Burden of Proof

by DiAnn Mills

  Kevin knelt beside Carrie and helped her stand. “Be glad I got here before you committed murder.”

  Carrie sobbed. “I didn’t mean to kill Russell. He moved too close to Jason.”

  Color vanished from Kevin’s face. “What?”

  “You killed Russell?” Griff said.

  Carrie lifted her chin. “I want a lawyer. Where’s Willis? He’ll help me.”

  Kevin and Griff escorted her out the back door.

  Jason helped April to her feet. Oh, she hurt.

  “It’s over.” He pulled her close. “Finally over.”

  “Did you see the bullet?” she said.

  Confusion settled on his face. “What bullet?”

  “The one Carrie fired at you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  April leaned against Jason’s chest and basked in the realization of a power greater than any of them. “Just like Miss Ella said, I saw a Jesus miracle.”

  68

  THANKSGIVING

  APRIL PASSED the platter of turkey to Jason. He smiled before forking generous slices onto his plate—white and dark meat.

  The day of Carrie’s arrest, Griff had come to Kevin with his suspicions. The ex-military man had overheard Willis tell Carrie to stay on her meds and not talk to anyone. He’d take care of everything. The instructions had played in Griff’s mind until he took a chance and talked to Kevin.

  After a psychiatrist’s review, Carrie was deemed incompetent to stand trial. The childhood abuse from her father and Willis’s unhealthy big-brother attitude might have contributed to her mental issues. When Carrie called him at the chamber of commerce meeting the night she killed Russell, he promised to make it all go away.

  Child protective services had placed Carrie’s two sons in a foster home. But promising news came when Kevin and his wife decided to seek custody of the boys.

  Brenda was slowly recovering in Houston. It would take months of rehabilitation to bring her back to normal. Joey faced kidnapping and assault charges as well as violation of her parole.

  Dessert today would be delayed. Billie and Zack and Kevin and his family planned to join them. Apple, pecan, pumpkin, and chocolate pies, along with a carrot cake, awaited them all in the kitchen. New friends, relationships she’d craved but never allowed herself to embrace until now.

  Isabella, who sat between April and Jason, signed, More and pointed to the mashed potatoes.

  “Say please,” Jason said.

  “Peaz.”

  “That works.” He scooped more onto her plate.

  She reached for a pink sippy cup with both hands. Jason watched and complimented her. April loved being a part of a loving family . . . and hope for the future had her bubbling with excitement.

  April had God, and He’d given her a wonderful man in her life and a darling baby girl. Neither she nor Jason expected things to be perfect, but they had the beginnings of a grand life together. It all started when the negotiator became the hostage.

  Life doesn’t get much better than this.

  FBI SNIPER LEAH RIESEL HOPED the armed intruders didn’t lose patience before she and fellow agent and sniper Jon Colbert were in place. On the western side of an empty house off San Luis Pass Road in Galveston, she assembled her rifle while a member of FBI SWAT held an H&K submachine gun and surveyed the area. She pried open a window and climbed through. He handed her the rest of her gear. They worked mechanically, like always.

  She and the SWAT member, a man whom she respected, moved through the house to an eastern window where she’d have full view of the Barton home, where two unidentified men were holding two women and three children at gunpoint. After opening the window, she cradled her rifle and adjusted the scope to line up with a man wielding a gun in one hand and holding a small, screaming boy in front of his face. The little guy squirmed and twisted. What a coward to use a defenseless toddler. The man closest to Jon, who was stationed on the east side of the Barton property, waved a gun and wrestled with a little girl.

  Time ticked.

  Was she doing the right thing? Had the negotiator exhausted all means of talking the two men down? She’d heard a sniper’s actions described as both personal and impersonal. The men inside the Barton home were displaying savage behavior, but they had family and friends who loved them. Perhaps mothers who held them in their hearts and would grieve their deaths. Leah was about to end any thoughts of their rehabilitation.

  She knew the same questions darted through Jon’s mind. That’s who they were—intelligent and caring people who chose to stop killers when all negotiations failed. Someone put her out of her misery if she ever became impervious to taking a life, if squeezing the trigger stopped being a regret. These were human beings, not targets. All the training, mastering skill sets, and psychological hints and helps pointed to her making mental adjustments in order to survive.

  One day she wanted to be a mother, but she had no idea how she’d explain her job. How did a woman justify such a controversial calling to loved ones?

  Leah drew in a few deep breaths and embraced the familiar control of her body and mind. She lined up the shot and expelled all thoughts from her mind. Nothing pressed her mind but the mission.

  “Agents Riesel and Colbert, take your shots,” the SWAT commander said.

  The man at the other end of her scope turned slightly and exposed his temple. Not an ideal target, but the man had no intentions of lining up for a unique kill shot.

  She spoke into the microphone to Jon and the SWAT commander. “Ready?”

  “Yes,” Jon said.

  They needed immediate incapacitation. Some claimed a sniper pulled the trigger between heartbeats. Maybe so. She fired when her mind registered the right moment.

  A feeling of now suspended. She gently pulled the trigger back.

  The explosion, then impact.

  The familiar kickback shook her body.

  The man went down, releasing the small boy.

  Jon’s man slumped onto the floor, and the little girl he’d been holding broke free. Leah reached for her binoculars. SWAT moved forward and raced toward the Barton home. The women drew their children close, covering them in tears likely laced with terror and joy, an intimate moment not meant for Leah’s eyes. She pulled away from viewing the crime scene. Military and law enforcement weren’t the only victims of PTSD, and the women were prime candidates for counseling.

  While relief flowed through her body, there was no celebration for two men’s deaths. A critical situation had been neutralized.

  Scrutinizing the outside area, she spoke into the mic again. “Looks like the hostages are okay. Can you confirm?”

  “Affirmative,” the SWAT commander said. “Riesel, Colbert, SAC Thomas will contact you within fifteen minutes.”

  “Riesel, I’m heading your way,” Jon said.

  After packing her gear, she texted SAC Thomas, her normal protocol upon completing an assignment. She left the house, this time through the front door, and walked toward the SWAT team at the Barton home. Her gear weighed nearly as much as she did, and right now it felt twice as heavy. She wanted to see the women and children even from a distance to make sure they were really unharmed.

  Jon ambled her way. They both wore faded black T-shirts and camouflage tactical pants. His stride and erect shoulders exuded confidence, most likely a combination of his Chickasaw heritage and intense sniper training. She paused in her thinking. His background listed five years as a smoke jumper before entering the FBI. Danger drew him like a magnet. She bore the same chemicals in her brain.

  A trait they needed to stay alive.

  Jon’s responsibilities in the FBI violent crime division kept him busy when not working directly with SWAT or on a lone mission. He preferred solo for reasons he chose not to dwell on. Except human life outranked his own danger.

  Leah Riesel approached him. Attractive woman—dark-brown hair, light-olive skin, New Yorker with the accent to prove it. “Can you give me a ride back to Houston? My ch
opper left me.”

  “Sure. I assume the after-action review will be this afternoon.”

  They’d both go through the debrief later in Houston. Part of the job.

  Jon and Leah strode toward the crime scene area.

  Ambulances shrieked closer. Galveston PD stopped a KHOU TV station media van before it drove up the Barton driveway. The van backed up and parked by the side of the road. A reporter and cameraman emerged with equipment and flashing lights, signaling they were live. At least the newscast in progress offered answers to those trying to make sense of emergency vehicles and law enforcement.

  Jon’s and Leah’s radios came alive. “Amanda Barton wants to thank the snipers who saved her family’s lives,” the SWAT commander said. “Hostages are shaken. Mrs. Barton was struck in the face. Being treated by a paramedic. I’ve recommended a victim specialist and will make the connection.”

  “I’m good with a meet-up,” Jon said.

  “So am I,” Leah said.

  Jon continued his surveillance of the beach and flat land around them.

  “Here come the reporters,” she said, her tone neither condescending nor weary. Simply a fact. “How is it they have info before we do?”

  “It’s in the air.”

  He detected a slight smile. So she did have a sense of humor, contrary to popular reports that her attitude gave stoics a run for their money.

  One of the reporters rushed to them. “We have what appears to be FBI SWAT. Can we have a word?”

  Jon kept his gaze straight ahead. “Not at this time.”

  The man moved steadily alongside them. “This must have been quite an ordeal for all the hostages. Who’s the other woman and child with Mrs. Barton?”

  Leah and Jon kept a steady pace forward. It was not his job or Leah’s to validate a media report.

  “Did you take the kill shots?” the reporter said. “When will the FBI make a statement?”

  Leah and Jon slowed and made their way past an ambulance where the reporters didn’t have access. A female paramedic handed them two bottles of water. “Those people are alive because of you.”

  They thanked her in the same breath and strolled past a barricade of Galveston PD and SWAT to the commander who’d separated himself from the victims to speak to Jon and Leah. “Well done,” the commander said.

  Jon and Leah had completed their mission just like the rest of the team.

  In the distance, paramedics examined a woman who held a crying little girl. A Galveston police car swung in front of them, blocking Leah’s and his path.

  Leah banged the hood. “Hey, I’m walkin’ here.”

  The cruiser reversed, and they moved past.

  “That’s more like it,” she said.

  Jon grinned. Must be a New York thing. Their phones, like appendages, alerted them to a text. They both focused on the message from SAC Thomas.

  Don’t leave Galveston. New case 4 both of u. Will do action-review at 5:00 2day. Call me.

  One mission over and a new one beginning.

  A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  Dear Reader,

  Life is unpredictable. We aren’t guaranteed tomorrow, and we don’t know what sorts of mountains and valleys we’ll experience along our journeys. The age-old question of why do bad things happen to good people can become our mantra. Or we can choose to ignore our bruises and travel the road of good and prioritize truth and justice above all things.

  April blamed herself for a hostage negotiation that ended in a tragic death. She couldn’t seem to get past it. She held tightly to guilt, not realizing that setting it free could bring healing.

  Jason ignored the truth about what was going on in his community until the injustices left a staggering blow. He was forced to make a decision to ensure his community was safe for young and old.

  April and Jason’s story shows how God can work in the unexpected and the tragic for good. Together they learned that, with God, Life doesn’t get much better than this.

  Be blessed, my friends.

  DiAnn

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  After a negotiation goes wrong, Agent April Ramos struggles to find peace in forced platitudes and rote words. In what ways does her partner’s encouragement help or hinder her as she wrestles with guilt? If you were in Simon’s shoes, what would you say to April?

  When Jason Snyder is first introduced, did you believe his claim of innocence? Why or why not? What finally convinces April to trust Jason? At what point did you believe him?

  As Jason alleges that the county sheriff is involved in corruption, April reminds him, “No one is above the law.” How does this play out for the characters, especially when Jason seems bent on taking the law into his own hands? Is he justified in doing so? Why or why not?

  Before her death, Lily reminded Jason that “the darkest moments of our lives are intended for God to use in a mighty way.” Give some examples from the story of ways in which this proves true for Jason and April. Have there been times in your own life when God has shown His mighty power in your darkest moments?

  According to Jason, Sheriff Lennox is operating a reign of terror in Sweet Briar, Texas. What makes people so reluctant to stand up to him? Consider the story of the fiery furnace in Daniel 3. Under what circumstances is defying authority the right thing to do?

  After meeting Miss Ella, April wonders, “How did one person think of so many things to say to God?” Do you know a prayer warrior like Miss Ella? Or are you that person? Since 1 Thessalonians 5:17 encourages us to “Never stop praying,” what steps can you take to increase your prayer life?

  Ted Snyder tells April about God’s work in his life, a testimony that includes his dementia-stricken friend John still being able to recognize Ted. How does April respond to this story? Were you affected by it? When you encounter things that don’t necessarily make sense, what do you attribute that to? A miracle of God? Coincidence?

  When Jason finds his house torn apart, he releases his anger and prays, Help me to honor You. Does this feel like a genuine prayer to you? Or does it seem like he is merely paying lip service to God while still fighting for control of the situation? What steps should he take to honor God?

  As April and Jason struggle to uncover the proof that will put the sheriff behind bars, Jason reminds his friend, “The right thing to do is seldom easy.” Think about a time when that was true for you. What happened? Did you do the right thing in the moment or back down?

  Both April and Jason struggle with the idea that “regrets keep us chained to guilt.” What does April regret? What does Jason regret? Do you have regrets that leave you with guilt? Can there be such a thing as “good guilt”?

  After April gets thrown out of Brenda Krew’s office, she feels compassion for the Realtor and thinks, “Sometimes the bad guys were as much victims as the innocent.” Do you agree with that statement? Why or why not? How much should a person’s circumstances—upbringing, financial status, etc.—be considered a factor in their culpability?

  Near the end of the story, Jason is prompted to forgive those who conspired against him, his family, and his town. Do you think he could have done so even if justice wasn’t served? If you were in that position—waiting for justice—what would it take for you to find true forgiveness?

  Early in the story, Miss Ella tells April, “Before this is over, you’re gonna see the power of Jesus.” In what ways does April realize this? What stands out most to you?

  Simon warns Jason that a relationship born in “danger and supercharged emotions” won’t last. How much truth do you give that statement? Where do you think April and Jason will end up?

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  DIANN MILLS is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed romantic suspense novels.

  Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne du Maurier,
Inspirational Reader’s Choice, and Carol Award contests. Firewall, the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian fiction books of 2014.

  DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is codirector of the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

  DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

  DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers through her website at www.diannmills.com or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/DiAnnMills), Twitter (@DiAnnMills), Pinterest (www.pinterest.com/DiAnnMills), and Goodreads (www.goodreads.com/DiAnnMills).

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