The Set Up (77 page)

I caress my hand against his cheek. “No, Jasper. Don’t even think that way,” I say and then I remember why I ended up here. I find my purse and pull out the report. “Look, my mother was right.” I waive the report. “This is why I left the loft. I was going to show it to Detective Hill to see if he can help us.”

All sets of eyes snap to the word,
ARSON
.

Whitney is the first to speak. “Jasper, I think you really need to consider how far you want to take this.”

Jasper’s entire body is shaking with tension, but his voice is strong when he answers. “I want to destroy the Harpers.”

TURN THE KEY

Jasper

WHEN THE FORMER
Detroit mayor was found guilty in a major public corruption case, many hoped the guilty verdict meant a new day had arrived for the city facing bankruptcy—one where corruption would no longer be tolerated at City Hall.

We all wanted to believe that with Alex Harper in place, the nod-and-a-wink justice days of Detroit would be long gone.

It isn’t true.

My decision on what to do with this knowledge isn’t easy.

My need for vengeance is only tempered by my need to get this city on its feet. Pent-up aggression and anger makes me want to take both Alex and Hank down. It has become clear to all of us that one of the Harpers almost killed me three years ago and then almost killed Charlotte today, and my baby as well.

The only possible reason—greed.

Why?
Did Hank want to hold onto his monopoly so badly he’d do anything? Did Alex know his father was corrupt and want to cover it up? Sadly, the answer has to be yes.

The question is which Harper killed Eve and Tory?

Either.

Both.

Who the fuck knows.

Yet, I know for certain, it was Hank who arranged to incapacitate the plant, and whatever he did didn’t just incapacitate the place, it annihilated it, by resulting in a deadly explosion. That there is no doubt.

Still, dragging Detroit through the torment of the explosion all over again would not help me in my end goal, which is why I have decided to leave it alone. Let what happened twenty years ago stay buried in the files of City Hall and in the minds of those who were corruptly involved.

The rain has let up and the afternoon sun is warm on my face. I’m in my mother’s car, zooming down the highway. Alex left the office early to meet his wife in Gross Pointe for the town’s annual sidewalk chalk fundraiser.

I’m heading there now.

Taking a left, I turn and slam right into the congested part of the city. I quickly change, lanes wishing I had my own car because every time I accelerate this little putt-putt car goes nowhere. Exiting the highway, I see a steady line of automobiles heading toward the quaint Gross Pointe downtown area.

Turning around, I take a few side streets to get there faster. Once I’m there, I ease off toward the municipality area. Maneuvering into a tight spot, I park my car on the street and watch as men in suits and women in dresses spill from their automobiles. They’re all engaged in their own conversations as they walk along the brick-paved sidewalks. Scanning the area, I spot the mayor’s podium and a chill creeps through me.

There was a time I wanted to be a part of the Harper family. Wanted it more than I wanted almost anything. I guess it’s lucky for me they never accepted me in that way.

I was always the poor boy looking in.

The outsider.

I sit in the car until I spot him. He stands front and center—smug, black suit, sunglasses, and a piece of chalk in his hand.

Always the showman.

Getting out of the car, I lean against the door and continue to watch. His wife and baby girl are by his side.

My jaw clenches. He almost killed what is mine. My fists ball and for a moment, I consider barreling over there and ending it all right now.

But I don’t.

Not for him, but for me.

Still, justice will be served.

The sound of his muffled voice courses through my body and lures me closer. From a distance I watch as people cheer him on. His speech is over quickly and everyone seems to disperse just as quickly. I take the opportunity to blend into the crowd and make my way toward Alex. His wife is a few feet away, and I wonder if she knows just how despicable he is.

Weaving through the crowd, I near the podium. Alex stands next to it, talking to a silver-haired woman in an animated conversation. As soon as I approach, he sees me. Alex excuses himself, and with a staggered gait that can only be for show, he walks over toward me with his hand extended. Through a forced smile he says, “Jasper, what are you doing here?”

“I want to talk to you.” There’s a calm control to my voice that I’m surprised by, considering I want to pound the shit out of him and bury him under this brick sidewalk.

He’s glaring at me through his sunglasses. “About the factory?” he asks. His blood pressure must be out of control because his face is turning beet red.

My eyes hold his. “Meet me in your office in one hour. Alone.”

“I can’t do that. My wife is expecting me to take her to dinner,” he responds, glancing toward her.

I glance in her direction too. “You can, and you will.”

Catching my drift, knowing I know all about his indiscretions, he puckers his brows. “What’s going on?”

I ball my fists at my sides. “You and I need to settle a few things.”

“What kind of things?”

“Old and new,” I tell him, anger coursing through my veins at an uncontrollable speed.

He works his jaw. “I’ll try to make it.”

Before walking away I sneer, “You better make it if you want to wake up tomorrow morning and still be mayor.”

Shocked silence is my response.

Hightailing it back to my car, I hop in feeling only slightly satisfied with how that went. There is still a chance that he might not show. Then I will be forced to do what I don’t want to do.

For a moment I consider confronting Hank. But I know that will get me nowhere but in a fuck load of trouble—I just might kill him. The man who pretended to care about me is someone I don’t need to see to resolve this issue.

Rush hour is in full swing as I approach the city again. With one hand I grip the wheel, and with the other I call Charlotte.

“Jasper,” she answers hastily. She’s nervous about what I’m about to do.

“Hey,” I whisper. “How’s my baby?”

“Are you asking about me or our child?”

“Both. I guess I need to say babies.”

She giggles.

This is all new. I’m still trying to digest it. It’s scary as hell, but it’s real, and I’m ready to try to do this. “Are you resting like the doctor said?”

She sighs. “Do you think with the army surrounding me I have a choice?”

I laugh
. I did leave her in good hands.

“Toss your card,” I hear Jake demand.

“Ahhh . . . Jake’s got you playing poker.”

“Yep, and your mother is cooking chicken and dumplings.”

My mother is trying really hard to be supportive. I think I may have been harder on her all these years than I should have been. I’m working on easing up on that, especially with all the
Hank
bullshit that is being thrown at her right now. Taking the downtown exit, I veer left and try to stay focused on the matter at hand. “Was Whitney able to get anything off the computer or phone?”

“No. She’s says too much moisture has gotten into both devices. We’ll never know what was on them. What about you?”

“I’m on my way to City Hall.”

“Please be careful.”

“For you, and our baby, I won’t take any unnecessary chances.”

“Promise?”

“I’ll do one better and pull out the good old pinky swear.”

She laughs. “I love you.”

“I love you too; I’ll call you on my way home.”

Concentrating on what I’m doing, I push on the gas and cruise down the road. Soon enough, I’m pulling into the underground garage, which I never park in.

At this time of day it is empty. As is the staircase, the reception desk, and the hallways. Breezing through security, I head toward the mayor’s office.

My nerves start to pop and my legs seem to be shaking.

What the hell am I nervous about?

Stepping into the elevator, all I can think is—keep your poker face on, mean what you say, and own it. The door closes and I shut my eyes. The doors open and I’m not even paying attention until the bell dings. I snap my eyes open and hustle out of there—game on.

My fingertips tap the dark wood of the reception desk and a cute red-headed woman smiles at me. “Mr. Storm, the mayor is expecting you. Let me show you in.”

If I know Alex, she works late for his benefit.

Eagerly, she twists the knob to his door and holds it open for me to enter. I walk into his over-the-top office—a huge mahogany desk, floor-to-ceiling glass windows with a view, a large-screen TV on a red wall, an oriental rug with a large leather sofa on top of it. Very over the top for a city-held office.

So his style.

I bet the couch gets a lot of action.

Alex is standing near the window and pouring himself a scotch. When he finishes, he raises his glass. “Care for one?”

The big windows provide a bird’s eye view of Detroit. It’s like he’s in a tower. Ironic. “No thanks. I’d hate to waste your one-hundred-year-old Balvenie when I won’t be here long enough to drink it.”

The ice in his glass clinks and he takes a sip. “Your choice.”

Striding across the room in two seconds flat, I decide I’ve had enough of him. I grab his shirt and push him roughly, slamming his back up against the wall. The liquid in his glass sloshes all over both of us. “You disgust me.” I stare hard into his cold dark eyes and repeat myself. “Did you hear me? You disgust me . . .”

Alex struggles to free himself of my hold. “What the hell?” he hisses.

I flinch at my actions and let go of him. “I know about everything.”

With shaking hands, he sets his glass down. “What exactly are you talking about?”

That confused look he’s giving me makes me want to twist it off his face. I’m choking, shuddering at his audacity to feign ignorance. But then I catch a glimpse of myself in the window and rein my temper in.
For Charlotte
, I keep reminding myself. Keep your cool for your girl. With a deep breath, I slowly exhale and then say, “No games, Alex. I know about Hank and what he did twenty years ago. I also know either him, or you, or the two of you, have been trying to sabotage my success for years. First by trying to kill me three years ago, then by trying to pin a murder on me, and when none of that worked you went after my friends, but today was the last straw.”

I know Alex well enough to know the emotion flashing in his eyes is true surprise. “What happened today?”

Getting to it quickly, I enlighten him. “Someone who knew what they were doing disabled the front radar censor in my car and cut the brake lines,
again,
” I add, “but it wasn’t me driving the car this time, it was the woman I love.”

Dumbfounded, he shakes his head. Pinches the bridge of his nose. Looks at me. “You need to walk out of here right now and never repeat any part of what you just told me to anyone. If that was Hank, he’s out of control and I can’t protect you any longer.”

I give Alex a small huff of laughter. “First of all, that’s not happening, and secondly, protect me? Are you for real?”

There’s a pleading look in his eyes. “Listen to me, I know Hank is my father, but he’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants.”

“Like I don’t know that!” I snap.

“I’ve been trying to protect you for weeks now, Jasper. If someone messed with your vehicle, it had to be him, he’s desperate. He’s worried you know too much.”

I point my finger. “Yeah, Alex, he’s right—I do fucking know. And it’s time for all this to come to an end. Right now!”

Alex takes a deep breath and paces the length of the window. “You need to listen to me. Let me explain before you do something stupid.”

My patience short, I stare at him. “I’m waiting. You’ve got thirty seconds.”

For a moment, he looks scared, but it passes quickly. “Let me start with the past. What happened twenty years ago was an accident. He never wanted to kill anyone.”