The Victim of the System

by Steve Hadden

  “You knew. You knew Nick killed my brother?”

  A tear leaked from his eye. “You have to know how much I loved Patrick. And it roiled my soul when I got the news.”

  Shannon found herself standing and punching her father on every word while he halfheartedly shielded himself from her blows. “So—you—helped—cover—it—up.”

  “Nick is my son, too. And his troubles were my doing.”

  His justification broke something inside her. He’d taught her everything. She’d always seen him as her hero. But all that admiration and love died in that instant.

  “Where is he?”

  Joseph shared a look with Shannon she’d never forget. Surrender, betrayal and guilt. He knew this was an end. His body relaxed. “He’s headed to the plane—out of the country.”

  Shannon grabbed her purse and shoved him away as she passed. “I never want to see your face again.” She ran down the hallway fully expecting to be stopped. But the guards let her pass all the way through the lobby. Jo stood dutifully and, with tears in her eyes, held the door. Shannon stopped and squeezed her shoulders, then left the building for the last time.

  CHAPTER 58

  Despite the risk, Ike knew there was nothing more important than this. Getting hard evidence into Jenna’s hands would weaponize her case. On the other hand, he was sure that getting caught by the Pittsburgh Police might be the end. The thread of corruption ran through the force, but he knew neither its beginning nor its end. Bobby promised to get word to Jenna about the rendezvous, sidestepping Ike’s risk of using his phone.

  He’d picked the location based on a single childhood memory. In seventh grade, a friend had invited him to a party at the North Park skating rink, north of the city. The rink sat at the north side of the park, relatively isolated. With kids back in school and no ice at the outdoor rink, the facility would be abandoned. And at six a.m. on a Sunday, the whole area would be deserted. He’d snaked out of town, avoiding well-traveled roads and any police cruisers looking for him. He hoped no one had yet tied him to Shannon’s Land Rover. That advantage was fleeting, so once he was out of the city, he jumped onto I-279 and raced north toward the park.

  Ike cut through Wexford and entered the park from the north. He followed the narrow road divided by a single yellow line. The thick forest leaned from both sides. It provided both concealment and restriction. If detected, Ike had little maneuverability and no exit. The sun was still below the horizon, and the milky haze of first light seeped through the trees. The morning air chilled Ike’s cheeks, but the cold air slicing through the open window sharpened his senses. Without the benefit of GPS, he followed the signage toward the rink. When he spotted the A-frame roof of the lodge, he slowed, then stopped short of the clearing that held three basketball courts and the parking lot.

  Through the trees, Ike saw Jenna’s BMW parked nose-in adjacent to the narrow footbridge leading to the rink. Ike scanned the remainder of the lot and asphalt loop in front of the rink. It was deserted, and the only sound was the chatter of the forest coming to life. Satisfied they were alone, he parked next to the BMW. He could see the front of the rink now but saw no sign of Jenna. About a dozen thick flagstone and concrete columns were spaced evenly along the front of the building. Each supported a heavy beam connected to the large overhanging roof. The roof’s shadow and the columns provided concealment for anyone awaiting Ike.

  One by one, he examined each column and didn’t see Jenna. He checked the area one last time and got out of the Land Rover with the drive wrapped in his hand. Keeping his eyes cycling back and forth along the front of the building, he crossed the footbridge and stopped just short of the two center columns. Without a weapon, he felt exposed. He could see the front doors in the recessed entry but no sign of Jenna.

  The sudden chill on his arms was the first sign of trouble. Instinctively, he backed away until Jenna abruptly appeared from behind a column. Her mouth was taped and her hands were pinned behind her. Her eyes cut to her right, warning of someone behind the column. The gun appeared next and then pressed against her temple. Ike saw the black gloved hand gripping her bicep. Then Vic Cassidy stepped from the shadow.

  “I’d stop right there,” he said. A satisfied grin swept across his face. “I knew if I followed her, I’d find you.”

  Ike angled himself to Cassidy, shrinking his target as he inched closer. Cassidy would get one shot off before Ike reached him, but right now that shot would be into Jenna’s skull. “I knew you were getting your sport-coat money somewhere.”

  “No further or you’ll be picking up her head in a baggie.” Cassidy moved behind Jenna with the gun still against her skull. “And it’s a lot more than sport-coat money, you dumb jock.” He pressed Jenna’s head forward with the gun barrel. “Now let’s get to it. Toss the drive to me.”

  Even with her head pressed downward by Cassidy’s gun, Jenna shook her head. But Ike had no other options. He wasn’t close enough to reach Cassidy before he fired. And Ike assessed the likelihood of that happening at 100 percent if he tried. He also knew there was a 100 percent chance they’d both die once Cassidy got the drive. He’d have to sacrifice Jenna for Jack. He thought about her murder in the eyes of her family and it rattled through the hole in his own heart. She was still shaking her head, and Ike readied himself without Cassidy’s detection.

  “Well?” Cassidy said.

  Ike saw Jenna’s signal. She’d given him permission to do the unthinkable to save Jack.

  “Drop it!”

  Ike recognized the voice before he saw Mac emerge from the darkness at the side of the building. Cassidy didn’t flinch. He kept the gun on Jenna’s head. “Mac, my old friend, I’m glad you’re here. Now your prodigy can hear the truth.”

  Mac stepped toward Cassidy, snapping his gun hand straight at him to make his point. “Shut up.”

  Cassidy kept the gun pressed against Jenna’s skull. “He doesn’t know you were the one who started all of this.”

  Cassidy’s words jolted Ike, but Mac’s silence ripped through him like a hunting knife.

  Cassidy looked at Ike from behind Jenna’s head. “Oh, the football hero looks like he’s going to cry. Well try this on. He was the reason your dear mommy and daddy bit it.”

  Mac held the gun steady, but Ike felt the admission in his silence.

  Ike’s rage spun up like an ICBM and he nearly crushed the drive in his hand. “You, Mac?”

  Cassidy swung his head back to the other side of Jenna’s head to see Mac’s reply. But a blast splintered the cold air and Cassidy’s face atomized in a red mist. Jenna lunged to the left and Cassidy’s body hit the concrete floor.

  Ike ran to her. And while staring at Mac, he pulled the tape from her mouth and hands. Mac’s gun was now pointed at them.

  “What now, Mac? Is this it? All those years—all those times were just lies.”

  “No, Ike. Those were real. I never meant for your family to get involved. I’ll never forgive myself for what happened to your mom and dad.”

  Ike pressed Jenna behind him. Any bullet from Mac’s gun should hit him, not her.

  Ike held up the drive. “You’ll have to kill me to get this.”

  Mac kept his aim. “I know, son. I’m so sorry. Your mother didn’t know what she was doing. Please know that I love you and your sister.” In one fluid movement, he swung the gun into his mouth and fired.

  “No.” Ike ran to Mac’s contorted body. The rage had abandoned him, replaced by a weight he’d felt twenty-two years ago. “Oh, Mac. Why?” He couldn’t look at what was left of Mac’s face.

  Jenna stepped beside Ike, slipped off her jacket, and covered Mac’s head. Ike felt her hand on his shoulder. “Ike?”

  He looked back at Cassidy, dead on the concrete. Cassidy and Mac had been in on it together. He’d been fooled most of his life. Suddenly, reality seemed elusive. But one fact was clear: neither Mac nor Cassidy started this. Ike stood and looked at Jenna. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded.


  Ike handed the drive to her. “Call the FBI in Virginia. Not the local SAC. That will give you oversight and insurance against their involvement if there is any.” He scanned the bodies on the concrete. “I can’t be here. I’ve gotta end this.”

  Jenna gave Ike a trembling smile as if reading his mind. “Be careful.”

  He walked to Cassidy’s body, picked up the Glock and pulled Cassidy’s iPhone from his bloody sport coat. He lifted Cassidy’s lifeless hand and pressed the thumb on the home button. The phone unlocked and he disabled the auto lock. The last text message was from Nick Falzone, received ten minutes ago. Falzone Hangar PIT. Ike showed the message to Jenna, and then his eyes drifted from the phone to Mac. After one last look at the man who had meant everything to him, he left Jenna and sprinted to the Land Rover.

  CHAPTER 59

  Ike raced along Hangar Road on the northwest side of the airport and prayed he wasn’t too late. It had been an hour since Joseph had texted Cassidy and Ike wasn’t sure they had enough evidence to justify Jack’s shooting. As much as Ike wanted to put a bullet between his eyes, Nick Falzone would have to be captured so he could pay. Pay for Jack’s father, pay for Maria, pay for Patrick, and even pay for Mac.

  As he rounded the turn into Falzone Enterprises’ hangar, the parking lot was empty. Ike rammed the chain-link security gate, skidded to a stop at the front entry, and jumped out. Immediately, he heard the whine of jet engines from the other side of the facility. He hit the glass doors hard and bounced back. Two shots from the Glock broke the lock and shattered the doors. An alarm sounded as he sprinted through the reception area and spotted the sleek G5 through the wide glass windows waiting just outside the open hangar doors. Ike raced through the door to the hangar and skidded to a stop when he saw them.

  Shannon had her back to Ike, but he could see Nick over her shoulder. Her gun rigidly targeted Nick’s head. Nick’s hands were in the air and two bulging leather duffels sat at his feet. She flashed a glance over her shoulder but snapped her attention back to Nick.

  “You know our deal, Ike. He’s mine,” Shannon said.

  Ike stepped next to her and scanned the empty hangar over the barrel of the Glock. “I can see that,” Ike said, settling his eyes and his aim on Nick. “Just remember, there is no payoff for Jack with this pig dead.”

  “Listen to your new friend, sister.”

  Shannon moved her second hand to the gun. “I’m no longer your sister. You killed the only real brother I had.”

  Nick seemed relaxed. “You may think that, but you’d be nowhere without me. While you were still in junior high, I was building our family’s business. Your brother was going to destroy all that. I did what was necessary to preserve the Falzone legacy.” His smug demeanor permeated every word. “That idiot thought it was our social responsibility to report the findings on the seismic survey to the damn government. Then, when Cole found out, he brought it to me and said the same thing. He and Patrick were buddies, so I had to end him, too. The only mistake I made was underestimating the kid. Never thought he’d blow Tanner’s head off.” Nick laughed halfheartedly as if reacting to a bad joke. “Guess Tanner did too good of a job setting up his daddy.”

  Ike could see the anger vibrating in Shannon’s arms. A gargantuan battle appeared to be consuming her from inside. She’d obviously never killed in cold blood before, but the devil was winning ground with every word spewing from Nick’s mouth. She could pull the trigger any second.

  Ike knew he needed to say something to deflect Shannon’s vengeance. “You talk like you still make the rules,” he said. “That time is over. You’ll go to jail and lose everything. And you’ll rot in prison for the rest of your life for killing Patrick and Tom. Better yet, I’ll execute you here and now and save us all the trouble.”

  “You need me alive. You won’t shoot.” Nick dropped his hands, and both Ike and Shannon prepared to fire.

  “You may want to reconsider your position.” Nick turned back to the idling jet and yelled, “Bring her out.”

  In seconds, Erin Falzone appeared in the doorway.

  “Mom!” Shannon screamed.

  Erin’s face boiled, like a teakettle left on too long. A thick cluster of fingers gripped the back of her neck and shoved her against the doorjamb. The Roustabout appeared and pressed a long hunting knife against her throat.

  “You see, when Cassidy told me you had the seismic image and he knew where you were headed, I thought I’d need an insurance policy. And with Joseph at the office looking for you, my answer was right in front of me.” Nick stepped closer and Ike thrusted his Glock into Nick’s face. “You might get a shot off and kill me, but my friend will probably have dear old Mom deboned by the time you get him.”

  “Let her go,” Shannon said.

  “Uh, no,” Nick said. “You two are going to give me your guns.” He reached out with both hands. “Grips first, please.”

  Ike eyed the Roustabout. From this distance, a head shot might miss and Erin would be dead. From the corner of his eye he saw Shannon drop her aim.

  “Ike, please,” she said, holding the barrel of the gun. “She’s my mother. She’s all I have now.”

  Nick reached for Shannon’s gun.

  Ike knew surrendering his weapon was a death warrant for both of them. “Nope,” Ike said, holding his ground.

  Nick looked back to the plane. “Show him.”

  The Roustabout slowly ran the blade over the side of Erin’s neck, lightly slicing the skin. Blood ran down her neck.

  “No.” Shannon pulled Ike’s arm down and Ike complied.

  Nick took Shannon’s gun, then Ike’s. He tossed Shannon’s gun toward the jet and it skittered along the shiny gray floor. “Bring Mommy dearest here,” he said. He pointed the Glock at Ike and Shannon.

  Ike watched the Roustabout force Erin down the stairs. She was crying now, and Ike didn’t know if it was the pain from the cut or the pain of waiting for her daughter’s death. He peered into the cockpit and saw the pilot staring straight ahead.

  “They’re with me,” Nick said. “So don’t get your hopes up.”

  The Roustabout dragged Erin to the hangar entrance. Then without warning a shot rang out and the Roustabout crumpled to the ground. Nick flinched but pressed the gun to Ike’s head. Erin froze, then ran out of sight past the right side of the hangar door. Then, like a zombie, Joseph walked around the corner alone, with a gun hanging at his side.

  “Why the hell did you do that?” Nick said.

  “Is Mom okay?” Shannon asked.

  Joseph kept walking directly toward them. “She’s with Kent. It’s time to end this.”

  Nick smiled, still holding the gun on Shannon and Ike. “That’s what I was just telling them.”

  Joseph stopped a few feet from Nick. “No. That’s not what I was talking about. I’ve put the family through enough for you just to give you the family I never had.”

  Ike heard sirens in the distance growing louder by the second. Nick was running out of time and Ike knew that desperate men, trapped by time, were as unstable as nitroglycerin.

  Nick held his focus on Ike and Shannon but addressed Joseph. “I won’t go back. It’s gone too far now. It will be the end for me. You can’t do that to me. You’re my father.”

  Joseph pointed his gun at Nick.

  “I’m sorry, son. Let them go.”

  The sirens were on the other side of the hangar now.

  Nick’s face transformed into a mask of destruction. In a split second, he tightened his aim on Shannon and closed his eyes. Ike shoved Shannon and heard two blasts. He hit the floor atop her. He turned to see Nick on his back, blood gushing from a chest wound. Joseph still held his gun in firing position. Ike could read surrender in Joseph’s eyes. Standing up, Ike felt a trickle of blood down his arm. The bullet had nicked his arm. He helped Shannon to her feet.

  “You okay?” Ike asked.

  Shannon stared down at Nick. She seemed to realize Nick’s death wasn’t
enough to bring Patrick back.

  Ike walked to Joseph and gently slipped the gun from his hand just as the FBI SWAT team flooded in from all sides. They ordered Ike to drop the gun and lie facedown on the floor. Shannon and Joseph were ordered to the floor, too.

  “Get these two up.” The order came from a fed with a close-cropped haircut who was dressed in a tie and a sport coat. Ike assumed he was the special agent in charge for Pittsburgh.

  Ike was helped to his feet and stood face-to-face with the SAC. “Jenna Price cleared up the kidnapping mess. She wanted me to tell you Jack is okay.” Then he turned to Shannon. “Miss Falzone, are you okay?”

  “My mother. How’s my mother?”

  “She’s being treated around front, but she’ll be okay.”

  Several SWAT team members boarded the jet and the engines immediately wound down.

  Joseph remained facedown and cuffed, with two SWAT team members standing over him.

  Ike stared down at Nick’s blood-soaked body and wondered how much of Jack’s case had died with him.

  He felt Shannon at his side. “Thanks, Ike.”

  Ike nodded but kept looking at Nick.

  “We can piece it together,” she said as if reading his mind. She looked back at her father.

  “Get him up,” the agent ordered. The two SWAT team members pulled Joseph to his feet

  “Wait,” Shannon said.

  She stood face-to-face with her father. “I’ll never forgive you. You know that.”

  “I do. I’ll never expect you to.” He looked past her at Nick. “I did the right thing here.”

  Shannon nodded, then reached for her father and hugged his neck.

  Over her shoulder, he looked at Ike and said, “I’ll do the right thing for Jack, too.”

  CHAPTER 60

  Ike shielded Maria from the gathering crowd and pressed toward the entrance to the courthouse. The radiant sunshine warmed his back and drove off the late September chill. It was Friday at four p.m. and police barricades deflected the rush-hour traffic for a three-block radius. The judge had scheduled the hearing for after normal hours to ensure complete control.