by E. E. Borton
“Let me get this straight,” said Lewis, standing and walking to a window. “You were kidnapped, forced to watch two murders, and then struck a deal with Kate to get your son out of jail.”
“There’s more to it than that,” said Cassandra. “Kate told me she wanted Bullet and Eddie. She used me to lure them away from their gang and set up a fake meeting. Once I turned them over, I was supposed to go home and wait for you. Instead, she shot me with a Taser and took me with them. She started babbling about how I needed to see the way Emily died.”
“Jesus Christ,” said Lewis, rubbing his head. “They’ve gone too far.”
“You and I both know I had nothing to do with that,” said Cassandra, sensing an opportunity. “You knew it was Bullet and his brothers that took Emily. I’m sorry I told her it was them. I had to, or she was going to kill me and leave Mark in jail. I didn’t know what else to do.”
“The drugs and the gun were planted?” asked Lewis, sitting beside her. “Are you positive it was them?”
“Yes. Kate stole them from Bullet and followed Mark. When he went inside a bar, they somehow gained access to his trunk. He was pulled over later that night. He was set up, James. I swear to you, he was.”
“Okay,” said Lewis, giving her a ray of hope. “Give me a day to look into it. I don’t trust Kate, and I want her and her sidekicks out of my town. If I find out she did it, I’ll help you get your son released.”
“Oh dear God, thank you,” said Cassandra, hugging the sheriff. “Be careful going over there. They’re all a bunch of animals.”
“Go home,” said Lewis. “You need to get some rest. I don’t want you talking to anyone about this until you hear from me. If you do, I’ll have no choice but to arrest you for not reporting those murders. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
It was her first smile in five days. After providing the sheriff with more details about the murders, she felt a sense of relief while driving home. The only obstacle left was getting her hands on the recordings. Once she had them, she would be in control.
Chapter 49
Three Hots and a Cot
Judge Hall wasted no time getting to the sheriff’s office after he reached out to her. His news that Kate and her team were in custody took her by surprise. He didn’t want to give details over the phone and requested her presence so he could ask a favor. She was more than happy to oblige.
Sheriff Lewis saw a different woman walk into his office. It was the same person he had barely recognized in his driveway eight days earlier, but the version in front of him was rejuvenated and beaming. He smiled as she took a seat across from him.
“It’s been a crazy few days,” said Lewis, folding his hands on his desk. “We arrested Kate and three of her men this morning.”
“What are the charges?” asked Cassandra.
“For starters, three counts of murder, trafficking, and possession of stolen guns.”
“Three counts?”
“Yes,” said Lewis. “We found Brad Simmons. Bullet and Eddie recovered his body and took him to their mother’s home. They were preparing him for burial, but we were able to collect evidence off of him.”
“And Bullet and Eddie? Did you find them?”
“Parts,” said Lewis. “But enough to verify it was them. We obtained search warrants for Kate’s rental house and their boat after we found the bodies. Our techs discovered blood on the boat, on their clothes, in the house, and on a knife belonging to Kate. They tried to clean everything, but they failed miserably. They’re not the professionals we thought they were.”
“I’m impressed, James,” said Cassandra. “This is going to help your career in ways you never thought possible.”
“It gets even better for your son,” said Lewis. “We took samples from the drugs they found in Mark’s trunk and the drugs we found in Kate’s house. They have to run a few more tests, but they concluded that they were from the same batch. We also found four other guns that we determined were stolen from Bullet’s gun safe. I sent that information to the prosecutor. He’s drawing up the papers now to have your son released. He should be home no later than tomorrow morning.”
“Oh thank God,” said Cassandra, falling back into her chair. “I can’t begin to tell you what this past week has been like. I thought I was going to lose my mind.”
“I know,” said Lewis, shaking his head. “You looked like hell when you showed up at my place.”
“I felt like hell,” said Cassandra, exhaling. “This is such a relief, James. You have no idea.”
“We found a few other items in the house that aren’t related to the murders,” said Lewis, placing a small evidence bag on his desk, “but they were with the drugs, cash, and guns. I think they may have belonged to Bullet.”
It took all of her willpower not to grab the bag and run. As she calculated the risk in her head, he picked up the bag and handed it to her. In slow motion, she reached out and took it.
“They’re some kind of media cards,” said Lewis. “We took two of those out of digital recorders. The others were lying beside them. We have no idea what’s on them.”
“What do you mean?”
“One of Kate’s guys is some kind of computer whiz,” said Lewis. “My techs think he put a password on them. I was wondering if you could take them to your forensic techs in New Orleans. They’re better equipped to break the encryption. That’s the favor I needed.”
“Are these the only cards you found?” asked Cassandra.
“Yep,” said Lewis. “There was nothing on their computers and we tore that place apart inch by inch. If we find any more, I’ll pass them on to you.”
“Okay.”
“So you’ll help me out with those?” asked Lewis.
“It’s the least I can do,” said Cassandra, putting them in her purse. “Kate didn’t tell you what was on them?”
“She lawyered up as soon as we put the cuffs on her. They all did. They haven’t said a word since.”
“Now I have a favor to ask of you,” said Cassandra.
“Shoot.”
“Can I see her?”
“Kate?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t see why not,” said Lewis. “I’m just a little surprised you want to get that close to her. She shot you with a Taser and then threatened to kill you.”
“I know,” said Cassandra. “But I need closure on this. I need to look her in the eyes and tell her that she didn’t beat me. She needs to know that I’m stronger than she is. That lunatic tried to rip my family apart, blackmail me, and use me for her own sick agenda. She needs to know she didn’t win.”
“I completely understand,” said Lewis. “She used me as well. I’ll go get her and put her in our interview room.”
“No,” said Cassandra, knowing the interview room would be monitored. “I need to see her behind bars. I need to see her in a cage where she belongs.”
“They’re all in the same cage,” said Lewis. “We only have one holding cell here. They’re being transferred to county tomorrow. Are you sure you can handle that?”
“Oh, I’m sure.”
Sheriff Lewis escorted Judge Hall to the room which held the large cell. The space hadn’t been upgraded since it was built fifty years earlier. It reminded her of a jail in the old west. A steel door with a small window separated the room with the cell from the duty officer’s desk. She requested to go inside alone.
“Looks like a few things have changed since the last time we were all together,” said Cassandra, sitting on a bench outside of arm’s reach. “I like this set up better.”
“Nothing has changed,” said Kate, stepping up to the bars. “We’ll be out by the end of the week. I have the best lawyers money can buy. When they get us out, you’ll be going in.”
“Humor me,” said Cassandra, leaning back and crossing her legs. “How exactly are you going to do that?”
“You’re an arrogant little witch,” said Chief, glaring at her from his
seat.
“You already know,” said Kate. “Once the media gets ahold of those recordings, it’ll wipe that smug look off of your face.”
“Oh,” said Cassandra, reaching into her purse and pulling out the evidence bag. “You mean these recordings?”
A smile crept across Cassandra’s face as the sound of Kate slamming her hands against the bars echoed in the room. She returned the bag to her purse and then folded her arms. She could see the white knuckles as Kate squeezed.
“Evan,” said Kate, turning to face him. “We told you to get them out of the house.”
“I was going to take them and make copies today,” said Evan, lowering his head. “I didn’t think they’d be kicking in our door last night. I’m sorry, Kate. I know I screwed up.”
“Yes, you did,” said Cassandra. “And for that, I thank you.”
“Good luck getting through those passwords,” said Chief. “The kid has the codes in his head. As soon as we’re out, he’ll give them up to whoever needs them.”
“To think I was actually afraid of you,” said Cassandra, laughing. “He’s not the only idiot in your little group. I’ll be replacing these with blank cards as soon as I leave.”
“You’re not going to get away with this,” said Grey. “We’ll find a way. We always do.”
“I doubt that,” said Cassandra. “I witnessed you murder two men after you kidnapped me. You were busted with half a pound of heroin and cocaine. You’re never getting out. I’ll make sure of that. Just to remind you, I’m a federal judge for the district where you committed all of your crimes.”
“What about Emily?” asked Kate.
“What? What are you talking about?”
“You promised me that you would turn yourself in,” said Kate. “You said that you’d tell the police what you and Mark did to Emily.”
“Are you really that stupid?” asked Cassandra.
“You said that you were sorry about what you did to her,” said Kate. “Are you, Cassandra? Are you truly sorry, or did you just tell me that because you thought it would save your neck?”
“Are you kidding me right now?”
“I’m being dead serious,” said Kate. “You won. You outsmarted me. I’m looking at the death penalty for the things I did. You were right about Miami. I killed a man there too. He murdered my son and took my husband from me, and I killed him. They’ll find out about that as well. My life is over, Cassandra.”
“It is.”
“I can’t hurt you anymore,” said Kate. “Mother to mother, tell me the truth. Are you sorry for what you did to Emily?”
“No,” said Cassandra, standing and taking a step closer to Kate. “I’m not sorry for anything that I did to her. All of that crying and begging you heard was me making you soft. I couldn’t care less about that little bitch or her mother. She wanted to ruin me, just like you did. I beat her and I beat you. You’re the one that’s sorry.”
“Thank you for being honest with me,” said Kate. “With that being said, I’ll give you one last chance.”
“You are truly delusional,” said Cassandra, laughing. “You’re going to die in prison and you’re giving me one last chance? Okay, I’ve got to hear this.”
“Walk back into the sheriff’s office and tell him everything,” said Kate. “Tell him about how your son raped Emily and that you covered it up to avoid embarrassment. Tell him that you paid Bullet to destroy her life and then kill her. If you do that, then I won’t kill you. I’ll leave you alone, and all of this will finally be over for everyone.”
“That’s it?” said Cassandra, grinning. “That’s all I have to do?”
“That’s it,” said Kate.
“Well, let me think about it. In the meantime, hold your breath.”
“It’s all about choices,” said Chief. “Remember that you made it, not us.”
“I’m not sure what rock you people crawled out from under, but it’s already over for everyone except you,” said Cassandra. “It’s just the beginning and it’s going to be one long, painful, miserable road for the rest of your short lives. You fucked with the wrong woman.”
“Not from where I’m sitting,” said Chief.
“This has been great and I’d like to thank you for the stimulating conversation, but I’m going home now,” said Cassandra. “I’m going to walk out of here, drive home, pour a glass of wine, and take a hot bath. All things none of you will ever do again.”
Judge Hall knocked on the door. Sheriff Lewis escorted her to her car and then returned to the holding cell. He sat down and rubbed his face with his hands.
“Well, she didn’t confess anything to me,” said Lewis.
“We figured it was a long shot,” said Chief, stretching his back, “but we had to try.”
“She wasn’t sorry,” said Kate, sitting beside Chief. “Even knowing that she would never have to answer to anyone about what she did, she wasn’t sorry.”
“Sweetheart,” said Chief, “people like that are never sorry about anything until they get caught. Then they’re just sorry they got caught. Don’t dwell on it too much. Just be glad we’re not built like them.”
“I won’t be sorry either, Chief,” said Kate, looking down at the floor. “For what happens next, I won’t be sorry at all. Doesn’t that make me one of them?”
“It doesn’t,” said Chief, patting her leg. “It just makes you one of us.”
Kate put her hand on top of Chief’s. She shook her head in silence and thought about Emily. She thought about the innocent kiss that set into motion a series of events that put her in front of Judge Hall and them in a jail cell.
“You really should think about sprucing up this place, sheriff.” said Chief, looking around. “Maybe a fresh coat of paint or a mini bar.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” said Lewis, chuckling.
“How’s the food in this joint?” asked Evan. “I’m starving.”
“It’s about as good as the cushions on that seat,” said Lewis.
“Sounds delicious,” said Chief. “I’m buying.”
Chapter 50
Raising the Dead
Judge Hall awoke refreshed and exhilarated knowing that her ordeal was over. After pouring a cup of coffee, she sat at her desk and opened a notebook. She started by making a list of names of people that could hurt her. One by one, they were being crossed off. She smiled thinking that Kate did most of the work for her.
Beside the names that remained, she wrote down possible scenarios. Kate and her team could do little to influence the judiciary commission and have her removed from the bench. Lewis was a smalltown sheriff and no longer had the evidence to connect her to Bullet or Emily.
Brittany, Tyler, Greg, and her son were the only names left that could inflict damage. Mark and Greg would be easy enough to control. Brittany and Tyler were the two names that caused her slight concern. Once Mark was released from jail, she would pay a visit to both of them. She was convinced that a reminder that everyone who had crossed her was either dead or in jail would keep them quiet.
When all of the bases were covered, she ripped the pages out of her notebook and fed them to a shredder. Her first phone call of the day came from Sheriff Lewis. He asked if she would be home later in the evening. He told her his officers found another media card with the same encryption. He would bring it to her after he finished for the day. She commended him on being thorough and said she looked forward to his visit.
Her second phone call came from investigative reporter Marilyn Crawford of WGNO News. Judge Hall was familiar with her work, but had never spoken with her prior to her call. Coming from a small online magazine in Indiana, Marilyn was looking for her first big story.
Judge Hall was hesitant to comment at first, but Marilyn put her mind at ease by calling her story heroic. She said she spoke with Sheriff Lewis earlier in the day and confirmed his statements with the prosecutor. It would be the first segment of a series that would air as the lead story on the evening broadcast.
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As the hours passed, Judge Hall expected a third call to come from the prosecutor informing her of Mark’s release. There was little concern when her phone didn’t ring. She was more interested in becoming a hero on the six o’clock news. She convinced herself one more night in jail might do him some good. She poured a glass of wine and settled in the den. As she was waiting for the start of the broadcast, the doorbell rang.
“Good evening, Your Honor,” said Lewis, taking off his hat. “Traffic was a mess. I apologize for the late hour.”
“No apology needed,” said Cassandra. “I was just waiting on the news. Why didn’t you tell me they were running a story on me?”
“Oh crap,” said Lewis. “I was going to tell you when I got here. I swear, she told me they were doing it tomorrow. Are you sure it’s tonight?”
“Yes,” said Cassandra, smiling. “Don’t worry about it. I know you’ve had a lot on your plate lately.”
“That’s an understatement,” said Lewis. “Okay, I’ll fill you in on everything.”
They had time before the story aired. Judge Hall walked him into her study after offering him a glass of wine. He declined and pulled a tablet out of his briefcase. After a few swipes on the screen, he placed it on her desk.
“What’s that?” asked Cassandra.
“A video,” said Lewis. “There are a few things you need to know before I show it to you.”
“Okay,” said Cassandra, sensing a change in his demeanor.
“The media cards I gave you are blank copies,” said Lewis. “I have the originals and there was no encryption. I heard every word of every meeting between you and Bullet. That includes the day you told him I was going to be alone at my cabin. You said it would be the perfect opportunity to kill me. You even gave him my home address and my wife’s schedule in case I survived.”
“James I –”
“Shut up, Cassandra,” said Lewis, reaching for the tablet. “This is from Emily.”