Chapter Yankee #2
“That’s up to Detective Leo Davis,” Burke answered. “If all goes well, we’ll be in Richmond three days max. It’s approximately a twelve-hour drive from there to here. We’ll have two drivers per vehicle, not including Saxton’s mother. We plan to drive straight through.”
Shepherd’s gaze settled on Burke. “You must ensure that the situation does not spiral out of control. Do not insert yourselves into the local IAB investigation, no matter what.”
Those at the table with Shepherd exchanged glances. Shepherd was being uncharacteristically cagey. They all knew something more was going on than Shepherd was telling them, which was very much unlike Shepherd. He normally gave full disclosure to his team so that no one was caught off guard.
“Feels like I’m sitting at a CIA briefing,” Dupont, who’d previously been with the CIA, said, voicing what everyone at the table was thinking.
Shepherd sighed again. “There are things at play in Richmond that we absolutely cannot become involved in. I declined the case after I made the referral to the Richmond IAB regarding the dead body and Donna Saxton’s eyewitness account.”
Everyone at the table was shocked by his statement.
“Who presented the case to you?” Burke asked.
“Manning. The dead man was one of his agents, been undercover with a major supplier for six months. Local police involvement was suspected. The UA confirmed it prior to going quiet.”
They all knew that the undercover agent had gone quiet because Davis had killed him.
“So is Davis involved with the drug ring and he killed the UA because they figured out that he was a Fed, or did he kill him just because he was a drug dealer?” Burke theorized aloud.
“Not our monkey, not our circus, team. You are all on leave. And we have a full lineup of cases beginning January second. I cannot rearrange leave time and maintain our packed schedule. That’s one of the reasons I declined this case,” Shepherd said.
“Were there other reasons?” Wilson asked.
Shepherd’s gaze went to Burke and then Laura Lee.
“This information will not be shared with Dorthea or Donna Saxton. And Laura Lee,” he began, using her first name, which was a rarity, “if you have any issues because of it, I expect you to reach out to Lassiter before you go to Virginia.” He was silent for a moment, his stare at her was intense.
“It is believed that your father was killed because of his involvement with a career criminal who later rose in the ranks to lead this drug ring.”
“Involvement? No way!” Laura Lee erupted. “My father would never have been involved in anything illegal, certainly not drugs. He was a good cop!”
“Your father’s name was reported by this UA as an initial point of compromise within the Richmond P.D. to establish the longevity of the compromise within the department,” Shepherd said.
“Point of compromise? He’s been dead for over a decade! Why would his name even come up after all these years? That’s suspect in itself,” Laura Lee argued.
“Perhaps,” Shepherd agreed. “As I said, this is not our case, and you are not to insert yourselves into it in any shape or form. You go in, pack up the moving truck, and get the hell out of there.”
“Sir, I would gladly give up my leave time to help get to the bottom of this,” Laura Lee said.
The others at the table all nodded their agreement, several muttering, “Me too.”
“Denied,” Shepherd said. Then his gaze swept over the others. “That goes for all of you, too. You have your orders.”
“Was Leo Davis on the force before Charles Saxton was killed?” Burke asked.
Shepherd’s sharp gaze landed on him. “You have your orders,” he repeated.
“Shepherd, please hear me out,” Burke said.
“If Davis knew Charles Saxton, regardless of either man’s involvement with this head of the drug ring, his interest in Donna might not be what it appears to be.
Whether Davis is dirty or not, because of his connection to Laura Lee and Donna through their father, we’ve got an in with him that no one else Manning can send has.
If he’s dirty, we can use him and maybe flip him with a deal.
If he’s clean, we can gain his trust and help him bring the ring down.
If there are officers from the Richmond PD working with or covering up this ring’s activities, they have to be shut down and prosecuted. ”
“And if Manning doesn’t have anyone else currently on the ground there, how long will it take to get someone in and trusted?” Wilson added. “I agree. We have a unique opportunity to drop right into this case.”
Shepherd considered it. “There’s one more reason I denied this case.
” His gaze went back to Saxton for a moment before he rose from the conference table.
He retrieved a file folder from his desk and then returned to his seat.
“It’s the identity of the head of the ring.
” He pulled out a picture that was obviously a surveillance photo.
It was a Black man with graying hair. “Do you recognize this man?” He held the picture up to Saxton.
She studied it. “No.”
He pulled another photo from inside the folder. “How about this one?” He held it up. It was a booking picture of the same man from twenty-plus years earlier.
Recognition came to Laura Lee, and she stopped breathing. She was transported back in time to a dark alley, the hot and humid night air thick with smoke. The gunshot echoed through her thoughts as she remembered the night her biological father, Denzel Lee, was killed in front of her.
“Laura?” Dupont asked, his hand taking hold of her hand under the table. “Who is it?”
“It’s the man who killed my birth father, Denzell Lee,” she said.
“His name is La Vonn Jefferson,” Shepherd said. “He’s believed to have killed both Denzell Lee and Charles Saxton.”
The room spun for Laura Lee. She grabbed hold of the table for stability with the hand that was not being held by Dupont. And under the table, that hand clenched his.
“Fuck,” Burke cursed.
“No fucking way,” Rogers said.
“Holy shit,” Wilson said at the same time.
“As I said, there were reasons I declined this case,” Shepherd said. “But I will leave it up to you, Saxton.”
Determination took up residence inside Saxton. “I assumed the men who killed my father, both fathers, were long dead by now. Yes, if there’s a chance we can get this guy, we need to try.”
“Can you handle it?” Shepherd asked.
“I’ll talk to Lassiter to be sure I can,” Saxton promised.
“Sir, if we’re going to do this, Donna has to be brought into it. And there is the matter of her children being present in Virginia when we go back to move,” Burke said. “They shouldn’t be there.”
***
While Burke and Wilson were at the house Burke was buying with the home inspector, Donna and her children were at Rae and Wilson’s place.
Donna, Wilson, and Burke would leave for the airport once the home inspection was complete.
Rogers would meet them there. Donna and Rae had been brought in on the mission that Shepherd had agreed to. Dorthea would not be told though.
“The boys are so disappointed they aren’t going back with us and can’t say goodbye to their friends in person,” Donna said. “Thank you for keeping them while we’re gone.”
“It’s better for them that they’re not out there. Trust me, you don’t want them anywhere near anything that has the potential to be dangerous,” she said in a whisper. They sat at the kitchen table, and the children played in the front of the living room, which was within their view.
“I know,” Donna said. “I just don’t want this to make the move hard on them.”
“I understand,” Rae said. “But kids are resilient. They’ll make new friends and bounce back quickly. You know, you could arrange for video chats with the parents of their friends so the kids can say their goodbyes. It’s the next best thing to being there in person.”
“Yes, I was thinking the same thing.”
“What will you tell your mom as to why the kids aren’t there?” Rae asked.
“That Jimmy and Mike volunteered to fly out and help pack and load the truck right away, and we thought it best the kids weren’t in the way. Besides, a twelve-hour long drive home would be hard on them.”
“And if the case drags out longer than a few days?” Rae asked.
Donna sighed and shook her head. “I have no idea what we’ll tell her.
I guess that’ll be up to Laura Lee to decide.
Rich said that if that’s the case, my mom and I will fly back early while the five of them finish it before driving back.
If it drags on too long, it will be necessary that I’m back so I can register Elijah in school.
So much for the guys having time off. I’m sorry your time with Jimmy isn’t going to be what you thought it was. ”
Rae shrugged. “It’s okay. It’s important for you and your family to get resolution to this.
And obviously, any help you need until Rich is home, I’m happy to help.
I’m glad the house you two are buying is in the same school district as the rest of us.
Sienna will see what she can do to have Elijah put in the same class with Lilly and Hahna, so he already has two friends in class with him. ”
“How many kindergarten classes are in the school?” Donna asked.
“Four and all the teachers are great. He’ll do well with any of them, but I was thinking that if he already knew a couple of classmates, that would make the transition easier for him.”
“Do you think that the preschool beside the elementary school has space available in its four-year-old program? I don’t want Jayden to slip in what he’s learned in preschool this year.
He currently goes to the Headstart Program five full days,” Donna said.
“And I wanted to get Jeriah into something too.”
“I’m pretty sure they do,” Rae said. “If they don’t, our local park district has some great programs for kids to stay busy and socialize during the day, sports for kids as young as two, art classes, dance, even swimming.
And you could have preschool time as part of your normal day at home.
I could recommend great workbooks and lesson plans for you,” Rae said.
“Yes, that would work. I had wanted to get a part-time job now that I finished my classes and got my certification for phlebotomy, but if I have to wait on that for a few months, it’s not the end of the world.”
“I’m taking classes at a local college to become a preschool teacher,” Rae said. “I was a class assistant and really liked it. I’d love to help you with an at-home program if you have to go that route.”
“That would be great, thanks, Rae.”