Jacob Trembly would be arraigned in the morning for escaping custody, facilitating a jailbreak, and using a false identity. But the truth was, they would have a difficult time tying him to the heists. He hadn’t resisted arrest, and hadn’t used a weapon when he escaped. If he pled and the AUSA was in a good mood, he might get a year in prison for conspiracy.
Kirk Hansen was a repeat offender and he had shot and killed the bank guard last month, plus injured two civilians. He wouldn’t be getting out of prison anytime soon, and the AUSA was considering a capital case. Murder in the commission of a felony could mean the death penalty.
Sam Trembly had no weapon on him when he was searched after the robbery, and he’d surrendered peacefully. But he was facing serious charges, in addition to the prison break. Lucy didn’t know what would happen—right now the man seemed defeated, and if he worked it right he might be able to plead out for a reduced sentence. Because he had never used a gun in any of the felonies, he might get away with ten years in a plea deal, if he cooperated. That was all out of Lucy’s hands. She’d done her job and could sleep comfortably knowing she’d done it well.
Amanda Trembly was the wild card. She was educated, smart, and now had money. But she had lost her entire family in this scheme, and Lucy hadn’t spent enough time with her to assess how that would impact her. Chances were that she had a bigger escape plan and that she would disappear from San Antonio and lay low. They’d continue to look for her, trace the money, use the research Lucy had done on property and family names to see if any of it led to the Tremblys. But for now, Amanda might be able to disappear.
Lucy was eating her second donut in the conference room after the debriefing. She shouldn’t, but they were so very good, and she had a weakness for chocolate anything. And these were chocolate crème donuts.
Agent Crutcher walked in with Nate. He said, “I already told Agent Dunning, and I’m telling you—I’m sorry that I was an ass about this case. I finally did read your reports in full, the final report from Fredericksburg PD, and I talked to Mr. Thomsen about what transpired at his ranch. I was wrong to put the blame on either of you—I jumped to a conclusion and was too stubborn to admit that I was wrong.”
“Apology accepted,” Lucy said.
Nate was grinning smugly over Crutcher’s shoulder where the senior agent couldn’t see. Lucy smiled. “I’ll tell you this, your files were impeccable, and we used that information to figure out the Tremblys’ plans. So we all did well.”
“I’ve always been good with numbers and patterns. I took your research into the two families and we’re expanding the property search. We even narrowed down the date—when Monica Trembly sold her property outside Austin, that money was transferred sixty days later to another bank, transferred again thirty days after that—and we’ll find it, whether it’s in some foreign account or used to buy property.”
“Good. That’s where Amanda probably is right now—or on her way. To a safe house, out of state.”
“About that—I’m heading to the jail to talk to Sam Trembly. We really need to recover the blueprints and equipment he used to access those underground tunnels. I’m going to play nice with him because if we lose that, it could be a potential terrorist threat. Army Corps of Engineers is coming here to analyze any potential security threat, but that someone could move so freely down there with no one knowing—well, it worries us. Maybe he’ll help us find Amanda.”
“I don’t think so,” Lucy said. “Based on my understanding of his psychology—and that’s minimal because I didn’t spend a lot of time with him—he’s a protector. He’s not going to give her up because she’s the one who got away. He’ll be happy she got away, and content to spend time in prison. However, I might be able to get some clues from him about her plans. But he can’t think we’re trying to manipulate him, so we’ll be straightforward on the surface.”
“Okay,” Crutcher said. “You want to sit in, Dunning?”
“No, Lucy’s got this. I’m taking the day off. We’re taking Jesse to the gun range and teaching him how to shoot, then a certain Marine and I are having a competition.”
“I’m sorry I’m going to miss that,” Lucy said.
“Sean said he’s going to record it. I need to have the proof when I beat him. Army rules.”
Lucy was going to have to watch that video tonight.
Crutcher drove them to the jail. It didn’t take long, and they were brought in to talk to Sam Trembly in a small interview room. He looked hollowed out, with dark circles under his eyes and a small cut on his cheek that had been taped closed. He stared at Lucy, then shook his head and looked at his hands. “Kirk wanted to kill you and your partner. I hope maybe it helps some that I didn’t want no part of that. I’m not a violent man.”
Almost verbatim what Jacob had said.
“I believe you,” Lucy said.
“Mr. Trembly,” Crutcher said, “we have everyone in custody and all the missing money, except for Amanda and her bag. If you can help us find her, that will help you during sentencing.”
He shrugged. “I can’t help you.”
“You can, you don’t want to. Where were you staying after you escaped on Saturday? You must have had a place here, in town.”
He didn’t say anything.
“Sam,” Crutcher said collegially, “you had access and information to a secure area. I’m sure you understand what could happen if those plans got into the wrong hands. Like you said, you’re not a violent man. You’re not a terrorist. You don’t want to hurt anyone. But what if a real bad guy who wants to blow things up stumbled across the blueprints of the San Antonio River Tunnel? Or the tools you used to access the secure areas? We need to secure all that information.”
“You’ll find it,” Sam said. “We rented a place locally for the last few months. When we don’t pay rent next month, the landlord will find everything and that will be that. So I’m not really worried.”
“You should be concerned about Amanda,” Lucy said. “She loves you and your brother and what if she gets it in her head to try to break you out again? It’s not going to go well for her.”
“She won’t. She’s smart, Agent Kincaid. Real smart. She’ll see that getting away with the money she has is the smartest thing to do. And I’m glad. Because I love her, and she was always the best of us.”
They tried for a good thirty minutes, and while Sam was nice and friendly and even chatty, he didn’t give them anything they could use. The only thing Lucy thought they could push on later was Monica Trembly’s involvement. When Lucy mentioned her, she saw anger cross Sam’s expression. He was angry with his mother, perhaps she could use that to keep the matriarch in prison.
But that was a conversation for the AUSA.
When Sam seemed to tire of the conversation, he said, “I think I’d like to talk to my lawyer now. I’m really done here.”
They left him, and in the hall Lucy said, “Let’s try Jacob.”
“Go ahead. I have a hunch and I’m going to call Daphne and see if she can dig around in some property records for me.”
Crutcher left her, and Lucy asked the guard to bring down Jacob Trembly. He immediately said to her, “You can’t talk to me without my lawyer present.”
“Technically, anything you tell me without your lawyer here can’t be used against you. And I can say anything I want to you. I’m just waiting for my partner, but I wanted to tell you what happened last night.” She laid out everything, from the brilliant plan to how Amanda got away. “There’s been something bothering me all day, and after talking to your brother I know what it is. Both you and Sam said you weren’t violent men, and I believe you. Everything you’ve done, Sam has done, proves it. But Kirk Hansen killed a man and he will not be getting out of prison. SueAnn shot two people, shot at me, shot at another cop—she won’t be getting out of prison. But when I was in the truck Saturday, after your mother and you were detained, Amanda said and did a couple things that had me thinking.” Lucy was making a l
ot of leaps in her reasoning, but as she had thought about it, it made sense. “Was Amanda romantically involved with Reggie? Because I think she’s pregnant.”
By Jacob’s expression, Lucy knew that she was right.
“And she did all this because she wanted Reggie to get out of the business. One big score and you can all walk away. You and I both know Kirk and SueAnn are wild and irresponsible and they would have been caught sooner if it weren’t for you all keeping them in check. Nothing you or Sam has said makes me think that you even care what happens to them. Which is fine, because I don’t, either. But Amanda isn’t like them. She’s going to have a child—and now she’s alone. Her lover is dead, her brothers who have always protected her are going to jail, and she can’t go back to her mother—if Monica weasels out of this—because we’d pick her right up. For Amanda, and for her baby, where is she going to go? I promise, I will do everything in my power to help her. If she turns herself in, and returns all the money, the AUSA will work with her—possibly even giving her minimal time or house arrest. So she can raise her child.”
Lucy had no idea what the AUSA would do, but prosecuting a nonviolent pregnant woman probably wouldn’t be on the top of her list of favorite things.
Jacob shook her head. “Even if I knew—and I don’t—I wouldn’t tell you. Amanda finally has a chance to break free of our cursed family, and I’m going to be rooting for her the entire way.”
* * *
Crutcher and Lucy didn’t talk as they drove back to FBI headquarters. They were both frustrated that neither brother would help—but confirming Amanda’s pregnancy gave them intel they could use. Had she been to see a doctor? They wouldn’t be able to access her medical records, but they might be able to find out if she was a patient. How far along? If Jacob knew, at least two months . . . maybe more. Had she known before Reggie was killed? Had he known? Was that why this one big final heist?
Crutcher’s phone rang. He listened, then made an illegal U-turn, which freaked Lucy. She put her hand on the dash, then felt stupid. Crutcher sped up and said to the caller, “Send backup, Kincaid and I are on our way. You are brilliant, Daphne.”
“That’s why I’m the boss,” Lucy heard Daphne say right before Crutcher ended the call.
“Daphne found their rental. The guy with the trailer in Brady? He owns a lot of property all over the area—including a house only two miles from the bank. He’ll be dealing with his own legal mess, but Daphne sweet-talked him—or threatened him, don’t know which—into confirming that he rented a house for cash for six months to Jacob Trembly and his sister. And better—Daphne is getting a search warrant as we speak.”
Ten minutes later, they were in front of the small bungalow on a quiet street lined with small post–WW II houses. There was no garage and no car in the carport, but Amanda could have walked the two miles here from the bank.
“I know you don’t think she’s dangerous, Kincaid, but we wait for backup.”
Lucy nodded. It didn’t take long for a tactical truck to arrive, led by SWAT team leader Leo Proctor. He quickly cleared the house. “No one’s here,” he confirmed. “But I think everything you’ve been looking for is.”
Crutcher and Lucy entered the house. Leo was right—the dining room was a war room, with all the blueprints and a bag of tools, the tools that hadn’t already been recovered at the bank.
Sitting on the couch was a backpack that matched the three they had recovered. Lucy looked inside: The money and gold bars were there. She couldn’t tell if Amanda had taken any cash with her. She frowned.
“She’s probably coming back,” Crutcher said. “Leo, get your guys out of here, station yourselves around the corner, Lucy and I will stay inside. Keep the coms open.”
“Roger that, be careful.”
Leo and his team cleared out. Lucy continued her search. In the bathroom she found bloody clothes and a towel on the floor. Had Amanda been hit by gunfire? Nate had shot into the dark hallway. Had Amanda been with SueAnn and Sam?
Lucy carefully unfolded the blood towel. Inside was a small fetus, approximately six inches long. Four months into development.
“Oh, God,” she said, and carefully folded the towel around the dead baby. She said a prayer, for not only the lost child but also Amanda, who must be suffering right now.
“What? Was she shot? Other than you shooting SueAnn, only Nate fired.”
“She had a miscarriage.”
“Oh. Poor girl,” Crutcher said with honest sincerity in his voice. “My wife had a miscarriage two years ago, it’s devastating.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
She nodded but felt queasy. She didn’t feel right leaving the towel on the floor. She put it gently on the counter. “We should get an evidence bag. Amanda might want to bury the fetus or something. She might not be thinking clearly right now.”
Crutcher said, “And she left? Without the money? Why?”
“She could be sick, infected, grieving—she needs a doctor. Mike—please take me back to the jail. I need to talk to Jacob again.” She took a photo of the fetus. She didn’t want to use the picture, but she would if it would help her find Amanda.
Crutcher put Leo on the house in case Amanda returned, called Daphne about what they learned—she would be reaching out to local hospitals and clinics—and then he and Lucy went back to the jail. Lucy told Jacob exactly what they found at the house. “Your sister was four months pregnant. She lost the baby.”
Tears clouded the young man’s eyes. “You’re lying.”
“No. She folded the fetus in a towel. And then she left without the money. She’s in pain, she could be sick, she needs medical attention. We’re looking everywhere for her. But if you know anything—anything at all—you have to tell us.”
He was wrestling with something. Guilt? Doubt? But he didn’t say anything.
Lucy sighed and took out her phone. She showed him the picture she took only thirty minutes ago.
Tears clouded his eyes. He said, “If I tell you what I think she’s going to do, promise me you won’t hurt her. Please. I love my sister so much. She doesn’t deserve any of this. She never wanted to be a part of this. Reggie and Sam talked her into it. She could have had such an amazing life, she’s so smart. And we ruined her.”
“I will do everything in my power to ensure she lives through this.”
“Sam and Amanda both loved Reggie. And when he was killed, they talked about getting back at the person who killed him.”
Lucy’s heart sank. Crutcher said, “She’s going after Peter Castillo? The guy who shot Reggie in the bank robbery?”
“I don’t know—I think in her mind she wants to take from him what he loves the most. I never thought she would do it—except now.” He nodded toward Lucy’s phone. “Now she just might.”
* * *
Crutcher and Lucy were both on the phone as they worked to track down the Good Samaritan, Peter Castillo, who’d saved lives during the bank robbery last month that took Reggie’s life and the life of the security guard. He lived in an established old neighborhood with large lots and numerous trees, known as Shavano Park. They didn’t see any sign of Amanda, but there were several cars in the long, wide driveway. They ran up to the door, rang the bell. A forty-year-old man answered the door wearing an apron. Several people were in the background talking and laughing.
“Can I help you?” Castillo recognized Crutcher. “Agent Crutcher—I remember you. Working on Labor Day? Follow-up? Can it wait until tomorrow? We’re having a barbecue.”
“Can you step outside for a minute? It’s important,” Crutcher said.
He did, closing the door behind him. Crutcher introduced Lucy, then showed Castillo the picture of Amanda Trembly. “Have you seen this woman?”
He looked closely, shook his head. “I haven’t. What’s going on?”
“We apprehended the bank robbers last night that were involved in the robbery you helped stop last month. This is the only person who escaped, an
d we have reason to believe she may target you or your family. I’ve already called the sheriff’s department and they are on their way to watch the house. You’re having a party—is your family here?”
“Yes, my kids are—my wife left fifteen minutes ago to go to the store. I forgot hamburger buns, can you believe it? And she wanted more wine. And—I’ll get her.”
“You stay here and do not open the door to anyone. Ask your friends to come into the house; lock up. Stay here until we tell you it’s clear. We’ll get your wife—what’s her name, what store, what car does she drive?”
“Maggie.” He wrote down her car and license number and her cell phone number. “She’ll be on De Zavala. It’s almost a straight shot down to the store from here.”
“Call her,” Crutcher said. “Tell her if she’s in the store to stay in the store. Then text me with her exact location, okay?”
“Yes, sir. Just bring her home safe. Please.”
He went inside and they could hear him taking charge with his guests.
Crutcher called for backup. The sheriff’s department had dispatched a patrol to the Castillo home and another to the store, but Lucy and Mike were closer. They were almost there when Mike got a text from Castillo. Lucy read it.
Maggie is hiding in the bathroom. I told her to alert security and she doesn’t want to leave. She said she thought someone was following her from the house in a blue truck. Now she’s scared. Please find her.
He also said he had her turn on her GPS location services.
“Smart guy,” Mike said.
Lucy put in Maggie’s phone number and immediately started tracking her. “The restrooms are in the rear of the store. What’s the sheriff’s ETA?”
“Five minutes.”
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