Page 26 of Trusting Laurence
“Yeah, and you told me to go screw myself. You had no intention of helping me. Why now?” Larry interrupted.
“Yes, I know. But it’s become quite clear that whether I talk to you or not, I’m in danger. I thought by keeping quiet, I was safe. Apparently, that assumption was incorrect. This beating was their way of telling me they’re watching me. I’ll never be safe.”
“So what do you want from me?”
Marcus hesitated for so long Larry thought the man was going to chicken out. But then he spoke again.
“I’ll tell you what you want to know if you promise to get me out of here. You put me in witness protection, and I’ll turn state witness against these people. But I want immunity. I give you the goods, but you don’t prosecute for past transgressions.”
“I can’t promise you that. That’s not my call to make.”
“That’s my offer. I won’t give you anything without an assurance I’ll be safe from prosecution and those crazy bastards.”
Outwardly, Larry was calm. He showed no reaction. Inside, it was a completely different ball game. He wondered how much Marcus knew about who the top players were, and if he would be willing to name them if he did. If so, this had the potential to be huge.
“You want me to help you, you’re gonna have to give me something to take to the District Attorney. They won’t entertain anything without something to go on.”
“All I’m willing to say further is, I can give you names, dates, and other important information relating to a certain ring you’ve been trying to take down for the longest time. I know your case has stalled. I can give it a hefty jump start, but not without an offer on the table.”
Excitement coursed through Larry’s body. If Marcus was being honest with them, it could very well be just what they needed to crack this whole thing open and take down the bastards trafficking women. The only thing that galled him was having to offer this man help or protection of any kind, but if it meant solving the case that had haunted him for longer than he was willing to admit, he’d have to suck it up. He started for the door, stopping beside the bed for a moment.
“I’ll see what I can do. I’ll be in touch when I have something to report back.”
With that, he and Finn left. They were silent until they were inside their vehicle. Then they were silent for a while longer as they continued to digest the enormity of what the ex-senator had just offered them.
As Larry drove away from the prison, Finn spoke for the first time since Marcus had been wheeled back into his room. “What do you think, sir? Think he’s being genuine with us? Or trying to buy his way outta that godforsaken place?”
“I wondered the same thing too. At first, I thought he might be trying his luck. But the more I think about it, the more I think he’s telling the truth. He has something he knows we want. For me, I think, the question is rather how much does he know? Enough for us to achieve our objective? Or is he trying to make more out of what he knows in the hopes of buying his freedom? That’s what we need to figure out.”
“You gonna take this to the District Attorney, boss man? We don’t have a whole hell of a lot to offer him right now. I can’t see him going for it.”
“Depends on how you sell it, son. If this thing pans out the way we’re both praying right now, his re-election will be a shoo-in. The DA will be known as the man who took the Velasco Syndicate down. His career will be made.”
“Yeah, but the potential is there for this to blow up in his face too. That would make himveryunhappy.”
“True enough, son. True enough.”
The two men lapsed back into silence as they drove back to the office.
Larry was equal parts excited and skeptical about Marcus’s sudden willingness to offer up information regarding the accounting records. But the underlying emotion was fear. As he’d listened to her ex-husband talk about giving up his associates, Larry had realized that while it would be the key to solving his case, it would also be putting Tahlia in danger.
They had already threatened her. And these people were not the kind who made empty threats. They carried them out in the goriest way possible. A warning to anyone else stupid enough to speak out.
His thoughts racing, he decided that maybe a visit to Tahlia would be in order. He’d convince her to go into protective custody. That way he’d know she was safe.
“I’ve got an appointment this afternoon. I’m going to drop you off and head on over so I’m not late.”
“Sure thing, sir.”
When he’d dropped Finn off not too long after, Larry had driven like a man possessed on his way to Tahlia. It was only as he circled the block she lived on, keeping a look out for any eyes on her, that he considered she might not be home.
With a mental shrug, he walked across the road for the second time, figuring he was already there. The same lady answered the door, and she gave him a radiant smile as she welcomed him in like a long-lost friend.
“Well hello, dear. It’s so lovely to see you again. Your young lady is upstairs. You know the way.”
“Thank you, ma’am. It’s nice to see you too.” A little uncomfortable, he hastened up the stairs.
He knocked on the door. Waited. At first, he didn’t hear anything. He was just beginning to think that Mrs. Wilson had maybe missed Tahlia going out when he heard movement from inside.
