Chapter 24
Julian stepped into the 12th District police station. He disliked everything about the place—the dirty white walls needing a fresh coat of paint, the faint musty scent that mixed with the smell of strong chemicals used to wash the floors, the smug expression on the faces of the cops who came and went through the main doors.
He had called Pam that morning to set up the meeting, but as he walked down the hall toward the closed door of her office, he paused. His palms were sweaty. Returning to the station brought him memories of the time right after Sofia’s death. During the days he had been in a jail cell, he had felt fear and confusion, but stronger than that had been the overwhelming sense of loss. The recollection reinforced his decision to speak to Pam. Even though the man had threatened the ones closest to Meredith and not her directly, she was the one in danger. He had to put his anger regarding the necklace aside and do anything in his power to protect her.
Julian didn’t knock. He opened the door and stepped inside. “I want to keep this brief,” he said, standing across from Pam’s desk.
After everything he had learned from Meredith the night before, he had considered what to do next. He didn’t know if Meredith had decided to give up her article. He feared she wouldn’t be able to and would find herself further embroiled in her amateur crime investigation.
“If you hadn’t mentioned Meredith I would have had you thrown out the door.” Pam leaned back on her chair, her arms crossed over her chest. “It must be important for you to show up here.”
“Meredith is planning to publish an article.”
Pam didn’t look as surprised as Julian expected her to.
“You know about it,” he said.
“I’d hoped she had given up on the idea.”
His previous dislike of Pam paled in comparison to the new hatred he felt toward her. In that moment, he vowed to destroy what she clearly loved the most—her career.
“She has information that she says she got from you,” he said. “Information that she’ll put in her article.”
“What information?”
“About four women who were found dead in their beds,” he continued, making sure he kept his voice low. “Sofia might have been the fifth, but her death was ruled a homicide and, according to Meredith, hers differs from the deaths of the other women. She showed me photographs. There were police reports too, but I didn’t get to see those. Meredith said the four women were killed by drug overdoses but that you covered it up and ruled their deaths accidental.” Julian paused, watching Pam closely. “Have you done that?”
Pam rushed toward Julian. “Shut up.” She pointed a finger at him, only a few inches away from his face. Pam was shorter than him but it made no difference. Her rage turned her into an imposing force. “We don’t operate like The Raven Room.”
Julian was surprised she had openly mentioned the club. “You’re out of your depth here, Sung. I don’t give a fuck what you and your lackeys are up to but you have to stop involving Meredith in your investigation.”
“She’s got nothing to do with my investigation. I have no idea how she got her hands on those files.”
“What have you been telling her?”
“Nothing!” Pam raised her voice, but after glancing at the door nervously, continued in a lower tone. “If you hadn’t taken her to the club, none of this would have happened.”
“The club is not in the business of killing women.” Julian tried to control his anger but his tone remained biting.
“How do you expect me to stop her? She won’t listen to me.”
“I want Meredith out of Chicago.”
“What else did she say to you?”
Julian remained silent.
“Fucking tell me.”
“That you and Thompson are friends. Or maybe even more than friends. Which explains why you’ve been working so hard to pin Sofia’s death on me.”
Pam shook her head.
“Meredith has to leave Chicago,” Julian insisted.
“Why don’t you tell her that?” Pam asked. “You have a stronger hold on her than anyone. This is the worst thing that could happen. All I ever wanted was to protect her…and now this.”
“You say you want to protect her—this is your chance. Use whatever means available to you to make sure she gets as far away as possible from Chicago and stays there.” He watched Pam pace her office. “If they are actual homicides, I’m not the guy who killed them.”
It was Pam’s turn to sneer at Julian. “I know you didn’t kill those women, Reeve. But I’ve seen what you do at the club. You’re far from innocent.”
Taken aback by Pam’s statement, Julian didn’t know if she spoke because she had something on him, or if it was an attempt to test him. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I bet Sofia and Tatiana do. Too bad one is dead and the other is missing.”
Julian had to leave Pam’s office. He was afraid of what he might do otherwise. “I’m not the only one who knows about the article. Meredith needs to be out of Chicago by the end of the week.”