Burn in Hell_A Jake Carrington Mystery Read online

  The minute Jake and Louie walked in, the senior agent started talking. Jake guessed he was FBI, not state.

  “In front of each of you is a file on Phil Lucci. The second file is on Angelo Rainford. Inside each you’ll see the case we’ve been building to take them down. We, meaning both the FBI and the State of Connecticut.” He paused. “My name is Special Agent Timothy Newton and I head this task force.”

  Jake wondered if ‘Special Agent’ was on this guy’s birth certificate. Newton had on the standard blue suit, white shirt, and blue tie. Right off the bat, Jake could tell he was a company man. Focus, Jake. “I have one question before we move forward, Special Agent Newton.”

  “And that is, Lieutenant?”

  “Are you tying my hands on my investigation?”

  Jake watched the agent process his question.

  “I’d like to think that we’ll be working together for the same purpose, but, and this is a pretty big but, I won’t have two years of hard work thrown down the drain so you can arrest him on minor charges.”

  Jake’s face burned and he knew it showed. “I don’t think the killing of a cop is a minor charge, Agent.”

  “Jake,” McGuire said. “Agent Newton, we won’t back down on a cop killing, but we have no plans to ruin your operation, either. So I’m only going to say this once to everyone in this room. Work together or the Wilkesbury Police Department will pursue their investigation into Carl Stack’s death and not share any information with you. Am I understood?”

  “You can’t—”

  “I most certainly can, and will, Agent. We have jurisdiction here. Your investigation is coincidental to ours. Now, you were invited here to share information and make the apprehension of Phil Lucci go smoothly. Our main purpose is to make sure that when we arrest him, our evidence is solid and he doesn’t walk. Any other agenda is secondary.”

  Jake watched the agent back off. McGuire’s military background came out when he was confronted, and he handled command and conflict well. Jake studied Shamus McGuire. He still wore his hair cut short in the classic military style. His posture was so straight you could plumb a stick on it, and he ran his department and each operation with precision. He believed in the rank and file and supported his men. Jake loved working under him, and he was glad it was Newton, not him, who was at the receiving end of McGuire’s wrath.

  Jake opened the file on Phil Lucci first. The agents were pretty thorough. Transcripts of tapes, along with pictures of anyone Phil met or had dinner with; to Jake’s dismay, there was Kyra’s picture. It showed her going into Phil’s house, Kyra dining with Phil in some fancy restaurant, and another picture of her going into Phil’s house with another man. Jake turned the picture over and read the names on the back. The other man was Joe Dillon, her casino host. As he stared at the picture, Jake made a decision. He needed to disclose his relationship with Kyra.

  Tapping her picture with his finger, he said, “I know this woman.”

  “Is that a fact?” Special Agent Newton said.

  “Yes, it’s a fact.” Annoyed, Jake answered, realizing he must be in that file also. “I date Kyra Russell.”

  “For how long?”

  “It started about three to four weeks ago. I met her at a friend’s party.”

  “Did you know she was associated with Phil Lucci?” Newton asked.

  Jake saw McGuire studying him. “I knew she had a date with him. She met him the same time she met me.”

  “And you didn’t think that was convenient on the part of her or Phil Lucci?”

  “No, I didn’t. When I questioned Kyra, she said it was one date, and I believed her.”

  “Captain McGuire, you can’t expect us to work with Lieutenant Carrington on this?” Agent Newton said.

  “Jake Carrington has my complete faith and support, Agent. His record and reputation speak for themselves. We don’t play games here, Agent. So, I’m going to ask, what reaction were you looking for by putting Mrs. Russell’s picture in the file?”

  “You have to understand, Captain, I needed to know his involvement before we proceeded.”

  “Asked and answered. Move on,” McGuire said.

  “I have a question.” Jake held his own picture in his hand. “You’re putting me in this file as a known associate of Phil Lucci? You’re compromising me and my career for your own advancement?”

  “As I stated before, you date a woman whom he’s dating.”

  “This file needs to be cleaned. I’ll speak with your supervisor on this issue,” McGuire told Newton. “And Agent Newton, for the record I don’t like to be coldcocked. Now, let’s move on to why we’re here today.”

  Jake loved the way McGuire took over the room after dressing down Newton. “For the record, Newton, I date Mrs. Russell, not Phil Lucci.” Jake looked at his captain and got the nod. McGuire was passing the floor and the operation to Jake.

  Inwardly, he smiled when Newton’s anger washed across his face.

  “As of Sunday, I’ll no longer be dating Mrs. Russell. That was a mutual agreement between us for personal reasons that I’m not going to go into here. I’ve questioned Kyra—I mean Mrs. Russell—several times about her association with Lucci and wasn’t satisfied with her answers. I don’t have any concrete evidence to dispute her answers. It’s just my instincts nagging at me. In fact, when we searched Stack’s condo and computer, Mrs. Russell was never mentioned in any of Stack’s files or on the flash drives.”

  The state guy interrupted for the first time. “Lieutenant, what was it about her answers that you didn’t like?”

  “As I said, it’s just years of doing my job. I questioned her when she said she only had the one date with him, but I learned she had dinner with him at his home on other occasions.” Jake saw the confusion on their faces. “If she hadn’t told me, I would’ve never known that fact.”

  “The question is why did she tell you?” Newton said.

  “I won’t know until I ask her. Now, I want to outline the plan we have and who’ll be involved when we execute the warrant on Lucci’s home. I got a warrant for Angelo Rainford’s home also.”

  Controlling his frustration when he was interrupted again, this time by Newton, Jake tried to calm himself. “You’ve been a busy guy, Jake. When were you going to inform us that you already had everything in place for this operation?” Newton asked, annoyed.

  “I’m telling you now. I didn’t know you were involved in my investigation until a half hour ago, Newton, when I was pulled into this meeting. Having to explain the details to you is setting me back on my timeline. Can we move forward now?” Jake stared Newton down before turning back to the board in the conference room.

  In one column, he listed all the physical evidence he had against Phil Lucci. In a second column, he made a list of crimes he knew might be related, but couldn’t prove Phil Lucci had either ordered or committed them.

  “What I’m hoping for here…” Jake pointed to the second column. “Is that you, Newton, or the state…by the way, what is your name?” Annoyed that he was never introduced, Jake pointed to the state guy.

  “I’m State’s Attorney John Bailey.”

  “Okay, John. What I’m hoping for here is that either you or Newton can fill in the blanks or that you have supporting evidence pertaining to these crimes.”

  Jake watched them study his board and work through their files before they answered him.

  “I have Carla Jones in my file, but the evidence is thin.” Bailey handed Jake a copy of his report.

  “This is good. She was last seen with him. How reliable are your witnesses?”

  “They were solid at the time of the report. I can’t answer for now. It seems every time we have a witness come forward, they back down at the last minute. I know Lucci’s threatened them, but they won’t verify that,” Bailey said.

  “We have cases here in Wilkesbury with the same signature. Detective Stack detailed what evidence went missing per Phil Lucci’s orders. I’m hoping to give Kyra�
�Mrs. Russell—another chance tonight to clear the air.”

  “If she hasn’t given you any information up to this point, why do you think she will night?” Newton asked.

  “I’ve pulled file photos of Phil Lucci’s victims, and I hope that will encourage her.”

  “You have more that you’re not sharing,” Newton said.

  “I don’t have solid evidence, as I said, but I have another line of questioning that I haven’t pursued before. I want Phil Lucci in a cage first. I’m bringing in State Trooper Sergeant Cale MacDermid to execute the warrant. That’s his jurisdiction.”

  “Can you trust him, Jake?” Captain McGuire asked.

  “So far he’s been solid and has shared his information with me. Any questions?”

  Scanning the room Jake made a mental note and detailed how many people the operation would take. It would be him, Louie, and Joe Green, along with Stew Epstein from the Electronics Division and a swat team from WPD. For some reason McGuire wanted Epstein instead of Dunn. Newton said it would be him and two guys from his division. Bailey said he’d be there to make sure no one stepped over the line and caused the evidence to be dismissed once it went to trial. He also knew Cale MacDermid and gave him the okay.

  Kyra sat outside Trevor’s school. She couldn’t bring herself to go in and take him out of class. What kind of life would he have, running and hiding from everyone? How could she tell him that he couldn’t be with her anymore? That she needed to leave. Her parents would be wonderful guardians for him. With tears running down her face, she pulled away from the school and called Tom.

  “Do you still need me to pick Trevor up today?” she asked.

  “If you don’t mind? I’m home, but I feel like shit.”

  “Okay, I’ll drop him off.”

  “Kyra, is everything okay? You sound funny.”

  “Everything’s fine, Tom. I’ll see you later.” She’d forgotten how Tom could pick up on her every mood.

  Kyra drove back to the school at two-thirty and picked up Trevor in her old car. Her heart lifted when she saw his excitement when he picked her out of the crowd.

  “Wow, Mom, hi.”

  “Hi, Trev, how was school today?”

  “Good. Are we going someplace special?”

  “No…well, yes, how about The Burger Joint?”

  “Can I have a milk shake?”

  “Yes.”

  This would be her last time with him before she disappeared and she wanted him to have a good memory of her. She fought back the tears as they drove away from the school.

  Trevor play in the balls at The Burger Joint while she watched and wished she could have a lifetime of these memories. Every now and then he’d wave to her. After a half hour of playing, she signaled him out. As they walked out of the restaurant to the car, she gave him a big hug.

  “Mom, you’re crushing me,” Trevor complained.

  “I’m sorry, honey. I just love you so much. You know that, don’t you?”

  “Yes.” Kyra kissed the top of his head as he got into the car. “Mom, why are you acting so funny?”

  “I’m not. I want you to always remember how much I love you and how proud I am of you.”

  “See? Weird.” He giggled.

  At the door of Tom’s house, Kyra gave Trevor another hug and kiss before letting him go into the house.

  “Kyra, thanks for picking him up.”

  “Not a problem. I can never get enough of seeing him. I love him.”

  “I know. Do you want to come in?”

  “No. Let me know if you need me to pick him up again.”

  She drove a block before she broke down and cried. How could she walk away from her son? The pain in her heart was so sharp it was as if someone had stabbed her. Clutching her breast, she doubled over the steering wheel and tried to catch her breath. Realization hit her. Never could she leave Trevor. She’d have to talk to Jake and see what kind of deal he had for her. With her mind made up, Kyra drove home. She’d call Jake in a little while, after she had control of her emotions. Once home she sat at her kitchen table and detailed her meetings with Phil and the dates that she’d burned bodies for him, including the names of the legitimate bodies that burned with Phil’s drop-off. The only thing she left out was the exact amount Phil paid her to dispose of them. Standing, she headed to the garage and pulled her suitcase from the trunk, and went directly to her bedroom. Removing the money she put half of it back under the floorboard in her bedroom and the other half she put into a brown paper bag that she’d give to Jake when they spoke.

  Kyra wrote another letter to her mother. She addressed and stamped it—she’d place it in the mailbox at the post office on her way to Jake’s.

  After pouring a generous amount of vodka into a glass mixed with tonic water and lemon she sat and reread the letter she had composed.

  What Kyra mostly felt sorry for was the embarrassment this would cause her parents and Trevor. She never meant to hurt anyone, but she was desperate. Tom had left her no choice when he cut off her funds. Kyra knew with these kinds of thoughts, she’d have no penance.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Annoyed, Phil paced his office and checked the cameras around the grounds. Where was Angelo? It wasn’t like him not to show up or call. Phil dialed Angelo’s cellphone again, and again it went right into voice mail. Something was up, but what? Phil didn’t like it. As he tried to think of what it could be, his phone rang.

  “Phil, its Angelo. Sorry, my son Angelo cut himself this morning and we’ve been at the emergency room,” Angelo said.

  Okay, calm down Phil. Everything’s fine. “I was worried when you didn’t call.”

  “I’m fine, Phil, and Angelo will be also.”

  “Good. When will I see you?”

  “I should be there in a couple of hours, after I settle him down. Carmen went nuts when she saw all that blood. They gave her a sedative to calm her down.”

  “Okay, keep me informed.”

  Phil hung up and scratched his head. Carmen was normally a calm woman. He guessed it being her own kid probably set her off. Still it was odd. Maybe he’d call the hospital and check. His phone rang again and he forgot about Angelo’s wife.

  He didn’t recognize the number.

  “Phil, it’s Kevin Carrusso.”

  “Where are you calling from?”

  “A pay phone in Wilkesbury.”

  Good, at least he was smarter than Stack. “What do you need, Kevin?”

  “I think Carrington called in the Feds on Church.”

  “Why?”

  “He can’t believe there isn’t any trace of him, and I understand his frustration level is high.”

  “Could he have called the Feds in because of a homicide?”

  “No, I checked. He doesn’t have anything running hot right now.”

  “Thanks for the heads-up, Kevin.”

  Interesting, Phil thought. What could the Feds find that Carrington couldn’t? Did Carrington always call in the Feds so soon? He didn’t think so. Phil pulled out his phone and dialed Kyra. Pissed when it went to voice mail, he threw his phone across the room. That bitch will get hers soon, he thought.

  *

  Jake called Cale MacDermid and met him ten miles from Phil’s house at a diner off the highway. He detailed the whole operation to Cale and watched him process the information.

  “Don’t trust me, Jake?”

  “It was on a need-to-know basis, Cale.”

  “I need men and permission to execute the warrant. My captain’s not going to be happy about this.”

  “My captain’s speaking to your captain now.”

  “I see. You think we have a leak in the department?”

  “I don’t know, but I know we do.”

  “Good enough. Your car or mine?”

  “We’ll take both.” Jake led the way.

  Jake felt better with MacDermid aboard. He hoped MacDermid didn’t contact anyone on the way.

  Jake contacted the other
members of the team to let them know he was on his way with MacDermid. The pounding in his ears grew louder as he drove down the road. Jake recognized it—adrenaline. With every raid and arrest he felt it. Hoping his research was correct and that they’d also find Angelo Rainford at Phil’s house when they went in. If not, he hoped Louie’s team cornered Rainford at his home. And call him crazy, but he was looking forward to interrogating Phil Lucci. He was sure everything he needed and wanted to put Phil away was at Phil’s house. Anything they found at Angelo’s would be gravy.

  Jake pulled beside the Fed’s car and rolled down his window. “Ready, Newton?”

  “Yes, let’s get it done.”

  Jake pulled up to the detective from his electronics division, Stew Epstein, and the members of the WPD SWAT team.

  “The system is down, Lieutenant,” said Stew.

  “Excellent.”

  Jake motioned to the SWAT officer. “Cosgrove, you go over the fence and come up behind the man at the gate. I’ll come in through the front gate and distract him. Send your team over the grounds. I understand that he has several men who patrol the grounds.”

  The SWAT officer nodded to Jake and took off. Three minutes later, Jake pulled up to the front gate.

  “Lieutenant Carrington to see Phil Lucci.” Jake flashed his badge.

  The guard looked at his board. Jake focused over the guard’s shoulder and watched Cosgrove come up behind the him. Cosgrove put the gun to the guard’s head and told him to open the gate. Jake loved a guy who knew how to do his job. And he especially loved when no shots were fired. Now for the next part of the operation, he thought, hoping their luck held out.

  “Take him to the wagon,” Jake said, after Cosgrove cuffed the guard.

  Once he got the signal from the other members of the SWAT team informing him their targets were secured. Jake got on his phone, giving the go ahead to the Feds and the other team members to follow him into the house. They drove quickly up the driveway—once they parked, Jake took out his gun while he rang the bell. When Phil’s man answered, Jake pointed his gun at the guard’s heart and put his right index finger to his lips to silence the man.