Chapter 32
While Michael drove them to Franklin Graves’s office, Catherine spoke to Tony on the phone.
“This isn’t a good idea, Catherine,” Tony said after she explained her plan to talk to the lawyer and convince him to help.
“The entire case could be thrown out. Reid could literally get away with murder.”
“Reid is working with Clara Dolan, aka Hope Davidson. She’s vanished—left work early, went home, and disappeared again. If
Matt and Kara are still alive—and I believe they are—Clara’s going after them. If we can save them, it’s worth the risk.”
“I agree. But most people won’t. Matt and Kara are law enforcement officers—they know the risks. We don’t let killers walk
because they threaten our people. We don’t negotiate with terrorists.”
“Becca McCarthy was Garrett’s high school sweetheart. His college roommate and even a former lover said he cared for her—maybe the only person he’s ever truly loved. They reconnected just days before she vanished, and now she’s presumed dead. Her family believed they were reconciling.”
“Or he killed her because she rejected him.”
“That was my first thought, but her parents and sister said she didn’t reject him—she was planning a visit in February.”
“Maybe he didn’t want her to. Maybe he planned to end it. Maybe the idea of a commitment panicked him.” Tony brought up all
good points that Catherine had considered.
“They broke up in college, dated others, then saw each other again by chance.”
“You’ve told me—told everyone—that Garrett Reid is a sociopath. So does he have feelings or not?”
Catherine winced. People misunderstood psychology. Human behavior didn’t fit neatly into boxes.
“He doesn’t feel empathy for his victims,” she said calmly. “But that doesn’t mean he’s incapable of strong attachments. I
believe Clara killed Becca because she feared Garrett would leave her for his first love. Clara dyes her hair lighter because
she thinks Garrett prefers blondes. She’s beautiful—Garrett values that. All the women he has dated were attractive. But Becca
was different. She was wholesome, kind.”
She paused, struggling to distill her theory.
“Garrett and Clara may have killed before, but definitely Clara,” Catherine said. “I think their primary crime, their joint
purpose, was to con wealthy men and women. They have been moving across country, west to east, and picked the Sapphire Shoals
to continue with their cons. Maybe Clara snapped when she saw Emily on her honeymoon—maybe that was the trigger. Or maybe
she picked this resort because she knew Emily was going to be here. The other victims? Clara enjoyed killing them, picked
them because of their type, not because she knew them.”
“Catherine, I trust you. But this will be a hard sell,” Tony said.
“My point is, Clara kills these women because they remind her of Becca—or because Garrett is reminded of Becca. I need some leeway.”
“I don’t have any to give.”
Michael pulled up in front of Graves’s office and stopped the car.
“I’m going to lay everything out to Graves. I need the flexibility to offer Reid a plea.”
“You’re not a lawyer.”
“Garrett Reid is a passive killer,” Catherine said. “I don’t think he would’ve killed anyone if not for Clara. When he learns
she killed Becca, he’ll talk. I need something to offer him.”
Tony was silent. Catherine braced for him to shut her down. She might go through with it anyway. Losing her job meant nothing
if she could save Matt.
“You can’t offer a deal. That’s up to the Flagler County DA. But you can say you’ll recommend reduced time—if he cooperates
and Matt and Kara are found alive. Be careful, Catherine. If this blows up, the Mobile Response Team is finished.”
He hung up.
Catherine stared at her phone. She didn’t know if this was the right move—but she knew she had to do everything to save Matt.
“I don’t like breaking rules,” Michael said quietly. “Because when we do, bad guys walk. But this time? I don’t care. I couldn’t
live with myself if we didn’t try everything to find Matt and Kara. Even if Reid gets off on a technicality. Besides, we have
no solid evidence he killed anyone. Just a pile of circumstantial. It could take weeks—months—to build a case. Matt and Kara
have been gone for more than forty-eight hours. They don’t have that time.”
Catherine nodded in agreement. “Let’s go.”
They walked up to the townhouse and tried the door; locked. They rang the bell. No one came to the door.
“His car is out back,” Michael said.
Catherine didn’t like this. Had Garrett killed his lawyer? Unlikely. They had followed Graves when he took Garrett to the
hotel. They had a dedicated security guard watching the camera on the fifth floor. Garrett hadn’t left his room except to
use the gym, and someone always had eyes on him. Thirty minutes after he returned to his room, he ordered room service.
But Clara . . . would she have killed the lawyer who got Garrett out of prison? Maybe, if she thought he was a liability.
“I don’t think we have probable cause to enter,” Michael said.
“I’ve left two messages, his car is here, he hasn’t been reachable.”
“Let’s call his legal secretary,” Michael said.
Michael was right, though Catherine didn’t want to delay. Time was not their friend. But told Michael to call.
After a brief conversation, he hung up and said, “She spoke to Graves an hour ago and he was in the office. She said he was
tired and under strain, but told her not to come in.”
Catherine called Franklin’s cell phone. He didn’t pick up. She said, “This is Dr. Catherine Jones with the FBI. We need to
talk. Open your door, I’m standing out front.”
She hit End, then waited.
Five minutes later, she heard movement, then the door opened and Franklin Graves stood there. He looked hollow and defeated.
He had on the same clothes he’d worn to court yesterday. His trousers were wrinkled, his shirt sleeves rolled up and three
buttons unbuttoned, no tie. His eyes were bloodshot. He looked much older than forty-five.
“I can’t help you,” he said but without emotion.
“Garrett Reid has a partner, his wife,” Catherine said. “Her real name is Clara Dolan, but she’s been using both Audrey Reid
and Hope Davidson.”
Franklin didn’t look surprised.
“You knew.”
He shrugged, opened the door. Though he didn’t formally invite them in, Catherine and Michael entered. The townhouse smelled
of stale food and body odor. Franklin shuffled to the couch and sat down heavily, his head in his hands. Michael closed the
door.
Catherine took the secretary’s chair, rolled it over across from him, and sat. Michael stood to the side.
“I believe,” Catherine said, carefully choosing her words, “that Reid’s wife is extremely dangerous. She abducted two federal
agents in an attempt to help make her husband look innocent, and their lives are in grave danger. Clara left work at quarter
to one, went to her house. She left her car there, and we don’t know what she’s driving, but she has nearly two hours on us.
We need to find her, and I’m willing to put in a good word for Garrett if he cooperates. I’d like you to help facilitate this.”
“I can’t.”
“I understand the ethics. I’m not asking you to violate your lawyer-client duties. I’m asking you to let me talk to him so
I can save the lives of two law enforcement officers.”
“You don’t understand. You have no idea who they are. Especially Amber.”
“Amber?”
“That’s what she told me her name was when I first met her.” He laughed, but there was no humor. There was only a dark hollow
pain. “Amber, Audrey, Hope, who knows? He calls her Audrey. She has my wife and son. She promised to let them go if I do what she wants. I’m doing it.”
“What does she want?”
“I thought at first to make sure Reid was released on bail. I thought that was it. Then she said I needed to ‘wait in the wings’ for a few days. And I’m sitting here, waiting, not knowing if Lily and Nathan are still alive.
So no, I’m not going to facilitate anything.
I can’t risk losing them. They’re innocent, Agent Jones.
I don’t care if I die or go to prison, I will do anything to save them. ”
“Then talk to me. I have information about Garrett’s wife that he doesn’t know. When he learns it, he’ll turn on her.”
Catherine didn’t know if she was right. Her gut told her she was, but her gut had also told her that Garrett Reid was a psychopathic
killer when, in fact, he was a co-equal or submissive partner going along with the murders for reasons she didn’t quite understand.
“I’ve seen them together. She’s insane. He is, too, going along with all her games. He humors her, he’s not going to turn
on her.”
Something clicked. “He humors her? How so?”
Franklin shrugged. “They had sex right there.” He looked at the other couch in the waiting room. “He didn’t want to, he’s
worried about going to prison, but she insisted, and he went along with it. Oh, he enjoyed it, don’t get me wrong.”
“Does Garrett know she kidnapped your wife and son?”
“Yes.”
“Did he know before he was released?”
“I don’t think so. He was . . . angry about it. I thought maybe he’d insist she let them go, then he just gave in to her.
They had sex again. They’re like rabbits.” He shook his head. “I’m not going to help you.”
“We can protect your family—”
“You can’t. She has them. You can’t do anything. They’re going to kill me anyway, I’m just praying they’ll spare Lily and
Nathan. They’re innocent in all this.”
“Then help us save our team and your family!” Michael interjected, speaking for the first time. “This fatalistic attitude
isn’t going to help anyone. You’re sitting around feeling sorry for yourself, while people we care about, people you care about, are in danger.”
“If I knew where they were, I’d tell you.”
“I believe you,” Catherine said. “Garrett Reid knows where they are. And if you agree to let me talk to him, he’ll tell me.
But time’s up. Clara Dolan is on her way to kill everyone who can identify her. When she’s done, she’ll kill you and she and
Garrett will attempt to slip away unnoticed. You help us, we have a chance of stopping her.”
He hesitated. Catherine pushed. “Why did they pick you?”
He laughed, genuinely laughed, then tears streamed down his face and he ended in a sob. “I asked myself that over and over
and it wasn’t until I saw Amber—Audrey—that I realized why.”
“Why?” Michael demanded. “Why you? Did you have an affair with her? Did she con you? Seduce you?”
Franklin was shaking his head. “No. That’s the thing. I didn’t sleep with her, and apparently, that was my sin. My sin was
staying faithful to Lily, not succumbing to Audrey’s seduction.”
“When was this?”
“Seven and a half years ago. I was at a conference in Los Angeles and went to the bar because I didn’t want to sit in my room.
I was drinking soda and lime—I rarely drink alcohol, and never alone. I’d had a nice dinner with a friend of mine, we’d been
in law school together, and I was very happy. I’d proposed to Lily the week before and knew this marriage would last. I was
divorced, mostly my fault, though we’ve become friendlier over the years.” He paused.
Catherine said, “Go on.”
“I was sitting there and she had been at the bar. I had noticed her—any man would, she’s a beautiful woman—but that was it.
I didn’t give her any signals. She came to me, sat down.
Offered to buy me a drink. I declined. She flirted.
I was polite, but firm, and told her I wasn’t interested.
She tried to change my mind, distracted me, but I was a criminal defense lawyer for more than a decade and she raised my hackles.
And she poured something into my soda. I rose, was about to tell the bartender, when she got up and walked away.
The next day there was a note under my hotel room door.
It said, I won’t forget or forgive. You owe me.
“I dismissed it, but apparently, this is what I owe her. My family, my reputation, my life.” His voice cracked.
“We will find her and arrest her. I need to talk to Garrett.”
“He won’t talk to you.”
“Yes, he will.” Catherine hoped.
Franklin shrugged, got up. “He’s at a hotel.”
“We know. We have eyes on him. We’ll drive.”