The Road to Justice/Sins of the Son combo pack - A John Fowler Novel (John Fowler (Books 1 & 2)) (9 page)

“
Everything you asked for
, B
oss,
”
said Chet.  John shot a quick glance at Jessica who waved the comment off.  Chet started to apologize and Jessica cut him off.

“
Chet, stop!
  This is the most active, happy, and confident I
’
ve seen you since. . .
”
she glanced over at John,
“
Well, since Captain B
ozo here left.
”
 
She pointed her thumb toward John.

“
Captai
n Bozo?  Captain Bozo?!?  You ca
me crawling back to me,
”
Jessica sighed lifted her hands toward the heavens in exasperation.  John continued,
“
and
you call me Captain Bozo???
”
 
John smiled,
“
That sounds about right.
”
 
Jessica smiled.  The team was back.  John started to take charge of the investigation.

“
Ok, let
’
s start going through everything and see if we can find a connection.  Jessica, where are we on
interviewing spouses of the victims?
”
 
John turned toward Jessica who had a sheepish look on her face. 

“
John . . .
see
, here
’
s the thing.
”
 
John sat down.  He didn
’
t know what was about to come out of her mouth, but he knew it was going to be nothing good. 
“
Their local PD
did the interviews.
”

“
Why would New
York PD
interview the suspects?
”
asked John.

“
John, when I say
local . . . I mean the local PD
where the spouses are.
”
 
John wasn
’
t quite sure what to say.  
“
John, this case is dead cold.  We have been authorized to travel to speak to one spouse.
”
 

John was livid. 
“
This is a practical joke, right!?!  I mean what is the point??
”
 
John was running his hand through his hair in frustration.  Jessica was watching him, waiting to give him the rest of the bad news.  John noticed Jessica and groaned inwardly.  There was more.  It was going to get worse.  He wasn
’
t sure how that was humanly possible, but it was about to get worse.   He waited.

Jessica began. 
“
You see, when I say we are authorized, what I really mean is the FBI will cover the expenses of someone to talk to one spouse and see if there are any leads to follow.  If the interview creates new leads, then, and only then,
will
the FBI
consider authorizing more manpower to be placed onto this
case.
”
 
John rubbed his hand slowly down his face.  The look on his face was incredulous.

             
“
Exactly what did you two do to get this deep in!?!  You don
’
t have a case; you have a wild goose chase!!!
”
 
John stormed around the room muttering.  Chet and Jessica both were snickering at him. 
“
WHAT???
”

             
Jessica responded,
“
Chet said he knew that would be your reaction to this.
”
 
Chet was bursting with laughter.  John couldn
’
t help but smile.  These two knew he hadn
’
t done any real detective work in nearly three years, they had
a case that was stone cold dead and they thought he could solve it.  It felt good that someone, somewhere, had faith in him. 

John turned back to Chet. 

“
Show me what you got,
”
John motioned to the numerous displays.  Chet jumped at his chance to show off his techno-magic.

             
“
Ok,
”
said Chet. 
“
Tom Bradley lived in Vermont.
”
 
As Chet spoke
he
was opening virtual files with speed that was making John
’
s eyes hurt. 
“
Tom was a local doctor there that practiced family medicine.  He was married, no kids, no record, and nothing strange on financials.
”
 
Chet moved to the next digital file. 
“
Amy Jensen, originally Majors, married to Todd Jensen, lives in Illinois, currently a second grade school teacher with two dogs, nothing funny on financials and no record.
”
 
John held up a hand to stop Chet before he hyperventilated. 

             
“
Let me guess,
”
said John. 
“
On the others, there are no records and nothing strange in the financials?
”
 
Chet nodded. 
“
Any connections, anywhere?
”
 
Chet shook his head no. 
“
Do you have everything printed out?
”
 
Chet nodded. 
“
Then I
’
ll go through these by hand and see if I can make any connections on anything.
”
 
Chet lifted a full banker
’
s box full of files onto the desk.  John sighed and sat down.  Jessica walked over and sat down next to him.

             
“
John, are you ready for this?
”
 
Jessica asked.  John looked puzzled, Jessica continued. 
“
This case
,
John, are
you ready to get back into this routine?
”
 
The puzzled look left John
’
s face.  He turned and looked at Jessica.

             
“
Jess, I need this.  I may never be ready for it, but I need this.  I
’
m not upset about having to work a case.  I just can
’
t figure out why there isn
’
t one clue anywhere on how any of these four had a link to Captain Jason Sparks. 
Chet, run him for me.
”

             
John hopped up and headed for the display while Chet made the images dance on the screen. 
“
Captain Jason Sparks.  Won a State Football Championship in high school
and then joined the Army upon graduation.  Jason received many commendations in his Army career and was killed in a firefight in Afghanistan by suspected members of the Taliban.
”

             
John looked over the electronic file.  There was absolutely nothing.  Not one thing that connected these people except four of them were shot and killed at Jason
’
s funeral.  That fact itself screamed at John.  He didn
’
t know yet what it was screaming, but it was screaming at him all the same.   John started to pace.  Somewhere these people had to have crossed paths.  Four random people did not just suddenly decide to attend a man
’
s funeral that each of them had never met, and the
n get
shot.  The chances of that were astronomical.  He stopped when he snapped his fingers. 

             
“
Chet!
”
John yelled excitedly,
“
Check the birth certificates.
”

             
Chet cut him off. 
“
Already done
, B
oss, everyone was born in the current state they were living in.
”
 

             
John dropped his head, but had one last idea. 
“
Chet, what about high schools?
”

             
Chet opened more electronic files. 
“
Sorry
, B
oss, they all graduated from the state they were born in.  Now you are talking
mid
to
late 80s for their earlier school records.  Many of these records are not stored electronically, and I
’
m working on finding them, but it
’
s going to take a while.
”

             
John was dejected. 
“
Keep on it, you might just find something there.  So which one of the victim
’
s spouses do I get to interrogate?
”

             
Jessica spoke up. 
“
It
’
s your call
,
John, what
’
s your gut
tell
you?
”

             
Chet pulled up all the pictures of the victims.  John looked at each, his gaze kept returning to the Doctor from Vermont, Tom Bradley.  John walked up to the electronic image, and turned to face the other two.

             
“
For some reason,
”
John said pointing toward Tom
’
s picture,
“
I think this is the one I need to find out about.
”
 
Jessica was leaning against a desk with her arms crossed.  She smiled and uncrossed them.  She looked John straight in the eyes.

             
“
Then go to Vermont
,
John, and find out what you can about our Doctor and his connection to this group.  And for our sake, please do it fast.  I
’
m not sure how much colder this case can get before it is gone forever.  John nodded and turned back to look at Tom
’
s picture.  Something in his gut told him he would find something there.  As John stood there, he could feel something building in him he hadn
’
t felt in a long time
. . . hope.  He had no idea why.   Then it dawned on him.  He was back on a case, and felt no urge for a drink, and for the first morning in the past three years, he wasn
’
t heartbroken about Sam.  He still missed her, but the numbness he felt inside each time he thought of her wasn
’
t there.  Yes it was definitely hope he felt.  He smiled broadly and turned to look at his two partners.  His smile fell from his face.  Jessica
’
s and Chet
’
s body language spoke volumes.  They looked like they were preparing for their funeral.  John turned back to the board for one last look through Tom
’
s profile.  He had to find the connection.  He had to.

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

             
Chapter 18

             
First Lady Nichols rubbed her eyes as she sat back in her chair.  Her office desk was covered with files.  They were all on the murder
s
of the four mourners at Captain Jason Sparks
’
funeral.  There was knock on the door.  She glanced at her watch.  It was much too early for her husband to be done with briefing.

             
“
Who is it?
”
 
She asked.

             
“
It
’
s Agent McDonald,
”
the voice on the other side of the door replied.  She smiled.  There were already rumors that she and the agent were carrying on behind closed doors.  They were carrying on, but it was not how people were thinking.  There was absolutely no sexual contact between her and the agent.  She was quite sure he was smitten with her, as well he should be. 

Lisa Nichols was a gorgeous lady.  There was no doubt that her beauty and charisma helped win her husband the election.  It didn
’
t bother Lisa; she had always known how beautiful she was.  Not only had she known it, but used it to her advantage every single day of her life.  Lisa smiled and called for Agent McDonald to come in.