When the Man Comes Around: A Gripping Crime Thriller (Lawson Raines, Book 1)

by Bradley Wright

  The recorder ended up being a lifesaver. Once again, something of Lauren’s had helped save Lawson and bring her killers to justice. The entire night, all Lawson could think about was hearing his daughter sing. Lexi and Lauren were so similar that he figured Lexi probably sounded just like her mother, who, when she would sing to Lawson, whether it was while they were reading on the couch or singing drunk karaoke, always sounded like an angel to him.

  Lawson still managed to get all of his push-ups, sit-ups, and squats done in his cell that morning. But they wouldn’t let him go for his ritual five-mile run. No matter how much he begged. And at five o’clock the next evening, after hours of nonstop interrogation, and corroboration from Cassie, Lawson once again was walked out of jail, a free man. It felt much different this time, however. This time, the sun did feel different on the freedom side, as he’d heard many men say. Maybe because this time he actually was a free man. No more questions hanging over him. No more incessant pouring over who did what and who was working together. By the time Lawson walked out of that prison, the news outlets across the country were in a frenzy about all the people tied to this horrible event. Evelyn Delaney’s murder was tied to Nero De Luca, the chief of police was brought in for questioning, as the new DA was building the evidence against him. Cassie’s ex-husband Bobby was wrangled by TSA at McCarran Airport, just before he made his plane bound for Mexico.

  There were thousands of questions about Johnny De Luca, Serge Sokolov, Kiara Sokolov, and everyone in between. All were answered satisfactorily enough to let Lawson and Cassie go. The other thing that was different about this walk to freedom was that this time Cassie was there waiting for him. And this time when she ran and threw her arms around him, Lawson welcomed the embrace.

  Cassie pulled back. “You’ve come a long way in the last two days. I’m proud of you, Lawson.”

  “It’s been a long two days.”

  “How’s your shoulder?”

  Lawson gave it a quick rub. “It’s fine. Bullet went straight through. They patched me up late last night.”

  “Well, you look like hell, did you sleep at all?”

  “Thanks, Cass, you always were a gentle nurturer.”

  Cassie laughed and ushered Lawson toward her car.

  Lawson got in the passenger seat. “And no, I didn’t sleep much.”

  “Me either. Whatever could have kept you awake?” Cassie joked.

  “Yeah, no idea. So, where we headed?”

  “I have a little surprise for you.”

  “I’ve had enough surprises for one lifetime. Spare me the agony.”

  Cassie’s smile was wide. “Relax. You’ll like this one.”

  Cassie turned onto the Strip. The police department where they had been detained wasn’t far.

  Lawson winced when he saw the casinos. “I’m really not in the mood to gamble.”

  “Just relax, would you? Maybe talk to your old friend a little about something other than murder?”

  Lawson shifted in his seat. “I’m a little out of practice in small talk.”

  “Okay, I’ll give you that. I’ll start. So, what now? Now that you don’t have to focus on the one thing that’s dominated your mind for ten years, any idea what you’re gonna do?”

  “So much for small talk. Go big or go home, I guess.”

  Cassie laughed and said sarcastically, “I want to get to know the real Lawson Raines.”

  Lawson hesitated, but after the war that he and Cassie had just been through, he felt closer to her than ever. “That’s actually what kept me up most of the night.”

  “Do tell.”

  “Just all that happened. How I lost so much time because of injustice. And how we almost didn’t get justice at all. I could have spent the rest of my life behind bars.”

  Cassie nodded. “Yeah, if it wasn’t for Lexi giving you that old tape recorder, both of us would still be in jail. And there for a long, long time. So, what of it?”

  “That must happen a lot.”

  Cassie shook her head. “I really don’t think it does. Your situation was pretty out of the ordinary.”

  “I don’t mean something that fantastical. I’m talking about injustice in general. It happens every day where people are framed and wrongfully accused. Their lives ruined. Not as lucky as me to get the chance to make it right.”

  “Okay. Sure. I’m sure it does happen. I don’t know about a lot.”

  “Maybe I can make it happen a little less.”

  Cassie was quiet for a moment. “I don’t get it. You mean go back to work for the FBI?”

  Lawson shook his head. “Too many rules.”

  “I’m not following.”

  “We worked for the FBI. Look where that got us.”

  “So you’re saying you want to be Batman? And POW! BAM! your way through crime? I don’t think you can afford a Batmobile or fit into that costume he wears.”

  “Forget it,” Lawson said.

  “Come on, Lawson. Out here we have a sense of humor. I’m just messing with you.”

  Lawson didn’t say anything.

  “Seriously, what are you saying? Private investigator? What?”

  Lawson gave Cassie a long look. She returned it with an overdone smile and a bat of the eyes.

  “I haven’t thought that far ahead. I just don’t want people like De Luca getting away with what he did for so long. Just because they have money and influence. It’s disgusting. I can fix that, if I know about it.”

  “Very noble of you, Mr. Raines. But someone has beat you to it, it’s called the FBI.”

  Lawson gave her a look.

  “Right. Well, we can pick this up later. We’re here.”

  Cassie had turned off the Strip about half a mile back, and now she pulled the car into the Hyatt across the street from the Hard Rock Casino Hotel. Lawson had no idea what they were doing there.

  47

  As they got out of the car in front of the Hyatt Place Hotel, Cassie stopped Lawson.

  “Speaking of the FBI, I forgot to tell you, as soon as they let me out, I got a call from Director Billings.”

  “Oh yeah?” Lawson said.

  “Yeah. He said he’d been briefed and that he was proud of both of us for staying with it all the way until the end. Even though all the forces were against us.”

  “Forces?”

  “His words, not mine. Anyway. You have a job waiting for you if you want it. Anywhere in the country.”

  “I’m flattered,” Lawson said sarcastically.

  “See,” Cassie pointed. “I knew that sense of humor was in there somewhere.”

  Lawson turned toward the Hyatt’s entrance. “So, what the hell are we doing here anyway?”

  Just as soon as the words left his mouth, the glass revolving door began to spin, and after a moment it spit out a golden-haired girl, about twelve years old, wearing a pink T-shirt and jeans and a really big smile. Her hair bounced as she ran toward Lawson, arms open wide. She skipped the last couple of strides and jumped into him. Lawson let her hug him. For some reason he was slow to react.

  Lexi leaned back, “This is the part where you hug me back.”

  “Sorry.” Lawson knew he still had a long way to go at this fatherly affection thing. He bent down and gave her a hug.

  Lexi leaned back from his arms and patted on his chest to let her go. “I’ve made a decision.”

  Her aunt Erin and Cassie walked up behind her.

  “A decision? About what?” Lawson said, a hint of trepidation in his voice.

  “The way I see it, we have a lot of catching up to do.”

  Lawson smiled. Though his heart would forever be hardened by what he had been through, she was certainly always going to have a soft spot there of her very own. “Can’t say I disagree.”

  “And Aunt Erin was telling me that Mommy always used to say that the best way to get to know someone—”

  “Is to go on a road trip.”

  Lawson said the line along with Lexi. He had he
ard Lauren say that very same thing a thousand times.

  Lexi’s jaw dropped. “How’d you know I was going to say that?”

  “I heard your mom say it a few times over the years.”

  “Cool.” Lexi was loving it. “I figure that’s what we’ll do. All of us.”

  Lawson smirked. “Even Cassie?”

  “Ha-ha, Lawson. You are a riot,” Cassie said.

  “You wanted sense of humor,” Lawson told her.

  Lexi smiled. “Yeah, she already cleared it with her boss, she’s going.”

  Lawson and Cassie shared a glance. Lawson said, “Is that so?”

  “Yeah, it will be so much fun,” Lexi said. “And we’re gonna leave right now. Okay?”

  Lawson wasn’t thrilled about having to share a car with three women. How would he know what to say? He hadn’t been around women in a casual way for a really long time. But all he cared about was spending some long-overdue time with his daughter. He would find a way to talk, or he would just listen. “Okay. But where are we going?”

  “A lot of places along the way, but we’ll end up in Lexington, Kentucky.”

  “And what is in Lexington besides your home?”

  “Mom.”

  Lawson’s expression shifted from joy to sadness. Lexi saw it, and her smile turned into a frown as well.

  Lexi dropped her head. “We don’t have to. I just thought you’d want to visit her. Since you haven’t seen her in such a long time.”

  Lawson bit back the emotion. For him the wounds were all still so fresh. He had never let them heal over. The questions that always surrounded her death had always left everything so raw. Lawson bent down to where he and Lexi were at eye level, gently tilted her chin up with his index finger, and gave her the best smile he could manage.

  “I think it’s a great idea.”

  Lexi’s face lit up. “Really! You mean it!”

  “I mean it.”

  Lexi turned and wrapped her arms around Cassie and Erin. “He wants to go!”

  “I just need to stop somewhere and get a few things,” Lawson said.

  Lexi wheeled around after bending down to pick something up. It was a black duffel bag, and she handed it to him with a proud smile on her face. “No need, Lawson. Me and Erin went and picked up everything you’ll need. Cassie helped us with the sizes.”

  Cassie said, “And my bag is already packed. I thought a road trip was a great idea. I’ll spot you some cash until you can pay me back.”

  It hadn’t even occurred to Lawson that he had nothing until that moment. Not a piece of clothing, a house, a car, or even a dollar to his name. But Cassie mentioning cash jogged something in Lawson’s brain.

  “Then we’re going. But I have one stop I need to make before we leave town.”

  Lexi said, “Okay, but let’s make it quick.”

  The four of them piled into Cassie’s Nissan and headed out onto Las Vegas Boulevard. Lawson directed them, keeping the final destination to himself.

  48

  Cassie looked over at Lawson like he had lost his mind. “The Pink Kitten?”

  Erin said from the backseat, “Is this some sort of joke?”

  Lawson got out of the car and leaned back in the open window. “You all coming or not?”

  Lawson turned and looked at the strip club. There was police tape everywhere and a couple of unmarked cars out front. Lawson figured they were the detectives combing through the crime scene, trying to piece everything together.

  Everyone got out of the car. Cassie said, “Well, seeing as how you can’t get in here without my badge, I guess I’m coming with you, at least.

  “Yeah, we’re not going in there,” Erin said.

  “Speak for yourself, Aunt Erin. I’m going in with Lawson.”

  Lawson said, “Pop the trunk.”

  Cassie hit the button on the car’s remote and the trunk popped open. The look on her face was one of curiosity and worry.

  “What?” Lawson shrugged.

  “I don’t like anything about this,” Cassie said.

  Lawson went around back, opened up the duffel bag that Lexi had packed for him, and emptied it into the trunk.

  “Now I like it even less.”

  “You’ll love it. Now be quiet and dump your bag out too,” Lawson told Cassie.

  Cassie put her hands on her hips. “I’m not dumping out my bag, and I’m not taking it inside for whatever weird thing you’ve got going on here.”

  “Cass . . . you’re going to want the empty bag.”

  “The detectives aren’t going to let us take these bags in there.”

  “You’re the FBI, they’ll let you do whatever you want.”

  Cassie rolled her eyes and dumped out her carry-on suitcase. “This better be good.”

  Lawson assured her, “It’s going to be better than that.”

  A man in a suit walked out from the entrance of the Pink Kitten. “You guys can’t be here. Crime scene.”

  Cassie, empty suitcase in hand, walked around the car with her FBI credentials extended. “FBI. There is a possible matter of national security inside. We need to go in right now.”

  “National security? I’ll need to check with my superiors before—”

  “And possibly blow up this entire block? You sure about that?”

  The man was stunned. “What—blow up? There’s nothing . . . that little girl for sure isn’t going in there then.” He pointed at Lexi.

  “This is the young lady that was held hostage in here last night. She is the only one who knows where the bombs are.”

  “Bombs? I—”

  Cassie pushed past him. “Come on, guys, we have to hurry.”

  The four of them walked inside the Pink Kitten.

  “Nice job, Cassie, good touch with the bomb thing.” Lexi gave Cassie a high five.

  Cassie glared over at Lawson. “This really better be good.”

  Lawson said, “I told you, better than good.”

  Lawson led the three of them toward the door to the back, up the stairs, and down the hallway to De Luca’s office where Lexi was being held the night before. He was relieved to see that the bodies had already been carted off, he didn’t want Lexi’s nightmares to be even worse than they surely already would be. They walked around the bullet-hole–filled desk, which was still standing on its side, and into De Luca’s office. Lawson set his empty duffel bag on one of the three chairs in the room.

  “Okay.” Cassie was skeptical. “What now, P.T. Barnum? We’re waiting for the show.”

  Lawson started to drag one of the other chairs behind him. He motioned for the three of them to step back, and he walked over to the back wall. He started on the far right side of the wall, knocking and listening.

  “Are you about to hang a picture?” Erin joked.

  Lawson paid her no attention and continued to knock on the wall, moving left with each knock. All of the knocks continued to sound hollow until he got to the center of the wall, right under an oversized portrait of a hundred-dollar bill.

  “I should have known,” Lawson said.

  He proceeded to take the large canvas painting off the wall, then picked up the chair.

  “Have you lost your mind?” Cassie said.

  Lawson had no idea if the rumors were true, but Nero and Tony De Luca had taken a lot from him, so he figured it was worth looking into at least. He had nothing to lose and everything to gain. He pulled the chair behind him, then twisted forward, slamming it into the wall. It made a small hole, but so far nothing was gained.

  “I want to help!” Lexi ran forward and kicked at the hole, making it a little bigger.

  Lawson put the chair aside and kicked with her. After a moment, all four of them were kicking the wall, the three ladies laughing as they did so. Finally, the hole was big enough to where something black could be seen behind it.

  The rumors had been true.

  Lawson motioned for everyone to take a step back. He grabbed the broken drywall with both hands a
nd began to tear it away. Before long, they could see that an entire area of about six feet wide and eight feet high was filled with large black plastic-bag–covered squares stacked on top of each other. Floor to ceiling.

  The three of them eyed the squares, but only Cassie spoke. “What the hell is that, and how did you know it was there?”

  Lawson reached in and took one of the bag-covered squares from the top of the pile. “When you keep someone from taking a beating—or worse— from living through a horrible moment in the showers while you’re in prison, they tend to want to tell you things they probably shouldn’t.”

  Lawson set the square in the empty chair. “Things that no one is supposed to know.”

  Lawson took the switchblade from his pocket, the same one that had been inside Nero De Luca’s neck not too long ago. He thought it fitting to be opening this bag with that knife, so he was glad that he had pressed the detectives so hard to let him take it with him. They didn’t want to, but after all he’d been through, they slid it to him under the table. He sank the blade in the bag, cut a slit along the top of it, and reached in.

  Lexi was anxious to see what was inside. “We’re on pins and needles here, Lawson. Are you going to blow us up like Cassie said?”

  “I was hoping to blow your minds,” he said as he pulled a large stack of cash wrapped in cellophane from the inside of the black plastic.

  “Oh. My. Gosh. Is that money?” Lexi’s mouth gaped wide in surprise. Cassie and Erin shared a similar expression.

  “Everything all right in there?” the detective shouted from the stairs.