by Lisa Harris
When he finished, his face was grave. “I need to get this to Lexington and Packard right away. Two of these guys are state politicians and another is a uniformed officer. I can’t tell who the other two in suits are or the one in the shadows. But maybe the lab at the precinct will be able to do some enhancing.” His gaze wandered to the front window, a frown pinching his brow.
“If you won’t go look for Jay on your own, then let me come with you.” She swiped a gesture to the video. “Doesn’t this prove that they won’t be coming after me now? I mean, if they were worried Treyvon told me about the riots, they’re happening now, so they no longer need to worry, right?”
Holden pondered. “Maybe.”
“I don’t understand why they would want to instigate riots?”
“Money.” His lips thinned. “It’s always about money.”
“How do they make money off a riot?”
“There could be a number of ways, but the biggest one that comes to mind is it would cause property values to plummet. Combined with people wanting to sell and get out as quickly as they can. People with money could snap all that real estate up and make a hefty profit down the road.”
“That’s terrible. All those small business owners like David and Julie, out of business.”
“Yeah.” Holden clicked a few keys on the laptop. He picked up his phone, touched the screen a few times and then tucked it between his ear and shoulder as he continued to work on the laptop.
Faintly, she could hear the phone ringing on the other end. But it must have gone to voice mail because Holden set the phone down without speaking.
Outside, tires clattered over the stone-paved driveway. Camryn glanced through the window. Jay’s cruiser pulled to a stop, bright sunlight glinting off the windshield. “Oh, Jay’s here.”
Holden blew out a breath that revealed how worried he’d been. “Good.” He pressed a few more keys on the keyboard and then rose from the desk. “Let’s see what his delay was.”
He stepped onto the porch, but Camryn didn’t follow. She didn’t want Jay to get any wrong impressions about how much he meant to her. In fact, she should return upstairs so he and Holden could have their privacy.
She scooted into the entry, intent on taking the stairs before they came back in, but the sight that greeted her froze her in her tracks.
Kate stood on the threshold with a gun pointed at Holden’s chest.
Chapter Eighteen
Damien sat next to Case, across the table from Ed. Gray waited in the next room over. Damien was content to sit back and let Case drive the interrogation, but so far, the only words Ed had spoken were, “I want my lawyer.”
So now they were waiting for the lawyer to arrive. He had apparently been delayed in court—a tactic Damien guessed was more about figuring out a plan than actually being in court, though that was only a guess.
He nudged Case with the back of his hand. “Let’s talk to Gray. Maybe he’ll be willing to cut a deal.”
Ed’s jaw bunched, but he remained silent.
Flanked by officers Miller and Kingston, Captain Danielson stormed toward Damien and Case as they exited, fists balled, neck tendons taut. “There better be a good explanation for why you have two of my detectives in interrogation rooms!”
Damien studied the man, his earlier questions rising once more to the surface. Was the captain crooked? His recent behavior—especially his standing up for dirty cops—certainly gave pause. And yet, if he were suspected of something underhanded, wouldn’t he want his captain to go to bat for him?
“Yes, sir. There is.” Case spoke calmly. “I took the liberty of having the hospital send you some footage, sir.”
Damien transferred his gaze to Officer Miller and his partner Jack Kingston, who both stood a few paces away. Miller couldn’t seem to meet his gaze, but Kingston’s gaze was clear and direct. Interesting. The two had only been partners for a couple weeks, if he recalled correctly. Miller’s feet shifted as he studied the ground near Damien. Though Gray had mentioned him, they couldn’t arrest the man on hearsay. But he had to know his neck was in a noose. It came as a surprise that he was even showing his face in the precinct. But maybe he’d just arrived for his shift and was only now hearing the news.
“With me!” Captain Danielson barked at them. He started toward his office but then froze. His gaze swept the precinct, before he resumed his trek.
Leaving every other officer standing in frozen silence, Case and Damien followed the captain into his office and closed the door. The man didn’t even bother to sit down but propped one hand on his desk and jiggled his mouse from a standing position. After a couple clicks, he stilled, and Damien could see the hospital video footage reflected in the captain’s glasses. The video ended, but the captain didn’t move. He kept staring at his screen.
Damien waited, somehow feeling like a kid who had stopped a fight and still been the one sent to the principal’s office.
After a few seconds of silence, the captain grunted and then swore. “Unbelievable.”
Damien waited, wondering if he meant their arrest of the officers was unbelievable, or if Ed and Gray were unbelievable. The way the captain had been coaster-riding lately, it could go either way.
For several minutes, the captain paced and swore and paced some more. Finally, he stopped before the window in his office that overlooked the city and propped both hands on his hips. “Sorry. I’m handling this badly.”
Damien looked at Case.
He lifted one shoulder.
Captain Danielson sighed. “My wife passed away last night.”
Damien felt the shock of the words hit him like a blast. And at the same time, he was washed with a wave of relief. This would explain why the captain had been acting so strange lately, wouldn’t it? He wasn’t a crook. He was simply doing his best to keep his life together under terrible circumstances. “I’m so sorry, sir. I knew she was sick, but I had no idea…”
The captain remained in his position, looking out the window. “I didn’t want the men to make a big fuss.” He pulled in a stuttering breath, held it for a moment, and then blew it out through pursed lips. “No idea how I’m going to survive without her.”
Case approached and settled a hand on the man’s shoulder. “What can we do to help?”
Damien’s appreciation for his partner rose. Case always was better in these situations.
The captain kept looking out the window, but his hand did rise to touch Case’s briefly. “Just find all the dirty cops in my department. Root them out.”
Case nodded and stepped back. “You should know, sir, that Gray has already implicated Lawrence Miller.”
The captain sighed. “Fine. Hold him for questioning. Kingston too.”
“I don’t think we should do that, sir.” Damien surprised even himself with the words.
The captain spun on him. “Why not?”
Damien ran a hand over his face. “I’m not certain I have a good answer, sir, other than...” He shrugged. “With that jail break, and the riots, I feel like this is a lot of random unusual things all happening at once. Makes me wonder if they aren’t tied together. Maybe Miller will panic and lead us to something.”
The captain brushed a hand through the air absentmindedly. “Fine. Have them followed. But whatever you do, don’t lose them.”
“Kate? What’s the meaning of this?” Holden asked, hands raised to shoulder level. He sidestepped and Camryn didn’t miss the fact that the movement put him between her and Kate.
Camryn’s heart was beating so hard she could feel it pounding against her ribs. She’d never had a gun pointed in her direction before. She peeked from under his arm.
Holden shifted and Kate took a quick step back. “Don’t move. I mean it.”
He stilled. “You’re going to have to explain.”
She motioned with the gun. “Into the living room. Both of you.”
Holden reached back and nudged Camryn to precede him, keeping his body between her and
Kate’s gun. She scuttled into the living room, eyes darting for any weapon she might grab. But nothing was close enough.
“Sit!” Kate snapped. “Wait!”
They froze.
She swung her gun from Camryn to Holden’s ankle. “He always keeps a pistol strapped to his ankle. Get it carefully. And if you make any sudden moves, I won’t hesitate to shoot you both.”
Camryn despaired. Please Lord, don’t let me get Holden shot.
She slowly lifted the cuff of his jeans, pulled the pistol from his ankle holster, and held it away from her body with two fingers so Kate could see she wasn’t going to try anything with it.
Kate motioned. “Toss it to me.”
Camryn darted Holden a glance. “Will it fire?”
He shook his head and motioned that she should do as Kate said.
She tossed the gun onto the floor at Kate’s feet, feeling as if she was throwing their last chance at life away. Then she sank onto the couch, and Holden sat right next to her, taking her hand. She laced her fingers with his, relishing in the comfort that small gesture gave her in this situation.
Camryn heard Holden swallow.
They both looked at Kate.
She paced the carpet, gun loosely trained on them, muttering to herself.
Holden shifted slightly. “Whatever is going on, Kate, we can help you. But you need to put the gun down so we can talk.”
She spun to face him, pistol extended and trembling. “Shut up! I don’t want to hear any of your negotiation talk!” Her gaze slipped to their intertwined hands. “Oh! So she’s already woven herself around you like poison ivy, has she?”
Camryn’s heart jolted at the venomous words. Much as Holden’s hand comforted, it was obviously causing Kate to degenerate even more. She eased her hand out of his grasp and onto her lap.
Holden rubbed his palms on his knees. “We’re just a little stressed here, Kate. Understandable with you waving a gun at us, wouldn’t you say?”
Kate didn’t answer. She resumed her distressed pacing and muttering. “I...killed...him. I think...I...killed him. He...looked...dead.” She shook her head. “No. He can’t be dead. He’ll be fine. Maybe...he’ll be fine.”
Camryn felt her eyes widen as she met Holden’s brief glance. She thought of Jay’s car, the one Kate pulled into the driveway a few minutes ago. Was he the one who was dead?
“Who will be fine, Kate?” Holden, leaned forward, easing closer to the lip of the couch. He looked like a panther about to pounce.
“My son. My...only...son.”
Holden’s brow furrowed. “You don’t have a son, Kate.”
She spun on him, face contorted with rage. “Yes, I do...” Her face crumpled. “Did have a son.”
For a brief moment, Camryn thought Kate would lose the strength from her legs. She swayed, gripping her head with both hands, the gun dangerously close to her temple.
“Let me help you, Kate. I can help you.” Holden held out a hand, palm up, silently entreating her to give him the gun.
She blinked a couple times and then, as though a veil had been lifted, her gaze hardened and she straightened. Her glittering ire zeroed in on Holden once more. And when she spoke, bits of spittle flew from her mouth. “You don’t know anything, Holden Parker. Shut up and let me think.”
Holden’s jaw tightened. His hands fisted and unfisted restlessly.
Camryn settled a hand against his to draw his attention. She nodded toward Kate and mouthed, Shall I try?
He roughed a hand over the lower half of his face, then raised it as if to say, what could it hurt?
Camryn moistened her lips. She looked at Kate. “Who was your son?”
Her face contorted with grief. “Jay. My baby boy.”
Camryn felt all the blood drain from her face. Kate had killed Jay! From the look on Holden’s face, he’d had no idea she was Jay’s mother. Jay had said he’d been adopted. Was Kate the woman who’d chosen alcohol over her child?
Kate’s countenance twisted into a snarl, and she advanced a step toward Camryn. “And this is all your fault.”
Camryn despaired. Maybe Kate was right. If she hadn’t revealed herself to the woman, would all this be happening right now? Holden had asked her to remain hidden, but she’d done the same thing the woman he’d lost had done. She’d discounted his advice and gone against it.
She worked some moisture into her mouth before she was able to manage. “Why did you kill him?”
Kate continued to pace, shaking her head. “Why didn’t he do as I told him? If he’d done what he was supposed to do, none of this would have been necessary.”
“What was he supposed to do?” Holden’s voice sounded like twelve-grit sandpaper.
Kate ignored them. Paced. Muttered.
Holden leaned even farther forward on the couch, and Camryn noticed he was gripping the bottom edge of the hefty wooden coffee table.
He glanced over at her. With a jut of his chin he indicated the door beside them that led through to the dining room. He gave a quick check at Kate and then mouthed. When I move, you run. Remember? His brows lifted slightly.
She nodded. She should run to the dugout shelter. But she didn’t have a coat. She’d taken it off upstairs and left it on her bed. No matter. She wouldn’t be there long. Only until Holden could get Kate into custody. Unless...
She dropped a hand onto his arm and gave a little shake of her head. She didn’t want him getting hurt. Kate could shoot him. They should figure a way out of this together.
“Remember your promise,” he said softly.
She blew out a tremulous breath. Her promise that she would listen to him. She’d broken it once already. She didn’t want to do it again.
His eyes narrowed. And he jutted his chin toward the door with more force.
Camryn gave a nod. She would do as he asked.
And then Kate pivoted and he moved.
Kate’s back was to them for a fraction of a second. Holden picked up the coffee table and charged toward her, thrusting it before him like a shield and a club all in one.
Camryn lurched for the door.
She’d only gotten two steps into the dining room when Kate screeched.
And then gunfire shattered the air.
A loud crash followed.
Despite her promise, Camryn froze. She glanced back. And gasped.
Holden lay sprawled on the living room carpet.
And blood was pooling under his head.
Chapter Nineteen
As Damien had hoped when they’d left Gray to sit alone in his interrogation room for an hour, he was much more willing to talk and cut a deal than Ed had been. Gray had always been the softer of the two partners.
In fact, the man had cried through much of the interview.
“It was supposed to be some quick money! No one was supposed to get hurt. Just a few businesses put under.”
Damien’s teeth slammed together. “And what about the people who owned those businesses? Did you think of them?”
Gray swiped at his cheek. “They can start over somewhere else, you know? Insurance will cover the damage.”
Damien met Case’s gaze. Unbelievable.
Case nudged the digital recorder in the middle of the table a little closer to Gray. “Start at the beginning. How did you get involved in all this?”
Gray lifted a hand. “Ed came to me with the idea. You know that rich guy who just escaped jail?”
“Kirk Vossler. Yes.”
“He and Ed grew up together back in Oklahoma. But they took different paths. And Vossler’s wealth has always been a sticking point with Ed. He talked about it a lot. How he was suffering for making right choices all the time and how Vossler could help us get rich.” Gray massaged the back of his neck. “I don’t know. After a while it all started to sound pretty good, you know?” He fell silent staring at the tabletop.
“Go on,” Damien urged.
“So when Ed came to me with this plan about how we could each make a
hundred grand if we helped Vossler pull off a couple jobs, I gave in. I’ve got kids heading into their college years and nothing saved up.” His voice broke.
Damien wasn’t about to sympathize with the man. Case also held his silence.
“Well, when Vossler got pinched last year—”
“Wait,” Damien interrupted. “This plan has been in place for over a year?”
Gray sighed, shoulders slumping under the weight of his guilt. “Yeah.”
That would likely mean that Jack Kingston didn’t know too much about this since he’d only been on the force for a little over six months and Miller’s partner for only a couple weeks. Damien was relieved, though, of course, they would still need to check him out. He didn’t know the kid well, but from what he’d seen, he had the makings of a good cop.
“Finish what you were saying,” Case urged. “When Vossler got pinched...”
“He put this lady-friend of his in charge of continuing the plan.”
“What’s her name?” Case interjected.
Gray frowned in thought. “Kate... Dolly or Dolling?” He snapped his fingers. “Dollinger, I think. Something like that. She and Vossler had a kid together years ago. But then I think he got put up for adoption. I heard her mention it once. But we didn’t talk to her much. She only came to a few of the planning meetings. The rest she attended on speaker phone. She lives out on one of the islands, I think.” He waved a hand. “That’s all I know.”
“What was the plan?” Damien asked.
Gray’s face sagged. “We paid a few people to start a peaceful protest. Then we paid a few more to instigate a riot.”
Damien tensed. “Today’s riots?”
“Yeah. We were supposed to get paid tonight after it all comes to an end.”
Case jotted a few notes. “What was this supposed to accomplish?”
Gray traced a finger over the tabletop. “The riots were to happen only on certain blocks. Property values will go down. Vossler and his buddies will make money.”
“His buddies?”
