by Nadirah Foxx
“That’s a given. He read the reports—”
“Not because he’s read them.” Lowering my voice, I postulated, “What if he knew about the crimes beforehand?”
“Kerrie, you’re not saying he’s behind them?”
“No. Of course not. I’m simply saying he might have speculated that Liberty City would become a target. Maybe someone encouraged him to look the other way.”
Josh folded his arms across his broad chest. “I don’t like what you’re implying.”
“Neither do I, but we can’t rule it out yet.”
He held out his palms. “Fine. I’ll see if I can get the detective to come by the apartment.”
“Good. If there’s corruption involved, the man might be more inclined to spill details if he’s not at the station.”
Maybe my desire for justice made me a tad paranoid—trusting almost no one to get the job done. Or maybe it was my instincts telling me the captain was a little too complacent about finding my family’s killers.
I hated the idea of a corrupt police force as much as anyone, but we knew it was prevalent in the Tri-City area. Arcadia City and Victoryville had their fair share of it. The crookedness was one of many reasons people gave for not wanting to live in those places. Depraved individuals had managed to influence the ACPD and even the mayor of the formerly affluent town. Maybe it was only a matter of time before the venality hit Liberty City.
“I’ll do what I can.” Josh’s gaze dropped to my bag. “Leaving so soon?”
“Yeah. I’ve got to take care of some things.”
“Be careful,” he warned.
“Plan on it.”
5
Not Doing Well
I hadn’t told Josh about my back-up plan should the police not find the murderers. After learning about the new crime stats, it seemed appropriate to enact my fail-safe.
Before leaving the station, I exchanged my work clothes for jeans, a T-shirt, and a leather jacket. Looking conspicuous wouldn’t serve me well where I was headed. Driving my car could pose a problem, but it was a risk I was willing to take.
As soon as I reached the parking lot, he called me.
“Bad news, Kerrie.”
“What happened?”
“The detective refused to speak about it. He doesn’t care what so-called information we might have for him.”
No surprise there. I had done a little discrete investigation into the man. Previous captains had suspended him many times. It was beyond me how he remained on the force.
“Did you at least ask him about the case? Are there any updates?”
Josh breathed into the speaker. “He stated there was nothing to add. We’d know something when he did.”
“I figured as much, but I had to ask.” It was my reason for the impromptu trip. “Will you be late tonight?”
“No, but I’d planned to go to the gym,” he announced. “Want to work out with me? I could swing by and pick you up.”
“No. I’m supposed to meet my mom for dinner.” I hated lying to my friend, but he would have tried to stop me. He wasn’t a big fan of the area known as Shady Corners.
“That sounds like a good idea,” he said joyfully. “I’ll see you later.”
“Okay. Bye.” I glanced at the phone for a moment, feeling guilty for the deception.
Although Josh and I grew up in the Shade Land neighborhood, no one would consider it a safe place. When we were kids, the vicinity had quaint pristine homes, for the most part, and poplar trees lined the streets—hence the name. Over time, lawlessness and rough elements moved into the community. Citizens fled for Liberty Heights and other suburbs. Neglect and degradation took over.
Developers attempted to repurpose the land by resurrecting high-rise apartments, hoping the remaining inhabitants would stay. But who wanted to live in a tower when the outskirts offered large houses and even bigger yards?
Those fancy complexes were quickly abandoned, and the scum of the city populated the region. Shade Land’s residents began calling that portion of town Shady Corners or simply the SC.
I drove down Independence Way, past the high school, and then made a right into an alley. The towering buildings cast eerie shadows over the neighborhood, perfect for committing a felony or meeting an unscrupulous character.
Parking next to a heavily graffitied brick wall, I listened to a man and a woman arguing in the distance. The Good Samaritan in me wanted to get out and offer help while my brain warned me to stay put. Only a fool dipped into another person’s concerns in the SC. Such an action was the surest path to trouble. I had enough on my plate without adding more.
So I cut the motor and waited.
And waited.
Ten minutes passed before a tall figure, wearing a trench coat, approached the vehicle. Tentatively, I inched down the window.
“Are you Killian Montgomery?”
He stooped down and leaned in. The stench of stale alcohol and cigarettes hit my nose. “Depends on who’s asking, darling.” He looked to his right and left. “Now, if you happen to be the pretty widow of a certain CEO, I might be who you’re looking for.”
I hated it when people used grandiose language to seem knowledgeable. Why couldn’t people clearly state whatever they had to say?
“I am, and you’re late.”
He grinned. “I don’t keep banker’s hours.”
Glancing up at the PI with a fiery mop of red hair and a scruffy beard, I was starting to doubt the wisdom behind my choice. “I was told you could help me.”
Okay, that was a bit of a lie. I’d checked through Ryan’s personal files and found the man’s name. Then, I did my research and discovered the private investigator was excellent at his job. The problem was, the man enjoyed slinking around the back streets and didn’t have a proper office.
When I called, his voicemail instructed me to leave a message, and he’d contact me. Shortly after I did, Killian texted a destination for the meeting. It might not be the most savory manner of conducting business, but I wasn’t seeking someone who played by the rules. While I was being nice, the bad guys were walking the streets without fear of being arrested. Maybe it was time for me to cross the line too.
“What do ya need, sweetheart?”
I cringed at his use of the endearment. “Just information.”
“About?”
“The recent rash of home invasions.”
“Nasty situation.” He tsk-tsked. “Rumor on the streets says that someone hired a team for the deed.”
“I want to know who did the hiring and what they hope to gain.”
He placed both hands on the car roof and tapped out an unfamiliar rhythm. “I’ll send ya a text when I have something.”
“Perfect, but don’t take too long.”
The PI glanced toward the street before leaning down again. Lowering his voice, he said, “There is the matter of payment.”
“Of course.” I picked up the bulky yellow envelope beside me. “Half now and the other half when you deliver the details.”
Killian pursed his lips. “Not my usual way of doing a job, but since I liked your husband…” His tone softened as he added, “He was a good man.”
“Yes, he was,” I murmured.
“I’ll be in touch.” The investigator pussyfooted away, and I rolled up my window.
It was still early. Returning to Josh’s and staring at the walls was not appealing. There was some place I should visit. A place I should have gone sooner, but I’d put it off—like everything else of importance.
◆◆◆
As I entered Sentinel Security, some employees gasped while others murmured words of disbelief. Perhaps their shock had more to do with my attire than my presence. I hoped so. Otherwise, I might have to clean house and find a less discriminating staff.
Debbie Scott, Ryan’s assistant, greeted me when I stepped off the private elevator. She teetered on her sky-high heels as she trotted behind me.
“Mrs. King, I didn’t know
you were coming in today.”
“I didn’t either. Give me a minute to change my clothes and—”
She touched my arm, cutting me off. When I faced her, she said, “You wear whatever makes you comfortable while you’re here. People will understand.”
“Thanks. Then, I’ll go to Ryan’s—” I stopped.
It wasn’t his room anymore. It never would be again. I took a moment to compose myself before I turned into a sniveling fool. “My office.”
Closing the door, I tossed my duffel and laptop bag in a corner and plopped down on the dark-brown leather sofa. Sentinel Security belonged to me, and I had to keep it running. If I failed, then I neglected Ryan’s memory and destroyed his legacy.
Where should I begin?
Slowly, I rose to my feet and went to the desk. Pressing the intercom button, I asked the assistant to come in.
Seconds later, she opened the door. “Did you need something, Mrs. King?”
“First off, it’s Kerrie. Mrs. King is my mother-in-law.”
Debbie nodded, her black-rimmed glasses slipping down her nose.
“What I require is a crash course on the day-to-day operations around here. Any way you can help me accomplish that would be appreciated.”
Her forehead furrowed. “What about your position with the police department?”
With the lack of cooperation from the captain and the possibility of corruption, I might have to rethink the situation. “For now, let’s not worry about it. My boss wants me to take some time off, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
“Well, then…” She smiled. “I’ll be happy to fill you in. We’ll start with the pending project files. Let me pull them and then meet you in the conference room.”
“Where?”
The perky brunette pointed as she spoke. “Down the hall to the right. Would you like coffee? I can order lunch too.”
“That would be perfect. Anything you want to eat is fine by me.”
Debbie glanced down at the tablet she carried and typed on the screen. “Salads and caffeine coming up.”
Despite her suggestion, I picked up my duffel and stepped into the private en suite bathroom. Slowly, I started undressing. Changing back into my blouse, skirt, and heels wasn’t to appease anyone but myself. In my mind, a more put-together appearance showed I was ready for business.
After I finished, I went to the conference room where Debbie was setting up lunch. She glanced at me as I entered and pointed at my clothes.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I realize that, but if I’m going to be the CEO, I might as well dress the part.”
The girl pushed her glasses up on her nose and took the seat beside me. “Did you know your husband didn’t always wear a suit and tie in the office? He had plenty of days when it was jeans and a decent shirt.”
“No.” I opened the salad container and poured on the balsamic vinaigrette. “To be honest, he often stopped at the gym before coming here.”
“He’d hit the club again after work,” she added. “I guess you never saw what he wore while he was here.”
“Exactly.”
Any other woman would have been curious about the employee. She seemed to be knowledgeable about Ryan’s attire, but she was no more a threat to our marriage than old Edna Gray. I remember suggesting we set his assistant up with someone. Ryan promptly told me she had a girlfriend.
“Where should we start?” I asked as I stabbed at my salad.
My assistant—it would take some time to become comfortable having one—turned to a laptop and began pulling up digital copies of the physical files in front of me. “I hope you don’t have any immediate plans. This might take a while.”
“I have all day.” Thank God.
It was a good thing that I had nothing else to do. Debbie and I spent the entire afternoon combing through the projects Ryan had laid out. Some were run-of-the-mill collateral jobs for the various companies in the Tri-City area. Those were easy to delegate and complete on schedule.
Unknown to me, however, was the major security deal with the local government. Sentinel was slated to do an upgrade to each and every service provided by City Center. The mayor’s office was part of the package. Something within the data didn’t seem right to me.
“Debbie, can you explain this number?”
She adjusted her glasses again and then began typing. In a matter of minutes, she rotated the computer toward me. “It looks like another company, Covert Technologies, was also bidding on the job.”
I’d heard the name more times than I liked. In college, Ryan had an envious classmate who eventually started his own cybertech firm. Envy, however, was not a strong enough word to associate with Adam Fairfield. Where Ryan got the girl and the success, Adam struggled to make his business flourish. Every time Sentinel bid on a venture; Covert attempted to outbid.
“Who was awarded the contract?” I asked, sipping from my bottle of water.
“Sentinel Security naturally.” Debbie glanced at her phone and then closed the case on her laptop. “Covert Technologies doesn’t pose a threat. We have an excellent track record anyone can attest to. Most of Mr. Fairfield’s clients are in places like Arcadia City.”
Arcadia had been hard hit by home invasions. As a matter of fact, both Arcadia and Victoryville had been plagued with a slew of the same crimes. Golden Harbor, a southern suburb, had a few burglaries but nothing of major consequence. Their stats were part of the data I struggled to get Captain Stratham to look at. Coincidence?
“Is there any way to know whether CT has customers in Victoryville? You might want to check Golden Harbor too.”
She grinned. “I can find out, but we’ll need to wait until the building clears out.”
“Why is that?”
“I’m guessing your husband never told you about my specialty?”
Freeing my hair from its top knot, I said, “Refresh my memory, please.”
The woman held her chin high. “As a college student, some people knew me as the Digital Pirate.”
A light bulb went off in my head. Two years ago, Debbie was a fresh-faced graduate. Ryan introduced me to her. After he hired the young woman, I questioned why he would waste his time with a newbie.
“Kerrie, she has skills I can’t teach her.”
“Like?”
“She’s a hacker. Hiring Miss Scott could prevent her from getting into serious trouble with our competitors. Imagine how companies like Covert Technologies would use her.”
“Adam would abuse her abilities. When the authorities showed up on his doorstep, he’d toss the girl to the wolves.”
“Exactly, but I won’t let that happen.”
When he put it like that, I wholeheartedly agreed with the new addition to the firm. Debbie proved to be a worthy employee. Although she balked at first about being Ryan’s assistant, she learned quickly it was an asset to be appreciated. He assigned her tasks no one else at Sentinel was privileged to handle.
“I’d forgotten about your skill set.”
She waved her hand in the air. “No harm. Your husband didn’t wish other employees knowing what I could do. When it came to hunting for info, he preferred if I did it after hours.”
I understood the desire for secrecy, but I didn’t want Debbie working late on my account. Still, she lived in Shady Corners. Her safety wasn’t worth information.
“Why don’t we tackle this tomorrow? It’s getting dark, and you should probably get home.”
“All right. I’ll see what I can find tonight.” She stood and placed the laptop in its bag. “Is there anything else you want me to do?”
“No. I’m good.”
It was the truth.
For the moment.
6
In A Bad Place
By the time I had arrived at Josh’s place, my semi-pleasant mood had evaporated. In the short distance between the apartment and the business district, my memories gained the upper hand. My mind assaulted me with rec
ollections of Ryan’s and RJ’s deaths along with burying them. When the bombardment ceased, rage filled me so badly I was certain I’d lose my cool and hit somebody.
The realization that the cops weren’t doing anything worthwhile triggered my fury. I saw no tangible evidence they were even close to finding the men who killed my family. Plus, no one had an update regarding the case. I had always prided myself on doing the best job possible. The LCPD’s lackadaisical response was less than acceptable.
Its slipshod way of conducting an investigation was lighter fluid to my anger. It fueled my irritation and made me speculate about the probable corruption within the department. Who knew if my boss was to blame or not? If he was innocent, Captain Stratham would have done more to help me and not have blocked my efforts. He wouldn’t have dismissed me so readily either. The information I uncovered from the data was a good starting point for an investigation. If he had listened to me, the LCPD could have stopped the recent burglaries and prevented future ones too.
What if the iniquity went higher up the chain of commands? Not stopping until it reached the chief of police. Suddenly, I felt dirty. My skin crawled just from the idea that I was part of the precinct. I no longer wanted to be associated with it. Unless I was the one who toppled the shoddy house of cards.
Adding to my annoyance was Adam Fairchild. He’d hated Ryan for years. Maybe hate was too strong a word. It was more like envy. Deep seething envy for everything my husband had. Could Covert Technologies have anything to do with the thefts? Notwithstanding, hard drives and CEOs were the focus of the home invasions. Adam could have viewed it as a chance to rid himself of the competition. Would the man, however, stoop to killing off anyone who didn’t comply with his wishes? Could my husband’s nemesis be so ruthless?
Being alone in the apartment with my thoughts was beyond bearable. I was wound tighter than a spool of thread that might break at any minute. A soak in a hot tub of water and a glass of wine might relax me, but the questions followed me to the bathroom.
How did I get the answers I needed? Could I find them in Liberty City?
