“Hello Marston. Many of you may not know me. My name is Renee Harden. I’m Mayor Harden’s wife. My niece is missing.”
A picture of Gina filled the screen. The picture slowly drifted to the right of Mrs. Harding.
“Gina has been with us since she was three years old. I love her as much as any mother loves a child. To me, she is my daughter. I know you may be wondering what has taken so long for me to make a plea for the return of my niece or why my husb—”
Mayor Harden ran up the steps, stopping at his wife’s side. He put his arm around her shoulder, kissed her on the cheek. Only then did he acknowledge the cameras. He looked directly into the camera’s eye.
Good evening Marston, my wife and I are here because our niece is missing and—”
“You mean kidnapped, don’t you!” a male voice yelled from the crowd.
Murmurs shot through the crowd as people scoured the mob to see who made the outburst. Mayor Harden kept going as if nothing had been thrown at him.
“Since she is missing, and a demand was made on us, yes, she has been kidnapped.”
Renee wiped tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. She had vowed not to do this. She would not cry on national TV. She wanted to be strong for Gina, but the tears wouldn’t stop. Mayor Harden drew her closer to him.
“If the person or persons who has my niece is watch—”
“Your daughter, Mayor! She’s your fucking daughter!”
“Who said that,” Mayor Harden asked.
The camera men whipped their lighting around to the crowd. The lights bounced over the throng of people as the crew sought out the voice. The crowd buzzed like a swarm of bees.
“Her mother killed herself because of you, you fucking asshole.”
“Who are you?” Mayor Harding called out. “Show yourself.”
The cameras went wild searching for the man making the allegations. Pool’s heart sped up. Once again, he was on top if the story. He wasn’t sure what this one was, but he knew he had scooped every news outlet around. Mayor Harden began again as if nothing had happened. At the sound of the Mayor’s voice, the cameras turned back to him.
“If you have my niece and you’re watching, please let her—"
“You are nothing more than a drug—“
A scream pierced the crowd, and another, until it had infected one whole section. People scurried, trampling one another in an attempt to reach safety. The Mayor and his wife skimmed the crowd trying see what was happening. Camera lighting bounced around the crowd like a tidal wave. The first light landed on the body of the man sprawled on the ground, his brown eyes open, already glazed over with death stared up blankly. Blood pumped from the left side of his chest onto his shirt, pooling under him on the street.
The mayor whisked his wife into the precinct.
When nothing else happened, Pool signaled for the cameramen to shine their lights on him. It was time for him to grab hold of his story. He stood in the spotlight with the scream of sirens behind him.
Chapter 70
Nina fell to her knees when the camera panned in on her son lying on the street, broken and bleeding. Gina knelt down beside her and wrapped her arms around the woman.
“I’m sorry,” Gina said softly.
Nina let out a gut-wrenching scream. Gina held her tighter.
“I’m so sorry,” Gina said in a whisper.
Sirens screamed from the TV. The reporter held the microphone to his mouth and pinched his ear closed with the other hand. He was describing the scene as pandemonium, saying no one knew for sure what had happened. He went on to explain how the mayor and his wife had come to plead for their niece’s return when a man began ranting from the crowd.
“His allegations at this time are unfounded,” Pool said.
“He’s gone,” Nina said.
“I don’t understand why he did it,” Gina said. “It seemed like he had this big plan where he was going to take over some drug ring and rule the world. Why would he go over there and make those allegations on TV for all the world to hear? What did he hope to gain?”
Nina cried for her son, for her daughter, her granddaughter, and herself. Her words came out muffled and rocky. “Regardless of what DeShawn may have said or done, he loved you with all his heart. I never knew it was eating away at him like a cancer. In the end the cancer metastasized and ate him to the bone.”
“I wish I could have known him,” Gina said.
“What you saw tonight was not him. There was never a thing in this world he wouldn’t do for me. It’s my fault you two didn’t know each other sooner. I was the one who wanted to wait. Now, he’s gone.”
Gina wiped tears from her eyes. “It seems as if confronting my unc...father was his objective. Think about it. If he was going through with his wild blackmail, how was he going to rule the drug world by confronting him in out in the open, and on camera. At that point, he had nothing to exchange.”
“For years he had talked big about he was going to bring the mayor down. I just thought it was talk. I never imagined he would concoct a plan that would get him killed.”
“In the end I think he got what he wanted. He wanted everyone to know what kind of man the mayor is.”
“Do they?” asked Gina. “People probably think DeShawn was just another nut.”
“I don’t think so,” Nina said. “How will they explain his execution?”
Gina thought for a moment. “How would anyone know he would be there to execute him?”
Nina said, “I’m sorry. I was wrong to keep you two apart. We were family. We should have ridden the wave together no matter where it took us.”
Gina sniffled. “I understand. You did what you thought was best. I can’t fault you for that.” She kissed her grandmother on the cheek. “We have each other.”
Chapter 71
Becky burst into the conference room, out of breath and wild eyed. All eyes landed on Becky’s haunted expression.
“Didn’t you hear that? There’s been a shooting,” she exclaimed.
Romero hopped up. “Jeeze, please tell me the mayor’s wife is okay.”
“She’s fine,” Becky said bending over to catch her breath. “They’re in the Chief’s office.”
“Wait,” said Chief Harding, “who are they?
“The mayor and his wife.”
“Well,” Romero intoned, “sounds like the man has finally come to his senses.”
Chief Randall walked over and placed a hand on Becky’s back. She was hunched over with her hands on her knees, breathing hard. “Sit down, Becky. Tell us what has happened.”
Billy rolled a chair over. Becky wasted no time accepting his offer. She took a few minutes to catch her breath.
“Becky was wishing she could be outside to see Mrs. Harden’s plea. She’s such a nice woman. All of a sudden Becky heard screams.”
“Did you hear gun fire?”
“Becky shook her head. “Nope. Becky didn’t hear any guns. Just screams.”
“How do you know someone was shot. The news, Becky was streaming it live on the iPad.”
“Billy, get Becky some water,” Chief Randall said. “Romero, come with me to my office. Everyone else, sit tight.”
When the chief and Romero reached the door, they could hear the hushed, angry voices of the mayor and his wife. Chief Randall lowered his hand behind him, stopping Romero like a crossing arm at the railroad intersection. They hung out of sight listening.
“Why would he say you’re Gina’s father?” The mayor’s wife sounded as if she was near tears.
“He was just some lunatic looking for his minute in the spotlight,” the mayor said.
“Stop lying to me. Someone killed that man.”
“You think this is some kind of setup? An execution of some type. You’re not making any sense. How would anyone know he would do that?”
“Something is wrong here, Gerald.”
“You’re letting your imagination get the best of you, honey.”
> “Don’t you honey me. All of this that has happened tonight is not some out of the blue coincidence. I want the truth.”
Chief Randall pushed the door open. “Mayor Harden, I just heard what happened. Are you two okay?”
“Yes, we’re fine,” said Mayor Harden.
“And you ma’am?” Romero asked handing her a Kleenex he popped from the box on the bookshelf.
The mayor’s wife looked up at Romero with reddened, glassy eyes. “I’m alive,” she said in a whisper wiping her nose, “unlike the man bleeding to death out there.”
“Mayor, we need to talk. Some things have come to light,” the chief said.
“Mrs. Harden, why don’t you come with me,” said Romero. “I can make you a cup of coffee or tea.”
“No, she said emphatically. “I’m not going anywhere until I find out what is going on.”
Mayor Harden took his wife’s hand. “Renee, please—”
She snatched her hand away. “I’m not leaving. I have every right to be here. I could have been killed out there. And how noble of you to show up at the last minute.”
“If I may ask, Mayor, why have you been so reluctant to make a public plea for the return of your niece?”
“Daughter!” Renee yelled. “She’s his daughter!”
“Any truth to this claim?” Chief Harden asked.
With a wry smile, the mayor answered, “Of course not. I don’t have any children.”
“I hope the ants and bugs eat your flesh when they bury you,” Renee snarled. She stood up and threw her purse over her shoulder. “Coffee, Detective, strong, please.”
Romero held the door for the mayor’s wife. She stormed out. Romero followed.
Chief Randall went behind his desk and sat in the black, leather captain’s chair. He swiveled side to side. Mayor Harden kept an eye on him while thinking of his next move in this game of chest. Patience, the mayor was thinking.
“We received a package today. We were expecting something much different from what we got.”
The mayor maintained eye contact, but kept his lips as tight as a vault. Fools hang themselves by speaking too soon, he thought to himself.
“What we have collected from the box was a lot more than we had bargained for. In fact, it was a hand delivered confession.” Chief Randall studied the mayor for any tells.
The mayor hunched his shoulders. “I can’t help without more information.”
Chief Randall folded his hands on the desk. “There are two tapes, each with recorded conversations of drug dealings. I was surprised to hear your voice taking part in these drug dealings.”
Mayor Harden leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. “Whatever you think you heard, I can guarantee you that it has been taken out of context and misconstrued.”
“I have had each tape transcribed. Would you like to read over it?”
“I have no need to read a transcript of fallacies. Think back to my speech when I was re-elected to office for the first time. I promised Marston that I would clean up this town. Rid it of crime and drugs.”
“I remember. It made all the headlines. With that speech, you gained an armload of supporters.”
“I sure did. I racked them up as fast as Americans rack up debt.” Leaning forward, Mayor Harden said, “I haven’t let them down.”
“Tell me about your blockade of the club district.”
“Nothing to tell. It’s easier to control who and what goes in and out during the peak time. Another means of keeping the towns people safe.”
“Mayor, have you noticed the deaths toll of Marston has soared? Many of these deaths are drug related, and they are connected to the club district.”
“Probably coincidence. You’re overthinking this thing, don’t you th—”
“And then there’s the allegation that your niece is actually your daughter. How do you respond to that one?”
“Easily. She’s been in my family since she was three. Many people mistake her for my daughter.”
“I see.” Chief Randall dug two fingers into his temple. “I hate to say this, but Gina looks like you.”
The mayor chuckled. “Of course, she does. She’s my brother’s daughter.”
“Mayor, would you be willing to take a paternity test?”
“What has my fatherhood got to do with any of this?”
“Actually, Mayor, all roads lead back to you.”
Chapter 72
“We still haven’t found Gina,” Romero said handing the mayor’s wife a cup of black coffee. “Now we have all of this going on.”
The mayor’s wife lifted the coffee cup to her lips, blew the steam away, peered at Romero from under her lashes, and said, “I love her you know.”
Romero sat his coffee cup on the table.
“Don’t feel sorry for me, Detective, I love her as if she was my own child.” Renee’s gaze dropped to the table. She scraped her nail back and forth over the surface. “You know, don’t you?”
Romero said, “Know what, Mrs. Harden?”
“I can tell by the way you avoid looking me in the eye, and the sadness covering your face at the mention of Gina being like a daughter to me.”
“Mrs. Harden—”
“Please, Detective, call me Renee. And yes, I know Gina is my husband’s daughter.” She took a sip of coffee and sat it on the table.
“Renee, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. None of this is your fault. After all, you weren’t there sitting on his shoulder telling him it’s alright to cheat on his wife.”
“How long have you known?”
She pursed her lips, tipped her chin and sighed. “I’m not sure how long it’s been.”
“Does Gina know?”
“I’m not sure, although, I suspect that by now she does.”
Romero checked his watch and frowned. “Thirteen hours to find her.”
“The thirteenth hour,” Renee sighed. “Some people consider the number thirteen unlucky. What about you?”
“It’s just another number, maybe unlucky right now since we haven’t found Gina.”
“And maybe unlucky for my husband. I suspect the chief is about to read him his rights.”
Romero froze for a second while he processed Renee’s words. He sipped his coffee, sat the cup on the table, rubbed at his goatee. “Are you kidding?”
“Detective, look at me. Do I look like a woman in the mood for kidding?”
Romero looked at her—up and down. “Actually, for a woman who has been through all that you have, you look rather calm.”
“I guess that’s because my life is improving.” She reached out and palmed Romero’s hand on the table. “The thirteenth hour has been lucky for me.”
Romero watched Renee, letting her talk. “Do you remember my trip to the ladies’ room before we came in here?”
Romero didn’t answer. He knew she wasn’t expecting one. “Gina called me. She’s shook up, but she’s alive.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this in the beginning?
“It was need to know, and at that point, there was no need for you to know.”
“But—”
Renee held up her hand. “I have been through hell and back with my husband. I have been living a lie for years. He knew he was Gina’s father. Do you think he had the decency to tell me? Some would say if he loved me, he would have owned up to his mistake in the beginning.” She bowed her head, looking at the table. “Other’s would say it was not a mistake.”
Romero’s eyes softened.
“I can’t have children. Something my husband desperately wanted. So, when he came home with Gina, I accepted her and loved her.”
“So, you knew all along?”
“No, I have only discovered this along with my husband’s other extracurricular activities when Gina started dating.”
Chapter 73
“Would you like to invoke your right to have an attorney present during the remainder of our conversation?” asked Chief Randall.
> Mayor Harden scoffed. “You sound as if you’re arresting me. I’m the mayor of this town. I have done nothing other than protect our people. Thanks to me Marston is safe again.”
“I have a different take on the safety issue of Marston. Because of you we have grieving families, young men and women who will never see their dreams come true, never marry, or have children. No, you have helped to rob them of that.” Chief Randall pressed the intercom button. When Becky answered, he said, “Send in Riley.”
“Calling in the troops, Chief? No need for that. We have a misunderstanding here, that’s all.”
“I don’t think so. It is twenty-two hundred hours. Do you know why we are here so late?
“I cannot imagine why.”
“Forensics,” said Chief Harding. “And not just the finger print and DNA kind. I’m talking electronic finger prints, money laundering, and obstruction of justice.”
“You’re going out on a limb with false accusations.”
“You’re in real trouble here. We have your gun which was used to kill a gang member, we have your voice agreeing to accept drug money. The laundry list is long.”
The knock at the door drew the mayor’s and chief’s attention. Riley walked in.
“Becky said you wanted to see me.”
“Yes, take out your handcuffs. I want you to read this scum his rights.”
“You can’t arrest me! I’m Mayor Harden.”
Riley removed the cuffs from his duty belt. “Stand up, please, sir.”
“I will do no such thing. You can’t arrest the mayor.”
“You broke the law. Now, stand,” Chief Harden demanded.
“I get a phone call.”
“After we read you your rights and book you. Do the honors, Riley.”
“Stand and put your hands behind your back.”
“You’re making a career mistake, Chief Randall,” the mayor said as he stood placing his hands behind his back.
“I disagree,” said Chief Randall.
Riley clamped the cuffs on and began reading the mayor his Miranda rights.
The 13th Hour: A Marston Thriller (The Marston Series Book 4) Page 20
