“I love him too Lew, I think things are going to work out, maybe because of what you told me today.”
She didn’t wait for Rachel and Conner to get home she got in the Cayenne and drove into the city. She had to park a block away, but instead of attracting a lot of attention she went up the metal steps in the ally up the back of the building to the second floor. Harper tried the handle and it was locked, that was the first time she could remember it ever being locked. She took out her new lock pick set and hoped all the practice she’d been doing would pay off. Working the tumblers on the dead bolt she got it open, not breaking any records she got it open none the less. Down the small hall she slipped around the corner and went up the stairs to the small apartment without being seen.
Harper knocked on the door, she couldn’t hear anything inside and tried the handle it was locked.
“Who is it,” a woman’s voice asked.
“A friend of Faxon’s, I want to speak to him.”
“Step back away from the door so I can look at you through the hole,” Linda said. She recognized the tall blond girl that was on Faxon’s laptop ridding the horses. Linda unlocked the two dead bolts, the handle and took the chain off and opened the door. Harper had stepped back enough so Linda could come out she shut the door behind her. Linda looked at Harper, she was just slightly shorter than Faxon, six foot tall, and Linda noticed she was lean but muscular, and pretty.
“Faxon’s not here he went out for a little while.”
Harper looked at the girl’s long wavy brown hair, big brown eyes, and full pouty lips, Harper was in great physical condition, but their bodies were nearly the same.
“Are you living here? Is Faxon still living here?”
“I don’t really think that’s any of your business, I’m Linda, I don’t know your name but I know who you are. He doesn’t talk about you much, but I know you broke his heart.”
Harper couldn’t say anything, she was shocked, was this someone he was trying to use to forget about her.
“I know what you’re thinking and no he hasn’t gotten over you, I wish he could, I’d be glad to help him with that. Do you really know what kind of man Faxon is, I think you don’t because I can’t imagine him doing anything disrespectful to someone he obviously loves as much as you. You really hurt him, is there anything you want me to tell him?”
“My names Harper, no, please don’t tell him I came by.”
She walked down the steps quickly glancing around the corner making sure no one was watching as she exited the back door locking it behind her.
It was late but Detective John Walker was still in his office, he had just hung up the phone, his wife wanted to know when he would be home so dinner would be hot when he got there. Faxon walked in and sat in the chair across from him.
“Well you might finally get me a raise if this works out. The DA is already writing up his speech. A stolen truck and trailer goods racket foiled, the murder of real estate investor, Martin Samuels solved, the murder of a well know contractor, Parker Doss solved, and the man that killed him is willing to testify for a reduced sentence. The murder of an old Boston family socialite and a famous building contractor, Clayton and Lindsey Lewis solved. Shit the DA will probably run for Mayor and I’ll be the Police Chief before this is over. So has Harper forgiven you yet?”
“I haven’t talked to her, I thought when this shit hits the fan and it’s all over the news she’ll come see me. I don’t think I was wrong not torturing the information out of Race Thorpe for the guy’s name.”
“You did the right thing Faxon, she’ll see that and come running back to you. So tomorrow morning you’re bringing her in for the interview, 9:30 am, and you better keep her safe.”
Harper couldn’t stop thinking about what Linda had said to her. Her damn pride had let her hurt the one man that truly loved her. Finding the man that ordered her parents deaths had been everything, but she shouldn’t have let Faxon suffer he had done the right thing.
She pulled up under the large carport beside her truck and went into the kitchen. Rachel was taking three baked potatoes out of the oven, covered in sea salt and wrapped in foil. She put the asparagus on a baking sheet and put them in. Conner was out by the pool grilling steaks.
“Why did you go to see Faxon today,” Harper asked?
“You’re getting good at this private investigator shit aren’t you,” Rachel said. “I saw Faxon but he asked me to come into town to meet someone else.”
“Linda, is that right?”
“Shit Harper did you go to the apartment? Did you talk to Faxon?”
“He wasn’t there, but I met her.”
“Well did you meet the girls,” Rachel asked?
“The girls, I only met Linda. Does he have more girls than her living there? Shit what’s he want a harem?”
Rachel laughed. “Oh ya, Mindy, is ten, and as cute as can be, and Katie is thirteen going on sixteen and as pretty as her mother, and they both think the world of Faxon.”
“What the hell’s going on Rachel?”
“Faxon asked if I would tutor the girls for a little while so they don’t get behind in school. So you met Linda, she’s pretty isn’t she? I saw the way she looked at Faxon, of course a young woman with two kids that love Faxon and him them, well that’s a pretty attractive thing for a young woman even if she knows he’s in love with a stubborn bitch.”
Harper threw a glass against the far wall and shattered it. “I’m going to take a shower,” she said calmly.
“I’ll leave that for you to clean up, and dinner will be done soon. Take a hot shower, and think about Faxon washing your back for you. Maybe that’ll release some of that pent up tension you got.”
Harper turned around and gave her the finger as she walked out of the room.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
The next morning Rachel showed up at Ned Devine’s at 9:00 am and Faxon let her in. His hand was on his lower back. It was his second night sleeping on the floor and it was becoming increasingly more uncomfortable.
“What’s wrong,” Rachel asked?
“I’m sleeping on the floor in the storeroom, and my backs killing me.”
“Have Linda rub it for you.”
“Stop, please, it’s hard enough with her constantly giving me little hugs and kissing my cheek, I’ll give Harper till tomorrow, if she doesn’t forgive me by then we’re going to have a problem.”
“What’s tomorrow?”
“Today we do the interview with the DA by tomorrow it’ll be all over the news, pictures, descriptions he’ll be on the ten most wanted list.”
“Why don’t you go get a room somewhere?”
“I want to be close just in case, so a few more days sleeping on the floor won’t kill me.”
They went up the stairs to the apartment then Rachel stopped.
“Faxon what were your sleeping arrangements when you and Harper were in that small apartment before that wall was knocked down?”
“Well we both slept in the bedroom, in the bed.”
“Wait a minute, you both slept in the same bed together for what? Three months? And nothing happened?”
“That’s right. For the exception of maybe twice when she kissed me we never touched each other. Until we went to Nashville, and we got a room together, and then well something happened, and I’m glad I’m in good shape, she’s pretty aggressive.”
“Ok, too much information.”
Rachel knocked on the door. Linda opened and both girls ran to hug Faxon.
“Did you both have breakfast?”
“Yea we had toaster pastry,” Mindy said.
“You two to the table and I want to review what you read last night and then we’ll start on some math and algebra,” Rachel ordered. “You two go, we’ll be fine, and take my car it’s out front.”
“Thanks Rachel,” Faxon said.
They drove the Audie to the police station. Detective Walker had arranged for Faxon to enter into the underground parking
garage and a dozen armed officers were waiting. They rode the elevator up to the third floor with John to the interview room.
“Faxon how is it you’re associated with such good looking women,” John asked?
“Thank you detective but you’re a much more handsome man,” Linda teased.
“He’s married,” Faxon said.
“All the good ones are,” she said.
“Wow, good looking and funny too, you’re a lucky man Faxon Bennett. Here we are right this way.”
They walked down the hall to interview room number 2. Inside there was a stenographer a microphone in the center of the table and a video camera in the corner of the room. Two men in expensive suits stood on the opposite side.
“Linda Walker is no relation to me gentleman,” John announced. “This is District Attorney General Adam Shift, and assistant District Attorney Mark Simmons,” the detective said. “And gentlemen this is Faxon Bennett, Private Detective, without his tireless investigation into this murder and corruption none of this would be possible.”
Just then the door opened and three more people entered the room.
“Good morning, my name is Agent Edward Bliss from the Boston office of the FBI.”
“And I’m Evelyn Hope, with the NSA.”
“And I’m Walter Riggs, from Washington I’m with the State Department.”
Introductions were made again but Faxon had the feeling they all knew who he was, the agencies had to have done a background check. In each of their briefcases they produced their own recording devices, all much higher quality than the local authorities.
District Attorney General Adam Shift remained standing after everyone had a seat.
“Gentlemen as agreed I’ll be running the interview of the witnesses, please refrain from interrupting, after I’m finished if there’s any unanswered questions we’ll precede one at a time to maintain a clear record of the interview. This is not a court of law, only an interview I want allow the witnesses to be harassed in any way, if the question has been asked and answered we move on, understood?”
Everyone shook their heads in agreement and Adam Shift took his seat directly across the table from Linda and Faxon. Linda was nervous Faxon looked at her and smiled.
“Ms. Walker we’re going to start with you and there’s no reason to be nervous, we just want you to tell your story plainly, and honestly. Tell us about your husband.”
“His name was Ensign Jessie Walker, he was a marine and served in Afghanistan in E-company, while he was there he became involved in several illegal operations, mainly the importing of heroin bought from local Afghani’s and smuggled into the States. They did it by packing it into the body bags of deceased solders coming home. It was a network of E-company marines over there and here. He also became a user and quickly became addicted as did other men in his company.”
“And did your husband ever say who ran the smuggling operation,” Adam Shift asked?
“It was his commanding officer Lieutenant Commander, Benjamin Brantley.”
“Go on with your story Ms. Walker,” the DA said.
“When Jessie came back he had no control over his addiction, my girls and I were living on base, but when he came back and didn’t reenlist we had to move out of the naval base housing. Jessie got jobs but everything he earned went to drugs and alcohol. We moved into government housing and with the small amount of assistance we got we were starving to death. Public housing was dangerous, drug dealers, gang members and prostitution, I didn’t know what I was going to do I cried myself to sleep every night. Then one day Jessie shows up, he looked worse than ever, he came with his commanding officer, he said it was a job and it would set things right with me and the girls. I remember meeting him and I remember going to the bedroom with the girls, but I left the door open and heard the whole thing.”
“The man I was introduced to as Benjamin Brantley asked Jessie to kill a man and his wife, Clayton and Lindsey Lewis. He wanted it to look like an accident, and he wanted Jessie to run a car head on into them at high speed. Jessie was pretty far gone, he knew he couldn’t kick the habit and the deal was made. Brantley would care for us, move us into a nice house and make sure we had whatever we needed. And he did just that until last week when two men tried to kill us.”
“Just so you’ll both know,” Adam Shift said. “The two Saudi Nationals have given statements that Benjamin Brantley sent them to kill Ms. Linda Walker and her two daughters. Ensign Ronald Beale has agreed to testify against his former commanding officer that he had been ordered to kill Martin Samuels and used a NSA permit to ship illegal guns to Saudi Arabia. But we would still like to hear anything you know Mr. Bennett.”
“I know the Lieutenant Commander used ex-Marines from the E-Company to carry out his operations, a multi-million dollar theft ring that shipped goods overseas. Ex-Marine specialist to murder owners of companies, he used money from his drug imports and stolen goods to buy these companies and properties laundering the money. I know he recruited ex-Marines from the E-Company to work as elite military instructors in eastern countries. I suspect those instructors made money training radicals that have possibly killed American soldiers, and I know Benjamin Brantley needs to pay for the carnage left in his wake.”
“Does anyone have any questions,” asked the DA Adam Shift?
“No questions but I need to ask the both of you to not disclose any of the information that has been discussed here today,” State Department official Walter Riggs said. “We’re working with the Saudi government and other Eastern countries to ascertain the location of the training facilities and place the ex-Marines from E-company in custody.”
“The FBI is working with the NSA to investigate and arrest anyone involved in the importing of narcotics and distribution or theft of trucks and the shipping of stolen goods,” FBI agent Edward Bliss said.
“We’re also working with the ATF to resend any gun shipping permits for the time being from the United States to any Middle Eastern country,” NSA official Evelyn Hope said.
“Also Benjamin Brantley is on the FBI’s most wanted list,” Agent Edward Bliss said.
“Gentlemen I suggest we have a joint news conference tomorrow,” Adam Shift added. “I’ll alert the news agencies and we can show a joint show of support.”
There was a unanimous agreement with all agencies and John escorted Linda and Faxon back to the parking garage.
They drove back to the small apartment both girls were sitting at the table when they walked in. Rachel sat on the couch while the girls worked with books opened in front of them both.
“You two keep working,” Linda said.
Faxon went to the bathroom.
“Well, it’s done, we both testified, their holding a news conference tomorrow on the court house steps then it’ll be all over the news.”
“Then maybe things will get back to normal,” Rachel said.
“You look like her,” Linda spoke up. “Harper, I met her, she came here, I wasn’t quite sure why at the time, now I think about how much the two of you looked alike. There’s something else, something Faxon’s not telling me.”
“I’m Harper’s Aunt, her father’s younger sister, his name was Clayton Lewis.”
It took a moment for Linda to think about the name. “Oh my God,” Linda’s face went white it was Harper’s mother and father Jessie had murdered.
“It had nothing to do with you dear I love your girls and who wouldn’t. You’re doing the right thing and because Faxon has agreed to help you and the girls, I consider you part of the family.”
When Faxon came out of the bathroom the two of them were hugging. He was perceptive enough to know they had a special moment, but assumed it was about her testimony. Rachel gave the girls the rest of their lessons and said goodbye.
“I need to go see someone,” Faxon said. “Benjamin Brantley is gonna be desperate after tomorrow, I need to get you and the girls into more suitable accommodations.”
Linda kissed his cheek. �
��Thank you, for everything, I hope I haven’t made your life more complicated.”
“My life was pretty complicated before I met you.”
Faxon went over to the table and looked at what both girls were doing. He approved and kissed both of their foreheads promising to take them out for dinner when he got back if all their work was done.
He drove the old Jeep out of the city and finally approached the large gates of Landau Comaneci’s home. He reached out and pressed the page button on the security pad. No one answered but the gates opened and Faxon drove down the winding blacktop tree covered driveway. The gates closed behind him and he thought about the last time he’d been here with Harper. They had come at his invitation for dinner and to pay him for the return of his and his friend’s investments. He remembered how beautiful she was in her black dress. He suddenly had a vision of her sitting on the side of the bed naked in the hotel room in Nashville and nearly drove of the road.
When he got to the front of the huge mansion Landau was waiting outside.
“My dear friend, what a pleasant surprise,” Landau spoke in his usual Rumanian English accent, Faxon always thought he sounded like Bella Lugosi as Dracula. “You picked a perfect time to visit, all of my children and their mothers have gone to Europe and I’ve been yearning for entertaining conversation, please come in.”
He led Faxon into a den at the back of the house it was built on a slight rise and the large windows from floor to ceiling looked out over the back lawn that was acres large, workmen were tending to a large rose garden.
Landau poured them both a glass of red wine from a crystal decanter.
“You would not have come unless there’s something important on your mind, but I want you to know you are always welcome here in my home. I consider you a true friend and I’ve been trying to duplicate your sense of honor and honesty. I must admit I find it quite trying sometimes but I believe I’m becoming a better man for it. Your example has made me a better man, that’s a lot to say for someone like me that’s so used to getting his way.”
“I have a favor to ask it’s nothing that’s beyond you, but what I ask may test your new sensibilities,” Faxon said.
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