The Depraved (A Sarah Roberts Thriller Book 26)

by Jonas Saul

  Of course, he would be outside watching the cottage, the access road, and everything else from a lofty, hidden location. That was how that man relaxed, knowing he was in charge of perimeter security.

  As much as she loved every single man converging on her, she was extremely upset with them all in that moment.

  They were trying to stop her from leaving.

  Everything in her core told her to drive to the police station and demand Detective Hunter be hung in public and made an example of for what he had done to that woman. That, or at least charged with all the crimes he was guilty of. She’d kill Donovan Hunter herself for what he had done to Beverly. Having him arrested and on the inside was for his own protection, his own well-being. On the outside, he was fair game.

  Arms wrapped around her.

  She fought them at first, but was quickly subdued by Alex’s fast and able hands.

  Then Aaron’s arms enveloped her and she protested once more, but he held tight, and she cried, her head dropping onto his chest.

  Then they lowered Sarah to the ground as a unit and she let it all out in her man’s arms.

  She understood her sister so much more in that moment, and she loved her for it.

  Some people had to die. And by Vivian not revealing to her that Beverly Wilder was Jamie Morgan, and allowing the wives to be killed, too, might serve some sort of twisted purpose.

  Then Vivian whispered in her ear, Sarah, they’re all home now, out of their pain. It’s over for them. You and Beverly are still in it, still feeling it. You’re the ones in Hell, and for that, I’m so sorry. I will always be there for you and I love you.

  And Sarah wept harder.

  Chapter 36

  DeOcampo listened to the recording Sarah had sent her not ten minutes ago. She was still in the police station as she’d tried to get a status update on the case, but no one was talking to her. She was persona non grata because she had introduced Sarah to the department several days ago and now the authorities were searching for Sarah as they suspected she was harboring their fugitive.

  Twenty minutes into the recording, she fast forwarded, listened for another minute, then heard the ending. She couldn’t stop her own tears as the women on the recording cried.

  Ten minutes later, she had collected herself enough to meet with Detective Hunter’s superior officer, Sergeant Mavin.

  She was stonewalled for almost twenty minutes, and after several threats of charges laid against Mavin’s police officers, she was let in.

  To her surprise, the snake himself—Detective Hunter—was in Mavin’s office.

  “Sergeant Mavin.” She nodded at him, glanced at Hunter, then moved to stand at Mavin’s desk. “Sarah Roberts has Beverly Wilder.”

  “You demanded to see me to tell me what I already know.” The sergeant’s tone sounded belligerent. “Miss FBI Agent, we are very busy today. We have murders to solve, suspects to arrest, so if you’ll kindly let us do our jobs—”

  “Sergeant.” DeOcampo spoke firmly. “Miss Wilder is ready to surrender herself to the authorities.”

  “Great, tell me when and Detective Hunter can make the arrest. After what he’s been through with this case, the letter he received at his personal residence, his friends being killed, let him make the arrest and be done with it.”

  “I’m afraid that would be a huge mistake.”

  The sergeant seemed ready to explode. He tapped his fingers on the desk’s blotter, moving his eyes from Hunter to her, then back to Hunter.

  “And why, oh high and mighty Special Agent would that be a mistake?”

  “Because Donovan Hunter is the one who started this whole mess.”

  “Hey,” Hunter shouted from the side. “Take my Christian name out of your mouth. It’s Detective Hunter to you. Do not use my first name again.”

  The sergeant smirked at her. “You finished with your little lecture?”

  “I have a recording of a statement made by Beverly Wilder today. Her real name is Jamie Morgan, the girl this man”—she pointed behind her at Hunter without looking at him—“raped and beat, and killed her parents.”

  Hunter was oddly quiet now.

  “A recording?” the sergeant asked, pushing himself up from his desk. “And you’ve verified the voices on this little recording? You saw it recorded, or just heard the tape? How admissible is it in court? Come on, DeOcampo, you know better than to walk in here and claim such wild accusations against my detective. Allegations without evidence.” He shook his head. “Now get out of my office and go home. You’re not needed here anymore.”

  She glanced over at Hunter.

  The man wore a smug smile.

  “Sergeant, ask him to show you his cell phone from yesterday’s meeting.”

  A short look of fear spread across Hunter’s features. Then it disappeared a second later.

  “And why would I do that?” Mavin asked.

  “Hunter received a text from the killer yesterday, asking him to take Sarah and meet at the abandoned barn for ten. They did that.”

  “We know all about the anonymous tip he received.” Now the sergeant was shouting. “I have men in the hospital because of that tip. What are you getting at? That my detective is somehow investigating this case on personal time? Or that he’s not trying to actually solve it?” The man shook his head. “I mean, this is so unbecoming. I expected better from you, DeOcampo.”

  DeOcampo was losing her patience. “Sergeant Mavin, I will send you the recording. I implore you to listen to it. When you’re through, make up your own mind about everything, but know this. Sarah Roberts called me and wants to bring in Beverly Wilder today, tomorrow at the latest, but she will not do it until this man is behind bars. There will be no surrender unless Donovan Hunter is arrested for murder.”

  She used his first name again on purpose. When she fixed her attention on Hunter’s face, his hands were clenching and his lips were drawn back in a fury that for a moment startled her. She actually felt he was ready to attack.

  “That will never happen, Miss Agent. We will find this Wilder woman and arrest Sarah Roberts and Aaron Stevens and whoever the hell else thinks they can hide a murderer from the good people of the City of Toronto.”

  “Then you would need to be arrested, too, Sergeant Mavin, because Donovan is being named in the murder of Jamie Morgan’s parents, and I will use whatever power I’ve got to see those who protected Mr. Hunter are arrested as well.”

  Something moved to her right, and the sergeant shouted.

  “Hunter!”

  Out of reflex, DeOcampo ducked and moved to her left. Hunter was one foot from her, his hand behind him as if he was ready to punch her.

  Then he stood upright, his hands falling to the side.

  “I think it’s time you get out of my office, Agent DeOcampo. Our conversation is over, as well as all future conversations. Go home. Get on that plane. You’re not needed here, nor are you welcome. We’re real cops, wearing real uniforms, and we’ve even made arrests before. So, we know how to do this policing thing. We certainly don’t need advice from the likes of you.”

  She wasn’t stupid. She knew when it was time to leave.

  “‘The likes of me’?” she repeated. “What, because I’m a woman?”

  Hunter was nodding, that smug smile changing to one of I-got-you-bitch. He looked so triumphant in that moment.

  “You’ll regret this, Sergeant.” She strode to the door before saying her last piece. At least then if Hunter ran at her, she could put the door between them. Defending herself was something she was trained to do, but actively engaging in a fist fight with a homicide detective in their headquarters was a high school fight she wasn’t willing to partake in.

  “Sergeant, you should receive a package today or tomorrow. Inside, you’ll find the leftover money Hunter stole from a drug bust several years back. There will be a list with the money. Twelve officers’ names. They all dipped in on that bust. You’ll also notice these men are the same ones who got
hurt last night, trying to bail Hunter out of a difficult situation—”

  “Get out!” Hunter shouted, jamming both fists downward at his side, while leaning forward. In that moment he reminded her of a ten-year-old having a temper tantrum.

  DeOcampo stared at the sorry excuse of a man and wanted to walk over to him if only to kick him in the balls, but she didn’t.

  His time was at an end and he knew it. That anger came from fear.

  Too many people knew what he was now. His creepy, depraved nature would be public soon enough and then Mavin wouldn’t be able to ignore it any longer.

  DeOcampo knew one thing about Sarah. If the system didn’t get Hunter, Sarah would eventually.

  Detective Hunter was finished.

  She smiled at him, a genuine fuck-you smile, and exited the sergeant’s office, shutting the door softly behind her.

  Chapter 37

  Hunter paced back and forth in Mavin’s office, not knowing what to do with his fury. His head still hurt from that punk’s blow to the temple last night in the barn. He’d pay that asshole back for that. When this was all over, the skinny blond kid—Alex was his name—would get a late-night visit from Hunter, and Alex would regret ever meeting the cop. Maybe he’d break Alex’s arm, his leg, or use a baseball bat on his knee. See how well Sarah’s friend jumped around then.

  His right wrist still hurt from lying unconscious on it last night in the barn. And all because two fucking women thought they got the jump on him. Fuck, he was going to mess them both up so bad they will wish they never ever heard his name.

  But first they had to find Beverly. Then this could all be cleaned up.

  What would he do with Sarah, though? He needed to do it the right way. He’d knock her out, then fuck her. How about that? She could wake up to realize how sore she was down there, and know what he had done. And if he ended up killing her first, he’d fuck her afterward anyway. She’d still be warm.

  “Hunter!” Mavin shouted.

  He stopped pacing and stared at the sergeant. “What?”

  “I’ve called your name twice. What the fuck is wrong with you?”

  “Oh. Sorry, Sarge.”

  “Stop fucking pacing and think about what I said.”

  “What did you say?”

  “If Sarah will bring Beverly in only if you’re arrested, let me arrest you.”

  He stopped moving and stared open-mouthed at his boss. “Have you lost your fucking mind?”

  “Hey, watch your mouth.” Mavin crossed his arms over his chest.

  “Right, sorry. Just surprised you’re buying into that DeOcampo shit.”

  “I’m not buying what she’s selling, and you’re not listening to me.”

  Hunter rolled a hand in the air. “Continue then.”

  “I arrest you—not literally—and even prepare the paperwork, but it won’t be official.”

  “Why?” Hunter felt lost. What was his boss thinking? Was he setting him up, or did he actually have a plan?

  Mavin walked around the edge of his desk and stopped in front of Hunter. “Listen to me, you big ape. Stay inside the police station all day. I’ll tell the media we have a suspect in a twenty-year-old cold case and that this particular suspect has been arrested, thanks to a recording brought in by a member of the FBI.”

  “I’m listening, Sarge, but I’m not liking what I’m hearing.”

  “No arrest will actually take place, and I won’t mention your name publicly. Once you agree, I get on that phone and call DeOcampo. I’ll tell her to tell Sarah you’ve been arrested and to bring in the killer she’s holding. DeOcampo will tell me when and where, and you’ll be ready to make the arrest of Beverly Wilder and Sarah Roberts.” Mavin leaned back and let out a small cheer. “This is brilliant.” He clapped his hands twice. “Why didn’t we think of it when DeOcampo was here?”

  “I’m not that into this plan, sir.”

  “Oh, come on, it’ll be a small ruse, and a quick bust. Shit, we could have Wilder and Roberts in holding cells before dinner.”

  Mavin was so gung ho for this new plan, Hunter realized that finding Beverly on his own terms was a thing of the past. He would just have to deal with her when she’s in her little holding cell. Make it look like an accident. It wouldn’t be the first time. He would get to that Roberts bitch in a similar way. Maybe he’d wait until she’s locked away in general population, then he would have more anonymous access to her …

  Mavin slapped him on the back of the shoulder. “I’ll call DeOcampo now and tell her to tell Sarah.”

  “What will you tell her changed your mind? I mean, she just left and you sounded absolute that you wouldn’t be charging me.”

  “Oh, right, she’ll ask that.” Mavin stopped to stare out his office window. “Any ideas?”

  “Tell her I confessed. Tell her I was sorry, and that I’m giving my statement and will sign my confession by the end of day.” Hunter couldn’t believe he was offering the answers to solidify Mavin’s ridiculous plan.

  Mavin had spun back to look at him, and his face lit up. “That’s brilliant.”

  The sergeant grabbed his phone and told them to find DeOcampo. She was in the building. Call her. Get her on the line. Sergeant Mavin had something important to tell her involving the hunt for Beverly Wilder.

  The arrests would be made today.

  Hunter felt sick listening to his boss plan his arrest.

  He never thought he’d go so deep undercover that he’d get arrested to solve a case.

  The things he did to bring down criminals was medal worthy.

  He wondered if now was the best time to bring that up with Mavin.

  Maybe it was time for a promotion.

  Detective Donovan Hunter deserved a promotion after all he’d been through.

  Chapter 38

  They were all back inside the cottage, with Alex napping in one room as he’d been awake most of the night and into the afternoon, guarding the property. Currently, Daniel and Benjamin were outside roaming the area.

  Beverly was in another room, napping as well.

  Sarah sat nursing a cup of honey and ginger tea, while Aaron and Parkman were having coffee. In hushed tones, they discussed their situation.

  “You both listened to her statement?”

  They nodded.

  “Now you can see how frustrated I was?”

  The nodding continued.

  “Hunter must pay for his crimes, or I’ll end up killing him.”

  Aaron and Parkman exchanged a glance.

  “What?” she asked. “There are ways to remove someone from society and no one will ever know.”

  “Sarah, you’re talking about killing a cop.” Aaron set his coffee down.

  “Look,” Parkman said. “Guys, that’s another option down the road. Right now, let’s focus on option number one, which is to have Hunter arrested. Once he’s in custody a more serious investigation can take place into all his dealings, his cases. With Beverly’s testimony, providing they use a jury, there’s a good chance Hunter spends a lot of time in prison.” Now he set his coffee on the table beside Aaron’s. “What bothers me more is how Vivian played God on this one.”

  “How do you mean?” Sarah asked.

  “She let the murderer do her bidding when she could have spoken up.”

  “Let’s say there was no connection to the other side. Pretend I couldn’t hear Vivian at all. What then?”

  “These murders would’ve probably happened as they did.”

  “Free will would’ve taken it’s course. How is that playing God? Vivian gets me to save people who don’t deserve it. For the others, sometimes I guess they get what they deserve.”

  “But she gave you a warning about the pastor—”

  “And I delivered it before he was killed.”

  “Right, but my point is, why only warn him? Why not the others? Fine, don’t tell you Beverly’s identity, but couldn’t the others be arrested and spend time in prison for their crimes?”


  She shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe he was given the warning because according to what Beverly said, he repented where the others didn’t. Their repentance wasn’t to God, it was to their wives. Could it be a religious reason? Could it just be the evil in our hearts? Or should those people have died? I mean, after all, what they did was horrific beyond mention. You listened to that recording. Beverly was an innocent teenager, who felt trapped in an abusive relationship. When she told her parents and tried to break up with her first love, he raped her, killed her mom and dad, then denied her a chance at having a baby and left her for dead.” She stared at both of them. “If someone raped me and I never got to have Willow, I would kill them, too. And guess what, I’d serve my time in jail with a fucking smile on my face. When I was free at forty or fifty, I’d find a way to spend the rest of my life in peace and drink wine everyday, and you know why?”

  They both shook their heads, as if they were afraid to say anything now.

  “Because the rapist fucker was dead, that’s why.”

  They sat in silence for several moments, the only sound was the slow sipping of hot beverages.

  “I still can’t believe she knew my sister,” Aaron whispered. “What are the odds?”

  After more than ten minutes, Sarah turned on her wifi and checked her email. DeOcampo had messaged her to call immediately.

  “Guys, DeOcampo wants me to call.”

  “Then call her,” Aaron said. “Do you need another burner?”

  “No, I’ve still got two of the three Disco gave me.”

  Sarah retrieved one of the burners from her front pocket, turned it on and called DeOcampo’s number.

  “Sarah?”

  “Yeah, it’s Sarah. You have news for me?”

  “Bring Wilder in. I just had Sergeant Mavin on the line. They’ve arrested Detective Hunter on several counts of theft regarding that money he stole from the drug bust, as well as he’s the prime suspect in the murder of Jamie Morgan’s parents. Charges are pending on that one until the case is reopened, but I can tell you this; Sergeant Mavin gave me his word that Detective Hunter was being detained in the police station’s holding cells today until his arraignment in the morning. This is real. It’s legit.”