Broken is the Grave

by Candle Sutton

  “You worry too much.”

  “And you don’t worry enough. You know what’ll happen to you if we’re caught? You’ll be rubbing elbows with the inmates, wearing a matching jumpsuit. I don’t think you’ll fare too well on the inside, do you?”

  This stuffed shirt had the nerve to threaten him?

  “Don’t forget you’ll be right beside me. You wouldn’t last a day.” He picked up the framed photo on Isaac’s desk and pointedly studied the pretty African American woman. The two teenage girls standing between her and Isaac had the good fortune to favor their mother in looks. “Nice family. What’ll happen to them when you’re on the inside?”

  A tremor shook Isaac’s hand as he snatched the photograph back. “Maybe we ought to suspend operations for a while.”

  Tobias bit back a curse. That’d cost them thousands of dollars.

  But Isaac was right. Things were too hot right now.

  “We’ll finish the batch we’ve got going, then I’ll let the crew know.”

  Isaac gave a jerky nod. “Make sure they know that we’ll pick up again soon. And that you’ll take good care of them in the interim. We don’t need anyone flapping their jaws.”

  No, they most certainly did not.

  The inmates would stay silent, he was sure of that. They had too sweet a deal to want to screw it up.

  It was the three distributers on the outside he was worried about. He didn’t trust a single one of them, especially since their addictions would land them in trouble sooner or later.

  The two with a thing for hookers might slide under the radar for a while, but that druggie was a loose cannon. He never should’ve brought him on board.

  More than that, he should’ve ended him when he came up short this last time.

  A problem he’d soon remedy. He had the day off tomorrow. He’d hunt him down and permanently silence him.

  Twenty Two

  Zander jerked as a low moan broke the silence.

  He blinked the clock by the TV into focus. 8:45. A.M., judging by the light coming in the room’s sole window.

  The last time he’d looked at the clock, it’s been almost eleven the night before and he’d thought about heading home.

  Obviously, that hadn’t happened. That explained the stiffness in his neck and spine.

  His open laptop still rested on his thighs. The black screen evidenced that he hadn’t used the device for hours.

  Another moan filtered through the room.

  Rising, he set the laptop on the chair and approached the hospital bed.

  Rafe’s eyes flipped open. They darted around the room before landing on him.

  “Za-Zander?” The voice was hoarse and hesitant, containing none of Rafe’s usual vigor.

  “How’re you feeling?”

  “Awful.” Rafe’s eyes slid closed. “What happened?”

  “You almost died, that’s what happened.” Irritation flared. He wanted to lay into Rafe. Tell him what an idiot he was and ask how he could’ve done something so stupid.

  He bit the words back.

  Not only was now not the time, but he could almost hear Elly telling him to be Jesus to Rafe. Jesus would show Rafe love. Sure, Jesus would probably say something about not doing drugs, but He’d say it in a good way.

  Not the way Zander wanted to say it.

  “Guess that’s a good reason to feel like crap.” Rafe’s eyes opened, locking on Zander. Apprehension lurked in the depths. “They tell you what happened?”

  Zander crossed his arms over his chest. He could sugarcoat it, but why bother? They both knew the truth. “Drug overdose. What gives, man? You’ve been ducking my calls, I know you got kicked out of your place, and now we wind up here?”

  “I messed up. Got in too deep.” Rafe averted his eyes. “You shoulda let me die.”

  Aw, man. What was he supposed to say to that?

  He wished Elly were here. She’d have the right words. Something from God that’d be just what Rafe needed to hear.

  God, could you help me out here?

  He dropped into the chair beside the bed. “I already lost one brother. You telling me I should give up on the only other one I got?”

  “I’m a screw up. Don’t know that it’ll ever change.”

  “God’s in the business of fixing screw ups, dude. All you gotta do is turn to Him. I mean, He accepted me and we both know what a mess I was.” Zander held his breath. Snarky Rafe would never let that set.

  But this wasn’t snarky Rafe in front of him. This was broken Rafe, a man he had no clue how to deal with.

  Rafe shook his head. “It’s bad, man. I really did it this time.”

  Were they still talking about the overdose? Something told Zander they weren’t. “Whatever it is, we’ll get through it. Just like we always do.”

  Rafe’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “How long have I been in here?”

  “They brought you in yesterday afternoon.”

  Rafe’s moist eyes traveled down Zander’s rumpled clothes. “And you’ve been here all night?”

  Zander gently socked Rafe’s shoulder, his knuckles brushing skin-covered bones. “Hey, my brother was fighting to keep death outside the door. I wasn’t gonna go anywhere.”

  “Thanks, man.” Fresh moisture lurked in Rafe’s dark eyes. “I woulda given up on me.”

  “Not gonna happen. God won’t give up on you either.”

  “You been hangin’ out with Elly too long. Startin’ to sound like her.” The dig fell flat, as though Rafe didn’t really mean it.

  “That such a bad thing? There’s a lotta truth to what she’s got to say. You’d know that if you spent a little time around her.”

  “You got a good thing with her. Don’t need me hanging around.” Rafe looked at the room around them. “How’d I end up here, anyhow?”

  “Zeke found you.” A blank look met the name. “Elly’s brother?”

  Recognition dawned. “Oh, yeah. Kinda long-ish hair, right?”

  “That’s the one. God led him to you in time to call 911.” Zander leaned his elbows on his knees. “Like it or not, God’s not done with you, man. You can either keep fighting that fact or embrace it.”

  Rafe’s eyes flicked around the room, a desperation in the movement.

  Didn’t like hearing about God? Too bad. For now, he was a captive audience.

  Zander might not get another chance to talk to him about all this. Almost hadn’t had this chance.

  Rafe tried to move his hand, but the restraints holding him to the bed held him in place. He frowned at the restraints as he noticed them for the first time. “What gives?”

  “I think it’s for your own protection, bro. Keep you from thrashing or something.”

  “Well, get ‘em off.”

  “Dude, I’m not touching any of this stuff. The docs know what they’re doing.” No point in mentioning that it was either the hospital bed straps or handcuffs. “Can I ask you something? Were you trying to kill yourself?”

  This time, moisture glazed Rafe’s eyes. “I’m already a dead man. Thought that’d be an easier way to go.”

  A knife plunged into Zander’s gut. While prone to melodrama, this was big, even for Rafe. “What do you mean?”

  “I really did it this time, man. He’s gonna kill me. There’s nothin’ I can do to stop it.”

  “Who’s going to kill you?” Rafe had never been one to really make enemies. Too charming. Who would want him dead? A dealer?

  “Don’t know his name. But he’ll find me. And make me wish I’d died on the streets.”

  “No one’s gonna find you. You know I’ve got your back.”

  Rafe shook his head. “You can’t protect me from this, bro. It’s too big.”

  “Why does this guy want you dead?”

  Rafe looked at the door, which stood open to the hallway beyond, then clamped his lips together.

  No one stood in the doorway. Maybe Rafe was afraid that this supposed killer lurked in the hall.

  Zan
der crossed to the door and looked out. A few nurses moved in and out of rooms further down the hall. Soft voices mingled with undefined noises from various televisions, but no one was anywhere close by.

  Re-entering the room, Zander closed the door. “There’s no one out there. Now why does someone want you dead?”

  “I’ve been doin’ some work for this guy.” Rafe rubbed his cracked lips together. “Movin’ money for him. But I spent more than my share. Again.”

  “What do you mean, moving money?”

  A limp shrug. “Never asked no details. Guy comes to me, gives me a stack of cash, tells me to get it circulating and how much he wants back and tells me to keep the rest, then he comes a few days later to collect.”

  Truth crashed into Zander’s mind. Rafe had gotten involved in some kind of counterfeiting scheme. And had spent money that wasn’t his.

  Probably supporting his growing drug habit.

  This had to connect back to Tobias, didn’t it? Which meant that maybe it connected to James’ death, too.

  “Told me the last time that he’d come after me if I came up short.” Rafe’s words penetrated.

  “We can protect you from him. Help us catch him.”

  “No one can protect me. Guy’s got a rep on the street. Everyone knows better’n to cross him. I got careless.”

  “Dude. I’ve always had your back. You know that.” Zander ran his fingers through his hair. “If you–”

  The door opened behind him and a man in a crisp white lab coat walked in. “Good to see your eyes. You gave us a scare.”

  Rafe tracked the doctor’s movements but said nothing.

  The doctor checked the machines beside the bed, tapped something into the tablet computer he carried, then focused in on Rafe. “Can you tell me your name?”

  “Rafael Eduardo Garcia. The third.”

  “Good.” The doctor checked his pupils and listened to his heart. After a few more notations on the tablet, the doctor held Rafe’s gaze with an intensity that made Zander squirm. “This was a wake-up call, young man. Not everyone gets as lucky as you did. You’ve obviously got people who care about you,” he nodded Zander’s direction, but never removed his eyes from Rafe, “and that’s more than some of my patients have.”

  Rafe shifted in the bed. Probably would’ve run, if he could’ve. “Uh, yeah.”

  “I can recommend some good treatment facilities. Places that’ve had success with helping people overcome addictions of all sorts. But you have to want to change.” The doctor tucked the tablet under his arm. “You think about it and let me know.”

  Silence descended as the doctor exited the room.

  “It’s not a bad idea, you know. Getting help.”

  Rafe nodded once. “Yeah, I know. I’m gettin’ tired, man. Catch you later, okay?”

  If Rafe thought Zander was leaving him alone, the man didn’t know him as well as he’d thought. “You rest. I’ll be right here when you wake up.”

  ₪ ₪ ₪

  Bethany climbed the front steps of JJ’s school, glad she’d accepted Elly’s offer to watch the kids while she went to the school to see about JJ’s homework and talk to the principal about long-term options.

  Long-term.

  She hated that it had come to this. But until the man who’d attacked her, the man who’d tried to take JJ, had been caught, she’d take no chances. The kids were safest on the boat, so even though it meant living like prisoners, that was precisely where they’d stay.

  No kids lingered in the hallway of the elementary school as she stepped through the main doors.

  Try as she might, she hadn’t been able to make it down here before classes started. Which meant that she’d see the principal first, then have to wait for the morning recess before approaching JJ’s teacher.

  Maybe she could volunteer in a classroom until that time.

  The main counter of the office, strategically positioned to see everyone who entered the building, was to her left. A receptionist stared straight at her, a plastic smile on her face.

  She approached. “Bethany Summers. I was hoping to speak to Principal Wilson.”

  ₪ ₪ ₪

  Tobias forced his tense muscles to relax against the driver’s seat of his Camaro. With any luck, she wouldn’t be long. His Jeep would’ve been more comfortable, but he’d been driving that when he’d attempted to grab the kid. Bringing it back to this neighborhood seemed like a foolish idea.

  And he was anything but a fool.

  While he waited, he assessed the situation.

  He needed to grab her. Take her someplace secluded where he could get the truth out of her. Beat it out of her if needed.

  Although he wasn’t sure how he was going to grab her on this busy street.

  The school yard was deserted, the noisy, snotty brats all in classes for the moment.

  Good. At least he’d have quiet to think.

  Memories of the fruitless search for the druggie last night flooded him. The homeless were hard to find, but Rafe had become predictable.

  Until last night, when Rafe had failed to show for their meeting.

  If that little punk had spent more than his share again, there wasn’t a power on this planet that could save him.

  Frankly, there wasn’t anything that could save him anyway. It was time to cut ties and eliminate the loose ends. And Rafe was a big one.

  Just like the woman.

  Although she was a loose end wrapped in another loose end and held together by even more loose ends. She was the one who could bring this whole thing crashing down. But she was also the only one who could get them their money.

  He resisted the urge to check inside the brown paper bag on the passenger seat. The syringe and sedative hadn’t gone anywhere. Not since he’d last checked.

  She’d eluded him too many times.

  Today would be different. Today he would get the answers he needed.

  And then he’d take great pleasure in ending her pathetic little life.

  ₪ ₪ ₪

  Zander rubbed his eyes as the pictures blurred together.

  He’d been at this for too long.

  Well, at least he’d gotten a chance to run home and take a quick shower while Rafe slept.

  Probably should’ve grabbed something to eat, too.

  His growling stomach agreed.

  But leaving Rafe, right now, in this condition, didn’t set well with him. Especially if Rafe’s concerns weren’t drug-induced paranoia.

  And his gut told him the threat was real.

  He focused back in on the laptop screen.

  It’d taken a while, but he’d finally finished going through the records of all the men working at the prison and comparing them to Bethany’s sketch.

  Three good possibilities had stood out.

  He examined the three guards on the screen. Could one of them be a killer?

  “Wh-who’s that?”

  Zander started as Rafe’s voice broke the quiet. The laptop slid down his legs and he scrambled to catch it before it continued its descent to the tile floor.

  “Who?” Zander looked up to find Rafe’s attention locked on the computer screen. “You recognize one of these guys?”

  “It’s him. The guy with the money. He’s gonna kill me.”

  “The counterfeiter? He’s one of these guys?”

  Rafe nodded.

  “Which one?”

  Rafe jerked against the straps, but the restraints didn’t give. He extended a shaking finger. “The guy on the left.”

  Zander brought the laptop closer and pointed. “This guy? Are you sure?”

  “You don’t forget the face of the guy who’s gonna kill you.”

  “He’s not going to kill you.” Zander dropped into the closest chair and checked the name under the picture. Tobias Long.

  Tobias! How had he missed that critical connection when he’d been looking at the pictures earlier?

  He must be more tired than he realized.

  A
few more clicks brought up the man’s information. Former military. Six year tenure with the department of corrections, all of them with the San Francisco Penitentiary.

  A supervisor.

  Oxygen leaked from him. If Rafe was right, and Zander believed he was, then the man they were after, the one who had attacked Bethany and probably killed James, wasn’t just an employee at the prison. He was in a position of authority.

  That would explain Marty’s hesitation to speak. It would explain how Bethany saw him moving around there. It even connected him to James.

  Although it didn’t explain how James figured into the whole thing or why Tobias had wanted him – and, by extension, Bethany – dead.

  Wait.

  James had been an accountant, hadn’t he? Surely an accountant would come in handy for a counterfeiting operation. Maybe Tobias had recruited James, then killed him when he became a liability.

  As far as theories went, he’d operated on weaker ones than that.

  He needed to warn Bethany and have her look at the picture to confirm that it was the same man.

  First, it was time to level with Rafe. He needed to get some more information and maybe secure his help.

  “How’d he find you?”

  Rafe shifted. “Through my dealer. My dealer was helping move money and told him about me.”

  Why would a prison guard trust an addict? With Tobias’ connections, he should have had lots of ex-cons to pick from. Why choose Rafe?

  Only Tobias could answer that one. And he would, once he was arrested.

  “Would you be willing to testify?”

  Rafe stared at him as though he’d lost his mind. “You’re kidding, right?”

  “We can protect you.”

  Rafe snorted. “I testify and I pretty much admit I was in on it. No way, man. I ain’t going to prison. I’ll take my chances on my own.”

  “Dude.” A sigh emptied Zander’s lungs. This was not going to be pretty. “You’re facing charges regardless.”

  Narrowed eyes regarded him with suspicion. “You’d rat me out? After all we’ve been through?”