Checkmate (Caitlin Calloway Mystery Book 2) (58 page)

Based on the stunned look on everyone’s face, CC could only guess that she had asked the right question. “I’m still fuzzy on the details and can’t quite remember who I told I was coming here.”

“Okay, that’s enough.” Jamie ushered the others out of the room. “I said no work.” Her voice trembled as she spoke.

“James,” CC said wearily. “Okay, fine. I’ll behave. It’s not like I can focus.”

“Good. You just get comfortable. One more thing…” Jamie hesitated. “Your mother’s waiting to see you.”

“What?” CC wailed, setting off the monitors she was hooked up to.

*   *  *

“I need to talk to her,” Val said while Max blocked her way. “I have to know who she talked to.”

“You heard her. She’s still a little out of it.

“But still clear enough to know someone sandbagged her,” Val said tersely. “Sampson, with everything going on, her schedule is erratic to say the least. I want to know who was following her.”

“So do I. Come up to my penthouse and we’ll talk.”

Chapter 44

“Are you satisfied?” Max smirked, much to Val’s annoyance.

“You were right, she’s not clearheaded,” she said. “She was talking about clowns chasing her.” Despite Max’s objections, Val had gone back into Calloway’s room and the glassy-eyed look she received had been a deterrent.

“Nice digs,” she added after she glanced at the swanky hospital room Max had been staying in. Ricky looked up from the sofa and nodded.

“This had better be good.” Ricky tried to stifle a yawn while he dug out his tablet. “I keep trying to leave, and you keep dragging me back. I do have a life you know.”

“You didn’t, up until you met the dancing queen,” Val said before she could stop herself. “Look, I’m sorry to interrupt your fun, but Calloway asked Sampson and me a very important question.”

“You just said she’s hopped up on drugs from her surgery.”

“True, but she still brought up a very important point,” Max said. “It’s a question I would like an answer to, also. How did the bitch that shot my partner find her? On a normal day, CC isn’t the easiest person to track down. Yesterday, with all hell breaking loose, she would have been all over the place. Why don’t we start with the basics. How did you find her?”

“She’s a techno idiot.” Val sounded defeated as she paced around the room. “She accidentally sent almost everyone she knew a videotape of her abduction.”

“That sounds like my partner.”

“So far, the bureau is sorting through Cockburn’s office and home. The lady was very detail oriented. But they haven’t dug up anything that would explain how she knew where Calloway was.” Ricky was studying the screen of his tablet. “Once the judge signed the warrant, we stormed the place. She was very resourceful and had a long list of clients with mob connections. On an interesting note, the male alias she was using was her kid. She had him when she was a teenager. She claimed the father was Austin Dover, the son of a Canadian diplomat. “

“What happened to the kid?” Max asked.

“Crib death, I hope,” Ricky answered. “Just wish they found out how she was tracking Calloway.”

Max gave a snarl. “This sucks. All I know is, last night Calloway dropped by to see me and ran out claiming that I solved the case. Next thing I know, my boss showed up and told me that CC had been shot.”

“Right before she gave you credit for solving the case, what exactly did you tell her?” Val asked.

“That the scumbag that popped me was humming
Humpty
Dumpty
.”

“On the tape, Cockburn was humming nursery rhymes,” Val muttered. “Maybe that’s what led her to figure it out. It still doesn’t answer the million dollar question of how Cockburn knew to be waiting in the parking garage armed and ready.”

“And without a car,” Ricky said.

“Excuse me?” Max was clearly stunned.

“She jacked Calloway in her own car.”

“Her car?” Max bellowed, his face ashen. “So she was waiting with everything she needed in the parking garage? We need to find the son of a bitch who tipped her off. How in the hell are we going to do that? You only found her because of the video.”

“Yes and no,” Val said. “The video alerted us to the situation, but since it was dark out, we didn’t have a clue as to exactly where she was. We used the GPS on her phone.”

“I’ll have to thank the judge who expedited that,” Max said and clenched his jaw.

“We didn’t have time for that.” Val scoffed at the notion. “Fortunately we already had—”

“What?” Max demanded, his nerves clearly frayed.

“We had permission from Calloway.” Val’s voice drifted off as things suddenly made sense. “Damn, now I know how Calloway clears her cases. You just say shit, and she figures it out.”

“So what brilliant thing did I say this time?”

“The federal government had permission to track information on your partner’s phone. It helped us save her, but it also—”

“Put her in danger,” Max said. “Anyone in your office could have tracked her, anytime they wanted to.”

*   *  *

Val strode towards Ledger’s office with a queasy feeling gnawing at her. She hated what she was about to do. His assistant smiled as she escorted Val inside. Ledger looked completely at ease; a freshly brewed cup of coffee sat on his desk.

“My reports.” She handed him one of two files she held.

“I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done, Deputy. Despite your misgivings regarding our city, I do admire your dedication.”

“I’m pleased to hear that,” she said with a slight hesitation. “It will make what I’m about to show you easier.” She handed him the second folder. “When I entered Annapolis, it filled me with a sense of honor. I felt the same when I joined the Marshal Service. What I learned today makes me sick.”

Ledger’s face turned ashen as he read the file. “Oh, my God.” His hands trembled as he turned each page. “I’ll take care of the bench warrant. Would you like to be present when we do the interview?”

“If I can. I need to be on a plane to the West Coast tonight. The FBI raided Cockburn’s office, and the home office. They would like me to be there when they lower the hammer on Fisher. Cockburn kept meticulous records. Her phone logs confirm what you’ve just read.”

Three hours later, the clock was ticking and Val needed to get to the airport. If not for the burning desire to know why, she would have already departed. Ledger looked miserable as they waited. He grumbled when Finn made his entrance.

“Hey, boss.” Finn’s smile faded when he spied Val. “You’re still here. I thought you’d be gone by now.”

“So did I.”

“Have a seat,” Ledger said, his face grim. “I need to inform you that if you desire legal representation that is your right.”

“W-wait,” Finn stammered, clearly stunned. “What the hell is going on? Are you explaining the Miranda to me?”

“Yes,” Ledger said angrily. “Deputy, you have some explaining to do.”

“For what?” Finn glared at Val, who just returned his anger with a cool look of indifference. “I don’t know what this bitch is up to.”

“That’s Deputy Bitch to you,” Val said calmly. “Deputy, can you explain why you accessed Detective Calloway’s GPS coordinates not once, not twice, but seventeen times? The last time was the night she was shot. How do you explain tapping into her phone? Before you answer, remember you have the right to a lawyer and to remain silent.”

“Calloway got me thrown off the Beaumont case,” he said, looking flummoxed by the questions. “I know she did it, because she was clearly involved. I was following a lead.”

“What lead?” Ledger demanded. “And why after the case was over? Beaumont was already dead the first time you accessed her Intel. Oh, and for the record, Calloway had nothing to do with you being bounced off the case. I did that because you weren’t doing your job.”

“I would have been doing my job if someone wasn’t stirring things up.” He jerked his thumb at Val.

“Still doesn’t answer the question as to why you were tracking Calloway after the case was over.” Val kept her composure. “Or why you were chatting with Eunice Cockburn. The FBI found your cell number listed in the logs of one of her burner phones. No call lasted less than twelve minutes. I don’t get you. I’m proud to wear my silver star, and you use it to settle a personal vendetta. First you were lazy, sloppy, and generally didn’t give a crap about finding a child molester, all because your ex-wife went on a date with the guy’s stepdaughter. Then you stalk her and almost get her killed. Why?”

“Calloway was connected to Beaumont,” Finn desperately tried to explain. “I was convinced she had something to do with his murder. She ruined my marriage. I wasn’t about to let her ruin my career. Cockburn called and told me she was a PI working for a guy whose wife Calloway was screwing with.”

“Okay, that’s it.” Val threw up her hands with disgust. “I got the answer I stuck around for. You know, Finn, let’s be honest here about a few things, like in this little city of yours there are no secrets. Since I got here, everyone seems to think there’s a big secret, and just so you know, everyone knows about your wife leaving you and the scuffle you had when you caught her with Calloway. You know what else everyone in this city knows? CC Calloway is a happily married woman. No way you thought she was stepping out with another woman. You did this because you’re a sniveling, pathetic loser.”

“I’m inclined to agree,” Ledger said. “The state police are outside my office. They’ll finish reading you your rights and informing you of the charges you’re facing, which include attempted murder. All I want from you is your badge and your gun. Now.”

Val braced herself, ready in case Finn decided to resist his situation. Thankfully, he truly was the pathetic man she assessed him to be and he surrendered.

*   *  *

It took several phone calls and two planes to get Val and Ricky to where they needed to be. When they arrived, Dr. Richards was waiting for them sporting a mischievous smirk.

“I think you’re going to enjoy this just a little too much.”

“Is that your professional opinion, Doc?”

Dr. Richards simply shook her head and checked her watch.

“Like you aren’t going to enjoy wiping that smug look off his face,” Val said. “Where the hell is this guy?”

“Lawyers.” Dr. Richards scowled.

“I heard that,” a gravelly voice boomed. “You must be Deputy Brown and Agent Samaria. I’m Daniel Ross with the attorney general’s office. This is quite a load of crap you dumped on my desk.”

“Happy to be of service,” Val couldn’t refrain from saying. “I don’t know what you’re worried about. This should be a slam dunk.”

“Hah! Right! With attorney-client privilege and the prickly matter of legal insanity, yeah this should be a walk in the park. It might help our cause if you hadn’t shot the accomplice.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I should have stood there and let her kill a cop.”

“Give it a rest, Dan,” Dr. Richards said. “This is a career maker, and you know it. If you can get this yo-yo strapped to a gurney, you’ll be a God in the legal cesspool. That, and you get to publicly trash a defense attorney. The press is going to love you.”

Dan grimaced. “You are such a suck-up. Okay, just so we’re clear, today is about relaying legal information.”

“And anything that might shake this cuckoo bird’s tree is just a bonus. Make sure the tape is running,” Val said to the cocky lawyer.

“I’ll be watching with video running.”

Val steadied herself. A small part of her wished she had her sidearm. Shooting the snotty like puke would please her immensely. The three of them entered the sterile room. Val growled under her breath when she saw Fisher sitting there looking as confident as ever. Ricky and the shrink sat down in the uncomfortable plastic chairs lined up in front of the Formica table Fisher was comfortably resting his elbows on. Val opted to linger in the far corner of the room. Her arms were folded tightly against her chest. Her posture seemed to amuse Fisher.

“No coffee this time?” Simon confidently beamed.

“No,” Val said dryly.

“Oh, I see. No more good cop, bad cop, but you did bring Dr. Richards. This must be a very auspicious occasion.”

“Simon,” Dr. Richards said slowly. Val couldn’t help noticing the way the psychiatrist stared him down. “We are here to inform you…”

Simon eagerly leaned forward, apparently in expectation of good news. Val maintained her stoic appearance. She didn’t want to spoil the moment.

“Simon,” Richards repeated, somehow managing to keep her tone on an even keel. “I have to inform you that you need to find a new lawyer. I suggest that you do this as quickly as possible. There have been some issues raised over the past few weeks that will require legal counsel. Due to the urgency of some of these matters, someone from Legal Aid is on their way.”

“What?” Simon rattled the chains clamped to his wrists. “I have a very competent attorney.” He obviously struggled to keep his cool facade in place. The beads of sweat suddenly forming on his brow gave him away.

“She’s dead,” Val said coldly.

“Excuse me?”

Val wanted to savor the moment for as long as possible. Fisher was slightly jangled, yet he seemed to be holding it together.

“That is sad news. How did it happen?” His calm demeanor irked Val.

“I shot her.”

“Why would you do that?”

“You know why,” Ricky said. “It didn’t take much to figure out what you were up to.”

“What is it you think you know?”

“She confessed to everything,” Val told him.

“So you shot her? A bit extreme if you ask me. Not that it matters. She was my lawyer, which puts me in the clear.”

Val’s jaw clenched as she fought the urge to slam his head into the table.