by James Hunt
“Now, we all go our separate ways,” Cutters answered. “When I need something, I’ll contact you. And you should know that the only reason you’re not six feet under is that you’re much more valuable to me alive. But if push comes to shove, I already have a spot picked out to dump your bodies.”
It was odd hearing such that threats come from such a small-looking man. Jim had always known that Cutters was a criminal and capable of despicable actions. But it wasn’t until now that Jim truly understood the nature of the man. He was the deliberate and quiet type of evil. The kind who would sneak up on you slowly for years, so slowly that you didn’t even realize it was happening. And it wasn’t until you were on the cusp of death that you realized what he had done.
“You can’t change what’s been done,” Cutters said. “The best path forward for both of you would be to play the game. You’ll still be able to be detectives. I have no interest in missing persons. All you need to do is come running when I call.”
And while Jim understood the gravity of his own situation, he still remembered what this case had started about, a missing child.
“And what about Nate’s son?” Jim asked.
“I already told you Nate’s son remains unharmed,” Cutters answered.
“And not with his father,” Jim said, stepping closer, which caused the security team to also step closer. “I found out some other interesting information about the rest of the tenants in Nate’s building. Apparently, his son isn’t the only person you’ve taken.”
“My business isn’t your concern,” Cutters said.
“It is when you’re abducting people,” Jim replied. “How long have you been taking people as leverage?”
“I’m all about dealing with what is most effective,” Cutters answered. “If taking somebody’s child or sister, or mother in order to get them to do what I want, then so be it. I don’t hurt anyone. Most of the time.”
“I don’t suppose you have anything on me,” Mullocks said.
“Ah, Lieutenant,” Cutters said. “The fact that you’re even here, listening to our conversation, makes you complicit in what both your detectives will be doing for me moving forward. But I suppose a silver lining for Jim and Kerry would be that they now have the support of their superior as they work for me. I’m sure you would be able to offer wisdom and guidance in how to keep themselves out of jail and to make sure that their family remains above ground.
“I actually have a job for you tonight. It involves a shipment coming in at the docks.” Cutters pointed to the ground and gestured to the surrounding marina. “In fact, it will be right here. The time will be ten o’clock. I’ll need you to make sure that my shipment arrives at the warehouse without incident.”
“You want us to shuttle drugs for you?” Kerry asked.
“I never said they were drugs,” Cutters answered. “But if that’s what you want to think it is, then so be it. All I care about it is making sure that my shipment arrives at the warehouse safely. Once it’s dropped there, your free to go about your business. And I’ll call you when I need your help with something else.”
Jim had never felt more helpless in his entire career than he did at that moment. Both he and Kerry and the lieutenant had been played like a fiddle. Cutters had been able to see twelve steps ahead of either of them and had played on their emotions in order to lure them into his trap. And none of them had even hesitated in taking the bait.
Cutters walked to his vehicle, escorted by his security detail. One of them picked up the accountant's body and carried it back into the trunk of the SUV.
“I know you all have a lot to talk about,” Cutters said. “So, I’ll be on my way and leave you to it. I’ll send Kerry the details of the drop. Good luck.” He smiled. “Welcome to the team.”
20
The moment Cutters was gone, Jim, Kerry, and Lieutenant Mullocks remained at the marina. What had just happened to them, what they had just experienced, triggered a range of reactions from everyone. Jim was perplexed, Kerry downtrodden, and Mullocks was livid.
“If he thinks we’re going to just lie down, then he’s got another think coming,” Mullocks said.
But while the lieutenant was rearing to go, both Jim and Kerry were hesitant to move forward. After what Jim had seen Cutters do, what the man had been able to plan, it was formidable.
“I’m sorry,” Kerry said, her voice cracking from the effort. “I didn’t—” She cut herself off before she finished and then quickly hurried out of the marina’s building, leaving Jim and the lieutenant alone.
“Go,” Mullocks said. “Talk to her. I’ll be out in a minute.”
Jim holstered the weapon, not realizing he still had it out. Whatever danger Jim had thought he would need it for paled in comparison to the threat they now faced. The world had collapsed on all of them, and they were trapped beneath the rubble.
Outside, Kerry had her back to Jim when he approached her. He didn’t say anything, but she turned around and saw him.
“What did I get us into?” Kerry asked.
Jim and Kerry had grown close over the past year. The two understood that they were on the same wavelength, and their bond had felt like it had become unbreakable. Jim had his fears and doubts over the past couple of weeks while Kerry contemplated her future, but all of that vanished as he walked to his friend and hugged her.
Kerry squeezed Jim back, and they remained close for a moment. It was an intimacy without romance, a purely plutonic moment. They were friends, partners and had grown close like a family.
Kerry pulled back and wiped her eyes. “Christ, I’m a mess.”
“You’re not the only one,” Jim said.
Jim waited for Kerry to speak again, knowing there was a lot he needed to be caught up on. And, slowly, Kerry told Jim about the deal she had made with Cutters, and how without it, she didn’t think they could have brought down the Greek Society, and when she finished her piece, she looked up at Jim, waiting for his judgment.
“You were right,” Jim said. “We were out of options. And if you would have told me what you were doing at the time, I probably would have fought you on it. But I would have been wrong.”
“The lieutenant said the same thing,” Kerry said. “But we’re still dealing with the consequences.”
“Listen,” Jim said. “What happened with Cutters on our last case… It’s not all on you.”
Kerry grunted something that suggested she didn’t agree.
“What you did with Cutters may have been off the books and outside of the rules, but if you hadn’t done what you did, then a lot of innocent people would have died, and those responsible would still be in power. Not to mention you and I would probably be dead. What you did saved a lot of lives, Kerry.”
Kerry nodded, but Jim knew it would take time for her to come to grips with the decision she had made.
“I’m serious,” Jim said. “This is on me as much as you feel it’s on you. We’re partners, and partners share the good times and the bad.”
“Yeah, well, these must be the end of times,” Kerry said. “I can’t believe this is really happening, you know? Like, I’ll wake up in the morning, and for a few seconds, I’ll forget everything that happened over the past couple of weeks. And then this feeling comes over me, like a layer of filth, something that I can’t wash off no matter how many showers I take. It’s so surreal.”
Jim knew exactly how Kerry felt.
“It hasn’t been the same without you,” Jim said.
“From what I heard from the lieutenant, you’re doing just fine,” Kerry said.
“Yeah, well, don’t believe everything you hear,” Jim replied. “I’ve been keeping up with the caseload, sure, but it’s been taking its toll on me. I don’t know why but I feel more… exhausted from the work. It made me realize just how much of the brunt of the load you really bear when we work together.”
“I appreciate that, Jim,” Kerry said.
It was good to be talking again. Jim had misse
d it as much as Kerry’s presence and thoughtful mind.
“Well,” Jim said. “I don’t know what your plans are in regards to coming back to the department, but how do you feel about working one more case?”
Kerry shook her head. “I don’t know, Jim. How the hell are we supposed to bring Cutters down?”
“We do it together.” Mullocks walked out and joined them. “Up until now, he’s been dividing and conquering. Let’s see how well he does when we’re all on the same page. And to do that, we need to know what’s going on with you, Jim.”
Jim explained the situation with Nate, their history together, and how he was simply helping a friend.
“Not great, but not bad,” Mullocks said.
“So what do we do now?” Kerry asked. “We don’t just need the smoking gun; we need the field of bodies he’s buried over the years.”
“The accountant,” Mullocks said, turning to Kerry. “Do you think those documents he gave you are legit?”
Kerry shook her head. “I doubt it. I don’t think anything he gave me was real.”
The moment Cutters revealed what he had done, Jim’s mind was already turning with how to approach their next moves. And he determined that the most effective way forward was the simplest one.
“We find Nate’s son,” Jim said.
Kerry and Mullocks exchanged a glance.
“We know Cutters has him,” Jim said. “And I have evidence that suggests he has other people as well. If we get to them and can get their families to testify, then that’s our field of bodies.”
Mullocks nodded, liking the plan. “Okay. So, we just need to figure out where Cutters is keeping the kids. Any thoughts?”
Jim remembered the conversation he’d had about Bill Fayette and was convinced now that his mysterious boss was Cutters. He showed his picture to Kerry and Mullocks.
“His name is Bill Fayette,” Jim said. “Find as much information as you can on him. If you can track him down, that’s even better, but I think I might have a way to find him.”
“And what will you be doing?” Mullocks asked.
“I need to go find my friend,” Jim answered.
Jim offered no further explanation, but neither Kerry nor Mullocks protested. And he was thankful for it.
“Be careful,” Kerry said.
The trio parted ways, but Jim felt lighter, knowing that they would see one another again. It made what Jim was about to confront easier.
Jim followed the fastest route to Nate’s apartment. When he arrived at the building, Jim paused to consider what he would say but wasn’t sure how he would react when he saw Nate. All he could think about was their past together. He stared up at the apartment complex. He and Nate had lived in places like this when they were in the foster system.
After everything that had happened, it was difficult to believe that Jim and Nate had survived their childhood. They had put themselves in very precarious situations, circumstances forcing their hand to act beyond what a normal child should have been forced to deal with. And now Jim and Nate were still battling with those abnormal circumstances.
The only difference now was that Jim had the experience of knowing that in order to make it through the harder paths, you needed conviction. And there was no one with greater conviction than him when it came to helping those he cared about.
When Jim arrived at Nate’s apartment, he kept his hand on the butt of his service pistol, prepared for any surprise. When he reached Nate’s floor, his nerves started to get the better of him. He pounded on the door, not expecting Nate to answer, and was surprised when he did.
Nate stood in the doorway. The tears had dried, but Jim could tell Nate had been crying. His face was puffy, and his eyes were bloodshot, and he had come down from whatever high he had been on earlier.
“What do you want?” Nate asked.
It was the agitated tone that triggered Jim’s anger as if Nate didn’t owe Jim a damned thing after everything that just happened.
Without a word, Jim shoved Nate from the doorway and marched his way into the apartment. He shut the door behind him and locked it to make sure that they weren’t disturbed. When he turned to Nate, Jim could tell the man was probably still a little paranoid from whatever drugs he’d taken. That was fine by Jim. He wanted Nate to be afraid.
“Where’s your son?” Jim asked.
Nate grimaced. “You’re the cop; why don’t you find him?”
Jim walked over to his friend with authority. “It’s a father’s job to protect their child. And you put yourself first instead of putting him first.”
Nate boiled with anger, and it finally exploded as he shoved Jim in the chest. While Nate was smaller than Jim now that both of them were full-grown, he still possessed surprisingly formidable strength.
The shoving contest continued, bouncing between the two men for a few more rounds before Nate took a swing at Jim’s head. The punch only grazed Jim’s chin, but it was enough for Jim to quit playing around, and he tackled Nate to the floor.
Both men exploded with anger once they were on the ground, and their bodies became a blur of punches and kicks, no strategy, just a slugfest. But Jim had more formal training in subduing a suspect, and he eventually worked Nate onto his stomach and then penned his hands behind his back.
“You son of a bitch!” Nate said, yelling, his face reddened and spit dripping down his lower lip and chin. “You were supposed to help me find my son. You promised me!”
“And you should have never given up your son in the first place,” Jim said, shouting back, allowing his anger to take control, as it did when he was younger and in the foster system. “You’re no better than any of the foster parents we had growing up.”
The comment caused Nate to explode with anger once more, and he thrashed and writhed on the floor beneath Jim, but the restraints were already on his wrists, and he could do little but roll from side to side. After that final outburst, Nate ran out of energy and took deep, ragged breaths as he struggled to remain calm.
“You promised me,” Nate said between sharp and shallow breathing. “You promised me that you would find him and bring him home.”
It was the slight dig from the promise that caused him to hesitate. Despite Nate’s deception, Jim knew it had been a low blow to compare Nate to some of the horrible parents they had experienced.
And even though Nate had failed at certain aspects of fatherhood, Jim saw how much Nate hated himself for what he had done. He had given up his only son in order to save himself, but he also did it to save the kid.
Jim stood, removing himself from Nate’s back as his friend continued to catch his breath on the living room floor. He reached for the handcuff keys and removed the restraints from Nate’s wrists. Once free of the handcuffs, Nate rolled onto his back and stared up at Jim, still panting, his face flushed and sweaty.
“I didn’t have a choice,” Nate said.
Jim remembered the choices he had to make on his last case with Kerry and the choices she was forced to make because he couldn’t figure a way out. Sometimes there was no right choice or wrong choice, just the choice we make in order to mitigate the damage and suffering.
“I know,” Jim said.
Jim reached his hand down and offered it to Nate. His friend stared at it for a moment then grabbed hold of it as Jim helped Nate off of the floor.
Even after everything Nate had done, Jim knew he had already forgiven the man. They shared a bond that was forged at an age where they had influenced one another.
“I don’t know how to get him back,” Nate said. “I did everything he asked, and he still has my son.”
“Cutters is playing both of us,” Jim said. “But we might have a way out.”
Nate perked up. “How?”
“The other people in your building,” Jim said. “I don’t think you’re the only one who has lost a family member to Cutters.”
Jim explained the plan to Nate, asking if he would be able to start knocking on doors, and
he also requested him to contact Bill Fayette.
“Get him to meet you here, all right?” Jim asked.
“I don’t know if he’ll show,” Nate answered.
“Just give it a shot,” Jim said. “And don’t forget about rallying the people here. The more people we gather around us, the harder it is for Cutters to stop us. His strength is dividing everyone that’s against him, but he can’t stop all of us. No one’s that powerful.”
Nate remained apprehensive. “If I do this—”
“I understand the risks, Nate,” Jim said. “But sitting on the sidelines isn’t going to work anymore. We both have to face up for what’s happened. Your son’s life depends on it.”
21
Back at the station, Kerry and Mullocks first went through the stacks of papers Arthur had given them, just to confirm they were useless.
They were.
“I can’t believe I got played like that,” Kerry said.
“Happens to the best of us,” Mullocks replied, staring at her computer. “This Bill Fayette character is a bit of a ghost.”
“Yeah, I’m not finding anything on him,” Kerry said, and she frowned. “How is that even possible?”
“Maybe Cutters is protecting him,” Mullocks answered.
“Maybe,” Kerry replied, but something about that didn’t sit well. Cutters enjoyed holding leverage over people, as they had all learned. “What if he’s hiding something?”
Mullocks laughed. “Of course he’s hiding something; he’s a criminal.”
“I mean, what if he’s hiding something from Cutters?” Kerry asked. “If he knows the kind of man Cutters is, what he can do, what if he tried to get ahead of the curve on him? Bill Fayette might just be an alias.”
Mullocks chewed the inside of her cheek and then nodded. “That could be why he doesn’t have a record. But if he managed to change his identity, we don’t have the resources to help with that.”