“I don’t know who you guys know, but you’re in. Someone will be down shortly to take you up to the newsroom.”
Cal and Kelly both took seats in the waiting area. Nervous, Cal cracked his knuckles. This was it and he knew it. If he was going to get this story in print, he had to sell it right here – and he had yet to discover the full scope of the story, a fact of which he was certain.
CHAPTER 61
GOLD AWOKE AT 10:30 a.m. after hearing his front door slam. He ditched his morning coffee routine. Gold needed no adrenaline rush; panic and fear made coffee seem like a calming agent. After waiting up late into the night to hear word on the capture of the two reporters, Gold had fallen asleep in his chair.
Gold dialed Yukon’s cell number, hoping to get something he hadn’t received all night – an answer. The call went straight to voice mail. Gold hung up, realizing that his most trusted ally had vanished and had no intention of ever calling him back. He then called Sheriff Jones to get an update.
“Sheriff, got any news for me?”
“Well, we’re still searching for—”
“Still searching? You haven’t found those two yet? They’re just simpleton reporters! You should have brought them in a long time ago. Put a $250,000 reward out on them – that’ll get you some help!”
“Now, Mayor, just calm down. We’ve got some good men out there. They just need a little bit of time. We’re tracking everything we can to locate them. Those two will make a mistake soon enough.”
“You just remember, Sheriff, that if I go down, you’re going down with me.”
“No need for idle threats. We’ve had close calls before. Once we catch them, there won’t be any corroborating evidence. You do have their equipment, right?”
“Got it right here. It was the only thing Yukon did right last night.”
“Well, just sit tight. I’ll call you when we’ve apprehended them. My men have been out looking all night. They’ll find them.”
Gold hung up and threw his phone into his chair, running his hands through his hair.
This should’ve been over a long time ago! How did it come to this?
He sat back down, wondering if he might need to begin getting his flight bag together. The thought of running made him ill. He had grown to love his wife and kids. He never expected the ultimate cover for his past life of crime to become such a burden in his new ventures. But they were. And it made him more patient than he would’ve been in the past.
Twelve more hours and then I’m out of here.
It was time for Gold to head to the office, act normal, do his job.
***
Mercer sat in his patrol car 15 minutes north of Statenville. He was tired and needed a nap. His eyes were almost asleep when another communication from dispatch woke him up again. Based on the nature of the message, Mercer knew Gold was crawling all over the Sheriff – it was more motivation talk to find Cal and Kelly.
Mercer was growing tired of this. He decided to call Cal again.
***
“I’m sorry, but we just can’t run your story,” Dave Youngman told the two reporters sitting across from him.
Cal sighed and slumped. Without the protection of the press, life was going to get complicated – if there was even a life to return to in Statenville. But he decided not to let the news defeat him.
“Is there anything else we can get that would improve the chances of you running this story?” Cal asked.
“Yeah, there has to be something,” Kelly added.
“Well, a confession would be nice,” said Youngman, smiling. “Seriously, other than that, we need something besides your anonymous sources. I only trust you because Guy told me to trust you – but if you can’t even tell me who your anonymous sources are, I’m going to have a hard time defending you if we get questioned about it. Get me something that proves that you’re not just two crazy conspiracy theorists. Prove the conspiracy.”
“We’ll see what we can do,” Cal said, standing up to leave. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Youngman.”
Cal took two strides toward the door to show himself out. Kelly followed.
“Call me if you get something else, Cal,” Youngman said. “I do think you’ve got the makings of a great story – but you’re just not there yet.”
Cal turned toward Youngman and nodded. He thought the most dangerous part of this adventure was over. But apparently, there was still work to do, still a criminal to take down – and he and Kelly only had each other.
CHAPTER 62
WHEN CAL’S PHONE RANG, he didn’t recognize the number. As he walked out of the lobby doors of The Tribune office, he thought about not answering it for a moment, fearing that some government agency might be trying to track him right now. But the curiosity was too much for him.
“Hello?”
“Cal, is that you?”
“Yes – who is this?”
“It’s Mercer from the Statenville Sheriff’s Department. Don’t hang up – just hear me out.”
“OK, make it quick, but I’ve done nothing wrong and I’m not coming in to face some trumped up charges.”
“Well, that’s kind of why I’m calling. I want to help you.”
“I’m listening.”
“OK, I know that Mayor Gold was trying to kill you and Kelly last night. Is she with you?”
“Why do you ask?”
“It’s important. I need both of you to help me catch Gold.”
“Catch Gold? You? What for?”
“Well, Cal, I’m not exactly who I appear to be. I’m actually in deep cover with Buddy Walker, God rest his soul.”
“What? Walker’s dead?”
“Yeah, the body count is getting unusually high around here – and you know Gold wanted to add you to that number, right?”
“Yeah, so get to your point. I’m losing patience here.”
“OK, listen. I know you’re trying to write a story on all of this, but I want to help you win a Pulitzer.”
Cal laughed. “OK, that’d be nice, but I’m willing to settle for something unusual for my clips file.”
“How about Gold confessing to murder?”
“Murder? Who did he kill?”
“Walker, for starters. But he also killed someone else you know...”
Cal’s heart stopped. There was only one person – other than the woman he was standing next to – that would’ve motivated him to risk his life to catch Gold. Then Mercer uttered his name.
“Guy Thompson.”
Cal dropped to the ground. The phone fell out of his hand, too, spinning on the concrete below with the same speed as his racing mind.
How could this happen? This is my fault. He was the only one protecting me.
Only the ambient sounds of Fourth Street were being transmitted back to Mercer.
“What’s wrong, Cal?” Kelly asked, kneeling beside him and placing her hand on his back. “What happened?”
Cal looked down and shook his head. “They killed Guy.”
Kelly began sobbing. Cal finally released some tears, too. They shared a short embrace and wiped back their tears.
“Kelly, we’ve got to nail Gold. He can’t get away with this.”
She nodded. “Whatever we need to do, I’m in.”
Cal had almost forgotten about Mercer until he heard a voice coming from his phone, which was now a foot away on the sidewalk.
“Cal? Cal? You there?”
Cal slowly picked up the phone.
“I’m here.”
“Listen, Cal. I’m really sorry for your loss. I know Guy was a great man and a good newspaper editor.”
“He was an amazing man – and I’m not going to let his death be for naught. How do we get Gold to confess to murder?”
“OK, great. Well, I was thinking that I could bring you two in so he wouldn’t suspect anything. Then, I would call him over and you could have a private moment with him, get him to tell you he did it. Then I would turn around and arrest him and we’d
all get what we wanted.”
“Why are you doing this, Mercer?”
“Well, I like you, Cal. And I like Kelly. And I really liked Walker, my partner. I wouldn’t want his name to be tarnished forever. What he did was wrong, lacing those drugs that ended up killing those boys. But he was just trying to do the right thing. I wouldn’t want his relatives to think he was a killer instead of a man who fought for justice.”
“Fair enough. Sounds like a good plan. You’ll have to come get us. We’ll be at the FBI offices in Salt Lake City.”
“I’m on my way. I’ll call you in two hours when I get there.”
Cal hung up and exhaled. He was tired. And angry. And broken. His mentor was murdered all because Cal couldn’t stop with this story. Guilt crept over him. Cal started crying again.
“It’s all my fault,” Cal said, trying to regain his composure.
Kelly teared up again as well. “No, it’s not, Cal. You can’t blame yourself for what one monster did to Guy. He chose to help us. We lost a good friend today, but let’s think of him as a man who sacrificed his life for the truth to be known – and let’s figure out a way to survive and tell this story so we can properly honor him.”
Cal nodded. He wiped his tears with the back of his hand and got up. He would have to put the full gamut of his emotions on hold. He needed to talk with Mr. Youngman.
CHAPTER 63
“DO YOU THINK THIS will work?” Kelly asked Cal.
“I hope so,” he said. “It’s the best idea that has come to me.”
Cal and Kelly went over their own plan as they waited for Mercer to arrive. They trusted him. What other motivation could he have? But Cal was growing up fast. His cub status as a reporter was transitioning to veteran with every twist and turn during his efforts to gather everything he needed to write an accurate story. Cal hoped he was right about Mercer, but he couldn’t ignore any inklings that said otherwise. Hopefully, his precautionary measures would be enough, should it come to that.
Cal’s heart remained heavy, even as he stole a few glances at Kelly. She was beautiful and he wanted to think about a future with her – but he couldn’t. The grief over losing his mentor was too strong, the wound too fresh. Once he did justice for Guy, maybe he could dream of a future with Ms. Mendoza. But for now, there was only one thing he had space in his mind for – catching Gold and telling a story that was so unbelievable Cal scarcely believed it himself. But he knew it was real. People he knew were dead, and he had escaped with his life – so far.
Mercer finally arrived, pulling his squad car to the edge of the designated street curb so Cal and Kelly could get in. They both climbed into the backseat.
***
The two-hour drive back to Statenville was rather uneventful, except for the speed at which it was made. Mercer again offered his condolences to Cal and Kelly over Guy’s death. Then Mercer began going over the plan, making sure everyone knew exactly what they were supposed to do.
Mercer explained how he had easily won the trust of Mayor Gold, who became excited when he heard Mercer had captured the pair thanks to a random tip from Salt Lake City. That was far from the truth, but Cal didn’t mind. Cal loathed lying and preferred Mercer to do such dirty work. In a short time, Cal knew he was going to have to deceive Gold. But he was confident he could pull it off. This was for Guy.
Ten minutes outside of Statenville, Mercer decided to talk through their plan once more. Cal and Kelly went through it and knew exactly how everything was going to play out. Mercer told them they were both ready. Kelly reached over and squeezed Cal’s leg just above his knee.
“You can do this,” she said.
“I know I can. I’m going to make Guy proud.”
Cal and Kelly both began growing nervous, even though they knew everything they were supposed to do. Cal tried to crack his knuckles, which he found more difficult since he was wearing handcuffs. He took a deep breath in an attempt to remain calm.
Suddenly, Mercer locked all the doors and jerked the steering wheel, making a sharp right turn away from Statenville. The plan had changed.
***
Mercer’s plan changed hadn’t changed that suddenly. It only changed when he realized that Cal and Kelly knew everything – and there weren’t going to be any heroes in their story. This was unfortunate for Cal and Kelly. Instead of helping the reporters out, Mercer was driving them to their death. Not that he was going to kill two innocent people – Mercer knew that Gold wanted to oversee the reporters’ deaths himself. Just collateral damage.
Then and only then would Mercer make his own move on Gold. Mercer would be the hero, single-handedly busting the mastermind of the great Northwest drug ring – and a wanted mob hit man. Mercer’s reputation and the nobility of the FBI would be held in the highest regard. After all, this was all for the greater good.
CHAPTER 64
MAYOR GOLD POSITIONED HIS car in the exact spot he had held less than 24 hours ago. Except this time, Gold knew Cal and Kelly would be in the back of Mercer’s squad car. Finally, his nightmare would end once the two reporters’ dead bodies hit the bottom of Cold River Canyon. The accident awaiting the two reporters was a rock climbing mishap.
The afternoon sun was harsh in the rock faces. Though standing in scorching August heat was a small sacrifice for Gold. He had long since proved his resolve in protecting Statenville and the drug empire he had concocted.
He smiled as he saw Mercer’s patrol car swing into view down the winding dusty road leading to the canyon’s edge. No vanishing act was necessary – not for him, anyway. Gold’s fondness for his family had begun to blur the bigger picture for him. Not that it was a bad thing, but it was definitely a weakness. Gold knew it, too. However, he never played it safe, choosing to prance upon the ledge of danger. It was an exhilarating place to be, though Gold had yet to feel the effects of falling off. He always pushed those thoughts out of his mind. He could always run and re-invent himself. But not this time. He preferred to stand pat and build something that was lasting – yet it wasn’t family he valued this deeply.
In a matter of moments, his fortress would become that much more impenetrable.
***
Cal had been hoping that he wasn’t about to be led into a trap, but here he was. He didn’t even bother protesting to Mercer. Cal knew he had been duped. At least he was prepared for it this time.
Mercer broke the awkward silence.
“So, I guess you’ve figured out we’re not going to Gold’s office.”
“Yeah, I’m not stupid.”
“Says who?” Mercer said, nervously cackling at his one liner. “And, oh, you won’t be needing this,” Mercer added as he picked up Cal’s iPhone off the front seat and whipped it out the window and into the canyon below. “Don’t worry, the mayor will let you go look for it in a minute.”
Mercer chuckled again. Cal couldn’t believe just how dark Mercer really was, how cold and calculating he had become in the past minute. He decided not to react, not to give Mercer the pleasure of knowing he was bothered or scared.
Finally, the car skidded to a stop along the remote dusty road. With the exception of Gold, there was no one around this portion of Cold River Canyon, a spot considered the beginning of the Idaho wilderness area.
CHAPTER 65
CAL DIDN’T TAKE MERCER for an opportunistic FBI agent, the kind who would abuse his power for a cut of a hefty payday. But neither did he think Buddy Walker was even an FBI agent. But the biggest shock thus far came when he learned that Mayor Gold was actually one Carmen Deangelo, a top captain from the Scarelli mob family who had disappeared years ago. Before talking with directors at the FBI field office in Salt Lake City, Cal had no idea who the Scarellis were – but they sounded tough. Then one director shared just how ruthless Gold was before he left Boston.
While waiting at the FBI offices for Mercer, Cal had learned from an FBI agent that Mercer and Walker were both being investigated for being a mole. Walker’s secret was buried with him,
but Mercer might still prove to be the man the FBI was searching for. But mole or no mole, Cal was convinced the primary reason the FBI would be so willing to help a reporter was because they wanted to downplay the fact that one of their agents was directly responsible for the deaths of three high school student-athletes in their prime. They wanted to control the story and spin it their way. Cal wasn’t going to play that game, but in the moment, he considered it best to gather all the evidence possible and make judgment calls later on which promises to keep.
In his briefing prior to Mercer’s arrival, Cal and Kelly’s FBI liaison made it clear that surviving Gold in a situation where he may turn desperate wasn’t a guarantee. There were risks involved, serious risks. But Kelly didn’t mind. She let it be known just how determined she was to see Gold brought in that Cal never had a chance to even ponder backing out. The FBI was willing to put its full resources into protecting them. It was an opportunity the FBI couldn’t pass up, snuffing out a mobster on the FBI’s most wanted list and taking down a large drug ring in one shot. They might even catch a mole, too.
For this particular Salt Lake City field office, Cal’s scenario represented a gift worthy of being wrapped under the tree at Christmastime by Saint Nick himself. All that remained was for Cal and Kelly to slip down the chimney with ease.
***
Cal and Kelly reluctantly got out of the car. Mercer was shoving them around. Cal and Kelly did their best to feign shock and surprise at the double-cross. They played off the part that was genuine, the part they thought would never happen. Plan B was in full force.
Gold got out of his car and walked slowly toward the reporters, whose backs were a safe 15 yards away from the cliff’s edge. With outstretched arms and a mischievous grin across his face, Gold appeared to be enjoying the moment. Two reporters who were trying to ruin his life were in handcuffs.
“At last, the two burrs in my saddle are here with me – and I get to crush them myself.”
Cal knew he didn’t have much time, so he began following the script.
Under Your Skin: A Thriller (A Cal Murphy Thriller) Page 16
