Jessie arrived at the police station ten minutes later. Jeremy held the door open for her.
“Are you nervous?”
“Not yet. I might be later.” She smiled at him. “Is Matt in his office?’
“I’m not sure where he is.” He frowned, running his hand through his hair. “To tell you the truth I’ve been trying to stay out of his way.” He added under his breath, “So is everyone else. He’s been doing a lot of growling today.”
“I’ll go find him.” She brushed past him.
“I think you’re the reason he’s like this.” Jeremy tapped her on the shoulder.
“Why? I didn’t do anything.” She turned around to look at him. “Don’t worry. He always gets super serious in the midst of a case.”
“This isn’t his game face; he’s nervous. He doesn’t like sending you to meet with Johnson, and the closer it gets to game time, the more he’s grumbling. Once he gets a look at you, it’ll get worse.”
“What’s wrong with the way I look?”
“Not a blasted thing. You look as if you’re ready to teach a freaking Sunday school class. Looking the way you do won’t make it any easier on him. I have to say I’m with him on this.”
“You’re both going to have to get over it, because I’m doing it.” She put her hand on her hips. “I’ll just have to reassure him, won’t I? And, you’ll have to keep your opinion to yourself. You, of all people, know that I interviewed some pretty notorious people in New York for my job.”
“Yeah, but none of them had tried to kill you twice.”
“It’s going to be okay. But if not, I’m going in with my eyes open, and I’m doing this to bring the kids home. I won’t let them down.” She turned to walk away. “I’ll just have to reassure Matt, won’t I?”
“How do you plan to go about that?” He followed her down the hall.
“I don’t know. I’ll think of something.” She got to Matt’s empty office, went in, and sat down. She could hear him coming up the hall, and yep, he was growling.
“Has anybody seen Jessie? She was supposed to be here at least ten minutes ago. Nothing good is going to come out of all this.” He mumbled something else. She couldn’t hear it.
“Yes, I’ve seen her!” She spoke up just as he reached the doorway. “She’s been patiently waiting for you for about ten minutes.” She watched for his reaction.
“Jess, you’re not going to some church picnic. Couldn’t you have worn something else?” He leaned his hip against the desk.
“I have on what I wore to work, and you can live with it. That’s what Jed is going to expect me to wear.” She scowled at him. “What did you want? Camo fatigues?”
Jeremy coughed. “I think he would like it better if you wore a paper bag over your head.” He laughed and started to walk away when Matt frowned at him.
“Matt, it’s going to be okay. I know it. So give it a rest.” She smiled up at him.
He tapped his fingers on the desk. “I guess I’ve been behaving badly. Let’s get Jeremy to get you wired. I want to go over a few things with you and the group, and then we’ll eat.”
She stood and put her hand on his arm. “I’m sure it will be fine. I won’t do anything crazy.”
“Let’s hope Jed doesn’t either.” He studied her face. “Okay then, let’s roll.”
****
Matt made sure everyone knew what his or her job was. He felt calmer now. He knew everyone wondered what had happened to him. It was seeing her that did it! Hell, he couldn’t explain if he tried. Her face showed no sign of concern. And, if she was confident, she could do it. That was good enough for him. At least it had to be. End of story!
Matt had Jeremy run a check on the sound levels. Everything was set, including men who were already in position along the church perimeter. He had covered all his bases and now he had to hope nothing went bad.
“Are we done here?” He looked at Jeremy.
“We’re ready.” Jeremy gave Jessie a playful push. “Be careful, sweetheart, don’t play heroine. I don’t want anything to happen to my best girl.”
Matt’s hand fisted and cheek flexed. “We have to eat at Angelo’s or Patterson’s so we can be parked with the equipment in place. Jed gets to the church at eight. Jeremy, you can drive the van. I’ve already talked to the pizza place. They reserved the first space in the parking lot for you.” Matt handed him the keys.
“Patterson’s is fine with me.” Jessie grabbed her bag off the table. “I have to drive, too. Do you want to ride with me?” She looked at Matt.
They walked out to her car together. He opened his hand, and she handed him the keys.
“You wouldn’t want to sell me this baby, would you?” He opened the door for her.
“It’s possible.” She smiled at him. “Anything is possible. It’s not very good in the snow, you know. When I lived in New York, it wasn’t a problem because I never drove it in the city. I used taxis most of the time. It’s a little different here.”
“You could always get some little car for the snow, and this could be for the summer. I sure love driving it. If you really want to sell it, I want it.” He adjusted the mirror. “Are you buckled up?” He looked at her and she nodded.
At seven thirty, after dinner, Matt and Jeremy got in the van. He had her turn on her equipment. They talked to her as she drove around Blue Cove.
“Jess, it’s time to make your way to the church. We have your back, sweetheart, just be careful. Everyone is in place and waiting. It’s your case now. Go get him, let’s see if we can’t find out where the kids are.”
Chapter 37
Jessie pulled into a space in the church parking lot. She had been there about ten minutes when a white car pulled in beside her. She turned her small recorder on. He got out and jumped in the passenger’s side of her car.
“I guess you know who I am.” He stared at her. “I’m sorry I tried to kill you, but I was told to. I’m glad I missed both times.”
“I’m kind of glad you missed, too!” She watched his lips curve into a slight smile.
“Here’s the thing, I’m not sure how much time I have.” He handed her a sealed envelope and put a finger to her lips. “Do you already know about the group of us from Evansville?”
“Yes.” She glanced over at him. What a waste! She was sorry for his wife and kids.
“What you don’t know is about the three others. There was Steve Murphy who hired us for what we thought was a legitimate business until we were in too deep. The owners of the store were Willie Booker and our illustrious Senator Douglas Brinkman. No one knew that, of course.”
“Why was that?” She watched him closely.
“Steve was the fall guy for the organization. He was meaner than blazes. He had a two-bit criminal working for him, T.R. Booker. Willie and Travis were twins separated at birth. They found each other a few years ago or so everyone thought. But they were together in high school. Willie often posed as his brother when he committed a crime. Willie looked like the good guy and Travis took the fall and even did time for it. It was hard for me to believe that Travis could be a hit man. He didn’t have the smarts upstairs.” Jed pointed at his head. “I think I might have figured it out. Willie was the real hit man and posed as T.R. Booker.”
“Do you know that for sure?” She watched Jed shake his head no.
“It’s just a theory of mine.”
“What’s Willie like?” Her brows arched up.
“He’s real smart and a Harvard graduate. He got a job as a staffer in Senator Brinkman’s office. He inherited a lot of money when his adopted father died a few years back. That’s when he became a partner at the store.” Jed wiped the sweat off his brow. “But, he’s mental, with a screw loose, if you know what I mean.” His leg twitched. “Willie was the one who shot up the Marina. I was the one who placed his bomb too close to the window. I’ll pay for that. I probably won’t live to do any time.” He looked around the parking lot.
“Is everything o
kay?”
“I’ve got to hurry. Do you have a pen?” He grabbed it out of her hand and wrote something on the envelope. “I didn’t know when I first got involved that we would be stealing kids. Only after a few months did I learn the truth about what they were doing with the kids. There’s a lot of money in this, lady, and we’re only one small cog in the wheel.”
She read the words on the envelope, “Here are your answers.” She nodded at him. “Was it you signaling from the dock that night at the Marina?”
“Yes.” Jed’s eyes darted around the parking lot. “You must have seen me signaling Willie, when he was bringing in his boat.” He looked at her. “It was ingenious to do everything from the water so we could make our getaway by sea in the confusion, don’t you think?”
She frowned at him. “I’m hardly impressed with the whole plan! You killed and wounded innocent people.”
He frowned and looked away. “The kids are still in the area. If you get the dog back, I bet you’ll find them. But they won’t be here much longer.”
“Do you know their exact location?”
He shook his head. “There’s a dirty cop in Maxwell’s team.” He talked faster, looking around nervously. “Brinkman hired the hit on his wife and—”
The window shattered, spraying Jessie with glass. Mouth open, Jed slumped toward her, his eyes wide open and empty.
Jessie ducked and screamed as she shoved the door open and slid out onto the ground. She heard the shots now, and bullets were hitting her car.
“Jessie, can you hear me?” She heard Jeremy speaking through the earpiece.
“Yes. I’m okay, but I think Jed is dead. I didn’t wait to find out.”
“Matt’s coming, don’t move, Jessie! Did you hear me? Don’t move!”
“Like I could if I wanted to!” she yelled. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m glued to the spot.” She watched as Matt scurried around the white car and fell to the ground. He crawled toward her, swearing as he came and she reached her hand toward him.
“How can I help?” Blood was soaking through his pant leg and already pooling on the blacktop. Too much blood. Way too much blood.
He pulled off his belt. “Here tighten this around here.” He pointed to the spot.
She followed his directions. “Jeremy, can you hear me? Matt’s been hit. We’ll need an ambulance.” She talked into the piece. “Kip, are you there? Can you see the general area where he’s firing from?”
“Yes! It’s up behind the church.”
“Cover me.”
“Jess, don’t you even think about it.” Matt grabbed at her arm.
She crawled closer to him. “You need a doctor and I’ll be right back. I know where he is. It’s not Willie. I would know! It’s someone else out there.”
She kissed his cheek and smiled at him. He looked gray. Better hurry. She waited until Kip started to fire and drew the gunman’s attention, and then she crouched low, crawling along the ground until she was out of the line of fire. He probably figured she was too scared to move, wasn’t even looking her way. Good. Out of his line of sight, she stood up and started running.
She cut through the cemetery. It was dark. She could hear someone following close behind her as she wove through the headstones. “Wait up, Jessie.” Dylan’s voice startled her. “I’ll take it from here.”
“You can come if you want. Hurry, I know where he is.” She picked up her pace. “If you’re coming, you’d better keep up.” She ran along the trees at the back of the church, remembering that night where she had run not so long ago. Slowing down, she tried to feel her way. That darn tree root was somewhere around there. Closing in on where she thought the gunman was, she got down on the ground and crawled quietly toward the ledge. Matted wet leaves, soggy grass, and mud muffled the sound of her progress. When she came to the ledge, she carefully peeked over the edge. There he was, the snake, stretched out on the ground ready to strike. A dark figure clothed in black, just sliding another magazine into his semi-automatic. She could barely make him out. He had shot out the light in the church parking lot. She slipped her gun out of her holster and took aim, and felt Dylan grab her foot to let her know he was there. Good she had back up.
“If you pull that trigger one more time, mister, it’ll be the last thing you ever do.” She kept the gun sighted between his shoulder blades. Startled, he yanked his head around toward her voice, his night goggles making him look like a sci-fi character in the shadows. He started to reach for his gun, and she aimed a hair to the right. The warning shot scuffed the leaves six inches from his arm. “I won’t miss the next time. So anything you do from this point needs to be slow and easy.” She watched until he put his hands up. “Lay face down and spread your legs. Away from the rifle.”
Dylan started down the slope to the ledge. He gave the agent his rights as he cuffed him. Jessie held the gun trained on his torso as Dylan collected a rifle, a handgun, and several magazines. “The suspect is apprehended.” He spoke into the radio.
“Good job, Dylan. Is Jessie okay?” Jessie heard Matt’s voice over the radio and relief flooded through her. He was still alive!
“She’s fine! Jessie apprehended him.” Dylan smiled at Matt’s choice of words and then grinned at Jessie. “Between you and me, girl…” He paused. “You did a damn fine job.” Dylan stood the agent to his feet. He pushed him up the small hill walking behind him. At the top, he shoved him to a sit. “There’s nothing I hate more than a dirty cop.” He stared down at him, looking as if he wanted to spit. “You guys give us all a bad name.”
Tom and one of his team came up behind them. “I believe he’s one of yours.” Jessie pointed to where he sat.
“Mabry, what the hell?” Tom clenched his fists.
“We’ll take him in.” Dylan nodded. “You can collect the guns and equipment. I know what you’re feeling, Tom. I won’t beat the crap out of him, even though I would love to. Jessie will keep it all legit. It’ll give you a little space before you have to deal with this scum.” Dylan yanked Mabry to his feet and gave him a shove.
By the time they all got back to the parking lot, Mabry was in a cruiser on his way to the jail. Jessie made her way toward the ambulance. She hung back a little, her heartbeat unsteady. Matt was lying flat on a gurney in the back of the ambulance. She heard Dylan telling him she did the force proud, which made her smile.
“Jess, are you going to come in here, or do I have to get up and come out there.” He craned his neck to peer in her direction.
She popped her head in the door. “Is he restrained?” She looked at the paramedic. He laughed and shook his head no at her. “How are you feeling?” She studied his pale face.
“Like hell. And you didn’t help me much either.” He frowned.
She cut him off. “Is the police department going to pay to fix my car? I know I said I might sell it to you but I won’t be able to get near as much for it now. Did you have this planned so you could get it for a cheaper price?” She glared at him with her hands on her hips. She could use a diversion too!
He grinned. “I’ll see that it’s as good as new.”
“You do that.” She patted his hand.
“We need to get him to the hospital.” The ambulance driver came up beside her.
“I’ll be there in a little bit.” She smiled at him.
“Jess, you took a few years off my life tonight, but I’m real proud of the way you handled yourself out there.”
“Why, thank you, Mr. Parker.” She stepped away from the door. “I was trained by one of the best.” The driver closed the door, got back in and drove off.
She watched it until she couldn’t see it anymore.
“I’ll take you to the hospital once we get back to the station and get my car.” Jeremy gave her a hug. “He’ll be okay.”
She shivered, and it was hard to stop. “I can’t believe I did that.” She looked at him. “And the guy we need to worry about most is still out there. Who knows which Booker brother he is.”
Chapter 38
By the time Jessie, Dylan, and Jeremy filed their paperwork and got to the hospital, Matt was out of surgery and in recovery. Kip walked over to them. “The surgeon was here a while ago. He said that the bullet entered from the side, spinning, and narrowly missed the big artery. There was some subsequent tissue damage and repair work necessary. He should be as good as new in time for Molly’s wedding and the holidays. So you can smile.” Kip tapped her chin. “You can breathe now.”
“I never saw so much blood in my life.” She took a deep breath and settled into the chair next to him. “I can’t believe it was one of Tom’s team who shot Matt. Mabry was on the team to protect the kids, and he was one of the ones hurting them.”
‘“I’ll never understand what makes a guy turn like that.” Jeremy stopped pacing and took the seat beside her.
“Money!” Kip and Jessie said at the same time.
“I suppose you’re right, but it all seems pointless. He won’t be able to spend it now.” Jeremy jumped up and answered the ringing phone in the waiting room. “Okay, thanks. Matt is in his room. It’s room 255. You go on up. I’ll be up in a minute.” He squeezed her arm. “I could use some coffee.”
“Wait up!” Kip jumped to his feet. “I’ll go with you. Do you want something?” He looked at Jessie.
“A bottle of water would be nice.”
Jessie went up to Matt’s room. The nurse was fluffing the pillows behind his head. He still looked pale, but conscious.
The nurse smiled at her. “Come on in, honey, he’s groggy, but awake. I don’t know for how long, though.” She turned to look at him. “If you need anything, ring for it. Don’t be hero when it comes to pain. And don’t try to get up on your own.” She gave him a stern look. “You hear me?” She smiled and left the room when he nodded.
He squirmed and then winced. “I hate being laid up here like this when so much is going on.”
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