Chapter 17 #2
“Yeah, I also heard Wells has multiple personalities but swears the people are real. Claimed he had a brother. An uncle. Something.” Maverick laughed. “Maybe he was seeing aliens the entire time.”
Maverick was damn good at playing games. I’d need to keep that in mind.
The guard snorted. “Could be. He did have a psycho who visited him from time to time.”
A psycho. Every hair on my arms stood on end.
Immediately, I tensed and this time when I took a step closer, Maverick didn’t stop me.
I could tell he was about to grill the guy, but our window of opportunity was tossed aside as the massive steel door was yanked open.
The older guard stood halfway in the door, even motioning for the young guard to head back inside.
Maverick took his time, taking another puff as the older man looked back and forth between us.
“I’m afraid your trip was a waste of time,” he said.
“Why is that, Gerald?” Maverick kept his tone conversational, but the cords on the sides of his neck were standing proud.
“No visitors for the prisoner. Warden’s orders.”
Hold on. He’d had visitors before. Was this just another attempt at keeping the truth from being pulled out into the open?
“I find that fascinating since our visit was preapproved. Was there an incident?” Maverick’s jaw was clenched.
“No incident. You just won’t get time with him today. Sorry for any inconvenience.”
Sorry, my ass. “We drove for over four hours to get here. We will see Mr. Wells or I will make certain that by this afternoon, an injunction is filed with the courts regarding obstruction of justice.” I was in his face, refusing to back down.
He was the one who had to take a step away.
“Do whatever you want, Miss Rivera, but you’re not getting into see him.”
Both Maverick and I heard the mistake he’d made with my name. They’d seen us coming.
Or was it actually a mistake and not a threat? A cold shiver slammed my system.
The guard obviously knew he’d rattled me by the shit-eating grin on his face. He backed into the building, trying to slam the door, but Maverick was too quick for him, planting his foot on the threshold.
When the guard immediately reached for his weapon, Maverick remained calm and collected.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Gerald.
Not only will it not be good for your career, but it will also cost you time with your grandkids.
Given you’re aware of Ms. Martino’s protected identity, then you’re aware of mine.
And the connections I continue to nurture.
I suggest you allow us to pass through, or if you don’t have that authority then have the warden drop what he’s doing and get his fat ass down here. ”
Poor Gerald. He simply wasn’t certain what to do with a man like Maverick.
“Now!”
Even I jumped hearing the tone of his voice. But I had to admit, I adored his vehemence as I did just about everything else about him.
Gerald didn’t need to respond, which meant the entire time after our arrival, we’d been watched. A man in a suit moved walked down the hallway toward us, clearly annoyed. What surprised me was his manner of dress.
This was a prison where violent criminals could go off at any time, yet his suit was clearly high end, easily costing as much as six thousand dollars. I found that highly curious.
“Maverick Callahan. Causing trouble again, I see.”
“Abbott Baker. Being a pain in the ass again.” They shook hands, but I sensed both good and bad blood between them.
“Let’s pop into one of the interview rooms.” Abbott didn’t bother greeting me before leading us toward an empty room, closing the door.
Maverick glanced at the corners where the ceiling intersected the walls.
“This room is bug free,” Abbott told him.
“Why would that matter?” Maverick asked. “This is nothing but a friendly visit.”
“Nothing with you is straightforward, Maverick. You forget I know you too well.” He immediately moved to sit on the edge of the table.
“Ms. Martino, I am very sorry you needed to go through that. Gerald means well but his IQ is sometimes lower than that of a slug. I know you’re expecting to see Mr. Wells, but what I can’t understand is why. After all this time.”
“Because there are a few loose ends, Abbott. That’s all you need to know. I assure you that we have no intention of interfering with your execution.”
“It’s not my execution, son, and you know how many people have been looking forward to the day. That might sound crass but tough. He’s a killer and I don’t want him in my system.”
“Are you so certain about that?” I asked the question before thinking, which of course caused Maverick to suck in and hold his breath and Abbott’s full attention to pull in my direction.
“Do you know something about a hundred other people who worked on his case don’t know, including me?
I was a detective in those days. I’d been around the block one too many times.
The case did me in. I have a daughter your age, Alexia, and I can’t for the life of me understand why you’d want to do this to yourself.
Haven’t you experienced enough heartache? ”
Why was it that I didn’t believe his concern? He didn’t want us talking with Samuel Wells, but it had nothing to do with whether or not I had nightmares.
“It’s called closure, Mr. Baker, and Maria ceased to exist somewhere in the swamps.
Maybe when I was fighting alligators or a man with a machete.
Closure was something I didn’t have thirteen years ago because I was far too young.
No one believed it was owed to me. I simply want to look the man in the eye and nothing more.
I wasn’t allowed that opportunity because I was underage. ”
He hesitated, rubbing his jaw, but he’d winced when I’d talked about a machete.
“Why does your guard know her real name?” Maverick pushed.
The warden shrugged. “That I don’t know.”
Maverick sighed. “You’re lying to me and I don’t like it.
Now, I don’t want to do this, Abbott, but I will call the governor if necessary.
Alexia came to me with one request that I promised I’d help fulfill.
I think the system owes her that much after refusing to acknowledge Samuel Wells was a danger to society. ”
Maverick was pulling out the stops in baiting anyone who tried to stand in our way and in doing so was gathering information.
Every clue was a further indication there were secrets surrounding the case.
Abbott huffed. “That’s not fair, Maverick, and you know it. This case is dead. The man is about to face his maker. Why are you interfering? You wanted that guy dead. You almost killed him thirteen years ago. Hell, I watched your own men pull you off him.”
“No one ever claimed that I was fair, Warden. Not one person. In this case, Ms. Martino is determined to continue calling me a hero and I plan on giving her cause. I didn’t kill him because I believed in the system of law.”
“Does that mean you’ve changed your mind?”
Maverick glanced into my eyes and I could sense he was hoping I still trusted him. With my life. “Yeah, I have. It’s your choice, Abbott, but I can make your life messy and let the press know how you handle prisoners. Entirely up to you.”
He took his sweet time deciding. “Fine, but fifteen minutes. That’s it. You said so yourself, Samuel is unwell. I can’t be held liable for your safety.”
“Don’t worry, Warden. I’m highly skilled in dealing with master manipulators and safety concerns.” Maverick laughed, so carefree. So remorseless.
Abbott was clearly under stress, beads of sweat already forming across his upper lip. I wondered if the armpits of his Egyptian cotton shirt were already stained. What was he hiding or perhaps the better question was who was he assisting?
That he was none too happy doing either was obvious.
I was learning skills I hadn’t been aware I needed. In truth, Maverick was the master manipulator.
“Alright. I won’t stop you, but you will follow the prison rules.
I don’t think I need to explain them to either one of you.
I’ll have the guards take you to him.” The warden headed for the door, stopping with his hand on the knob.
“Keep something in mind, Maverick. Things have changed significantly since you were an agent.”
“How so, Abbott?”
“Let’s just say nothing is as it seems and loyalties can be bought for a song and a promise. It was good you got out when you did. You wouldn’t have survived the blowback.” Abbott walked out, his Ferragamo moccasins tapping distinctly against the cheap tile floor.
“Pretty much as I knew it to be,” Maverick answered then placed his finger across his lips. Maybe we weren’t on a security camera, but we’d been brought into this room for a reason.
For blackmail material or simply to keep an eye on what we were doing? One thing I could easily tell. The warden was hiding something and had been for a very long time.
We were quickly led down a hall to a corridor leading to another building. From there, we were taken to the second floor, passing several guards and every one of them paid very close attention to the moment we passed. Was everyone in the prison system on the take?
The room we were led to was sparse, exactly like the interview rooms you’d see in cop dramas.
We’d been taken past a typical visitation area, which had several prisoners seeing family and friends inside.
Perhaps because Wells was on death row, he wasn’t allowed anywhere close to the general population.
Whatever the case, I was concentrating more on my breathing than anything else. My nerves were already starting to get the better of me. By the time the door was closed behind us, I was lightheaded. Maverick’s expression was one of concern, but he knew better than to ask.
We were playing our own version of cat and mouse or perhaps a game of poker. Maybe I could learn even more from his expertise.