She listened and scratched down notes for what seemed a very long time and Andy could tell by the expression on her face that she was being told something serious and unpleasant. In fact, she looked a bit unnerved.
“As I told you yesterday,” she finally said, “the word is, nobody knows who he is. But I wouldn’t be so quick to assume that just because the name Trooper Truth was … Yes, right. Of course, you have to follow every lead, and of course I’ll let you know, and please keep me posted.” She hung up and turned upset, anxious eyes on Andy. “The detective on the murder case–the woman found on Belle Island. She’s been identified.”
“Who?” Andy asked.
“Trish Thrash. A twenty-two-year-old white female who went by the nickname T.T. Apparently she worked for the state and was a closet lesbian who was known to pick up other women in area bars …”
“What do you mean, Trish Thrash?” Andy asked, baffled and upset.
Hammer went on to explain that Trish Thrash was the victim’s name and that the city police believed the homicide was hate-related and committed by a male, possibly by whoever Trooper Truth was.
“That’s insane!” Andy blurted out at the top of his voice. “I was … Well, I couldn’t possibly have …”
“Of course you didn’t do it!” Hammer replied as she got up and began pacing at top speed. “Jesus Christ! I knew this was a bad idea! And no more writing those goddamn . . .!”
“No! You can’t punish me for what some other asshole did.” He jumped up from his chair and grabbed her arm, not roughly but firmly enough to make her stop pacing and look at him. “Listen.” He lowered his voice. “Please. I’ll. . . I’ll get this straight and see what I can do to help. I’ve never heard of Trish Thrash and don’t see how this can possibly be related to me or Trooper Truth or anything that has to do with . . . Well, let’s just hope the Richmond police don’t do anything as stupid as releasing that detail about Trooper Truth to the media.”
He was beside himself. If he was forced to reveal Trooper Truth’s true identity, then not only would a year’s work end up in the trash, but Hammer would be in hot water with the governor for allowing one of her troopers to publish uncensored by her and especially by the governor.
“Maybe I can somehow reassure the governor that Trooper Truth isn’t some deranged killer,” Andy thought out loud. “And I’ll get my readers involved in helping solve problems and bringing about justice in the Thrash case and others.”
“What we need is to get word to the governor that we have an urgent situation on Tangier Island,” Hammer replied in frustration. “Not talk to him about a murder that’s not even our jurisdiction!”
“Maybe I can track him down for you,” Andy suggested as Trooper Macovich walked into the office and overheard the tail end of their conversation.
“He always eats at Ruth’s Chris Steak House on Wednesday nights,” Macovich said.
“You two find him,” Hammer ordered, adding to Macovich, “and maybe he won’t remember you and the pool incident. For God’s sake, whatever you do, don’t play pool again.”
“Wooo,” Macovich agreed, shaking his big head. “Don’t you worry. No way I’m ever playing with that girl, not for no reason.”
“Don’t play with anyone in the mansion.” Hammer wanted to make sure Macovich was clear on this.
He frowned a little behind his dark glasses. “But what if the governor orders me to?”
“Let him win.”
“Woooo. That ain’t gonna be easy. He can’t see nothing, Sup’intendent Hammer. Half the time, he don’t even hit the cue ball. You know, he catch a little flash of white and go after it with his stick. And last time I was there, I set down a Styrofoam cup on the side of the table and he smack my coffee all the way across the billiard room.”
“You shouldn’t be putting your coffee down on furniture in the mansion in the first place,” Hammer told him.