“I’ll start working on it,” Wes tells Luke.
“So what happens to Holly now?” Will asks.
“Well, Holly’s going to be processed and sent to the women’s prison in Raleigh. I’ll work on her appeal here and try to find a way to get it overturned. We’ll have to find something that would have been grounds for Judge Harris to recuse herself from the case in order to make that happen. There was nothing illegal about Holly’s sentencing, so we’ve got to find the smoking gun. It could take months to find the proof we need.” Luke looks defeated, like he’s going to do his best to help Holly, but he’s not all that confident that he’ll be able to come through for her. “C’mon…the press is waiting.”
We step outside and there is a swarm of news reporters with their microphones on and lights flashing. At the center of it all is Holly’s mother. The cameras are rolling and she’s called action.
“I’m devastated about the sentencing today. I don’t know why the judge would rule so harshly, but I must continue to believe in our judicial system and know that she did the best she could with the evidence she was presented. My husband and I must say goodbye to our daughter now. We know we won’t see her for some time and want to spend some time with her before she leaves. Thank you for respecting our privacy.” Marlene dabs the corners of her eyes with a tissue and walks away with Gordon trailing behind her like a sad puppy dog.
“Luke! Luke! What do you have to say about today’s sentencing?” random male voices call out.
“We’re disappointed by the sentence today. The prosecuting attorney’s office and I reached a plea agreement and Judge Harris, within her legal authority, rejected the terms. We will be appealing this sentencing. I have no further comment at this time.” Luke delivers his bad news with a stone face and tone. This is a bigger blow to Luke than I thought it would be.
The reporters call out to Will and Eliana for a statement of some kind but they don’t answer. Luke makes his way to see Holly while the rest of us walk in a huddled, protected group to our cars. We hug and agree to talk later when we’ve all had a chance to rest and process how quickly things went sour today.
“How are you?” I ask Will as we drive down the long stretch of highway back to Davidson.
“I was angry at Holly for how she used me, how she deceived all of us. But…she doesn’t deserve this,” Will says sadly.
“Luke is going to work it all out. Wes will find the evidence they need that Judge Harris and your father were connected somehow, and she’ll get another chance.” I take Will’s hand in mine and graze my thumb across his knuckles. “It may take a while, but it’ll work out.”
“I hope so. I don’t ever want to see Holly again, but I don’t want her to suffer an unwarranted punishment,” he says, giving me more evidence that my husband is nothing like his father.
“Luke will take care of, Will. He always does.”
Chapter 33
It is Thanksgiving morning and I should be waking up with excitement and joy in my belly instead of the freaked out butterflies that I can’t seem to get calmed down. I curl up next to my husband and we hold each other tightly, knowing what this day is going to bring.
“We need to have a real conversation about today, Will,” I say him, keeping my head resting on his bare chest.
“We’ve had plenty of conversations about today, Layla. There’s nothing really to discuss.” Will strokes my arm that is laying across his stomach. I close my eyes and savor every pass his fingers make from my shoulder to my fingertips.
“We’ve talked about logistics and key words and phrases, how to be cooperative without compromising, and how to make sure we get as accurate information as possible. What we haven’t talked about is the reality that one or both of us could get seriously hurt…or worse,” I say.
“I know. I don’t want to go into it thinking the worst. I want to go into this believing that I’m going to sit down to Thanksgiving dinner with my wife and our family in our home tonight. Remember what Croft said. We have to be aware of the negatives but focus on the positives. Focus on how it’s going to feel to tell Blasi’s family that they can give their husband, their father the proper burial he deserves.” Will pulls me tighter to him, making me feel as safe with him as I always have.
“You’re right. It’s just…It’s made me think about something I’ve been wanting to ask you,” I tell him. “The day we first saw Lingle Chapel together, you and Pastor Bishop seemed like you had known each other for years. What was that about?”
“Oh, that, well…my mom used to take me to church when I was kid. My dad obviously didn’t go, and it was kind of the one thing that my mom was allowed to do with me. We went for years actually. It wasn’t until I was about ten that Dad forbade us from going. He ran into one of the other pastors at the coffee shop and he came on a little too strong with Dad about the importance of going to church as a family. He didn’t like being made to look bad, so we had to stop going. We just resorted ourselves to going when Dad was out of town. Dad being gone over the weekend didn’t happen that often, so we eventually just dropped off the church grid. Pastor Bishop kept in touch, though. He was always so great to us.” Will moves to his side so we’re facing each other now. “How did all this make you think of that?”
“I don’t know…thinking the worst I guess. I was thinking it might be nice to try going to church. I mean, I like Pastor Bishop,” I say, not really sure why I feel like we should go. Maybe it’s that I’m thinking if we both make it out of this alive, we’re going to owe God something. I figure a couple of hours once a week is a small price to pay.
“Sure. We can go,” Will says with a smile. “I’m sure Pastor Bishop will be happy to have us.”
“I love you, Will.”
“I love you, too, Layla. Thank you for saying yes.”
“Thank you for asking.”
We stare into each other’s’ eyes and somehow I know Will is feeling the same thing that I am, asking the same questions. What happens if one or both of us doesn’t come home today? What do I want my last memory with Will to be? As if on cue, we lean into each other, our lips meeting. Will pulls me close to him before moving above me. Yes, this is the last memory I want with my husband. I want to remember the feeling he gives me in these moments of perfection…the love, the peace, and the knowledge that we are everything each other needs. So we spend the early morning hours savoring each other before the unknown of the day takes over.
*****
“This transmitter feels weird in my ear,” I say as I shove the small electronic devise into my ear. It makes a little screeching feedback sound and I wince.
“Sorry about that,” Agent Croft says. “How’s this? Is this better? Testing, testing, one, two, three.”
“Yes, that seems better I think. Does Will get one of these?” I ask.
“We’re only giving one to you,” Agent Croft answers. “We thought it would be too distracting if you both had one. Agent Watts is going over some tactical things with Will right now, so we thought it would also be distracting if he was listening to me talk while he was trying to stay aware of the external situation.”
“You mean if Will has to physically defend us,” I say, filling in the blanks with layman’s terms.
“Yes.” Croft nods once.
“Where is everyone else?” I look around the surveillance truck we’re in and realize that it’s just me, Agent Croft, and another female agent I haven’t been introduced to yet.
“Agent Lassiter and his team got in place before you arrived,” he says.
“Where’s Wes?” I have to know where Wes is. If I know where he is then I can at least feel a wave of ultimate protection coming from his direction.
“I don’t know. Luke said Wes was handling this on his own. He assured me that Wes was not going to do anything illegal, so as long as he abides by that, I’m good.” I’m put at ease by Agent Croft’s openness to Wes doing what Wes does best. I’d be a mess if he tried to restrict how We
s does his job, because Wes is very good at what he does.
“It’s time, sir,” the female agent whom I still don’t know says as Will and the other agent climb into the truck.
Will puts his arm around my waist and pulls me to him. It’s a cramped space so it both puts me at ease and helps to create more room.
“Are you ready?” Will asks me.
I take the deepest breath I think I’ve ever taken and exhale in a rush. “I’m ready to help the Blasi family find closure. Let’s do this…for them.”
“Alright then. You both remember everything we went over?” Croft asks and we nod. “Agent Duke will be here in the truck monitoring the audio we’ll be getting from you earpiece. Watts and I will be in the grassy area to the southeast of the marina and have eyes and ears on you the whole time. My portable transmitter will let me hear what you hear, too. I’ll also be able to give you any instructions. If we see anything going down that you can’t handle, we’ll be there.” We start to move out of the truck when Croft stops us. “You can do this.”
I give him a tightlipped smile and take the small duffle bag containing the $250,000. Will threads our fingers together and we walk across the parking lot and down the steps that lead to the marina.
We’re quiet as we walk, coming up on the sidewalk that runs the length of the marina. We pass the little shops in the building next to the North Harbor Club. Everything is so quiet. The shops are closed and so is the restaurant. There are plenty of boats in the slips, but there’s certainly no activity since it’s so cold.
“So what do you think we should name our kids?” Will asks as we approach the ramp that will officially put us on the marina docks.
“Will…” I begin.
“We’re going to talk about our future, Layla,” he says, squeezing my hand for emphasis.
“Will…” I say again, unsure I can focus on anything else.
“Future.”
“Ok…um…I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it,” I tell him. We make a u-turn from the ramp and onto the wooden dock and continue to walk slowly past the trademark yellow umbrellas of the North Harbor Club.
“How can you have never thought about it? I’ve thought about it,” he smiles. Oh, he smiles. The small flash of that unbelievable smile washes a wave of calm over me.
“Oh, really? What, then, do you think we should name our children?” I smile, too, forgetting for a moment that we’re not on a lovely mid-morning stroll along a beautiful marina, but on our way to an uncertain encounter with a man claiming to be capable of murder for hire.
“I’ve always liked Natalie for a girl, and Andrew for a boy,” he says.
“I like both of those,” I tell him. “Well, that was easy. Now you just have to wait five years to see which we get first.”
We stop at the small section of boat slips before the last big one and wait. You can see the highway from here. There aren’t a lot of cars passing by, but enough to let you know that it’s the holiday.
“Hello, Layla.” Will and I turn and finally get a good look at the man who has summoned us here today. “I wasn’t expecting you, Will, but, ok.” He’s arrogant and I find it immediately unsettling.
“It’s you,” I say, turning to see the elusive man who has been following us and taking pictures of me for months. The man who summoned us here to get the rest of his payoff. He’s tall just as I thought he would be. The sunlight shows just how light brown his hair is, almost dirty blonde, and his eyes are a rich, brown color, like chocolate.
“It’s me. Now, what was that endearing name you had for me?” he asks with a smirk.
“Black Sedan Guy,” I tell him reluctantly. “How did you..” I begin, but before I can finish I hear Agent Croft in my ear.
“Why is Agent Lassiter there? Layla? What’s going on? Did you just call him Black Sedan Guy?”
“By now Agent Croft is probably telling you that my name is Agent Lassiter. You can call me Tony, though. Is he doing that thing where he talks slow but loud? I hate that,” Lassiter says annoyed.
“I don’t really care who you are. We brought the money and now you need to tell us where Blasi’s body is.” Will is strong and direct in his speech, making me feel like it’s all going to be ok.
“Layla, just follow Will’s lead here. Lassiter is a forensic agent but he spent four years in the military as a weapons specialist. He knows his way around a gun and has remarkable aim,” Croft buzzes in my ear and I flinch and wince at the static.
“That was Croft giving you a snippet of my resume, wasn’t it? I don’t like to brag but, yeah, I’m the shit, so you should do whatever he tells you to do.” Lassiter pulls a gun from behind his back and just holds it at his side, like he just wants us to see it.
“Here,” I say as I take a step forward and put the duffle bag down halfway between us. “I suppose this is how Meyer got to you. He waved dollars signs and you just bowed down, didn’t you?”
“Layla,” Will scolds me softly.
“I like her,” Lassiter says to Will. “Feisty! I like you! Of course it was about the money. When is it ever not about money? Every crime I’ve ever investigated had money at the center of it. Well, except a few of the murders. They were about sex.”
“Tell us where Blasi is.” I try to have the same strong and direct tone as Will but I’m afraid I can’t muster it.
“Well…here’s the thing,” he begins, cocking his head to one side. “I don’t know exactly where the body is.”
“What?” I say a little too loudly.
“Layla,” Will scolds again. “Just tell us what you do know and we can work with that,” he says directly to Lassiter. Will’s tone is much calmer than mine.
“Watch your tone with him, Layla,” Croft warns in my ear at the same time. Being scolded by Will and Agent Croft is not helping me right now.
“Shut up!” I say, pulling the earpiece out and shoving it in my pocket.
“What are you doing, Layla?” Will says as he tries to reach for my pocket and retrieve the annoying thing.
“Stop, Will! I can’t listen to Croft and you and Lassiter.” I focus my attention on Lassiter now. “What do you mean you don’t know where he is?”
Lassiter gestures his hand out to the lake and raises his eyebrows.
“You dumped his body in the lake?” I can feel my temperature rising.
“Yeah, but that was like, seven months ago. With the ebb and flow and tides of the water, who knows where the body actually is now. Then you have to account for decomposition and there are actually some fish in there that might have already started to eat him,” he says with complete nonchalance. He doesn’t care. Of course he doesn’t care. He killed this man on the instructions of Gregory Meyer, the poster child for apathy.
I believed, truly believed that we would find out where Blasi was and bring peace and closure to his family. Now all that’s left is a stinging feeling, knowing that this family will be in pain forever. Rage begins to rise up in me and I act before I think when I kick the duffle bag off the dock and into the water.
“Layla! What the hell are you doing?” Will yells at me for my rashness. I’m going rogue again when I promised Will I would let him take care of things. What have I done?
“See, now you’ve pissed me off. I don’t like to be pissed off. And if you still had your earpiece in, you’d be getting a warning from Agent Croft about what happens when I get pissed off. Looks like I’ll just have to show you.” Lassiter raises his gun and points it at me.
All I can think in this second is that I wish I could speak and tell Will how sorry I am, how I didn’t mean to go rogue. I just couldn’t stand the thought that Blasi’s family will never know the kind of peace that comes when you know for sure what’s happened to someone you love. They’ll live forever letting their imaginations run wild with theories about where he is and what happened to him. They may even come up with stories, lies they tell themselves about what happened to him just to feel better. They’ll wish they
were dead because death would be sweeter than the pain the uncertainty brings.
Lassiter’s face twists from the rage I’ve just caused him. I stand still and wait for the shock of pain to enter me, to blast through me like a cannonball. Lassiter fires his gun and all I see is Will’s body rush in front of me.
The shot hits Will in the chest and sends him diving into the cold, November water.
“Nooo!” I scream. “No! No! No! Will!” I fall to my knees, desperately reaching for Will, but it’s already too late. His body dove out too far from the dock and went under quickly.
“Get up!” Lassiter shouts at me. “That’s one brave guy you had there. Had you not freaked out on me, he might still be alive. As it is, you just cost me a quarter of a million dollars. I hope your daddy has some extra cash put away. I have a feeling he’ll pay a lot more than that for you.”
“Let me go!” I shout at him as I start to cry. I try to pull free but he’s yanking and dragging me down the dock with a firm grip on my arm. I have to go back and search for Will. I can’t just let him float away into oblivion.
“I know you’re watching, Croft! Keep your distance. You know I’m not afraid to do whatever I feel is necessary!” he shouts out into the chilled air.
As we approach the ramp that will take us back up to the sidewalk I continue to twist my body around, looking back at the place where Will fell in the water after he saved my life. Oh, my God, he saved my life! I can’t see him though, and the ripples from where he fell are gone. This can’t be happening.
We’re about to make the u-turn onto the ramp when I get shoved down and away from Lassiter. When I look up I see Wes has tackled Lassiter to the ground. Lassiter still has his gun, but Wes is doing an incredible job of keeping it away from himself.
“Go! Layla go find Will!” Wes shouts.
I run back down the dock and hear gunshots. I turn back and see that Wes is holding Lassiter’s arm out to the side. The gun has fired rounds into the air. Wes must be trying to empty the clip. Agent Croft and the rest of his team are descending on Wes and Lassiter, their own guns drawn.
Safe Harbor (The Lake Trilogy, Book 3) Page 30