Chapter Twenty-Seven
Justice
I t takes almost an hour with all the traffic by the time we arrive at the warehouse. Craig’s truck is parked outside with him standing next to it, his shoulders rigid with tension.
My eyes scan our surroundings, all of us on alert. I trust Craig more than I do a lot of other people but I still don’t put all my trust in anyone, none of us do, which is why we’re all packing.
“He’s not stupid enough to fuck us around, right?” Braxten asks.
Knox shakes his head. “I don’t think so.”
I agree. He wouldn’t have us meet him this far away, and he’s driving his personal truck, not squad, which makes me feel a little better.
Climbing out, the three of us head his way. “Clemson,” I greet him with a nod. “What’s going on?”
“You guys aren’t going to believe what I found.”
The three of us share a look as he opens his truck door and leans inside to pull out a brown folder. Opening it, he slides out a piece of paper and hands it to us.
Stepping forward, I take it and feel my brothers crowd my back. It’s a photocopy of an old document. It looks like some sort of deed but most of it is handwritten.
“What are we looking at?” I finally ask.
“A mineral deed. To your father’s land.”
My brow cocks. “Mineral?”
He nods. “Your father is sitting on millions of dollars worth of oil. That’s why they want his land.”
I look back down at the document, shock rocking me where I stand.
“Ho-ly shit,” Braxten mutters.
Excitement spins through me, knowing we now have motive. “Where did you get this?” I ask.
“From Toder’s office. After we spoke last night, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Especially with what Hodges said about him smelling like gasoline.
It was three in the morning when it hit me.
” There’s a gleam in his eyes as he speaks.
“Toder only drives his squad car, always has. In every police vehicle in this county there’s a dash camera.
It became mandatory three years ago. Usually surveillance footage is kept in a separate office, for obvious reasons Toder keeps it in his, nice and close. ”
A spark of adrenaline pumps through my body. “Are you telling me we have the crime on surveillance?”
“Not quite. He shut it off, but I have the blackout of the camera’s time and it lines up with the timeline of when the fire was started. Shutting off that camera is a violation on its own. Between that and this deed, surely your source can do something with it.”
“I’m sure he can. Thanks, Craig. I really appreciate this.”
He nods, his expression turning somber. “Act soon, Justice. It won’t be long before he realizes I was in there. I photocopied this because I didn’t want to tip him off but to get the original your guy is gonna have to get a warrant.”
“Don’t worry. We’re on it.”
Vengeance is just in reach and it will be ours.