Chapter 45 #3
I’m on pins and needles as we file back into the courtroom and see Mr. Bancroft already there. The judge and jury come back in before we take our seats. “Have you reached a decision?” The judge asks.
A woman dressed in a suit stands. “We have. We find in favor of the defendant. The plaintiff’s case is dismissed.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. I won, and it’s over.
The judge dismisses the jury and closes the case.
Looking over at Mr. Bancroft, he’s just sitting there, not reacting.
Weird. After the judge leaves, we join Zander and the guys, where I get hugs from everybody.
Zander and I both thank Mr. MacLeod as he excuses himself to head home.
I follow the guys out of the courthouse, feeling lighter.
I run into Nick’s back, who has stopped in front of me. “Hey Grumpy, what’s going on?” I ask. Following his line of sight, I see a man standing against a car across the road, smiling. “Who’s that? Do you know him?”
The man smiles larger before getting into his car and driving away. “No fucking way,” he mutters.
“Nick? Who was that?” I ask again. Zander and the guys have stopped and are watching us.
“My father,” he replies.
“Oh, shit,” Seb says. “I’m calling Troy. Sunshine, we’re all going to your place. Stay alert people. Straight to Z’s house. Come on Nick. I’m driving,” Seb says, pushing Nick along as we walk together to our vehicles.
When we get to the parking lot, Nick asks Bay to check over our cars before we start them. He doesn’t trust his father didn’t tamper with them. Nick finds a note under the wiper of his Jeep.
Figured it out yet? I’m aware of everything.
Talk soon.
Rage is radiating off him, so I wrap my arms around his waist. “We’re here with you, Grumpy.
We’ll figure it out. Stay focused, here with me.
” He’s not responding, but that’s okay. I stay wrapped around him until Bay's finished.
Nothing looks tampered with, so we get into our vehicles and drive home as a group.
Troy and Gabby are waiting for us when we get there. Everyone files into the living room as Nick hands Troy the note. “Goddammit,” Troy mutters. “Nick, any activity recently?”
“No. Nothing. I’ve still got alerts set. He’s using a new fake ID or drove here. There’s been no email or contact here that I’ve seen. I obviously missed something,” he growls.
“Hey man. Don’t beat yourself up. You can’t know everything,” Seb says, but Nick just glares at him.
“Alright. I’ll contact the FBI and let them know. Start digging and maybe contact your hacker friend. We need to know why he’s back. Anyone know what kind of car?”
“Yeah, a white Chrysler 300. I’m guessing a 2009 or 2010,” Bay says.
“You need to fill me in here, guys,” Zander says. “All I know is he’s a criminal, and Troy helped Nick put him away.”
Troy tells us he has a friend in the FBI, working out of Columbia, whom he contacted when he found out about Nick’s situation.
His dad, Patrick, was a known criminal but evaded capture, and the FBI aided Nick in exchange for evidence against him.
Nick turned over everything he had, and the FBI charged and convicted Patrick of several crimes, including drug trafficking and weapons distribution.
He served his time out of state, as that was part of the deal Nick made with them.
He was involved in human trafficking as well, but Nick didn’t have proof of that.
They also convicted two others who worked closely with him.
Nick adds that his old crew disbanded afterwards, most moving away with a few still lingering, selling pot but not really causing trouble. He’s been monitoring Patrick since he got out of prison, but he hadn't contacted anyone in the area and hadn’t come to South Carolina until now.
“So, are we in danger?” Zander asks.
“I don’t know,” Nick replies.
“Everyone, stay alert for now,” Troy says. “I don’t think anyone is in danger. We’ll investigate, but I’m guessing he’s after Nick for locking him up.”
“Don’t go anywhere alone, Nick, please,” I say.
He looks over at me and softens a bit. “I can take care of myself, Shortie.”
“I know, but please be careful.”
He nods. “I’m going to dig and contact Fawx.”
“I’m coming,” Seb says, walking over to give me a hug. “Bye Sunshine. I’ll call you.”
“Bye, guys,” I reply.
“Take Gabs with you. I’m going into the office to call the FBI,” Troy tells them.
As they leave, Zander offers to order pizza for the rest of us.
I sit on the couch with the rest of the guys, but we’re not saying much.
I think they’re all over the place like I am.
Turning on the tv, I settle on a sitcom.
“Do you guys know any more than what they told us? I mean, do we need to travel in groups or something?”
“We don’t know the details,” E says. “He’s a terrible person, but none of us has seen him before. Hopefully Nick or Troy can tell us more tomorrow,” E shrugs.
“Will you guys please check in with me when you get home tonight so I know you’re okay?” They all agree, and then I text Sue to let her know about the trial results, and we text back and forth until the pizza arrives.
The guys leave after we eat, and I make lunch for Zander and me for work tomorrow.
Everybody arrived home safely, so I grab a shower and call Seb from bed.
He’s home with Nick and Gabby. Nick is on his laptop, tracing the car from the courthouse, and Troy is still at the office.
He’s worried about Nick withdrawing from us now that his father has made an appearance, so we agree not to let him.
Seb, Nick, and E are all working tomorrow and Friday at Finn.
Nick will be in Charleston, and Seb and E at the office.
One of them is going to pick me up from work instead of me taking the bus until we have more information.
I decide to take a sleeping pill tonight to get some rest. Sarah agreed I could take one if I knew I was going to have nightmares, and those are pretty much a guarantee tonight.
I call Seb again, and he stays on the line with me until I’m ready to sleep. I text Nick to call if he needs anything before plugging in my phone. What a rollercoaster day.