Rebels and Thieves

by Russell Williams

  “I have something from my husband,” James said. “He never wanted me to look at it.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “If anything happened to him, he wanted me to give it to the authorities.”

  Malone felt his curiosity level peaking. Nine times out of ten, it had something to do with Black Capital Investments. “You’re doing the right thing.”

  “I’m still a little hesitant, Sergeant. I mean, I don’t want to implicate him in anything.”

  “Like I said before, you don’t have anything to worry about.”

  “It’s bad enough he committed suicide, let alone being involved in an investment scam.”

  Malone’s suspicions were confirmed. He wanted to get his hands on the evidence. “The sooner you give it to me, the better you’ll feel.”

  “No, I’ve changed my mind, Sergeant. I’ve decided not to give it to you, after all.”

  Malone wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip through his fingers. “Give it to me.”

  “No, I’m not going to have my family’s name dragged through the mud.”

  “Look, whatever I uncover about your husband will never see the light of day.”

  “All right, Sergeant. I’m going to honor my husbands’ last wishes.” James walked to the bookcase and grabbed a book from the top shelf. She opened it and removed a white envelope. She stared at it for a long time, as if she was trying to decide if she should give it to him or not. Finally, she walked back to Malone and gave it to him. “In the event my husband died, he wanted me to give this to the police. So, it must be important.”

  Malone opened the envelope, removed a piece of paper, and read it. “It states that the authorities should investigate Straight Arrow Pharmaceuticals, Baker Pharmaceuticals, Frontline Pharmaceuticals, and the law firm of Tucker & Sutton Associates.”

  “He never mentioned that to me, Sergeant. Does it say anything else?”

  “Across from the law firm, there’s a name underlined. Larry Sutton.”

  James looked bewildered. “I’ve never heard of him, either.”

  “Sutton might know why your husband committed suicide.” Malone looked out the window. The sun reflected off the blue water, as if a large portion of the ocean’s surface was comprised of glittering diamonds. Up and down the coast, there was a scatter of whitecaps, where the wind had ruffled the surface. Large waves crashed against the shore, spraying water into the air. Far out on the horizon, two cargo ships headed toward the Gulf of Mexico. Not even a breathtaking view like this could pull Malone’s mind away from the investigation.

  “I hope that helps you, Sergeant.”

  “Are you sure your husband didn’t say how these companies are connected?”

  James gave him a blank look. “No, Sergeant. He never said a word to me about that.”

  “Thank you for giving this to me. You’ve been very helpful.”

  “Let me know what you find out, Sergeant. Good or bad. I just want to know, that’s all.”

  “No problem. That’s the least I can do.”

  “I still can’t believe he did this.” James’ looked around the room. “He left me all alone.”

  Malone’s mouth went dry. He didn’t know what else he could say to help her. “You’ve been through a lot. Try to get some rest. It will do you some good.”

  James’ eyes filled with tears. “I can’t, Sergeant. Not with all this on my mind.”

  “I’m so for your loss.” Malone’s voice was soft. “I’ll show myself out.”

  Malone left the mansion and got into his unmarked police car. He lit a cigarette and blew out a long stream of smoke. He twisted on the ignition, backed out of the driveway, and headed for the interstate. So, the plot thickens, he thought. He had to find out how Larry Sutton was tied to Black Capital Investments. Heading back to police headquarters, he punched the accelerator, exceeding eighty-five miles per hour.

  Chapter 24

  Larry Sutton barely opened the door, just enough for him to stick out his head. It was obvious he didn’t want company. He was in his early forties, with thin lips, dark eyes, and thinning black hair. His gold framed glasses with square lenses hung low on his nose. He was wearing a gray linen blazer over a blue T-shirt, faded blue jeans, and black dress shoes.

  “Detective Sergeant Malone.” He flashed his gold badge. “Miami Police Department.”

  “It’s not a good time.” Sutton sounded upset. “Come back tomorrow.”

  “I’m investigating Steve James’ death.”

  “I don’t know anything about that.”

  Malone could tell he was lying. To get to the bottom of things, he had to keep the pressure on him. “Steve James left behind a letter. I’d like to discuss it with you.”

  “I can’t do that right now.”

  “It lists your name and law firm. Tucker & Sutton Associates.”

  Sutton bent over, coughing. He pressed a handkerchief to his mouth and wiped red spittle from his lips. His face was thin, white, and drawn. Closing his eyes, he leaned against the door frame, gasping for breath. “Give me a second, Sergeant. The heat is getting to me.”

  Malone pressed on. “Your law firm did legal work for Black Capital Investments.”

  “I resigned, Sergeant. I washed my hands of all wrongdoing.”

  “What did your law firm do for them?”

  “I can’t discuss it because I signed a nondisclosure agreement.”

  Malone felt a flash of irritation. He was sick and tired of hearing his excuses. “Stop stonewalling me. Or I’m going stay here all day.”

  “I’m not lying to you.” Sutton sounded nervous. “I’m telling you the truth.”

  “Answer my questions inside, or I’ll haul your ass downtown.”

  Sutton stepped away from the door, into a large living room. The room was decorated in a southwestern style, with a dark leather sofa, loveseat, and coffee table. The walls were painted beige and the floor was made out of planks of bleached wood. On one wall, there was a picture of a large lake, surrounded by bushes and flowers.

  “I have cancer,” Sutton said. He sounded weak and tired. “It doesn’t look good.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Tell me about it.” Sutton hung his head. “I never thought this would happen to me.”

  “Do you have a plan?”

  Sutton’s eyes grew thoughtful. “Does anyone plan for something like this?”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Right now, I’m undergoing radiation treatment.”

  Malone let out a deep sigh. He knew the guy was fighting for his life. “It’s a lot to go through. No doubt about it. I hope it works.”

  Sutton shook his head. “Not likely.”

  “It doesn’t do you any good to think otherwise.”

  “My doctor isn’t hopeful, either.” Sutton closed his eyes, obviously contemplating his own mortality. “He’s not very encouraging.”

  “Ever think about getting another opinion?”

  Sutton gave him a long-suffering look. “I’ve seen the best oncologists in the country.”

  “Oh.”

  “Next week, I start chemotherapy.”

  Malone could see the pain in his eyes. He seemed lost in his suffering. “Well, that’s shame. I hope it does you some good.”

  “I’m riddled with it, Sergeant. There are spots on my lungs, kidneys, and liver.”

  “Do you have much longer?”

  “Four to six months.”

  Malone felt bad for him. He laid a hand on his shoulder. “I’m really sorry to hear that.”

  “I’ve led a bad life, Sergeant.” Sutton’s eyes lowered. “I’ve done a lot of bad things.”

  “There’s still time to turn things around.” Malone saw some light at the end of the tunnel. He hoped he could talk some sense into him. “You could do a lot of good before you die.”

  Sutton looked confused. “Like what?”

  “Tell me how your law firm is associated
with Black Capital Investments.”

  Sutton dropped down on the couch, bent forward, and coughed into his handkerchief. His face was bright red, and his eyes were glassy. He leaned back against the cushions, his hands on his knees, taking deep, raspy breaths. “My business partner is the biggest jerk you’d ever want to meet in your life. His name is Tucker. Bill Tucker.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “I’ve been friends with him for over ten years. But he doesn’t care that I’m dying.”

  Malone thought that was terrible. “He’s not someone I’d want to protect.”

  “He blew me off. No sympathy. No understanding. No compassion.”

  “It sounds like he’s a cold-hearted person.” Malone recognized how upset Sutton was over his business partner screwing him over. He couldn’t let this opportunity slip through his fingers. He had to keep applying just the right amount of pressure. Criminals turned their backs on each other all the time. Most of the time, they were only concerned about themselves.

  “He wanted me out of the law firm. So, he could make more money for himself.”

  “He should get what’s coming to him, don’t you think?”

  Sutton clenched his fists. “To make matters worse, he’s having an affair with my wife.”

  Malone knew he was about to spill his guts. The next few moments were going to be crucial to his investigation. “Did you confront them?”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  “I wouldn’t let it go, if I were you. I’d set them straight.”

  “It won’t do me any good, Sergeant. It’s not like they’re going to stop.”

  Malone sat on the couch, next to Sutton. He grabbed a folded piece of paper from his blue blazer’s coat pocket and laid it on the coffee table, printed side up. “Tell me what you know about this,” he said, pointing at the names. “I need to get to the bottom of it.”

  “Everyone wants something from somebody, don’t they?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “I should burn that jerk for everything he’s done to me.”

  Malone wanted him to spill the beans. “Confession is good for the soul.”

  “I’m on the fence, Sergeant.” Sutton bit his lip. “I’m seriously considering it.”

  “You have nothing to lose.”

  “I can’t incriminate myself, Sergeant. I can’t spend what little time I have left in jail.”

  “I’ll talk to the State Attorney’s Office. I’ll make sure nothing happens to you.”

  Sutton’s face grew serious. “Do I have your word on that?”

  “You do.”

  Sutton leaned forward, coughing into the handkerchief again, this time almost falling off the couch. He steadied himself, wiped red spittle from his lips, and leaned back on the sofa. Gasping for breath, barely able to get any air at all, he grabbed his inhaler. He put it into his mouth, pumped it three times, and inhaled the medication into his lungs. After several moments passed, he said, “We provide legal advice for companies engaged in acquisitions.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “I’m familiar with the companies on your list. Straight Arrow Pharmaceuticals, Baker Pharmaceuticals, and Frontline Pharmaceuticals.”

  Malone’s spirits soared. “Give me the details.”

  “We represented the corporations that acquired them.” Sutton paused for a moment to catch his breath. “When the acquisitions were eminent, we leaked the information to Black Capital Investments.”

  A light bulb went off in Malone’s head. “You mean, before it was public knowledge.”

  “That’s right, Sergeant. We were the only ones who knew about the pending mergers.”

  “So, Black Capital Investments bought stock in all the companies being acquired?”

  Sutton gave him a cocky grin. “Yes, they bought the stock at rock-bottom prices.”

  Malone mulled this over for a few moments. An acquisition occurred when one company decided to purchase another company. The acquiring firm retained its identity, while the targeted firm ceased to exist. For the transaction to be justified, the Board of Directors and the company’s management team expected the two firms to be worth more together than apart. The acquisition would create share holder benefits, creating economies of scale, larger market share, and increased profitability. Historically, there was a predictable short-term effect on the stock price of both companies engaged in the acquisition process. In most cases, the acquiring company’s stock would fall, as it agreed to purchase the targeted company’s stock for a premium. If it wasn’t willing to over pay for these shares, there wouldn’t be an incentive for the major share holders to sell their shares to the take-over company. Conversely, the target company’s stock would rise because the high premium offered by the acquiring company made them more valuable.

  Sutton continued, “After the mergers were made public knowledge, all the companies’ Black Capital Investment had invested in skyrocketed in value.”

  “That’s insider trading. You profited from information no one else had.”

  “Oh, it was an exciting time to be in the stock market.”

  Malone counted to ten to get control his anger. It bothered him that Sutton didn’t have any remorse for his actions. “For crooks, I suppose.”

  “Not everyone can be a winner, Sergeant.”

  “So, Black Capital Investments sold all the stock at the top, raking in a fortune.”

  “We were on the phones, bragging about it.” Sutton chuckled. “The cash was pouring in.”

  “That’s not funny.” Malone stared out the window, at an elderly couple walking down the street. They were holding hands, smiling at each other, not a care in the world. No one who worked hard for a living should have to worry about losing their entire nest egg to unscrupulous businessmen. “You scheme burned a lot of people. They were left holding the bag.”

  “A sucker is born every minute.”

  “That’s a bunch of crap. And you know it.”

  Sutton grinned. “Someone has to win, Sergeant. And someone has to lose.”

  Malone felt the color rising in his cheeks. He hated people who got off on hurting other people. “That’s why there are laws. To protect the public from people like you.”

  “We were smart enough to rig the system. We were both on a winning streak.”

  “So, how did your law firm benefit?”

  Sutton leaned back against the sofa again, this time clasping his hands behind his head. Smirking, he put his feet up on the coffee table and crossed his legs. “Black Capital Investments gave us a kickback. Ten percent on what they made on each stock transaction.”

  “Thanks for the information,” Malone said. “But I need hard evidence.”

  “We sent Black Capital Investments acquisition documents. Encrypted PDF files.”

  “Is this evidence still on your business computer?”

  Sutton shook his head. “No, everything was done on my partner’s computer.”

  “Can you get it for me?”

  “I don’t know if I want to go that far.”

  Malone couldn’t let him off the hook. He didn’t respect him, so he decided to play off his weaknesses. “Give me a break, will you? He’s screwing your wife, isn’t he?”

  “He’s a rotten person.” Sutton’s face turned red again. “There’s no doubt about that.”

  “It’s time to get even with him. It’s time to settle the score.”

  “I’m still clearing out my desk, Sergeant. I can get the PDF files for you.”

  “Let’s get it done.”

  “Tomorrow, when he’s at lunch, I’ll grab his laptop computer and flash drives.”

  Malone wanted to make sure nothing went wrong with the plan. “I’ll be there, too. In an unmarked police car. Navy blue. Parked across the street.”

  “You’re right, Sergeant.” Sutton grinned. “It’s going to feel good to get even with him.”

  Malone gave him a hard look. “Make sure you get that evidence for me.”

>   “No problem, Sergeant. I’m going to make him pay for what’s he’s done to me.”

  “That’s the spirit.”

  Malone left the house and got into his unmarked police car. He lit a cigarette, took a long drag, and blew out a cloud of smoke. Finally, he was making some progress in his investigation. Cracking a smile, he peeled out of the driveway, heading back to police headquarters.

  Chapter 25

  Kemp was sitting behind his mahogany desk, his eyes glued to three twenty-two-inch LCD computer monitors, watching his hedge fund skyrocket in value. The stock market was down almost four hundred points, but he’d just sold one of his largest holdings—Marshal Pharmaceuticals. Earlier this morning, business journalists reported that the small biotechnology company was being acquired by Johnson & Johnson. Since Kemp was heavily invested in the small company, it was music to his ears. Investors had rushed into the little firm, driving up the share price by over forty percent. Selling five hundred thousand shares, making roughly thirty-five percent on his initial investment, he laughed hard. Thinking about his financial situation, though, he quickly sobered up. Still behind the eight ball, he needed to make a lot more cash.

  “Things are looking up,” Kemp said. “I just booked a huge capital gain for us.”

  “That’s the name of the game,” Basov said. “Keep raking in the cash.”

  “That’s not going to be a problem.”

  Basov gave him a cold look. “The family gave you twenty million dollars.”

  Kemp felt a stab of fear. He had to reassure him that his plan was going make them a fortune. “That’s a drop in the bucket, you know that. Compared to what we’re going to make.”

  “But it’s happening slower than you said it would. And that has the family on edge.”

  “Tell them to lighten up, will you?”

  “Don’t ever tell me what to do.” Basov jabbed a finger at him. He was built like a tank, with a thick neck, a well-built upper body, and thick legs. His blond hair was cut short, close to his skull, and spiked on top. “I’m running the show, not you.”