“Yes, but none of them were his daughter,” Kassie disputed.
“I just found out that I am not related to him in any way. The so called adoption was bogus. Harold was on his way to prison, so why the hell would I kill him now, when I could have enjoyed rubbing it in his face for years to come?”
“I watched the news as well, and from what I heard, he raped your wife,” Kassie argued.
“Yes, when she was thirteen,” Aidan said irritably. “Look, you’re wasting valuable time using it on me. I didn’t kill him, but I can help you catch the perp who did.”
“And who do you think that is?” Kassie asked pointedly.
“I have some theories, but nothing concrete,” Aidan admitted.
Before Kassie could continue, there was a knock at the door. “It’s like Grand Central Station in here,” she complained, getting up and opening the door. The LT whispered something that Aidan couldn’t hear, and then stepped to the side. George walked in.
“Are you lost?”
“Doctor, my name is Tom Bradshah and I’m with Homeland Security. What can you tell me about Harold Cassidy, the shooting victim brought in this morning?”
Doctor Camilla Velazco, Medical Examiner, looked at him incredulously. “I have two other autopsies ahead of his, so I can’t tell you anything yet.”
“With respect to those people, it is imperative that Harold Cassidy’s autopsy be top priority. It’s vital to an investigation concerning national security.”
“Mr. Bradshah—”
“Director Bradshah, Arkansas Division, Homeland Security.”
“Of course. Director Bradshah. I appreciate the case is important, but if I bumped an autopsy every time someone said it was urgent, I’d never get anything done.”
“And Doctor Velazco, I appreciate that you have a heavy workload, but I will take this to a higher authority if I have to.”
“My boss is out of town this weekend on a fishing trip.”
“I was thinking more, the President of the United States,” Tom bluffed.
Camilla looked at his determined face, his unwavering stance, and decided to comply. “That’s all right, Director. I’ll get started on it right away.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Tom said as he pulled out his business card and laid it on the metal table. “Here’s my card, please call me the second you have the results.”
“Let me get this straight,” Kassie said, pulling up another chair for George. “You are… I mean were the victim’s attorney?”
“Yes, George Peterson. I was also his cousin. I figured since Harold was dead, I wouldn’t be breaking client confidentiality if I tell you that he had made a deal with the Irish syndicate.”
“I knew it!” Aidan said, slapping the metal table with her hand.
Kassie held a hand up. “What kind of deal, Mr. Peterson?”
“He said that he told the mob about Vicky and the ring in exchange for breaking him out of jail. They’ve been in court for the last few days, watching.”
Aidan balled her hand into a fist but kept from losing control. It wouldn’t help her case if she threw another fit because of Harold. Her first priority was to keep Vicky safe. “I want my phone call.”
“Now?” Kassie asked disbelievingly.
“Right now. And you can listen if you’d like.”
Drew pulled out his cellphone and handed it to Aidan.
“Thanks,” she said as she hit the numbers and waited for the phone to be answered. “Jerry! Jerry where are you?”
“On my way down to the morgue, are you all right?” Jerry asked.
“No. Harold made a deal with the gang, making Vicky the target. I need a protection detail on her, ASAP.”
“Roger that. Detouring now.” Jerry ended the call, and as he ran down the hallway and into the stairwell, he called Tom.
Aidan handed the phone back to Drew. “Thank you.”
“But if they know the ring has gone back to Ireland, why would they still come after Vicky?” George asked, shaking his head.
“Hopefully they won’t, but I’m not taking any chances,” Aidan explained. “Detective, you now have a solid lead on who killed Harold. Homeland has a member of that gang in custody, and I’m sure that my boss will be happy to share Intel with you.” At least I hope he will.
“And I’ll pursue that lead, but you are still my prime suspect.” Kassie stated stubbornly.
Aidan stood up. “Either you book me now, or cut me loose. I’m not sitting here waiting on you while an international terrorist runs loose.”
“She’s right, Detective,” Drew said as he also stood up. “You don’t have enough to hold her on.”
“I demand to talk to the Chief of Police, Craig Thomas,” Vicky snapped at the Sergeant.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. Let me drop everything and get him for you,” the Sergeant replied sarcastically.
“Let me assure you, Sergeant, the Chief and I are close acquaintances, and he will hear about this,” Vicky said out of frustration. She had never used her friendship with anyone as a way to coerce someone else into giving her what she wanted, but then she had never been in a situation like this before either. She reminded herself that this place was on the opposite end of the hospitality chain.
“Vicky,” Jerry called, as he rushed into the room.
Vicky hurried over to him. “Jerry, where’s Aidan. Have you seen her? Is she all right?”
“She’s all right. Said to tell you not to worry.”
“Fat chance of that,” Vicky smirked. “Jerry, what’s going on? Have they booked her yet?”
“No, not yet. The evidence collected so far is inconclusive, but because of her connection to Harold, she is their prime suspect.”
“I don’t understand, how did they narrowed it down to her so quickly?”
“My guess would be the news reporters,” Jerry theorized. “They were there, filming everything, then reporting it outside the courtroom.”
Suddenly the double doors flew open and a reporter with a cameraman, rushed in.
“What kept you?” Vicky asked tediously.
“Vicky can you give us a statement?” the reporter asked.
Just as she was about to speak, another reporter came running in. Vicky could tell that he was with the newspaper or radio because he was holding a mini-recorder.
“All I will say is that the wrong person was arrested this morning. Aidan Montgomery-Cassidy is a national hero, not a murderer.”
“Will you divorce her now that she’s been arrested?” the newspaper guy asked.
“What kind of asinine question is that? Of course not.”
“Vicky!”
Vicky turned to see Aidan running toward her. “Oh, thank God!”
The two women ran into each other’s arms and hugged, and then they kissed. The cameraman edge around them so he could get a better angle, and ended up in front of Jerry.
“Excuse me, mister, but you’re in my way,” Jerry said sardonically, and walked in front of the camera, blocking the man’s view.
“Hey, what gives?” the annoyed cameraman complained.
Something caught Jerry’s eye and suddenly he shoved the cameraman back and drew his weapon. “GUN!” he yelled, as he took a shooting stance and aimed his pistol at the man walking through the double doors.
Aidan looked up, and reached for her weapon, then remembered she had left it at home. Still, she pushed Vicky behind her and backed her away. Richard pulled Brigid away, but Joyce was far enough away that there was nowhere to move to.
The Sergeant at the front desk hit the panic button and police started pouring out of doors and offices, their pistols drawn.
Vicky peeked around Aidan’s arm and recognized the man carrying the gun. “No wait, don’t shoot him!”
Bob Wilkes stood just inside the door holding a sniper rifle upside down, and out away from him. His other hand was up signaling he was surrendering.
“Down! Put the rifle down!” Jerry yelled, sighting down the barrel of
his Sig P229 pistol.
“Mr. Wilkes, what are you doing?” Vicky asked apprehensively.
Aidan kept her arm out, blocking Vicky from moving toward him.
“Aidan, that’s the man I told you about. His daughter committed suicide because of Harold.”
“I don’t care, Vicky, just stay back,” Aidan commanded. In a softer tone, she held out her other hand to Wilkes. “Mr. Wilkes, give me that rifle and let’s talk.”
Wilkes looked at Aidan as if he had a decision to make. She took a step forward, still holding a hand back toward Vicky.
“No, Aidan…” Vicky said softly.
“It’s all right,” Aidan assured her. “He’s not here to kill anyone. Are you, Mr. Wilkes?”
“No, I’m not,” he replied, holding the gun out to Aidan. As soon as she had a firm grip on the rifle, and took a step back, Wilkes was rushed by three police officers. They forced him against the wall, pulled his arms behind him and cuffed his wrists. Then they turned him around and frisked him.
“I’m here to turn myself in,” Wilkes said, looking at Aidan again. “I killed that bastard.”
“No,” Vicky gasped. “Why would you do such a thing?”
Wilkes took a step toward Vicky, but Aidan put a hand out to stop him.
“That’s close enough,” she insisted.
He stopped and looked at Vicky. “She was my little girl. My only child and he killed her.”
Leonard move beside Vicky and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Mr. Wilkes, this is my only child. You have my sympathy, sir.”
Wilkes nodded at Leonard, and as they led him away Vicky began to cry softly. Then she saw Drew and pulled him away from the others so they could talk.
“If he needs a lawyer, would you represent him? I’ll pay your fee, of course.”
“No problem, but are you sure you want to do that?” he asked her.
“I’m sure. I don’t know why, but I feel like I owe it to him,” Vicky replied.
“You don’t owe him anything,” Aidan inserted as she joined them. “You overcame everything Harold threw at you. You had a choice and you made the right one. That said, it is very tragic, and I feel for the man.”
“I still want to help him, Aidan,” Vicky repeated.
“I know, kid. You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t. I’m just saying that you don’t owe him because his daughter committed suicide and you didn’t.”
“I know, and you’re right. But there was someone pushing me to overcome Harold and that was you, sweetheart. Even when you weren’t here, you were with me, in my heart.”
“Aw, baby, that is so sweet. I feel exactly the same way. And I promise that I will never leave you—”
“Cassidy, get it in gear!” Tom demanded as he rushed through the waiting room. “We think the leprechaun is headed for the airport. Come on, let’s go!”
Vicky looked at the perplex frown on Aidan’s face and laughed. “All right, go on.”
Aidan kissed her quickly on the lips. “I love you, baby.”
“I love you too, honey,” Vicky replied, popping Aidan on the butt. “Now go catch the bad guys.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Earlier today, Bob Wilkes, a mechanic from Beebe, and a former Marine sniper, turned himself in for the killing of Harold Cassidy, a man on trial for rape. In a statement he gave the police, Wilkes said he did it for his daughter, who he said was raped by Cassidy. Evidence gathered at the scene, and Wilkes house, indicate that he is the shooter. Aidan Cassidy, arrested early for the crime, has been exonerated. Douger Bradley for KBHV news.”
Vicky turned off the television and picked up her cellphone. “May I speak with Mr. Douger Bradley, please? Yes, I’ll hold,” Vicky said as she twirled a lock of hair absentmindedly. “Hello? Yes, Mr. Bradley, this is Victoria Montgomery-Cassidy. I’d like to thank you for making sure that your audience knew Aidan was innocent. Not every reporter would have bothered to include that.”
“Thank you. I understand the power of television, Mrs. Montgomery-Cassidy. It was the right thing to do,” Bradley replied.
“Well, thank you for doing the right thing,” Vicky reiterated.
***
Later that evening, as Jerry, Tom, and Kassie watched from the observation room, Aidan, dressed in her black jeans and leather jacket, wearing a hidden microphone on her shirt and a Leprechaun tattoo on her hand, was escorted by a police officer into the interrogation room. Her hands were handcuffed in behind of her, making it difficult to sit down. Connor McGregor, the second sniper who didn’t get his shot off, was sitting shackled to the table. He was youthful looking, with brown hair and a few freckles across his nose.
“Hey, jerk, how about taking off my cuffs,” Aidan snapped at the policeman.
“Shut up and sit down, O’Malley,” the officer barked. He did uncuff her hands, but cuffed them back in front of her, and then added another handcuff securing her to the ring on the table that McGregor was handcuffed too. “The detective will be here in a minute,” as he walked out the door.
Aidan shook her head. “Shit, I hope it’s not that bitch detective Anderson. She’s a mean son of a bitch.”
Kassie’s face turned red as the anger flushed her cheeks.
“It’s all part of the act, Detective,” Tom reminded her.
“Yeah, I doubt that,” Kassie retorted.
Connor looked at the tattoo on Aidan’s hand, then he looked at his own Leprechaun tattoo.
“Dude, are you a member of the lucht oibre, too? You know, the Irish workforce?” Aidan asked, tilting her head slightly and pointing at his tattoo.
“Ay. But I don’t know you,” Connor said, looking away.
“I just joined up. They were testing me, but I got busted muling drugs.”
“I guess you’re cac outta ádh then.”
Aidan laughed, mindful to repeat what he said in English. “Yeah, I guess I am shit out of luck. But I’m hoping they give me another chance. I ain’t got nowhere else to go, if they don’t.
Connor tried to turn in his chair, but the shackles stopped him. “Cac. Look, I’ve got my own sad story, I don’t want to hear yours.”
“Fair enough,” Aidan conceded. “So what are you doing in here? Were you being tested too?”
“Nah, nothing that simple.”
Aidan ignored the insult. “I heard there was a shooting this morning, but the idiot ran off and left his rifle. That wasn’t you, was it?”
He looked at her suspiciously.
Oh, shit, I think I just blew it.
Connor shook his head. “I don’t know you. Why are you even in here?”
“Shit if I know,” Aidan feign ignorance. “They said I had to wait in here with the other members. I guess that’s you.”
“Listen, girl, say I believe you,” Connor said, leaning in, “and say I was in that group, which I’m not, if you want to live long in this racket, you best keep your stupid mouth shut. The walls have ears.” He nodded toward the mirrored window where Tom and the others stood behind it.
Aidan covered the side of her face with her hand and whispered, “Listen, do you know Malachy Doyle? Malachy and I ran together in the Chicago gang. We joined up together, but I heard he also was busted for carrying drugs.”
“Damn it. He was my boy,” Connor said more to himself than to Aidan. “I was going to train with him.”
“She’s hooked him now,” Tom said in hushed tones. “Let’s hope she can reel him in.”
Aidan had an idea that would either get her the answers she was looking for, or abruptly end the deception. She decided it was worth the risk. “Malachy bragged that you had a German HK417.”
“Yeah, he was pretty excited about using it. Too bad I had to leave it behind.”
“Damn, that is too bad,” Aidan said, shaking her head. “Oh, wait, so you were the one on that rooftop that left the rifle. Man, why didn’t you take the shot? What a bonehead thing to do.”
Connor pounded his fist on the table. “
Fuck you. I fucking got interrupted, damn it.”
Aidan laughed, fueling Connor’s anger. “You fucking panicked and left it there for the cops to find.”
“Yeah, my old man is going to shit bricks when he hears about it,” Connor expounded, wondering how bad the beating he would get from his father, would be.
“So? Is he a big shot or something?” Aidan asked curiously.
“No, dumbass. He is the big shot. As in the boss.”
“She did it!” Tom exclaimed, slapping Jerry on the shoulder. “All right, let’s tie this up with a neat little ribbon and call it a night.”
The doorbell rang and Ellen volunteered to answer the door because Vicky was in the kitchen opening the paper cups. Ellen opened the door and Yvonne walked in carrying a cake box. She carried it into the kitchen to show Vicky.
Vicky looked at it and clapped her hands. “Yvonne, that’s perfect! Just put it right over there on the table. Oh, wait, let me put the table cloth down, just a second.” Vicky put down the paper cups as she rushed to the dining room table and unfolded the paper tablecloth. “Okay, there you go.”
“Thanks,” Yvonne said, setting the box down and taking the cake out.
Just as Ellen was about to shut the door, Richard walked in. “Where do you want these?” he asked, holding a bouquet of balloons.
“Oh, hold on one second,” Vicky said, pulling her cellphone out of her pocket again. She tapped on the camera app and snapped his picture. “Too cute,” she said gleefully.
“All right, as long as you don’t post that on Facebook,” Richard quipped.
“Perish the thought,” Vicky laughed. “I’ll use it at the next executive meeting.”
“Sure, that won’t be embarrassing at all.”
“All right, I’ll only share it with Aidan, how’s that?”
“Same problem,” Richard chuckled.
Vicky laughed, putting the phone back in her pocket. “Here, I’ll take half of the balloons and put them in that corner of the living room, and if you would put the other half in the opposite corner, we’ll be all set.”
Joyce arrived with the beer and wine coolers, setting them down on the table. She pulled a beer out and was about to open it when Ellen took it out of her hands and put it back on the table.
I Won't Remember You (Aidan & Vicky Book 6) Page 19
