Page 110 of Gem Warfare
“At least we’ll make one arrest out of this,” said Garrett, pulling over. We’d fallen into silence, each of us contemplating the case as the miles flew past.
We stepped out of the car, waiting on the side of the road near Barnham Correctional Facility. Behind us, arrived Jord in a squad car with two officers. I was surprised Lily and my parents hadn’t turned up too since this kind of overwatch appeared to be turning into a family affair.
“Nice day for it,” said Jord, grinning. “Thanks for having me along for the ride. Now I get to say I was part of this case.”
“It comes with bragging rights,” I said.
“I’ll say.” Jord grinned.
We didn’t have long to wait for Kelvin Huff to take the long walk from the prison walls, past the last checkpoint, and through the tall wire tunnel, to reach the sidewalk. When he stepped outside, with barely a few words from the guard who closed the gates behind him, he stopped, put his hands on his civilian-clothed hips and smiled up at the sky. I could only imagine he thought he was going to have a great day. He looked around, searching for his ride and spotted us.
“Let’s get this over with,” said Garrett.
“After you,” I said, and followed him, two of the officers only a few steps behind us.
“Hello, Lieutenant,” said Kelvin, his eyebrows rising. “And Investigator. I suppose you have a few more questions for me, although I’m sure I’ve told you everything I know. You’ll have to excuse me. My ride should be here any minute.”
“She’s not coming,” I said bluntly. “Amybeth doesn’t want anything to do with you. She’s made that very clear.”
Huff started to open his mouth to protest but Garrett cut in.
“I do have some more questions for you as it happens, and you’re definitely going to answer them, but first I’m going to read you your rights. I’m arresting you for the murder of Charles Black,” said Garrett before reeling off Huff’s rights. “Cuff him.”
“What the heck?” Kelvin gasped as one of the officers moved to shackle him. “I don’t even know who that is.”
“Sure you do,” I said. “You knew exactly what your buddy Timothy Wright was up to, and his alias as Joe Smithson. You knew he stole the jewels from the museum you both helped renovate and you followed him here to get your cut. He double-crossed you nearly two decades ago and you’ve been waiting for this day a long time. The day you get to collect your jewels. Only we got there first.” I didn’t addand someone got there right after us. Kelvin didn’t need to know that. “We know everything,” I told him.
Huff paled. “You’ll never make this stick.”
“I’m confident we will,” said Garrett. “Take him to the station.”
The officers walked Huff to their squad car and put him in the back, slamming the door shut on his loud protests.
“Is this the fastest arrest after release from jail or what?” asked Jord.
“I’m fairly proud of it,” replied Garrett.
“Heard you lost Gideon Black.”
“Don’t rub it in,” I said.
“Should we be worried?” asked Jord. “I couldn’t find any sign of anyone watching Poppy but a heads-up on any more intel would be good.”
“I doubt Gideon actually had anyone watching Poppy,” I said, “I think he just said that to scare me into doing what he wanted.He gambled and lost.”
“Good to know. Shotgun,” called Jord as he headed to our car and the squad car pulled out, making a U-turn and heading back the way we’d come. On the backseat, Huff turned his head, looking forlornly through the window behind him.
“He won’t have time to miss his cell,” said Garrett. “He’ll be back in it soon.”
“I have a feeling if he ends up back here, he’ll request a transfer as fast as he can,” I said.
Garrett huffed, amused. “Let’s head back. Where should I drop you?”
“How about the FBI field office?”
“Maddox?”
“Maddox,” I confirmed.