by Jo Davis
“Afraid so.” He gave Shane a condensed rundown of his suspicions about the bombing, the continued harassment. When he was done, the cop shook his head.
“Damn, that’s frickin’ creepy. And I’m guessing something else has happened or you wouldn’t be here?”
“You could say that. Not sure what it means, though.” He hesitated. “I’d better talk to Kayne first, though. I’m sure he can fill you in.”
“No problem. I hope this gets solved, soon.”
“Me, too. And thanks for getting him to look into all of this. He’s a stand-up guy, seems to be taking this seriously.”
Shane nodded. “You can count on him.” He paused. “How are you doing, man? Personally, I mean.”
“I’m sober, feel better than I have in years. I’ve got a good reason to stay healthy, too.” He threw a grin at Eve, and her face flushed as the cop smiled knowingly.
“You don’t say. I’m happy for you.”
“How’s your future brother-in-law doing in Arson? We miss him at the station.”
All three of them were very aware that Sean was a big part of the reason Tommy’s firefighting career was over.
“Doing great. He’s really taken to investigating fires and all the other stuff they handle. He and Shea are truly happy.”
“That’s terrific. I—”
“Mr. Tanner?” the cop behind the desk called out. “Detective Kayne says you can come on back.”
“I’m going that way,” Shane said. “I’ll walk with you.”
Eve followed the men, feeling a little in the way. She wasn’t sure what she could do to help, but being here for Sean was the important thing.
“Hell of a mess Tommy got himself into with Forrest Prescott,” Sean commented as they walked. “He and your sister were very lucky, and so were you.”
Shane’s voice turned grim. “Yeah. Too bad that bastard’s dead. I’d sure love to kill him again, slowly. You heard about him skimming money, didn’t you?”
“Not the details, but I heard he was crooked as a snake.”
“Yeah, that’s a long story best told over a beer—shit, I’m sorry.”
“No worries. I want people to forget around me.” He waved off the detective’s blunder. “Anyway, what went down with Prescott—I heard the FBI got involved.”
“In a big way. They believe he was funneling money to a homeland terrorist group run by a real nasty guy. One of the agents left a photo of him. You’ve seen it, right?”
“No, I was in rehab when all of that went down,” Sean reminded him.
Shane ducked into an office and waved them in. “The picture is in my stack. Give me just a second.” He tackled a stack that bore a resemblance to the Leaning Tower of Pisa and finally produced the eight-by-ten glossy he sought. “If you see this guy, we’re to call the FBI right away. The agent said if he’s in the area, something bad is going down.”
He handed the photo to Sean, who took it, looked down . . . and went white. “Jesse Rose,” he whispered. “Jesus fucking Christ.”
Shane rounded his desk, expression excited. “You know him?”
“I did. A long time ago.” His knees buckled and he sat hard in one of the guest chairs. “I might have seen him in town, twice. In fact, I think he could be the one who’s been harassing me.”
“Shit. I think you need to start at the beginning. And Kayne needs to be in here for this, too. Hang on.”
Shane disappeared and Eve took a seat beside Sean. His pallor was awful and he looked like he’d seen a man literally rise from the dead. In a way, she guessed he had. She put her arm around him, glad when he leaned into her, soaking up the strength she tried to lend him. He didn’t speak or take his eyes off the photo until the two detectives rushed into the room, followed by two more men. Eve recognized one as the police chief; the other she didn’t know.
“Given that this man is a serious threat to homeland security and is wanted by the FBI, I’ve also brought Chief Browning and Captain Craig with me,” Shane said. The two shook hands with Sean and said a polite hello to Eve before Shane went on. “We need for you to start with how you know Rose and go from there. Leave nothing out.”
The men settled around the now crowded office and listened with rapt attention as Sean began.
“Jesse and I were best friends in high school. We went into the marines together.”
For the next twenty minutes or more, everyone listened to the sad tale of two young men who were inseparable, fought side by side. How eventually it became slowly, painfully obvious that one was a bad seed. Sean’s discovery of Jesse’s illegal activities and his agony knowing he must turn in his best friend.
How it all came to a head and met with a bloody end during Desert Storm.
This last was the part Sean hadn’t told Eve the other day, and she listened intently.
“You turned down Rose when he asked you to be his right-hand man.”
“Yes.”
Kayne leaned forward. “Then what happened?”
“I agonized over the decision for a few days, but after Connors confronted Jesse, I knew I couldn’t put off speaking with our captain any longer. I went to see him, but he was busy. I left a message saying I needed to meet with him and that it was urgent. In the long run, that’s part of what saved my ass from being dishonorably discharged or worse.”
“Then what?”
“We were engaged by the enemy and a nasty fire-fight ensued, and my chance to get Jesse taken into custody without further incident was lost, though I didn’t know that at the time.”
“Let me interrupt with a question,” the chief said. “Did Rose know you were going to turn him in that day?”
“No. In fact, he was confident I wouldn’t, that I would even change my mind about joining him. His faith in me was the one unshakable absolute in his life at that time. That’s the part that hurt most—his actions were those of a traitor, but he truly loved me like a brother, as I did him.” Sean’s face was miserable with the memory.
The chief was brisk, but not without sympathy. “I can imagine how that must’ve affected you. Go on.”
“Anyway, there was a soldier, Connors, who’d overheard me arguing with Jesse over all the illegal stuff he was involved with. Connors knew I wanted no part of it, but he also knew how conflicted I would be about turning on Jesse. Connors confronted Jesse and said he was going to report him. Like me, he didn’t get the chance before we were engaged in the fight. I saw Jesse circling around on Connors, getting a good bead on him. I knew then that he planned to take Connors out. Hell, it was war. Who would know, except me? Like I said, Jesse never thought I’d turn on him.”
Sean’s voice was low, the recollection still painful. Kayne urged him to take his time.
“Jesse brought up his gun to shoot Connors . . . and I shot Jesse. In the chest. Just took him down like a dog.” He cleared his throat. “As long as I live, I’ll never forget the look on his face. Stunned, betrayed. Grief-stricken.”
No one spoke, letting him finish at his own pace.
“I had to tell the truth, and plenty of the other soldiers backed me up. They placed him in custody in the military hospital while he fought for his life. When he was finally well enough for me to see him, I went under escort. Guess they didn’t trust me. Or him.” He paused.
“I needed to talk to him about everything we’d been through, explain that I had no choice but to act when I saw him draw down on Connors, and he wasn’t having it. The last thing he said to me was that no man stands against Jesse Rose, and if it took the rest of his life, I’d learn that lesson well.”
“You’re on the hit list of one of the FBI’s most wanted terrorists,” Kayne muttered. “Fucking fantastic. That sure shines a big-assed spotlight on recent events in our fair city. Any other revelations you’d like to disclose?”
“Maybe. I don’t know if this is related, but look at these.” He thrust the sheaf of e-mails at Kayne. The detective read a couple, brows rising to his hairline. A
fter giving Sean an inscrutable look, he passed a couple to Shane and the chief.
Eve winced inwardly, thinking how much it must hurt to have his dirty laundry aired in a roomful of cops.
Shane spoke first. “Blair Tanner. Your deceased wife?” At Sean’s terse nod, he continued. “She was having an affair, it seems. I’m sorry to hear about this, but what does it have to do with Rose or whoever is harassing you?”
“With any luck, nothing. But this man, G. Sparks, was having an affair with my wife right up until she was killed. Then the e-mails stopped. Nothing, not even an inquiry as to where she’d suddenly gone. But Blair had other e-mails on her computer, from friends and coworkers before they heard she was dead.”
“Okay, I see where you’re going with that. Strange, but?”
“Eve’s mother, Amelia Marshall, has a new neighbor just outside of town. His name is George Sparks. She went to visit him the other day and he made her really nervous. Said there are trucks rumbling up and down her road at all hours, yet his place is dead. No animals, no other people in sight. But there should be people around with all that activity, right?”
“I’d think so,” Kayne said. “But even if this George Sparks is the same as the man in the e-mails, that just tells us he decided to purchase a new place and move in.”
“There’s also the fact that he had one framed photograph in sight, of him and some buddies in the military. And with the other shit that’s been going on, I think Mr. Sparks warrants a look. What if he’s someone who works for Jesse?”
“Won’t hurt to check out Sparks,” the chief said. He addressed Eve. “Do you think your mother would be willing to come in, give a description of George Sparks, and take a look at the photo?”
“I’m sure she won’t mind. I’ll call her now.” Eve rose and stepped into the hallway, not the least bit happy to involve her mother in this. Still, she might have important answers. She fished her cell phone from her purse and made the call.
“Hey, my sweet girl! What’s up?”
“Mama, remember what you told me and Sean about George Sparks, your new neighbor?”
“How could I forget?” she said, her distaste evident. “Why do you ask?”
“The police are interested in Mr. Sparks and they have some questions. Since you’ve met him, they’d like for you to come down and give a description.”
“Oh, boy. They think he’s done something criminal? I wouldn’t be surprised. Listen, I’m leaving the gym and I’ll come straight over there, if they want.”
“That would be great, Mama. Thanks.”
“Why are you there?”
“I’ll explain later.”
“You’d better.”
“Promise. See you soon.” Returning to Shane’s office, she said, “She’ll be here shortly.”
Sean and the detectives spent the next few minutes filling in the chief and captain on Sean’s harassment. The officers had to admit that the entire story made for some very damning and frightening conclusions. The mood in the room was tense, on edge.
Her mother was shown in about twenty minutes later. Eve jumped up and gave her a hug, clinging briefly before relinquishing her to the officers.
“I understand you gentlemen want a description of George Sparks for some reason? I’d like to get this over with so I can get home and watch Ellen.”
“Yes, ma’am. If you don’t mind,” Kayne said. “This shouldn’t take long.”
“Okay, well, he’s sort of tall, a little over six feet. Lean. Long blond hair that he wore pulled into a ponytail. The deadest eyes I’ve ever seen, too.”
Sean’s fingers tightened on the arm of his chair.
“Any distinguishing marks on Mr. Sparks that you can remember?”
“Oh, yes. I thought it very odd that a man would want to sport a tattoo of a rose, but to each his own.”
“Oh, God.” Sean looked like he was about to throw up.
“Where is the tattoo located, Ms. Marshall?” Kayne asked calmly.
“On his neck, here.” She pointed to the spot.
Shane handed her the photo. “Can you name this man?”
She studied the photo for a moment and then looked back at Shane. “Of course. That’s George Sparks.”
Silence followed this announcement. The detectives and their bosses shared some looks that went beyond concern to fear.
Eve felt that same fear wash over her and become terror. That monster had been alone with her mother.
Amelia glanced between them all, confused. “Why? What does that mean?”
The chief recovered first. “It means,” he said, “that you’re going to miss Ellen.”
Sean sat drowning in emotions as someone called the FBI, an agent named Westfall, he thought. His head was too busy ringing, his brain screaming in protest at having his worst suspicions confirmed.
He’s come back for me. Whatever his plans for this town, he means to see me dead.
Not happening. And he wasn’t going to live in fear of what Jesse might do.
“He wanted me to know he was coming, and when he arrived, that he was here,” he said to nobody in particular. “He knew we’d learn the truth. He’s flaunting it in our faces.”
“I agree,” Shane said. “But we’re going to call in the big guns and let them handle Rose. They’ll do surveillance or whatever they need to do, and Ms. Marshall is going to decide to go visit relatives. Immediately.”
“That’s a good idea,” Eve said, expression scared. “I don’t want Mama anywhere near Sugarland with that man here, now that she’s met him.”
“I can take care of myself,” Amelia protested.
“You can under normal circumstances.” The chief shook his head. “But this man is extremely dangerous—FBI’s most wanted. Despite his scrape in the military, from what I gathered from the Feds when they were here before, they’ve never been able to prove his activities on the major charges. The FBI had a man inside their organization, and he turned up dead a few months ago. No one can get close to them without getting killed.”
“Mama, why don’t you go visit Aunt Felicia in California for a while? She’s been after you to visit and it’s nearly Thanksgiving. You know she’d love that.”
“But what about you? I don’t want to leave you alone for the holiday.”
Eve gave a tremulous smile. “I won’t be alone, and besides, we have to work that day. I’ll feel better knowing you’re off that monster’s radar.”
Sean was saddened. There was a time when Jesse wasn’t a monster—just a gremlin in training. He’d been a good friend, once.
Why did you go down that path? Why?
Why does anyone?
Amelia relented. “All right, I’ll go. But I wish you’d come with me, baby.”
“I’ll be fine. I need to stay here.”
“You should go with your mother,” he heard himself say. “It’ll be safer and—”
“Forget it,” Eve replied flatly. “I’m not leaving you.”
That made him feel pretty damned good, and scared him at the same time. He’d have to be on his guard with Jesse around. Still, he reminded himself, the man had waited all these years to make a move. The FBI would probably have him in custody before he could step up his campaign to drive Sean crazy.
That prompted a question. “Besides me, why is Jesse here? Don’t tell me you don’t know, because the FBI wouldn’t be on your friggin’ speed dial if you didn’t.”
The chief pinned him with a stern gaze. “Let’s just say that if his reason for being here got out, there would be panic.”
“Christ, what’s he planning?” he asked quietly.
“To blow up something big that would turn this entire region of Tennessee into a wasteland . . . Chernobylstyle. And he’s rumored to have the resources and the contacts to pull it off, thanks in part to the dearly departed Forrest Prescott. You follow?”
Sean was speechless. This was far beyond any horror he’d thought Jesse capable of perpetrating.
<
br /> Shane broke in with more questions. “Since you and Rose were once so close, how come he and Blair never met? Assuming she was innocent of working with Rose at the time of her death, why wouldn’t she have recognized him?”
“Blair and I met toward the end of my time in the marines,” Sean said. “I found out she was pregnant with our son, married her, and then was immediately sent to Kuwait along with Jesse. We were stationed there for over a year, serving in Desert Shield and Desert Storm after that. Blair never had a chance to meet Jesse before my falling-out with him.” Obviously that had changed at some point in recent years when Jesse posed as Sparks.
“Rose didn’t come to your wedding?”
“No. He claimed he couldn’t make it, but by then things were tense between us. I’m pretty sure now that he spent all his leave time involved in his illegal dealings.”
“Makes sense,” the chief commented.
“The FBI will be here in about three hours,” Kayne interrupted, hanging up. “My suggestion is to take Ms. Marshall home, help her pack, maybe get a bite to eat. Then come back here so Sean can tell his story to them, and she can identify Jesse, aka George Sparks. After which Ms. Marshall is on the first plane out of here to enjoy Thanksgiving in California. Everybody got that?”
A round of agreements followed and everyone rose to leave. Sean thanked the officers and escorted Eve and her mother to his SUV. He cut off the older woman’s protests when she insisted on driving home.
“Leave your car here. It’ll be better if it looks like you’re not home, in this case. That way Jesse won’t be tempted to drop by and make trouble.”
She relented, but didn’t like it.
At Amelia’s house, Eve helped her mother pack everything that was necessary for an extended stay, and called her aunt. Amelia then called her boss. On his own phone, Sean booked her flight. When she was packed, she suffered a few anxieties about small things like bills, her plants, and the newspapers. It took both him and Eve to fend off her arguments until she didn’t have a single one left.
They drove back to the police station just over three hours later, and the Feds were waiting for them. One was a big, dark, dangerous-looking agent named Nick Westfall, the other his redheaded, freckled partner, Jack Coleman.
