Chapter 17 #2
Sully closed the folder. “I don’t like it either, but the FBI tac team is there, some of your deputies are there, and Elena knows those woods as well as anyone coming after them. They’ll be all right, I think.”
The words sounded good and he’d needed a phone signal to fill in Winters, but the truth was, the thought of leaving Elena and Ollie at the ranch with the signal jammers still active gnawed at him.
The slice of betrayal still took his breath away.
He couldn’t think about Piper right now.
“Let’s get what we can from him.” They left the observation room and entered the interrogation room.
Sully pulled out the metal chair and sat across from Amato. Donovan took position in the corner, arms crossed.
“Lorenzo Amato.” Sully placed the folder on the table. “Quite the résumé.”
“I want my lawyer.”
“Sure thing. But before we make that call, you should know your situation.” Sully leaned forward. “Your buddy’s dead and we have the girl who’s going to testify against you and Bellini next week.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Amato’s eyes remained fixed on a point above Sully’s head.
“Let me refresh your memory.” Sully opened the folder. He couldn’t ask questions since the man had asked for a lawyer, but he could still lay some facts out for him and see if he responded. “Four months ago. Warehouse just outside of Nashville. Man named Carletti.”
Nothing.
“Right, so we know that you know that Ollie Callahan saw the whole thing. She’ll testify that Bellini told you both to make an example of Carletti.
” Sully paused. “She heard the exact words: ‘This is your parting gift from the boss.’ Then your partner shot him and handed you the gun. You put the second bullet in Carletti’s head. ”
A muscle twitched in Amato’s jaw.
“First-degree murder. No deals. Life without parole.” Sully closed the folder. “Unless you want to talk.” He stood. “Just so you know, you’re looking at first-degree murder under state law. But . . .” He paused.
“But what?”
“But . . . this is also a part of our RICO case. You could make a deal with us in order to go to a federal prison under an alias. You know what happens if you get sent to the state prison.”
Amato swallowed. He knew. He’d be dead before he could digest his first meal.
“But . . . if living doesn’t appeal to you, we’ll just see how everything plays out.”
“What kind of deal?”
Sully paused. “What about the lawyer?”
“Forget the lawyer, tell me about a deal.”
Sully hesitated. “I can’t do anything. You asked for a lawyer.”
“I take it back. What do you want?”
Sully pulled a piece of paper from his folder and slid it in front of the man. “Read it and sign it and then we can talk.”
Amato didn’t even hesitate. He signed. “Tell me about a deal.”
“Depends on what you give us.” Sully slipped the paper into the folder and took his seat again.
Amato shifted, the handcuffs rattling. “I want protection. Witness protection.”
“That’s a big ask for a man who tried to kill a fourteen-year-old girl.” Sully scraped the chair back as though to stand again. “Think I’ll just let you sit here until your lawyer arrives after all.”
“No. Wait!” Amato’s voice stopped him. “That wasn’t me. I never signed up to kill a kid.”
“But you did sign up to kidnap one.”
“To bring her in. That’s all.”
“You knew she’d be killed in the end. Unless you’re going to shoot straight, we’re done. And you’re looking at a lot of prison time.”
Amato’s composure cracked. “Look, this whole thing got out of hand. Bellini’s paranoid about this trial. He wants the girl gone, and he’s calling in every favor to make it happen.”
“Including working with mountain preppers?” Sully scooted back to the table and leaned in, keeping his body language calm and friendly. With no hint he’d like to slam the guy’s head on the table a few times for what he’d put Ollie through. “How’d that connection happen?”
Amato hesitated. Finally, he slumped in his chair. “LaVoy Hawthorne.”
“Is he the dead guy?”
“No. He’s with the prepper group right now.
He’s Bellini’s second cousin or something.
Grew up in those mountains, then left and joined up with Bellini about five years ago.
The guy liked money and nice things and hated the prepper lifestyle.
When we needed help out here, he reached out to his old family.
He’s the one who set everything up with the preppers. I just followed orders.”
Sully processed this information. “So when Agent Whitaker told you where we were headed, LaVoy called his family?”
“Yeah. Said they knew the area, knew the ranch. Could help us get to the girl. For a price, of course.”
“Of course.”
Amato shook his head. “But those people are crazy, man. They wanted more than money. Started talking about government conspiracies and their territory.”
“What about Elena Thompson? Why target her?”
Amato frowned. “Who?”
“The woman at the ranch. The one your people tried to grab. The one your drones shot at.”
“I don’t know anything about that.” Amato leaned forward. “The drones were to shake things up and allow us to grab the kid. Our job was the witness. That’s it. Whatever else those mountain people were doing, that wasn’t our business.”
Sully studied the man’s face. He seemed genuine. But then again, he probably lied with the best of them.
“LaVoy handled all the prepper stuff,” Amato continued. “Said they had their own agenda but would help us get the girl. Ollie, not the Elena person you’re asking about. That’s all I know.”
“What about Hannah Whitaker? Piper’s daughter?”
“She’s Bellini’s insurance policy. He’s keeping her somewhere in Nashville. I don’t know where exactly—that’s above my pay grade.”
“But you knew about the kidnapping?”
“Everyone knew. It’s how we kept your partner in line.” Amato’s eyes narrowed. “She blew it, though. Too soft. Couldn’t go through with it. Not even for her kid.” He smirked. “Bellini didn’t see that coming and he’s ticked.”
Well, that was something.
Sheriff Donovan stepped forward. “Where’s Bellini now?”
“Last I heard, he was at his place in upstate New York. Waiting for us to deliver the girl or confirm she’s dead.” He shifted and frowned. “But like I said, I couldn’t do it. I don’t kill kids.”
“Right. You just deliver them to a killer.” Sully stood up, grabbed a voice recorder, and shoved it in front of the prisoner.
“Tell me everything. Names, locations, everything you know about Bellini’s operation.
Every detail about the preppers and LaVoy Hawthorne.
If it checks out, I’ll talk to the AUSA about a deal. ”
“AUSA? What’s that? Like a DA?”
“Assistant US attorney. This is a federal case, so you get a federal prosecutor.”
The man swallowed. “And protection?”
“If your information helps us get Hannah back and put Bellini away, we’ll discuss it.” He paused. “And be sure to include all that stuff about threatening Agent Whitaker’s daughter and holding her hostage. In detail.”
The man pressed the button and started talking.
Sully left the room, processing. The connection between the mob and the preppers explained part of the situation, but not why Elena was targeted. If Amato was telling the truth, the preppers had their own agenda beyond helping the mob silence Ollie.
Sheriff Donovan joined him in the hallway. “I texted one of my deputies to ride out to the ranch and let Elena know about Hawthorne. See if she can give us any feedback on him.”
“Good idea.”
Donovan nodded to the prisoner. “You believe him?”
“About not targeting Elena? Yeah. I think.” Sully rubbed his temple where his head wound still ached. “It might just be a simple case of the mob wanting Ollie. The preppers want Elena. They just used each other to get what they wanted. Only they failed.” So far.
“But why Elena?”
“That’s what we need to find out.” Sully checked his phone. “We need to get back to the ranch. The preppers know we have Amato now, and they probably know the guy he was with is dead. They might try something desperate.”
“I’ll arrange transport for your prisoner.” Donovan nodded toward the interview room. “Federal marshals can take him from here.”
“Thanks.” Sully gathered his notes. “One more thing if you don’t mind.
I know Elena might be able to give us some insight, but do you mind seeing if you can find anything else on LaVoy Hawthorne?
Criminal record, known associates, family connections to the prepper community.
Property in Nashville he might give Bellini access to? ”
“Will do. Unless we can figure out how to turn off the jammers, if I find out anything, I’ll have to ride out to give you the information.”
“I know. Be careful.”
“You too, son. You too.”
Sully headed for the door, his concern for those at the ranch growing with each step.
The pieces were falling into place, but there were some still missing.
The mob’s involvement made sense, but the preppers’ motives remained a mystery.
Sure, they wanted the mob’s money, but it was more than that.
If he had to hazard a guess, he’d say it was tied to Elena’s past with them.
Maybe even something to do with her family.
Whatever was going on, one thing was certain. Elena was still in danger.