Granite county, p.28
Granite County, page 28
Words caught in Lance’s throat, and he had to fight back tears. He nodded appreciatively to Kendrick who said, “Don’t make me look bad, son.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
Miller and Kendrick left the room, leaving Lawson and Lance. “Thank you. I am forever indebted to you,” Lance said to Lawson.
Lawson offered a small smile, but said, “We still have some issues to deal with, Lance. The elderly couple you hit…I am certain they will hire a personal injury attorney to go after you. We will see how that plays out. As for what occurred in this room today, like the sheriff said, just don’t make me look bad. Don’t blow this, Lance. I am not worried about you ending up in jail. I am worried about you ending up dead. Now, we need to get you ready to go off to rehab.”
“You take care of all the details. I’ll do whatever you say. But first, there is one final matter I need to take care of.”
Lawson nodded and said, “She’s in her office. I checked before our meeting.”
Feeling like a thousand-pound boulder had been lifted off his shoulders, Lance immediately went to Fleming’s office. Looking up from her computer screen, she asked, “How did it go?”
“Amazingly well. Looks like I might stay out of jail. But I am required to go to rehab.”
“That’s great news, Lance. Rehab is exactly where you need to be. How long have I been trying to get you to go?”
Lance sat in the chair in front of Fleming’s desk. “I know. This is all embarrassing - embarrassing that I have to go to rehab and embarrassing that I have made such a mess of my life.”
Fleming interrupted him. “Embarrassing is one thing. Being dead is another.”
His eyes were moist as he looked at Fleming. Even through teary eyes, he could see she was beautiful. That’s what pained him the most. His poor judgement had cost him the most beautiful, most understanding woman he had ever met. “You’re right,” is all he could say to her comment.
“Don’t look back, Lance. Look to the future, and I truly believe you have a great future. So, you go to rehab and come out a better, stronger person. What do you think you’ll do after that?”
“I have given it some thought. I need a fresh start. I think I’ll move to California to get as far away from Granite County as I can. I have a couple of college buddies there and jobs are plentiful.”
“That sounds like a good plan. I know you’ll do great out there, once you adjust to the time difference,” she smiled.
Lance looked down at the floor, bit his lip and was silent for a moment. Finally, he looked up and said, “Thank you, Kennedy. You literally saved my life.”
“Just helping a friend,” she smiled.
Her words stabbed him. Just helping a friend? Was that all he was? At one point they were much more than friends. He felt they were still more than friends. She obviously didn’t.
Lawson tapped on the frame of the door to Fleming’s office and motioned to Lance who was thankful he had been rescued. After Fleming’s comment about being friends, Lance didn’t know how to carry on the conversation. “I’ve got to go,” Lance said to Fleming through a forced smile. “Thank you again and pass along my sincere thanks to McKenzie and Henderson.”
“I will. Take care of yourself, Lance, and keep in touch.”
He nodded and as he stepped out of the office, he turned around to say, “I love you, Kennedy.” Then he was out the door and on to rehab.
Chapter 44
THE plan had been finalized, and Fleming, Henderson, Corey Ballard and Dan were at Dan’s house going over it one final time. Corey, realizing he could end up dead, thus leaving his wife and child alone, initially wanted no part of the scheme but the dangling carrot of having an assault charge dropped was too good to pass up. The scenario was this: Corey was going to be the seller and Henderson, utilizing a fake beard, thick glasses and red baseball cap, was going to be the buyer. Corey had bragged to friends and other dealers that he was in for a huge score. Some dude was going to pay him $10,000 for fentanyl, oxycodone and crack. The wad of cash would lure the killer, and Fleming and Dan would be nearby, ready to take him into custody.
Knowing that Buster and two other people had been shot from a distance, Fleming wanted a location that offered little hiding space for that to occur again. Fleming first suggested the high school parking lot, but Corey nixed that because security cameras were present, and dealers don’t like cameras.
With the high school nixed, they finally agreed on the parking lot of an abandoned drive-in theater. It was desolate, not having been used in twenty years and there wasn’t a good spot where a shooter could hide and get a good shot off from a distance.
The product and cash would be exchanged at 11 o’clock. Corey would use his clunker BMW that had so many dents it seemed as if it had been used for a punching bag. Henderson borrowed his dad’s fifteen-year-old Chevy pickup truck that had a Damn Straight I’m a Conservative sticker on the back window and a toolbox attached to the bed. Fleming would hide in Corey’s car while Dan would be tucked under a tarp in the pickup.
“I know this is dangerous…” Fleming started.
“Dangerous ain’t the word for it,” Corey interrupted.
Fleming glanced at him and started over. “I know this is dangerous and we won’t have any backup. It’s not too late to abort, and if any of you want to back out, I understand.”
“I’m in,” Dan quickly offered.
“Me too,” Henderson chimed in.
“Me too, I guess,” Corey said. “Are you sure you can get the assault charge dropped?”
“Not a problem,” Fleming said although she had not spoken to the Sheriff or DA about it.
“Any questions?” Fleming asked.
No questions were offered, so the group broke up to wait until 10:30 when they would gather. The day passed slowly, and while each of the four tried to do something to get their minds off the impending mission, they didn’t succeed. Fleming spent time thinking about Allison Smith and what awaited her. Dan thought about Kris, relieved he had Carter back but upset that a kidnapper was still on the loose and toting a bundle of Kris’ money. Henderson spent the afternoon washing and waxing the pickup and daydreaming about Fleming.
Ten-thirty finally arrived. Fleming settled down in the backseat of Corey’s car, and Dan hid under a blue tarp in Henderson’s pickup. Corey left first and Henderson followed after fifteen minutes. That gave Corey time to get to the drive-in and develop a feel for the location before Henderson arrived.
Corey stopped in the middle of the vast parking lot. There was no cover for someone to take a shot from a reasonable distance. If the shot wasn’t a close-up, it would have to be long-range, and from someone who was a hell of a shot. When he arrived, Henderson pulled close to Corey’s car so Fleming and Dan could hear the conversation.
The four were anxious. The deal had to go down quickly. Corey and Henderson, in his beard, glasses and ballcap, couldn’t stand there having a conversation like they were talking about the week’s NFL games. Most deals were thank you and goodbye. Henderson was holding a small brown paper bag that was empty but was supposed to be full of cash.
They were beginning to believe nothing was going to occur when a pair of strong headlights entered the wide-open parking lot. The car, a late-model Sentra, pulled up at an angle where light from the headlights flooded Corey’s and Henderson’s eyes. “Who the hell are you?” Corey bellowed.
“I know exactly who this is,” Henderson said loudly enough for Fleming and Dan to hear. “You’re Tommy Carson!” They were shocked at Henderson’s information but remained silent.
Tommy pulled a .9mm from his belt and waved it first to Corey and then to Henderson. “I’ll make this quick and simple. Give me the money and then I’ll shoot you. Or maybe I’ll shoot you first and then take the money. Can’t leave any witnesses, you know.”
“You’re full of shit,” Corey screamed. Henderson was silent but watching Tommy intently. “Why do you need money? Your old man’s a banker. You should have plenty of money?” Corey asked. “I know he’s a banker because the asshole has turned me down for loans.”
“I agree that he’s an asshole and you’re probably not the only person he has screwed. That’s not my concern tonight. I don’t have plenty of money. My parents cut me off, and besides, they don’t have the kind of money I need to cover my gambling debts. I’m in way over my head.”
“So, you’re going to shoot us to get the money?” Henderson asked as he waved the brown bag.
“You got it. Now will you please hand me the money? This place gives me the creeps.”
“You shot Reggie Robinson and Buster, didn’t you?” Henderson asked calmly.
“I did. I set up a buy with Reggie. When he was handing me the product, I shot him. I took his money and drugs. Poor unsuspecting bastard. I was able to make an installment payment on my debts with it. Buster? He was a son of a bitch. I didn’t want to mess with him up close, so I ambushed him. He was carrying a nice sum of cash. That helped me tremendously but it’s still not enough. That’s why I’m here for your dough, Mr. Bearded Man. With what I owe, you two won’t be the last to go down. I am finding that drug dealers are easy targets. They aren’t nearly as cautious and careful as I thought they would be.”
Henderson decided it was time for action. Continued conversation could give Tommy an itchy trigger finger and he could impulsively go ahead and shoot them. Henderson hoped McKenzie and Fleming realized what he was doing. “Well, Mr. Carson. This bearded man is a deputy with the Granite County Sheriff’s Office and I strongly advise you not to shoot a law enforcement agent.” Tommy looked at Henderson suspiciously. “You’re shitting me, right?” Tommy asked as he waved his gun at Henderson.
“I can show you my badge.”
“You son of a bitch!” Tommy screamed and he took aim at Henderson.
Fleming had heard enough. Tommy had confessed to the murders and now he was threatening Henderson. She sprang from the car and Dan followed her lead. “Put the gun down, Tommy,” she ordered but Tommy, shocked at her presence, didn’t obey. Instead, he began firing his gun wildly, grazing the side of Corey’s face and making all of them seek cover. Henderson took another hit in his vest. Tommy bolted to his car and sped away. Dan quicky crawled into Henderson’s pickup and began the chase.
“Call Dispatch,” Fleming told Henderson who was unharmed and struggled to his feet. “Get word to patrol units to be on the lookout for the truck and Nissan.” She hopped in Corey’s car and joined the pursuit.
Henderson made the call to dispatch and then attended to Corey. His wound was no more than a scratch, but he was carrying on as if his head had been blown off. “I’m gonna sue!” he was screaming. “I’m gonna sue you, Henderson, the girl cop and the whole damn sheriff’s office. I’m gonna be rich!” he bellowed.
At this time of night, traffic was light in Granite County, and even though Tommy had gotten a head start, Dan was able to maintain eye contact as he chased. Dan’s heart was pounding. High speed chases had not been part of his job description at the Pentagon. He was thankful traffic was light. The way Tommy was driving, he could kill someone.
Trying to get from one side of the county to the other, Tommy approached the Bonner Road Bridge. Going much too fast, he hit the giant pothole Dan had complained about for weeks. The jolt caused Tommy to lose control of the car which went from one side of the bridge to the other, and crashed through a concrete guard rail and fell grill first into the murky waters of the Anatoola River.
Seconds later Dan pulled on to the bridge and saw Tommy’s car teetering in the water. Remembering his leap off the bridge when he was a teen, Dan looked down at the river. He knew the water had to be freezing and he didn’t know Tommy’s condition, if he was able to exit the vehicle or if he could swim. “I promised to never do this again, but here we go,” Dan gulped. He jumped feet first. The cold water hit him like a stun gun.
Fleming arrived on the bridge. Streetlights on both ends of the bridge provided a dark, gloomy view of the car slowly sinking into the water. Frantically, she called for Dan as she peered into the river. “I’m O.K.” he said as he swam to Tommy’s car. She used her cell to call in the location for backup and emergency crews.
Dan reached Tommy’s car. The two front doors were under water and the car was sinking fast. Dan couldn’t see anything, and he couldn’t open the driver’s side door which had been damaged. He screamed out, “Kennedy! Throw me a rock. Small enough that I can catch it but large enough to break glass!”
Inspecting the cold, moist ground leading up to the bridge, Fleming scrambled to find the perfect rock. Digging with her hands, she uncovered a rock about the size and shape of a baseball and tossed it down, but it splashed out of Dan’s reach. “Hurry! Try again!” he screamed.
Too focused to cry, Fleming searched for another suitable rock. Then she caught a glimpse of Henderson’s truck and the silver toolbox. Hurrying to the pickup, Fleming discovered the toolbox was locked. Pulling out her sidearm, she blew away the lock.
“Fantastic!” Fleming exclaimed as she spotted a treasure of assorted instruments. Quickly choosing a hammer over a monkey wrench, she hustled back to the bridge and with a verbal warning, tossed the hammer in Dan’s direction. This time her aim was better, and Dan caught the hammer by its head. “Damn that hurt!” he blurted out as pain stabbed through his hand.
Water was now into the back seat. Taking deep breaths, Dan ducked into the freezing river and began pounding on the window. Two hefty bashes later, the glass shattered. Visibility was zero. He reached through the shattered window and grabbed at Tommy who wasn’t moving. Dan began trying to pull Tommy through the window. Fortunately, Tommy did not have his seatbelt buckled so that wasn’t a hindrance.
Bracing his feet on the side of the car, Dan succeeded in wiggling Tommy out of the car. Using every ounce of his strength, Dan, with his left arm wrapped around Tommy’s chest, struggled to swim to the riverbank. Fleming had made her way off the bridge to the river and helped Dan pull Tommy out of the water. They stretched Tommy out on the ground.
Fleming checked his pulse. None. She calmly began using her CPR training. Head tilted back. Mouth open. Five breaths. Thirty compressions. Nothing. Two breaths. Thirty compressions. “Come on, Tommy, come on, dammit!” Fleming screamed. Still, nothing. “Come on, Tommy, come on!” Dan pleaded as well. Two more breaths. Thirty more compressions. Coughing. Water gushing from Tommy’s mouth. Fleming rolled Tommy over on his side as more water flowed out of his lungs. Another cough. Uneven breathing, and finally regular but slightly labored breathing. Tears were flowing from Fleming’s eyes, and she started an exhausted but victorious laugh. She looked at Dan and smiled. Fleming and Dan sat Tommy upright and she told him, “Take slow, deep breaths. Help is on the way.”
“Why did you save me? I deserved to die. I want to die.” Tommy said with a raspy voice.
“What you deserve is a day in court and an opportunity to reconnect with your parents. You’re going to need them,” Fleming said calmly. Tommy bowed his head and didn’t say anything else. She looked at Dan who was on his knees, bent over, his hands on his knees, sucking air as he tried to catch his breath. “Are you all right?” she asked him.
“After I jumped off this bridge as a teenager, I said I would never do it again.”
Fleming smiled at him. “Why Mr. McKenzie, didn’t your parents teach you to never say never?”
He wrung water from his shirt and tossed it at her.
Chapter 45
STRETCHED out in a hospital bed, Tommy Carson looked beaten, battered, deflated and resigned to the fate that awaited him. He had a giant knot on his forehead, his face and arms were bruised and cut, ligaments in his left knee were strained, and his left arm was broken. Doctors said he came as close to drowning as you can without really drowning. Together, Dan and Fleming had saved his life, but Tommy wasn’t thankful. Perishing in the same river as his brother would be better than the years in prison he was facing for four murders and an assault on Henderson.
A deputy stood outside Tommy’s room for security. His parents had come to visit but it was an incredibly awkward moment. He had nothing to say to them, not even I’m sorry and they had nothing to say to him, not even I’m sorry. The lives of Ginger and Franklin Carson had been shattered. They had lost two sons in totally different ways. They, like Tommy, wished he had perished in the river. How could they stay in Granite County with everything that had happened? Wherever they went, they would suffer stares and talking behind their backs. Sort of like Allison Smith.
Kendrick didn’t have time to show pity to the Carsons. He wanted to wrap up this case as quickly as possible, and that’s why he had brought Fleming to the hospital to aid in questioning Tommy. Kendrick asked Tommy if he wanted a lawyer present and Tommy asked why. There was nothing a lawyer, even the best money could buy, could do to get him out of this predicament.
Not wasting any time, Kendrick didn’t bother to ask Tommy how he was feeling. “Tommy, I don’t have to tell you how much trouble you are in. You’re facing life in prison, probably without any chance for parole. Maybe the death penalty. So, you don’t have anything to gain by withholding information from me or lying. Give it to me straight, Tommy, and let’s start with what happened between you and your brother at the river.”
Tommy repositioned himself in the bed and groaned. “Allison said Adam told her I had taken him to the river because he was bummed about breaking up with her, and while we were there, we got into a fight about my situation.”
“You mean you being lazy, unmotivated and in general, a bum.” Kendrick said. Fleming shot Kendrick a wicked glance for the remark. It didn’t faze Tommy.
