37

by David Achord

  “I don’t care about that, and I don’t think anyone will criticize Percy to his face and get away with it.”

  She was right. Most of the time, Percy’s stare alone would prevent someone from running their mouth. I sipped my coffee, thinking of the appropriate piece of advice. Anna was a beautiful young lady, but emotionally, she still had a lot of kid in her.

  “I just want to you to be happy,” I finally said.

  I finished my coffee and stood. She stood as well. I reached out and gave her a hug, which seemed like the right thing to do. In the brief time we’d known each other, she’d come to look at me as a father figure and frequently sought my approval. I patted her on the back and gently broke contact.

  “Alright, we can talk more about Percy later. Right now, I have a surprise for you.”

  I refused to tell her what it was, and instead coaxed her to my Mustang.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “Not far,” I answered, and soon we were turning into my neighbor Buford’s driveway. He had his garage door open and was tinkering with something on his workbench. Two dogs were in the driveway playing tug-of-war with a length of rope. One of the dogs was a German Shepherd puppy mix. As soon as we got out of the car, she forgot all about the rope and bounded over to Anna. Anna crouched down and she was quickly assaulted with licks to the face, which caused her to giggle uncontrollably.

  “Happy birthday,” I said.

  She looked up in surprise. “What do you mean?”

  “Buford found her in a ditch on the side of the road. She’s a sweet girl and in good health. We talked about it and thought she’d be a good birthday present for you.”

  Buford had stopped whatever he was doing and walked up.

  “You were supposed to give it to her yesterday,” he remarked.

  “Yeah, I messed up.”

  “She’s beautiful,” Anna said.

  “The vet said she’s about ten to twelve weeks old and in good health,” Buford said. “As you can see, she’s full of energy, but she ain’t housebroken and she needs her second round of Parvo shots.”

  “What’s her name?” Anna asked.

  “Well, Thomas and I were going to let you name her, but I’ve been calling her Gracie,” he said. “She’s young enough where you can change her name though. It won’t mess her up any.”

  Anna held her at arm’s length. “Gracie is a beautiful name,” she said and then hugged the dog tightly. The dog responded by trying to eat her hair.

  Special Agent-in-Charge Reuben Chandler and a sizeable black man were standing in my drive when the three of us arrived back at my house. Gracie yipped at the sight of the two of them. Whether she sensed she was guarding her new home from strangers or she saw them as playmates was debatable. I gave it fifty-fifty.

  “I would have brought my wife to protect me, but she had to work,” Reuben said. “So, I brought a co-worker. Thomas, Anna, this is Special Agent Dresden Carpenter.”

  “Good morning, sir, ma’am,” he said in a deep baritone voice. He was dark skinned and even though he was wearing a suit, it looked like he had the physique of a linebacker. I had no doubt he could handle himself.

  “Why are you here?” I asked.

  “You wouldn’t answer your phone,” Reuben replied.

  “That’s because one of your minions destroyed it,” Anna huffed and gave Reuben a brief withering stare before turning and carrying her yipping present into the house.

  I pulled my phone out of my pocket and handed it to Reuben. “Thanks to Un-Special Agent Stainback, it no longer works.”

  He looked it over thoughtfully before handing it to Agent Carpenter. Agent Carpenter tried to turn it on. He didn’t seem surprised when it didn’t work.

  “Now that wasn’t very nice,” he remarked, and to my surprise. he pulled his own phone out of his jacket pocket and took a few photos of my damaged phone before handing it back to me.

  “Would you like to take a look at what they did to my Explorer?” I asked.

  I led them around to the back of the house and watched as the two men inspected my SUV. Agent Carpenter did not hesitate and began taking more photos.

  “Agent Carpenter is with OPR, the Office of Professional Responsibility,” Reuben said. “He is conducting a formal investigation of Agents Stainback and Pollard.”

  Reuben caught my look and offered a small, friendly smile. “Contrary to what you may think, I did not authorize Stainback and Pollard’s actions.” He gestured toward Agent Carpenter. “Special Agent Carpenter is one of our best and he expects nothing but professionalism from our agents.”

  “Mister Ironcutter, we would like for you to come to the office where we can conduct a formal interview,” Agent Carpenter requested. “Your cooperation would be greatly appreciated.”

  I shook my head slowly. “I believe I’m done being ordered around by Fibs. If you want to question me, we can do it here.”

  They reluctantly agreed and we relocated to my kitchen table. I poured myself a large glass of ice water and reluctantly offered them coffee. Agent Carpenter produced a notepad that seemed to look a little different than a normal notepad. Dresden saw my interest.

  “It’s one of those smart notepads,” he said, showing it to me. “I write my notes on it, take a picture with a special app on my phone, and it automatically converts my notes to a PDF and emails it to a cloud account.”

  I looked at it a moment longer before handing it back to him. “Why don’t you simply record me with your smartphone?” I asked.

  “That is against FBI protocol. As a rule, we only record an interview under special or extraordinary circumstances.”

  “That’s dumb,” I muttered. “You should record all interviews.”

  Dresden offhandedly nodded. “Shall we begin?”

  Reuben remained quiet and let Agent Carpenter conduct the interview. The questions and answers lasted no less than two hours. I started with the fight in Memphis.

  “It is my understanding you were advised to stand down from your investigation,” Agent Carpenter asked.

  “Yes. Reuben and Stainback paid me a visit a few days ago. I chose to continue my investigation into the murder of Jason Belew, but let’s be clear: my investigation in no way interfered with any FBI investigation. To infer differently would require proof, which there is none. Have you read the affidavits on the search warrant?”

  Dresden pursed his lips. “I admit, the probable cause is weak.”

  I scoffed. “Yeah, that’s one way of putting it.”

  Agent Carpenter jotted a few notes before looking up. “Please continue.”

  I continued with minimal interruptions and went slowly so Agent Carpenter could keep up with his notes. I had to admit, the man was both professional and thorough. He asked about my attorney. I replied my attorney of record was Sherman Goldman, but the entire staff of the Goldman Law Firm was at my disposal. He did not question me about Ronald’s presence in Memphis. That could prove problematic if anyone found out who Ronald was, but I’d deal with it if it happened.

  Which led to another dilemma. If I played the recording of the two agents conspiring to set me up, I would have to give them the details about how the recording was obtained. I decided to keep that information to myself as well—for now.

  Once Agent Carpenter was finished, he tucked away his notepad and offered a placating smile.

  “I’m sure you know these things take time, but I can promise you there will be a resolution to the matter,” Reuben said.

  I peered closely at the two men.

  “I’m sensing there is more going on here than two agents trampling on my rights.”

  “Indeed,” Agent Carpenter replied.

  “Care to clue me in?” I asked.

  I watched Reuben give a subtle nod to Agent Carpenter.

  “Agents Pollard and Stainback are under investigation not only for their actions regarding you and your friends, but for the entire case investigation.”

&
nbsp; “What kind of case is it?” I asked.

  Reuben finished his coffee and deliberately set the cup down on the kitchen table. “Why don’t we go outside and take another look at the damage to your vehicle.” Without waiting for an answer, he stood, which caused Agent Carpenter and me to stand as well. I followed them outside and the three of us stopped in front of my Explorer.

  “I bought it off of the showroom floor, did I mention that?” I asked rather sarcastically.

  “Twice now,” Agent Carpenter replied.

  “I don’t believe I’ve mentioned the Nashville office has a fleet of Ford Explorers,” Reuben remarked. “All of them have been modified, of course, but we have a contract with a local Ford dealership to service and repair the vehicles.”

  “How nice,” I said.

  “I know you are an avid mechanic, but if you would be willing, we can have your Explorer towed to the dealership and they can make the necessary repairs,” he said. “I’ll have them make it a priority and it should be repaired in a couple of days. Would that be acceptable, Thomas?”

  “Will the FBI be paying the bill?” I asked.

  “Of course,” he replied.

  “What about my two stolen handguns and other property?”

  “It is currently in Memphis. I am in the process of having it shipped to the Nashville office.”

  “I have a better idea: ship it directly to me, or else arrest Agent Stainback for theft,” I said.

  Reuben smiled patiently. “One of us has to deliver it to you personally. It should be here within a couple of days. I’m sure you have one or two backup weapons to tide you over in the meantime.”

  That was an understatement. I had several weapons stored in my gun safe I could choose from.

  “What is your decision, Thomas?” Reuben asked.

  I thought it over. They would probably take the opportunity to install a GPS device in it, but I’d be able to find it and disable it. “Alright.”

  He nodded. “Good.”

  I pulled my key fob out and handed it to him. “Now, are you two going to clue me in on what this super-secret investigation is all about?”

  Reuben answered in a manner of a man accustomed to deflecting and avoiding a direct response. “A formal investigation of Agents Stainback and Pollard is underway.”

  “I see.” He answered my question vaguely enough to not tell me jack-shit. Typical FBI. “You know, that doesn’t tell me much. I guess you don’t trust me with the information.”

  Reuben’s expression tightened and he glanced at Agent Carpenter, who shrugged.

  “It’s your call, sir.”

  Reuben’s frown intensified somewhat before he cleared his throat.

  “Over the course of the past five years, there have been thirty-seven abductions of young women in which those groups of gypsies are the primary suspects,” he said.

  Chapter 25

  My mouth went dry. “Did I hear you correctly?”

  Reuben gave a terse nod. “You did. This is a joint investigation with Interpol. The first known abduction occurred in Romania five years ago. The majority of them are in eastern European countries, but there have been three in the United States. Three that we know of. The last one occurred on February twenty-first in McMinnville. That is the last one we know of. There may be others.”

  Enlightenment dawned on me and hit me like a sledgehammer. “Telisha Thompkins,” I said.

  “Yes. Interpol believes this is the work of a white slavery ring. It wasn’t until the last month that we got a major break when Raymondo Calendar contacted his cousin and wanted to make a deal.”

  Reuben gave what you’d call a pregnant pause, waiting to see if I made the connection. I thought about it a moment before figuring it out.

  “His cousin is Special Agent Juanita Stainback,” I said.

  “Yes. Second cousin, I believe. He was arrested by the DEA and was facing the possibility of several years’ imprisonment.”

  “Did he have good information?” I asked.

  “He did. I’m going to decline to get into specifics, I’m sure you can understand, but we’re close to breaking this case,” he said.

  I digested the information and worked it over in my mind.

  “What are you thinking, Thomas?” Agent Carpenter asked.

  “I’m trying to figure out how Jason Belew’s murder figures into all of this,” I said.

  “You seem certain the suspect in his murder is one of the gypsies,” he said.

  “I am. Jason had no problems with anyone at that event and he was last seen talking with Wolf. The only injury he had was a crushed throat and someone made the effort to hide his body. It was a rush job; they only intended it to stay hidden long enough to allow them some time to get away. They did not know it would stay hidden for as long as it did.”

  “Perhaps he saw the abduction of Telisha Thompkins,” Agent Carpenter surmised.

  “Yeah, perhaps.”

  I thought about it a moment. “I’m sure you guys know Telisha also went to the event.”

  “Yes,” Agent Carpenter said. “The TBI has located some video of her in the audience, but we do not have much more than that. Agent Meeks has begun the process of interviewing people who were at the event. Unfortunately, people have not been very forthcoming.”

  I nodded. “She had been interacting with someone on social media.”

  “Another dead end. By the time that was investigated, the information had been deleted from the internet.”

  “Alright, see if you agree to the following: Telisha meets someone online who promises her the moon and stars. Let’s say that person is Wolf. He lures her to the fight and promises to take her away with him. She agrees. Maybe Jason sees the two of them together. Wolf and his crew decide he is a potential eyewitness and therefore a liability. So, Wolf gets him alone and kills him.”

  “It is certainly a viable scenario,” Agent Carpenter said. “So, indulge me, please. What do you think happens next?”

  “They get Telisha in their RV somehow, either by ruse or force. Maybe Jason sees this. Wolf kills Jason, but he realizes he has to do something with the body. He spots the abandoned train cars. For a physically fit man, it would not be difficult for him to throw Jason’s lifeless body over his shoulders and carry him.

  “Or, even better, he lured Jason to the train cars with the promise of sex or something. Once they were out of eyesight to any potential witnesses, he then kills him.”

  Both men gave slight nods. “And then what?” Reuben asked.

  “Simple, they carry Telisha to their transfer location. My guess is Chicago. After all, Chicago has an international airport and shipping ports. If I were to guess, I’d say they use the shipping ports, simply because security is not as strict and it’d be easier to get into and out of.”

  This time Reuben frowned. “But why Chicago?”

  Surprisingly, they were unaware of the Chicago link.

  “They have connections to Chicago.”

  I gave a somewhat brief explanation without fully explaining Lilith. Dresden took out his phone and began tapping on it. I assumed he was texting someone, or perhaps accessing an FBI database. They didn’t tell me much—it was more like a one-way street on information exchange—but that was okay. I gleaned bits and pieces from the nature of the questions they asked me.

  As soon as they left, Anna walked outside and put Gracie in the yard. She promptly started sniffing around and pounced on a bug.

  “She’s already peed on the floor,” she said. “Don’t worry, I’ve cleaned it up.”

  “You’re responsible for training her,” I admonished. “And cleaning up after her.”

  “I know, don’t worry. What are you doing today?” she asked.

  “I’m going to a phone store and get this thing fixed. What about you?”

  “Ms. Braxton is paying Marti and me to help her with a charity function she’s hosting.”

  “What are you going to do about Gracie?” I asked.
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  She bit her lip when she realized she was going to be leaving Gracie alone on her first night in her new home.

  “She’ll be alright inside, won’t she?” she asked.

  “Nope. She’s still a puppy. She will need frequent potty trips outside and if she doesn’t get attention, she’ll find stuff to chew up.”

  We talked about it and decided to set up a bed for her in the garage. The weather was decent enough and anything in there that she could tear up would not be that much of an issue.

  “You shouldn’t be gone all night though. She’s like a little kid; she needs lots of attention.”

  “The function is over at six, so I should be home an hour later. I promise,” she said.

  “Good. I might grab a bite to eat somewhere and hang out at Mick’s a little while.”

  “Why don’t you ask Debbie out?” she said with a teasing smile.

  “I’m not up for it right now. Maybe in a day or two,” I replied.

  I hopped in my Mustang and went to a meat-and-three restaurant on Charlotte Pike. The bubbly waitress informed me the day’s special was country fried steak. I got sides of potatoes, green beans, coleslaw, and a large glass of sweet tea, of course.

  The place was full of strangers who had no idea who I was, so I was left to my own thoughts as I ate. I wondered about the abductions, and if my phone worked, I would have got on the internet and see what I could find. The thought of what Stainback and Pollard did to me continued to irk me, but Reuben and his agent had at least temporarily placated me. I made a note to, at the minimum, give Sherman a call and at least talk to him about it, even though I knew I wasn’t going to sue.

  Finishing my meal, I left a decent tip and headed to the phone store. The kid who waited on me looked at my ruined phone and snorted.

  “What happened, did your wife get mad at you?” he asked with a gleeful grin.

  “Something like that,” I answered. “What are my options?”

  He stared at the phone, making a face the whole time. “Dude, this one is toast. And it’s an older model. You should get the latest model. Upgrade, that’s the way to go.”

  “Yeah, alright,” I said.