She nodded, but what Roger had done, and could’ve potentially done if they hadn’t learned his secret, really hit Taylor then, and she felt her legs weaken. Would he have gone so far as to murder Dustee, or would he settle for giving Phantom access to her so he could kill her? Knowing Phantom, he would want to do the killing.
She gripped the wall, and Inman stepped in behind her.
“Chief,” Roger said, his gaze questioning.
Taylor rested her hand on her sidearm. “We’re here to arrest you, Roger. So please put your weapon on the table.”
“Arrest me? Seriously? What’s the joke?” He sounded and acted so innocent.
“You know,” Inman ground out between clenched teeth. “Don’t make this worse by playing dumb. Set your weapon on the table—now.”
His face paling, Roger looked at his boss and blinked. “No. Really. What’s this about?”
Sean stepped closer to Roger and planted his hand on his own sidearm. “Weapon. On the table.”
“Do it, Roger,” Taylor said. “Sean means business.”
Blanching even more, Roger slowly lifted his gun from its holster and laid it on the coffee table.
“Your backup too,” Taylor said. Like many other law enforcement officers, she knew Roger carried a second or backup gun they called a BUG.
He reached down to his cargo pocket, took out a smaller gun, and placed it on the table beside the other one. Inman wasted no time, but stepped forward and confiscated both weapons.
Sean moved in. “I’ll be searching and cuffing you.”
Roger responded with a glare. Sean not so gently pushed Roger up against the wall and performed a thorough search. Thankfully, Taylor didn’t have to see Roger’s face. Still, it was one of the hardest things she’d ever had to witness on the job. She’d seen some horrific things before, but never had she felt so violated. So betrayed.
Sean tightened the cuffs and turned Roger to face them.
“Why?” she asked him. “How could you do this to the witnesses? To us? To me? We’re friends. You’ve destroyed that. Worse, you put thousands of lives in danger.” She shook her head. “I can’t even deal with this. It’s just surreal.”
He cringed and opened his mouth to speak.
“Save it until the interview.” Inman sounded as disgusted as Taylor felt.
Sean grabbed Roger’s arm and led him to the door. Taylor went to the kitchen to explain everything to Dianne. She was removing a pan of chocolate chip cookies from the oven, the sweet smell upsetting Taylor’s stomach all over again. She sat on a stool at the island and waited for Dianne to turn around.
“What did he do?” She took out a spatula and started moving the chocolate-oozing cookies to a cooling rack.
“He’s the person behind the hack.”
Dianne’s arm halted midair, a cookie resting precariously on the spatula. “He’s Phantom.”
“No,” Taylor said. “But he was working with Phantom.”
“You’re sure?”
Taylor nodded with sad resignation. “We have him on video programming the hack.”
Dianne settled the cookie on the rack and scooped up another one. “He seemed like such a nice guy. Guess you never can tell about people, can you?”
“No you can’t,” Taylor said emphatically. “No you can’t.”
Sean divided his attention between Glover, Inman, and Taylor in a small interrogation room at the Multnomah County Corrections facility. Sean was surprised to see the jail stood in the middle of downtown Portland, but it was part of the county’s Justice Center, so it made some sense.
Sean tried to relax, but his adrenaline was still pumping from moving Dustee and Dianne to a new location in much the same method as their first transfer. The local bureau had only one safe house, so Taylor rented a cabin under a fictitious name and used an ID that couldn’t be traced back to Dustee or anyone on the team.
Inman had booked Glover and now sat quietly in the far chair, tracking Glover’s every move. Given the tension in the room, Sean was concerned Inman would go off on Glover. Or maybe Taylor would too. Sean started the video recorder before that happened. He informed Glover that it was running, and Sean recorded his name and position, along with Inman’s and Taylor’s information for the record.
“Why?” Taylor asked before Sean could get the first question out.
Glover ran a hand over hair shorn in a military recruit style. “You’re doing the questioning? Not you, Chief?”
She sat up straighter in her chair, her shoulders in a crisp line that a soldier would admire. “I’m handling this. Do you have a problem with that?”
“Come on, Taylor.” He eyed her. “We’re friends, and you’re acting pretty hostile. I want to be sure I get a fair shake. Someone impartial.”
“Seriously?” She shot to her feet and planted her free hand on the table, a grimace on her face, likely from the quick movement. “You’re calling me out after what you did?”
Sean took ahold of her good arm, gently urging her to sit back down. She glared at him but relented, taking her seat. He wouldn’t say a word on the video, but he gave her a warning look that he knew the camera wouldn’t catch.
She took a long breath and eased it out between clenched teeth before offering a reassuring nod. She faced Glover again and clamped her free hand on her knee. “Why did you hack the WITSEC database?” Her tone was eerily calm now.
Glover slumped in his chair and picked at a hangnail on his thumb until it turned red and raw. “I can’t tell you.”
“Yes, you can.” Her tone was rock hard. “We have a right to know.”
“I know you do, but he’ll . . .” Glover slid deeper into his chair and shook his head. “I just can’t.”
“Phantom threatened you to make you do this?” Inman asked. “Maybe your family?”
Glover gave the barest nod of acknowledgment but didn’t speak. Was he afraid that Phantom could access this recording?
“Then you have to tell us so we can protect them,” Inman said. “He’ll know you’ve been arrested and believe you’re talking whether you do or not. We can bring you and your family into the program. Protect them.”
Glover sat forward, his eyes on his boss. “You can’t promise that. I’ll need to go through the review process first and could be rejected.”
“Trust me,” Inman said. “If I say you’re in the program, you’re in.”
Glover sat there. Not talking. Not moving. But emotions fought for purchase on his face, racing by so quickly that Sean couldn’t begin to guess what the guy was feeling.
“Okay. Fine. We come into the program.” Glover steeled his gaze. “But I don’t say another word until I know my family’s been moved to a safe location and we’ve signed the MOU. And I want to talk to my wife now.”
“We need to know more first. This minute.” Urgency laced Taylor’s words. “Witnesses’ lives are depending on it.”
Glover crossed his arms and leaned back. “Like I said. I’m not talking until I speak to my wife and I know my family’s safe.”
Inman turned to Taylor. “You’ve got your plate full with the twins. I’ll take lead on bringing in his family.”
“Sure. Yeah. That would be good.” She shifted to glare at Glover. “But once he’s ready to talk, I’ll be doing the interview.”
Sean had to give her props for being willing to face someone who’d hurt and betrayed her the way Glover had. If only Glover had reported the situation when Phantom first approached him, there could’ve been a much different outcome to this situation. But he didn’t, and he’d lied to everyone. Just the kind of behavior that caused Sean’s teeth to clench.
“We should get going.” Sean gestured to the door.
Taylor leaned over the table and got in Glover’s face. “You thought you were doing the right thing to protect your family, but you were wrong, Roger. You could’ve gone into the program then. Or we could’ve played this out with Phantom and arrested him. But now there are witnesses
across the country whose lives are in danger. If one of them is murdered, you’ll go to prison as an accessory. How could you put them at risk like that? And put such a black mark on our office’s name? Betray all of us?”
“You don’t understand.” He tightened his arms, his biceps bulging against his sleeves.
“How could I understand? It’s unthinkable.” She paused a moment. “We were friends. Good friends. I would have found a way to help you.” She stood and shifted her attention to Inman. “Don’t forget, I want to be here when he talks. I can’t wait to hear a better explanation for his reprehensible behavior.”
“I’ll text you,” Inman replied.
She didn’t look away. “Do I have your word that you won’t cut me out?”
Inman nodded, and she pivoted so fast her shoes squeaked on the floor.
“Hey, wait up,” Sean called after her. But she didn’t slow down until she reached security and retrieved her phone and weapon.
“I know you’re angry, but we need to talk about how to use this to our advantage. After we bring in Glover’s family for their safety, we can use Glover’s phone to communicate with Phantom.”
“Set a trap.” She stopped and looked up at Sean. “You think that will work?”
“Maybe. If Phantom wasn’t watching the safe house and saw us haul Glover out in handcuffs.”
“It’s also possible that Phantom dumped the phone after he got what he wanted from Roger.” Outside, she turned on her phone and it chimed a few times. She glanced at it. “The videos we requested for the bus stop are in.”
“We can review them the minute we get back to the office.”
She bit her bottom lip. “I’m in no mood to see Dustee and answer the million questions she’s sure to ask. Do you think we can review the videos in another room?”
“I’ll have Snow find a place and computer for us to use.” Sean motioned for her to precede him down the hall.
On the drive over, he called Snow. And when they pulled up to the building, the eager agent was waiting for them at the door. He escorted them to the small conference room. “Hang tight. I’ll go grab my laptop.”
He rushed away before Sean could utter a word. “The guy is starting to grow on me.”
“Yeah. Me too.” Taylor settled in a chair, a faraway look on her face.
Sean sat next to her. “You’re thinking about Glover.”
“Actually, I’m thinking about his sweet kids. This will devastate them. It’s all so sudden. Their life is good right now, and then boom, it all changes the minute we notify them of the arrest.” Her expression glazed over, and tears filled her eyes.
“You’re thinking about how your brother’s death affected your family, and the Glovers will feel like their life disappeared just like your family did.”
She nodded but didn’t speak.
He wanted to encourage her to share but held back. She’d made it clear in the past that she didn’t want to talk about her brother, and he didn’t want to upset her even more. He’d always thought she was hiding something from him, and now that he could verify this in her wounded expression, he was sure of it.
Would she drop a bombshell on him someday? Betray him too?
She took a shaky breath. “I hate what it will do to them, but I also want to see justice done. Roger needs to pay for his actions.”
“But you can understand it, right? I mean, if he thought Phantom planned to kill his kids or his wife if he didn’t cooperate . . .”
“I can’t even imagine how awful that would be.” She wrapped her good arm around her stomach. “But we were friends. He could have told me. We could have come up with something other than releasing witnesses’ information. We know how to protect people better than any law enforcement agency around. His family would’ve been safe, and Roger knew that.” Anger crept back into her voice, replacing the anguish and sorrow.
“From what you’ve told me, a lot of your witnesses struggle in their new lives. Maybe he didn’t want that for his family.”
“So because he didn’t want to be uncomfortable, he exposes thousands of people to the criminals who want them dead?” She shook her head, the anger burned on her face. “Nothing justifies that. Nothing!”
“Here you go.” Snow returned carrying his computer. “I hate to do this, but if you need to access our Wi-Fi, I have to be present.”
Taylor offered him a tight smile, but the rage remained veiled in her eyes. “I just have to download a few videos. We shouldn’t need anything else.”
“Then go ahead. But like I said, I have to watch.” He lurked over her shoulder.
She connected to her email provider and started the videos downloading.
“How’s the investigation going?” Snow asked.
“Fine,” Sean replied, as the rookie didn’t need to know that they were struggling. “It’s all still on a need-to-know basis.”
“And I don’t need to know.” He frowned. “I get it, but if I knew what was going on, I could be more helpful.”
“You’re doing exactly what we need right now, and we thank you for that.” Taylor’s focus remained on the screen.
Snow’s frown deepened, but he didn’t continue the discussion, just stood back while the videos finished downloading. “If you’ll give me access to the computer, I’ll log out of the network.”
Taylor slid away, and Snow quickly signed off and moved back. “I’ll be in the hallway if you need access again.” As he pulled the door closed, he muttered, “Restroom duty. That’s why I got a master’s degree.”
“Now I feel bad for him,” Taylor said, opening the first video.
“Hey, we were in his position once. He needs to learn the ropes, even if that involves escorting us to the restroom.”
Taylor started playing the video, and they watched several of them before they came upon the one they needed. Phantom climbed out of the front passenger seat of a Honda Accord a few blocks from the bus stop where he boarded the bus to the library. The driver remained in the car.
“We may not be able to see his face, but we do have a license plate number.” Taylor paused the video and tapped the screen, her angst replaced with enthusiasm as she looked at him. “Which means we can use DMV records and finally, finally, track Phantom down.”
CHAPTER 19
THE PLAN WAS SET for the raid on the driver’s house, and even before leaving the office, adrenaline raced through Taylor’s body. She hadn’t been on a high-octane op since her rotation in fugitive apprehension and had forgotten the intensity of planning. They’d completed a threat assessment of Fritz Dupont’s house. Kiley and Mack had done a drive-by, revealing the suspect’s car sitting in the driveway. The team had also reviewed the property’s aerial footage and obtained a search warrant for the dwelling and car. Unfortunately, they didn’t have probable cause for an arrest warrant for the driver. A search of the car and residence would hopefully provide the needed information.
“Okay, people.” Sean stood tall at the end of the table. “We’re a go. Remember. This suspect may be working with Phantom. Means he could be armed and dangerous. So keep your eyes and ears open.”
The group mumbled their acknowledgment and got to their feet, except Cam who as an analyst couldn’t go on a raid.
Taylor skirted around them to approach Sean, who was strapping on his body armor. “I’ll need to borrow a vest.”
He fastened the last Velcro strap and tugged on the fabric to settle the vest in place. “I wasn’t planning on you coming along.”
“What? Why on earth not?” Her shock traveled through her tone and drew attention from the team.
Sean gently took her arm and led her out into the hallway. He lowered his voice. “First, you’re injured. Second, I can’t have you there. You’ll be a distraction.”
“That’s ridiculous.” She would cross her arms, if not for the sling.
“No, it’s not. You’re not part of the team, and we have a rhythm. We have our signals, and we each know our j
ob. You’ll interrupt that.”
“I get that . . . to a point, but I also know other LEOs go on raids with you. Means you know how to adapt.”
He stepped closer. “Yes, but I didn’t have feelings for those other LEOs.”
“Feelings?”
A fond smile tipped his mouth. “You’re my friend, Taylor. I care about you. You should know that.”
She loved hearing he cared, but . . . “You’re friends with your teammates, and you’re not making them sit this out.”
He groaned. “Okay, fine. I think it’s more than friendship. My feelings, that is. So I can’t have you there.”
She couldn’t even begin to deal with that comment right now, not when they should be moving. “I’m coming along. We can stand here and argue, maybe miss our suspect, or you can get me a vest and we can be on our way.”
“Aargh. You are so stubborn.”
“As are you.”
He stared at her, his concentration unyielding. “I’ll get the vest, but you’ll be right at my side through it all. Got it?”
“There’s no place I’d rather be.”
He arched a brow, perhaps searching for a deeper meaning in her comment.
“I meant that you’re the best of the best,” she clarified. “I’d feel safe near you.”
“Right. Okay, the vest. I’ll get it.” He departed and soon returned with body armor that would fit her.
After she’d ditched her sling and put on the Kevlar, they piled into two SUVs and made the drive to Fritz Dupont’s small bungalow. When Sean wasn’t looking, she snapped a picture of him, capturing his fierce expression. Excitement had her hands trembling, but hopefully she got a clear shot to upload to her computer for a better look at the man who so captivated her.
They approached the house, and she stowed her phone while Sean parked down the street and got out binoculars to watch the house.
“No sign of the suspect.” Mack’s strong voice came over their earbuds. He’d circled the block and was now parked on the far side of the house. “Clear to approach.”
Seconds to Live Page 17
