“Thank you, I see that listed here as well. Although, normally in kidnapping cases, the police are the ones who come to us, but this is an out of state case, so I suppose a petition works as well. All I can do for the moment is let my supervisor review your case and then take it before the judge. We’ll need to be sure all of this is legitimate before we will consider letting you visit with Josie.”
I knew they’d have to verify and I’m glad they are taking it seriously. I wouldn’t want them handing her over to just anyone who provided the correct looking paper work.
“I understand that her foster parents are wanting to adopt her, will this be taken care of before that time?”
“We will need to review all of this before the adoption proceedings can continue.”
“Are you saying that there’s a possibility I won’t get my daughter back? I didn’t do anything wrong. She was taken from me and I was lied to about her whereabouts for almost four years! I went four years thinking my child was dead!” I can feel my anger rising, but I try to keep it in check. This woman literally holds my daughter’s future in her hands.
“No, I’m not saying that at all. I’m simply saying that the adoption proceedings will not continue until all information has been received. If we find your information to be accurate and you have the ability to take care of the child, and it is in her best interest, then she might be placed with you. Honestly, Mr. Hardenbergh, this isn't about you. This is about Josie and what’s best for her life. She’s established in the home she is in, we don’t want to take that away from her, unless you are indeed her father.”
I breathe deeply, hiding the anger I feel. “I understand. Thank you for looking into this for me. Please keep me posted.”
“Of course.”
We disconnect, and I sit on the bed staring off into space. Would they really not give me my child back? Surely, there are laws to protect me. It wasn’t my fault that she was kidnapped. For the first time since I found out she was alive, I actually believe that. None of this was my fault. I glance over to the clock and realize that Grant should be at the station in less than twenty minutes. I hurry out the door and to my car. Once I arrive at the station, I see Grant walking with two men, who I assume are his handlers, though they are dressed in plain clothes. I park the car and start to head towards the station.
Things seem to move in slow motion. I hear the snick of a gun being fired. Grant suddenly clutches his chest and falls towards the ground. I take off running to him, as the men beside him grab for him, rushing him forward. They’re waving and yelling at me, but I can’t comprehend what they’re saying. As I near them, the one closest to me pushes me forward towards the building.
“Get the door!” Reality comes slamming back to me. I run to the door and they rush inside. I pull the door closed.
“Call an ambulance! He’s bleeding out,” the other of the two men yells.
“Grant!” I fall to my knees beside him, he lifts his hand to grab mine and smiles.
“I’m s … s … sorry,” he utters.
“Shh, don’t worry about that now. Help is coming.”
Grant takes several stuttered breaths, then coughs up blood. He looks up at me again. “Tell Josie I love her and that I’m sorry.”
“You can tell her. They found her, Grant. We’ll get her back and we’ll be a family together. Please, hang on.”
“Tell her.”
“Okay, okay, but just hang on, man. They’re coming.”
He shakes his head then smiles. “Shan,” he whispers. He looks straight past me and holds out his free hand.
“Grant, man. Don’t do this. Hold on!” I frantically look around, where is that ambulance?
He looks back at me. “She’s sorry. We both are.” He looks back up to where he thinks Shannon is, then coughs up more blood. “Jayden.”
I lose it. “Stop it! They aren’t here, Grant. Just hang on. Hang on!”
“They love and miss you. Tell Josie.” He coughs again and his eyes close.
“No! Grant.” I sob, clutching him to me.
“Jud, let the paramedics look at him.”
Ryan pulls me away and I finally notice the scene before me. I’m covered in blood, as is the FBI agent who is holding pressure on Grant’s wound. The paramedics now surround him, yelling out things and grabbing the paddles. They zap him several times with no response. Everyone is working frantically, while the rest of us stand frozen in place as we take in the sight before us.
My heart breaks again as I hear someone say, “Time of death one-forty-five.”
Chapter Twenty-one
Ryan
I hold Judson as he breaks down at the loss of his friend. His cries are gut wrenching and my heart hurts for him. He may have been angry with him, but I knew he never wanted him to die. I pull out my cell phone to call my sister, but then remember Jud has her car.
“Jess, can you go get my sister from the school. I think he’s going to need her.”
“Of course.” She takes off.
“Marsh, help me get him to my office.”
Marsh, who isn’t covered in as much blood as his partner, comes over and grabs Judson’s opposite arm and we heave him up and get him to the sofa in my office. May comes in with a wet towel and some bottles of water, then leaves us to take care of him.
“Jud, can you drink this?” I hold the water out to him, he takes it with a shaky hand and sips it slowly.
“This isn’t fair. He didn’t deserve to die.”
I pat his shoulder. “I know. We’ll find whoever did this. I swear we will.”
We sit in silence for a long time. He’s not crying anymore, but his pain is palpable. You can feel it in the air and to be honest it’s suffocating. I glance at Marsh who shrugs, unsure what to say.
“What am I going to do? Why does everyone around me die? I can’t do that to Laney, or my daughter. I can’t.”
“Judson Isaiah Hardenbergh! You shut your mouth right now.” All three of us jump at my sister's voice. “You are not going to shut me out. I’m not going to die.” She sits beside him and pulls him into her arms. Softer she says, “I love you. You can’t get rid of me. Haven’t I proven that already?”
He chuckles lightly. “Repeatedly.” She gives him a light smack on the thigh. “Thank you for coming. You didn't have to do that.”
“Like I'd be anywhere else. You're it for me, Jud. Thick or thin.” She kisses him then looks up to me. “Can I take him home?”
“Yeah, I'll be in touch.”
She nods and helps Jud stand. He sways a bit, but I help steady him. They leave the station, and then I get to work. Anderson hands me a report and I glance through it. It doesn’t tell me anything that I’m not already aware of. The description of the assailant isn’t extremely helpful either: a man, over six feet tall, broad shoulders, wearing a hoodie and sunglasses. It’s not much to go on, then I notice something that catches my eye. It’s a description of a tattoo on the shooter’s hand. It sparks a memory. I turn back to Marsh who is on the phone to someone in his department. He hangs up, comes over, and puts a hand on my shoulder.
“Jacobs, I’m sorry man. We had no idea they were still after Grant. Lyon has given the impression that he wasn’t even concerned with Grant right now.” He sighs and nods slightly. “He might be on to me and trying to throw me off. I’m going to be laying low for a little while. Davies will be the only one undercover for now.”
I nod. That makes a lot of sense to me. “Keep me posted on the progress okay?”
“Of course.”
“Hey, look at this description of the shooter,” I say, showing him the report. “There’s something about this tattoo that rings familiar to me, but I can’t place it.”
The tattoo is described as being on his right hand and goes up the length of his arm. One eye witness said that the tattoo was tribal in nature, but another witness, who was close to the shooter, said it looked like a scarab. Marsh takes the file from me and reads it over before noddi
ng his head.
“Hatchet, Greg Norris. It has to be him. He’s the only one with that particular tattoo. What doesn’t make sense is why he’d come out of hiding? Also, in all the eye witnesses’ accounts we have on him, none have described that tattoo. He always covers it up. The only reason we know it’s there is because Grant described it perfectly. It doesn’t make sense that he would leave something so readily visible that he knows would link to him. Could be someone is trying to frame him.”
I growl. “This is an impossible case!” I grab my hair in frustration.
“I thought we had this in the bag, but everywhere I turn, there’s something else that comes up, causing us to shift focus.” Marsh sets the file down on my desk.
I start to pace. “Now we have Grant murdered right in front of MY own station.”
“We’ll figure it out.” Marsh reaches out and grabs my shoulder, stopping me, and redirecting the conversation, which doesn't help my mood. “How are things going on the Mathis front?”
“Not much better. No one has seen him at all since he was at the hospital. I had Judson’s property searched, but so far, they’ve not found any type of hide out, but he was in those woods when Martin was killed. He admitted he killed her, so he has to have something around there.”
“Or maybe he was just traveling through. We know Shayla was his goal, so it’s not so farfetched to place him there, he saw her the next day. Judson lives, what, one mile from your house?”
“Three, but yeah, it’s close enough to get Hannah then go to the hospital, I’m still not sure how he got to the hospital. I don’t have him on any surveillance, not even at my house. He’s smarter than I gave him credit for and much more resourceful.”
“We’ll get him. Do you need any more resources? We’re going to be tied up with this case for a while, but if you need some more men, I got you. You know that right?”
“Yeah, I do,” I say to him. “I think we’re good though. Tom called in a few favors to some of his retired buddies. We have people stationed at my house, the school, and the hospital. It’ll be near impossible for him to get by anyone this time.”
“Have you sent anyone out to check on that murder in Alabama?” Marsh asks.
That murder happened a couple of days ago. I got a call from the sheriff of Jackson County telling me that an origami fox had been found on the body of a blonde woman in her thirties and inside the fox it had listed my name and number. They thought at first I was the next target, but when May answered the phone Oak Grove Police Department, they knew it must be a case I was working on.
“I sent Jon down on the chopper with Linc and Smith.”
“Ah, good. I was wondering if they’d be able to help out this time. I’m sorry I haven’t been much use.”
“Don’t worry about it, you have your hands full. Besides, you are helping me. Solving your case will wrap up two of mine.”
“I’ll keep you posted on that front, but you need to keep me up to date on Mathis as well. I’m in this with you. I’ll do anything in my power to help.”
“Thanks. I’ll get with you soon.”
Marsh heads out to meet up with his partner who was in the hallway on the phone to headquarters. After he leaves, I rest my elbows on my desk and rub my temples. I don’t know what to do right now. I have too many things going on; something is bound to slip by me.
“Hey, boss.” I look up to see Jessica.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Uh, I heard what you said and I have a suggestion.” I look at her confused and she chuckles. “You didn’t mean to say that out loud?”
I snort. “Nope.”
“I know you have to be stressed right now, with Mathis and this case, so here’s my idea. Why don’t you select someone to be the acting chief so you can concentrate on Mathis?”
I stare at her for a long moment. I hadn’t thought about that, but it would definitely help me if I could give my full attention to Mathis. However, it seems a little irresponsible to leave this mess with anyone.
“I’ll do it,” Jessica says. I start to speak but she continues before I can. “I know the Hardenbergh/McMann case as well as you do and I’ve already been working with Marsh on it. I also know what needs to be done around here. I’ve been your right hand for over a year. I can handle this.”
“It’s not a question of if you can, it’s just … I shouldn’t leave my post just because Mathis is a threat.”
“You’re not leaving your post. You’re just letting me handle the paper work and daily tasks. You're making me lead on the Hardenbergh/McMann case. I can get the job done. I swear it.”
“I know you can. Let me think about it. I don’t want to put too much on you.”
“Of course, think about it, but I can do this. I know I can.” She stands and heads out of my office.
I know she can, I just don’t know if she should have to. I’ll sleep on it and get back to her tomorrow. For now, I’m going to assign Anderson and Snyder to investigate this Greg Norris. They’ve come a long way since I first arrived and though I had my questions about their ability to become detectives, they’ve proven themselves up to the task, especially seeing how well they worked with Marsh and the FBI over the past few weeks.
“May,” I buzz her and when she answers I begin, “Can you please send Anderson and Snyder to my office?”
A few minutes later, the pair arrive and I gesture for them to have a seat. They look concerned so I don’t beat around the bush and get straight to the point.
“Greg Norris is the suspect for Grant McMann’s murder. We had two eye witnesses give some pretty damning evidence to the fact. He has a tattoo on his hand of a scarab. I’d like the two of you to see what you can find out. I want to know if this is just a tattoo he liked or if there’s more meaning behind it. Scarabs are big in Egyptian culture so it could be tied to a number of things. It’s also an unusual tattoo that could help us track him down. Report your findings to Bailey. I’ll be back in later tomorrow.”
“Sir,” they say in unison before heading out of the office.
I finish up some paperwork and other odds and ends, making sure my people are on point, before heading home. It’s been a couple of weeks since Mathis showed up with Hannah at the hospital. Shayla has been a wreck since then, so have I, and I understand, I really do, but she’s been so distant with me. We’ve rarely said a few words to each other, and she’s working more now, even though she’d planned on cutting back before he showed up. The only positive I can say about the whole ordeal, is that she hasn’t fought any of the security measures I’ve put in place to keep her safe. Shayla is in the kitchen with Hannah and Dylan when I arrive home.
“How was your day?” she asks, as she prepares dinner.
I wash my hands in the kitchen sink, as I answer, “Not good. Uh, Grant McMann, Judson’s friend and business partner, was shot and killed on his way into the station.”
Shayla gasps. “Oh, no. Did you catch the person who did it?”
“No, but we have a pretty good idea of who it is. Judson's pretty tore up, as you could expect, but Laney's with him.
“I can imagine,” she replies thoughtfully. “He's lost so much already.”
“How was your day?”
She tenses slightly then relaxes. “My day was okay. We finally got two new doctors on staff, so things should settle down for me.”
“Thank goodness for small miracles.” My words are unintentionally harsh.
Shayla’s eyes flash to mine and I know I’m in trouble. “What’s that supposed to mean? Do you think I like working all the time and missing my family? Do you think I like being away from you?”
I take her hand in mine and pull her away from the stove, encircling her in my arms. “Hey, I know you hate working so much. I shouldn’t have said it like that. I’m just glad you’ll be here more. I’ve missed you, that’s all.” Slowly the tension drains from her body as she relaxes into mine.
“I’ve missed you too.”
I hold her until the timer on the stove buzzes. I let her go back to her task and I help Dylan get the table set and get Hannah in her high chair. Dinner is pretty normal, for which I’m thankful. It’s been a long time since the four of us have been able to enjoy a family meal together. Conversation is light and fun. I know it’s only a brief respite, but I still soak it up and bask in the warmth and love of my family, because in our life, it seems, that’s all we get are brief moments before the storm hits. I pray we can have the calm for a lot longer this time around.
~*~
The next day, I head over to Judson’s property. I’ve decided to let Jessica be the Assistant Chief and Lead Detective. The case for Ralph Clark’s murder and the murder of Marisa Martin have been solved, more or less, although we've not caught the guy, we know who we're looking for. Grant McMann’s murder investigation, which is still on-going, is mostly being handled by Marsh and his team, since it happened on their watch. I feel confident that Miss Bailey can be my stand-in until I get Mathis back in prison or kill him, whichever comes first. I park in the driveway and see that Judson is sitting on the porch steps.
“Hey, what’re you doing here?”
“I figured since Grant’s gone they wouldn’t be after me anymore, and honestly, I just needed to be in my own space. Laney and Penny have been great, but I just need some time to myself.”
I nod my head. “I understand. I don’t see any reason why you can’t be here now. You’re right; they already got Grant and they most likely won’t come after you. It was him they were after anyway.”
“So, what brings you up here, if you didn’t know I was home?” Judson leans over, picks up a coffee mug, and takes a drink.
“I wanted to comb the area again and see if I can find where Mathis may have been hiding.”
“Do you think he’s still around?”
I shake my head. “No, we have confirmation that he’s in Alabama at the moment.”
“That’s good.”
Penance (Oak Grove Suspense Book 2) Page 24