Blood equity, p.20
Blood Equity, page 20
“And James Morey?”
David shrugged. “Another person promoting tourism who wrote wonderful articles for Natalie’s business.”
“Why not just go after the driver who hit Vivian, him and the drugged-up mugger?”
David looked at me like I was crazy, then it was like a light bulb went on. “You don’t know, do you?”
“Know what?”
He huffed. “I guess the cops never associated their deaths with the others. Nobody cares if a homeless druggie dies, and the tourist? He was from Atlanta, so the cops didn’t put two and two together on that one either.”
“Are you saying you killed them too?”
“I had to. They and Natalie Farr are literally the ones who killed my wife, but the others did, too, in their own way. They prostitute themselves for their jobs and don’t even realize the consequences of their actions. Tourists bring money into the city. It isn’t only for a nice vacation either. It’s for buying drugs, too, and that’s why Marlon Ansley had to die.”
“I have no idea who he is.”
“He was the drug dealer the cops let slip between the cracks. He needed to die differently. He was too smart to fall for an overdose of anything. The rest? I eliminated each of them the same way. Equity if you will.”
“More drugged homeless people, more drunk and high tourists, and more drug dealers will come, David. One man can’t change the world.”
He looked at me as tears streamed down his cheeks. “Maybe not, but I can change one city.”
“You need to let me go. You can tell your story to the police, to the FBI, to the courts. You deserve a fair trial just like anyone else. Releasing me will show good intentions.”
He nodded. “Let me have tonight as a free man, and we’ll go to the police station tomorrow.”
“Promise me one thing before you walk out.” As he looked back at me, I saw a man whose face was filled with sadness. I knew he was ready to end his terror on the city.
“Yeah, what’s that?”
“Be here in the morning. If you run, they’ll hunt you down. If they find you and you resist, they’ll kill you.”
He nodded. “I promise.”
Chapter 54
We’d canvassed the street for more than an hour and listened to neighbors say that although they hadn’t known the Bradleys’ well, David seemed like a nice man. Renz and Agent Lee left with no better idea of who David was than they’d had before. They met up with Mitch and Rue at the house, where they and several officers searched through the home in hopes of finding a clue to David’s whereabouts.
“Turn up anything useful?” Renz took a seat next to an officer who was going through a photo album.
“Nah, nothing that jumps out anyway. Most of these pictures were taken when they still lived in Little Rock, according to the corresponding captions, and a dozen or so are familiar shots of the touristy areas here in Savannah.”
Renz raked his hair. “Likely their honeymoon pictures.” He got up and walked the house, and he found Mitch in a spare bedroom. “Nothing that screams out at you where he might have taken Jade?”
“Nope, not a damn thing. Just a house where a man lived alone until he turned it into a place where he held people captive, overdosed them, and then sent them out to their last few minutes alive.”
Renz looked around. “Funny that he wouldn’t have the wedding photos out or some happy memories of his and Vivian’s short life together.”
“Miller found a bunch in a different album. I’m guessing David put all that stuff away when he started bringing his victims here.”
Renz agreed. “You’re probably right. Hey, about before—”
“Don’t worry about it. I was more than out of line myself.” Mitch stuck out his hand and shook Renz’s. “No hard feelings? I mean, we have the same goal, right?”
“Yep, to bring Jade home safely.” When his cell phone rang, Renz excused himself and walked outside to take the call. “Agent DeLeon here.”
“Agent DeLeon, it’s Candace Farr. Something isn’t right, and it’s making me nervous.”
“What is it? Do you need 911?”
“I just arrived at Natalie’s house, where I intended to stay until everything is wrapped up in Savannah. I pulled into the driveway, punched the code into the overhead door’s keypad, and when the door lifted, I saw a black van inside. I ran back to my car, pulled around the block, and called you. Nobody should be in Nat’s home, and I sure as hell don’t know anyone who owns a black van.”
“I do, and I want you to go to the precinct on East Oglethorpe and wait there.”
“I don’t know where that is, Agent DeLeon. Am I in danger?”
“No, you’re just fine and did exactly what you were supposed to do. Natalie’s house is where?”
“It’s a row house on West Taylor near Montgomery.”
“Okay, go north on Montgomery until it meets up with West Oglethorpe. Turn right and continue east until you get to the intersection of East Oglethorpe and Habersham. The station is right on the corner. Leave now and don’t go back to the house.”
“I will, and I won’t. Thank you, Agent DeLeon.”
“No. Thank you! I believe you just found the man we’ve been looking for, and Candace?”
“Yes?”
“I’m going to need that garage door code.”
Renz rushed into the house and yelled out to get everyone’s attention. “We have a location on the van! David Bradley is hunkered down at Natalie Farr’s home on West Taylor, and I’m damn near certain that he has Jade there with him. Natalie’s sister, Candace, arrived there just a few minutes ago, punched the overhead garage door code into the pad, and saw a black van parked inside. She left immediately and called me. I have the code, and we need to get over there immediately. One officer can stay here and keep the house secure while we’re gone. Keep in mind, David has a federal agent held hostage and more than likely has her gun in his possession. We need to move in cautiously but aggressively. No lights or sirens. We’ll go in stealthy and quiet, and hopefully, he’ll surrender peacefully.”
On his go, everyone headed out to the squad cars and cruisers. As they drove, Sergeant Royce and SSA Kemp were updated on the plan, and each gave the go-ahead. From David’s house on East Bolton, West Taylor was only a few minutes away.
As Lee drove, Renz called Candace back. “Candace, it’s Agent DeLeon. Are you at the precinct and safe?”
“I am, and thank you.”
“Good. I have a quick question. How far away are the bedrooms from the garage?”
“It’s a two-story rowhouse, but the kitchen and living room are above the garage. The bedrooms are down a hallway on the opposite side of the home.”
“So unless somebody was in the kitchen or living room, they probably wouldn’t hear the overhead lift?”
“Maybe not at all. The garage door is pretty quiet.”
“Good to know. What’s on the same level as the garage?”
“Just the laundry, an unfinished area, and storage.”
“Got it, and thank you. I’ll be in touch.” Renz hung up just as they reached West Taylor Street.
They made their plan, surrounded the building, and evacuated the homes that were attached to either side of Natalie’s. Renz pressed the numbers into the garage’s keypad and slipped under the rising door. Mitch, Rue, and Lee followed, then Lee pressed the button to lower the door. Two officers took the front porch, and two officers took the back of the home. Inside, using hand signals, the agents and detectives cleared the lower level and inched up the stairs.
Renz saw a sliver of light beneath the door that opened to the main level. He pointed at it so everyone knew there was a chance that David Bradley might be waiting with Jade’s gun in hand on the other side. Renz lowered himself. With his face pressed against the step, he tried to see through the inch-wide opening. He stood up and whispered that he didn’t see feet on the other side. Cautiously, he turned the knob, making as little noise as possible. Then he pushed open the door. With only his head exposed, Renz looked right to left then opened the door fully. The kitchen and living room were empty. He pointed at the hallway to their left and saw four closed doors. He could only guess which was which—three bedrooms and a bathroom. The master suite was likely on the right, where its bath backed up to the hallway bath, then the two other doors were bedrooms or a bedroom and office. Renz held up his hand and listened. He thought he heard a sound coming from the nearest room on the left. They inched ahead, then a sudden movement came from the last door on the right. David yelled out to Jade and burst through the door across from the one he’d come out of. The switch came on, then Jade’s voice called out. Lee slammed Renz against the hallway wall as he rushed past, aimed his gun at David, and fired.
Jade screamed out as David dropped to the floor. “You son of a bitch! Who the hell are you, and why did you shoot him? Look at him! He’s unarmed and doesn’t have a needle or a vial of K2 in his hand. I’d bet my life he ran in here so I could explain his intentions to you. We were going to the police station together in the morning. I told him I’d do my best to help if he released me and turned himself in. He only wanted one last night of freedom!”
Renz knelt at the lifeless man’s side, felt for a pulse, and shook his head. “He’s gone.”
Lee punched the wall. “I thought he ran in here to shoot you before we got to him. Shit!”
Renz took the knife David had left on the side table and cut Jade’s restraints. “It’s over, and we can’t change anything. The dried blood on your face tells me he attacked you and would have killed you just like the others.”
“That’s bullshit, Renz! I talked him down, and he was going to turn himself in. He was tired, remorseful, and done.” Jade rubbed her scuffed wrists and stood. She stared at the man who’d shot David again. “I asked you before, who the hell are you?”
“I’m Savannah FBI Agent Matthew Lee.”
She shook her head. “Yeah? And a damn shitty agent if you ask me. You’re going to have a lot of explaining to do to the higher-ups.”
Mitch looked at the dead man on the floor before walking out. “I’ll call Royce.”
Chapter 55
Renz took me to the hospital, and after three stitches to the bridge of my nose, I was released. My nose was bruised and swollen but not broken.
David was dead. His body had been taken to the morgue and would stay there until the investigation was officially closed. I assumed a family member from Little Rock would take care of his final resting place, and his home and assets would likely be tied up with lawsuits initiated by the families of the victims.
Even though we usually wrapped up our part of a serial crimes investigation within a week, I often felt bad about the outcome. People died, families mourned, and lives changed—usually not for the better. All we could do was do our job and hope that the results made a difference to somebody.
Back at the police station, Renz and I sat with Royce, Cannon, and Rue in the same conference room where we’d begun our investigation. We were finalizing the paperwork to close our part of the case. Afterward, we would head to the FBI’s office, give our statements about Lee’s rush to judgment, and meet with Candace Farr as planned. I was sure that she, as well as many other residents of Savannah, would rejoice and breathe in a much-needed sigh of relief that David Bradley’s days of killing had ended and he was dead. Me? I wouldn’t share my thoughts with anyone but Renz and possibly my closest friends and family.
My heart broke for the victims and their loved ones, as it always did, but my heart also broke for what David had gone through. His bride of only a few months had been killed in a senseless tragedy, and nobody was held accountable. I didn’t condone his behavior by any means, yet I understood his pain and frustration. I couldn’t speak for anyone else, but for me, there were always two sides to a story and, to a degree, understandable reasons for people reacting the way they did—whether good or bad. Nobody was perfect, and nobody was beyond acting out in tragic situations, including myself. Years back, the criminal Max Sims had murdered my dad and nearly killed my sister, Amber, right in my own home. He’d fooled me into leaving the house under the guise of having an emergency, and once I’d left, he came in and murdered my injured dad. The night I finally met Max again face to face and shot him dead was my first night of peace since my father’s death. It was justified, and I felt no remorse. In fact, I was happy that I had the privilege of killing him.
We’d said our goodbyes to the detectives at Habersham Street’s police department and continued on to the FBI office. We would sit in with SSA Kemp, get Candace’s statement on record about finding the black van at Natalie’s house, review the forensic evidence left by David in the rowhouse, complete the mountain of paperwork we had to sign, then head back to Milwaukee later that day.
Hours later, and after thanks from Candace and a joint press conference with SSA Kemp and Sergeant Royce, we packed up our belongings, had a late lunch in the historic district, and headed to the airport. We’d already briefed Taft on the last twelve hours, and she was relieved to have us returning to the fold.
It was four o’clock by the time the jet took its position on the runway. The engines revved, then the plane surged ahead until everything outside was a passing blur. We were soon in the sky and leaving the South. I sighed as we made a sweeping curve over the city and river and headed north. Savannah became smaller and smaller until it disappeared from sight.
“A dime for your thoughts.” Renz smiled as he gave me a thoughtful stare.
“The saying is ‘a penny for your thoughts.’”
He gave me a wink. “Inflation is out of control.”
I laughed as I watched the clouds go by. “There are too many things rolling around in my head right now. No single one is more important than another.”
“Liar.”
I sighed. “Okay, you got me. I was comparing my rage when Max Sims murdered my dad to David’s rage when Vivian died.”
“They aren’t even close to being the same thing.”
I raised my hand. “I know, but the anger and pain probably are. I had survivor’s guilt because I felt I’d let my dad and Amber down. I was a cop for God’s sake. David probably felt that the city and police force had let him down, yet he couldn’t do a damn thing about it except take matters into his own hands.”
“Which was illegal, and it got him killed in the end.”
“And it got Max Sims killed in the end too. Bad guys pay the piper, but good guys who do bad things pay the piper too.”
“Why do you have a soft spot for David, Jade? He did despicable things that ended five people’s lives.”
I shook my head. “He admitted to killing eight.”
“What?”
“When I told you last night that I’d talked him down, I really meant it. Whenever I was able, I spoke to him like he was a regular guy. It’s that ‘gut instinct’ thing. I knew he wasn’t a bloodthirsty killer. Yeah, his methods were unconventional to say the least, and I swear I’m not diminishing anybody’s worth as a human being, but he was really just trying to make a point.”
Renz wrinkled his forehead. “You going soft as an FBI agent?”
“Not even close, but I do have empathy for people, even ones who make really bad decisions.”
“So who were the other three?”
“He said he killed the tourist from Atlanta who ran over his wife, the homeless druggie who robbed her, and the dealer who had slipped through the cracks during the big K2 and Fentanyl raid a few years back.”
“Marlon Ansley?”
“Yep, that was the name.”
“Jesus, when did he find all the time?”
I shrugged. “He wasn’t working as far as I know.” I frowned. “Humph.”
“What?”
“Just wondering about something David had said last night.”
“Yeah, what was it?”
“He’d mentioned suicide by cop and said at least that way, he’d be with Vivian.”
“You think he ran into your room on purpose so somebody would shoot him?”
I groaned. “That thought didn’t enter my mind until right this second. Now, I really don’t know what to believe. If Lee hadn’t been so damn trigger happy, maybe I could have explained that David was going to turn himself in. At least, that’s why I thought he ran into my room.”
“What if he actually was the vicious criminal I believe he was and ran into your room so a cop would shoot him? I think that was his last-gasp attempt to stick it to the police—shoot and kill an unarmed man who had vowed to turn himself in.”
“But an FBI agent shot him, not a cop from the Savannah PD.” I sighed. “Guess we’ll never know what was really on his mind. Either one of us could be right, partner. So, what’ll happen to Agent Lee?”
Renz whistled. “Good question. There will definitely be an investigation. He may end up being stripped of his rank or possibly terminated. I’m sure we’ll hear one way or another. Until then, he’ll probably be on administrative leave.”
“Maybe so.” I stared down at the landscape beneath us. “I’m really looking forward to going home.”
“Yeah, why’s that?”
I grinned. “I need to catch up on those NBA playoff games. Amber promised to record every one that I’ve missed.”
“You’ll never have time to watch them. Too many bad guys wandering the streets.”
“Damn it, now you’ve jinxed us for sure.” I chuckled. “I am looking forward to Amber’s home-cooked meals, though.”
“Now you’re talking. Am I invited?”
“I’ll check my party schedule. Playoff games, lots of food, good friends. You can’t beat that.”
“You sure can’t.”
I reclined the seat and closed my eyes. “Thanks for picking up a phone for me. What would I do without you?”
“No need to find out.”
I smiled. “Nap time, partner.”
“Great idea.”
Before I got too comfortable, I sent Amber a text saying I would be home by seven o’clock. She fired one right back that asked what I wanted for supper. I responded and hit Send. As I closed my eyes again, I thought about the comfort food I needed so badly, my dad’s favorites—baked chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, and warm buttery rolls. I smiled, gave the beautiful sunrays piercing the clouds one more look of appreciation, and drifted off to sleep.
