The Road to Justice/Sins of the Son combo pack - A John Fowler Novel (John Fowler (Books 1 & 2)) (58 page)

“
There you go
,
boss,
”
Chet said. 
“
This is the only physical building left from the company you described to me.  It
’
s in Baltimore on the docks.  There are hundreds of warehouses down there.
”

John pulled out his cell.  He called Bruce.

“
Bruce,
”
John said. 
“
It
’
s John, get dressed.  I think we know where your father is. 
Chet figured it out. 
See you in a few minutes.
”

John turned toward his team and Trip.  He looked at each one and took a deep breath.

“
Is this,
”
John said, nodding toward the dying fire,
“
the exact same MO as Sam?
”
 
Trip, Chet, and Jessica all looked at each other.  Jessica spoke up.

“
We won
’
t know for sure until we get into autopsy,
”
Jessica replied. 

John
’
s chewed on his bottom lip for a second waiting for Jessica to tell him more, but after a moment he realized he was going to have to come out and ask.

“
What exactly are they looking for in autopsy that would connect the two cases, besides the obvious?
”
 
John asked.  Jessica glanced at Trip and looked down at the ground.  Trip muttered something and walked off, tears running down his face.  Chet grabbed John by the arm.

“
John,
”
Chet admonished. 
“
This isn
’
t about you!
”
 
John was stunned at his friend.  All John had thought about was solving the case.  He never took a second to realize that Trip was still grieving.  

“
Since you
’
ve gotten to this crime scene you
’
ve managed to turn every conversation onto you!  Trip is grieving.  I know you think you
’
re about to find Thelma and Sam
’
s killer, but if it were you, knowing what you know, do you think it
’
s best for Trip to jump right back into the work, or maybe, just maybe, should we give him a little bit of time to deal with it.
”
 

Chet turned and left John and Jessica.  Chet went over to Trip and began to quietly talk to him.  John was looking at the ground. 

“
I can be a real insensitive jerk, can
’
t I?
”
John asked quietly.

“
Yeah, you can,
”
Jessica answered.  Her arms were crossed, and the look on her face told John she was 100% serious.  John sighed.  Jessica uncrossed her arms and reached out and took John
’
s hand. 
“
You obsess when you see a puzzle.  You move mountains trying to figure something small and simple out.  But . . . y
ou can also be very sweet and thoughtful, but when you get wrapped up in a case . . .
“
 
She
let the thought hang.  John knew what she meant.  She pointed toward his car. 
“
Go.  Go save the senator, I
’
ll call the local LEOs and have them ready as back-up.  Call me.
”

Jessica did a double-take of the car.  John smiled.

“
Bruce has the FBI car, the Moores loaned it to me,
”
John said.

“
I get to drive it at some point, right?
”
 
Jessica asked, with a sly smile on her face.

John nodded and took off.  Jessica sighed.  She pulled out her cell phone and began making the calls for John
’
s back-up.

Jessica finished her phone calls and headed over to Trip and Chet.

“
Trip,
”
Jessica said as she walked up to her two friends. 
“
John didn
’
t mean to be . . .
”
 
Jessica
paused, searching for the word.  A smile came to Trip
’
s face.

“
So John?
”
 
Trip offered.  Jessica smiled. 
“
It
’
s ok
,
Jessica.  We all know John; he means well.  He probably thinks solving this case will make things better for me.  He doesn
’
t think about human emotions the way we do.  I honestly think it has something to do with his
‘
skill,
’”
Trip used air quotes.  He continued. 
“
You all know we
’
re gonna have to tell him that someone broke Sam
’
s neck.
”

“
He already suspects,
”
Chet said.  Trip and Jessica both looked at Chet. 
“
Remember, Stephen
’
s interview with John?
”
 
Chet and Jessica both nodded, and then looked at each other at the same time.  They both turned toward Chet.  Chet looked confused.

“
Does John know that interview was taped?
”
 
Jessica asked.  Chet shrugged.

“
I tried to cover some things when I slipped, but I suspect he does,
”
Chet answered. 
“
Either way, he already said fire is a good way to hide evidence,
”
Chet glanced at the fire. 
“
How big of an explosion do you think we
’
ll get to witness when he finds out someone broke her neck and then burned the body to cover it?
”
 
Chet glanced over at Trip.  Jessica looked like she could strangle Chet. 
“
I
’
m so sorry
, B
oss, I wasn
’
t thinking.
”
 
Trip waved it off.

“
Something doesn
’
t feel right about all of this,
”
Trip said. 
“
Stephen just showing up to conduct John
’
s reinstatement session . . .
”
Trip trailed off, lost in thought. 
“
Chet, can you do a search on Stephen
’
s financials an
d make sure no one can trace it?
”
 
Chet looked insulted. 
“
I
’
m sorry
,
Chet, we just need to be extra careful on this one.
”

“
Do you think Stephen and Bruce are working together Trip?
”
 
Jessica asked.  Chet
’
s mouth dropped open.  Trip didn
’
t know how to react to the question.

“
I mean, it
’
s
obvious we three think Bruce had something to do with Thelma
’
s death and now I
’
m beginning to wonder about Sam
’
s death.  Are the two of them working together, or possibly even for someone?
”

Trip thought about it for a moment. 
“
I honestly don
’
t think Bruce would work for anyone, unless it suited Bruce.  Let
’
s get to Baltimore, I don
’
t want to take a chance we
’
re right about Bruce and he tries to do something to John.
”

The three ran to their car and headed toward the address Chet had found.  As the car left the crime scene Trip took one last look at Thelma
’
s house. 

At an Undisclosed Location

Chapter 61

Jeremiah had been sitting quietly for what he felt was an eternity.  He had no idea what time it was. 
He was tired, hungry, and his body was cramping from being tied in the same position for what seemed like days.  Also, h
e really needed to go to the bathroom.  Jeremiah swallowed and decided he had to say something or he was going to wet himself.

“
Hello,
”
he called out.

The room was quiet.  Jeremiah listened but didn
’
t hear anyone.  Wait, what was that noise.  Was it really something or
was Jeremiah
’
s mind playing tricks
on him.  Jeremiah decided to try again.

“
Is someone there?
”
 
Jeremiah called out.

Jeremiah heard a door opening.  He tried to control himself, but the events he had been through had pushed him to the breaking point.  Jeremiah began to sob. 

“
For the love of God man, either shoot me or let me go to the bathroom!!!
”
 
Jeremiah screamed.   He decided mentally he had enough.  Something had to give.  If they were going to kill him so be it.

Jeremiah heard the door in front of him open very slowly.  Sweat was pouring out of every pore of Jeremiah
’
s body.  He was sure he was about to die. Jeremiah realized he was wrong.  He didn
’
t want to die.  Jeremiah was desperate.

“
If you kill me,
”
Jeremiah began. 
“
You should know that my good friend, Agent John Fowler will hunt you down.
”
 

Jeremiah listened and didn
’
t hear anything.  He panicked.

“
Please don
’
t kill me,
”
Jeremiah sobbed. 
“
I want to live.
”
 
Jeremiah was crying freely. 
“
I want to live.
”

John and Bruce Racing to Jeremiah
’
s Location

Chapter 62

John
’
s car topped out over 100 mph.  Bruce had met him downstairs at the hotel and they had taken off.  John glanced at Bruce
’
s face for just a split second.  He didn
’
t dare look too long at the speeds he was driving.

What John saw, or didn
’
t see, puzzled him.  There was no emotion on Bruce
’
s face.  John played back through his head what Trip had said to John about Bruce back in the New York office.  Could Bruce be a sociopath?  If he was . . . John didn
’
t like what was going through his mind.  Bruce interrupted his thoughts.

“
Is Trip OK?
  To lose someone like that must be absolutely tragic.
”
 
Bruce
said
.  John had filled in Bruce as to what had happened to Thelma.

“
I don
’
t know,
”
John answered truthfully. 
“
He
’
s so wrapped up with your Dad right now that I don
’
t know if he
’
s allowing himself to process what has happened.
”

Bruce sat quietly for a second.

“
If my father died
,
John,
”
Bruce began.  He didn
’
t complete the sentence.  John glanced at Bruce.  He could see the sorrow on Bruce
’
s face.  He could see the worry.  John silently chastised himself for thinking Bruce had been connected to Thelma or Sam.