Now, thanks to Tom Flint, Ryan knows just about everything there is to know about the son of a bitch. He spent two years at a community college before dropping out without graduating. He had so many delinquencies on his credit report that he couldn’t get a gas card if his life depended on it. The bank eventually foreclosed on his house and, two months later, he filed for bankruptcy. Six years ago his wife filed for divorce and swore in an affidavit that he abused her, neglected her, and had numerous affairs going all the way back to the beginning of their marriage. He eventually signed away all his rights to his daughter. Who would do that? What a loser.
Ryan can only imagine how much of his hard-earned money found its way into the son of a bitch’s pockets. It started while he and Faith were still married and continued after the divorce. Faith’s credit card charges for dinners, hotel rooms, perfume, and lingerie were only the beginning. There were charges for expensive trips, a used car registered in Paul’s name, and a watch that cost over ten thousand dollars. Paul started a new business, and Ryan was quite sure where the first $35,000.00 that was deposited into his business account came from. His credit was shot and his house had just been foreclosed on. Where would he get that kind of money? Faith, on the other hand, just got a certified check courtesy of yours truly. Ryan even credited to Paul’s account the eleven thousand dollars Faith spent on breast implants and a tummy tuck.
Ryan’s hatred for Paul is as strong today as it was back then. He was shocked when Faith told him they were going to be married. How could my wife fall for such a swindler? She was actually going to let this guy raise Ryan’s children when he didn’t even raise his own? Ryan could never let that happen.
Paul would soon be out of the picture, but he wouldn’t be the last. Almost every guy Faith dated was nice-looking with no money or ambition. He knew Faith better than anyone. He was sure she wouldn’t survive more than a year or two in a marriage without money.
Ryan thumbs through these photos until he comes to the photos of Zachary. “There it is,” he says to himself looking at the photo of Zachary and Faith walking hand in hand along the beach. This has to be the one the investigator was talking about. He looks at the photo carefully and sees nothing that would give anything away – especially if you take Zachary out of the picture. This photo looks pretty harmless. Several questions still remain: How did Hope get it and does she have any more?
– CHAPTER 21 –
Z achary Bell, (Zach as his friends and family called him) was in his mid-thirties and a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin. His life would change forever when he was drinking on a Saturday night and decided to pull his car off the road after he almost fell asleep driving home. Zach thought he was being responsible by getting off the road. A few hours and he’d be good to go.
Zach would soon learn that “being responsible” isn’t always the smartest choice. He woke up an hour later with his car door open and a flashlight shining in his face. When the officer knocked on the car window Zach didn’t wake up so they called an ambulance and forced the door open. Next thing, Zach was surrounded by three patrol cars, an ambulance, and a small fire truck. The whole place lit up brighter than the Las Vegas Strip.
Believing he might be drinking and driving, the officer ordered him out of his car. Zach only had three drinks, but that was earlier in the night. He did pretty well on the field sobriety tests. He passed the eye test, looked a little wobbly standing on one leg, and forgot to count with each step like he was instructed on the walk and turn test. It wasn’t great, but no worse than most.
Zach blew into the Breathalyzer, and the reading was slightly under the legal limit. The officer tried two more times, but the results were exactly the same. Zach was ready to go home.
Zach might have dodged the DWI charge, but a DWI would soon be the least of his problems. You see, Zach loved to take Ecstasy on the weekends and party on Sixth Street with his friends. He started buying Ecstasy pills for some of his old fraternity buddies, but at twenty-five dollars a pop, the lure of easy money got the best of him. Soon he was known as “the Ecstasy guy.” He was selling Ecstasy and Xanax pills in the nightclubs to all the college students.
The plan was working great until an angry parent called the Austin Police Department after they found Ecstasy pills in their daughter’s book bag. After her parents threatened to bring her back home, she told them everything – including how some guy known only as “the Ecstasy guy” sold her the pills. The Austin police used this little girl to make two purchases of Ecstasy pills from Zach.
Zach didn’t know at the time he pulled his car over to the side of the road to take that nap that APD was getting ready to make their move. They tore Zach’s car apart until they found two hundred ecstasy pills hidden underneath the spare tire in his trunk. What started as a DWI became the manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance.
Zach would learn the hard way that there’s no such thing as easy money. Zach’s whole life would be turned upside down.
Zach had no money for a lawyer since he spent all his money on the Ecstasy pills the police just put in their evidence bag and secured in the back of their squad car. His mother was a housewife and his father was a trucker. They knew that a court–appointed lawyer would be the end of Zach, but they didn’t have much money to give. No, Zach needed his own lawyer and his father knew a damn good one – the personal injury lawyer he hired to sue the pants off the drunk driver who ran a red light and crashed into the back of his car leaving Zach’s dad with a herniated disc in his neck and a rod in his right femur.
The insurance company agreed to pay his medical bills, but not a penny more despite the fact that every doctor said he’ll have neck pain and a slight limp for the rest of his life. The case went to trial and his lawyer was magnificent. The jury hung on his every word as he used a doctor and videos to explain the seriousness of his injuries. By the time he finished his closing argument, three of the jurors were wiping tears from their eyes The jury awarded his medical bills plus $650,000.00.
He was the “best damn lawyer in the State of Texas - just the lawyer Zach needed.” They scheduled the first available appointment two weeks away.
“Hello….I’m Ryan Brunick,” Ryan said offering Zach a smile and a firm handshake when they met in his waiting room. Ryan was dressed in a suit that cost more than Zach’s car with a bright white shirt, a yellow tie, and shoes that were recently polished. Ryan took one look at Zach’s Father and no introductions were needed. “John!” he said smiling even bigger. “How you been my friend?”
“Been good.”
“You’re looking good,” Ryan said looking him up and down. “How’s your health?”
“Oh, about the same, Mr. Ryan.”
“So, this is your son,” Ryan said patting Zach on the side of the arm.
“How can I help you, buddy? Did he get in a wreck?”
“No sir,” John said looking at Ryan and then Zach. “Zach got in a little criminal trouble - drugs.”
Ryan brought them back to his office and listened to the whole story even though he no longer practiced criminal law. He was paid well for representing Zach’s Father, and he referred several friends to Ryan’s office. Ryan thought he should at least hear about the case. Maybe he could give him some free advice and refer him to a good criminal lawyer.
Just hearing Zach’s side of the story, Ryan knew the case would be tough. “I don't do much criminal work anymore,” Ryan said.
“Please, Mr. Brunick,” his dad begged. “Everyone knows you're the best.”
Ryan flipped through the pages again and asked, “Do you have any money to pay a lawyer?”
Zach’s dad looked down and said, “How much?”
“For the kind of defense he needs it will cost at least fifty or sixty thousand dollars. It’ll be more if we go to trial and need to hire experts.”
Fifty or sixty thousand dollars! This was way more than Zach imagined. The court-appointed lawyer started looking a whole lot bette
r.
The money Zach’s dad got from his settlement all went into buying a new house for him and his wife. “I don’t have that much money,” his Father told Ryan looking down. “I would have to sell my home to pay you.”
Ryan looked over Zach’s paperwork and found exactly what he was hoping to find. The prosecutor handling the case was someone Ryan knew well. They both went to law school together and Ryan helped him out on more than one occasion.
At this point, the wheels in Ryan’s head started spinning. Zach was smart, well-spoken, and good-looking. He looked older than his age on the paperwork. A little polish and shine and he’d be perfect for the job.
“Zach, you look like an actor. You ever done any acting?” Ryan asks.
“Funny you’d ask,” Zach says with a smile. I was the lead actor in a play at my school. I got honorable mention at the district contest.”
Ryan buzzes Debbie, who comes in with a file folder. He put all Zach’s paperwork in the file and said, “Zach, give me a little time. I’ll see what I can do.”
Ryan met with the prosecutor over drinks after work. They both brought their files. Ryan asked about his wife, and kids, and his job downtown. When all the conversation and laughs about “old times” died down, Ryan got down to business.
“Zach’s just a stupid kid,” Ryan began.
That’s not the way the prosecutor saw it. Zach was no innocent kid partying on the weekends. There was already an investigation underway, and the police seized the moment. The case was ironclad, and scheduled to go to the grand jury in two weeks. Zach was looking at some serious jail time.
Ryan called in a favor – a big favor. Both men came from “the old school” when a file could go where files go when you have friends in high places. They both agreed the prosecutor would put everything on hold. The file would be pulled from the grand jury docket, and he’d put it in the file cabinet behind his desk. If Zach stayed out of trouble the charges would quietly disappear.
A month later, Ryan met with Zach to update him on his case. He told Zach that their meeting was confidential so his dad didn’t need to be there. When Zach learned all the charges were dismissed he was thrilled – more than thrilled if there’s a name for that. He jumped to his feet and gave Ryan a big hug. “Thank you, Mr. Brunick. Thank you so much.”
“Zach, I pulled some strings. Your file didn’t exactly get dismissed. It never got filed. The district attorney owed me a favor. I used that favor to help you. He put your file in his file cabinet where it will stay as long as you stay out of trouble. Stay clean, and everything goes away – understand?”
“God yes,” Zach said.
“Good, I’m glad I was able to help you.”
“How much do I owe you, Mr. Brunick?”
“Zach I know your dad. He’s a good man. I don't want him to lose his house. We’ll just call this a favor. I do a favor for you, and you do a favor for me someday…okay?”
“Anything Mr. Brunick.”
Zach thought he might have to wash Ryan’s car or something. Ryan spent the next two hours explaining everything to Zach. How his ex-wife got custody of their kids, and now she’s out of control – partying, drinking, and doing drugs.
“Why don’t you take her back to court?” Zach asked.
“That’s my plan Zach, but these judges…they always side with the mother unless you have proof that she’s unfit. That’s where you come in. We know she’s doing drugs, but we need the proof. I want you to date her for a while. Find out what’s going on with her.”
“Mr. Brunick, I have a girlfriend. I'm engaged.”
“No Zach, you don't have to actually date her. It’s like acting. Remember that award you won in school?”
“Sure,” Zach says.
“Well, it’s just like that. Just take her out. Help me get the evidence I need to take her back to court.”
“I don’t know Mr. Brunick,” he said shaking his head.
“Zach, your dad loves you. I’m sure he’d want this deal for you. Well, I love my kids more than anything in this world. I did a favor for your dad. Now you can do a favor for me. Your dad won’t have to mortgage his home, I’ll take care of all your expenses for a few months. If everything goes as planned, I’ll give you a twenty-thousand dollar bonus.”
Twenty thousand dollars is more than Zach had ever seen before. It all sounded too easy. “What do I do?” he asked.
“Don’t worry about it right now. Just be ready when the time comes. The police officer investigating the case will lead you through everything step-by-step. All we’re talking about is two, maybe three months. I’ll get the evidence I need, and you can enjoy the rest of your life as an engineer. I may even know a firm whose looking for a bright young man like you.”
Zach’s dad was right. Ryan Brunick is the “best damn lawyer in the State of Texas.” One day his life was falling apart, and now all his legal problems are gone. On top of it all, Ryan’s going to pay him $20,000 and get him a job?
“Thank you so much, Mr. Brunick. Just tell me what I need to do, and I’ll do it.”
“Thanks, Zach,” Ryan said.
They leave his office and walk back to the waiting room. Instead of shaking his hand, Zach gives Ryan a hug. “Thank you, Mr. Brunick. I will never forget this.”
“Take care of yourself,” Ryan says patting his back. “We’ll be in touch.”
Ryan and Zach would never discuss the matter again. Four months later, Ryan learned that Faith was single again. He called Tom Flint who wasn’t too happy with the whole thing. After a great deal of convincing, and a $10,000 payment, the plan took shape. Flint spent several days with Zach going over everything, and gave Zach all he would need to play his part.
– CHAPTER 22 –
T he nightmares began the first night after Ryan returned from Thailand. It didn't help that every time he looked at Grace, and now at Bonnie, it was like staring at Faith. The same height, thin figure, blue eyes, blonde hair, ivory skin - everything. So many nights Ryan would wake up screaming. His wife urged him to see a specialist.
Ryan started counseling with the best therapist in Austin, but it did no good. He told the counselor about the nightmares, but not a lot more. She knew there was more to the story than Ryan was letting on, but she didn't know what.
Colt’s death finally broke him. The therapist was working hard to convince Ryan that he wasn’t to blame for the collision that took Colt’s life, but nothing she said made any difference. Ryan finally raised his head from his lap with tears streaming down his face. He told the counselor everything he did to put Faith in prison.
The counselor was speechless. She looked at Ryan in total shock. Could her patient who’s always appeared to be such a wonderful husband and father actually be a monster? She’s never felt more shocked in all her life.
Week after week she urged Ryan to “get the mother of your children out. The nightmares will never stop until she gets out.”
Ryan tried. He called Mr. Sassen, but was told Sassen no longer worked there. A younger guy replaced him and was handling Faith’s case. “How’s the appeal going?” Ryan asked.
“Appeals in Thailand are almost never successful. The same judge who convicted Faith is now hearing her appeal.”
“What if we can prove she was set up?” Ryan asked.
“Can you somehow get this guy to Thailand?”
“I don’t know. Why do you ask?”
Unless you can find the person who set her up, and get him to Thailand, I don’t know what good it will do. He would have to take her place. Maybe you could trick him into coming here.”
“I don’t know,” Ryan said. “I don’t think he’ll turn himself in.”
“We have a lot better shot at getting her approved for a transfer to the U.S. The government here will want her to serve some of her sentence in Thailand. After they’re able to save face, they will transfer her to the United States where she can serve the rest of her time. The courts in the US will probably releas
e her with time served within a year. I'm working on getting the players in the US and Thailand together to agree to something. It’ll take some time. Nothing moves fast here.”
“How much time would she have to serve here before she can be transferred?”
“That’s hard to say – maybe five, six, seven years.”
The thought of this also frightened Ryan. If he knew one thing about Faith, he knew she would never forgive or forget – even if he now secured her release. Ryan was stuck, and he saw no way out.
A year later, Faith was gone. Now it was time to pay the tab. Ryan found the most beautiful cemetery in Bangkok. The place looked like a monastery. Every tree, every bush, every blade of grass was perfect. He chose the most expensive plot beside a beautiful pond. Ryan was told that those buried by the pond will occupy the highest throne in the afterlife. He had a tree with white flowers planted right behind her headstone. It would provide eternal shade to her earthly body. He paid for a fresh bed of flowers to be planted over her gravesite every year.
He purchased a beautiful casket and a headstone that would make Princess Diana proud. There’s a picture of her in the center with a picture of each of her three children below it and a cross for the one child she lost two years after Hope was born. Faith swore it was another “accident.” All photos were from long, long ago – back before things went so wrong. Ryan visited Thailand one last time to pay his respects. Everything was absolutely beautiful.
The incredible funeral did nothing to stop Ryan’s nightmares. If anything, the nightmares came more often and were more and more morbid. Faith would return again and again looking sick and malnourished. Her beautiful blonde hair was now dark, dirty strands of straw falling over her face. Her bright, blue eyes were now gone with nothing in their place. Her pale, white skin was now a greyish-green. The beautiful white dress he bought for her to be buried in, is old, torn, and dirty. Night after night she returns watching him, walking towards him, looking through the visitation glass at the prison, or the one he hates the most - laying in bed beside him.
The Beginning of Hope: The Highly Anticipated, Mind-Blowing Sequel to the Killing of Faith (The Killing of Faith Series Book 2) Page 13