Page 38 of First Surrender

“You can’t. Declan’s case will be dismissed and then he’ll be a free man. The criminal justice system has failed me once again.” I turn my back and walk away. I walk away from him. I walk away from this case.

All I can do is focus on Dec, now. If Declan’s getting out then I need to protect him even more.

Chapter Eighteen

Jackson

“Mrs. Porter, I cannot meet with you today, I am slammed with a case. I apologize but I’ll have to get in touch with you when things slow down.” I end the phone call as painlessly as possible and continue staring at the wall in my office-turned evidence board.

A kidnapping off of I-83 a year and a half ago uncovered a trafficking ring.

Four more people have been declared missing since then.

A domestic extremist group attempted to set off a bomb in the middle of a local race in downtown Lawson.

The boy who wore the backpack that day had been drugged for weeks and used as bait… Where did Thomas Jameson get those drugs?

From the same place as a long-time criminal, drug dealer, and user who supplied his estranged wife with a pill that was laced with fentanyl and ultimately killed her?

It’s too hard to prove.

Declan Randolph was in jail, but could he have done it? Would one of his associates have given Jameson the same type of drugs that Declan had a supply of?

He’s been in jail for almost a year already so why the big rush to get out now?

The investigator on his case was arrested for planting evidence, leading to all of his cases being investigated and overturned. Declan’s included.

What are the chances that would happen right after our deal fell through?

Who would Declan be in contact with that would have the power to set a fire and leave no trace of themselves behind, as well as outing a veteran Detective for an old screw-up?

All my questions continue to lead me back to the same place. There is someone who is controlling all of this. Is it the same person who orchestrated the trafficking scheme and funded Thomas Jameson’s bomb-making extremist group?

But, who?

I start combing through every name I have on the board. I need to find out who their known associates are, who they’re related to, where they grew up, and where they lived before they were arrested. I need to know every detail and find out every single thing that overlaps.

I start with Declan, my most recent subject. Running his known associates, my database comes up with a list of names I’m already familiar with. His posse that comes to sit in on his court hearings and harasses his stepdaughter are all nonviolent, low-level offenders. I go through each person anyway, checking their known associates, and come up empty.

Possession of drugs, Intent to traffic drugs, Possession of drug paraphernalia, etc. are not typically crimes that prelude to committing arson or killing your wife. Except for one charge of Domestic Violence that was dropped years ago.

Nicole Halstead, Natalie’s mother, is listed on the report but the victim is redacted because they were a minor.

My blood starts to heat. Who do I know that would have been a minor then and related to Nicole Halstead?

Son of a bitch.

No wonder Natalie hates Declan. He hurt her and then her mother stayed with the man. No one has protected this girl, ever. I can see why she is so protective of Dec.

That starts me on a path of researching Natalie. She’s 25 which I already knew, her birthday is two days before Christmas and she probably hates that. She was born to Nicole Halstead with no father listed on her birth certificate. Huh, I guess we have something in common after all.

She has a recent ticket out of New York City. A parking ticket that has not been paid. Christ, Nat. The last thing Dec needs is for her to be forced to appear in court in New York.

I pull up the website and pay it before she gets a warrant out for her arrest. This woman, I swear. She will be the death of me in some way.

Having my card out already reminds me to call the hotel and extend the reservation for her and Dec another week.

“She’s already checked out, sir,” the front desk clerk tells me politely.

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