Chapter 18 #2
Letting out a heavy breath, Moriah’s tension eased slightly, and Brian plowed on.
“Anyway, I tried to obtain a few details from him, but he just danced around me. He said she wasn’t a suspect, but they were curious about the reasons why she disappeared.
As a matter of fact, he never mentioned the fact that Moriah might be a victim, too, but seemed confident she’d run away. That in itself makes me suspicious.”
Dan leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “Maybe this detective is the dealer’s connection.”
“It’s possible, but until Sean calls us back, we’re still flying blind here.”
“Well, speak of the devil.”
KC, Moriah, and Brian followed the older man’s line of vision to the back door. Sean stood outside, shifting his carry-on luggage and briefcase into one hand to turn the doorknob. KC quickly stepped over and saved him the trouble.
Sean crossed the threshold and set his baggage down before KC grabbed him in a bear hug and slapped his back. “Hey, bro! It’s great to see you, but couldn’t you have just called with the information?”
Returning the hug, his younger brother laughed. “And let you guys have all the fun? No fucking way.”
Stepping away from KC, Sean proceeded to greet Brian and his uncle in the same loving manner.
He then stopped in front of the woman standing next to his eldest brother and eyed her face with a professional yet gentle gaze.
“You must be Moriah. It’s nice to meet you, although I wish it were under better circumstances. ”
From Moriah’s tentative smile, KC knew she was a little overwhelmed by meeting an FBI agent. However, she was polite with her response. “I wish it were, too, but it is nice to meet you.”
Sean winked at her, then addressed KC with a frown. “You’ve gotten yourself involved with some serious shit, brother.”
Shaking his head, KC sighed in frustration. “Tell me something we don’t already know.”
Again, they sat around the coffee table, with Sean joining his uncle on the loveseat.
He leaned back, crossed his outstretched legs at the ankles, and relaxed.
“Well, according to my Chicago DEA contact, John Samson, this Leo Simmons character is involved with the local drug business and is supplied by one Adrian Hernandez. Simmons is a two-bit dealer, but apparently, Hernandez is the biggest supplier of coke, pot, ecstasy, and whatever else floats your boat in Chicago. He has his hands in a few other venues, too, including prostitution. They’ve been trying to build a case against him for years and are finally close.
“Now . . . this doesn’t leave this room .
. .” He waited specifically for Moriah to nod her assent.
“The Chicago Police Department may be looking for you in connection with your family’s murders.
However, the DEA knows differently. One of the people they’ve been keeping tabs on is Hernandez’s right-hand man, Dennis Kellerman.
He was seen going into Moriah’s building the day of the murders, along with Simmons and two other flunkies.
The agents thought nothing of it because they knew Simmons’s girlfriend lived there. ”
“Susan,” Moriah murmured before clearing her throat and raising her voice. “My sister.”
Sean nodded. “I’m sorry. Anyway, when these assholes left about a half hour later, they were in a real hurry.
Simmons’s shirt appeared to be covered in blood, so one agent stayed behind while the other continued the tail.
The first agent was about to check things out in the apartment when he saw you enter.
He knew you were Susan’s sister and waited about fifteen minutes because he didn’t want you to know they had her under occasional surveillance.
He figured whatever happened inside, you would call 9-1-1.
“When he saw you come running back out, obviously upset, he went upstairs and found your family. They must have used silencers because the agents never heard gunshots.” Looking somberly at Moriah, he continued.
“Agent Samson was very sorry about your family, but the agency had no clue they were in danger. If they did, they would have protected you and your family. The DEA didn’t even know why they were killed.
I told Samson about the money and gun—so, it appears that mystery is solved for them. ”
Moriah’s bottom lip and chin quivered. “W-why haven’t they arrested Leo and the other men?”
Knowing the unfortunate answer, KC took her hand. “They’re low men on the totem pole, sweetheart. The DEA wants Hernandez.”
Sean nodded. “That’s right.”
Confused, she glanced back and forth between the two men. “Then, why doesn’t the DEA tell the police what happened?”
“Samson’s sure that Hernandez has several contacts in the Chicago PD. At the moment, they’re not sure who they can trust.”
Her shock was evident on her face and in her tone of voice. “So, no one will be arrested for killing my family, and I have to run again to stay alive?”
The men knew the workings of law enforcement, but as a civilian, it was hard for the woman to comprehend things had to work a certain way to reel in the bigger fish.
Sitting forward, Sean spoke in a soothing tone.
“I told Samson you were hidden somewhere safe, but I didn’t say where you were located.
He assured me the case was coming to a head soon, and in addition to the drug arrests, there will be charges in the homicides. ”
Her shoulders sagged, and when she spoke again, it was so softly that the men had to strain to hear her. “What happened to my family? Where were they taken?”
“They’re still at the county morgue. Unfortunately, if no one claims them soon, they’ll be buried by the city in a potter’s field.”
KC’s heart and gut squeezed as Moriah sobbed. “I’m their only living relative. My mother was an only child.”
Putting his arms around her, he hugged her tightly to his chest. “When this is over, I’ll see to it that they receive a proper burial.”
“I-I can’t ask you to do that,” she mumbled into his shoulder as her tears soaked his T-shirt.
“You’re not asking. I’m offering. No strings attached.”
Biting her lip, she lifted her gaze to his. “Th-thank you.”
Brian stood. “So, now what? We just wait?”
The other men reluctantly agreed. “We wait.”