Page 19 of Fractured Memories

What did that mean? Noah wasn’t sure. He cared for her, that much was certain, but these feelings were far more than mere friendship. He couldn’t pinpoint when things had shifted between them. It was long after Sally’s death, but before yesterday. It added another layer to an already confusing and tangled mess.

Noah pushed aside his coffee and focused on Grady and Tucker. “Okay, bring us up to speed.”

Grady set a photograph on the dining room table. “The shooter is Gene Webb. Thirty-one. He has a rap sheet longer than my arm, going as far back as his teens.Possession, theft, armed robbery, bombing, attempted murder. You name it, he’s been involved in it.”

Noah studied the mug shot. Gene’s head was shaved. Tattoos crisscrossed the visible skin above the collar of his shirt and crept up his chin. His eyes were small and hard. Anger and hatred seemed to pour off him, vibrant enough to be captured in the photograph. The information listed under the mug shot described him as six feet and a bulky 230. From the curve of his shoulders, it appeared to be more muscle than fat.

He pushed the picture toward Felicity. “Does he look familiar?”

“No.” She frowned. “I don’t understand. What is Gene’s connection to Brooke?”

“That’s a good question, and it’s not one we can answer yet. Gene is originally from this area, but as his arrest record reflects, has spent most of his time in Houston. Gene is linked to Triple 6.”

Felicity reared back. “The organized crime ring?”

“Yep. Triple 6 traffics in drugs, guns, and people. Several departments—including the FBI and ATF—have tried to infiltrate the organization to shut them down but without success. No one knows who the leader of Triple 6 is. We’ve captured and convicted a few of the lower-level drug dealers, but they’ve refused to cooperate, even if it means a lighter prison sentence.”

Noah’s mind whirled with the information. “What connection does Gene have with Triple 6?”

“Informants have identified him as an enforcer. We’ve been unable to confirm that information though.”Grady turned to Felicity. “Is it possible Brooke was working for Triple 6?”

Felicity stiffened. “No way. Brooke wasn’t a criminal, nor did she hang out with them. Nothing uncovered during the initial murder investigation shows she was into anything illegal.”

Grady shrugged. “With all due respect, we can’t rely on the initial investigation. I don’t want to take the possibility off the table.” He held up a finger. “However, there is another potential explanation. Brooke’s killer could’ve hired Gene to silence you.”

“Is there anything in Gene’s history that indicates he’d been contracted to murder someone before?”

“An accusation from three years ago.” Tucker flipped to a page in a copied report. “Houston Police Department couldn’t verify the information, so Gene was never charged, but he allegedly murdered a plastic surgeon. Gunned him down in the parking lot of his office.” His mouth hardened. “Happened in broad daylight. The killer used a stolen vehicle, which was recovered a few miles away in a store parking lot. He was never caught. The doctor’s wife inherited millions and had a tenuous connection to Triple 6. It’s suspected her dry-cleaning business is used as a front to launder money.”

Noah’s spine stiffened. “And HPD couldn’t prove the wife had hired Gene?”

“There was no exchange of money or strange withdrawals from her bank accounts.”

“Doesn’t mean much. If she planned the murder, the wife could’ve easily pulled money out of the account overtime and paid the killer in cash.” Noah didn’t like the similarities between the doctor’s murder and the shooting at the gas station. “Killers are creatures of habit, just like the rest of us. If Gene murdered the doctor, then he’s used a drive-by shooting style before.”

Grady nodded. “It’s something to consider. But why didn’t Gene use an automatic weapon this afternoon? Surely he has access to them as a gang member. An AR-15 would’ve been a much better choice for a drive-by shooting.”

“He didn’t use one to kill the doctor.” Tucker broke off a piece of brownie and popped it in his mouth. “A 9mm was used in the commission of that crime. If you look at his rap sheet, most of the violent crimes he’s been arrested for involve a handgun. My guess: after his first attempt to kill Felicity failed, he used an older method that had worked for him in the past.” His gaze met Noah’s and his brows arched. “Like you said, a creature of habit.”

“I assume you’ve put a BOLO out on Gene.”

A BOLO was short for be-on-the-lookout. It meant every law enforcement officer in the state would be searching for the criminal.

Grady nodded. “We’ve also got officers knocking on the doors of his family members and known comrades.” He drained the last of his coffee. “In the meantime, a trooper is stationed outside to keep watch over Felicity tonight. Hopefully, we’ll have a solid lead on Gene’s whereabouts in the morning.”

Felicity rested her hands on the back of the chair. “We have an appointment tomorrow morning with Melanie Ferguson. As Brooke’s best friend, she’ll have a deeper insight into what was going on in Brooke’s life before the murder.” She provided Grady and Tucker with a rundown of everything they knew so far. “If my flashback is right—and I believe it is—then Jeremy was in the house on the night of the murder. He likely witnessed it, but questioning him won’t be effective while he’s in a paranoid state. We’ll know more once the shirt is analyzed by the lab.”

Grady tilted his head. “Is it possible Jeremy murdered Brooke?”

“Initially I thought so, but I can’t see Jeremy hiring Gene to kill me. He doesn’t have the funds, for starters.” Her forehead creased. “Jeremy told me to run on the night of Brooke’s murder. I think he was trying to protect me.” She hugged herself tighter. “Brooke told her brother she was dating someone new, but Daniel didn’t know who. Neither did Kurtis. It’s possible this mystery boyfriend is connected to Triple 6. Hopefully, talking to Melanie tomorrow morning will help fill in the gaps.”

The men rose from the table, and after a few last words, Grady and Tucker left.

Felicity picked up their empty mugs and carried them to the sink. Her shoulders were tense and worry hung like a cloud in the small home decorated in soothing grays and browns.

Noah piled the rest of the plates together and took them into the kitchen. “You wash, I’ll dry.”

She tossed him a weak smile and filledthe sink with soapy water. Noah could practically hear the wheels in her head spinning. He picked up a dishtowel. “It might help if you share those thoughts running around inside your head. If you don’t, I’m afraid your brain might overheat.”

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