Memories of a Murder
Page 29
Clara was standing behind Randy with her own pistol clenched in both of her hands.
“You were supposed to be…” Frank said.
“I am beginning to think I was actually cut out for the field work,” Clara said.
“I am glad, thank you,” Frank said.
“That’s your car?” Joe pointed to the car that had stopped a hundred feet away.
“I borrowed it,” Clara said, “I had the whole highway to myself, best drive of my life.”
“Driving on the wrong side, that’s a big traffic violation,” Joe said, “What says you, Frank?”
All three of them laughed to the sirens of the police cars.
CHAPTER 17
Monday, Day 12
Frank walked in the interrogation room where Dunlap sat behind an empty desk with his lawyer next to him. Joe was leaning against the wall next to the door. Captain Arthur sat opposite to Dunlap’s lawyer. Frank took his seat facing Dunlap and opened a file folder.
“The power company confirms the radioactive waste came from the reactor which you had sold them,” Frank said matter-of-factly looking down at the paper. “We can also link you to Roy’s murder since his skeleton was found buried at the same spot you had buried the lead barrels. We have you linked to the Renegade Squadron and to Panther. The latter links you to Adam’s murder. All these charges are heavy just by themselves, stack them on top of each other, and you stand no chance.”
“Links are not murder evidence,” the lawyer interjected.
“Now that we have a search warrant for Dunlap’s residence, properties and business; how long before we find more evidence? Like the revolver he used to shoot Roy. Perhaps he threw it away, but perhaps he just hid it. Or the payment transaction to Panther which will be revealed by thorough computer forensics,” Frank said.
“Why are you talking to us before your search and evidence collection is finished?” the lawyer asked, “because you don’t expect to find much.”
“Your client knows that is not true,” Frank said then looked straight at Dunlap, “I still have friends in Military Intelligence. I have heard about the billion dollars of heroin from Afghanistan and the Renegades Squadron’s involvement with it.”
All color disappeared from Dunlap’s face upon hearing this. His lawyer, however, became agitated and flipped through the pages. Even Captain Arthur looked at Frank with surprise but said nothing.
“There is nothing about a heroin deal in these papers. What are you implying, Detective?” the lawyer asked.
“Perhaps I misspoke,” Frank smiled while staring ahead, “Dunlap, I have a deal for you.”
“You don’t have to deal, Mr. Dunlap,” the lawyer said.
Frank ignored him and said, “Dunlap, are you the big boss who negotiates multimillion dollar deals or are you just going to let your overpaid lawyer run up useless trial fees?”
“Hey, I protest that,” the lawyer said, “if you talk like that I will have to file a complaint.”
“Frank, cut that out,” Arthur said.
“I want to hear about the deal,” Dunlap finally spoke.
“You are old and going to spend the rest of your life in prison for your role in the unsafe and the unlawful concealment and transport of radioactive waste,” Frank said, “New Jersey has no death penalty. If you confess to the two murders of Roy and Adam as well…”
“Panther shot Adam, even you acknowledge that,” Dunlap said.
“Alright, we will make it conspiracy to commit murder,” Frank said, “makes no difference to your overall sentence.”
“Then why the hell would I confess? To make your job easier?” Dunlap laughed nervously.
“I would appreciate that,” Frank said, “more importantly. We don’t want to punish your heirs and employees for your crimes.”
“What does that supposed to mean?” Dunlap asked.
“That indemnification clause you have with the power company, will bankrupt your oil company in civil litigation if I put it in my reports that you acted as an officer of your company,” Frank said, “your company becomes liable then. But if I charge you as just acting as a private individual, then my police report and your conviction can’t be used in a civil suit against Grand North Petroleum and Refining. Do you want to leave worthless shares to your children and grandchildren?”
“Mr. Dunlap, this is purely speculative. He can’t know the outcome of any civil litigation,” Dunlap’s lawyer said.
“Neither can you,” Dunlap said to him, “you are a criminal defense lawyer.” He turned to Arthur and said, “I would need to consult my General Counsel.”
“Go ahead. Make a call,” Arthur said, “Frank, give him his phone.”
“Gladly,” Frank replied. He picked up a plastic bag and handed Dunlap the phone they had confiscated earlier. Frank and Arthur walked over and stood beside Joe where they couldn’t hear the hushed conversation between Dunlap, his lawyer and his company’s counsel.
Captain Arthur walked out of the interrogation room followed by Frank and Joe. Clara was standing outside along with Friedrich Brandt.
“Who are you?” Arthur asked Friedrich.
“He unofficially helped on the investigation,” Frank said.
“In what way? There was no mention of him in your report,” Arthur said.
“Just some help with clearing up some memories,” Frank said. Clara, Joe and Friedrich laughed.
“What memories? Nevermind, I need to talk to Colonel Edward. I will catch up later,” Arthur said and left.
“What happened?” Clara asked.
“Dunlap agreed to the deal. He pleads guilty to the murder of Roy and Adam, goes to the prison for the rest of his life,” Frank said.
“Why did he agree?” Clara asked.
“To save his company for his children,” Frank said.
“Should they benefit from the work of a man like that?” Clara asked.
“Maybe not, but I don’t want to throw hundreds of his employees out of work for no fault of their own,” Frank said.
“Frank, I hope my work was of some use to you,” Friedrich said.
“Absolutely, couldn’t have done without it,” Frank said.
“That’s it then,” Clara said.
“What’s next for you?” Frank asked.
“Back to work from vacation…some vacation,” Clara laughed, “I think I am going to apply for field work after all. And I do owe a coffee to this analyst I had mentioned earlier.”
“Speaking of which,” Frank turned to Joe, “I haven’t had my iced coffee for two days. Now might be a good time.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sid Kar writes exciting Action Thrillers and Adventure novels. He has currently written a total of nine novels.
Mystery Thrillers (Detective Frank Kirk Series)
1. Memories of A Murder
Action Thrillers (Colonel Sthykar Karwyk Series)
1. War Machine
2. One Man Army
3. The Storm Maker
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Visit his website: www.actionadventurebooks.net to read about these and other thriller novels. You can also sign up for his mailing list to stay up to date on new releases. Finally, if you liked this book, please consider leaving a review.
Read on for preview of other novels
The War Machine
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FK9M41S/
Colonel Sthykar Karwyk never imagined that he would be ordered to take his Mountain Division deep behind enemy lines for a secret rescue operation.
Narducat Imperial Fleet has invaded Karaln Nation – whose scientists alone had mastered the deep mysteries of Atom – and now The Empire commands the sole Atomic arsenal in the world. But there are rumors of a secret base of Karaln scientists, hidden inside the territory occupied by the fearsome Imperial Special Army.
Colonel Sthykar and Starfire Kingdom’s Mountain Troope
rs must find and rescue the atomic scientists even as they battle an enemy that outnumbers and outguns them. If he fails, no army will be able to stop the Narducat Empire’s plan to conquer and rule the world under its iron heel.
War is at hands…
Colonel Sthykar Karwyk Action Thriller - Book #1
One Man Army
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FLJULMQ
The War is here and Colonel Sthykar Karwyk takes his Mountain Troopers on a suicidal daredevil mission to infiltrate and attack the Narducat Empire’s mainland.
Starfire Kingdom’s rapidly progressing atomic program was meant to halt the Imperial Aggression but the Empire will tolerate no rivals. Narducat Empire launches the largest invasion fleet in the history to directly target and destroy Starfire Kingdom’s experimental reactor with an atomic strike.
But Colonel Sthykar has a plan of his own: launch a surprise attack on an Imperial Special Army base and seize Empire’s own Atomics!
In this Panoramic War Epic filled with a Kaleidoscopic cast of characters such as Colonel "IronHeart" and "The Ringmaster"; Colonel Sthykar of Starfire is the most dangerous man in the world and with a million man army racing to stop him - he is coming to the Imperial Capital with the most dangerous weapon ever created.
An Absolute Slobberknobber of a War!
Colonel Sthykar Karwyk Action Thriller - Book #2
The Storm Maker
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0115QNE8C/
Colonel Sthykar never expected his hunting vacation to turn into a hunt for a secret base inside a dense forest and a running gun battle against mysterious soldiers attached to no unit he ever heard of.
Foreign soldiers belonging to an elite Ranger Force and protecting a superweapon in construction. Financed by an Industrialist who dreams of reviving an ancient empire. A weather modification superweapon that can create artificial hurricanes and tornadoes. A weapon meant to blackmail the Starfire Kingdom into immediate submission.
The Storm-Maker is rapidly approaching completion and when it goes live it will unleash the mother of all hurricanes - the likes of which has never been seen before. And it can unleash them at will.
With time running out and outside forces helpless against the massive storm front, Colonel Sthykar gambles on a desperate helicopter attack right through the Eye of the Storm!
Colonel Sthykar Karwyk Action Thriller - Book #3