Pieces of the Past (Witness Security Book 1) (18 page)

“I told you, I don’t know about any money. But if I did, do you really think the cops are going to turn it over to the kidnappers to save Ethan? You
are
a stupid bitch if you believe that.”

Panic rose inside her. He had a point. The officials wouldn’t turn millions of dollars back over to a Columbian drug cartel to continue funding their illegal activities. They were using her to get to Larry, while Ethan and her mother’s lives remained in danger. “Oh my God,” she muttered.

“Yeah.” He polished off the last of the ice and squeezed the cup to shreds. “Wish I could help you, babe, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He looked at the mirror and yelled, “I gotta piss!”

“Larry,” she murmured sadly, as the guard opened the door.

“We done here, or you want him back?” the woman asked.

Christine thought about the question for a moment. She
gazed at her ex-husband and said truthfully, “We’re done.”

Cuffing his left hand, the guard hoisted him by the arm and pointed him toward the door.

He didn’t speak as he walked out, just flashed his teeth at Christine in some type of pseudo-smile.

Her heart lurched as she returned to the other room, feeling like she’d failed in her mission.

Doug didn’t appear happy as she approached. “I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I didn’t get the information we needed.”

“You did just fine.” He took her arm.

She suddenly realized his irritation wasn’t directed at her.

“Can we go now?” he asked McGuire.

“Yes.” The prosecutor said a few words to the other men then they walked out to his car.

“What’s happening?” she whispered as Doug whisked her off.

He leaned down to speak quietly in her ear. “Save it until we’re alone.”

Nodding, she climbed into the back seat and once again remained in the middle so Doug’s leg had to touch hers.

No one spoke on the ride back to the federal offices.

Christine didn’t realize her leg was shaking until Doug reached out and palmed her knee.

The movement was so tender, so protective, for a moment she thought she might cry.

He stared straight ahead, his expression grim.

Back at Witsec, McGuire didn’t linger after he’d parked the car. “We’ll be in touch.”

“Yeah, I bet you will.” Doug helped her out and with his hand on the small of her back, led her quickly to his car.

“What the hell was that?” she asked, incredulous, as he started to drive.

“Nothing was as it seemed today. I realized that when Stewart said the police weren’t going to give the money back to the kidnappers, because he was right.”

“I thought about that, too. They wouldn’t—couldn’t… pay the ransom. So what was today really about?”

He glanced at her sideways. “I’m not sure. Something else is going on here. We need to get back to the condo and see if we can figure it out.”

Worry tinged with fear flowed through her veins. Seeing Larry had been the last resort. She was exhausted and frightened and seriously afraid of losing her mind.

They arrived at the condo and Doug drove straight into the garage. Anxious to get back to Peyton and her father, Christine hurried from the SUV. She opened the door and was greeted by her grinning son, catapulting into her arms.

Chapter Ten

Metropolitan Correctional Center

General Population

Chicago, Illinois

“Newsome, visitor. I think it’s your lawyer.” The guard unlocked the cell door.

Martin Newsome grinned at his roommate Raymond. “Second time this week. Might be good news.”

“Good luck,
Scrubby.” The man grinned.

Newsome followed the guard to the first floor bank of visitation stations. A row of cubicles with chairs and telephones, separated from visitors by a Plexiglas window. Spotting his lawyer, he sat in front of him and picked up the phone. “Please tell me you have good news.”

“I have
great
news. The feds tossed Larry Stewart’s cell and found a disposable phone with plenty of incriminating evidence on it. He’s been connected the whole time in here, still giving orders. Arrogant bastard didn’t erase his voicemails, with people calling him ‘boss’ and talking about his ‘being in charge’. According to the prosecutor, he’s no longer the star witness at your trial. You’ll be the star witness at
his
trial, if you take the deal they’re offering.”

Newsome nearly wet his pants. “Deal? What kind of deal?”

“We’ll go to trial on Monday and ask for a continuance. Stewart will then be arraigned. His lawyer’s going to request some time to prepare his case, which could take several more months.”

Disappointment replaced the excitement that had been welling in his chest. “Several more months?”

His lawyer held up a hand. “I’ve arranged with the Witness Security Program to get you and your family in. You’ll be given different identities and a new place to live. You’ll have to come back for the trial, of course, but after that the prosecutor has agreed to let you plead guilty to minor charges in exchange for time served. Your case will go away.”

“Time served?” Newsome’s hands began to shake. “You mean it’s over?”

The man smiled. “It’s over. I’ve gotten permission for you to make one call. Would you like to phone your wife? You might want to tell her to start packing.”

* * * *

Chicago, Illinois

Doug wasn’t focused on the happy, well-rested faces of Ethan and Lillian. Blinded by anger he could only see red, in the shape of one Marshal Rivers. The man stood in the corner with a decidedly uncomfortable expression on his face.

“You have some explaining to do.” Doug charged at him.

“Hang on there, buddy.” Ben moved between them. “
I’m supposed to tell you to call Chief Wilson ASAP and get briefed.”

He faced Ben. “Did you know about this?”

His friend shook his head vehemently. “I swear to God. I just found out when they showed up with Rivers a short while ago. Seems they spent the night in some swank hotel. The kid got sick from eating too much ice cream, but they’re otherwise just fine.”

Doug looked at Ethan, who was patiently accepting tears, hugs and kisses from his mom. He didn’t want to intrude, but he had to be sure. Kneeling by them, he placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Ethan, you’re really okay? Nothing happened to you?”

Ethan smiled at him. “I’m fine. Marshal Rivers said you and Mom knew all about the plan.” His face clouded. “I’m sorry that you didn’t, and you were worried about us.”

Unable to resist, Doug gathered him into a hug. Christine didn’t release her grip, so he ended up hugging both of them. “It’s not your fault, buddy. We’re just glad you’re okay.”

“My stomach hurts a little,” he confided.

Doug laughed. “I’ll bet. Rocky Road?”

Nodding, he made a face. “All I could eat.”

He ruffled Ethan’s hair and squeezed Christine’s shoulder as he stood. Moving in front of Lillian and Stan, he reached for the woman’s hand. “You’re okay too? Did you get your medicine?”

She nodded, her smile grateful. “I’m fine. We didn’t go home, but the marshal had someone bring me exactly what I needed. He said we were being followed, and it wouldn’t be safe to come back here last night so we went to a hotel.” She looked at her husband. “A very nice hotel. Room service and everything.” Looking back at Doug she added, “I never dreamed they were deceiving us. I trusted him as much as my daughter trusted you.”

Anger burned like fire in the pit of his stomach. “I understand. You did the right thing. We were very worried, of course, but you’re back now.” He eyed the protective grasp Stan had on her arm. Combined with the visor-tight grip Christine held on Ethan, he doubted an earthquake could separate the family again.

He spotted Peyton standing next to Ben, tears glistening on her cheeks. “How are you?”

“I’m
good. Confused, but all right.”

He brushed a lock of hair back from her face. “That makes a bunch of us, kiddo. If you’ll all excuse me, I have some calls to make.” He eyed Ben as he headed for the kitchen. “Keep an eye on Rivers.”

Ben smiled. “No one’s going anywhere. Don’t worry. Make your calls.”

Once he was alone, he dialed the Chicago Witsec chief.

“Wilson.”

“This is Doug Jackson. I’d like to know what the hell is going on.”

“Marshal, I know you’re upset right now.”

“Upset?
I haven’t calmed down enough to be upset yet. Did
you
arrange the fake kidnapping?”

“Of course not. The FBI planned it, and we had to go along.”

Doug couldn’t help yelling. “But you didn’t think you had to include me in the plans? What the fuck were your people thinking? The boy’s mother nearly lost her mind. Her father and daughter were beside themselves!”

“
They needed her to be convincing when she talked to Larry Stewart, and that part of the plan worked. They got him, Jackson. His slip of the tongue set the chain of events into place. They found his disposable cell in a fake can of shaving cream. It’s loaded with usable information. The focus of the trial has now shifted from Martin Newsome to Larry Stewart.”

He couldn’t think about that now. His blood still boiled from the deception by the branch of the Justice Department to which he’d sworn an oath.
“Fuck that.”

“Listen, take the night and get your bearings. I know once you calm down you’ll realize that the boy and his grandmother are fine. They were much better off in our hands than if they’d really been abducted.”

“Of course, but they were fine here with me, too. They didn’t need to be taken from their family that way. It was an unconscionable act, and I’m ashamed the Marshal’s Service was part of it.”

“Take the night, Jackson. We’ll be in touch tomorrow. But remember, this isn’t
done yet. The trial is going to get bound over, and it’s likely to drag on for several more months. None of that family is safe.”

“Great. Just fucking great. Thanks for all the good news.” He punched the disconnect button on his phone, then speed dialed his chief in Topeka.
His boss needed no introduction.

“Doug, I’m sorry. I’ve just been briefed. I swear to you, I had no idea.”

“I might be out of a job. I just yelled and cussed at the head of Chicago Witsec.”

His boss chuckled. “I’ll go to bat for you. What they did was shitty. We don’t treat our witnesses—or our marshals—that way.”

“Apparently the feds do.”

“Keep your eye on the big picture. They’re safe. The stunt got results, or so I’m told.”

“I don’t have time for the big picture. The only thing in my sights is this family, who by the way is not out of danger, yet. It’s been an intense week, and that God awful trick didn’t help matters. I’m not sure I can get past this, Chief.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I have no flipping idea, other than keeping them safe—or die trying.”

“No one’s dying on our watch. Try to get a grip. You still have a job to do.”

“Oh, I’ll get a grip, all right. A grip around Rivers’ throat when I choke him.”

His chief chuckled. “Now that might get you fired. I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“I’m not sure I want this job anymore, boss. For fifteen years I’ve been proud to be a US Marshal. Tonight I’m nothing but embarrassed, and humiliated.”

“
Take your own emotions out of the mix, Doug. It
doesn’t matter
how you feel. The safety of the witnesses and the integrity of the case, those are the things that count. I know—it sucks that we’re the only ones who seem to be concerned about the witnesses. Remember, everyone has a different job to do. The FBI has an agenda, as does the District Attorney. Sometimes, they get mixed up. The important thing is we’re still on track. Your witnesses are fine. Talk to the mother. Once she’s calmed down, she’ll be thrilled to realize her son wasn’t really abducted.”

“Thrilled. Right.”

“Doug. Let it go. What’s done is done.”

“If you tell me ‘it is what it is’ I’m going to hang up.”

Another chuckle. “I hate that expression too. Go, try to relax and get some rest. With three marshals there now, you should be able to sleep in shifts.”

“Rivers is staying?”

“Oh yeah.”

“You’re letting Ben stay, too?”

“Of course. You should never have gone alone. This thing ended up bigger than any of us realized.”

Doug exhaled a rush of breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. “Thanks, Chief.”

“Talk to you tomorrow.” The call ended.

He returned to the front room where the family had gathered around the sofa and were chattering loudly. Ben and Rivers were talking quietly off to the side.

Ben glanced up. “Everything cool?”

“Not exactly. But I’ve been told to sit tight and remember the family is still in danger.”

“Nice.” Ben rolled his eyes.

He glanced at Rivers. “I understand FBI
agents have their own agenda. I’ve just never been lied to by members of the Marshal’s Service before. It’s like a betrayal.”

“I wasn’t in favor of it, myself. I was just doing as instructed. Sorry to leave you hanging. I feel bad about it.”

Doug smiled grimly. “I was informed our feelings don’t matter, and that we need to keep an eye on the big picture. I’m trying to do that. But I can’t help wondering, how did they get the ransom note with the picture of Ethan and Lillian?”

Rivers blinked. “What picture? They were never out of my sight.”

Ben pulled out his phone and showed him.

“It’s photo-shopped. You can tell by this line right here, and these marks. See those?”

Doug squinted to see what he talked about. “Not really. How can you tell so easily?”

“Digital imagery is one of my specialties. I didn’t do that one, but I could have. Could have done it better, in fact.”

Doug glanced at Ben. “It was good enough to fool me.”

Ben shrugged. “Me too.”

With one more look toward the family, Doug said, “I’m hungry. We never had lunch.”

“We didn’t have much,” Ben agreed. “No one was in the mood to eat. We were just talking about making an early dinner. Rivers here is also an accomplished cook. He said he could whip up a fantastic chicken and pasta dish in no time.”

Grudgingly, Doug nodded. He still wasn’t convinced he could trust the man, even though his superiors assured him he could. He told Ben, “Watch him.”

Ben grinned. “You got it.” The two of them went to the kitchen.

Doug joined the family.

Christine appeared calmer,
with her kids stationed on either side of her. The grandparents sat next to Ethan at the end of the couch. He suspected they’d all be joined at the hip for a while. She gazed at him questioningly. “Did you find anything out?”

“A little bit.” He sat in the chair facing them. “The FBI was behind what they called a ‘stunt’. They were fishing for information. I told them I didn’t appreciate their tactics, but what I think really doesn’t matter. They got something, and therefore the mission was successful in their eyes.”

“What did they get?” Christine bit her lip, a habit Doug recognized as one of her nervous ticks.

He shrugged. “I’m not really sure. I didn’t have my listening ears on when the chief tried to fill me in. I was still pretty hot.”

Stan frowned. “It was a cruel and heartless trick, that’s what it was. I hope you gave them hell for it.”

“I did, for whatever good that accomplished. They reminded me that we should be happy knowing Ethan and his grandma were never in any danger. That’s supposed to pacify us.”

Christine slipped an arm around her son. “It does, for now.” She kissed the side of his head. “We’ll deal with the other stuff later.”

Doug nodded. “I’ll be briefed tomorrow and can get more details then. Tonight, we’re going to relax and celebrate the family being together again.”

Peyton spoke up. “Can we go out somewhere? I’m so tired of being cooped up!”