25. Chapter 25
July 1, 2011
8:05 pm
After Lucious left, Trey spent a few hours catching up on paperwork before heading to Genevieve’s to get Hailey and take her to get ice cream. She needed a pick-me-up, and he knew the way to her heart was sweets. Unfortunately, his plan wasn’t going as well as he’d hoped.
The two were now on their way to talk to Bobby Young, and Hailey was giving him the silent treatment. Trey hadn’t wanted to involve her in the conversation he had with Lucious. He could lose his job if he talked to her about an ongoing Internal Affairs investigation.
So, despite her pouting, he kept matters to himself.
When Trey told her he was going to talk to Bobby, though, she had begged to come with him. And it was something he wholeheartedly disapproved of since she had a knack for getting herself into trouble and not minding her own business. But, she wanted to thank the man who had helped her the night her mother died and Trey couldn’t tell her no. He didn’t think it was fair to take that from her after everything she’d been through.
“I know you’re mad at me because I’m shutting you out, but I need you to understand why. The last thing we need is to jeopardize this case or for you to get hurt or killed. I need you to stay in the car while I talk to him.”
“Fine,” Hailey said, crossing her arms over her chest.
Trey smiled to himself. He had always been amused by her attitude, as aggravating as it could be sometimes. She had no problem letting him know when she was displeased.
The sky was painted beautiful hues of pink, purple, and orange as the sun had nearly set. If there wasn't a murderer on the loose, he might actually enjoy the view. However, with bodies turning up and Hailey’s life being in danger, it was a painful reminder that another day was passing without being any closer to arresting the murderer that was wreaking havoc on his city and his family.
“Is this how you’re going to be the rest of the night?’ he asked.
Silence.
He’d take that as a yes.
Shaking his head, Trey focused on the road and let Hailey pout.
He took notice of a car that had been following them through a stretch of town. Though not completely abnormal, he was now being extra careful since Hailey had been hurt. He clenched his teeth as he remembered holding her limp body in his arms, soot dusting her face and clothes. It wasn’t until they had gotten into the ambulance that he noticed her blood on his hands.
Anger boiled below the surface and then guilt followed. He should have protected her. She should have never gotten hurt while he was there.
He turned down a side road, driving slowly to see if the car would follow.
It didn’t.
Once he was satisfied, they weren’t being followed, he took another side street and circled around to the main road where he continued toward Bobby's house. He felt paranoid but wasn’t willing to take a chance with Hailey’s life.
Once there, Trey turned to Hailey before getting out. “I don’t want to do this with you. You can be mad, but we’re not going to ignore each other.”
Hailey side-eyed him, holding on to her pride which slowly dissipated when she realized he was right. She sighed. “I’m sorry. I just don’t like that you’re keeping things from me. I get why you’re doing it, but I don’t like it.”
“If I.A. wasn’t opening an investigation, I would tell you,” Trey said.
“Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Trey chuckled. “You’re right.” He kissed her on the nose and climbed out of the truck.
He knocked hard and waited, hearing faint footsteps as someone came to the door. Dusk was approaching and the pink streaks of the sunset would soon be replaced by darkness. Even the crickets and frogs were beginning their lullabies.
Trey studied his surroundings. They were far more secluded on this stretch of land than he had anticipated. The small farmhouse was enclosed by woods. He turned back toward the door when he heard the knob jingle as it opened.
Bobby Young stood at the door, a dish towel in his hand. He wore a t-shirt and basketball shorts that made him look much younger than he was. His brown hair was now graying and, despite being in his fifties, he was still in great shape.
“Can I help you?”
“I hope so. I’m Chief Harbor with Auburndale PD. I have some questions concerning the night Morgan Gallagher died. I'm not sure if you remember that case or not.”
“How could I not? It’s the case that got me thrown off the force,” Bobby replied.
Trey nodded. “So, I’ve been told. Do you mind if we talk inside?”
“I guess.” He stepped aside and ushered Trey into his home. The living room was just off to the left of the front door. Trey sat down on the couch and Bobby sat adjacent to him in a recliner that was upright.
Trey said, “I’m actually investigating Morgan’s death again. We have reason to believe Sara didn't kill her and that the investigating officers obstructed the investigation."
Bobby snorted. “You’re a little late to the party, Chief. I tried to tell people, but no one would listen. The cops who investigated were dirty.”
Trey nodded. “What do you remember from that night?”
Bobby closed his eyes. “We got there shortly after 11:30 pm. Morgan’s blood was nearly dry which was my first red flag seeing as how David claimed to have called us right away. Sara was laying next to her, unconscious.
“David told us she was under the influence and had killed Morgan, but there wasn’t any evidence to prove that theory. It was clear from some of her wounds that Morgan had fallen down the stairs, and later the M.E. said the cause of death was blunt force trauma. But there was no evidence linking Sara to the crime. The only reason her involvement was even considered was because she was laying next to Morgan and because David told us she was guilty, despite claiming he wasn’t home at the time.
“I mean, it wasn't out of the realm of possibilities, but David was so adamant that Sara had done it. It didn't sit right with me. Most parents would do anything to keep their kids out of trouble, not purposefully throw them into it.”
He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts, and then continued, “And besides that, she was so heavily under the influence that I don’t think she could even walk. Nothing made sense to me. Yet, all the other guys had no problem pointing the finger at Sara.”
He shook his head in disgust. “I tried talking to Washington about it but then David got involved. Next thing I know, I’m out of a job and had a ‘cease and desist’ letter along with a restraining order.”
“Did you ever believe Sara could have killed Morgan?”
Bobby vehemently shook his head. “Not a chance. She was unconscious by the time we got to her. If she had that much drugs and alcohol in her system, she wouldn’t have been able to get up the stairs. And she damn sure wouldn’t have been able to get back down the stairs either; especially without falling. She didn’t get to the crime scene until after Morgan was dead. I’d bet my life on it.”
Trey hadn’t thought about Sara having to go up and down the stairs for David’s story to make sense. Bobby was right. There was no way Sara could have gone up and down the stairs with how incapacitated she was that night. That alone should have been enough for the cops to look at other suspects.
“Who do you think killed Morgan?”
Bobby opened his mouth but quickly closed it.
“I know you don’t want to point the finger, but whoever killed her has killed someone else and attempted to kill two other people, including Hailey Gallagher. I have one man fighting for his life in the ICU, a terrified lady who was nearly killed, and a missing woman who may be connected to this case.” Trey pleaded, “I need something before someone else gets hurt or killed.”
Bobby looked at the floor, placing his elbows on his knees. He sighed and said, “I’ve always thought it was David. I have absolutely no proof, but the way he conducted himself and how he was so hell bent on Sara being guilty…it never sat right with me.”
Trey nodded. “Yeah, David seems to be right in the middle of all of it.”
He stood and Bobby followed. “I’ll be in touch if we can get the D.A. to officially reopen the case. We would need you to testify if you’re willing.”
They walked toward the door and Bobby said, “Of course, just let me know what you need from me.”
Once at the door, Trey handed him his card and Bobby took it. “Thanks for talking with me. If you think of anything, call me.”
As Trey stepped onto the sidewalk, Hailey got out of the car and waved at Bobby, making her way up the walkway.
Bobby squinted. “Is that Hailey Gallagher?”
“It is. She wanted to say thank you,” Trey said.
As Trey turned around to face her, gunshots echoed through the sky and Hailey started screaming.
Bobby yelled, “Put pressure on the wound, I’ll call 911!”
Trey tried to shield Hailey from the impending danger, but his body wouldn’t obey.
Why was he on the ground?
Excruciating pain ripped through his abdomen. He touched his stomach, water soaking his fingertips as it seeped onto his shirt and the sidewalk.
It wasn’t rain, it was blood. Why was he bleeding?
A dark pool of red filled each crack and crevice of the concrete.
Hailey knelt beside him, her voice far away as tears streamed down her face. “I’m sorry, Baby, this is going to hurt.”
She placed her hands on top of his stomach, putting pressure on the wound and he cried out in pain. She screamed and cried as she tried to help him, assuring him she wasn’t going to leave his side. Bobby was yelling that the ambulance was on its way.
Hailey kept crying, begging him to stay with her.
Trey tried to laugh but no sound passed his lips.
Why did she think he was leaving? He would never leave her.
But the darkness was threatening him. He felt sleepy.
Two more shots thundered in the distance.
Hailey was screaming again, high pitched shrieks of terror. But this time she was screaming for Bobby. Trey wanted to keep her safe, but he couldn’t find her. Everything was blurring together as darkness came for him.
Where was Bobby?
He only needed a few minutes of sleep and then he could get up. Hailey’s cries were growing farther and farther away as he slipped into the darkness.
That’s when he realized he had been shot.
And then, Trey Harbor took his last breath.