Page 114 of First Surrender
“So, you had your nephew murdered?”
“He was getting chatty and as a man facing a long prison sentence, he had lost his way. He was a lost cause.”
“Why are you being so forthcoming about your crimes?”
“I’m tired, Mr. Malec. I can see that you are not as easy to fool like my son-in-law was. That stupid man should have never been associated with my daughter.”
“Does Vanessa know you’re involved in all of this?”
“She is as flippant as you’d expect. She is a preacher’s daughter, she only does what she thinks will please me. Havingher two boys was all she was good for. Randall will be a politician and continue my work, Jeremiah will carry on the family name in his own way I suspect.”
His blatant disregard for his daughter is disturbing but not surprising. He isn’t the only man of his generation with such dismissive views on women.
All the missing pieces are clicking and my disgust only builds that one man coerced and eliminated so many innocent lives.
He begins to hum, reaching for the bible on the seat next to him. A shiny silver revolver is tucked into its cut-out pages when he opens it.
My gun’s drawn and my finger is on the trigger before his fingers can brush the reflective metal. “Don’t fucking touch it.”
“Tell my daughter to bury me in my white robes.” He continues humming his tune, ignoring my command and grasping the handle in his gray and veiny hand.
“DROP IT, REVEREND!” His forearm moves, tilting the gun ever so slightly in my direction, and for the second time today, I kill a man.
With so many questions left unanswered, Reverend Porter is dead. My crime leader is simultaneously discovered and gone.
Chapter Fifty-One
Jackson
My eyes are raw with exhaustion but I push through because I’m almost done writing my reports. Discharging my firearm multiple times today, taking two lives, and explaining the actions of every other person involved has taken its toll on me but at least it’s over. The crime in Rollins that I’ve been working to stop for over a year should die alongside Reverend Porter.
My desk lamp is on but the sun is rising through the blinds over my office windows. Today’s events were actually yesterday’s events, and I haven’t had a wink of sleep.
A soft rap on my door surprises me and I barely manage a mumbled, “Come in,” before the door swings open slowly.
“It’s me.” Natalie walks through the door, rousing my brain. She should be at home with Dec, sleeping.
“What are you doing here, sweetheart?”
Her eyes squeeze shut at my question and when they open again, they’re filled with sorrow. “What’s wrong, Nat?”
“I had to tell Dec.”
“What?” I know she’s referring to my involvement in his dad’s death but we had agreed to talk to him together. I wanted to wait until everyone got some rest.
“He woke up screaming and wouldn’t let it go until I answered his questions. He’s smart Jackson, he knew something bad happened while he was in the woods.” She shuffles from foot to foot, drawing my attention to her outfit. She’s fully dressed for the day, not like someone who should’ve just rolled out of bed.
“He’s angry with me?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“He’s upset. He doesn’t understand why his dad had to die. I mean, I told him you had no choice but he can’t wrap his head around it. He’s really upset, Jackson.”
“Let me talk to him.” I get up from my desk, moving toward her and the door.
“No.” She holds a hand up to stop me. “No, you can’t. He doesn’t want to see you,” she chokes the words out and takes a deep breath. “We’re leaving.”
“Nat, don’t.”
“I’m sorry. He needs time and space. He needs to get away from all the bad memories here.” Her first tears fall, rolling down her cheeks in thick streams. “I’m taking him to New York.”