Chasing Justice (22 page)

The rest of the afternoon seemed to drag for everyone. Piper and Michael paced around Betty’s house waiting for a call from Bobby. Betty and Jules felt the tension flood the house, so they decided to seek higher ground, retreating to their respective rooms upstairs. Bobby, at least, was keeping busy. He spent the afternoon hours tailing Christian who made multiple stops to different properties he owned. He was moving with purpose and incredible focus, not stopping to make small talk or exchange niceties with anyone.

When Christian finally seemed to settle into his house around four o’clock, Bobby picked up his phone to call Piper.

“It seems like he might be staying put for a little bit. This would be a good time to go set up the cameras at the mill and park somewhere to test all the equipment. I’ll give you a heads-up once he’s on the move again.” He hated the idea of Piper going to the mill on her own in the middle of the afternoon when she could easily be spotted. He had, however, realized that there was little she thought she couldn’t do, and trying to be the voice of reason or the knight in shining armor wouldn’t get him anywhere.

“I’ll head over there now.” Piper grabbed the bag full of supplies that she had packed, double checked, and then repacked while waiting for the go ahead from Bobby. As she made her way to the door she heard footsteps tapping down the stairs behind her. Piper turned to see Jules standing there with a look of sadness on her face, her eyes red-rimmed and wet from tears.

“This is it, isn’t it?” Jules mumbled in a quiet and concerned voice. “I could tell when Bobby ran out this morning, and now the look on your face says it all. I know you guys don’t want me to be involved in this, and I can respect that. I want you to know that whoever killed my father robbed me and my mother of so many things, and in my eyes they deserve all the pain and punishment in the world. They don’t deserve to live. I’m afraid if it comes down to it Bobby won’t be able to face that, and might end up getting himself killed instead.”

The tears started to roll again down Jules’s cheeks, and Piper found herself, as usual, completely unprepared to cater to someone else’s emotional needs. She assumed a hug was required, some kind of reassuring gesture that would stop the tears and ease her mind, but as she wracked her brain to find one she felt the pressure of wasted time bearing down on her. Piper had grown so much since meeting these wonderful people, but she still wasn’t confident in her ability to comfort someone.

She looked past Jules with a flicker of panic in her eye. “Um, Michael… Jules needs you,” she called out, and she turned away, heading again for the door. She knew that in the eyes of normal people she seemed cold-hearted and vacant. If they only understood that empathy and social skills were taught, not innately known, then perhaps they could forgive her ignorance.

As she tossed the bag into her car and put the key in the ignition she felt a slight weight lift from her chest at the sight of Jules wrapped safely in Michael’s arms in the doorway of the house. At least if she couldn’t give Jules what she needed she could get out of the way and let someone else do it.

The ride to the mill seemed to take an eternity. She knew she had a lot to do, all while trying not to be noticed. She pulled her car up two blocks from the entrance to the mill and walked casually toward the building, checking frequently to make sure no one was coming or going from its entrance. She quickly made her way to the back of the building where the barrel she had used to force her way in last time stood. She sighed with relief at the sight of the barrel, exactly as she had left it, below the window that she had needlessly broken. She pulled herself up and through the window and dropped, catlike, onto the ground below. Something about this felt easier than last time. Perhaps it was that she knew the layout of the mill or the players involved, or maybe it was that for the first time in her life she didn’t feel alone.

It took nearly an hour to get everything set perfectly. As she walked back to her car she felt her phone vibrating in her pocket. She pulled it out and was relieved to see it was Bobby.

“He’s heading that way now. Do you have everything set up?” There was no time for cordial greetings or casual chitchat. This was crunch time, and only vital communication of facts would work.

“Everything’s set up. I’m heading back to my car now to make sure the cameras are working. I should know in a few minutes,” she said, happy to hear Bobby’s voice.

“I’ll meet you at your car. I’m assuming Christian is trying to get there before the judge. He has a duffle bag with him, but I’m not sure what’s in it or what he has planned.” Bobby spoke quickly, and Piper could tell his anxiety was significantly higher than hers. She felt she had come to terms with the fact that Christian would kill the judge. But she knew Bobby was still searching for a solution, still holding out for an alternative. “I have an idea,” Bobby added, stopping Piper in her tracks. She was afraid this would happen. “I need to run it by Michael. I’m going to give him a call and then fill you in as soon as I can. Send me a message when you know the cameras are operational.” She heard the line disconnect and felt a knot in her stomach. She reconsidered the last thing Jules had said to her. Would Bobby really jeopardize his own life to avoid the bloodshed of criminals tonight? Were his ideals more of a liability than she had considered?

Piper sat tapping the steering wheel of her car, looking restlessly in her rearview mirror hoping to see Bobby either pulling up behind her or walking her way. In the fifteen minutes since they had spoken on the phone she had determined the cameras and microphones were working properly. She had watched Christian enter the side door of the mill and come into view of the cameras. He was moving some boxes and an old office chair around. She had tried twice to call Bobby, but she assumed he was still on the other line with Michael because he was not answering his phone.

Finally, she saw Bobby hustling up the street toward her car, his phone still to his ear. He pulled open her car door and flopped down into the passenger seat, bringing with him a gust of cold air. She wanted to interrogate him, scold him, and hold him all at once. Instead, she listened to the phone conversation as it continued.

“Yes, Michael, I think this could work.” Bobby grabbed Piper’s hand and squeezed it as a sign of excitement over the newly hashed plan.

“Bobby, wait,” Piper heard Michael say on the other end of the line. “There’s something I need to tell you first.”

“Holy Shit,” Bobby said, pointing at the screen televising the scene unfolding in the mill. “The judge is here. Whatever you have to tell me can wait. I’ve got to get in there.” He hung up the phone and reached for the car door to leave.

“What are you doing? You can’t go in there yet. That’s not what we discussed!” Piper grabbed the sleeve of Bobby’s jacket trying to pull him toward her.

“Michael and I think we’ve worked something out, but I have to get in there before Christian does anything, otherwise it’s too late. I need you to trust me.” He pulled her hand from his sleeve and held it, begging her with his eyes.

“No. I mean, I do trust you, but I think your judgment is clouded.” The judge and Christian had begun talking, and the sound drew Piper’s attention to the screen long enough for Bobby to hop out of the car.

“If anything happens to me, call the police. No matter what, stay in the car. Please trust me.” He half closed the door and then pulled it back open and stuck his head in. “I think I might love you, Piper.” He pulled his head back, closed the door, and ran toward the mill.

She held her breath, unable for a moment to process anything. Not the sudden changes to the plan, not the proclamation of maybe love, or the thought of something happening to Bobby that would warrant a call to the police. She turned her attention to the scene unfolding on the screen in front of her. She saw Christian sidle up to the judge and plunge something into his unsuspecting fat neck. The judge put his hand to his neck and looked puzzled before falling limp into Christian’s waiting arms. Christian dragged his portly body toward a chair in the corner of the room and dropped him down onto it. She saw him pull a gun from his waistband and hold the barrel to the judge’s forehead. Then she saw light from an opening door stream in and heard Bobby’s familiar voice call out.

“Christian, stop.” He put his hands up showing he had no weapon and moved farther into the room but not any closer to Christian.

Christian swung around and aimed the gun at Bobby who instinctively went to reach for his weapon. At the last second, Bobby seemed to remember he wasn’t here for a shoot-out, but for a negotiation, and purposefully lifted his empty hands again Piper felt her heart momentarily stop as she saw the large black gun pointing at the man who might love her.

“I’m here to save your life. I need you to hear me out. Can you put the gun down for a minute and let me talk to you?” Bobby kept his hands raised and voice steady. He hadn’t had enough time to think through all his talking points, and now staring down the barrel of a gun, it seemed as though a little more preparation would have been beneficial.

“I’m not sure who you are, but there are only two people in this room whose lives are in danger, and I’m not one of them,” Christian barked, clearly rattled by Bobby’s sudden appearance.

“My name is Bobby, and I’m a cop. I’m not here to arrest you though. I’m here to help you. Lower your gun and give me a chance to explain. Please.” Christian lowered his gun slightly, but gave no indication he’d be holstering it or handing it over. Bobby continued, “I know what this man has done, who he is, and I don’t blame you for wanting to kill him. I have a plan that ensures he pays for his crimes and keeps you from spending the rest of your life in jail.” Piper was as anxious to be let in on this plan as Christian was to, perhaps quite literally, shoot it down.

“There’s no justice for a man like this other than a bullet in his brain, and even that doesn’t seem like enough,” Christian shouted, raising his gun, pointing it in the direction of the judge again.

“I know you think that, but there are dozens of other people—children—involved here and they deserve to see him pay for his crimes. They don’t want him to just disappear, his body never to be seen again. If you pull that trigger now you’ll be doing him a favor. When all of this comes out he’s going to pray for death. I have a way to make sure he’s held accountable and get you and your family a fresh start.” Bobby signaled for Christian to lower his weapon again and tried to draw his attention away from the judge.

“I’m no rat. If that’s what you’re about to propose you can stop right there. I come from a long line of people who pride themselves on loyalty.” Christian’s eyes and gun were still fixed on the judge and Bobby knew he was running out of time. The judge was still motionless, but Bobby could see he was breathing. Whatever sedative Christian had injected into the judge’s neck was certainly doing its job.

“You know when everything comes out about this guy, you won’t be called a rat, you’ll be a hero. There are certain lines you don’t cross and even your crew would agree he’s a monster. The people he’s hurt deserve to see him pay, in the public eye. All I’m asking is you hear me out.” Bobby felt the tightness in his chest fade slightly as Christian once again lowered his gun and turned toward him.

Bobby continued, “You know if I was to bring any evidence in against him, either me or the people I love would be dead before it ever came to light, and the evidence would be destroyed. You know exactly who is involved with the judge and you can give the evidence to people who you know don’t have a relationship with him. I know you took a box from the judge’s house, and I know it holds more than enough to ruin him, but you’re the only one who can navigate the corruption and ensure it gets to the right people.”

Christian’s mind was spinning. This was supposed to be a quick and clean kill and now it was falling apart. This kid just didn’t understand how things worked, so he’d thought he better set him straight. “They’ll retry cases, and most of my guys won’t stand a chance without having a judge in their corner. You might be right, they wouldn’t stand for what this guy does to kids, but they wouldn’t be willing to go to jail over it. They’d kill me.” Christian’s voice wasn’t as harsh anymore. He wasn’t barking and shouting, he seemed to be hoping for another solution.

“I know. That’s why I’ve had a prosecutor friend of mine write up terms that would get you full immunity as well as relocation. You could take your money and your son and start a new life somewhere. I know you think this town is your legacy, the life your father led is all you’re meant for, but this is the opportunity to give your son a whole new legacy.” Bobby knew if this argument didn’t sway him, if starting over wasn’t appealing, then he was completely out of options and had no idea where to go from here.

Christian’s eyes danced around the room as he thought over the proposal. He bit his lip and furrowed his brow, and Bobby took the hesitation as a positive sign—at least he wasn’t immediately opposed to the idea.

He was so tired of this life, this chaos he was living. What this kid was proposing was something he had thought about every day since his son was born. This was the first time it lay before him, his for the taking. “I want my brother to come, too. If he’s not included in the deal, then I’m not interested.” Christian’s stare was intensely boring holes through Bobby.

“Your brother has some serious problems. He tried to hurt someone I care about very much. You can’t expect, with good conscience, we introduce him to a new community with no criminal record. He’s a danger to women.” Bobby wanted to tell Christian what his wonderful brother Sean had done to Piper but he didn’t imagine it would do much to change his mind.