“Great. He’ll be here in an hour and a half. We can finalize arrangements with him then. In the meantime, let’s get back to the office and get Hector squared away until we can sort him out.”
Back at headquarters, Larry headed for his office while Finn went off to get Hector back to the cells. As he entered the outer office, Mary-Beth jumped to her feet and frantically motioned him back into the hallway. Frowning, he followed her back out the door as she rushed past him.
“What’s up, Mary-Beth? What’s got you so unsettled?”
“Director Moran is in your office. He’s been there for approximately ten minutes. When I said you were out but I could call you back, he said it was okay. He was looking for some papers, and he’s sure he’ll find them without your help. I tried calling your cell, but I kept getting your voicemail,” she replied in a harsh whisper.
Suspicion welled in him. What on earth could the director possibly be looking for that he didn’t want Larry to know about?
“It’s okay. I’ll deal with it. Thanks, Mary-Beth.”
“Thank you, sir.” A relieved expression crossed her face.
Larry re-opened the door to the outer office and indicated for her to precede him. His secretary went to her desk as he proceeded to his office. His mouth tightened in irritation when he found his office door closed. Stepping closer, he pressed an ear to the wood. Not hearing any movement, he opened the door and stepped inside.
He found the director seated in a visitor’s chair opposite his desk, reading through a case file. Larry couldn’t see which one. The man turned to look at him.
“Larry, there you are. I’ve been waiting for you.”
“My apologies, Director. Did Mary-Beth forget to inform me about a meeting?”
“No, no. I just wanted to follow up regarding the trafficking case.”
“Ah, I see. No problem. May I offer you some coffee, sir?”
“No, thanks. No coffee for me. I need to be on my way. I just wanted to check if there was any significant progress on the case.”
“No, sir. Nothing at the moment.”
“Ah, well, in that case, I need to be on my way. Let me know if there are any new developments. I’d like to see this one put to bed sooner rather than later.”
“Yes, sir. Will do. I’m in complete agreement. The sooner, the better.”
Director Moran got to his feet, put the file down on the desk, and left, leaving the door open behind him.
Larry picked the file up and saw it was the trafficking case file. He returned it to his top drawer, checking to see if anything else had been disturbed. Not seeing anything else out of place, he closed the drawer and took a seat at his desk.
He had a bit of time to kill before his meeting with Preston, and he decided he’d use it to look up property around Tampa. He fancied retiring to the area. And retirement looked mighty appealing lately. He was definitely getting too old for this shit.
15
“Okay, okay.” Preston put a placating hand up. “Let’s go talk to your witnesses and then we can see where we’re at.”
“Fair enough,” Larry replied. “We can head out to Colombia Penitentiary and talk to Marcus. When we’re done, we can do the same with Hector. But you’ll find them reluctant to talk without something on the table.”
“We’ll figure it out.”
Larry nodded. “Fine. No time like the present then.” The three men stood. “You travelling in your own vehicle, Preston, or you riding with us?”
“I’ll hitch a ride with you, if it’s all the same, thanks.”
They used the drive to the prison to formulate a strategy for handling the meeting with Marcus. It wasn’t going to be easy to come to a compromise. He wanted protection, and the DA’s office wasn’t willing to make an offer without knowing if what he had qualified him. Especially since he was looking for clemency in exchange for his testimony.
Marcus had been released from the hospital wing and moved into isolation. He took his meals in his cell and exercised in the yard once the other prisoners returned to their cells. If he was going to be of any assistance in the case, they needed him alive and healthy.
Jim, once again, personally escorted Larry and the other two men to an interrogation room where they waited for Marcus to be brought from his cell. Finn took up his customary position at the back of the room, a silent, brooding presence.
They stood around, talking amongst themselves until the door opened.
“Ah, there he is. I’ll leave you gentlemen to it,” Jim said. He shook hands with the three men and left.
Marcus leaned heavily on a cane as he limped into the room. He looked from one man to the other, his shrewd gaze lingering on Preston James for a moment longer than the others.
“I see you’ve brought company, Keon.”
“Yep. So best you make it worth not just my while, but his too. Otherwise, you’ll be here for a long time yet.”
“I told you I want something on the table first.”
“Yeah, and I told you, you’d have to prove you have anything we’re interested in.”
For long minutes, Marcus sat as if trying to decide how much to share without a firm offer. Eventually, he seemed to come to a decision. “I know you’ll want to record this conversation. These are my terms. I give you broad information before you turn the recorder on. You make me an offer. If I like what you’re offering me, I’ll tell you everything I know – names, dates, places — on record”
Larry looked over at Preston. The man considered Marcus. “Here are my terms. I am willing to petition the governor for clemency on your sentence. But, in return, the information you give better lead to arrests. And not of small fish either. I want big hitters – the ones running the show.”
“Have a seat, Mr. James. Let’s chat.”
Preston and Larry took a seat at the table, opposite Marcus. “All right, Marcus, your turn. Lay it out for us.”
“Shall we say, you’d be blown away by just who is involved in this ring. I wasn’t privy to who the head man is – my position in the organization didn’t afford me that information, but I do know who his second-in-command is.” He paused to ask the guard for a glass of water. “Did you bring the records you have?”
“I have them here, yes.”
“Take them out. I’ll break some of it down for you. Then we reassess. Yes?”
Once again, Larry looked to Preston for an answer. The man nodded his assent.
“Fair enough.”
He placed the file he’d been holding on the table and opened it to where Marcus’s accounting records were. He reached for them, read through them as if reacquainting himself with them, and then he began to talk. After ten minutes of telling them who had been involved in the transactions he’d singled out, where they’d taken place, and who had been paid off in government agencies in both America and South Africa, he leaned back in his chair without another word.
Preston pushed back his chair and got to his feet. Larry did the same. He gathered the papers on the table together and picked up the file. The two men left the room after Finn had indicated he’d remain.
Once the guard had closed the door behind them, they walked a short distance from the room before Preston turned to face Larry.
“Holy shit, man. Did you have an idea about any of that?”
“Not one, my friend. Not one.”
He was still reeling from some of the names Marcus had given them. A number of alphabet agencies were involved – men who’d sworn to serve and protect who were using their positions to line their own pockets. When this shitstorm eventually broke, a lot of people were going to get hurt, families ripped apart by greed. Public confidence would be shaken to its very foundation.
Preston looked as shellshocked as Larry himself felt.
“Jesus, Larry. If this is just the ice breaker, I’m almost too scared to hear the rest of it.”
“You and me both, my friend. You and me both.”
Preston rubbed the bac
k of his neck, tension radiating from his stiff frame. “Let’s get in there and finish this thing up. I need to get back to the office to get this ball rolling. And I still need to talk to your other source.”
“Yeah, I’m good with that.”
As they walked back into the room, Larry looked over to where Finn remained standing. His stoic expression hid his thoughts, and he wondered what the other man was thinking about Marcus’s bombshell.
“All right, Forrester. Here’s the deal. I’ll prepare the paperwork to submit to the governor. Once I have received confirmation back, we’ll be back to finish this interview and get you processed for witness protection. When that happens, I’m going to need everything in a written statement, and we’ll be video recording the next interview session. This is not negotiable.”
“You get me that protection, and I’ll give you everything I know.”
“Then we’re done here for now.”
They were just about back to the office when Larry’s phone rang. Using the vehicle’s handsfree system, he answered via the button on the steering wheel.
“Keon.”
“Mr. Keon, sir, we have a situation,” one of the agents he’d posted at Tahlia’s house informed him.
Never words he wanted to hear at the best of times, coming from the agent outside Tahlia’s house was not a good sign. “I’m listening.”
“Sir, Hector and two unknown males just arrived. They’re knocking on the front door. Do you want us to intercept, or wait to see what happens? Please advise?”
His blood ran cold. They were going after Tahlia. This was all his fault. He should have made her go into protective custody. And how the hell had Hector gotten out?
“Intercept. Don’t let them into that house.”
“Shit, an old lady’s just opened the door, and they’ve pushed her out of the way. They’re in, sir.”
“Go. Get in there. Do not let them get their hands on my witness. Go. Go!”
“Yes, sir.”
The line went dead. Larry could feel the sweat beading on his forehead. “Finn, find out how the hell Hector is at Tahlia O’Connor’s house and not in our cells.”
“On it, boss man.”
“Preston, sorry bud. Change of destination. This one takes priority.”
“Do what you’ve got to do. I can always make a plan from there.”
The entire ride to Tahlia’s house, Larry prayed. It had been a long time since he had, but he was hoping it wouldn’t be held against him. He didn’t know what he would do if anything happened to Tahlia. Especially since he’d promised to keep her safe. They’d finally found each other again; he just had to believe they would get to her in time.
“Sir, apparently a high-powered attorney arrived at the office, pitched a fit, and Hector was released. Mary-Beth’s going to check who processed him. Seems the mole tunnel goes a lot deeper than we suspected.”
“Yeah, so it would seem,” was all Larry took the time to say as he sped toward the scene.
When they pulled up outside the house, he noticed the door standing wide open. As soon as he’d parked the car, he ran for it. Dashing through the open door, he found one of his agents on guard at the foot of the stairs.
“Report,” Larry barked at the man.
“Mr. Keon, sir. We followed the three men into the house after I spoke to you. When we arrived at Ms. O’Connor’s suite, they were attempting to coerce her into leaving with them.”
“And then?”
“Hector started screaming about being a dead man, and one of the unsubs pulled a weapon. We drew our own and told the unsub to stand down. He declined with some choice words and discharged a shot. My partner returned fire.”
Larry could feel the acid build in his stomach. Please, god, let Tahlia be okay. “Yeah?”
“Hector pulled his own weapon, but before we could either disarm him or fire a shot, he shot himself, so we have a body count of two, sir.”
“And the other two – the second unsub and Ms. O’Connor?”
“The second unsub managed to get away. Ms. O’Connor is upstairs. She’s somewhat shaken after suffering a flesh wound. It seems one of the bullets discharged ricocheted, grazing Ms. O’Connor.”
“I expect a full report on my desk before end of shift today.”
“Yes, sir.”
Larry took the stairs two at a time. He couldn’t get to Tahlia quick enough. Everything else could wait, but he needed to see for himself that she was fine. As he cleared the doorway, he saw the evidence of the standoff that had gone down. The room was in chaos, furniture overturned, pictures knocked off the wall, bodies on the floor.
His eyes tracked the room as he searched for Tahlia. They came to rest on her sitting on a chair in the tiny kitchen. Someone had obviously thought to put her there with her back to the room. He hastened to where she sat.
She startled as he came around her into sight. His heart clenched at the ashen color of her skin and the glaze of shock in her eyes. This woman had been through so much in her life, he wondered when she was going to catch a break.
As her dull eyes locked on his, she surged to her feet and threw herself into his arms.
“Laurence, oh god.” Her arms locked around him, and she buried her face in his neck.
He felt the hot spill of tears against his skin as he held her shaking frame tight, thanking every deity he could think of that she was safe. He closed his eyes against the uncomfortable mix of rage and fear that bubbled like acid in his stomach. If he could get his hands on the people responsible for this mess, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to control himself.
He heard movement behind him. Swinging his head around, he saw Finn and Preston in the doorway. “Finn, find out if they’ve called for paramedics. If not, someone get on it.”
“Yes, sir. Right away.”
“I’m sorry, Laurence. I promised I’d be careful. I thought it was one of your agents come to fetch me. That’s what he said,” he heard Tahlia whisper.
He put his lips to her ear, intending his words for her only. “It’s okay, baby. I’m sorry this happened to you. I’m just so grateful you’re safe.”
Finn moved into his line of sight. “They’re on their way, sir. I’m going to check on the old lady and see if I can get a statement. Need anything before I go downstairs?”
“No, we’re all good here. Stay sharp. We don’t know where the second unsub disappeared to.”
Finn nodded and left the room. Preston moved over to where the agent stood, speaking quietly to him. Larry couldn’t hear what the men were talking about. Figuring things were in hand between Preston and Finn, he decided to focus his attention on Tahlia. He could feel how she still trembled against him.
Grateful someone had been aware enough to shield her from the room beyond, he wanted to remove her from the area completely until the coroner’s office had been there. He also wanted to talk to her without distractions. Taking her hand, he walked her to her bedroom.
“Just hang on here, baby. I’ll be back in a second.”
Tahlia murmured her acknowledgement as she made her way over to the bed, where she took a seat. He quietly closed the door behind him before walking over to where his agent and Preston stood.
“How’s she doing?” Preston asked, nodding a head at the closed bedroom door.
“She’s in shock, but otherwise mostly unscathed. I don’t want her in here until we’ve cleared all of this up.” Larry indicated the covered bodies. “She doesn’t need to see this. I’ll keep her in there until the coroner’s been.” He gestured to the closed bedroom door. “I’d appreciate it if you could send the paramedics in when they arrive.”
“Yes, sir,” his agent replied.
“No problem, Larry,” Preston echoed.
“Thanks. Give a shout if you need me for anything.”
“Sure thing, brother. Will do,” Preston replied.
With that, he returned to the room where Tahlia waited for him.
16
&
nbsp; Larry found Tahlia lying on the bed, curled up into a tight ball, her arms wrapped protectively around her legs. She lay quietly, staring out the window, though he doubted she saw any of the beautiful view beyond.
“Tahlia, sweetheart?”
She turned those dull eyes to him, but never said a word.
“The paramedics are on their way. They’ll be here shortly. Can I get you anything?”
Tahlia shook her head, still not uttering a word. Larry took a seat on the bed beside her. Took her hand in his. His touch tender, he rubbed her hand between his to warm it.
A light tap on the door announced their arrival. Once they were set up, Larry released Tahlia’s hand and went to stand out of the way. Letting them get on with what they needed to do. He watched closely as they checked her over thoroughly. They bandaged the bullet graze and gave her something for the shock.
Satisfied that the worst of it was the bullet graze, the senior EMT stepped over to where Larry sat out of the way. His partner continued to pack up their gear.
“We’re all done here, sir. Ms. O’Connor has suffered no serious injury and will be fine once she’s had some rest. She might want to talk to a counselor about today’s happenings, but physically she’s fine.”
“Thanks very much. I appreciate it. I’ll speak to her about seeing someone.” He held out his hand to shake with the other man.
“Great. We’ll be on our way then, sir.” The paramedic shook Larry’s hand before leaving.
Larry went over to sit back on the bed.
He stroked a hand over Tahlia’s hair, savoring the silken feel of the strands between his fingers.
“Sweetheart, I’m going to take you to my place. You can rest there, and when you’re feeling a bit better, we can talk.”
“Okay, Laurence.”
The timid Tahlia of old had resurfaced. It worried Larry, but he was hoping it was temporary. That she would be back to her old self shortly. In the meantime, he needed to get her away from there.
Trusting Laurence Page 13
