Chapter 53 Carnage
FIFTY-THREE
Carnage
REED
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Why did Andrews speak those accursed words into existence this morning? Rationally, I know this day was bound to be fucked either way, but at least he could’ve knocked on wood.
With lights flashing and sirens blaring, I race from Cocoa to Tampa, pushing my partner’s Dodge Charger to its limits.
Andrews stayed with McBride and Hemsley to continue the murder investigation. There is a shit ton of work to do on the East Coast if we’re gonna stop more people from the same grim fate as Emma and Sophie.
It sucks to leave my peers high and dry, but to their credit, they didn’t try to stop me. They know where I’m needed. They’d do the same if the tables were turned.
I won’t feel bad for bolting to Tampa to ensure Lila’s safety and do everything in my power to save my sister.
As it is, I’ll be buried in guilt for a long ass time for not getting Kenzie better protection.
Having Agent Carson monitor her phone and vehicle’s location and sending a PD patrol car by her apartment a few times a day was clearly not enough.
In a way, I’ve proved myself to be the weak link in the family. This is on me.
After I save her, I’ll do some soul searching to see if I left her hanging intentionally. Was it jealousy or anger driving my inaction? Am I that much of a bitter fucking asshole?
No. That can’t be it. I know I fucked up here. But it wasn’t malicious.
Despite the suffering she’s caused Lila and me, I would never want Kenzie harmed.
I’m not a fucking monster.
It was poor prioritizing. A little subconscious avoidance thrown in as well. Reconnecting with Lila gave me an easy escape, enabling me to avoid the drama with Kenzie for as long as possible.
I don’t regret putting Lila’s safety first. But I do regret not worrying more about Kenzie.
The only way I can fix it is to save her before the unimaginable happens.
My white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel loosens when Agent Carson’s incoming call rings through. “What do you have for me?”
“To alleviate any misguided worries you may have about leaving the guys in Cocoa, SSA Chase sounded the alarm to bring in reinforcement agents from other field offices. I need you to safely drive the rest of the way to Tampa without bringing any guilt with you. Got it?”
“Understood. And thank you.”
That was a good call by Chase, which doesn’t surprise me. She’s revered for a reason. Our SSA never cries wolf. So the bureau knows when she asks for help, they better fucking send it. Fast.
Knowing more agents are inbound helps me keep my panic in check.
Our ten-person task force is spread thin.
Like firefighters, we go where the blaze is hottest, which so far, has been the Florida casinos.
Our working theory is that STK only laid the foundation in casinos in the other states.
Once they finish shutting down the Florida ring, they’ll redirect their efforts elsewhere.
Unless we stop them first. Which we will.
With her attempt to assuage my guilt handled, Carson pivots to tactics. “What’s your plan for Lila? Since they took your sister from the sidewalk in front of your building, they probably know Lila’s there. Should I send PD?”
“Not necessary. I heard back from her bodyguard right before you called. Reinforcements from Redleg are inbound. And they’ll be transporting Lila to the FO in the next few minutes.”
“That was quick.”
“I hate to say it, but they shifted into heightened protection mode and mobilized support faster than we can.”
“Well, I guess that’s why other law enforcement agencies are contracting with them. That’s the beauty of specialization and the lack of red tape. What’s Lila’s ETA?”
“I figured you’d be slammed, so I gave Romero’s number to Kri. She’ll coordinate with him for the handoff.”
“Excellent. Let’s move on. Regarding the DM I sent about your sister.
It was two things. First, I planned to inform you about the aggressive manner in which Kenzie was texting and calling Lila.
When I spotted her phone’s GPS signal at your condo, it set off alarm bells. However, that’s irrelevant now.”
“And the second thing?”
“Found something problematic about Kenzie’s online communications. In the interest of time, I’ll explain with the larger group. Rather than waiting until eleven, I’m starting an impromptu conference call now so I don’t have to repeat myself.”
I open my mouth to object, ultimately biting my tongue. Carson operates with a mix of compassion and strategy. I’ll trust her judgment on this.
She exhales vigorously, crackling the speaker. “Stay on the line while I round up the troops. For the sake of my hearing, stay on mute unless you’re talking. Your damn siren is deafening.”
Considering how fast I’m speeding down the Beach line, it’s a necessary annoyance.
One by one, agents announce themselves as they join the line.
Andrews takes the call with Hemsley and McBride listening in the background.
Fowler joins on behalf of him and Morales, who are investigating the Tampa murder that Chase mentioned in her message in the team chat.
Romero and SSA Chase are the last to join. They’re with Agent Carson at the Tampa FO, coordinating all the moving parts.
SSA Chase kicks off the call. “This morning, Kenzie Hayes was witnessed being forced into a vehicle by two masked men right outside of Agent Hayes’ condo after visiting our CI, Lila Kent. Recovering her safely is obviously a top priority. Carson will share what we know about that in a minute.”
My grip on the wheel tightens, and I gnash my teeth to the point of pain. After a quick glance at the speedometer reading 95, I lighten up on the gas pedal. While I need to hurry, I shouldn’t set land speed records. Can’t save Kenzie if I’m dead.
Chase clears her throat, then drops a bomb. “We might have uncovered the true identity of Silas Everson. The gang unit suspects his real name is Jabali Campos, but you’ll recognize him by his STK Brotherhood name. Carnage.”
No. Fucking. Way.
So much for slowing down.
Instinctively, I press the gas pedal to the floorboard. At least I’m on the toll road, which is only sparsely populated at this hour. When I hit I-4, I’ll need to drop my speed to weave through traffic. Until then, I’m keeping the hammer down to compensate.
Agent Hemsley voices our collective belief. “How the hell did he slip this by us? The bureau doesn’t only have a file on him, it’s a whole series of novels. Unless I’m thinking of the wrong man.”
Chase responds, keeping her tone flat. “You aren’t wrong.
Jabali Campos, aka Carnage, is the head of STK’s southern region.
According to ASAC Dawkins of the gang unit, Carnage is making a play to oust the national STK head.
He’s been amassing a fortune to fund his takeover, prove he’s worthy, and gain even more cred.
The gang unit didn’t know how he was getting the cash to pull this off until the dots were connected to our casino investigation this morning. ”
McBride interjects next, raising a damn good point. “The gang unit’s informants dropped the ball on this. They’re supposed to pass this kind of shit to their handler.”
“ASAC Dawkins shared two theories about that with me,” Chase begins, irritation darkening her tone. “Option one is the informants could be on the take, working the casino grift as one of the many cheating minions.”
“Valid. And the second?” Carson prompts.
“Good old fear. If Carnage is making this massive power play, he’s probably got everyone on a tight leash. Let’s face it. To these informants, he’s a way bigger threat than the FBI.”
That tracks. He wasn’t given the street name Carnage because it sounds cool. He earned it by being lethal and ruthless. If memory serves, he rose to his rank by killing his father and taking his place. Even offed his brothers to eliminate his competition for the throne.
Keeping us moving, Chase starts with the next item.
“In other gang news, ASAC Dawkins confirmed the tattoo on Elliott Riddick’s hand—the same one Lila told us Silas has—is an official STK leadership mark.
Carnage is careful to conceal his in public.
We never caught it on the photos or videos from when he, as Silas, prowled the casino a few months ago. ”
Obviously as in the dark about this development as the rest of us, Agent Carson asks, “How did he beat face rec, though? Sure, he’s dark-skinned, which can trip up the program, but the FBI has caught him on camera many times before.”
The SSA punts that question. “Fowler, do you want to take that?”
He comes off mute to respond. “Morales and I are currently at the Tampa home of a plastic surgeon who specializes in trauma-related facial reconstruction. Yesterday morning, his wife’s body was found in Temple Terrace by a jogger.
Two shots to the head. Cops came here to notify the doctor of his wife’s passing.
Instead of finding him, they saw signs of a break-in.
Eventually, they accessed home surveillance footage, which revealed the couple had been abducted two nights earlier.
In case you aren’t connecting the pieces, Carnage is changing his face when he takes on a new alias. ”
Chase interjects. “Do you have concrete evidence to confirm that Silas is, in fact, Carnage?”
“Absolutely,” Fowler answers with vehemence.
“We’re looking at the surgeon’s laptop as we speak.
He’s got a file of photos and computer-generated renderings.
It’s safe to assume this is the same doctor Carnage used about a year ago to become the man we’ve been hunting as Silas.
I’m looking at before, during, and after photos from the actual facial reconstruction procedure, along with various mockups the surgeon created before the procedure, presumably to give Carnage options. ”
Jesus.