Page 33 of Ghost of You
“Once we get you arraigned for embezzlement, wire fraud, tax fraud, and half a dozen other counts, then we’ll move on to the first degree murder charge, which I’m sure you know comes with an automatic life sentence with no parole. Guess you’re gonna have to kiss the bitches goodbye.” Jude crossed his arms over his chest.
Cope got a front row seat to every thought rolling through Watson’s mind. Not only did he steal the money from Salem’scity treasury, he’d also done something similar while he worked at two other companies in New Jersey. “Anyone happen to know the statute of limitations on wire fraud in the state of New Jersey?” His eyes never left Watson’s.
“Five years!” Ronan called out. “Why?”
“You’ll want to get in touch with Brewster Financial and Ocean City Investment Brokers, both of which Watson worked at and embezzled from.” Cope grinned. “Oh, and Parker is pregnant with a baby boy, but before you start picking out names you need to know the baby’s not yours, it’s Nathan Stanford’s. I believe he’s one of your colleagues on the city council?”
“Who the fuck are you?” Watson roared, bolting out of his seat toward Cope, who stood his ground. “Did that bitch Heidi rat me out?”
Ronan grabbed Watson’s arm and yanked him away from Cope, while Jude grabbed his left and wrestled both wrists into the cuffs. “Ambrose Watson, you’re under arrest for embezzlement, wire fraud, and bank fraud. You have the right to remain silent.” Ronan marched the screaming man out of the house with Fitzgibbon on his heels.
Jude wore a shit-eating grin. “I’m impressed, Mr. Forbes. It’s not your usual style to come at people like you did with Watson.”
“I swear, as the father of a daughter and the uncle to several nieces, if he called womenbitchesone more time, I’d be getting arrested for assault right now.”
Jude snorted. “No you wouldn’t. Ronan, Fitz, and I wouldn’t have seen a thing. Hell, I’m sure we all would have gotten a shot in ourselves.” He sobered. “Watson didn’t kill Frankie.”
“No, he didn’t,” Cope agreed. “I got to see all the rotten stuff Watson has done throughout his life, but killing Frankie wasn’t one of them, and before you ask, he didn’t pay anyone to kill her either. When she disappeared, Watson saw it as the perfect opportunity to move the money offshore and blame Frankie for the theft. He’s been loving every moment of the world thinking Frankie stole the money and ran off with it.”
“If it wasn’t for those boy scouts finding Frankie’s remains he would have kept on getting away with it.”
“Exactly.” Cope sighed. “Can we go home now? I want to order pizza and cuddle our kids while we watchFinding Nemofor the millionth time.”
Jude nodded. “I know how hard this case has been on you. If anyone deserves pizza and cuddles, it’s you.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not done yet. We still don’t know who killed Frankie. I want one more shot at Oliver Adams.”
“Hold on there, tiger,” Jude chuckled. “Let’s get a good night’s sleep and then we’ll figure out how to come at Oliver Adams.”
“He’s not going to know what hit him.” Cope was filled, not with revenge, but with hope that he and the detectives would find Frankie’s killer so she and everyone who loved her could find some peace.
15
Jude
Cope had ordered enough pizza to last a month. Mushroom and bacon was his husband’s favorite. There was also pepperoni, which he and the kids loved. After dinner, the kids had their baths and were now sitting on the living room sectional waiting for Jude, who was cleaning up the kitchen and putting the leftover pizza in the fridge.
“Dada!” Lizbet called when Jude walked into the living room. She climbed out of Cope’s lap and crawled into his when he sat down.
“Hi, little girl.” Jude kissed his daughter’s head. Lizbet wore a pair of bright pink footie pajamas. Her blonde hair had dried quickly and almost reached her shoulders. As much as he hated to admit it, his little girl was growing up. He wished he could stop time and just revel in this moment.
“Memo!” Lizbet sang out.
Cope started the movie. Wolf munched on his popcorn, while Jude snuggled his daughter. After what he’d witnessed during the last few days with the Frankie Adams case, he didn’t want to let Lizzy B go. All Jude wanted to do was shove the case to the side and spend a night at home with his family.
“Uh, oh,” Cope whispered, reaching for Jude’s hand. He pointed toward the front door five seconds before the bell rang.” “I’ll get it.” When he opened the door, Ronan and Fitz were standing on their doorstep. “Come on in. I’ll start the coffee.” With a sigh, Cope headed for the kitchen.
Jude set his daughter next to Wolf on the sofa and hurried into the kitchen. “Is everything okay?”
Ronan and Fitzgibbon took seats at the table. “Did some research on Angie Melton.”
“You didn’t have enough of this case already?” Jude asked. He’d left it at the door when he’d gotten home. They would be back at it again in the morning, but Ronan was never one to let things go.
“Something was bothering me about Angie,” Ronan began.
“You mean how close she seemed to Oliver today?” Jude asked. He’d been bothered not only by the way she seemed to be comforting Oliver, but by the cold manner in which she treated Frankie’s parents.
“No. Yes.” Ronan shook his head, looking confused.
