Page 216 of The Archer Brothers

“Like how Constantin lives in the US and has an alias.”

“I’m listening.”

He eyes the folder. “What do you have for me?”

I open it up and thumb through the file. I find a picture of him and Donna from when they were teens and set it on the table. His eyes go wide.

“God, she was precious. She would do whatever I wanted. Anything I asked her. She just wanted to please me.”

I say nothing and slowly pull the photo back to me.

“He works as a principal,” Lawson says.

“What’s his name?”

He shrugs and smirks. “Something that starts with an R. Ray, maybe? Or is it Roger? I don’t know. I get so confused sometimes.”

“Was Ray Barnes involved in all of this?”

“Well,” Ted leans closer. “It wouldn’t be very nice of me to speak ill of the dead, now would it?” He looks over his shoulder at the guard. “I’m done.”

“I’m not,” I blurt out.

“I’m tired, and I have an . . .” He stands and looks down at his groin. “Issue to take care of. Seeing Donna,” he inhales as if he can smell her. “Well, it’s brought back some fond memories. Goodbye, pretty FBI lady.”

It takes me a moment to gather my things and center myself. I was not mentally prepared for the nature of this interview with Lawson. The man is beyond disturbed and while he obviously needs professional help with his mental health, being locked up is the best place for society.

When I step into the lobby, I’m surprised to find River in the waiting room. I stop and we stare at each other for a moment until he gets up and goes outside. There’s controversy surrounding him and whether he should be in jail. He blew up his house, which is a crime. He destroyed evidence, killed his wife, and committed a slew of other illegal activities, but I haven’t had the heart to bring him in. And thankfully, my superiors haven’t questioned me. I honestly think my bosses have an ulterior motive when it comes to River—what those are, I have no idea.

I follow him outside and motion toward my car. River follows, keeping pace with me. I unlock the car and he gets in the passenger side. “What are you doing here?” I ask him after I start the car and turn the air conditioner on full blast.

“I don’t know,” he says.

“Don’t give me that bullshit, River. What’s going on?”

He’s quiet for a moment. “I come here often.”

“To see Lawson?”

“To kill him.” He says coldly.

“River?”

“I think about committing a crime just so I can get locked up in there.”

“That would have to be a serious crime.”

“I know, but it would be worth it.”

I shake my head. “It wouldn’t be. You’re on lockdown twenty-three hours a day and you’d never see him. It’s not worth it.”

River sits in silence again until he asks, “What are you doing here?”

I sigh. “Trying to piece together some loose ends and fill in some gaps. I want to bring down the syndicate.”

“I thought we already did?”

I look over at him and shake my head. “It’s much bigger than we thought.”

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