Suffer II

by E. E. Borton

  “That’s impossible!” said Greg. “It was everywhere!”

  “Take him outside,” said Lewis. “I need to apologize to these ladies for bringing this idiot into their home.”

  Lewis watched as the door closed behind Greg. He stood for a moment before taking a deep breath. He turned and made his way to the couch.

  An hour earlier, he was in his office watching a computer screen. It was a live video feed from the basement. The link was sent in an email from Kate letting him know that the murder would be staged, but the confession would be real.

  “I can’t help but feel responsible for this,” said Lewis, deflating. “If I would’ve listened to Emily instead of everyone else, she’d be alive today. She’d be at school right now enjoying her life and dreaming about a very bright future.”

  “I’m sorry we had to do it that way,” said Kate, taking a seat across from him. “But absolute fear brings out absolute truth.”

  “That was very creative,” said Lewis. “Very convincing. I know that video will never make it to court, but I wish it could.”

  “We have to be surer than the courts,” said Kate. “This is just the beginning of everything that’s about to become unraveled. We’ve already made arrangements to get your family somewhere safe and out of Boudreaux. You can go with them, Sheriff.”

  “No,” said Lewis, shaking his head. “I’m seeing this thing through to the end. I need to see this through. I owe it to that family.”

  “This isn’t your fault, Sheriff,” said Kate. “Don’t beat yourself up. You were a pawn being used by a powerful and manipulative federal judge.”

  “No, I was a jackass who was more concerned about self-preservation than justice. That ends today. What do you need me to do?”

  “For the moment, nothing,” said Kate. “The less involved and the less you know, the better. Eventually we’ll be gone. You and your family will still be here.”

  “Me doing nothing is what caused this,” said Lewis.

  “I said for the moment, Sheriff. Judge Hall is going to come to you and demand that you at least run us out of town. When that doesn’t happen, you’re no longer an asset to her.”

  “Is that why you’re moving my family?” asked Lewis. “You think she’ll go after them to get me to play ball?”

  “I don’t know that for sure, but we’re not going to take that chance,” said Kate. “I won’t go into detail, but that’s how the man who tried to kill me got so close. He would take someone that you love and force you to do his bidding. My doctor was seconds away from killing me while I was in a coma because his wife was kidnapped. My guys stopped him, but it was too late to help his wife.”

  “He killed her?”

  “Yes,” said Kate. “That’s why we’re eliminating that as a possibility here as much as we can.”

  “What’s Judge Hall’s next move?”

  “She’ll be in your office bright and early tomorrow morning, if not sooner. When you don’t respond to her threats, she may try to go over your head. But more than likely she’ll turn to her other assets. The same assets she used to terrorize and kill Emily.”

  “Do you know who they are?”

  “We have a very good idea, but we need to be sure. We have some of them under surveillance now. If there’s any indication that they’re coming after you, we’ll take care of it.”

  “You’re not going to tell me who they are,” said Lewis.

  “Correct.”

  “I’m okay with that. It looks like you guys have everything under control.”

  “We’ve learned from our mistakes,” said Kate.

  “I plan on doing the same,” said Lewis, handing Kate a USB key. “These are the photos from the party that Brittany Greene sent me. I’m sure there’s more out there, but this is all I have that wasn’t destroyed. I hope it helps.”

  “It will,” said Kate. “We’ll find the others.”

  “Okay, then,” said Lewis, standing. “If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

  “I want you to take those,” said Kate, pointing at copies of the journals on the coffee table. “They’re Emily’s words.”

  A few minutes after the sheriff left, the men returned to the house. Kate and Abby were sitting at the console looking at the photos. They turned the screen when the men came inside.

  “Is Dawson with you?” asked Abby.

  “No,” said Grey. “He knows not to come here until we call him.”

  “Good,” said Kate. “Seeing these would kill him.”

  They walked to the console and stood over Kate and Abby’s shoulders. They were all uncomfortable looking at the moment Emily’s fate was sealed. Anger followed.

  “That sick asshole is smiling,” said Evan.

  “I hate to admit it,” said Chief, “but I’d be hard pressed to file charges based on that photo as well. It doesn’t look like she’s being assaulted.”

  “No, it doesn’t,” said Grey. “Brittany knew what she was doing.”

  “We need to get our hands on all of the photos that were taken that night,” said Kate.

  “I haven’t found anything on their laptops or phones yet,” said Evan. “They probably have them stored on a separate drive, but I’ll keep looking.”

  “Nice work with the sheriff, Kate,” said Grey. “We’re going to need his help down the road, but right now we just need him to look the other way.”

  “He looked so sad,” said Abby.

  “I know how he feels,” said Chief, putting his hand on Abby’s shoulder. “I’ve had that same look on my face many, many times. You feel like you let everyone down because you couldn’t put it all together in time. When you do figure it out, sometimes it’s just too late. The harder part is pushing it all to the side and focusing on the next case. It’s the reason why I love my new job with you guys.”

  “Why’s that, Chief?” asked Evan.

  “Because we don’t push things to the side and move on,” said Chief. “Those turds are out there thinking they got away with rape and murder. They think the only person who cares about what happened to Emily is her mother. Ms. Karla isn’t much of a thorn in their sides. We will be.”

  Chapter 31

  Your Honor

  Other than the dispatcher down the hall, the sheriff’s office was empty. He put on a pot of coffee and let her know he’d be in the building late into the evening. Sitting at his desk, he opened the first binder. Taped to the inside cover was a photo of Emily with her parents two months before her father died. He whispered an apology and made a silent promise as he turned the page.

  When he heard voices outside of his office, he looked up at his clock. Any doubt he had about why Kate was in his town disappeared. As did any doubt of her resolve. His was strengthened when he heard the knock on his door. He smiled, shook his head, and stood as Judge Hall stepped inside.

  “I take it you’re not surprised to see me,” said Cassandra.

  “No, ma’am,” said Lewis. “I had a feeling I’d get a visit from you this morning.”

  “You look tired, James,” said Cassandra, taking a seat.

  “It was a long night.”

  “I bet. Tell me what happened.”

  “Greg came into my office last night babbling about being kidnapped and witnessing the murder of a young woman he met in a bar. I went to the house where the alleged crimes took place and found the young woman very much alive and well. It seems the only crime committed was Greg stalking that girl and embarrassing me.”

  “I think there’s a little more to it than that,” said Cassandra. “I spoke to Greg last night and again this morning. He’s scared to death that those people are going to come after him. He’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he wouldn’t make up a story like that without there being some truth to it.”

  “If there was any truth to his story, I didn’t find enough evidence to support it or make an arrest,” said Lewis. “I’m doing him a favor by letting it go.”

 
“Well, James, you’re not doing me any favors by letting it go,” said Cassandra. “This isn’t the first time they’ve harassed one of our citizens. Did you know that those same two women showed up at Brittany Greene’s home a few weeks ago asking about Emily Pierce?”

  “I was not aware.”

  “You’re also not surprised,” said Cassandra. “You know who they are and why they’re here. So do I.”

  “I know her name is Kate Freeman and that she’s here to look for Emily,” said Lewis. “That’s about all I know.”

  “She’s not alone,” said Cassandra. “You know that, right?”

  “I do. I believe the other woman at the house last night was her sister.”

  “She is, but she also brought an ex-FBI agent and a retired police chief with her. There’s another man named Evan Royal who incidentally owns a special effects company. Sounds like a group capable of staging a murder and coercing a false confession. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  “I’ll be right back,” said Lewis, standing.

  “What?” asked Cassandra. “Where are you going?”

  “To brush my teeth and splash a little water on my face,” said Lewis, leaving the room.

  Cassandra’s eyes were drawn to the binders sitting on his desk. The sheriff made no attempt to conceal them from her. She hesitated for a brief moment before picking them up. The photograph inside enraged her.

  “That’s feels much better,” said Lewis, returning to his desk. “I got to the last page of those a few minutes before you arrived.”

  “Where did you get these?” asked Cassandra, talking through clenched teeth.

  “Does it matter?”

  “It does,” said Cassandra, sitting up straight in her chair and regaining her composure. “This evidence should have been destroyed. The fact that you possess them is in direct violation of the order to expunge. This is very serious, James.”

  “They were never submitted as evidence, Judge” said Lewis. “They were given to me last night.”

  “By whom?”

  “The same people who got Greg to confess that Brittany drugged Emily and that your son raped her.”

  “You have no idea what’s happening here, do you?”

  “I have a pretty good idea” said Lewis. “I witnessed Greg’s confession last night. The only problem for us is that it wasn’t coerced. I’ve been in this business long enough to know when someone is lying. He wasn’t.”

  “You’re smarter than this,” said Cassandra. “I find it hard to believe that you can’t see the reason why Kate and her associates are here in Boudreaux.”

  “They’re here to find the truth about what happened to Emily,” said Lewis. “They’re here to help Karla find her daughter. I don’t have a problem with that.”

  “You will,” said Cassandra. “They’ll make it your problem.”

  “How’s that?”

  “Kate Freeman is a very sick woman and she needs help. Help that we’re going to get for her.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I did what you should’ve done the moment she walked into your office with Karla,” said Cassandra.

  “How did you know about that?”

  “Does it matter? What does matter is that she’s a very manipulative and dangerous woman. I’m sure you’re aware of what happened to her in Miami last year.”

  “I am.”

  “Then let me ask you a question.”

  “Okay.”

  “If you were tied to a bed, stabbed repeatedly, and forced to watch a man murder your child, what would you do after? I need you to answer me.”

  “I’d hunt him down to the ends of the earth and slaughter him and whoever had anything to do with it,” said Lewis.

  “Exactly,” said Cassandra. “But Kate isn’t out there hunting him down. She’s here in Boudreaux. Why? Why isn’t she back in Florida doing whatever she can to help police find her son’s killer? There’s only one answer, James. He’s already dead.”

  “You think she’s responsible for that?” asked Lewis.

  “I cashed in a favor and was able to speak to the lead investigators on her case. They told me it was still open, but they had been reassigned. As far as they know, nobody in their office is working on it. They said it might have been bumped up to the FBI, but my contact in the Miami field office says it wasn’t. I cashed in another favor, and the assistant district attorney is going to do a little more digging for me. I have a strong feeling she’ll be answering some tough questions very soon.”

  “That’s one hell of a conspiracy theory,” said Lewis. “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Because you need to be careful about where you hitch your wagon,” said Cassandra. “It won’t look good for you when it’s discovered that misguided vigilantes being led by a mentally unstable woman are running around your parish with your blessing.”

  “It’s not uncommon for victims to become advocates and help other victims,” said Lewis. “She didn’t have any control over what happened to her. I think helping Karla find Emily is how she’s dealing with the loss of her son.”

  “You barely know this woman, and you’re willing to risk your reputation, re-election, or worse, for her? You need to help me understand why.”

  “You’re holding the reasons why,” said Lewis, pointing at the journals. “My gut tells me I made a terrible mistake by ignoring Emily. A mistake that probably cost that poor girl her life.”

  “What are you saying, James? You’re not seriously thinking of opening an investigation, are you?”

  “No.”

  “Good,” said Cassandra. “Because that would be an even bigger mistake.”

  “That sounds a little bit like a threat, Your Honor.”

  “Stop it, James. It isn’t a threat. Karla has convinced this woman that her squeaky clean daughter has gone missing for no apparent reason. We both know differently. It’s tragic and sad that Emily ended up addicted to heroin and throwing her life away, but it happens. That would be difficult for any parent to accept, but this needs to stop. Kate Freeman and her hired thugs need to go home.”

  “You want me to run them out of town?” asked Lewis. “That’s a bit archaic.”

  “So is threatening to kill someone if they don’t confess to doing something they didn’t do,” said Cassandra.

  “I’m not convinced anymore that Emily voluntarily used cocaine and wanted to have sex with Greg and Mark,” said Lewis. “After you read those journals, it’ll be hard to disagree with me.”

  “We’ve gone over this time and time again, James. I agree that Mark and Greg did something incredibly stupid, but they didn’t rape that girl. You know that Emily was out of control. You arrested her several times for possession and prostitution. She was a mess and put her mother through hell and obviously still is.

  “I’m sorry all of this happened to her, but she brought it on herself. I know that sounds harsh, but it’s the truth. She made those decisions and suffered the consequences. There’s nothing more to it than that. Everyone has moved on with their lives that she tried to destroy. Don’t let her ruin yours now.”

  “Karla hasn’t moved on,” said Lewis. “She deserves to know what happened to her child. I plan on making sure that happens.”

  “We’re talking in circles now,” said Cassandra, standing. “If you’re not willing to protect the people of Boudreaux, I will.”

  “You know what? I am tired,” said Lewis.

  “I can tell,” said Cassandra. “You’re not yourself right now. Take the rest of the day off, James. Go get some sleep and give me a call tomorrow. We’ll work through all of this.”

  “You need to know something before you leave, Judge. I’m not tired because I haven’t slept. I’m tired of trying to convince myself that Brittany didn’t drug Emily and that Mark didn’t rape her. You and I both know he did, but I hid behind the law instead of enforcing it.”

  “You need to be very careful right now with what you’re saying,” said Cassandr
a, taking a step closer to him. “I’ll bring your world crashing down on your head if you reopen this wound. You have no idea what a mother will do to protect her child.”

  “I really don’t care, Cassandra.”

  “You’ll address me as Your Honor. Or have you forgotten that I’m a federal judge?”

  “I suspect not for long,” said Lewis. “Just like I suspect I won’t be sheriff for long. I know you covered up a crime to save yourself and your son, and I stood by and did nothing. My gut tells me you’re somehow responsible for Emily’s addiction and her death, but I don’t know how you did it. I don’t have a shred of evidence, and you made sure there wouldn’t be any to find.”

  “You’re right,” said Cassandra, smiling. “You won’t be sheriff for long, and there is no evidence to find. I’m not sure how all of this is going to help you sleep better tonight, but I really don’t care either. Just remember it was your decision to end your career in disgrace, not mine.”

  “You’re wrong, Cassandra. I’ll sleep like a baby tonight. You’re a powerful and very dangerous woman, but I believe you’ve met your match. Kate’s not leaving this town until she finds the answers to questions I didn’t ask. I’m not afraid of you and neither is she.”

  “Well see about that, James.”

  Chapter 32

  Prick

  (May 22nd, 2013)

  Bullet was having the time of his life while destroying Emily’s. Judge Hall kept her end of the bargain, and his business was booming in his new home on the outskirts of town. It was part of his incentive to be creative and relentless.

  As long as he followed her instructions and produced results, Judge Hall kept him invisible to police. She told the sheriff the property was owned by the state and was being used in a year-long sting operation by the DEA. She said Bullet was the bait they were using to catch bigger fish. He was told to steer clear of the house and assist from a safe distance in the ongoing federal investigation.

  Planting heroin in Emily’s backpack was easy enough. After rumors of drug use and promiscuity were verified by her best friends behind her back, it was less of a shock when she was arrested at school for possession. Her pleading to police and school officials that it wasn’t hers was a story they had heard many times from closet addicts. She was suspended pending the outcome of the charges. Her applications for college scholarships on behalf of the school were revoked.