Chapter 41 #2
Lovelyn’s brow creased. “I like it, but that means some evidence could be negated by a court. We’d need to do it carefully.”
My mind rushed over the problem. “What do we actually want from this? We can’t punish Austin.
He died without seeing any part of his empire fall.
But we know, or suspect, that family members and his friends pushed him into and supported his path.
They need to go down. Then the cops can prosecute the Marchant-Smythes, the boat’s captain, the others they’ve arrested, but there’s nothing for the buyers, or the middle men. ”
Lovelyn cocked her head. “We hand over Jacobs and Salter so they can’t resurrect their networks. Even if the cops don’t take them down, others will for fear of their names being spread.”
I liked that. “But that still leaves the buyers.”
“And Denise,” Mila said.
My heart thumped harder. The last one standing in the trusted companies.
Oscar Sullivan was dead, and so was Paul Debrock.
Denise had to pay, and all we’d constructed should lead the police to her door.
“Then the cops need the financial evidence, too. The network is finished, and the families who lost loved ones will see justice. It will work. I’m sure of it. ”
Lovelyn’s smile set the plan in stone. “I have just the person we can ask.”
She dialled another number, explaining it was for the detective in charge of the case. “Lyle? Listen carefully. You have the chance to make your career, but it means going against someone in top brass. Do you want in?”
A pause followed, then a male voice returned. “Define making my career.”
“Blowing up a huge case, arresting a number of business leaders, criminals, and a corrupt cop.”
His next words were far more interested. “Tell me what you’ve got.”
Lovelyn talked it through, stating how we had the names of men who’d bought trafficked women, the witnesses who would point the finger at them, the traffickers themselves, and what she’d discovered in Austin’s files.
“But here’s my problem. We already gave you the Marchant-Smythes who were involved in transporting the women the Eden brought in.
I can hand all I’ve listed over, but what’s to stop it being buried again? ”
Lyle the detective sighed. “Very little.”
“Then we’ll start leaking copies of video evidence. The Deadwater press is howling for facts about the case. If the pressure on your unit is high, it’s about to skyrocket.”
Lyle swore, and the sound of movement came like he was pacing. “You leak that and you blow my case wide open.”
“What case? You’re failing. They’re making sure of it.”
Lyle swore. “You can’t publicise that kind of material without compromising witnesses. But you know that already, which is why you’re calling this in.”
Her eyes gleamed again. “Then there’s your risk.
We can publicly embarrass some very wealthy men and send the witch hunt after them with the cameras turning your way when you don’t act.
Or, you gather the evidence and make the arrests, then have the balls to warn top brass that it won’t stay buried this time.
” She sat back, smiling. “I’ll start sending information your way this afternoon.
You have twenty-four hours to make arrests before we start releasing interviews. ”
The detective swore and disconnected.
Lovelyn shook her head and dropped back on the couch. “It all makes sense now. Why they’d give the case to a newbie like Lyle. They set him up to fail.”
“They didn’t count on us,” I said.
We ordered lunch, and for the next several hours, arranged the specific evidence we needed each man to give, and the threats to force them into it.
All while I tried not to panic, or be hurt, over Tyler not checking in.
With Sullivan’s men, we told them we had video evidence of them in the brothel—no need for them to know it had been deleted.
They folded under pressure to Convict who got busy recording confessions.
With each one done, we arranged handover to Lyle.
Jacobs insisted on a plea deal alongside revealing his truths.
Lovelyn’s father made the offer, Lyle having apparently brought allies in around him.
Salter refused to say a word on camera but went to the cops all the same.
If they let him go, we’d kill him, Cassie had chimed in when we texted the plan to the girls.
Likewise, Lovelyn’s data went to the police, a tip-off giving them Austin’s lake house to raid and evidence to uncover that we’d planted again.
We held back Terrence Harford.
Why, I wasn’t sure, but he didn’t fit into the picture yet.
While we worked, I watched my sister. She shared the plan with Convict, ensuring the crew accepted the risks. For Mila, this was vital. She’d carried the burden of being the family spokesperson and then public punchbag. I couldn’t take that from her shoulders, but this had to help.
By the time four-thirty came around, our day’s hard work was behind us. We had the recordings, a threat to use them if nothing happened, and cameras on the lake house showed us the cops were taking action.
I could’ve breathed a sigh of relief, but there was still more to come.
And no Tyler to hug me through it.
Like me, Mila and Kane had asked to do the will reading meeting remotely, and the solicitor had agreed, but with cameras on in their cases.
The will had to be read, and the attention of the interested public would be on it. It was better for both not to have to face a crowd and cameras.
To be sure I wasn’t compromised, Mila left for her room, her face pale, her business wear smart. Kane was to do the same from his room after spending the day working with Convict.
Perhaps with Tyler, too. I wouldn’t know.
With everyone else cleared out, I sat alone in my living room, only Lovelyn with me for moral support, and opened the message from Cochran with a link to sign in.
A chill ran through me, but I forced myself to tap it. The call connected, giving me Cochran in his office. He greeted me, then agreed I could turn off my camera and just use voice for the call. I could see and hear them, but they could only hear me.
Someone rapped at the door. Lovelyn jumped up to answer.
“It’s Kane,” she whispered.
I muted the call, the meeting not yet started, and twisted to see my brother in the doorway. “You’re supposed to be logged on for the will reading.”
Kane held up his phone. “I am. Don’t worry, I’ll keep the camera off ye. I just had to check. Where’s Tyler?”
My chest tightened. I swallowed sadness. “Out somewhere working.”
“Are ye sure? All day, there’s been no sign of him. I assumed he was with ye until Lovelyn said otherwise.”
All day?
The sadness changed to something darker. A warning.
I stared, then jumped at a click from my phone. On the screen, Cochran moved through the solicitors’ office. A corridor. A closed door. I spun back to Kane. “I think he left on crew business last night. That’s all I know.”
Kane’s expression turned serious. “I’ve sent messages and tried to call him. The only other time he’s ghosted me is when he was with ye.”
My hurt vanished, replaced by fear.
I’d thought Tyler had left me, but maybe I hadn’t been left behind at all.