by Kathy Ivan
“Stay.”
His words, the way he said them, sent a shiver down her spine. Not in fear. But hope.
“You want me to stay?”
“More than anything. I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and I’m moving back to Shiloh Springs. I’ve never been happy in Dallas, and I miss it here. I talked with SAC Williamson, and I’m going to transfer to the Austin office. Most of the time, I’ll be commuting a few times a week, and part of the time, I’ll work from here. We’ll work out the finer points, but I’m coming home.”
“That’s wonderful, Antonio. Your family will be happy to have you here. I know Ms. Patti has missed you.”
He stood and pulled her to her feet, and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. Leaning in, he whispered, “A big part of my coming home is you, Serena. There’s been something between us from the day we met. I fought it because long distance relationships rarely work out, and I was too focused on advancing up the ranks in the FBI. But every time I came home, every time I saw you, those feelings grew and intensified. This last time, when I found out who you really are, and the danger you were in, all I could think about was making sure you were safe, because the thought of living in a world where you weren’t a part of my life—I couldn’t bear it.”
“I thought I was the only one. Every time I saw you, it was like, I don’t know how to describe it, like the missing part of my soul was found and I was finally whole.”
“Exactly. Say you’ll stay, give us a chance.” He cupped her face gently between his hands, and Serena felt the intensity of his stare down to her toes. “I’m head over heels in love with you, Serena Snowden.”
Finally, she could say the words, the ones she’d know to be true for so long. “I love you too, Antonio Boudreau. I think I fell in love with you the day we met, and I can’t imagine what my life would be like without you. I’ve dreaded waking up each day, thinking about leaving you, this town, and everything I’ve come to love. I can’t believe it’s finally over, and my every dream is coming true.”
“For goodness sake, would you kiss her already, before Momma has a heart attack out here in the hallway!” Rafe’s laughter echoed through the living room along with Ms. Patti’s huff of outrage.
“My pleasure.”
When his lips touched hers, Serena knew everything was going to be alright, and surrendered herself to his kiss, and for the first time looked to the future with hope.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Serena sat at the long conference table set up for the meeting. Antonio clasped her hand tight, giving her a modicum of composure. She both dreaded the upcoming meeting and wanted to be here, because this would be the last time she had to see her uncle face-to-face. His cadre of attorneys lined one side of the table, in their expensive suits, briefcases filled with what she assumed were reams of papers to try and offset the insurmountable evidence against him.
Antonio and Williamson had shown her the mountain of evidence provided by the mysterious informant, who’d cooperated with the Department of Justice once the file had been hand delivered to their office. Serena had no clue who this person was, only they were a ‘credible’ witness from deep within her uncle’s fanatical followers. She hoped she’d get the chance to meet with them, thank them for doing the right thing, especially since it meant she didn’t have to go through another excruciating trial. Once had been more than enough. When added to the information she’d provided Williamson on the thumb drive, she prayed this would be the last time she ever faced her uncle again.
There were several other people, men and women, seated at the table. Antonio whispered they were DOJ, and attorney generals for several of the states where bombings had taken place.
“Are you sure you want to be here, Serena? You don’t have to face him, you know. I can get you out of here. We’ll go someplace, just the two of us, and forget all about Big Jim or anything else except us.”
She gave him a shaky smile. “I need to be here. It’s important. He needs to see he didn’t win. He didn’t break me, no matter how hard he tried. His personal empire is crumbling around him, and there’s no way out. He’s a broken man, he just doesn’t know it yet.”
“Jonathan Drury and his wife are going to spend time behind bars. Drury’s copping a plea to attempted kidnapping, use of a deadly weapon—both vehicular and a gun—along with several other assorted charges. He’ll spend a lot of years behind bars. Corinne’s pleading to identity theft, yours, and a few other charges. Since it’s her first offense, she’ll probably get a light sentence, but it’s better than nothing.”
She knew the district attorney had arrested Jonathan and had him extradited to Texas, since both he and Corinne were in Oklahoma City. Corinne would face charges only in Oklahoma. It still didn’t make sense why Drury had come after her. Maybe she’d never know.
The door swung open, and several guards stepped through, followed by Big Jim Berkley. He towered over most of the people there, but Serena wasn’t intimidated by him. Not anymore. No, she wasn’t giving him the power to make her life a living nightmare, not since she’d seen everything he’d done. She’d always thought him a monster—now there was concrete proof she was right.
He smirked when he spotted her across the room, and held up one hand as far as the attached chain allowed. “Hello, Sharon. It’s been a long time.”
“Not long enough,” she shot back.
“Everyone sit down, and we’ll get started. Present are James Berkley and his legal representation, Derrick Williamson and Antonio Boudreau from the FBI, and Sharon Berkley, aka Serena Snowden, William Hanover and Clarence Lark from the Department of Justice. SAC Williamson, please begin.”
“Thank you, sir. The FBI has provided evidence obtained from a confidential informant conclusively proving James Berkley, alias Big Jim Berkley, was instrumental in the deaths of six people—”
“Objection.” One of Big Jim’s attorneys started to stand, and Williamson glared at him.
“Sit down. This is an informal hearing to provide you with all the new information we’ve received. If you’ll keep your mouth shut, we’ll get through this quicker, and you can meet with your client and tell him how far up the creek he is, without any chance of getting off this wild ride, got it? Good.”
Serena bit back her laughter at the sight of her uncle’s face. Beet red, he was shocked and outraged, sputtering at Williamson’s verbal barrage. If she wasn’t madly in love with Antonio, she’d so go out with Williamson. She gave Antonio’s hand a squeeze to let him know she was handling things alright.
“Enclosed in your packets are copies of the information provided by our informants. They give names, dates, meeting places, as well as photographic evidence confirming each hit. There are transcribed reports of recordings of Mr. Berkley and his known associates discussing said assassinations, as well as Mr. Berkley ordering them. There are outlined account records of money laundering. In addition, there are copies of blueprints and photographs, along with employee schedules, for the buildings that were bombed.”
One of her uncle’s lawyers stood and glared at Williamson. “We have a problem with the FBI and the DOJ using a confidential informant. How do we know this information is reliable? Our client has the right to face his accuser. I don’t see anyone here who could provide you with this kind of information, the veracity of which has yet to be determined. I suggest this information is tainted, fruit from the poisoned tree, and completely unsubstantiated without corroboration.”
One of the representatives from the Department of Justice reached into his pocket and pulled out a cell phone. “Send her in.”
A few moments later, the door opened and a tall, elegantly dressed woman strode through. When Berkley spotted her, a string of curses spewed forth, but Serena ignored him and everything else around her, her vision shrinking like a tunnel, focused solely on the woman standing silhouetted in the open doorway.
“Mom?”
She felt more than saw Antonio’s stif
fening in shock, but couldn’t take her eyes off the woman, as chaos erupted in the room. Everyone was talking at once, each trying to be heard over the other in a cacophony of louder and louder objections, but Serena didn’t care. Her mother gave her a soft smile, her blue eyes shining with love.
“I said quiet down!” The DOJ representative slammed a book onto the table with a loud bang. Big Jim fought against the guards, trying to keep him in his chair, curses still spewing from his lips.
“Gentlemen, as you can see, our confidential informant is Christine Berkley, James Berkley’s stepsister. We will be scheduling a time and place for a deposition at our earliest convenience. I suggest you confer with your client, and make sure he understands the gravity of the charges leveled against him, as well as the postponement of his appeal.” He glared at the attorneys all huddled around Big Jim. “You’ll also find additional information pertaining to a new set of charges being filed against Mr. Berkley, including bribery of a federal judge.”
“What documentation do you have to make sure allegations against our client?”
A DVD was tossed onto the table. “The Department of Justice, along with the FBI, have been provided with video footage of James Berkley meeting with federal judge Hiram Coleman, and exchanging money to ensure Judge Coleman tampered with the court schedule and presided over Mr. Berkley’s case and sentencing. The judge’s wife was also present at said meeting, and she’ll be facing charges of abuse of her position as a state congresswoman. Despite Mr. Berkley’s attempts to monetarily influence the judicial system, justice prevailed. Take a very good look at the video footage I just provided you with, gentlemen, because it is clear and explicit and damning to your client.”
“That’s impossible!” Big Jim’s face drained of all color, and he appeared to shrivel before Serena’s eyes.
“It’s entirely possible, Uncle. I took the video. I witnessed the meeting, and I’ll be happy to testify against you and your corrupt friends.” Serena’s confidence grew with each word. She was finally free from the terror her uncle inspired for far too long, fear that had kept her frozen. Now he was nothing more than a pathetic petty tyrant whose kingdom had crumbled into ashes at his feet.
The DOJ representative glared at Big Jim’s attorneys, and made a shooing motion. “We’re done here.”
“This isn’t over!” Big Jim shouted as the guards dragged him to his feet. “I’ll kill you all! Especially you, you duplicitous traitor!” He lunged for Christine, and the guards yanked him back and shuffled him out the door. Everyone else followed suit, leaving Serena and Antonio alone with her mother.
“I don’t understand. How can you be here?”
Her mother sat in the chair beside Serena and took her hand, clasping it between hers. “Oh, my sweet baby, there’s so much to tell you. I didn’t want to leave you, but I didn’t have a choice. Your uncle has always been power mad, and he’d do anything to get more. When I discovered what he planned, he—he tried to have me killed.”
“Mom! Did you go to the police?”
Christine nodded. “Of course, but I didn’t know he had the chief of police in his back pocket. My brother had dirt on half the influential people in town, and the other half were scared to death of him. The chief took my statement, and the next thing I knew, I was grabbed on my way out of the grocery store. I was taken to an old barn and tied up for days. I knew my brother would come put a bullet in my head when he was ready. I managed to get away, and I ran. When I tried to contact Abner, your father told me I was dead to him. He must have divorced me somehow, because you know he remarried. I changed my name, did odd jobs here and there, and tried to live a normal life. None of that’s important. I met a wonderful man a few years after I ran.” Serena wanted to ask the question burning inside, but didn’t dare. The answer might hurt too much.
“Why didn’t you take Sharon with you?” Trust Antonio to know exactly what she’d been thinking.
“I wanted to. Every single day I missed you. A couple of times I even drove by the house, trying to catch a glimpse of you. I tried to come up with a plan where I could take you with me, but I knew it wouldn’t be safe. You didn’t deserve to live a life on the run, where I might not be able to keep you from harm. Jim had guards all around the place, watching, waiting for me to make a mistake. He knew I’d try to come back for you. If there had been any way, if I didn’t think Jim wouldn’t hunt for us every single day, I’d have risked everything. But I know your father loved you. Leaving you behind was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I’ve regretted it every day. I did it to keep you safe. I never expected your father to drag you into Jim’s web of lies.”
“How did you end up getting dirt on my uncle?”
Christine smiled and brushed her hair over her shoulder. The soft blonde color, so similar to Serena’s natural color, made it obvious they were related, and Serena almost reached out to touch it, see if it was as soft as she remembered from her childhood.
“I met someone. A wonderful man who helped me see the good in people again. I was jaded, distrustful, and believed most people were exactly like your uncle. Out for money and power, and didn’t care about anybody or anything except themselves. It took me a long time to open myself, to trust him. Isaac worked for the government, an aide for a senator. Once he heard my story, he convinced me to talk to the senator. She asked if I’d be willing to help take down my brother. I had to say yes. What else could I do? I knew Jim better than anybody else, knew what he was capable of. It was only a matter of time before he killed people. It was inevitable.”
Serena nodded. She agreed with her mother’s assessment, because she’d felt the same. If only she’d known her mother was out there, alive and gathering evidence. It looked like they were cut from the same cloth, as the saying goes, because they’d had the same goal.
“The senator had me contact somebody from the old days. It was a huge risk, because if word got back to Jim, things might have gone completely differently. I slowly ingratiated myself within the lower ranks. Changed my looks. I was heavier, I wore a wig and glasses. Nobody recognized me, and I stayed quiet and meek, making my way unobtrusively around until I became a fixture in the background there, so nobody paid attention to me. Before long, they started talking freely whenever I was around. Even my brother didn’t recognize me, because I looked so different from the polished, sophisticated woman I’d been before he tried to have me killed.”
“I’ve always known he was evil, but I thought he was loyal to family.” Serena shrugged but had a hard time containing her shock.
“I began sneaking my cell phone into meetings, and recording everything. Most days the information was useless, but when Jim gets angry, he tends to get mouthy, too. He’d make mistakes, forget I was there. Remember, everybody around him was loyal to a fault. Nobody crossed Jim. I recorded things that would make you blush. I took photos of things when nobody was looking. Jim was careful, always so careful. But others weren’t. Every few days, I turned the information over to the senator, but I kept my own file.” Christine’s eyes filled with tears. “I can’t tell you how thrilled I was when he was arrested. Until I found out you’d be testifying against him.”
“I had to. I was the only one who had enough information to take him down. No one had a clue you were doing the same thing I was, collecting evidence. I don’t remember ever seeing you.”
“That’s one of the things which took so long. I couldn’t go back to Oklahoma. Everybody would recognize me, even with the disguise. I hung out at the Louisiana compound.” She grinned. “He hated anybody calling his precious center a compound. Wouldn’t let anybody say it. Made it sound too much like a cult, with him as the leader. Idiot didn’t recognize it for what it was, a stinking cult.” Her smile dimmed as she continued. “I didn’t have enough evidence at the time to come forward. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway. The senator I gave the information to ended up stockpiling all the data, and when she had enough, took it to Jim. Tried to blackmail him. You can
guess how well that went.”
Antonio’s hand rested on Serena’s shoulder. “Are you talking about Senator Wellsley? The one who died in a plane crash?”
Christine nodded again. “I was terrified. Jim knew there was a traitor in his organization, and I had no choice but to leave. Then the trial happened and your life turned upside down. Isaac, bless his heart, knew a couple of people who worked for the FBI, so I knew when you went into witness protection. I’ve kept my eye on you as best I could from a distance, baby.”
“How’d you know to contact me?” Antonio threw the question out, and Christine leaned back in her chair, smoothing a hand along her tailored skirt. She was dressed like a modern professional woman, with a tailored suit, narrow pencil skirt and black pumps. She might have walked straight out of any office and nobody would have thought about it twice.
“My…friend, Isaac. Did I mentioned he has a few friends in the FBI? He said there was an increased push on to find Sharon, especially since Jim was getting his case appealed. There seemed to be a lot of activity in the Austin office, searching for her. I have a few contacts of my own, friends who work in the intelligence community, in a not-so-visible fashion. So we kept our attention on Austin. Heard about you being assigned the case.”
“Seems like a lot of coincidences, so again, why me?”
“You piqued my interest when you visited Jonathan Drury’s house. The little piss-ant might be a good lawyer, but he’s not the smartest cookie in the jar. When you started sniffing around him, I knew something happened. I—took a gamble when I called you. My sources said you were reliable. He did mention you have quite a colorful family. I think the Boudreaus impressed him.”
“You trusted me with the evidence. Why?”
“Because when I asked, you were honest with me. Reluctant, but honest when I asked about my daughter. I needed somebody I could trust. My gut told me you’d do the right thing.”
