NO OTHER WAY (Harry Hunter Mystery Book 3)

by Willow Rose

  “The woman was insane,” Andrew said. “You must understand this. She was abusive to anyone in her proximity. It was impossible to get out of her claws. It was her friends, her family; all experienced her evilness. She was nothing but pure evil. She’d even cut herself to make it look like I was abusing her. She’d hurt herself to make her friends feel sorry for her and think I was the bad guy. I would even see her do it. Once, we were having a fight, and she grabbed a knife and cut herself on the throat, then yelled that she’d call the police and tell them I did it. I know how the system works. The police would have to arrest me no matter what I told them, and the press would be all over it. I didn’t have the guts to leave her. She’d ruin my life, she said. Make sure I never saw Nick again. Destroy my career by telling the world I had abused Nick and was a child molester. I’m the Miami-Dade County State Attorney. It would have ruined me. She had the power to destroy me completely, and she would have done so if I hadn’t stopped her. She would have completely ruined my son too, and I couldn’t let her do that.”

  “But he was already damaged. You realized it when you found the videos on his computer,” I said. “That’s why you wanted him to stay behind bars. You feared he’d become like his mother. He had been abused, and now he was abusing others. It was better for you if he stayed there—if he went to jail. You were scared of what he might do if he got out.”

  “I told you he was a liar. Just like his mother, he manipulated and lied constantly. When he pulled that gun out in church, it was just part of his show. He wanted you to think I was abusing him, but in fact, he was abusing others. I had told him the night before that I’d go to the police with what I had found, showing them how he had humiliated those girls, that’s why he brought the gun. To take me down, not to kill me. But to make it look like he had no other way. He was going down and dragging me down with him. That was his plan. And I guess he succeeded. I never told him the truth about who his birth mother was. There never really was the right time.” Andrew glanced at Joan briefly. “He hated her guts, and it tormented her daily. Now, I guess it’s too late. It’s simply too late.”

  “It is, for both of you,” I said.

  I closed the file, then stopped the recording. I folded my hands with a deep sigh. “I think I’ve heard enough.”

  “Me too,” Fowler said, then rose to his feet.

  As he walked to the door, he shared a look with Andrew Taylor that for a second made me think they knew one another, but then it was gone.

  Chapter 39

  We stayed at my dad’s place, further down the street. Our house was still a crime scene, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel comfortable there again. I considered selling it once it was all over, but who’d want to buy a house full of bullet holes? One way or another, I’d have to fix it up first. And I really didn’t want to.

  I hadn’t seen Camille for several days. She was taken into the FBI’s custody as soon as she was released from the hospital, and I didn’t know where they were keeping her. If we’d ever see her again, I didn’t know either. For me, it wouldn’t matter much, but for Josie, it still did.

  My dad had made spaghetti and meatballs for us, and we sat around the table, eating in silence.

  “I solved my case today,” I said and took a second portion.

  “Really?” my dad said. “Well done.”

  “We got a full confession and everything. Three people were involved in planning it. We have two of them; the third will be taken in tomorrow, and we’ll need her confession too. But it looks like we’ll be able to close it soon.”

  “I bet that feels good,” my dad said and leaned back. “Serving God by serving the people.”

  “It does,” I said. “Even though it’s never as black and white as you’d like it to be.”

  “You mean the murderer is actually human?” he asked.

  I chuckled. “Yeah, something like that. I always want them to be these vicious, mean people that belong behind bars. But they’re never that. Still need to do their time, though. I don’t feel bad about it.”

  “But you’re human too,” he said. “So, you understand them.”

  “I don’t really understand them killing a person, but I guess I understand their pain if you know what I mean. I don’t know. Is anyone having more? I can eat the rest if no one else can.”

  Josie shook her head. She had her phone under the table and was obviously not very present because of it. She thought I didn’t see it, and I pretended not to. I didn’t want us to fight. Not tonight. She had been through so much the past few months and years, even with her mother being sick and all. I could cut her some slack.

  “So, Josie, any plans for the weekend?” I asked. “Josie?”

  She looked up from her phone. I smiled, and she put it away, looking embarrassed. “The weekend? It’s only Thursday, Dad.”

  She said it in that teenage way like I didn’t even know that it was Thursday.

  “I know, and I wanted to ask you first because I wanted us to do something together this weekend.”

  She made a face. “Something? Like what? Please don’t say something lame like going to the Everglades. I hate that place. Or the beach. I can’t stand all that sand. It gets everywhere.”

  “It’s nothing like that,” I said. “I thought maybe we could go swim with dolphins in Key Largo. I know you’ve always wanted to do that.”

  Josie’s eyes grew huge. She dropped the fork from her hand. She let out a small shriek. “Really? I thought it was too expensive? You always said it was?”

  “It is, but I think we deserve it, don’t we?”

  “Oh, my God, Dad. Are you being serious right now? I have dreamt about this since I was a baby.”

  “I know you have,” I said. “And now, it’s time. Now, do your homework.”

  Josie almost danced up the stairs to the temporary bedroom my dad had given her. I smiled and turned to look at him, sitting next to me.

  “Feeling pretty good about yourself there, aren’t ya’?” he asked.

  “Yes, as a matter of fact, I am feeling good about this. I always wanted to take Josie down there, to this rescue center where they take care of injured dolphins and where you can get in the water with them. It’s extremely expensive, but I think it’s worth it.”

  My dad nodded. “And it certainly isn’t a way for you to buy her happiness because she might never see her mom again? Or a way for you to create a diversion, so you won’t have to tell her?”

  “Maybe,” I said.

  “Don’t you think you owe it to her to talk to her about it, at least? To tell her the truth?”

  I swallowed. “How can I? I’m not about to tell her what her mom has done. It would break her heart.”

  “True, but it will break her heart either way. If her mom takes the witness protection program or goes to jail, either way, she’ll be out of her life. She needs to know.”

  I grabbed my plate and rose to my feet with an annoyed movement. My dad was right, as always, but I didn’t want him to be. If I wanted to take my daughter swimming with dolphins to avoid questions about her mother, then so be it. That was my issue, not his.

  Chapter 40

  I was feeling pretty confident and good about myself as I entered the station the next morning. Josie had been the happiest girl all morning, and I had to admit I was enjoying seeing her like this for once. Ever since the shooting incident, she had been so down and sad, and she had slept terribly at night. Most nights, I had slept with her, to be there and hold her when she had nightmares. This night was the first that she slept through without even waking up. It gave me hope that she’d get past this too. I had found her a therapist that she was going to see for the first time today since I wasn’t sure I could deal with it all by myself.

  I sat down at my desk, then opened my computer, ready to finish my report on the Kate Taylor murder, but for some reason, I couldn’t find it. I searched the entire database, but it simply wasn’t there. All there was, was the old cas
e file from Key West; none of my work was anywhere to be seen.

  I was starting to sweat now, and my hands were getting clammy as I searched for the audio file from the interrogation.

  It wasn’t there either.

  It was gone.

  Vanished.

  “What in the…?”

  I kept searching, going through everything, my fingers tapping the keyboard, my heart pounding in my chest, but still, nothing turned up. No results, it said. I then walked to the cabinet behind my desk to find the paper version that I always kept there.

  It was gone too.

  “What the…?”

  I turned around to look at my desk, but I hadn’t left it there either. I searched my bag, my drawers, everywhere.

  Nothing.

  All that was left were the old case files. It was like I had never done any work on this case at all.

  What is this? I can’t believe it?

  I called down to the detention center and asked if they still had Andrew Taylor in custody.

  “He was released last night,” the woman said.

  Released? He hadn’t been to court yet; he couldn’t have had a judge set bail yet?

  “And Joan Kendrick?”

  “Also released.”

  “On what grounds?”

  “Case was dismissed,” she said. “Charges were dropped. That’s all it says in the papers.”

  “Who signed the release form?” I asked, my voice shaking with anger and frustration. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what was going on, how this was possible. How could this have happened?

  “That would be Abraham Fowler,” she said. “Major Abraham Fowler.”

  Chapter 41

  He was on the phone when I rang the doorbell, and as he opened the door, he finished his conversation.

  “I gotta call you back. There’s something I need to deal with here,” Fowler said, then hung up. He gave me a look. I couldn’t tell if it was concern in his eyes or resentment.

  “Hunter? What are you doing here?”

  I pushed my way past him inside, and he closed the front door behind me. The amount of marble on the man’s floors and walls gave the place a cold feel.

  “You let them go?” I asked.

  Fowler let out a deep sigh. “So, that’s what this is about. I should have known. Please…Hunter, sit.”

  “Oh, I prefer to stand,” I said.

  “You’re mad. I can’t blame you. But you know how it is, Hunter.”

  I shook my head. “No, I don’t. Not this one. We did everything correctly. We had a warrant when we went in. We Mirandised them properly. We had a full recorded confession. He admitted to conspiring to kill his wife. His new wife admitted to actually killing her. We had them both. Now, I hear that you let them go. Why?”

  Fowler threw out his arms. “Because I couldn’t let you take them down. At least not him. He’s too important.”

  A frown emerged between my eyes. “Important? Because he’s the Miami-Dade County State Attorney?”

  Fowler’s eyes met mine, and the dime finally dropped. I took a step backward, startled.

  “You have got to be kidding me. You let him go because you needed him? Because he’s part of it too? The trafficking ring. I should have known. A guy like him is very good to have on hand. He knows what’s going on, but you pay him to look the other way. The very same person who is supposed to be trying to combat trafficking is on your payroll. Clever. You run that whole darn operation, don’t you? I didn’t want to believe you did; I didn’t want to see it, but of course, you do. It makes a lot of sense. Now, you can’t risk him being in custody since he might reveal what he knows. Maybe he’ll even try and make a deal. Am I right?”

  Fowler’s expression changed. His eyes were angry now.

  “Am I right?” I asked again, slamming my fist onto his kitchen counter. “At least be honest with me.”

  “Yes, you’re right,” Fowler said with a snort.

  “I can’t believe you,” I said. “Those…young children, those families who were being transported…you did that? You made money off that?”

  “It was good money, okay? More than that, it was millions. Man, Hunter, you have no idea how much money it was. And you could have been in on it if you hadn’t been…well, you. Besides, we did them a favor. They wanted to come here; they wanted to come. We made that possible. If it hadn’t been us, it would’ve been someone else. That’s the way the world goes. It used to be drug trafficking that was the most lucrative around here, but this is where the money is. So, there will always be someone doing it, taking that money. Might as well be us. Don’t you see?”

  “You broke the law. Human trafficking is a serious offense, and you know this. You subjected those poor people to great danger. And what about the girls that were kidnapped, the ones Camille lured in, huh? What happened to them? Did they end up on the street somewhere, drugged out of their minds, and raped by hundreds of men? Did you ever stop to think about them?”

  Fowler stared at me, his fists clenched. He was looking for something that could justify his actions, but not finding it.

  “These people…your people tried to kill my family,” I said.

  “You kept getting in my way, Hunter. I tried to warn you. I tried to get you off our backs, but you kept coming back. The others wanted to get rid of you long ago, but I kept telling them you were harmless. I protected you, Hunter. People are pissed at you, and I can’t hold them back anymore. I love you like a brother, Harry, but I’m afraid it ends here. I’m not letting you ruin what I spent years building up. I’m sorry you had to find yourself in the middle of all this, but it’s pure business. You can’t stop it now.”

  I looked down at him, the man I had known since we were both in our early twenties. I thought I knew him. I thought we were on the same side.

  A smile spread from the corner of my lip.

  “I’m sorry; I’m afraid I already have,” I said.

  “What?”

  “No, wait…I’m not sorry,” I added. With a swift movement, I pulled up my shirt so he could see the wire I was wearing.

  Fowler went pale, his eyes blank.

  “W-what?”

  “Say hello to Agent Jackson from the FBI. He has been listening in for quite some time now, waiting for you finally to confess. Remember that microphone that you told me you had found in your office? Thinking it would lead me somehow to whoever put it up, I went to Al. She traced it for me, and the digital footprint led her directly to your computer. You made up that story about your office being bugged because you knew I suspected you when they found Josie, and you were the only one who knew where she was. But by giving me that tale about the microphone, you believed you had lied your way out of it. But the thing is, there’s always a footprint, and Al found it. So, I went to Agent Jackson and told him my suspicion. Ever since, he’s been listening in on all my conversations, especially with you. Camille then later confirmed our suspicion when she started naming names. Now, if we use the recordings from today, from right now, along with her testimony and the video my neighbor Jean recorded of you driving the car during that drive-by shooting, I think we have evidence enough to put you away for quite some time, don’t you think?”

  Fowler stared up at me. He didn’t even blink and barely breathed.

  “I can’t believe you did that. I can’t believe you’d do that to me. We were friends, Hunter. We were like family.”

  “I can’t believe any of the stuff you’ve done, so I guess we’re even,” I said. “Now, I’m afraid I have to put you under arrest.”

  Fowler pulled out his gun and pointed it at me. I lifted my hands. Sweat was springing to his forehead.

  “I can’t let you do that, Hunter. Don’t move! Don’t come anywhere near me, or I will kill you.”

  “Whoa,” I said and stepped back. “What do you think you’re doing with that? The FBI is waiting right outside. They came here with me when I told them I was coming to see you. You wanna kill me and
add murder to the list of crimes? You don’t want to do that, Fowler. Don’t be a fool.”

  He shook his head. He looked confused. “Stay where you are. Down on your knees and stay there.”

  I did as he told me. He then asked me to bend my head down, and I heard his footsteps move across the marble tiles, then a door slide open. A second later, I heard an engine start.

  No!

  The front door burst open, and Agent Jackson stepped inside, flanked by two others in full uniform.

  “You’re too late,” I said and rose to my feet. “He took the boat in the back.”

  Chapter 42

  She hadn’t left. The suitcase was still in the living room by the door, ready for whenever she was. But so far, she hadn’t been ready. Jean wasn’t sure she’d ever be. But then, what was she supposed to do with herself?

  She had called in sick at the hospital. The flu, she had said. That would give her at least a week before they began asking questions. That week had passed now, and she still hadn’t gone back there. She hadn’t left either. Jean had simply stayed in her house, while wondering what she was going to do, not coming up with any solution.

  Harry had told her he wanted her, that he was done with Camille. It was everything she ever wanted. But was it enough? Was it too late?

  Jean held her coffee cup tightly between her hands while staring at the red suitcase. On the kitchen counter, her phone was vibrating, lighting up. She reached over and grabbed it, then looked at the display. It was her sister again.

  Anna had called non-stop every day since Jean was supposed to go up there and never made it. Jean had sent her a text, telling her she was having second thoughts, that she needed time, but apparently, Anna wanted to hear it from her in person or at least talk to her. Jean didn’t want to talk to her since she knew just how persuasive her sister could be, and how she’d end up convincing her to go anyway. And she wasn’t ready. Jean needed time to think. Think about her life, her future.