Cross Hairs (21 page)

Mercer finally arrived, pulling his squad car to the edge of the designated street curb so Cal and Kelly could get in. They both climbed into the backseat.

***

The two-hour drive back to Statenville was rather uneventful, except for the speed at which it was made. Mercer again offered his condolences to Cal and Kelly over Guy’s death. Then Mercer began going over the plan, making sure everyone knew exactly what they were supposed to do.

Mercer explained how he had easily won the trust of Mayor Gold, who became excited when he heard Mercer had captured the pair thanks to a random tip from Salt Lake City. That was far from the truth, but Cal didn’t mind. Cal loathed lying and preferred Mercer to do such dirty work. In a short time, Cal knew he was going to have to deceive Gold. But he was confident he could pull it off. This was for Guy.

Ten minutes outside of Statenville, Mercer decided to talk through their plan once more. Cal and Kelly went through it and knew exactly how everything was going to play out. Mercer told them they were both ready. Kelly reached over and squeezed Cal’s leg just above his knee.

“You can do this,” she said.

“I know I can. I’m going to make Guy proud.”

Cal and Kelly both began growing nervous, even though they knew everything they were supposed to do. Cal tried to crack his knuckles, which he found more difficult since he was wearing handcuffs. He took a deep breath in an attempt to remain calm.

Suddenly, Mercer locked all the doors and jerked the steering wheel, making a sharp right turn away from Statenville. The plan had changed.

***

Mercer’s plan changed hadn’t changed that suddenly. It only changed when he realized that Cal and Kelly knew everything – and there weren’t going to be any heroes in their story. This was unfortunate for Cal and Kelly. Instead of helping the reporters out, Mercer was driving them to their death. Not that he was going to kill two innocent people – Mercer knew that Gold wanted to oversee the reporters’ deaths himself. Just collateral damage.

Then and only then would Mercer make his own move on Gold. Mercer would be the hero, single-handedly busting the mastermind of the great Northwest drug ring – and a wanted mob hit man. Mercer’s reputation and the nobility of the FBI would be held in the highest regard. After all, this was all for the greater good.

CHAPTER 64

MAYOR GOLD POSITIONED HIS
car in the exact spot he had held less than 24 hours ago. Except this time, Gold knew Cal and Kelly would be in the back of Mercer’s squad car. Finally, his nightmare would end once the two reporters’ dead bodies hit the bottom of Cold River Canyon. The accident awaiting the two reporters was a rock climbing mishap.

The afternoon sun was harsh in the rock faces. Though standing in scorching August heat was a small sacrifice for Gold. He had long since proved his resolve in protecting Statenville and the drug empire he had concocted.

He smiled as he saw Mercer’s patrol car swing into view down the winding dusty road leading to the canyon’s edge. No vanishing act was necessary – not for him, anyway. Gold’s fondness for his family had begun to blur the bigger picture for him. Not that it was a bad thing, but it was definitely a weakness. Gold knew it, too. However, he never played it safe, choosing to prance upon the ledge of danger. It was an exhilarating place to be, though Gold had yet to feel the effects of falling off. He always pushed those thoughts out of his mind. He could always run and re-invent himself. But not this time. He preferred to stand pat and build something that was lasting – yet it wasn’t family he valued
this
deeply.

In a matter of moments, his fortress would become that much more impenetrable.

***

Cal had been hoping that he wasn’t about to be led into a trap, but here he was. He didn’t even bother protesting to Mercer. Cal knew he had been duped. At least he was prepared for it this time.

Mercer broke the awkward silence.

“So, I guess you’ve figured out we’re not going to Gold’s office.”

“Yeah, I’m not stupid.”

“Says who?” Mercer said, nervously cackling at his one liner. “And, oh, you won’t be needing this,” Mercer added as he picked up Cal’s iPhone off the front seat and whipped it out the window and into the canyon below. “Don’t worry, the mayor will let you go look for it in a minute.”

Mercer chuckled again. Cal couldn’t believe just how dark Mercer really was, how cold and calculating he had become in the past minute. He decided not to react, not to give Mercer the pleasure of knowing he was bothered or scared.

Finally, the car skidded to a stop along the remote dusty road. With the exception of Gold, there was no one around this portion of Cold River Canyon, a spot considered the beginning of the Idaho wilderness area.

CHAPTER 65

CAL DIDN’T TAKE MERCER
for an opportunistic FBI agent, the kind who would abuse his power for a cut of a hefty payday. But neither did he think Buddy Walker was even an FBI agent. But the biggest shock thus far came when he learned that Mayor Gold was actually one Carmen Deangelo, a top captain from the Scarelli mob family who had disappeared years ago. Before talking with directors at the FBI field office in Salt Lake City, Cal had no idea who the Scarellis were – but they sounded tough. Then one director shared just how ruthless Gold was before he left Boston.

While waiting at the FBI offices for Mercer, Cal had learned from an FBI agent that Mercer and Walker were both being investigated for being a mole. Walker’s secret was buried with him, but Mercer might still prove to be the man the FBI was searching for. But mole or no mole, Cal was convinced the primary reason the FBI would be so willing to help a reporter was because they wanted to downplay the fact that one of their agents was directly responsible for the deaths of three high school student-athletes in their prime. They wanted to control the story and spin it their way. Cal wasn’t going to play that game, but in the moment, he considered it best to gather all the evidence possible and make judgment calls later on which promises to keep.

In his briefing prior to Mercer’s arrival, Cal and Kelly’s FBI liaison made it clear that surviving Gold in a situation where he may turn desperate wasn’t a guarantee. There were risks involved, serious risks. But Kelly didn’t mind. She let it be known just how determined she was to see Gold brought in that Cal never had a chance to even ponder backing out. The FBI was willing to put its full resources into protecting them. It was an opportunity the FBI couldn’t pass up, snuffing out a mobster on the FBI’s most wanted list and taking down a large drug ring in one shot. They might even catch a mole, too. 

For this particular Salt Lake City field office, Cal’s scenario represented a gift worthy of being wrapped under the tree at Christmastime by Saint Nick himself. All that remained was for Cal and Kelly to slip down the chimney with ease.

***

Cal and Kelly reluctantly got out of the car. Mercer was shoving them around. Cal and Kelly did their best to feign shock and surprise at the double-cross. They played off the part that was genuine, the part they thought would never happen. Plan B was in full force.

Gold got out of his car and walked slowly toward the reporters, whose backs were a safe 15 yards away from the cliff’s edge. With outstretched arms and a mischievous grin across his face, Gold appeared to be enjoying the moment. Two reporters who were trying to ruin his life were in handcuffs.

“At last, the two burrs in my saddle are here with me – and I get to crush them myself.”

Cal knew he didn’t have much time, so he began following the script.

“Burrs in your saddle?” Cal asked. “What are you talking about? I was just trying to figure out what killed your son. I didn’t realize I would become such a burr in your saddle for doing my job.”

“All reporters are scum. Your job represents about the most debased profession in our society. Reporters are always burrs in my saddle when they go poking their noses where they shouldn’t.”

“I’m happily guilty then.”

“And so am I,” Kelly chimed in as her nostrils flared. She was anxious to engage the real scum.

“Oh, a feisty one,” Gold said, looking at Kelly. “I always did like you, Kelly. Such a mouth, though. I wonder how well you’ll hold your tongue as you fall to the bottom of the canyon.”

Gold moved closer toward his intended targets. He reached Cal and grabbed him by his upper arm. Then he looked at Kelly.

“Want to see a man fly?” Gold asked.

Kelly glared at him, wisely choosing to hold her tongue.

Cal decided that remaining silent was to his detriment – and it certainly wasn’t in the plan.

“So, you think killing us is going to end the threat of you getting arrested and Cloverdale Industries shut down?”

Gold laughed.

“Absolutely. After all, I’ve got all your physical evidence. Your word of mouth testimony is weak, but I don’t like taking chances.”

“You really think that we didn’t make any copies?”

“Ha! I know you’re bluffing. You’ve watched too many detective shows, Mr. Cub Reporter. There’s no way you had time to get them anywhere else. I destroyed the photos and the photo card myself.”

“You’ve got a lot of confidence, Gold – it’s going to be your undoing.”

“And your mouth is going to be yours. Well, that and the fact that you’re in handcuffs and I’m not.”

Gold pulled out a handgun and pointed it toward Cal.

Cal knew he was running out of time and it was time for his final attempt to get a confession from Gold.

“Before you kill me, don’t you want to know, Mayor?” Cal said.

“Know what?”

“Know how your son and his two teammates went from being healthy teens one day to dead the next, dead in the most gruesome way?”

Gold kept his gun aimed at Cal’s head but played along.

“I hadn’t really cared about the reasons why once I realized my son’s death meant that Statenville and Cloverdale Industries were about to lose everything I had worked to build. Protecting what was left remained the most important thing. I have other family members who are still alive and need consideration.”

“What if I told you that you could avenge his death today along with killing us right here – a three-in-one deal?”

“Go on.”

“Do you really need me to spell it out for you?”

“Mercer?”

“Yep. He’s the one responsible for your son’s death.”

Mercer bowed up and began protesting. “You’re lying, Cal,” he yelled. “Gold, this kid is just trying to save himself. He’s full of it!”

“I don’t believe you, Cal,” Gold said.

Mercer immediately relaxed, but Cal didn’t stop.

“Oh, you don’t believe me? Well, maybe you should ask Mercer about CPZ. He may have some on him right now.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about an FBI program to develop markers to mix into batches of drugs. It leads to a strange itching phenomenon that lands a person in the hospital. The strange phenomenon gets reported back to the CDC and the FBI gathers the information to gain knowledge of a drug operation’s network. That’s what Walker and Mercer were doing in Statenville, helping build a case to take down Cloverdale Industries. And they were gathering enough evidence to put you away forever.”

“But Mercer is in my pocket. I’ve been around long enough to know how to spot a federal agent when I see one – and also how to identify who can be bought. Mercer worked out great – and he has brought you two to me.”

“Yeah, but that still doesn’t change the fact that he killed your son when he inserted those chemicals into the drugs your son took. He was trying to help you. I guess your son was just collateral damage – an unintended consequence.”

“Yes, I’m sure it was unintended. It was most unfortunate, but I know Mercer was trying to help me.”

“Yeah, I’m sure your son would’ve appreciated knowing you thought his life was just collateral damage as he clawed himself to death.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You really don’t know, do you? How your son died? You’re not the least bit curious?”

“Go ahead.”

“When added to meth, CPZ begins working on the liver, forcing bile into the blood stream. When it gets into the blood stream, it creates a powerful itching sensation. Except, the itching can’t be satiated on the surface. The itching is under your skin. Your son scratched himself to death, enduring some of the worst agony in his final few minutes on this earth. All thanks to Mercer here.”

“Mercer, is this true?”

“Like you said, Mayor, I was just trying to help protect Cloverdale and throw off the feds. I never meant for your son to get hurt.”

“Besides, how do you know Mercer is really on your side?” Cal added, confident he had said enough to send Gold into a more passionate rage.

As Cal predicted, Gold began redirecting his anger toward Mercer. He pointed his gun at Mercer and began walking toward him. Cal shot Kelly a glance as they both watched his display of aggression in awe.

Mercer slowly walked backward. He was only 10 feet from the edge of the cliff.

“Hey, now. Come on, Gold. You know it was just an unfortunate coincidence. I never meant for your family to get hurt, much less killed.”

“You killed my son,” Gold said. Anger and hate had given way to a look of vengeance. “He scratched himself to death. You can’t die much worse than that – except maybe nursing a blown off knee cap as you plummet to your death.”

And with that, Gold fired two shots, one into each of Mercer’s knees. Mercer screamed as he staggered toward the ground, a mere three feet from the edge of the cliff. But before Mercer could fall flat, Gold rushed him and gave him a shove with his left foot. Already off balance, Mercer staggered backward again until he reached back to find safe ground and came up empty.

Mercer’s scream was piercing for 10 seconds, filling up the canyon with his pain and final last words.

Gold watched Mercer writhe in pain on his way down for a few seconds until he was satisfied that survival was impossible. He then returned his attention to Cal.