Last Word

by Robin Mahle

  He walked into the hall bath and straightened his tie and returned to the kitchen window a final time before leaving. “What the hell?” The cars were gone and his wish had just been granted.

  With expediency, he fled his apartment building. It was urgent he get to her at all costs. Vega made the call while he drove. “It’s me. Can you meet me at La Costa’s near H Street in twenty minutes? Great. I’ll see you then.”

  On arrival at the coffee shop, he spotted her sitting at a table, a cup of steaming coffee in her hands as she took a sip. A subtle wave of his hand and he approached her. “Thanks for meeting me on such short notice.”

  “That’s fine. I figured with what’s going on that you’d want to talk. Is he okay?”

  “No. But you might be able to help him. How about you finish that up and let’s take a drive. I don’t want to talk here.”

  “Yeah, sure. Okay.” She finished her drink and stood. “Let’s go.”

  Vega led the way outside and opened the passenger door of his car for her. A quick read of the area and he stepped inside. “I know a place that won’t have any eyes or ears. We can figure this out together.”

  She nodded. “Thanks for doing this, Phil. It means a lot to me and I know Grant would appreciate it too.”

  Within several minutes, they’d arrived at Vega’s preset destination.

  “This is the place?”

  “Yes. Is this okay?”

  “I guess so. Looks abandoned.”

  “Exactly why I chose it. Come on. Let’s go in.”

  Vega pushed open the door that led to the lobby. “This place has been abandoned for a while, but they’re about to tear it down. Follow me; this unit’s open.” He looked back at her. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Just don’t think we should be here. Isn’t there someplace else we can talk?”

  “We need to ensure complete seclusion. Especially in light of the story that came out this morning.”

  “Right.” She retrieved her cell phone. “Maybe I should just text my office and let them know I’m running late.”

  “No.” Vega nearly slapped the phone from her hand. “No texts. Not until we’re done. Can’t risk it.” He noted her growing fear. “Look, I know these are extraordinary circumstances, but with everything that’s been going on, it has to be this way. I’m trying to help you. You understand that, right? Haven’t I always been there to help, especially where Grant is concerned.”

  “Yes. Of course you have. I’m sorry. Let’s just figure this out and get a story together. I know you have his best interest at heart.”

  “Go on in.” A final check of the area and he closed the door, securing it behind him.

  “We should’ve kept a tail on him.” Vasquez pulled into the Metro PD station. “We risk losing the only lead we have.”

  “If this story hadn’t come out, I’d say you might be right, but I think he’ll want to stay close to Copeland today,” Kate replied. “If what you say is true, he’ll want to keep Copeland in his sights. Right now, let’s focus on getting Phelps up to speed on what you found out about him. It will make a difference.”

  “What about Baltimore?”

  “Of course Pearson will want to be updated, but what we need to remember is, Vega’s here in D.C. Unless something else goes down in Baltimore, Pearson can’t do much for us.”

  They stepped out of her car and entered the station, which was already teeming with press.

  “Welcome to the circus.” Kate held the door for her as they approached the front desk. “Is Detective Phelps here?” She displayed her badge.

  The officer pointed toward the hall. “In his office. Go on back before you get hammered by these assholes.”

  “Thanks.” She headed into the corridor with Vasquez and approached Phelps’ office. “We need to talk.”

  “I figured you’d show. Close the door.”

  “Vasquez received evidence that Copeland’s chief of staff, Phillip Vega, was in contact with Copeland’s political opponent on several occasions in recent weeks.” Kate jumped right in because any more time dedicated to this man was time better spent elsewhere.

  “So.”

  Vasquez appeared stunned. “So? So given what’s happened, don’t you find that the least bit concerning?”

  “In what way? People in Washington talk to one another. Last I checked, that wasn’t a crime.”

  Kate stepped toward him and hovered over his desk. “Look. Whatever deal you have going on with Copeland is over. You understand? If you don’t bring Vega in, then I will. And, I’ll bring in the guy he’s working for too. That’s one congressional official and two members of the House. You want a circus? I’ll give you a damn circus.”

  “The fuck you think you are?” He stood from his chair. “You aren’t running this investigation, I am. I decide who to question. You and your team at the FBI are consultants, so you’d better check your ego, missy.”

  Heat rose in her cheeks and her heart beat faster in her chest. “I’m going to recommend charges of obstruction be filed against you. You want to play this game, you chose to piss off the wrong person. Don’t think for one minute I don’t see through you, Phelps.” She stared at him, waiting for a response, but none came.

  Vasquez reached for Kate’s shoulder. “Come on. We’re wasting our time here.”

  “That’s right. Go on, pretty lady. Listen to your sidekick.”

  Kate stopped in her tracks.

  “Don’t. You’ll only make it worse.” Vasquez nudged her to continue until she finally gave in.

  Vega continued inside the derelict apartment unit. “Thank you for trusting me. We can fix this.”

  The young woman was put together well, but her frayed nerves were beginning to show through the polished veneer. “So how should we handle this? What can we do to minimize the damage to Grant? I’m so sorry he’s tangled up in it. I can’t imagine what he must be going through right now.”

  “I think the only way to solve this is to rid ourselves of the problem in the first place.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He took hold of her shoulders and forced her to a nearby chair. “Have a seat.”

  “What are you doing? Phil, you’re hurting me.”

  “I’m sorry it has to be this way, but you brought this on yourself.”

  Her eyes reflected the fear that he instilled in her. She seemed to understand now the purpose of their meeting. “Please, Phil, don’t do this. You don’t have to do this.”

  “You fucked him, Wendy. You fucked him when you knew he was married and had a family and none of that mattered to you.”

  “You think Grant is innocent in this? Do you even know the kind of man you work for? What an arrogant son of a bitch he is?”

  “The truth comes out now, doesn’t it? Grant can’t do any more favors for you here, can he?” Phil retrieved the gun tucked in his belt. “I won’t pretend he doesn’t share blame in this, but he’ll get what he deserves soon enough. You should thank me for sparing you the public humiliation you would’ve endured once word got out. The others would thank me too, if they’d had the chance. Except maybe Meredith. She was an unfortunate result of another of Grant’s misdeeds, but then, she had been a tease, even tried that shit with me once.”

  “Oh my God. You’re fucking crazy, you know that?” She tried to jostle around him, but he wouldn’t release her. “Let me go. I swear I’ll scream.”

  Vega pointed the gun at her forehead. “You won’t have time.” He stepped back and fired, flinching as her blood and brains spattered across his face. He continued to hold her arm as she fell limp and he lowered her to the ground.

  She lay still, eyes wide and staring up at him as though she were in a pool of water, drowning. He grabbed his briefcase and retrieved the plastic bags in which to place his now blood-stained clothes. A fresh shirt and pants were neatly folded inside along with something else. The scrap of fabric that had become his own personal signature. A fitting one at tha
t. With the red lipstick, he wrote the word that held all the meaning it needed. Each of these women had earned it, even Meredith Bowen and maybe especially her.

  Vega folded the soft and luxurious piece of bedsheet and approached her again. Kneeling down, he pressed on her chin to open her mouth and with two fingers, pushed the fabric inside as far as he could. Upon stepping back to examine his work, he realized she looked like a squirrel hiding a nut. While the thought made him smile, this was no laughing matter. It was a job and the job was done.

  With meticulous care, Vega placed his soiled clothes into the plastic bags, along with the paper towels used to clean his face. The abandoned building had no running water, but he had planned for that too. Bottles of water assisted with the cleanup, but he would leave her here for the police to find. It would likely be a few days, he hoped. The building wasn’t scheduled for demolition for another week. For now, though, Vega would go into the office and prepare a statement for Copeland and play the good and loyal chief of staff he was supposed to be.

  No sooner had the elevator doors parted was Kate marching in haste to Dwight’s office. Vasquez trailed close behind.

  “Just calm down, Kate. I know you’re pissed, but don’t go in there making demands to Jameson. He won’t go for that and you know it.” Vasquez grabbed her in the hall. “Kate. Stop. Take a breath.”

  “Can you believe that guy? Who the hell does he think he is?”

  “He’s the lead investigator on a case we’re consulting on. Look, the way he handled that was shitty, but if you want to get him thrown off, or get the entire department thrown off, then you need a valid reason and you need to deliver that reason with a cool head.”

  “You’re right. I’m just seriously pissed off.”

  “I know you are. And you have a right to be. That condescending prick deserves the boot. Let’s go in there together, present our case, and see what Jameson has to say about it.”

  “Yeah. Okay.”

  Just as they were about to make their way inside, Dwight charged out of his office. “What the hell just happened? Get your asses in here, both of you.”

  “Phelps is refusing to question Copeland’s chief of staff, Phillip Vega, even after we presented him with new information.” Vasquez was the first to jump into the fire.

  “I just got a call from his captain. He says you two were planning on getting him thrown off the case and that we would be taking over. Is that true?”

  Kate folded her arms. “Yes. It’s true. He needs to get the hell out of the way so we can do our goddamn jobs. I’m telling you, he’s hiding something big and it’s going to cost us this case. We’re going to lose our only lead. It’s bad enough the Post ran that story, but now we have to deal with Phelps’ obstruction? I can’t sit by and watch that happen, Dwight. I won’t.”

  “You have any idea what kind of shit storm you just stirred up? Now I got to go in there and talk to his captain and kowtow to him. For someone who’s trying to get hired on at BAU Headquarters, you sure as hell are kicking up a hornet’s nest over this detective.”

  She threw her arms in the air. “What am I supposed to do? He’s ignoring recommendations, stalling on sharing evidence and statements so I can complete a profile to help him. He has left us with no choice. Vasquez got a lead on this chief of staff and I’ll be damned if we’re going to let it go cold.” Kate turned on her heel and started out the door.

  “Reid?” Dwight shot a look to Vasquez before following her into the corridor. “Agent Reid, wait.”

  She stopped and whipped back around. “What?” Realizing who she was addressing, she closed her eyes and inhaled. “I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that.”

  “You’re damn right I didn’t. Kate, I understand your frustration. Believe me, I’ve been in your shoes before and I’m sorry as hell you have to go through this. It was bound to happen at some point in your career.”

  “What should I do, Dwight? Vasquez and I have been busting our asses trying to stop this killer before he kills again.”

  “But that’s the problem, Kate. That’s not your job. Not this time. And I’ll be honest with you. I think Vasquez is the only one trying to find the killer. You’ve been too busy trying to bring down Phelps and Grant Copeland.”

  “I know they’re tied together. I swear they are. And now you’re telling me I have to let this go? Just sit by and watch Phelps ignore the facts?”

  “Confronting him wasn’t the way to go. Let me talk to his captain and try to smooth things over. I’ll tell him we’ll take a step back and let his people do what they think is best. But I will voice my concerns over this Vega situation. If the captain chooses to ignore me, then there isn’t much I can do about that. At least our asses will be covered.”

  “I don’t want to just cover our asses, Dwight. Regardless of what you think, I want to stop this killer. If Copeland’s the type of man I think he is, he’s got more women in the wings and we’ll need to find them before the killer does.”

  20

  The arrival of Phil Vega at Copeland’s office on the Hill went largely unnoticed. The staff was too busy dousing the many fires that raged as a result of the front-page story in the Post. In fact, they were so preoccupied, no one noticed the speck of blood that clung to his cheek. It wasn’t until he caught a glimpse in a mirror on the way to see his boss that he wiped it away. And there was something else he noticed too; the face that peered back at him was that of someone he no longer recognized.

  “There you are. Christ, where have you been?” Copeland approached him. “We need to get out in front of this. Do you have that statement ready? And I don’t want any of your bullshit resignation talk.” He waited for an answer. “Phil? What the hell’s going on with you? You said you were going to work on a statement. Where is it?”

  “I was held up. I’m sorry. I’ll have it to you in the next thirty minutes.”

  Copeland regarded him with growing concern. “What’s going on? You look—unnerved. Did something happen?”

  “No. I’m just trying to figure out how we get past this.”

  “Right. Okay, just get something together as soon as possible. We’re being hounded by the press and I don’t know how much longer I can hole up in here.”

  “Of course. I’ll get right on it.”

  Copeland watched him leave with mounting worry. He leaned on Phil in times of distress, but this was far worse than any of them had ever experienced. This was a career-ending story and now it seemed his right-hand-man had felt the same.

  With his cell phone buzzing in his pocket, Copeland returned to the moment, though it was no less troubling. “Yes.”

  “You and your boy better get down here now.”

  “Like I said before, we’ve already given you statements. What more is there?”

  “I’ve got a lobby full of reporters. Captain is up my ass asking questions about why the Feds want me thrown off the investigation and you’re asking what more?”

  “You’re the one who offered me assurances and you’re the one who failed to live up to them, even after we came to an agreement.”

  “Tread lightly, Congressman. If you don’t come down to the station, you’ll leave me with no choice but to bring you in. Think of how that will play out in the media.”

  “I need some time. My chief of staff is drafting a statement now. Can you at least give me an hour?”

  “You have one hour. If you’re not here, I’ll send someone to come and get you.”

  “You know, Phelps, for a man in your situation, demands ought to be doled out with a modicum of respect.”

  “I could say the same about you. I’ll see you in one hour.”

  The line went dead and Copeland stared at his phone as though he could reach through it and put a chokehold on this man whom he wished he’d never engaged. If word got out he’d paid him to help silence the increasing questions about the murders, Copeland would be drawn and quartered, regardless of his innocence.

  He marched out of
his office and through the maze of corridors leading to Phil. “Is it ready?”

  With his eyes fixed on his computer, he began, “Almost. I’m polishing it up now.”

  “Good. We have an hour before we have to go to the station.”

  “Why?”

  “Phelps is demanding it.”

  “Are we under arrest for something?”

  “No. But if he isn’t seen as trying to move the case forward, including our voluntary arrival and subsequent statements, it’s going to make us and him look increasingly guilty.”

  “He should be focused on finding the killer. Not indicting us on the public stage.”

  “As much as I’d like to agree with you, if we don’t do as he asks, he’ll send someone here to get us. That’s the last thing we want. Voluntary cooperation is the way to play this and I think you know that.”

  “I’m printing off the statement now for your review. Then we’ll go. We’ll do what the detective wants. I don’t agree with it, but if you think it’s best, then that’s what we’ll do.”

  “Good. I’ll grab it, mark it up, and then head out.”

  As Grant left his office, Phil understood the time had come to bring this to an end. Finish what he had set out to do. Copeland’s career was over, but Phil wanted much more than that. He wanted to make him pay for what he’d done.

  The team approached the Metro Police station and Dwight began, “I’ll let you do the talking, unless you want me to step in.”

  “No,” Kate said. “I’d rather take it from here. The pressure you put on his captain obviously worked. Phelps said the congressman and his chief of staff would be here by eleven.” She checked the time. “It’s 10:45 now. And by the looks of the place, my guess is they’ll come in around back.”