Suffer

by E. E. Borton

  “Kate helped me fill in the blanks,” said Chief, approving of Evan’s enthusiasm. “She suspected him for a while, and you’re right, he was lazy. Very intelligent, but lazy. Kate said it was the only time she and Paul ever had any marital problems.”

  “Really,” said Evan. “I never would’ve guessed. They were the perfect couple since their first date.”

  “Her complaint was that he was spending nearly sixteen hours, seven days a week at the restaurant, while his partner was there for less than eight and took the weekends off,” continued Chief. “I think it irritated her seeing her husband work so hard, but then watching Ronnie enjoy the fruits of his labor. Paul didn’t think he could do it without him, though. I suspect Ronnie knew that as well. When he did show up for work, he was good. No denying that.”

  “So how did Paul end up the millionaire and Ronnie a regional manager?” asked Evan.

  “That’s where the motive starts to grow,” answered Chief. “After two years, Paul separated himself a bit from Ronnie and came up with his own concept for a restaurant. Ronnie didn’t think it would go anywhere. That didn’t matter because Ronnie had zero capital to invest. It was all Paul and Kate.

  “Paul handed the keys to the first business over to Ronnie and put all his energy into the new concept. A year later, Paul’s restaurant became one of the most popular hot spots on South Beach. Six months after that, he opened the second store, and that one took off as well. The rest is history.”

  “If Ronnie had nothing to do with the second business, how does he stand to make money off the sale?” asked Evan.

  “Very good question,” said Chief, patting Evan on the shoulder. “Ronnie’s business started to tank. Paul offered to buy him out for more than it was worth. He then offered him a job with his new company. Kate said he felt a personal obligation since they started the dream together. It allowed Ronnie to get out of debt, but he was working for Paul and not with him.

  “And to Ronnie’s credit, he worked his ass off. He had to start at the bottom just like every other manager in Paul’s company. He washed dishes, cooked food, took orders, and even cleaned a bathroom or two. After six months of that, he became the general manager of the flagship South Beach store. A year later, he took over as regional manager in South Florida. In Paul’s eyes, he was becoming the partner he wanted when they first started. He was very impressed with him, and so was Kate.”

  “Then why hire someone to kill them?” asked Evan.

  “Because he’s up to his neck in gambling debt,” said Chief, “to the tune of about $150,000. That’s the connection we found in the financial and travel records given to us by our friend Carlos at the Bureau. Ronnie makes about $220,000 a year, but he blows twice that amount when he takes his trips to casinos around the country. Right now, his bank statement shows a balance of under $1,500.”

  “Who does he owe the $150,000?”

  “Another great question, Evan. You’re pretty good at this.”

  “I can’t tell if you’re messing with me, but I’ll say thank you anyway.”

  Grey smiled as Chief continued. “Carlos reached out to a few confidential informants who gave up the name Alfonso Bernard Perez, or Little Al. It’s a bit of play on words since he weighs a dainty three hundred and fifty pounds. He’s a loan shark and all around piece of shit. He’s holding Ronnie’s marker.”

  “How much is he going to make from the sale?”

  “A cool two and-a-half million,” answered Grey. “That’s what we call a motive.”

  “If Paul didn’t sell, he’s still on the hook to pay back Little Al,” said Evan. “I’m guessing Al’s not a nice guy.”

  “You’d be correct,” said Chief. “He’s got a reputation for sending leg breakers if anyone is a day late, but Little Al isn’t the boss. He’s just a cog in the wheel. Carlos has a few ideas on who’s running the show.”

  “Look, I get that two million is enough to motivate someone to extremes, but it doesn’t make sense to me that they’d kill Paul’s family to make him sell,” said Evan. “That seems almost too extreme, doesn’t it?”

  “All kidding aside,” said Chief, “you are pretty good at this. I agree with you. There were a hundred different ways to do that without killing. A threatening phone call could’ve done the trick. Paul was on the fence about keeping the company. If his family’s safety was at risk, he would’ve sold it without question.”

  “So why then?”

  “We’ll let Ronnie answer that,” said Grey. “If he doesn’t know, he’ll give up who does.”

  “How do you know he’ll talk?” asked Evan.

  “Because he has a family, too,” said Chief. “A wife that’s way too good for him and a daughter a little older than Caleb.”

  “So we get to him through his family?” asked Evan.

  “That’s how you get to anyone,” said Grey.

  They continued their conversation for a few more hours in the pavilion at the boat dock. Chief and Evan polished off the rest of the bottle as if it were an indoctrination ceremony of the newly formed team. Having a sense that the unsub was watching them from across the water, Grey didn’t keep the same pace.

  “Well, that was fun,” said Chief, standing and stretching. “But we’ve got an early morning and I’m old as dirt. So I’ll bid you goodnight, gentlemen.”

  “Right behind you, Chief,” said Evan. “I’m cooked. Besides, I’m pretty sure Grey is a vampire, so he doesn’t need any sleep.”

  “Sleep well, ladies,” said Grey as the two wobbled back to the house.

  It was a humid night that motivated Grey to take one last dip before retiring for the evening. He enjoyed the solitude of floating on his back and looking up at the night sky. Hearing the low hum of the pool filter while his ears were submerged completed his isolation.

  Once again it only took a few minutes before his meditation was disturbed by a presence. He opened his eyes to see Abby standing over him in the same spot as two nights before and wearing the same distracting bathing suit.

  “You and I have some unfinished business,” said Abby, crossing her arms.

  “Is there any way we can do this tomorrow?” asked Grey, sensing a confrontation.

  “No,” she said and turned to walk to the stairs.

  Grey looked up at the serenity of the sky and said his farewells. Whatever the subject, he knew an argument was sure to follow. He was growing tired of the process.

  Turning over in the water and pushing himself to where his feet could touch the bottom, he watched as Abby disappeared under the surface and swam toward him. In an impressive display of underwater dexterity, she popped up inches away from him without her top.

  “Do I still look like a child to you?” she asked as she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned back. There was no fight in Grey to keep his eyes on hers. The only battle raging was his struggle to catch his breath. Before he could inhale, she pressed her wet chest into his. “This is the part where you kiss me.”

  As red flags began flapping furiously in every direction, he followed her command and lost his breath again as he kissed her. He slowly drew his hands up her body to her face and closed his eyes. He wanted to lose everything in the moment, but reality snaked its way between them.

  “What’s happening here?” whispered Grey, killing the moment.

  “You’re going to ruin this by speaking, aren’t you?” she whispered back. “We’re kissing, detective. And you’re about to tell me how wrong you think it is.”

  “Things are a little crazy right now and –”

  “I didn’t mean you should tell me,” said Abby, cutting him off. “But I figured you might react this way. So let me give you the short version.” She pulled him down to her and kissed him again. “I’m not going to dance around the breakfast table tomorrow like a giddy schoolgirl with an afterglow. I’m not going to ask you to marry me, but tonight I want to forget. I just want one night of feeling good about something. And right now, being in your arms fe
els very good. Don’t think about anything else except what’s in front of you. Can you do that?”

  “My God, you are beautiful,” said Grey, sliding his hands down her back and squeezing her ass. “You know we’re about to make a big mistake.”

  Abby took advantage of the buoyancy and raised herself off the pool floor. She wrapped her legs around his waist, which helped him dismiss the sea of red flags. She then pushed herself up so her breasts were in his face as she looked down at him with a sideways smile. Abby held the position for a moment before lowering herself back down to eye level. Grabbing a handful of his hair, she pressed her lips hard against his.

  “I’m not trying to ruin the moment, but there are cameras everywhere,” said Grey, mumbling into her lips.

  “Is there one in your room?” asked Abby, leaning back again.

  “I hope not,” said Grey.

  “Then ask me to your room, stupid.”

  “I have to tell you, I’m a little conflicted,” said Grey, finally looking her in the eyes.

  “You don’t feel conflicted,” said Abby, squeezing her legs and feeling his hardness between them.

  “I’ll tell you right now I’m powerless against you,” said Grey. “I never thought a moment like this would ever happen between us. There was always something about you that intrigued and scared the hell out of me at the same time. You’re the most beautiful, sexy, interesting, and terrifying woman I’ve ever met. And in a few minutes, I’ll be fucking you. So, yes, I am conflicted.”

  “I didn’t say anything about fucking,” said Abby, acting surprised, but ending the act with a smile. “Grey, be conflicted tomorrow.”

  32

  War Room

  HE STRETCHED OUT HIS ARM as the sunlight beamed through a small sliver of space in the curtains. When he felt nothing beside him, Grey opened his eyes to find himself alone. A note lay on the unoccupied pillow. He unfolded the paper and read the two words. No regrets.

  He rolled onto his back and took a deep breath as an uncontrollable smile brightened his face. He was thinking about Abby. It was hard to consider what happened the night before as a one night stand since she was somewhere in the house. In the pool when she was wrapped around him, he told her it would be a mistake. As he swung his legs over the side of the bed, it didn’t feel like one.

  Grey adhered to his normal morning routine. When he returned from his run, Chief was sitting alone at a table in one of the two living rooms which had been converted into an operations center. On one of two widescreen TVs mounted on the wall was a photo of Sheriff Doyle’s daughter. On the other, was a map of South Florida, including the Keys. Chief was pecking on a laptop when he noticed Grey enter the room.

  “Morning, Boss,” said Chief with a smile. “Did you sleep well?”

  In a mere six words, Chief had Grey’s mind shooting in several different directions before he could muster a simple answer. Was he being sly and knew about Abby? Was he being patronizing by calling him “Boss”? Before it became an issue, Grey gave him the best answer.

  “I did. You?”

  “Like a big drunk baby,” said Chief. “I think I was out before my head hit the pillow. I don’t see too many more of those nights in my future.”

  “I think an unexpected night off did us all a lot of good.”

  “Yeah, Evan is still unconscious, but I think I heard Abby knocking around. Of course, Kate was already up and doing her exercises. I tell you what, partner, I’m glad I’m on her side.”

  “I can’t argue with that,” said Grey. “What are you working on?”

  Chief reached into a stack of files and handed one to Grey. He opened it while taking a seat at the table. “According to this, the sheriff’s daughter went missing a week before Kate was attacked. Her last phone call was to a friend at two in the morning.”

  “Yep,” said Chief. “She was out with friends at a bar, but I don’t think she made it home that night. Our unsub had this planed out for months. This guy is a pro, Grey. We still need to move forward with putting the squeeze on Ronnie, but I seriously doubt he’s gonna give us an address.”

  “Probably not,” said Grey. “Did Carlos get back with the name of Little Al’s boss?”

  “He gave us a couple possibilities,” said Chief, pressing a remote and changing the photo on the screen from Melissa to Little Al. “Here’s the tub of lard that’s holding Ronnie’s marker.” Pressing the remote again, a photo of a pawn shop came into view. “And this is where Little Al spends most of his time. He’s got a goon squad around the place twenty-four/seven. It amazes me that people think the mob is dead. That place has old school gangster written all over it.”

  “Carlos will be here in an hour,” said Grey, closing the file. “Kate has her eye surgery tomorrow, and the Bureau is lending us his team for escort duty. We’ll be able to pick his brain then. I’m gonna grab a shower.”

  “Wake Evan’s ass up on your way,” said Chief. “We need to get him started on that soundproof room today.”

  “My pleasure,” said Grey, leaving the Chief and heading upstairs.

  He knocked on Evan’s door with no response. He called out his name with the same result. Grey cracked open the door to see the bed still made. He opened it further to see flames in the gas fireplace. On a plush white rug in front of the fire, Evan was sprawled out in his boxers with his arms wrapped around a large pillow. Grey’s first instinct was to grab a camera, but instead he gently nudged him. “Wake up, baby doll. You’re gonna miss the bus.”

  Evan’s head shot up and, with one eye open, surveyed his surroundings. His bright red hair was standing up on his head from the sweat and drool that stretched from his mouth and pooled on the pillow. “Is he still here?”

  “Is who here?”

  “Stop yelling,” said Evan, covering his ears. “The Chief. Is he still here?”

  “Yeah, he’s downstairs,” said Grey, entertained by his appearance.

  “Get rid of him, Grey. I’m serious. Tell him he has to leave.”

  “What happened?” asked Grey laughing. “You guys were a little tipsy last night, but you seemed okay.”

  “Chief wanted to have a nightcap on his balcony before bed. Two hours later I couldn’t feel my face. The room was spinning so I decided the safest place was on the floor.”

  “By a fire?”

  “Leave me alone,” said Evan, burying his head in the pillow.

  “Get up, lightweight. He’s waiting for you downstairs.”

  He left Evan and headed for the shower. Along with everything else on the property, the bathroom was massive. As Grey was putting away his shaving kit, he looked over at a door to his left. The one on the right led him back to his room, but the one on the left led to Abby’s. He resisted the urge to turn left and made his way back down to the War Room. A few minutes, Evan made his appearance.

  “I told you to get rid of him,” said Evan, popping a handful of aspirin and washing it down with the pink stuff. “Oh, God, that’s awful.”

  “I didn’t force it down your throat, kid,” said Chief, laughing. “But I’ll go easy on you next time now that I know you’re a little soft.”

  Evan gave him the finger and then lowered his head. Grey grabbed the remote and displayed a makeshift blueprint of the room they needed Evan to reconfigure. “Heads up, Sally.”

  “I’m with ya,” said Evan, squinting.

  “We’ll convert the media room on the back corner of the house,” said Grey, using a laser pointer. “We’ll need to split it into two separate soundproof rooms with a two-way mirror we can switch back and forth. Both have to be completely isolated, Evan. That’s very important.”

  “No problem,” said Evan. “If we want it done in seventy-two hours, I’m gonna need to bring in a few of my guys.”

  “How many?”

  “I can do it with three, but I’d like four.”

  “Three at the most,” said Chief. “And your eyes are on them the entire time. They take a piss, you’re in ther
e holding it for them. Grey and I won’t have time to babysit, so this is all on you.”

  “They’re good guys, Chief,” said Evan. “I’ve worked with them for fifteen years. We don’t need to worry about them.”

  “That sounds suspiciously like you’re questioning my order,” said Chief, looking away from the blueprint and giving Evan his undivided attention.

  “Dr. Singer was a good guy, too, Evan,” said Grey. “But we had two guns on him when he was about to kill Kate. Everyone that comes on this property gets treated like a security risk. They don’t go within fifty feet of Kate, and they don’t wander through the house. If we come across them without you in sight, we’ll put them on the ground. No exceptions. Understood?”

  “Crystal clear, Boss,” said Evan. “Sorry.”

  “Kate is having her surgery tomorrow and will be gone for most of the day,” said Chief. “That would be a great time to get your boys started.”

  “Will do.”

  “One of the rooms needs to be designed with comfort and a bunch of things to distract a five-year-old girl,” said Grey, continuing the brief. “The other needs to be set up like a third world country interrogation room. Bolt a metal chair to the floor and drop a high intensity light in front of it. The two-way mirror needs to be the size of a large bay window. This part is very important, Evan. Not one sound can transfer from one room to the other – especially a gunshot.”

  “Done,” replied Evan. “That won’t be a problem.”

  Grey stood and walked closer to the monitor displaying the room and continued outlining the modifications. Chief and Evan were fixated on the screen when Abby walked into the back of the room. Knowing only Grey could see her, she began skipping like a giddy schoolgirl toward an unoccupied chair. “Heard you boys cackling like teenagers last night,” said Abby, taking a seat beside Evan.

  “Why is everybody yelling?” said Evan, covering his ears again.

  “Good morning, sunshine,” greeted Chief. “Hope he didn’t keep you awake.”

  “No,” said Abby, smiling at Grey. “I was in bed early.”