Kessler didn’t notice Eagle’s jaw twitch. Woodard looked down at his shoes. For once, he was glad he had his sunglasses on so Rick couldn’t see the panic in his eyes. “Why have him killed now? It makes no sense. Her parents died a year ago. She already has the money from her inheritance. That can’t be taken away. Why kill him when she’s in the process of divorcing him?”
“I don’t think she did it. I suspect the man who is the real father of her daughter could be our killer.”
Eagle shook his head. “He’s not.”
“Why not?”
“He has nothing to gain. Alejandro Martinez is listed as the father on the birth certificate. Even if the real father came forward, say, he wanted to share custody, maybe get some money out of Angela. He could just demand the money from her. There’s no reason for him to kill Martinez.”
The rest of the drive to Angela Destin’s home was done in silence. Eagle hated the way Kessler was going after Angela, but he couldn’t stop him. Plus there was an innocent life at stake and he wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. Without a word, he pulled out his phone and scrolled to Michelle Coulter’s number, then texted her.
Eagle: Where are you?
It took a few moments, but then she answered.
Michelle: I’m at Angela’s. Why?
Eagle: Kessler thinks the real father of Angela’s child is the one who killed Alex.
Michelle: That’s ridiculous.
Eagle: We are on our way over. I’m going to have to tell him.
Michelle: Let him come. I will enjoy seeing the expression on his face when he finds out.
Eagle: Fuck! I don’t, never mind. See you in five.
Eagle tucked his phone into his pocket, but Kessler noticed. “Who were you texting?”
“Michael, he left some stuff over at my house.” Eagle lied. “I want him to come pick it up. He’s still insisting on living with that pendejo. That guy is trouble. I can feel it, but I can’t convince him of it.”
“Is that how you bashed up your hand? Did you two get into a fight?”
Eagle shook his head, then sighed. “I was drunk and I beat the shit out of Adam.”
Kessler glanced over, surprised. “I saw the bruising on Adam’s face, but I just….” He let the words fade away. “I don’t understand. I thought you two were kind of patching things up.”
Eagle looked away, staring at the passing scenery. “It’s personal. And no, I don’t want to talk about it, okay?”
Kessler nodded. He slowed the car as they turned into Angela Destin’s drive. A man waved at them and pointed to where they could park.
“That is rich, when you have a full time parking valet.”
They parked and got out of the car. The attendant held out his hand and asked for his car keys. Rick frowned, but he allowed the young man to take them from his fingers. “Do I have to tip him when we leave?”
Eagle grinned, “No.” He stripped his sunglasses from his face as a man opened the front door. He nodded to the man. “Is she home, Davidson?”
“Yes, sir and she’s expecting you.”
Kessler looked at the man beside him. His expression hardened. “How well do you know these people?”
“Pretty well. I used to run in their circles. Son of a U.S. Senator. Friend to Michelle and Adam Coulter. I dated Angela Destin several times when I came home on leave.”
Rick grabbed Eagle’s arm, stopping him. “What do you mean you dated her? I thought you were gay.”
“Technically, bisexual. I choose to be with men mostly now, but I can go either way if I find someone that interests me.”
“Hello, Agent Kessler. Detective Woodard. Angela is in the study.” Michelle Coulter seemed to come out of nowhere. Dressed in a deep green Chanel fitted business suit, she flipped her deep chestnut hair back from her right shoulder. “Follow me, gentlemen.”
“You knew she’d be here, didn’t you?”
Eagle didn’t answer, he just led the way toward the study. The room they entered screamed European elegance. The owners had gone for dark woods and expensive furniture that all spoke to having been there for a hundred years, but the Destin’s had only remodeled the room six months before their death in a plane crash.
Angela Destin sat bouncing her daughter on her knee. When the little girl saw Eagle, she jumped off her mother’s lap and ran up to him. He immediately picked her up and kissed her chubby cheek before sitting down in one of the leather and hobnail chairs in front of Angela’s desk. Eagle held the child as if he’d done this a thousand times. The little girl giggled as he bounced her, telling her how pretty she was. The child was dark in contrast to Angela’s pale, translucent skin. Her hair was dark brown with chestnut eyes to match. Kessler looked at her, then at Eagle. He frowned, not liking the way his thoughts were going.
“So what brings you here, Agent Kessler?” Angela Destin’s voice was soft, almost lyrical. To someone not familiar to her, they’d think she was fragile. That she needed someone to protect her, but there was a toughness in her eyes that showed she didn’t. Even if she did, Michelle Coulter stood by her with her hand on Angela’s shoulder. The look in her eye, daring either man to cause this woman any trouble.
Kessler took a deep breath. “I got the coroner’s report on your husband’s autopsy. There are a few questions that I need answered.”
She nodded, “Alright, I’ll do the best I can.”
“Did you know your husband was sterile?”
Angela grinned, almost amused at the question. “Yes, Agent Kessler. I did. Actually, I only found out after several months of trying to conceive with him. I knew I was fertile, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that he had lied to me before we married.”
“Why do you think your husband was killed?”
She shrugged. “That’s for you to find out, but I do know he had dealings with Nelson Greybill.”
“Do you think your daughter’s real father might be the killer?”
Angela and Michelle snickered. “Why in the world would he want to do that?”
“Perhaps he wanted custody of your child and saw your husband as an obstacle to getting that custody.”
Angela laughed and looked at Eagle. “Do you want custody of Marisol?”
Eagle looked down. He could feel Kessler’s hard glare.
“You, bastard! You let me come all the way out here to confront her, when it was you all along. Why didn’t you say anything? Did you want me to make a fool of myself?”
“You seemed pretty determined to do this. I tried to talk you out of it.”
Kessler shook his head in disgust. “Is there anything else about this case that I should know?”
Eagle gathered his little girl up in his arms and returned her to her mother before answering. “I did not know it was Alex before you showed me the autopsy photos. I had hoped you wouldn’t take this route of inquiry, but you did. I didn’t kill Alejandro Martinez. I had no reason to want him dead. Angela’s divorce was moving along fine.”
Michelle Coulter interrupted. “Angela was going to get sole custody because she paid Alex off with a few million. He would get that when the divorce was final. He had a prenuptial and would only get $250,000 otherwise.”
Eagle sighed, “I do have access to Marisol when I want, but I’m content to have Angela and Michelle be her parents. As far as she knows I’m like an uncle, nothing more. When Michelle approached me, I wanted to help. I had sex with Angela one time and..,” Eagle shrugged, “she got pregnant immediately.”
Kessler closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead with his hand. “Let me get this straight, you had sex with her.”
Eagle was fighting hard to keep the smile off his face. “Yes.”
Kessler pointed to Michelle. “And you are her lesbian lover.”
Michelle nodded, “Right.”
“Weren’t you jealous that your lover was having sex with a man?”
“It’s Eagle. Anyway, before this all blew up. I was going to have him ge
t me pregnant and then Angela’s child and my child would have a common parent. They would be half siblings, genetically speaking.”
Kessler bit his upper lip and again shook his head, “This is insane.”
Eagle held out his hands, “The truth is, Rick, neither me, nor Angela, nor Michelle killed Alex. We had no motive. None.”
“Does Adam have anything to do with this?”
“He doesn’t know about any of this.” Eagle looked at Michelle. “And I don’t want him to know, Michelle.”
“He won’t hear it from me, unless you give me the okay to tell him.”
“So have we answered your questions, Agent Kessler? You now know the father of my child, which I would appreciate if you did not place that information in your report. I will deny having told you and I think I can speak for all of us, no one will back you up when my lawyers come for you if you make this information public.”
Kessler looked at Eagle. “Is that true? You’d deny this conversation ever happened?”
Eagle nodded, “I’m thinking about my daughter, Rick. If I have to choose between her and your career? She wins hands down.”
“Then you know I can’t keep you in the loop on the case.”
“I never wanted to be on this case. You made it very clear when we were at the crime scene that you could handle it yourself, then suddenly, I’m dropped back in the middle of it. It’s your case, Rick, do what you like.”
Kessler looked at Michelle Coulter. “I have some stops to make. Do you think you can give Eagle a ride back to the station?”
“Sure.”
Kessler got up and turned to leave. “This isn’t over, Ms. Destin. I still think you had something to do with your husband’s death.”
Michelle Coulter took a step toward the FBI agent. “You’re wrong, Agent Kessler. If I find out you are harassing my client, I will have your balls for breakfast. My family has known the district director of the FBI for years. I just need to make a few phone calls.”
“Are you threatening me, Ms. Coulter?”
“Threatening you, Agent Kessler? Of course not. I wouldn’t be so foolish. Have a nice rest of your day.”
Kessler almost made it to the door, before Michelle Coulter’s words stopped him. “Do you have even the slightest bit of guilt over what you let happen to my brother?”
Kessler paused, but he didn’t bother to turn back toward her to answer. He just opened the door and left.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Eagle was at his desk when his phone buzzed telling him he had a text message. Michael had disappeared and he hoped his son was finally reaching out to contact him. Woodard frowned at the number, but he checked the message anyway.
Unknown caller: Check out the video if you want to know more about what has happened to your son.
Against his better judgement, Eagle accessed and played the video attachment. He stared in disbelief as he watched Michael shoot up. Pieces began to fall into place as he remembered how Michael behaved when he was at his house getting the last of his things. He’d stayed to confront his father and in doing so, he’d started to withdraw. The sweating skin, the shivers that seemed to come every minute or two, the runny nose and eyes. Eagle had written it all off to a cold or flu Michael was fighting, but now he knew the truth. He swallowed hard. Did Adam know? Was Adam involved with getting his son hooked on that shit? Eagle shook his head. That thought was impossible. If Adam had seen Michael the other morning, he would’ve known what was going on. With what he knew about them being related and how susceptible he was to addiction, he would never get Michael mixed up in drugs. No, this had all the hallmarks of Rico Sanchez and now the bastard had his son.
Woodard: Where is my son?
Unknown Caller: If you want him back alive, meet us at the new Casino site. We’re out in the open there. We can see if you bring anyone with you. We’ll give you, Michael, if you keep your mouth shut and refuse to testify against Nelson Greybill.
Eagle realized immediately he wasn’t working with professionals. Whoever was on the other end of this call, hadn’t figured out that if he had Michael, then there was nothing to stop him from testifying against the man who was obviously behind kidnapping and addicting his son.
Eagle frowned, but then again, maybe they had. Maybe they intended to kill them both. An addict was useless as anything, but a bargaining chip for his cooperation. By dangling Michael as bait, they’d lure him out and finish him and his son.
He stared at the video one more time before deciding. If there was any chance he could retrieve Michael alive, he was going to take it. He had a few tricks of his own and if he could pull this off, they both might survive.
Woodard: Let me speak to Michael. I need proof he’s still alive.
Suddenly, Woodard’s phone showed another call coming through. Another unknown caller, but he picked it up immediately.
“Dad?”
“Michael are you alright?”
“Sure, Dad. I’m just fine.”
Eagle frowned. Michael sounded drifty and there was a voice Eagle thought he recognized in the background that told Michael to get off the phone. The impossible voice of a dead man.
“Gotta go, Dad. See you later.”
The connection dropped and when Eagle tried to call it back, he couldn’t get through. Then another text appeared.
Unknown caller: You know he’s alive and he’ll stay that way, for now. Get in your truck and head out. We have people watching you so don’t try to get anyone to follow you.
Woodard: I understand. Just me. I’m on my way.
Eagle waited until he was in his truck to call Adam.
“Adam, just listen and don’t talk. I’ve been contacted. They’ve got Michael. They sent me a video of Michael injecting himself with drugs. They’ve hooked him on something. I should’ve seen it the morning after our fight, but I was too hung over to notice Michael’s symptoms. He was starting to withdraw that morning. That’s why he wouldn’t stay and talk. He needed another fix. I have to meet them. I have to try and get him back. They will probably try to kill me, but I don’t want Kessler to move in with his people until I give the signal, okay?”
“Don’t do this, Eagle. Let me come with you.”
“No, they want me. Not you. Can you do what I’m asking you to do?”
There was a long pause before Adam answered. “Okay. I’ll contact Rick, but how will I know when to tell them to move in?”
“As soon as I get to the site, I’ll call you and I’ll leave the phone line open when I stick it in my pocket. You’ll be able to hear everything. You’ll know when to call Rick to move in.”
“He’s going to be pissed, but I can handle him. Just take care of yourself. I don’t want to have to rescue your stupid ass.”
Eagle chuckled slightly. “I love you, Kemo. Don’t ever doubt that, but if there is any chance of getting Michael away from those people. Then the risk is worth it.”
“Okay. I’ll keep this phone by me and I’ll grab another one to communicate with Kessler. Just be careful.”
“I will.”
*****
“What the hell is going on here?” The tall, bearded, blond grabbed Rico by the back of his neck. The younger man gasped as the Viking, as Rico now called his supplier, tightened his grip.
“I’m helping those guys, Jacob and David, Nelson Greybill’s nephews. They’re setting that cop, Eagle Woodard, up so they can kill the bastard.” Rico nodded toward a very stoned Michael sitting in the bedroom as he held a cellphone to his ear. “That’s his kid, Michael. He wanted proof the kid is still alive.”
The Viking shook Rico as if he were a ragdoll. The strength in that big man’s one arm was frightening. “He’s Eagle Woodard’s kid?”
“Yeah,” Rico tried to squirm, but the grip on his neck got tighter. It felt as if the man could, with a little more force, snap his neck one handed. “Woodard dies, the nephews get paid by their uncle, I get paid then you get paid. Win-win.”
&n
bsp; The Viking snorted, “If that’s the Woodard I know. He won’t be easy to kill. He used to be an Army Ranger. I served with him. Besides, no one gets to kill him except me.” The big man released Rico, but just as the smaller man was rubbing his neck thankful for his reprieve, he was backhanded so hard by the Viking, that he passed out.
The big man kicked Rico’s body out of the way as he walked into the room where Michael was talking. Snatching the phone out of the young man’s hand, he crushed it into the filthy, stained carpet of their apartment.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Eagle arrived at the Casino site in record time. A large black Lincoln town car sat off to the side. He tried to make out shapes through the darkly tinted windows, but couldn’t tell if Michael was actually with them. He had no choice, but to do what he could. Taking his cellphone he called Adam then tucked it into his boot. Taking a second phone as a decoy, he put that one in his pocket. A small .22 sat cozy in his other boot. He was betting they’d take his service weapon and stop searching him. He knew he couldn’t make a move without knowing exactly where Michael was.
A young man got out from behind the steering wheel and stood beside the door of the car. “I’m so glad you came, Detective. We were worried you weren’t going to show up.”
“I’m here. Where’s my son?”
The young man nodded toward the back seat. “He’s in the car. You and I have a deal to complete. Your silence for your son’s life.”
A second young man got out from the passenger’s side, but this one had a gun. Eagle waited. The second man moved closer and demanded that Eagle take his gun in the holster at his waist and to toss it into the desert. Eagle estimated the distance to the second man, but calculated it was just a little too far to get hold of the guy before he fired, plus he wasn’t sure the other man didn’t have a gun as well.
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