Chapter 46 #3
Kane’s face goes from tomato red to snow white unnaturally fast. “What did you just say about New York?”
I point to the U.S. marshal outside Kane’s hospital room. “Did you forget that in your stupor after being shot, you admitted to tampering with the brakes that led to the crash which killed Roman Cash and Fiona Skye?” I tilt my head. Huh. He might actually not remember that he admitted that.
Kane’s eyes go wide as saucers as panic sets in. “No … No … I wouldn’t have said that … I didn’t … Oh, shit. I need a lawyer!” His heart rate monitor starts to alarm as it rises too quickly.
“There’s another option, Kane,” Harlow says as she watches the monitor and then looks at Kane.
“I’ll do whatever I can. I’ll help! I’ll wear a wire! Whatever you need!”
A deep sigh escapes me before I can school my features.
I stare up at the ceiling—I’m too sleep deprived to deal with this moron.
“We don’t really need you to wear a wire, because you both already confessed on tape.
You admitted to your actions and the motive.
Natasha has explained how she met you in a reddit thread about thriller books, and after talking online, the online friendship escalated to texting, then phone calls, and even a few dates. ”
“How did you find her specifically on the forum?” Harlow asks.
“Do you know how many people use the same username across social media platforms? I had the profiles of fifteen key players at Lux, and I would’ve been fine with any of them taking my bait to be their friend, lover, whatever they needed.
It was child’s play. Wells and Jack may not have liked what I brought to the table, but I do know my shit when it comes to tech. ”
“Just not well enough to hang with the big dogs, huh?” I poke.
“I was framed. They were jealous and knew that I would steal the spotlight from them if they kept me around. They have no proof that I gave Spectate any proprietary information; they just have assumptions and wishes. They wanted a reason to get rid of me and ruin my life.”
“Just like Rick is setting you up here for the brake tampering?”
“Yes! I was only doing what he told me. I hate New York, but Rick said I had to be the one to go there. He wanted me to cut the entire brake line, but I said it might not even drive very far and it would be better to just damage it so it would cause a crash later. It was all his idea, and I was just doing what he made me do.”
“So you could get the payout?”
“No, so he could get the payout and then he would pay me.”
“Just like you would get the payout with Meteor?” Harlow adds.
“Yes, but the lawsuit brought too much attention, so Craig Baird never…” Kane’s coloring is downright green. In his emotional tirade, he just confessed to two federal agents that he had in fact committed the corporate espionage that Jack and Wells have long suspected.
“Craig Baird is going to be very disappointed that you finally let his name slip, Kane.” But Spectate’s CEO will be even more disappointed when law enforcement starts investigating him for stealing trade secrets and economic espionage.
I shake my head and look to Harlow who looks less than impressed. “I think we’re good,” she says.
I nod. “Yeah. I agree.”
“That’s it?” Kane looks between us.
“Yeah, you aren’t telling us anything new, other than that charge you’ll deal with now for unlawfully recording that journalist and whatever else they find when they execute a warrant on that.”
“What? But I helped!” Kane cries out as Harlow and I stand.
“No, you really didn’t.” I take a drink from my coffee as he sputters in panic before I raise a hand to tell him to take a breath. “Like they went over with you yesterday when you were informed of the charges against you and read your Miranda rights, you are facing federal charges including—”
“But not necessarily limited to,” Harlow adds and I nod in her direction.
“Right, not necessarily limited to, oh, will you hold this?” I hand Harlow my coffee cup so I can tick the charges off with my fingers.
She fights a smile. “I don’t want to miss any.
Where was I? That’s right, Kane Daughtry, you are facing federal charges including, but not necessarily limited to, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, tampering with a vehicle resulting in death, and aiding and abetting armed burglary and assault.
” Waving my fingers at him, I continue, “These charges alone? You’re likely facing thirty years to life in federal prison.
Oh, don’t forget the racketeering charges. ”
“Federal RICO charges?! What?! No, I didn’t commit a federal crime!” Kane is yelling and crying at the same time.
“Did you miss the U.S. marshal outside your door, Kane? You were arrested by a federal agent, me, and you are part of an interstate crime spree that resulted in multiple deaths and attempts of life, assault, and other charges. The crime spree the three of you have committed included more than two events over a ten-year time period, and across state lines. That’s racketeering.
Those are federal level charges, sir, and my supervisors agree.
Once you are released from the hospital, you will be taken to a federal holding facility and set before a judge to be formally charged, but it sounds like you better enjoy your last few days in Tennessee. ”