Conviction: Book 3 of the Detective Ryan Series (22 page)

Chapter 39-Ali

The plan was supposed to be simple. James and I drove up to the prison accompanied by two other officers. Each of us took a squad car with tinted windows. It helped conceal the driver. As an added precaution, we had another officer hiding in the backseat of the three decoy cars. We wanted to make sure the killer wouldn’t notice which car Dr. Cain was in.

“You sure this is gonna work?” James asked.

“We’ll soon find out.” I took the spare set of S.W.A.T. gear the lieutenant and the D.A. borrowed for the transfer, and took it inside the room to help Claire get ready.

“What’s going on?” She asked as she got up from the table. “I have been sitting here for hours, denied my lawyer, and haven’t heard from anybody since.”

“Calm down, Dr. Cain.”

“Calm down? I was supposed to be transferred today. Instead, I’ve been sitting here handcuffed to a damn table.”

“Take a seat,” I snapped. Once Claire sat down, I placed the gear on the table and took a seat across from her. “There’s been a change of plans. We’re not transferring you to another prison. We’re taking you to a safe house and taking you into police protection until we catch the man responsible for this.”

“W-why the change? Where’s Ms. Reed?”

“She was attacked last night.”

“Is she all right?”

“No. We believe the man responsible for killing Rebecca and Sheila, also attacked Ms. Reed last night. We found her and two officers dead at the crime scene.”

“He killed two cops and the A.D.A.? What makes you think I’ll be okay sitting in a safe house under police protection?”

“Because I’ll be the one watching over you.”

“You and who else?”

“Just me. No one else other than the D.A. knows the location of the safe house. Once we’re there, you stay inside and don’t make any calls. Do you understand?” She nodded in agreement. “Good.” I unlocked the handcuffs and ordered her to stand up. “Hurry up and put these on; we don’t have a lot of time.”

Twenty minutes later, we met up with the rest of the team. I could see the wide-eyed look on Claire’s face as she saw the six men standing in front of her.

“I thought you said you were the only one?”

“It’s okay. These men are here as decoys just in case someone’s watching us.”

“Everything all right?” James asked.

Claire nodded giving me the go ahead. “We’re all set. Let’s load up and head out!”

The decoys got in their cars as I placed Claire in the back of mine. We left the prison following a line formation. It wasn’t until we drove back to Highland before the cars split into two lanes. Three of us drove over the Mid-Hudson Bridge while the fourth car stayed straight on Route 9W.

“Where’s that car going?” Claire asked.

“All of us are going to different locations to make sure no one follows us.” I kept looking at my mirrors to check for cars. None of them seemed to be following us as we crossed into Poughkeepsie.

The Route 44 split from Route 55 was our mid-way point. It was also where James split-off from our pack. I felt a weight in my chest as I watched him make the turn to continue on Route 55. I wanted him to ride along with me until the last drop point before heading to the safe house.

The more I drove the more uneasy I felt about the plan. My primary responsibility was to protect the prisoner, but that objective would change if the killer found us.

Then I heard a crackle from the radio. “I’ve been hit,” James shouted.” My heart jumped into my throat. Every urge within my body wanted to turn around and go back, but I knew that was a mistake and a direct violation of my orders.

“James, what happened?”

“Some asshole t-boned me. I’m pinned against the guardrail.”

“Okay, sending back-up your way.” I called the driver of the other car and told them towards Detective Thornton’s location. At the next stoplight, I sent a quick text to the lieutenant stating I was almost at the safe house and that James was in a car accident.

I looked up to see the green left turn signal lit up. I turned onto a street and took the inclined road until I reached the next turn. I didn’t know how the D.A. found the safe house, but it felt like we were in the middle of nowhere.

“Where are we?” Claire asked.

“No idea; just followed the G.P.S. on my phone.” I knew we were at least four or five miles from Route 44, but my mind was too focused on ensuring we weren’t followed rather than pay attention to street signs. “Wait here till I get back.”

“Wait, you’re gonna leave me here alone?”

“I need to check out the house and make sure everything is clear.” I exited the driver’s side and walked up to the house with my gun drawn. Opening the front door, I swept from side to side, ensuring I was alone. I walked through every inch of the house, checking every room and hiding place I could find before returning to the car.

Unlocking the rear passenger side door, Claire stepped out still in full riot gear. “When can I take this off?” she asked.

“I’ll help you out of it once we’re inside.” I popped the trunk and pulled out two large duffle bags. “We took the liberty of packing some clothes and food for you.” I handed her the bag and ordered her into the house.

I entered the house finding Claire’s bag on the floor next to the stairs. She was already kicking off the boots and pulling on the riot gear, trying to get out of it.

“A little help here.”

She was already starting to get on my nerves. I removed my helmet and assisted Claire with her gear. Once she was free, she walked around the house and sprawled out on the couch. I dragged my bag and the riot gear into the bedroom on the first floor. The double glass doors were shielded by dark blue curtains. Inside was a bit spacious with a queen sized bed in the middle of the room. I was beginning to think this wasn’t a safe house, but rather someone’s house that the D.A. rented. I needed to know whose house we were staying at, and decided to call the lieutenant.

“Ryan, what part of stay off the phone did you not understand?” Before we left, it was one of his explicit instructions. He wanted to make sure there was no trace on me.

“What’s the deal with this safe house?”

“What are you talking about?”

“This isn’t a safe house. Someone lived here. Who did you or the D.A. pay-off to get this place?”

“No one was paid off.”

“Bullshit. You need to stop playing games and level with me.”

“Fine, you want me to level with you? The D.A. contacted a friend that had a house that he stays in only when he comes up for the winter. Garrett assured me his friend wouldn’t be coming back for another month or two.”

“That’s not good enough. I need a name. I need to make sure we don’t have any unexpected visitors.”

“I’ll get the info and text it to your phone. Until then, stay off the damn phone.” He hung up before I could find out how James was doing. I would have to wait until someone reached out to me before I could get an update.

I entered the living room and found Claire lounging on the couch watching T.V. She seemed to make herself at home pretty fast. I walked to the nearest chair and sat down in it.

“So what are we doing for dinner?” she asked.

“Don’t look at me; I don’t cook.”

“Can we order in?”

“Nope, no calls out.”

“Can we go pick up the food?”

“We’re not allowed to leave the house. If we do, it can blow our cover which will completely screw us and possibly get us killed.”

“A simple no would suffice.”

“I’ll go check the cabinets; maybe they left us something.” I walked over to the kitchen, and noticed Claire was still in the living room. Pulling open the fridge, I noticed there was deli meats and cheeses sitting in a drawer. “We can make sandwiches,” I shouted.

“Okay,” Claire replied. Her voice trailed off as she appeared in the doorway a few seconds later. She pulled the cabinets open and found a loaf of bread. “How long do you think we will be here?”

“Why; are you missing prison already?”

“I just want to end this nightmare.”

I knew what she meant. Although she chose to be part of it, I was thrown in because the psycho had it in for me. The reason for targeting me was still unknown to us, but he’s mad it a point to declare war on my life.

“I’m betting this will be over sooner than we think.” I was just praying neither of us ended up in a body bag.

Chapter 40
-Ali

A few hours went by since Claire and I made our sandwiches. I was intrigued by her infatuation with the T.V. Her eyes seemed glued to it as if she were being hypnotized by it.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Huh? Yeah, I’m fine.” She kept watching the T.V. for another minute before turning it off. “I heard what happened the night you arrested me.” I snapped my head towards Claire wondering what she was referring to. “I’m sorry for what happened to your boyfriend.”

Matthew’s death was still a sore subject for me, and something I only discussed with my therapist. “Thanks, but that’s not something I really want to talk about right now.” I took a deep breath. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for what happened to your friends.”

“I guess we both have things we don’t want to talk about.” To be honest, I couldn’t blame her for not wanting to talk. A part of her must feel like it was her fault. She received the death threats while in prison, promising to make good on his threats if she talked to the police. She decided to cooperate to gain police protection and her friends paid the price.

“Understandable.” I checked the clock and saw it was only eight-thirty. “So what do you want to talk about?”

I could see the wheels turning inside her head. “What made you decide to become a cop?”

I was used to that question. Most people I met ask me that question and my answer was always the same. “I grew up watching police shows and reading detective novels. I always pictured myself as a cop chasing down the bad guys while protecting the innocent.”

“Did you ever shoot anyone?”

This was another question I heard way too often. “I’ve only fired my weapon on two occasions. The first time, I had been on the force for a few years. I was part of a task force to hunt down a team of bank robbers. I threw myself into the case and focused on it day and night. Finally, I got a lead from a friend at a pawn shop and decided to check it out on my own.”

“So what happened?”

I took another deep breath as I recounted the story. “I pulled up in my squad car. The suspect was hanging out in front of his house with a few friends. He took one look at me and ran. I took off after him and called for backup. A few blocks down, he took a turn and was cornered. I pulled my gun and announced I was a cop. He reached for something in his jacket and I reacted out of fear. I heard two rounds pop off. I believe the first hit him in the shoulder, but the other ricocheted and hit a young girl. I ran to the suspect first. He was the only one that could tell us the names of the bank robbers. So I started working on his wound, and called for an ambulance.”

“What about the girl”

“I didn’t see her or know she was hit until a woman screamed for help. I turned my head and found a ten-year-old girl laying on the concrete a little further down from where I stood. I ran to her and did my best to save her.”

“What happened to her? Did she make it?”

“She died on the way to the hospital.”

“And the suspect?”

“He lived and gave up everyone in his group.” I wiped the tears from my eyes. “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t regret what happened to that little girl.”

“When was the other time?”

I looked up at her, confused by her question. It took a minute to register what she was asking. “The second shooting took place earlier this year. I can’t really discuss what happened.”

“Why? Didn’t it happen a while ago?”

“It was a closed case until some new information was discovered. Until it’s resolved, I am not allowed to speak on the matter.”

There was a look of disappointment on her face. It was as if she enjoyed hearing the stories, and was upset she couldn’t hear the details.

“Did it have anything to do with those campus murders?”

She was pushing for information, so I figured Claire deserved a taste of her own medicine. “Maybe you can help me figure something out that’s been bothering me.” I saw her eyebrows furrow. Before she could reply, I launched into what I wanted to say. “Given your past, I understand the reaction you had with Ambrose, but why go after the others?”

The color drained from Claire’s cheeks as her eyes widened. It was a question I’m sure she wasn’t expecting to hear. “I think that’s a question you should direct to my attorney.”

“Hey, once they get the Puppet Master, they’ll probably offer you a deal in exchange for your testimony against him.”

Claire picked up the remote and turned the T.V. on. “I think that’s enough talking for tonight.”

I knew that would shut her up, but a part of me wanted her to keep talking. I wanted to know what made her tick and why she murdered three men.

Silence filled the house as the night wore on. A few times I thought I heard someone outside the house, causing me to jump from my chair and check every window until I was sure there was no one there.

I had a gut wrenching feeling that the man we were looking for was nearby, but I couldn’t see any sign of a car other than mine, or anyone lurking near the house. I was beginning to think my paranoia was getting the better of me. Then I heard it again.

I checked the windows surrounding the living room. Thanks to the roof lights, I could see an extra fifteen feet from the house, allowing me to see several hiding spots. Again, I found nothing out of the ordinary.

“What’s wrong?” Claire asked. Her voice sounded panicked. The last thing I needed was her to freak out and do something reckless.

“I’m sure everything is fine. I’m just checking out the area.”

“You don’t think someone’s here, right?”

I didn’t know how to respond without letting her catch a glimpse of my own paranoia. “Impossible, no one knows where we are.”

I was beginning to wonder if that was true. The D.A. obviously knew about the house. He borrowed it from a friend. Esposito knew. He was the one to tell me it belonged to Richard Garrett’s friend. They led me to believe they were the only ones that knew where we were, but it wouldn’t be the first time they withheld information from me.

I grabbed the phone and checked for any missed messages or voicemails. There was nothing, not a word from the lieutenant, no updates on James, or any check-ins from anyone else. I was truly alone.

“Hey, we should probably get you settled in your room before we fall asleep out here.”

“Yeah, that sounds good.” We stood up to walk back to the stairs, but heard a loud pounding on the front door. I ripped the glock from my holster and grabbed Claire’s arm. The petrified look on her face told me she knew this was serious.

“Do exactly as I say,” I said in a forceful whisper. “Follow me.” I brought her to the bedroom on the first floor and opened the glass doors. “Stay here and don’t move until I get back.” She nodded in agreement.

Once I knew Claire was safe inside the room, I crept towards the front door. I looked for any sign of movement from the windows. I didn’t see anyone, and the pounding on the door seemed to stop. The idea of the intruder running around the other side crossed my mind, but I had to check the front first.

Grabbing the handle of the door, I pulled it open. I didn’t see anyone standing on the porch. My head turned to the side, checking to see if I could find the person responsible for my minor heart attack. I was about to re-enter the house when I saw something that caught my eye. Two black roses sat in front of the door.

He’s here!

A wave of panic hit me in an instant. If the so called “Puppet Master” was there, it was up to me to stop him. My first instinct was to call for backup. I reached for my phone, but there was nothing there to grab. Then I heard a click behind me. I knew the sound. Anyone who fired a gun before knew the sound of the hammer being pulled back.

My heart was beating a mile a minute. I was trapped between a rock and a hard place. I had nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. The chance of me getting the jump on him before he fired a shot was slim to none. If I tried to run for the car, I was leaving Claire to be killed like the rest of his victims. My only option was surrender and hope for a chance to turn the table.

I slowly brought my arms out to the side and slowly brought them over my head. “If you’re going to kill me, at least let me see who’s made my life a living hell for the last year.” There was no response. I turned at a snail’s pace until I saw who had their gun on me. I almost thought it was a joke until I saw the look in her eyes. “Claire, give me the gun.”

“You don’t get to call the shots anymore. Although, you never really did. We just let you think you were.”

“We?” My mind registered it instantly. I gripped my gun, ready to mount an assault. Before I could lower my hands, I felt something bash me in the back of the head. The room went dark as I felt my body hit the floor.

“Let’s secure the bitch before she wakes up.” It was a voice I recognized. I lifted my head to see his face, and then…everything went black.