Burning For Claire (The O'Connell Family Book 2)

by Steele, C. M.

  “Just don’t do anything to hurt her or else,” I threatened him, and he got the message.

  “I know, and I won’t. She’s going to be a part of Claire’s family, so I won’t even make a move unless I want a real relationship with her. But as of right now, I don’t even know her.”

  I relented. “Fine, I can give you that.”

  “Now, boys enough with the fight over sisters. Let’s go eat some dinner because I’m starving.” Her father opened the door and walked out. We complied, but we still glared at each other on and off throughout the night.

  The next morning I headed into the office to deal with the paperwork and other bullshit before going to Chicago. Anderson, Eli and Kline were waiting me to talk to Kennedy.

  “Officer McKnight and Reynolds are waiting for us. You don’t have jurisdiction in this matter, and you’re actually a victim in the case, but I was able to pull some strings. They’re willing to let you watch the interrogation,” Eli informed me.

  Being unreasonable, I demanded, “I want to question them myself.”

  “No can do, and you know damn well why. You could compromise the case if you get involved. We shouldn’t have even let you search the property with us.”

  “I know, but I want to knock the bastard out and choke those broads.”

  We gathered up more evidence at the station and drove into the city to have a chat with the suspects. I had everything I needed as far as I was concerned to nail their asses, but I wanted more. I wanted a confession. None of them were going to get away with trying to kill my woman. I wouldn’t be able to question them, but Eli could. Since he was family I knew he would get the confession. He wouldn’t let them slip out of his grasp.

  I looked through the mirror and saw the first up for questioning—Jane King. I wanted to knock that smug look off her face. Kline stayed in the room with me since he was still learning. We didn’t want any mistakes made.

  Eli started the questioning while Anderson leaned against the wall. “Miss King, do you know why we’ve brought you in here?”

  “No,” she responded with a bitchy tone.

  “You were an employee of Miss O’Connell, were you not?” Anderson asked.

  “Yeah, so what’s your point?” Her attitude wasn’t looking to be cooperative and was extremely telling.

  “So you know that the salon was burnt to the ground then, don’t you?” Anderson continued.

  “Yeah, so?” Her callousness pissed me off. My fists were clenched so hard my knuckles were white, and my fingers dug into my palms.

  “Don’t you care that you’re out of a job or that your boss and supposed friend had almost died?”

  “Well, she didn’t die...did she?” She crossed her arms and sat back against the chair.

  “Did you have anything to do with embezzling over forty thousand dollars from the salon?” Eli asked.

  She huffed and uncrossed and crossed her arms again. Jane gave them a shrug and said, “I’m not saying anything until you get me a lawyer.”

  “Fine. If that’s the way you want to play it, I’m sure one of the others will to turn on you.”

  “Those bitches better keep their mouths closed.” I smiled as I heard her slip and say that they actually had something to hide, whatever it was.

  “Well, you just sit tight while we get an attorney for you. And just so you know we have all the evidence we need to nail you for the fire. I was just giving you a chance to save your ass.” Eli said with a smile as he walked out of the room. He walked back around to us behind the glass.

  “Way to go, she looks worried as fuck right now,” I said as they came back into the room.

  “She should be. We really don’t need a confession; it just would be nice to have one,” Eli replied confidently.

  Looking at the video screen, I could see Rita sitting straight up with her leg shaking. I’d bet she’d be the one to crack. “Well, are you going to go for Rita next?”

  Eli nodded and added, “Yes, I’m sure she’ll be the weak link. The other one is so strung out that even if we got a confession from him it would probably be thrown out or a just detriment to the case.” We all looked at the screen again, and it was clear she was nervously shaking.

  “Excuse me, I think she’s had enough time to dwell on it. Let me start the questioning.”

  Anderson and Eli left us to watch the monitor and walked into the other interrogation room. Eli walked in like a hard ass and got right in her face.

  “Miss Lowry, I’m going to get straight to the point. I know you and your two buddies embezzled over forty thousand dollars from Miss O’Connell and blew up the salon. I’m going to make sure you three get the max sentence possible. You see, there was a federal agent in the building at the time. He could have been killed if it wasn’t for his quick thinking. That’s some really heavy charges: attempted murder and arson to cover up embezzlement. You’ll be going away for about twenty-five to life. So…is there anything you want to tell me?”

  “Um…I...” Rita played with her fingers as the reality of her situation hit home.

  Eli got up to make like he was going to leave, but just as he reached the door handle he turned and gave her a warning. “You know the first one to turn gets the deal. The rest get the max. It’s your choice,” Eli said with a blasé tone.

  “We did it!” she cried out. Her tears poured as she started to confess. “We met Everett when he started dating Claire. He was really hot and that made Jane jealous. She wanted him from the start, but he didn’t want her. He wanted Claire, well Claire’s money and connections. After Claire dumped him she still gave him money, but when she refused to come back to him, he became angry. He came to Jane with a plan to rob the salon. She was all for it because he gave her what she wanted—him. She pulled me in when we were doing the books. I wanted to make some easy cash. Claire’s wealthy she didn’t really need it, anyway.”

  I nearly lost my mind when I realized that strung out bastard was an ex of my fiancé. The people in the room knew that I was dating Claire, and they were looking at me with pity.

  “So she didn’t need her life either?” Anderson snarled as he leaned down on the table and stared at her angrily.

  “Well…when Tad called us, Jane kind of…lost it. She wanted Claire and Tad dead and the evidence destroyed. The best way was a fire. We thought Tad was with Claire because he was talking to her that late. So we assumed he would stick by her side through the night to comfort her.”

  “Walk me through the arson,” Eli said calmly.

  She paused for a moment and took a drink of the water she had requested before she continued with her tale of cover-up.

  “Ticked that Claire found out, Jane went into a rage. She planned out the whole thing. We all jumped into Everett’s car and headed to Wal-Mart and picked up a gas can, then we headed to the gas station down the road from the salon. After filling up the can we bought and the one Everett had in his car, we drove to the salon. Everett stayed in the car because he didn’t know the salon that well and we didn’t want to wake her up.” She paused again, breathing deeply before continuing.

  As I listened, my anger grew. Hearing her tell them that they tried to burn her alive was killing me. My chest ached and I needed to talk to Claire, but I didn’t want to miss any of this.

  “Using a spare key we stole from her drawer we unlocked the door and disabled the security. Then we pulled all the irons and hair dryers out and plugged them in. Then we poured gasoline all around the room and left the one Everett kept in his car in the center of the salon. We exited quietly. Using the bottle we’d been drinking, we stuffed a used oil rag into the top. Everett lit it, then tossed it into the front window. As we sped off, I saw the fire burst through the window.”

  “The statement will be typed up and you can sign it,” Eli said as he walked out, leaving her to soak in her new reality. Anderson followed slowly, shaking his head at Rita in disgust.

  Eli walked right in to the bastard’s room, smiled and c
heerfully said, “You’re so fucked.”

  “Those bitches made me!” he shouted, slamming his fist onto the tabletop.

  “Really, a grown man doing what a woman tells them to do just for sex. You’re pathetic.”

  “No, but that bitch, Claire refused to put out. Then she stopped giving me money. She wasn’t good for shit, who cares if she died?”

  I growled and rushed out of the video room and to the door. No one could stop me as slammed open the door, picked that fuck up by his shirt, and pushed him against the wall.

  “Travis, let him go!” Eli shouted.

  “No,” I said as I continued to stare at the fuck. “Who cares? You piece of shit!” I roared as I hit him against the wall again.

  “Get him off me,” the pussy yelled in panic.

  “You think he can get me off you. You tried to kill my fiancée and me.” My rage blinded me. The fear was pouring through his eyes. I wanted to laugh as he pissed his pants. I calmly said, “You’ll be the one putting out for others soon”

  I dropped the punk on his ass and walked out before I killed him. Eli followed me out and pulled me into an empty room.

  “Have you lost your mind?!” he yelled.

  “Would you let him say those things about Mel?” I retorted.

  “Hell, no, but shit man, he could try to press charges.” I knew he was looking out for me, but I didn’t give a fuck at the moment.

  “I should be the one pressing charges. He nearly peed on my shoes, the damn pussy,” I said with a chuckle. Scaring the punk made me giddier than a school girl.

  “Stop smiling you stupid ass. This is serious.”

  “I can’t help it. Now, let’s get these pieces of shit booked already, so I can go back and make love to my woman.”

  “Me too,” Eli said gleefully.

  I looked at him and asked angrily, “You’re just trying to piss me off, aren’t you?”

  “I’ve been married to your sister for seven years. Get over it already.” He shook his head at me and took out his cuffs.

  “Whatever. Just go in there and wrap it up already.”

  “Why would I wrap it up? Your sister’s already pregnant.” he asked jokingly, chuckling as he ran out of the room.

  That was some gross shit. I walked back to the video room where all the detectives and techs were looking at me like I’d gone bat shit crazy.

  “What?!” I hissed.

  “Nothing,” they said in unison.

  I watched as Meyer was cuffed first. He didn’t put up a fight as he was read the charges and his rights, then taken out of the room to be processed.

  The statement was already typed up and ready for Rita to sign. She did what she was told and signed without hesitation, hoping to get a lighter sentence.

  In the next room was Jane, the sinister bitch, who I wanted to suffer the most. She started her ranting as soon as Eli, Anderson and a female CPD officer entered the room. “I know my rights. You have to let me go if you’re not charging with shit.”

  “Stand up, then Miss King,” Eli said with a smile. “Jane King, you are under arrest for attempted murder and arson to cover up the embezzlement of funds from Miss Claire O’Connell and the attempted murder of Federal Agent Travis Williams. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against that you in court of law…”

  The broad interrupted, “Where’s my lawyer?”

  “They’ll be coming, since you don’t have your own, you’ll have to wait for your court appointed attorney.”

  “You don’t have anything on me,” she sneered.

  “We have more than enough on you, including a confession from Miss Lowry. Now please to be silent.”

  She started squirming and fighting as Eli was cuffing her. The stupid broad thought she could outwrestle a grown man and his back up. She was detained and slammed to the ground with both her hands and feet secured.

  I waved to her with a big ass grin on my face as they carried the still fighting broad. I waited until they were transferred to the Collinsville PD. Once they were locked in the jail, I called Claire.

  “Hey, baby, how you doing?”

  She answered, “I’m okay. I’m at the hospital visiting my brother.”

  “What?! Is he awake?”

  “No, not yet. Man, he needs a cut. When he wakes up, I know he’s going to want one.”

  “Yeah, baby, he is. You better have your scissors ready,” I tried to give her hope.

  She replied proudly, “I will.”

  I said as I smiled to myself. “Do you need me to pick you up?”

  “You seem happy, Travis. What gives?” Damn, my mood was noticeable over the phone.

  “Nothing. Can’t I be happy to see my girl?”

  “I guess that’s true. I want to see you too, but my dad is going to take us back to the house in about an hour.”

  “Okay, sweetheart. I’m going to say bye to my family. My father has to get back sooner than he expected so they are going back to Texas tomorrow.”

  “Say bye for me.”

  “I will babe. They’ll be back for the wedding next month.”

  “I love you, Travis.”

  “I love you too, Claire. Be careful coming home.”

  “You too.”

  “Okay.” I hated hanging up with her, but the sooner I got to my sister’s the sooner I could get back home.

  When I got my sister’s house, I was surprised to see Ethan there as well, sitting right next to Abby with no one else in sight. “I thought I told you to stay away,” I said in a growl as I walked up to him.

  “No you told me to stay away from her pussy if I wasn’t ready to make her mine. We are just getting to know each other. So back off.”

  “Travis, please. We are just talking and nothing more,” Abby pleaded.

  I left them in there, and I walked into the kitchen where the masses were gathered.

  “You left them two alone in there?”

  “What’s the big deal, bro? He’s a nice guy, and they are just talking,” Tyler said as he stuffed his face with a massive sandwich.

  My dad clasped my shoulder and said, “Son, calm down. The boy already asked me for permission to talk to her. We’re all leaving tomorrow, including Abby, so we’ve got nothing to worry about.”

  “Fine, but he doesn’t like me for Claire, so I’m just a little skeptical.”

  “Very well son, we’ll keep an eye on her. We won’t be back until the wedding. If he’s still interested when we come back, we’ll deal with it then.”

  “Sure. So when’s your flight?” I asked.

  My mother answered, “Tomorrow morning.”

  “Do you need a ride?”

  “No we got one of those Airport shuttles coming,” she answered.

  “Okay.”

  I stayed for another hour as Ethan and Abby took a walk somewhere. I waited for them to come back. I called Ethan’s phone, but he didn’t answer. It was another ten minutes before they appeared soaked to the bone and laughing.

  “What the hell happened to you two?”

  “We fell into the river,” Abby answered with a giggle. Then she turned to Ethan and said, “Thanks, I had fun. Drive safe.”

  The look on his face was priceless. He was being dismissed by my sister and he didn’t care for it, but instead of fighting it he said goodbye to everyone and walked out. I heard him slam his truck door, and take off.

  I was going to ignore it. I had bigger issues to be concerned about I had to tell the O’Connell family that her ex-boyfriend played a role in the attack on her too. I wondered how many boyfriends she’d had. Jake and Everett make two.

  When I got back to the place Ethan was already there and supposedly in the shower. I was curious about what happened, but since it was Ethan not Abby that was upset, I really didn’t care.

  “Hey, did you give him a hard time about your sister?” Claire asked as she wrapped her arms around my waist and laid her head on my chest.

  �
��Not really. They both seemed to ignore me anyway. Why?”

  She tipped her head back to look at me. “He came back mad as hell.”

  “I think that’s between him and Abby. It looked like she dismissed him. Sorry, pixie, but I had nothing to do with it.”

  “Oh, okay,” she said dismissively then asked. “So how was your day?”

  “Very busy and productive,” I grinned.

  “So then you found out who started the fire?” she asked happily.

  “Yes, but I want to wait until all of you are here.”

  She called for her parents to come into the living room. Once they were sitting down. “Travis knows who did it!” she squealed. Just then her brother came into the room with a look of sadness across his face.

  “What’s up?” he said completely annoyed with the fact that he’d been called down from his shower.

  My smile was huge when I said, “The suspects are in custody and will be facing charges.”

  “Who are they?” Ethan asked before Claire could.

  “There were three. The two we already expected. Jane King and Rita Lowry. The other conspirator was Everett Meyer…”

  “No! That bastard!” she shouted. Then she nervously looked up at me.

  “Baby, I’m sorry. I know he was your ex-boyfriend.”

  “So what’s going to happen?” Richard asked.

  “They’ll be arraigned. If they plead not guilty, we’ll go to trial. If they do plead guilty, then it will be a few formalities before the sentencing phase.”

  “Did you get any confessions from them?” Claire asked.

  “Yes, Rita did confess and fingered the others as well.”

  “Well an accomplice’s word isn’t that good of a thing,” Richard added.

  “Technically they all gave up something, plus we have other evidence. So don’t worry about it. There is no way any of them are getting less than ten years for this.”

  “Ten, that’s it?” Claire asked angrily.

  “I said at least ten. They could get life after all the charges. It all depends on the judge and whether they get the book thrown at them.”

  “I’d like to throw more than a book at them,” Claire exclaimed.

  “I know, pixie. We all would,” I said as I hugged her tight.