“No, he wasn’t,” Parker scoffed. “Why in the world would you have suspected someone so close to your family? The effing Police Commissioner, for God’s sake. Don’t beat yourself up for not seeing it. I certainly didn’t. He never showed up in any file I saw except for the list of people who graduated with your father. He wasn’t in any of the pictures you shared with me. I never gave him a second thought.”
He twisted his neck to look at her without lifting his head. It felt like it weighed a ton. “I always thought he distanced himself from the murders because his ambition didn’t allow him to be potentially tainted by dirty cop rumors. I thought he’d put his career ahead of friendship.”
“In a way, he did.”
“Yeah.” Daire turned his head straight and closed his eyes. They sat silently for a few minutes. He still needed time to come to grips with the shocking information. “Morgan could be lying.” Even as he said it, however, he didn’t believe it. Not really.
“It makes no sense for him to. He’s gone to this elaborate effort to pretend to have dementia to put himself in the safest position he can. Lying to us about Finnegan would only make him vulnerable if word gets out we’d been to see him.”
Daire indulged himself with one heavy sigh and sat up. He kissed Parker’s hand before letting it go. “I need to call my brothers and Regan, have them come over and plan out what to do.”
“I should bring this to my superior.”
Daire winced as he put the car back into gear. “I’m sorry. I hate to ask this of you, but we can’t be sure yet who’s involved. I want to confront Finnegan first. I know that puts you in a bad position, and I’m sorry. I just can’t risk my brothers’ lives in particular if this goes to shit.” He spared her a glance. “If you want, I can drop you off at your district before I meet with the others. You stay in plain sight of as many people as you can until I contact you.”
“No. I’m sticking with you.” Parker’s tone brooked no argument.
Daire kept his eyes on the road. “I love you.”
“I know.” Now, her tone was a bit smug. “I love you, too.”
****
Ronan became the designated driver on the way to Finnegan’s house. Daire had happily given up that duty in order to sit in the back with Parker. Regan rode shot-gun, and Finn flanked Parker’s other side. No one said a thing. There was nothing more to say.
They’d hashed out the ugly truth and agreed on the plan back at the house. All that was left was to confront Finnegan. In the raw November afternoon, more than eight years after the lives of the Callaghans had been irreparably shattered, answers and that much vaunted closure were finally at hand. The thought brought him no relief. He felt like throwing up.
His brothers probably felt the same as he did. They certainly had stated a desire to pound the man into oblivion, which was why they’d decided once again, Parker needed to take the lead on the confrontation. Besides, it was her investigation. They already risked problems with the D.A. for cornering Finnegan at home instead of bringing him in for questioning. They didn’t want to give his defense attorney any more ammunition than necessary. Uncle James Finnegan needed to be locked in a cage for the rest of his life.
Parker squeezed Daire’s hand. “It’s going to be all right. We’ll bring him in, and he’ll be smart enough to rat out his associates.”
The smile he gave her didn’t fool her he knew. “I hope so. Morgan is hardly a reliable source of information. Finnegan’s no fool. I don’t see why he wouldn’t deny everything and try to ride it out.”
“I’ll get the truth out of the fucker,” Ronan fumed.
Before Daire could respond to rein his brother in, Regan reached over and patted Ronan’s shoulder. “We have to trust in the system, boyo. Uncle Rory always did.”
“And look where that got him.” The hard observation had come from Finn.
“We do things by the book,” Daire said as firmly as he knew how. “If he talks, great. Otherwise, we build a case against him.”
God, he sounded more emphatic than he believed. Part of him worried they wouldn’t be able to sweat anything out of Finnegan and he’d walk, at least temporarily, with time to come after them. For the moment, the others in their family were safely tucked away at Uncle Jack’s house. Michael and Diego were sufficient guards for Craig, Cassidy, and Jack. Kyle had surprised everyone except Regan when he showed them he carried a gun as well. Three armed men could hold down the fort for the time being. Come night, however, Daire wanted this whole miserable thing over as much as it could be.
The rest of the ride remained quiet, albeit ever more tense as they approached their destination. Finnegan’s impressive house sat on a corner lot in the West Roxbury section of Boston. Daire had never been here before, having only visited his parents’ friends when they lived elsewhere. Success had given the commissioner a nicer lifestyle, although not too flashy. Whatever ill-gotten gain Finnegan raked in over the years, he’d been smart enough not to use it in obvious ways. Ronan parked the car on the street, and they all sat there for a minute just looking. The garage door stood open, and a large, dark sedan could be seen parked inside. It was the only indication that anyone was at home.
With the confrontation imminent, worry pricked at his determination. He glanced at Parker, then past her at his baby brother, then focused on the backs of Ronan’s and Regan’s heads. He loved them all and didn’t like the idea of leading them into a viper’s pit. Their being cops made no difference. He wanted to protect them. Of course, any notion that he’d go in alone would be shot down entirely, so he didn’t even try. The weight of his service revolver sitting within his shoulder holster gave him some comfort. Everyone was going in armed, of course, even Parker.
She squeezed his hand. “Let’s go.”
Blowing out a sigh, he nodded. “Right. Remember everyone, Parker takes the lead. The rest of us are here first and foremost as back-up. We do this as much by the book as we possibly can.”
He thought he heard Ronan mutter something like “fuck the book,” but he ignored it. They were all on edge. By necessity, he had to exit the car before Parker. He held out his hand to help her slide over and out and let her pull free in order to walk up to the front door first. He scanned the windows and doors, worried that bullets might come flying out and hit her. It was an unlikely scenario, yet given how his parents had died, he cut his fears and himself some slack.
If Parker worried about her safety, she didn’t show it. Maybe he didn’t have the right so early in their relationship, but he was proud of how she marched right up to the door and rang the bell. Daire came up to stand a half-step behind and to her right to make it clear she led the team, yet close enough to intervene if Finnegan threatened her. The others ranged themselves in a semi-circle one step below them.
It took a couple of times pressing the bell before footsteps could be heard and a shadow loomed in the curtain covering one of the long windows on either side of the door. Daire’s heart lurched with renewed fear. He fought to steady his breath and nerves.
By the time Finnegan opened up, Daire felt in control and determined. The man stood in the doorway, one hand on the knob. The other held a tumbler of amber liquid. His eyebrows raised a fraction of an inch as he took in the group.
“Commissioner Finnegan, we’re sorry to disturb you,” Parker said in the very same official tone of voice she’d used on Daire in his office only a few weeks ago. “I’m Detective Parker Li from internal affairs.”
“I know who you are.”
Parker blinked a couple times back at him. “Of course, sir. We’d like to come in and ask you a few questions.”
Finnegan didn’t respond right away. Taking a sip of his drink, he stood staring at them all, his gaze shifting from Parker to Daire and beyond to the others. His lips curled into a smile. “Well, of course. I always have time for the Callaghans.” He flicked his gaze back to Parker. “And their friends.”
The lewd way he said the word made Daire’s
hand itch to curl into a fist and let it fly. Fortunately, Parker had a thicker skin. “Thank you, sir.”
Finnegan shoved the door open wider, turned, and walked away. He didn’t bother to see if they followed him into the living room. Of course, they did, quietly, edgily, ready for trouble. The house was eerily quiet and looked a little unkempt. Surprising. Maura Finnegan had always struck Daire as an elegant woman if not very warm. He couldn’t imagine she’d let her home get so messy.
Parker must have had similar thoughts. “Is Mrs. Finnegan at home, sir?”
Stopping by the wet bar in one corner, he grabbed a bottle of Jamison and splashed more into his glass. He turned around and leaned against the bar. “No, she’s not and hasn’t been for some time. She and I are taking a little time to reevaluate our relationship.” The smile he gave with this surprising revelation didn’t reach his eyes.
“I see,” Parker replied briskly. She went to the long couch in the middle of the room and sat down at one end as if she’d been invited to. Daire positioned himself at her side. She opened her briefcase and took out the thick file she’d brought. She also pulled out a small recorder, clicked it on, and placed it on the coffee table in front of her. “Do you mind if I record this interview, sir?”
Keeping her gaze steady, she waited for his reply, as if she had all of the time in the world. This was a critical part of the visit. Massachusetts being one of the few states that required both parties’ consent to record a conversation, Finnegan had to agree. Otherwise, it would be their words against his if he tried to renege on anything he said. Normally five people’s testimony compared to one person’s was a good case. This wasn’t normally.
Finnegan kept them waiting for a full five seconds. It seemed like an hour. Eventually, he waved his glass in Parker’s direction. “Sure, why not?” He slugged down more scotch.
Parker started laying pictures down beside the recorder. “I’ve been investigating the death of Sergeant Mahurin, the murder of Detective Forrester, the murders of Rory and Sheila Callaghan…”
Finnegan waved her into silence. “I know what you’ve been up to, Li.”
Parker sat up straighter. “I’m sure you do,” she replied in a quiet, yet firm, voice. “And before I continue, I’m going to remind you of your Miranda rights.” Finnegan started chuckling loudly, but Parker didn’t allow his response to distract her. She recited the words that anyone who watched cop shows could also recite, words that the Commissioner also knew by heart. Her voice rang loud and clear over the derisive sounds her quarry made.
“Do you understand your rights?” She stared him down when he failed to answer her right away. At his impatient nod, she said, “For purposes of the recording, Commissioner Finnegan has physically confirmed he understands his rights to remain silent.
“Sir, I won’t bore you with how I’ve come to believe that you are at the center of my investigations. Suffice to say that you haven’t done as a good a job tying up loose ends as you thought.”
She let her words sit between them like a big glove thrown down in a challenge. Finnegan didn’t respond right away. He stared at her, sipping at his drink as if he hadn’t just been accused of being dirty. Behind Daire, his brothers and Regan remained quiet, although he could feel their barely leashed anger radiating off them. Finally, Finnegan looked away, his gaze skidding to the side. His chest rose on a deep breath, and he let it out with a harsh whoosh.
“I had a five year plan at this point, you know? Already bought a place down in Florida for retirement. The Missus is there now, expects to get it in the divorce she’s planning on filing for. Didn’t see that one coming, fool that I am. I thought money would be enough for her. Who knew she wanted affection and attention, too. Fickle woman. Plus, she was smarter than expected, sussed things out and now threatens to talk if I don’t give her what she wants. Crazy bitch. Like the divorce alone won’t reveal more about our assets than is wise to let out. Even if I could work up the balls to get rid of her, she’s made it clear she’s already squirreled away damning evidence. Dealing with her is like being in some cheap cable movie.”
He sighed again, a weary sound now. “Christ, Jesus, you think you’ve got your life all planned out, accounted for every angle. Then it all goes to shit in the blink of an eye.”
He grabbed the Jamison and poured a very healthy amount, downed half of it, and filled it up again. There was something fatalistic in his movements that set Daire even more on edge. He didn’t dare say or do anything, however, because clearly the man was in a talkative mood. Daire sensed they were all about to learn the answers they’d so desperately sought all these years. No way he’d risk shutting Finnegan up.
“I was so careful, picking the men to join me that I knew would be easy to seduce. Money and power and the occasional bit of tail are guaranteed to turn just about any man.” His gaze sought out Daire’s. “Not your father, of course. Rory was too pure in his sense of right and wrong, too dedicated to the badge to be convinced that mere money or even power were more important.” He chuckled. “I sure as hell never tried to use pretty girls as a lure. His devotion to Sheila was admirable in a sickening kind of way.”
Daire dug his nails into his palms. He hated hearing this man deride the love Daire’s father had had for his mother. He held his tongue with effort and could tell by the harsh breathing of his brothers that they strained for control as well.
Parker sat back, as if settling in for a long story. “It must have taken you years to build up the large network of dirty cops, snitches, and mobsters.”
Finnegan took another slug of scotch and waved his glass at her. “Oh, it did. But I’m a patient man, you see. And careful, very careful. Just not careful enough.” He wandered to a sideboard in the opposite corner and propped himself against it. “Mahurin was my one great mistake. He wasn’t a very bright man and did a lousy job of hiding his doings. Rory became suspicious, and it all started to tumble down from there.
“I should have killed Mahurin, would have as I’d done a few times when men got too greedy or stupid. As you say, loose ends. But Rory’s investigation had already gone too far. Getting rid of Mahurin wouldn’t have been enough, and sooner or later, Rory would have tumbled to my involvement.”
He looked at Daire and then past him to the others. “I would have avoided it if I could. I liked Rory, hell, loved him even as a brother.”
Daire heard Ronan mutter motherfucker under his breath.
Finnegan grimaced. “I know you can’t believe that. It’s true nonetheless. I couldn’t let him bring me down, though. You must see that. Mahurin recruited O’Malley for the deed, the one smart idea he’d ever had. O’Malley had never been the violent type, but enough money can make most men do most anything. Rory would never have suspected the dumb snitch as a hit man.”
Finnegan drained his glass and straightened. “I should have had Mahurin kill O’Malley right away instead of paying him to disappear. The problem is that you get rid of too many loose ends with extreme prejudice, as they say, and pretty soon no one wants to work for you. I had to play that card sparingly.”
Daire couldn’t hold his tongue any longer. “You still fucked it up, though, didn’t you Uncle James? O’Malley proved to be greedier and less pliable than you thought—smarter too—as did Mahurin. They both kept files that eventually led us to you.” He inwardly apologized to Parker about the lie regarding Mahurin’s stash. She really knew, anyway, and right now pinning Finnegan with the truth had become paramount.
“Yes,” Finnegan agreed resignedly. “They were more clever than I ever gave them credit for, although not as clever as they thought themselves. Mahurin’s ham-fisted use of Forrester as a fall guy caused me a headache, I’ll tell you. And, she wasn’t as content as some to play that role for us and see the long-range benefit of taking one for the team. That’s what we got for bringing in a woman,” he bitched into his glass.
The amount of alcohol he was consuming in such a short time didn’t bode well. But he
kept talking so Daire didn’t even think of trying to stop him.
“I found out about O’Malley during Ronan’s investigation of his murder and suspected Mahurin had hid away more than the stuff he left on Forrester. Unfortunately, it occurred to me only recently.” He sneered at Daire. “You got awfully cozy with a member of the rat squad pretty fucking fast. Fucking fast,” he repeated, and his expression turned lewd. “Not that I blame you.”
Once more, Daire dug down deep for patience. He wanted to shove his father’s false friend right through the window.
Finnegan’s tongue kept wagging, the one thing that saved him from serious hurt at the moment. “I should have had your house tossed weeks ago.” He shook his head. “Too sentimental, that was my problem. Didn’t want you boys getting hurt. Felt guilty, too, about Finn. That colored my decisions.” He nodded past Daire. “Sorry, boyo. I hated to rat you out to Boss, but the man put a lot of the green in my pocket.”
“Fuck your apology,” Finn said in a flat tone, as if he’d already dismissed Finnegan’s importance.
Finnegan grimaced again and stared at the glass still in his hand. He tipped it back to get the last tiny drop of whisky into his mouth, then put in on the sideboard. “Yeah, you’re right. Too little, too late.”
He turned away from them, facing the large piece of furniture. He yanked open its top drawer, the movement so quick, Daire hardly had time to register what was happening. He reached for his gun as he dove to push Parker out of the line of fire. He fell on top of her, ignoring the cry of surprise she made. Instead, he raised his gun, sighted Finnegan just as he turned with his own weapon raised.
Daire counted four shots in the frenzy of time and movement. Finnegan’s body jerked spasmodically, then fell in a surreal slow-motion backward spin. His gun flew out of his hand, crashing against the window behind him. Red bloomed across his chest and spurted over his face in a gory mist. A loud thud accompanied the downfall of his flailing body, followed by silence. Everyone else froze, including Daire. Shock gripped him for long seconds before he kicked himself back into gear.
Internal Affair Page 13
