cleared his throat pointedly.“I believe my client has provided sufficient information to fulfill his part of our agreement.”He nodded toward Hayes.“Once we have the written assurance of reduced charges, we’ll be happy to continue this conversation at a later date.”
Hayes straightened from his position against the wall.“The officer should be back with the paperwork shortly.In the meantime—”
“In the meantime, my client has nothing further to say,” Ewing interrupted firmly.
Riley studied Malcolm Hartley’s face, sensing he wanted to say more despite his lawyer’s instructions.
“Thank you for your cooperation, Mr.Hartley,” she said, rising from her chair.“We’ll be in touch if we have further questions.”
Hayes gestured for Riley and Ann Marie to follow him out of the interrogation room.They crossed paths with the officer returning with the plea agreement.Hayes signed it, and the officer continued on his way to the interrogation room to deliver it to Hartley and his attorney.
“Do you think he’s given us anything useful?”Hayes asked.“Should we go back and drill him right now?”
“I think that list of names could be important,” Riley replied.“If we get started on those, we might spot something else to ask Hartley about.”
“So we’re looking for someone with a connection to these blacklisted film professionals?”Hayes asked.“After seventy years?”
“Or their descendants,” Riley added.“Someone carrying a grudge through generations.”
As they entered Hayes’ office, Riley’s mind was working in high gear.Two murders, decades of hidden history, and a killer whose next move remained obscured behind the flickering images of old films and buried grudges.Where did they go from here?
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Detective Hayes pushed open his office door, revealing a space that reflected the life of a busy lawman.Coffee cups clustered on one corner of the desk, case files spread across the surface, a jacket hung haphazardly over the back of a chair.Riley settled into an empty chair, her mind still processing Malcolm Hartley’s alphabetized list of victims—ten names that had been buried for decades, now exhumed by murder.
Ann Marie remained standing, arms crossed, as she surveyed the cramped office with its institutional furniture and walls adorned with department commendations and a Georgia Bulldogs pennant.
Hayes circled his desk and dropped heavily into his own chair, the springs protesting beneath his weight.“So we have ten names,” he said, reaching for a legal pad.“Ten people that Roberta Rimes named to HUAC.And we think our killer is connected to one of them.”
Riley nodded.“We should prioritize the people directly involved in making bothThe Night WalkerandThe Broken Window.Weston Black directed the first one, but not the second.”
Before Hayes could respond, his desk phone rang.He snatched it up with an abrupt “Hayes.”His expression shifted as he listened, eyes narrowing with interest.“Send it over right now.I’ve got Agents Paige and Esmer with me.”
He hung up and turned to his computer.“That was Officer Simmons.He’s been checking surveillance footage from businesses near The Velvet Screen.There’s a convenience store across the street with an exterior camera that caught someone entering the alley beside the theater last night, around 6:30 PM.”
Riley and Ann Marie moved to stand behind Hayes’ desk, flanking him as he pulled up the email.A new message appeared at the top of his inbox with a video attachment.Hayes double-clicked, and the grainy black-and-white footage filled the screen.
The time stamp in the corner read 6:28 PM.The camera angle showed the sidewalk and part of the alley beside The Velvet Screen.At first, only empty pavement appeared in the frame.Then a figure entered from the bottom of the screen, walking toward the alley.
“There,” Hayes said, pointing unnecessarily.
The figure moved with caution, glancing around before slipping into the alley.The quality was poor and grainy, revealing little more than a murky silhouette.
“Can we enhance this?”Ann Marie asked.
