After getting myself sorted I grab what I need and head to Mary’s office. Since her secretary isn’t at her desk, I knock and wait.

“Come in.” She calls from inside and I push the door open. “Oh, hey Dayton.” She smiles.

“You wanted to see me?”

“Yes, I just wanted to let you know that I’m going to sit in on your meeting with Mr. Groden today, so I wanted you to catch me up.”

“Sure.” I take a seat across from her and dive into what I know. After listening to Janelle’s entire podcast, I feel better informed about the case than I did after reading the case file from Detectives Shaw and Burros. Her investigation was thorough and well thought out. She didn’t leave a single stone unturned or miss the opportunity to interview Alice’s friends and family or anyone else who knew her.

Over the next hour, I tell Mary about the case and my suspicions of Charles being a police informant during the time of Alice’s murder.

Prior to Alice’s death, Charles had gotten away with rape, armed robbery, theft, and dozens of other petty crimes. Every single time he was brought in for something, he was released with a slap on his wrist. It could have been luck, but I don’t think anyone is that lucky. I believe that he used his knowledge of the system and his role as an informant to his advantage. He knew that the detective who had vouched for him would be held accountable for his crimes if he was ever prosecuted, and the detective knowing the same thing, saved his own ass each and every time. That only fed into Charles’ belief that he was untouchable.

It was a sad, vicious cycle, especially when you can look back and see that there are multiple women who would not have been harmed by him if he had been locked up for any of his previous crimes.

“Where is the detective who you suspect of bringing Charles on as an informant?” Mary asks.

“He’s living in a nursing home in Lewisburg.” I pass her a copy of his medical information. “He has Alzheimer’s, so he’s not going to be much help.”

“Darn.” She whispers, looking over the papers I handed her. “What about his partner?”

“I spoke with him, and he said that he didn’t know anything about Charles being an informant, and if he was, that isn’t something he and Wilkos ever spoke about.”

“Do you believe him?”

“No, but I have no evidence to prove he’s lying, and although years might have passed since he wore a badge, that doesn’t mean his loyalty to his partner has changed.”

“This doesn’t make me happy.”

“Me either.”

With a nod, she places the papers on her desk. “Are you ready for your meeting with Greg?”