by Starling,Amy
What an asshole he was, bringing up the past like that. Victor was lucky I resisted punching him right in his face.
“That was years ago. We have new tools and technology now. I mean, the culprit even leaves us notes telling us where he'll strike next.”
“True, but with fires, any evidence of who did it usually vanishes in the flames. It could take months before you find a single workable clue.” He drummed his fingers on the desk. “And I don't have months. Spots in the FBI are coveted, and they fill up with candidates fast.”
So that was his plan? Frame a guy, look good for the FBI, go to work there – all while the real criminal got away with it?
“What about Harvey; why is he going along with this?”
He chuckled. “Harvey is a good boy. He does what he's told if he wants his bonus, just the same as you should do.”
Then there was that ledger with his name in it. I wouldn't mention that, though. Could be my trump card, my only shot at bringing him down.
“So as of now, the case of our vigilante arsonist is closed. You, Madison, are to resume your normal duties. And if you speak a word of our discussion to anyone, there will be consequences.”
He unlocked the door and waited for me to go. The tension between us was so thick in that room, I couldn't escape fast enough.
“Oh, one more thing.” He grabbed my arm. “While you were at the Ventura estate, you didn't happen to come across a safe, did you?”
I never thought I'd be lying to my boss.
“No, I didn't.”
“That's too bad. It must have gotten buried under the rubble,” he muttered. “I did hear that you and Harvey uncovered a drug operation in an isolated shack.”
“Yes, but we were unable to arrest Freddy since he's out of town, and we have no idea where.”
“No problem. You'll nab him when he returns.” He stared out the window. “We'll need him to testify against his brother in court. Convincing him shouldn't be very difficult.”
Disgusted, I ran from his office back to my desk. Everyone had crowded around Harvey, fawning all over him like he was some kind of celebrity.
I couldn't let this happen. Couldn't allow Victor to win. Who knew how many innocent people he'd put in jail? Suddenly, all the good I'd tried to do in this city seemed pointless.
There had to be a way to bring him down. Some way to connect him with Freddy...
“Oh yeah. Melody.”
James had said she was recovering at the hospital, so I drove over there to talk to her. Of all the people involved in this mess, she was the only one we hadn't spoken to yet.
They let me in to see her without question soon as I flashed my badge. The girl, who appeared to be in her twenties, was hooked up to several machines and had gauze and bandages plastered all over her body.
Her eyes were closed, but she jumped up as soon as the room door shut behind me.
“Who are you?” she asked, panic in her words. “I had nothing to do with anything you found at that house.”
“Calm down; you're not in trouble. I'm officer Madison Finley. If you're feeling up for it, I'd like to hear your side of what happened yesterday.”
She didn't trust me. I supposed when your boyfriend was a drug lord, it was smart not to trust the cops.
“Uh, okay,” she muttered. “It was around four in the afternoon. James came by to check on me while Freddy was out of town. I made him some food, then went upstairs to get a shower. I had no clue anything was going on until smoke started to spill under the door.”
“Where was James at this point? Did he not try to come help you?”
“No, I have no idea where he was. I yelled for him, but he never came. So I hurried out of the shower, put on a robe, and ran out into the hallway. It was full of flames from floor to ceiling, as if someone had just doused it all in gasoline and lit a match.”
She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. I didn't enjoy asking these things, making her relive that traumatic moment, but I needed all the facts if we were to get to the bottom of this.
“There was fire everywhere. I... I couldn't understand how it spread so fast. I tried to run from it, but I was trapped.” She gently touched one of her bandages. “They say I passed out from smoke inhalation. That I was lucky they got inside just in time. If they hadn't, I would have been...”
“I know how scary that must have been,” I assured her. “When I was young, my house burned down too. It was horrifying, and I'm still not fully over it.”
She relaxed a little and nodded. “I don't know if I'll ever forget it. I'm just so glad James got out okay.”
“Somebody set that fire on purpose,” I said. “And the police are saying it was him.”
She gasped. “No, that's nonsense! He'd never do that. He would never put me in danger.”
“I believe the same. That's why I'm trying to figure out the truth of what happened. Anything you saw, whatever details you know, might be able to help him.”
She said nothing for a moment. I bet she knew all kinds of dirt about Freddy, but I'd seen women like her before. They'd rather sacrifice themselves than throw their lover under the bus.
“Look, if you're worried about what's under the shed, we already know about it. I think the fire might have been related to Freddy's... business.”
Her shoulders fell. “He's going to jail, isn't he?”
“I can't say. Is there anything you can tell me about him? What was he doing with the drugs?”
“Isn't it obvious? He's one of the city's major suppliers. It's a huge operation, really. He has junkies all over the place making his product. Then he buys from them and distributes it to dealers around the country for a big cut.”
How something this huge could have gone on right under our noses, I didn't know. How had I not noticed? Maybe I wasn't that good of a cop after all.
“Does he have any enemies? Someone who would have motivation to attack him?”
“Sure he does. He's got the producers who want a bigger slice of the profits. Other dealers who'd very much like to cut him out and take over. It could have been anyone.”
Somehow, I didn't think it was one of Freddy's competitors. What reason would they have to take out the strip club and trailer park?
“One more question. I found a book listing all of Freddy's sales. Do you know of it?”
“Yeah.”
“Does the name Victor Patterson ring a bell?”
She nodded. “The police chief. He's a bigger scumbag than Freddy, y'know? He's the reason this whole operation has gone on the way it has.”
“How do you mean?”
“Man, you work for the asshole and you really don't know?” She scowled. “Basically, Freddy pays Victor hush money every month in order to keep the business going.”
It was worse than I feared. Victor wasn't just a slimy bastard; he was a criminal too – just like the ones I fought so hard every day to put behind bars.
“Patterson's been a partner of Freddy's for years. They never meet in person, for obvious reasons, but he sends his monthly check in the mail. The whole thing pisses Freddy off, but what can he do? If he stops paying, Victor will send in his lackeys to wipe him out.”
I sat by her bedside. “Melody, I might be able to get rid of Victor for you. If you were willing to testify in court, it could help put him away for a long time.”
Her brow furrowed. “Yeah, but what about Freddy? He'd go away too.”
“That's... probably for the best. James told me he was cruel to you. Violent.”
She gazed at a string of purple bruises on her arm. That said all I needed to know.
“I know that you love him, but in my opinion, he never should have gotten out of jail in the first place.”
She cocked her head. “He was in jail? I never knew. What for?”
Oh, crap. She had no idea, did she?
No clue that Freddy murdered those five girls.
If I told her the truth, it would upend her entire wo
rld. But if I kept silent, she could be his next victim.
“He's killed people,” I said, my voice trembling. “Women like you.”
She paled. “No, he didn't. Freddy's mean, but he'd never...”
“Yes, I'm afraid he did. They caught him in Florida, but he had money. He paid off the right people and got free.”
Melody let out a sob of dismay. Dark, depressing thoughts rolled around in my head as I waited for her to pull it together.
One in particular really bothered me.
Melody said Freddy had known Victor for years. What if he'd had a hand in setting the murderer loose?
Did Victor really hold that kind of power?
“If I go to court,” she muttered, “what if Freddy comes after me?”
“He won't be able to.”
“But what if he gets out again, like the first time?”
“It's the best chance you've got to get free of him. If you want to save yourself, if you want to get James' name cleared, you'll do this.”
She nodded. “I know, but... I'll think about it.”
I thanked her for her time and returned to my cruiser. The wheels were in motion now. The dominoes, about to fall one by one until Victor was locked up where he belonged.
But I couldn't fight this monster by myself. I was strong, but not that strong.
I needed Brett.
Chapter 17 - Brett
“Has the arsonist terrorizing Waco and the neighboring city of Kingston finally been caught? Forty-five-year old James Ventura is alleged as being responsible for at least three fires in the area.”
I stirred the chili, but my eyes were glued to the TV. They'd only just thrown James in a cell this morning, and already, the news was eating his arrest up.
“Evidence recovered at Ventura's apartment suggests he is a troubled man with an obsession for revenge. Police investigation is ongoing.”
Madison cursed at the reporter. She'd been in a foul mood ever since she came over, though I didn't blame her.
“I honestly don't get it. Victor has so much sway over this city, people believe anything he tells them.”
“Planting evidence just to get a conviction.” I whistled. “That's some grade-A bullshit.”
“And the local drug kingpin is paying him to keep his mouth shut. I want to stop him, but how? I don't think Melody's testimony will be enough.”
Madison's sister reached around me and dipped a slice of bread into the pot. I shot her a look of mock annoyance. She smiled sheepishly and stuffed the piece in her mouth.
“That's not done yet,” I scolded her.
“But it smells so good.” She glanced at Madison. “She never cooks for me. This is like a gourmet feast.”
“Gee, sorry, Jenna. I'm just too busy fighting assholes like Victor while trying to figure out who's burning down criminal's houses.”
She chewed the bread thoughtfully. “Sounds like the plot of a TV show,” she said with her mouth full. “You really don't think the arsonist will come after us?”
“No, I don't. So I want you to stop worrying.” Madison arranged the silverware on the table. “I've had enough of this for one day. Let's just try to pretend we're normal, happy people and enjoy the dinner Brett's made for us.”
Jenna was a sweet girl, about five years younger than her sister and quite a bit more naive. Madison had said she got messed up in the head from that fire years back, but she seemed okay to me, if a bit jumpy.
“So, just to lighten the mood... Are you and Mad, like, dating now?”
She and I exchanged glances. For a moment, I forgot to give the pot a stir and the chili began to boil. Madison dropped the forks on the floor and stammered for an answer.
“Well, I dunno,” I said, grinning. “I guess that's up to your sister.”
Jenna tugged at her arm. “Ooh, say yes! I mean, just look at him; he's adorable.”
Madison wasn't amused. “Hush and make yourself useful. Go get the bottles of wine I left in the trunk.”
“You're no fun at all,” Jenna muttered, rolling her eyes as she slammed the screen door behind her.
When I was sure we were alone, I came up behind her and cradled her in my arms. She started to pull away, then relented and let me hold her while she smoothed out imaginary wrinkles in the cloth napkins.
“You think it's really a good time for this?”
I hugged her tighter. “To you, it's never a good time. You know what I think? Right now, with everything you're going through, you need this now more than ever.”
“And what is 'this,' exactly?”
I wasn't sure what to say. Sex? Somebody who gives a damn about you in this harsh, unfair world?
Love?
“I just want to be close to you, Maddie. Maybe I'm bad news. Maybe I have no idea what it means to commit.” My lips teased her throat with a kiss. “But I've met a lot of women, and you're the only one I wanna keep coming back to.”
I'd like to think I had changed, though, but wasn't sure I really had. What would she say if she knew what I'd done to the Ventura place?
I let her go to finish setting the table. My resolve wavered. I had to tell her the truth, didn't I? Before she found out from someone else.
“You won't give any of it up, will you? The racing, the fighting. If you and I were a couple, I'd feel like a fraud.” She shook her head. “I should have arrested you, and I let you go. That's bad enough by itself.”
“Yet I'm the biggest ally you have right now, and you know it.”
She set the salad bowls next to each plate. “I don't even know why you're helping me.”
“Because the arsonist is still out there. And because I'd love to see Victor punished for what he's doing. Sure, I play fast and loose with the law, but what he's doing is enough to make even me sick.”
I hated people like him. Reminded me of dad, who thought he could do whatever he liked without consequence.
Cheat on mom? There was always a reason, an excuse.
Spend what money we had on drugs and strippers? He was the man of the house, he said, and he could use his income how he pleased. Never mind if we didn't have cash left for the bills or groceries.
Victor was the same. Never thought he was in the wrong. Figured he was above everybody, that all his evil deeds would go unpunished.
And the fact he'd hurt Madison so much was just the cherry on top.
I wanted this guy thrown in prison for life.
“I let you seduce me,” she said softly. “I probably shouldn't have.”
“Why? I know you very much enjoyed it.”
“Because.” She fiddled with a fork. “I started to have feelings for –”
“You guys!”
The screen door slammed against the wall so hard, it nearly fell off its hinges. Jenna burst into the room, huffing and puffing, her face all pink. Madison immediately rushed to her sister's side.
“What's the matter?”
“He's out there. The guy in the black car!”
That dude was still following them around? And now, he'd had the balls to show his face on my property.
I wasn't gonna let him get away this time.
“Where is he?” I sprinted to the porch. “Where?”
“Across the road.” She pointed. “In that driveway.”
As she said, the car was well-hidden behind the bushes in my neighbor Jim's drive. All the lights were off across the street, so the vehicle and its driver were, as usual, barely visible.
Madison pushed past me and glared at the car. “Too bad I left my gun in the glove box.”
“Go get it,” I said. “You approach from the left; I'll take the right.”
Jenna squinted. “Is there even anybody in there? I can't see.”
Madison was about to protest my plan when the car's lights flipped on and the engine roared. It peeled out of the driveway.
“Oh no you don't,” I growled, sprinting for Mad's Charger. “Give me the keys and get in.”
“You're
not driving my car! And you seriously want to chase this weirdo down?”
We didn't have time to argue. Luckily, by some miracle, the guy's car sputtered and stalled out at the end of the road.
Jenna slid into the back of Madison's car. “Hurry up, sis, or we're gonna lose him.”
“Not you, too. You're not going anywhere near him.”
“Well, you can't leave me here alone!”
Finally, she relented and tossed me her keys. Good call; I knew these roads better than anyone. I'd raced them for years.
And in that moment, I realized something about her.
She'd never admit it, but on some level, she trusted me. I promised myself right then I wouldn't let her down.
“We can't do this,” Madison grumbled as she slid into the passenger's seat. “Maybe if I were on duty, but I'm not.”
I ignored her and revved the engine. Jenna shrieked as we whipped around the bend after the guy.
“We're going on a real police chase,” she hollered. “This is fun.”
Madison gaped at her. “This isn't a police chase, and it isn't fun. This is stupid.”
“Do you want this guy to keep spying on us forever?”
She said nothing to that.
Just as we approached the car, the driver managed to get it to turn over. He floored it, racing away from us at top speed down the hill.
“What do you think you're going to do?” Madison yelled.
“He's gotta stop eventually. And if he doesn't, we'll make him stop.”
She hurried to buckle her seat belt. “This is why we shouldn't be together, Silver. You do dumb things that are sure to get us all killed one day.”
“Stop being so boring, Mad,” Jenna grumbled. “Brett's exciting. He's good for you. I mean, what else were you gonna do tonight? Sit on the couch in your jammies watching Netflix like you always do?”
I was fairly sure Madison wanted to strangle her sister. I just laughed and did my best to keep up with the car, which I finally could see was a Toyota Celica.
The driver escaped my little neighborhood and flew through the suburbs at dangerous speeds. Madison howled as I got the car up to sixty.
“You're driving almost twenty miles over the limit,” she said. “I could write you a ticket for this.”
