Brooklyn's Song (15 page)

Chapter 56

Song contacted Mark Gregory from the FBI and asked him if he could take a peek at the financial records of Theresa Renderos. Mark agreed to do it, saying “I can’t give you her account number, just tell me what you’re looking for and I’ll see if I can find it.”

Twenty minutes later, Mark phoned Song and told him he sent all the requested information to him via e-mail.

Mattice looked on as Song read over the e-mail on his phone.

“Mattice, we got her!” Song said, “It says right here that a day before the shooting, Theresa Renderos withdrew five thousand dollars; the exact amount that was found in Jerry’s bank account.”

“We still don’t have enough to take to the DA; we need her prints too, Mattice said.

“Mattice, this is more than enough.”

“Song, I’ve been doing this a little longer than you; trust me, whenever the players are powerful people, you better make damn sure your t’s are crossed and your i’s are dotted. You better have solid, flawless evidence against them before making an arrest.“

Song ran his hands through his hair. “I know you’re right…What about that manila envelope she gave us. Please tell me you still have it.”

Mattice pulled the envelope out of his messenger bag and held it by the corner. “Are you talking about this?”

While Mattice drove, Song phoned Carla Roberts. She wasn’t happy to hear from Song so soon. He asked her if it was possible to lift prints off an envelope and, if so, could she run them against the prints on the flag pin.

“Detective, if the paper hasn’t deteriorated, I have a good shot at it. We are working on a ton of cases right now and I’m-“

“Carla, time is of the essence. I wouldn’t ask you to rush this through if it wasn’t extremely important,” Song eagerly said, “Please, we need the results ASAP!”

Carla sounding exasperated, said; “Drop the envelope off at the front desk and I’ll have the results for you within the next few hours. You owe me …Big time.”

Song had his seat belt off and was out of the car before it came to a complete stop in front of the crime lab. He rushed through the doors almost bumping into a few officers.

After handing the envelope over to Carla’s assistant, he and Mattice headed back to the station.

“Song, I ‘m not trying to get up in your business, but you really should get in touch with Brooklyn. If this thing goes the way I think it’s going to go, she needs to know ahead of time.”

Song kept his eyes focused on the road. “I know, I tried calling her and got her voicemail. I want to tell her in person.”

“No matter what happens, I hope she understands that you were just doing your job.”

At what cost, Song thought.

Chapter 57

When Song and Mattice arrived at the station, they went straight to Lieutenant Phillip’s office and filled her in on all of the evidence they gathered pertaining to Jerry’s death. The two of them left out the fact that Song had obtained the governors polygraph results and that they got hold of Terry’s bank statements.

Lieutenant Phillip’s stirred four packs of sugar into her coffee, took a sip and said, “I’m smelling bullshit! Why wasn’t I up to speed on this investigation? I don’t appreciate being blindsided and I definitely don’t like my detectives going rogue.”

Song glanced at Mattice and Mattice looked at Song. “Lieu, this was a fast moving investigation and we really didn’t have time to-“

“Fill me in?” she said, interrupting Mattice.”‘You know I run things tight around here and I want to be kept in the loop. Furthermore-“

Song’s cell phone vibrated. Lieutenant Phillip’s stopped speaking in mid-sentence and dished out a look that that let him know not to even think about answering the phone.

Song sheepishly said, “It’s the lab; may I please take the call?”             

“You have exactly two minutes,” Lieutenant Phillip’s angrily said.             

“Hey Carla… Are you sure?...Thanks a bunch!” Song looked at Mattice and Lieutenant Phillips and said, “We have a match!”

“Yes!” Mattice yelled, bumping his fist against Song’s.

Lieutenant Phillip’s sat her coffee cup down, took her glasses off and rubbed her eyes. “Oh shit! This must be done by the book. Ms. Vega is going to be represented by some of the best legal minds out there. I want the two of you to be methodical and careful here.

Song phoned the governor’s office and was told that he was busy and wouldn’t be available until sometime next week. Song insisted on speaking to him. He told the secretary that it was an emergency. A few minutes later Governor Peirce was on the phone.

“This is Governor Peirce.” Song could sense he was perturbed.

“Governor, this is Detective Kai with the NYPD and we need to speak with you face to face; the matter is very urgent.”

“Detective Kai, I’m wrapping up a few things and then I’m flying out to spend the weekend with my fiancée; whatever you need to say you can tell me over the phone.”

“Governor, with all due respect this is a very…” Song paused searching for the right word. “Delicate matter and should really be discussed in person.”

“My patience is running out. I’ll speak to you next week when I return.”

“We know you failed the polygraph when questioned about your wife’s death!” Song blurted out.

There was no response. He wasn’t sure if the governor had ending the call or if the call was dropped.

“Governor, are you there?” Song asked.

The governor’s voice sounded broken and defeated, “Yes, I’m … I’m here.“

”We need to speak to you alone without your assistants.”

“Get here within the next half hour. I’ll let my secretary know you’re on your way. We’ll have the utmost privacy.”

Chapter 58

Governor Pierce stood staring out the window when Song and Mattice entered his office.

“We have a nest of mourning doves living out there in the birch tree,” he said; his voice sounding soft and distant. “Every summer my wife and I used to take our daughters to the Willow Bay bird sanctuary. They loved it there. I remember my youngest, Brooklyn, crying because the birds were in cages. My wife explained to her that it was the safest place for them to be. She told Brooklyn that the cages surrounded the birds and protected them like our four walls back home protected us.”

The mention of Brooklyn’s name made Song feel a pang in his heart. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her, but he knew at this point it was unavoidable.

The Governor walked over and took a seat behind his expansive sandalwood desk. He gestured for Song and Mattice to sit down. His tie was undone and his sleeves were rolled up. Whenever Song saw the governor on TV or even in person he always looked as if he were ready for a photo shoot with GQ. Today, however, was a different story. The governor looked shaken and grief stricken. Song recognized the look because after his wife died it was the same look that he himself had worn for months…For years.

“Governor, we have some new developments in your case,” Song said

The Governor folded his hands across his chest and said, “What does my polygraph have to do with the shooting? Surely, you don’t think that I hired that guy to…To shoot Lydia.”

“The evidence we found led us to believe that Jerry was hired. And after seeing that you failed the polygraph, we….” Song stopped assuming the governor knew what was coming next.

“Detective, when I lost my wife, I had two little girls to care for. They were broken beyond belief. I didn’t have time to grieve right away, so when questioned by police, yes, I failed the test. They asked if I was responsible for my wife’s death; I said no, but I felt…I still feel responsible. I should have been there. I should have been able to help her. Margret suffered from depression throughout our relationship…” His voice broke with emotion. “I couldn’t understand why she was so unhappy. I thought here’s this beautiful woman, who has everything imaginable, everything money can buy, yet none of it made a difference. I pushed her everyday to get out of bed, to shower, to do something…” He took a sip of water. “We managed to shield our girls from Margret’s illness. A week before…She…She took her own life, I did the most unimaginable thing…I told her about my indiscretion.”

He glanced down. “‘I’m not proud of it; it only happened once; I turned to another woman. That affair had to be the catalyst that drove Margret to take her own life. So yes, I was responsible for her death.” Tears rolled down the governor’s cheeks. Song and Mattice just sat there speechless.

“The woman you had the affair; was it Terry?” Song asked.

The governor looked sick at the mention of Terry’s name. He shakily brought the glass to his mouth and took a sip. He didn’t have to say a word; Song and Mattice knew for certain Terry was the woman.

The Governor leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes and nodded his head. “Yes, it was Terry. We spent the weekend together on the road and, in a weak moment, I found myself in her bed. It happened just that one time. I told Terry it would never happen again.”

“Governor, we have reason to believe that Lydia was the target and not you,” Mattice said.

“That’s absurd! Why would anyone want to hurt…” His voice trailed off and a look of horror crossed his face. He placed his hand over his mouth as if he just realized the answer was right before him.

“Terry picked up Lydia’s engagement ring for me at the jeweler the morning of the shooting. I told her a few months ago I was planning on proposing to Lydia… What have I done? I should have known.”

“Sir, you had no way of knowing what she was planning,” Song said.

“Where is she now?” Mattice asked.

‘I’m not sure, but I think she’s in her office.” The governor picked up his receiver and dialed a number. “Anna, please connect me to Miss Vega’s office. “Yes, Terry, I’m on my way to your office, please stay put.”

Chapter 59

Song and Mattice followed behind the governor as he walked past his secretary’s desk and down the corridor. He stopped in front of a set of glass panel French doors. Song peered through the glass and saw Terry sitting behind her desk. She was talking on her cell phone. The governor rapped his knuckles against the door. “Come in,” she said. They all entered the room.

“You take care too, “Terry said, before placing her phone on her desk. She smiled nervously. “Hello Sage…Detectives.”

The governor’s voice was filled with disgust and disdain. “Terry, these detectives would like to have a word with you.”

She looked confused and concerned. “Sage, what… What’s going on…What’s this about?”

“Mattice,” Song said, anxiously, “Could you please escort the governor out of the room.”

Mattice reached for the governor’s arm and tried to pull him away.

“My God Terry,” the governor cried, “What did you do…What did you do?”

Mattice respectfully grabbed the governor’s elbow. “Please, sir, let us do our job.”

Terry sat in her chair and began to sob uncontrollably. She looked stunned. Song was in the process of retrieving his handcuffs when he saw Terry pull her desk drawer open. Before he could reach her, she pulled out a gun.

“She’s got a gun!” Song yelled.

Mattice quickly stepped in front of the governor shielding him. Song had his weapon in hand, prepared to shoot.

“Terry, let Mattice and the governor walk out of here; you and I can talk,” Song said, keeping his voice calm.

She continued to point the gun at Mattice; her hands shaking as she cried out loud.

She looked at Song, held her finger on the trigger with the gun pointed at Mattice. “Drop your weapon!” she demanded.

“Miss Vega, we need to talk about this. We don’t want anyone to get hurt. Let’s just talk this out” Song said, inching closer.

“I’ll tell you one more time; drop your fucking weapon!” she screamed.

Song glanced at Mattice for guidance. Mattice shook his head no. Song stopped in his tracks when he heard Terry click the safety off the gun.

This time when Terry spoke, her voice was eerily calm. She had regained her composure. “Detective, you may shoot me, but I will get off at least one shot before that happens. Are you willing to take that chance with your partner’s life…With the governor’s life?”

Song looked over at Mattice. Mattice closed his eyes and shook his head no, indicating to Song not to drop his weapon. Song slowly removed the clip from his gun and placed it on the floor. He sat the gun down beside it and stood with his hands raised.

She glared at Mattice. “Now you do the same!’ Mattice followed suit.

“The three of you; get on your knees!”

All three complied. Terry got out of her chair and walked around and sat at the edge of her desk. She brushed her hair back and wiped the tears away with the back of her hand.

“Sage, I was in love with you way before we spent that night together. You knew that and yet…You still married Margret. The cruelest part is watching you build this life with her, the life that I should have had.”

“Terry, I never meant to hurt you. Please, put the gun down. We’ll get you the best lawyers that money can buy,” he said. Song could hear the fear in the governor’s voice.

“Miss Vega, we don’t want to see anyone else get hurt. Let’s just talk this out. Please, put the gun down,” Song pleaded.

Terry stared off in the distance and screamed, “No! No! No! Just shut up! Shut the fuck up!” She began to pace back and forth mumbling to herself.

Song knew she was becoming incoherent which made the situation even more dangerous.

“Sage, all I’ve ever done, day in and day out, is support you. I knew Margret was a burden; she would have held you back. You never would have been the great man that you are today. She was an embarrassment. Do you honestly think you would have made it this far with someone like that by your side?”

“Terry, what are you saying? What are you saying?” The governor screamed.