by K. M. Hodge
“That seems awfully convenient.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“I was thinking the same thing.” She gave him a quick peck and slid off the bed.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her back on top of him. He cupped the back of her head at the nape of her neck and kissed her. “Be careful.”
***
Outside Richmond Police Department, First Precinct
Richmond, Virginia
June 17, 2025
6:00 PM
~~~
The evening sky opened up and a light drizzle began to fall. He pulled his hat down farther over his eyes and tightened the jacket around his shoulders. He’d need to call headquarters and let them know what was happening. Not everything was in place yet. Their financier wouldn’t be pleased, but it couldn’t be helped.
He activated his smart watch and adjusted the Bluetooth earbud in his ear.
The man answered on the first ring.
“Did you see it?” The anxiousness in the other man’s tone was unmistakable.
He hated to be the bearer of bad news, but it was what it was. “Yeah, I saw Jean leave the police station. They seemed to believe him. I overheard that Detective Espinoza is going to the district attorney’s office tomorrow morning. We’re going to have to step up our plan.”
“I’ll let her know.” The other man ended the call.
So this is it... the beginning of the end.
***
Richmond Police Department, First Precinct
Richmond, Virginia
June 17, 2025
7:00 PM
~~~
Mari pinched the bridge of her nose in a vain attempt to alleviate her splitting headache. Her strained eyes blurred in protest as she read over the transcripts and watched the footage of the interview her colleagues had done with Jean Morel.
Mr. Morel had stated in his interview that he and “Mr. MacAvoy” knew each other from their mutual associations, which Mari read to mean The Syndicate. Jean had done a few years in prison for his involvement in some of the low-level crimes associated with the group. He was small potatoes—the perfect diversion. Everything about this seemed... contrived.
She dug further into MacAvoy’s file. She knew he had a history of violence, but had been surprised to find so many incidents in his early years. He had used his limitless wealth and influence to avoid battery and assault charges. There was a record of police being called to the scene of a domestic violence situation involving his then girlfriend, Katherine Mitchel. The experiences leading up to the indictments had been a turning point for him. There were even records showing he had received treatment for a mental breakdown several years back, and was still under the care of a private psychiatrist.
Since the trial seventeen years ago, he had more than tripled his earnings, and rumors abounded that he had paid for security for Katherine and Alex up until each of them had died. He was smart, wealthy, and seemed deeply wounded from his experience with The Syndicate. It didn’t make sense for him to put a hit out on Mr. Mitchel.
None of Mari’s concerns mattered now, as her lieutenant was dead set on her talking with the district attorney.
She just wants the murder off the books.
She sighed. Nothing she could do about it tonight.
Might as well go home and try to get some sleep.
***
The house was completely dark when Mari pulled into Jason’s driveway. She noted that his friend Ellie’s car was missing.
Mari used her key to get in, then stumbled through the back of the house and up the stairs. A streetlight shone through his bedroom window and onto his sleeping form. She stripped down to her underwear and crawled into bed beside him.
Jason woke enough to snake his long arms around her and bury his face in her hair.
Mari settled into his comforting embrace. She was afraid to think about their relationship, or whatever it was they were doing.
A 24-hour AA chip rested on his nightstand, and there was not a liquor bottle in sight. Normally, empty bottles lay scattered about his room.
She was afraid to be hopeful, afraid to get hurt, afraid to let him in, but she snuggled against him and quickly drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 5
Chandler High School
Richmond, Virginia
June 18th, 2025
9:00 AM
~~~
Chris and Ellie walked into the gymnasium in silence. His heart hammered in his chest. It killed him to say goodbye so soon after finding her again.
Ellie stood in front of him now, wringing out her hands.
I hate doing this to her.
Chris reached out for her hand and pulled her close to him. This was the first time in a long time that someone other than his mother was there to send him off. Seventeen years may have gone by in a flash, but the next three months were going to be an eternity.
He kissed her like they were the only two people in the room. This is the last time I’ll be able to kiss my girl for three fucking months!
He finally pulled away to look down at her—the love of his life. It was going to be a long time until he saw her again and he wanted to catalogue every feature, from those gorgeous, almond-shaped brown eyes, down to the fine parenthetical lines that bracketed her lips. She looked up at him with a hauntingly familiar longing, reminding him of all those years ago when these leave takings were commonplace.
“You’re so beautiful.” He stroked the side of her face and, when her eyes slipped closed, a single tear slid down his thumb. “Oh, El.”
He tightened his hold on her, wanting to take away her pain, but she pressed the palm of her hand to his chest and pushed him away a little.
It’s time to say goodbye.
She looked off to the side and wiped furiously at her tears.
“I know I don’t have any right to ask this,” he said. “But will you be here when I get back?”
She looked up and nodded.
Chris smiled widely. He impulsively picked her up and kissed her—a deep passionate kiss so she wouldn’t forget while he was gone.
“Please be careful.” She swallowed hard. “Don’t be the hero. Just do your job and come home, okay?”
He chuckled, but his heart swelled with gratitude. “I’m going to do everything I can to get back to you in one piece.” He fought his natural desires to cling to her. “I have to go.” He tightened his hold on her one more time, and kissed the top of her head.
“I know.” She put her hand up between them.
Finally, he let her go, knowing if he didn’t go now he never would, and bent to pick up his duffel bag. His men were waiting for him, just as they always did, as he turned to leave.
“Chris!” Ellie called out to him, making him turn back to face her. “I love you.”
His hands flew up to his heart as he feigned a swoon to make her laugh. He wanted to remember those words and hold on to them through the long months away from home.
Tell her you love her too, dummy!
As much as he tried, he couldn’t open his mouth to say those three words that he so desperately wanted to say. It was too soon, he rationalized, so like the fool that he was, he kept walking.
Ellie and the other men’s families slowly filed out behind them, and the soldiers gathered together. They were heading out to Fort Lee for training before being sent overseas. Normally, he looked forward to deployment, but now....
One of his men slapped his back, making him turn around. “Sir, your girl is hot!”
“Chris, wasn’t that your ex-wife?” another soldier asked.
Chris smiled widely. “Yes, she is hot, and yes, she is my ex-wife.”
“So are y’all gett’n back together?” His friend, Tex, elbowed him in the ribs.
“Yes, we’re getting back together.” Chris’s cheeks grew hot.
“That’s awesome, man. I forgot how hot her ass was,” Tex teased.
Chris puffed out his chest. “You boys need to fo
rget about her ass and focus on making sure my ass makes it back here.”
***
Church Hill Neighborhood
Richmond, Virginia
June 18, 2025
10:30 AM
~~~
Ellie snuck into the house through the back door, her shoulders hung low. The sheer effort of walking wore on her. She wanted to lie alone in a dark room and have a good cry. The last thing she needed was to get into it with Jason or his rude girlfriend.
She was so lost in thought she forgot to skip the third step, the one that creaked and echoed through the whole house like a thunderclap.
Jason, obviously alerted by the sound, popped his head out of his room. He still looked like shit, but sober. “Hey.” He leaned against the doorframe.
His appearance startled her. His eyes were sunken in and his pallor had taken on a sickly green hue.
Ellie dragged herself the rest of the way up the stairs and felt his reddened cheek. “There are some drugs I can prescribe to help you, if the symptoms get to be too much.” The threat of DT’s would loom over him for at least the next 24-hours as he dried out.
Jason nodded. “I think,” he said, wetting his dry, cracked lips with a quick sweep of his tongue. “I think I might need help.”
“I know it isn’t easy to ask for help, but I’m always here if you need me. She took out her phone and punched in her unique identifier code. “I’m ordering you some carbamazepine. It’s an anticonvulsant and should help you with some of your symptoms.” She put away her phone and brushed the damp hairs away from his forehead. “Go back to bed. I’ll let you know when it gets here, okay?” She reached up to stroke his bristled cheek.
His eyes closed as he leaned into her touch. “Thank you.” He turned to go back into his darkened bedroom.
Ellie walked down the hall to her bedroom and closed the door behind her. As she leaned heavily against the heavy oak door, the protective wall around her heart began to crack and crumble. No prescription in all the world could mend her hurt—a broken heart.
***
In the bedroom on the other end of the hall, Jason lay in bed with his head buried in his pillows. Through the thin walls of the old house, he could hear the muffled sound of crying. He silently wished he was a better man, the kind that would walk down the long hallway and comfort his hurting friend.
A long time ago he had been that kind of man.
***
Richmond Police Department, First Precinct
Richmond, Virginia
June 18, 2025
1:00 PM
~~~
Mari sat at her desk rubbing her temples. The pounding in her head made her stomach roil—the whole situation made her sick.
Her lieutenant had given her orders that morning to bring Charles MacAvoy in for questioning. She’s said they had more than enough evidence to bring him in, and the prosecution felt they had enough to press charges.
Mari didn’t agree. The small questioning kernel of doubt, which she’d carried along with her from the start of the investigation, had now popcorned.
I arrested an innocent man today.
Why did everyone at the station, including her boss, think he was guilty as charged, case dismissed?
Am I the only sane person around here?
If they were wrong, they would be sending an innocent man to prison, possibly for life considering his age and the terms of his house arrest.
Mari sighed as her tablet pinged.
Charles had finished with booking and would be held in lockup until they could get him before a judge.
She was so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she was startled when detective O’Mally put a coffee down on her desk. “You look like you could use a little afternoon caffeine pick-me-up.”
“Thanks, yes.” She took a sip of the scalding hot coffee. “Much appreciated.”
“Congrats on getting the collar for the Mitchel case,” he said with a raised brow. “Pretty crazy how he killed the old man so long after the trial. Weird, huh?”
“Too weird, if you ask me,” she said into the small opening of her cup.
“You think we’re holding the wrong guy?”
She shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Better not let the lieutenant hear you say that,” he warned as he started to walk away. “Enjoy your coffee, Sergeant. Don’t worry too much about the case.”
Mari let out a short laugh and bit her tongue so she wouldn’t say something she might regret.
***
Church Hill Neighborhood
Richmond, Virginia
June 18, 2025
5:00 PM
~~~
Ellie had been dozing in bed when her phone buzzed. She tapped it on and noticed that she had several unread messages, the newest one from her soon-to-be ex-husband number two.
When are you going to pick up your stuff? I can’t sell the house with all your crap still lying around.
Ellie rolled her eyes and typed back a quick reply.
Soon. I’m just finishing up some work here.
The second message was from Betty, and had been sent two days ago.
You need to get me out of this place. They killed Brian and they are going to kill me. They know I suspect them. It’s only a matter of time.
Ellie grumbled. She didn’t have time to deal with Betty’s brand of crazy today! She made a mental note to talk to the old woman’s sons, and see if they could talk to the doctors about helping her. For now, she felt her time would be better spent getting some food in Jason. His medication should have arrived.
In a post-nap haze, she made her way through the dusk-darkened rooms to the back of the house.
Jason sat at the table in all his glory—wearing only a pair of boxers and eating a bowl of cereal. He seemed to be more alert and was eating—all good signs. The meds must have come in.
“You look more like yourself.”
He pulled out the seat beside him and tapped it. “Sit.”
She lowered herself into the seat, wary.
“Now that my head isn’t so far up my own ass, do you want to talk about what’s going on with you?” he said, his cheeks coloring a little. “I... uh... heard you crying earlier.”
Ellie stared back at him—dumbfounded. It was so rare anyone ever asked her how she was doing.
“Are things not going well with the mystery man?”
She sighed. The therapist who won’t talk about her own problems—how clichéd!
“Talk to me, Ellie.” Jason sat back in the chair with a concerned expression on his face.
“At the funeral I ran into my ex-husband, Christopher.”
“What? Really?” Jason sat up, bumping the table. “He heard about her death?”
“No—and this is the crazy part—he was there because his mother had died.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, I know. Crazy, right? Anyway, we went out to dinner and then back to his place and....” Her cheeks got hot and a smile crept up around the corners of her lips. Just thinking about that first night with Chris sent her heart racing.
“And one thing led to another,” Jason supplied.
“Yeah.” She placed her cool hands on her hot cheeks and looked away from him.
“Then why do you look like someone killed your cat? So far it sounds pretty amazing.”
“Because.... Because this morning, I drove him to Chandler High School to see him off. He signed up for a tour of duty with Special Forces. He’s going to be gone for three months. The assignments are always hush-hush and usually very dangerous. He could die.”
“Ah, geez, El, I’m sorry.” He leaned toward her with open arms to hug her, and she let him.
The small gesture set off a maelstrom of emotions inside and a fresh torrent of tears overtook her. Jason held her as she cried for what seemed like hours. After crying all the tears she had left in her, she sat back and wiped her wet, irritated eyes.
“I don’t think I could handle losing him
now, too,” she choked out.
Jason nodded. “Ellie, the world isn’t that cruel. Or at least I hope it isn’t, because otherwise I don’t stand a chance.”
***
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
Richmond, Virginia
June 18, 2025
5:00 PM
~~~
“How can a body just disappear?”
The chief medical examiner flipped through the log book and noted there had been no visitors. Yet, the body of Timothy Mitchel had been stolen from a locked freezer drawer. The chief’s staff looked at him with perplexed expressions.
How the hell am I going to explain this to the police... and the poor man’s family?
***
Church Hill Neighborhood
Richmond, Virginia
June 18, 2025
5:30 PM
~~~
Jason turned on his Atlantis and, for the first time in six weeks, started to answer emails from his readers and promote his new book idea on his various social media accounts.
After nearly twenty years as an author, he had built up a fairly large following. Though he had self-published some—mostly things his publishing company was too afraid to publish—he still published the traditional route as well. He spent a good portion of his work hours promoting his books through commentary articles that touched on the themes in his books.
The Syndicate true crime novel had been a dream for years. It irked him to no end how the press had handled the whole thing. The public deserved to know the truth, not the spinned, mutilated, and easily digested information they were spoon fed daily by the inflammatory news cog of the time. The news rarely talked about the members who were indicted. When anyone in the media did cover it, the information was superficial.
His interest in the group had come at a cost. Over the years, he had received his share of death threats, and even had to deal with a stalker or two, but that didn’t stop him. Once he started to promote the new book to his followers, the death threats increased, which is why Katherine had been resistant to give him permission to go ahead with the book. Without her, there was no book, and he had no desire to go against her wishes. No, he had to have her permission. Now that he had stopped drinking—for the moment, at least—he could finally move forward.
