Vindication- Ties That Bind

by Patricia Kasdan

  “Didn’t I tell you to stay out of the way, you could go down there, as long as you did not interfere with the investigation?”

  “Yes sir, you did, and I didn’t.”

  “That is not what I am hearing. I just got off the phone for the third time today. I was told you went to the forensic lab, demanding results from the lab tech, you’ve been questioning the DEA on their protocols, and you were on the six o’clock news. . .”

  Motioning to the chair in front of Kane’s desk, she said, “May I?”

  “Yes, sit, sit your ass down.”

  Raising her one eyebrow as she crossed her legs, she looked up at him straight in the eye while leaning back in the chair and crossing her arms in front of her chest.

  “Damn it, Krista.” He said as he dropped into his chair. “What the hell went on down there?”

  “First off, I saw the news report. I wasn’t IN the news. They mentioned that I was seen in Philadelphia. Excuse me for wanting to be with my brother to help him through this mess. Secondly, I didn’t question their protocols, trust me I wanted to, but I did not. More importantly, when I went down to the scene with Wilks,... Travis Wilks, DEA?”

  “Yeah, I know of him.”

  “Well, I found a bullet lodged in the staircase, the sweepers missed it. If there was another gun, then maybe…”

  “I know maybe your brother wasn’t the only shooter," and as Kane said it, he could see Krista’s face twist. “Or maybe, he didn’t shoot at all, or maybe he did... You know the drill, follow the evidence.”

  “That is why I was asking about the bullet. How can you possibly miss a bullet that was right where the body was found? That’s incompetence on their part. Evan was arraigned, and they still hadn’t gotten to the bullet. I was just trying to push it along.”

  “It’s bad enough that you are down there, and down there as FBI, in a DEA investigation, you know how it is, interagency cooperation looks great on paper, but we know different.”

  “I know Sir, and I apologize for bringing any stink to this office.”

  “I am only going to say this once, stay out of their way. If I get another call, you will be in hotter water than you can imagine, got it?”

  “Yes sir, thank you, sir.”

  “Now get the hell out of here before I change my mind.”

  She was walking out of Kane’s office. Griffin jogged up alongside or her and kept her pace. “Hey Levell, what are you doing here?”

  “Long story. I was just going to see if you were in the building. You have anything new on the burial site?”

  “Not much, we are looking into the angle you came up with, checking to see who the original contractors were.”

  “Any luck?”

  “A whole lot of nothing, everything tracks back to a shell company.”

  “I know I don’t need to tell you this, so don’t take it the wrong way, but there has to be a connection somewhere. You can try following the shell, see what else is connected to the original one. Pull on enough strings, and it should start to unravel for you.”

  “We put the forensic accountant team on it, as well as the electronic squad. We hope that they can follow the money somehow.”

  “The FAT may be able to help, but I seriously doubt if the ES would be able to uncover anything fifty years ago. Unless someone took the time to update their files from paper to digital."

  "That's exactly what Simons said. We'll keep you looped in, just figured with everything you have going on; you'd rather not be tangled up with this. What's going on with your brother? You good?"

  "I'm fine, just trying to work his case and not ruffle too many feathers."

  “Ha, good luck with that, we're pulling for ya. I gotta run. If anything pops, I'll be in touch."

  Relief spilled out of every one of her pores as she made her way down to the elevator to the garage. Knowing that Kane could have shut her down and didn’t, was exhilarating. Looking out the garage entrance deflated her mood. Snow swirled in the wind like strands of water pearls; it was falling so hard and fast. “I’ll never make it back tonight.”

  As she started for the exit, she slammed on her brakes, almost hitting someone. Throwing the car into park, she got out to make sure they were okay.

  “Sorry, this damn snow.”

  “Krista?”

  “What? Who? What? Derrick?”

  “Yes, I was ready to curse you out.”

  “What happened to that happy energy bubble you put yourself in?”

  “It popped in all this snow. Where are you headed in this storm?”

  “Me? Where are you going?”

  “Trying to get a cab.”

  “Ha, fat chance of that happening, jump in, I’ll take you home.”

  “I’m not going to say no. Are you good?”

  “Not really, Evan was arraigned and held without bail.” As she made her way thru the traffic, pedestrians, and snow plow she filled him in with whatever she could.

  “Damn girl, what a mess. Why don’t you have dinner with Jason and me? I’ll give him a call.”

  As Derrick called his husband, Krista called her sister Dana, to fill her in and let her know she was back in New York for the night. Promising to see Evan first thing tomorrow.

  They took the elevator up to the loaf. No matter how many times Krista saw their loft, it always took her breath away. Walking into an open concept, the kitchen area was in the far left corner. Jason stood in front of a stainless steel six-burner Viking stove, stirring something that smelled like heaven. A glass of wine in one hand and a spoon in the other. Him with his blonde hair cropped high and tight with steel blue eyes, was a contradiction to Derrick, who had and head of dark wavy hair and dark eyes.

  “Krista, it’s good to see you. It was a nice surprise when Derrick told me he was bringing you home for dinner. There’s a bottle of Pinot Grigio, help yourself.”

  “What are you cooking? It smells wonderful.”

  “Shrimp Risotto, I also just put bacon wrapped scallops and crusty Italian bread in the oven. It should be ready soon. I just need to dress the salad when the risotto is finished, and we’ll eat.”

  Jason and Derrick were two of Krista’s favorite people. Jason was a few years ahead of her in school. Dana and Jason were lab partners and became instant friends. Dana had Jason over many times for BBQ’s and even some holidays. Derrick was in most of Krista’s and Evan’s classes throughout high school. When she ran into them, when she moved to the city, it was like the best present you could get on your birthday.

  “Thank you for having me for dinner. I could sure use to be around family tonight.”

  “You always treated us like family.”

  Krista felt some of the stress from the day lifting off her shoulders. With a smile that she felt in her heart, she took them both into a group hug saying, “And the two of you do the same.”

  Releasing them both, she looked at the loaf. “I was going to ask if you wanted me to set the table, but look at that.”

  The dining table was gorgeous, large and round made of reclaimed wood, with four wide iron straps crisscrossing in the middle to form a perfect square in the center. Atop each rattan placemat, sat a multicolor dinner plate, and a smaller salad plate. A mustard colored cloth napkins sat comfortably in a water glass, popping out enough to form a flower. Above the table hung a light fixture made of amber and gold cylindrical globes, glowing like a beautiful sunset. As she picks up the oddly shaped water glass, it felt as though her fingers melted into the side. Placing it back down on the table she said, “I can see, you don't need my help here. What can I do to help?”

  “Derrick, get this girl a glass of wine, please. Drink, Krista, that's what you can do, Jason said as he laughed.”

  “I can't tell you how nice it is to relax a little. I won't be making it back to Philadelphia tonight, so if I have to stay in town, what better way to do it?”

  “We’re glad to have you. How are you holding up? I can’t believe that Evan was arrest
ed. I know he's had his problems with drugs, but murder”.

  “I went through the entire saga with Derrick on the way over. I am hoping to dig up evidence to prove otherwise. I just need to do it quietly, or my director is going to pull me back here and then Evan’s screwed.”

  “He couldn't have anyone more determined to prove his innocence than you. When, yes I said when, you get him out of this mess, have you thought about rehab? Derrick has a friend who went through the program and is doing extremely well.”

  “I haven’t had the opportunity to talk with him. I can only hope he sees he needs help.”

  “Derrick, what facility did Jordan use?”

  “Loving Light, in Florida, It’s pricey, but their success rate is the highest in the nation.”

  “I’ll have to look into it. I just may hand it off to Dana. She needs something to keep her mind occupied. There isn’t much she can do to help with Evan’s case, and it’s driving her nuts.”

  “How is she? Jason and I haven’t heard from her in awhile. Life seems to get in the way.”

  “She’s good, all things considered. You know Dana, slow and steady. Tom’s been great. He’s graciously footing the bill while I’m in Philly. He can’t wrap his head around Evan being a murderer either.”

  “It must be crazy rough for him in prison. I heard that it's cold turkey all the way. No detox drugs or hand-holding.”

  Krista seemed to be looking beyond to condo walls at a horrific accident when she said, “He looked like a bag of crap when I saw him. My heart broke, but there is nothing I can do about it.”

  “You're doing everything you can. I'm sure he knows it too.”

  “I know, it's just heartbreaking seeing him like that.”

  As Jason placed a mouthwatering platter of bacon wrapped scallops on the table, Derrick topped off their wine glasses saying, “Let's eat.”

  They had a nice dinner, Catching up with friends, family and the crazy people that sat in Derrick’s chair for a hairstyle change and a whole lot of free therapy. Laughing about how he was ready to cruise again, for his own treatment.

  Regretfully saying goodnight, Krista made her way through the snow to her condo, relieved to be off the roads, as she pulled into her parking spot.

  23

  Back Home

  When she opened her condo door, there was a flashing glow of red from the light on her answering machine that lite up the corner of the room. Who could that be, she wondered. No one called her landline, she only had it because it was part of the package for cable and internet. Taking the phone from the cradle, she had to search her memory for the password to retrieve the message. It was Jeff.

  “Krista, where the hell are you. I’ve been trying to reach you for hours. Call me immediately when you get this.”

  She took her cell out of her coat pocket and sure enough, there were five calls from him. She looked down at the side of the phone and saw that somehow, the button was switched off.

  She hit the call back button thinking, what can be so important, that he needs me to call immediately?

  “Sorry Jeff, my ringer was off, I guess I forgot to put it back on after court. Speaking of, where were you, I thought you would be there.”

  “I had pressing business to attend to. I spoke to Doltz; he said they were remanding Evan .” He was smiling at the other end of the phone, trying to keep his voice even.

  “Yeah, now they are saying he laid in wait for Nelson than shot him. He was charged with First Degree Murder opposed to second.”

  “Sounds like you have a lot of work to do. Are you still staying in Philadelphia?”

  “Yes, I’m not leaving until I get him out.”

  “He may not get out; did you ever think of that?”

  “I’m not losing faith. In my heart, I know he didn’t murder Nelson.”

  “You don’t know that, if I remember correctly, you didn’t think your father was up to no good either.”

  “I know he wasn’t. I just haven’t proved it yet.”

  Jeff hissed into the phone, “You have to let it go. How long are you going to hold on to fallacies?”

  “Fallacies, Dyadya, you of all people think I’m wrong? You had known him most of your life, even before he met my mother. How could you think that? You were friends, his business partners. I thought he called you Tramp because your horse almost trampled him, not because he knew you would trample all over his memory.”

  “I have, and I’m not, you need to let this go. How else can I say it? How many times do you have to hear it? You have enough to worry about with your brother. Let. It. Go.”

  “My parents wouldn’t want me to let it go. They always did what they thought was right regardless of the consequences.”

  Krista could hear Jeff’s teeth grinding as he spoke into the phone, low and slow. “You have no idea. I have other business to attend to. I’ll catch up with you later.”

  “That’s fine; my door buzzer is going off anyway.”

  Krista ended the call and walked over to the intercom. She pressed the button and saw Travis standing there.

  “Travis? What are you doing here?”

  He raised his arm so that his hand was in view of the intercom camera. It held a bottle of wine. Krista laughed and buzzed him in. She opened her door and leaned against the doorjamb waiting for the elevator to open. When it did the site of Travis made her breath hitch. She couldn’t help herself, that leather jacket, that shirt, how it stretched across the muscles of his chest and those jeans.

  He took a step and stopped at the door. His eyes held hers just long enough to make her shift her weight for one foot to the other and look away. She tilted her head looking up through her lashes at him. The corner of his mouth lifted and a deep dimple appeared, he stepped out of the elevator and stood so close she could feel the cold radiating off his jacket. “Hey.”

  “Hey yourself, come on in.”

  When he walked past her into her condo, a crisp, clean citrus smell filled her senses. She shook her head slightly and relaxed her shoulders before following him in.

  Knowing he had never been in her condo before, and wasn’t really sure why he made an unannounced visit now, she watched him. She watched his eyes scanned the condo, taking in his surroundings. She was thanking herself for cleaning up before she left for Camden.

  “So, what? You were in the area and figured you stop by?”

  “Something like that. Can I sit?”

  Krista waved her arm towards the sofa. “Make yourself at home. Let me take your Jacket, and I’ll hang up.”

  “Before I do, do you have a wine opener? Maybe some glasses?”

  “No, I open wine with my teeth and drink out of the bottle.”

  “Oh, now look who’s being funny.”

  Laughing she said, “In here.”

  He followed her around the half wall that separated the living space into the kitchen area. He reached up over the tiny island and took down two glasses that sat comfortably in the glass rack. Krista handed him the wine opener and watched when he popped the cork.

  “Shiraz, that my favorite.”

  “I saw you order it at Dana’s party, so I figured I couldn’t go wrong.”

  “Nice of you to notice. The way Evan’s case is going, I think I would drink Boones Farm wine. At three dollars a bottle, you can’t beat it.”

  “Oh no, really that bad of a day?”

  Krista grabbed the bottle and led Travis back into the living room. She lifted her glass to his she said, “To better days.”

  Travis tapped his glass to hers, “To better days.”

  She placed her glass and the bottle on the cubed table that sat in front of the sofa and tucking her feet under her and sat down. Travis situated himself on the other end of the sofa and took another sip of his wine.

  “Okay, so what brings you back to Manhattan? Wait, wait, wait wait.” Krista’s brows creased causing an eleven to appear between them. “How did you know where I lived?”

  Trav
is’s face spread into a huge smile, his cheeks producing deep dimples. “You told me.”

  “I did not.”

  ‘Oh, but yes you did. You mentioned it once in passing, how the maintenance fees were going up to some ridiculous amount. I just took a chance you were still here. Looked at the mailbox names and there you were. Nice place by the way. Very homey, seems like it worth the maintenance fees.”

  “Thank you; I’ve come to realize that too. So what brings you here?”

  “I had to come back to Manhattan. I had an appointment shall we say, with my director. It seems he got a call about your lab visit also. It didn’t take that long to make it up the chain.”

  “Travis I am truly sorry. I had no intentions of jamming you up. The words just came tumbling out of my mouth before I could stop them. When it comes to family, I don’t seem to have a filter.”

  The corners of his eyes crinkled and his curved into a smile. “I know, I’ve been on the other end of the unfiltered mouth of yours. I wouldn’t be here bearing gifts if I thought for one minute you were being vicious. Besides, I think those calls were roadblocks.”

  “What do you mean roadblocks?”

  “Just what it sounds like. There wasn’t any reason for the calls to our directors. We’re not in grade school. What you said really wasn’t a big deal.”

  “But you said ---“

  “I know what I said. I know I tried to shut you down. I just didn’t want you saying something you would regret or potentially get us jammed up. Calling someone incompetent isn’t a reason to go up the chain. I just feel like something else is going on.”

  “What are you thinking?”

  “I’m not sure exactly, I’ll let you know when I know, but in the meantime, we need to tread lightly.”

  “I can’t promise I’ll be nicer when it comes to Evan, but I’ll try.”

  Krista reached for her wine glass and knocked it over. Travis tried to grab it for her before it rolled off the table and the remaining wine flew out of the glass onto his shirt sleeve. Krista jumped up.

  “Damn, let me get some paper towel.”