Page 47 of Shattering Nash

Nash slid back his cuff, taking in the time He’d be cutting it close for his daily meeting with Oz. But this would take priority.

“Yes. The usual spot.”

“See you then.”

*

All members of the Underground had a strict rule of not associating with the authorities. However, Nash had some contacts that played both sides. Connections he’d made through the years. Some he’d even known two decades earlier. They may have taken different paths, but having trusted allies on both sides only made the Underground stronger. Not everyone agreed, but there was value in insider information.

The SUV pulled up in front of the abandoned house outside the city limits. The rural area was seldom used unless utilized as a detour. It was out of the way with not much to offer. The perfect location for one of their safe houses. The Underground had several throughout the entire state.

Due to the proximity to Lawry, it was strictly used for meetings, primarily by Nash. The house was half a mile off the road in a heavily wooded area. The driveway was overgrown, making it less appealing to civilians who happened to wander or make a wrong turn.

“He’s arrived,” Caine said, putting the truck in park and gesturing to the sedan tucked in the corner of the dilapidated building. “Should I wait here?”

Nash had known Chris Sullivan for years. He was a trusted ally of the Underground. But everyone knew he wouldn’t take any chances. The only men he could truly trust were those in the organization.

Nash opened the door. “No, come inside.”

As his most trusted member of security, there wasn’t much Caine didn’t know. He’d become the lead of the most elite crew in the Underground. Of all his men, he trusted Caine the most. He’d been working under Nash for over ten years. There was a solid bond and deep respect.

They entered the house, and Nash turned just as Caine closed the door. He situated himself at the entrance.

Sullivan was waiting in what would’ve been the dining room of the old home. There were no furnishings or decorations.

“Nash.”

He nodded, ignoring the formalities. “What do you have for me?”

“Not much. It was a late filing, but I pulled the report and didn’t get much more than you already have.”

Nash ground his teeth. This was not what he wanted to hear. “I don’t have anything.”

“Exactly. There was a 9-1-1 call. A neighbor reporting a disturbance at that address. The caller said she heard screaming and shouting and what sounded like furniture breaking. Dispatch broadcasts a possible domestic in progress. It wasinitially answered by an officer a few miles from the area. But there was another car closer, so they took it. Mitchell and Becker. According to their report, they spoke to both the man and woman living there. Siblings. Cody and Charley Hudson. The officers report said they were eating dinner. Nothing out of the ordinary nor did they see any visible signs of a disturbance. They did it by the book, separating both man and woman. They had the same timeline of events, and no distress was observed by either party.”

“Did they speak to the neighbor?”

Sullivan nodded. “Yeah. An older lady who the brother claimed has been a pain in the ass over a parking dispute a while back. Constantly reporting them to their landlord. The officers believe she called in a fake report just to fuck with them.”

Nash cupped his mouth. “No signs of a fight?”

“According to the officers, none.”

What the fuck?It seemed plausible, a perfectly believable story. But Nash had always gone on instinct and gut feeling. This all seemed too convenient. It didn’t explain the scarf, though it could’ve been a fashion choice. Still, something felt off about this.

“What about the brother? I didn’t find any priors.”

“He doesn’t have any. Neither does the sister.”

That came as no surprise with Charley.

Nash paced around the room and folded his arms. “Tell me about the officers.”

“Partners for a while. Both been with the force for years, maybe twenty.”

That peaked his interest. “And they’re still working patrol?”

Sullivan sighed, smirking. “Well, that’s an interesting story. They’d moved up the ranks. Good standing in the force, a few awards and service medals through the years. And then they fucked up. They were both involved with a huge case. Mitchellwas one of the leads. Cases like that you gotta keep tight. But Mitchell liked to brag, talk about how the takedown would go with anyone willing to listen. He learned his lesson a little too late, and the case went to shit. Too bad for him. He definitely would’ve been promoted had it been successful. Instead, he was demoted, along with Becker, and neither one has been put on another big case since then. A lot of people still hold a grudge over that one.”

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