Celeste Files: Unjust

by Kristine Mason

  She nodded and drew in a shaky breath. When she faced Jerry and Nick, she said, “I’m ready.”

  Jerry opened the door to the interrogation room. A man with light brown hair and a short beard sat at the metal table wearing an orange jumpsuit. When she entered, he looked up and met her gaze. His blue eyes held worry, guilt and hope.

  “Are you sure you don’t want your attorney present?” Jerry asked Gabe.

  “I’m sure,” Gabe said, keeping his focus on her. “He already knows my story, and I don’t want Celeste uncomfortable with too many strangers in the room.”

  “How do you know about Celeste?” Nick asked.

  “My lawyer heard about the Jane Doe and Celeste. Since he knows my side of things, he thought we should meet.”

  Nick raised a brow. “And how did your attorney hear about the Jane Doe and Celeste?”

  Gabe looked at him. “Does it matter?”

  “I don’t think so,” Celeste said, suspecting Barney had notified Gabe’s attorney like she’d hoped. John pulled out the chair across from Gabe, took her by the elbow and helped her sit. “Why did you want me here for this?”

  Gabe gave a slight shrug. “I owe it to the girl, and to you. I hear Denis is bothering you.”

  She smiled. “You could say that. Do you believe in ghosts?”

  “I don’t know. I never thought much about it before now.” When he rested his hands on the table, the chain from his handcuffs clinked against the metal. “But I do know that Denis was a bad man. Evil like that don’t die easy.”

  “Did you see Denis die?” Jerry asked.

  Gabe shook his head. “I saw him being stabbed and washed overboard.”

  “Who stabbed him?”

  “Your Jane Doe.”

  Nick folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the wall next to her. “Start from the beginning, and tell us what happened.”

  As Gabe told them things she already knew—thanks to Barney—the air around her grew hot, suffocating. Denis definitely had his predictable moments, now was one of them. He wanted revenge, and she was sitting in front of the man Denis wanted dead.

  Hatred balled in her belly, and splintered into her chest. For Denis, for Gabe, for the dumb whore he could have made over twenty grand on if he could have delivered her.

  Celeste gasped, and blinked several times. Denis was trying to push his way into her head. A part of her wanted to let him, hoping that in his hatred and rage he would give up the location of whatever records he had on the men he’d sold the women to. The other part of her wanted to prove to the dead man that she wasn’t weak or vulnerable, that she was in control, not him.

  “Okay,” Jerry began, taking a seat a few feet away from Gabe. “So this was the first time you’d worked with Comeaux. What happened once the fishing trip was underway?”

  Gabe looked directly at Celeste. “Did he show you what he is?”

  Despite the heat surrounding her, she shivered. “Yes. And what he can do.”

  With a nod, Gabe said, “When Denis dropped anchor to fish, I knew we weren’t near the Keys like we was supposed to be. I asked him about it, and he said he’d changed his mind. That the best catch was in international waters.” He shook his head. “I’ve been fishin’ for over twenty years and know that ain’t necessarily the truth. Deep waters is all you need, don’t matter what country’s coast.”

  “The dumb ass wasn’t as gullible as I thought,” Denis said.

  “I asked Denis if we’re using rods, nets or both,” Gabe continued. “He looked out to the water and said we don’t need neither, then pointed starboard. When I looked over, I saw a boat in the distance, and got nervous. I asked Denis what was going on, and he said, ‘When that boat gets here, keep your mouth shut and do what I say, or you’re dead.’”

  “You didn’t think to try to subdue Comeaux, and call for help?” Nick asked.

  “Oh, I thought about it, until I saw that he had a knife and gun on him.”

  “Understandable. What happened when the other boat arrived?”

  “Denis had me help tie that boat to ours. As far as I could tell, there were only two men on the boat. They both spoke Spanish, so I didn’t know what they were saying to Denis. All I know is that one of them brought up two young girls from below deck. The girls had rope around their wrists and ankles, and their mouths were gagged.” He leaned forward. The metal chain connecting his cuffs to the table stretched as he rubbed his forehead. “I felt just awful. They was cryin’, and the one looked like she’d been beaten. Before I could ask Denis what the hell was goin’ on, he told me to help bring the girl who wasn’t beat up onto our boat. The foreign guys started shouting and kept trying to push the other girl onto our boat, but Denis shook his head.”

  “I wasn’t about to pay for damaged goods,” Denis said with a chuckle.

  Celeste ignored the bastard, ignored the heat and the sweat trickling down her back. Denis was not joining this party. Not yet. She wanted to hear Gabe’s version of what had happened before Denis had his say.

  “Denis and the two other guys started arguing. The girl kept getting pushed toward our boat, and Denis kept shoving her away. The only word I understood was dinero.”

  “Did Denis give the men money?” Jerry asked.

  Gabe nodded. “He pulled out his gun, handed me the money and told me to give it to the men. After they took it, they pushed the beaten girl into my hands. I, ah…” He cleared his throat. “I held onto her arms and looked into the one eye that wasn’t swollen shut. I wanted to pull her onto our boat and clean the blood from her nose, but Denis told me to let go of her and untie our boat from theirs. One of the men tried to stop me, but Denis pointed his gun at him. I don’t know what he said, but what happened next…I can’t get it out of my head.”

  “This fucking dumbass cracker can’t tell a story,” Denis said. “C’mon, sugar, let me talk. You know what I can do. Don’t make me give you another example.”

  “Denis wants to talk,” she said, and waited for everyone in the room, but John, to laugh at her.

  “Do you think you can control him?” John asked.

  Denis’s laugh filled her head. “Just try, sugar.”

  Fuck you. “Yes, I can control him.” She looked to Jerry and Nick.

  Jerry let out a sigh. “What the hell? I’ve never interviewed a ghost before. Let’s hear what the bastard has to say.”

  You heard them. Now why don’t you help Gabe tell the story?

  “My pleasure, sugar,” Denis responded, his tone smug as he tried to infiltrate her mind and shove her thoughts aside.

  She held her ground. I want to hear everything. If you push me again, I’m leaving the room.

  “You’re a bossy bitch. Careful, or I’ll give your husband another reason to leave you.”

  “Well?” Nick prompted.

  “Well,” Denis began, and although it was her voice she heard, knowing she wasn’t the one talking scared the hell out of her. What if he completely took over? What if he stayed in her head, decided he’d camp out in her body?

  Your weakness is that you think the spirits are more powerful than you, and they’re not.

  The memory of Maxine’s words gave Celeste the confidence boost she needed. She couldn’t see Denis like she had last night, but she could feel him crowding her mind. She gave him a mental shove. Say what you need to say, then get out of my head.

  Her mouth involuntarily slid into a grin. “Bossy bitch.”

  “What was that?” Jerry asked.

  “Don’t you worry about it, detective,” Denis said. “Now, Gabe here is a piece of shit. If I had a knife, I’d slit his throat for what he’s done to me.”

  “I didn’t do anything to you,” Gabe shouted. “You’re a kidnapper and a murderer. You deserve to be dead.”

  “You deserve to be in prison. I’m going to see to it.”

  “For what? You’re the one who killed that girl.”

  Jerry held up a hand. “Whoa, back up. Wh
at girl?”

  “The girl no one wanted,” Gabe said, his eyes filling with tears. “Denis shot her, and the two men tossed her overboard.”

  “I don’t know what Gabe’s talking about. He’s the one who killed the girl. Hell, he’s the one who set this whole thing up. Those pictures you found in my trailer? They’re Gabe’s. He’s been at this for years. Him and Lou Reese. When Lou blew his ACL, the two of them came to me, wanting to use my boat to keep their business afloat,” Denis said with another grin.

  He’s lying. Angered by Denis’s audacity, she took control. “That’s not true,” she said.

  “Celeste?” John asked, his voice holding both wariness and relief.

  She nodded. “It’s me. Denis is lying. I saw him abduct Solana, and kill Miguel, the man who helped him. I can hear his thoughts and know he’s trying to frame Gabe.”

  “Since we didn’t find Gabe’s fingerprints on the box of pictures, or any of the pictures, for that matter,” Jerry began, “I wasn’t buying his BS.” He cocked his head. “Are you doing okay?”

  She met John’s gaze. “I’m in control,” she said, then turned to Jerry. “Do you want Denis back?”

  “If you don’t mind.”

  Tell them the truth, she said to Denis.

  “She really is a bossy bitch,” Denis said with a sigh. “Okay, okay, so I was the one abducting the women. I’ll admit it, and I’ll admit that I shot the Colombian girl. But she’s the only girl I’ve killed. I found homes for the rest. Those two Colombian bastards needed to understand how I do business. I buy and sell women, and provide a nice service to men in need of feminine companionship. I don’t have time to play nurse, no matter how much that little Colombian girl could’ve gotten me. I shot her so they understood that Denis Comeaux won’t accept damaged goods.”

  God, you’re sick, Celeste told him. Make this quick. I want you out of my head.

  Denis turned to John. “How’d you sleep last night?”

  That’s it. You’re gone, Celeste yelled, and shoved Denis.

  “I’ll be good,” Denis said. “Just let me finish telling the cops what Gabe did to me.”

  “I’d rather hear more about the woman you shot,” Nick said.

  “Why? It’s not like you can prosecute me and send me to Death Row? Little too late for that.” Denis chuckled. “You can’t even notify her family. I don’t know her name, and those Colombians beat her to the point I couldn’t tell you what she looked like. Ain’t that right, Gabe?”

  Gabe nodded. “He’s right. I couldn’t describe her, but I can tell you what the other girl looked like.”

  Denis’s rage heated her chest. “You do that, and while you’re at it, tell them how the two of you conspired to kill me.”

  Gabe slammed his palms against the table. “That ain’t what happened. After Denis forced me—at gunpoint—to tie the girl up in the cabin below deck, I didn’t see her again until the night of the storm.”

  Denis’s memories of that night filled Celeste’s head. The black sky, the clap of thunder, splinters of lightning, the wind, the swell of the waves and how they tossed the boat.

  “We knew the storm was coming,” Gabe continued. “I told Denis we should forget trying to reach Everglades City and head for one of the inlets along the coast until the storm passed. He wouldn’t. He kept telling me I was a dumbass, when he was the one who thought he could beat the storm.” Gabe stared at Denis. “Who’s the dumbass now?”

  Denis lunged forward, but Celeste quickly forced him back in their seat. Don’t, she told him. Do it again, and I’m evicting you.

  Denis cleared his throat. “I apologize for wanting to beat the shit out of Gabe. Please, dumbass, tell us what happened during the storm.”

  “Denis busted the radio when I tried to call for help.”

  “Hell, yeah, I did. Now, why in the world would I want the Coast Guard coming to my rescue when I’ve got a stolen woman on my boat?”

  “When the Cajun Lady started taking on water, the engine shut down.” Gabe stared at her with hatred. “Denis was trying to steer us toward Chokoloskee Bay, but the wind and waves were too much. He sent me below deck to turn on the pumps and try to get rid of some of the water. When I got to the cabin, I knew there was no way we were going to make it. The water was already past my knees, and the pump was buried beneath it. So I untied the girl, gave her a lifejacket, grabbed one for myself, then headed back up top.”

  “Pay attention, detectives,” Denis said. “Here’s where Gabe’s gonna admit to conspiring to murder me.”

  Gabe glared at her. “When I reached the deck, I kept the girl behind me so Denis wouldn’t see her. I knew the Cajun Lady was going to sink. But it was so black out, and I didn’t know which way was which, I wanted to hear from Denis how far we were from Chokoloskee Bay. I know that bay, and just about every little island in it.”

  “Your intent was to take the girl and try to make it to safety,” Nick said.

  “Yes, sir. Didn’t work that way. The wind was blowing so hard, and waves were tossin’ water onto the boat and turning us on our side, I didn’t see Denis come up beside me until it was too late.”

  “That’s right, asshole,” Denis said. “After all your bellyaching about the girl, I didn’t trust you.”

  “You keep calling me a dumbass or an asshole, when you were the one stupid enough to try to throw the net on us.”

  Denis’s memories flooded Celeste’s head again. Wind whipped rain and salt water at him, burning his eyes and stinging his face like hundreds of bees. Damn it, he needed a lifejacket, but he couldn’t let Gabe and the girl escape. They had to go down with the Cajun Lady. He’d planned to kill Gabe anyway. Too bad he’d lose his boat in the process. Too bad he’d lost his gun to a wave. The net and knife would have to do.

  Celeste sensed a sudden change in Denis. The anger remained, along with the need for vengeance. Still, there was something else. Fear? Had Denis been afraid of Gabe and the girl? And why wasn’t he responding?

  “Denis threw the net on me and came at me with his knife,” Gabe continued, along with more of Denis’s memories.

  He plunged the knife toward Gabe, but the man blocked him with his forearm, then delivered a right hook. Denis saw stars and staggered backward, tripping into the netting, trying desperately to find something to latch onto to keep from falling into the water. He grabbed onto the railing as the boat lifted again, pushing him toward Gabe and the girl instead of overboard.

  He knew they were cooked. Knew he couldn’t kill Gabe and the woman if he was dead. Primal instinct, the fight to live outweighed his fear of Gabe or the girl reaching shore before him and going to police. But the only way to survive the storm was with a lifejacket.

  Forgetting about Gabe and the girl—for now—he rushed toward the cockpit where there were extra lifejackets, lost his balance and fell forward. The knife slipped from his hand. Panicking, realizing his boot was tangled in the netting he reached for the knife to cut himself free. The girl grabbed it before he had the chance.

  Denis quickly moved to his knees, but the girl was faster. She came at him, swiping the knife, forcing him to move backward. He reached the deck railing. Another wave crashed onto the boat. Terror gripped him by the throat and squeezed. The boat lifted, and the girl tumbled down on him.

  “¡Asesinó a mi hermana! ¡Quemadura en infierno!” she screamed over the wind and rain. Lightning flashed, revealing the hatred on her face as she plunged the knife into his chest.

  Pain radiated from his chest to every part of his body. He yelled out, stared at the knife still impaling him, watched as Gabe and the girl ran past him, then jumped into the water. Fuckers. He’d show them. He’d find a damned lifejacket, find them and make them suffer.

  Denis roared as he pulled the knife from his body. Breathing hard, fighting the pain, he reached down to cut the netting away. The boat tilted, this time knocking him into the stormy waters. The net latched onto the strong current and pulled him under. Still hol
ding the knife, trying desperately to fight the panic, he curled his body and reached for the boot knotted in the netting. When the need to breathe was too overpowering, he let go of the knife and swam. Despite the excruciating pain in his chest and the weight of the net, he surfaced. He dragged in deep breaths, then cried out just as the Cajun Lady keeled over, its stern cracking him in the head.

  The current pulled him under. He fought to remain conscious, fought to keep air in his lungs. The deep, aching throb in his chest matched the one in his head. He thought his lungs might burst. God, he needed to breathe.

  Instinct had him opening his mouth and dragging in deep gulps. He stopped fighting. A sweet state of peace settled over him. His chest no longer burned with pain, but there was another fire. Deep in his soul, hatred and vengeance raged.

  “I tried to hold on to the girl’s hand,” Gabe was saying, as Celeste snapped out of Denis’s memories. “But a large wave hit us and we were separated. I swam toward her, but the current kept pulling me away. I hope to God Jane Doe is her. I wanted to save her.” Gabe stared at Celeste with narrowed eyes. “I wanted to let everyone know what you are.”

  She blinked several times when Denis didn’t respond, then let out a sigh of relief. “Denis isn’t here, it’s me. But he showed me how he died.” He’d also showed her how his hatred and need for revenge had infected his soul and had damned him to his own private hell. “Gabe, why didn’t you tell the detectives this from the beginning?”

  “Who’d have believed me? If me and the girl survived together, I would’ve, because she could back my story.” He looked to the detectives. “Have you asked her about Denis?”

  “She refuses to speak,” Nick said. “Between coming from a foreign country, not speaking English or having no knowledge of our laws, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was worried she would go to prison for murder.”

  “Nick,” Celeste began, “the girl shouted something before she stabbed Denis. She said, ‘Asesinó a mi hermana. Quemadura en infierno’. Can you translate that?”

  “You murdered my sister. Burn in hell.”