The Road to Justice/Sins of the Son combo pack - A John Fowler Novel (John Fowler (Books 1 & 2)) (60 page)

Tom didn
’
t like David George.  In fact, Tom was certain David had murdered five people and would have killed the
F
irst
L
ady if it hadn
’
t been for agent Fowler. 

“
Something wrong
,
Tom?
”
 
David asked, jerking Tom away from his thoughts.

“
Yes,
”
Tom replied forcefully, but nervously. 
“
You don
’
t listen to any of the advice I have given you.  You don
’
t like me.
”
 
David smiled and shrugged his shoulders.  Tom ignored him and continued. 
“
Why do you keep me on?
”

“
A buddy said you were the best,
”
David replied. 
“
It
’
s not your job to judge me Tom; it
’
s your job to keep me out of prison.
”

“
You
’
re a very evil man,
”
Tom spat.

David
’
s eyes grew very small.  His nostrils began to flare, and a reddish hue came over his skin. Tom gulped.  He knew he had just crossed a line.  David spoke very quietly.

“
I
’
m evil?
”
 
David asked. 
“
I
’
m evil?  Tom
,
you haven
’
t witnessed evil until you meet Veronica Staples.  That girl killed my sister for nothing.  My sister shared her greatest secret with Veronica, and she killed her.  Then, to top it off she tried to have me killed.  Why!?!  Because she was afraid of what it would do to her image!!!  I
’
m evil??  I
’
m evil!?!
”
 
David
’
s voice had been getting louder throughout the conversation.  Tom was very nervous.  He was afraid David was about to lash out.  David realized what was going on, and calmed down.  David smiled at Tom.

“
Sorry
,
Tom,
”
David said.  Tom was still scared.  David leaned forward and whispered to Tom. 
“
I
’
m going to let you in on a little secret.  I
’
m going to give Agent Fowler a chance to take care of the Staples, and if he doesn
’
t, then I
’
m going to . . . permanently.
”

David leaned back in his chair and began to chuckle.  The chuckle continued to get louder and louder until he was in a full laughing fit.  Tom was terrified.  He was convinced David was crazy.  As soon as David was admitted, Tom fled the hospital and promised himself that he would send David a letter letting him know he was dropping David as a client.  Tom thought he might move as well, just in case David ever got out and came looking for him.

Warehouse in Baltimore, Maryland

Chapter 67

John watched as they loaded the senator into the ambulance.  He had really wanted to question Jeremiah, and so had Jessica.  He had to remind Jessica that the Senator was not a suspect.  Jessica didn
’
t find that comment very funny.  Bruce climbed into the ambulance with his father.  John never thought he would see the day where those two got along.  It was quite sad it took a near death experience to do it.  John turned and saw Jessica, Chet, and Trip watching him.  John pressed his lips together and blew air into his cheeks, looking like a chipmunk.  He knew he had to go talk to his friends. 

As he walked toward them, John thought back to a conversation he and Sam had once had.  She had wanted him to attend a ball hosted by her parents.  John had completely resisted, but had finally relented when he had learned that Senator Cosby was going to attend.  John smiled.  It had been the Senator
’
s idea for the three of them to team up together.  From that point on, well, as they say, the rest was history.  He looked at the group and realized that there was a new history, one that he wasn
’
t part of.  John realized he was feeling regret.  Regret for the years he had walked away on the people that had tried to help him.  John stopped in front of the group, trying to figure out what to say.

“
You ok?
”
Trip asked John. 

“
Not hardly
,
”
John replied. 
“
See
,
I
’
ve got this thing you all know about, but what you don
’
t realize is I just assume everyone thinks the same way I do, and
,
well
,
that never ends well.  What I
’
m fumbling around with Trip, is
I
’
m sorry.  I made that crime scene about me, I made Thelma
’
s death about Sam, and frankly I acted like it was all about me.  I
’
m sorry.
”

Trip was quiet for a minute.  Jessica stomped on Trip
’
s foot.

“
What!?
”
 
Trip exclaimed.  Jessica motioned toward John.  John was chuckling.

“
It
’
s ok
,
Trip,
”
John said. 
“
I get it.  If I was you I
’
d relish this moment as well.  We both know that it
’
s not often that I apologize.
”

“
And that moment
’
s over,
”
Chet deadpanned.  The group began to laugh.  Trip put out his hand with a broad smile on his face, and John shook it.  John couldn
’
t remember the last time he had this many people around him that he had felt comfortable with. 
“
Maybe I
’
m growing up,
”
John thought . . . 
“
N
ah.
”

A tech, looking extremely nervous, approached the group of four. 

“
Director Smothers?
”
 
The tech asked.

“
Right here
, S
on,
”
Trip responded.  The tech handed Trip a document.  John
’
s eyebrow went up.

“
Is that what I think it is
,
Trip?
”
 
John asked.

“
If you mean a warrant to search Archibald Staples home, you would be correct,
”
Trip replied.  John was stunned.

“
How did you pull that off?
”
 
John asked.

“
After you left to pick up Bruce, I called in a favor with a judge.  I laid out the facts; the senator was thought to be in a building in a shell corporation in his daughter
’
s name,
”
Trip replied. 
“
Veronica is now living with daddy dearest.  The judge said if we find the Senator or proof that he was there he would sign off on the warrant.  Once we found the Senator I called him back.  The judge wasn
’
t crazy about it, but he eventually signed off.
”

John was smiling broadly.  Trip got very serious.

“
Look you three; this is our best chance to bust this guy,
”
Trip said. 
“
Go in there and do what you do best, but do it by the book.  This weasel has slipped out of every trap that has been set for him.  I want him.  I want him locked up for the rest of his pitiful life.
”

John was staring Trip right in the eye.

“
Any chance that warrant covers phones?
”
 
John asked, his mind already turning.  He was thinking about finding some link between Archibald and the killer.

Trip smiled broadly
, thinking the same way John was
. 
“
It does
,
John, but you and I both know he probably used a burn phone if he ordered any deaths.
”

Jessica stepped between the two of them. 
“
Gentlemen, we
’
re looking for anything to do with the Senator
’
s kidnapping,
”
she said. 
“
We have no proof on
Archibald having anything to do with anyone
’
s death.  Are we clear?
”

John and Trip both nodded.  John glanced at Chet
.  John knew there was no way Chet could go to Archibald
’
s given what he uncovered.  John glanced
back at Trip.  Trip
was having the same thoughts.  He
thought for a second, and nodded.  He started to stay something, but John held up his hand.  Trip nodded, but Chet cut both of them off.

“
Director Smothers, I would like to be recused of this case,
”
Chet said.

“
I thought only judges could recuse themselves,
”
John said.  Jessica stomped on his foot, never taking her eyes off of Chet.  John hopped in place.  Trip rolled his eyes at John.  John tried to look sheepish as he hopped.  Trip turned back to Chet.

“
Trip, I can
’
t be on this case,
”
Chet said. 
“
We all know what might come out if I was.  I don
’
t care about me, but it could cost you your job.
”

Trip nodded.  He turned toward Jessica and John.

“
If you two can behave for 5 minutes, I want you, along with 50 or so agents to execute this search warrant.  In fact, I want the 50 or so agents to execute the warrant and you to watch Archibald.  I want you to get any clue you can off of that man!
”

John smiled and saluted.  Jessica grabbed his arm and dragged him away before Trip strangled him. 

“
What is wrong with you?
”
 
Jessica asked.

“
I just enjoy irritating Trip,
”
John replied.

“
Well
,
you
’
re irritating more than just him,
”
Jessica replied. 

“
Pfffbbtt,
”
John replied. 
“
Don
’
t worry about Chet, he
’
s use
d
to me.
”

Jessica opened the car door and looked over at John. 

“
For someone so good at picking up clues
,
you miss the obvious,
”
Jessica said. 
“
That was strike two.
”
 
Jessica
got in the driver
’
s side leaving John standing with the door opened.  He was confused.

“
You
’
re getting irritated with me?
”
 
John asked.

“
Getting implies I
’
m not there yet, and that would be a wrong assumption,
”
Jessica said very quietly.

John got in the passenger side and looked over at Jessica. 

You do realize you
’
re driving my in-laws car, right?
”
 
John asked.  Jessica ignored him
, started the
car and
drove off. 
John didn
’
t say anything for several miles down the road.  When he spoke it was quietly and somberly.