by Robin Mahle
“Thank you. And if you two hadn’t been standing outside, I’m not sure I would’ve made such a clean getaway.” She offered her hand. “I appreciate the help more than you know.”
“Let’s let these good men get back to work,” Shane began. “Nash, you mind driving Allison’s car and she can ride with me? We’ll head back to the main station.”
“You sure I can’t put out a BOLO for you?” The officer asked. “That would seem to be the most logical step.”
“It would seem to be, yes, but as I said, this car has been involved in ongoing investigations. I think it’s best we find them on our terms. Any BOLO might send them into hiding.”
“I understand. If there’s anything else I can do, please don’t hesitate.” He turned to Allison. “That goes for you too, ma’am.”
Shane nodded and placed his arm around Allison’s shoulder. “Goodnight, officers.” He led her outside and opened the passenger door. “Why don’t you get in my car? I’m going to have a word with Milo.”
Allison stepped inside and watched through the sideview mirror as Shane approached Milo at her car. She couldn’t hear what they were saying and suspected Shane wasn’t giving her the full story. Allison was growing tired of people withholding information when she was at the center of this scheme. They appeared to have lost faith in her and it hurt. The concept of running her own agency grew dimmer by the moment. And that was assuming she would make it out of this alive.
Shane slipped behind the wheel of his car. “He’s following us. I hope that’s okay.”
“Fine by me. He’ll sweat his nuts off, but what the hell do I care anymore?” Allison peered through the passenger window.
“You’re angry and you’re right to be but Allison, this thing as I’ve been told, is about ensnaring some high-ranking government officials.”
“What is Milo withholding, Shane?” She shot back. “Why can’t we go to the house where the car is registered and bring in the jerk who drives it? I got a good look at both of them. They were the same men who were at Fin’s house. And the same men I saw on the video at Tommy’s. I can ID them with no problem. Let me do that so we can get them off the street and in jail where they belong.”
“Just take a breath, Allison. After what you just went through, I understand where you’re coming from. Milo is aiming for the…”
“The mayor. Yeah, I already know that.”
“Then you should know that Milo also has a man working for him. A man by the name of Franklin Perry. Name sound familiar? The one whose fingerprints showed up at Boyce’s office? He’s a developer, same as Carlos Diaz, but he came to Milo when Diaz offered him a little something extra to look the other way. The two have been building a case against Diaz ever since and it led him to the mayor. This flash drive you gave me,” Shane turned to her. “Milo says we have to sit on it for a while. Just a little while. Until he can get Carlos Diaz on the hook hard enough that he can’t wiggle off of it, you understand?”
“No,” she pleaded so as not to lose this battle. “We have enough to bring in the men in the Mercedes. We probably have enough to catch the mayor and Carlos Diaz too.”
“Probably. But Allison, I’m telling you, Milo insists he needs more. He’s the lawyer. We have to trust he knows what he’s doing. You and Charlie have to back off. Milo is a day, maybe two, away from bringing all of them in. You can’t be involved anymore. Not only is it too dangerous but it could blow up in your face and destroy all that Milo has been working toward.”
Allison kept quiet for the rest of the drive back to the station. Even if Shane was right, it didn’t feel right. She helped get them this far and she wanted to see it through for Lucy. But Allison wasn’t in charge and this was a stark reminder. Authority wasn’t hers to assume.
The only way to make them see her side was to approach this calmly or risk alienating herself from both of them who had been her close friends for years. She needed a clear and logical argument. And on their return to the station, she refocused her thoughts and knew what she had to do.
“Let’s go into the conference room.” Shane led the way to an intimate space where a round table and four chairs were placed in the center and a television was mounted on the wall.
Allison waited for Shane and Milo to sit down. She was ready to present her argument. “Montoya and Alvarez need to be told about this, Milo. I don’t see any other way. We’re all on the verge of obstructing an investigation right now. You’re the prosecutor and you should realize that.”
“I have someone who’s doing the work that needs to be done and if those detectives are let loose on this, he won’t be protected. Dangerous people are out there, and I think they made it clear tonight that none of us is safe.” Milo eyed Allison. “Not you, maybe not even your family.”
“That’s enough talk like that, Milo. Come on,” Shane said.
“I’m being upfront and honest, which is what I should have been all along and for that, I’m sorry, Allison. I screwed up. Look, I’ll run it by the captain. He’ll be irate as all hell, but if he understands what’s at stake, he’ll keep his people in check. They’ve been so focused on Carlos Diaz that they haven’t put in much groundwork on his business dealings.”
She studied each of them. “I appreciate that you both have been trying to protect me. And I’ll agree that I should’ve kept to my part of the plan. I didn’t. Nevertheless, what we have on the mayor is huge. I don’t care about money Carlos Diaz took from the city. I don’t care that his wife and her lover were murdered.” Allison raised her hands. “I’m sorry. I know how that sounds, but it’s true. What matters is that the mayor instructed his men to kill a federal agent. They killed Tommy Boyce too and that is what’s important to me. And now I can identify both of the mayor’s henchmen because they just tried to kill me.” She took in a breath to make sure she was clear on this final point. “I don’t want to wait until someone else is killed. I want to get Montoya and Alvarez—maybe the entire Tampa Police Department—to bum rush the mayor’s house and bring him in and his men.”
“Please, Allison,” Milo began. “Just take a step back. Realize what it is you’re saying.”
“I know what I’m saying. What I don’t know is why you aren’t listening.”
“What you have,” Milo began. “What we have is damning, but it isn’t proof the mayor ordered the deaths of those people you just mentioned. These men, they were careful. They left nothing behind on Tracy Diaz or Harlan Goodfellow. No DNA, nothing.”
“We’re still waiting on the ME’s report to come back for Tommy and Fin,” Shane said.
“You have an eye-witness sitting right here in front of you,” Allison said.
“What I’m telling you is that I need more time. Maybe only hours. I have Franklin Perry headed to see Sadler now. He’ll find out where his men are and listen while Sadler buries himself with threats against Carlos Diaz. We think there could be others too.”
“Who else do you suspect is in on this?” Shane asked.
“It’s looking like it could go up to the state senate.”
Allison shook her head. “I’m glad you want to bring down a corrupt state government, Milo. Honestly, that’s a good thing. But I want to bring justice for Lucy Boyce.” Allison stood up. “Please. You know me. Both of you do. You know I can’t sit here and do nothing.” She started to leave.
“Where are you going?” Shane asked.
She reached the door but stopped and turned back. “I’m going to let you two find a solution. You’re the law. I’m not. I do hope you’ll think about my side of this and come up with something that will finish this once and for all. You’re my closest friends and I don’t want to be in fear of these men anymore. I need you both to fix this.” She opened the door and walked out.
Milo stood. “I can’t argue with the lady. I cast a wide net. Everyone associated with Carlos Diaz and the mayor, in spite of the case I have staring right at me. Tommy Boyce was a good man. He deserves justice and so does Fin
ley Dawson. Allison’s right. It’s time to put an end to this before someone else gets hurt. Get with Montoya and whoever else you need to get with and give them the details on the Mercedes. It’s time to find them and bring them in.”
“What are you going to do?” Shane asked as he stood at the door, ready to leave.
“I’m going to meet up with Franklin Perry before he moves forward with his plan and we’ll both pay a visit to Carlos Diaz. He’ll talk now. I’ll offer up a sweet deal to go turncoat on the mayor. We’ll see what happens after that. Go talk to Allison. Let her know. I need to get with my man before it’s too late.”
“Thanks, Milo.” Shane left the room and jogged to catch up to Allison as she made her way into the parking lot. “Hey! Allison, wait up.”
She turned. “That didn’t take long. What’s the verdict?”
“He conceded, Allison. He agrees it’s time to end this even if he doesn’t get the people he wants most.”
“Really? He said that?”
Shane nodded. “He said that. You convinced him. I’m going to Montoya. You want to come with me?”
She wore a smile. “You bet your ass I do.”
Shane prepared for the veritable beatdown he was going to suffer at the hands of Detectives Montoya and Alvarez. Withholding crucial aspects of an investigation, allowing people other than law enforcement to tread on crime scenes; the list went on. It had been less than a week but in those few days, Allison and Charlie had uncovered details that should have been communicated immediately to the authorities. Montoya would be right to have him suspended or even fired.
“I think you’d better let me talk, Allison. Montoya isn’t going to be happy when he learns what has happened,” Shane said.
“I understand. But he has to know we were acting with caution and not out of recklessness.”
Montoya hurried through the hall with his face buried in a file. He caught sight of them and stopped. “Sully, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be busting some kid for boosting a car or something?”
“Probably. However, what we have to say, you’re going to want to listen to. Allison has uncovered evidence in your double homicide.”
Montoya glared at her. “Oh, are you a detective now, Ms. Hart?”
“No, but Tommy Boyce was a friend and his daughter asked for my help. Detective Montoya, I have evidence that Boyce was working with Tracy Diaz to prove Carlos had received bribes from who we believe was a high-ranking government official.”
He eyed them and turned on his heel to head back toward his desk. “Where is this evidence?”
“Before I get into that, I also know that the men I saw drive past me the night of the double murder—they came after me.”
He stopped and his once smug expression was replaced with concern. “They came after you? When?”
“Tonight,” Shane interrupted. “She managed to shake them off and we directed her to the substation in the business district. You’re welcome to contact the officers who secured her safety when she arrived.”
Montoya dropped the file on his desk and sat down. “Sounds like you both have been very busy on an investigation that I’ve been working. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say you’re undermining me, Allison.” He spit out her name like venom. “And you, Sully. Withholding evidence? Boy, I’d say that could get you in a whole lot of trouble.”
“I wasn’t exactly withholding evidence. The laptop from Boyce’s home. I turned it over to Alvarez a day ago. I just failed to mention what was on it. My intention wasn’t to undermine, you, Montoya,” Shane said.
“And I certainly wouldn’t want Sully to get into trouble because of anything I’ve done. He’s not responsible for that. Last night, I took it upon myself to go to Dawson’s home.”
Montoya licked his lips and held his contemptuous gaze. “You contaminated an active crime scene?”
“Yes. But what I found is evidence that the city mayor is corrupt and might be responsible for the murder of Tommy Boyce and Fin Dawson.”
Montoya nodded. “I see. And do you have this evidence with you?”
“I do,” Allison replied.
Montoya’s brows raised and appeared almost clown-like. “So, you’re telling me the mayor, Clay Sadler, is responsible for murdering two people. One who just so happened to be an FBI agent.”
“She’s telling the truth, man,” Shane said.
The detective’s face no longer smiled. He pulled upright in his chair and directed his full attention to Allison. “Ms. Hart, you’d better tell me everything and I mean everything.”
26
Franklin Perry faced the window in his office with his back to Milo. “It’s too soon. We don’t have enough to bring down the mayor.”
Milo approached him. “That’s where I think you could be mistaken. We have the flash drive that almost cost Allison Hart and Charlie Wells their lives.”
“It’s a verbal threat by a third party.” Franklin turned to him. “It’s nothing. Carlos Diaz has what we need. The payoffs, the deals.”
“We’re out of time, Franklin. Too many people have died. The detective on the double homicide is being briefed on everything as we speak. It’s time for you and me to meet with Diaz and bring him in. I’ll be the first one to say that I believe we have enough, circumstantial though it may be.”
Franklin shoved his hands in his pockets and cast his eyes to his feet. “We’re risking everything and for what?”
“I know you have risked your company, your standing and your life to help me get Diaz. That won’t be forgotten. Franklin, I need you to make the call and set up the meeting.”
He retrieved his phone, pressing on Diaz’s number. “Carlos, it’s Franklin. I know it’s early, but I need to see you. Can you meet?”
Milo looked on as Franklin appeared to wait for a reply. He knew the time had come and there would be a price to pay for his decision to wait this out. To not bring in Diaz when he knew he should have.
“Thank you. I’ll see you in 30 minutes.” Franklin ended the call and turned to Milo. “The marina. Half an hour.”
When Allison finished explaining all that had happened and what brought them to this moment, Montoya appeared stunned, and more than a little riled.
“I’ll give you credit, Ms. Hart, you’ve got bigger balls than a lot of cops I know. But make no mistake about it, you’re lucky to be telling me the tale, you understand?”
She couldn’t refute the facts and felt reduced to that of a child being scolded by a parent. But rather than defend her indefensible actions, she allowed him to vent.
“You and your friend,” he pressed on. “I don’t condone what you did. In fact, Sully here should never have let it get that far. But what’s done is done and you have evidence that points to men who appear to work for the mayor.” Montoya pulled up in his chair. “Here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to put together a team and we’ll go to that address. Whether one or both of those men will be there, I don’t know, but if they’re not, we’ll issue a BOLO and we will find them.”
“What about bringing in help from the FBI’s field office? They lost a man too,” Shane said. “They have resources.”
“I don’t want to get into bed with them right now. The death of one of their agents is going to bring in a gaggle of them. We’re out of time as it is, and I can’t focus on that.” Montoya looked at Allison. “I’m going to have an officer posted at your house until this is over. Those people found you once; they’ll find you again.”
Allison was ready to protest but relinquished. “I understand.”
“Then let’s move.” Montoya picked up his landline. “Better get Alvarez in on this too.”
Shane turned to Allison. “Let’s pick up Charlie and bring her to your place.”
“She has two boys.”
“If they’re with her, we’ll get them too.” He started to leave and turned back when Allison hadn’t caught up to him. “Allison, it’s time to go. Let Montoya do what needs
to be done to finish this.”
She turned on her heel and caught up to Shane. “Yeah, okay.”
The marina was steeped in fog as the break of day got off to a sultry start. Milo Nash wiped the sweat from his neck with a handkerchief he kept in his pants’ pocket. Franklin was steps ahead as they continued along the dock toward the boat that belonged to Diaz. Milo’s phone buzzed in his pocket and he took hold of it to view the incoming text message. It was Sully and he indicated Allison and Charlie were safe and at Allison’s house. He also mentioned that a patrol car was on its way to help them bring in Carlos. “Hey.” He caught up to Franklin. “Tampa PD is sending a cruiser now.”
“Don’t let them jump the gun, Milo. We need Carlos to go in willingly. No struggles or this thing could turn ugly. He’s a man with nothing to lose.”
“I couldn’t agree more. I’ll pass along the information,” Milo said. “Isn’t that Diaz’s boat up ahead?”
“You mean, yacht? Yeah, that’s his. I can’t see him through this fog,” Perry replied.
“He’s probably inside. It’s a sauna out here.”
Franklin approached the vessel before turning back to Milo. “Are you feeling good about this? Because I’m not.”
Milo walked near the boat and began, “Carlos Diaz?” He waited, but there was no answer.
Franklin grabbed his cell phone and called him. “Let me see if he answers.” The line rang. Once, twice. “Come on, man.” On the third ring, the voicemail message began. “Shit. He’s not answering.”
“We’re already here.” Milo stepped onto the boat. “We’ll find him.”
Franklin followed him onto the yacht’s bow. “Carlos? It’s Franklin Perry. Are you here, brother?” Dread masked his face as he turned to Milo. “How are you feeling about things now, Milo?”
Without answering, Milo started down the steps and into the living quarters. The luxurious wood surroundings and leather furnishings appeared immaculate. “Carlos Diaz?” He continued toward the sleeping quarters and peered inside. The king-sized bed was made. Everything appeared untouched. Milo turned and started back toward the living area where he spotted Franklin. “It looks like we might have lost our chance. I think Carlos has flown the coop, my friend.” Milo picked up his phone. “Sully, we have a problem. Diaz isn’t where he said he would be. Have you heard anything?”
