The Road to Justice/Sins of the Son combo pack - A John Fowler Novel (John Fowler (Books 1 & 2)) (29 page)

Veronica tried to think who this could possibly be.  She had only gotten a glimpse of him earlier.  She couldn
’
t place the face or the voice.  She tried to muster all of the courage she could. 
“
Who are you?
”
 
She asked.

David snorted. 
“
To think Beth thought that you cared about us.  That preacher was right; Beth never should have told you her secret.
”

Veronica
’
s mind was reeling.  There was no way this could be Beth
’
s brother.  It wasn
’
t possible.  He died that day.  She knew he did.  Veronica thought back.  She actually never saw the body.  How did he survive?  David spoke, like he was reading her mind.

“
What
’
s wrong
?  N
o quick answer this time Lisa?  No quick ideas like there were when you made Jason think
my sister was raping you?
  I should have done something then, but I was too scared, and then he killed her
; t
he poor idiot.  He was jus
t doing what you wanted done, j
ust like the other four.  That
’
s why I killed them all fast.
”
 
Veronica stiffened.  
“
Oh, you didn
’
t know I killed Jason?
”
 
David laughed. 
“
Lisa, you should have checked that shaft.  I don
’
t know how, but I landed on Beth that day.  It saved my life.
”
 
Veronica felt fear well up in her.  She wanted to cry, but she refused to give David the satisfaction.  David continued.

“
I checked on her immediately.  I was no doctor but her neck was all weird
. 
I knew she was dead, and I knew it was
all
your
fault.
”
 
There was a pounding on the door.  David yelled.

“
If you come through that door, I will kill her!!  I
’
m not kidding!!
”
 

             
A voice came through the other side. 
“
Sir, please keep calm.  No one needs to get hurt.
”

             
David yelled again. 
“
That
’
s right, and no one will.  Now if you want to talk to me it
’
s real simple.  There
’
s a
phone in here, call it.  I only want one thing.  I want Lisa here,
”
Veronica stiffened.  She felt sick, everything was about to fall apart.  She chided herself.  Things had already fallen apart.  She had to play spin control.  David continued. 
“
Sorry about that,
but
I want Veronica here to confess what happened in Kentucky over twenty-five years ago and
then
I
’
ll let her go.  All I want is a came
raman to tape the confession; n
one of you secret service clowns.  I
’
m not listening to anything else that isn
’
t a phone call!
”

             
David heard a mumbled ok from the other side and the
n it
was quiet.  Veronica knew she needed to do something to get David off of his game.  She went with a desperation plan.

             
“
You know the
y already have someone close
solving the case,
”
said Veronica.

             
“
Oh really
?
”
replied David.

             
“
Oh yes.  They pulled some guy out of retirement.  He grew up in Kentucky.  Who knows, we may have known him.  He
’
s already talked to Tom
’
s family.  It
’
s only a matter of time before he puts together what happened.  David I didn
’
t do anything t
hat day;
it was Jason.
”

             
David was very quiet.  He was considering what Lisa was saying.  He knew everything Lisa said was about gaining an advantage. 

             
“
So you think he knows everything?
”
David asked.  Veronica nodded, very sure of herself. 
“
What is his name?
”
 
The question caught Veronica off guard and David knew she was trying to throw him off his g
ame
.  He had turned the tables and now he knew exactly what to do.  He tightened his grip on her and buried the gun a little further in
to
her. 
“
What?  Is? 
His?
 
Name!?!
”
 
Veronica realized she had been outmaneuvered.  The pain was getting to her. 

             
“
John!  John Fowler!
”
 
David eased his grip on her.

With that
,
the phone rang.  He motioned for Lisa to hand it to him.  He dodged as she tried to swing at him with
it and subdued her.  He put the phone between his neck and shoulder.  He made sure he had a firm grip on Lisa
with one hand,
and in the other hand
he had
the gun pointed into her ribs. 

             
“
Listen,
”
said David. 
“
I know you are going to try and wait me out.  I
’
ll make this very simple.  I want former FBI agent John Fowler to film Lisa
’
s
.
. . I mean VERONICA
’
s confession.  Afterwards
,
I give myself up and let both people go unhurt.  You have three hours or I kill her.
”
 
David hung up the phone and looked down at Lisa.  Lisa finally broke and started to cry.

             
“
That
’
s good
.  T
hat
’
s real good,
”
said David. 
“
Before today is done, you are going to cry every tear you have stored up in your miserable body.
”

FBI New York Building-Now

Chapter 71

             
Trip was having trouble breathing.  This was more than he ever dreamed he would have to deal with in all his years
at
the FBI.  He was in the New York office, not
the DC office.  Yet here he was, s
mack in the middle of a hostage situation.  This wasn
’
t any hostage though; this was the First Lady of the United States of America.  He was jolted back to reality with a smack across his face by
Senator Cosby
.

             
“
BOY!!
”
 
Senator Cosby
was shaking him now. 
“
Trip!!
”
 
Trip waived his hand that he was alright. 
“
Good gracious man
,
you
’
re supposed to be in charge here.  Act like a man!
”
 
John was trying very hard not to crack up at everything
that
was going on.  He had no idea what had happened at the White House, but this was a scene like he had never seen.

             
Trip turned to John.
“
They need you in
Washington
, D.C
.
”

             
John was confused. 
“
What are you talking about Trip
?  W
hat is going on?
”

             
“
Someone has managed to take Veronica Staples hostage,
”
said Trip. 
“
The perpetrator has said he wants a cameraman.
”
 
Trip looked directly at John. 
“
John, you are the only one he will let run the camera.
”

             
“
No!
”
 
Jessica exclaimed.  The whole group turned as one to look at her.  Jessica looked more shocked than any of them.  She covered her mouth with her hands.  Trip groaned and rolled his eyes.  Chet looked very uncomfortable. 
senator
patted John on the back,
knowingly.  As for John . . . John rocked back on his heels.  He straightened his tie.  John
’
s eyes were dancing and he had the self-assured half cocked grin on his face that Jessica didn
’
t know if she wanted to smack off or kiss off.

             
“
Let
’
s give these two a moment,
”
said the senator.

             
“
A moment!
?
”
Trip exclaimed. 
“
senator
,
do
you realize the First Lady of the United States of America is currently a hostage?!?
”

             
Senator Cosby
drew himself up. 
“
Son, I sure do.  And do I have a shock for you . . . I DON
’
T CARE!!!!  Do you realize what these two kids have been through over the years!?!?
”
 
Jeremiah was in rare form. 
“
I don
’
t really care if David George blows that Staples girl
’
s brains all over the Oval Office!!!!  These two have something they need to do or say, or whatever!!  I
’
m sure John here understands the urgency and won
’
t take one second more than needed, but I
’
m also sure he won
’
t leave one second earlier than he needs to!!
”

             
John didn
’
t know what to say.  Trip looked at John and Jessica, squared his jaw, and nodded.

             
“
C
’
mon
,
Chet!!
”
 
Trip barked.  Chet hightailed it out of the room with Trip following. 
Senator Cosby
walked to the door and gave John the thumbs up.  John smiled and turned toward Jessica.  His face met her hand and a smack rang out through the foxhole.  John thought his jaw had become unhinged.  He looked at Jessica, saw the anger on her face, and realized this was going to take a few
more minutes than he originally
thought.

“
What have you done to me!?!
”
 
Jessica screamed at John.  John was beyond confused.

In John
’
s defense, he didn
’
t have a lot of experience in the world of women and being single.  His relationship with Sam was different than most.  The two of them had hit it off immediately and didn
’
t play a lot of the games men and women play.  Joh
n was thinking about answering t
hat he
didn
’
t move his face in time for her hand to hit it, but thought better of it.  Jessica started up again.

“
I used to be in control of my feelings.  I use to be stoic and able to hide any feeling I had for anything on this job!!  For crying out loud John, I haven
’
t seen you in three years!!  The last time I saw you I knew you hated me, and it didn
’
t make me blink. You don
’
t get to make me feel this way!!  You don
’
t!!!
”
 
She was pacing now and John stood back letting her get it all out. 
“
I told my boss . . . no, wait, no.  I SCREAMED at my boss
.
NO!!!  Why!??! 
Because of you!?!?
 
The man who has made it his life
’
s personal mission to drive me crazy!?!?
”