Chapter Twenty-Two
TJ
TJ stood in his office, staring at the papers on his desk.
The judge had signed off on them and they’d been gathering information, monitoring monetary transfers, and over the past month they had found enough evidence to implicate Angelo and Cass.
Santino Conti had been a great help in digging into all the accounts, and had turned up quite a lot of evidence.
TJ didn’t give a fuck about Angelo and what he’d done over the years, but Cass was another matter.
He’d known Cass for years. Ever since Toni and Carter had married, and to think that the whole time Cass had been breaking the law.
Had he and Angelo had a good laugh at TJ’s expense?
The dumb sheriff, not knowing what they were up to?
How they were taking money and lying about it?
Worse was knowing every time he went to Cass’ home, Cass had been friendly to him while robbing the town.
Probably laughing at how easy it was to lie to the sheriff and get away with it.
Sitting, TJ dropped his head into his hands and closed his eyes. He heard the knock on his door and ignored it, then growled when the door opened and closed. He glared at the person who’d entered the room, then let the look drop when he saw Cody standing in front of him.
Cody shoved his hands in his jeans and rocked on his feet. “Said hi to the guys. Some were surprised to see me alive.” His eyes moved over the papers that littered TJ’s desk. “Any of that about Cass?”
“You have impeccable timing,” TJ murmured. In a louder voice, he said, “Yeah, it is.” TJ blew out his breath. “Cass is in deep. There’s no way for me to help him.”
“Why would you? He did it to himself and he must have had a good laugh having you over on the weekends, knowing he was breaking the law.”
“I just thought the same thing.” TJ picked up one of the sheets, scanned the numbers, then dropped it. “You can’t be here.”
“I know. I came to tell you I love you and I’m cooking steak tonight.”
“Cody…” Not a good idea, considering TJ was about to go and arrest Cass.
“I’ll be celebrating.”
“They will more than likely lose the house. Cassie will be homeless.”
“Will she?” Cody arched an eyebrow. “You’d see my sister out on the streets?”
“That’s a low fucking blow, Cody. You know I would never do that to her.”
Cody shrugged. “You or Carter will take her in. As for Emily, she can rot in a field somewhere.” Cody’s face hardened. “She deserves it.”
“She’s your mother.”
“And? Knowing your husband is sending your son off to some camp and doing nothing about it makes you a mother? I guess she is, then.”
TJ closed his eyes and shook his head. “Cody—”
“I’ll go. I hate him. I hate them both, but I love you. I’m sorry you have to do this.” TJ opened his eyes and looked up at Cody. Cody shrugged and glanced away. “I’m not saying sorry for him being arrested, though. You reap what you sow. Isn’t that the saying?”
“You need to go, Cody. You can’t be here.” TJ stood and grabbed his pistol from the drawer. “Cody. Go. Your being here could compromise the evidence.”
Cody nodded and grabbed the door handle, then paused. “I love you. I know this is difficult for you. I’ll be waiting when you get home.”
TJ didn’t respond until Cody had closed the door and then all he did was sag back in his chair. Cass Paarman. Someone he’d thought he’d known but clearly didn’t, given everything he had found out in the last couple of weeks. First Cody and now this. What else was there?
“Sheriff.”
TJ slowly raised his head and saw Miles waiting for him. Standing, he checked his pistol and holstered it, then grabbed his hat and put it on. “Let’s do this.”
“One of us can take the lead. It doesn’t have to be you.”
“No.” TJ walked past Miles and ignored the looks cast his way. “Bates! Savon! You’re with us.” Stopping at Taylor’s desk, he said, “I need you and Simpson to bring Angelo Ricci in on charges of embezzlement.” He placed the paperwork on the desk. “Take any additional backup you need.”
Taylor picked up the papers, then looked up at TJ. “I’ll do it now.”
TJ nodded, then walked outside, jumped into the car and waited for Miles to get in, then pulled out of the parking lot, making the fifteen minute drive to Cass’ home.
The entire journey there, neither of them spoke, but that didn’t stop TJ’s mind racing over what he could have missed in all the years he’d known Cass and Emily.
Had Cass dropped hints, knowing TJ wouldn’t pick up on them? Had he and Angelo laughed about it?
TJ parked and stared at the house, then got out and waited for Miles to reach him. They looked at each other as Bates and Savon arrived, then TJ walked over to the front door and knocked. He only had to wait a minute before Emily opened.
Showing his badge, he asked, “Is Cass here?” Emily looked past him to the others, then sagged and opened the door wide. “Where is he?”
“In his office.”
TJ walked past her and went to Cass’ office. He didn’t bother knocking but walked straight inside. Cass looked up at him and sat back in his chair. “TJ—”
“I’m placing you under arrest for embezzlement. Miles.”
Miles stepped forward and began to read Cass his rights. Cass shouted at TJ and leaped over the desk, trying to grab him, but Bates and Savon intervened and soon they were all trying to hold Cass down as he fought to get away.
A fist caught TJ’s eye, but he held on until Bates snapped the cuffs on Cass’ wrists.
Cass glared at him from the floor. “You fucking cocksucker. It’s your fault Cody’s like you.
You fucking pervert. What did you do to make Cody like you?
Did you suck his dick when he was a kid?
Did you lure him in with sick promises?”
“That’s enough,” Miles snapped. “Get him out of here.”
Bates and Savon dragged Cass up from the floor while he screamed obscenities at TJ. “You destroyed my son! If you’d let me send him to that camp, he would have been normal, but you stopped that. How many times did you fuck him when he was a kid? You sick, perverted bastard!”
“And thankfully we all have body cams on to record all of this,” Miles muttered as Bates and Savon dragged Cass outside.
“We need to speak to Emily.” TJ exhaled heavily, ignoring the pain in his eye. “She knew when we opened the door.”
“Do you want me to handle it?” Miles looked at TJ’s eye. “It’s already swelling.”
“Thanks, but this is something I need to do. Come on. Let’s find her and get this over with.”
TJ found Emily in the family room. When she saw them, she stood and held her wrists out. “I knew this day would come.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“You don’t know the real Cass. The man you think he is doesn’t exist.”
“I think we caught a glimpse of him earlier.” Miles looked at TJ, who nodded, then went over to Emily and cuffed her as he read her rights.
“I know where he keeps all his money. The accounts, the overseas ones. I’m willing to talk in exchange for a deal.”
“We’ll let the lawyers and the judge decide.” The side of TJ’s face began to throb, and he walked with Miles as they took Emily out and placed her in the car. Once she was secured, TJ turned to Miles. “I have to call Carter and tell him to collect Cassie from school.”
“I’ll wait in the car.”
TJ walked a few paces from the car, then dialed Carter. “Hey TJ!”
“I’ll cut to the chase. Cass and Emily have been arrested for embezzlement. Someone needs to get Cassie from school.”
“What the fuck? Cass? Now just wait—”
“It’s done.” TJ hung up and pocketed his phone, then got in the car and drove back to the station. As soon as he entered, escorting Emily with Miles, they heard Cass. “Has he been booked in?”
“We are in the process of doing it. He’s advising us on how he will see that we’re fired and lose our homes and families etc etc.” Savon sat behind a computer logging information. “He’s quite descriptive.”
“I need you to book Emily Paarman in as well.”
“Same charges?” Savon glanced at Emily, then back at TJ.
“Yes. We’ll give Cass an hour or so to calm down, then begin questioning.”
“He’s requested a lawyer.”
“As he is entitled to. Bring his lawyer in. Hopefully, he’ll convince Cass to be honest.”
“We’ve got this.” Miles brought Emily around, who ignored TJ as she walked past. TJ left them and went to his office and shut the door.
Forcing himself to walk, he staggered to his desk and dropped into his chair.
His face throbbed, but he ignored it as he stared into space.
He’d done it. He’d arrested Cass and Emily.
It wasn’t long before Cass’ lawyer arrived, and Miles conducted the interview.
With TJ’s connections to the family, he decided it would be best if he stayed out of the interview room, but he watched from the mirror.
Cass was argumentative, belligerent, denied everything even after the evidence had been presented.
At one point, his lawyer had spoken to him privately, had advised, under the circumstances, to cut a plea deal and let Angelo Ricci take the fall.
The same Angelo Ricci who sat in another interview room, blaming everything on Cass.
The day went on and on, and by the time TJ could finally leave, he wanted to crawl into bed and pull the covers over his head. Carter had collected Cassie from school and had Toni call to let him know.
“I wouldn’t have arrested him if we didn’t have concrete evidence. I can’t tell you anything more than that and I’ve probably already said too much. Carter will understand once everything comes out.”
“Cassie has already mentioned some things about Cass and money, so he’s not as angry, but Cass is his brother.”
“I know, and I understand why he feels the way he does. This wasn’t an easy decision to make, but he broke the law, Toni. I had no choice.”
“I think he’s more angry at himself for not seeing what Cass was doing. He’s a mess right now.”
“And you? How are you? You need to remain as calm as you can right now. The stress won’t be good for you or the baby.”
“I’m good. I’m trying to stay out of it. Thanks for letting us know before everyone else finds out. At least we can be prepared for the questions when we’re out.”
“I’m going home. It’s been a long, difficult day. I wanted to make sure you and the boys were okay first, though.”
“We’re good. Go home, TJ.”
TJ did go home, and when he walked in, Cody fed him, then pushed him into the shower, making a fuss over his face. His eye had swollen shut, and after making sure TJ had taken some pain medication, Cody had forced him into bed. Not that he needed forcing. He was mentally and physically exhausted.
“How was he?”
“He accused me of grooming you.”
Cody snorted and cuddled up to TJ. “We both know that’s not true, but he’ll say anything he can to avoid going to prison. I’m sorry you went through that.”
TJ hugged Cody, closing his eye and letting his body relax. “Cassie is the one I’m most concerned about.”
“She has us. We won’t let anything happen to her.”
“We won’t. She’s innocent in this, and so are you.”
“Go to sleep, TJ. I’ll be here when you wake up.” Cody’s finger lightly traced the bruising around TJ’s eye. “I love you.”
TJ sighed softly. “I think I love you too.”
“Ooohhh. TJ said the L word to me.”
“Fuck off,” TJ chuckled softly, then winced in pain and gently touched his eye.
“Nah ah! You said it and I’m taking it. TJ loves me.” Cody kissed TJ’s head and held him close. “I’m so glad I came back.”
“I’m glad you came back, too.”
Cody kissed his bruised eye. “Sleep, TJ. Things will look better tomorrow.”
TJ sighed and cuddled Cody. “Night Cody.”
“Night TJ.”