Chapter 23
chapter
twenty-three
"So much for a trap," Claire remarked as they approached the scene. She gestured toward the dozen officers securing the perimeter and processing evidence.
Fiona scanned the assembly of official vehicles. "Half the department turned out for this. Something about a journalist's abduction attracts serious attention."
The public nature of the scene contradicted their earlier fears of ambush.
Uniformed officers directed traffic. Bystanders gathered along the sidewalk, phones raised to capture whatever drama unfolded.
A news van from the local television affiliate had already set up for a live broadcast at street level.
Lawson badged the officer controlling access, who checked her credentials against his clipboard before reluctantly lifting the tape. "Lieutenant Parks is expecting you, Detective. Fourth floor, north corner."
They rode the elevator in silence, each preparing for whatever awaited above.
The doors opened onto organized chaos. Crime scene technicians photographed blood spatter across a concrete pillar.
Evidence markers dotted the floor surrounding what appeared to be a makeshift broadcasting station—folding table, laptop, microphone setup, portable lighting equipment.
Parks stood at the center, directing the investigation with efficient authority. He spotted Lawson immediately, breaking away from a conversation with a forensics technician to intercept her group.
"You brought company." His gaze swept over Claire and Fiona with professional assessment.
"They insisted," Lawson replied. "What happened?"
"Still piecing it together." Parks guided them toward the makeshift broadcast area, careful to avoid contaminating evidence paths. "Security camera footage shows Blackwell and her assistant arriving approximately ninety minutes before broadcast."
"Professional planning." Lawson studied the blood pattern on the pillar. "Any sign of her?"
"Blood but no body." Parks lowered his voice. "Chief Wallace personally called this in as a high-priority investigation, but with specific instructions."
"Let me guess. I'm not welcome."
"You're technically a suspect." Parks handed her a preliminary report. "Wallace cited your connection to the Monica Landry case and potential motive to silence Blackwell before she revealed damaging information about you."
"That's absurd," Claire interjected. "Lawson's been with us since before the broadcast began."
"I'm not the one making these decisions." Parks kept his jaw tight, the disagreement flashing for a second before he smothered it. "Officially, you shouldn't be here at all, Detective."
"You’re the one who called me here," Lawson shot back.
Across the crime scene, a young man sat on a concrete barrier, wrapped in a shock blanket despite the humid evening air.
Mid-twenties, hipster beard, oversized glasses, his expression vacant while a uniformed officer attempted to take his statement.
He clutched a laptop against his chest like a shield.
"Blackwell's assistant?" Lawson nodded toward the young man.
"Dylan Everett." Parks consulted his notes. "Audio engineer and production assistant for Dead Air. Found him knocked out cold."
Fiona studied the assistant with journalistic interest. "He's protecting that laptop like it contains gold."
"Evidence techs are waiting on a warrant before seizing it." Parks checked his watch. "Should come through any minute."
Claire straightened her blazer. "I'll handle this."
She approached the assistant with confident strides, lawyer mode fully engaged. Parks raised an eyebrow but didn't interfere as Claire introduced herself to both the assistant and the officer taking his statement.
"Is she going to—"
"Get information before the police confiscate everything?" Lawson finished Parks' question. "Almost certainly."
They watched as Claire spoke intently to Dylan, who nodded repeatedly before unlocking his laptop. The officer looked uncertain but stepped back as Claire sat beside the assistant, both now focused on the screen.
"Clever," Parks admitted. "The kid might talk to a friendly attorney before police pressure shuts him down."
Lawson turned her attention back to the crime scene. "Blood spatter analysis?"
"Consistent with blunt force trauma. Not immediately fatal based on volume and distribution.
" Parks pointed toward a knocked-over chair.
"Attacker approached from behind. First blow stunned but didn't incapacitate.
Trace evidence suggests a struggle and the vic's movement toward that pillar where the second impact occurred. "
"Professional?"
"Very." Parks directed her attention to subtle scuff marks near the elevator. "Controlled extraction. No panicked movements or hesitation patterns. They knew exactly when and how to grab her."
Fiona joined them after photographing the scene with her professional camera. "Security in this building is a joke. Multiple blind spots in camera coverage. Stairwells without monitoring. Several potential extraction routes."
"Perfect location for a planned abduction." Parks nodded in agreement. "Question becomes, how did they know Blackwell would broadcast from here?"
"Inside information." Lawson studied the makeshift studio setup. "Someone knew her schedule."
Claire returned from her conversation with Dylan, expression tense with urgency. "We need to watch this now."
She led them to a quiet corner away from the main investigation activity. Dylan followed reluctantly, still clutching his laptop but now willing to share its contents. He opened a media player showing a document titled "Episode 7 Draft Script - The Cop Who Killed the Truth."
"Blackwell was working on the next episode even before broadcasting tonight's." Claire pointed to the timestamp. "Last edited three hours ago."
Dylan spoke for the first time, voice barely above a whisper. "She always prepared multiple episodes in advance. Said it was insurance in case something happened to her."
"Smart woman." Fiona positioned herself to record the screen with her phone.
Dylan scrolled through the document, revealing bullet-point notes rather than a polished script. Sections highlighted in yellow indicated incomplete research. Red text marked areas required additional source verification.
"There." Lawson pointed to a section labeled "Richardson Connection."
Dylan clicked on the subheading, expanding a section of detailed notes about former Captain Tom Richardson.
Connections to the Rafferty investigation.
Meeting schedules with Ray Hutchinson during periods when evidence disappeared from the case files.
Financial transactions between offshore accounts linked to shell companies controlled by Thomas Hutchinson's law firm.
"Jesus," Fiona whispered. "She was building a case against Richardson."
"Not just him." Dylan continued scrolling to reveal additional sections. Notes about Chief Wallace's rapid promotion after Monica's case went cold. Questions about Judge Byrd's financial connections to businesses investigated during the Rafferty case.
"The corruption network Monica discovered. Blackwell found the same evidence and followed it to the top of the department." Lawson felt ice forming in her chest as pieces connected.
"Wait." Claire pointed to another section. "There's your name."
The section titled "Lawson's Omissions" contained a detailed analysis of discrepancies in Lawson's official statement after Monica's death. Notes about her relationship with Monica, the drinking before the warehouse meeting, suspicious behavior in the months following the murder.
Then, a highlighted section made Lawson's breath catch: "Second Recording confirms Richardson present at warehouse. Voice analysis matches warning to Lawson."
"She had proof Richardson was there that night. Audio confirmation he was present when Monica died."
Parks read over her shoulder, expression hardening with each revealed detail. "Richardson mentored both of you, didn't he? You and Landry?"
"First year on homicide." Lawson nodded slowly. "He specifically requested us for his division."
"You shouldn't have trusted him. Some mentors betray their students." Fiona quoted the words from the interrupted broadcast. "The voice on the podcast."
Dylan clicked to another section of the document. "She has the recording here."
He opened an audio file embedded in the document. The computer speakers emitted Richardson's distinctive voice, unmistakable.
"Ray, it's done. Clean up and get out. I'll handle Lawson when she arrives."
The short clip ended. Silence fell over their small group as the implications crystallized.
"Richardson set the whole thing up." Lawson struggled to process the betrayal. "Orchestrated Monica's murder. Used Ray as the triggerman. Planned to deal with me next."
"But something went wrong." Parks added the logical conclusion. "You arrived earlier than expected, or he lost his opportunity."
"Then spent five years burying evidence and blocking the investigation." Claire completed the picture. "Until Blackwell started digging it all up again."
A commotion at the elevator drew their attention. Chief Wallace emerged surrounded by administrative staff and senior officers. His gaze locked onto their small group immediately, expression darkening at the sight of Lawson.
"Lieutenant Parks." Wallace's voice carried across the crime scene, freezing activity throughout the floor. "Why is Detective Lawson contaminating my crime scene after explicit instructions to exclude her from this investigation?"
Parks straightened to his full height. "I take full responsibility, sir. Detective Lawson has provided valuable context regarding the victim's investigation."
"That context makes her a person of interest." Wallace approached with measured steps. His entourage followed like courtiers behind royalty. "Ms. Blackwell's podcast directly implicated Detective Lawson in misconduct related to the Landry murder."