“I don’t believe it,” Luke muttered, but his body remained still.
“Even though they were never filed, the charging documents also listed your father as being actively involved in one of the most prevalent crime organizations of that era.”
I felt Luke’s hand tremble as Sam continued.
“The organization has been responsible for more than seventy known murders. Most victims were somehow associated with the group, but there were a few innocent bystanders. Sports bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud, counterfeiting, and money laundering were all counts in the charging papers against your parents.”
“That were never filed,” Mia replied.
“They were never filed only because the FBI had reason to believe that your parents were actively involved or had knowledge of who had been behind the art theft they were investigating. The FBI felt there was a connection between the crime organization your parents were involved with and the Russians they were evidently working for. The bureau didn’t want to charge your parents until they—”
“Could use them to gain what they wanted,” Luke interrupted.
Sam nodded. “Your parents were murdered before the FBI could complete the investigation. Somehow it got back to someone that your parents were under investigation. There were very few people who could have gotten close enough to your parents to kill them and the people who ordered the murders knew that. Your aunt and uncle were also involved with the same people as your parents. When the murders were ordered, they gave your aunt and uncle no choice. If they didn’t carry out the orders, their children would’ve been killed.” Sam changed his stance before continuing.
“At first glance, it looked as if the executions had been ordered by the criminal organization they were all involved with.” Sam shifted uncomfortably. He didn’t like delivering the message anymore that Luke wanted to hear it. “But according to the newly released documents, it was GRU style, which had the FBI on alert. It also told the bureau that there was a connection between the two organizations.”
“Why didn’t any of this come out?” Luke asked, his voice hoarse.
“You can imagine what a PR mess this would have made if it went public. Not only was the US trying to repair its relations with the former USSR, but the bureau had barely gotten through one of the biggest espionage scandals in decades. The FBI wasn’t willing to let it come out that two murdered agents were not only about to be charged with espionage but were also tied to one of the largest criminal organizations in the country. It was a real mess.”
Luke didn’t say a word. He hung his head and clenched his eyes shut. He’d held his parents in such high regard. He idolized the work they did throughout their careers, and I was watching his very image of them dissolve right in front of me.
“The bureau always looks for answers, Luke. They want to learn why agents become disaffected so they can spot warning signs easier so it never gets to that level. In the case of your parents, there were no signs. It was just a series of accidental discoveries that led the FBI to watch your parents.”
“If this is true, then why did the FBI even consider me as an agent?” Luke asked. He lifted his head and his gaze locked on Sam’s.
“In all honesty, I think they thought you might be involved with or know something about their connections—”
“Which one? The mob? GRU? Come on,” Luke snapped.
“Following your parents’ murders, the FBI put extra pressure on the only group they could. They began making arrests and one of the largest organized crime rings was disbanded in less than a year. They were never able to get confirmation on how strong the ties to Russia were. No one would talk. But regardless, whoever is after you, believes you have what they want.”
“They won’t stop until they get what they want, and I have absolutely no way to give them that.” Luke glanced at me and then at his sister. “I knew we were dealing with a different kind of evil, but I never expected to find out our parents were involved.”
Luke got up and walked over to Sam, extending his arm. “I apologize for my behavior.”
Sam nodded and shook Luke’s hand. “I understand. I’m still trying to absorb it all. I hadn’t expected to learn of any of this, but some of the records became unsealed and I happened to look at the right time.”
“If you don’t mind, I need to excuse myself. Feel free to let yourself out.” Luke walked past me with his eyes forward, and I knew every single wall I’d managed to break down had built itself right back up and there was nothing I could do to change it.
Luke
A soft knock rapped on my bedroom door and Hannah pushed it open. Seeing her sweet smile made my world slow down and allowed me to back away from the edge. I wanted so badly to find and destroy everyone who’d made my world a living hell. It was too easy for me to reject reality and become immersed in a world I couldn’t seem to escape. Hannah reminded me of another way of existing, and I desperately needed that reminder.
I glanced up at her and longing slammed through me as she closed the door and slowly walked over to me. Her hips swayed gently as she tentatively moved toward me. If only forgetting were that easy. I sucked in a deep breath, not allowing myself the satisfaction of giving into my desires. But with Hannah it wasn’t lust that called to me. It was love and the need to be connected to her, to claim her. She grounded me to another way of being.
As if sensing the battle raging inside of me, she took a seat away from me on the bench next to my bed, giving me the space to decompress. She folded her hands and placed them on her lap as her gaze connected with mine.
“Sam left and Mia’s in the library.”
I nodded, unable to remove my gaze from Hannah’s.
“Is there anything I can do?” she asked. Her voice still held the quiet bewilderment we all felt the moment Sam’s words touched this universe.
I still didn’t believe it. Didn’t want to believe that my parents had been part of the problem. They were the glue that held all these tragedies together. All this time I thought my goal was to continue the crusade on their behalf. Now I wanted nothing to do with them.
I let out the air I’d been holding in and shook my head. “I honestly don’t know what to do, Hannah.”
“Maybe begin living a life you want,” she offered.
“That’s not an option until these people are stopped. I still don’t know what they’re after or what they think I have.”
She dipped her head and bit her lip as she wrestled with something internally. Hannah usually just said what was on her mind so I wasn’t sure why she was suddenly apprehensive. She brought her pensive gaze to mine and pressed her lips together, still not saying a word.
“What aren’t you telling me?” I asked.
“The guy who killed his own men but didn’t kill me…” her voice broke off.
I saw the pain thrash inside of her, the memories still raw as they extracted themselves from the dark crevices of her mind all because of choices my parents made. Decisions I would never understand.
“He had a Eastern European accent. It was faint. I could tell he’d worked hard on covering it up.” My pulse quickened at her revelation just as her eyes clouded over. I wanted nothing more than to take the pain away.
The pain I’d caused.
But I couldn’t. I needed to ensure nothing ever happened again, and I wasn’t sure that was even possible.
“He didn’t say much, but I remember being struck by it,” she continued, her voice distant. “He was so well dressed. It didn’t seem like...”
She stopped.
“What?” I asked.
“It didn’t seem like he was bothered at all by executing his own men. When I escaped and they caught me, I didn’t expect to make it through. I really didn’t. There was no reason to keep me alive.”
My heart started pounding heavily. She’d never mentioned that she’d gotten away. She’d never mentioned much from those two days, and I hadn’t wanted to pry. I was told it was better if I
didn’t.
“When did you escape?” I asked softly.
“At the house.” She shivered, but tried to cover it up by stretching her legs.
I did this to her.
“I jumped out of the window and managed to run pretty far, but I took a wrong turn and they were able to catch up. But, Luke, there is no reason I’m alive.”
Her words ripped me apart because she was only partially correct. There was a reason she was alive and it was to send a message to me. No one was safe until they got what they wanted. Whether it was the GRU or someone else, they wanted to demonstrate that they held the power, not me. The problem was that I didn’t know if they thought I had something to give them or if I knew too much for their liking, even though I knew nothing at all. Either way I was at an obvious disadvantage.
“I’m thinking I should go to Flagstaff,” I told her.
“I’d like to go too.”
I shook my head and immediately saw the disappointment behind her stare.
“Why not?”
“It’s not safe.”
“I think we’ve established that it’s not safe anywhere. Wouldn’t it be better if I was with you?” I heard the hurt in her voice, but I couldn’t chance it.
“Honestly, I think it would be safest if you’d go into hiding with my sister for a while but so far neither of you are willing.”
“Don’t change the subject,” she replied.
“I’m not changing the subject. I’m pointing out that having you come with me only endangers you, and the safest thing for you and Mia would be to be out of sight for a little while. I still don’t know what they’re after. Finding out that my parents were heavily involved with the underbelly of society only makes things worse, and it changes the game.”
“How so?”
“If I can find what it is they’re after before they do, I’ll shift the power equation. I’ll be able to lure them to me at the time and place of my choosing.”
“And then what?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.
“I can end the problem once and for all.”
“But what if what they want is you?” she asked, her voice catching.
“Then I’ll make sure to deliver, but it will be on my terms.”
I saw the first of many tears slowly begin to slide down Hannah’s cheek, and I knew what I needed to do to protect Hannah. I just wasn’t sure if I had the strength.
Hannah
Mitch and Mia were in the kitchen with me while I finished answering Sam’s questions. Luke was already in Arizona. He took Alex with him and no one else. I didn’t know what he was looking for and neither did he.
“Would you be able to recognize it again?” Sam asked.
“You mean his voice?” I asked.
Sam nodded.
“I’d imagine so. It’s pretty much ingrained in me morning, noon and night. I wish I could forget the sound of that man’s voice.”
I glanced at Mia who’d made a slight noise with my admission. Did she not realize that everything from those forty-eight hours continually repeated in my mind? It was like one never-ending loop.
“Well, I think that’s about all the questions I have for you. I have some voices I’d like you to listen to this week. If you’re up for it,” Sam said cautiously.
“Absolutely. I’m game whenever. Anything I can do to end this once and for all.”
Sam stood up slowly and grabbed his files. “Have you heard from Luke?”
The question was pointed to all of us and the answer was no. I hadn’t heard from him since he’d left. It needed to be that way for many reasons, but the most important one for me was his safety.
“I don’t expect to hear from him until the doorbell rings,” Mitch answered.
Sam nodded. His expression looked strained as he glanced at Mia and turned his gaze to me.
“He needs to let us do our job. He can’t just go rogue time and again,” Sam said. “I’ve let things slide and covered up for him a lot over the years and that was before I learned about his parents.”
“So you’re saying because of our parents, you aren’t so willing to help my brother any longer?” Mia barked as she stood up and crossed her arms.
“That’s not what I’m saying. It has nothing to do with your parents. I don’t put Luke in the same category. That’s not what I intended. I meant that learning the identities of the two dead men we’d discovered when rescuing Hannah has helped us move the case forward quite a bit. I know we’re on to something, if Luke would just give us time.”
“All due respect, sir, but Mr. Fletcher has given you plenty of time. Years by my calculations,” Mitch said, his brows raised.
Sam could see that he was outnumbered. There was no point in arguing. All any of us could do was take one day at a time in this game of cat and mouse, and I prayed for Luke’s safe return.
“Hannah has an appointment I need to get her to. I’ll show you out,” Mitch told Sam.
I’d completely forgotten that I had an appointment with Dr. Doro this afternoon. I’d managed to skip a couple.
Sam let out a deep breath and followed Mitch down the stairs. Everything felt so uncomfortable and out of balance. I didn’t like what I was witnessing. Alliances were being tested and intentions challenged, and I felt like it was all being directed by some outside force, which none of us could get to or stop.
I heard the front door close and slowly made my way to where I’d last left my purse. This was the first time since Luke left for Arizona where I’d let myself become angry for not being included and despair attempted to take over.
“You ready?” Mitch hollered up the stairs.
“She’s gettin’ there,” Mia replied. She must have caught how slowly I was moving.
By the time I climbed into the car and buckled, I was completely exhausted. Either I was coming down with the flu or I’d finally hit my wall. I guess it was good that I had an appointment with Dr. Doro.
The traffic was light, or as light as city traffic in California could be, and we pulled into Dr. Doro’s parking lot a few minutes early.
“Is it ever going to get easier?” I asked Mitch as he put the car into park and turned off the ignition.
“Which part in particular?” Mitch asked.
“At this point, I’d take any of it getting easier.”
Mitch parted his lips and almost said something, but he thought better of it. Instead, he exited the car and walked over to my door. I watched him scan the parking lot and surrounding area as he opened my door. I got out of the car and my gaze drifted over the mostly empty lot. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but it still didn’t make it any easier. I wasn’t sure how I was going to make it through classes this semester as jumpy as I still was. Maybe that was where Dr. Doro came in.
Mitch followed me into the tiny lobby and I took a seat. I was beginning to feel very comfortable in this little area. I knew what to expect.
“See you in an hour. I’ll be waiting on the other side.” Mitch grinned.
It had become our little joke. It certainly felt like that sometimes. But in this case, he literally would be waiting for me on the other side, the other side of the office. Dr. Doro had designed the space so that patients wouldn’t run into one another. We came in one door and left out the other. I liked it that way and imagined Luke did too. I wondered if he’d been here recently. Did he come before he left for Arizona?
The door opened and out popped Dr. Doro. He was dressed in his usual pants and sweater attire, and he motioned for me to follow him into his office. With each step closer, I felt the weight of the world begin to slowly lift, and I hadn’t even said anything yet.
I slumped onto the couch and put my feet up. It felt like one of those sessions. I set my purse on the floor and let out a sigh while Dr. Doro took a seat in the chair in front of me. He crossed his leg and set his tablet on his lap, pen in hand.
“I’m worried that Luke is chasing after something that is impossible to find,” I began.
/>
“What makes you say that?” Dr. Doro asked. I was positive he already knew the answer.
“It sometimes feels like he purposefully places the world on his shoulders and then feels the responsibility to fix it all, knowing he can’t. Not everything can be fixed.”
“Is that what you think? That Luke feels the need to fix the unfixable?” Dr. Doro questioned.
“When you put it that way, yes. I’m worried about what will happen if he finally runs into something that he can’t fix. Or time runs out or…” I stopped, not wanting to say too much.
“Do you think it gives him purpose?” Dr. Doro asked.
I shook my head, but my answer didn’t match. “Possibly. I just hate everything that happened. That he’s feeling so responsible about what happened to me. Like it’s his fault when it’s not. I feel like he’s lost his ability to trust or maybe… I don’t even know.”
“When you were last here, we discussed the revelation about his parents,” Dr. Doro stated.
It was true. I hadn’t intended on discussing it with him, but it just flowed out to Dr. Doro. I was so shocked about what I’d learned and didn’t want Luke to think I was judging him by bringing it up so I bottled it up for Dr. Doro.
“Learning something so devastating about one’s history, about one’s own view or memory of the past, shifts the present greatly. It becomes hard to situate yourself when what you thought you knew drove you to make so many life-altering decisions. People can second-guess themselves. They doubt their choices and their ability to read people and situations.”
“But Luke has always had the control and ability to keep himself and the people he cares about protected.”
“Until you,” Dr. Doro added.
“Until me,” I repeated.
“It will take him a lot of time to come to grips with the information he received about his parents and the role they played in his life…. and yours. That would’ve been a difficult thing to do in itself, but connecting your abduction to the activities of his parents is a brutal recognition that might take him time to understand, and his desire to want to fix things is the only way he knows how to help himself help you.”
Buried Sins Page 12
