by David Keith
FORTY-SIX
Jack finished getting dressed and took a Diet Coke out onto the beach to enjoy the sea breeze until it was time to go. He was still struggling with Peter’s engagement plans, but it certainly was a beautiful night for a proposal.
“Hey, neighbor, how’s it going?”
Jack turned and saw his neighbor Herb waving from his deck.
“Good, Herb, how about you?”
“Doing great, thanks. Hey, did you meet up with your friend the priest?”
“I’m sorry?” Jack said.
“Your priest friend from Colorado came by earlier. Said his name was Jon Foley—a helluva nice guy.”
Forty-five minutes into the debate and no clear winner had emerged. Mick had come off as more professional, but Griffith had focused on his lengthy law enforcement career and it seemed to resonate.
“We have a question from a caller in Lynnbrook,” Tracy Ladd told the candidates. “She would like to know, if elected, what changes you would make to the sheriff’s department. Chief Griffith, let’s start with you.”
“The RCSO under Jerry Griffith would be a department that gets things done,” he said firmly. “Take this Lombard murder case, for example. The way the captain here has handled it, well it’s just not very good police work. It’s been almost a year, and they’re really nowhere on the case. At one point, they had a suspect in custody, and yet they let him walk out of jail. Meanwhile, you have a woman on the run and the RCSO has done nothing to get her into custody. As sheriff, I won’t rest until those responsible for the Lombard killing are brought to justice.”
Ladd jumped in. “Captain McCallister, would you like to respond?”
“The Lombard case is complicated, and—”
Griffith cut him off, “C’mon Captain, every murder case is,” making quotes with his hands, “complicated. That’s a cop-out, and you know it.”
“Not at all, Jerry. The Lombard case is complicated, but we will bring the people responsible for the death of Mr. Lombard to justice. Now, if you want to talk about open cases, we should talk about the Garcia gang killings. Those took place nearly twenty years ago in Castle Springs. There’s never been an arrest in those cases. And what about the retaliation murders of Chen Liu and Bobby Nguyen? Again, there have been no arrests made by the CSPD in those homicide cases.”
“That’s not the same thing, and you know it…” interrupted Griffith, but the captain would have none of it. He was on a roll.
“You say you’re running on your record, but you want to pick and choose what parts of that record the voters should consider. And I’m guessing you don’t want to talk about three of your officers suing your department over promotional policies that discriminate against minorities.”
Mick was firm and measured in his attacks. Griffith was clearly rattled. Sweat began to bead on his upper lip, his face slowly turning a crimson color.
“Those lawsuits were settled out of court, and the department admitted no wrongdoing!” Griffith barked at Mick. “And as for my record, in the thirty-one years I served at Castle Springs PD, we had a total of eleven homicides, but we only lost one good citizen. And in that case, the suspect was convicted and is in prison today.”
There was dead silence. It took a second or two for the full weight of Griffith’s words to sink in to those sitting in the studio.
Tracy Ladd couldn’t believe what she’d just heard and wasn’t going to let it go. “Chief, could you clarify for us what you mean when you say there were eleven people murdered, but only one was a good citizen? Are you suggesting that as sheriff, murder cases involving victims with criminal records will be treated differently? I think we’re all aware that in the James Ponder murder, where you got a conviction, the victim was white. In the other ten cases, the victims were either Latino or Asian. Are you saying their families don’t deserve justice?”
“Woohoo!” Chuck shouted as he leapt to his feet, spilling the popcorn onto the floor. They didn’t care and exchanged high fives.
“Thanks for being such a dumbass!” Mia yelled at the TV.
Sasha was jolted from a deep sleep on the couch but seized the opportunity to quickly gobble up the popcorn. Griffith stuttered a denial and tried to backtrack from his comments, but the damage was done.
It was Jack’s first visit to Peter’s beach house, and not surprisingly, the place exceeded his expectations. Peter saw him from the patio, immediately excused himself from his guests, walked into the house, and greeted Jack with a quick hug.
“Do you think she has any idea?” Peter asked.
“I talked with her on the phone an hour ago. She has no clue,” Jack assured him. “She was running a little late, though.”
“I’m used to that, Jack. Please, let me show you around.”
Peter gave him a quick tour of the house. The place had the same feeling as the Marbella—elegant but relaxed. After the tour, they walked out to the patio where a crowd was gathered around the fire pit.
“Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to Natalie’s father, Jack. He is visiting us from Colorado.”
The guests all raised their glasses towards Jack. After meeting everyone, Peter pulled Jack aside.
“My plan is to walk Natalie down to the beach during dinner and pop the question there. I’ll announce it to the group when we return, assuming she says yes.”
Father Jon had no trouble finding Peter’s beach house. Herb had said that it was just a short distance up the beach from Jack’s condo, and while it was not yet completely dark, the patio lights and glowing fire pit made it easy to find. He approached the house from the beach, careful not to be noticed, stopping some fifty yards away. After watching the guests for a few minutes, he spotted Jack with a gentleman who seemed to be familiar with everyone present.
He figured the man had to be Peter Donnelly, the one Herb said Lisa Sullivan, or Natalie as he called her, had been dating. As Jack and the man talked, a member of the wait staff approached and said something to the two. The man quickly left and went back inside the house, leaving Jack to mingle with the guests. A few minutes later he came back, this time with a woman. The pair held hands as they greeted the guests.
Father Jon wandered along the shore to avoid suspicion and angled for a better view. The woman was striking, that was certain, but her hair looked different from what he remembered from Lisa Sullivan’s photographs. The couple crossed the patio together beneath a string of lights. The light cast upon her face for just a few seconds, but it was enough for Father Jon to be certain that it was indeed Lisa Sullivan. He wondered if Peter Donnelly knew the truth about Lisa and her troubles in Colorado. But to Father Jon, it didn’t really matter.
Jack watched Peter and Natalie work the crowd. He struggled whether or not to tell his daughter who had been at their door earlier in the day. After his talk with Herb, Jack was certain it had been Father Jon, and the priest wasn’t likely to go away. Still, Jack didn’t want to ruin Peter’s proposal. He would deal with Father Jon tomorrow.
Lost in thought, Jack felt a tug on his arm.
“Jack, you look like you’re a million miles away. Is everything all right?” asked Peter.
Jack gazed at Peter and then at his daughter. They were a beautiful couple.
“Oh, I’m fine. I just cannot get over how great your place is, that’s all. Here we are, practically neighbors, and this is the first time I’ve ever been here,” replied Jack.
“Well, it will be the first of many visits, Jack. Oh, where are my manners? You have nothing to drink. What can I get you, Jack?”
“Oh, a Diet Coke would be great. Thanks, Peter.”
“I’ll be right back,” Peter replied and turned towards the house.
Once Peter was out of earshot, Jack asked Natalie, “Are you recovered from today?”
“I think so, but those tourists scared me to death,” she replied quietly. “You were right. No matter what I do or where I go, I’ll never be able to escape what happened in Colorado. Living
here I somehow convinced myself I was free, that I had managed to escape my past. Now I’m not so sure that running away is the answer, but I don’t see any alternative. I’m just trapped in this lie. Maybe—”
As Natalie was whispered her concerns, the two heard the sound of a man loudly clearing his throat as a shadowy figure approached.
“Hello, Lisa, my name is Father Jon Foley. I’m from St. Joseph’s parish in Castle Springs, and I don’t believe we’ve ever met,” he said, extending his hand.
A look of utter disbelief crossed Natalie’s face. She didn’t respond or shake the priest’s hand. The sound of her old name brought a wave a nausea.
“You’re the man outside the condo today,” she said blankly.
Before Father Jon could respond, Jack grabbed the priest by the arm and pulled him toward the beach, away from the rest of the guests. Natalie stood there on the patio, staring, too stunned to move.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“I think you know, Jack. I’ve been very patient with you. But you don’t return any of my calls, so I’ve decided to force the issue. It’s been almost a year, and the time has come for you to do the right thing.”
“Oh, for God’s sake. Are you still hung up on that?”
“Your daughter is a fugitive, and she needs to turn herself in.”
“And what if she doesn’t?”
At least Jack wasn’t denying the woman was Lisa Sullivan, Father Jon thought.
“Then I will return to Colorado and notify the authorities. I met your boss the other day at a campaign rally. I’m sure Captain McCallister and your former partner Mia Serrano would be interested to hear what I have to say.”
“Father, I could have her out of Mexico and hidden somewhere else before the authorities in Colorado could get here. It’s not like they can call down here to the local police and have her detained. The police here don’t work that way. Things here take time; there are channels you have to go through, and they are certainly open to the occasional bribe.”
“Jack, do you really want her to be on the run for the rest of her life?”
“Better than the alternative.”
“But you’re forgetting something. If she doesn’t turn herself in, and you force me to take action, then your involvement in all this comes out. Your career will be over. I would guess you could even be facing some prison time for aiding and abetting. And if she decides to run again, you know it’s just a matter of time before she’s caught. She won’t have your help anymore; she’ll be on her own. And we both know she won’t last long. And when she does get caught, she will be facing a much stiffer prison sentence than if she turns herself in voluntarily. Come on, Jack, you have to know that.”
Jack stood, shaking his head.
“I don’t care what happens to me. It doesn’t matter, Father; you don’t understand what’s going on here. She met someone, a man she loves and who loves her back. That man has a ring in his pocket, and tonight he’s planning to propose marriage. This is supposed to be the happiest night of her life. Now you want me to walk over there and tell her it’s all over? Bullshit, it ain’t gonna happen, Padre.”
“Perhaps we should ask her. It’s really her decision, Jack, not yours.”
“She has a whole new life here. My God, she works at a school helping local kids get an education so they can hopefully make something of their lives. Father, don’t take all that away. Remember the ‘greater good?’”
There was that phrase again, Father Jon thought. The same one Jack had used in Colorado.
Both men stared at one another defiantly.
“I’m going over there, Jack. I need to talk to her.”
“No, you’re not. It ain’t gonna happen. You are going to get off this beach and go back to Colorado. Do you understand me?”
Father Jon ignored him and started toward Natalie. Jack moved to cut him off.
“Don’t do this, Jack.”
The pair were quickly headed to a physical confrontation but were interrupted.
“Hello, I don’t think we’ve met,” Peter Donnelly said. “I’m Peter Donnelly. Is there a problem here?”
As if in slow motion, Natalie felt her new life slipping away. She didn’t know how or why this priest was involved, but it was clear he knew who she was. The realization crashed down upon her. The charade would soon be over. But she wanted to end it on her terms.
She walked directly toward them. Her eyes locked with the man who had tracked her to Mexico.
“Lisa, it’s time to do the right thing,” Father Jon said gently.
“Lisa? There has obviously been some kind of mix-up, Father. This is Natalie Summers,” offered Peter.
There were somber faces all around him. Peter realized something was very wrong. “Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on?”
“Peter, I need to tell you something,” Natalie said.
“What? What is it?”
“My God, I don’t even know where to begin.”
“Natalie, what is it?”
Tears began flowing down her cheeks.
“Please, forgive me, please, please, forgive me, Peter.”
“For what? What did you do? I don’t know what’s going on…”
“My name isn’t Natalie Summers. It’s Lisa Sullivan.”
“What?”
“My name is Lisa Sullivan, and I’m here in Mexico because I’m hiding.”
“Hiding from what?”
“Peter, I am so sorry… I’m hiding from the police. I can explain.”
“The police? Your father is a cop… How can you be hiding from the police?”
“Peter, let me explain,” said Jack. “Lisa got caught up in a bad situation in Colorado, and the police are looking for her. I helped her come here to Puerto Peñasco.”
Peter looked incredulously at Jack and then at Lisa.
“What bad situation? Did you rob a bank or something?”
Lisa shook her head, “No, nothing like that.”
“Then, what?”
Jack began to offer an explanation, but Lisa cut him off.
“Let me tell him. I owe him that much.” Natalie took a deep breath and began. “About a year ago, I was involved with a man in Colorado. I lived there, near Denver. I thought I loved him, but really, I didn’t. I realized that later but only after it was too late.”
“Too late for what? Did he hurt you?” Peter asked, his body tensing.
“No… It wasn’t that. He was married—he lied to me about that. I only found out about his wife long after the relationship had started.”
Lisa realized just how stupid she sounded, falling for a married man. She was embarrassed retelling the story to Peter, but she knew the worst part of it had yet to be told.
“So… Why are the police after you?”
“The man I was involved with had a business that was having financial difficulties. He was looking for a way to solve his money problems, divorce his wife, and marry me—at least that’s what he told me.”
“Did he commit fraud? Embezzle money? What?”
“A few years ago, to help the company financially, he brought on a business partner. But that didn’t really help, and so he came up with an idea that would solve all his problems.”
“And what was that?”
Lisa paused, finding it difficult to tell the next part of the story. Jack stepped in.
“The guy then, on his own…”
Lisa interrupted, “That’s okay. Let me tell it. I need to start owning up to things… The guy, his name is Scott Lennox, plotted to kill his partner and collect the life insurance money. He said with the money he could walk away from the business, get the divorce, and be with me.”
Peter’s eyes widened. He looked like he was going to be sick.
“Scott killed him, and I helped him cover it up.”
Lisa was spilling everything. It had been stewing inside her for so long, she just wanted to purge herself of the secrets and lies.
“Scott made the death look like an accident, like his partner had been hit by a car. Scott ran him down, and then we staged it to make it look like I had accidentally hit him. He was already dead, though. The police came and interviewed me, and at first they believed it was an accident. Eventually, they tried to arrest us, but they only caught him because I ran away and came here. That’s when I met you. God, I am so sorry, Peter. I love you so much, and now everything is coming apart.”
Peter didn’t move, his eyes fixed on the waves as his dream crashed on the beach.
“I meant to tell you, but it was never the right time. I was scared that you’d leave me. I couldn’t bear the thought of you not being in my life. I fell in love with you the night we met… You had me by the time we sat down for dinner.”
Peter turned to Jack. “And you’ve been hiding her down here? Doesn’t that break some moral code? Some sort of police oath?”
“I’ve made some mistakes in my life, Peter, but this isn’t one of them.”
“Seems like a pretty big one to me, Jack.”
Father Jon interrupted.
“Look, I’m certainly no expert on the criminal justice system, but listening to all that has been said here, I may have some ideas how to best proceed.”
“I’d like to hear it,” answered Lisa.
“First off, you must turn yourself in. That’s imperative and non-negotiable. If you don’t, I will go public with all this. It’s the right thing to do, and it has to be done. Period.”
Jack started to object, but Lisa stepped in.
“I want to hear the rest.”
Peter’s mind was reeling. Twenty minutes ago, he was planning his proposal. Now his life had been turned upside down.
Father Jon continued, “You turn yourself in, saying that you are tired of running and you feel the need to set things right. You don’t tell anyone where you’ve been, and you do not acknowledge that Jack is your father. There is nothing really that connects all those dots. You get yourself a top-notch attorney who can negotiate the best possible plea bargain. He stresses the fact that you were only an accomplice in this crime and that Scott was the sole mastermind behind the murder. He tells the court that you have a clean record and that you are truly sorry for your involvement in this horrible crime. He stresses to the court that you returned to Colorado voluntarily because you knew it was the right thing to do.”