Pledging to Die (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 11)
Page 41
Callen pulled out two more pictures. It was of the two agents dressed in their official work attire, standing in front of the FBI emblem.
“Oh, shit!”
Callen knew the man got it.
He was three days past screwed, right into boned. He was going to be some inmate’s prison bitch.
“Feds?”
Callen nodded. It was obvious that Sutton had been knocked out before Arman got it out of Broderick.
“I didn't touch them. I really didn't.”
Callen stared across the table and into his eyes. “I’m aware, or you’d have Elizabeth Blackhawk in here riding your ass. You got me because I’m a lot calmer.”
The man nodded.
“Now, are you one hundred percent sure that there was no one else joining in? We don’t want any surprises when we search your frat.”
Sutton shook his head. “I swear! Arman didn't like to share the women. Last year, it got out of hand.”
Callen paused. “Last year?”
That made him want to be sick.
Sutton nodded. “Arman started this game his freshman year. There was a similar one before he got here. This isn’t new to Beta Phi Ti. In the last two years, we initiated two new guys. Garrick Tran just came on, and Arman’s pet, Nels, is relatively new too.”
Callen made notes.
If there were more men, maybe this wasn’t someone using the frat as cover, but trying to hurt them. After all, they’d made them look guilty as sin.
“Have you seen any of the graduated brothers around the parties?”
He shook his head. “No, I didn't. The old members rarely return. They move on.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded.
Suddenly, the tears came. “I swear.”
Sutton began bawling like a baby as he rested his head on the table. “I’m so screwed. How did this happen?” he mumbled.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it had something to do with drugging and raping women. You really couldn’t have believed this was going to end well, Mr. Pontiac. You had to be aware.”
“I never thought…”
He sobbed harder.
There was no sympathy. These boys screwed up, and in a huge way.
Down the hall, Elizabeth and Ethan were behind the one way glass, staring at the man who was going to try and weasel his way out of this shitload of trouble.
He was sitting there with his father, and they were attempting to look intimidating. The man was whispering, giving his son pointers, and the idiot boy was staring at him like he was a god among men.
If anything, it was laughable.
“If our kids ever get into trouble, Ethan, I need you to promise me that you’re not going to pull the ‘Director of the FBI’ card and make some cop’s life miserable.”
He laughed.
“Ethan!”
“What? They’re my kids. I went to jail for my brother. If you think I won’t do just about anything for our children, then you’re crazy.”
She gave him the look. “We’re screwed.”
“So let’s have more and throw it all into the game.”
Closing her mouth, Elizabeth pointed at the door. There was no point arguing the baby card. She was standing her ground. “Come on, Cowboy. Let’s go break him.”
Together, they headed in.
Once inside, she made the introductions. “Mr. Smithfield, I’m Director Elizabeth Whitefox-Blackhawk, and this is Director Ethan Blackhawk. We’re the lead investigators on your son’s case.”
The man didn't look impressed. “You can release him right now. We’re going home.”
When he stood, Elizabeth pointed at the chairs. “Sit a spell, Judge. We’re just starting this conversation, and by the end, your son is leaving, but to prison—not home. His freedom days are long gone. He’s made sure of that.”
Arman glanced nervously at his dad.
“Don’t worry, Arman. Say nothing to them, and you’ll be leaving to come home with me. Trust your dad.”
She laughed. “Yeah, you’re delusional. Your son is up for two counts of physical assault on Federal agents, attempted homicide, multiple counts of rape, abduction, and a few other zingers I’ve thrown in there to sweeten the pot. By our count, he’s doing life, if not getting the chair. He’s an adult, and he’s going to do the time.”
“What? He’s not going to jail.”
It sounded like the judge actually believed that.
It was laughable.
Ethan crossed his arms. “On top of all that, he also drugged women and that made them helpless to defend themselves against a serial killer. We’re tagging him with accessory.”
The judge arrogantly began laughing. “You’re going to have a damn hard time proving that in court,” he stated. “I know, because I’m going to make sure that this case is tried here. My son won’t do jail time. I can guarantee it.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “See, that’s the problem. I’m betting all his life you’ve sheltered him, letting Arman do whatever he wanted, and now it’s haunting him. We’re not talking about stealing a car for a joyride,” she stated, knowing that was Ethan and Callen’s favorite past time as kids. “We’re talking about rape, accessory to murder, assault, and taking women against their will.”
“They wanted it!” Arman blurted. “I didn't force anyone. If anything, I made it so much better.”
Immediately, the judge hushed him.
“My son is going home. When you bring him in front of the magistrate, I’ll get him remanded into my custody.”
“Oh, and I’m sure he’ll be on a plane to some third world kingdom you’ve set up. Yeah, sorry, but that’s not happening.”
“What proof do you have?” Judge Smithfield asked. “You seem so sure of yourself, and no offense, but I’ve seen lesser women cave in my courtroom.”
She laughed. “Oh, is that supposed to scare me? Do you think I’m afraid of some arrogant district court judge who raised a rapist? You’re out of your mind. I eat lowlifes like you and your son for breakfast.”
She pulled out her tablet and hit play. “Feel free to sample our audio evidence.”
As it played, Arman’s eyes got big, and he began shaking in his chair.
“Oh look. They used their names. It’s funny. Arman, Nels, Sutton, Hervey, and Garrick are so uncommon. I’m betting a real judge would believe that’s you, but in case you try that route, let me advise you that he’s been read his rights, and this interrogation is being recorded. We’ll compare voices for the big day.”
It wiped some of the smarminess off the judge’s face.
Elizabeth could see the worry as the recording continued. Before long, they were at her favorite part.
“That’s where he admits to drugging women as he’s injecting my agent with a near lethal dose of Xanax. Hear that, Arman? That’s her begging you not to do it. That’s also her weeping because your goons are beating on her partner.”
The man’s eyes filled with tears, but for all the wrong reasons. He was scared, and not because he’d been wrong, but because he was caught.
What a jackwagon.
The judge listened. “Really, if I got this in my court, I’d likely toss it out. You’ll need a little more. I’m sure the band of lawyers I’m hiring will advise these boys properly.”
She laughed.
“Callen, come in,” she said, pointing at the one way glass. She could feel his eyes on her, and she knew he was done with his investigation.
When the door opened, he strolled in with a cup of coffee. “It’s done.”
“What’s this?” the judge asked. “Did you round up all the Indians in the area for a cop convention?”
Elizabeth smiled, ignoring the use of the word. While she hated it, she loved that the man’s son was three days past screwed. There was no way he was getting out of this one.
“Actually, this is Director Callen Whitefox. He was just interviewing one of the fellow frat boys. Weren’t you?”
Elizabeth grinned. “You might want to keep those attorney’s for this genius. He’s dug himself one hell of a grave, and now he’s going to lie in it. You know…when he gets the chair.”
Arman began sobbing.
“I’ll use all my pull to get this thrown out,” Judge Smithfield stated.
Elizabeth suspected as much. Pulling out her phone, she hit dial. When Gabe answered the phone, she told him what was going on in the room.
“Judge Smithfield is very sure that he can get his son off by throwing his weight around,” she began. “What do we have to counter that?”
Gabe wanted to prove to his team that he’d always have their backs. “Your honor, let me say what a privilege it’s going to be to break your balls on this one. I’ve already made calls to the prosecutor’s office, and this trial is being moved. Your son, and his buddies, will get a fair trial, but far from where you’re working. Plus, because we’re so awesome and kind, I suggested that maybe all your cases should be up for judicial review. I hope you’ve lived your job above the law because if not, you’re going down too. If we even smell bribes, your face will be on the news. You can kiss your son, and your career, goodbye.”
The man went red.
“Thanks, Director Rothschild.”
“No problem. You know how we at the FBI love to make sure the job is done to the letter of the law. My boss, the President of the United States, insists on it.”
She disconnected the call.
“Anything you’d like to add? Any more veiled threats to me or anyone else you’d like to blame for your son’s disgusting behavior? Where I sit, he’s a scumbag, but bad kids are created, not born. You carry some of this.”
“Dad, please,” Arman said.
“We’d like our attorney now.”
She grinned ferally. “Absolutely. We’ll send him right in. We wouldn’t want to violate your son’s rights, like he did to all those women. That wouldn’t be fair, now would it?”
With that, they all stood.
There were sobs, begging, and pleading from the frat boy as they left. Outside, they regrouped.
“Please tell me you got them all to testify against him,” she said, hoping that wasn’t just total bullshit. Deep down, Elizabeth knew that the judge would do anything to get his son off. It was a parent thing—she guessed. If it was her, she’d kill her boys for doing something so vile.
“I managed to get Garrick, Sutton, and Hervey to spill it all in the hopes of not going to the chair. Nels Lucas won’t talk. He stated that his brothers wouldn’t betray him.”
“There’s that fraternity mentality of ‘bros before hoes’,” she stated. “That’ll get him the chair for sure.”
“One can only hope,” stated Callen. “If my son did this, I’d be pissed.”
“Well, at least one of you has common sense,” stated Elizabeth. “Ethan would try and get him off.”
Callen laughed. “Oh, I wouldn’t let him go to jail, but when I got him off, I’d kick his ass.”
She stared at him as they fist bumped.
“Seriously? You too, Cal? Are you both completely insane? We’re the FBI.”
The men laughed.
They loved riling her up.
There was no reason to even go there, because they knew she was a damn good mother, and Elizabeth would kick her sons’ asses if they crossed that line.
“What do you want to do now?” Ethan asked, glancing down at his watch. “We have to give the tech team a little time to work, and our job here is pretty much done. We’ve scared the shit out of the frat boys.”
“Let’s head back to the apartment. I have the overwhelming need to call our children to forbid them from joining a fraternity or sorority when they are older.”
They were good with that.
“By the way, Lyzee, were you in a sorority?” Callen asked, wiggling his eyebrows lecherously.
“Yeah, I’m not discussing this with either of you! If I go there, you’ll get all ‘Chester the Molester’ on me.”
“That’s very judgmental,” Ethan stated. “We’re hurt by your words.”
Callen laughed.
“Uh, recall the whole cheerleader thing? It took a while for you sex fiends to let it go.”
“That means yes,” Ethan stated. “It looks like we’ll be doing some research.”
“The both of you are out of control.”
They were well aware, but she really didn't mind. There was a grin on her face, and a sparkle in her icy blue eyes.
She was amused.
That was more than enough for them.
Back at the apartment, they all changed out of their work attire and parked it on the couch. It had been days since they’d seen their kids, and a week was too long.
While they tried to keep in touch daily, it wasn’t always easy. When out in the field, they didn't always have the time or the luxury. Often, when they were done working, the kids were already in bed. One thing was for sure, Wyler would kill them if they made him wake them. So, they went without seeing their tribe.
It wasn’t easy.
Ethan’s heart ached when he couldn’t see CJ or Charlie. They were his little ones, and they touched his soul. He and Elizabeth had made something amazing.
When Callen got to see his children, he was happy, but there was still a hole in his heart. Looking at Cat, he was filled with love, but something was missing.
Every day, she looked more and more like her mother, and he didn't mean Elizabeth. Her eyes were eerily similar to Desdemona’s, and each time he looked in them, he felt off balance. Was he a bad person for regretting his time with Cat’s mother?
Even if that part of his past brought her into his life?
While he’d never say it out loud, he did feel it, and that ate away at him. He loved his daughter, but he wanted more. Callen really needed to have one more child, hopefully a girl, with Elizabeth.
He wanted one of his daughters to look like the woman he loved. Already, he could see that Charlie was going to be the spitting image of her. She had the tiny tipped up nose, and her eyes weren’t changing. They were that piercing blue that he once thought only models had.
He wanted more.
And he didn't know how to tell her.
“Cal?” she asked, touching his arm as he sat in silence on the couch. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I was just thinking.”
Elizabeth stared at him, not sure she believed a word he was saying, but it didn't seem like the time to have the conversation. Since he’d begun therapy, Callen liked some privacy. When he was ready, he’d come and talk to her.
She was sure.
As they pinged the tablet, the one they’d left at home, the threesome waited in eager anticipation. When the screen cleared, the house was filled with pandemonium. They had three kids running around, two large German Shepherds, and a baby.
Oddly, Wyler was grinning like a madman.
Maybe he was losing his mind.
“Hey!” he said, holding Charlie in his arms. She was sucking on her fingers and being pretty well behaved.
“Uh, is the tribe trying to overthrow the chief?” Ethan asked, as his son slid across the room on a desk chair. Then there was a thump.
“Well, that depends. I locked the office, but unfortunately, two of your children jimmied the lock with a butter knife.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “We’re screwed.”
Wyler laughed.
“Why did he have a butter knife?” Callen asked. “We moved all the silverware.”
“He stole it out of Cindy’s lunch bag.”
Again, Elizabeth simply shook her head. She gave both men the ‘I told you so’ look.
“What about Cat?” asked Ca
llen.
“She’s following them around tattling. She likes to rat out her brothers. Charlie is an angel.”
Elizabeth snorted. “Of course she is. She’s like me. Look at those two maniacs. I think EJ was just riding one of the dogs.”
“They race them.”
She slapped herself in the forehead. “When we’re home, they’re not this wild.”
“When Mom and Dads are away, Granddad lets them play. That’s the rules. I think I should carve that into a sign.”
There was a crash.
And then laughter.
“Dad, you have to rein that in. If you let them run around like this, they’re going to get hurt,” Elizabeth said.
CJ appeared holding car keys. “Ride?” he said.
“Say hi to momma and dads,” Wyler stated.
That had the boy’s attention. “I love you!” he said, grinning.
“I love you…” she began, only to notice something. “Wait! Where are his front teeth?” she asked. “Why are they gone?”
He pointed at EJ not far away. He was leaning against the wall with a devious grin on his face.
“Your sons were wrestling, and they got knocked out. Don’t worry. I took him to the dentist, and they said it happens. I told him the tooth fairy can’t come until Momma frisks him at the door, so I bought you time.”
She opened and closed her mouth. “I’m not going to make it. I think I hear my hair turning gray.”
Wyler laughed. “I think we need more. This is fun. I can do five or six more grandkids easily. We need a pool.”
“NO!” they all said together.
When the noise got so loud, Elizabeth couldn’t take it. So, she whistled. The three of them stopped moving and shouting.
“Line up,” she stated, staring at them on the screen. “CJ, no more losing teeth! Are we clear?”
“Yes, momma.”
“EJ, you’re not allowed to beat on your brother. It’s not good, and it won’t be tolerated. Do you hear me?”
He nodded, and then pushed Cat.