Father Figure (A Jaxon Jennings' Detective Mystery Thriller Series, Book 3)

by Richard C. Hale

  “We’ll still have the shipping receipts. He can’t hide everything,” Jaxon said.

  “Do you think he killed his wife?” Laurelyn asked.

  “I’m starting to believe it. Lots of things pointing his way and Candice might have a nice chunk of funds added to her retirement. Be interested to see if we can subpoena her bank account.”

  “I think that can be arranged,” Laurelyn said.

  “I want to go see Papa again,” Jaxon said. “I think he knows more than he’s telling us. Do you want to ride along?”

  “Definitely,” Laurelyn said. “I’ll call Tate.”

  When she hung up Jaxon thought she looked pissed.

  “They’re heading out to arrest William Rothstein,” she said.

  “You want to be there, don’t you?” Ray asked.

  She nodded.

  “We’ll take you,” Jaxon said. “Papa can wait.”

  She got back on the phone and told Tate to wait. She nodded to herself and hung up.

  “They won’t wait for us. We’ll have to meet them there.”

  Ray pressed the pedal to the floor and pushed the Mustang up past the speed limit. Jaxon was impressed. Ray never sped.

  They got to the estate and found Tate and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s deputies milling around outside. Something must have gone wrong.

  “He’s gone,” Tate said when they walked up to him. “The servants know nothing, only that he left very early this morning in his limo and has not been back since. We’re starting the search now.”

  “We were just at Ben’s,” Laurelyn said, “and he said nothing about his father leaving town. He could still be here.”

  “We’ll find him. How did it go with Ben?”

  “He basically gave his father up,” Jaxon said. “But I think he’s more involved than he wants us to know.”

  “What about his alibi? Did he bend on it?”

  “No. He’s still sticking to it. I think we’ll get to the truth pretty soon.”

  “We’re going to talk to Jaxon’s informant,” Laurelyn said. “Call me if you get him.”

  “Will do.”

  As they walked back to Ray’s car, Laurelyn cursed. “I should have known he’d run.”

  “I don’t think he’s gone,” Jaxon said. “Too much for him to give up here. I think he’s about to start cleaning things up and we’re going to have to stay ahead of him. I think he’s right here in town, hiding.”

  “We better get moving,” she said. “I don’t like getting beat by scumbags.”

  They drove across town fighting the traffic. At the Laundromat they stepped from the car looking for Papa, but he was not at his usual spot.

  “Come on,” Jaxon said.

  He pushed open the door to the Laundromat and walked inside. It was a sauna, a few washers and dryers going while sad mothers with babies waited for the machines to finish.

  A lone attendant sat behind a glassed-in enclosure, his sole purpose to make change and sell soap. Jaxon walked up to him.

  “Where’s Papa?” he asked.

  “They took him.”

  The guy didn’t even look up from his old Penthouse magazine and Jaxon wondered how he knew Papa was gone if he wouldn’t even pay attention to them.

  “Who’s ‘they’?”

  “Two guys. Threw him in the back of a dinged up blue car and drove off. The smell of the burnt rubber stunk up my shop for an hour. Good riddance too.”

  “What did they look like?” Laurelyn asked.

  The guy looked up at the sound of her voice.

  “Big guy and a small guy. He fought ‘em good too, but Papa’s no heavyweight.”

  “Why didn’t you call anybody?” Laurelyn asked. “Guy gets abducted in front of you and you don’t call the police?”

  Jaxon watched his expression shut down. He went back to the beat up magazine.

  “I didn’t see nothing.”

  “You just told us you…”

  “I didn’t see nothing.”

  Jaxon pulled Laurelyn’s arm. “Let’s go. Prick’s done talking.”

  They walked out of the shop and stood on the sidewalk.

  “Hubble and Parks are still busy,” Laurelyn said.

  “Rothstein’s cleaning up,” Ray said.

  “We need to talk to Tony,” Jaxon said.

  “We can’t,” Laurelyn said. “They have him holed up in protective custody.”

  “You can’t get us in?”

  “I can see him, but I don’t think you can.”

  “Let me talk to the sheriff,” Jaxon said. “See if he’ll let us see him.”

  “He’ll listen to me before he gives in to you,” Laurelyn said.

  “True. I’ll let you do the talking.”

  As they drove to Orange Park, Jaxon couldn’t help but think they were accomplishing nothing but burning gas and wasting time.

  So far, nothing had panned out for them today and Rothstein was using the time to clean up his mess. Tony was their only ace in the hole, and Jaxon didn’t like it. Usually, that kind of witness caved or their reputation made them look horrible on the stand. Jaxon wanted evidence that would pin Rothstein to something that would stick.

  At the sheriff’s office, Laurelyn led them in and they sat while she pled her case.

  “If I let them in, I might jeopardize the man’s safety,” the sheriff said. “Nothing personal Jaxon. It’s just the rules.”

  “It’s important,” Jaxon said. “This might be the deal breaker.”

  “Why can’t Laurelyn ask what you need? Why do you have to be there?”

  “I just do.”

  The sheriff frowned. “Not good enough. I can’t let you in.”

  Laurelyn chimed in. “Sir, I know it’s against your better judgment, but I’ll be with them. I know Jaxon better than you and I trust him. He’s not going to cause the man to disappear. He’s on our side.”

  The sheriff looked between Laurelyn and Jaxon and sighed.

  “All right. Laurelyn, you’re responsible.” He turned to Jaxon. “By the book, Jaxon. I don’t want you threatening or getting physical with my witness.”

  “No problem.”

  “Here’s the address.”

  He scribbled on a piece of paper and handed it to Laurelyn.

  “I’ll call ahead and let them know you’re coming.”

  “I owe you,” Jaxon said.

  “Just don’t screw this up,” the sheriff said. “It’s my ass if you do.”

  * * *

  The safe house was in Green Cove Springs, down a dirt road that was in need of attention. The ruts and potholes made for a jarring ride and Ray kept mumbling about his car needing a new alignment when they were finished.

  The house was an ancient southern two story with columns in front and a wrap-around porch on the second floor. It looked Civil War era.

  A cop answered the door and Laurelyn produced her ID with Jaxon and Ray doing the same. They were taken into the kitchen where Tony sat at the table eating a sandwich. Laurelyn asked the police officer if they could have some time alone with the witness. He made himself scarce.

  “How’re you holding up?” Laurelyn asked.

  “This place is a dump,” Tony said. “But the food is pretty good. I got a big screen TV too. I guess I can’t complain.”

  “We need to ask you some questions,” Jaxon said, sitting at the table across from him. Ray and Laurelyn remained standing.

  “I’ve told you guys all I know.”

  “Hubble and Parks,” Jaxon said.

  Tony’s eyes became guarded and he swallowed the bite of sandwich he had taken without chewing.

  “What about ‘em?”

  “They work for Rothstein, right?”

  “Yeah. I told you this.”

  “Where are they?”

  “How should I know?”

  “They grabbed Papa today.”

  Tony said nothing.

  “Where would they take him?” Jaxon asked.

 
; “The warehouse. That’s where they took me.”

  “Do they know I’m aware of the warehouse?”

  “I don’t know. How would I know that?”

  “I thought they might have said something to you.”

  “They don’t talk much,” Tony said. “They just hurt people.”

  “Tell me about Moore and Mason.”

  He glanced at Laurelyn and Ray.

  “Who?”

  “Teddy Moore and Abbot Mason. We know you three, or maybe I should say you four, were the reason all this went down. You didn’t sell it all did you?”

  “Sell what?” Tony fidgeted in his chair, the sandwich forgotten.

  “Look,” Jaxon said. “I’m not stupid. Rothstein isn’t either and if you think you’re safe here, or anywhere, you’re sadly mistaken. If we can put him away for good, you might live. If he walks, I’d start counting my days if I were you.”

  Laurelyn cleared her throat, but Jaxon ignored her. If Tony was going to spill it, he’d do it now.

  “That’s why I came to you guys. You’re supposed to protect me.”

  “Believe what you want, I’m giving it to you as I see it. I’m not a cop. I can tell you these things and give it to you straight. She can’t.”

  “Jaxon,” Laurelyn said.

  He gave her a look and she stopped talking.

  “I’ll help you,” Jaxon said, leaning back in his chair. “You, your partner, Moore and Mason all worked for Rothstein. But he wasn’t giving you shit and you four were seeing all this money rolling in and living on the scraps Rothstein tossed your way. You figured you could do a lot better and you took what you needed and started selling it for yourselves.

  “It was easy. You had access to the warehouse, hell you were probably the ones making the drug. The only thing you didn’t count on was the fact that Moore was screwing the Rothstein kid’s wife. He talked and when she went to hubby, the cat got out of the bag. I mean, Rothstein knew someone was muscling in on his turf, but it took him finding out from good ‘ol sonny boy that his own production team was screwing him from within. How am I doing so far?”

  Tony stared at him.

  Jaxon leaned forward and rested his arms on the table.

  “Here’s the thing, though. You didn’t sell it all, did you? You barely had time to scratch the surface before people started showing up dead and Hubble and Parks came along and pulled you and your partner in for a little love fest. When you survived that, you figured you’d rat out the big man, and then head home and sell the rest to keep it all for yourself. So the question is, Tony. Where are the drugs?”

  A grin formed on Tony’s lips and he sat back in the chair.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tony said. “You’re not even making sense. If Rothstein suspected I was stealing from him instead of just working for another guy, why did he let me go? Why make me the messenger? I was selling for another guy.”

  “Think, Tony,” Jaxon said. “Pretend like you have a few brain cells in that head of yours. What if Rothstein let you live for another reason? What if he just told you that you were his messenger? His example? What if he let you live so you could lead him back to the stash that you took from him? I’m sure it’s worth it to get back. The math is easy. I would say a couple of million dollars’ worth of crayons was worth getting back. Don’t you?”

  The smirk on Tony’s face disappeared.

  “Where is it, Tony?”

  Silence.

  “You can keep up this game if you want, but who knows what will leak and who will hear it? Could be pretty dangerous down here in the sticks all by yourself. Give the evidence up or face Rothstein’s henchmen. We’ll let you think about it.”

  Jaxon pushed back from the table and stood. He nodded at Laurelyn who was glaring at him and moved to leave. Tony reached out and grabbed his arm.

  “You’re an asshole, Jaxon.”

  “The only truth I’ve heard you speak today,” Jaxon said. “What’s it gonna be?”

  He told them everything.

  Chapter 18

  Outside of the safe house, Laurelyn pulled out her cell and gave Tate instructions to move on the stash of drugs Tony gave up. Jaxon watched her and even though they had gotten what they needed, she seemed angry. When she hung up, the scowl on her face only deepened as she approached.

  “You walk a thin line, Jaxon,” she said.

  “I do it because you can’t.”

  “I don’t like it. You could’ve jeopardized our whole case.”

  “I don’t see how, and besides, he gave us what we need.”

  “You’re lucky he didn’t clam up and refuse to testify.”

  “Calculated risk. He wants to live more than he wants money. You don’t have to get your panties all in a wad, I’ll take the heat if anybody gets upset.”

  “Don’t talk to me like I’m some newbie who doesn’t know shit. You were told not to threaten him.”

  “Easy. I don’t think you’re a newbie. It’s just an expression. And I told him the truth. You guys are feeding him lies.”

  She shook her head, the anger still on the surface, but he figured she was going to forgive him.

  “Still friends?”

  “Friend is a pretty strong word.”

  “But an accurate one.”

  He stuck out his hand and grinned.

  She finally smiled and took his hand in hers. “You’re an idiot.”

  “I thought it was asshole.”

  “If the shoe fits…”

  “Ouch.”

  “Glad you two are all touchy-feely now,” Ray said, “but can we get something to eat? I’m starving.”

  “I need you to drop me off at my house,” Jaxon said. “I need to check on Vick. You guys can eat without me.”

  “Is she ok?” Laurelyn asked.

  “Perfect.”

  * * *

  After dropping Jaxon off, Laurelyn wanted to go out to eat dinner, so Ray dropped her off at the station to get her car and would meet up with her at her apartment.

  Even though she had been angry at first with Jaxon, she soon changed her attitude and wanted to celebrate the break in the case.

  He knocked on the door and she opened it, wearing heels and a dress. Her hair was up, and she smiled at his expression. He closed his mouth and twirled his fingers in front of him. She did a little spin, showing off, and he whistled.

  “Damn, woman,” Ray said. “I’m going to get in a fist fight over you tonight.”

  “I’m worth it.”

  He pulled her close and touched his lips to her bare shoulder, placing his hand on the back of her neck. He pulled back and said, “You are beautiful.”

  She actually blushed and put her arm in his. “Take me out. I’m yours tonight.”

  They ate at a quiet steakhouse, a quick tip to the maître de getting them a table in the back away from the families and babies.

  She talked of her childhood with her brothers and sister, and of her dad. She missed him so much and Ray could see his influence in everything she did. He had been a cop too and she had wanted nothing more than to follow in his footsteps.

  “When did you know you wanted to be a cop?” he asked.

  “When dad was watching TV one night and I was sitting in his lap watching with him. I was nine. It was an old detective show and I was captivated by it. Dad explained that most of what was on TV was a bunch of nonsense, but this show was as close to the real thing as TV could get. I remember him telling me I was pretty smart when I had figured out who the killer was before the detectives in the show.”

  “And you’re still figuring them out.”

  She smiled.

  “I think Jaxon is the one solving all the cases at the moment. He never should have retired.”

  “He’d be fired if he was still working as a cop. You’ve seen him.”

  “Oh shit. I said I’d stop by his house and look at some stuff for him. Give him my opinion. I forgot all about it.”

&
nbsp; “We can go. I’ll go with you,” Ray said.

  “But our date.”

  “I’ll still be with you. That’s all I need.”

  She touched his hand. “You know. You really are a softie.”

  “But you like me.”

  She stared into his eyes, softly smiling in the candlelight.

  “I do, Ray Maningham. I’ll make it up to you later.”

  “Promise.”

  She leaned in closer to him. “I’m not wearing panties.”

  “You sure you want to go to Jaxon’s?”

  “That’s the furthest thing from my wants right now, but I promised him.”

  “Let’s get the heck out of here, then.”

  Ray paid the bill and she grabbed his hand as they walked out. Every guy in the place watched her move through the restaurant, her hand in his and her eyes only for him. Her face glowed as she turned to him and smiled.

  He suddenly thought of what it would be like to never see that smile again and he knew the thought was not something that fit into their great night, but it slipped in there anyway.

  She must have seen it on his face, because she leaned in closer and whispered, “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Are you ok?”

  He nodded, but it must not have been convincing. They were outside now, and she stopped and turned to him. He couldn’t help but think that she was so in tune with him that she could read his mind.

  “I’ll be with you for as long as you’ll have me,” she whispered.

  He couldn’t think of some witty comeback, because his mind didn’t want to go there at this moment. He wanted her to know how much she meant to him, but never wanted to hold her back. He started to speak then stopped.

  She put her hand to his face. “For as long as you’ll have me.”

  He could see something in her eyes, something that begged him to believe. It was so clear, and he knew if he spoke the words, the world would be good again.

  She touched her lips to his, brushing against him. A soft caress that took his breath away. She was smiling. As happy as he had yet to see her.

  “You don’t have to say it,” she said. “I feel it too.”

  He brought his fingertips to her face and ran the tips down the curve of her jawline, caressing the smooth softness of her skin.