The 13th Hour: A Marston Thriller (The Marston Series Book 4)

by Brigitta Moon

Gina’s gaze went to her lap. She knew what he was about to say.

  “Yeah,” DeShawn said. You’re twenty-four and the man has not come to you to say, ‘Hey, Gina, look, a little misunderstanding. You’re not my niece, you’re my daughter, my flesh and blood.’ Coward.”

  Gina wanted to know one thing. “Why did she do it? Why would she leave us?”

  “Him!” DeShawn thrust his finger toward the television as if the mayor was there. “The mayor, your precious father. She loved him. He didn’t deserve her love. Just look at what it got her—nothing but heartache.”

  “But, he’s married,” Gina said.

  “I guess Little Gina is growing up. Now, you’re getting the picture.”

  “Why would she have an affair with a married man?” asked Gina.

  DeShawn scoffed. “He was her boss. If she wanted to keep her job, she had to play. He wined and dined her, gave her expensive gifts. Next thing she knew she thought she was in love.”

  “But, that’s sexual harassment. He was her boss.”

  “And the plot thickens, DeShawn said. “Then you came along. He promised to leave his wife and marry her. She held on to that lie until you turned three and she discovered he was planning to renew his vows with his wife on their anniversary.”

  “How do you know so much?”

  DeShawn’s grin cut all the way across his face. “She left me a fact list.” Tears rolled down his cheeks. “Can you believe that? She had all kinds of shit on him. There were so many ways she could have taken him down—instead she took herself out.”

  DeShawn’s grandmother went to him, wrapped her arms around him. “Oh, God, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you knew. I had no idea you were carrying this around with you.” Hot tears trickled down her face. “I did what I thought was best for both of you. After your mother’s funeral, I went to Mayor Harden and asked if he intended to help me with Gina financially. He made me an offer. He would take Gina as his niece and give me twenty thousand dollars to help me take care of you.” She looked at DeShawn.

  “How noble of him,” DeShawn said.

  “So, you went along with him...” Gina looked up at her grandmother. “What do I call you? Grandma, Gran, Nana? She pursed her lips. “What’s your name?”

  “Nina. You can call me Nina.”

  Nina sat down hard on the couch. “Yes, I went along with him, but not because of the money. Twenty thousand doesn’t go far when you’re taking care of a family. I did it for you.”

  Gina wore a look between shock and surprise.

  “Yes, for you,” Nina answered. “Look at yourself—fair skin, strawberry-blond hair. You even have a splash of freckles across your nose. You fit in better with the mayor than in our neighborhood. I thought you would have a better life.”

  DeShawn couldn’t hold his tongue any longer after the tears passed. “I got what was left over of Gran’s heart after Mom and you. She spent her days and nights crying over two people who were gone, and never having enough love to give to me. Now, I say that’s pretty fucked up.” He smiled down at Gina showing off his gold tooth with a D in the middle. “I gave your daddy forty-eight hours to comply with my demands.” He checked his watch. “He has fifteen hours left.”

  “And if he doesn’t give you what you want, then what?”

  “I kill you.”

  Chapter 62

  “We are all wondering what’s in the package that was delivered to Mrs. Harden,” Chief Randall said to Romero and Becky. “We have been waiting patiently for you, the lead detective, to show up.”

  Romero chewed on his tooth pick. “Sorry, Chief, I ran into Mayor Harden at SUDS.”

  The mention of the mayor silenced the group until the elevator dinged and Copeland stepped out. Instantly, she noticed the group and the expressions on their faces as if they had been in a huddle planning strategy.

  “What am I missing?” asked Copeland.

  “I came to collect Romero so we can move this case forward.”

  Copeland stood in front of Becky at her desk. “I’ll bet he was down here harassing you, right?”

  Becky sat up. “Oh, no, Detective Romero never bother’s Becky.” She eyed Romero with a smile. “He was working, talking to the mayor’s wife.”

  “Why isn’t she making her plea from her home or at the TV station?’ asked Chief Randall.

  “Some form of symbolism for her,” answered Romero.

  “Hopefully, her husband will do the right thing and stand with her,” Chief Randall said.

  Romero shuddered as if the temperature had taken a dive. “I think we can scratch him out of the picture.”

  “What has happened, partner?” Copeland asked.

  “The man was chiseled from ice. That’s all I can say right now.” He nodded toward the elevator. “We should go and see what promises the box has for us.”

  On Romero’s que, they headed for the elevator. Becky watched until the doors closed, wishing she was part of their team, wishing Billy had been here to fill her in on the details. She plucked at her nails. It was probably going to be a long wait until Billy came down. She surveyed the corridor. No one was coming her way. The entry door was closed. She wanted to see what was happening on the steps, just one glimpse.

  Becky hopped up, walking as quickly as her legs would carry her towards the door. She peeped through the glass. Men were setting up cameras. Mrs. Harden and the reporter were standing beside a white, outside broadcasting van with BREAKING NEWS painted across the side in bold, black letters, and all the bells and whistles on top for getting the story. They were engaged in conversation. Becky figured they were getting their game plan together. Her gaze flipped over her shoulder towards her desk. No one was waiting for her. She went back to stalking the scene outside. A crowd was beginning to gather. Becky saw Jeffrey Brodsky heading her way with his briefcase. Work was coming.

  Becky opened the door for the lawyer. “You’re working kind of late tonight, aren’t you?”

  He nodded. “Same as you.”

  “Who are you here to see?”

  Becky turned away from the crowd outside and started for her desk. Jeffrey walked with her. Becky sat down. Jeffrey leaned on the desk.

  “You have the most mysterious eyes,” Jeffrey said.

  “Is that good?” asked Becky.

  “Yes, definitely.”

  “Well then, Becky thanks you for the complement.”

  Jeffrey sat his briefcase on the floor. “Any chance Romero is around?”

  “He’s got his hands full right now.”

  “I imagine he has. I’ve heard some rumblings about a package.”

  Becky’s eyes went wide. “That’s top secret. Who told.”

  Jeffrey chuckled. “I have my ways. Romero has included me from the beginning. He probably just forgot to call.”

  Becky reached for the phone. “Becky will call him for you.”

  Jeffrey placed his hand over Becky’s. “No need, pretty lady.” He gave her a gooey-eyed smile. “I know the way. I’m sure he won’t mind.”

  Becky’s cheeks blushed red. “Well, since you—”

  “Mr. Brodsky,” a familiar voice called out.

  Jeffrey turned to see Gloria and she was not looking happy. She had the straps of her purse clutched in one hand on her hip and the other pointing a finger at him.

  “I knew you wouldn’t stick by your word. My fiancé is still in jail. You were supposed to get him bailed out.”

  “Excuse me, Becky.” Jeffrey grabbed his briefcase from the floor, marched over to Gloria, and dragged her by the elbow to one of the waiting benches.

  “I told you I am working on it. You can’t keep stalking me.”

  “My fiancé is depending on us and you’re not—”

  “Let me stop you there. You’re taking this mock fiancé too far.”

  “What do you mean, mock.”

  “Don’t you remember, it was part of our plan to make Jesse appear as a family man.”

  “It may have started
out that way, but Jesse and I have come to an understanding.”

  “An understanding, like what?”

  “That’s between me and my man. Your job is to get him out.”

  “Jeffrey closed his eyes and shook his head. “Gloria, I am working on it. Why do you think I’m here this late in the evening?” Jeffrey squinted at Gloria. “Wait. How did you know where to find me?”

  “Oh, you think I’m following you?”

  “No, I call it stalking. You know that’s a punishable crime.”

  Gloria rolled her eyes. “Nobody’s following you. I heard about this news conference. I want a front row seat. I know that Mayor Harden ain’t right. I know he has something to do with my man being in that cage. War on drugs my ass.”

  Jeffrey massaged his temple. “What are you talking about?”

  “You see, Mr. Lawyer, I stick by my word. I told Jesse I was going to help, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.” Gloria scooted around on the bench so her and the lawyer were facing each other. “The last time I was over to see Jesse, he told me about this secret group. He says all these men are innocent.”

  “Hold on, Gloria. I know about the group, but I’m not sure they are all innocent.”

  “Well, he says they are. He gave me a list of their names, and I went straight to the library and looked them up.”

  Jeffery dropped his head. He felt a headache coming on.

  I put them in order by their arrest dates, and I found something.”

  Jeffrey’s head popped up. He was hesitant to ask the next question, but he asked anyway. “What did you find, Sherlock?”

  Gloria Chortled. “The first arrest in the group matches up with the mayor’s announcement declaring a war on crime and drugs.”

  “Go on, I’m listening.”

  “If you go back and check the statistics for Marston with the first arrest, crime was up and arrests were down. Suddenly, he makes this big announcement and arrests are being made. Now, I don’t know about you, but sounds like he’s been doing some gardening to me.”

  Jeffrey planted his elbow on the back of the bench and leaned on his hand. “He couldn’t take on a job like that alone. He would need help.”

  Gloria was nodding so hard and fast that Jeffrey thought her head would dislodge from her neck and roll across the floor like a basketball.

  “That’s why I’m here. When he throws this party of his out front, I intend to be front and center.”

  Jeffrey let out a breath as if it had been kicked out of him.

  “I’m afraid to ask, but what good will that do you?”

  “I’m going to ask him, Mayor Harden, have you been falsely arresting men and women to increase your ratings?”

  Jeffrey wanted to tie Gloria up and haul her away. “You can’t do that.”

  “Oh, yes, I can.”

  “No, you, cannot. Let the detectives handle this. They know about this group. Believe me, they’re on it. Go home, take a hot bath, watch the show on TV.”

  “No way—”

  “If you don’t, I will take my briefcase and walk away.”

  “What do you mean walk away?”

  “It means I will withdraw from the case.”

  Gloria’s lips parted. She stopped breathing. “You can’t—”

  “I can, and I will if you don’t go home.”

  Loud clapping and cheering slipped under the door, interrupting their conversation.

  Becky waved wildly from the door at Jeffery and Gloria. “They’re starting,” she said.

  Part XI

  Chapter 63

  Flipping the lights on as he rushed through the house, Mayor Harden could only think of one thing—escape. Everything was falling apart. His kingdom was crashing down. He stood in the living room turning in a circle, taking in the knickknacks, the family pictures, the expensive furniture, and paintings. He had risked so much, and now everything was running down the drain like water.

  “Renee,” He called out. “Renee, answer me!”

  She didn’t respond. He went flying up the steps, yelling her name. Going room to room, flipping on lights, calling out her name, and getting no answer. He gave up, and went to his bedroom. He needed to disappear for a few days until he could figure this whole thing out. He grabbed an overnight bag from the closet. Pulled out dresser draws and fished through them like a burglar, taking things he would need and tossing others on the floor. He scurried back into the closet for a change of clothes, his fingers jogging rack to rack ripping shirts and pants down, throwing them over his arm. When he had as much as he could carry, he scampered out like a rodent, and stopped short. A gun was leveled at his forehead.

  “Just one shot to the middle of your forehead would end it all.” The man with the gun was grinning. “You do business with us and then you shut us down without even a word.”

  “No,” Mayor Harden said with his hands raised high toward the ceiling and his clothes at his feet. “No, I didn’t.”

  “I beg to differ. Where was our protection tonight? No cop car blocking the street.”

  Mayor Harden wanted to dig a hole and crawl in. His gaze fell to the floor. “I’m sorry, I forgot. So much—”

  The man struck the mayor across his face with the gun. “You forgot! Do you know how much money you cost me tonight?”

  He didn’t answer.

  “Do you!” The man touched the barrel of the gun to the mayor’s forehead, between his brows. “Do you?” the man repeated under his breath.

  Mayor harden felt the cold steel pressed against his head. He thought of so many ways he could have lived life differently. Then, his thoughts went to Gina and her mother. He became angry. If it wasn’t for Gina, he would not be in this predicament, he thought to himself.

  “You owe me money, my friend.”

  “I can get it for you. Just tell me how much you want. Please, I have never let you down. I have been good to you.”

  “Yes, and we have been good to you, Mayor. But, now, you’re a loose cannon, and we have to disarm you.”

  “No, please, who else will protect your territory as I have done. I can make it up to you.”

  The man toed the clothes on the floor. “Where you skipping out on us?”

  “No, I—”

  “Look at me when you’re talking to me. I hate a man that grabbles, especially one who cannot make eye contact. It means you’re lying.”

  Mayor Harden raised his eyes. The gun pressed harder into his skin. He could smell the steel. “I’m being blackmailed. I forgot to make the assignments. It was an honest mistake.”

  “No mistake is honest, and no mistake can be overlooked. You think I don’t know about your little problem? I make it my business to know everything about a man who plays ball with us. You see, Mayor,” he ran the steel down the mayor’s face, “any man who offers us protection is not trustworthy. You break the law, take our money for your own pleasures, and then call yourself a law-abiding citizen.”

  “It won’t happen again. I can assure you of that. You can trust me.”

  The man waved the gun. “Go, sit on the bed.”

  Mayor Harden moved slowly toward the bed as if he was in a mine field.

  The man remained standing. “I know everything about you, including when you go to take a piss. You see, Mayor, we have cloned your computer, your cellphone, and your iPad, and bugged your home phone. We even have your car wired for sound. Nothing gets pass us.” The man snickered. “Your wife has been busy today.” He checked his watch. “Oh, look, you have less than fifteen hours to agree to give my territory that I have paid you for year after year to some sniveling thief. What’s your next move?”

  Chapter 64

  Chief Randall stood in front of the group. The detective’s office had been turned into a conference room for this meeting. Extra chairs had been brought in along with one oblong table. Everyone’s attention was on the chief.

  “Good, everyone is in attendance, so we can get started.”

  Copeland, B
illy, Romero, Riley, and Nelson sat at the long side of the table. Two other men were present, one at the head and the other at the foot of. One was from forensics, the other was Doc, the coroner. The middle of the table was occupied by the package.

  “We have had a few developments in this case. To be accurate, I should say cases. As Billy suggested early on, the cases are connected.”

  Romero nodded. He was thinking, once again, Billy has swung the hammer in the right direction.

  Let’s start with the shootout. Romero, summarize the facts for us.”

  Romero went to the front and stood next to the chief. “Billy and I had a sit down with Sergeant Oliver of the Northwest District. The shootout was gang related—The Kings and the B.E.s.”

  Doc said, “Could you tell me what the acronym represents?”

  “Bald Eagle Gang. They named their selves after a bird who has no morals.”

  “I see,” Doc said.

  “There were two dead. One from each gang, but the piece that most interested us was the gun. It’s registered to the mayor.”

  Shocked expressions riddled the faces of the group.

  “How does the mayor’s gun end up in the hands of a gang member,” asked Riley. “Did he report it as stolen?”

  “No such report has been found,” said Romero.

  “And once we had this information under our hats, we kept it there,” Chief Randall added. “So, no, the mayor doesn’t know about this.”

  “Why keep it from him?” asked Doc.

  “Because everyone is a suspect until we can clear them.” Chief Randall went to the white board. “Billy, join me, please.”

  Romero went back to his seat and Billy replaced him at the chief’s side.

  “Billy has drawn out a timeline which in my opinion is accurate.”

  “Billy Bob loves his timelines,” said Riley.

  The group chuckled.

  Billy took them on a trip guiding the group down his timeline from the first stop at the shootout all the way down to the last stop, Gina’s kidnapping. The first question was posed by Officer Nelson.