Don took a breath before finishing.
“Finally, the sixth team will arrest Aaron Jacobson at his family’s oceanfront estate in Debordieu Colony. Jacobson conspired and obtained information regarding the identity of an undercover FBI agent for the sole purpose of causing harm or death to the agent. In addition, Jacobson is also charged with drug trafficking and conspiracy. I’m sure his old man isn’t going to be happy about an early morning intrusion. Does everyone know what team they are on?”
Don looked around the room for questions.
“If there are no questions, I’ll give each team a few minutes to meet and individually brief. Please limit the number of vehicles if possible.”
Don faced the camera. “Is the Charleston team ready to go?”
“We are,” Lexie said.
“Good luck,” Don said.
Matt grabbed Lexie by the shoulders and shook her.
“You’re riding with me, partner. You ready?”
Lexie nodded.
“We’re going to get this bastard,” he whispered in her ear.
***
An hour later, Don gave the signal for all teams to move in, so Matt radioed the Berkeley County SWAT commander. The SUVs bounced along the rutted gravel road to the cabin. The sun had barely started to rise, so the woods remained dark. The silhouette of a dilapidated cabin came into view.
SWAT members poured from the SUVs and surrounded the house. Matt and Lexie were responsible for rear perimeter, so they drew their weapons and ran to the back of the property. A SWAT member smashed the front window and threw a flashbang into the house. SWAT used the explosive device to temporarily disorient an enemy’s senses. The device produced a blinding flash of light and an intensely loud bang.
As Lexie and Matt rounded the corner, their attention was diverted to a small lean-to near a ramshackle fishing pier. Matt signaled to a SWAT member that he and Lexie would clear the lean-to. As they cautiously approached the structure, a person darted out the side and ran toward the woods.
“FBI, stop!” Lexie yelled as she followed the fleeing subject.
Matt hit the button on his radio. “Oh five to SWAT commander. We are in pursuit of a subject on foot. Request backup.”
Lexie remained a few feet ahead of Matt as she charged after the man. As he turned to see if he was still being followed, Lexie got a good look at his face.
“Prichard, you’re under arrest,” she yelled. “Stop or I’ll shoot.”
The threat didn’t slow Prichard down.
Lexie could hear Matt’s radio behind her. “SWAT commander to oh five. What is your location?”
“We’re in the woods, north of the lean-to on the back of the property. In pursuit of a white male.”
“It’s Prichard,” Lexie yelled back. “I saw his face.”
Matt hit the button on his radio and heard a squelch. He tried again and was able to transmit. “We’re in pursuit of Prichard.”
“Ten four. Sending reinforcements to your location.”
Lexie heard Matt talking on the radio, then a crashing sound.
“Fuck!” Matt yelled.
“You all right?” Lexie yelled over her shoulder, without slowing down.
“Yeah.”
Lexie knew she should stop and wait for Matt, but she refused to let Prichard get away again. She was no longer the injured animal pursued by the hunter; this time, the roles were reversed.
Lexie’s lungs burned, but she refused to slow down. Her heavy Kevlar vest caught on a tree branch, but she pulled free and continued forward. She heard Matt crashing through the woods behind her, but he was no longer close. She could still see the outline of Prichard ahead of her. Despite her aching ribs and ankle, Lexie pushed like she had never pushed before. A surge of adrenaline forced her aching body to pick up speed. The distance between her and Prichard diminished. The forest became less dense. Lexie knew they were approaching a clearing.
When she was within fifteen yards of Prichard, Lexie yelled, “FBI, stop!”
As Prichard turned, Lexie saw something in his hand. She heard a popping noise and saw the muzzle flash of Prichard’s gun. She raised her weapon and fired. Prichard came toward Lexie, spraying bullets in her direction.
“You’re done, bitch!” he yelled.
Lexie took a position of cover behind a large pine tree. Using the tree as a barricade, she steadied her hand against the tree, focused her gun sights on the center mass of the man barreling toward her and, without hesitation, pulled the trigger not once, but twice. A double tap, as she’d been taught at Quantico long ago. Prichard staggered backwards, lowered his weapon, and Lexie fired a third time. All three rounds hit Prichard in the chest. He crumbled to the ground.
“Lexie,” Matt yelled. “Lexie, where are you?”
“I’m here. I’ve shot Prichard. He’s down, but he has a gun.”
“I see you,” Matt said. “Stay put and I’ll come to you.”
A few seconds later, Matt took cover behind the tree next to Lexie.
“He’s over there, on the ground next to the ravine,” Lexie said, pointing.
“I see him, but I can’t see if he’s moving.”
“He still had the gun in his hand when he went down.”
“Let’s move closer,” Matt said. “Take it slow and stay behind cover.”
With synchronized movements, Lexie and Matt traversed the distance to the crumpled figure. They kept their gun sights focused on the body, watching for movement. Prichard’s gun rested on the ground a few inches from the body.
“You cover me and I’ll cuff him,” Matt whispered.
Lexie nodded. Matt holstered his weapon, retrieved his cuffs from the pouch on his vest and readied himself. He signaled to Lexie, then moved forward, grabbing Prichard’s arms and handcuffing the limp figure, as he was taught to do in the academy. Lexie kicked the gun out of reach as she kept her gun pointed at Prichard.
Matt searched Prichard for more weapons, then turned him over so he was face up. The front of Prichard’s t-shirt was soaked in blood. His eyes were slightly open, his breathing raspy.
“He’s alive, but barely.”
Lexie leaned down and whispered in Prichard’s ear. “Look at me, motherfucker. I want my face to be the last thing you see before you die.”
A small stream of blood dripped from the corner of Prichard’s mouth.
SWAT members arrived and the team medic examined Prichard. He applied pressure to the wounds, but Otis Ray Prichard died at the scene.
Matt placed his hands on Lexie’s shoulders and looked her in the eyes.
“Don’t talk to anyone,” he said.
“Huh?”
“You’ve just been involved in a shooting. Anything you say at this point will be subject to intense scrutiny. Don’t talk to anyone.”
Lexie nodded.
Lexie didn’t remember the walk back to the cabin. Matt went to work as the team leader. He contacted Don to let him know that they had an agent-involved shooting and that he needed ERT dispatched immediately to their location. The SWAT commander walked Lexie back to the cabin while Matt secured the scene.
Lexie sat on a log near the water and waited. The Berkeley County SWAT commander approached her.
“Would you like to see inside the cabin?”
Lexie looked up at him, squinting from the sun’s rays.
“I would. Thanks.”
She followed the commander to the cabin. The floor creaked as Lexie walked around. Dirty dishes filled the kitchen sink and the filthy cabin reeked of garbage. Lexie’s boots stuck to the peeling linoleum kitchen floor. The sparsely furnished living room contained only a mismatched couch and chair. The cabin reeked of Prichard. Sweat poured down Lexie’s face and neck as she remembered the same smell in the other cabin. Her hands trembled and her stomach fluttered.
“I need some air,” she said as she pushed by the commander to get out.
Lexie hurried over to the water’s edge and threw up. Bent over with
her hands on her knees, she struggled for breath.
“Drink this,” the SWAT commander said as he handed Lexie a bottle of cold water.
“Thank you.”
Lexie opened it and guzzled half the bottle down.
“That place is pretty nasty,” the commander said.
“It wasn’t that, it was … ”
“You don’t have to explain. I know that you were the agent who was tortured in that cabin on the island. I’m sorry that I let you go in this cabin. I wasn’t thinking.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“Are you all right?”
Lexie took another drink of water and nodded.
“I will be. Eventually.”
The SWAT commander smiled. “By the way, good job.”
***
Because of the shooting, Matt and Lexie remained in Charleston overnight. They rented two hotel rooms in North Charleston. As required by FBI policy, Lexie relinquished her duty weapon to one of the Charleston supervisors pending the outcome of the shooting investigation. The primary firearms instructor for the division issued Lexie a loaner Glock to use until her weapon was returned.
Lexie heard a knock at her door. She peered out the peephole and saw Matt holding a six pack of beer.
“Come in.”
“Thought you might need a drink.”
“Thanks.”
Matt opened a beer for Lexie, then opened a second one for himself.
“Have a seat,” she said.
He sat down in the big chair and propped his feet up on the end of her bed.
“I know we can’t talk about the shooting, but are you all right?” he asked.
“Yeah. I’m fine. The shooting team will be here tomorrow, so I’ll have to relive the ordeal all over again.”
“Just so you know, the official report stated that Otis Ray Prichard died at the scene from massive tissue damage he sustained from three gunshot wounds to the chest.”
Lexie nodded.
“Good shooting, by the way.”
“Thanks. You did a good job as the team leader today. Have you talked to Don? How did the other arrests go?”
“I talked to Don about an hour ago. He said Stone pissed himself and curled up into the fetal position when SWAT’s flashbang exploded at his house. Stone and the other subjects were all arrested without incident.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Oh, and Don said Burton Crane wants to talk. His testimony could add one more nail in Tony’s coffin.”
“First LaBaron, now Crane. I’d say Tony’s done,” Lexie said.
“No honor among thieves these days,” Matt said.
Lexie took a swig of her beer.
“This whole case has been an emotional roller coaster from day one,” she said. “Are you sure you want to follow in my footsteps and be an undercover agent?”
“Definitely.”
43
TWO WEEKS LATER — MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA
“Are you ready to get out of here?” Don asked.
Lexie took a sip of her cappuccino.
“I might not miss you guys, but I’m sure gonna miss this coffee shop.”
Don shook his head.
“Just kidding. I’m going to miss all of you.”
Don, Zach, Matt, and Stuart had decided to throw an impromptu going-away breakfast for Lexie. The five agents took over two of the outside tables at The Roasted Bean. TJ and Mike, the owners of the coffee shop, came out to say goodbye. TJ made Lexie a cappuccino with a sad face in the foam.
“We don’t want you to go,” TJ said. “It’s been nice getting to know you.”
Lexie hugged TJ and said, “I wish I could stay. I’ll miss you and your coffee. I’ve never quite got used to that chicory coffee they serve everywhere in New Orleans.”
Mike hugged Lexie. “Take care of yourself,” he said.
The owners returned to their shop to wait on other customers.
“We still haven’t heard the whole story about the Prichard shootout,” Stuart said. “I know it’s an active shooting investigation, but what can you tell us?”
Matt exchanged looks with Lexie then looked around to make sure no one could overhear their conversation.
“I’ll tell you what I’m allowed,” Matt said. “The Berkeley County source’s information proved to be correct, and Prichard was indeed hiding out in his family’s fishing cabin. He had an arsenal of weapons inside the cabin, but he was sleeping in a lean-to outback. I guess he figured if we came for him, he could slip away unnoticed. He heard us approach and as SWAT reached the cabin, he took off into the woods. Lexie and I followed him and ordered him to stop. He refused to stop, so we chased him until he reached the ravine. That’s when Prichard turned and shot at Lexie. She returned fire, hitting him three times center mass. End of story.”
Lexie decided to change the topic. “How’s Tony adjusting to his new digs?” she asked.
Don answered. “The judge denied Tony’s request for bail. His lawyer requested that he be separated from the general population because of his former law enforcement status. I like saying ‘former.’ I’m happy to report that FBIHQ swiftly fired his no-good ass. If AUSA Greenwood has his way, Tony will remain in jail for many years.”
Don turned his attention to Lexie and Zach.
“I know I’ve said it before, but I need to say it again. I’m sorry that I got you two into this mess.”
“Hindsight is twenty-twenty, Don,” Lexie said. “You and I both did some stupid things during this investigation. It’s not all your fault. I share a big portion of the responsibility.”
“I guess some Bureau rules and policies are in place because of agents like us,” Zach said, laughing.
Lexie looked at the top-notch agents gathered around the table and smiled.
“Jimmy Buffet wrote a song called, ‘We Are the People Our Parents Warned Us About.’”
“I know that song,” Don said.
Lexie held up her coffee mug to make a toast.
“We are the agents our supervisors warned us about.”
44
The water lapped against the hull of the boat. A fish made a small splash as it leaped in the still water. Lexie tossed the cast net, and it bloomed to a perfect oval and landed in the water. She tugged in the net and emptied the shrimp into the bucket.
“Your casting skills have come a long way,” Captain Meade said.
“Thanks for spending the day with me, Captain.”
“I couldn’t let you leave South Carolina without having one more day on the water.”
Lexie resumed her position on the front of the boat for another cast. A single tear escaped the corner of her eye.
“I’m gonna miss you so much. I can’t possibly thank you for all you’ve done for me. Including the small feat of saving my life.”
“My pleasure, missy.”
“If you hadn’t been out there that day, Captain … ”
“Even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then.”
“It wasn’t just luck and you know it. You saved my life. I’ll never forget it.”
“Get up there and catch us some more shrimp. That ain’t enough for supper.”
“When we first met, I wasn’t sure if you were a good guy or a bad guy,” Lexie said.
“What’d you finally decide?”
“Good guy. You’re definitely a good guy.”
“I guess I did screw with you a little when we first met.”
“A little?”
“Maybe a lot, but you weren’t exactly forthright with me, either.”
“True.”
Lexie gave the cast net another toss.
“Remember when I told you I wanted to move to this area?”
Captain Meade’s head jerked up.
“Yes.”
Lexie emptied more bounty from her net into the bucket.
“I’m considering leaving the FBI.”
“And do what?”
“I don’t
know. That’s why I’m only considering it and haven’t done it.”
“Lexie, I would love for you to move to this area, but I don’t want you to go off half-cocked. You need to take some time to think this decision through.”
“I’m not sure I’m cut out for this job, Captain. Bad things seem to happen to me.”
“Bad things happen to everyone, girl. Because of what you do, your bad is sometimes worse than the average person’s bad.”
“I’m not talking about traffic accidents and cancer, I’m talking about people who I care about dying because of me.”
“I know exactly what you’re talking about. I’m not going to insult you by saying that Logan didn’t die because of your case.”
“Because of me,” Lexie corrected. “Not the case.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Logan rented you his brother’s boat. The boat rental is what directed those bastards to Logan. He died because of them, not you.”
“The boat rental coupled with the fact that I had Logan’s name in my phone. I shouldn’t have let him lease me the boat.”
“Hindsight is twenty-twenty. You can’t live your life second-guessing every step you take. Mistakes are a part of life.”
“Yeah, but my mistake cost a young man his life.”
“Mistakes happen. Nobody’s perfect.”
“So, you think I should remain in the FBI?”
“I’m not saying one way or the other. I’m merely saying that instead of throwing the baby out with the bathwater, you might want to take a break from undercover work. Go back to being a regular FBI agent again. You’ll know if the job is still a good fit for you.”
Beyond the Cabin Page 26